Gearing your homeschool lessons around Howard Gardner's multiple
intelligences heightens both motivation and skill mastery. Also, using a
child's strengths when planning lessons offers a greater opportunity
for learning to sink in and become permanent. So let's take a closer
look at how certain children learn and how you can plan lessons around
their strengths!
If your child shows exceptional skills in math, then capitalize on that
strength by having him/her make graphs, gather and organize information,
or explain how a problem was solved. Involve calculation, logic
puzzles, and planning in your lessons for the child with mathematical
intelligence.
Children with musical intelligence can be heard a mile away. They're
creating their own rhythms and music, even unconsciously -tapping their
fingers, drumming on the counter, humming tunes as they walk through the
store. Capitalize on this strength by having your child listen to
different kinds of music for each historical period you study, have him
make and play his own musical instruments and put new knowledge to
music.
Some children love spending time alone, reflecting and pondering life.
They keep journals, notebooks, and wonder about the meaning of others
(as well as their own) actions. Activate their imaginations, utilize
their creative writing capabilities, and they're on cloud nine!
Some children bounce as they go through life. (kinesthetic learning)
They don't walk, they skip. They don't just run, they gallop full speed
ahead. Movement is the name of the game and while it can be
distracting for the parents, the moving helps cement the learning. Plan
lessons for these children that involve role-playing, inventing,
exercise, sports and hands-on experiments.
No doubt about it - some learners need others with whom to bounce ideas
around. These children with interpersonal intelligence think with their
mouths and need to process aloud. These children will learn best if
you plan team activities, lessons that involve talking, listening and
relating to others.
Children with exceptional visual intelligence need activities that
involve drawing, imagining, designing, building, painting, and watching.
If your child shows great verbal skill, then you'll want to design
learning around reading, explaining, writing, drama, and storytelling.
Some learners excel when they're outdoors. If you have a nature lover,
then plan lessons around growing, planting, observing the environment,
investigating the outdoors, and recycling. Check out Charlotte Mason's
education methods if your child thrives in natural settings.
When you plan a lesson around a child's strengths, chances are, he/she
will grasp the material more easily and retain the information longer.
Gardner's multiple intelligences make the learning more fun and
highlight those awesome talents God designed in your child.