Cedarville University

DigitalCommons@Cedarville
Master of Education Research Theses Master of Education Capstones

8-17-2013

Evaluating Learning Styles and Personality Type:

Guidance for Home School Families Selecting
High School Curriculum
Sarah J. Cook
Cedarville University

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Cook, Sarah J., "Evaluating Learning Styles and Personality Type: Guidance for Home School Families Selecting High School
Curriculum" (2013). Master of Education Research Theses. 62.
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CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE i

Evaluating Learning Styles and Personality Type:

Guidance for Home School Families Selecting High School Curriculum

A Research Project submitted in partial fulfillment

of the requirements for the degree of

Master of Education

By

SARAH J. COOK

2013

Cedarville University
CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE ii

Abstract

“The diagnosis and identification of the strengths and weaknesses of each student, both

cognitive and emotional structure, establishes the teaching prescription of instruction”

(White, 1998, p. 145). Along with achievement and aptitude tests and portfolios, home

school parents can delve into personality and learning styles to gain a greater

understanding of their child’s strengths and weaknesses and also to guide in curriculum

choices. Can evaluating personality and learning styles aid home school parents in the

curriculum decisions? This study included nine upper elementary home schooled students.

Each participant completed a self-assessment questionnaire. The data gained from the

questionnaire and the follow-up curriculum recommendations demonstrate the value of

evaluating personality and learning style for home school families involved in curriculum

decisions—especially when students are headed into the crucial high school years.

Keywords: curriculum, environmental preferences, home school, information

processing, learning preferences, learning style, multiple intelligences, personality type,

strengths and weaknesses

CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE iii

Table of Contents

Index of Charts ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………. v

Acknowledgements/Dedication ……………………………………………………….……………………….. vi

Chapter One: Introduction of the Study ……………………………………………………………….…….. 1

Definition of Key Terms ……………………………………………………………………………………… 3

Statement of the Issue ………………………………………………………………………………………... 6

Scope of the Study and Delimitations ………………………………………………………………….. 8

Significance of the Study ……………………………………………………………………………….……. 9

Methods of Procedure ………………………………………………………………………………………. 14

Chapter Two: Plenary Literature Review ………………………………………………………………… 16

Educational Value in Personality/Learning Style Evaluations ……………………………...16

Defining Personality/Learning Style …………………………………………………………………. 17

Applications Using Personality/Learning Style ………………………………………………….. 19

Methods Available to Determine Strengths and Weaknesses ……………………………… 20

Benefits of the Study of Personality/Learning Style …………………………………………… 22

Results of the Study of Personality/Learning Style ………….…………………………………. 24

Chapter Three: Methodology …………………………………………………………….……………………… 30

The Method …………………………………………………………………………………….……………….. 30

Why This Method …………………………………………………………………………….………………. 30

The Study Population ………………………………………………………………….…………………… 31

The Study Sample …………………………………………………………………….……………………… 32

The Procedure ………………………………………………………………….…….……………………….. 34

CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE iv

Chapter Four: Results and Analysis ………………………………………………………………………….. 40

Introduction …………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 40

The Data ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 41

Data Analysis …………………………………………………………………………………………………… 46

Conclusions ……………………………………………………………………………………………………... 52

Chapter Five: Discussion and Implications ……………………………………………………………… 54

Introduction ……………………………………………………………………………….……………………. 54

Interpretations of the Results ……………………………………………………….…………………... 54

Potential Applications of the Findings …………………………………………….………………… 56

Biblical Integrative Component and Implications ……………………………………………… 62

Relation of Results to Theory and Other Literature …………………………………………… 64

Strengths of the Study …………………………………...………………………………………………… 69

Limitations of the Study …………………………………………………………………………………… 71

Suggestions for Future Research …………………………………………………….………………… 73

References ……………………………………………………………………………………………….……………….. 75

Appendix A Study Questionnaire ……………………………………………………………….……………….. 81

Appendix B Parental Permission Form ……………………………………………………..………………… 85

Appendix C Study Questionnaire Results Summary …………………………………..………………… 86

Appendix D Steps in Curriculum Decisions Using Personality & Learning Style ……..……... 89

Appendix E Curriculum Decision Resources ……………………………………………………………..… 93

Appendix F Learning Style Resources …………………………………………………………………………. 94

CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE v

Index of Charts

Figure 1: Personality and Learning Styles …………………………………………………………………… 44

Figure 2: Questionnaire Results by Student ………………………………………………………………… 47

Figure 3: Study Results for Learning Style Information ………………………………….…………….. 48

Figure 4: Study Results for Environmental Preferences ……………………………….………………. 49

Figure 5: Curriculum Recommendations for Four Learning Styles ……………………………….. 55

Figure 6: Set Family Goals ………………………………………………………………………………………….. 56

Figure 7: Determine Learning Style of Parent/Teacher ……………………………………………….. 57

Figure 8: Personality Type of Parent/Teacher and Student …………………………………………. 58

CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE vi

Acknowledgements/Dedication

Many people participate in the shaping of an individual. Though my parents, Clair

and Myrtie Hurne, have been at home in heaven for many years, their influence still touches

my life. One of my early supporters to pursue the Master of Education program was my

husband’s mom, Helen Cook. My friends, Lisa Magoffin and Carol Stearns, offered continual

encouragement. The Cedarville University professors I have had over the years in the

program have been an encouragement throughout the process—especially Dr. Ager,

Dr. Baumann, and Dr. Heaton. Tim, my husband, and our girls, Hannah, Rachel, and Emma,

have sustained this dream through encouragement, support, and by taking over many

responsibilities to allow time to work through the program and this research—but then

supporting one another and doing more than “my own thing” is part of the home school

phenomenon! God has been my greatest support. How can one continue without God, the

Creator of the universe, taking notice to answer multiple prayers for completing classwork?

This work is dedicated to those families that home schooled in the early years of the

modern home school movement, the ‘60s, ‘70s, and ‘80s, when home schooling was an

option not taken lightly. Resources were limited by many factors. They forged the path for

many families to take back greater control of their children’s education that has made a

profound impact on our educational system in America and around the world. Parents are

given great responsibilities with children, and those early home schooling parents took that

responsibility very seriously. Thank you for your example and perseverance.

“For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

II Timothy 1:7
CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE 1

Chapter One: Introduction of the Study

Families educated their children at home long before any organized public

education existed. Though home education has been part of the fabric of United States

history, the 1960s and 1970s experienced a renewal in the modern day home school

movement (Wilhelm & Firmin, 2009, p. 303; Gaither, 2009, p. 11). Gaither explains that

participation by “ethnic and religious groups” other than white/Caucasians continues to

grow (p. 13). African Americans, Native Americans, Hispanics, Hawaiian natives, Jews,

Roman Catholics, Muslims, and sports and the arts families continue to add to the numbers

of families that have embraced home education. Various sources estimate anywhere

between one million to over two million children are home schooled in the United States

(Gather, 2009; Home School Legal Defense Association or HSLDA, hslda.org; Isenberg,

2007; Wilhelm & Firmin, 2009). Today’s home school families do not have to hide inside

their homes fearing legal action that might take away their “deprived, uneducated,

sheltered children,” a characterization of home schooled children by some people. Many

colleges actively recruit home schooled students. Research verifies that a majority of home

schooled children out perform their public school counterparts. These students, on

average, score in the range of the 65th to 80th percentile on standardized academic

achievement tests compared to the 50th percentile of the national school average (based

largely on public schools) (Ray, 2010). Many areas of society today acknowledge, if not

accept, home education as a viable education option.

Even with the continued growth of home education, Gaither (2009) points out that

home school families need and appreciate help and support in the areas of curricular

decisions and companionship for children and parents (p. 14). States and territories have
CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE 2

state and local home school support groups (see hslda.org for listings) endeavoring to meet

the needs of these families. Home school magazines and multiple websites also encourage

and inform parents in the quest for a better home school experience for parents and

children. Many local libraries and parks departments reach out to home school families as

well. Networks of home school friends and acquaintances also offer insight and help.

Today, families choose to educate their children at home for various reasons, but a

desire to pass on family beliefs and philosophy remains strong. Many home school families

seek not only to educate their children but also develop a love of learning in their children

to set them on the path of stretching themselves as they mature and move into adulthood.

In the home school setting, parents or guardians take on the roles of teacher, guidance

counselor, principal, and curriculum coordinator. Determining the curriculum that meets

the family’s goals for their children requires thoughtful decisions. Families must also be

aware of state requirements for home schooling in their respective state, which range from

minimal oversight to overly burdensome documentation (hslda.org). Setting family goals,

including discovering a child’s learning style or personality type, gives valuable insight into

a compatible curriculum, thereby narrowing the search of the various options available to

home school families.

As families decide to continue home schooling their children through the high

school years, the roles of curriculum coordinator and guidance counselor become even

more important. In the public and private schools, guidance counselors are available to

help parents make decisions. As teacher, guidance counselor, and curriculum coordinator,

the home school parent or guardian sets the course of study, decides on the appropriate

curriculum, creates and maintains a transcript, schedules achievement testing, and decides
CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE 3

when, where, how, and how often field trips and other outside activities will be attended.

In spite of the challenges faced, Johnson (2007) lists four general benefits to home

schooling through high school: increased parental influence, reduced peer dependence,

socialization, and early work opportunities (p. 6). Parents have a greater influence on their

children through greater understanding of each one and his or her potential. Hendricks

(1987) wrote in his book, The 7 Laws of the Teacher, that Sunday school teachers should get

to know each student individually. “Find out as much about them as you possibly can” (p.

41). Many home schooling parents desire to know their children, individually, to

accomplish more in the child’s education while at home. Many look into evaluating

strengths and weaknesses of their children. This study will address avenues to evaluate

strengths and weaknesses of children, especially home schooled children, giving guidance

in curricular choices.

Definition of Key Terms

Achievement tests: used to measure students for broad range of mental capabilities

(Macklem, 1990)

Aptitude tests: used to measure abilities and predict scholastic performance by

providing instructional, administrative, and guidance information (Macklem, 1990)

Barbe-Swassing’s Learning Preferences/Modality: Auditory/listen; Visual/see and

watch; Kinesthetic/physical or action (Tobias, 1994)

Course of Study: orderly learning to cover education courses taught by an instructor

Curriculum: materials used to educate children

CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE 4

Diagnostic Prescriptive Model: education based on evaluation of cognitive and

emotional structure (White, 1998)

Duffy’s Learning Styles: Wiggly Willy – learns best by doing; Perfect Paula – likes to

see that everything is done correctly; Competent Carl – in control of himself and his

surroundings; Sociable Sue – sociable (Duffy, 1992)

Dunn and Dunn’s Environmental Preferences: productive learning environments

including timing/alertness, food or snacks, lighting, location, and noise tolerance (Tobias,

1994)

Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences: Multiple ways of being smart including

Verbal/Linguistic; Logical/Mathematical; Spatial; Musical; Bodily/Kinesthetic;

Interpersonal; Intrapersonal (Tobias, 1994)

Gregorc’s Model of Learning Styles: Perception – the way people take in information:

either Concrete (C) or Abstract (A); Ordering – the way people use perceived information:

either Sequential (S) or Random (R) (Tobias, 1994)

Home school, home education: school instruction provided to children in the family

home with parents as the primary instructor(s)

Home school support groups: people that meet together or keep in contact in some

form to share resources toward informing and encouraging one another as home school

families

Individual preferences and personalities: evaluating each child’s “combination of

emotional, behavioral, cognitive, and social skills and capacities” (Perry, 2011)
CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE 5

Kolb’s Learning Styles: Accommodator – creative and flexible; Converger – Values

what is useful and relevant; Assimilator – read to learn; Diverger – values positive, caring

environments (www.schoolimprovement.com from class notes 2008)

Learning styles: patterns of behavior and communication affecting how students

learn (Tobias, 1994)

Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI): tool used to evaluate psychological preferences

(Wolf, 2009)

Personality type: preferences in nature and behavior affecting how an individual

sees and lives life including Extrovert (E) or Introvert (I), Sensing (S) or Intuitive (N),

Thinking (T) or Feeling (F), and Judging (J) or Perceiving (P) (Davis, 2010; Wankat &

Oreovicz, 2004)

Philosophy of education: approach of education to accomplish desired goals (Duffy,

1992)

Philosophy statement: what an individual (or family) believes; for home school

families: looking at goals for child/children’s education, ownership of child/children, and

man’s nature (Duffy, 1992)

Problem solving: model used to evaluate students strengths and weaknesses

involving evaluation of effectiveness of programs (Canter, 2004)

Self-efficacy: confidence in one’s own ability to prepare for and perform assigned

tasks (Golden, 2003)

Socialization: interacting with others in a social setting

Strengths-Based Education: evaluating students’ talents/strengths for educating

them accordingly (Anderson, 2004)

CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE 6

Strengths and weaknesses: areas where students excel or falter

Talents: ingrained, personal patterns of thought, feeling or behavior

Traditional schooling: formal education based on memorization and drill work

Unschooling: type of education that allows the child freedom to explore and learn

from subjects and materials of his/her own choosing with minimal parental oversight

(Duffy, 1992)

Viable option: feasible method producing a similar end result

Witkin’s How We Understand information: Analytical/component parts, detail

oriented; Global/overall picture (Tobias, 1994)

Statement of the Issue

What was your favorite subject in school? Did you have a favorite teacher? Did you

have to work hard or did learning come rather easily? Home educators often search for the

right curriculum or method or setting to fit their children. Parents share and compare

ideas of what might help one child learn material that another child learned more easily. A

family organizes their home and day in a way that seems to encourage learning. Would the

same materials and incentives work for others? Would evaluating the strengths and

weaknesses of children assist in determining the appropriate curriculum? The educational

experience will be strengthened for the child and the parent through the benefit of

recognizing each child’s learning style and making curricular decisions in light of this

information, thus better meeting each child’s potential and dreams.

Cathy Duffy (1992) offers three basic steps for guidance in choosing curriculum for

home schooling families. Families should first determine and write out why they desire to
CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE 7

homeschool. Recognizing basic philosophy regarding the family’s beliefs provides a

foundation. Duffy includes a sampling of questions for direction in this area. Second, build

on that foundation of basic philosophy by voicing a philosophy of education, the how of

educating. What approach to education best fits the family—traditional, unschooling,

discovery/experiential, or a combination (p. 1-2)? This philosophy may change over time.

As Duffy demonstrates, determining the basic philosophical belief statement will give

guidance to determining the philosophy of education. Thirdly, discover the what or

methods and materials to meet the desired goals for the education of children (p. 3).

The third step involves important factors that will help narrow the search. The age

and number of children, experience and confidence of the one doing the teaching, level of

support, and the philosophical beliefs of the family provide direction for curriculum

choices. Time taken to discover the adults’ and child/children’s learning styles strengthens

and narrows the choices for decisions on curriculum and methodology. Duffy includes

charts to help identify learning styles and preferred learning situations (p. 7-9). She

recommends using curriculum and methods that address the child’s preferred learning

style especially for new material but for reinforcement or review of material, using other

styles to strengthen the child’s weaknesses. Observing strong and weak subjects also

allows for differences in methods of teaching.

Children learn in different ways through a variety of learning strategies. Parents

gain understanding of their child’s abilities through evaluations and reviewing the results.

Achievement test results give a peek into a child’s academic abilities but leave room for

more information about where he or she is strong or weak in areas other than purely

academic. This paper reviewed other forms of evaluations endeavoring to aid parents in
CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE 8

teaching toward learning styles (Fliess, 2008; Martin and Potter, 1998; Tobias, 1994) and

personality types (Trent, 2011). Curriculum choices for different learning styles and

personality types are included. Other possible teaching helps include strength-based

education (Anderson, 2005; Henderson, 2005; Lopez and Louis, 2009), identifying

strengths in the cognitive and emotional realm (White, 1998), discovering a child’s niche

(Perry, 2001), implementing problem-solving intervention evaluation (Canter, 2004),

evaluating student aptitude (Macklem, 1990), analyzing data to address weaknesses

(Danna, 2004), and Myers-Briggs Type Indicator or MBTI which discusses more detailed

personality assessment (Davis, 2010; Wankat and Oreovicz, 2004; Wolf, 2009). Because

MBTI must be administered by a certified professional (myersbriggs.org), this study

referred parents to the website for further information. Often just a little more information

allows the parent to better equip children through the home education experience.

Scope of the Study and Delimitations

An old Chinese proverb states, “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach

a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” As our oldest daughter approached her high

school years, we thought hard and long on how to meet the requirements for graduation

and how to address her strengths and weaknesses while implementing a course of study

that stretched her in fulfilling her potential and abilities. Achievement test scores indicated

she would do well academically. Though discovering strengths and weaknesses seems

natural and obvious to some parents, we struggled to find direction in this area. Home

school resources, whether support groups or magazines or web sites, included limited

coverage of assessing student strengths and weaknesses. This paper addresses learning
CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE 9

styles or personality types and correlated curriculum options. Through learning style or

personality type evaluation and other evaluation resources, useful information comes to

light to gain greater insight into curriculum options to meet the needs of home school

children. With a desire to instill a love of learning, the intended audience for this study

includes home school families but recognizes the usefulness of the material by any parents

desiring to contribute more to their children’s education.

This study observed and evaluated fewer than ten home school children living in

Ohio, USA, through the use of a questionnaire to learn about each child’s learning style and

personality traits. The questionnaire was based on information gathered from work by

Tobias, Clarkson, Trent, and Wolf. With approval from parents, each participating child

filled out the questionnaire covering learning styles and personality types. The data

collected from the questionnaires was evaluated for each student and summarized. Each

family involved in this study will receive a copy of their child’s completed questionnaire

and the resulting learning style and personality type information relating to him or her.

They will also receive curriculum options for their child in subjects of math,

English/language, history, and science. The information can be used to help guide home

school families relative to their curriculum choices, daily schedules, and related

educational activities, as they desire. Further studies could include more children, more

evaluation sources, and a greater variety of cultures and regions.

Significance of the Study

Harris (1988), a home school dad, equates educating children with crafting arrows.

Parents need to know the bend and characteristics of each “arrow” or child to produce
CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE 10

straight arrows for future use (p. 12). Not all children think and behave in the same way.

Not all children learn the same way. Not all children have the same interests or talents.

God did not create cookie-cutter people. When John Adams was young, he attended a local

school where he lost interest in learning. After a discussion with his father, young John was

transferred to a private school (McCullough, 2001, p. 33). The problem seemed to have

been the teacher. After Adams was switched to the private school, his love for learning

again took hold, allowing him to advance to Harvard at the age of fifteen. Families home

school for various reasons, but undoubtedly the decision involves a desire for a better

education according to the parents’ standard. According to Danna (2004, p. 27) “Evaluating

data and making changes is an arduous process,” but home school parents willingly put in

the time driven by the desire to give their children the best education they can provide.

Observing and listening to children allow greater understanding of his or her individual

ways and needs. Through testing and evaluation parents can also learn ways to educate

their children in a way that increases the interest, rather than “killing” interest. Choosing

the appropriate curriculum can renew excitement in learning.

Parents returned to the concept of home educating their children in the late 1960s

and early 1970s. Public education more openly pulled away from the foundational, moral

education of our founding fathers. Parents began seeing their children exposed to ideas

and teachings that the parents disagreed with as good education. Schools reflect the values

of society and not necessarily what is in the best interest of students. Public education

began failing to truly educate children (Harris, p. 20). Though many home school parents

lack a college degree in education and may have only a high school diploma, most have a

love for their children and a desire to give them what they might not receive through public
CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE 11

education. By providing a few simple resources for evaluating various aspects of

education, including curriculum choices, parents more fully achieve their educational goals

for their children and narrow the search for the curriculum that fits the family and the

children. By analyzing a child’s learning style, frustration decreases as the parent

implements ideas addressing evident differences. With better insight into a child’s

personality traits and how those traits help him or her learn, parents’ decisions on what

curriculum to use can be altered accordingly. Through a better understanding of a child’s

strengths and weaknesses, parents teach to the strengths and use those same strengths to

address the weaker areas of learning. As Harris states, why settle for “mass-produced

education” when we live in a country that allows parents to retain the responsibility of

training their children in the way they believe to be the best (p. 20)? Parents can learn to

unlock their child’s ability to learn and focus (Mergens, 2013, p. 116). By understanding

and working with a child’s learning style and personality in mind, parents provide a

stronger education and promote a greater love for learning.

For Christian families, knowing strengths and weaknesses allows for greater

fulfillment of biblical mandates of stewardship, reconciliation, and educating a child made

in the image of God. Stewardship teaches children to appreciate and apply God-given

talents, abilities, and potential to be used as instruments in God’s hands (Harris, 1988, p.

13). Reconciliation includes training in the proper handling of relationships with God,

man, and each other. As godly image bearers, parents train children in academic and moral

character to consciously bless and worship God (p. 79). As Harris relates educating

children to crafting a good arrow, both ends must be prepared. Children demonstrate

sharpness academically with a delicate guidance system (p. 64). Biblically based education
CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE 12

does not deify reason but prepares reason to respond to God. Christian home school

families train their children both academically and morally to fulfill their potential in

service for God.

Cynthia Ulrich Tobias (1994) devotes several books and a website to putting the

idea of different learning styles into the hands of parents and teachers. She encourages

parents to learn “how to recognize and appreciate learning styles” as a bridge to strengthen

the learning experience of children (p. 9). Tobias covers five different learning style

models helping parents gain understanding of the complexity and uniqueness of their

children. These include Gregorc’s mind-styles, Dunn and Dunn’s environmental

preferences, Barbe-Swassing’s modalities, Witkin’s analytical/global information

processing, and Gardner’s multiple intelligences. Learning styles are “value neutral”

meaning that no one style is better than the others (p. 143). As Tobias says, “The key lies in

how you use your natural style strengths, and in how willing you are to learn or

communicate in a way that may be difficult for you” (p. 143). Balance between strengths

and weaknesses allows each individual to know him or herself and allow for and work with

others’ differences. In her article, “Learning Styles: Working With Strengths and

Weaknesses,” Fliess provides ideas to work with weak areas of the three different learning

styles of auditory, visual and kinesthetic. “By learning to adapt to other styles, you will

broaden your scope of influence and success” in your child’s life (p. 146).

In a radio program interview, Mike Smith of HSLDA asked John Trent (2011) for his

description of general personality types. Trent describes four personality types

represented by lions, otters, golden retrievers, and beavers. Lions take charge of situations.

Otters enjoy having fun and are enthusiastic. Many people enjoy being around otters
CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE 13

because otters are a party waiting to happen. Golden retrievers tend to be quiet, sensitive,

caring, and compassionate. The organized, detail-oriented beaver enjoys the opportunity

to check things off a list, thereby showing completion and success.

According to Davis (2010) insight into personality determines a person’s

“psychological preference for consistent and enduring patterns of how the world is viewed,

how information is collected and interpreted, how decisions are made and how individuals

live out lifestyle choices” (p. 23). Those psychological preferences encompass four

dichotomies of Extraversion (E) or Introversion (I); Sensing (S) or Intuition (N); Thinking

(T) or Feeling (F); and Judging (J) or Perceiving (P). Parents in the home school setting

gain greater potential of instilling a love of learning by acknowledging their own

personality preferences and those of their children. Wolf (2009, p. 2-4) includes a Self-

Assessment: Taking Inventory in her book, CliffsNotes Roadmap to College: Navigating Your

Way to College Admission Success, to highlight student’s strengths and areas needing

improvement. Wankat and Orervicz (2004, p. 49) opine that greater understanding of

personalities allows each person to connect with others of differing personalities. For a

more in-depth analysis of personality types, the MBTI can be accessed through their

website. The home school parent enhances the education of his/her child through better

understanding of his or her personality and evaluating curriculum choices in light of that

personality.

With an understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of their children, home

school parents gain the opportunity to gear their child’s education toward those strengths

as well as use his/her strengths to assist in weaker areas. Anderson (2004) describes the

strength-based education where strengths or talents are discovered through evaluations.

CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE 14

In his article “What is Strengths-Based Education?” Anderson presents the reasoning,

benefits, and uses of strengths-based. Parents benefit from knowing their own talents by

practicing with those strengths and thereby teaching their child to use his or her talents in

their studies and life.

Parents who home school their children are more than just the teacher of the

subject material. They take on the roles of principal, guidance counselor, and curriculum

coordinator for their children. These roles become especially important during the high

school years. For families facing frustration in their home school experience,

understanding that all children are not alike can ease the frustration through learning

about and implementing ideas regarding learning styles and personality types. Curriculum

choices make a difference. With such a wide field of options, narrowing the chosen

curriculum to compliment or correlate with a child’s learning style and personality type

helps parents with these vital decisions. Home school parents must establish and know

their philosophy of basic beliefs, educational philosophy, and curriculum and methods

choices. Taking the time to determine learning styles and personality types and

preferences more firmly secures decisions for choosing curriculum and how to work with

children in the home school setting.

Methods of Procedure

How a child feels about himself or herself, or self-efficacy (Golden, 2003), plays a

role in the learning experience. This study provides parents, especially home school

parents, with tools to evaluate strengths and weaknesses beyond the area of achievement

for their child. Ideas for determining curriculum choices addressing learning styles are
CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE 15

included in the study. Articles relating to strengths and weaknesses of students were

located through Education Full Text, Education Research Complete, and ERIC databases, as

well as web site searches. Perusal of personal books and magazines also provided

information for this study.

As a result of the material and information gathered, this study was narrowed to

learning styles, personality types, and curriculum decision guidance. A questionnaire was

used to evaluate the learning style and personality type of fewer than ten home school

students in a range of grades, mostly upper elementary. Parental approval for use of the

questionnaire was obtained. Student names are kept confidential. Each student’s

responses provided information on his/her learning style and personality type.

Comparison charts give guidance in matching curriculum options with learning styles and

personality types. Each family received their child’s original completed questionnaire and

suggestions regarding curriculum choices related to his/her learning style. This

information should prove relevant to each family by providing a greater understanding of

each child’s strengths in ways he/she learns and his/her personality type while providing

guidance in decisions for corresponding curriculum.

“Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”

(Proverbs 22:6) A rich heritage means a great deal to people. As Jewish families pass on

their history, so home school families endeavor to pass on to their children the truths and

beliefs of their heritage.

CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE 16

CHAPTER TWO: PLENARY LITERATURE REVIEW

Educational Value in Personality/Learning Style Evaluations

“Prior to the advent of compulsory education in the 1700s, homeschooling was the

primary form of education of the masses as the concept of hiring a teacher or tutor was

available only to the elite” (Cogan, 2010, p. 19). What once represented fulfillment of the

dream to educate the common citizenry later became a catalyst for the return of the home

school movement in the 1970s. According to National Center for Education Statistics at

nces.ed.gov, 1.1 million students were homeschooled in 2003, or 2.2% of school-age

children ages 5-17. More recent reports indicate a continual growth to an estimated two

million students in grades K to 12 by 2009 (Ray, 2010). Homeschool students garner the

attention of colleges and universities through test scores, civic involvement, and academic

abilities exhibited during college years (Wilhelm & Firmin, 2009). In fact, colleges and

universities actively recruit homeschoolers (Romanowski, 2006). Homeschooling today is

embraced by a wide variety of families for various reasons (Gaither, 2009) and is legal in all

fifty of the United States.

Achievement tests, aptitude tests, and other forms of evaluation reveal pertinent

information about students and may prove useful in curriculum choices that address their

strengths and weaknesses (Danna, 2004; Macklem, G. L., 1990). Awareness of and

understanding of strengths and weaknesses of the student and the teacher improve the

learning experience (Davis, 2010). Research indicates awareness of personality and

learning styles provides educational value through greater understanding of students and

how they learn and process information (Clarkson & Clarkson, 1996; Davis, 2010; Duffy,

1992; Fliess, n.d.; Martin & Potter, 1998; Tobias, 1994; Wankat & Oreovicz, 2004). Martin
CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE 17

and Potter (1998) encourage parents to gain an understanding of their child’s “unique

learning and studying style” to advance positive effects on his/her education (p. 549). The

program Strengths-Based Education involves learning about students’ strengths or talents

and gearing their education in light of that information (Lopez, S. J. & Louis, M. C., 2009).

Greater understanding of personality and learning style enhances self-esteem and

confidence in the individual—whether student or teacher.

Along with achievement and aptitude tests and portfolios, home school parents can

delve into personality and learning style to gain a greater understanding of their child’s

strengths and weaknesses and also to guide in curriculum choices. Through the evaluation

of their child’s personality and learning style, parents gain greater appreciation of learning

preferences thereby encouraging a more fulfilling education experience. Personality, often

referred to as learning style, is expressed daily in the home-educated child (Clarkson &

Clarkson, 1996). Tomlinson and Eidson (2003) refer to three curricular elements, content

and process and products, which teachers can adapt for students’ readiness, interest, and

learning profile (p. 10). Home school families have the unique opportunity to educate

children individually and challenge them to fulfill their potential (Harris, 1988). Evaluating

a child’s learning style, more common in the public school setting, is often an unused

instrument for many home school families.

Defining Personality/Learning Style

In their book, Educating the WholeHearted Child, Clarkson and Clarkson (1996)

portray personality as “the way one thinks—that is, how you gather information, organize

it, and make decisions with it” (p. 144). Personality incorporates “inborn neurological
CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE 18

preferences, environment, culture, opportunity, family and experience” according to Davis

(2010, p. 23). Personality accounts for the “natural differences” among students and

teachers driving how information is perceived and acted on (Wankat & Oreovicz, 2004, p.

49). Learning style involves personality as well as environment and intelligences or

“natural intelligence strengths” (Tobias, 1994, p. 130). Personality studies gather

“subjective and observational” information and therefore cannot prove personality by

applying the scientific method (Clarkson & Clarkson, p. 142; Duffy, 1992). With the study

of personality, think of a nature study of butterflies leading to determining the similarities

as well as the differences and forming groups according to similar patterns and

characteristics (Clarkson & Clarkson). Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) classifies

people’s personalities according to perception, either sensation or intuition, and judgment,

either feeling or thinking, and extraverts or introverts (Davis; Wankat & Oreovicz, 2004).

The expression of one’s unique personality is affected by natural inborn qualities as well as

input from their environment and others around them.

Learning style often refers to one of three natural ways children learn—visually,

auditorily, or kinesthetically (Fliess, n.d.; Clarkson & Clarkson, 1996). Pride (1988)

includes the sense of touch, tactile, as another learning style for taking in data (p. 138).

Other aspects of learning include right brain or global learning and left-brain or analytical

learning (Clarkson & Clarkson; Tobias, 1994). Authors discuss multiple intelligences or

innate aptitude that influence learning style. Gardner lists the seven intelligences of

linguistic or verbal, logical or mathematical, artistic or spatial, musical, bodily or

kinesthetic, interpersonal or others, and intrapersonal or self reflective (Tobias; Clarkson &

Clarkson). Beyond the original seven intelligences, Gardner added naturalist and
CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE 19

existential to his list (PBS). How students take in information reflects another aspect of

learning style described through various terms depending on the author/creator. Four

well known learning style descriptions include Gregoric’s Concrete Random, Concrete

Sequential, Abstract Sequential, and Abstract Random; Kolb’s Accommodator, Converger,

Assimilator, and Diverger; Silver’s Self Expressive, Mastery, Understanding, and

Interpersonal; and McCarthy’s Type 4/Dynamic, Type 3/Common Sense, Type 2/Analytical,

and Type 1/Imaginative (School Improvement from class notes, 2008). Combining

evaluations of personality and the various aspects of learning styles provides the educator

with information that can be used to better teach and reach or know his/her students.

Through the use of personality and learning style evaluations, homeschool parents gain

insight that may further guide teaching methods and curriculum leading to a more positive

education experience for all.

Applications Using Personality/Learning Style

In an effort to provide a better education to more students, the education

community continues to develop methods of evaluating students. As Silver (2009)

describes his five principles for a thoughtful classroom, educators are committed to their

students and improving the vision of teaching. Personality and learning style evaluations,

although not the only method, are used to gain better understanding of students. Learning

style evaluations are given to students as self-assessment tools (Wolf, 2009), as a tool to

discover what lies within the individual (Davis, 2010), gaining greater self-understanding

for students leading to self-efficacy and self-confidence allowing for the opportunity of

academic improvement as one becomes aware of how to use strengths to learn as well as
CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE 20

overcome weaknesses (Golden, 2003, Martin & Potter, 1998), and for more effective

teaching and communication as teachers adjust for natural differences in students (Wankat

& Oreovicz, 2004). Personality and learning style studies benefit teachers and learners

through a better understanding of individual differences, options in the variety of teaching

methods and curriculum, and self-assessments for career ideas.

Home school families know their children well, but can also benefit from personality

and learning style studies for the same reasons as others. Home educators have greater

alternatives for curriculum choices because of the one-on-one teaching method involved.

Teaching efforts can be augmented through knowledge of children’s learning styles

(Clarkson & Clarkson, 1996). Gearing teaching toward a child’s learning style allows

teaching new concepts through strong learning style and reviewing material through

weaker learning styles, thereby building strengths out of weaknesses and gaining a greater

appreciation in the child for differences in a range of people’s learning styles (Duffy, 1992).

Awareness of a child’s personality/learning style within the home school setting opens the

door to many options for curriculum choices as well as incorporating varying instructional

methods to gear education toward that child. Even with multiple children in a family, each

child’s learning style can be considered to encourage a love for learning.

Methods Available to Determine Strengths and Weaknesses

Achievement and intelligence tests, aptitudes tests, learning style and personality

type evaluations, and individual student portfolios provides information that allows

educators to appreciate a student and his/her capabilities. “Achievement tests tend to

measure recent learning” relating to specific school subjects (Macklem, 1990, p. 2).
CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE 21

Achievement test results are usually included in a student’s academic records and may be

used to compare multiple students and their performance. This picture of the student

provides a look into strengths and weaknesses of what has already been learned or

achieved. Aptitude tests offer clearer information on future scholastic ability, ways of

comparing performance among children, a profile of strengths and weaknesses, differences

among individuals, and hidden talents in some children. “Teachers can use aptitude test

results to adapt their curricula to match the level of their students, or to design

assignments for students who differ widely” (Macklem, 1990, p. 3). Student portfolios also

demonstrate what a student has learned through actual work. Test results and individual

student portfolios aid schools and parents to better understand and guide the student body

and individual students according to what has been achieved or what may be previously

unnoticed potential.

Personality and learning style sheds light on more of the HOW a student studies and

learns and thereby can be used to adjust instructional methods as well as curriculum to

meet each student’s strengths and weaknesses in learning. Martin and Potter (1998) point

out that parents may be unaware of their child’s learning style. The study of personality

should be a “secondary issue” in education activities (Clarkson & Clarkson, 1996, p. 142), in

part because a young child is still developing personality through God’s design and their

living experiences. Nevertheless, personality type and learning style provide further

insight into the individual and learning capabilities. Adolescents become more comfortable

with individual personality while growing into adulthood, where the personality develops

and matures more fully. Clarkson and Clarkson provide variables to the expression of one’s

personality that include character training, biblical values, weaknesses, temptation, sin,
CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE 22

spiritual gifts, life experiences, and masculine and feminine traits (p. 143). Awareness of

learning style allows the teacher and/or parent to tailor teaching toward the weaknesses

and thereby strengthen the weak areas of the student (Fleiss, 2008) “A basic

understanding and better appreciation of our own strengths and weaknesses, as well of

others, can assist in augmenting the process of human relationships, both in and out of the

classroom” (Davis, 2010, p. 28). Though knowing a child’s personality and learning style

strengthens the education experience for the teacher and the child, the gained information

should not take the place of good curricula but can guide both curriculum and how material

is presented to each child.

Benefits of the Study of Personality/Learning Style

“Educators worldwide search for efficient and motivating ways in which to teach, to

connect with students and to encourage success in the classroom” (Davis, 2010, p. 22).

Martin and Potter (1998) point out the benefits when educators and parents work together

to understand how students study and learn. Even students profit when aware of how to

better study and learn through an understanding of their learning style. Martin and Potter

give suggestions for the process of educating and working with parents regarding their

child. After a student has taken a learning style inventory or completed a learning style

questionnaire, Martin and Potter recommend that the teacher discuss the results with the

student, then the parents, then parents and student together. Following all this, the teacher

should help the student plan for classes and how to best work with individual teachers

keeping individual learning style in mind. Wankat and Oreovicz (2004) remind teachers

“to teach or communicate effectively on campus you must account for natural differences
CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE 23

among your students” (p. 49). Using the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), teachers gain

insight into their students’ personality/learning styles, allowing greater understanding and

more beneficial teaching.

Likewise, home educators benefit through a better understanding of their child’s

personality and learning style for similar reasons. Parents that educate their children at

home gain insight through the use of personality and learning style evaluations. As in the

public school, curricular decisions can be adjusted through input of learning style

evaluation results. Clarkson and Clarkson (1996) point out the opportunity for home

school parents to maximize teaching efforts by understanding each child’s learning style.

According to Duffy (1992), “the proper approach [to learning style application] is to use

methods which work best for each child when introducing new or difficult subject matter

while incorporating other methods when they are not as likely to produce failure” (p. 8).

Why does it matter about children? Joshua Harris (2011) discusses in his book, Dug Down

Deep, the importance of knowing his daughter. “An important part of caring for and

cultivating a relationship with my little girl involves my willingness to learn her character

and personality, her likes and dislikes. Details about her—the color of her hair, the music

she enjoys, her gifts, fears, and dreams—are all important to me because she is important

to me” (p. 30). Though there may be different reasons for home schooling (Gaither, 2009),

parents have chosen to educate their children at home with strong enough reasons to keep

them home schooling despite costs, roadblocks, and difficulties. Understanding the

learning style of the parent or teacher and the child broadens the education experience

through the impact on instructional methods used and curriculum choices.

CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE 24

“What would it take to design a curriculum and facility that would not only qualify

our students for university work, if they chose that path, but also prepare them to be

leaders in their new nation?” (Hennesey & Baker, 2011, p. 172). Though Hennesey refers

to educating young people of Kosovo, education anywhere involves knowing students well

enough to prepare them for leadership roles where their interest takes them. Home

schools families work to provide a solid education that will equip children to fulfill their

potential. As Harris (1988) states in his book The Christian Home School, home schooling

involves responsibility. Parents are stewards of their children and benefit from knowing

the bends and characteristics of each child (Harris, 1988) endeavoring to produce

“arrows” (i.e. children) ready to “exercise Godly dominion over His earth giving honor and

glory to Him” (p. 12) with their lives. The tool of knowing personality and learning style

adds to the toolbox of the homeschool parent for providing a stronger education through

greater understanding of each child.

Results of the Study of Personality/Learning Style

Parents can learn to unlock their child’s ability to learn and focus (Mergens, 2013, p.

116). By understanding and working with a child’s learning style and personality in mind,

parents provide a stronger education and promote a greater love for learning. An effective

teacher impacts students’ achievement. Effective teaching encompasses “all aspects of

what goes on in the classroom between the teacher and the student” (Dozier, 2012). In his

article, Every Student Can Learn - If . . . , Arthur W. Chickering (2006) replaces the old three

R’s of reading, riting, and rithmetic, with recognize, respect, and respond “to wide-ranging

individual differences among diverse learners” (p. 9). In the same article, Chickering notes
CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE 25

the importance of helping students “become more reflective and thoughtful about how they

learn best” (p. 12). Chickering’s article refers to incoming college and university students.

What a benefit for junior high and high school students to recognize and already study and

learn within their individual learning style, respect the different ways of learning for

themselves and others, and better understand how to respond to differences between their

learning pathway and that of others.

“Everybody knows somebody who is teaching a child at home” (Gaither, 2009, p.

11). Parents who home educate their children retain an even greater opportunity than

their public or private school counterparts to positively impact their child’s education.

Home school families have more latitude in selecting curriculum and instructional methods

to be used in the school setting. Greater opportunity is available not only to teach to

strengths but also strengthen weak areas by working with how lessons are taught as well

as what is taught (Fliess, 2008). In her article, Learning Styles: Working With Strengths and

Weaknesses, Fliess provides Dr. Gloria S. Rothenberg’s ideas for addressing weaknesses for

auditory, visual, and kinesthetic learners. Children weak in auditory learning may benefit

from the use of visual clues to guide behavior. Visually weak learners benefit from

direction of “how” different parts of a diagram relate to each other. Children with

kinesthetic weaknesses benefit through a verbal plan that guides them though the

sequential steps to accomplish the goal (Fliess). Home school families have opportunity

and tools to prepare their child for life after high school through the one-on-one style of

teaching as well as mutual discovery of personality and learning style.

Thought is natural, purposeful and purpose seeking, strategic, a dialogue with self

and others, and personal and a matter of style (Silver, 2009, p. 5). With approximately two
CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE 26

million school-age children participating in home education, applying learning style results

enhances the home school setting. As Howard Hendricks (1988) writes, “The problem with

education today is that most teachers give out fruit rather than plant seeds” (p. 14).

Hendricks proposes three goals for education: “teach people how to think, how to learn,

and how to work” (p. 61-66). Parents who willingly sacrifice to home educate benefit

through the discovery of each child’s personality and learning style to aid in the method of

teaching and the material or curricula chosen. According to Duffy (1992), “By identifying

learning styles as best we can, we are able to choose teaching methods and materials that

are more likely to be successful for each child and adapt what we are doing to teach them

more effectively” (p. 6). Different learning styles benefit from different curriculum and

different methods.

According to Davis (2010), the “foundation of teaching and learning lies within the

individual” (p. 22). She relates her experience with “Andy” and his performance in his

studies. Andy’s ability at the piano demonstrates a passion and interest, and his SAT scores

“far exceeded the norm” (p. 23), but Andy struggled with the International Baccalaureate

(IB) curriculum he was pursuing. Through observations and discussions with Andy and

evaluation using the MBTI, Davis discovered factors contributing to Andy’s academic

difficulties. “The more a child understands about her/himself, the greater self-esteem and

confidence she/he will have” (Martin & Potter, 1998, p. 549). Individual personality

awareness allows choices in curriculum and coping techniques for the student drawing

that student toward an interest in and hopefully a love for learning.

Recognizing differences in personality and learning style between the teacher and

the student provides more harmony in the education setting. According to Wankat and
CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE 27

Oreovicz (2004), when both student and teacher recognize each others’ personality they

more fully labor together as they allow and work with the differences in mind. Greater

understanding of the different ways of perceiving, or taking in information, and judgment

on decision making allows different styles to learn from one another.

In their book, Differentiation in Practice, Tomlinson and Eidson (2003) include a

chart laying out ideas for working with different student traits, teacher responses, and

whether the examples demonstrate differentiation in content (the what or how), process

(activities), and/or products (evidence of what was learned) (p. 12-13). The underlying

goal is to “select instructional strategies to help . . . match curriculum and instruction to

learner need” (p. 11). Tomlinson and Eidson share an example of differentiation at a

baseball camp where improvement is realized for the team as a whole through individual

improvement because of studying and working with individual differences and

encouraging the campers and asking for their best (p. 14). Though home education takes

time in and of itself, families that home educate have a greater opportunity than many

other parents to tailor education to draw out children’s best and encourage growth in

weaker areas through adjusting the curriculum and instruction according to personality

and learning preferences.

Wolf (2009) provides a checklist for taking inventory of personality, academic

history, extracurricular activities, talents/abilities, and college preferences as a self-

assessment in preparation for college and career opportunities. Some public schools

provide these tools to students while some require this type of self-assessment. Home

schooling parents, as guidance counselors and more, benefit through the use of similar

checklists for their high school student. Recognizing strengths and weaknesses, setting
CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE 28

goals, and staying focused on a career are just a few determining factors for building “self”

survival skills” (Golden, 2003, p. 15). Even at a younger age, personality and learning style

aids the home school family in decisions regarding the every day work of school by going

beyond achievement and aptitude testing.

Danna (2004) demonstrates the benefit of analyzing data from testing results to

shape strategies that work with or highlight and address student weaknesses. As the

teachers and administrators of the Glens Falls, NY, school district sorted through the data

on students, strategies were developed to strengthen weaknesses in the students.

“Evaluating data and making changes is an arduous process, but the successes teachers

have experienced in helping students learn have energized them as never before” (p. 27).

The time spent sorting through the students’ information encouraged students and

teachers giving the teachers a “sense of empowerment” (p. 27) making a difference in the

lives of each student. Add to testing results and other common academic assessments the

understanding of personality and learning preferences and increase the positive input from

teacher to student and thereby inspiring the teacher to continue on.

The debate continues regarding the relevancy of learning style and the effect on

teaching and learning. Wallace (2011) presented researchers’ opinions on the debate

regarding the connection between learning style and instruction methods and materials.

“More than 25 years of research on this and related themes have not provided any form of

conclusive evidence that matching the form of instruction to learning style improved

learning or even attention” (Wallace quoting Stolovitch). Other researchers in Wallace’s

article agreed that positive conclusions had not been found through research reviews. One

contributor, Pearlstein, related his experience with a research assignment with the US
CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE 29

Navy. He concluded that the methodologically rigorous research “vividly illustrated to me

the trouble with learning styles: They don’t work” (Wallace quoting Pearlstein). The

researchers held to the idea that learning style effect is a myth and not validated through

scientific research. However, Marilynn Force (2011) presents examples of the benefits of

learning style input for people affected by anxiety disorder.

Clarkson and Clarkson (1996) remind homeschooling parents that

personality/learning style indicators are only tools that aid in better understanding a child,

but children change over time as they mature and learn. Personality and learning style are

given by God as shown in the example of Esau and Jacob in Genesis 25, but God uses

nurturing to shape and further develop the child or individual (Ephesians 6:4). The tool

proves useful, but will not be the only factor to determine the what and how of education.

A child’s good education should not hang solely on the personality evaluation results

(Clarkson & Clarkson). Duffy (1992) also provides insight stating, “use methods which

work best for each child when introducing new or difficult subject matter while

incorporating other methods when they are not as likely to produce failure” (p. 8). Duffy

further encourages parents to stretch children through the use of other learning styles on

review work or to reinforce learning providing growth and greater understanding of

others. Home school parents already possess a great deal of information about each of

their children. Learning can be more enjoyable and more beneficial with the

understanding and appreciation of differing learning styles. As the student and teacher

gain confidence through better understanding and use of the knowledge of individual

styles, a love for learning and a greater bond between the child and the parent deepens.
CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE 30

CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY

The Method

As home school families head into the high school years with their children,

thoughts revolve around the outcome and desired pathway to encourage children to

achieve their potential with the abilities they possesses. Delving into areas of strength and

desiring to strengthen the weak areas, parents gather information and make choices on

curriculum and instructional methods to fit their children and their family situation.

Searching beyond the achievement and aptitude tests in the quest for each child’s strengths

and weaknesses, personality type and learning style play an important part in how a child

learns, and therefore, decisions about curriculum and methods. Following the completion

of a pilot study, this research studied a sampling of home educated children to determine

their general personality traits and learning preferences as an additional source in

conjunction with achievement and aptitude test results to provide a guide for selecting

curriculum and instructional methods, especially those home school families with students

headed into the high school years.

Why This Method

Initially the intent of this project involved learning about strengths and weaknesses

of students in the home school arena in preparation for the high school years. Achievement

tests, aptitude tests, and individual portfolios give partial pictures of a student’s strengths

and weaknesses. Personality type and learning styles provide further information and, as

a result, became the focus of this study. The Institutional Research Board (IRB) of

Cedarville University granted approval for this study. Johnson and Christensen (2008) in
CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE 31

their book Educational Research: Quantitative, Qualitative, and Mixed Approaches, state that

“Many personality tests are of the self-report variety” (p. 159). Therefore, a self-report

questionnaire seemed an appropriate method of discovering students’ personality and

learning style for this study. After consulting numerous references, a questionnaire was

developed (c.f. Appendix A). Parental permission for each student to participate in the

study was attained by means of a signed form. Each student also signed the form. Students

then filled out the questionnaire. Following the completion of the questionnaire by the

students, a chart was created showing the range of personality type and learning styles

represented by these students. A further series of charts guides home school parents

through steps for making curriculum decisions to include personality type and learning

style as part of the decision making process. Thus the purpose of this study was to gain

insight into students’ personality type and learning style as a tool to be used in making

curriculum and instructional method decisions.

The Study Population

Where has God placed you, and what has he given you to work with? Evaluating

personality and learning style provides information about an individual. The resulting

information can influence individuals and others interacting with them. This study

included pre-high school home school children. The children completed the questionnaire

providing information about their personality and learning styles. The questionnaire used

for this research was gleaned from Tobias’ book the way they learn and web site applest,

Trent’s interview on HSLDA’s radio program (Nov. 2011), Wolf’s book CliffsNotes Roadmap

to College: Navigating Your Way to College Admission Success, and handouts from School
CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE 32

Improvement from a class taken in 2008. The gathered information has potential to

contribute to the curriculum decision process for home school families.

Clarkson and Clarkson (1996) relate the idea that young children have untouched

personalities that continually form through experiences and other influences, early

adolescents become more comfortable in their personality, and adults “have developed a

full and mature personality” (p. 143). When evaluating children, parents should realize

that the younger the child, the less personality has developed and the less self and

personality are understood. Parents would gain further insight regarding each child’s

personality by following the questionnaire with personal observations of each child

through the use of Duffy’s Preferred and Disliked Learning Situations chart (1992, p. 9) or

Clarkson and Clarkson’s Learning Style and Personality Type Indicator (p. 151).

The Study Sample

Nine students participated in this study by completing the questionnaire. They

were all part of a home school co-op for upper elementary students. The male and female

students varied in age from nine to thirteen. All live in southwestern Ohio. Being a tutor

for the co-op provided the opportunity to complete the questionnaire stage of the study

during the regular timeframe of the co-op.

The purposive, convenient sample chosen for this study included home schooled

students that had not yet entered high school in their studies. Granted parental permission

confirmed the students would be available for the study. Familiarity with the students

allowed for greater interaction and a certain pre-knowledge about the students. A one-

time meeting with all the students permitted the students to fill out the questionnaire at
CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE 33

one time within a more typical setting. Both boys and girls participated in the study

sample.

According to Johnson and Christensen (2008, p. 158-159), personality tests can be

administered by way of the self-report inventory, performance measure, or the projective

measure. For this study the self-report inventory was used. Johnson and Christensen state

that self-report inventories involve weaknesses such as respondents faking good or bad

through their answers. Another weakness involves differences in individuals’ response

styles (p. 159). Observing the students and answering their questions as they filled out the

questionnaire evidenced a lack of understanding on their part and produced unclear

answers for some sets of questions. Many answers lacked clarity because the children

struggled to relate to some of the questions with either/or answers. This self-evaluation

inventory showed vulnerability to contamination as evidenced by various students’

multiple middle-of-the-road answers. The results maintain support for the benefits of

using personality and learning styles as guidance to curriculum choices. Programs such as

Clifton StrengthsFinderTM Themes “represent a return to basic educational principles that

emphasize the positive aspects of student effort and achievement, as well as human

strengths” (Lopez and Louis, 2009, p. 1) evaluate talents. Chickering’s (2006) article refers

to awareness and encouragement in students’ individual learning styles. Multiple articles

and studies tout the benefits of evaluating learning styles as a basis for curriculum and

instructional methods, including Davis (2010) who promotes the idea of teaching and

learning based on individual preferences and personality (p. 22).

CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE 34

The Procedure

Can knowing children’s personality and learning style assist in determining a good

fit in curriculum for their high school years? In their research report Coffield, Moseley,

Hall, and Ecclestone (2004) review in detail thirteen of the most influential learning style

models. Each section on a theory ends with a chart covering the strengths and weaknesses

of that theory including the topics of general strengths and weaknesses, design of the

model, reliability, validity, implications for pedagogy, evidence of pedagogy impact, overall

assessment, and the key source. Referring to research using Kolb’s Learning Styles

Inventory (LSI), as an example, the authors refer to positive results.

More positively still, Katz (1990) in a quasi-experimental study of 44

occupational therapy students in the US and 50 in Israel, hypothesized that

students whose learning styles matched the teaching method would perform

better (ie more effectively) and would need less time to study outside class

(ie more efficiently). The findings in both countries supported the premise

that ‘the better the match is between students’ individual characteristics and

instructional components, the more effective or efficient the learning

program is’ (Katz 1990, 233). But even this conclusion needed to be qualified

as it applied only to higher-order cognitive outcomes and not to basic

knowledge (p. 67).

They continue with the following assessment:

The age of the learner appears to be crucial, as there was evidence that

matching improved academic performance in primary education in the US;

but the evidence in higher education generally, and in nursing more

CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE 35

particularly, was inconclusive. (p. 68)

Home school families generally educate children during the elementary through high

school years.

To determine the personality and learning style of the subjects for this research, a

questionnaire was developed that covered personality type, learning style, and multiple

intelligences by merging the works of Tobias, Trent, Wolf, and information from School

Improvement included with a class taken in 2008 discussing all three areas. The

questionnaire included nine sections ranging in size from one to ten questions or

comparisons. Questions regarding personality included extrovert/introvert,

sensory/practical or concrete, thinking/feeling, judging or organized/perceiving or flexible.

Learning style questions covered auditory, visual, and kinesthetic preferences, as well as

processing information through global or analytical tendencies. Environmental questions

regarding location, noise level, lighting, temperature, and food preferences were included.

Students checking any of the seven intelligences they thought applied to them addressed

the area of multiple intelligence. Attention was given to the words used in an effort to

allow students to understand the question meanings.

Following the acquisition of signed permission forms from the parents as well as the

children involved, the students completed the questionnaires during a co-op class. Two

students completed the questionnaire in their home later that same day. Through the use of

nominal scales a chart was created to include the data collected, concluding with

comparisons of the frequency of the different personality and learning styles and the

different ages.
CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE 36

The questions were drawn from reliable sources but were meshed into the final

questionnaire in an effort to make the questionnaire understandable and appealing to

children. The students involved in the research did not fully understand all of the

questions, producing some ambiguous answers. Certain areas, such as the environment

and learning style sections, produced clear-cut answers with little or no questions from the

students. Unclear answers and questions about wording, especially in the Personality and

Describing Yourself sections, lessen the reliability of the instrument. A better evaluation

form, such as a performance measure accomplished through a one-on-one interview, would

produce more definitive, reliable results. Nevertheless, the use of personality and learning

style as a factor for curriculum choices remains valid as noted in various articles and

studies (c.f. p. 18 and 29).

The pilot study did show the need for clearer questions and layout of the

questionnaire. Also shown in the pilot study was the impact of age. The pilot study

subjects were in their teens and demonstrated a greater understanding of the questions as

well as less ambiguity of personality and learning preferences. As noted by Clarkson and

Clarkson (1996) children under the age of thirteen probably do not have enough

experience to recognize their preferred mental tasks. Around the seventh grade, children

begin to differentiate and better understand themselves (p. 149). As a guide for curriculum

choices for the high school years, personality and learning style evaluations would be best

completed during the middle school or junior high school years.

Data for this research project was collected through the self-report questionnaire.

The chart created visualizes and compares the data collected. Additionally, a guide was

developed to guide home school parents through a process of determining curriculum for
CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE 37

their children’s education. This guide begins with the work of Cathy Duffy from her book,

Christian Home Educators’ Curriculum Manual Elementary Grades. The step-by-step

progression of the guide is further developed through multiple sources to include the use of

personality and learning styles.

Home school families have many options to choose from for curriculum and

instructional methods including computers, traditional textbooks, unit studies, on-line

classes, multiple venues, classical studies, limited textbooks, self-guided learning, DVDs,

and many more. This research project does not determine the validity of using personality

and learning style in curriculum decisions but only highlights the option of using them as

an aid to narrow the curriculum and instructional choices. The home school community

demonstrates a desire to provide an education for each child that produces capable adults

to benefit the community as a whole. Many continually search for the right curriculum or

materials and the right method to effectively teach and train their children throughout the

home school experience. As Harris (1988) records in his book, The Christian Home School,

home school parents train their children as arrows with academic sharpness and moral

strength for guidance (p. 64). Continual modification of methods and materials occurs to

better educate each child in the home.

This research project encompasses little if any ethical issues. Student names or

personal identifiable information will not be revealed. The students’ names have been

removed and replaced with numbers. No demeaning labels are included in the

questionnaire, related reports, or the paper itself. The participating home school families

confidently provided data asked for with this research project and have demonstrated

eagerness regarding the information about their child’s personality and learning style.
CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE 38

Variables within this project include personality type, learning style, gender, and age but

were not used as a form of measure or manipulation since the goal of the project sought

only to provide personality and learning style information as an aid or guide in curriculum

choices for home school families.

According to Wallace (2011), designing instruction according to learning style “has

no basis” relying on decades of research on the validity of learning style’s effect at

predicting acquiring or retaining knowledge (paragraph 1 of article). Wallace relates

comments provided by Harold Stolovitch who said, “More than 25 years of research on this

and related themes have not provided any form of conclusive evidence that matching the

form of instruction to learning style improved learning or even attention.” In a response

post Donald Clark (7 Dec. 2011) responds,

One of the most profound statements in the paper, at least to me, is (p68):

‘just varying delivery style may not be enough and & the unit of analysis must

be the individual rather than the group.’

That is, when you analyze a group, the findings often suggest that learning

styles are relative unimportant, however, when you look at an individual,

then the learning style often distinguishes itself as a key component of being

able to learn or not. Thus those who actually deliver the learning process,

such as teachers, instructors, or trainers and are responsible for helping

others to learn see these styles and must adjust for them, while those who

design for groups or study them see the learning styles as relative

unimportant (drawing from Coffield, Moseley, Hall, & Ecclestone’s Learning

styles and pedagogy in post-16 learning: A systematic and critical review).

CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE 39

For home school families, the individual remains the subject of study. In their

discussion of learning styles, Coffield, Mosely, Hall, and Ecclestone write about the

“pedagogical triangle of teacher, students, and subject” (p. 127) and the validity of tailoring

instruction to particular learning styles. Home school parents have the opportunity to

address the use of learning style more fully than the teacher in a classroom full of students,

since the parents are teaching subjects to their children only. The questionnaire produced

and used in this research project covered different areas from different angles, which

should have produced agreement for the different topics covered. Personality and learning

style become tools in the hands of home school parents to better understand their personal

teaching style and the learning style of each child. They also provide input for guidance

into selecting curriculum.

CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE 40

CHAPTER FOUR: RESULTS AND ANALYSIS

Introduction

With a desire to regain control over their child’s education, parents returned to the

idea of home school for their children. What once provided an education for all children in

the United States slowly moved away from the foundational underpinnings of the Judeo-

Christian culture, taking with it young adults that no longer held to the beliefs of their

parents through the teachings of the public schools. Since the 1970s the popularity of

home school has increased. As Gaither (2009) declares, “Everybody knows somebody who

is teaching a child at home” (p. 11). In the 1960s and 1970s two main groups, Christian

fundamentalist and the countercultural Left, pulled away from the public schools and

began to educate at home. Through years of challenging the legal system, home school

became legal in every state by the early 1990s. Each state has its own set of regulations

governing home education. Today, reasons for home schooling include special needs,

physical or mental health problems, school environment, instruction quality, religion or

morality, and other reasons (Gather, p. 12). Support groups can be located in most every

state, territory, and some overseas military facilities. Home School Legal Defense

Association (HSLDA, 2013) was established in 1983 as a legal advocacy resource for home

school families. Today HSLDA provides legal advice, representation, state laws, forms,

support group information, curriculum information, support, and other information and

help for home school families. Resources abound in the effort to continue providing those

families desiring to educate their children at home.

A description of a typical home school setting, curriculum, and method encompasses

the imagination of the parents. Schooling may be taught at the dining room table, outdoors,
CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE 41

in special designated areas in the home, while traveling on the road, virtually anywhere—

even at the beach or in the mountains. Parents may use the traditional book/workbook

curriculum, a combination of various curriculum, classical studies, whole book studies, unit

studies, nature studies, CDs or DVDs, on-line materials, long-distance schools, unschooling,

discovery learning, co-ops, group tutoring, or any combination of the preceding options.

State requirements for home schooling influence the curriculum choices as some states

have less restrictive laws and other states have more comprehensive requirements. The

teacher in the home school environment might be the parents, co-op tutors, online tutors,

private tutors, CD and DVD tutors, the individual student learning on his/her own, or any

combination thereof. Setting, curriculum, instruction, and teachers for home school

families include a wide range of options. Determining the best for each involves decisions,

and the use of personality and learning style provides an additional tool to narrow the

search.

The Data

For this research project information was gathered relating to methods of

discovering strengths and weaknesses of students. Information regarding strengths and

weaknesses can be determined through achievement and aptitude test results, portfolios,

observation, and personality and learning style evaluations. This study focused on

personality and learning style evaluations as an aid to home school families in the decisions

involving curriculum to best meet the family goals and encourage children to fulfill their

potential with what God has given them.

CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE 42

Exploring personality type and learning style provides insight into individual

preferences as a means to greater understanding of students and learning potential.

Personality and learning style also allow for possible adjustment in teaching methods and

materials. Force (2011, para. 20) explains, “Are not learning processes that are

misunderstood barriers and impediments to learning? How can you help a student if you

do not understand how they learn?” Greater understanding of each student aids teaching.

In the home school setting, knowing children benefits and can have a greater impact in

decisions made in methods and materials to be used.

“Personality is a blend of numerous factors including inborn neurological

preferences, environment, culture, opportunity, family and experience” (Davis, 2010, p.23).

One of the more common personality type evaluation tools was produced through the work

of Isabel Myers in the development of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). The MBTI

involves a self-report inventory covering four dichotomies including Extraversion (E) or

Introversion (I), Sensing (S) or Intuition (N), Thinking (T) or Feeling (F), and Judging (J) or

Perceiving (P) producing sixteen combinations of personality type shown in a chart at the

Myers Briggs website. Less formal personality evaluations also exist, such as Wolf’s (2009)

inventory (p. 2). Evaluating personality type leads into evaluating learning styles as

evidenced in the work of Clarkson and Clarkson (1996) in their book, Educating the

WholeHearted Child: A Handbook for Christian Home Education. Clarkson and Clarkson

produced a Learning Style and Personality Type Indicator covering personality traits and

learning style traits including Doer, Helper, Shaper, Mover, Facts and Logic, Facts and

Values, Insights and Logic, Insights and Values, and Active or Reflective mental focus (p.

151) to gain greater insight into the individual.

CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE 43

Learning style encompasses the general way someone learns or how one gathers

information, organizes that information, and uses the information in the decision making

process (Clarkson and Clarkson, 1996, p. 144). Tobias (1994) presents five leading

research models including Mind-styles (Gregorc), Environmental Preferences (Dunn and

Dunn), Modalities (Barbe-Swassing), Analytical/Global Information Processing (Witkin),

and Multiple Intelligences (Gardner). Kolb, Silver/Strong/Hanson, and 4Mat/McCarthy are

presented along with Gregorc through School Improvement. Coffield, Moseley, Hall, and

Ecclestone (2004) provide a thorough overview of thirteen of the “most influential” (p. ii)

learning style models including Gregorc, Dunn and Dunn, Riding, Myers-Briggs Type

Indicator, Apter, Jackson, Kolb, Honey and Mumford, Herrmann, Allinson and Hayes,

Entwistle, Vermunt, and Sternberg. Figure 1 includes information gleaned from Tobias’

book, the way they learn: how to discover and teach to your child’s strengths describing

learning style, environmental, modality, and multiple intelligence information.

Schoolimprovement.com describes learning styles through Kolb’s Accommodator,

Converger, Assimilator, Diverger; Silver/Strong/Hanson’s as Self Expressive, Mastery,

Understanding, Interpersonal; and 4 Mat/McCarthy as Type 4/Dynamic, Type 3/Common

Sense, Type 2/Analytical, Type 1/Imaginative. Duffy (1992, p. 7), using Dr. Keith Golay’s

work, depicts adult learning styles with Type A/Actual Spontaneous Learner, Type

B/Actual Routine Learner, Type C/Conceptual Specific Learner, and Type D/Conceptual

Global Learner. Learning style indicators or types indicate how individuals learn, retain,

and use knowledge.

CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE 44

Figure 1

Learning Styles, Environmental, Modality, Multiple Intelligence

Learning Styles Concrete Abstract Sequential/ Abstract Random/ Concrete

(Gregorc) Sequential/ Underlying Personal Random/
Facts: practical; Principles: Relevance: Compelling
organized; efficient data before decisions; sincere listener; Reasons:
& economical ideas; analyze ideas; understand feelings inspire others to
concrete products research; logical & emotions; focus take action;
from abstract ideas; sequence; facts to on themes & ideas; viability of many
works well within prove or disprove harmony for group options &
time limits theories; analyze situations; good solutions; unusual
means to achieve goal rapport with most & creative ideas;
people; recognize visualize future;
emotional needs of finds different
others ways to
accomplish
things; accepting
of people; thinks
fast on feet; risk
taker
Environment/ Noise level: Lighting: Heat: Food:
Concentration
None
Bright
Warm
None
(Dunn & Dunn)
Quiet
Minimal
Cool
Light

Anything
Natural snacks
goes
Food
available
Modality/Remember Visual: Auditory: Kinesthetic:
(Barbe-Swassing) Learn by seeing & Learn by listening to Learn by becoming
watching; using verbal instructions; physically involved
strong visual remember by forming & doing something
associations; mental sounds of words; with what’s being
pictures rhythmic patterns learned; movement
Dominant Learning Analytic (field Global (field
Style/Understand independent): dependent):
(Witkin) break down Overall
information into picture/gist; details
component parts; not so important
focus on details
Multiple Intelligences Linguistic: Logical- Spatial: Musical:
(Gardner) reading, writing, Mathematics: designing, drawing, singing, whistling,
word games experimenting, visualizing, humming, tap feet
questioning, puzzles doodling & hands, listening
Bodily-Kinesthetic: Interpersonal: Intrapersonal:
dancing, running, reading, organizing, setting goals,
jumping, building, relating, manipulating meditating,
touching meditating dreaming, being
quiet
Source: Cynthia Ulrich Tobias, the way they learn: How to discover and teach to your child’s strengths
CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE 45

Pulling together personality and learning style questions and ideas from various

sources, a questionnaire was developed for this research project. The questionnaire

(Appendix A) included questions relating to the following information: student

information, learning preference, learning style, personality type, environment

preferences, multiple intelligence, information processing, favorite subject, and gender.

The goal of the questionnaire was to reveal personality and learning style preferences of

the students for the purpose of recommending possible curriculum matching students and

their learning preferences as a tool to guide parents when making curriculum decisions.

Home school families have a multitude of options for curriculum. The decisions

made may be based on personal past experiences, recommendations from other home

school families, extensive research, recommendations from home school co-ops or

programs, or the trial-and-error method. Duffy (1992) begins her work with a chapter

titled “How to Choose Curriculum” (p. 1). The areas of why, how, and curriculum choices

serve as a guideline for beginning the process. Duffy also covers curriculum

recommendations, major publishers, and separate chapters covering curriculum options

for different disciplines to be taught. In the manual, Duffy reviews home school curriculum

relating to Bible, thinking skills, language and reading, composition and grammar, spelling

and vocabulary, handwriting, speech and listening skills, math, science,

history/geography/cultural studies, the arts, physical education and health, foreign

languages, unit studies, testing, and sources for materials. The manual (1992), web site,

and a more recent book titled 101 Top Picks for Homeschool Curriculum (2005) provide

abundant information for home school families. The steps for making curriculum decisions

for this study involve setting family goals, determining the learning style of the parent or
CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE 46

teacher, determining the learning style and preferences of the student, discussing post-high

school options, knowing state standards, and comparing and choosing curriculum. Other

factors are involved in curriculum decisions, but this study focused mainly on the use of

personality and learning style.

Data Analysis

General Information:

The questionnaire was presented as a self-assessment inventory. The nine students

involved in this study consisted of six girls and three boys. The children included two nine

year olds, one ten year old, one eleven year old, four twelve year olds, and one thirteen year

old. All of the students were home schooled and attended the weekly co-op where the

questionnaire was administered. Individual parental assistance was not given to any

student during the administration of the questionnaire. The researcher administered the

questionnaire and answered the students’ questions relating to the questionnaire.

Figure 2 summarizes the results of the study for each student participant. The

results are limited but still provide useful information about each student. Explanations

follow the chart. The major terms assigned for student learning style include Gregorc’s

Concrete-Random, Concrete-Sequential, Abstract-Sequential, and Abstract-Random; Kolb’s

Accommodator, Converger, Assimilator, and Diverger; and Duffy’s Wiggly Willy, Perfect

Paula, Competent Carl, and Social Sue. Notice the abundance of students demonstrating

Kinesthetic learning preference and Concrete Random learning style. The nine students

are divided rather evenly between Analytical and Global information processing

preference. Also, eight of the nine students consider themselves as extroverts.

CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE 47

Figure 2

Results of Questionnaire by Student

Student Learning Learning Personality Processing Environmental Preferences

Preference Style Type Information
#1 Auditory CR E Analytical 2-6PM; snacks; natural light;
(rest unsure) anywhere; low background
#2 Kinesthetic CR/AR E Unsure T P Global 2-6PM; snack; bright light;
desk/table; low background
#3 Visual CR/AR E/I N T/F P Analytical 2-6PM; snacks; dim light;
anywhere; low background
#4 Kinesthetic CR ESTJ Analytical 10AM-2PM; no food/drink; dim
light; floor/sofa; not distracted
#5 Visual CR I N F/J P Global 6-10PM; no food/drink; natural
light; anywhere; not distracted
#6 Kinesthetic CR/AR ESTP Global 2-6PM; food/drink; natural light;
floor/sofa; not distracted
#7 Kinesthetic CR E S T/F Analytical 2-6PM; food/drink; dim light;
Unsure desk/table; low background
#8 Kinesthetic CS/CR E N Unsure P Global 6-10AM; snack; dim light;
desk/table; distractible
#9 Kinesthetic CR/AR ENFP Global 10AM-2PM; no food/drink; bright
light; anywhere; distractible

Learning Preference
~Auditory: learn by listening to verbal instructions
~Visual: learn by seeing and watching; strong visual associations
~Kinesthetic: learn by becoming physically involved and doing something with what’s being
learned

Learning Style - Gregorc = Kolb = Duffy

~Concrete-Random/CR/Otter: Divergent, experiential, inventive = Beach Ball = Accommodator:
Likes to try new ideas, values creativity, flexibility, risk takers = Wiggly Willy
~Concrete-Sequential/CS/Lion: Task oriented, efficient, detailed = Clipboard = Converger: Values
what is useful and relevant, immediacy, organizing essential information = Perfect Paula
~Abstract-Sequential/AS/Beaver: Intellectual, analytical, theoretical = Microscope = Assimilator:
Avid readers who seek to learn, patience for research, values concepts = Competent Carl
~Abstract-Random/AR/Golden Retriever: Imaginative, emotional, holistic = Puppy = Diverger:
Values positive, attractive caring environments, comfortable, and people oriented = Social Sue

Personality Type:
~Extrovert/E or Introvert/I: How obtain information
~Sensing/S or Intuitive/N: How receive and make sense of information
~Thinking/T or Feeling/F: How conclude or judge information collected
~Judging/J or Perceiving/P: How direct energy

Processing Information
~Global: Big picture/Flexible
~Analytical: Details/Organized
CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE 48

Figure 3 demonstrates the similarities and differences in personality and learning

style of the nine students involved in the study. Sometimes the answers were ambiguous.

The twelve and older students provided the clearest answers overall, demonstrating that

age plays a part in how children understands themselves as pointed out by Clarkson and

Clarkson.

Figure 3

Study Results: Learning Preferences, Learning Style, Personality Type, Process Information

Learning Learning Personality Type Processing

Preferences Style Information
By Gender: Auditory: F: 1 Otter: Extrovert: F: 5; M: 3 Global: F: 4; M: 1
Female: 6 Visual: F: 2 F:2; M:2 Introvert: F: 1 Analytical: F: 2; M: 2
Male: 3 Kinesthetic: Otter/GR: Sensing: F: 1; M: 2
F: 3; M: 3 F: 4 Intuitive: F: 3; M: 1
Lion/Otter: Thinking: F: 2; M: 1
M: 1 Feeling: F: 2
Judging: M: 1
Perceiving: F: 4; M: 1
(remainder in each set – unsure)

By Age (12 & 13) Auditory: 0 Otter: 2 Extrovert: 4 Global: 4

Age 12: 4 Visual: 1 Otter/GR: 2 Introvert: 1 Analytical: 1
Age 13: 1 Kinesthetic: 4 Lion/Otter: 1 Sensing: 2
Intuitive: 3
Thinking: 2
Feeling: 2
Judging: 0
Perceiving: 3
(remainder in each set – unsure)

The range of environmental preferences was interesting as demonstrated in Figure

4. The most popular time for alertness is from 2 to 6 PM. More students preferred a small

snack for study time than no food or drink or unlimited food and drink. Low background

music is preferred overall, but of the 12 and 13 year-olds only one preferred the low

background noise.
CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE 49

Figure 4

Study Results: Environmental Preferences

Alertness Food/Snacks Lighting Location Noise Tolerance

By Gender 6-10AM: M: 1 Sm. Snack: F: 3; M: 1 Bright: F: 2 Desk/Table: Distractible:
10AM-2PM: F: 1; M: 1 No Food/Drink: Dim: F: 1; M: 3 F: 1; M: 2 F: 1; M: 1
2-6PM: F: 4; M: 2 F: 2; M: 1 Natural: F: 3 Floor/Sofa: Not Distracted:
6-10PM: F: 1 Food & Drink: F: 1; M: 1 F: 2; M: 1
F: 1: M: 1 Anywhere: F: 4 Low Background:
F: 3; M: 1
By Age 6-10AM: 1 Sm. Snack: 1 Bright: 1 Desk/Table: 2 Distractible: 2
(12&13 only) 10AM-2PM: 1 No Food/Drink: 2 Dim: 2 Floor/Sofa: 1 Not Distracted: 2
2-6PM: 2 Food & Drink: 2 Natural: 2 Anywhere: 2 Low Background: 1
6-10PM: 1

Barbe-Swassing’s Modalities:

Many people associate learning style with Barbe-Swassing’s Modalities of auditory,

visual, and kinesthetic learners. The section of the questionnaire covering modalities

included three statements with directions to check one of the three sentences that best

described the individual and how he/she learns. One female student under the age of

twelve responded as an auditory learner; two female students, one under the age of twelve,

indicated they were visual learners; and the six other students, three females and all three

males with one female and one male being under the age of twelve, indicated they were

kinesthetic learners. All nine students clearly marked the one sentence that best described

him/her and how he/she learned.

Gregorc’s Mind-styles and Trent’s personality:

For the personality/learning style Trent’s animals allowed the students to identify

which animal they thought represented his/her personality. In addition, a series of

“yes/no” questions were asked to determine Gregorc’s Mind Style. Responses showed all

nine children related at least partially to Trent’s otters (fun loving and energetic) and

thereby related to Gregorc’s Concrete Random (CR). Four pictured themselves as “Otter”
CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE 50

and “Golden Retriever” or Abstract Random (CR/AB). One student identified with “Lion” or

Abstract Sequential and “Otter” (AS/CR). Gregorc’s Mind-styles was underrepresented

within the questionnaire.

Wolf’s Self-inventory Personality Assessment:

Using Wolf’s Self-Inventory Personality Assessment, a simplistic chart was created

allowing the students to “agree, unsure, or disagree” with eight descriptions. Personalities

of the subjects included eight extroverts and one introvert, three sensing and four intuitive,

three thinking and two feelings with, and one judging and six perceiving. Where the totals

on personality type do not add up to nine, the remainder were unsure. Interestingly, eight

of the nine students considered themselves as extroverts. Five of the students also

consider themselves as perceivers. By combining the predominate trait from each set, an

individual gains greater insight into their more complete personality. Myers-Briggs Type

Indicator (MBTI) would provide a more in-depth personality type assessment through the

website.

Dunn and Dunn’s Environmental Preferences:

Environmental preference questions were modified from Tobias’ “Getting to Know

Your School-age Child” free survey from applest.com. The results of questions relating to

environment demonstrate the varied preferences of the students involved in the study.

The majority (five) of the nine students preferred working between 2 and 6 PM. One

student preferred working between 6 and 10 AM, two preferred between 10 AM and 2 PM,

while the other one preferred working between 6 and 10 PM. Relating to food while

studying, four like small snacks, three like no food or drink, and two like food and/or drink.

The answers to lighting preference included two preferring bright light, four prefer dim
CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE 51

light, and three prefer natural room light. Three students prefer working at a desk or table,

two on the floor or a sofa, and four work anywhere. Two students are distracted from

work by music or noise, three are not distracted by music or noise, and four are able to

work with low background music or noise.

Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences:

For the section covering multiple intelligences, each student was directed to place

an X before all that applied. Five students checked verbal, five checked logical, six checked

spatial, six checked musical, seven checked bodily/kinesthetic, five checked interpersonal,

and four checked intrapersonal. One student left this section blank.

Witkin’s Analytic/Global Information Processing:

The questionnaire included a section of ten questions in an effort to determine

whether each student was a global or analytical processor of information. The questions

were arranged in five sets of two questions. Of the nine students, five related more

predominately to global learning skills and four related to analytical. Of the students

twelve and over, four were global and one was analytical.

Other topics:

The student participants were also asked to identify their favorite school subject.

Four cited math as their favorite school subject, history was the favorite of two students,

one student cited astronomy, one cited gym, one cited English and Spanish and science, and

two thought lunch was the best school subject. This question was included as a fun

question.
CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE 52

Conclusions

In preparation for this study, parents have shown an interest in learning more about

their child’s personality and learning style. Discovering more about how the children think

and their learning preferences has proven interesting and provided greater insight into

how children learn and why some children struggle where other children excel. Aligning

curriculum capable of addressing different learning styles and personalities has the

possibility of benefiting both the teacher and the student. This paper intends to aid parents

by providing curriculum ideas that address various learning styles and personalities.

Reviewing literature as part of the process and continual work on writing up the

results has revealed interesting material relating to personality and learning style in

relation to teachers, learners, curriculum, and effects on instruction. Studies generally

look into effects of personality and learning style on students in a traditional classroom

where teachers have limited opportunities and resources to meet the needs of each

student. Endeavoring to meet the individual needs of students involves diversity in

teaching methods and materials and Individualized Education Programs (IEP). This study

focused on home school students. Home school families have the flexibility to cater their

methods and curriculum for each child, if they so desire.

God has given each individual a personality. “A specific personality is there from the

start that becomes more refined and defined with age” (Clarkson and Clarkson, 1996, p.

141). Personality and learning style may be influenced by exterior input. Extraneous

effects on personality may include character training, biblical values, weaknesses,

temptation, sin, spiritual gifts, life experiences, and masculine and feminine traits (Clarkson

and Clarkson, p. 143). Tobias provides advice for parents regarding discovering learning
CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE 53

styles. Parents do well to observe patterns of behavior, listen to the way a child

communicates, experiment with what works and what doesn’t work, focus on natural

strengths rather than weaknesses, and finally learn more about learning styles in general

(p. 8-9). Fliess (2008) advises looking at learning weaknesses also in an effort to

strengthen areas of challenge and thereby working with a child’s strong abilities as well as

weaker areas. When home school parents are aware of children’s personality and learning

style, curriculum can be geared to work with that personality and learning style for a

stronger, more fulfilling education.

CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE 54

CHAPTER FIVE: DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS

Introduction

The initial purpose of this study was to determine methods beyond the achievement

and aptitude tests to uncover pre-high school home school students’ strengths and

weaknesses. The intent was to guide each student through the high school years using

their strengths and weaknesses toward fulfilling their God-given potential. Researching

strengths and weaknesses led to studies on personality and learning styles. Personality

and learning style provides a different perspective from testing to discover students’

strengths and weaknesses by discovery how they learn and possible reasons for each

individual’s style of learning. This study focused on learning more about personality and

learning styles and using this information to guide home school parents in curriculum

choices. The questionnaire developed for the study provided information about each

participant that allowed greater understanding of personality and learning style, which can

in turn provide guidance to parents in curriculum decisions for their children.

Interpretations of the Results

The questionnaire provided information about each of the nine students relating to

personality and learning style. God has created individuals with commonalities and

differences that make each person like others – but unique. No two snowflakes are exactly

alike, no two individuals have the same fingerprints, and no two people have the same

personality or the same learning style. But as with the snowflakes and fingerprints,

different individuals have similarities and instruments of evaluation, such as those

developed by Myers-Briggs (MBTI), Tobias, Wolf, the Clarksons and others, are based on
CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE 55

those similarities. One visual learner will learn in a similar way to another visual, one

auditory learner maintains a connection to another auditory learner, and kinesthetic

learners demonstrate similar learning patterns. The similarities in individual personalities

and learning styles provide a basis for assessing curriculum according to those similar

traits as shown in Figure 5.

Figure 5

Curriculum Recommendations for Four Learning Styles

Multisensory/Hands- Structure/rule- Appeals to logical/ Has social activity

on (Wiggly Willy); oriented (Perfect analytical learners (Sociable Sue);
Concrete- Random; Paula); Concrete- (Competent Carl); Abstract-Random;
Accommodator Sequential; Converger Abstract-Sequential; Diverger
Assimilator
Phonics, Sing, Spell, Read, & Write Learning Language Arts Learning Language Sing, Spell, Read, &
Reading, through Literature; Arts through Write; Drawn into
Literature Critical Thinking Literature; Spell to the Heart of Reading
Read & Write
Mathematics Math-U-See; Discovering Horizons Math; Saxon Math-U-See; Math-U-See;
Geometry Math 54 & Up Elementary Algebra, Progress in
Geometry (Jacobs) Mathematics
Grammar & Create-A-Story Game; Easy Grammar; Institute Institute for Create-A-Story
Composition Winston Grammar for Excellence in Writing Excellence in Writing; Game; Institute for
Writing with a Point Excellence in
Writing
Spelling & English from the Roots Vocabulary from Vocabulary from English from the
Vocabulary Up; Spelling Power Classical Roots; Spelling Classical Roots; Roots Up; Spelling
Power Spelling Power Power
History/Social Ultimate Geography and Mystery of History; The Ultimate Geography A Child’s History of
Studies Timeline Guide; Mystery Story of the World with and Timeline Guide; the World; Mystery
of History study guide The Story of the World of History; The Story
with study guide of the World with
study guide
Science TOPS Science; Janice Considering God’s TOPS Science; Considering God’s
VanCleave Science Books Creation; TOPS Science Considering God’s Creation; A History
Creation of Science
Unit Studies History Links; KONOS; Five in a Row; History World Views of the History Links;
Tapestry of Grace Links Western World; Tapestry of Grace
Tapestry of Grace
Foreign Rosetta Stone Latina Christiana Latina Christiana; Rosetta Stone
Language Rosetta Stone
Miscellaneous Mark Kistler’s Draw The Potter’s School; Critical Thinking Feed My Sheep
Squad; Feed My Sheep Switched-On Company; The Fallacy
Schoolhouse Detective; The Potter’s
School
Source: Cathy Duffy, 100 Top Picks for Homeschool Curriculum: Choosing the Right Curriculum and Approach for Your
Child’s Learning Style, pages 72-79
CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE 56

Potential Applications of the Findings

Home school parents know a great deal about their children from teaching them,

working with them with schoolwork, as well as everyday interaction. Through the study of

personality and learning style, parents have further insight into their child’s thinking and

preferences. The understanding of learning style and personality can assist parents when

making decisions for home schooling, such as the setting, timing, intensity, and even the

curriculum to be used.

Duffy (1992) suggests steps for home school families for their journey into home

schooling in her book Christian Home Educators’ Curriculum Manual Elementary Grades.

The first step is to set family goals to determine the why, how, and what of curriculum and

instructional decisions (see Figure 6). The next two steps involve determining or gaining

awareness of the learning style of the parents (see Figures 7) and the children (Figure 1,

page 42).

Figure 6

Set Family Goals

Why? Basic What preparing children for? (To make lots of money; to
Philosophy/Beliefs serve God &/or others; to have fun in life; to pursue personal
ambitions) Who owns our children? (The State, parents,
God, no one) What is man’s nature? (sinful, corrupted
nature; basically good needing shaping)
How? Philosophy of Traditional; lecture with memorization and drill; Classical;
Education Charlotte Mason; discovery/experiential; child-centered
unschooling; child-centered parent-led; individualized
What? Methods & Materials What methods & materials needed to fulfill goals and meet
to use expectations set by basic philosophy and educational
philosophy: Consider age of children and how many
schooling at home; informal learning; complete curriculum
package; eclectic combination of curriculum; computer or
DVD schooling; self-directed
Source: Cathy Duffy, Christian Home Educators’ Curriculum Manual Elementary Grades
CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE 57

Figure 7

Determine Learning Style of Parent/Teacher

Type A: Fun loving; impulsive; creative & efficient solutions to tasks;

Actual Spontaneous activity over reading books; prefers teaching fine arts, physical
education, and activity-oriented classes
Type B: Planner; follow schedules; memorization and drill work; easily
Actual Routine upset when children don’t cooperate; focus on meeting
requirements; prefers umbrella program for home educators;
prefers pre-planned curricula; prefers teaching “cut and dry”
subjects
Type C: Likes to be in control; logical thinking and acting; understanding of
Conceptual Specific reasoning and logic of ideas; good organizer; work
alone/independent; impatient with those disorganized and slow to
grasp; uncomfortable in social settings; less sensitive to others’
feelings & emotions; makes long-term plans; usually organized;
prefers teaching math, science & other logic-related subjects
Type D: Enjoys social interaction; likes to belong to groups; concerned
Conceptual Global with what others think; insecure about abilities in home education
teaching; idealistic with expectations & goals; may or may not be
organized; focus more on general concepts than details; prefers
teaching language arts, social studies, & possibly fine arts
Source: Cathy Duffy, Christian Home Educators’ Curriculum Manual Elementary Grades

As parents work their way through the steps for making curriculum decisions, they

gain a greater grasp of who they are as a teacher through the process of determining their

own personality and learning style and that of their children. With this knowledge, parents

strengthen the relationship with each child by gaining understanding and applying that

understanding in the home school experience.

Along with evaluating learning style, parents benefit from evaluating personality

type. The questions presented by Wolf (2009) are included in the questionnaire as well as

in Figure 8. Parents can also use these questions for themselves or go to the Myers Briggs

website for a more detailed analysis.

CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE 58

Figure 8

Personality Type of Parent/Teacher and Student

Personality Assessment Agree Unsure Disagree

Extraversion (E): I describe myself as an extrovert (I
prefer to be around people; I don’t mind large crowds; I
am outer-directed)
Introversion (I): I describe myself as an introvert (I
prefer to be alone; I am quiet and inner-directed)
Sensing (S): I prefer to process information through
the use of my five senses; I am detail oriented; I like
facts and figures.
Intuition (N): I prefer to process information through
my intuition; I look for the big picture; I am an “ideas”
person.
Thinking (T): I prefer to make decisions based on logic
and rational thinking; justice and fairness are important
to me.
Feeling (F): I prefer to make decisions based on my
feelings and how decisions will affect people.
Judging (J): I prefer to plan activities ahead of time; I
am decisive and I like to finish projects that I start.
Perceiving (P): I prefer to be spontaneous; I am
flexible and don’t always finish tasks but I like to start
many projects.
Source: Karen Wolf, CliffsNotes Roadmap to College: Navigating Your Way to College Admission Success

Evaluating personality and learning style is not meant to divide individuals into

pigeonholed groups. The information gained allows parents to better understand

similarities in personality and learning style and therefore use each child’s strengths in the

education process while encouraging children in their weak areas to become fuller, more

well-developed individuals. This understanding of personality and learning style may also

be used to guide curriculum and instructional decisions.

For those home school families preparing for the high school years, curriculum

choices may be driven or influenced by what will happen following high school graduation.
CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE 59

Students have options. Consider the options of a two-year or four-year college, university,

or community college. Other options include vocational or technical schools,

apprenticeships, military, or employment. Families should consider pursuing curriculum

leading to college level work even if the student does not seem interested at the time.

Retreating from the college level work is easier than pushing to fulfill the required college

level work toward the end of the high school years.

The curriculum decision process then looks at state academic standards, not

necessarily as a requirement to fulfill, but as a guideline for providing an equivalent

education to children. State standards can be accessed through the state department of

education directly or for home school families through Home School Legal Defense

Association (HSLDA) at their website. HSLDA provides a multitude of resources and

encouragement for home school families. States do have requirements for home school

families. Families must be aware of and address the state requirements for their state.

The steps for making curriculum decisions given in this paper include setting family

goals, determining learning style of the parent or teacher, determining the learning style of

the student, evaluating personality type of the parent or teacher and the student,

discussing post-high school options, determining state standards, and lastly comparing and

choosing curriculum with personality and learning style as a guide (see Appendix D).

Achievement and aptitude test results contribute to knowing the strengths and weaknesses

of students, while personality and learning style offer a better understanding of the reasons

for those strengths and weakness and how to more effectively address the education

experience of each child.

CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE 60

The study participants all included at least partial CR (Gregorc) or ”Wiggly Willy”

(Duffy) as learning style. According to Duffy (2005) in her book 100 Top Picks for

Homeschool Curriculum, Wiggly Willy’s prefer hands on activities, project learning, learning

games, multisensory audio-visual aids, movement, and variety in learning method (p. 48).

Four of the nine included “Social Sue” and prefer real books, unit studies, creative writing,

social learning situations, and variety in types of resources (p. 51). The lone “Perfect Paula”

prefers workbooks, consistency, rules and predictability, repetition and memorization, and

gentle help to develop creativity and deeper thinking skills (p. 49). Again, according to

Duffy, these nine students might do well with curriculum such as Greenleaf Guides for

Greece and Rome and Story of the World (history); Stratton House Home Science

Adventures’ Astronomy, Birds, and Magnetism; Modern Curriculum Press (MCP)

Comprehension Plus (comprehension and vocabulary); Easy Grammar; Creative

Communications (writing activities); MCP Spelling Workout; and Math-U-See. Chapter Six

of Duffy’s book includes a good chart as guidance to decide what curricula for general

subjects might work for the different learning styles and teaching methods (p. 66-79).

How learning style can influence curriculum choices? The student example from the

study is male and age twelve. He is Concrete Random (CR), Kinesthetic, and Analytical. As

a CR, or “Wiggly Willy” applying Duffy’s terms, he demonstrates energy, curiosity, and

ideas. He may work well with general time frames rather than specific deadlines. Real-life

experiences would help him learn. An overly structured program may well prove

frustrating to him. As a kinesthetic learner, he likes movement and has a hard time sitting

still for long periods of time. Learning involving action will allow what is being learned to

stick better. Pacing or just moving while memorizing or reading is helpful. As an analytical
CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE 61

learner, he focuses on details and breaking down information into the component parts. He

remembers specific details and does well with doing one thing at a time. Putting

assignments in step-by-step order may well help him complete assigned tasks. He

analytically interacts with information as he learns, meaning he listens for the details

rather than the overall concept or theme. The above descriptions are gleaned from Tobias’

the way they learn: How to discover and teach to your child’s strengths. Below is a list of

possible curriculum choices for this CR, Kinesthetic, Analytical student based on Duffy’s

(2005) recommendations in 100 Top Picks for Homeschool Curriculum and her website.

Some of the recommendations require more parent/teacher involvement than other

curriculum, but Duffy’s book includes a chart that will help narrow the search for a well

fitting curriculum for each subject and family.

Reading: Drawn into the Heart of Reading; Heart of Dakota Publishing

www.heartofdakota.com/index.php

Mathematics: Math-U-See www.mathusee.com/ or Progress in Mathematics

(Fundamentals of Algebra) www.sadlier-oxford.com/math/student.cfm

Grammar: Winston Grammar www.winstongrammar.com/

Writing: Igniting Your Writing II (recommended by Drawn into the Heart of Reading)

Spelling: Spelling Power www.spellingpower.com/

Vocabulary: English from the Roots Up www.literacyunlimited.com

History: Mystery of History www.themysteryofhistory.info/ or The Story of the World with

study guide http://peacehillpress.com/history-and-geography/story-of-the-

world.html

Science: AIMS Education Foundation www.aimsedu.org/ or Great Science Adventures

CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE 62

http://commonsensepress.com/greatscience/default.htm or TOPS Science

www.topscience.org/

For Unit studies: History Links www.historylinks.info/ or Tapestry of Grace

www.tapestryofgrace.com/inde.php Unit studies generally include a range of

subjects. For instance, Tapestry of Grace includes the study of literature, history,

geography, writing, and art and craft ideas all tied together with the general unit or

time period under study.

Foreign Languages: Learnables www.learnables.com/ or Rosetta Stone

www.rosettastone.com/

Art: Mark Kistler’s Draw Squad www.draw3d.com/ or Feed My Sheep/How Great Thou

ART www.howgreathouart.com/

Biblical Integrative Component and Implications

God created mankind as unique individuals. In Psalm 139: 13-16 David discusses

God’s intricate workings in creating each individual. Verse 14 says, “I will praise thee; for I

am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth

right well.” Solomon, the king of Israel and son of David, spoke of receiving “the instruction

of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity” (Proverbs 1:3). Later in Proverbs parents are

instructed to “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not

depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6). Paul in the New Testament says, “Fathers, provoke not

your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord”

(Ephesians 6:4). In Deuteronomy Israel was told to “Love the LORD thy God with all thine

heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might” (Deut. 6:5). Verse seven of the same
CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE 63

chapter says, “Thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children.” The Psalmist relates

children to arrows saying, “Children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb

is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.

Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them” (Psalm 127:3-5). God has blessed

families with precious “arrows” that need training. Children are made in the image of God.

Christians look toward hearing, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant”

(Matthew 25:21, 23) through fulfillment of the biblical mandates of stewardship,

reconciliation, and living as image bearers of God. Stewardship teaches believers to

appreciate and apply God-given talents, abilities, and potential to be used as instruments in

God’s hands. Reconciliation involves training in the proper handling of relationships with

God, man, and each other. As godly image bearers, believers grow to be more like Christ in

their daily walk allowing others to catch a glimpse of what God is like. Faithful

servant/parents train others to be faithful servants—especially their children.

Parents home school their children for various reasons (Gaither, 2009). Seeking to

provide a Christian education that infiltrates each child’s life requires knowing the child as

well as possible. God designed each individual with a particular personality and learning

style, but he also revealed similarities that can be evaluated and incorporated into the

education experience. The study of personality and learning style also helps us “know

more about the infinitely creative God who made us” (Clarkson and Clarkson, 1996, p. 142).

Making use of personality and learning style evaluations gives greater understanding of the

bends and characteristics of the parent and the child. These evaluations become tools in

the hands of the parents to develop strong “arrows” with sharp academic training and a

delicate guidance system (Harris, 1988). For the Christian family, education involves the
CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE 64

entire life of children, training and encouraging them to seek and follow God’s design

through a biblically prepared reason that responds to God.

Duffy (1992) begins her book by stating the importance of setting “concrete goals”

through examining the basic philosophy of the family. Once the goals are set, the methods

and materials must line up with those goals (p. 1). Similar to the method and strategy

discussion within churches that desire to positively influence the world for Christ, Christian

parents must also bear in mind their strategy for home schooling. The effective method

and materials are driven by the goal or strategy to be used. Frank Tillapaugh in his work,

Unleashing the Church: Getting People out of the Fortress and into Ministry (1982), stresses

“the need for a sound strategy to precede the methods applied.” He argues that “methods

are neither the problem nor the solution, but it is rather the strategy (or lack of it), that

defines what is (or is not) to be accomplished” (as cited in Cook, 1993, p. 19). God is a God

of order, imagination, beauty, and love. “Let all things be done decently and in order” (I

Corinthians 14:40). The goals of the family drive an orderly decision making process for

the home education experience. Duffy (2000) recommends parents need to, “design our

home school program in a way that suits each person’s learning style, using methods and

materials best for each” (p. 19). To be aware of personality and learning style opens the

door to clearer direction in the evaluation of curriculum and instructional options and

allows greater opportunity to encourage children’s pursuit of God’s plan for their life.

Relation of the Results to Theory and Other Literature

Do personality and learning style relate to the education and learning process?
CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE 65

Personality and learning style provide viable input for the curriculum and instructional

decision process. Home schooling provides the opportunity to teach one-on-one. “Survey

research has revealed a heterogeneous population of home schoolers and higher rates of

minority home schooling than expected” (Gaither, 2009, p. 12). Gaither further points out

that according to a 1999 study by Karen Rogers Holinga, home school families are less

likely to use a prefabricated curriculum. Instead, families pull curriculum from “a more

flexible, eclectic orientation” (p. 15) requiring more sifting of curriculum than in years past.

Children’s personality affects their learning through the way they gathers information,

organizes information, and makes decisions with that information. Home schooling

parents can maximize teaching efforts by understanding each child’s learning style.

The results of this study demonstrate the diversity of personality and learning style

in children. When home schooling experienced a renaissance during the 1960s and 1970s,

curriculum resources were limited for home schooling families. Prefabricated, complete

curriculums used in Christian schools often became the materials for many families seeking

to educate their children at home, or the unschooling practice with no formal curriculum

and parents acting at facilitators allowing the children freedom to learn what they desired

(Gaither, 2009, p. 15). Curriculum choices today are plentiful for home schooling families.

Therein lies the reasoning for a more streamlined guide for selecting the appropriate and

useful curriculum. Personality and learning style evaluations provide another tool for

making these crucial decisions.

Chickering (2006) states in his article, “The critical point is to help students become

more reflective and thoughtful about how they learn best” (p. 12). Chickering’s article

addresses issues in the ranks of higher education. Wolf (2009) encourages students to
CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE 66

assess their personalities, talents and abilities during the high school years and notes that

some high schools require the self-assessment to be completed prior to meeting with the

guidance counselor. According to Golden (2003), self-efficacy as defined by Bandura in

Goddard and Goddard (2001) is “beliefs in one’s capabilities to organize and execute the

courses of action required to produce to given attainments” (p. 14). Golden further states,

“heightened levels of self-efficacy, high self-esteem, and high self-confidence are key to the

academic success of GED (General Educational Development) students in college” (p. 16).

Awareness of one’s personality and learning style allows for greater understanding of

oneself. Parents that evaluate their children’s personality and learning style in preparation

for high school provide them additional tools in preparation for college.

Knowing oneself produces greater confidence and therefore ability to learn how to

deal with strengths and weaknesses as well as relate to others with differing personality

and learning styles. Martin and Potter (1998) acknowledge, “The more a child understands

about her/himself, the greater self-esteem and confidence s/he will have” (p. 549). They

encourage a program including steps teachers can take to work with parents toward a

better education for the students by understanding learning style and implementing a plan

for studying at home. By knowing a student’s weaknesses, instruction can also be geared to

strengthen the weak areas according to Fliess (2008). In his article, The Thoughtful

Classroom, Silver (2009) highlights five principles of the thoughtful classroom, including

the idea that “thought is personal and a matter of style” (p. 5). Again the evidence points to

the benefit of evaluating personality and learning style. Home school families have the

capabilities to evaluate their children in these areas.

CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE 67

Strengths-based education focuses on determining student strengths through

measuring 34 talent themes. The general idea is to discover and “emphasize the positive

aspects of student effort and achievement, as well as human strengths” (Lopez and Louis,

2009, p. 1). The five principles of Strengths-based education include measurement of

student characteristics, individualized learning experiences, networking providing praise

and recognition, deliberate application fostering positive outcomes, and intentional

development for focused practice of strengths through growth opportunities. According to

Anderson (2005), the generally accepted approach to education involved “deficit-based

remediation,” but this programming “actually prevented students from becoming top

achievers” (p. 183). The talent focus relies on uncovering student’s (and educator’s)

“naturally recurring pattern of thought, feeling, or behavior” which then allows the

individual to repeatedly achieve goals. “The strengths quest – or quest for strengths –

begins as students look within themselves to recognize their own natural talents” (p. 188)

and then use those talents or strengths to achieve higher goals. Home school parents may

benefit from searching the 34 StrengthsFinderTM themes at their website for more

information on strengths and talents—a slightly different slant on personality and learning

style.

Educators have different personalities. According to Baumann (2007), “certain

aspects of effective teaching can be found in each of the 16 possible personality types” (p.

10) demonstrated by the Myers-Briggs personality test. Baumann includes Paul, James,

and Peter as scriptural examples of effective teachers with different personality types. The

common behaviors expressed by Baumann include organization, “withitness,” and caring.

Even as teachers include a variety of personality types, so do students. Home school

CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE 68

parents, with a wide range of personality type, are more effective teachers through their

behavior and understanding of their children’s personality and learning style.

In the article, “Planning to Unmask Potential Through Responsive Curriculum: The

‘Famous Five’ Exercise,” Jane M. Jarvis (2007), discusses the use of curriculum to identify

gifted students. The Famous Five Exercise involves first identifying “five eminent

individuals (past or present) who have contributed significantly to a field related to the

discipline for which the curriculum has been developed” (p. 237). The process continues

with constructing a narrative or list of the chosen individual’s “strengths, characteristics,

and needs” relating to the age of the prospective students. Finally, educators evaluate the

developed curriculum for challenge, strength, interest, support, and modifications needed.

“Curriculum that lacks quality and is not matched to the needs and strengths of individual

learners can act as a barrier to identification (of gifted learners) for those not currently

displaying advanced levels of academic performance” (p. 240). Maybe the identification of

gifted students would be aided by first identifying the student through personality and

learning style evaluations and then work within the Famous Five Exercise to determine the

challenging, interesting curriculum for the gifted child.

Should personality and learning style have an input on what curriculum should be

used for home schooled students? “Science has not (yet) demonstrated that designing

learning/training for those styles makes a difference in learning” (Wallace, 2011). Wallace

acknowledges that people have learning style preferences. For the home educated

students, instruction is generally received on a one-to-one basis. As parents learn more

about their children, they are able to apply the knowledge of personality and learning style

to teach each child more effectively. Once the personality and learning style is established,
CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE 69

curriculum decisions can be more accurately adapted relating to the personality and

learning style of the child.

Strengths of the Study

As noted by Wallace (2011), learning style preferences do exist. Clarkson and

Clarkson explain that a “specific personality is there from the start that becomes more

refined and defined with age” (p. 141). Personality can be evaluated and used as a tool for

greater understanding of each child. Clarkson and Clarkson state that personality is often

referred to as “learning styles” (p. 141). Though the study of personality is subjective and

observational, similarities exist and are observable. Home school parents who desire to

provide a good education to their children want to learn as much about each child as

possible. Students benefit and gain self-confidence as they learn about themselves and how

they learn. Personality and learning style provide avenues to address strengths and

weaknesses in children, allowing for new and review material to be more solidly learned by

the child. Also recognizing personality and learning style enlightens students to the

strengths and weaknesses of others, providing avenues to help others who may be

struggling with learning.

For the Christian family, education provides the opportunity to learn about and

develop children, and creation, for the glory of God. Children can be trained as ministers of

reconciliation affecting today’s culture. Reconciliation includes training in the proper

handling of relationships with God, nature, man, and each other. God created each

individual in his image. Each unique individual gains worth from the Creator. God has

given each person individual, unique fingerprints and personality. Christian individuals
CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE 70

demonstrate God’s grace to others, represent Christ to the world, and seek to be more like

Christ in their life. Education for the believer does not deify reason but prepares reason to

respond to God through biblical stewardship and reconciliation. Harris (1988) described

children as arrows. Parents train academically sharp children with a gentle guidance

system through God’s truth.

The goal of this study involved discovering personality and learning style of home

schooled children to provide additional tools for home schooling parents in the curriculum

decision process. The method employed to gather data involved home school students

completing a questionnaire. Through various sources the self-reporting questionnaire for

this study was developed to discover students’ personality, learning style, and learning

preferences through questions or descriptions broken into eight sections. As a warm up

question, the participants were to choose an animal (a lion, otter, golden retriever, or

beaver each of which included brief descriptions) that best described their personality.

The remaining questions or items included choosing the best description or representation

of regarding personality and learning style, learning preferences, comparative words about

personality, and checking applicable descriptions of intelligences. Titles and simple, clear

directions introduced each new section. The sections included short, understandable, and

appropriate questions that matched the research objective. Definitions or descriptions

were included where misunderstanding might occur. Vertical responses added to the

clarity of the options. One section included a matrix formatting for answers. The

questionnaire included no loaded, leading, or double-barreled items. All but one question

involved close-ended items. The four-page questionnaire appropriately involved the

students. The questionnaire ended with a note of thanks for the students’ participation.
CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE 71

Each child completed the questionnaire with minimal assistance from the researcher.

Overall, the students easily completed the questionnaire within 15 minutes.

Student addresses were added to the questionnaire to facilitate sending a packet of

research information to the parents for their use. The parent packet includes their child’s

original questionnaire, summary information on their child only, a copy of curriculum

decision making guidelines, and a brief listing of curriculum that matches or favors the

different personality/learning styles. As the parents look through the information, the

desire is for them to gain greater understanding of their children and provide additional

tools in their search for curriculum that meets the needs of the family and the children.

The high school years are especially important as an avenue to providing the best

education for children encouraging them on the pathway to fulfilling their potential and

God’s purpose for their life.

Limitations of the Study

The participating group of students was small, nine children, but still demonstrated

variety of personality, learning style, and learning preferences in their answers. They also

represented mainly Christian home school families and were all from southwestern Ohio.

The questionnaire was completed between 8 and 8:30 AM, except for two of the

participants who completed the questionnaire later in the morning. As demonstrated by

the data, this may not have been the most alert time for some of the participants. The age

range of students was also a limiting factor. As Clarkson and Clarkson (1996) point out,

younger children may not know themselves well enough to clearly address their

personality, since they continue to develop personality into the adolescent years.
CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE 72

Returning to each student with follow-up questions or digging deeper could also add more

value and clarity to the data.

While completing the questionnaire, a few students involved asked questions

related to the meaning of certain words and how to best respond within certain sections.

The Personality and Understanding Information sections proved to be the weakest sections

of the questionnaire. The students struggled to find the best of the two-word pair

personality words that described them, and the Understanding Information section was

poorly laid out for clarity of answers for this age group. Some students were unsure how to

best answer since they did not see themselves as “either/or” but sometimes one and

sometimes the other. Ideas were presented briefly and openly for all participants to hear.

One student did not complete one page of the questionnaire. Though the pages were

numbered, the questions were not numbered. The questionnaire included multiple items

to determine various qualities, but lack of clarity limited the use of those items to measure

similar qualities. Also, the Describing Yourself section used only three responses and

would have been clearer with four or even five response options as described in Johnson

and Christensen’s (2008) work on pages 185 and 186. The pilot study included an even

smaller group and feedback was sought at the end rather than during or even asking for

more specific input into questions. Strengthening the questionnaire would strengthen and

clarify the data.

The small group sampling does not provide strong effect size. Interestingly, six of

the nine students described themselves as kinesthetic learners, with two visual learners,

and only one auditory learner. The kinesthetic learners included all three boys and three of

the six girls. Also eight of the nine students maintained they are extroverts. The extroverts
CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE 73

also included all three boys and five of the females. The responses to Processing

Information indicated the students included five global processors, including one male and

four females, compared to four analytical processors, including the remaining two males

and two females. A larger sample aged 12 through 15 with more variety of home school

settings should produce greater differences within the male and female variables. The

Study Questionnaire Results Summary, Appendix C, provides further findings through

comparison of the collected data.

Suggestions for Future Research

According to Davis (2010), “Personality is a blend of numerous factors including

inborn neurological preferences, environment, culture, opportunity, family and experience”

(p. 23). Clarkson and Clarkson (1996) discuss the study of personality and indicate the

way one thinks is a good place to begin—“that is, how you gather information, organize it,

and make decisions with it” (p. 144). Since all of the students in this research were home

schooled, the study could be conducted across the public, private, and home schooled

arenas. Differences in personality and learning style might be evident between those

learning in the traditional classroom setting as opposed to those in the home school setting.

Differences also might be seen between public and private schooled children. Family

culture and economic standing provides differences in personality and learning style, also.

In his work on The Thoughtful Classroom, Silver (2009) comments, “While traditional

test questions were designed to test students’ mastery of the content, newer test questions

require students to know more than just the content. In order to succeed on today’s state

assessment tests, students need to possess a wide variety of skills” (p. 40). The needed
CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE 74

skills include reading and study skills, thinking skills, communication skills, and reflective

skills. Silver also demonstrates the importance of awareness and use of learning style

within a classroom through the results of a study conducted by Robert Sternberg and

associates.

• When students were taught using an approach that “matched” their

own learning style preference, they outperformed students who

experienced a teaching style/learning style mismatch.

• When students were taught using a variety of instructional

approaches (vs. one single approach), they outperformed other

students on performance-based assessments and on multiple-choice

memory tests (p. 36).

Continued research and implementation of the findings would benefit not only home

school families in curriculum decisions, but also other school settings that desire to provide

a solid education for all students.

Further research could also evaluate curriculum currently in use by home schooling

families and programs to determine which and how different personality and learning

styles are addressed. By looking into current curriculum through the eyes of personality

and learning style, parents would be able to narrow the curriculum search in this way also.

The benefit would be for home school parents and students.

As young people, and adults, learn about their own personality and learning style

they gain insight to help themselves learn and to reach out to help others. By learning

about multiple personality and learning styles, students are better prepared for college and

life. An individual’s potential broadens as understanding of others influences lives.

CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE 75

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CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE 81

Appendix A - The Questionnaire

The Animal in YOU: Personality:

Which animal is most like your Circle the word in each pair that best
personality? describes you.

lion (take –charge)

otter (fun-loving and energetic) Quiet ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Outgoing

golden retriever (sensitive and
caring ) Easily distracted ~~~~~~~~~~Focused

beaver (organized, detail oriented)
Self-discipline~~~~~~Go with the flow

Solemn ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Fun-loving
Environment:
Place an X in the box that best describes Moody ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Cheerful
you.
Idealistic ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Practical
I am most alert

Morning (6-10 AM) Energetic ~~~~~~~~~~~~~Laid back

Mid-day (10 AM-2 PM)

Afternoon (2-6 PM) Leader ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Follower

Evening (6-10 PM)
While completing schoolwork I like Organized ~~~~~~~~~~Disorganized

Food and/or drink

Small snack

No Food or drink Learning Style:

I concentrate best with Place an X in front of the ONE sentence

Bright light that best describes you and how you like to

Natural room light learn.

Dim light
I study best ________I like to repeat words aloud and

At a desk or table drill verbally or learn through songs or
rhyme.

On the floor or on a sofa

Most anywhere ________Pictures or sketches help me
While I study, I am remember information.

Not distracted by music or noise

Able to work with low background ________Sitting still is hard for me. I like to
music or noise move around and take frequent breaks.

Distracted from study by music or
noise
CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE 82

Processing information: A structured schedule helps me complete

Place an X in the box that best describes you. work in a timely manner. A clear, efficient
workspace helps me work.
I understand the main idea through the
Almost always
overall picture.
Sometimes

Almost always
Almost never

Sometimes

Almost never I tend to procrastinate (put things off till
later).
I remember specific details and can often
Almost always
repeat things word for word.
Sometimes

Almost always
Almost never

Sometimes

Almost never I break larger projects into smaller, more
manageable parts.
I read quickly, skipping unfamiliar words.
Almost always

Almost always
Sometimes

Sometimes
Almost never

Almost never

I read slowly and deliberately, reading

every word and stopping to understand Understanding information:
unfamiliar words. Place an X under Yes or No for each

Almost always question.

Sometimes

Almost never Yes No

I tend to choose stories for entertainment. Do you like to investigate to gain

Almost always knowledge? ~~~~~~~~~

Sometimes Do you like to try new ideas? ~~~~

Almost never Are you creative? ~~~~~~~~~~~
Are you flexible? ~~~~~~~~~~~
I choose stories that further my knowledge. Do you organize according to most

Almost always important information? ~~~

Sometimes Do you read a lot to learn? ~~~~~~

Almost never Are you sympathetic to others’
I prefer my work in piles, rather than files, needs? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
and spread out over several areas.

Almost always

Sometimes

Almost never
CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE 83

Describing yourself:
Put a check in one of the three boxes for each
statement. Agree Unsure Disagree
I describe myself as an extrovert (I prefer
to be around people: I don’t mind large
crowds; I am outer-directed) ~~~~~~~~

I describe myself as an introvert (I prefer

to be alone; I am quiet and inner-
directed) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I prefer to process information through

the use of my five senses; I am detail
oriented; I like facts and figures ~~~~~~

I prefer to process information through

my intuition; I look for the big picture; I
am an “ideas” person ~~~~~~~~~~~~

I prefer to make decisions based on logic

and rational thinking; justice and fairness
are important to me ~~~~~~~~~~~~

I prefer to make decisions based on my

feelings and how decisions will affect
people ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I prefer to plan activities ahead of time; I

am decisive and I like to finish projects
that I start ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I prefer to be spontaneous; I am flexible

and don’t always finish tasks, but I like to
start many projects ~~~~~~~~~~~~~

What is your favorite school subject?

CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE 84

Brainpower:
Place an X before ALL that apply to you.

_____ Verbal or Linguistic: good writer,

reader, speaker, and debater

_____ Logical or Mathematical: good with

numbers, patterns, logical reasoning

_____ Spatial: good with mental pictures,

re-creating a given image or situation

_____ Musical: enjoy natural rhythm and

melody

_____ Bodily Kinesthetic: enjoy bodily

movement or physical activity

_____Interpersonal: understand,
appreciate, and get along well with
others

_____ Intrapersonal: understand yourself;

enjoy reflection, meditation, and time
alone

Please provide your name and age: Sources used:

C. & S. Clarkson, Educating the Whole Hearted

Child
________________________________________________
C. U. Tobias, http://applest.com, and the way they
learn: How to discover and teach to your child’s
strengths
Thank you for taking time to answer J. Trent, “Your House, Animal Kingdom”
these questions.

Research conducted by Sarah Cook through K. Wolf, CliffNotes Road Map to College: Navigating
Cedarville University. Your Way to College Admission Success
CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE 85

Appendix B – Parental Permission Form

I give my permission for _______________________________________, my son/daughter (age ________)

to participate in the research study being conducted by Sarah Cook through Cedarville

University. I understand that this research will provide information pertaining to my

child’s personality type and learning style. I have reviewed the questionnaire to be used. I

do not expect any harm, physically or emotionally, for my child as a result of his/her

participation in this study. I further understand that I will receive the results of the

questionnaire for my child only, and that the information will not be shared with others

except as needed to complete the research.

Parent signature __________________________________________________________________________

Date signed __________________________________________

Student’s signature ____________________________________________________________

 #4
#3
#2
#1

-E???

-ESTJ
-E?TP

-Visual
-Global
-Auditory

-E/IIT/FP
Random
Random

-Analytical
-Analytical

-Kinesthetic
-Kinesthetic
Age:9

Age: 9

Age: 11
Age: 10

-Global/Abstract
-Otter/Concrete Random
-Otter/Concrete Random
Student Information

-Otter/Concrete Random &

-Otter/Concrete Random &

Golden Retriever/Abstract
Golden Retriever/Abstract

F
F
F

M
M/F

A
Auditory/listen

V
Visual/see and watch

K
Learning

K
Preference

Kinesthetic/physical or do

Otter Otter/Golden Otter/Golden Otter Otter/Concrete Random

Retriever Retriever Lion/Concrete Sequential
Beaver/Abstract Sequential
Style

Golden Retriever/Abstract
Learning

Random

Extrovert Extravert- Introvert Extrovert Extrovert Extrovert/Introvert

Sensing Intuitive Unsure Unsure on rest Sensing/Intuitive
Thinking Thinking-Feeling Thinking Thinking/Feeling
Judging Perceiving Perceiving Judging/Perceiving
Personality Type

10AM-2PM 2-6PM 2-6PM 2-6PM Alertness

CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE

No food/drink Small snack Small snack Small snack Food/Snacks

Dim light Dim light Bright light Natural room Lighting
Floor or sofa Anywhere Desk or Table Anywhere Location
Not distracted Low background Low background Low background Noise Tolerance
Environment Preferences

Verbal/Linguistic
Appendix C - Study Questionnaire Results Summary

Logical/Mathematical
Spatial
Musical
Bodily/Kinesthetic
Multiple

Interpersonal
Intelligences

V L ~ M B I I
V L ~ M B I ~

~ ~ S M B ~ I

~L S M B ~ I

Intrapersonal
G

Global:
big picture/flexible
A
A

Analytical:
Processing
Information

details/organized
Math
Math

History

Astronomy
Subject
86

Favorite
 CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE 87

Student Information M/F Learning Learning Personality Type Environment Preferences Multiple Processing Favorite
Preference Style Intelligences Information Subject
#5 Age: 12 F V ~ L S M B ~ I G Gym

food/drink
-Visual

Perceiving

Anywhere

distracted
Introvert
Intuitive

Judging-
-Otter/Concrete Random

6-10PM

Natural
Feeling

room
Otter
-Global

Not
No
-IIFJ/P

#6 Age: 12 F K V L S M ~ I ~ G Science, Math,

-Kinesthetic English, Spanish

Not distracted
Natural room
Otter/Golden

Food & Drink

Floor or sofa
-Otter/Concrete Random &

Retriever

Perceiving
Extrovert
Golden Retriever/Abstract

Thinking
Sensing

2-6PM
Random
-Global/Abstract
-ESTP
#7 Age: 12 M K V ~ S ~ B I ~ Lunch

Thinking-Feeling

Low background
-Kinesthetic A

Food & Drink

-Otter/Concrete Random

Desk or table
-Analytical

Extrovert

Dim light
Sensing
-EST/F?

Unsure

2-6PM
Otter

#8 Age: 12 M K No answers given G History, Lunch

Desk or table
-Kinesthetic

Small snack
Lion/Otter

Perceiving

Distracted
Extrovert
-Lion/Concrete Sequential &

Dim light
Intuitive

6-10AM
Unsure
Otter/Concrete Random
-Global
-EI?P
#9 Age: 13 F K V ~S ~ B I ~ G Math

No food or drink
-Kinesthetic
Otter/Golden

-Otter/Concrete Random &

Bright light
10AM-2PM
Retriever

Perceiving
Golden Retriever/Abstract

Distracted
Anywhere
Extrovert
Intuitive

Random
Feeling

-Global
-EIFP

TOTALS (9 by pair) (9 each area) (9 per subject)

Ages: F: 6 Auditory: 1 Otters: 4 Extrovert: 8 6-10AM: 1 10AM-2PM: 2 Verbal: 5 Global: 5 Math: 4
9: 2 M: 3 Visual: 2 Otter/Golden Introvert: 1 2-6PM: 5 6-10PM: 1 Logical: 5 Analytical: 4 History: 2
10: 1 Kinesthetic: 6 Retriever: 4 Sensing: 3 Small Snack: 4 Spatial: 6 Astronomy: 1
11: 1 Lion/Otter: 1 Intuitive: 4 No food or drink: 3 Musical: 6 Science: 1
12: 4 (2 unsure) Food & Drink: 2 Bodily: 7 Gym: 1
13: 1 Thinking: 3 Bright Light: 2 Dim Light: 4 Interpersonal: 5 Lunch: 2
Feeling: 2 Natural Light: 3 Intrapersonal: 4 English &
(4 unsure) Desk or Table: 3 Spanish: 1
Judging: 1 Floor or Sofa: 2 Anywhere: 4
Perceiving: 5 Distracted: 2 Not Distracted: 3
(3 unsure) Low Background: 4
 CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE 88

Student Information M/F Learning Learning Personality Type Environment Preferences Multiple Processing Favorite
Preference Style Intelligences Information Subject
Data by Gender:
Age 9: F: 2 Auditory: F: 1 Otter: F:2; M:2 Extrovert: F: 5; M: 3 6-10AM: M: 1 Verbal: F: 4; M: 1 Global: Math: F:3; M:1
Age 10: F: 1 Visual: F: 2 Otter/GR: F:4 Introvert: F: 1 10AM-2PM: F: 1; M: 1 Logical: F: 4: M: 1 F:4; M:1 History:
Age 11: M: 1 Kinesthetic: Lion/Otter:M:1 Sensing: F: 1; M: 2 2-6PM: F: 4; M: 1 Spatial: F: 4; M: 2 Analytical: F:1; M:1
Age 12: F: 2; M: 2 F: 3; M: 3 Intuitive: F: 3; M: 1 6-10PM: F: 1 Musical: F: 5; M: 1 F:2; M:2 Astronomy:
Age 13: F: 1 Thinking: F: 2; M: 1 Small Snack: F: 3: M: 1 Bodily: F: 5; M: 2 F:1
Feeling: F: 2 No F or D: F: 2; M: 1 Interpersonal: Science: F:1
Judging: M: 1 Food & D: F: 1; M: 1 F: 4; M: 1 Gym: F:1
Perceiving: F: 4; M:1 Bright Light: F: 2 Intrapersonal: Lunch: M:2
(remainder in each Dim Light: F: 1; M: 3 F: 3; M: 1 English &
set – unsure) Natural Light: F: 3 Spanish: F:1
Desk /Table: F: 1; M:2
Floor/Sofa: F: 1; M: 1
Anywhere: F: 4
Easy Distract: F: 1;M:1
No Distract: F: 2; M: 1
Low Back: F: 3; M: 1
Data by Age (12 & 13 only)
5 students Auditory: 0 Otter: 2 Extrovert: 4 6-10AM: 1 10AM-2PM: 1 Verbal: 3 Global: 4 Math: 2
Visual: 1 Otter/GR: 2 Introvert: 1 2-6PM: 2 6-10PM: 1 Logical: 2 Analytical: 1 History: 1
Kinesthetic: 4 Lion/Otter: 1 Sensing: 2 Small Snack: 1 Spatial: 4 Astronomy: 0
Intuitive: 3 No Food or Drink: 2 Musical: 2 Science: 1
Thinking: 2 Food & Drink: 2 Bodily: 3 Gym: 1
Feeling: 2 Bright Light: 1 Interpersonal: 3 Lunch: 2
Judging: 0 Dim Light: 2 Intrapersonal: 1 English &
Perceiving: 3 Natural Light: 2 Spanish: 1
(remainder in each Desk/Table: 2
set – unsure) Floor/sofa: 1
Anywhere: 2
Easily Distracted: 2
Not Distracted: 2
Low Background: 1
CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE 89

Appendix D - Steps in Curriculum Decisions Using Personality and Learning Style

I. Set Family Goals

Why? Basic What preparing children for? (To make lots of money; to serve
Philosophy/Beliefs God &/or others; to have fun in life; to pursue personal
ambitions) Who owns our children? (The State, parents, God,
no one) What is man’s nature? (sinful, corrupted nature;
basically good needing shaping)
How? Philosophy of Traditional; lecture with memorization and drill; Classical;
Education Charlotte Mason; discovery/experiential; child-centered
unschooling; child-centered parent-led; individualized
What? Methods & Materials What methods & materials needed to fulfill goals and meet
to use expectations set by basic philosophy and educational
philosophy: Consider age of children and how many schooling
at home; informal learning; complete curriculum package;
eclectic combination of curriculum; computer or DVD
schooling; self-directed
Source: Cathy Duffy, Christian Home Educators’ Curriculum Manual Elementary Grades

II. Determine Learning Style of Parent/Teacher

Type A: Fun loving; impulsive; creative & efficient solutions to tasks;

Actual Spontaneous activity over reading books; prefers teaching fine arts, physical
education, and activity-oriented classes
Type B: Planner; follow schedules; memorization and drill work; easily upset
Actual Routine when children don’t cooperate; focus on meeting requirements; prefers
umbrella program for home educators; prefers pre-planned curricula;
prefers teaching “cut and dry” subjects
Type C: Likes to be in control; logical thinking and acting; understanding of
Conceptual Specific reasoning and logic of ideas; good organizer; work alone/independent;
impatient with those disorganized and slow to grasp; uncomfortable in
social settings; less sensitive to others’ feelings & emotions; makes
long-term plans; usually organized; prefers teaching math, science &
other logic-related subjects
Type D: Enjoys social interaction; likes to belong to groups; concerned with
Conceptual Global what others think; insecure about abilities in home education teaching;
idealistic with expectations & goals; may or may not be organized;
focus more on general concepts than details; prefers teaching language
arts, social studies, & possibly fine arts
Source: Cathy Duffy, Christian Home Educators’ Curriculum Manual Elementary Grades
CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE 90

III. Determine Learning Style of Student

Learning Styles Concrete Abstract Abstract Concrete

(Gregorc) Sequential/Facts: Sequential/Underlyi Random/Personal Random/Compelli
practical; organized; ng Principles: Relevance: ng Reasons:
efficient & economical data before decisions; sincere listener; inspire others to
ideas; concrete products analyze ideas; understand feelings take action;
from abstract ideas; research; logical & emotions; focus viability of many
works well within time sequence; facts to on themes & ideas; options &
limits prove or disprove harmony for group solutions; unusual
theories; analyze situations; good & creative ideas;
means to achieve rapport with most visualize future;
goal people; recognize finds different
emotional needs of ways to accomplish
others things; accepting of
people; thinks fast
on feet; risk taker
Environment/ Noise level: Lighting: Heat: Food:
Concentration
None
Bright
Warm
None
(Dunn & Dunn)
Quiet
Minimal
Cool
Light

Anything goes
Natural snacks

Food
available
Modality/ Visual: Auditory: Kinesthetic:
Remember Learn by seeing & Learn by listening to Learn by becoming
(Barbe- watching; using strong verbal instructions; physically involved
Swassing) visual associations; remember by forming & doing something
mental pictures sounds of words; with what’s being
rhythmic patterns learned; movement
Dominant Analytic (field Global (field
Learning Style/ independent): dependent):
Understand break down information Overall
(Witkin) into component parts; picture/gist; details
focus on details not so important
Multiple Linguistic: Logical- Spatial: Musical:
Intelligences reading, writing, word Mathematics: designing, drawing, singing, whistling,
(Gardner) games experimenting, visualizing, humming, tap feet
questioning, puzzles doodling & hands, listening
Bodily-Kinesthetic: Interpersonal: Intrapersonal:
dancing, running, reading, organizing, setting goals,
jumping, building, relating, meditating,
touching manipulating dreaming, being
meditating quiet
Main Source: Cynthia Ulrich Tobias, the way they learn: How to discover and teach to your child’s strengths, p.22, 90, 105
CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE 91

IV. Evaluate Personality Type of Parent/Teacher and Student

Personality Assessment Agree Unsure Disagree

Extraversion (E): I describe myself as an extrovert (I prefer to be
around people; I don’t mind large crowds; I am outer-directed)
Introversion (I): I describe myself as an introvert (I prefer to be
alone; I am quiet and inner-directed)
Sensing (S): I prefer to process information through the use of
my five senses; I am detail oriented; I like facts and figures.
Intuition (N): I prefer to process information through my
intuition; I look for the big picture; I am an “ideas” person.
Thinking (T): I prefer to make decisions based on logic and
rational thinking; justice and fairness are important to me.
Feeling (F): I prefer to make decisions based on my feelings and
how decisions will affect people.
Judging (J): I prefer to plan activities ahead of time; I am
decisive and I like to finish projects that I start.
Perceiving (P): I prefer to be spontaneous; I am flexible and
don’t always finish tasks but I like to start many projects.
Source: Karen Wolf, CliffsNotes Road Map to College: Navigating Your Way to College Admission Success

V. Discuss After High-School Options (especially for pre-high school students)

Two- or 4-Year College (even if slim possibility at this time), University, Community
College, Vocational/Technical School, Apprenticeship, Military, Employment.

VI. Determine State Standards (access state’s Department of Education)

OHIO: General Degree (example)
English Math Science Social Economics & Electives Health & PE
Studies Financial
literacy
4 units 4 units: 3 units: 3 units: Receive 5 units (1 or any Health: ½
must physical must instruction during combination of): unit
include 1 science, include ½ grades 9-12; 2 Foreign language (4 PE: ½ unit
unit of life unit semesters of fine units, at least 2 in OR 2 full
algebra II science, American arts in grades 7- each language seasons of
or chemistry history, ½ 12;career- studied); fine arts (1 interscholasti
equivalent or unit technical pathway unit); business, c athletics,
of algebra physics American exempted from career-technical band OR
II or other government fine arts education, family & cheerleading;
physical requirement consumer sciences, or at least 60
science, technology, contact hours
etc. agricultural in another
education or English course
language arts,
mathematics,
science or social
studies not
otherwise required
Source: www.ode.state.oh.us/gd/
CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE 92

VII. Compare and Choose Curriculum

Curriculum> Reading & Math: History: Science Grammar K12

Literature: Math-U-See Tapestry of
(Criteria) Bob Jones UP Grace
Meets family
goals
Type of Traditional Traditional Classical; Online;
education w/Videos chronological Public- State
run
Methods Reading, Manipulative- Whole books; Textbooks,
used analysis, based; activities; videos, CDs,
discussion; multi-sensory discussion manipulative
writing
Advanced Yes Yes
thinking
skills taught
Develop- Yes Yes, for Yes Yes
mentally elementary
appropriate especially
Worldview Christian Nonsectarian Christian Nonsectarian
Learning CS, AS CR, CS, AS, AR CR, AS, AR CS, AS
styles:
CS
AS
AR
CR
Modality: Visual, Visual, Visual, Visual,
Visual Auditory Auditory, Auditory, Auditory,
Auditory Kinesthetic Kinesthetic Kinesthetic
Kinesthetic
Learning Analytical Analytical with Global with Analytical
Style: Global aspects Analytical with Global
Analytical aspects aspects
Global
Compare programs of interest.
Sources for comparisons: Duffy’s 100 Top Picks for Homeschool Curriculum; various publishers’ web sites and/or materials
CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE 93

Appendix E: Curriculum and Instructional Methods Decision Resources

Anderson, E., (Spring 2005). Strengths-based educating: A concrete way to bring out the
best in students – and yourself. educational HORIZONS, 83, 180-189.

Clarkson, C. & Clarkson, S, (1996). Educating the WholeHearted Child: A handbook for
Christian Home Education

Clarkson, C. & Clarkson, S. http://www.wholeheart.org/

Cohen, C., (2000). Homeschooling The Teen Years: Your Complete Guide to Successfully
Homeschooling the 13- to 18-Year-Old, Three Rivers Press, New York.

Duffy, C., (2005). 100 Top Picks for Homeschool Curriculum: Choosing the Right Curriculum
and Approach for Your Child’s Learning Style, Broadman & Holman Publishers, Nashville,
TN.

Duffy, C. http://www.cathyduffyreviews.com/

Gold, L. & Zielinski, J. M., (2002). Homeschooling Step-By-Step: 100+ Simple Solutions to
Homeschooling’s Toughest Problems, Prima Publishing,, Roseville, CA.

Johnson, D., (2007). High School @ Home: You CAN Do It!, B&H Publishing Group, Nashville,
TN.

Lopez, S. J., & Louis, M. C., (2009). The principles of strengths-based education. Journal of
College & Character, 10, 1-8.

Pride, M., (2004). Mary Pride’s Complete Guide to Getting Started in Homeschooling, Harvest
House Publishers, Eugene, OR.

Willis, J., (2008). How Your Child Learns Best: Brain-Friendly Strategies You Can Use to
Ignite Your Child’s Learning and Increase School Success, Sourcebooks, Inc., Naperville, IL.

Willis, M. & Hodson, W. K., (1999). Discover Your Child’s Learning Style: Children Learn in
Unique Ways – Here’s the Key to Every Child’s Learning Success, Prima Publishing, Roseville,
CA.
CURRICULUM DECISIONS USING PERSONALITY AND LEARNING STYLE 94

Appendix F: Learning Style Resources

Anderson, E., (Spring 2005). Strengths-based educating: A concrete way to bring out the
best in students – and yourself. educational HORIZONS, 83, 180-189.

Clarkson, C. & Clarkson, S. (1996), Educating the WholeHearted Child: A Handbook for
Christian Home Education, Whole Heart Ministries, Walnut Springs, TX.

Clarkson, C. & Clarkson, S. (2011), Educating the WholeHearted Child, Third Edition, Whole
Heart Ministries, Walnut Springs, TX.

Clarkson, C. & Clarkson, S. http://www.wholeheart.org/

Duffy, C. (1992). Christian Home Educators’ Curriculum Manual: Elementary Grades, Home
Run Enterprises, Garden Grove, CA.

Duffy, C. (2005). 100 Top Picks for Homeschool Curriculum: Choosing the Right Curriculum
and Approach for Your Child’s Learning Style, Broadman & Holman Publishers, Nashville,
TN.

Duffy, C. http://www.cathyduffyreviews.com/

Lopez, S. J., & Louis, M. C., (2009). The principles of strengths-based education. Journal of
College & Character, 10, 1-8.

Prashnig Style Solutions, http://www.creativelearningcentre.com/Products/Learning-

Style-Analysis/

Tobias, C. U. (1994), the way they learn: How to discover and teach to your child’s strengths,
Tyndale House Publishers, Wheaton, IL.

Tobias, C. U. http://applest.com/

Various web sites: google “Learning Style Tests” for on-line samples – such as
www.educationplanner.org/students/self-assesments/learning-styles.shtml