Multiple Intelligence Theory by Howard Gardner
“The theory of multiple intelligences was developed in 1983 by Dr. Howard Gardner, professor of education at Harvard University. It suggests that the traditional notion of intelligence, based on I.Q. testing, is far too limited. Instead, Dr. Gardner proposes eight different intelligences to account for a broader range of human potential in children and adults.” -American Institute for Learning and Development . In reality, Gardner suggests that there are many more intelligences than just 8! In this 1994 interview with Edutopia, Gardner discusses the 8 intelligences. Watch the video to learn more about the different types of intelligence, get insights on how your child learns and how you can nurture your child’s unique gifts.
Scholar: Kerry McDonald
“Kerry McDonald is a Senior Education Fellow at FEE and author of Unschooled: Raising Curious, Well-Educated Children Outside the Conventional Classroom (Chicago Review Press, 2019). She is also an adjunct scholar at The Cato Institute and a regular Forbes contributor. Kerry's research interests include homeschooling and alternatives to school, self-directed learning, education entrepreneurship, parent empowerment, school choice, and family and child policy. Her articles have appeared at The Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, NPR, Education Next, Reason Magazine, City Journal, and Entrepreneur, among others. She has a master’s degree in education policy from Harvard University and a bachelor’s degree in economics from Bowdoin College. Kerry lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts with her husband and four children.” - from the Foundation for Economic Education
Film: Class Dismissed
“All across America, parents are becoming increasingly dissatisfied with the state of public education. The current state of our educational system & economy shines a spotlight on problems with traditional schools. Class Dismissed showcases a growing trend in alternative education strategies that are working for many families across America.” - from the Class Dismissed website
Podcast: Adventures in Free Range Learning with Laura Grace Weldon
“In this episode: Janet speaks with pioneering homeschool practitioner and advocate Laura Grace Weldon, author of the best-selling book Free Range Learning: How Homeschooling Changes Everything. Laura’s experiences capture the essence of how children learn best and gain competence, self-confidence, maturity and wisdom. She and Janet find common ground in their respect for the natural learning process of every child.” from Unruffled, the podcast.
Organization: Alliance for Self-Directed Education
“The Alliance for Self-Directed Education (ASDE) is dedicated to informing parents, educators, policymakers, and social change agents about the intellectual, social, and emotional benefits of allowing children and adolescents to direct their own education.It all begins with an idea.” - from the website for ASDE
Book: Free to Learn by Peter Gray
In Free to Learn, Peter Gray makes a compelling case for giving children a much greater bandwidth to explore their interests. He shatters the notion that students learn by being taught information by a trained adult, but rather by being free to explore what interests them at their own pace - and that we, as adults should be more trusting of their innate curiosity and ability to develop. “In Free to Learn, developmental psychologist Peter Gray argues that in order to foster children who will thrive in today's constantly changing world, we must entrust them to steer their own learning and development. Drawing on evidence from anthropology, psychology, and history, he demonstrates that free play is the primary means by which children learn to control their lives, solve problems, get along with peers, and become emotionally resilient. A brave, counterintuitive proposal for freeing our children from the shackles of the curiosity-killing institution we call school, Free to Learn suggests that it's time to stop asking what's wrong with our children, and start asking what's wrong with the system. It shows how we can act -- both as parents and as members of society -- to improve children's lives and to promote their happiness and learning.” - from the book, Free to Learn