Temperament theory emerged more than 2,000 years ago with the ancient Greeks.  It was an attempt to understand common observable patterns in personal traits, disposition, and behavior.  This resulted in the four classical temperaments:  Choleric, Melancholic, Phlegmatic, and Sanguine. Over the centuries, many psychologists, scientists, and educators have refined and expanded upon the classical temperament theory, spawning numerous related theories of human personality and behavior.  Some of the leaders in the field have been:  Carl Jung, William Moulton Marston, and David Keirsey, leading respectively to the development of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, DISC Behavioral Profile, and the Keirsey Temperament Sorter.

Ed Keegan of Rhythm Connect developed the TEAM^TM Styles model to create a more kid-friendly version of the temperament, personality, and behavioral models.  It is meant to be a tool for parents and educators to help children better understand themselves, and to appreciate and value not only what makes them unique, but others as well.  Here is how the TEAM Styles corresponds with the classical temperaments:

Melancholic = Thinker (snake), Sanguine = Entertainer (monkey), Choleric = Achiever (lion), Phlegmatic = Mediator (elephant). 

In the Drumming Through the Jungle story, the snake, monkey, lion, and elephant each reflect the characteristics of one of these four primary TEAM Styles.  Dexter the rabbit reflects a composite or blend of all four of the styles. 

It is permissible to print off multiple copies of the chart (one per child) to check off the characteristics that you observe most often with each child (use print version).  Parents and teachers are encouraged to first use the chart as a tool for better understanding themselves, and then apply it to children.  The TEAM Style (column) that has the most check marks in it  represents the primary style for that individual.  It is important to understand that, like Dexter, each one of us is a composite of all four TEAM Styles.  We will, however, often have one or two styles that are more dominant than the others.

Interactive learning suggestion:  After reading Drumming Through the Jungle with your child/children, go back through the story and focus, one at a time, on each jungle friend that Dexter meets.  Ask your child/children to help you identify/list the different characteristics and behaviors of each of the animals.  After you have worked through each one, ask your child/children to think about those different characteristics and behaviors of Dexter's friends. Have them choose which of the animals they think is most like them and how they most often tend to act. 

Emphasize to your child/children that not any one of the animals is any better than any of the others, each one is very important and special, and was needed in the story to create the wonderful group rhythm. Remind them that is was not until the animals learned to be themselves and work as a team, that they were able to get in rhythm.  You can then have your child/children draw and color a picture of them and "their" animal.  They could then share with you or the class about their picture and why they chose the animal they did.  Your child/children could then draw pictures of the other animals and something special about each one that they remember from the story.  Finally, encourage them to think about other family members, friends, or classmates and what makes them special.