Learners Differences

As a self-contained special education teacher, I often find myself frustrated. Even though my students are between a 2nd grade and 3rd grade reading level, I must teach the same 7th grade curriculum and prepare them for the 7th grade state assessments. Not only do my students have learning disabilities they are all at different academic and social/emotional levels as well. I cannot treat my students the same for these reasons. According to Gardner, “human being have a wide range of intellectual strengths and weakness, and that strength in one area does not predict strength or weakness in other areas.” This is why I really need to understand the individual student and foster a learning environment accordingly.

In the wake of No Child Left Behind there is such an emphasis on performance of standardized assessments. In some schools right before the ELA assessment they will not teach anything else and just review for the test. Practice, Practice, Practice……But is that learning? These kids are practicing how to take a test. Can these skills translate into a skill that will be beneficial for their “real” life?

I agree with Gardner’s opinion that multiple intelligences cannot be accomplished in the face of No Child Left Behind and standards based education. This law has made it difficult for the educator to provide a learning environment that prepares students with the ability and skills to become a moral and accomplished worker and a good citizen. Gardner used an analogy in an online chat with graduate students, which compared students and athletes. He explained that if he were interested in looking an athlete’s ability he would not devise a test to assess bodily-kinestic intelligence. He would want to see how well the athletic could perform at the sport, throw a ball, etc… This seems to be the problem with standardized tests; they are not necessarily measuring what students need too know and not taking into consideration the multiple intelligence of their students.

Educators have the challenge of nourishing multiple intelligence in the class when there is such pressure to cover a vast amount of material in a school year. Many teachers I know stress out when they are a little behind the schedule of what they are “suppose” to be teaching. Their mantra is “ I have to get through this chapter by the end of the week.” However, are the students learning? Is this just a class full of students getting into a verbal memory situation? Multiple Intelligence can be integrated into these classes. Students must synthesize these ideas for themselves. Educators should reflect on their teaching techniques and focus on MI in the class for the benefit of all students by offering opportunities for choices in the class.