Right brain, left brain

I taught grades 3 through 8 before retiring, but I taught third grade for twelve years ~ the longest time spent at the same grade level. When I decided to teach middle school math and  algebra, a friend (a high school math teacher) told me I wouldn't be able to do it. She told me I was too literal or something. For some reason, that comment stuck with me. Well, it was also something my family said often as my role has always been the speller/grammarian/voracious reader.

Anyway, I took the necessary classes to qualify to teach middle school math and algebra - earning A's or B's in them, I might add - and became a successful middle school math teacher for ten years. I say "successful" because my students passed the state test, and isn't that how good teachers are judged? (That is a totally sarcastic remark, by the way.)

During that time, I had colleagues tell me I had an elementary mind because of my creative approach to teaching math. (When I taught third grade, no one thought I was overly creative.) At the same time, I had people tell me I understood things differently because I was a math teacher and so logical. Now which person was I?

Then, while visiting Chatty Crone's blog,
http://chattycrone.blogspot.com/2012/01/fun-friday-with-little-help-from-my_27.html
I saw this dancing girl "test". (Scroll down to find it.) I couldn't believe that anyone could see the girl dancing in any direction but to the right.

I decided to google the characteristics of right brain/left brain people. There were two other tests I found.
Now I see why I am the way I am.

In the first test, I scored 53% left brain and 47% right brain. In my mind - or brain - that's pretty even. This is how it was explained.

You are more left-brained than right-brained. Your left brain controls the right side of your body. In addition to being known as left-brained, you are also known as a critical thinker who uses logic and sense to collect information. You are able to retain this information through the use of numbers, words, and symbols. You usually only see parts of the "whole" picture, but this is what guides you step-by-step in a logical manner to your conclusion. Concise words, numerical and written formulas and technological systems are often forms of expression for you. Some occupations usually held by a left-brained person include a lab scientist, banker, judge, lawyer, mathematician, librarian, and skating judge.

I've just confessed to teaching middle school math, but I also have a masters degree in library science. Isn't that interesting?
And I really do have trouble seeing the big picture.

http://www.wherecreativitygoestoschool.com/vancouver/left_right/rb_test.htm

Then I took another test. This time my results were 45% left brain and 55% right brain.

http://www.blogthings.com/areyourightorleftbrainedquiz/

To me, those results are still pretty close, even if my brain scores switched sides.

What do the test scores say to me?
I think I might be one of those "jack of all trades ~ master of none".


If you want to waste spend a few minutes, take one (or both) of these tests and let me know if the results match how you see yourself. Thanks.