Teacher Dispositions

Kim E. Koeppen and Judith Davison-Jenkins share their journey of introducing dispositions to secondary teacher education candidates. The book offers a look at the process and challenges of consciously incorporating development of candidate dispositions in a preparation program. Their experiences will prompt discussion within a variety of teacher preparation contexts. -- Mary Bents, associate dean and professor, College of Education and Human Development, University of Minnesota?Minneapolis
Anyone who works with teacher candidates will find this book invaluable. Koeppen and Davison-Jenkins cut right to the heart of the issue of teacher dispositions, a crucial concern for all of us in teacher education. Their inclusion of voices from the academy and from the trenches (teacher candidates and cooperating teachers) makes this a resource well worth reading and revisiting. Most important, they give readers broad scope for personal reflection. The authors know there are no easy answers about how-or even if-we should address dispositions in our programs. But their insightful text enables all of us to ask really good questions about those issues. -- Judith B. Griffith, director of secondary English education, Wartburg College, Waverly, IA
This book is a thoughtful journey through two teacher educators' university classrooms, as they explore the notion of teacher dispositions with their teacher candidates....an enlightening read...provides insight into many questions and encourages readers to continue finding ways to improve teacher education programs. Summing Up: Recommended. * CHOICE, March 2008 *
As someone who has supervised new teachers for a number of years, I am convinced that the issues of teacher dispositions raised by Koeppen and Davison-Jenkins are paramount to success of the novice teacher. Most teacher preparation programs have mastered the development of the technical content and pedagogical skills requisite for teaching in the 21st century. Professionalism, reflection, respect, and the other teacher dispositions that they explore in their work are the attributes that distinguish the exceptional professional educator. -- Samuel R. Bell, instructional director of social studies, Lake Forest High School, Lake Forest, IL