A few weeks back, I talked about True Colors® in relation to homeschool families. You might want to review that article before proceeding. Note too that it may be worthwhile for you to pursue a formal assessment by a True Colors® consultant. Visit www.True-Colors.com for details.*
The most common conflict that I see in homeschool families involve clashes around curriculum or home education philosophy between bright Green kids and bright Gold parents—and vice versa. Oranges and Golds as well as Oranges and Greens can have difficulties, too, but in my experience not to the extent of Golds and Green. (Visual learners: For a wonderful breakdown of teaching and learning styles that you can "see," refer to the chart on this page. You'll need to scroll down.)
There are ways to work with the strengths of both colors in a Green-Gold clash, but to do so requires extra work on behalf of the parent, especially when it comes to selecting curriculum. Traditional workbooks and modes of learning may feel familiar and comfortable to a Gold parent or child. Conversely, hands-on child-led learning activities (including project-based homeschooling and unschooling) may work better for Greens, especially if Orange is their secondary color. Parents in a Green-Gold dynamic may want to “split the difference” and find ways of performing and documenting work that makes both student and home educator content. Doing so will increase the odds of a successful experience for everyone.
After reviewing the True Colors® types described here previously, dedicate some time to considering the following questions:
• Which colors are expressed in your family? Are there any natural alliances or clashes that may be a result of personality similarities or differences between siblings? How might understanding these differences help minimize misunderstandings, especially in a homeschool setting?
• Look at each child and their teachers, educators, your spouse or co-parent, and your own personality. Are there natural conflicts that may result from personality or temperament differences? How might you work to minimize those conflicts?
• What sorts of challenges and opportunities does your family’s unique color palette present to your plans to homeschool?
• Reflect upon your own school experience. Try to guess the True Colors® for your favorite and least favorite teachers. Do the same for employers and supervisors. What might this mean about your own learning style? How might that impact your teaching style?
• What does an awareness of your own True Colors® hue tell you about your lifestyle and work choices? In other words, what can you build upon?
*Remember: While I am not certified True Colors® consultant, I do offer individual consultations and workshops to help you puzzle through the realities of homeschooling.
• Have a question about working and homeschooling?
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I'm curious why there's no discussion of Blue parents with other colors. I could see big conflicts between Blues and Golds, particularly.
ReplyDeleteAlso, just FYI, the link for the chart you pointed out isn't working. I'd love to see the chart if you have a moment to fix that link!
Thanks for some interesting posts on these dynamics!
Thanks for the note and the great question.
DeleteBear in mind that this is a discussion of "most common conflict" rather than a complete rundown. I think the fixed link will help with the other potential clashes.
In my experience, the Blue-Gold relationship only presents trouble in a homeschool setting if the secondary color of the blue is one that clashes with Gold naturally. So a strong Blue-Green might have trouble but a Blue with a distant Green or Orange is largely okay with a Gold. (This was actually me as a child, although I've flipped in recent years to being Green-Blue.)
Somewhere I saw a statistic that showed the majority of public school teachers are Gold or Blue. I see that as a testament to the collaborative nature of Blues with Golds, honestly.
If I can find that link again, I'll share it.