What about OPA's curriculum?

PH - Blog Moderator

DYNAMIC CURRICULUM - THEORY OF MULTIPLE INTELLIGENCES

While the many different programs that OPA offers that most public schools don't anymore are big differentiators for OPA, it is even more important to understand the pedagogic strategies that the school employs. Because it is not restricted by a school district in designing its curriculum, OPA is free to tinker with what, how and how much they can teach. As one of the architects of the theory of multiple inteligences, Howard Gardner of Harvard, explains, the theory is not a curriculum itself, but rather a different way of understanding how children learn so you can better design curricula that best suits their individual strengths or interests.

The Theory of Multiple Intelligences states that each person possesses at least eight (8) intelligences that characterize the way he/she learns.  These intelligences are: Spatial, Linguistic, Logical-Mathematical, Interpersonal, Intrapersonal, Musical, Naturalist, and Bodily-Kinesthetic. Utilizing this theory as an instructional approach increases academic retention; thereby, producing optimum educational success for all OPA students.

The teachers at OPA have all the certification and education that teachers at regular public schools have. But then they have to be taught how to utilize the theory of multiple intelligences and how to implement the theory in their lesson plans and activities with the kids. Each teacher, parent and child knows the intelligence/s of that child and their strengths are taken into account in development of the lesson plans and activities.

My daughter is in the 6^th grade at Oxford Prep. She is “bodily kinesthetic, interpersonal, and spacial” according to the theory of multiple intelligences. In practice, she loves horses, soccer, art and an amazing memory for visual images. However, she can have challenges in computing and processing what she reads. Knowing this, her teacher is able to tailor her learning experience to ensure she learns as effectively as possible. – I probably haven’t explained this well, but it is probably the biggest factor in my daughter’s success (All A’s and B’s on this report card!)