Chapter 1

In chapter 1 I learned about Gardner’s eight intelligences and how he came to thinking of multiple intelligences. I learned that he questioned the validity of determining intelligence through the practice of taking students out their natural learning environment and asking them to do isolated tasks that they had never done before and would never do again. Gardner believed that intelligence has more to do with an individual’s capacity for solving problems and “fashioning products” in a natural setting. Even though we learned about some of the characteristics of each of the intelligences in class, I felt that the way the book described them helped me learn more about each intelligence. Linguistic has to do with a person’s ability to use words effectively in writing or verbally. People with linguistic intelligence tend to have the ability to manipulate the structure of language, the sounds of languages, the meanings of language, and the practical uses of language. In a math classroom, I could give word problems or give students the option to explain what they did to solve a problem to their classmates. Word problems that require explanation in the answer would satisfy the students that can use words effectively in writing. Explaining the method that was used to solve a problem would satisfy a student who can effectively use words verbally. I also learned that everyone has all eight intelligences and have the possibility for all eight to be adequately developed. By implementing ways to satisfy all the eight intelligences in my classroom, some students would be further developing their intelligences.