Logical-Mathematical Learners

“Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves.” 2 Corinthians 13:5 (NIV)

              “Why doesn’t Joey have to show his work?” My students whined.

              “Because he gets the answer correct every time.”

              Joey was high functioning Aspergers and could perform long division in his head to the thousandth decimal place with astounding accuracy. When asked to show his work, he couldn’t. His brain worked in such a way that he excelled at mathematics, especially division. He was the only student I never forced to show his work in all my years of education.

              Socially Joey struggled, but logically he soared. Like Joey, some of our students will show their intelligence quickly, allowing us to notice their strengths in a timely manner, but other students may remain a mystery and require more trial and error. This is why it’s important to include all types of Intelligences across the curriculum.

              Strategy games, logic puzzles, recognizing and creating patterns, thinking scientifically, and solving problems are all strengths of the students like Joey. Creating outlines and formulating logical inferences are also part of their skill sets. These are the kids who will grow up to be mathematicians, researchers, computer programmers, coders, video game creators, engineers, accountants, and science teachers.

              The Logical-Mathematical Intelligence reminds me of doctor Luke in the New Testament. He was the author of the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles. While he retold real-life stories that believers have gleaned from for centuries, he purposely included details many other writers would have left out. His attention to medical detail, outlining principles, and other health related terminology set his work apart from the other three Gospels. His unique perspective is a result of his special Intelligence.

              Are you a person with Logical-Mathematical Intelligence? If you are, think about the way that you digest information and organize your thoughts. If not, identify someone in your life who has this Intelligence. What activities are fun? What topics engage them? Strive to include those things in your lesson plans as you plan future units.

Do the Heart Work

1.      Who are your Logical-Mathematical learners?

2.      Do you struggle to plan in such a way to reach these learners? Or do you find it easy to do?

3.      How might a person with Logical-Mathematical Intelligence read and interpret the scriptures?

Digging Deeper

Your Logical-Mathematical students will be your thinkers. They will seek to understand, ask deep questions, and search out the truth. Read these verses and think about how these scriptures may help in the growth process of a logical person.

1.      Test all things, hold on to what is good. 1 Thessalonians 5:21 (BSB)

2.      “Come now, and let us reason together,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.” Isaiah 1:18a (BSB)

3.      “Now the Bereans Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.” Acts 17:11 (NIV)

4.      “The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out.” Proverbs 18:15 (NIV)

5.      “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:5 (NIV)

If You Get Spare Time 

Research activities across the curriculum that would allow Logical-Mathematical thinking. Watch your students and see if the kids who excel in this Intelligence are easily spotted. Think of at least two activities that can be included in the lesson plans this week.