Visual-Spatial | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Student Life

There’s More Than One Kind Of Smart

Growing up in traditional public schools, most of us are taught using the same methods. For some students, this works but not everyone.

103
There’s More Than One Kind Of Smart

I have always done well in school. Listening to a lecture, taking notes, and memorizing study guides has always been sufficient for me to learn the material well enough to get good grades. As a result of this, I have typically been considered intelligent, or at the very least "book smart". I have friends and family though who are not so fortunate. They work harder than I have ever had to and yet still fail the tests and do poorly. They're not dumb, their minds just don't work the same way as mine, or the way the traditional school system does. Luckily, there is a theory to explain this.

Dr. Howard Gardner's Multiple Intelligences Theory was formed in 1983 and helps to explain the different types of smart people are, and how to develop those skills in students. Here are the 8 different intelligences, how they're expressed, and how to utilize them when teaching students:

Verbal-Linguistic

Words Scrabble Letters

www.maxpixel.net

Verbal-Linguistic people love language. They enjoy reading, writing, and telling stories. This one is pretty easy to incorporate into lessons, as much of our school system is naturally geared towards it.

Logical-Mathematical

upload.wikimedia.org

If you enjoy numbers, and knowing both the how and why of things, then you may be logical-mathematical intelligent. These people enjoy finding problems to solve and multiple ways to solve them, in both daily life and the classroom. A great way to engage these students is to have them find other ways to solve a math problem and have them explain their thought process.

Visual-Spatial

Kids Drawing Children Graffiti Crayon Parenting

www.maxpixel.net

These are the artists, the doodlers, and the dreamers who see things differently. They are very spatially aware and enjoy stories with detailed descriptions, and the opportunity to make art projects. A great to engage these students is by giving them art projects to do and allowing them to draw out word problems to solve them.

Musical-Rhythmic

cdn.pixabay.com

These are the musicians, the kids who are constantly singing, humming and moving to music. They attach emotions to music and can learn well through song. Playing different types of music throughout the day is helpful as well.

Bodily-Kinesthetic

media.defense.gov

These are the dancers, the athletes, and the textile learners. They love to move, and learn well through touch and acting things out. Skits, active games, and stretching breaks are very helpful for these learners.

Interpersonal

Trust Hand Teamwork Keep Cooperation Unity

www.maxpixel.net

Sensitive to others, people with a strong interpersonal intelligence are great at cooperative activities and resolving conflicts. They love talking and interacting with others, and learn well in groups. For students who excel at this, having them tutor each other, work together, and talk through problems is beneficial.

Intrapersonal

cdn.pixabay.com

Those who have a strong intrapersonal intelligence are very reflective and self-motivated. They are the "wallflowers" preferring to watch and listen before contributing. Preferring to work alone, they need quiet time to process new ideas and will often daydream. A great way to help develop this intelligence is to give students quiet time to journal, and have them set personal goals throughout the year.

Naturalist

cdn.pixabay.com

These are the hikers and biologists of our world, the ones catching lizards and rescuing injured creatures. Steve Irwin would be a great example of someone with a strong naturalist intelligence. For students, having nature labs and outdoor activities helps them develop these connections. Reading stories about environmental problems and teaching kids how to help is another great way to strengthen this one.

Everyone has all 8 of this intelligences to some degree, and it is important to use the ones we are strongest in. Are you curious about which intelligence you are strongest in? Take this short quiz to find out where your strengths lie. If you're a parent or teacher, have your students or children take it. Find out what your true strengths are and how best to help your kids learn. We're all smart after all, just in different ways.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

How To Prepare For The Library: Finals Edition

10 ways to prepare for finals week—beginning with getting to the library.

1512
How To Prepare For The Library: Finals Edition
Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash

It’s that time of year again when college students live at the library all week, cramming for tests that they should have started studying for last month. Preparing to spend all day at the library takes much consideration and planning. Use these tips to help get you through the week while spending an excessive amount of time in a building that no one wants to be in.

Keep Reading...Show less
girl roommates
StableDiffusion

Where do we begin when we start talking about our roommates? You practically spend every moment with them, they become your second family and they deal with you at your best and at your absolute worst. They are there to make you laugh just a little harder, cry a little less and make each day a little better. We often forget to thank them for the little things that they do to make college even a tiny bit easier and more fun. This list of 26 things are what you should thank your roommates for right this minute and every day that you live with them.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

20 Thoughts While Studying For Finals

I may or may not be stressing right now.

2219
Thoughts While Studying For Finals
StableDiffusion


That time of the semester has arrived once again, finals. The worst week ever. Who thought it was a good idea for all your classes to have exams all in the same week? Definitely not me. Here's 20 thoughts you may have studying for finals.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Disney magic for New Year!

The "Happiest Place on Earth" has a lot of characters with some pretty great advice.

7021
Disney magic kingdom castle on new years
StableDiffusion

Disney movies are well known and very popular in today's world. Although many people appreciate the plot and the storyline, not many people appreciate the wisdom these characters possess. Every Disney movie has unique advice that can be applied to everyday life. Here are 11 Disney quotes to help start your New Year off right:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

40 Gift Ideas for the Indecisive

It's a time of love, family, memory-making, and gift-giving. But also a time of stressing over the perfect gift.

121245
Christmas gifts around a tree
StableDiffusion

It's officially December. There is less than a month of 2024, and I still feel like yesterday was summer. Now comes the merriest time of the year, the Christmas season.

Everyone has been waiting for this time of year since mid-October (which is way too early, in my opinion) or before. It's a time of love, family, memory-making, and gift-giving. A lot of times when I ask friends and family what they want, I get a lot of "I don't know" or "I don't care."

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments