Characteristics of Intelligent Behavior

Myrna SkeenProfessor TorresSecondary Teaching Methods13 March 2017

12 qualities of genius

curiosity

playfulness

imagination

creativity

wonderment

wisdom

inventiveness

vitality

sensitivity

flexibility

humor

joy

According to Thomas

Armstrong 1998, author Of

Awakening Genius in the

Classroom,

there are

12 qualities of genius.

Now we shall look at five characteristics

of intelligent behavior that you, as a teacher,

should model, teach for, and observe as they

develop in your students.

Drawing on Knowledge and Applying it to New Situations

Help your students learn to draw from real life past experiences and apply them to a skill they are now are learning.

For example:

To help your students understand the character, Rebecca,

In Arthur Miller 1953, The Crucible, ask them to think

about a time when they were unkind to a person because

they felt like the person was so kind and good,

that it made them feel terrible

for something bad that them had done.

Finding Humor

Humor sets creativity free and develops high-level thinking skills, such as anticipation, finding novel relationships, and visual imagery.

For Example:

Your students will love William Shakespeare ca. 1593,

A Midsummer Night’s Dream,

if you help them to see the humor in the characters.

This is a good play to teach your students how

funny and enjoyable William Shakespeare really is.

Creating, Imagining, and Innovating

Encourage all of your students to say, “I Can,” And discourage them from saying,” I Can’t.”

Just a Few Examples:

Tie into their emotions by engaging them

in a project to help the homeless, or through reaching

out to a student who’s very sick.

Have them to keep a daily journal, and encourage

their creativity in using it. Make sure they know

They can be free to express themselves in their

classroom.

Listening with Understanding and Empathy

Being able to listen to others, and understand their perspective, is one of the highest forms of intelligent behavior.

For Example:

Use literary fiction and poetry to

help your students learn to listen to others with

empathy and understanding.

Thinking and Communicating with Clarity and Precision

Make sure your students understand the importanceof clarity and accuracy

In both written and spoken communication.

For Example:

As a fun exercise, have your students read ambiguous, humorous,

sentences, and rewrite them for clarity and accuracy.

Then have them share their rewrites with the class.

ReferencesArmstrong, T. (1998). Awakening genius in the classroom United States: Association

for Supervision and Curriculum Development. Kindle Ed.

Miller, A. (1953). The crucible. New York: A. Meyerson.

Shakespeare, W. (Writer). ( Ca.1593). A Midsummer Night's Dream.