Dispositions for Current Middle Childhood Education Majors

When you were admitted to the MCE Program, you were asked to review the Program Dispositions expectations and process and to sign the form indicating that you had done so. It is the responsibility of the College of Education, Health, and Society to successfully prepare candidates to become effective teachers. All of our initial licensure programs require candidates to demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and dispositions outlined in the conceptual framework of the College of Education as they align with the expected behaviors of beginning teachers. Each candidate will be evaluated on these dispositions by faculty and school personnel and provided with feedback to assist with their progress. The Disposition Review evaluation is a required criteria of each Benchmark phase of your program.

Dispositions

Dispositions are defined as how values, commitments, and professional ethics manifest themselves in professional practice. Dispositions are guided by beliefs and attitudes related to values such as caring, fairness, honesty, responsibility, and social justice (NCATE, 2001) and are operationally defined as tendencies or beliefs that are conveyed or made public through observable behaviors. The following dispositions are expected of teacher education candidates in the university classroom and in the schools:

Professional Commitment and Responsibility

The candidate demonstrates a commitment to the profession and adheres to the legal and ethical standards set forth by it.

The Candidate:

• Maintains appropriate confidentiality
• Demonstrates compliance with laws/regulations
• Demonstrates compliance with policies/standards
• Maintains professional appearance
• Is prepared for class or appointments
• Is punctual for class or appointments
• Demonstrates academic integrity

Professional Relationships

The candidate develops, maintains, and models appropriate relationships within the workplace, community, and larger diverse society. 

The Candidate:

• Demonstrates high expectations for others
• Demonstrates respect for the beliefs of others
• Demonstrates effective collaboration skills
• Demonstrates respect for cultural differences
• Demonstrates compassion for those experiencing difficulty
• Demonstrates patience during the learning process
• Demonstrates flexibility during the learning process

Critical Thinking and Reflective Practice

The candidate demonstrates a commitment to continuous development within the profession.

The Candidate:

• Demonstrates critical thinking in written or verbal form
• Addresses issues of concern professionally
• Responds positively to constructive criticism
• Actively seeks out new information
• Seeks help when needed
• Demonstrates personal progress
• Demonstrates reflective practice in written or verbal form