Multiple Intelligence

Howard Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences
“An intelligence is the ability to solve problems,
or to create products, that are valued within
one or more cultural settings.”
-- HowardGardner
FRAMES OF MIND (1983)
Verbal-Linguistic Intelligence
(“word smart” or “book smart”)
This intelligence involves the knowing which comes through language; through reading, writing,
and speaking.It involves understanding the order and meaning of words in both speech and
writing and how to properly use the language. It involves understanding the sociocultural
nuances of a language, includingidioms, plays on words, and linguistically-based humor.
If this is a strong intelligence for you, you have highly developed skills for reading, speaking, and
writing and you tend to think in words.You probably like various kinds of literature, playing word
games, making up poetry and stories, engaging in involved discussions with other people,
debating, formal speaking, creative writing, andtelling jokes. You are likely precise in expressing
yourself and irritated when others are not! You love learning new words, you do well with written
assignments, and your comprehension of anythingyou read is high.
Mathematical-Logical Intelligence
(“math smart” or “logic smart”)
This intelligence uses numbers, math, and logic to find and understand the various patterns that
occur in ourlives: thought patterns, number patterns, visual patterns, color patters, and so on. It
begins with concrete patterns in the real world but gets increasingly abstract as we try to
understandrelationships of the patterns we have seen.
If you happen to be a logical-mathematically inclined person you tend to think more conceptually
and abstractly and are often able to see patterns andrelationships that others miss. You probably
like to conduct experiments, to solve puzzles and other problems, to ask cosmic questions, and
analyze circumstances and people’s behavior. You most likely enjoy...