Multiple Intelligences

    Multiple Intelligences 🌟

   

   According to Howard Gardner (psychologist and Professor at Harvard University's Graduate School of Education) all human beings have all nine intelligences which are Verbal-linguistic, Mathematical-logical, Musical, Visual-spatial, Bodily-kinesthetic, Interpersonal, Intrapersonal and the two last Naturalistic and Existential added in 1999.We possess them in varying amounts one might be more developed than the other. The question is “Why are they important and why should be valued"? The answer can be found in the definition itself, Intelligence is a set of skills that make it possible for a person to solve problems in life. In our classrooms we are going to have exercises, activities, questions which require putting to use our student’s thinking capacities to find the answer, to solve problems. Our aim as a teacher is to show the student’s full potential and this can be achieved by developing strategies that allow for students to interact, to let them find the answer according to their own unique way. Just like there are different styles of learning there are lots of ways to express oneself. Visual arts, music, dance are just as valuable to students' understanding as traditional academic subjects. Why is a Multiple Intelligences model successful? The reasons for the academic and behavioral success of the program appear to be twofold. First, every student has an opportunity to specialize and excel in at least one area. Secondly, each student learns the subject matter in a variety of different ways, thereby multiplying chances of successfully understanding and retaining that information. The emphasis in such a program is upon learning rather than teaching.Learning activities that connect with Multiple Intelligences:

·         Verbal-Linguistic Intelligence (Word Smart)~ Completing crossword puzzles with vocabulary words; Writing feature articles for the school newspaper; Creating poems for a class poetry book;

·         Logical-Mathematical Intelligence (Math Smart)~ Conducting experiments to demonstrate science concepts; Using math and science software such as Math Blaster, which reinforces math skills, or King's Rule, a logic game

·         Spatial Intelligence (Picture Smart)~ Taking photographs for assignments and classroom newsletters; Taking notes using concept mapping, mind mapping, and clustering; Illustrating poems for the class poetry book by drawing or using computer software

·         Musical Intelligence (Music Smart) ~Putting original poems to music, and then performing them for the class; Using rhythm and clapping to memorize math facts and other content-area information

·         Bodily-Kinesthetic Intelligence (Body Smart)~ Performing skits or acting out scenes from books or key historical events; Building objects using blocks, cubes, or Legos to represent concepts from content-area lessons

·         Interpersonal Intelligence (People Smart)~ Working in cooperative groups to design and complete projects; Working in pairs to learn math facts

 

·         Intrapersonal Intelligence (Self Smart)~ Writing reflective papers on content-area topics; Writing goals for the future and planning ways to achieve them

·         Naturalistic Intelligence (Nature Smart)~ Caring for classroom plants; Caring for classroom pets; Sorting and classifying natural objects, such as leaves and rocks

If we are to achieve a richer culture, rich in contrasting values, we must recognize the whole gamut of human potentialities, and so weave a less arbitrary social fabric, one in which each diverse human gift will find a fitting place.

– Margaret Mead

Don’t put a box around a child; all kids are smart in some way!