When I was in school, I was led to believe you were either a “good student” or, well, you weren’t. For the longest time I figured that’s the way school worked. Looking back, I wish we knew more about enneagram types.
In college, I took an Educational Psychology course, and my world opened up. I learned that there is no such thing as a “good” or “bad” student, and I’m a better teacher for it. Here is where the foundation was laid to understanding enneagram types and how they can benefit the students in my classroom.
What Are Enneagram Types?
There are nine enneagram types that help shape who each of us is. Relying on the Greek word for “nine,” enneagram types include distinct personalities that make you you: the reformer; the helper; the achiever; the individualist; the investigator; the loyalty; the enthusiast; the challenger; and the peacemaker.
Fascinatingly, your enneagram type can make you more or less compatible with other enneagram types; it could also help inform you about success or failure with life’s ventures. As a teacher, if you familiarize yourself with the concept of enneagram types, you can use this information in a variety of ways that will benefit your students and your classroom ecosystem. The key is to help students understand the concept, connect it to their current lives, and buy in to how it can benefit them in the long run.
How Do I Know My Enneagram Type?
In my classroom, understanding your enneagram type begins with a survey. I rely on this survey from Truity; it’s quick and easy to follow thanks to straightforward language and relatable statements.
The test leads you through seven steps, the first six of which present you with a range of statements. Your job is to evaluate how accurately or inaccurately each statement applies to you. For example, it will posit: “I feel my emotions very deeply” and “I am a natural caretaker.” At the end of these statements, you can offer (or decline) to enter your email address.
Another screen prompts you for information like your birthday and age; again, you have the option not to offer details.
Then you can “See My Results”! For a fee, you can “unlock” the full report, but I don’t really think that’s necessary to help your students learn and make this activity impactful.
As you can see from my results, Truity gives you a helpful graphic that highlights your strongest enneagram types; yes, you have more than one! I find this to be much like Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences Theory, and I love to use this information in my classroom. Sometimes our students feel like they’ve been put into a category (again, “bad student”/”good student”), which is devastatingly dangerous for our learners. I love to point out to my kids that “It’s not about whether or not you are smart but all the different ways you are smart.” That you are smart is a given and not up for debate. Enneagram types, to me, are very similar in this regard.
So I’m sure if I “unlocked my full report,” I could get more information about exactly what enneagram type number three looks like. But why not just use good old Google for free?
Enneagram Types Explained
The Enneagram Institute cohesively outlines the nine different enneagram types.
1: The Reformer
The reformer is rational and idealistic; they are purposeful and in control of self. They also have perfectionist tendencies.
2: The Helper
The helper, not surprisingly, is caring and nurturing. They have interpersonal strengths and are demonstrative and giving. They seek to please people but can also be possessive.
3: The Achiever
This is my most prominent enneagram type. Achievers like myself are success-oriented as they seek to excel. They are hyper-aware of what others think of them and adapt to a range of situations. They’re pragmatic and driven.
4: The Individualist
If you’re a number four, you’re most likely more sensitive than others, maybe even withdrawn. You are expressive and maybe a tad dramatic, self-absorbed and temperamental.
5: The Investigator
Investigator enneagram types are intense and cerebral, often isolating themselves and holding secrets. But they’re also very perceptive and innovative. (These are the people you’d probably trust to dig up a ton of dirt on someone with just their Instagram handle and the name of their elementary school.)
6: The Loyalist
Loyalists are committed and focused on security. On the positive side of things, they are engaging and responsible but they can also be very anxious and suspicious, too.
7: The Enthusiast
Enthusiasts are busy and fun-loving; they’re spontaneous and versatile. Careful, though, because they can be scattered and distractible.
8: The Challenger
This enneagram type also stands out from my results. If you, like me, have challenger tendencies, you are powerful and dominating. Though you can be confrontational, you are self-confident, decisive, and strong-willed.
9: The Peacemaker
Peacemakers are easygoing and likable; they’re receptive and reassuring, often going with the flow.
How Can I Use Enneagram Types with my Students?
When I teach enneagram types in my classroom, I like to do three things: introduce the concept; offer a chance for students to take the survey; and help students see the real-world applications.
Introducing the Concept
To gain students’ attention and help them find meaning in what we’re about to do, I often present students with some background information on enneagram types (like what I just shared about enneagram types). I like to start with a quick, informal poll of different personality types or tendencies (“Who here has a beige flag?” for instance). Then we’ll get into the more nitty-gritty details of the activity.
You could present the information on your screen and students could follow along. Or you could have students go on a webquest to find out about enneagram types.
Putting Students in the Driver’s Seat
After students have an idea of what we’re working towards, I like to give them a good chunk of time to take the survey I mentioned earlier. I teach high school, so most of my students are pretty technology-savvy and decent readers. Even if I account for some hiccups along the way, it’s hard to imagine the survey portion of the lesson would take more than ten minutes.
I instruct students to screenshot their results. Depending on technology available to you, students could complete a digital workbook for the lesson or record their scores on a piece of paper. The goal is for them to have a clear idea of their top two or three enneagram types before you move onto the next part of the lesson. This is key in making it really count for students.
Making It Count
If all we did was find out our enneagram types, the lesson wouldn’t be much more valuable than, “Oh, cool. Now what?” before students forget about the activity for good. So how can we make enneagram types impactful and long-lasting?
Give students a reason to buy into your lesson. Show them how it applies to them today and in the future. I like to do that in a few ways.
Note: I have students complete a worksheet throughout the lesson for two main reasons. One: by collecting their work, I can learn more about each person. And two: when I return their worksheets, students can refer back to different details from the day.
To make this count, I first have students envision how their enneagram type can help them in moments of weakness. Something that’s really hard for a lot of students (or adults) to do is ask for help. So I found this informative graphic that breaks it down by enneagram type. As a type three, remember, I’m a go-getter, someone who wants to succeed and please others above almost anything else. The help I need is to remember that I don’t have to say “yes” to everything and that I can prioritize my needs every now and then.
It’s okay for students to see that they’re vulnerable. If they can recognize it, that’s the first step they need to take to move forward. Again for those in the back: make it meaningful and applicable.
Then, I have students spend some time thinking about how they present themselves to others. Group work and peer interactions are unavoidable in school and for many, beyond that. I like to have students think a little bit about how they interact with others. Now that they know their enneagram type and some of their strengths and weaknesses, they can be more informed about their interactions with others.
Again, to use myself as an example, enneagram type number one also stood out. One of those traits, if you recall, includes perfectionist tendencies. One “don’t” for me would be not to let me do all the work. Now if that isn’t relevant for a secondary student, I don’t know what is. How many memes exist about group work? The key is to help students see the relevancy in this activity.
But it’s equally as important for students to invest in the future with their enneagram type, too. The next part of the activity, featuring another awesome graphic, pairs enneagram types up with potential careers. Interestingly, as an undergraduate I did consider a career in marketing, which caters nicely to enneagram type number three. But number two wasn’t really on my radar, yet here I am as a veteran teacher.
So this particular component, or any part of the activity, can also serve as a nice conversation starter. It’s okay if students disagree with some of the information presented.
Lastly, I want students to have a little bit of fun with their enneagram type. I find it so fascinating that different enneagram types are more or less compatible with others. The final piece of the activity invites students to explore those compatibilities and consider their own friendship (and love interests even!): are they compatible?
Final Thoughts
All in all, there is so much you can do with enneagram types. I hope this post was a nice starting point for you if this is your first time with the concept. Even if it isn’t, I hope the ideas I shared inspire you to incorporate or adapt some in your classroom.
