UbD ch. 8, MI chs. 8, 11, 12 Response

One point that was emphasized at least to some extent in each of the chapters was the importance of focusing on what a given student CAN do versus what he or she cannot do. This applies to special education students in that teachers should use MI theory to help them grow as learners, allowing them to use their stronger intelliegences in place of an intelligence that is weaker or less developed. Even though the student may not be taking the same "route" or using the same means as his or her peers, he or she will still reach the desired endpoint one way or another, and maybe even at a different time, and this is okay. By focusing on what special education students CAN do (because in many cases, a student who is deficient on one or more intelligences makes up for it by being extremely strong in another), these students will have better self-esteem and an "increased understanding and appreciation" from their peers (Armstrong, 159). In terms of cognitive skills, a students' memory can be refined by helping them practice it through their strongest intelligences instead of forcing them to memorize content through their weaker intelligences. I really liked the list of ways that memory can be practiced through all the different MIs. It is also important for teachers to use the MIs of their students to help them determine which classroom management strategies will be most effective. If a teacher is trying to manage his/her classroom through strategies that don't appeal to the MIs of his/her students, then the students won't be ask likely to listen and the teacher will get frustrated. This is why the teacher must focus on the strengths of the students. Lastly chapter 8 of UbD discussed the importance of paying attention to the abilities of students when grading them, and also suggested ways to grade most holistically and in ways the support the learning of the student. It is the teacher's job to communicate learning development to the students, focusing just as much on their successes as the things that they need to improve upon. And, just as it is important to differentiate instruction, it also important to differentiate grading strategies to make sure that everything is being accounted for. These are things that I will keep in mind when I have my own students.