Developing the reading skills of fifth graders through activities based on the theory of multiple intelligences at "Nuestra Familia" high school

Abstract

This project is a research study, based on the theory of Multiple Intelligences by Howard Gardner, to develop Reading Activities. Gardner theorized and gave evidence that each person possesses eight diverse intelligences and that these intelligences are developed in different levels in individual students. The Multiple Intelligences theory helps us to understand that all students are able to learn because everyone has different intelligences and that teachers can develop activities according to the various Intelligences of the students which will facilitate their learning. In this project, we gathered some information that helped us to provide general evidence about the topic. The target populations were 20 students that belong to the fifth grade of a local private school. An interview was held with an experienced teacher with the purpose of knowing more about this topic and a questionnaire was administered to the target students to know their interest in reading. In addition, a pre-test and a post-test about reading comprehension were given to the students. Also, a test based on MI was administered to them in order to find out what kind of intelligences they have developed more. The material that was created for this project was applied during 7 sessions of 45 minutes each. The application lasted one week. The results of this study show that the students got a better grade in the post-test than they did in the pre-test.