How Am I Smart? (Kathy Koch)

How Am I Smart? (Kathy Koch)--Intelligence

Saturday, December 27, 2014

6:02 PM

8 intelligences: first published in 1983 by Gardner (Arbstrong) -- (but very complementary to Charlotte Mason)

Word/liguistic

Logic/math

Picture/spatial

Music/

Body/bodily kinesthetic

Nature/naturalist

People/interpersonal

Self/intrapersonal

All people born with these, but undeveloped. Can remain that way...but it's never too late.

Anytime you study with more than one intelligence, you learn more effectively.

Strengths/intelligences might explain why kids get into certain kinds of trouble.

BEING SMART IS A CHOICE...and SO IS STUPIDITY.

Evil in the world is done by smart people who are choosing stupidly.

Everyone MUST learn how to have self control, self respect and respect for others.

Must choose to help not hurt.

Don't compare kids to each other, but do let kids compare to themselves (to see growth) and do let them compare to God...God's smarter than me!'

God could have made us puppets and just controlled everything but he chose to give us these intelligences and expects us to use them.

Ch 2: Why are intelligences relevant?

5 needs:

1. security:  who can I trust?

2. identity: who am I?
3. belonging: who wants me?

4. purpose; why am I alive?
5. competence: What do I do well? (intelligence)

Our needs need to be met legitimately (by God/family too) or we will find unhealthy ways to meet them.

Parents/teachers etc should "crystallize smart": the ah ha moment when joy and energy is released.   We should avoid "paralyzing smart" when we shut down an intelligence by not accepting people the way they are by using shame, fear, guilt and anger. (perfectionism)

Ch 3:  Word smart  (CM would promote this through listen once and narrate oral/written)

• Talk when noone is listening?
• Lots of talking (also reading/writing)
• Usually comes out in teaching
• Strategy to help spelling: let them pick their own pens, colors etc.
• Engage them in meaningful conversations.
• Don't tell them to be quiet all the time (but teach them when they need the self control to do so)
• IF not a teaching/persuading type, probably more of an auditory learner rather than words.
• Sin tendencies: tongue issues: gossiping, lie, argue, pride in school related abilities. Can be unteachable
• Showcase God:  in studying the Word (read, write, listen, speak), need to talk about what they are thinking about,
• Want relationships that share knowledge, have meaningful conversations, like to have friends to influence/who influence them
• Love to read the Bible, Bible stories. Family devos important
• Parents need to listen closely and ask questions, provide good books, try writing back and forth as they hit teen years.

Our family:  I, H, K: high ability/high interest, E and G (for now) high interest/low ability.

Ch 4: Logic smart--NOTE suggestions at end for ISAIAH.  (CM would expect kids to make their own connections, book of centuries.)

• Sometimes kids don't realize they are smart or that others aren't logical like them.
• Say: keep talking, I want to know what you're thinking.
• Show common sense reasoning very young.
• Love to explore new topics and dive right in.
• Think in questions. Ask WHY?
• Have a high need to know.
• Don't say: you don't need to know that, explain as much as possible.
• Enjoy science, research, cause-effect relationships, analyzing, predicting, inventing
• Math sense is high--like to do math mentally.
• Prefer non-fiction to fiction.
• Like to ask what if?...use careful thinking verbs with them: define/distinguish, evaluate, and predice
• Like brain teasers, experiments, numbers, debate, data collection.
• Reasoning is their power...like solutions.
• If reading is an issue, find easier reading sources but still let them explore. Or use DVD, websites, etc.
• Answer their questions carefully.
• Asking questions is an essential skill in life so if kids struggle have them look at fun trivia, and encourage questions..don't shut them down.
• Sometimes kids who struggle here don't want to try because parents accuse them of being lazy...encourage open ended exploration, field trips (CM! Make your own connections!)
• If logical kids are struggling to read: have them try nonfiction.
• Logical kids struggle with spelling because there are so many "exceptions", ask them to memorize what words look like instead.
• Struggles:  problem solving can ensnare them--cross over the line from good to evil and justify it (Isaiah). Self control is ESSENTIAL.  Pride: intellectual (I have all the answers) and spiritual (I have God figured out), judging others, argumentative, defensive, angry if confused, worrying, challenge/test authority.
• Showcase God:  asking/answer ?, explain and apply truth, can be great leaders if they have people smarts, must choose to trust and obey the Lord even when they don't understan, love to study the Bible and dig deeply
• Problems come if they think they are only valued for problem solving abilitieis, often will analyze people rather than just love them, will know ABOUT God, rather than really pressing in to KNOW GOD. Struggle with grace and mercy and unconditional love and need to see this modeled.

Our family:  K, I, E high interest/ability, H and G mid-ability/high interest

Isaiah struggling with the hard issues above.   More roleplaying?

CH 5: Picture Smart: Elly  (CM would use picture study, book of centuries, map study, picture in your mind)

• Think with their eyes: pictures, diagrams, maps, charts, illustrations...think in pictures.
• Need self control to help them stop looking and start listening sometimes.
• Describe beautiful moving pictures (CM: narrate by forming a movie in your mind of this story.)
• Seeing and designing in THEIR MINDS
• Love to draw and create.

• Enjoy creative writing, fiction and history (story type)

• Learn by sketching, visualizing, notice/use descriptive words, details.
• Say : Close your eyes and see or Picture this and Does  it look right?
• Use different colored highlighters (green for vocab, yellow for main ideas)
• Learn spelling words by drawing a picture
• Struggles: may judge by appearance, need to guard their eyes.
• Showcasing God: love God the creator, praise/glorify God in creation, picture Christ with them, entering into Christ's presence (ask them if they can describe His body language, expressions). Enjoy reading paraphrases like "The Message". Connect with God through stained glass windows, art, jewelry. Object lessons and parables resonate.
• Belonging:  like movies, shows, museums, video games, scrapbooking, photography.
• Value: creativity
• Trust: sometimes in outward appearance: looking just right/perfect
• Parents: find outlets for creativity, take them places to look around, let them decorate (bedrooms), let them draw solutions, doodle when they listen
• Trusting God: Might say "I saw what God wanted me to do.", Might need to describe/draw when praying /worshiping, like the stories that are easily pictured.

Our family:  E high interest/high ability, H and G high interest/low ability, I  medium ability/medium interest, Kev low interest?

CH 6: music smart (rhythm and melody)  CM used composer, hymn, poetry, folksong study)

• Humming, tapping rhythm constantly (help them learn to do this without distracting others), hear music in their heads, don't really like to "analyze" music, like different music styles, can distinguish between composers' styles easily, some produce music, remember music from movies
• Teaching: by using music/rhythm (AWANA, CC), might need music to think (use headphones if that's distracting), give them the opportunity to play an instrument, experiment with their voice. OK if they don't want to continue lessons forever, they still have what they learned augmenting their natural intelligence.
• Love to praise God in song, might enjoy performing for God's glory

• Struggles: pride in ability  particularly if performing, tendency to be perfectionistic, idolize musicians/artists they like, choose music that doesn't edify God.

• Showcasing GOD (SEND THIS TO KRIS FOR WORSHIP TEAM). Healthy use of intelligence when we showcase our talent for God's glory, motivation is important to God, not so much perfection, He's gloried when we humbly take suggestions from others (directors, music teachers), might have to learn to reject feedback from people knowing that it's for God they sing/play.  Worship is an easy spiritual discipline for them (although I think this author kind of associates worship only with music which I don't agree with). Music can comfort, confront and convict them.  Have them reflect on lyrics and discuss/apply. Might want to play music in the background for discussions.
• Music connects people.  Might struggle to relate to people who aren't as musical.
• Will connect with lives of composers, musicians (choose carefully).
• Trust issues: Might think people only like them of they perform well.Want to have standards about what music they can listen to, need resources to develop their abilities. Choose an instrument/voice lessons.

Our family:  All in the high interest/mid to high ability. Isaiah is more in the middle for interest..more into modern music right now.

CH 7: BODY smart (This chapter was a lot different than what I remembered from other authors on this subject...I always associated this with good at sports. Koch points out other outlets and that people good at sport are likely also smart with people. ---

 CM talked about movement in a child's day, shorter lessons, long times outdoors in the pm, copywork, handcrafts)

• Have to move and touch.
• Large motor skills: hike, sports, dance, acting, camping, playing instruments
• Small motor skills: sewing/handcrafts, building, typing, cooking
• Possible to be advanced in large motor and not small and vice versa.
• Don't tell them to sit still!  Self control key: Find ways they can move without distracting: march while you spell, skywrite, (brain gym, rhythm movement, balance boards, rocking, yoga balls), used drama/role play to learn, manipulatives, let them drum fingers on leg not table...be satisfied with smaller movements, also will like to wrestle and play fight but need to be taught not to hurt and when to stop (when it's aggressive)...tell them to "be smart about your smart."
• Showcase God:  let them teach and model with role play, drama and object lessons, athletes can play for Christ, or play with others as a connector, can join teams, squads, do lettering on signs, arrange things,
• Connect with people through sports (but not only sports--Isaiah robotics team), have to watch to see if they are distracting/annoying others with their movement and "be satisfied with less"
• Connect to God: move, sway, clap, talking with hands, rocking while spending time with God (hammock?), Communion very important teaching tool, giving offering, attending baptisms, act out stories,
• Trust: Might be tempted to trust their talent/ability, need to win and be the best rather than try my best for Jesus. DON'T ask them if they won, ask were you Christlike in your attitude and actions, did you enjoy your game/activity?
• Parents: help kids find appropriate uses for their intelligence, teach them to move respectfully,

Our family:  K and G high interest/ability, E and H high interest/lower ability, Isaiah mid interest/ability (not sport b/c of people issues but building, hiking, skating, typing)

CH 8  Nature Smart (This was a new one for me...Charlotte Mason had this one in the bag a century + ago!)

• See patterns: know and classify animals, flora, know differences, use their eyes so close to picture smartness, enjoy gardening, arranging flowers, love animals, weather, understand outside easily and nature sciences: biology--most -ologies,

• Intelligences rarely work alone:

• Teach kids by collecting, categorizing, study outside, help them see patterns, interact with animals. Watch clouds, ride bikes, hike, shoot hoops, build a bird bath, sit in a park and watch, take care of the environment : recycle, compost

• Struggles:  Worship creation rather than CREATOR, confuse AWE with nature for God

• Showcase God: take care of His creatures, environment, serve God by decorating with natural objects, learn to garden/farm and provide for people, might want to be outside to study the Bible, sing, pray, meditate rather than inside (CM),  be careful that they don't put their trust in things.

Our family:  I, E and G high interest, high ability,  H high interest, middle ability, Kev low interest, but he comes along.  Aunt Sam/Uncle Chris are good resources.

CH 9: People Smart:   (CM  oral narration, working in groups in most things)

Make friends easily, have lots, people watch a lot, not listening b/c distracted by people,

• Read body language, should work to not just read it, but respond appropriately,

• Prefer to bounce ideas off others, work in groups, or at least start a project with people

• Might want to talk all the time...have to learn self control and respect for others

• Need to find people they can look up to: integrity, modeling,  might shadow people and learn well.

• Without people smarts?  Choose small, safe groups for them to see good skills modeled (ABC, Speech, EH?)

• Are good peacemakers (teach the difference between that and peace keeping)

• Struggles: might use insight into people to manipulate others for evil, can motivate wrongly, might get caught up in popularity/popular stuff and look down on people who don't have as many friends, care about popular things.  Gang leaders are smart with people for evil, can be very powerful, but also if things go south with a situation/person, might feel insecure.

• Showcase God:  learn to motivate and encourage others, to help and not hurt, intentionally brainstorm solutions, consider others' input, like to study in groups, especially important: family devos, good team building skills, evangelism may be a strength, if teaching will easily see if people are confused or bored and adjust accordingly.  Connect with Jesus b/c he's more identifiable, connect at camp, youth group, family devos, etc.  Ask kids questions about these connections (CM said this)

• Belonging : want to be with other, on teams

• Can be people smart up introverted so will do well with people but need time on their own to think. Can get tired of being with people,

• Parents: talk WITH kids, not AT them, ask What do you think?, Say I Love You with actions as well as words. People smart people see a hypocrite easily so apologize!

• God is extremely People Smart!  God wants us to KNOW Him...that's right up their alley. People smart kids want to know others and be known by them.

Our family:  E, H, G (for an 8 year old) high interest/mid ability but introverted, Kev too but not as good about reading body language (or maybe just responding to it),  Isaiah low interest/ability with peers or in school situation, mid interest/mid ability with adults, younger kids, and non-teaching situations

CH 10:  Self Smart:

• Think deep inside themselves, might look like a slow thinker sometimes, don't push them, let them know you need input but give them time/heads up--otherwise this is a stress/paralyzer

• Can appear selfish b/c they know themselves, what they want, are self focused/centered, because they don't want to participate b/c they can't see any personal benefit

• Can be good goal setters,

• Quiet, independent workers and thinkers

• Need choices and options

• Enjoy being by themselves to enjoy their feelings and thoughts

• Glorify God by being true to themselves, deep convictions, self smart people who trust Christ are amazing in the blessing they can be to the body. May want to worship God, pray, study in private, might want their own quiet time, these people are they type to practice God's presence while doing basic tasks, love that God knows their thoughts

• May appear to be shy and quiet especially with peers--loners  Are quiet and reflective.   Tend not to make foolish mistakes and learn from them,

• Struggles: Can be intense, can be mentally absent, think they are better independently, can handle things alone

• Parents need to give time to think and ask good questions, help them see how to honor and bless others, encourage them to put themselves in someone else's shoes,

• Be careful with people and self smart people:  can be very stressful and confusing

b/c they don't know who to be.

Our family:

I think we're all middle ability with high interest, Isaiah being lower, Kev and El being highest.

Reflecting:  a lot of "high interest"  but I think that's a product of Charlotte Mason style education where we're learned to value these different intelligences without calling them that. 

Gabe is a bit young to know where he'll fall b/c ability is hard to fathom..naturally the  younger the  kids the more they are still developing and show less ability generally.