Chelsea Bowden

PEI: Reflection
Due: September 3rd
Dr. Rogers Reflection: Dispositions
Today, I had the opportunity to listen to Dr. Rogers talk about
Dispositions and the importance of a positive attitude in the classroom.
I was glad we got to talk about dispositions in a deeper sense because
prior to today I didnt understand the full purpose of dispositions and
how or why those affected us as future teachers. Being an effective
teacher as lot to do with your knowledge base, teaching skills, but
most importantly your dispositions within the classroom and school
environment. Today, I really reflected on dispositions of past teachers
Ive had and the impact those teachers made in my life and how I want
to reflect that positive attitude in my future classroom.
Dispositions arent something I believe can be taught, but are
instilled in you over time. Dispositions can be observed, practiced, or
simply a passion that drives an attitude of good teaching practices. I
tend to believe that dispositions are something a teacher already has
within her and are a reflection of her compassion for teaching students.
Also, your peers can be a good source of learning how to act in a
classroom, especially if they have a positive attitude and have a
passion for teaching. Teachers with good dispositional attitudes tend to
reflect that onto their students, which in-turn produces class
participation and positive classroom attitudes from the students.
Research backs these findings and states that if a teacher lacks
positive dispositions in the classroom, his or her students pick up on
this attitude and they begin to reflect negativity in class. This is not
what we wont for our students and we should also strive to engage
and be enthusiastic in teaching our students. While Dr. Rogers was
presenting today, she asked us to write down qualities that make a
great teacher. Everyone in the class wrote down answers that reflected
dispositions, which just goes to show you have important they are to
the students. This was powerful to me and helped me see the benefit
of always putting my best self out there to teach young children.
Character in a saint means the disposition of Jesus Christ
persistently manifested. (Oswald Chambers) I absolutely loved this
quote Dr. Rogers presented to the class today. I think that basically
sums up why dispositions are so important for pre-service teachers to
know about and help realize the importance of a constant positive
attitude in the classroom. I believe dispositions are a life skill that can
be applied to all facades of life and should be exemplified in teaching
especially.