 The Multiple Intelligence (MI) theory is based on the belief that we all possess several unique intelligences through which we are able to learn/teach new information. Although we each have all of the intelligences, no two individuals have them in the same exact amounts.

 These learners have highly developed auditory skills, enjoy reading and writing, like to play word games, and have a good memory for names, dates, and places. They like to tell stories, and get their point across. You learn best by saying and hearing words. Poets, writers, and people who speak a great deal in their jobs (like teachers) probably have a high degree of verbal-linguistic intelligence.

 Thinks: In words  Loves: Reading; writing; telling stories; playing word games  Needs: Books; tapes; writing tools; paper; diaries; dialogue; discussion; debates; stories  Displays: Sensitivity to the meaning of words  Learns Best By: Writing; speaking; reading; listening

 These learners are sensitive to the sounds in their environment, including the inflections in the human voice. They enjoy music, and may listen to music when they study or read. They are skilled at pitch and rhythm. Learning through melody and music works well for people with high musical-rhythmic intelligence. Singers, conductors, and composers obviously have a high musical- rhythmic intelligence. Anyone who enjoys, understands, and uses various elements of music probably has a high degree of musical- rhythmic intelligence.

 Thinks: Via rhythms and melodies  Loves: Music to be on key; singing, whistling, humming, tapping feet and hands; listening to music  Needs: Music playing; musical instruments; composing music; performing and conducting music  Displays: Sensitivity to rhythm, pitch, and environmental noises; has a rhythmical way of speaking and/or moving.  Learns Best By: mood background music; putting concepts to song, chants, or raps; music software; listening to songs that teach.

 intelligence is often linked with the term "scientific thinking." Logical-mathematical people like to explore patterns and relationships, like to experiment with things you don't understand, ask questions, and enjoy well-ordered tasks. They like to work with numbers and relish opportunities to solve problems via logical reasoning. They learn best by classifying information, using abstract thought, and looking for common basic principles and patterns. Many scientists have a high degree of logical-mathematical intelligence.

 Thinks: By reasoning  Loves: Experimenting; questioning; calculating; figuring out logical puzzles  Needs: Things to explore and think about; science materials; manipulative; trips to the planetarium and science museum  Displays: Ability to discern logical or numerical patterns; ability to prosecute long chains of reasoning; ability to handle increasingly abstract tiers of analysis  Activity to Begin a Lesson: Pose a logical paradox; look for a pattern or trend; create a hypotheses

 people work well maps, charts, diagrams, and visual arts in general. They are able to visualize clear mental images. They like to design and create things. They learn best by looking at pictures and watching videos. Sculptors, painters, architects, surgeons, and engineers are a few professions that require people with well-developed visual- spatial abilities.

 Thinks: In images and pictures  Loves: Designing; drawing; visualizing; doodling; decorating; beauty  Needs: To see it, draw it, color it, visualize it, and mind-map it  Displays: capacity to perceive forms and objects accurately; capacity to conjure mental imagery and transform it; capacity to produce a graphic likeness of spatial information; sensitivity to the feelings of balance and composition of spatial or visual displays  Learns Best By: painting; drawing; sculpting; appreciating visual art products; map making and reading; orienteering; activities that require visual memory and imagination

 learners use bodily sensations to gather information. They have good balance and coordination and are good with their hands. Learning activities that provide physical activities and hands-on learning experiences work well for them. People with highly developed bodily- kinesthetic abilities include carpenters, mechanics, dancers, gymnasts, swimmers, and jugglers.

 Thinks: Through somatic sensations  Loves: Movement - Touching; jumping; running; building; gesturing  Needs: Hands-on learning; role playing; drama; movement; things to build; sports and physical games; tactile experiences  Displays: Skill in one or more sports and/or crafts; moves, twitches, taps, or fidgets while seated in one spot; loves to take things apart and put them back together again  Learns Best By: Building it; acting it out; touching it

 These learners are aware of their own strengths, weaknesses, and feelings. They are aware of self, being a creative and independent, and reflective thinker. They usually possess independence, self-confidence, determination, and high motivation. They may respond with strong opinions when controversial topics are discussed. They learn best by engaging in independent study projects rather than working on group projects. Pacing their own instruction is important to them. Entrepreneurs, philosophers, and psychologists are a few professions where strong intrapersonal skills are a benefit.

 Thinks: Deeply inside of themselves  Loves: Setting goals; meditating, dreaming, being quiet, planning  Needs: Secret places, time alone, self-paced projects, choices, etc.  Displays: Good sense of self-direction; sense of independence or strong will; high self-esteem; ability to learn from failures and successes in life  Learns Best By: individualized instruction; options in course of study; self-checking materials; journals; projects that connect to personal life; bringing feeling into a presentation

 These learners are "people-persons." They enjoy being around people, like talking to people, have many friends, and engage in social activities. They can develop genuine empathy for the feelings of others. They learn best by relating, sharing, and participating in cooperative group environments. The best salespeople, consultants, community organizers, counselors, and teachers have a high interpersonal intelligence.

 Thinks: By bouncing ideas off other people  Loves: Leading; organizing; relating; manipulating; mediating; partying  Needs: Friends; group games; social gatherings; community events; clubs; apprenticeships  Displays: Ability to "read" other people-- their moods, motives, temperaments, and act on this knowledge  Learns Best By: Cooperative learning or somehow interacting with others; sharing what they learned

 These learners are in touch with nature - the outdoors in terms of geography, animals, conservation, etc. They sense patterns and are good a categorization. They are also good planners and organizers of living areas. Naturalistic learners learn best studying natural phenomenon in natural settings, learning about how things work. They may express interest in biology, zoology, botany, geology, meteorology, paleontology, or astronomy - fields directly connected to some aspect of nature.

 Thinks: With a strong connection to nature  Loves: Relating things to their natural environment and collecting items from nature  Needs: To be able to touch nature and to be surrounded by it as much as possible  Displays: Ability to notice patterns and characteristics of natural objects and environments; Ability to notice subtleties in appearances, texture, and sounds that those weaker in this intelligence may not grasp  Learns Best By: Observing, classifying, grouping; Conducting science experiments; Being surrounded by nature