To parents, teachers, childcare professionals...

My goal in this little space is to pass along a few lessons learned in my 12 years of working with music in the preschool setting. In the process, I want to be concise, because we all know we are constantly looking for new ideas, but want them in short form! Here you will find suggestions of open-ended activities that can work for parents and classroom teachers alike, and that attempt to follow NAEYC and MENC guidelines. Join me in the journey!

Friday, January 29, 2010

Multiple Intelligences

Anyone who is in education for any length of time comes across Howard Gardner's "Theory of Multiple Intelligences" which discusses the ways through which each of us learns. The point is to realize that it is important for teachers especially to use techniques that appeal to as many of these learning styles as possible in teaching concepts, in an attempt to reach as many students as possible.

The magic of music is that it can appeal to everyone. If a student learns through the:

1. Linguistics - Song lyrics or musical stories will be the connection.

2. Logical - Sequences and the organization of the musical sounds will be the connection. The mathematical relationships of the notes will be the draw.

3. Body Movements/Kinesthetic - Dances, fingerplays, and instrument playing will be the connection.

4. Interpersonal - Interacting, performing, and communicating with the music will be the attraction.

5. Intrapersonal - The connection between the musician and instrument/voice, and the self-assessing, reflecting, goal setting and planning that goes into performing will be the draw.

6. Visual/Spatial -The movement in space of performing or watching the performance of music or dancing, and/or the reading of written music will be the connection.

7. Natural - The discerning of patterns, categories, and classifications of musical sounds and the observation of it all will be the attraction.

Brain research is showing us that the connections between right and left brain made in the first 5 years of life are critical to a child's future thinking and recall abilities. Music is an ideal stimulus for making those connections!

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