Multiple Intelligences in the Classroom

1) After taking the multiple intelligences survey, the results showed me that I have strength in kinesthetic and rhythmic areas. Some of the core characteristics of kinesthetic intelligence that best describe me are that I am a tactile learner in the fact that I demonstrate well-developed gross and/or fine motor skills. Another characteristic that describes me is that I am task oriented and I strive to learn by doing the task. Some of the core characteristics of rhythmic intelligence that best describe me are patterning, which means that I seek all kinds of patterns not just in sounds.

2) Students with kinesthetic intelligence enjoy hands on activities and can concentrate on these activities for long periods of time. They also enjoy group games and active learning tasks. It is important to note that students who have kinesthetic intelligence are different from hyperactive kids. Students with rhythmic intelligence are especially drawn to sound and like to move to rhythm. They also pick up on terms and phrases in foreign language easily. 

3) In order to support students with kinesthetic intelligence in my classroom I would need to keep kids physically moving throughout the school day as well as including interactive games when reviewing content. It would also benefit students with kinesthetic intelligence to be engaged in hands-on science projects. In order to support students with rhythmic intelligence in my classroom I would need to allow time for working with pattern blocks, moving to rhythm and teaching foreign languages. It would also help students with rhythmic intelligence to learn to read music and listen to symphony music. 

4) Kinesthetic intelligence is supported by having the opportunity to work with physical education equipment, pulleys, construction tools, a mouse, a joystick, and other types of technologies that require students to manipulate objects with their hands. Rhythmic intelligence is supported by being allowed to do puzzles, work with pattern blocks, play musical instruments, work with tape players, and record and listen to digital sounds. 

5) By being aware that there are multiple intelligences that students have that will affect their learning, teachers are able to adjust their lesson plans and activities to benefit a larger population of their students. Although it would be hard to have an activity that would benefit all areas of the intelligences, different stations can be set up to stimulate different students abilities and still reach the desired learning goals. Another important thing for educators to keep in mind is that although students may have a dominant intelligence area, they are not just one intelligence or another. There is a lot of overlap between the intelligences and this can work to an educators advantage due to the fact that lesson plans don't have to adhere to all intelligences in order to keep every student engaged and interested. By acknowledging the fact that students learn in all different ways and have different strengths, I will be able to try to appeal to many different types of intelligences and consciously try to hit a characteristic of each intelligence every day in order to keep students engaged and learning at their best.