Howard Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences suggests that culture, language, and environment all influence how an individual's intelligence is expressed. In this guide, Evangeline Stefanakis provides concrete suggestions for translating Gardner's theory into curriculum and assessment practices in the context of urban classrooms. By combining the collection and analysis of student work in comprehensive portfolios, she offers a framework for teachers to improve the assessment of diverse individuals. Stefanakis is especially well suited to the task of combining theory, philosophy, and practice on this topic. She has helped teachers, teacher educators, and school leaders understand both MI theory and how to use portfolios to personalize their teaching to better serve all students, including those who are bilingual and have disabilities. She worked with the Harvard Project Zero on the Massachusetts Schools Network on a three-year effort to implement schoolwide portfolio assessment in thirteen urban and rural schools. The contents of this book, which include principal and teacher stories from the Cambridgeport School, grew directly from this experience. In eight concise chapters, Stefanakis takes teachers through proven strategies for creating personal student profiles and portfolios as "windows into learners' minds." Her book provides: a positive focus on children's assets-what they do know, rather than what they don't a guide on applying the theory of multiple intelligences to personalize learning short, practical, classroom-based content on implementing portfolios (Grades K-8) proven ways for teachers to expand their practices for reaching an even wider, more diverse, and challenging range of learners by differentiating instruction a companion dual-platform CD-ROM featuring a range of student portfolios and reproducible assessment forms. Understanding what students bring to the learning environment and how to accommodate their needs has challenged educators for generations. Here is an important addition to the literature on multiple intelligences and on practices that recognize, honor, and embrace children's diversity.

Describes the challenges and difficulties of transforming a school into a Multiple Intelligences school, and provides advice for educators in making significant changes to curriculum, development, and assessment.

Finally, a book about multiple intelligences (MI) theory that answers the questions that all educational innovations must ultimately address: "What are the results on student achievement?" "How were those results achieved?" Multiple Intelligences and Student Achievement describes six schools that have used MI theory for five or more years. Through case studies of two elementary, two middle-level, and two high schools, Linda and Bruce Campbell illustrate why markedly different schools--large and small, rich and poor, inner-city and suburban--looked to MI when they wanted to boost student learning. In schools with long-term MI programs, achievement gains are impressive; in fact, the disparity between white and minority students is reduced or eliminated. Students at all three levels outperform their district, county, and national peers in basic skills. Such gains are possible even though teachers do not teach to standardized and state assessment tests. Instead, they believe that all students have strengths, and, as a result, students come to believe in themselves as well. Moreover, teachers have discovered that instruction through multiple intelligences is so positive and engaging that students--all students--can't help but learn. This book provides educators who are new to MI theory with solid achievement data and curricular formats to support, inform, and inspire their work. Those who have already worked with MI theory will find encouragement to continue and suggestions for refining their efforts.

Since its introduction in 1983, Howard Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences has attracted widespread interest among educators. The chapters in this book describe alternative assessments that capture the range of intelligences, allow the intelligences to be given more equal weight, use intelligence-fair formats, and focus on student performances in real-life contexts. The following are included: (1) "Introduction: Assessing the Multiple Intelligences" (Bruce Torff); (2) "If Binet Had Looked beyond the Classroom: The Assessment of Multiple Intelligences" (Thomas Hatch and Howard Gardner); (3) "Alternative Assessment from a Multiple Intelligences Perspective" (Jie-Qi Chen and Howard Gardner); (4) "From Research to Reform: Finding Better Ways To Put Theory into Practice" (Thomas Hatch); (5) "Portfolios Invite Reflection--From Students and Staff" (Elizabeth A. Hebert); (6) "The Power in Portfolios: 'A Way for Sitting Beside' Each Learner" (Evangeline Harris Stefanakis); (7) "Domain Projects as Assessment Vehicles in a Computer-Rich Environment" (Joseph Walters and Howard Gardner); (8) "Giftedness, Diversity, and Problem Solving" (C. June Maker, Aleene B. Nielson, and Judith A. Rogers); (9) "Authentic Assessment of Problem Solving and Giftedness in Secondary School Students" (C. June Maker); and (10) "Assessment in Context: The Alternatives to Standardized Testing" (Howard Gardner). Each chapter contains references. (Contains nine tables and nine figures.) (SLD)

"As a new teacher, I am always looking for ideas that will make me feel more confident. Using a portfolio will help me show evidence that the students are making progress toward meeting state standards."-Stephanie Jones, TeacherForrest City High School, AR"A good overview of the entire portfolio process, from its philosophical foundations to the celebration of student achievement."-Michael F. Dwyer, English Department ChairOtter Valley Union High School, Brandon, VTEncourage student creativity and academic growth through portfolios and authentic assessment!Research and practice show that portfolios are powerful tools for assessing students authentically, communicating with parents about the learning process, and helping learners across all grade levels and content areas record their successes and take ownership of their learning. The third edition of The Portfolio Connection offers practical advice and reader-friendly strategies for implementing student portfolios in the classroom. Through step-by-step procedures, the authors help teachers incorporate standards into the portfolio process by providing expanded checklists and rubrics to monitor student progress. The updated edition also includes:Additional information on e-portfolios and integrating technologySteps for conducting student-led conferencesPortfolio examples for children with special needsGuidance on increasing parent involvement Information on the impact of NCLB on student assessmentDiscover how you can use portfolios to heighten students' self-reflection while expanding their critical and creative thinking skills.