This article is devoted to understanding the Interpersonal learning style, or intelligence. It is the second in an 8-part series.
As we are devoted to teaching and providing therapies for children with multiple learning disabilities at Rockwood Prep Academy, and we tend to answer many questions from worried parents, our hope is that these articles will not only provide information but also resources to help our amazing, gifted children.
Much of the information curated for this article comes from the book, 7 (now 8) Kinds of Smart: Identifying and Developing Your Multiple Intelligences by Thomas Armstrong, Ph.D.
Our first blog post, The Secret Language of Learning Styles, focused on bodily-kinesthetic learners, today we will highlight how students with an “interpersonal” intelligence learn.
THE 8 KINDS OF INTELLIGENCE
- Bodily-Kinesthetic
- Interpersonal
- Intrapersonal
- Linguistic
- Logical-Mathematical
- Musical
- Naturalist
- Spatial
Children with interpersonal learning styles learn best when they are permitted to use their “people senses” as part of the learning process.
These children love to interact and learn through verbal and non-verbal communication. They are true people persons and enjoy leadership roles like heading up committees and participating in group learning projects.
Interpersonal learners tend to:
Excel at speech, debate, and drama
Have a strong intuition regarding others’ opinions and preferences
Be open to giving and receiving feedback
Enjoy one-on-one tutoring and coaching
Feel uncomfortable working alone or on self-paced projects
Be vocal and are not afraid to ask questions
Make friends easily, but may socialize too much
Interpersonal learners also do quite well during role-playing. If your child is having difficulty understanding anything in school, think of how you can tear it into a role-play to help them learn better.
The theory of different intelligences is that each person learns in different ways. And although it is a theory, we see evidence every day at Rockwood Prep that there is truth in these principles.
If you’re concerned about your student’s academic, social, or behavioral progress at school, don’t wait to get help. You are always, first and foremost, your child’s best advocate.
