Learning Style

                  According to the learning styles inventory, I have a strong preference for reflective learning. This means I have to reflect on concepts quietly for them to stick and I prefer working alone, as opposed to a group. This could not be more true for me. I am averse to group work and am uncomfortable in the theoretical. I also have a strong preference for sensing learning, rather than intuitive learning. I am comfortable with facts and systems of doing things; I am uncomfortable with chaos and theory. I am definitely practical and prefer to discuss what is rather than what may be. I have a clear preference for verbal learning over visual learning. I prefer lectures and reading to pictures and videos.  I have a moderate preference for sequential rather than global learning. This means that I usually prefer logical and linear progression.

            One of the ways that my learning style affects my students is I am detached from the creative parts of learning and am unlikely to allow chaos. This means I have to make a sincere effort to allow students to learn on their own in a manner that is not fact driven. I am not the one to feel the depth of a poem, so when I have students that are more creative than logical, I have to seek out alternate means of reaching them. Also, my classroom is organized, but not terribly beautiful. There are helpful posters on the wall, but nothing artistic. This might make the room less inviting for an artistic type of student. 

Personality Type

According to the personality test, my MMDI personality code is sqoo (Sierra-Quebec-Oscar-Oscar). My closest personality types are ISTJ and ISFJ. This is pretty on the nose because I am introverted to an extent and fact oriented. I am goal oriented and need to have clear objectives. My most preferred leadership style is as a goal-oriented leader. These aspects of myself are practically describing the necessary traits for a social studies teacher. Clear, achievable objectives guide any successful history lesson and an interest in knowledge and experience is the basis of historical analysis. I have taught English, but the social studies fit my personality type so much better. This effects my students in that what I expect from them is very clear on a daily basis. I am also planning for each individual, which translates into a more personal relationship since students see that I care for their needs and learning styles. 

Introduction

My name is Ms. Michelle McCormick and I currently teach middle school social studies in Stockton, CA. I have five large breed dogs and, as a result, my sweaters always have some amount of dog hair on them. When I first got into education as an English/Language Arts tutor six years ago, it seemed like a good way to utilize my degree and get paid better than minimum wage. After a very short period of time, it became clear to me that I was supposed to be in the classroom. My personality type is teacher-esque and helping people that genuinely need my assistance is terribly fulfilling. The coolest thing about working in this profession is that everything you do at work matters.