Intelligence

For Espanol click here Here at Saint Bridget's we understand that intelligence is a person's total knowledge as well as their ability and capacity to learn and adjust to their environments and situations. Intelligence is more than just a student's IQ and that there are many forms that intelligence can express itself. We strive to help students understand their own intelligence and we also incorporate the way our students learn and what their strengths are into the lessons we create. We want all students to be successful and reach their fullest potential. As parents and guardians or someone simply interested in intelligence we hope you find this page helpful in understanding the different types of intelligence and what can be done to accommodate different learning styles and intelligence types. We understand that titles and labels do not define students. Children with behavior disorders and children with disabilities should not be labeled and these things are not reflective of a student's intelligence.

Howard Gardner has a well known intelligence theory called the theory of multiple intelligences. In this theory Gardner addresses that people have eight different abilities including bodily-kinesthetic (movement orientated), intrapersonal (knowledge of self), interpersonal (knowledge of others), linguistic (verbal communication), logical mathematical, musical, naturalist, and spatial. There are tests that can be taken to assess which intelligence type students prefer and understanding these things may help a student know how to study or assist a teacher in planning lessons or providing more helpful one on one attention. Gardner also acknowledges that other types of intelligence may exist and that not all intelligence is confined to one of these categories and that learning may still be a lot of work even if there are multiple ways to go about it.

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Another intelligence theory by Robert Sternberg is called the triarchic theory of successful intelligence which is a cognitive approach to intelligence which acknowledges that intelligence is about success and success is relative to one's own definition and cultural context. The three parts Sternberg's theory include analytic, creative and practical intelligence. Analytic intelligence emphasizes the ability to problem solve and mentally process ideas. Creative intelligence involves being flexible and able to adapt to new situations and become a fluid problem solver with a bank of readily available solutions. Practical intelligence is defined as knowing how one is able to succeed and flourish and having the ability to choose and create those environments. As teachers we work to help our students develop these three types of intelligence so that they can apply and express their knowledge to the world around them.



We hope you found this information useful and that if you have suggestions for us that you will let us know. We have also included some links and other pages that you may find helpful.

To learn about the development of emotional intelligence click [|here] To learn about fluid and crystalized intelligence click [|here] To learn more about your child's intelligence types click [|here]