Multiple Intelligences

One of the key principles to ITI is the theory of Multiple Intelligences. We adopt the belief that we should ask the question “How am I smart?” and not “Am I smart?” Under this theory, by Howard Gardner, eight intelligence areas have been identified. We use more child friendly terminology when helping our youngest learners discover and identify their strengths. What intelligences do you think you might be?

Logical—Mathematical (Number Smart)
Characteristics: Compute arithmetic problems in your head, enjoy using computers, ask questions such as, “Where does the universe end?” and “When did time begin?”, play chess, or other strategy games— and win, reason things out logically.

Linguistic (Word Smart)
Characteristics: Rhetoric: Use language to convince others of a course of action;
Mnemonics: A tool to help remember information; Explanation: The ability to use oral and written language to teach and learn; Metalinguistic analysis: The use of language to reflect upon language and to explain the activities of language.

Spatial (Picture Smart)
Characteristics: Visualize while reading, spend free time doing art activities, report clear visual images when thinking about something, read maps and charts easily, draw accurate representations of people and things, daydream, enjoy movies, slides and photographs.

Bodily-Kinesthetic (Body Smart)
Characteristics: Use body language to communicate thoughts and feelings, does well in sports and recreational hobbies involving physical activities, move, twitch or fidget often when sitting, need to touch people when they talk to them, enjoy scary amusement rides, demonstrate a skill like woodworking or sewing, cleverly mimic gestures of behaviors of others.

Intrapersonal Intelligence (Self Smart)
Characteristics: Display a sense of interdependence, react with strong opinions when faced with discussing controversial issues, live in a private world, line to be alone to pursue a hobby or interest, seem to have a deep sense of self-confidence, march to the beat of a different drummer, self-motivated

Interpersonal (People Smart)
Characteristics: Many friends, socialize a great deal, read people’s intentions and motives, involved in special groups or clubs, very empathetic.

Musical Intelligence (Music Smart)
Characteristics: Play an instrument and/or sing, remembers song melodies, hears when a not is off-key, a music smart child may need music to help them study, collect music cd’s, sings to self, keeps rhythm

Naturalist (Nature Smart)
Characteristics: Ask questions about the environment, collects natural objects, enjoying scouting, camping, stays intensely involved in an activity, sensitive to patterns in the environment such as the lake, woods, on the street, and in the classroom.