During the 2016-17 school year, all students at
Crestview School spent a lot of time practicing
mindfulness and learning about the 6 Cs – Creativity,
Communication, Collaboration, Critical Thinking,
Character and Citizenship. Entering the 2017-18
school year with their tool kits full of strategies and
understandings about these concepts, it is very
evident they are ready to tackle a very important
concept — learning about their own identities as
learners in order to achieve their highest potentials.
This year, students are beginning a journey
towards understanding that there are many different
ways to be a learner. When students understand that
we are all different in our learning styles, we can
appreciate one another and depend on one another
to collaborate more effectively. This collaborative
efficacy can be so powerful! Students are identifying
their strengths by learning about Howard Gardner’s
Multiple Intelligences.
In each class, students are first identifying their
strengths as learners and then working together
to prepare their own multiple intelligences brain
made out of plasticine. This 3D visual helps students
identify who in their learning community they can go
to for assistance in a specific situation. For example,
if a student needs help creating a diagram, they can
reach out to a classmate with visual-spatial learning
strengths. Howard Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences
include the following areas: musical-rhythmic,
visual-spatial, verbal-linguistic, logical-mathematical,
bodily-kinesthetic, interpersonal, intrapersonal, and
naturalistic.
Understanding we are all unique also leads to higher
levels of empathy. In turn, higher levels of empathy
lead to more compassionate learning communities.
When we support our students to feel calm, happy
and safe to take risks among their peers without
failure, we support their learning across curriculum.