Give me a child for the first eight years, thereafter anyone can keep him! |
| — Anonymous |
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What is curriculum?
When we were at school, achievements in math and science were recognized above those in Arts, Humanities or Sport. This meant that Math and language skills were given importance to the near exclusion of every other intelligence. Those who learnt differently were often misunderstood, neglected, or undeserving of recognition.
At Ananda, no child is an 'underachiever' or 'weak'. Unlike in traditional schools, art, crafts, aesthetic values, sport and games are not labeled "extra" or co-curricular. They are part of the curriculum. As is life.
The kinds of learning
Howard Gardner's theory of multiple intelligence states that we explore the world using multiple senses.
The eight 'intelligences' are:
| Linguistic or word smart |
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| Logical-mathematical or number/reasoning smart |
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| Spatial or picture smart |
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| Bodily-Kinesthetic or body smart |
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| Intra-personal or self smart |
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| Musical or music smart |
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| Interpersonal or people smart |
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| Naturalist or nature smart |
Each of us uses a mix of these intelligences with one or two being predominant and best suited for a unique way of learning.
Not how smart you are but how you are smart
A musician, being music smart has a high musical intelligence. This means that a learner sensitive to music learns best through rhymes and music. An architect on the other hand is picture smart meaning he has a high spatial intelligence. He learns well by making models, by drawing things and from diagrams and maps. A politician would have been a people smart learner as she has high interpersonal intelligence. This child learns best by talking to others, through discussion and debate, through role-play and acting.
All eight intelligences develop best between the ages of three through eight. It is now that these multiple capabilities can be nurtured and strengthened, or ignored and weakened.
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