Reflective Journal: Leadership, Professional
Knowledge and Ethical Practice
An important part of being an educator is reflection. Reflection is a learning
process through which you use your experiences and knowledge to guide you in
the future. Each week you will have the opportunity to use your journal to
reflect on the content you have learned in this course and throughout your
degree program. Specifically, you will reflect on the connections you see
between each case study and two to three topics from the Program Comprehensive
Exam.
This week we will be focusing on leadership, professional knowledge and ethical
practice. There are many elements in education that receive attention due to
the controversies surrounding them (kindergarten readiness, play in preschool,
curriculum approaches, technology in education, and universal pre-k). As a
reflective practitioner, it is important to consider both sides and then form
your beliefs using your knowledge and experiences.
Take a few minutes to think about how the case study addresses these topics.
The questions below may spark some ideas regarding leadership, professional
knowledge and ethical practice. You do not need to address all the questions;
instead, write down your thoughts as they unfold.
Reflect on the following in your journal:
- What is one prevalent issue in early childhood education today? Explain both sides of the debate regarding this issue.
- What connections do you see between leadership, ethical practices, and professional knowledge regarding this debate?
- How do you envision this issue impacting your future work with children?
- Reflecting on the content presented in the case study, what are some areas where Mrs. Ashland faces adversity and must overcome challenges to meet the needs of her students and families? If you were facing similar challenges, how might you plan and proceed? Explain your thinking using justification, supporting details and critical thinking.
Carefully review the Grading Rubric for the criteria that will be used to evaluate your
journal entries.
Links to other ECE 430 Early Childhood Education Discusions and Asignments
