From his work with brain-damaged patients, Howard Gardner developed a set of criteria for what determines intelligence. From these he identified seven intelligences, including linguistic, logical-mathematical, musical, bodily-kinesthetic, spatial, interpersonal, and intrapersonal capabilities. An eighth intelligence, the naturalistic ability to…

Home economics is often denigrated for requiring little intellect. There is a strong cultural bias that undervalues sewing and relegates it to "handedness" instead of the loftier "headedness." According to Howard Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences, the two do not stand in opposition. Handiwork is a spatial intellectual…

By championing extrinsic motivation, the achievement-reward system short-circuits individuals' innate inner power. Achievement-oriented adults rely on their knowledge, skills, and abilities, not their deeper potential. Hyde School, in Bath, Maine, solves this problem by committing the entire school community to development of unique potential via…

The multiple-intelligences perspective underlines the need to expand the musical intelligence concept and stress appreciation over performance. Music should be part of the curriculum. Successful music creates a more satisfied student body. Musical intelligence requires frequent instruction and clear instructional goals. It is not developed through…

St. Louis, Missouri's New City School begins each academic year by teaching multiple-intelligences theory to its students and by educating parents via portfolio nights. There is heavy emphasis on the personal intelligences, since the abilities to work with others and to capitalize on individual strengths are the keys to successful adulthood. (MLH)

Offers suggestions for developing creative instructional approaches in time-blocked classes. Teachers should continuously engage students in active learning, include group activities to encourage student participation, incorporate activities addressing multiple intelligences, use creative thinking activities, move outside the classroom, employ…

Only by exploring practical questions with teachers and considering their wisdom concerning brain-based resources can we accommodate multiple ways of knowing, while honoring the demands of curriculum mandates, state requirements, and college entrance expectations. A checklist enables teachers to survey specific approaches (collaboration, cultural…

Over the past 10 or 15 years, gifted education has been transformed. Major changes have occurred in the areas of theory and research, instruction and programming, and consideration of special populations' needs. This theme issue overviews all three areas, focusing on reconceptualized notions of intelligence, alternatives to discontinued pullout…

Discusses misconceptions that half-informed educators might have about the author's theory of multiple intelligences. The seven intelligences are based on explicit criteria and respond to specific real-world content. Educators can assess proficiency, but not intelligence at different tasks. Theories can have infinite numbers of possible…

Distinct from academic intelligence, successful intelligence is the acquisition and use of what one must know to succeed in a particular environment. People with high successful intelligence know their own strengths and weaknesses; are goal-oriented, highly motivated, and efficacious; follow through; own and assume responsibility for their own…

Howard Gardner's research explores why some students achieve (test) well, while others struggle. Gardner's ideal school features master teachers and an assessment specialist to provide regular, updated intelligence evaluations of each student's strengths, weaknesses, and inclinations. Curricula would use fresh approaches borrowed from museums and…

Describes development of a Multiple Intelligences Theory Application (MITA) model used in high school classrooms to address major content, collaboration, and criteria concerns. The model invites parents to collaborate, from curriculum planning stages to the end stages of learning. The model also provides for student participation and alternative…

An Indianapolis magnet middle school is successfully using mental models and multiple intelligences theory to guide collaborative professional development and equitable education. A curriculum originally developed for gifted and talented students is now accessible to all students. The program draws upon students' individual strengths across all…

In Seneca, New York, the partnership between Houghton College teachers-in-training and Cuba-Rushford students and faculty has yielded unprecedented benefits. The high school proposed a guideline for integrative projects in humanities and science; the college contributed multiple intelligences teaching approaches (MITA) activities to achieve these…

School violence is more likely in schools located in high-crime areas, in large schools with large classes, in schools containing a large percentage of male students, and in schools with weak administrators. The "Practical Intelligence" curriculum enables middle-school youths who are not classically successful students to make a contribution and…