Teaching Style and Goodness of Fit

Teaching Style

Lately there is a lot of “buzz” around various parenting styles like the helicopter or bulldozer parenting methods. These are largely based on social behavior and less on research-based strategies, but they make for interesting, and often polarizing, TikTok videos. What most people don’t realize is that these trending and catchy styles are loosely based on actual parenting styles such as those identified by Diana Baumrind. These styles include authoritative, authoritarian, permissive, and uninvolved. For those in the field of child and adolescent development these terms aren’t new. But did you also know that the way we teach is largely reflective of these styles as well?

Authoritarian

In Authoritarian teaching, much like the parenting style, the environment is teacher directed. Also known as a “dictator” style of teaching the focus is on compliance and control. While students are often productive in classrooms under this style, they are often stifled in creativity and autonomy, and the classroom environment can feel oppressive and discouraging.

Authoritative

Authoritative teaching is also known as the democratic style of teaching. Teachers who employ this strategy use a balance of teacher directed and learner directed activities to keep students engaged and meeting milestones and achievement goals. The teacher allows for student creativity and takes student-led ideas into consideration. This style of teaching often results in classrooms that are positive and productive with high engagement and enjoyment.

Permissive

Permissive teaching, much like the related parenting style, uses a more hands-off approach from authority where the classroom is largely learner directed. While this might seem ideal for kids, it yields an environment that is often chaotic and lacking in direction. Children and adults aren’t sure what’s expected and often do not meet goals and objectives. Children vacillate between engagement and disinterest due to the inconsistency.

Goodness of Fit

Goodness of Fit: The goal is to create an environment that utilizes teacher skill and education while honoring the contributions of the children as well. When the right balance between temperament and environment is achieved, it is referred to as goodness of fit. Children thrive in an environment that balances autonomy and creativity with clear and consistent boundaries. They need adults who are invested in them to guide them through their learning mistakes and achievements. They need adults who act as “coaches” and help them manage the environmental expectations around them as well as their own developing (and often confusing) feelings and emotions. As educators it’s important to identify your main teaching style while recognizing that this often changes and is affected by various factors such as classroom dynamics, age of students, tenure in teaching, and even mood. The more in tune you are with your preferred pedagogy, the easier it will be to make adjustments to best meet the needs of the children in your care.

Links to related articles/research:

https://www.continentalpress.com/blog/classroom-management-styles/

https://onlinedegrees.sandiego.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/USD-Guide-to-Teaching-Styles-eBook-4.pdf

https://www.clrn.org/what-is-your-teaching-style/