Teach English in TiAnmu Zhen - Tianjin

Multiple IntelligencesStudents learn something new almost every day in the classroom. Depending on the teacher, teaching style, and learning style of the student, many students have different ways of learning and retaining needed information. Since all students are quite different and unique in their own way, a very specific individual named Howard Gardner came up with his own theory on the way that students learn. His theory was coined ?Multiple Intelligences.? In this, he challenged many assumptions about the way students learn. His idea was that students have different intelligences. Dr. Howard first identified seven different intelligences in his book titled, Frames of Mind. Gardner?s theory of multiple intelligences was not only for students, but for teachers also. It was designed to help the student be better understood, and also to give the teacher a better understanding of how to teach and evaluate the students in various new ways. In this new beginning to understanding students, his focus for teachers was to look at what students could do well, instead of what they could not do well. This theory was designed to change the way teachers teach. The seven intelligences include: linguistic, logical mathematical, musical, spatial, bodily-kinesthetic, interpersonal, and intrapersonal. The linguistic intelligence learner has sensitivity to the meaning of other words. This student will love to write and grasp the meaning and understanding of vocabulary and new words. The logical mathematical intelligence has very strong mathematical skills and is good at solving complex problems. The musical intelligence involves the ability to create and understand music. Rhythms, patterns, and sounds are important to this type of learner. Spatial intelligence involves a person who thinks visually in pictures, in the mind, on paper, etc. They have the ability to design and sculpt. Bodily-kinesthetic is the intelligence that involves a learner using his hands or body to achieve a result or to learn something. Bodily motions help this learner get a clear sense of understanding. Interpersonal intelligence is the understanding of one?s feelings and emotions. It is sensitive to other people?s moods and has no interaction with others. Lastly, intrapersonal intelligence involves the understanding of one?s own emotions. This would be more of the introvert type who is into his or her own emotions and motivations. According to Gardner, all of the intelligences characterize the way different students learn best. Howard?s intelligences are widely accepted by many teachers and non-teachers. He came out with his theory in 1983, and then he later went on bring forth an eighth intelligence. In addition to his previous seven, he named it the natural intelligence. It refers to the ability to the ability to nurture and be in tune with one?s natural surroundings. Its ability can recognize and classify plants, minerals, animals, rocks, grass, etc. He first discussed in detail, this ability in an interview with Kathy Checkley titled ?The First Seven?and the Eighth.? Howard brought forth the idea of his intelligences primarily to help teachers in the classroom. He wanted every teacher around the world to take the individual differences among students very seriously and realize that their minds are different from one another. The theory is to help and influence teachers lesson designs, interdisciplinary units, student projects, assessments, etc. The learning process is complex, but Gardner came up with a way to make its understanding easier. He felt that by learning his theories students could safely explore and learn in many ways, and also help them to appreciate their strengths for a better way of learning. Gardner?s theory has changed teaching around the world.