Kelsey Skillman

EDCU 2010
Professor Millican
9/10/2015
The Dispositions of an Effective Educator

1. Professional ethics:
Maintaining my position as a positive role model is a major step in becoming an effective
professional educator. A teachers regular attendance communicates to the students that you are
dedicated to them and their learning. It also may help encourage students to be on time and
show up for class regularly because they know you care. Punctuality is important in a classroom
setting because it displays order and authority. Students learn from your example when they see
the benefits of being productive with time. Dressing in a professional manner helps earn respect
and shows that you value your work. It is important to not only dress in a professional manner,
but to also have a professional demeanor. Once again, this will help earn respect from students.
Their parents will feel assured that you are serious about your work, and that you are concerned
about their childrens education and growth. However, I also like to make sure that while I am
professional, I still incorporate fun into my classroom. I want my students to enjoy coming class
yet still respect me and see me as a role model. I feel as though I will do well in these areas in
becoming an effective educator.
It is very important to have positive work habits and interpersonal skills. Some examples of
these are having a positive attitude, being dependable, honest, and having respect for others.
Having a positive attitude plays a huge role in personal success. Looking at difficult situations
with a positive attitude helps motivate me to overcome obstacles. At various times throughout
my career I anticipate that it will be difficult to stay positive. However, in order to be successful
and complete whatever tasks are set before me, I will have to try my best to maintain a positive
attitude. Being dependable is extremely important in any work environment, as well as honesty
and respect for others. Honesty, respect for others, and dependability are valued in any
individual because they display maturity and earn respect. All teachers should have these virtues
because of their important position in society. I feel as though I am a very dependable person
who is honest and respectful to the people around me, therefore, I will succeed in this area of
teaching.
Confidentiality is a very important aspect of teaching. Students and parents depend on the
educator to maintain privacy for each individual in the classroom. That can vary from socio-
economic status, learning disabilities, or even the grades of individual tests or homework. I feel
I will do well in this area because I understand the importance of maintaining student privacy. I
want my students and their families to trust me so that I can do my best in helping each student
succeed.
The ability to make decisions under pressure is extremely important, especially in the classroom.
Knowing when to take action and being able to make quick but thoughtful decisions is
something I know I need to work on. The safety of the students should be number one in any
classroom, and there may come a time when my decision making may help prevent or stop a
dangerous situation. At this time, I dont feel confident that I would know what to do if the time
comes.
2. Collaboration
Collaborating with other professionals is a great way to broaden your knowledge. Listening to
their techniques and what tools they find useful may enhance my skills in the classroom, and
help me avoid making mistakes. Also, talking with teachers who have previously worked with
my students, may help prepare me for specific individual needs. I would then be able to
incorporate their advice into my teaching, hopefully helping these specific students succeed. I
feel as though I will do well in this area because I am concerned about my students as
individuals, and I like to prepare myself to the best of my ability.
Resources are a major way to facilitate student learning. Using helpful tools to create fun ways
for students to learn, is a great motivation for many. Making sure these recourses are available
even for lower income families, needs to be a priority. Encouraging study outside the classroom
will also prepare students for college and higher levels of education. It is my job as an educator
to help make these resources available for all students through family, culture, and the
community. I feel like I will be strong in this area because I want my students to have resources
outside the classroom so they can be encouraged to learn and study in fun productive ways.
3. Diversity
Every student is unique. They learn in different ways, and each has had their own life
experiences. It is important to know there is diversity in every classroom and that each
individual matters. It is important to spot strengths and weaknesses in each individual and use
them to benefit the student. Encourage them to grow in their weaker areas by helping them
understand the importance of strengthening their weaknesses. If you see one student struggling
more than the rest, try and find learning strategies that would work better for him or her. Mold
the way you teach in order to reach your class, and even certain individuals. Even though I feel
that my dedication to individual students and their success is strong, I am not sure if I will be
able to help every student. I would like to improve my skills so that I can learn strategies to help
them, that way I can try to reach more students.
All students deserve to be treated equally. This means learning opportunities need to be offered
to all students, including students with disabilities. The students with disabilities must have the
help they need in order to perform to the best of their abilities. Because I understand the
importance of fairness, especially in a classroom setting, I feel that I will be able to succeed in
this area.
4. Self-Reflection
It cannot be emphasized enough how important self-reflection is in becoming an effective
professional educator. A lot is learned through self-evaluation. One major way to becoming a
better teacher is to discover your strengths and weaknesses. Put in effort to improve your
weaknesses and accentuate your strengths. However, sometimes we do not uncover all of our
faults. To help us find them, we should seek for constructive feedback from more experienced
educators, and use their advice to grow. Mistakes are inevitable. Fortunately, we can chose to
learn from them, and avoid making the same mistakes. Self-reflection is very important to me, I
will do well in this because I am always looking to better myself. The decision to allow self-
growth not only helps me as an individual teacher, it also benefits the thousands of students who
will learn from me.
5. Belief in students ability to learn
All students deserve an equal chance to achieve success. Part of their success comes from the
teacher believing in the student, and that they can achieve their highest potential. No matter
what level a student may be at, it is important to give them all equal opportunity. Developing a
students problem solving abilities helps prepare them to become independent and self-directed
learners. This helps prepare students to be successful in reaching the college level. I feel I will
be successful in this area because I believe my goal as an educator is to prepare children for
college and help them succeed.
Effective planning and classroom organization is extremely important in becoming an effective
professional educator. The time spent in the classroom should be focused on learning.
Sometimes this can be difficult when distractions interrupt a class and its productivity. It is very
important to use time wisely and have the tools that will help maximize the time available for
instruction and learning. I feel I will need to further prepare myself for this as I havent had
much experience in this aspect of teaching. I will do my best to improve in this area because I
understand the importance.
6. Technology
Technology is a major tool in helping teachers save time and make learning more fun and
accessible for their students. Making sure these technology resources are available across
school, family, culture, and community are very important because they encourage students to
learn on their own. It also creates better ways in monitoring student success. The advancements
in technology are great ways to better organize and plan so that students can get the most out of
their education. Also, observing other teachers and how they use technology to benefit student
learning, can further advance my skills and better prepare me to be successful in my own
classroom.
7. The Teaching Profession
As an educator I am responsible for anything that occurs in my classroom. While some things
may happen that are out of my control, it is my job as a teacher to keep the children safe and take
action to resolve any issues. This rule also goes for anything school-wide that contributes to
student learning. All students should have a safe and orderly environment. I not only have to
use sound judgment and thoughtful decision making, I also must consider the consequences. I
feel as though I need to be better prepared in knowing what to do if a difficult situation should
arise. However, I do believe I have the ability to make wise decisions and use sound judgment if
I understand what steps to take in handling the situation. I believe this will come with
experience.
It is also important as an educator to be open to learning. It is important to realize that even
though you have finished college, you are still in need of growth. This can be done through
observation of other teachers, being observed and seeking constructive feedback, and through
noticing your own mistakes and learning from them. It is also a good habit to get involved with
professional growth activities. This will show your desire to become a better teacher, while
helping improve your skills and knowledge. I will do well in this area because I am dedicated to
becoming the best teacher that I can be, and am going to follow whatever steps I need to in order
to become an effective professional educator.
8. Professional Growth
It cannot be stressed enough, how important it is to strive for growth as an educator. Even after
college, one must dedicate themselves to becoming a better teacher in any way possible. It is
important to get involved with professional growth activities within and outside the school. This
is just one simple way an educator can learn new strategies to enhance teaching and impose
student learning. There are many other ways to achieve personal growth. For example, it is
important to identify your own flaws. This is the first step in improving yourself. However,
sometimes these flaws are hard to spot on your own. A good way to help with this is being
observed and seeking constructive feedback from other more experienced educators. A teachers
willingness to learn from others and mistakes is key in becoming an effective professional
educator. I will do well in this area because I am dedicated to improving myself in any way that
I can. I want to be prepared for the classroom and achieve my highest potential as an educator. I
am willing to take whatever steps are needed in order to achieve this goal.