Teaching for Understanding

Philosophy/Rationale of the Program

The program is based on a Multiple Intelligence philosophy [Gardner, H. (1983,1993)] and the belief that learning is an individual process.  The program is activity-based and involves the children in independent work in small group activities, and in entire class activities.  The philosophy of early childhood education at IDEAL School is the result of particular beliefs about the nature of young children and the relationships which ought to exist between the child and each of the teachers, the educational program, and the school.

The Program- Teaching for Understanding

IDEAL School provides a supportive, stimulating environment where students use sophisticated forms of thinking that include generalizing, reasoning, predicting, and classifying, comparing, contrasting and seeking evidence to support a hypothesis or idea.
It is our goal at IDEAL School to teach for understanding (not just test scores).  The professional teaching team will achieve this goal by:

• Modeling: The teacher will provide knowledge or insight by presenting a multiple intelligence lesson (relevant to students).  The teacher will lead the learning process in an attempt to meet predetermined goals and academic objectives.
• Inquiry: The teacher will guide the students to solve a relevant problem by asking questions, investigating methods and discussing cause and effect relationships.
• Collaboration: The teacher will facilitate meaningful discussions and active problem solving to gain understanding of a given topic.

At IDEAL School, curriculum concepts are represented in a variety of ways to allow for individual differences and provide a greater opportunity for understanding.  For example, when teaching Boyle’s Law (Science Concept), the IDEAL School teacher:

• gives a written definition (linguistic intelligence)
• gives the students a mathematical equation (logical-mathematical intelligence)
• has the students fill their mouth with air and then squeeze it to release the air (bodily kinesthetic intelligence)
• has the students stand in a group and then step closer and closer (interpersonal intelligence)
• has the students think of a time when they had to go from multiple lines to one (intrapersonal)
• has the students picture squeezing a pimple on their face  (visual-spatial intelligence and intra personal intelligence)
• has the students sing the definition to the tune of a familiar song (musical rhythmic intelligence)
• has the students think about a diver coming up from a dive (naturalist intelligence)

Definition of Intelligence

IDEAL concurs with Dr. Gardner's definition of intelligence as "the ability to find and solve problems and create products of value in one's culture".  At IDEAL, problem solving is the ability to locate and pursue appropriate routes to a desired goal.

Each child is a unique individual who must be valued for his/her individuality.  Each person possesses eight different intelligences (or learning styles).  These intelligences are:

• verbal/linguistic........................... word smart
• logical/mathematical.................. logical/math smart
• visual/spatial............................... art/space smart
• musical/rhythmic........................ music smart
• bodily kinesthetic........................ body smart
• natural intelligence...................... nature smart
• interpersonal............................... people smart
• intrapersonal............................... self smart

Rather than a single generalized ability called "intelligence", IDEAL believes that all children possess multiple intelligences (MI).  IDEAL believes that intelligence is not fixed.  In fact, recent brain research now proves that intelligence can be strengthened and that stronger intelligences may be used to strengthen weaker ones.  Not all students know, understand, and learn in the same way.  Each student possesses all eight intelligences and it is IDEAL's goal to develop each intelligence to its full potential.  Therefore, IDEAL's philosophy of education focuses not only on how "smart" a child is but rather how is the child "smart".

Students are Grouped by Ability

At the IDEAL School all students are considered “gifted”… because they are.  Students are grouped by ability to optimize their learning experience.  During core subjects students move to the level of their academic performance, not simply their grade level dictated by age.  For example, a grade 2 student who is excelling in mathematics may move to a higher grade level during the math period.