All educators bring a unique perspective into the field of education—all with varying professional dispositions. My professional dispositions may be unique, but it has been created with the best interest of all my students. While qualities of passion, leadership, patience and excellent classroom-management skills are not only important and extremely necessary, the journey towards being an outstanding teacher expands to so much more. First and foremost, it all begins with one’s mind-set. I believe that teachers have to be readily prepared for the task at hand and that is to help guide and support all students through an amazing academic journey. Going from working as a teacher’s assistant to teaching first-grade, I learned that one’s academic journey should not be limited to worksheets and textbooks. Instead, one’s learning experience should be filled with engaging and rich activities that go beyond the content filled textbooks. Endless worksheets and readings from textbooks do not benefit the learning abilities of all students, but instead, show students there is only one way to learn—limiting their abilities to grow in their learning. With a positive and determined mind-set, I strive to take teaching to the next level—a level where learning becomes such a positive and fun experience that the students don’t realize they are both learning. I believe that outstanding teachers pour their entire heart into their class, forging relationships and creating experiences that will be remembered forever. Children are amazing individuals and my experiences have shaped my professional dispositions towards spending time building fantastic relationships. I believe outstanding teachers find ways to bring both national and state standards to life within the classroom, and last (but definitely not least), outstanding teachers are passionate. This passion for teaching can be seen my eyes and attitude, as my students look forward to each and every school day. Passionate teachers live to make an impact of every single one of their students and this passion is so strong that outstanding teachers will not question “why” they are in the field of education. Although my professional dispositions are numerous and varied and my beliefs are unique, the passion I have for teaching is strong and my heart is ready to continue supporting and engaging our youth in an incredible academic journey. Through personal reflection, I can look back on what worked in the classroom and what did not work. For example, a classroom is always going to be changing. Every new school year brings a classroom with new students. These new students are going to bring new abilities, strengths, weaknesses, and interests to the table that are going to have to be accommodated into lesson plans. I believe that as an educator, reflection is important to ensure that what worked in past years, may not work with students this new year. By engaging in reflection, I also will work to reach out to fellow teachers, administration, and even parents to hear feedback. While my teaching style will change as I gain experience, my professional dispositions will not. A career in the education system provides me with a “teaching family,” filled with ample opportunities for advice and ideas to help me grow into becoming the best teacher I can be. It is important to keep in mind that as a teacher it is essential to remember the term "professionalism." In order to earn the respect of my colleagues and students, I must present myself in a professional manner. This includes the way I dress, how I interact with my students, how I interact with my colleagues, as well as act upon my personal ethics—including my judgments and morals. These dispositions set me with the guidelines on what it takes to be an effective teacher in the education system today.
InTASC Standard: Standard #5: Application of Content