Checklist for Assessing Students’ Multiple Intelligences
Check those statements that apply in each intelligence category.
Verbal/Linguistic Intelligence
¾ writes better than average for age
¾ spins tall tales or tells jokes and stories
¾ has a good memory for names, places, dates, or trivia
¾ enjoys word games
¾ enjoys reading books
¾ spells words accurately
¾ appreciates nonsense rhymes, puns, tongue twisters, etc.
¾ enjoys listening to the spoken word (stories, commentary on the radio, talking books, etc.)
¾ has a good vocabulary for age
¾ communicates to others in a highly verbal way
Logical/Mathematical Intelligence
¾ asks a lot of questions about how things work
¾ computes arithmetic problems in his/her head quickly
¾ enjoys math class
¾ finds math computer games interesting
¾ enjoys playing chess, checkers, or other strategy games
¾ enjoys working on logic puzzles or brainteasers
¾ enjoys putting things in categories or hierarchies
¾ likes to experiment in a way that shows higher order cognitive thinking processes
¾ thinks on a more abstract or conceptual level than peers
¾ has a good sense of cause-effect for age
Visual/Spatial Intelligence
¾ reports clear visual images
¾ reads maps, charts, and diagrams more easily than text
¾ daydreams more than peers
¾ enjoys art activities
¾ draws figures that are advanced for age
¾ likes to view movies, slides, or other visual presentations
¾ enjoys doing puzzles, mazes, “Where’s Waldo?” or similar visual activities
¾ builds interesting three-dimensional constructions for age (e.g. LEGO)
¾ gets more out of pictures than words while reading
Bodily/Kinesthetic Intelligence
¾ excels in one or more sports
¾ moves, twitches, taps, or fidgets while seated for a long time in one spot
¾ cleverly mimics other people’s gestures or mannerisms
¾ loves to take things apart and put them back together again
¾ puts his/her hands all over something just seen
¾ enjoys running, jumping, wrestling, or similar activities (or if older, will show these interests in a more “restrained” way, e.g. punching a friend, running to class, jumping over a chair)
¾ shows skill in a craft or good fine-motor coordination
¾ has a dramatic way of expressing himself/herself
¾ enjoys working with clay or other tactile experiences
Musical/Rhythmic Intelligence
¾ tells you when music sounds off-key or disturbing in some other way
¾ remembers melodies of songs
¾ has a good singing voice
¾ plays a musical instrument or sings in a choir or other group
¾ has a rhythmic way of speaking and/or moving
¾ unconsciously hums to self
¾ taps rhythmically on the table or desk while working
¾ sensitive to environmental noises (e.g. rain of the roof)
¾ responds favorably when a piece of music is put on
¾ sings songs learned outside the classroom
Interpersonal/Social Intelligence
¾ enjoys socializing with peers
¾ seems to be a natural leader
¾ gives advice to friends who have problems
¾ seems to be street-smart
¾ belongs to clubs, committees, or other organizations
¾ enjoys informally teaching other kids
¾ likes to play games with other kids
¾ has two or more close friends
¾ has a good sense of empathy or concern for others
¾ others seek out his/her company
Intrapersonal/Introspective Intelligence
¾ displays a sense of independence or a strong will
¾ has a realistic sense of own strengths and weaknesses
¾ does well when left alone to play or study
¾ marches to the beat of a different drummer in his/her style of living and learning
¾ has an interest or hobby that he/she doesn’t talk much about
¾ has a good sense of self-direction
¾ prefers working alone to working with others
¾ accurately expresses how he/she is feeling
¾ is able to learn from failures and successes in life
¾ has high self-esteem
Source: From 7 Kinds of Smart by Thomas Armstrong. Copyright 1993 by Thomas Armstrong.
Used by permission of Dutton Signet, a division of Penguin Books USA Inc.
Naturalist Intelligence
¾ likes being outdoors
¾ has pets at home
¾ enjoys spending time with animals
¾ interested in environmental/conservation concerns
¾ play takes him/her to the “great outdoors”
¾ idea of a perfect vacation is to spend it doing something in nature
¾ prefers to visit sites of natural beauty rather than museums.
¾ feels restless if confined inside
¾ enjoys collecting data about the natural environment
¾ favorite books/TV shows focus on plants/animals/the natural world
© Rebecca Crown, 2004
2005 Latin Pedagogy Workshop ~ Crown, Masello, Cohen