Information summarized and presented by Miranda Kufs

CESA Presents – February 3rd, 2010

Information in this presentation was originally presented during the 2009 Hawaii Early Childhood Conference by Dr. Charles H. Meisgeier ◦ Professor Emeritus◦ Educational Psychology at

University of Houston

Inspiring Those That Inspire Children2009 Leadership Symposium & Hawaii Early Childhood Conference

A term used to describe normal differences in the ways children behave as a result of their personality, psychological type, or temperament differences. (Meisgeier, 1996)

A classroom is a much happier place when both student and teacher understand and honor the differences that are present between them.

Teachers with a different personality type than a student may find it difficult to understand why the student is not responding to their instruction.◦ Example: Introverted teachers may resist or

dampen the extraverted students’ energetic drive to create learning experiences.

◦ Example: Extraverted teachers may tend to generate high-intensity learning events that are uncomfortable for introverted students.

Where the energy flows:◦ Extraversion

Outgoing, interactive, talkative Respond well to peer and cross-age interaction and

cooperative learning◦ Introversion

Calm, reflective, private Need time to think things over

and observe before engaging, prefer independent study projects

How people perceive:◦ Sensing

Realistic, practical, factual Rely on facts and like data and tasks to be sequential Learn through repetition and practical examples

◦ Intuition Synthesize, create, possibilities Seek a broad understanding of relationships and

systems while synthesizing old and new concepts Like to do things their own way

How people make decisions:◦ Thinking

Logical, rational, objective View life and learning objectively Task oriented and demanding of self and others Can be argumentative, they value justice

◦ Feeling Harmony, values, people View life and learning subjectively Are empathetic, affirming, and strive to create a

warm and accepting environment

The lifestyle people prefer:◦ Judging

Planned, decisive, orderly Tasks are structured, alternatives minimized, they

dislike surprises and resist change of routine◦ Perceiving

Flexible, adaptable, curious Free spirits, they hate routine,

and like surprises, tend to complete projects at last minute, is creative

Myers-Briggs Type Indicator – for adults

Murphy Meisgeier Type◦ I am an ENTJ (Extroversion, Intuition, Thinking,

Judging)…

Indicator for Children “MMTIC”

Most schools structured for the success of the ESTJ (extroversion, sensing, thinking, judging) students, how can we restructure to help the others succeed?

Teachers teach to their personality type◦ Causes bias of instruction in the classroom

Awareness of your students’ differences◦ How can I best teach to their different strengths?

Go through the provided list of questions For the questions you have answered ‘yes’,

pat yourself on the back For the questions you have answered ‘no’

to, brainstorm in what way you could modify your lesson in order to better serve this Psychological Type

Use these questions as a guide in future lesson planning endeavors