Homeschooler's
Intelligence Quotient is an Irrelevant Quotient
Homeschooling
parents often wonder what the significance of their
homeschooler's IQ score really means. In order for
homeschooling parents to understand what an IQ score
really means in terms of intelligence, they must first
understand how an IQ score is determined. After learning
how it is determined, homeschooling parents can then
understanding the true meaning of their homeschooler's
IQ score.
Homeschooling
parents need to first realize that a test that measures
a student's intelligence quotient focuses on a student's
verbal and mathematical skills. It is a standardized
test that has frequently been used to "label" students
in the public school setting. Unfortunately, the intelligence
quotient tests are often extremely biased and they
do not accurately determine an individual's intelligence.
An
IQ test does not accurately define how smart a homeschooler
is. Just because a homeschooler may not perform well
on an IQ test, it doesn't mean that they are doomed
to a poor existence! The IQ test does not factor in
important skills and talents that an individual has
and therefore gives a score that is erroneous and
incapable of defining ones intelligence. What about
a student's musical abilities or artistic talents?
What about a student's socialization skills and the
ability to understand themselves as they interact
with the world? Such tests fail miserably to measure
a student's real intelligence because they do not
account for a student's emotional intelligence, nor
do such standardized tests account for a homeschooler's
creative abilities. Finally, an IQ test does not factor
in a student's own determination and will to succeed.
Many
psychologists lean toward Gardner's theory of multiple
intelligences and they also argue that intelligence
can not be defined by a single test. Howard Gardner
argued the theory that people have several levels
of intelligence including Verbal-Linguistic Intelligence,
Mathematical-Logical Intelligence, Musical Intelligence,
Visual-Spatial Intelligence, Bodily-Kinesthetic Intelligence,
Interpersonal Intelligence, Intrapersonal Intelligence,
Naturalist Intelligence, and Existential Intelligence.
Further, since the average intelligence test only
focuses on the verbal, visual, and mathematical skills
of the student, it can hardly be considered an accurate
interpretation of a student's real intelligence level.
Ultimately,
the homeschooler's intelligence quotient is an irrelevant
quotient-it means absolutely nothing as far as the
student's overall potential. Parents shouldn't be
overly concerned if their children don't ace an intelligence
exam. After all, even Einstein failed seventh math
and was labeled nothing more than an average student.
About
The Author:
Mimi
Rothschild is a homeschooling mother, writer, childrenĄ¯s
rights advocate, and Founder and C.E.O. of home education
company Learning by Grace, Inc. She and her husband
of 28 years reside with their 8 children right outside
Philadelphia, PA. Rothschild launched Learning By
Grace, Inc. because she believed that our nationĄ¯s
public school system has failed parents and students.
Learning By Grace, Inc. offers online education through
a multimedia-rich curriculum to PreK-12 children across
the country and throughout the world. An accomplished
author, Rothschild has written books regarding education
published by McGraw Hill and others. Her Daily Education
News Feed consists of articles and essays dealing
with alternative learning methods.
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