Self+Assessment+on+Program+Dispositions

**Educational Leadership Program Dispositions**
Throughout this program you will be expected to demonstrate the following dispositions:

1. Values change as the source of opportunity for improvement.
June 2011
 * I am very open and welcome change as long as my students are benefiting from the change. Personally, when changes are backed by reason I feel like the change is not necessarily an opportunity but rather being put in place for negative reasons. I believe that you can always have room for improvement and that is what makes one a reflective professional
 * One area I would like to work on is to try to have more information to back changes that are being made in our department and are suppose to then be implemented in the schools. I feel like if I was able to better explain classroom teachers would be more willing to accept change.

January 2012
 * I am currently still working on ways to better explain information to classroom teachers. One way that I am trying to reach more staff members is through a monthly informational glogster. I am also speaking with staff and trying to build stronger relationships so they are willing to ask questions, but by also providing an electronic resource they are able to look at the information when it is convient for their schedule.

July 2012
 * This summer I have learned about some online tools that will be very beneficial as I begin the new school year. The Google tools that I have only used briefly before this summer have shown me a new way of collaborating. I can see these tools becoming a great way to improve collaboration between grade level teachers as well as special area teachers. I am very excited to show staff the wonderful ways that these tools can be utilized.
 * When I think about change I lthink about the book, //Who Moved My Cheese//, and the quote "change happens--we have to decide what type of person we are when it happens. Are we Sniff, Scurry, Hem, or Haw?" I also think about Rogers' Innovation Adoption Curve. I think that I best relate to Haw. I like to wait it out to see what is going to happen before I jump head first into something new. When thinking about the Adoption Curve. I am would consider myself part of the early majority.
 * This coming school year I will be pushed out of my comfort level and be more like Scurry and and an early adopter with technology and Rosetta Stone. I am hoping that I will adapt quickly with all the new initiatives and be able to get others on board.

2. Displays the ability to understand people and relationships and is receptive to the ideas of others.
June 2011
 * I pride myself in my relationship skills with colleagues and students I am work with at school. I believe that voice is important and that by listening and building strong relationships with both groups it will be the best way to be able to meet both of their needs.
 * I would like to work on building stronger relationships with the parents and families of the students that I am working with at school. I would like to do this because I would like them to feel comfortable with me and be able to express their needs, wants, and concerns with me.

January 2012
 * I am working on creating stronger relationships with the staff that I already work with as well as creating relationships with staff members that I haven't had the chance to work with yet.
 * I am also working on ways to build stronger family relationships by hosting family nights at school.

July 2012
 * This summer I have been able to make relationships with more families at school through summer mail. I have been sending out mail to students to check in and get them excited to come back to school. I have received emails from some families about how great it is to get mail and that they feel very welcomed. I hope to continue the relationships that I am making with families by hosting more family nights this year at school.
 * In Social Justice class, the statement in Cowhey's article, "social justice classrooms should have curricululm and practices that are: grounded in the lives of students, critical, multicultural, antiracist, pro-justice, participatory, experiential, hopeful, joyful, kind, visionary, activist, academicallly rigorous and culturally sensitive" is the basis of how I see my classroom atmosphere. If I continue make my classroom "feel" like this then it will be an enviornment where students and staff are respectful to one's thoughts and cultures. In order for a classroom to "feel" this way, I will need to reiterate how important it is to be respectful to one another as well as explain that this is a place of accepentace with students.

3. Shows a willingness to implement non-discriminatory access, accommodations and assessments.
June 2011
 * Currently, my teaching requires a great deal of accommodations for my students. I also work on assessing each student at their language level and making sure that their assessments fit their individualized needs.
 * One area I would like to work on regarding this disposition is to work with classroom teachers on incorporating more of the language goals for the ELL students in their classrooms and how to what appropriate language accommodations to make for the students.

January 2012
 * Our district will be implementing new language plans for our students. I am looking forward to working with classroom teachers on creating languge goals for the ELL students to work towards throughout the year.

July 2012
 * This year will be the first year of the new language plans for our language learning students. I am looking forward to working with the students, staff, and families to work on the goals for each student. I am also very excited this year to continue with the iPads for ELLs program and making sure that each iPad is equiped with the apps and tools necessary for students to be successful at their individual level.

4. Demonstrates empathic understanding of diversity in all domains.
June 2011
 * When I think about domains I think about language domains: speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Currently, I am working with students that are at various language domain levels and understand the importance of embracing the diverse needs of each student.
 * I’m working on taking on more or of a leadership role and providing mini professional development opportunities for teachers about ways to incorporate language domain needs for ELLs in their classrooms.

January 2012
 * I am still working with administration on different ideas for professional development opportunities for staff. Since I haven't had the opportunity to have a mini workshop yet with the whole staff, I have been working with the principal about giving her a better understanding of the language development and needs of ELL students within the school.

July 2012
 * This summer I have been reading many different professional development books as well as attending trainings. I have already discussed with my principal that providing a training session for staff is essential. We are hoping to offer a training within the first three months of the school year.
 * During the Technology course I took, our group researched impacts of iPods and iPads within the K-12 classrooms. A quote from Apple best describes how important it is to demonstrate that we are up for diversity when it comes to how students learn. " Students today expect to learn in an environment that mirrors their lives and their future--one that seamlessly integrates today's digital tools, accomodates a mobile lifestyle, and encourages collaboration and teamwork in physical and virtual spaces." This quote is what I am going to keep in mind when I am working with students in the next school year and do my best to make sure I am meeting their needs and by making sure that technology is integrated as much as possible.

5. Regularly reflects upon the philosophical assumptions, ethical principles and rationales that guide one’s practice.
June 2011
 * I do reflect upon the principles and rationale that guide my instruction. This helps me to learn more about myself and areas I am confident in as well as areas for improvement.
 * I would like to work on reflection more often. I feel like I could do it more. By reflecting more often it would benefit not only me as an educator, knowing what I could work on, but it could also benefits my students’ learning, and helping the staff needs.

January 2012
 * I have been reflecting more upon my instruction strategies to find out what works best for students. I will continue to reflect on instructional strategies and share ideas with staff members about best practice for ELL students.

July 2012
 * I feel like I am guiding my teaching based more on Kumashiro's statement, students learn from us in two different ways--they learn through formal and intentional lessons and through the hidden or unintentional lesson. Teachers need to look at what we are teaching in both situations. I believe that it is as critical to have those unintentional lessons as it is to have the intentional lessons. Students don't just turn off their learning and I have become more aware of the importance to always reflect on what students are really "learning" from a lesson. As the next school year starts, I would love to have students have an ongoing writing log of what they feel the learned from a lesson.

6. Understands oneself as a learner and values learning as a core capacity.
June 2011
 * I value education and continually learning as a life long learner. One of the ways I do that is by attending conferences and professional development opportunities as well as taking courses.
 * I would like to work on using what I learn at conferences and courses as ways to provide professional development for all staff members.

January 2012
 * I will have the opportunity to attend WEMTA this March. I am looking forward to learning about new web 2.0 tools and apps to implement with my iPad pilot for the district. I also intend to share new information learned at the conference with either during our April staff meeting or through email.

July 2012
 * In the Technology, Culture, and Learning class I realized how many professionals are hesitant with new technologies. I think of myself as close to a digital native (in some respects). I have realized that as I continue to learn about all the new technologies as well as better learn the technologies already in use that I am going to be looked at as a someone to come to for help.
 * During the first day of Seminar, Dr. Cramer stated, "in the nation only 10% of the population has a master's degree or higher; and in Wisconsin only 8.5% of the population has a master's degree or higher. What are your responsiblities now as part of that 8.5%?" To me personally, that statment meant that I need to use my education to continue educating those around me. I also really thought about how much our country lacks when it comes to valuing education. Now as part of that 8.5% I need to stree the importance of education even more and help students understand how essential having an educational foundation is in life.