Enhancing Spatial Intelligence in Children

By subscription only! You are receiving this newsletter because you requested a subscription.

Hi,
What is common with Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali, Gustav Eiffel and Michelangelo? One common thing unites them together - the power of spatial intelligence and thinking that helps them to look at visual objects in a way that is entirely different from average people. These legendary people have great power of thinking in spatial manner that allows them create unusual patterns and images in their brain. Now, the big question is why only handful of people is so efficient in areas connected to visuals, images and arts?

Teaching spatial intelligence should start in your home and right in your drawing room. Parents have a lot of responsibility in training their children in this necessary skill. Fortunately, all the teaching aids and materials required to teach spatial intelligence exist right in your home and you have an access to them almost throughout the day. You may wish to read advanced books on this special topic or wish to contact an expert to know more about the benefits of spatial intelligence. Children need to be scholastically accomplished. However, mastering the basic skills of spatial intelligence will help them perform better not only in their classrooms but also out of it. All the best!

Thought for today:
"To get what you've never had, you must do what you've never done." - Anonymous

Please visit our sponsor ad web site below. Thanks to our sponsor for keeping this a free newsletter.

Enhancing Spatial Intelligence in Children - Fundamentals
Spatial intelligence is a natural gift to some children. It is a rare gift that allows them to visualize things around them and create concrete forms of objects, patterns and forms in their mind. Some of the greatest engineers, painters and sculptors are known possess a highly sophisticated form of spatial intelligence.

Spatial Intelligence in Children - Practical Activities
Teaching spatial intelligence to your children is more of a science than art! The basic techniques of teaching spatial intelligence are right in front of you and in your home. Here are some basic spatial intelligence activities you can teach your children.

Q1: Is our daughter gifted?

My daughter aged 10 has been formally diagnosed with ADHD from about 7. As part of the support process we have had a WISC IV assessment of her approximately 2 years ago. The scores were as follows:

VCI Total 37
PR Total 40
WM Total 20
PS Total 14 (coding score of 5)
Overal total 111

Am I correct in understanding this can be equated to her IQ? I also believe I read somewhere that the VCI and PR elements could be interpreted independently to identify if a child is gifted?

A: I can understand your concern. Children with ADHD (and other neuropsychological issues) often have difficulties with working memory and processing speed may result in lower Full Scale IQ (FSIQ) scores, as with your daughter’s scores. In this case, it may be better to look at the General Ability Index (GAI) rather than the FSIQ. .... Continue to read Dr. Sandhu's answer on Gifted Children with ADHD here.

Q2: I have a six year old son who has presented with many qualities of giftedness from a very early age. Walked/talked/read earlier than the vast majority of his age peers. He is highly intense, spirited, emotional, curious ... and a whole host of other gifted qualities which present on a 'grand' scale. In his first year of school last year, we asked his teacher if she could send home readers as he complained of being bored. She mentioned he didn't present with any of the gifts we spoke of and, as a result of the disparity, he was tested by the school Guidance Officer....

A: From your description, he certainly demonstrates qualities of a gifted child. The good thing here is that you believe you son is gifted and as parents, you are the best judge of his abilities. However, school are quite stringent in the criteria for a special program. It is indeed true that many gifted children may not make it into the school's gifted program due to scores that do not meet the cut-off requirement... Continue to read Dr. Sandhu's answer on Mismatched WPPSI-III Scores with Ability here.

Q3: Are their other scales used measure IQ instead of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale as it relates to gifted testing?

A: Sure there is! I would like to refer you to the following webpage for a whole list of tests, the most common being the Stanford Binet (SB-5), the Wechsler (WISC), and the Woodcock Johnson (WJ-III)... Continue to read Dr. Sandhu's answer on Scales to Measure Intelligence here.

Visual-Spatial Learners
By Alexandra Shires Golon

Looking for ways to differentiate your instruction to meet the needs of gifted visual-spatial learners? You have found it in Visual-Spatial Learners: Differentiation Strategies for Creating a Successful Classroom. Visual-spatial learners are students who show advanced abilities with computers, maps, construction toys, and puzzles.

These students think outside the box and demonstrate tremendous empathy and compassion. Too often, traditional classroom teaching strategies do not meet the needs of these students. By incorporating visual-spatial strategies to help students learn, you can more effectively reach every student. The techniques outlined within these pages help all learners succeed - regardless of their preferred learning style.

Smart and Smarter: Enhancing Your Child's Intelligence Through Cognitive Coaching
By James Gardner

Smart and Smarter teaches parents and educators how to enhance a child's educational achievement. Specific instruments used by Gardner are the Behavioral Assessment Rating Inventory (BARI), developed by Gardner, and the Weschler Intelligence Scale for Children. Both were developed specifically for assessing a child's developmental level and intellectual level.

No other book on enhancing the intelligence of children uses both of these instruments, which possess both diagnostic and prescriptive teaching qualities. In "Smart and Smarter," Gardner shares with parents the wealth of knowledge he has gained and the techniques he has developed during his more than 35 years in private practice.

Intelligence starts before birth
Science Alert June 20, 2009

Research from Perth's Telethon Institute for Child Health Research has revealed a link between healthy growth in the womb and improved numeracy and literacy skills in early primary school.

Choline improves baby's brain development, reduces birth defects
The Examiner July 13, 2009

Studies show that, in pregnancy, choline plays a critical role in brain development, and may reduce the risk of neural-tube defects such as spina bifida by as much as fifty percent.

Novel study seems to link social reasoning and brain development in preschoolers
Healthy Jockey July 21, 2009

The ability to recognize what others are thinking and what they mean is a skill unique to people. A latest study at Queen's University draws attention on the relation between how preschoolers and groups interact, on one side, and how the brain develops and functions, on the other side.

Ability to Consider Other People's Thoughts Grows After Age 6
US News June 15, 2009

By the time children are 6 years old, the parts of their brain involved in social cognition may be in place, a finding that may have implications for children with autism, according to U.S researchers.

Are Gifted Children Born or Made
Voice of America July 7, 2009

Some say given enough time, money and instruction, any child can develop a special expertise. Others, however, insist gifted children are born, not made.

World's First Binary Scientific Child Prodigy
Bernama July 15, 2009

A Singaporean child prodigy scored another success after he became the youngest to pass the 'O' level Physics, making him the world's first binary scientific child prodigy.

The rewards of parenting
The Guardian June 21, 2009

Like a good gardener, you must tend lovingly to the budding brain. Your child is a special gift from God to nurture and develop through your positive thoughts and confidence. Each child has his/her own brain, which allows the child to think in order to fulfill his/her dreams and visions—provided you, as parents, are there to guide the child.

Subscription to this ezine is FREE and please feel free to pass this on to friends, colleagues, relative and see if they would like to be a subscriber as well! They can subscribe by clicking here

To date, fewer than 1% of subscribers have chosen to unsubscribe because I try to send out only useful and relevant information. The publishing schedule for this ezine is published every other Sunday (or Monday when things don't work out as planned)

Editorial Contact - General comments/feedback
Andrew Loh - andrew @ brainy-child.com

This ezine is 100% Opt-in and all email addresses are private and are not sold or distributed to any third parties. Our full privacy statement can be viewed online.

Disclaimer: This ezine is for informational purposes only. Please consult the appropriate professionals for more information.

Copyright ©2002-2009. brainy-child.com All Rights Reserved.