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and typically the topic fits into the school theme at the time."18
The school is also
closely involved with the Center of Exploration at the Indianapolis Museum. "Students
can enter into an apprenticeship of several months, in which they can engage in such
activities as animation, shipbuilding, journalism or monitoring the weather."
Key School is also alive
with projects. Says Gardner: "During any given year the school features three
different themes, introduced at approximately ten-week intervals. The themes can be quite
broad (such as 'Patterns' or 'Connections') or more focused ('The Renaissance - then and
now' or 'Mexican heritage'). Curriculums focus on these themes; desired literacies and
concepts are, whenever possible, introduced as natural adjuncts to an exploration of the
theme."
All projects are also videotaped so that eventually
each student has a portfolio of videos to show both the work done and to reveal each one's
strengths.
In brief, the Key School encourages all students to
learn through all their intelligences, those where they're strong and those where they
need building; it focuses on their learning styles; it encourages thinking and
experimentation; and it builds apprenticeship and mentoring models.
The New City School, in St. Louis, Missouri, has gone
even further. Since basing school activities around multiple-intelligence principles, its
staff have collectively written a definitive book on the subject. Celebrating Multiple
Intelligences: Teaching For Success is a practical resource guide to teachers at every
level on how to cater to all individual "intelligence-strengths" while teaching
all major subjects.
Better yet, both New City and the Indianapolis school
show precisely what can happen if a country finally uses its tremendous academic research
skills and blends them with well-planned schools, innovative teachers, tremendous
community resources and a focus that sees all children as gifted.
Contents Page Preface
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