Exposing Math To The Unique Mind

Howard Gardner's, Theory of Multiple Intelligences, 1983

At last, many schools and educators are moving away from the book-based and repetition style of teaching in the classroom.  Many students have been labeled as inadequate learners if they do not keep up or show success with this method.  This negative connotation is debilitating to many extremely bright students that simply need their instruction in a more interactive or hands on way.  In other words -- the teacher's duty is to find what gets the child's attention and where his learning level lies.  Begin there and see what strategy or activities will ignite his absorption of the content.  

Bring the knowledge to the child.  Present the material in whatever way he can assimilate it into his previous learning.  Learning is a building process on earlier experiences.  This is the teachers' Quest! 

Whether it is our own child, grandchild, private school student, or public school student, we are facing diverse learners.  We have to recognize that each mind is unique in the way it learns.

Much emphasis is put on reading scores, while that student's math scores will ultimately show similar results.  Our testing process tests math in word problems in third grade upward.  Math reinforcement, tutoring or math resource works widely with math word content and vocabulary.  There are many activities to accomplish this feat:  Math Dictionary,  where we illustrate the term, label and write a description.  Math Wall, with those math terms that are relevant to current learning.  Just these two simple ideas can start at 1st grade level with patience and guidance in the beginning.

The theory of multiple intelligences was proposed by Howard Gardner in 1983.  Research using brain imaging technologies indicates that each learning style uses different parts of the  brain as we learn.  The spectacular fact is that the more of the mind that is engaged as we learn, the more we can remember! 

As we continue to examine the multiple styles of learning in the unique mind we'll find there is not one but many styles used simultaneously.  Most importantly, teachers of the early years need  innumerable assortments  of colorful, diverse materials that ignite math learning.  Writing math and reading about math will come after the physical manipulations are formed in the minds, whatever kind of learner we have.

Howard Gardner's theories have gained much more recognition in recent years.  I learned about Mr. Gardner during my training as a teacher for the gifted and talented.  What I found in this training about the unique mind should be required for all teachers and parents.  

This knowledge was about the way the brain is stimulated when it is exposed to stimuli for  learning.

The intelligence quotient (I.Q. test) represents one moment in time.  I learned that every child has unlimited potential for expanding the mind when the material is presented to his learning style.  This is bearing in mind that the children are receiving adequate nutrition and active parental involvement.  This threat is an increasing concern for numbers of children.   I had been watching my students every day in the classroom with every performing level.  This class experience as well as my years with unresolved ways to reach math learners gave me my quest for success in exposing math.

Howard Gardner's theories of multiple intelligences are broken up into seven areas.  He writes that there is no right or wrong style.  Probably no one uses one style but multiple styles continually.  But the important fact to consider is that the more of the styles engaged, when the child is exposed to math, the greater memory is formed.

Here is a list of Howard Gardner's seven multiple learning styles:

They are not in order of importance.

1.  Visual-Spatial

2.  Kinesthetic-Bodily

3.  Musical

4.  Interpersonal-Social

5.  Intrapersonnel-Solitary

6.  Linguistic-Verbal

7.  Logical-Thinking

We will look at each style in depth.  We will look at real life activities and suggestions for each learning style that will  put action into ideas of exposing math to the unique mind.