MI Chapter 1

         In the first chapter the book goes over what exactly multiple intelligences are. It talked about how in the early  1900’s intelligence was defined as a singular thing, and that it could be determined by a single standardized IQ test. In the 1980’s Howard Gardner proposed that intelligence wasn’t a singular thing, but plural, and encompassed many different areas of people’s lives. The criteria of his intelligence was “ the capacity for (1) solving problems and (2) fashioning products in a context rich naturalistic setting” (Armstrong). Basically, being able to work and solve problems in an environment suited to you.
The chapter goes on to say that each person has all 8 intelligences and can have varying degrees of strength and weakness in all of these, but all of them can function together in unique ways. It also states that every person has the capability to become proficient with all 8 intelligences with the right environment and teaching.
The way that this will affect my teaching in the future is I will strive to work for exactly what the book said, trying to nurture all 8 intelligences in a good environment to the best of my teaching ability. I will work to understand each student’s uniqueness in each of his/her intelligences, and try my best to cater my curriculum to their learning needs. I will not design my curriculum to support any specific intelligence, and try to impart my knowledge to my students in a way that is savvy with their specific intelligence.