We Are ALL Smart!

Hi friends!
It's hard to believe that we are approaching August- the summer is just flying by.  I have to say, I am getting really excited about seeing my students again.  I have missed them like crazy!  There are many great things about being an Interventionist, but one of the best things is that I get to work with some of the same students year after year.

Many of my kiddos come to me feeling kind of crummy about themselves, not understanding why they can't just pick up on concepts as easily as their classmates do.  They sometimes have a hard time dealing with the fact that they have to leave their regular classroom to receive extra help in my room.  Their self esteem is not as high as it could be due to their learning difficulties or their lack of support at home.  I try my very hardest to build them up while they are with me- academically as well as emotionally.  I try to make them understand that we are all unique and special in our own way.  There are many ways to learn, and we all have positive attributes that help us to learn.

I am very inspired by Howard Gardner's Theory of Multiple Intelligences and the belief that as humans we all have strengths and weaknesses in different areas.  Read more about these theories here.  I display posters, that are written and illustrated in kid-friendly language, describing these theories in my classroom for the students to view.  I like that every student can identify with at least one of the domains and see that they each have characteristics of value.

Last week I found this amazing resource from Stephanie at Falling Into First, and I want to share it with you. She created a back to school unit incorporating the eight Theories of Multiple Intelligences: Word Smart, Music Smart, Body Smart, Art Smart, Number Smart, Self Smart, Team Smart, and Nature Smart.  Her unit includes a story to read to your new class. In the story, the little girl is sad on the first day of school because someone told her only smart kids can go to school, and she doesn't feel smart. Her teacher assures her everyone is smart, then proceeds to introduce her to her classmates and share their different types of smart.

After reading the story, the students each get a sticky note with their name on it.  They will then choose one type of smart that they feel they relate to most and stick their sticky note underneath it.

Brilliant!!!

The main idea of this lesson is to show the kids that everyone has strengths they can feel proud of and show them that "book smart" isn't the only type of smart that is valued. Students will also complete a short writing piece about the smart they select. When they finish their writing they are given one of these bracelets to wear proudly around the school!

In addition to this fabulous activity, there are many other back to school get-to-know-you type lessons in this pack.  Hop on over to Falling Into First to read more about this lesson and download either a first, second, or third grade pack for yourself!!  Worth every cent! :)