Return-Path: <nifl-fobasics@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with SMTP id j86NHWG13679; Tue, 6 Sep 2005 19:17:32 -0400 (EDT) Date: Tue, 6 Sep 2005 19:17:32 -0400 (EDT) Message-Id: <410-22005926231555781@ix.netcom.com> Errors-To: listowner@literacy.nifl.gov Reply-To: nifl-fobasics@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-fobasics@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-fobasics@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: "Michele Anne Craig" <shellcraig@ix.netcom.com> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-fobasics@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-FOBASICS:1488] Re: Expertise/multiple intelligences X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII X-Mailer: EarthLink MailBox 2005.1.57.0 (Windows) Status: O Content-Length: 3477 Lines: 99 Anne, This is a wonderful way both to get to know your students and to introduce the idea of multiple intelligences. If we work from their strengths, rather than their weaknesses, we would get a lot more done! Michele > [Original Message] > From: Anne Murr <anne.murr@DRAKE.EDU> > To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-fobasics@literacy.nifl.gov> > Date: 9/6/2005 3:55:44 PM > Subject: [NIFL-FOBASICS:1487] Re: Expertise/multiple intelligences > > I believe this has everything to do with Multiple Intelligences > theory. We all have weaknesses in some areas and strengths in > others. These aren't compensatory, they just ARE. Persons who are on > the lower end of verbal intelligence will be strong in other > intelligences, i.e., interpersonal/intrapersonal (the 'mother wit' or > 'street smart', leadership skills), artistic, visual/spatial - which > is part the mechanical aptitude, etc. > > I always ask, "What are you really good at" when I interview adults > as they enroll in our Adult Literacy Center. About half respond with a > blank look which tells me either that they've never considered themselves good > at anything or that they had never thought about themselves in those terms. > Then when I share with them about multiple intelligences (and that > I'm not asking what they are good at IN SCHOOL), they usually do describe some > area of ability that they possess. Others do have a good sense of > their talent and are very happy to talk about it. It's very > affirming for them to have their abilities acknowledged, to know that > there are many ways to be smart and that they ARE smart. > > Anne Murr > Drake University Adult Literacy Center > > >Michelle- (I'm thinking out loud here) > >I have seen this mechanical excellence > >in our learners too. > >I wonder if it isn't somehow aligned with Gardner's > >Multiple Intelligence theories that our learners have compensatory strengths > >in kinsethetic areas for the lack of linguistic abilities? > > > >Jean > > > >--- > >nifl-fobasics@nifl.gov wrote: > > > >> One area of expertise I have seen among > >my ABE students is an aptitude for > >> mechanical things and how machinery > >is put together. At any given time I > >> have one student who works as a deisel > >mechanic or fixes farm machinery or > >> works in fabrication. They are definitely > >experts at this and make a lot of > >> money for this expertise. We live in > >an agricultural area where these jobs > >> are common. Another expertise is > >long-haul truck driving for this area. I > >> also have a friend who would be > >considered an ABE student (she can't read > >> very well) who is an expert knitter. > >Because she cannot read the knitting > >> patterns, she has learned to knit > >from watching others and making it up as > >> she goes along. Again, this is > >an expertise I wish I had. > >> > >> I think that many people with reading problems > >have to compensate by > >> learning with their hands and bodies rather than > >with their visual > >> processing system. I would venture that you might also > >find excellent > >> athletes, dancers, and others who use their bodies to make > >a living, who > >> have learning disabilities. > >> > >> Michele Craig > >> Woodland > >Adult School > > > -- > Anne Murr, M.S., Director > Drake University Adult Literacy Center > 1213 25th Street > Des Moines, IA 50311 > anne.murr@drake.edu > Tel 515-271-3982 > Fax 515-271-4185
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