Pedagogical Pivot: Reflecting on Alternating Between Higher Education and K-12 Teaching

The purpose of this reflective practice was to explore the strategies that helped me with the daily transition between teaching higher education and K-12. Reflectiveness and adaptability are critical characteristics of any effective teacher, especially in today’s ever-changing educational landscape. The need for a reflective approach and a purposeful call to action came to me as I completed my first few weeks in a middle school classroom after having taught in higher education for five years. When stepping back into the K-12 classroom, I recognized the need for a vastly different instructional approach than the one I had used in my previous five years of working with adult learners. Through the reflective process, I identified the strategies that helped me make and sustain this transition. I learned that my mindset and instructional approaches are constantly in flux and that I have to make this daily shift in an intentional and impactful manner. This reflective manuscript details my experiences navigating the differences between the two student populations I serve daily.