No doubt that since Howard Gardner first came up with his theory on Multiple Intelligences about two decades ago, much of the education community has eagerly taken it to heart. Teachers have been exploring ways to use this knowledge in the classroom and many schools have even used it to help make decisions about everything from classroom furniture and layout to organizing the daily schedule. For many educators, Multiple Intelligence theory is so well known that it’s easy to forget that most people outside of the education industry have never heard of it.
Parents bring their children to school with certain expectations of the school experience. These expectation are based on our own memories of school and chances are, these memories involve sitting quietly, listening to a teacher, reciting, writing in workbooks, etc. Today’s classrooms can seem much more chaotic, and classroom activities can seem rather frivolous to your average parent.
We’ve come a long way as a profession, but now parents don’t understand where we are. We need them to be our partners in teaching, but that partnership is not going to be successful if we’re not speaking the same language. It’s time to get parents on board the MI bandwagon and bring them up to speed on the wonderful benefits of understanding their child’s intelligences and learning styles. A good article for parents from Scholastic’s Parent & Child Magazine explains that:
“almost anything can be taught in a way that works well for a specific intelligence. When you identify and respond to your child’s intelligence and learning style, you help him approach the world on his own terms. Playing to his strengths can make mastering new skills less frustrating — and can help him develop a lifelong love of learning.”
This article gives a great overview on MI theory and is a great resource for parents. Check it out.
Filed under: Education Industry, Multiple Intelligences | Tagged: Child Care, Education Industry, Multiple Intelligences
