Temperament Factor in Learning
Children’s approaches to learning can be significantly influenced by their culture and temperament. Children with highly active temperaments could benefit from experiential learning exercises that involve movement (Martinique et al., 2021). Furthermore, whereas extroverts may thrive in cooperative learning situations and group settings, introverted youngsters may perform better in more isolated, quiet study circumstances. In addition, more flexible kids could be able to overcome new learning challenges more quickly than less flexible kids, since the latter might take longer to become used to routine adjustments or modifications to the learning environment.
In conclusion, children who exhibit greater persistence may be able to persevere through challenging assignments, whereas others may require additional support or alternative teaching methods (Martinique et al., 2021). For instance, a child under 8 months may struggle more with the concept of object permanence and may ask their parent for help when they are less persistent (All About Young Children, 2014). Therefore, children may approach learning in different ways depending on their personality.
Cultural Aspect of Learning
However, cultural contexts can also have a significant impact on learning approaches. Whether they are from an individualist or collectivist society is one of the most important elements in this regard (Martinique et al., 2021). Children from collectivist cultures may value group collaboration and shared learning, whereas children from individualistic cultures could place greater value on individual achievement and competitiveness. Aside from that, children’s approaches to education may vary depending on how they view authority in terms of interactions between students and teachers, as well as in the classroom. Finally, the children’s communication style can affect instruction as well. This may impact conversations, kids’ questions, and whether or not they ask for help (Martinique et al., 2021). Hence, culture has a huge impact on how children approach education.
Adjusting Teaching in Relation to Temperament and Culture
Thus, teachers must be aware of the aforementioned differences among students and adapt their instructional strategies accordingly. One way I would do that is through differentiation. Considering temperamental differences and different learning preferences and methods, I would provide a range of learning exercises. Apart from that, I would use the resources available on the AZAEYC website, and especially their toolkit, to properly decide on what strategies I should employ (“Home”, n.d.). Therefore, to guarantee the success of my students in terms of learning strategies, I would differentiate my instruction and use the AZToolkit.
References
All About Young Children. (2014). Approaches to Learning (Problem Solving) – Birth to 8 Months. YouTube.
Home. (n.d.). AZAEYC.
Martinique, A. S., Rudasill, K. M., Barrett, J. S., Eum, J., Adams, N., Hinrichs, A., & McClowry, S. (2021). Temperament in the Early Elementary Classroom: Implications for Practice. IntechOpen.