Becoming a Reflective Librarian and Teacher: Strategies for Mindful Academic Practice

Beginning with the premise that teachers, and especially librarians, can benefit by incorporating reflection into their daily practices, Reale (access svcs. and outreach librarian, Arcadia Univ.) makes the case that reflection is the basis of critical pedagogy. A quote by educator and philosopher Maxine Greene summarizes the book: "Without the ability to think about yourself, to reflect on your life, there's really no awareness, no consciousness…" The focus is on engaging in reflective learning and modeling that behavior for our students. Reale outlines three processes of reflective practice: "making the time for reflection, becoming a perpetual problem-solver, and questioning the status quo." Chapters include using journals in reflection, the cycle of contemplation, and strategies to model and promote in the classroom. The "final thoughts" section and list of strategies that end each chapter provide helpful tools on ways to implement the techniques offered throughout.