Wednesday, September 21, 2011

theorhetical framework

As a teacher I feel that time, effort, and patience will serve my students the best. I am not a strict person but feel that setting expectations is the ideal way to help children learn. I think as long as they know what you want from them they can try their best to give that. But, if they do perform to their potential it is my job to figure out how to get their best.
   The multiple intelligence theory suggests each person varies from another in the way they learn. Since there are only nine, if you consider all the intelligences defined and those still in the theorhetical stage, there would  be much overlapping in learning styles within a classroom of students. I think my style of teaching will involve  as many of these as possible at one time. 
    My goal is to have a very interctive classroom. I would like to be able to keep the kids moving and experimenting with as many different approaches to learning as I can come up with. I have had several classes at IUE that have shown me how much information is out ther and activities I can use to achieve this. Using relay games to learn States and Capitols, math exercises with objects other than the typical counting manipulatives, the list could go on and on. The point is there are innumeral ways to appeal to students intelligence and since all students possess the same nine in some degree, all would benfit in some way from each approach and hopefully all would find a way to relate to the material I am trying to cover.
     My classes at IUE have shown me several examples of technology I would like to use. Since I can not go anywhere without seeing children with a gadget of some sort in thier hand I think this will open a whole new type of teaching for me. I can not wait to try some of the ideas I have considered over the last few years but I think the more I come in contact with tech options the more I know I am going to have to, and want to,  incorporate them into my teaching. Students relate too well and enjoy using it too much for me to ignore all the potential technology has to offer in educating students.
     I mentioned whiteboards in one of my commets. This has been the most impressive new, to me, technology this semester. I enjoyed making the poster for W200, learning how creative I could be without lifting a pencil gave hope to the artist within. The spreadsheet will make several of my volunteering endeavors easier to track. But the abilty to post a lecture on line where students can access it at home with an adult or someone helping with their homework I feel is an amazing tool. This applies to multiple intelligences in that the person helping them should know the child well enough to relate what I was trying to explain in other terms they would understand.
    Personally I learn best linguistically, spatially, intrapersonaly, and naturalistically. These  intelligences have a connetion in being able to visualize, touch, and apply what I am trying to comprehend into a concrete mental or physical picture. It may take a few examples but normally I can readily understand in these ways.
     Musically, kinesthetically, and interpersonal learning are not as helpful. We all know the days of the week song but trying to understand math but creating a jingle has not worked for me. I am terribly shy. While I am accutely aware of other people, interpersonal learning, groups, speeches, asking random classmates for help, is not something I would do unless I had not tried other avenues to understand it on my own. Though I am learning it is the best way to get the quickest help when I am stuck.
     I am not sure if the intelligences develop as the person develops or if current theory suggests we are wired to understand best in certain ways. I do know there are many ways to approach educating children and finding the best ways to reach every child I am responsible for is going to include using these and all other sources at my disposal.            

2 comments:

  1. I agree with you all the way that having patience and understanding with children is the best way that they will show you respect but also that they will see you are giving them respect too. I also agree that all the different learning styles that we have read in our book I will use in my classroom as a teacher. I really liked how you want to have a classroom that is very active and also having experiments that has different learning styles. I think that from reading your blog that you will be a very fun teacher who loves doing what she does every day. Because the thing I remember about elementary school was my 1st grade teacher who wanted us to have a good understand of the assignment but also have fun while learning and experimenting with the assignment too.

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  2. Students are very different from one another and a good teacher seeks the students that struggle and teach them. They don't cling to the ones that easily get it. I too hope to impose an interactive classroom.

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