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Disposition
Social Responsibility
I believe that the Lord made me a teacher for a reason and that this is what I was
meant to do. In this course I have learned many new strategies to help me become a
better teacher and student. I am a firm believer that every student can learn, just not in
the same way, or on the same day. That is why this phrase is on the front of my
classroom door. I stand up for each of my students daily and make sure that they are
getting the support that they need to be successful. I treat all my students with kindness,
compassion, and fairness. Each student knows that I am always here to motivate them,
encourage them, and fight for their education. I build positive relationships with all my
students and players. They know that I am an advocate for them and I’m going to
support them in all that they do and help them to advocate for themselves and their
educational needs.
This class has helped me learn how to manage inappropriate behaviors in the
classroom better and has also helped me to understand why the behaviors may
happen. This class has helped me become more sensitive to what my students are
going through and why they may be acting out. As an educator we must be sensitive to
the fact that we don’t know what our students are facing at home. Many students do not
have parents and are in foster care. Others have no food to eat at home so they take
home snack bags from school so they will have food for dinner. Other students are in a
constant state of fear and only feel safe when they are at school. As teachers we must
be sensitive to all these issues and give each student all the support that they need.
This class has made me a more empathetic person, teacher, and student and I am
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grateful for that. Learning all of this has helped me become a better teacher as well as a
bigger advocate for my students and their rights. Matthew 7:12” Therefore all things
whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ya even so to them: for this is the
law and the prophets.”
Commitment and Work Ethic
I believe that I showed my commitment and what kind of work ethic I have by
how I conducted myself in this class. With each assignment I strived to do my very best
work. Because this was my first class going towards my MAT, I was very nervous and
anxious about how I was going to do. These classes are extremely important to me for
my career, so I knew that I had to do well, and I took this very seriously. With that in
mind, I spent hours on each assignment, read every chapter and article, watched every
video, and made sure that I was doing everything to the best of my ability. As I was
working on my classwork, I was also teaching my class full-time, driving a school bus
full-time, a softball coach, facility access manager for Graham County Schools, and a
mother to my two children. I am proud to show my children that hard-work pays off and
that if you commit to it, anything is possible.
I took each assignment seriously and knew that this would help me be a better
educator. When we had discussion threads, I followed the rubric and made sure that I
answered the questions fully and with examples to help show my perspective on the
subject. On the reflections I always responded truthfully and enjoyed getting to see how
others responded to the discussion. It helped to be able to see how each person in the
class had a different perspective and approach to the discussion threads than myself.
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On all the assignments, I made sure to complete the work on time and to the best
of my ability. If I did something wrong, I was glad that the teacher showed me where the
mistakes were and gave me positive feedback, so that I could correct it and know how
to do it better on the next assignment. I was diagnosed with Covid a few weeks after
this class started and became very sick. I had 104 fever and was not able to get out of
bed for over 5 days, but this class and my job are extremely important to me. So, I
fought through and committed to completing my assignments and being on time. I have
continued to show my commitment to this class each and every day by how hard I work
and how much effort I put into each assignment. I am thankful for the experience, and I
know that God has put me here for a reason. Proverbs 16:3 - “Commit thy works unto
the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.”
Reflective Practice
Each assignment and discussion that I completed has made me a better teacher.
With the discussions, I would have to make sure that I answered the questions with
supporting data from the reading and articles. I would use data to make informed
decisions and make sure that I was replying to other threads with accurate information
as well as my own personal experiences. I also included supporting scripture that I felt
was important and that fit the subject. I always consider my students and what their
needs are when coming up with ideas and lessons. I want to make sure that I am
helping them grow intellectually and spiritually.
As an EC teacher data is crucial. You can’t simply decide about a child’s
educational future based on opinions; you need data. I always analyze the data that I
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collect in order to better understand the students’ capabilities and needs. I believe that
this is a tool that all educators need to be successful. This class has helped me to put
more thought into my teaching and classwork of my own and utilize all the tools that are
there to assist me. Job 6:13 “Is not my help in me? and is wisdom driven quite from
me?”
Integrity
I believe that I demonstrated integrity in this class with each assignment I
submitted. I always want to be portrayed as someone who is honest and trustworthy. I
always strive to be the very best Christian example that I can be to everyone I
encounter. I believe that my passion for teaching was visible through my assignments
and discussions. As an Exceptional Children's teacher, you are responsible for
confidential information and must understand how to maintain an ethical
professionalism regarding said information. I will always be professional and have
discretion when it comes to my students, classwork, and my job. I always strive to do
my best work honestly and with integrity, whether as a student or the teacher.
I am a mother of two children: Olivia, and Deacon. My daughter is currently
enrolled at Tri-County Community College working towards her A.A.S. while also being
a junior in high school. She has seen me work relentlessly on my assignments, and I
hope that she has learned something by watching me. I have tried to be an example to
her and show her what hard work and determination can accomplish. I always want to
be seen as someone who has integrity, who is hard-working, and is honest. I am this
way with the students that I teach, as well as the young girls that I coach. I try to be an
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example of a good Christian woman to everyone around me. Psalms 25:21 “Let integrity
and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee.”
Professionalism
Throughout this course I have maintained my professionalism with everyone I
encounter. Whether I am teaching a class, driving my bus, conducting an IEP meeting,
coaching my softball team, or simply speaking with a colleague, I have always
maintained a professional behavior. I am very fortunate that the other educators I work
with are so supportive. My mentor and friends have helped me each time I have needed
them without hesitation. My principal, EC Director and Superintendent have all sent me
encouraging letters and emails about continuing my education and going for my MAT in
Special Education. I also display my professionalism when there is a conflict. I always
follow the appropriate chain of command when reporting an issue that has happened.
I strive to keep my personal feelings and issues aside when at my job, no matter
which job it is. I am professional in my classroom and on the softball field. If I have a
parent complain about an issue I always speak in a calm and respectful manner to
make sure that the individual knows that I am listening and taking the issue seriously,
and then follow the appropriate chain-of-command from there. I believe that it is
important to dress appropriately. I always make sure that my attire is appropriate and
approved by the school's dress code. I make sure that I am on time for work and for my
meetings, and for my bus route.
I am well-rounded as a teacher and very flexible. Before I became a teacher, I
was an Exceptional Children’s Teacher Assistant for 10 years. As a TA you must be
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very flexible because you may be doing something different each day. Some days I
would be going into classes, other days I would be one-on-one with a certain student.
This experience has helped me become a more flexible and well-rounded teacher that
can deal with whatever issue that may arise.
This class has helped build my professionalism in different ways. Even when the
assignments were extremely difficult and I was unsure of what to do, I maintained my
professionalism by pushing forward and giving my best effort to each assignment and
discussion. I was always very grateful for the feedback that was given on each
assignment. This helped me to see the mistakes that I made and know how to fix them
for the next assignment. This was a great asset to me. I am the type of student who
needs to see an example to understand what to do. Having the templates and getting
the feedback was crucial to me and I am very grateful for it. This class has taught me to
believe in myself more and trust in my abilities as a teacher and to always be a good
Christian example to those around me. Psalms 54:4 “Behold, God is mine helper: the
Lord is with them that uphold my soul.”
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