Understanding your Understanding your Child’s Multiple Child’s Multiple

IntelligencesIntelligences

Annette NelwanAnnette NelwanLearning Support UnitLearning Support Unit

Session ObjectivesSession Objectives

1.1. To introduce the principles of multiple To introduce the principles of multiple intelligence theory.intelligence theory.

2.2. To understand the different types of To understand the different types of intelligences.intelligences.

3.3. To look at useful strategies to tap into your To look at useful strategies to tap into your child’s strengths. child’s strengths.

(No need to take notes!)(No need to take notes!)

The Theory of Multiple The Theory of Multiple IntelligenceIntelligence

See clipSee clip

The 8 IntelligencesThe 8 Intelligences

What are your What are your intelligences?intelligences?

How is this relevant for How is this relevant for your child?your child?

‘‘It’s the process of learning that gets stored, It’s the process of learning that gets stored, not only the content’ Gardener (2009). not only the content’ Gardener (2009).

As teachers and parents we need to As teachers and parents we need to understand how children learn best to understand how children learn best to overcome learning obstacles and make overcome learning obstacles and make learning more accessible, enjoyable and learning more accessible, enjoyable and meaningful.meaningful.

Research shows if children enjoy what they Research shows if children enjoy what they are learning, and can relate to it in a are learning, and can relate to it in a personal way, they are more likely to retain personal way, they are more likely to retain it. it.

The intelligences The intelligences and their related and their related

learning strategieslearning strategies

A Kinesthetic LearnerA Kinesthetic Learner

This area has to do with bodily movement and physiology. This area has to do with bodily movement and physiology.

These children enjoy getting up and moving around into the These children enjoy getting up and moving around into the learning experience, and are generally good at physical learning experience, and are generally good at physical activities such as sports or dance.activities such as sports or dance.

They enjoy acting or performing, and in general they are They enjoy acting or performing, and in general they are good at building and making things. good at building and making things.

They often learn best by doing something physically, rather They often learn best by doing something physically, rather than reading or hearing about it and have what might be than reading or hearing about it and have what might be termed muscle memory - they remember things through their termed muscle memory - they remember things through their body such as verbal memory or images.body such as verbal memory or images.

Kinesthetic StrategiesKinesthetic Strategies Virtual reality softwareVirtual reality software

Competitive and cooperative gamesCompetitive and cooperative games

Tactile materials & experiencesTactile materials & experiences

Manipulative activities, ‘hands-on-thinking’ and craftsManipulative activities, ‘hands-on-thinking’ and crafts

Physical awareness exercises, activities, mime and creative Physical awareness exercises, activities, mime and creative movementmovement

Cooking, gardening, and other “messy” activitiesCooking, gardening, and other “messy” activities

E.g. A child who struggles with spelling but has kinesthetic E.g. A child who struggles with spelling but has kinesthetic intelligence could write their spellings in shaving foam or intelligence could write their spellings in shaving foam or make word out of homemade clay, bake it and paint it! make word out of homemade clay, bake it and paint it!

An Interpersonal LearnerAn Interpersonal Learner

This area has to do with interaction with others. This area has to do with interaction with others.

These children often tend to be extrovert.These children often tend to be extrovert.

They are sensitive to others' moods, feelings, They are sensitive to others' moods, feelings, temperaments and motivations.temperaments and motivations.

Often show good cooperation skills, can communicate Often show good cooperation skills, can communicate effectively and empathize easily with others.effectively and empathize easily with others.

They typically learn best by working with others and often They typically learn best by working with others and often enjoy discussion and debate.enjoy discussion and debate.

Interpersonal StrategiesInterpersonal Strategies Interpersonal interaction & group workInterpersonal interaction & group work

Board gamesBoard games

SimulationsSimulations

Interactive softwareInteractive software

Community involvementCommunity involvement

Cross-age & peer teaching and sharing.Cross-age & peer teaching and sharing.

E.g. A child who struggles with spelling but has interpersonal E.g. A child who struggles with spelling but has interpersonal intelligence could brainstorm with mum or dad words that are in intelligence could brainstorm with mum or dad words that are in the same family, play a spelling board game or try and teach a the same family, play a spelling board game or try and teach a younger brother or sister how to write these words.younger brother or sister how to write these words.

A Verbal-Linguistic LearnerA Verbal-Linguistic Learner

This area has to do with words, spoken or written. This area has to do with words, spoken or written.

These children often display an ability with words and languages, These children often display an ability with words and languages, reading, writing, telling stories and memorizing words along with reading, writing, telling stories and memorizing words along with dates. dates.

They often learn best through reading, taking notes, listening, They often learn best through reading, taking notes, listening, discussing and debating. discussing and debating.

Also frequently skilled at explaining, teaching and persuasive Also frequently skilled at explaining, teaching and persuasive speaking.speaking.

Often learn foreign languages very easily as they have high Often learn foreign languages very easily as they have high verbal memory and recall, and an ability to understand and verbal memory and recall, and an ability to understand and manipulate syntax and structure.manipulate syntax and structure.

Verbal-Linguistic StrategiesVerbal-Linguistic Strategies Storytelling, show and tell & word games.Storytelling, show and tell & word games.

Talking books, software & word processing and publishing Talking books, software & word processing and publishing (creating newspapers)(creating newspapers)

Debating, brainstorming, speeches & discussingDebating, brainstorming, speeches & discussing

E.g. A child who struggles with science concepts, but has E.g. A child who struggles with science concepts, but has verbal-linguistic intelligence could write a story, verbal-linguistic intelligence could write a story, personifying the objects. personifying the objects.

For example: The little seed. (Lifecycles)For example: The little seed. (Lifecycles)

One day there was a baby seed called Cedrick. He felt very cold so the gardener buried him in the soil.

Now he was nice and warm, he had lots of water, the sun shone all day and he grew a root.

After a few more days, Cedrick grew a shoot etc…

A Naturalistic LearnerA Naturalistic Learner

This area has to do with nature, nurturing and relating This area has to do with nature, nurturing and relating information to one's natural surroundings. information to one's natural surroundings.

These children often have a greater sensitivity to nature and These children often have a greater sensitivity to nature and their place within it, the ability to nurture and grow things, and their place within it, the ability to nurture and grow things, and greater ease in caring for, taming and interacting with animals.greater ease in caring for, taming and interacting with animals.

They may also be able to perceive changes in the weather or They may also be able to perceive changes in the weather or similar fluctuations in their natural surroundings. similar fluctuations in their natural surroundings.

They are also good at recognizing and classifying different They are also good at recognizing and classifying different species. species.

They often need to connect a new experience with prior They often need to connect a new experience with prior knowledge to truly learn something new.knowledge to truly learn something new.

Naturalistic StrategiesNaturalistic Strategies

Use the garden as a stimulusUse the garden as a stimulus

Nature study tools (binoculars, telescope etc..) Nature study tools (binoculars, telescope etc..)

Aquariums, terrariums, and other portable ecosystemsAquariums, terrariums, and other portable ecosystems

E.g. A child who struggles with number bonds could E.g. A child who struggles with number bonds could plant some seeds and add the little shoots together, plant some seeds and add the little shoots together, example 3 + 3 = 6example 3 + 3 = 6

An Intrapersonal Learner:An Intrapersonal Learner:

This area has to do with introspective and self-reflective capacities. This area has to do with introspective and self-reflective capacities.

Children who are strongest in this intelligence are typically introverts and Children who are strongest in this intelligence are typically introverts and prefer to work alone. prefer to work alone.

They are usually highly self-aware and capable of understanding their own They are usually highly self-aware and capable of understanding their own emotions, goals and motivations. emotions, goals and motivations.

They learn best when allowed to concentrate on the subject by themselves. They learn best when allowed to concentrate on the subject by themselves.

There is often a high level of perfectionism associated with this intelligence.There is often a high level of perfectionism associated with this intelligence.

Intrapersonal Strategies:Intrapersonal Strategies: Independent study, individualized projects and games Independent study, individualized projects and games

Journal keepingJournal keeping

Self-esteem activitiesSelf-esteem activities

Goal-setting sessionsGoal-setting sessions

Interest centres or cornersInterest centres or corners

Self-teaching programmed instructionSelf-teaching programmed instruction

E.g. a child who struggles with interpersonal intelligence, E.g. a child who struggles with interpersonal intelligence, but has intrapersonal intelligence could play self-esteem but has intrapersonal intelligence could play self-esteem activities at home or keep a journal of their feelings.activities at home or keep a journal of their feelings.

A Musical LearnerA Musical Learner

This area has to do with rhythm, music, and hearing.This area has to do with rhythm, music, and hearing.

Children who have a high level of musical-rhythmic Children who have a high level of musical-rhythmic intelligence display greater sensitivity to sounds, rhythms, intelligence display greater sensitivity to sounds, rhythms, tones and music. tones and music.

They normally have good pitch and may even have absolute They normally have good pitch and may even have absolute pitch, and are able to sing, play musical instruments, and pitch, and are able to sing, play musical instruments, and compose music. compose music.

Since there is a strong auditory component to this intelligence, Since there is a strong auditory component to this intelligence, those who are strongest in it may learn best via listening. those who are strongest in it may learn best via listening.

In addition, these children will often use songs or rhythms to In addition, these children will often use songs or rhythms to learn and memorise information, and may work best with learn and memorise information, and may work best with music playing in the background.music playing in the background.

Musical StrategiesMusical Strategies

Use rhythms, songs, raps, and chants to aid Use rhythms, songs, raps, and chants to aid memorymemory

Use background music or mood music to Use background music or mood music to concentrateconcentrate

Link tunes or instruments with conceptsLink tunes or instruments with concepts

Music softwareMusic software

E.g. a child who struggles with times tables but E.g. a child who struggles with times tables but has musical intelligence could sing a table to the has musical intelligence could sing a table to the tune of their favourite pop song.tune of their favourite pop song.

A Visual-Spatial LearnerA Visual-Spatial Learner

This area has to do with vision and spatial judgment. This area has to do with vision and spatial judgment.

Children with strong visual-spatial intelligence are typically very Children with strong visual-spatial intelligence are typically very good at visualizing and mentally manipulating objects, and good at visualizing and mentally manipulating objects, and proficient at solving puzzles. proficient at solving puzzles.

They have a strong visual memory and are often artistically They have a strong visual memory and are often artistically inclined. inclined.

Those with visual-spatial intelligence also generally have a very Those with visual-spatial intelligence also generally have a very good sense of direction and may also have very good hand-eye good sense of direction and may also have very good hand-eye coordination.coordination.

There appears to be a high correlation between spatial and There appears to be a high correlation between spatial and mathematical abilities. mathematical abilities.

Visual-Spatial StrategiesVisual-Spatial Strategies Charts, graphs, diagrams, maps and mind mapsCharts, graphs, diagrams, maps and mind maps

Photography, videos, slides, and moviesPhotography, videos, slides, and movies

Picture metaphors, idea sketching and colour cuesPicture metaphors, idea sketching and colour cues

Painting, collage, and other visual artsPainting, collage, and other visual arts

Computer assisted graphics and design software (E.g.. Tiny Art)Computer assisted graphics and design software (E.g.. Tiny Art)

Visual puzzles, mazes and thinking exercisesVisual puzzles, mazes and thinking exercises

Imaginative storytelling and picture literacy experiencesImaginative storytelling and picture literacy experiences

E.g. A child who struggles with science concepts but has special E.g. A child who struggles with science concepts but has special intelligence could use a mind map to clarify ideas.intelligence could use a mind map to clarify ideas.

A Logical-Mathematical A Logical-Mathematical LearnerLearner

This area has to do with logic, abstractions, reasoning, and numbers. This area has to do with logic, abstractions, reasoning, and numbers.

It correlates strongly with traditional concepts of "intelligence" or It correlates strongly with traditional concepts of "intelligence" or IQ, IQ,

These children often have an ability to use numbers effectively, as These children often have an ability to use numbers effectively, as well as being apt at reasoning.well as being apt at reasoning.

Logical-Mathematical Logical-Mathematical Strategies:Strategies:

Creating codesCreating codes

Practical demonstrationsPractical demonstrations

Socratic questioningSocratic questioning

Logical problem-solving exercisesLogical problem-solving exercises

Classifications and categorizationsClassifications and categorizations

Logic puzzles and gamesLogic puzzles and games

Quantifications and calculationsQuantifications and calculations

Logical-sequential presentation of subject matter Logical-sequential presentation of subject matter

E.g. A child who struggles with linguistic intelligence, but has E.g. A child who struggles with linguistic intelligence, but has logical intelligence could learn new vocabulary or spellings logical intelligence could learn new vocabulary or spellings through making crossword puzzles.through making crossword puzzles.

Let’s play a Let’s play a game!game!

Thank YouThank You

The take-away questionnaire will help you The take-away questionnaire will help you determine the intelligence strengths and determine the intelligence strengths and

weaknesses of your child and what kind of weaknesses of your child and what kind of learner they are.learner they are.