PROFESSIONAL DISPOSITIONS

Student Name CSU

Zero Eliot Marshall ID
831-862-305

Teachers exhibit dispositions required for effective teaching and professional practice.

PROFESSIONAL BEHAVIORS FEEDBACK

Excellence in attendance
✔ Excellence in promptness Total for this disposition:
Dresses to convey professionalism appropriate to site and content 1 /4

Understands and uses professional language in all public settings

INITIATIVE AND DEPENDABILITY FEEDBACK

Demonstrates creativity and resourcefulness
✔ Seeks opportunities to further own learning
✔ Works effectively with limited supervision Total for this disposition:
✔ Identifies problems and is able to prioritize, propose solutions, options and resources 4 /6

Advocates for self; takes responsibility for own actions; is responsive

✔ Completes responsibilities with quality, without excuses or prompting

TACT AND JUDGMENT FEEDBACK

✔
Demonstrates sensitivity to others' feelings and opinions while articulating own opinions,
feelings, and needs
✔ Approaches situations with an open mind Total for this disposition:
3 /4
✔ Appropriately uses verbal and nonverbal language and cues to remain positive and respectful
Perceives what to do or say in order to maintain professional relations with all stakeholders

ETHICAL BEHAVIOR AND INTEGRITY FEEDBACK

✔ Consistently honest and worthy of trust
✔ Honors confidentiality
Total for this disposition:
Assesses information critically—fact from opinion, right from wrong—and responds honestly 3 /4
✔
and respectfully
Consistently models professional standards of conduct

COLLEGIALITY AND RESPONSIVENESS FEEDBACK

✔ Is collaborative: willing to share resources, seek advice, and work toward common goals
✔ Demonstrates ability to compromise and negotiate
✔ Is respectful of all and works effectively in teams Total for this disposition:
✔ Is open to constructive criticism 6 /6
✔ Keeps an open mind: is receptive and reflective concerning perceptions of others
✔ Proactively addresses feedback through an adjustment in performance

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 EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATOR FEEDBACK
✔
Professional oral expression: expressive, articulate, respectful, effective for purpose,
appropriate to situation
Professional written expression: organized, clear, effective for purpose, appropriate to
✔
situation, free of grammatical errors and misspellings Total for this disposition:
4 /4
Demonstrates understanding of audience and purpose, body language and eye contact
✔
during communication situations
✔ Uses digital media in a professional manner

DESIRE TO IMPROVE OWN PERFORMANCE FEEDBACK

✔ Demonstrates a responsibility for own professional practice
Total for this disposition:
✔ Actively pursues new and better ways of teaching 3 /3
✔ Expresses sincere interest in personal and professional growth

CULTURAL RESPONSIVENESS FEEDBACK

✔ Demonstrates the belief that all students can learn and are welcome in the classroom
Demonstrates commitment to culturally responsive teaching
Demonstrates the desire and ability to plan, assess, and implement instruction to address,
✔ Total for this disposition:
engage, and nurture the learning of every student 4 /5
✔
Demonstrates a commitment to the growth and development of each student by taking into
account issues of class, gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, language, and special needs
✔ Demonstrates an understanding of how families and communities impact student learning

COMMITMENT TO PROFESSION FEEDBACK

✔ Demonstrates a deep commitment to lifelong learning
✔ Expresses passion and enthusiasm for teaching Total for this disposition:
✔ Models democratic ideals personally and professionally 4 /4
✔ Demonstrates awareness of program policies and professional practices

Please check the box below that most closely describes the candidate's overall dispositions:
The candidate’s displayed dispositions are inconsistent-to-weak. General interactions fall significantly
EMERGENT
short of those expected of a professional educator. The candidate’s dispositions, as demonstrated by daily
< 20 POINTS interactions, are sufficiently weak so as to call into questions their fitness to become a successful teacher.

The candidate’s displayed dispositions are not consistently strong and positive. General interactions do not
DEVELOPING
always meet professional expectations. The candidate’s dispositions, as demonstrated by daily interactions,
21-30 POINTS could be strengthened to improve the candidate’s ability to become a successful teacher.

The candidate’s displayed dispositions are consistent with those of a successful beginning teacher. The
PROFICIENT
✔ candidate’s dispositions, as demonstrated by daily interactions, contribute to a positive learning climate in
31-35 POINTS the classroom and school.

The candidate’s displayed dispositions are consistent with the highest degree of professionalism expected
ACCOMPLISHED
of a successful teacher. The candidate’s dispositions, as demonstrated by daily interactions, are consistently
36-40 POINTS positive and productive.

Please clarify areas of concern, using the space below:

Student Signature Date Assessor Signature Date

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Dispositions Thesaurus
DISPOSITION: a tendency, inclination or attitude toward a professional behavior

This document is meant as a descriptor guide for instructors and students as they search for clarity in
describing behaviors that would exemplify each of the following professional dispositions.

Professional Behaviors

The teacher candidate displays consistent:

• Excellence in attendance
• Excellence in punctuality
• Positive attitudes towards each and every learner
• Personal and professional appearance appropriate to site expectations
• Affirming behaviors toward students from diverse backgrounds
• Belief that they can make a difference to students and the profession
• Understanding of how learners help to create knowledge
• Belief in the importance of a community of learners
• Knowledge about the lives of their students
• Willingness to learn about and respond to the needs of each and every learner

Initiative and Dependability

The teacher candidate consistently:

• Questions when necessary
• Helps others
• Uses proactive rather than reactive behaviors
• Does not wait for others to act on their behalf
• Looks for alternatives when appropriate
• Sees opportunities and moves into the situation
• Seeks options when problems arise
• Seeks own resources
• Accepts personal responsibility for situations; does not use excuses
• Is adaptable and flexible
• Goes above and beyond what is not explicitly requested
• Actively participates
• Asks self what is needed for personal success
• Is prompt and prepared; calls if late or absent
• Responds with honesty
• Knows expectations and acts accordingly
• Completes assignments thoroughly
• Follows through on promises and responsibilities
• Supports peers/colleagues
• Prepares quality work
• Communicates fully and effectively for situations
• Takes care of actions that result from advising sessions

Tact and Judgment

The teacher candidate consistently:

• Is sensitive to others’ feelings
• Is respectful in discussions
• Displays good manners

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 • Thinks before they speak or act
• Uses positive word choices
• Uses constructive comments
• Exhibits good judgment
• Exhibits an open-mind
• Does not allow others to poison a group
• Displays only appropriate dress
• Uses positive tone of voice and body language to communicate thoughts

Ethical Behavior and Integrity

The teacher candidate consistently:

• Honors confidentiality
• Displays honesty in words and actions
• Knows right and wrong
• Admits mistakes and accepts responsibility
• Displays strong understanding of democracy and citizenship
• Considers all sides of an issues
• Is genuine and authentic in words and actions
• Does not lie
• Displays a responsible attitude
• Is respectful and able to be respected
• Is trustworthy
• Will not resort to plagiarism

Collegiality and Responsiveness

The teacher candidate consistently:

• Works and plays well with others
• Takes responsibility for own actions
• Learns from others and shares willingly
• Is willing to work to improve
• Seeks advice/feedback and is appreciative
• Listens actively and reflectively with an open mind
• Is respectful
• Is willing to compromise
• Reaches out and is positive with peers and teachers
• Participates effectively
• Handles ambiguity well and is tolerant
• Smiles, is friendly and open
• Compromises and negotiates
• Is authentic and genuine
• Is willing to try suggestions
• Accepts constructive criticism
• Is willing to engage in constructive confrontation

Effective Communicator

The teacher candidate consistently:

• Uses professional oral language
• Uses professional written language
• Uses respectful language
• Uses effective eye contact and body language

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 • Is an active and reflective listener
• Responds calmly in all situations
• Is articulate, speaks clearly and kindly
• Thinks before speaking
• Is succinct and effective with written and oral assignments and communications
• Adapts messages to audience and purpose
• Takes risks
• Checks on audience understanding

Desire to Improve Own Performance

The teacher candidate consistently:

• Asks for help and seeks ways to grow
• Seeks feedback from many sources
• Is aware of the importance of reflection
• Asks for help to improve
• Looks for additional information
• Identifies ways to improve
• Takes risks to try new ideas
• Is committed to face diversity with care and concern
• Understands their part in the process of growth
• Has the ability to accept criticism without taking it personally
• Shows progress in skill acquisition
• Is open to the ideas of others and is reflective
• Enjoys taking guidance from others
• Effectively implements suggestions in practice
• Works to project new learning into future practice

Culturally Responsive

The teacher candidate consistently:

• Looks at student differences as personal opportunities to grow and develop
• Shares the belief that students learn differently and those differences are strengths rather than
obstacles
• Demonstrates the desire and ability to plan curriculum using the knowledge of students and their
lives
• Asks students for help in understanding differences
• Is aware that family and community impact student motivation and learning
• Understands and admits to personal biases
• Shows an understanding of personal communication, teaching and learning styles
• Demonstrates the desire and ability to create a community that is safe and nurturing to all students
• Shows a concern for issues of equity and social justice
• Talks and writes competently about the place of public education within a democracy
• Engages students in discussions concerning culture, equity, democracy and learning
• Provides multiple ways of assessing students

Commitment to the Profession

The teacher candidate is consistently:

• Committed to being an excellent teacher and is able and willing to work toward that purpose
• Willing to go beyond the day
• Seeking opportunities to work with children
• Committed to teaching as their primary profession

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• Demonstrating a desire to learn
• Looking for information beyond text
• Demonstrating that they value and understand the many facets of the profession
• Demonstrating the love of students over academic material
• Culturally responsive; desiring to reach and teach all
• Striving for improvement
• Aware that it is not possible to know everything
• Caring of young people and working to keep abreast of information concerning their development
• A lifelong learner
• Aware and accepting of their public responsibilities as a professional
• Engaged in appropriate discussions and new inquiry with professional colleagues
• Aware of the diversity, exceptionality and individuality in their classroom
• Eager, enthusiastic and motivated
• Striving to learn and engage in inquiry
• Aware of the importance of being a member of the professional and larger community

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