So Everyone Shines...
So Everyone Shines...
It's a strange thing about we
human creatures. Tell us what we need to improve, and our faults seem
to magnify. But when you tell us what we do well, we get better at
it...and our faults are less pronounced.
When I started SCORE, I
interviewed 600 students who were attending 10 nearby high schools. All
600 were struggling students...some labeled gifted, some learning
disabled, but most in that allusive "middle."
The solution to their
underachievement was, of course, very complex. One of the major factors,
though, dealt with the way they approached learning and how their style
interacted or conflicted with that of their teachers. We label it their
"personality style." It is another dimension from their learning
modality, with subtle differences.
From that difference, in SCORE classes, we learn to "teach so everyone shines 1/4 of the time."
The Melancholy personality is
detail-oriented. Since over half of our teachers learn that way, we do a
pretty good job teaching to these students (roughly 38%), but they
sometimes struggle after they leave us because they haven't adequately
learned application principles.
The Phlegmatic personality is
relationship-oriented. Approximately 1/3 of our teachers learn this
way, and 12% of our students fall into this category. They need to feel
valued in order to learn. They struggle if there is conflict of any kind
in the classroom. They are best at the gestalt of learning, and many
will become our social workers or guidance counselors. They do struggle,
however, with details and goals.
The Choleric personality is
goal-oriented. Few teachers (approximately 6%) think this way naturally
(which could explain why we struggle so with outcome objectives and
testing). These students (about 12%) love a good debate and may take an
unpopular side to an issue just for the energy the conflict generates.
They will work hard for a teacher they respect; they will sabotage a
teacher they believe is incompetent.
The Sanguine personality is
process-oriented. These students make up 38% of the classroom, but only
2% of our teachers. We don't always do a good job teaching to them; but
once we get these students through the system, they become good workers.
They are naturally gifted in practical application.
SCORE trains teachers to vary
teaching methodology so "everyone shines 1/4 of the time." Every day,
in every class, do something that is detailed to energize the
Melancholy; something that is relational and reflective to energize the
Phlegmatic; something that is goal oriented and allows for
decision-making for the Choleric; and something that is interactive and
allows for movement and spontaneity for the Sanguine.
When student needs are met,
they are more likely to master content. When student needs are met, they
are able to adapt their behavior to function as they need to in the
classroom.
We
study this concept in greater detail in our Study Skills workshop. Why
not join us for the next one! Better yet, sponsor your own. Visit our web site to learn how.
