8 Great Smarts: Discover and Nurture Your Child's Intelligences

I have heard about and know a small amount of information about multiple intelligence. During the past few years I have been doing my own research into this fascinating "idea" (can't think of the right word, more than an idea) . One of my children is having a hard time in school, they are brilliant and very smart, but struggles in the school environment. After some research I know why this is the case and it comes down to having some of the multiple intelligence's, that are not used or looked down on, in a public school setting.

I had the opportunity to receive a paperback edition of 8 Great Smarts by Kathy Koch, PhD. from Moody Publishing for free in exchange for an honest review.

I have to saw there have been only a handful of books, that I have read with a pencil in my hand, this is now my most marked up, note written book I have.
Dr. Kathy Koch, uses information from both Dr. Howard Gardener and Dr Tom Armstrong, in writing this book. She writes in a "every man way" (thank you) so that we, as parents and teachers can understand and help our children with their SMARTS. We are all smart and not all in the same way, how boring would that be.

This book is written from a Christian based view point, so if you do have problems with that you may want to skip over those parts.

Each chapter is dedicated to one of the 8 smarts. Word Smart, Logic Smart, Picture Smart, Music Smart, Body Smart, Nature Smart, People Smart and Self Smart. One thing I did find sort of annoying, yet helpful to was that each chapter used exactly the same format and wording, just with the different smart written in.

I would have like a bit more information about each smart and how to develop it in my children, and myself, but the information given was great and a very good jumping off spot for me.
She has a web link in the book for your children to take a quiz and find out what their Smarts are. One thing Dr Koch, drills is "Smarts don't work alone and each person will have more than one smart to draw from in any given situation" I have found that my Smart Child is strong in Body and Nature Smarts. We need to develop, awaken interest in the others. I have an other child who has strong Smarts on 5 different ways. A third child is strong in 3 Smarts.

You may be asking, does these Smarts have any thing to do with Learning Styles? I had the same question. Yes and No. Learning styles are how a child learns best using their dominate Smarts, but just because a child in a Visual Learner doesn't make them Picture Smart. Tactile Learners aren't necessarily, Body Smart. Dr Koch does explain the differences in this book also.

Reading through this book I have been able to better understand my spouse and myself also. For as Dr. Koch also says, "it is never to late to awaken a God given smart"

I am looking forward to reading more from Dr. Kathy Koch.