Today's corporate world and educational institutions emphasize team building and group learning. While these cooperative skills are essential for living in society there are also some individuals who learn best when given solitude and extra space to formulate thoughts and process ideas. In this issue we will explore the topic of introverted and extroverted learners.
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Our Expert: Megan Anderson, Parent & Teacher
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by Megan Anderson
When I started my parenting journey I had no idea of the skills I'd need to discern what educational and extracurricular activities are best for each child while maintaining a cohesive family identity. In our home of 8 children we have the typical extrovert “never met a stranger” and the classic introvert “happiest at home” along with every combination in between.
Our family philosophy on all activities boils down to this: “what is best for each child balanced with the needs of the larger family”. We applied this to our educational choices, moving from an exclusive home school atmosphere to one where we combine home school, private school, and public school. One of my sons is an extreme introvert, most comfortable at home playing Legos and Minecraft. For this season we enrolled him in a very small private school in order to gently push him from his small world of comfort to open his world of possibilities and challenge him to expand his perspective and find untapped strengths.
Extracurricular activities are chosen based upon possible character development. For my horse loving, shy, and unsure preteen daughter weekly interactive equine lessons provide her with spiritual, emotional, physical and mental maturity opportunities that will provide lifelong benefits. Our choices for activities have been vast and varied: from sports like soccer and basketball, Boy Scouts, church youth groups, archery, music & crafts, and 4H. There are few activities we will not allow our children to try if they express an interest.
For us, the answer to balancing choices in educational and extracurricular activities, based upon our children's unique personalities, includes the idea that we are encouraging growth and maturity while respecting how each child is “hardwired”.
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Provided by Mike Curato
Thank you Mike Curato, Author/Illustrator of
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Classroom Activities: Discover Your Learning Style
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by Carol
Image courtesy of
Extrovert Style Introvert Style
talkative, open quiet, thoughtful
show emotions keep emotions private
act before thinking think before acting
like to be with like to spend time alone
like to socialize,organize want to understand the world
- Read the descriptions above.
- Make a list, draw a picture, create a mind map, talk to a partner, or write about a situation in your life where you think you showed your extrovert or introvert style.
- Take the Quiet Quiz by Susan Cain and/or listen to her TED talk.
- Discuss with a partner or small group why it might be important to know the type of learning style you have. You might prefer thinking about this on your own, and then writing a personal response.
- For students: What have you learned about yourself? How might this affect your choices and decisions going forward?
- For Teachers: How can you make use of your students' different learning styles and personalities?
Resources:
http://www.literacynet.org/lp/learn2learn/students/extro-intro.html
http://www.wnc.edu/mbti/personality_types_and_learning.php
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By Gabby and Hannahgrace Hussey
Anne of Green Gables
by L.M. Montgomery
Introduced by Gabby Hussey
Anne of Green of Gables is a story about a very extroverted and outspoken girl who goes to live with a woman and her brother. They send her to school where she grows up and learns to pay more attention to other people and also learns respect and forgiveness. With her spirited personality, Anne eventually changes the lives of many people for the better.
Little Women
by Louisa M. Alcott
Introduced by Hannahgrace Hussey
Little Women is a classic fiction story of four poor girls learning to be young ladies while their father is away at war. Jo and Meg are both extroverts, they like to go on adventures and always argue with their siblings. Amy and Beth are introverts because they are somewhat kind to each other and a little bit shy. The story follows their lives as they grow up, their father returns, and they get married. This is a good story and interesting for all ages.
Robinson Crusoe
by Daniel Defoe
Introduced by Gabby and Hannahgrace Hussey
Robinson Crusoe is a book about a man who was on a ship bound for London when he was shipwrecked and then lost on an island for many years. During that time he met a cannibal and named him Friday. He made Friday his servant, taught him about the Bible, and helped Friday until his death. Robinson was an introvert because he was a man of few words. He only said what had to be said. Friday was an extrovert because he was not afraid to ask questions about God and state his own beliefs. This is a very good book to teach children and adults how it would feel to live on an island in the middle of nowhere and to find food and provision in the wild.
Hannahgrace Hussey is almost 13 years-old and lives in Greenville, S.C. She loves animals, reading, and making up stories. She is home schooled and enjoys spending time with her family.
Gabby Hussey is fourteen years old. She lives in Greenville, S.C. Her favorite subject in school is reading. Her hobby is drawing designs.
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Want to explore a
Writer-in-Residence Workshop or Author Visit?
We'd love to hear from you!
We each offer our own author visits or we'll conduct writer residencies together. Contact us to design a program that meets your needs.
Joyce Hostetter
Carol Baldwin
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* Gabby and Hannahgrace Hussey for book introductions.
* Megan Andersen for being our expert.
* Maupin House for book donation.
* Joanne Hunsberger for proofreading.
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For best results,
"View as Webpage"
(on pale yellow bar at the top.)
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Send us an
and we'll enter your name to win one of the three books below. Each of them will intrigue a young reader in your life.
If you have a book preference please mention that. We try to honor requests.
Enter before
July 20
(Or better yet, enter right now!)
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Congratulations to winners from our March issue.
Connie Saunders won Like a River.
Gail Hurburt won The Last Brother.
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BOOKS FOR YOUNG
READERS
by Emma Lesko
by Holly Hobbie
by Arnold Lobel
by Jennifer Wojtowicz
by Laura Vaccaro Seeger
MIDDLE GRADE BOOKS
by Norton Juster
by R.J. Palacio
by Madeline L'Engle
by C.S. Lewis
by Gail Carson Levine
by J.K. Rowling
YOUNG ADULT BOOKS
by Charlotte Bronte
by Jane Austen
by John Steinbeck
by J.D. Salinger
by Andrea Seigel, Brent Bradshaw
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Links & Lists for
Teachers and Parents
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As an introvert, I can't say enough about the following links. They are chock full of resources for quiet types. (Joyce)
The Introvert Advantage
Website of Marti Olsen Laney, author of the Introvert Advantage - check this site out for help with educating and understanding your introverted child/student.
Quiet Revolution - another comprehensive website with resources and encouragement for teachers and parents of introverts. From Susan Cain, the author of Quiet.
This TED Talk by Susan Cain will make you feel so great about being an introvert!
Keeping Introverts in Mind
in Your Classroom Ideas for teachers trying to include both introverts and extroverts in their classroom.
Are you or someone you know an ambivert?
For more in-depth classroom activities, scroll down this article from The Learning Network.
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Joyce now has Common Core related curriculum guides for Blue and Comfort.
(Comfort is the
sequel to Blue)
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Click here to order the ebook. |
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