Multiple Intelligences and Achievement Gap Research Paper

Introduction

Early childhood education is seen as the education which is given to children at their early ages. It spans the human life from the age of eight years and above. This is because the young children are seen to experience education more holistically as when compared to the other ages. These toddlers are seen to have a desire for education and it is during this time that these children can learn more different from the family setting. When these children interact with the others from different areas say from different ethnic groups, then these children are said to experience more from other groups hence increasing their thinking, behaviors and actions.

Early childhood education mostly focuses through the child learning through play. It is through play that these children will be in a position to identify their hidden talents as the multiple intelligence theory puts it. There are so many ways by which a child can be taught but in this case, you find that these children are expected to learn more out of the play they usually play with others. Although this education is said not to occur in absence of the parents and also the caregivers to these children, early childhood education is seen to refer to day-care programs or even pre-school programs which are given to these children. So in this case, you find that a parent can be of great importance in trying to enlighten these children both theoretically and also educational believes given by both the parent and the educator.

Early childhood education is supposed to give children early care and early education and this is given during the first two years of these children when they are trying to learn self and also when this child is trying to build her first identity. This stage is important for children’s make-up and how these children see themselves, how they think they can function and also how they expect the rest of the people to function in relation to what they do.

So, for early childhood education to be successful, it should focus on employing good trained carrs, the policy for this education is supposed to establish the following links, children, family, home language and culture for these children to orientate themselves with. Despite the many gifts which are possessed by these children, you find that there are achievement gaps which make these children not achieve their stated goals and objectives in life.

Achievement gap

It is due to the increased focus on the high academic standards for most of the students which is said to bring the high disparity in the achievement of these students on the various statewide assessments. This achievement gap is seen to have brought a high concern in the parents, educators, the legislators and the whole members of the community where these children come from. All these barriers are said to prevent these children from achieving their goals. In addressing this achievement gap, there are several questions which people are supposed to ask themselves and include the following,

1. What is the nature of the achievement gap?
2. What does literature suggest to the main root causes and the various conditions which lead to the achievement gap?
3. The various promising steps that can be incorporated to ensure that this gap has been minimized if not ending it.

The achievement gap can be as a result of color, ethnicity, race and also various stereotypes which might be involved by these students. A good example in this case can be seen in a research which was carried out in Washington on the achievement gap between these students. For this case, color was seen as the major factor which contributed to the achievement gap. Out of this research, it was found that there are several root causes which lead to the achievement gap in these students. Some of these factors include the classroom factors which may include the economic, social, and family and lastly the personal characteristics.

All these factors are said to lead to the achievement gap between these students. It was out of this research that it was found that children from the color are often seen to come from the lower income groups and these groups are seen to affect the education of these students. These children will be seen as second learners. Their inspirations and their various habits are seen to affect their achievement as well. As a result, various strategies are adapted to ensure that this gap has been closed.

Multiple intelligence’s

The multiple intelligence’s focuses teaching students on both linguistics and logical mathematical intelligences. This also involves more attention on those students who show gifts in other intelligences and a good example can be seen in music, artists, architecture, naturalists, therapists, designers among other gifts which are given to these students apart from the linguistics and logical mathematics. Out of research, you find that most of the students who have these gifts are not recognized in schools so much but strategies should be imposed to ensure that these students have been recognized. The multiple intelligence focuses on the following teaching styles for these children.

Strategies for closing the gap

Out of research which has been carried by many professionals, they have come up with many multiple intelligence strategies which when applied can lead to the close of the achievement gap between these students. One of the strategies is changed believes and strategies by the children, parents, educators and the community at large. The importance of parents, teachers and children has been well documented in this case. Values and beliefs towards education can contribute to the close of this gap.

If teachers and students have a believe on this education, then you find that they can help end this gap. You find that these children will be motivated to learn more out of their teachers and hence leading to more experience by these children. The teacher expectations of themselves and also their students can have an impact in this gap in that if the teachers have the right attitude and believe to help these children, then you find that early children education will have put these children in a good position of learning even in the higher levels of education hence developing their hidden talents.

Motivation and instructional strategies are seen to lessen the achievement gap for these children. The teaching strategy in this case needs to be improved by improving the relationship between the students and the teachers. It is through this relationship that these children will be in a position to learn from a free atmosphere. Motivation is seen as an integral facet of the instructional strategies that are shown to have a positive impact on the students learning environment. So in this case, you find that the motivational techniques are said to be interwoven with the classroom section.

Greater opportunities for learning can also help in bridging this gap. In the early childhood education, greater opportunities for learning can be achieved through corporations by the teachers and the parents. This is achieved when all the facilities which are required by these students have been made available. For example, since most of this education requires the child learning through play, playing materials for these students should be made available. It is through these facilities that all these children will be in a position to play together and also learn together with the rest of the student’s hence enlightening their experience.

More family and community involvement can be seen as another strategy which can be sued to bridge this gap. In this case, the achievement gap is seen to close when the parents for these children encourage child play at home. These children when at home should be encouraged to play so much since it’s through this play that the children will be in a position to grow faster and at the same time improve their talents.

All the necessary playing materials for these children should be provided say toys. The parents should make sure that these playing materials have been bought for these children to play with most of their times. It is through this that these children will be in a position to learn more hence closing the achievement gap between these children.

Environmental learning is also another strategy in this case. Environmental based learning has been one of the proven successes in closing this achievement gap. A good environment in this case can be seen when these children are given the opportunity to choose their topics of interest. In the early childhood education, these children since they are young, they are supposed to choose the playing materials which they enjoy playing with.

This is out of the varied roles of both boys and girls. It is through this that these children will be in a position to realize their talents through doing whatever they like doing most. By allowing these children to choose their own curriculum, the students will be in a position to take ownership of their own learning hence helping to reduce this achievement gap since you find that these children will be in a position to choose the topics which they enjoy most learning hence leading to their great success.

By fixing the gap, the schools are supposed to identify those students of color who are actually struggling at the early age. These children should then be assessed in order to identify their needs and their many struggles. Then these students of color since are seen to perform poorly as when compared to the white students, then they should be sorted out and then offered with the different options which can help fix this problem.

Conclusion

Learning and teaching strategies should be incorporated in schools in order to ensure that the achievement gap between these students has been closed. It is through this teaching that the students will be in a position to have the same skills of learning hence leading to their success in education and later in life.

Reference

Gardner, Howard (1993). Multiple Intelligences: The Theory in Practice. New York: Basic Books.

Joftus, Scott, (Ed.). (1992). Every Child as Graduate: A framework for an Excellent Education for all Middle and High School Students. Alliance for Excellent Education. Washington, DC.

Singham, Mano (2003). The achievement gap: Myths and reality. Phi Delta Kappan. 84, 8, p. 586-591.