Every student has their own strengths. Each student will excel at one of the Multiple Intelligences.

As John McCarthy points out, it is our job as educators to cross-train learning to familiarize ourselves with our students' learning styles.

We must also plan three-dimensional lessons and embed choices so that students have the opportunity to learn using their strengths. If a student is forced to focus on their weaknesses, they will believe they are not smart and will lose the will to learn.

A student who arrives at the same conclusion but uses a different process should not be punished for non-conformity.

As teachers, we need to be open to the strong possibility that there will be students who use their own process that works best for them. We should use these cases to learn ourselves! Sometimes our students can teach us new things.

Allow these students the chance to teach or explain their methods. You never know how many students may not know they're eagles until one eagle shows them how to fly in their own way.

To create a professional learning community together requires us to focus on four key tenets:

• Knowing your students and supporting them in getting to know themselves as learners

• Knowing where students are in their learning

• Knowing where students need to go in their learning

• Knowing how to get students to where they need to go in their learning

From: Learning for All: A Guide to Effective Assessment and Instruction for All students, Kindergarten to Grade 12