Intelligent Without Knowing It

A student that needed to repeat their grade was recently tested for Special Education services. After the test, the school psychologist came and shared with me that the student did not meet the requirements for Special Education; matter of fact, the student scored in the above average category. The student even scored close to the Gifted levels.

When I shared the test findings with the student and told them that we were going to promote them two grades, he smiled beyond belief, looked me in the eyes, and said, "Dr. Z, I always thought I was stupid....are you sure the test was right?" This student was amazed that he was actually intelligent.

Way too many times in school, kids learn that they are not intelligent from their classmates, adults, and even teachers. As parents and educators, we need to invest in children by building their academic and intelligent confidence. We must encourage children to believe that they are intelligent. Howard Gardner, Professor at Harvard University, shares that kids have eight intelligences:

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

Check out this website for descriptions of each intelligence: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/gperf/education/ed_mi_overview.html