After taking the multiple intelligences quiz on surfaquarium.com, I found that I am the strongest in the kinesthetic and rhythmic domains. A kinesthetic person is someone who learns information the best through physical movement and sensory information. They are coordinated and seek to learn through action. Kinesthetic students enjoy hands on activities and group games. It is important to note that these children are not the same as hyperactive children. I will support this type of intelligence within my classroom by providing learning centers, providing many opportunities for physical movement, and doing more hands on activities and projects. Some technologies that support the kinesthetic intelligence are levers and pulleys, PE equipment, and manipulative materials.
While I was strong in the kinesthetic domain, I was also very strong in the rhythmic domain. A person with strong rhythmic intelligence, has an increased listening ability, they think musically, and they are able to distinguish many different patterns. Students that are rhythmically inclined, search for patterns in new material, they are drawn to music and sound, and they enjoy moving to music. In order to support the rhythmic intelligence in the classroom, I will provide students with activities that involve listening to and moving to different types of music, learning new languages, and creating visual patterns. Puzzles, instruments and multimedia presentations help support the rhythmic intelligence.
Attention to multiple intelligence is paramount within the classroom setting. Not recognizing a student's specific intelligence could be detrimental to their self esteem. They may come to feel that their intelligence is not as important or valuable as other intelligences. Likewise if you as a teacher are always recognizing one specific intelligence that maybe you yourself share, students may misinterpret that and strive to only succeed in that one specific area. It is important to recognize and address all intelligences withing the classroom so that students will continue to value their strengths and improve their weaknesses.
