Chapter 4: Teaching Students about Multiple Intelligence Theory

Chapter four “Teaching Students about Multiple Intelligence Theory” explains in detail how to introduce the topic of Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences to children of all ages. This chapter explains how both the teacher and students would benefit from knowing about the multiple intelligences and knowing their strong and weak points. This chapter helped to explain why teachers would want students to understand the MI theory and ways in which it can improve learning. This chapter provided insight on activities which could be used to promote the MI theory which included career day, board games, songs, plays, lesson plans, biographies, and finally field trips. These activities all promote learning about the eight different intelligences and also allow the students to enjoy the activity while thinking about how they learn best. Knowing about ones multiple intelligences gives the students a more active role in their learning process and increases their awareness on weaker intelligences. These are a few reasons why informing students about multiple intelligences can help to increase the productivity in the classroom.

Some of our peers felt that this chapter aimed more towards the elementary school level or younger age group. They felt that they would introduce the idea, however probably wouldn’t spend an entire class on the topic of multiple intelligences. Some of the ideas such as career day or going on field trips really incorporated that these intelligences apply outside of school also. When teachers teach eight different ways the teachers can be sure that they have reached and given each and every student a fair chance to understand the material in a way which is best for them. Even through this chapter was directed more towards younger children it is generally important to make sure students are aware of the eight different intelligences and are able to identify some of their stronger areas.