[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Every human born into this world posseses unique temperaments that distinguishes him/herself from other humans. These temperaments interact with the environment throughout the developmental stages of an individual to form and establish relatively stable personality patterns. These patterns of personal profile further entail preferences that determine people’s life-styles (behavioral and cognitive priorities).
Consider the following…
We all come in different SHAPES and SIZES.
We all have STRENGTHS and weaknesses.
What’s right for one person may not be right for another.
There are things that are important to me, that you don’t care about at all!
And sometimes your behavior doesn’t make any sense to me.
But I want for us to understand each other, and communicate well,
because we live together in the same world.
I know I can’t expect you to want the same things that I want.
We are not the same person, so we will not always see things the same way.
I have my own Thoughts and my own Ideas,
that may or may not fit into your vision of who I should be.
A caring teacher knows and attests to the following fact about every student in his/her classroom…
Each child is unique and has unique needs that they express in unique ways. Each child will become an original adult with their own STRENGTHS and weaknesses. Sometimes we know what’s best for our kids and sometimes we just think we do! We can’t expect our kids to want the same things we want, or to behave the same way that we behave. By learning more about our children’s personalities, we can HELP them develop their strengths, overcome their weaknesses, and become independent, happy adults.
There are basically 16 personality types that teachers commonly deal with in the classroom. They are:
* ISTJ – The Duty Fulfillers
* ESTJ – The Guardians
* ISFJ – The Nurturers
* ESFJ – The Caregivers
* ISTP – The Mechanics
* ESTP – The Doers
* ESFP – The Performers
* ISFP – The Artists
* ENTJ – The Executives
* INTJ – The Scientists
* ENTP – The Visionaries
* INTP – The Thinkers
* ENFJ – The Givers
* INFJ – The Protectors
* ENFP – The Inspirers
* INFP – The Idealists
With such a variety of personality types, it is impossible to treat each student as a part of a ‘whole’ that fits into a single mold. The classroom should be a place where students get an opportunity to explore and expand their personality traits and enhance their potential. The final aim of all educational endeavor is the development of the ‘whole’ person (which entails an individual’s personality – overall structure of his/her existence). If students are not provided with this opportunity, their development will be ‘skewed’ toward intellectual growth without much progress in all other important areas of living and functioning. Is this kind of development worth working for? Definitely NOT!
Click on any of the 16-personality-types link above and see for yourself the many positive traits an individual of a particular personality profile possesses. This is a clear indication that students come into the classroom with immense potential and great personal resources. These must be harnessed to maximinze the present and future functionality of students. Failure to do so will prove to be a significant waste of human resources on the part of a teacher.
A caring teacher takes the time and makes the effort to KNOW his/her students (as accurately and comprehensively as possible) before providing educational or psychological intervention. Having a proper knowledge about A STUDENT (“who he/she really is?”) is the pre-requisite for dealing effectively and meaningfully with him/her. When this takes place, students will benefit both academically and socio-emotionally in the classroom.
Ask yourself the following question today, “How much do I really know my students to be able to deal with them in a personal and genuine manner?” When you can answer this question without much difficulty, you are on your way to becoming a caring teacher at heart and in practice!
Copyright May 2006 by Dr. Edward Roy Krishnan, www.affectiveteaching.com
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]