Confidence through Multiple Intelligences

Increasing a child’s self-esteem is a critical component to a child’s development, academically and to encourage life-long learning.  It is important to recognize that there are a reported nine levels of intelligence developed by Howard Gardner (1999) and in order for a child to feel good about themselves one needs to confirm and support that area in which a child has strength in learning and feed that area. The areas identified are:

• 1. Naturalist Intelligence (“Nature Smart”)
• 2. Musical Intelligence (“Musical Smart”)
• 3. Logical-Mathematical Intelligence (Number/Reasoning Smart)
• 4. Existential Intelligence
• 5. Interpersonal Intelligence (People Smart”)
• 6. Bodily-Kinesthetic Intelligence (“Body Smart”)
• 7. Linguistic Intelligence (Word Smart)
• 8. Intra-personal Intelligence (Self Smart”)
• 9. Spatial Intelligence (“Picture Smart”)

Here are a couple of web sites that describe the theory in more detail.

• http://www.thomasarmstrong.com/multiple_intelligences.php
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howard_Gardner

Then you can build using that specific area to incorporate learning. One way that is a way to do this is through Universal Design for Learning. This approach allows the student to express their acquisition of a skill and their demonstration of that skill in a way that is comfortable or accessible for them. Using technology to help with reading; using a power point or a project based assessment, rather than a typical essay to demonstrate knowledge are some examples. A great site to learn about UDL is www.cast.org/. You will also find free resources.

The end result is to support the learner in a way that is natural for them to learn and as a result you encourage the development of confidence and increased self-esteem.