As a nation, our society has an interesting way in teaching us what to believe. Society embodies our ideals, tradition, beliefs, and principles. It is in this truth where people get their way of thinking and how they respond in certain situations. Say for instance, some of us believe that the intelligent people are the ones who know all the whereabouts of the wars of the worlds, that they are the ones who remain standing at recognition rites while hauling all the awards and medals the school can give, and that they are the ones who always earn the spotlight in every classroom discussion. Our conception about intelligence has truly been confined to the students who get the highest grades in a class. This thinking, I believe, is not only shallow but also dangerous for the welfare of our students.
For once, there is such a thing that is called Multiple Intelligences by Dr. Howard Gardner. It states the different forms of intelligences and thus, clashing our primitive definition of what intelligence is. These intelligences are (1) Linguistic intelligence or word smart, (2) Logical-mathematical intelligence or number reason smart, (3) Spatial intelligence or picture smart, (4) Bodily-Kinesthetic intelligence or body smart, (5) Musical intelligence or music smart, (6) Interpersonal intelligence or people smart, (7) Intrapersonal intelligence or self-smart, (8) Naturalist intelligence or nature smart, and (9) Existential intelligence.
This offers a good opportunity for us, teachers, to explore different ways of teaching that will suit our learners with different capabilities. It will help us to really know and examine our students and guide them based from the strengths that they show. By this, we do not only cater those who are logically and linguistically individuals but we help each learner grow.
This is also a way to celebrate diversity. Our children are pool of learners with different skills and abilities. It is time we treat all of them equally. They will be the future doctors, teachers, dancers, engineers, leaders, scientists, singers, and a lot of professions which in each particular holds a special place in our society.
It is just right time that as educators we defy the norms that prevent our children from growing and developing—and this change will start from the way we see them inside our classrooms. And there are so many smart ways to do them.
By: Andrea S. Irangan | Teacher I | BNHS | Balanga, Bataan
