DOUBLE TAP TO ZOOM WITH PHONE OR TABLET things are too often thought of as the primary measures of what it means to be smart. Multiple Intelligences There are many educators, psychologists, and researchers, especially in the field of early childhood education, who recognize that there are multiple ways to define intelligence. One of the best-known proponents of this view is How- ard Gardner, a developmental psychologist who created the theory of multiple intelligences. Gardner proposes that what we might call “book smart” is just one kind of intelligence. He suggests there may actually be at least eight dif- ferent kinds of intelligence (Gardner 1999, 2006): 1. V  erbal/linguistic describes young children who might be especially tal- ented in reading, speaking, and singing. They might be able to mem- orize the words to a complicated song after just one listen and then perform the song by heart, as well as adapt the song by changing the words to make their own versions. 2. L  ogical/mathematical describes young children who are able to think conceptually, use clear reasoning, and recognize abstract relationships. They might be able to create a steering system for a wagon on their own by observing the relationships between the movement of the handle, the turning of the wheels, and the direction of travel. 3. Visual/spatial describes young children who see the world in colors and shapes. They might be able to complete a complex puzzle, create a pat- terned mosaic using colored blocks, or draw a road map of their neigh- borhood showing landmarks such as their home and school. 4. B  odily/kinesthetic describes young children who use bodily sensations, like touch, to learn about the world. They might be children who fidget all through story time but then create a graceful and expressive dance that retells the fairy tale they just heard. 5. Musical describes young children who learn through rhythm and mel- ody. They might learn to play a musical instrument with relative ease and, in school, use sounds to help themselves learn and remember important facts and ideas. 6. I  nterpersonal describes young children who are very social. They under- stand and care about people. They learn best in a group and enjoy hav- ing a partner for most activities. COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL Characteristics of Exceptionally Bright Children | 15