How does knowledge of the way people learn related to the experience of being a teacher?

1/31/14

Today was my first day of volunteer work in the classroom. I was placed with a 1st grade class where the teacher is head of the 1st grade classes. In addition to helping with her class, she asked the other volunteers and myself to help out in the other classes with students who are below their reading level.

It was very interesting to observe the different teaching methods that we have been learning about. I did my research paper on multiple intelligence's, and found many of them were practiced today. Here are some examples of what I saw took place:

Assignments using an IPad - Bodily/Kinesthetic Intelligence
Reading books to self - Intrapersonal Intelligence
Singing - Musical/Rhythm Intelligence
Using different languages - Linguistic Intelligence
Yoga - Bodily/Kinesthetic Intelligence
Jumping & Clapping while counting - Bodily/Kinesthetic Intelligence, Logical/Mathematical Intelligence
Counting letters - Logical/Mathematical Intelligence
Getting in partnerships - Interpersonal Intelligence

I think this is very important to understand as a teacher, so that one can use a large variety of teaching methods to increase the knowledge of students. Not only do 1st graders have a short attention span,  but they need the variety of teaching methods so they feel comfortable learning the ways they already know how and can also improve in ways they are still working on.

Overall, it was a great experience so far, and I am looking forward to next week!