PROFESSIONAL

DISPOSITIONS STATEMENT
ASSESSMENT
Crystal M. Cass

SPD: 590
GRAND CANYON UNIVERSITY
2/6/2022
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 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-confidence X
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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 I feel my professional disposition statement reflects how I carry myself as an educator in

the classroom. I scored myself as 5 in each range because I have worked incredibly hard over my

first few years teaching to reach this level of self- assessment. The first few aspects of the

professional disposition are about making sure that all students have access to learning and that a

teacher must be flexible and ope n minded to implement the various teaching strategies that can

support their students. As I have been teaching, I have learned that most often a scaffold that

works for one student may benefit others in the class as well. For example, I gave one student a

graphic organizer to gather information and their thoughts to help the put together an essay. Each

box of the graphic organizer represented the information that should be present in each

paragraph of the essay. As I moved around the room, I realized that many students were having

difficulty organizing their thoughts to put together the essay. The next time we had a writing

sample to complete I provided all the students with the scaffolded graphic organizer, and it was a

game changer. Suddenly, the kids just knew what to do they used the information in the organizer

to complete the writing task.

Throughout my program of study, I have also learned to be patient with students. In most

cases they want to succeed so if they are acting out, not turning in work or failing exams there

may be something deeper going on than just that they do not want to do the work. Taking time to

get to know students and their families is an important part of the bond and trust students have

with their teachers. The more the teacher knows about their student the more likely they will be

able to make adjustments and be mindful of the students needs. Students are also more likely to

ask for help when they are comfortable with a teacher. Sometimes it is hard to c ultivate these

relationships and teachers are held to high expectations not only from their administrators but

also the state they are teaching in. Students’ academic success is sometimes determined by a test

(like in New York State). Getting through content and holding students to a bar of academic

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success can be difficult. I have learned to set the bar high for all of my students but to make

classwork grades, assessments and projects like goals they can achieve. Each student may start in

a different place or have more supports than others but eventually they should all be able to meet

and obtain the academic goal they have set for themselves. The connection between professional

dispositions and the model code of ethics are the basic guidelines for how a teacher should

represent themselves. As educ ators we have high standards for our students academic learning

and behavioral expectations. If the teacher is not setting their own standards for excellence, how

can they expect students to meet their own expectations. The steps that I will take to improve

where necessary is to collaborate with peers and veteran teachers. I will try to absorb as much

from those who have experience teaching as I can. I will have my peers watch me teach and give

feedback, constructive criticism is a great way to learn and get new ideas from other

professionals . Professional development is another way to get more information and learn new

teaching methods or strategies for differentiation. Professional developments can also provide me

with updated information for the standards of the state.

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