Multiple Intelligence Bonanza!

Posted by lapazfarm on June 29th, 2006 filed in Random Ramblings

Perhaps most of you have heard of Dr. Howard Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences. But in case you have not, it is quite simply the idea that people think differently. Intelligence is multifaceted and a single number (IQ) can hardly be representative of the complexity and variety of the ways people think.

Gardner breaks intellegence down into 8 categories:

bullet Linguistic intelligence (”word smart”):
bullet Logical-mathematical intelligence (”number/reasoning smart”)
bullet Spatial intelligence (”picture smart”)
bullet Bodily-Kinesthetic intelligence (”body smart”)
bullet Musical intelligence (”music smart”)
bullet Interpersonal intelligence (”people smart”)
bullet Intrapersonal intelligence (”self smart”)
bullet Naturalist intelligence (”nature smart”)

Gardner points out that every person HAS all eight of these intelligences. Some folks may be stronger in some types than others. For instance, when I take MI tests, I (not surprisingly) score with my highest strength in Naturalist intelligence, followed by linguistic and logical-mathematical.

(Recently there has been added a ninth intelligence, the Existential intelligence, but this one has not been as readily accepted as the others yet. Not sure why. )

If you want to find out what your strengths are there are several online quizzes you can take. Just google “Multiple Intelligence quiz” and you will come up with a bunch. Some, however, include only the 7 original intelligences, leaving off naturalist, so I prefer not to use them!LOL!

Here is a quick and easy one:

MI Quiz this one gives results in a nice pie-graph form (for all you spatial learners) as well as sending an email with results in bar-graph form.
But this site is what I REALLY wanted to share.

Here you can find a wonderful overview of MI theory. And here are the criteria for identifying an intelligence. This page gives nice, in-depth profiles of each intelligence and offers suggestions of how teachers can support these intelligences through activities and technology.
But the real TREASURE of the site is here:
MI IMMERSION This is a wonderful collection of links to online activities sorted according to the intelligence category they stimulate! There are games, puzzles, downlads, interactive sites…you name it! There ia also a link to a biography of a person who exemplifies each intelligence category (Mother Theresa is the MI Master for interpersonal intelligence!) I immediately went to the naturalist category and WOW!!! RIGHT UP MY ALLEY!!!

If you know your intelligence strength, or better yet, the strengths of your children, this site does a superior job of pinpointing activities that will interest you or them! So take that quiz, have your children take it, find your intelligences and head for these wondeful websites!

I am headed back there right now!
For more in depth research on MI, head for Dr. Gardner’s site here.

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9 Responses to “Multiple Intelligence Bonanza!”

  1. Jenn Miller Says:
    June 30th, 2006 at 7:45 am

    Very interesting, Theresa! Thanks so much for pointing this out and elaborating on it. A great tool!

  2. Amy Says:
    June 30th, 2006 at 2:36 pm

    Interesting! I took the one “quick and easy” test and was highest in linguistic intelligence but pretty much dead-even average on all the others (except interpersonal- I’m not surprised!) Thanks for sharing all these links. I’m bookmarking them for later!

  3. Maureen Says:
    June 30th, 2006 at 8:51 pm

    Love this….I’ll be linking to this entry. Great topic.

  4. Barb Says:
    July 1st, 2006 at 10:04 am

    I can’t wait for Josh to take this test and check out the activities. First I am going to check it out for myself though. Have been enjoying your blog as always!

  5. Chrissy Says:
    July 1st, 2006 at 12:36 pm

    What great sites. I can’t wait to check them out. Thank you!

  6. Kathryn Says:
    July 2nd, 2006 at 4:35 am

    Thank you for this … we took the quiz and yet again, my children have completely different learning styles to mine. Now what am I to do with two body smart / music smart daughters?

  7. lapazfarm Says:
    July 2nd, 2006 at 7:46 am

    Kathryn,
    It is definitely harder when our dc have different style than us! Your daughters might learn well through dramatic play, by singing learning songs (like putting math facts to music, etc) by clapping out rhythms to help cement facts, hopping around on a number line on the floor (great for positive and negative numbers)and similar activities that get them moving and singing.

  8. Big Brother Says:
    July 3rd, 2006 at 2:37 pm

    Sounds like twaddle!

  9. lapazfarm Says:
    July 3rd, 2006 at 4:51 pm

    Big Brother, I am going to assume you are joking,otherwise that is pretty darn rude, even for you! Knowing your usually charming personality and razor-sharp wit, I bet that is a pretty safe assumption. (I am surprised, however, that  the word “twaddle” is a part of your working vocabulary! Thought that was reserved for Victorian era schoolteachers and homeschooling Moms!)
    Surely you must have picked up on the distinct differences in the way you and I, two obviously brilliant thinkers, umm..think! Or maybe you are just upset because Mom gave me all the naturalist and interpersonal  intelligence and left you with only the logical-mathematical. emoticon LOL!

    When will we see you? The kids ask about you all the time. emoticon

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