You're Smarter Than You Think: A Kid's Guide to Multiple Intelligences

What I love about this book: 1. Identifies the 8 kinds of intelligence discovered thus far, with a check list to help you identify "some of the ways you are smart." I like how he is continually making the point that you have all the smarts, and you might identify with one or two more than the others. I think this helps you not feel like you have a label. 2. Identifies the things you do everyday that show the way you are smart. 3. Gives ideas for enhancing and expanding the way you are smart. 4. Gives clear and fun ideas to help you learn the other ways to be smart. 5. Gives ideas for possible careers you might enjoy as an adult, while using your "smart." 6. Provides additional resources for continuing your learning for each smart, including books, activities, and websites. This book is very well thought out and complete.

I found this book really helpful not only for kids but for grownups (like me) as well. Read on... I bought this book for my son several years ago. He is now about to enter high school. I think it is as relevant now as it was then. The book, based on the work of Dr. Howard Gardner and his Theory of Multiple Intelligences, is an easy read. Dr. Gardner studied children and adults to discover more about how people learn. There are at least eight ways to be intelligent and there may be more that haven't been studied yet. As a teacher, I've learned that learning happens all the time and sometimes in spurts and slow downs. In my experience, everyone can learn at every age and can improve on what is already learned well. The brain does function like a muscle in that if not used it can atrophy or waste away. As the author states- The key is that all the intelligences - word, music, logic/number, people, picture, body, self and nature are all unique/different and equal in importance with none better or more important than the other. You may know what you're best at but that doesn't mean you're limited to that kind of intelligence. There are many different ways of being smart within each intelligence and the different smarts work together in almost everything you do. No one is great at everything but you probably have some ability in each area. Plus no matter how much ability you have, you can usually improve. I particularly appreciated the practical suggestions in the book on how to improve in each intelligence area by using strengths in other intelligence areas (example: improve people smarts by joining a band, choral group or other musical group or join a sports team or casual pick-me-up basketball game kind of thing). Ideas presented could be used by kids, parents, teachers, therapists or others. Have fun discovering and expanding your abilities in each area! This book has special meaning to me as a special education teacher whose work involves teaching those outside the mainstream-but take note: all of us are "special" and "intelligent" in one way or another.

This book presents a practical guide to the theory of multiple intelligences in a kid friendly way. I really enjoyed it and sent a copy to my granddaughter, a precocious [...], who has been fighting summer boredom by doing some of the activities in the book with her brothers and neighborhood friends. This book helps children be aware of different aspects of intelligence and how to enhance their learning by understanding themselves and the unique way they learn. The part I really liked? Children learn to challenge themselves to enhance their less preferred areas of intelligence. Wow! This book can be used to help children with self understanding and set goals for self improvement. I would especially recommend it to help young people who feel odd or different understand their strengths.

This book based on Howard Gardner's Multiple Intelligences is a great resource for teachers and students alike. Its easy to read format, along with many helpful hints draws the reader in. The practicality of this book pertains to everyone because we all reflect our intelligence in different ways. This book helps the reader to understand the various intelligences, as well as how we can build upon our "smarts" and strengthen those areas that we may struggle with. You're Smarter Than You Think: A Kid's Guide to Multiple Intelligences emphasizes that we are all intelligent and that we can grow to be more well rounded individuals by learning to use all of the multiple intelligences together since they are involved in everything that we do. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wishes to find out how smart they really are, and chances are, you are probably smarter than you think.