Professional Dispositions Assessment

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

I communicate caring, concern, and a willingness to

X
become involved with others.

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 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.

My personal professional disposition statement is as follows: As a teacher I want to show my

students how much I care, not only about their academics, but about the whole child. I will work

to treat my students with fairness and respect at all times and spend time getting to know each

student at a personal level, striving to understand their background and where they come from, in

order to best serve them. I will challenge them to ask questions and seek to get their answers

through critical thinking critically in and out of the classroom. I will maintain communication

with those who support the student to ensure that the students are getting the most support

possible both inside and outside of school, all the while creating strong relationships.

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 I believe that all students can learn and deserve a place to learn with the supportive proper

tools to ensure that this happens. I will provide my students with a classroom environment that

allows them to learn and grow not only in an academic manner but socially, emotionally, and in

developmentally appropriate ways.

As a teacher I will seek guidance from other professionals who can support me and continue

to help me grow as an educator. I will also continuously reflect on my practices to ensure that I

am continuing to do my best both in my teaching and in my relationship with my students in

order to best help them. I endeavor to show up to work every day ready in mind, body, and spirit

to teach my students.

My self-assessment supports my professional dispositions statement because it allowed me to

see what I truly believe about my teaching practices and how I relate to my students. I am very

invested in my teaching, believing strongly that my time in the classroom has to do with teaching

curriculum, but also has to do with engaging the whole student and helping them to grow.

High Expectations, Respect for the Diversity of Others, Professional Conduct, Reflection,

Honesty, and Compassion are all professional dispositions that I feel like I started my program

with a good grasp on. I will continue to work to improve each of the Professional Dispositions

when appropriate, but with these in particular I believe that I have observed significant growth.

I believe I have a different idea of fairness as it relates to the classroom since going through

my program. As teachers, we have to regularly differentiate for our students; curriculum may not

always be equal, but I will do my best to be fair to all my students. In order to differentiate

appropriately, I need to know my students and their needs. Generally, when a teacher has

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intentionally taken the time to get to know the students, the students are going to understand that

the teacher is trying to help.

I believe I have grown and hope to continue to advance in the area of curiosity. When I

began my teaching journey my inclination was to answer questions instead of asking the students

to ask themselves questions. For me, this came with slowing myself down so that I didn’t feel the

need to rush through material; when I was able to slow down I was able to challenge my students

to ask themselves and each other questions as they worked. Now, when my students encounter

something that they don’t know how to do, whether that is on a math worksheet or out on the

playground, I ask them how they could solve this problem and let them make suggestions before

I give any. They will often come up with better ideas than I would have.

I believe I have grown in the area of advocacy as I now work exclusively with elementary

students and first graders in particular, as I previously worked primarily with high schoolers. I

have always strived to create relationships with my students beyond what is going on in the

classroom and feel I have done a good job with this. However, in working with first graders I

have grown in “assisting students in finding resolutions to their problems” (Professional

Dispositions, n.d.). This grade level is actively learning how to be socially appropriate with each

other, regularly experiencing struggles amongst each other, so much of my job is helping them

find solutions to what is going on.

Since the day I started teaching I have been dedicated to this profession. I continue to strive

toward finding a good work/life balance, as I want to do my best for my students and continue to

learn and grow, but make sure I have time outside of school to do what recharges me.

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 The Model Code of Ethics states that as teachers we have a “responsibility to the profession,

responsibility for professional competence, responsibility to students, responsibility to the school

community, and responsible and ethical use of technology” (NASDTEC, 2015). This code of

ethics directly relates to the Professional Disposition. Each disposition could fall into one of

these categories. Some examples, such as high expectations and advocacy could fall under

responsibility to the students, while professional conduct can be included under our

responsibility for professional competence, and honesty could fall under all the sections above.

The Model Code of Ethics and the Professional Dispositions should be used together to ensure

that we meet the needs of our students and do our best as teachers for all those we work with or

come in contact with.

As I took the assessment above, I was made more aware of what I can work on. On the

assessment, the only one that I could say I didn’t “strongly agree” with is “I am patient when

working with students”. I generally can say that I am extremely patient with my students, but this

year I have many students who struggle to focus, and I sometimes lose my patience. This comes

into focus when I have taught the material in multiple different ways before expecting the

students to do independent work and they still seem to not understand what I have said. I don’t

mind the students asking for help and want to help my students whenever they need it; however,

my frustration and lack of patience comes from the fact that I often observe that they aren’t

paying attention while I am teaching the material. I believe as I continue my teaching career I

will find more tools to help my students to learn better and I hope this struggle continues to find

resolution.

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 References
NASDTEC. (2015). Model Code of Ethics for Educators (MCEE). Retrieved from

https://www.nasdtec.net/page/MCEE_Doc

Professional Disposition of Learners[PDF]. (n.d.). Phoenix: Grand Canyon University.

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