The Effect of Using a Teaching Strategy Based on the Multiple Intelligence Theory on Achievement in Arabic Language content and on Improving the Critical Thinking Skills among Sixth Grade Pupils at the Public Schools of Nablus District

This study aimed at identifying the effect of using a teaching strategy based on the multiple intelligence theory on achievement in Arabic Language and on improving the critical thinking skills among sixth grade pupils at the public schools of Nablus District for the scholastic year (2012-2013). The population of the study consisted of the male and female sixth-grade pupils at the public schools in the District of Nablus. The sample of the study consisted of (109) male and female pupils divided into two treatment groups, an experimental group and a control group. The instrument of the study included two tests which were designed by the researcher. The achievement test consisted of (26) multiple-choice items, and the critical thinking test consisted of the five skills of critical thinking: recognizing assumption, interpreting, evaluating arguments, deduction and inference. The validity of the instruments was verified by specialists. The reliability coefficient for the two tests was calculated using the equation (Cronbach's Alpha). The results showed that using a teaching strategy based on multiple intelligences affects pupils’ achievement and improves their critical thinking. The mean scores of the experimental groups were higher than the mean scores of the control groups. The results also revealed that the mean scores of the female pupils were higher than the mean scores of the male pupils. In the light of these findings, the researcher recommended the need to take into account the theory of multiple intelligences by the Ministry of Education because of its positive impact on increasing student achievement and improving their critical thinking. The researcher also recommended the need to hold training courses on the theory of multiple intelligences for school teachers, especially for teachers of Arabic language. and focus on the use of methods modern teaching that develop multiple intelligences and critical thinking. Moreover, the researcher recommended that further studies should be conducted on the effect of using teaching strategies based on the multiple intelligence theory and critical thinking on the achievement of students in other educational levels and in teaching other subjects. Keywords: Critical thinking, teaching strategy, achievement, multiple intelligence.