2021-2022: Domain 3
Instruction 

Teaching is a creative profession and the kindergarten classroom is a place full of ideas, where children begin to learn how to communicate their ideas and how listen to the ideas of others.

Specific grade level curriculum provides the framework for instruction. The scope and sequence of specific units of study allows teachers to plan across the year. While we need to follow teacher’s guides, pass out the occasional worksheets and assess students, the primary role of a teacher is to facilitate learning. By talking to students, asking open-ended questions, listening to their thoughts, I am able to see how they process ideas.  I can differentiate my teaching by engaging student curiosity, individuality and creativity.

How we implement the curriculum and differentiate the lessons depends on the individual needs of students and classroom dynamics.  

Howard Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligence

“Multiple intelligences challenge an educational system that assumes that everyone can learn the same materials in the same way and that a uniform, universal measure suffices to test student learning.”

The seminal work of developmental psychologist Howard Gardner has had a major impact on my development as an educator. 

According to Gardner, there are eight different types of intelligence. People can have varying levels of intelligence, and they can change over time. Every child has at least one intelligence that is the strongest, and I believe teaching to those strengths can help students to be more successful. In order to engage the whole child and create a fully immersive experience for the whole class, it is important to give students the opportunity to use their intelligence types at least some of the time. While some intelligence may not lend themselves well to group learning situations, we should give them exposure to all types of intelligences in lessons and activities, especially with young children who are just discovering the world.

As a visual learner myself, I understand that many children learn best by seeing.  Charts, diagrams, and graphs are especially helpful to visual learners.  They may also enjoy learning through videos or lessons that use visual aids.  Using colorful highlighters to mark up text or creating picture  charts may also help them learn better. Each person has unique intelligence and we thrive in certain learning environments while struggling in others.

Classroom Activities and Specific Types of Intelligence

The following strategies can accommodate specified learning styles  and can be used in various combinations in any particular lesson to suit the different ways in which students learn.