This is a Personality Test

I recently completed the Keirsey Temperament survey:  http://www.keirsey.com/aboutkts2.aspx

If you scroll down to the bottom of the Keirsey website, you can see a brief synopsis of each personality type.  You can also click on the "four temperaments" tab at the top to read longer and more detailed narratives about the various personality types, including situational examples.

The sorter tells me that my temperament is that of the Guardian-Provider and, after reading through the description, I cannot argue with the classification.  I like to entertain and I am outgoing.  I am observant and friendly.  But I am also slightly obsessive-compulsive about order and organization, and  I tend to have a hard time digesting criticism from others (which might help to explain my adverse feelings toward the Danielson model of teacher evaluation).   I have compassion for others, but I am also sensitive and take most things personally (for better or for worse).  I enjoy participating in social activities and cooperating with others.  In fact, part of the reason why I left my previous job with an engineering company in exchange for a career in education was that  I felt I needed a job that would allow for more human interaction (as opposed to 'crunching numbers' on a computer all day).  The only aspect of the temperament that  I can take issue with is that I am supposed to be at ease and confident with public speaking.  While it is true that I kind of enjoy public speaking during and after the fact, it is also typical that I feel quite a bit of anxiety leading up to the event.  This is most likely related to my "attention to the details of furnishing goods and services".  Essentially, I stress out about making things as good as possible, which can be difficult to come to terms with as a teacher - the job is never done and there is always more work to do.

I am excited to use this temperament sorter with my students.  It will be a good metacognitive exercise for them as learners, and it also help me to get to know them better as individuals.  I can also use the personality 'data' to inform my selection of cooperative groups for various learning activities.  I have often wondered if everyone thinks that they have the "best" personality, at least most fitting for their temperament.  If I did not think that I was doing the best I could, then I would want to improve.  I have been recommending that everyone take Keirsey's temperament sorter.  For me it was informative and provided a framework for introspection (I think I "feel" too much, but I am okay with that).  At the very least, the temperament sorter is fun.  So the Guardian Provider in me is asking that you go back to the top of this post, copy the link into your web browser, and take the KTS-II right now.