What does it mean to be smart? Traditionally, the answer to that question was found on an IQ test -- not, say, on an athletic field or in a concert hall. But experience leads many teachers toward a broader conception of intelligence. They're drawn to the theory of multiple intelligences, developed by Harvard University professor Howard Gardner. The idea is that intelligence is not just one overarching quality, but instead comes in eight forms -- verbal-linguistic, logical-mathematical, visual-spatial, musical, naturalistic, bodily-kinesthetic, interpersonal, and intrapersonal. A person may be strong in one or more types of intelligence and weak in others. For many educators, this variation resonates with what they see in their classrooms, and it also suggests a path to reach all students by appealing to certain aptitudes. But even if various students are strong in different types of intelligence, can teachers really tap into all of them in the classroom?
