Moments of Active Reflection: Eddies

Abstract

Eddies are calm spaces out of the river current where kayakers can rest. As a learning metaphor, eddies represent spaces within the curriculum where students and teachers can engage in deep, critical reflection or take a break from learning tasks to plan future strategies. These reflections are active, as students are remaining within their learning mindset. Teachers can create eddies by purposefully including reflective questions within critical literacy or critical mathematics handouts, as well as during class discussions. Eddies are also important for teachers to reflect and plan on their own instruction and to assess student learning. This chapter shares student and teachers’ reflections on race as well as student reflections on their learning to plan group research projects.