multiple intelligence...more thoughts on a great topic

Like many of my peers, I have had lots of experience with Howard Gardner's Theory of Multiple Intelligence. One of the best ways to understand MI theory is to take a MI test yourself and identify your own strengths and weaknesses. I am strong in the visual/spatial intelligence but weak in math/logic. It is important for me to know and understand my intelligences so that I can make the most out of learning experiences by adjusting and adapting. It is vital, utterly important, totally necessary, for teachers to understand and incorporate this theory in the classroom--even though it defeats a major aspect of current education, the standards & accountability movement!

Some questions I am pondering are:

~How does MI relate to NCLB and standards?

~What is the best balance between using learning centers and exploration & direct instruction and memorization?

~How to avoid improper & inappropriate labelling while still providing necessary & appropriate recognition of exceptional learners?

~How to encourage & develop each child's strengths/weaknesses while still imparting the importance of performance & adaptability (outside of one's comfort zone) in our American society? (We value independence, competition, determination, self-sufficiency--these are not necessarily compatible with each multiple intelligence. Children, however, should also learn to be critical thinkers & be able to recognize when they may need to adapt to get the most out of the situation. There is something to be said for memorizing your multiplication table.)

~What are the most effective & fair methods of assessment? Using MI theory, teachers teach and assess differently based on individual intellectual strengths and weaknesses. I feel it would be an overwhelming challenge to assess every student according to his own strengths/weaknesses, although I know there are some helpful rubrics which can be effective. I think rubrics incorporating assessments in all the intelligences would be helpful for both teacher and student. Students should be able to see areas in which they can improve/be aware of their strengths/weaknesses. But students do need some "real life" assessments as well...it can't be all "fru-fru la la, everyone is special in their own way."

I feel very confident that I can properly incorporate MI theory in my classroom. I have worked in classrooms that use learning centers and they are very effective for reaching many intelligences. I really appreciated Concept to Classroom's implementation section on MI. This is a wonderful resource for new teachers who have little experience setting up and using learning centers. WOW! It's just such a great resource, and everything's all in one place. I think all educators should do professional development using this workshop!! I do not believe incorporating MI theory, on a large or small scale, is impractical, as some critics say, because I have seen it in action even in large, overcrowded classrooms with children in all ability levels and backgrounds.

I think we could talk about this theory for hours!