Intelligent & Gifted - What Does it Really Mean?

"Intelligence test scores below 70 or above 130 occur in less than 5% of the population", 1 but yet it's these scores that are used to classify a person's giftedness. "People with IQ scores of about 140 and above may be identified as gifted". 2

Howard Gardener," Psychologists, and Professor of Cognition and Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education" 4 is best known for his theory on Multiple Intelligence in which he states that in fact everyone is gifted in some way or another.

I know plenty of people whom I think are highly intelligent, and really good at a specific talent, or have in depth knowledge about a topic. Is it realistic that everyone will know everything about everything; or even suggested that everyone know a little about everything, and not enough about certain things?

"The term gifted was first used to describe children whose scores on intelligence tests were well above average. The definition has expanded to include individuals who display superlative skills in specific areas as evidence by outstanding performance, which obviously is not usually assessed by tests and given a score or a grade". 3

With seven areas of giftedness Gardner pretty much leaves the door of giftedness open for all. In his book frames of mind he lays out the following categories of intelligence:

Linguistic Intelligence Gift- Has a way with words, and vocabulary

Logical-Intelligence Gift- enjoys problem solving and works very well with numbers effortlessly

Visual Spatial intelligence Gift - Works with pictures, charts, graphs, very creative, thinks in images

Bodily-Kinesthetic Intelligence Gift - has excellent hand eye coordination, athletic, smooth body movements

Musical Intelligence Gift- has a natural ear for music, sings well, has great rhythm

Interpersonal Intelligence Gift - works well with people and their motivations, assist with goal setting etc.

Intra personal Intelligence Gift - usually spiritual, self developed, and emotional, aware and connected to self

Naturalist intelligence Gift - Natural talent and interests in nature, such as plant, animals, the earth etc.

Years later, I'm not sure by whom, but Existential has been added to that list as well. It is describes as a person who ponders about life, and death, philosophy etc.

So what than do we do with general test scores, what do they mean, and what value do we have in them?

Do they correctly assess our giftedness and or intelligences?

A few years ago my son attended one of the local charter schools, we had been homeschooling for many years, and I thought the support of a charter should make things easier for me. Well when it was time for standardize tests, we studied and prepared at home, and in his classes on campus as well.
When the tests results came in, they said that he scored below grade level. As a concerned parent I discussed this with his education adviser and a week or so later administered a test of my own. I purchase that state standards workbook from Barnes and Noble. I gave it to my sons, and asked him to work on it in his spare time.

Within a few days, the entire book was complete, and he said it was fun. I scored each answer and to my surprise my nine year old fifth grader was reading at a high school level.

We never pressured him into reading specific books; we just let him read he was interested in. One of the great benefits of homeschooling. There was not any pressure to complete the so called intelligence test within a certain amount of time.

So how intelligent is my son I wonder. Well three years later and reading college level, but still struggling with math, a talented and gifted story writer and illustrator, I'd say my son is linguistically gifted, and possibly and artists as well.

You can read many of his articles, and stories published under my associated content account as well.
So before you rush to off to have your child's IQ tested, and or ground him or her for poor test scores. Look at what your child's natural, god given talent is. I bet you will find them to be the most gifted and intelligent person that never seems to amaze you.

Resources Cited:

1. Psychology, Fourth Edition, Authors: Stephen F. Davis - Joseph J. Palladino
Edition: 4th, Release: 2003-02-26, Publisher: Prentice Hall, Pg342
2. Psychology, Fourth Edition, Authors: Stephen F. Davis - Joseph J. Palladino
Edition: 4th, Release: 2003-02-26, Publisher: Prentice Hall, Pg. 342
3. Psychology, Fourth Edition, Authors: Stephen F. Davis - Joseph J. Palladino
Edition: 4th, Release: 2003-02-26, Publisher: Prentice Hall Pg, 343
4. Howard Gardner.com http://www.howardgardner.com/bio/bio.html

Illustration:
University of Michigan, Department of Psychology http://sitemaker.umich.edu/356.martin/files/multiple_intelligences_diagram