TEMPERAMENT AND TEACHING How we decide, how we live, how we structure our lives, and where we get our energy.

TEMPERAMENT AND TEACHING

How we decide, how we live, how we structure our lives, and where we

get our energy

Temperament:

Is one way to answer the question: why am I this way?

Gives us a clue as to how we work together. Gives us clues regarding how we teach. Gives us clues regarding how our students

learn, and interact with us.

Where did it come from?

Methods used to answer why:– Ancients: humors

• Phlegmatic, sanguine, choleric, melancholy

– Freud: sex– Jung: secondary needs– Ericson: self-

actualization– Myers & Briggs: four

domains

Isabel Briggs Myers & Catherine Briggs

Studied psychology Noted differences in individuals Originated four domains of difference:

– Energizing– Approaching the world– Making decisions– Organizing life

The Domains:

Energizing: Extravert or Introvert Approaching (interpreting) the

world:Sensor or iNtuitor Making decisions: Thinker or Feeler Organizing one’s life: Judger or Perceiver

Some Caveats

Discovering our temperament is not to have discovered the totality of ourselves.[e.g.MI, heredity, nurture, experiences, etc.]

Just because we are one type or another does not mean that we don’t possess our opposite.

If we know our “home base”, we can mentally prepare ourselves for various situations.

Sensor or INtuitor?

Sensors:– What is actual, real

– Attention to detail

– Good witnesses

– Great at giving directions

– Bothered by the speculative

– Like to be thought of as practical

Intuitors:– What can be

– The bigger picture

– Lousy witness

– Don’t know where they are

– Love the speculative

– Like to be thought of as visionary

Thinker or Feeler?

Thinkers:– Use logic

– Follow the rules

– Like to argue through sequential steps

– Have a sense of “what’s right”

– Want justice

Feelers:– Decide with their heart

– “Rules are made to be broken”

– Argue with feeling

– Have a sense of “what’s right”

– Want compassion

Judger or Perceiver?

Judger:– Wants closure

– Makes hasty decisions

– Abides by decisions

– Likes planning

– Follows through

Perceiver:– Wants to keep matters

open

– Takes time to make decisions

– Likes planning, but won’t follow through

– Vitiates decisions, looks for something better

Extravert or Introvert?

Extravert:– Needs to “float” ideas

for clarity

– Talks to think

– Self-revelatory

– Derives energy from people

– Comfortable among strangers

– Likes risks

Introvert:– Needs to consult

him/herself

– Thinks to talk

– Shares opinions.

– Derives energy from within

– Uncomfortable among strangers

– Dislikes risks

Now, what??

You have decided, based on the descriptions, what your four domains are.

Now, we will do the questionnaire and you will have 70 chances to determine your temperament.

Now, what is your temperament?

If you are S:Go to your P or J

If you are N:

Go to your T or F

Since the S and the N are the “engine” that drivesthe rest, they go to different places, and determinethe “core” of your temperament.

What about the rest?

The E or I designate how the “engine” operates

and gets its energy, whether from without or

from within.

The SJ Teacher (56%)

Likes order and routine Believes in creating productive students Runs a well-ordered classroom Loves to teach rules, drills Is loyal, steady, dependable

The NF Teacher (36%)

Loves harmony Is uncomfortable with discord,

disagreement Uses group work Curves test results Bends rules Wants to create students who get along

The NT Teacher (6%)

Assumes students want to learn Prefers intelligent students Wants to create scholars Often misses the affective part Favors a few students; ignores others Creates challenges for students

The SP teacher (2%!)

Doesn’t stick around Hates routine, schedule, rules Is extremely creative Wants to produce students who are creative Lessons serendipitous Ignores deadlines, record keeping Uses alternative assessment

Mutuality of Types

S needs N:– To bring up

possibilities

– To supply ingenuity

– To “read signs of the times”

– To have enthusiasm

– To be alert to new essentials

N needs S:– To bring up facts

– To apply experience to problems

– To notice what needs attention

– To face reality

– To read the “fine print”

Mutuality of Types

F needs T:– To analyze

– To organize

– To find flaws

– To hold consistency in policy or rules

– To stand firm against opposition

T needs F:– To persuade

– To conciliate

– To forecast how others will feel

– To arouse enthusiasm

– To appreciate the thinker

In a Nutshell….

ISTJ“doing whatshould be done”

ISFJ“ a high sense ofduty”

INFJ“an inspiration toothers”

INTJ“everything can beimproved”

ISTP“ready to try any-thing once”

ISFP“see much, hearlittle”

INFP“perform nobleservice”

INTP“ a love of problemsolving”

ESTP“ultimate realist”

ESFP“you only go roundonce in life”

ENFP“give life an extrasqueeze”

ENTP“one exciting thingafter another”

ESTJ“life’sadministrators”

ESFJ“Pearl Mestas ofthe world”

INFJ“smooth talkingpersuaders”

ENTJ“life’s naturalleaders”

IE

As Leaders:

NT’s:visionaries

NF’s:catalysts

SP’s:Trouble-shooters

SJ’s:Stabilizers

Some Examples:

NT’s:Walt DisneyAyn RandMme. Curie

NF’s:GhandiPope John XXIIIJoan of Arc

SP’s:Amelia EarhartGen. PattonAlexander theGreat

SJ’s:Mother TeresaNorman RockwellCalvin Coolidge

Ideacharisma

Peoplecharisma

Crisischarisma

Relieffromcharisma!

The SJ Student (38%)

Loves routine lessons Rises to “drill and kill” Dislikes any disruption in schedule, routine Likes to memorize Needs to know what lessons are leading to Needs feedback Serious, orderly

The NF student (12%)

Likes to be liked Likes to work in cooperative groups Brings solutions to disagreements Wants to please Likes stories Wants recognition for him/herself as an

individual Hates sarcasm, cynicism

The NT student (12%)

Wants to know why Examines rules; will follow those that make

sense May be overachievers Need to know how well they are doing Often lack empathic skills

The SP student (38%)

Is very active, likes to move around a lot Likes active involvement Dislikes routine, schedules, planning, long-

range tasks Likes the unexpected, good in a crisis Tends to take an unusual approach

When we know ourselves….

...We can know our students

And when we know our students….

…we can work smarter, not harder.

How can I use this knowledge?

Investigate the temperament of students; Learn more about the temperament of

colleagues; Prepare myself for situations that run

counter to my temperament; Understand my teaching style; Understand my dispositions.