Mapping the Design and Facilitation of Critical Self-Reflection in a Culminating Clinical Course for Early Childhood Special Education Teacher Candidates

The purpose of clinical courses in teacher education programs is to reflect on practice. Yet there is little research on how best to structure critical self-reflection with early childhood special education (ECSE) teacher candidates. Following a review of research promoting ECSE teacher candidate reflection and a discussion of critically reflective practice, I present a self-study in which I mapped my experience designing and facilitating self-analysis as an entry point for critical reflection in a final graduate internship course for early childhood special education teacher candidates. I share my mapping process as one way to facilitate critical self-reflection in the culminating clinical seminar.