Chapter 7

Abstract

Chapter 7 provided us with a list of questions teachers can ask themselves to help determine if they are effectively incorporating all eight intelligences into the classroom or if they are neglecting certain learning styles. This chapter then proceeds to give four examples of multiple intelligence centers that can be set up in a classroom to assure that all intelligences are provided for. These four activity centers were called: temporary topic specific, temporary open ended, permanent open ended, and permanent topic specific. Like many other chapters in this book, chapter 7 emphasizes the point that every child is different and learns in different ways. As a teacher it is very important to create a learning environment that tailors to the needs of every student, and this chapter gives suggestions to help teachers do just that.

Reflection

Some members of our group, myself included, felt that the activity centers would not be a useful tool in our classrooms. We all agree that it is important to teach to all of the multiple intelligences, but some of us felt like this was not the best way to do it. We feel like these activity centers may be better to use with younger students, or maybe they would be good if you were teaching a class based on the multiple intelligences. Personally, I was afraid that using this set up to frequently could cause segregation in the classroom. Students will always have the same favorite intelligence and so they will more likely then not always choose to work in the same groups. Then there will be the students who are afraid to go to the group they would work best in because their friends aren't there and so they will choose a group that they won't learn as well in. I really feel that these types of situations defeat the purpose of the assignment. This set up can be useful, but I would not use it to frequently. Our group really thought that the list of questions in this chapter were very helpful though. We felt like they gave us a clearer view of what to look for in our classrooms and if we were to ask ourselves these questions we could form a learning environment that would meet the needs of all our students.