The Best K-12 School Environment for Your Child, Based On Their Enneagram Type
Last week’s blog about how to choose the best college environment, based on your enneagram type, was so fun that we decided to tailor it to the K-12 scale! If you have high schoolers and/or haven’t checked out the last week’s blog post, go ahead and read more here. And if you haven’t gotten the chance to take your own Enneagram assessment, we highly recommend all the resources found at YourEnneagramCoach.com!
Photo Credit: YourEnneagramCoach
If you’re unfamiliar with the Enneagram, here’s a quick synopsis about the not-so-new personality assessment that has recently soared in popularity: The Enneagram is uniquely designed like an internal GPS to help you more accurately yourself better (and in turn, your thinking processes, and perspectives) in order to love others more intentionally. When we put tangible language around our core fears and desires, we’re able to stay clear of the pitfalls and remain on the best path. If you’re interested in learning more, I highly recommend (my most influential book of 2019!) The Road Back to You by Ian Morgan Cron, who resurrected this Ancient Greek personality evaluation in this tangible, practical bestseller. Cron puts such beautiful vernacular around each personality “type” (the Enneagram asserts there are only nine (9) specific worldviews, though there are variations within each type) that the reader can’t help but be emotionally moved when he or she comes across the specific chapter dedicated to their very own type. The nine personalities (hereby referred to by their numerical distinction) are laid out below:
While some students may be too young to take the official Enneagram assessment, the experts over at YourEnneagramCoach have developed some helpful guides to help parents better identify and understand their child’s type, worldview, and core desires and fears. Consider these questions below in order to more fully understand how your child is wired:
Type 1: The Perfectionist
Type 2: The Advisor or The Helper
3. The Achiever
None of those resonate with your child? Check out Types 4-6 below:
Type 4: The Individualist
Type 5: The Thinker or The Investigator
Type 6: The Guardian or The Loyalist
Finally, here are the questions to help parents identify if their child sees the world via types 7-9:
Type 7: The Optimist or Enthusiast
Type 8: The Challenger
Type 9: The Peacemaker
Were you able to pinpoint your child’s type? We hope so! And we highly encourage you to sign up for additional resources emailed straight to your inbox from YourEnneagramCoach which includes helpful tips to love and support your chid.
So, what does an ancient personality assessment tool have to do with school choice?
It goes without saying that confidence in your student’s decision and ultimately, his or her school experience will be that much more impactful if it aligns with your student’s personality. In the noise of entrance scores, essays, interviews, and applications, I’ve witnessed families often lose sight of the “right fit” school for their student. Sure, sometimes it’s the elite #1 school on their private school list, but more often than not, it’s a school that was looked over or not even rightly considered and usually— it’s a non-tangible factor that’s the linchpin. From a personal thank you card from a current student sent following a shadow day (true story), a unique after-school activity, a teacher’s infectious personality, or even a smaller class size, by understanding how your student ticks, you will be more confident to weed through the noise and identify the “right fit” school to fit their needs.
“The Perfectionist”
Is your student a One on the Enneagram? Ones are happiest when structure, rules, and explanations are clearly identified and executed. Ones would thrive best in a school environment that offers clearcut objectives in classroom settings, expectations from teachers, and even behavior/time commitment level in extracurricular opportunities. Ones struggle with too much lenience from authority (stemming from disorganization or poor planning on faculty’s part) as they’re consistent rule-lovers. Ones should consider leading in some sort of capacity—the outlet can be determined based on what’s grade/age appropriate.—where their principled structure and affinity for rational can thrive.
2. “The Helper”
Caring, compassionate, helpful, and nurturing.
Oh the Twos…these souls are probably the easiest to spot. Twos are wired to care for those around them so they’re the most filled up when presented with opportunities to give back to their community and environment. Find Twos on service trips over holiday breaks, getting involved in a volunteering/nonprofit extracurricular organization, or even in a mentorship role in a Kindergarten reading buddy program. Twos love to feel needed and thrive under a nurturing environment that affirms their value to the classroom community. Warm teachers and community-driven environments will make these students feel right at home.
3. “The Achiever”
Successful, efficient, focused, and productive.
When it comes to Threes, these are the friends you want on your sports team, in your study group, running for class president, or even spearheading a school-wide initiative. These students are efficient and proactive—never doubt that they’ll get done what they say they will get done. Driven by quotas, grades, benchmarks, and incentives, Threes are intrinsically driven to do well and succeed. Get class notes from a Three, make it a point to sync up with Threes during your school experience—they motivate those around them to step up to the plate. On school tours, be sure to ask teachers direct questions that would help Threes feel empowered and focused—ask about grade distribution, homework expectations, frequency of assessments, and study group opportunities. On the middle and high school side, be sure to inquire about research projects, off-campus internships, ACT/SAT prep, AP class “caps,” and rigor of schedule. Threes want to do it all—all the time. They’re the most productive type of learner out there. Finding a school (and partnering with a teacher) that feeds that internal desire to achieve is essential to beating boredom and discouraging complacency.
4. “The Individualist”
Intellectual, emotional, accomplished, and unique.
Fours are intrinsically wired to want to make their unique mark on the world. Naturally creative and artistic, it’s not uncommon to find Fours spending extra time in the Art room or after school in a Photography club.Yet, my favorite Fours are those who, while not pursuing generalist “artsy” track, still find a way to put their own spin on the task at hand. You can spot Fours usually in their locker design (unique, coordinated, artistic, and creative), the way they might take notes (doodles, color-coded, an individualistic way of organizing and culling information), or even in the mnemonic way they recall information. You’ll want Fours on the planning train (not in the limelight) for fundraisers, class events, parties, and celebrations—they’ll put their own creative panache on the activity. On school tours, be sure to inquire about classroom expectations, dress code, and spirit wear. Fours aren’t rule-breakers by any means, but they crave outlets to insert their own unique personality into the environment—from their book choice to their outfit. Ask Middle and High School counselors and teachers if there is flexibility for Fours to weigh in on creating their class schedule—breaking up the day with some “fun” class to alleviate stress help Fours maintain focus and not feel overwhelmed by the pressures of rigidity.
5. “The Investigator”
Intelligent, private, introspective, and curious.
Fives can be intense and deep thinkers, perfectly content to retreat in the solace of their own minds. Find them curled up in the classroom library corner, staying late to help prep lab for the next class, or furiously digging deeper into their research project. Being in class with a Five is like living in a documentary—they ask a lot of terrific questions and reach introspective conclusions. Never satisfied to simply absorb content, you’ll find Fives sitting near the front of the classroom, comfortably conversing with the teacher in some sort of fact-finding mission. On school tours, ask teachers specific questions about curriculum scopes and sequences. Does the class incorporate design thinking? What about collaboration? Are there enough outlets for hands-on learning? Fives won’t feel intellectually challenged in a worksheet-heavy learning environment. Instead, seek out classrooms that champion research, interactive projects, and even collaborative outlets. In lower school, Fives won’t be content to memorize multiplication tables merely by flash cards. While their memory is impeccable and their internal system of filing information is second to none, Fives crave to relate new information to create relevant, applicable solutions. Take Fives to the grocery store to calculate the price of produce or manipulate groups with M&Ms or Skittles. In the high school side, Fives yearn to connect with the topic in a relevant and applicable way. Fives are fastidious in any tasks—you’ll want a Five on your team when it comes to turning in a group project or presenting at a school event. However, Fives also need their downtime—be sure to check in with the counselor and/or teacher to find brief respite moments of the day to give them space to assess the situation and the opportunity to “recharge” if the task at hand is especially draining.
6. “The Loyalist”
Prepared, dedicated, hard-working, and compliant.
Sixes are security-oriented, responsible, and cautious. At their worst, Sixes can tip towards anxious so it’s extremely important to help Sixes feel secure and comfortable. On campus tours, Sixes will intuitively check out fire exits, the routes to and from class (Can I get to class from the cafeteria in a reasonable amount of time? What if it’s raining? How close is the classroom to the counselor’s office? What are office hours? What are homework expectations?), will be meticulous in strategizing the “ideal” class schedule, and may even inquire about campus security. Engaging and dedicated, Sixes need to build a class schedule that allows their phenomenal work ethic to thrive and not feel anxious or stressed by outside influences outside of their control. Their most fulfilling school experience would be one where they feel secure—both physically and academically by understanding expectations to rely on their own self-control to execute—while still having a good time.
7.“The Enthusiast”
Creative, fun, imaginative, and playful.
In school, find a Seven! They want to do everything, everywhere, all the time. Find a Seven who’s on your locker row, is in your most difficult class, on your sports team, or heading up an extracurricular club. They love to have fun and be on the go, go, go. Sevens thrive in environments that don’t get stale—think large schools with lots of opportunities to form different friend groups and try a variety of classes (opportunities to leave their desks and partake interim “fun” learning activities that are hands-on and minds-on. Sevens are well-liked and have a knack of getting along with all different personalities. On school tours, be sure to ask about extracurricular activities and community events. Relationship-driven Sevens yearn to find their tribe and make memories partaking gin fun and vibrant activities.
8. “The Challenger”
Outspoken, direct, bold, and decisive.
Eights are direct and not afraid of a challenge. Eights are confident and capable in their own abilities and because of this, have difficult relying on someone else to handle or process their own problems or insecurities. In class, Eights will encourage others to think of the content in a new and fresh perspective. They do well studying alone because they feel like they are equipped to be on task and prepared. On school tours, inquire about collaborative environments and leadership opportunities. Healthy Eights can thrive in both.
9. “The Peacemaker”
Quiet, calm, patient, and steady.
The easy-going nature of Nines can make school tours a little tricky—they believe that they’ll be genuinely content in any environment. Encourage Nines to share opinions at the get-go of their school selection journey. In school, Nines, in their reassuring and agreeable way, will have plenty of companions as they’re quite happy to go along with whatever the majority whats to do. They’re not afraid to relax—in fact, they crave it—and will fit right in to the expectations of the environment. Encourage Nines to complete their homework done in a reasonable time limit and within a manageable system as it’s difficult for them to rebound after downtime.
These quick snapshots into the 9 personality types of the Enneagram are designed to simply start the conversation between you and your student. We hope that by more fully understanding how your student sees the world, you’ll feel more equipped to identify the learning and social environment where he or she can thrive.