9

CLASSROOM SETUP

 

The environment where education and learning takes place is just as imporant as the content of the learning. A multiple intelligence classroom should be set up in a way that promotes different learning modalities, cooperative and solo tasks and positive relationships. 

 

Zones of the Classroom:

• Entry Zone- When entering the classroom, there should be a sense of welcome. 

• Work Zone(s) - Create opportunities for solo work, small group work and classwork. You may want to replace traditional overhead flourescent lights with full spectrum lighting.

• Storage Zone(s) - Create areas for optimal organization so students and teachers can access the tools they need. 

• Display Zone - Visuals can provide powerful information, but be aware of making bulletin boards, walls and other surfaces overcrowded. Negative space is a good thing and makes important information visible!

• Library Zone - Stock your library full of a varity of reading material: novels, non-fiction, new papers, magazines, and other tools for liesurely reading and researching. Also include technology tools such as computers, laptops or iPads.

• Soft Zone - Create a "lounge" space for students to relax and find a quiet space, to read, to play games, and to connect with friends.

• Movement Zone - Provide an area that can be used to create skits, do kinaesthetic exercises and other movement activities...without knocking things over! 

 

Seating Plans

• Use a variety of setups in the classroom

• Group students of differning or similar MIs

• Change seating arrangements frequently, especially for Visual learners, so they can have a different perspective of the classroom

• Organize desks to be able to make flexible groups so students can share ideas

• Have extra desks/tables for group work

 

(adapted from "Multiple Intelligences in the Elementary Classroom" by Baum, Viens & Slatin, with additional suggestions from Tanya George, teacher.)

CLASSROOM ATMOSPHERE

 

Over the course of a school year a classroom can feel like a family, but to do this, it takes continuous effort and support.

 

This starts early in the year, by helping students to identify their multiple intelligences!

• Use a variety of surveys and quizzes and analyze the results.

• Try incorporating a Meyers-Briggs Personality Quiz

• You may even want to graph them out in different ways to integrate curriculum work into the process! 

 

Keys to create a positive MI classroom atmosphere:

• Develop a common classroom language about MIs

• Gain school-wide support of MIs to help support students' self-esteem 

• Involve parents in learning and utilizing MIs by sending home letters and assessments

  • You can find countless examples online, and in books!

  • Check out p. 47 in "Differentiating Instruction in the Regular Classroom" by Diane Heacox

  • "How Am I Smart: A Parent's Guide to Multiple Intelligences" by Kathy Koch is also a great choice to recommend

• Help students to understand that they can be their own kind of smart, and that all smarts are valuable

• Create ways to positively acknowledge student strengths and successes

 

GET TO KNOW YOUR STUDENTS!

• This is crucial in creating a positive learning environment

• Understand your students' likes and dislikes, and areas of interest to create engaging lessons and units

• Keep track of all of your students' MIs

• Try to find new ways to engage your students. This will also keep you learning as a teacher too!