The Many Kinds of Smart

Heart House has three beliefs upon which we build our program:

• Critical thinking skills are a liberating force in education and a powerful resource in one’s personal and civic life. We should and can teach children to be critical thinkers.
• Curiosity is one of the most fundamental tools children can bring to their early learning experiences. We will model and foster curiosity as a highly esteemed value at Heart House.
• Children are smart in different ways. We will honor the multiple intelligences of our Heart House children.

This month, we'd like to tell you a little more about one of these beliefs.

Children Are Smart in Different Ways: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences

Our schools and culture focus most of their attention on linguistic and logical-mathematical intelligence. This educational model esteems the highly articulate or logical people of our culture.

Heart House believes that we should also place equal attention on individuals who show gifts in the other intelligences: the artists, architects, musicians, naturalists, designers, dancers, therapists, philosophers, entrepreneurs, and others who enrich the world in which we live.

Unfortunately, many children who have these gifts don’t always receive much reinforcement for them. Many of these kids, in fact, end up being labeled as learning disabled or underachievers, when their unique ways of thinking and learning aren’t addressed by a heavily linguistic or logical-mathematical education system.

At Heart House, we like to present lessons in a variety of ways, using music, cooperative learning, art activities, role play, multimedia, field trips, inner reflection, and much more.

For example, when studying about Japan, we could integrate the following activities for a well-rounded thematic learning unit that supports the genius of EACH of the wonderful children we serve.

• Verbal Intelligence
  Write short stories based on culture, write a puppet show, and write haiku
• Logical Intelligence
  Convert currency, explore the geometry of origami, and play a game of Go
• Visual Intelligence
  Make drawings of or construct model pagodas and torii with Legos, learn and practice calligraphy, and design a set for a kabuki performance
• Kinesthetic Intelligence
  Learn karate moves, practice cultural dances,and study the strategy of Sumo wrestling
• Musical/Rhythmic Intelligence
  Learn songs in Japanese and study traditional Japanese music, make kotos and other Japanese instruments, and study taiko drumming
• Intrapersonal Intelligence
  Do independent work, such as computer programming or research, on the tea ceremony, and explore and practice meditation
• Interpersonal Intelligence
  Explore the importance and components of the bowing ritual, or act as presenters of puppet show or skit that incorporates thoughtful study of the Japanese culture and group mindset
• Naturalist Intelligence
  Learn ikebana (the art of flower arranging), study bonsai trees, and make a rock garden using local materials
• Existential Intelligence
  Study koans and zen stories, or compare and contrast Buddhism and Shintoism.

At the heart of it, our belief in the rich variety of the genius of children has broadened our idea of what constitutes giftedness.

Do you have a special gift, passion or talent to share with the Heart House children? Maybe you love scuba diving and want to show the children your gear and talk about your last dive trip. Maybe you love to paint and want to be a guest art teacher. Or maybe you love gardening and want to show the children how to plant a tomato plant. The ways in which you can engage are endless. Contact us at volunteer@hearthouse.org and see how you can come brighten a child's day and expand their mind at Heart House. We'd love for you to be our special guest!

Your Turn!
Discover your individual genius by taking this short Multiple Intelligences Self-Inventory. There are just a few questions to answer, which should take approximately five minutes to complete. Click on the graphic below to begin.