Daniela Elliott
Blog #3
(pages 43-87)
A majority of the reading stemmed from multiple intelligences or Howard Gardner’s Seven Intelligences. A breakdown of different areas of intelligence that can help in a child’s learning ability, but only five were discussed in the book because of their relation to brain-based gender differences. While all were very important to learn what is most significant was to know that even if a child is advanced in one are of intelligence and lacking in another this does not mean it would be impossible to “get better at all intelligences with proper stimulation,” as said by Gurian. What educators need is to be exposed to how to stimulate those other intelligences.
The last important idea was more of a theory that correlates to the multiple intelligences described above. Although exaggerated in some research, the “Mozart Effect” is still said to be accurate on some level by Gurian. The “Mozart Effect” relies on musical stimulation; music processing located in the right hemisphere, used more often by boys, and rhythm processing in the left hemisphere, used more often by girls. In total, musical intelligence is a whole-brain activity and the repercussions, hopefully, result in the child being accustom to using both hemispheres. Most importantly, it is used to prevent children from having any “brain disadvantage” in either hemisphere as related to one of the multiple intelligences. The Mozart theory, whether its effects are big or small, are still significant and it's a practice that many parents should consider. There have been no negative effects because of it and so there would be no reason to not give it a shot. When the day comes, I certainly will!
Response To Daniela's Blog #3
ReplyDeleteBy Suzanne C.
I agree that while our nation has come a long way, there is still a basic belief that men are better and more successful than women. However, Gurian's descriptions of both sexes didn't make me feel proud to be a member of either group. One joke he referenced was "I just saw an ad on the Internet:'Encyclopedias for sale, forty volumes. $1,000 or best offer. Am getting married. Wife know everything. No longer need them." In some ways I'm not sure if this is poking fun at male smarts or women being controlling.
Gurian speaks of how being low in the pecking-order affects male academic performance more so than it does females. It has been found that because of the high levels of cortisol that boys produce when they feel inferior they are not able to learn as effectively. Therefore, we are presented with the idea of a fragile male ego. While he provides a biological reason for this, it would not make me proud to be seen as a male that was not able to overcome things and be successful and therefore considered fragile.
As already mentioned Gurian discusses how the U.S.Department of Justice based the amount of beds they would need in the future on male reading levels in first grade. This does not paint a great picture of male ability to read and write. Therefore, while Gurian describes the biological differences between boys and girls learning, the descriptions always seem to make the other sex look weak or inferior. While that may not be the intention, it makes me remember as a teacher that if these differences are not addressed and embraced rather than dismissed and made fun of, many of my students will not succeed.