Intrapersonal Learners

Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test! 2 Corinthians 13:5 (ESV)

              I’m a people watcher. From the time I was a small child into adulthood, I learn through observation. When I was in fifth grade, our English teacher of five weeks went on maternity leave and never returned. Disappointed by her absence, we went through many weeks of substitutes. Finally, we were assigned a long-term substitute who stayed for six weeks. It was awful.

              Ms. Bridges had a curly, poofy blob of hair on her head, a scowl on her face, and her hands appeared permanently affixed to her hips in a miserable chicken wing stance. Even as a ten-year-old I knew she had no classroom management and zero teaching ability; not to mention a complete lack of social skills.

The boys in our class tortured this lady. They took turns standing behind her, imitating her regular hand on hip, finger waving in the air reprimand, “PEOPLE. PUUUHHHHLLEEAASSEE!” They hid her glasses. Forged grades in the gradebook. Took her copies and “misplaced” them in odd corners of the room. Instead of taking control of the class and stepping into her role as teacher, she whined, fussed, scolded, and yelled but had zero follow-through. She did not exhibit yesterday’s Interpersonal Intelligence, that’s for sure.

But something happened in me. From that point forward, I critiqued every teacher in every class. I made mental notes of behaviors I refused to include in my life and I added positive memos regarding actions and attitudes I wanted to exhibit. Daily I added to my mental lists of positives and negatives. I kept a journal and examined my own actions and attitudes, vowing to kill any ugly traits that tried to take over. My emotions needed to be stable and regulated and there were goals I began setting for personal growth. Ms. Bridges may not have taught me much in my school life, but her poor representation of herself drew out the Intrapersonal Intelligence in me.

Goal-setting, intrinsic motivation, life planning, and self-reflection are huge parts of what drives me in my daily existence. Journaling, searching the whys behind my actions, and examining my responses and emotions are essential. Not only do these practices help me in my daily job, but also in my personal walk with Jesus. We are to examine our ways, allow God to search our heart, and practice self-discipline.

Like me, your students with the Intrapersonal Intelligence need moments to look deeper and not be required to produce an immediate answer. They need to consider the larger picture and connect the whys that lurk behind the scenes. These are the kids who need think-time, but when they do finally produce an answer, everyone in the room drops their jaw because they are wise beyond their years. These are your therapists, teachers, athletes, performers, ministry leaders, and entrepreneurs; all who can stand tall under great loads of pressure but never lose sight of the goal.

Who are these students in your class? What are you doing to guard these fragile, yet resilient souls?

Do the Heart Work

1.      Do you include journal writing that requires students to show depth and insight? If not, how could you incorporate this type of activity on a regular basis?

2.      How could you add goal setting in the classroom?

3.      In what ways do you tap into your own Intrapersonal Intelligence?

Digging Deeper

              Yesterday, I mentioned Solomon as having great Interpersonal skills, but he also had a season in his life where he did some deep soul-searching. Let’s read Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (ESV).

              For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;  a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.

              What wisdom can you gain from these ponderings? When was the last time you allowed yourself to examine yourself and life a little more deeply?

If You Get Spare Time 

              Identify your students who obviously have the Intrapersonal Intelligence. Make a point to read their journal entries and comment back to them with details to let them know you see them and want to encourage their deep thinking.

              Also, spend time in your own journal digging deeper than usual. Then spend some time with God in prayer going deeper than usual with him too.