Elementary teaching theories?

Question

How do the learning styles of Howard Gardner’s vs Orthon-Gillignham approch differ? I have a 6 year old child who attends a school using the Howard Gardner's theroy of learning but we are thinking about a summer school who teaches Orthon-Gillignham approch. Will he become confussed

Answer 1

Children are rarely confused by different theories of instruction, especially when they know that it is for summer school.  The varied instructional approach will probably broaden his horizons.

Answer 2

Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences suggests teaching a student any subject through his/her preferred learning style. Most people have a couple of strong areas, like Visual/Spatial and Logical/Mathematic.

The Orton-Gillingham method is a multidisciplinary approach to reading. Simply put, students see it, say it, write it, and read it. The "it" is letter sounds which start very basically and build to bigger words. This method also introduces the rule behind the sounds, like a final "e" makes the vowel long in a cvce word. (cvce=consonant, vowel, consonant, final e) Most students get something from this method. I have used it successfully for years. Some argue that the biggest drawback is that all people do not hear the sounds. Being LD in reading and writing, my son does not hear the sounds distinctly, but he learned the strategy and is a successful college student.

I have used both approaches with success since about 1989. I do not see them as conflicting. Orton-Gillingham uses multiple approaches for one thing. Gardner's theory encourages teaching from the strongest intelligence of a student.

There are currently 9 multiple intelligences: Visual/Spatial Intelligence, Musical Intelligence, Verbal/Linguistic Intelligence, Logical/Mathematical Intelligence, Interpersonal Intelligence, Intrapersonal Intelligence, Bodily/Kinesthetic Intelligence, Naturalist Intelligence, and Existentialist Intelligence.