Seven Types of Intelligence
By Lucia Nelson, 8th Grade
Most people think that "intelligence" means how skilled you are at math, how quickly you can answer a question, or how good your grades are. But actually, Harvard professor Dr. Howard Gardner identified seven different types of intelligence! Unfortunately, the seven intelligences are overlooked in schools and communities. You've most likely never even heard of them. However, if they are understood, these seven types of smart can be the keys to helping you succeed in life.
Math Smart (Numerical Reasoning/Logic Intelligence)
People who are mathematically smart have a natural strength in math. They like deciphering puzzles, organizing ideas into categories, or predicting patterns. People who are math or logic smart also like to gain the full understanding of things, and they enjoy solving problems logically. Math and logic smart is the type of intelligence that most people accept as the only one. But just wait until you hear all the other kinds of smart!
Word Smart (Linguistic Intelligence)
People who are word smart enjoy words. They like learning about the origins of them, playing word games, and most importantly, using them. They are good at writing and discussing literature. Linguistic smart people tend to have strengths like spelling, speaking to others, and writing words and stories.
Music Smart (Musical Intelligence)
People who are music smart love the sound of language and music. They like poetry and the rhythm or sound patterns of words. Musically intelligent people have other strengths like carrying or creating tunes, and they tend to notice sounds others might not. They tend to always have something playing in their head like a radio.
Visually Smart (Spatial Intelligence)
People who are visually smart are usually good at drawing, painting, and sculpture. However, you don't need to be an artist to have spatial intelligence. These types of people learn visually, often thinking in pictures. Visually smart people are good at creating and reading maps, graphs, and diagrams. They like color-coding and completing mazes and jigsaw puzzles.
Body Smart (Kinesthetic Intelligence)
People who are body smart learn through movement such as touching and acting things out, and they tend to be athletic. They have great control over their body and excellent fine motor skills, which are the movements made with the muscles in your hands. Actions like writing on dry erase boards, doing crafts, and building things are ways that body smart people learn. They also can focus more with interactive items like bouncy chairs and fidgets.
People Smart (Interpersonal Intelligence)
People who are people smart like to collaborate with others and are good at communicating. Their way of learning is through working with others through discussions and group projects. Interpersonally intelligent people can understand others' feelings and have a lot of empathy, so people like to be around them.
Self Smart (Intrapersonal Intelligence)
People who are self smart are usually shy and prefer to work alone. They are good at understanding themselves, and are very aware of their feelings and motivations. They learn best through self reflection and journaling, and tend to have a very active brain that is always thinking about something.
These seven intelligences are sadly not very recognised in schools, especially ones like body, people, and self smart. Intelligence is not always measured by grades and test scores. If students can identify their intelligences, then they can use that knowledge to be successful in life. For example, you don't need to be word smart to be good at writing! People can all use their special ways of learning to create a story. If you are music smart you might make a soundtrack that fits the theme. Those who are self smart or body smart might write about their personal experiences. Visually smart people could make a collage of their story.
If we recognise the seven intelligences at schools, then students can learn in the ways they work best. They could use their smarts to become a better writer, reader, presenter, and more. This will help everyone be successful in their own way! And what better place to start this recognition than at Fugett