How are they smart?

Multiple Intelligences and the Religious Education Classroom

Ask yourself:

• How did you learn the alphabet?• How did you learn to drive?• Can you describe a spiral staircase?• Say a few things about winter.• Hold your breath for one minute

without looking at a watch or clock.• Recite one verse of a poem.

What is this all about?

• Gardner’s theory: Frames of Mind, 1983

• Definition of Intelligence• The Great 8• Figuring it out• Using what we know

Gardner’s theory:

• All persons possess the capability of learning and knowing in one or several of eight modes.

Definitions of Intelligence

• Capability of being encoded in symbols

• Cultural value(or NOT)

• Set of developmental trajectories

• Own set of brain structures independent of others

• Existence of savants

The Eight Intelligences

• Linguistic• Mathematical/

logical• Musical• Bodily-Kinesthetic

• Interpersonal• Intrapersonal• Spatial• Naturalist

Linguistic

• Ability to think in words:– Preference for

reading– Word games– Puns– Thinking in words– Writing prayers,

reading stories, scripture

Mathematical

• Ability to quantify– Prefer to think in

numbers, measures– Prefer order,

sequence– Need logic– Like to compare– Order of the Mass,

numbers in Scripture

Musical

• Ability to associate with music, rhythm– Like to listen to

music– Prefer rhythm,

rhyme– Remember when

asso-ciated with melody

Bodily-Kinesthetic

• Ability to make meaning out of motion– Prefer to act out ideas– Need to move to

learn– Prefer active learning– Postures of prayer,

the Mass, liturgical movement

Interpersonal

• Ability to relate– Prefer to talk out

ideas– Prefer cooperative

learning– Need to relate

learning– Shared prayer,

Bible discussion, planning prayer services

Intrapersonal

• Ability to consult oneself– Prefer working alone– Like to imagine– Like to journal, do

introspective writing– Personal, quiet

prayer, retreats, prayer journals

Spatial

• Ability to illustrate– Prefer looking at

pictures, maps, graphs

– Like to doodle– Prefer drawing to

writing– Iconongraphy,

artistic prayer, study of sacred art, architecture

Naturalist

• Loves the outdoors– Prefers working with

nature– Likes to work with

animals, plants– Sensitive to

climate/weather– Setting up

environment for prayer, outdoor prayer

What Intelligence(s) appeal to you?

How do you like to learn?How do you like to spend your free time?How do you teach?How do you pray?

Teaching with MI

• How can I match MI with students?• What learning activities can I use

to appeal to MI learning?• How can I assess with MI?• What strategies can I use to

manage the classroom with MI?

Finally:

• Remember: if the only tool you have is a hammer, then everything looks like a nail.