Teacher’s Bag of Tricks

A quick googling of “multiple intelligences” results in a laundry list of websites explaining the basic theory, but not a whole lot to introduce the concept to students. Here are some activities that I dreamed up to illustrate each area of intelligence, and activate that intelligence a little.

• First, students will need some paper to write some notes and draw some pictures.
• Visual/Spatial - Create a detailed drawing out of a simple line

• Verbal/Linguistic - write a short story about your drawing
• Logical/Mathematical - Magic squares addition puzzle. 9 points puzzle.
• Musical - Write your three favorite songs. Play “Name that tune” with a partner by humming or drumming the song.
• Natural - List as many cat species as possible in 60 seconds.
• Kinesthetic - Cross Crawl

1. Stand with your feet slightly apart, arms at your sides. Lift your right knee toward your chest as you cross your left hand over the midline of your body, placing the hand, palm open, to the outside of the right knee.
2. Return to the starting position, and repeat with the right hand and left knee to complete 1 set. Do at least 12 sets. You can perform this move quickly and rhythmically to build energy, or very slowly to emphasize balance.

• Interpersonal - Write down three get-to-know you questions. Interview one other student.
• Intrapersonal - Answer the question “What do you do that makes you feel smart?”

The new podcast Conversations kicked off this weekend with a discussion about praise for students. Positive words from a teacher are some of the most impactful communication a person can receive. The cliche goes that teachers shape lives. Stated another way, a teacher defines a student through verbal praise.

Nowhere is this more evident than in my experience as a freshman at Scottsdale Community College. My English teacher, Harry Hude, was instrumental in igniting my love for learning and defining me as a writer. I identify myself as a writer because Mr. Hude told me that I was good at writing. He shared my writing (anonymously) with the class. He communicated to me that I had ideas worth sharing, and I was good at stating those ideas clearly.

Specific praise shapes a student’s image of himself. We develop identities based partly on how other people describe us. I know that I excel in skateboarding because I enjoy it, I feel myself get better as I practice, and other people tell me that I’m good. If I enjoyed skateboarding and felt like I was getting better, but no one ever mentioned anything, I might not pursue excellence as intensely. Imagine how my attitude would shift if I only heard about the things I did wrong on a skateboard. I’d probably quit.

Fortunately, most people are shaped slowly, and they generally bounce back from negative comments. And, praise can be a powerful agent of healing in the life of a bruised student. Teachers have daily opportunities to speak success and confidence into the lives of their students. Maria Knee and Lisa Parisi gave me a great reminder of these opportunities in the upcoming school year.

Make sure to check out the recording of their show: EdTechTalk.

One of the most effective methods of classroom management is triple A treatment:

• Acceptance
• Approval
• Affection

Students want to like you as a teacher, but even more, they want to know if you like them.

Acceptance happens as students recognize they belong in your class. Give them this sense by greeting each student at the door every morning and thanking each one at the end of the day, putting their work on the walls around the room, giving them jobs that help the class to run smoothly, and designing class rules and procedures together. A class meeting once a week does wonders for building acceptance in the teacher-to-student relationships and among students.

Approval is communicated first and foremost through your words.

“I’m glad to have you in my class.”
“You add such good ideas to our discussions.”
“Your assignments are always in on time.”
“You’re so good at making your classmates smile.”

Extending extra approval to the students early in the year will give them the sense that you really like them and you really enjoy being around them. Calling a student’s parents to tell them about a good test score or other achievement will go a long way with that student. Students on the teacher’s good side will bend over backwards to stay on that good side. Of course, it helps when you actually like your students. When a student misbehaves, focus on the sin, not the sinner. “You’re a good student, and you made a bad decision this time. I know you’ll do better next time.” Don’t withhold punishment, and don’t punish by withholding approval.

Affection seems difficult to express in school these days. Use strategic touches like a pat on the shoulder or a high five to incorporate affection into your interactions. I give my students the choice of a high five, hand shake, or fist pound every morning as I greet them at the door. Special connections during the year like birthday notes to individual students and stickers on good test scores let a student know that you notice him and care about him. Again, don’t punish by withholding affection. Affirm the student after she completes her consequence so that you end the interaction on a positive note.

Consider a student’s emotions like a gas tank. A student running on empty is a management crash waiting to happen. We have to fill up that tank with positive emotions and experiences, because students (and adults) often make decisions based on emotion. If their tanks are filled up on positive emotions, students will be more likely to make positive decisions, even in tough situations.

Nonverbal Ways to Quiet Your Students
“Do you ever feel like the constant sound of your own voice is going to drive you bonkers?”

5 minute Sponge Activities
“…how in the world are you ever going to get them to be quiet once the bell rings?”

Quiz: Classroom Management Profile
“Answer these 12 questions and learn more about your classroom management profile.”

Rethinking Our Thinking on Discipline: Empower–Rather than Overpower
“To many people, discipline means punishment.  But, actually, to discipline means to teach.”  Be sure to click the “next” links for behavior levels that can be taught to students.