Chapter 7, 9, 13, 14

The seemingly obvious similarities between all these chapters is the fact that they all talk about multiple intelligences and how to use MI theory in the classroom. Chapter 7 talked a lot about classroom environment and the way that a teacher can set up their classroom. The biggest suggestion that this chapter stated was to break the classroom into four different parts. These parts would allow a teacher to organize the classroom in a way where there was certain areas of the classroom designated to each one of the multiple intelligences. The first area that the chapter talked about was the permanent open-ended activity center. In this area there were suggestions for each intelligence. The next activity center is the temporary topic-specific activity center. This area changes frequently and is geared towards a specific theme or subject. The third area that is in the classroom is the permanent topic-specific activity centers. In this activity center, each center exists year-round and has material and resources that never change. Part of this center is revolving explorations that change with monthly components or weekly topics. The last activity center is the temporary open-ended activity center. This center is supposed to be set up and taken down easily. I am not sure how any of this will impact my classroom. Most of the suggestions that it gave were elementary. I could see having the four activity centers in an elementary school classroom since the students stay with the same teacher and in the same room most of the day. For a middle or high school classroom, I find this to be impossible. Teachers often change rooms during the day and students are in different classrooms all day. If teachers are lucky enough to have one classroom to call home for the day, they are often teaching multiple different subjects under one content area. I also thought that it would be difficult to fit all these things in a classroom. My big question with this is if these are the four sections in the classroom, where is the section where the teacher teaches the content? Chapter 9 gave specifics for what should be inside a MI classroom and even a MI school. The information in this chapter will impact how I teach because I will try to teach in a way that involves all eight intelligences. Chapter 13 talked about how MI can be used in places other than traditional classrooms. I learned that MI can be used in computer technology, cultural diversity and career counseling. Chapter 14 talked about a possible ninth intelligence called existential intelligence.