Can Dispositions Be Taught?

No, because, in my opinion, dispositions are tightly connected to personal experiences. We all know that experiences vary according to each individual because different individuals live different realities. However, I believe dispositions can be shared. When we share dispositions, we open room for more realities, which consequently can teach us some meaningful information. I think any disposition is valuable, because we can build improvements on everyone's dispostions.

Teachers and students should be more encouranged to enhance their dispostions. I say it so because dispositions bring values, beliefs and experiences that can guide us through our life experiences. Dispostions help us check our progress as well as our failures. They help us ponder over what we think is right and how we act according to what we believe. Dispositions can be very eye opening too in a sense that they tell you who you are indeed.

Resilience

In my opinion, if one wants to be a teacher, one must know that this can be a very joyful and stressful career. I believe that most of teachers-to-be know that already. I just think they do not know that is just TOO much stress.
However, in order to cope with stress, teachers must realize that they too have a life. That is, spending your sleep time to correct tests is not healthy. Teachers must take care of their healthy. I know teachers to be are more than willing to do their best to be the greatest role model, but that might lead them to stress too.
Another way to avoid stress is to priotize things. We won't be able to teach all we want to all students. Therefore, sometime we should be happy when students grasp the basics from your lesson. Teacher him/herself alone can't change a student. There must be collaboration from both sides.
Being aware of our reality and tendencies is another way yo avoid stress. What we teachers to be are learning now in college might not be the reality by the time we graduate because things change fast.
Finally, be sure teaching is what you really want to do as a carrer. Those who go into teaching for they do not have any jobs left to choose tend to quit teaching in few years. Also, teaching has its ups and down. We will never get a 100% in everything we do all the time.

Humility

Of all the entries I have made so far, I strongly believe that this one is one of the most important. For me, if teachers are not humble, they never become better teachers, because no novice starts off with great social and teaching strategies. If teachers are not open to criticism, they are less likely to be open to understand students' needs.
I myself taught basic English skills in private institutions since I was 16. However, nowadays, I am humble enough to say that I was not ready for teaching. I did things I will never do again. In fact, I went through hard times teaching when I began teaching at a private school. The problem was not about content but class management. Of course, I was only 16/17. But on the other hand, I learned through my mistakes, and I value that a lot.
Another thing, I am aware of my weaknessess, and I am willing to work on them. I really want to be a very efficient teacher - a teacher who can transfer knowledge, but also manage with all sorts of students and personal obstacles. For example, I know I have to work on anxiety. I get too nervous when doing public speech I also know I have to work on my diction, because I do not always sound as clear as I should be. I am hoping that my college experience will help me overcome these weakenessess. At the same time, I know that things like that come with time. I am humble enough to seek help when I need it.
In short, I am far from being perfect. What pushes me forward is my dream of becoming one of the best teachers wherever I go. I am proud of myself because I have been going through hurdles that can potentially let anyone down, but I do persist because I have faith I can do it. Humility has helped me believe that better days are to come.

There's no perfect teacher

Although we teachers-to-be strive to be the most effective (read "perfect") teachers in the world, it's humanly impossible to be perfect 365 days a year.
Last couple of weeks, I felt that I could be easily irritated. After calming down a bit, I pondered over the reason why I was so irritated. I came to the conclusion that there are moments when I want things to go my way because I know I am right. For example, I was very irritated about my floormates' reckless parties at inappropriate times. Whan I transfer my experiences to possible uncomfortable experiences in a classroom, I wonder if I will be the effective teacher I want to be. Will I ever be able to control what I strongly believe when students' come up with opposite beliefs? If I hate noise, will I be able to cope with students' noise? I really wonder...

However, I believe I have a lot to contribute to any learner. I believe I hold strong values that might make a difference for these learners. On the other hand, when we say "we need to value and cultivate diversity", it is very hard to perform what we preach in the real world. Every day we are going to have students who want to challenge us and check if we teachers are capable enough to "take care" of them. These students will test our pacience and our knowledge.

Coming back to authenticity...I believe that authentic teachers tend to stress out more than unauthentic ones, because they carry strong beliefs that make them who they are. I myself carry very strong beliefs that are very unlikely to change.

In short, I believe there's no perfect teacher in the world. There's no perfect teacher, because there's no human being.

Efficacy

First, effective teachers are those, who, first of all, want to be effective teachers. I claim this statement because I have had teachers who were teaching just because that was their only option as they could not find other jobs. These teachers are usually those people who know a lot about the subject matter but fail to have teaching strategies. Consequently, these teachers display some deficiencies in self-awareness, confidence, persistence, and work ethic.

Self-awareness: Teachers who are not meant to be teachers do not realize the impact of their own behavior in the classroom (or even outside the classroom). They do not know how to deal with diverse confrontations because their maturity level is not adequate. They can't manage a class very effectively. They are not aware of students' needs. And the most important, they are almost unable to fix their own mistakes.

How to fix it: Get to know your students/co-workers/community, and most importantly, yourself better. Stop and think if teaching is what you want to do. Ask yourself if you can or cannot live life without teaching. Remember that you are role model to the whole community. Therefore, behave accordingly, even if you're not on duty.

Confidence: Teachers who lack confidence tend to dislike what they do. If teachers can't keep their confidence high, they are less likely to help student boost their own confidence. Teachers who lack confidence are more likely to quit working as instructors in 3 years or so because this job does not give them fulfillment. Also, these teachers do not have control over their students.

How to fix it: Not only ensure yourself that you know well what you're teaching, but also be mentally prepared to face challenges, because these challenges, when ignored, can diminish your confidence. Be yourself, but act accordingly. Be motivated even if your confidence is not that high. Show students that you are willing to make this class as meaningful and productive as possible. Set high levels to be achieved by all.

Work ethic: Teachers who lack work ethic are irresponsible. They are not aware that their actions can impact negatively those around them.

How to fix it: Show your students that you are responsible: start class on time. If you need to be absent, give students an explanation. Do not just demand responsibility, but perform it. Do the same thing with co-workers. Set high levels of responsiblities in the classroom so everyone is aware of their actions and the consequences of them.


Overall, I strongly believe that highly effective teachers are those who want to be doing the best all the time. They are willing to sacrifice some habits in order to be an outstanding role model to their students. Please do not be a teacher if you do not want to be one. You'll be damaging the whole education system. If you want to be a teacher, take some classes in order to help you develop some skills and strategies. Finally, do what do with passion. Be willing to always push yourself a step further.

Friends' Ed. Blogs

Kelsey

www.lutherpsych-kelsey.blogspot.com

Trevor

www.ketttr01.blogspot.com

Lauran

www.lauran23.blogspot.com

Emily

www.emilyrasmusson.blogspot.com

More thoughts

The last couple of nights I ended up sleeping around 3-4Am. I just could not fall asleep because something was bugging me: we need more effective education.

I know it sounds like I am trying to convey the message that I am the good guy who's desperately looking for some type of recognition, or something like that (you can draw your own opinion), but I can assure you I am not. However, I am extremely concerned about the education system in my country (Brazil).

Just for your information, Brazil occupies the 76th position in the education ranking (data from Unicef). This information just gives me goosebumps. It is just devastating to hear governors state that our country is getting better economically when only 30% of the population can effectively write, read, and understand. 70% is falling behind - just like in the colonial times.

I watched on youtube a Brazilian documentary that was held in the state of Para - one of the poorest states in Brazil. In fact, this state - like some others - is still run by colonels, who are the rich minority that rules over the big mass of ignorant people. the documentary called "What are schools for?" interviews people from very poor background and ask them what education is for. We obverse different points of view; some of them are hard to be heard. But what kept me awake late those nights was when a very old man gave an interview about education. Although we was very poor, he sounded very upbeat. He stated that he had just learned how to write his name on a paper. He was happy because he thought that from that moment on he would be able to have new opportunities in life. That for sure saddened my heart and I almost left tear roll down my eyes.

People ask me "Why do you want to come back to Brazil after you graduate?" "Life is much better in the USA, why dont you just live there?" In fact, I have had this dilemma for a long time. Nowadays, I am more than sure that I want to go back home and help build education in our public schools. I am proud to be Brazilian and I hate to hear when people say that they hate to be Brazilians - mainly because of corruption. I aggree that our country has a lot to improve, but I would betray myself if I just left those 70% deserted. I try my best to be true to what I believe and I think we all should do things to improve the welfare of all.