If the Shoe Fits . . .

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Summary: If the Shoe Fits
Review: Chapman presents a myriad of ideas to jumpstart the use of lessons that promote learning through the multiple intelligences. Rather than gearing specific ideas to the gifted or "high" students, this book's premise is that every child is gifted in some way. And while we have intelligences that are stronger than others, it is possible to strengthen the weaker ones. Howard Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences is very well explained. The author details each intelligence in-depth; the first seven as well as the latest naturalist intelligence. Chapman goes further than just theory, however, and gives several lesson plans for each intelligence. These lesson plans are broken down even further into age level distinctions. The book begins by exploring the different intelligences. The author has chosen a shoe to represent each intelligence. This is quite an asset to the visual learner! Not only is it helpful to the teacher, but it is a perfect way to introduce the different intelligences to a class of children. The shoe analagy is the perfect aid to understanding the whole theory. In each chapter Chapman defines each intelligence, what type of student is strong in this intelligence, how to meet the needs of the special student, how to catch this student's attention, what this student's comfort and discomfort zones are, what the global understandings of this intelligence are, how problem solving fits in with this intelligence, as well as activities that promote learning in this intelligence. She also offers blank lesson plan, reflection, and journal templatesfor teacher use. The graphic organizers are easy to understand and help make sense of it all. This book is definitely reader-friendly. It offers technical terms and material in an understandable way. I especially liked the prepared lesson plans that can be used immediately to aid the teacher in implementing the theory in the classroom.