TeacherDispositionsandPreserviceTeachers-Collegeof.docVIP

Running head: TEACHER DISPOSITIONS AND PRESERVICE TEACHERS Teacher Dispositions and Preservice Teachers Iris C. Ellis, Assistant Professor Department of Adult and Career Education Valdosta State University 1500 North Patterson Street Valdosta, GA 31698 229-333-5928 Voice 229-333-7167 Fax icellis@ Dr. Randy McElvey, Professor Valdosta State University Department of Adult and Career Education 1500 North Patterson Street Valdosta, GA 31698 229-333-5928 Voice 229-333-7167 Fax rmcelvey@ Teacher Dispositions and Preservice Teachers When defining the characteristics of successful teachers, colleges of education (COEs) have historically focused on those that can be measured by standardized tests, checklists, and rubrics. More recently, research has identified attributes and characteristics demonstrated by successful teachers that are not so easily measured or taught. Many educators would argue that some people simply have the gift to teach and would support that those gifts give one person the edge over another when dealing with classroom management, course instruction, or student rapport. Other educators would argue that many of the characteristics that separate the great teachers from the rest cannot be taught, identified, or measured. However, if many of these characteristics could be identified as contributing to student achievement, even a best effort would be beneficial. In addition to the practical application of identifying these attributes, the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE, 2002) requires that they are addressed. In response to NCATE’s requirement to attend to this issue, COEs have been experimenting with processes to identify these characteristics. In doing so, the term that has been chosen by colleges of education to identify these attributes or characteristics is dispositions. NCATE requires COEs to use evidence to demonstrate that teacher candidates are gaining the knowledge, skills, and dispositions necessary to have a p