The classroom is full of different types of people with
different abilities, interests, hobbies & aptitudes.
The "chalk & talk" method of instruction may be a great method of instruction for a handful of students, however to the detriment of those who just do not learn this way.
The theory of multiple intelligences was developed in 1983 by Dr. Howard Gardner, professor of education at Harvard University. It suggests that the traditional notion of intelligence, based on I.Q. testing, is far too limited.
Gardner proposed rather that there are 9 different types of intelligence or aptitude.
Let's use this model to inspire our lesson plans?
An easy way to ensure that all types of intelligence are catered for is to add something into every lesson plan that will appeal to each of the 9 types of intelligences.
Not only will this ensure your lesson plans are jam packed full of fun and interesting things, but it will also appeal in some way to atleast every student in the classroom.
One of my teachers in Pontian Bandar cluster has taken this on as a challenge in his lessons. His lessons have drastically improved in content, in the students listening skills, general involvement, as well as making his job easier for him because he follows the same method every time.
Let's look at each of the 9 Intelligences and consider ways to include these in a lesson plan:
Musical
Try to include music, a rhyme, or clapping out rhythms in your lesson.
Music is the Teacher's magic. If a teacher uses music or rhythm to teach something, it is almost certain that the students will be unable to help themselves for singing or humming the same tune long after the lesson is over. In this way, the lesson is reinforced constantly long after the bell has rung.
Try it; choose any lexical set, add a rhythm to the sequence in which you teach them, repeat this with the students involved. Practice & repeat. IF you walk around at recess, you will hear students singing the rhythm with their friends.
Visual-Spatial
Pictures speak more than words. This is so true in lessons. To get attention, to teach anything in English, having some pictures to describe the words is incredibly powerful. You will have students attention by providing something for them to look at.
Organizing pictures or concepts into an organization chart, so that students have a visual map of the concept in their heads is a powerful teaching-learning tool, as well as assisting in long term memory retention.
Bodily-Kinaesthetic
Movement, acting, myme, and dramatizing not only releases energy, but also helps students to refocus.
Intrapersonal
Focusing on the self is one definite way to get students involved in a lesson. Ask them to make a family tree and present their family tree to the class. Ask them how they feel, or get them to keep a diary of picture feelings for a week. Students who feel personally involved will have more motivation, will develop personally & will appreciate having to think about themselves. Imagine giving them the vocabulary to express their feelings in English!
Interpersonal
Group work, team work, pair work, class work, individual work are all ways of interacting in the classroom. Mixing students up with different groups each time will create an inclusive atmosphere where everyone gets along well. Remember some students are introverted and do not enjoy group work at all. These students should not have to work in a group if they do not want to. However, everyone can learn something from cooperation and collaboration in the classroom.
Naturalistic
Recycling, a classroom pet/plant are ways to encourage students to consider nature in the classroom. Often overlooked however possibly this is the most important lesson teachers can be teaching students today, is to take care of their environment!
Verbal-Linguistic
Speaking! Every piece of work should involve speaking about it in English. Let a handful of students present their work to the class at the end of each lesson. Those who present should receive honor and reward. These students should act as role models to the others who hopefully will endeavor to present their work in another lesson.
Mathematical-Logical
Questions such as "how many?" are easy to add to any lessons. "How many fruits can you see?", for example. Followed by counting out in English.
Using English Math Jargon such as, "plus, minus, take away, equals", etc. is important for students to hear and see.
Why not use a point system to control behaviour and at the end of each lesson, let the teams verbally count up the points, deduct the negative points and total the sums of each team?
If all these 9 intelligences are used in every lesson, the lesson is bound to be really fun, really interactive, and memorable.
A big thank you and congratulations to Ibrahim Teacher who is using this idea to punk up his lessons! His lessons are so much fun, so interactive, and full of music and movement. The lessons fly be so quickly and the students appear to be really thriving on the changes he has made.