Intelligence and Understanding

We embrace the notion that each individual possesses certain proclivities in relation to how they learn. Dr. Howard Gardner has explored this idea in detail in his theory of ?Multiple Intelligences."

The Theory of Multiple Intelligences (MI) says that children have different areas of strengths and weaknesses and therefore we need to provide many different ways for children to learn and solve problems. Too often schools only focus on two intelligences, the linguistic and the logical-mathematical and miss other important talents of the children that help them to be successful and happy. While these intelligences are extremely important to be successful throughout the school years and on test scores, they represent only a small portion of the talents that we have. Other important intelligences include spatial, musical, bodily kinesthetic, naturalistic, intrapersonal and interpersonal.

We expect our curriculum to bring every facet of intelligence into the educational experience and at the same time create opportunities for advanced and intensely focused academic challenges structured to maximize the individual student's abilities. When the student becomes engaged in increasing their knowledge and mastering skills, we create an atmosphere of success specific to each student. In this manner, intrapersonal awareness is deepened and thereby increases confidence in the ability to reach even deeper levels of understanding.

The Acquisition of Knowledge

The concept that all knowledge is in some way interconnected is at the center of our curriculum. This concept is explored by Dr. Edward O. Wilson in his book, Consilience - The Unity of Knowledge. It is time to prepare our young people to understand advanced concepts that lead to solutions of ever more sophisticated problems.

Historically, individuals who have made significant contributions to society have had the ability to make intellectual leaps between seemingly unrelated domains of knowledge. We believe that complex problem solving will involve teams of people composed of individuals possessing this unique ability to connect knowledge in one field of expertise with other domains of knowledge.

Development and Expression of the Individual

Expression of the individual is fundamental to the role each student will play in the improvement of the world. Each of us has a unique view of our world. It is through this singularity that innovation finds its wellspring. We encourage this concept in the following ways:

• Interlacing multiple learning modes both as a means of discovering each individual's natural talents and as a means for improving those that do not come so easily
• Promoting intrinsic motivation through activities that build confidence
• Requiring expression in the learning process and increasing the student?s ability to articulate ideas
• Project based learning that reinforces student-defined issues and ideas
• Reinforcement of Positive Values

We accept the primary role of the family in setting standards for the character of their children. At Soundview, we have created an atmosphere that supports fundamental values that lead to good citizenship.

Virtues we encourage:

• Honesty
• Compassion
• Self-discipline and self-control
• Cooperation
• Respect
• Responsibility
• Accountability
• Community involvement
• Truth is an elusive search
• Beauty is not a fixed set
• Generosity