MI- Chapter 3

This chapter focused on how to describe intelligence in students. It described that all children can show what Gardner called “proclivities or inclinations in certain intelligences” from a very early age. The best way to assess the students’ multiple intelligences is to simply observe them. One way to do this is to focus on observing how they misbehave in class. There are also several other ways to get an assessment information about students’ multiple intelligences such as collecting documents, reviewing school records such as their grades over the years or test scores. Often the best classroom to find all eight intelligences at work is within the kindergarten classroom. More strategies to get an assessment of information about students is to talk with other teachers, to talk with parents, to ask the students themselves, and to set up special activities which enhance their intelligences. Talking with parents is beneficial because they can then come to future parent-teacher meetings with a better understanding and additional information about that student that can be useful for the teacher.
Asking the students themselves is the best way to understand them because no one will know them better than themselves. Also, setting up activities within the classroom can create a better learning environment. Putting up reinforcements around the room which students can use to enhance their multiple intelligences can facilitate the development of their inclination towards certain intelligences. Every student is going to learn and understand different therefore trying new and unique ways to appeal to a diverse selection of multiple intelligences.

This chapter allowed me to understand how describing multiple intelligences within students can be extremely beneficial. Using different techniques to assess the students’ intelligences helps to understand them better and to be able to find new ways of teaching. This can help motivate the students and ultimately help them to become better learners. I really like the idea of students being able to work and enhance their own multiple intelligences. When students can take their education into their own hands it creates the best possible situation in a classroom, a positive learning environment.