MI- Chapter 5

This was all about MI and curriculum development. The suggestion that the MI theory makes the greatest contribution to education made an impact on me. This theory helps by allowing teachers to expand their repertoire of techniques, tools, and strategies beyond the usual classroom. It is important that children in the classroom learn not just through words but through experiences and not “through books but through “the book of life”. Many current educational models are, at heart, multiple intelligence systems that are using different terminology and with varying levels of emphasis. Most teachers need to understand the potential of using MI in the curriculum. It is also important to know that there are many different ways to shift from traditional teaching to the MI direction. There is a theory behind creating MI lesson plans. The MI theory offers a means of building daily lessons plans, weekly units, or long term programs and themes in such a way that all students can have their own strongest intelligence addressed. One way to create a lesson plan using the MI theory is to focus on a specific objective or topic, ask key MI questions, consider the possibilities, brainstorm, select appropriate activities, set up a sequential plan, and implement the plan. The culmination of all these ideas and structured set of plans can help any teacher to create that new MI classroom.

I saw that this chapter enforced the importance, not just for the students but for the teacher, of an MI classroom. Creating a lesson plan that incorporates the opportunity for the student to address his or her individual needs is something every teacher should want in their classroom. The idea that the MI theory can expand many teachers’ already growing skills is attractive. Every teacher should want to learn and grow with their students. If a classroom of growth and productivity is created for the students, why not create a great environment for the teacher as well? I believe that every teacher should be using the MI theory as a way of expanding themselves into a better more diverse and knowledgeable teacher.