Amber Adgerson Professor Mathis EDUC 745 Multiple Intelligences (Teele Inventory) Style Theory Paper June 15,

, 2012 Multiple Intelligences Style Theory Paper During my undergrad career, in my foundation education classes we learned about Howard Gardner and his theory of multiple intelligences. I remember thinking that it was easy to believe that some students can be highly talented in one area, but not in others. However, I was not given the opportunity to learn any of my intelligence strengths until EDUC 745. After taking the Teele Inventory of Multiple Intelligences, I found that my strengths lie in the musical and linguistic category. Not surprisingly, my most profound and memorable educational experiences dealt with either music or turning in a writing assignment that I was proud of. It made me realize that all children need to be given the opportunity to have these special moments within their educational journey. One of my favorite classes in school was orchestra class. I played the violin from fifth through twelfth grade. I remember auditioning for the Honors Orchestra after my freshman year in high school. It was such

a joy when I made it. I also vividly remember being performing during our concerts throughout the year, but mostly, I enjoyed taking a break from academics throughout the school day and create music. Sadly, realizing that I wanted to be a teacher and had a love for music wasnt enough to make me pursue a career as a music teacher. Although I loved music, I knew I hadnt had enough private lessons or learned how to play enough instruments. I was scared I wouldnt do well in a music education program. During my sophomore and senior years, in high school, I was in the marching band color guard. I used what I learned about music, in orchestra class, and applied them to the flag and dance routines. I loved when I was able to become captain after my first year, and also being a part of performances during band competitions. Again, it was therapeutic for me to go to these practices and focus on something besides academics. I did not seek a place in the color guard senior year; however, I do feel the remnants of my time with the band did help me with, discipline, logical thinking, and most importantly, creativity. Creative writing and expressing myself through general writing assignments has always been easy for me, unlike math. I remember one time using onomatopoeia at the beginning of one of my creative writing papers in the third grade. I remember writing a myth in the eleventh grade about why there were oceans. I had fun in college writing a story

about my childhood experience of learning to ride a bike. Even so, I also remember very negative experiences concerning writing. My fifth grade teacher was a stickler for grammar, even more so than the content and length of writing. I still love writing to this day, but I realize grammar rules and exceptions will always be a struggle to me like the rules of mathematics. It was no surprise that the logical-mathematical portion of my Teele Inventory had a score of one. I did get better with mathematics as I matured and moved along my educational career, but it is definitely something I had to realize was a weakness and work harder at. I remember starting to really fall behind in late elementary school and continuing until freshman year in high school, when I had to repeat Algebra I. I wanted to go to college, so I knew something had to change. From that year on, I took two math classes a year. I also made myself ask more questions and sit at the front of the class next to students who wouldnt distract me. I moved from Algebra One and Two, to Geometry, to Probability Statistics and Discreet Math, then to Pre-Calculus. I was so proud of myself for completing not only the four math classes I needed to apply to Winthrop, but even an extra math class! With maturity and self-monitoring, math has become a lot easier, but its rules and the memorization of the process are still a struggle. As a teacher, I need to allow my students to know their strengths

so that they can have even more confidence in those areas. Also, I want my students to know their weaknesses, so they can realize more work will be needed in those areas. I also will let them know about my weakness, and what steps I had to do to overcome those barriers. I wonder if I had realized math was a weakness for me early on and been given advice to scaffold that weakness, if I would have got to Calculus my senior year instead of Pre-Calculus. I dont want my students to question themselves and what they could have been at the end of their educational career. I want them to be successful in their journey and hope they feel their strengths were used to the best of their ability without the hindrance of their weaknesses.