It is very important for teachers, parents and children alike to understand that we are all gifted and talented in different ways. We are all unique, and rarely do any of us find everything easy. No-one is a genius in all subject areas. There are many different types of intelligences and in our brain we will all have 'cool spots' (I need to work hard on these things), 'warm spots' (I am ok at these things), and 'hot spots' (I love and am good at these things). The great news is that all areas of our brain, including the warm and cool spots, can be improved as long as it is engaged in active, meaningful learning.

So, the question should not be 'how smart are you?', but rather 'in what ways are you smart?' There are nine different ways to be smart;

Number Smart
A child who is number smart will enjoy and be good at maths and problem solving. They will follow instructions easily, feel at home conducting investigations and be able to accurately estimate and predict.

Word Smart
Children who are word smart will have a general love of language in all forms. They will enjoy and be skilled at reading and telling stories. They will have a flair for writing and will be good speakers and listeners.

Music Smart
If a child is music smart, you will often find them singing, humming and whistling. They will enjoy listening to music and will probably be fairly skilled at playing some form of musical instrument. They will be able to keep a rhythm well and will enjoy making up songs or raps.

Body Smart
A body smart child will have good control over their body. They will be securely balanced and move very well, whether this be during dance, athletics or gymnastics. They will be a very hand on 'doer' and will like to explore things using their body.

2D/3D Smart
A child who is 2D/3D smart will enjoy and be good at painting and drawing. They will have the ability to vividly imagine things in images and will like working with charts and diagrams. They will have very good spatial awareness and, obviously, have a preference for working in 2 and 3D.

People Smart
Children who are people smart will have the ability to make friends easily and keep these friendships. They will enjoy working in groups and have no problems taking turns. People smart children also tend to be very caring and sharing.

Self Smart
If a child is self smart, you will find that they know how they work best. They generally concentrate well and think about things deeply. They will prefer to work alone and will have a very good measure of control over their emotions.

Nature Smart
A nature smart child will display a general love of the world. They will enjoy and be interested in growing plants, caring for animals and wildlife and will probably show an interest in environmental issues, such as recycling.

Practical Smart
A child who is practical smart will be skilled at and enjoy using their hands. They will have an ability to use tools well, whether that be to make or repair things and they will be in their element during any kind of practical task.