Natalie Haynes

ELM-490
Ericka Spiezio
September 1, 2019

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

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I understand that students have certain needs that must be
x
met before learning can take place.

I am sensitive to student differences. x

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.

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Professional Disposition Statement
As a teacher, I promise to have high standards for myself in and outside of the classroom. This
includes, leading by example, understanding that teaching is an important profession and others
are looking up to me including my peers, administration and students. I understand that my own
expectations for myself have an affect on my students and how they respect me. I understand
that if I expect students to show up to learn, I must also show up to teach. That includes making
sure that the material I am teaching is well prepared, and that I have taken into consideration the
needs of every one of my students. It is important that students know first and foremost, that I
love them.
All students deserve to learn, and that I have the same expectations for each of them, at their own
level. I expect each student to treat me with respect, honesty, fairness and integrity. As their
teacher, they should also expect this from me. I expect my students to be thoughtful and
responsive listeners and I will do the same. There may be times that I just need to hear a student
out because my first reaction may be wrong. I will show patience and empathy with my students
and remember that they are young and not formal thinkers yet. Finally, I understand that I live in
a community that is vast in culture and religion. It is important that I embrace their cultures and
honor them. It is important that I hold back my own religious beliefs and be mindful of theirs.
Taking this self-assessment help me to see how important professional disposition is as a
Teacher. Some of them are common sense, but others such as being sensitive to student
differences, are things that I really need to take into consideration. Each student is different,
whether that be culture, background, economic status, or educational level. It is so important to
really understand that before creating any lesson that I plan to give. It seems like that would be
common sense, and for majority of the time it is, but to be aware of it for every single lesson
taught and just everyday in the classroom is different.
I have definitely grown throughout my program of study. One of them has been in this class. I
really did not realize how important a professional disposition was. I am one that really cares
about my appearance and what people think of me. I know that the saying, “don’t judge a book
by it’s cover,” really doesn’t mean much because we live in a world full of judges, and it’s just
human nature. I know that I will be judged when I go in for an interview, I know that the
students are looking up to me as a professional. As a parent, I look at my kid’s teacher and I
view how they are dressed and kept. It’s helped me to realize that just because every other
teacher is in leggings and a t-shirt, doesn’t mean that I must dress like that to fit in. I have a
standard to uphold and I will. Another area I have grown in has been how important it is to
incorporate different cultures throughout my lessons. My Christian Worldview class was an eye
opener for me. I live in California, the fishbowl of culture and religion, but somehow, I was still
close minded as to all of it. I understand that these students and their families may be from
different areas, but just assumed that because they are here now, that’s what mattered. I was so
wrong. These student’s foundation is based on these cultures and beliefs and who am I to take
that away from them. Instead, I need to embrace those cultures and let them know how amazing
it is that they are part of something so different and interesting.
The one thing that I would like to improve on is a collaborative effort among educators. I look at
this a little differently now after student teaching. I understand that it is important for the grade

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level to be on the same track as far as where they are in the curriculum. What I also am
understanding is that I do not always have to do everything they are doing. I can do my own
projects, I can teach the lesson a different way, and if I see my kids need a break from
something, I can give it. As a first-year teacher, it may be hard to accomplish this, but I will try.

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