Unfortunately, all colleges and school systems have not yet helped their teachers and parents to use powerful new research on how students learn. If this is the case in your child's school, you can become more informed and help correct the situation to give your son or daughter the benefit of a much more effective learning environment.

When many of today's parents attended school, "intelligence" tests were often used to measure what many assumed was "potential for learning." On the basis of this research, we now know that there are many different kinds of intelligence or talent. We know that each of these kinds of intelligence or talent can be useful in both learning and problem solving. For example, Dr. Howard Gardner of Harvard University defines these eight intelligences:

1. Linguistic - - concerned with words, sounds, reading, and language. Journalists and lawyers use this intelligence.
2. Logical--Mathematical - - concerned with numbers and logic. Accountants and computer programmers use this talent.
   
   NOTE: The two talents described above are the only two measured by many old-fashioned intelligence tests.

3. Spatial or Visual - - concerned with pictures, patterns and images. Artists, designers, and photographers function with this talent. Also visualization talent is helpful in nearly every field. For example, a great baseball hitter often "sees" or imagines what he is going to do before he does it. Some successful entrepreneurs can imagine the outcome of a particular plan before they pursue it. Some of our greatest scientists, like Albert Einstein, visualized their theories before working on the mathematical details.
4. Musical - - concerned with rhythms and melodies. The right type of music can be very helpful in certain language learning.
5. Bodily--Kinesthetic - - concerned with body movements and handling objects. Mechanics, surgeons, craftspeople, athletes, and dancers function with this talent.
6. Interpersonal - - concerned with understanding and working effectively with other people. Social workers, teachers, and negotiators need this talent to be most effective.
7. Intrapersonal - - concerned with self-understanding. Theologians and self-employed business people who prefer to work alone on their goals often depend on this talent.
8. Naturalistic - - concerned with observing, classifying, and understanding the parts of the physical environment.

Each of us has all eight intelligences, or more. However, most people have one or two dominant intelligences or talents. Also, it is possible to develop or increase an intelligence or talent area.

The implications for teaching and learning are tremendous. If your child in elementary school is immersed in a phonics (sound-based) reading program when he or she is a visual processor, the child is apt to fall behind in reading development and might even be labeled as needing "special education" when, in reality, normal or even accelerated reading development could occur of the child was taught the way he or she learns best. Teachers in your child's school should be equipped to discover how your child learns best and should adjust teaching activities accordingly, especially if your child encounters difficulty in learning.

Also, the different areas of intelligences are related to each other. It is possible to increase intelligence in one area by developing it in another because many problems can be addressed or solved in more than one way. For example, one third-grade teacher found her students' scores on a math test (logical-mathematical) nearly doubled after giving them training in visual skills with a microcomputer program. Consider this finding from the researchers at the University of California, Irvine - -

An enriched environment that helps a very young child develop each area of talent or intelligence is one of the best possible investments in his or her future.

Here are some basic standards with which you can evaluate and/or encourage proper use of brain research in your local school system; seek positive responses:

1. Does the school system provide classes or other help to new parents to help them enrich their child's environment for developing multiple intelligences?
2. Has the school system provided all of its teachers with training in proper use of research on multiple intelligences and learning styles?
3. Does the reading program in elementary schools give special attention to each child's learning style (avoiding the destructive practice of teaching reading one way)?
4. Do middle school and secondary school teachers clearly pay attention to individual learning styles; in other words, do they teach students in different ways and not just subject matter in one (their) way? Do they help students know and use their styles or talents with specific counseling?
5. Does you school system provide strong learning alternatives for visual and kinesthetic learners regardless of whether they are college-bound or work-bound?

Help your PTA or SCHOOL COUNCIL focus on these questions now for the sake of your child's future.