Self-Assessment of Pedagogical Abilities in the Professional Training of Elementary School Teachers

Introduction. The article analyzes the development of self-esteem of the pedagogical abilities of students – future primary school teachers. The relevance of the study is determined by the ambiguity of modern data on the nature of the influence of self-esteem on the professional training of teachers and the need to manage the development of the personality and activities of the future teacher in the context of the introduction of updated educational standards. The purpose of the article is to establish the psychological features of the development of self-esteem of the pedagogical abilities of students, as well as the nature of its connection with the motivation for learning and the reflection of educational and professional activities. Materials and Methods. The study sample consisted of 1st–4th year undergraduate students of the Pedagogical University studying in the field of “Primary Education” (n = 104). In order to study the psychological characteristics of self-esteem of pedagogical abilities, motivation for learning and reflection of activity, self-assessment scales and standardized questionnaires were used. Processing of the results was carried out by methods of primary descriptive statistics, methods of comparison and correlation analysis. Results. The dynamics of changes in the perceptions of students - future primary school teachers about the correspondence of their abilities to the teaching profession is analyzed. The role of self-esteem of abilities in the development of learning motivation at the university and reflection of educational and professional activities is shown. It has been established that a high self-esteem of pedagogical abilities has a negative impact on adaptation to study at a university and the adoption of new means and methods of educational and professional activities for a school graduate. The psychological mechanism for launching the development of a professional educational program is the realization of the discrepancy between the developed methods of educational activity and the requirements of the university. Discussion and Conclusion. The results of the study contribute to pedagogical psychology, the psychology of the teacher’s work and his professional training. The conclusions and generalizations presented in the article make it possible to improve not only the process of professional pedagogical education, but also the system of psychological and pedagogical support for the development of students – future primary school teachers.