Reflectiveness in the Classroom.

I am currently taking Education 222, which is Instructional Strategies for K-12 Teachers.  Right now in this class we are really focusing on this aspect of teaching.  Reflection is extremely important.  It is when we, as teachers, can modify lesson plans and maybe even try a different lesson next time.  I think it is hard for many teachers to reflect because they think it will take up a lot of time - too much time that they do not have.  They also probably think that many times their lessons went as well as possible, and they have nothing to change, thus, nothing to reflect on from the day.  However, this belief is false.  If a teacher had the best day of his or her career, that should be even more reason to reflect!  On those days, teachers should reflect on why that day was so good. What was done differently that made that day particularly smooth?  On the other side, if a day did not go as planned, reflection should be done then too.  When reflection is done on these days, teachers can evaluate exactly what made the day go wrong, and how to do it differently next time.  This could provide an opportunity to brainstorm different ways of running the classroom, or different ways to approach a lesson.  I think for reflection to be most effective, it should be done immediately after the day is over.  The activities of the day are fresh in the teacher's mind, making it easy to reflect.  If it is not possible to reflect after each day, then reflect every couple of days, or at week's end.  Reflection does not have to be a long process.  Even a few minutes can benefit the teacher's instruction and the students' learning.