Personalities, Group/Introduction Lesson

Opening Prayer:

Opening Story:

              I dreaded after school meetings, especially when we had a guest presenter and we were required to attend. The one piece I did enjoy was identifying all the different personalities in the room. Most of the time I tuned out the presentation and people watched.

              Of course, there were some teachers who tracked and followed along with the presenter. They usually sat on the front two rows and took notes. They volunteered to participate and asked lots of questions. These were also the ones who inadvertently prolonged meetings with questions that could have been follow-up emails. The rest of the groups groaned inside when these overzealous, studious types made meetings go too long.

Then on rows three, four, and five there were the ones who wanted to look like they were paying attention, but actually they were grading papers or working on lesson plans instead of taking notes. They never made eye contact because they didn’t want to be called on. They were texting and emailing, sliding notes to a teacher beside them, but never disruptive.

A little farther back were the ones who had to be there and were waiting for a quick exit. Among this group were your sarcastic smart alecks who made inside jokes about the presentation with each other. Many of these could also be labeled as class clowns. They were biding their time until they could sneak out the back and disappear.

And then there were the people like me: the watchers. We took in the whole setting, noting exits, bathrooms, and who was playing what role. We often disengaged from the presentation but always appeared like we were following along. I enjoyed scanning the room, watching body language and posture, and grouping people accordingly. Ironically, I noted there were many administrators who were entirely disengaged as well.

Why am I sharing all of this? Because everyone is different. While we might share a similar love for the students, everything about each of us is entirely diverse. Some teachers are extroverts, the life of the party, and have boisterous personalities. But others are introverted, talk softly, and have a calm, quiet classroom. Then there are the ones who love to debate and argue, who teach their students to prove their points through higher level concepts. And then there are the ones who only work as a teacher so they can coach an after-school sport and their classroom teaching isn’t a high priority.

Some teachers are snobbish toward peers while others are inviting and warm. Other teachers have adult A.D.D. and struggle just to stay focused on their have-tos, much less social interactions. There are the super organized planners and the shoot-from-the-hip procrastinators. And don’t forget grouchy old teachers who should have retired decades ago.

Educators are as diverse as the students they teach and because of that, navigating these personalities can often be a challenge. Team meetings, evaluations, planning sessions, professional learning communities, workshops, and grade level projects can become points of contention or frustration if we assume that everyone thinks like us or responds like us.

This week, we are taking a dive into a few of the prominent personality types that we may encounter in our schools. As we take a look, we need to ask ourselves which group we fall into as well. If we are nonconfrontational peacekeepers, we will feel intimidated by outspoken extroverts who love to debate. If we are snobbish, we may not see the value of others’ opinions. And if we are that teacher with A.D.D., we may not notice much of anything except that we drive everyone else crazy with our randomness.

It takes all kinds to make the world go around. Where will we land?

Scripture Reading:

Daniel 1:3-16 (NIV): Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring into the king’s service some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility—young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians. The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from the king’s table. They were to be trained for three years, and after that they were to enter the king’s service.

Among those who were chosen were some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego.

But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. Now God had caused the official to show favor and compassion to Daniel, but the official told Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you.”

  Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, “Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.” So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days.

At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead.

Discussion

1. How were Daniel and his friends different from the rest?

2. What drove them to be willing to be outspoken about their eating habits?

3. Name some of the different personality types that exist in your hallway/school?

4. What type of personality is easiest/hardest to get along with? Why?

5. In the example of the afterschool meeting, which personality would you likely be? Why?

Homework

              Read or listen to the book of Esther. Make a list of the various personality types of the main characters.

Personal Reflection

              Begin identifying the personalities that grate your nerves the most. What is it about that personality style that doesn’t mesh with yours? Have you ever considered attempting to get along with that person and overlook their outward projection? Why or why not? Have you ever considered that they might be really neat people if you can get past the outside?