This past semester, I have been able to reflect on my stance multiple times and it has helped come to the point where I can be very reflective. The Professional Teaching Dispositions consist of Professional Behaviors, Initiative and Dependability, Tact and Judgement, Ethical Behavior and Integrity, Collegiality and Responsiveness, Effective Communicator, Desire to Improve Own Performance, Cultural Responsiveness, and Commitment to Profession.
Professional Behaviors are important because it is the foundation to help get a teaching position and I must treat every student teaching opportunity as an ongoing interview. Due to COVID-19, I have had my fair share of exposures and finally, the actual virus, so my attendance was increased compared to past semester. I would consider myself developing as I continue to learn how to be apart of a teaching community and build relationships with students of my own.
As an Art Education student, I am trained to be resourceful and creative when it comes to lesson planning, budgeting, problem solving and design. Initiative and Dependability looks at my resourcefulness, creativity, working responsibly without supervision, and how I advocate for myself. Some elements I am working to be proficient in but advocating for myself is still difficult in situations.
Tact and Judgement is my strongest disposition because once you step into the classroom, it is something that is continuously developing naturally. Personally, and professionally, I am able to see multiple perspectives and understand while articulating own perspective. I have learned that not everyone will agree with different teaching styles and through collaboration, everyone has their own ideas. It is important to be open minded and ready to be flexible. I am developing in this area and continue to during student teaching.
I am proficient in Ethical Behavior and Integrity because before college, I have been taught to be honest, worthy of trust, and respectful. Specifically, with teaching, there are components that are new including confidentiality. I have had multiple experiences knowing students’ situations and having to keep that confidential. By knowing about students, it is easier for me to help and design accommodations if needed. I am proficient in this disposition.
A large part of EDUC 450 was collaboration which directly connects to Collegiality and Responsiveness. As a college student and future educator, it is crucial to be willing to work in a team to reach a shared goal, give receptive and reflective on feedback. I have a difficult time exercising honest feedback when I need to because I can feel like it is personal. I have been working on having a professional mentality when giving feedback.
The Effective Communicator disposition has been the most constant development through my entire college experience because I have had meetings, interviews, and writing that I have had to complete. This disposition has made me grow to become more professional through oral and written communication. I am developing because I work on demonstrating rhetorical situation efficiently, use technology appropriately and finally, listen.
Desire to improve own performance can look different in many ways, but I am always learning about Art Education opportunities, meeting with mentors, and taking an interest in my own growth. Obviously with COVID, I have not been able to get involved that I usually do but hope that opportunities pop up in the future. I am developing because I am learning the needs for personal and professional growth and how to take responsibility for my own performance.
Cultural Responsiveness is the most impactful and important disposition for every teacher to keep working on because every student deserves a seat at the table, including content taught, sharing experiences, and learning about others. Students and teachers need to consider class, race, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, and special needs. The most evident aspect to understand is how families and communities affect student learning because this is the most I have experienced. I have gotten the opportunity to dive into research and listen to experiences that were not like mine. I am developing in cultural responsiveness but plan on taking any opportunity I can to help educate myself on issues in and out of the classroom. As my professors always say, I am going to learn alongside students and emphasize the fact that we will never stop learning. Commitment to Profession is to be lifelong learner, showcase passion for teaching, committed to justice, equity, equality personally and professionally, models democratic ideals, awareness of program policies. Because my journey has just begun, I am developing.