-Howard Gardiner
In 2015, smart has been defined by performance on the ISAT, PARCC, MAP, ACT, and SAT. These scores are used to determine admittance into gifted/accelerated programs, selective enrollment high schools, and college. Essentially, we've sent the message to our children that successful performance on one assessment negates hard work, passion, and creativity. This cultural misperception too easily forces students into binary categories of "success" and "failure". As parents, and teachers, we perpetuate this cycle by using language such as below grade level, low-average, far below benchmark, or the all encompassing, low. Essentially, when educators use the term low, they are summing up performance on standardized measures of assessment; however, that term becomes the uniform students wear everyday.
Howard Gardner has been studying multiple intelligences for years. When you work in a school, or are a parent of a school age child, you tend to forget that smart might mean something beyond oral reading fluency, math problem solving, correct word sequences, MAP scores, and ACT performance. What kind of smarts does your child possess? What are his/her gifts? If we protected these other forms of intelligence with the same fervor, what would the world be like?
Visual Spatial Intelligence
Kids with visual spatial intelligence think in terms of physical space. They are highly aware of their environments. These kids like to draw, build, create, do jigsaw puzzles, and read maps. At school, graphs, pictures, and screens are their best friends. When these kids grow up, you may find them pursuing careers in architecture, photography, art, graphic design, astronomy, or engineering.
Body Kinesthetic Intelligence
Kids with kinesthetic intelligence are those who are masters of control when it comes to using their bodies. They enjoy movement, role playing, touching, athletics, and hands-on learning. At school, these are the kids who love to do science experiments, history projects, participate in special area classes, and are the champions of dodge ball. When these kids grow up, you may find them pursuing careers in the performing arts, athletics, physical therapy, carpentry, or construction.
Musical Intelligence
Kids with musical intelligence show a keen sensitivity for rhythm and sound. While they love music, these kids are also particularly aware of all the sounds in their environment. At school, they love having music in the background when working, and can learn best by turning rote information into lyrics, rhyming, or tapping. When these kids grow up, you may find them pursuing careers in teaching, conducting, record producing, directing, composing, and writing.
Interpersonal Intelligence
Kids with interpersonal intelligence learn through interaction, and often have many friends, great empathy for others, and street smarts. At school, they learn best by working in groups, conferencing, emailing, and working directly with the teacher. When these kids grow up, you may find them pursuing careers in sales, coaching, politics, counseling, or childcare.
Intrapersonal Intelligence
Kids with intrapersonal intelligence are very in tune with their own interests and goals. They tend to shy away from others, and rely on their feelings, wisdom, intuition, and motivation. At school, these kids are the most self-reliant learners, and enjoy independent study and introspection. They thrive with books, creative materials, journaling, and privacy. When these kids grow up, you may find them pursuing careers in philosophy, counseling, psychology, research, or writing.
Linguistic Intelligence
Kids with linguistic intelligence love words, have highly developed auditory skills, and abstract verbal reasoning. They like to read, write, and play word games. At school, these kids enjoy lectures, shared reading, and opportunities for discussion. When they grow up, you may find them pursuing careers in broadcasting, journalism, writing, teaching, or politics.
Logical Mathematical
Kids with logical mathematical intelligence enjoy reasoning and calculating. They are abstract, conceptual thinkers who explore patterns and relationships. They enjoy experimenting, solving puzzles, and asking very deep questions. At school, these kids learn best through inquiry, investigation, logic games, and exposure to big picture concepts. When they grow up, you may find them pursuing careers in law, science, finance, accounting, or math.
So, with seven types of intelligences, what kind of smarts do your kids have? Although born to the same parents, I would venture to guess that their intelligences are highly variable. If you're curious, have them answer a few very easy questions at the following website.
http://www.bgfl.org/bgfl/custom/resources_ftp/client_ftp/ks3/ict/multiple_int/questions/choose_lang.cfm
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