Sydney Wenger

2-25-19
ELM-490 Formatted: Font: 12 pt

Professional Dispositions Assessment

Please indicate your level of agreement with each statement listed below using the
response scale of 1-5. Use this assessment to inform your Professional Dispositions
Statement.
1 = Strongly Disagree 2 = Disagree 3 = Undecided 4 = Agree 5 = Strongly Agree

Professional Dispositions Criteria 1 2 3 4 5

I believe a teacher must use a variety of instructional
X
strategies to optimize student learning.
I understand that students learn in many different ways . X

I demonstrate qualities of humor, empathy, and warmth. X

I am a thoughtful and responsive listener. X

I assume responsibility when working with others. X

I believe that all students can learn. X

I believe it is important to involve all students in

X
learning.

I believe the classroom environment a teacher creates

X
greatly affects students' learning and development.

I view teaching as an important profession. X

I understand that teachers’ expectations affect student

X
learning.

I view teaching as a collaborative effort among educators. X

I understand that students have certain needs that must be

X
met before learning can take place.

I am sensitive to student differences. X

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 I communicate caring, concern, and a willingness to
X
become involved with others.

I am punctual and reliable in my attendance. X

I maintain a professional appearance. X

I believe it is my job to create a learning environment

conducive to the development of students’ self- X
confidence and competence.

I respect the cultures of all students and am sensitive to

X
cultural norms.

I honor my commitments. X

I treat students with dignity and respect at all times. X

I am willing to receive feedback and assessment of my

X
teaching.

I am patient when working with students. X

I am open to adjusting and revising my plans to meet

X
student needs.

I communicate in ways that demonstrate respect for the

X
feelings, ideas, and contributions of others.

I believe it is important to learn about students and their

X
communities.

Professional Dispositions Statement:

I say that the most important dispositions of a teacher are to make sure we are setting
high yet achievable goals for our students, meeting every learning need of each individual
student through fairness and understanding of their diverse backgrounds and learning needs, all
while maintaining a good professional demeanor through commitment, honesty, collaboration,
and handling critical feedback well. I would say that by living and teaching through this
statement, I will be a great teacher. The most important parts of being a teacher are mentioned
above, we should be able to set high and achievable goals, have compassion for our students,
their unique learning needs, backgrounds, and cultural differences as well as being able to handle
feedback that is crucial to growing in our job as well as always being honest, understanding that
collaboration among teachers is beneficial, and being committed to always striving to be our best
version of ourselves.
My self-assessment shows that I uphold what I have mentioned in my professional
dispositions statement to a ‘t’. Through this program of study, I have had the opportunity to work

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with a company at a school with students with extreme behavioral difficulties. It was here that I
learned the importance of setting high yet achievable expectations for all students. I also learned
here just how much a student’s background, and culture will affect their present ability to learn
on a day to day basis. I have had students tell me in the past that the reason they won’t try
something is because their ADHD prohibits them from being able to learn. I have never had to
explain to a student before that yes, they are capable of learning and meeting their goals despite
their exceptionalities. It was so sad to me that this child was told throughout their life that this
was the reason they ended up where they are now. I had to change their entire way of thinking,
by setting small goals they could achieve and get more immediate success. When they saw that
they were meeting these goals, they were able to start to set goals for themselves and they were
accountable for their own progress. They would remind me even before I noticed that they had
met one of their goals and get to work towards a new one. It was amazing how well this turned
around this child’s way of thinking about their abilities.
My second experience is with a child I personally was a 1 to 1 aid for. When I came to
the school, she had extreme behaviors and when I left for student teaching, she was already
working on transitioning back to her home school. I made a huge impact in this child’s life, but I
know that this would not have been possible without the help from the amazing staff and the
relationship I build with the girl and her mother. I would call home every day to her mother
updating her on her child’s day and behavior. Because of this I was able to build a strong
relationship with her and she would tell me crucial information that may be affecting her day to
day. It was here that I learned the value of feedback from those working with me and her mother.
She would let me know how her daughter was responding at home and give me suggestions of
how to best reach her to help her behavior and learning. I took all of this information to look at
myself and how I was working with the child every day to make changes to how I would handle
situations at school. With all of this collaboration and feedback from the staff who had worked
with the child before I was there and her mother’s words, I was able to work with this young girl
and get her behavior back in check so she could go back to her home school.
I feel that although I feel I meet all of these dispositions on the assessment, that there is
always areas in which I can improve. I would say it would be beneficial to get more involved in
the community that I student teach in. I do not live in the same town, but I know the value of
getting to know the community and parents of my students. I feel that simply, because I have
only been student teaching for a short while, I just need more time to do this. I also feel that I
need more time to establish relationships with my students. I feel that I have gained the trust and
respect of many of them, but that I have not done my best yet. There are still children that I need
to get this relationship down pat with so that I can do my best when I take over the classroom
fully.

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