FLUID INTELLIGENCE AND CRYSTALLIZED INTELLIGENCE

In the world of "intelligence", we often hear the terms "fluid intelligence" and "crystallized intelligence".  What are they?  The simple, basic descriptions below will help to separate them.

Fluid Intelligence refers to the ability to solve problems and work with relationships without any previous training regarding those relationships.  It is the ability to reason, to think abstractly, to generate strategies, and to think quickly - "on the fly", so to speak.  When one develops strategies for an exam, for example, or solves puzzles, we see Fluid Intelligence in action.  It is thought that Fluid Intelligence is a physiologically-rooted capacity that sharpens and develops through the younger years into early adulthood, and then tapers off.

Crystallized Intelligence, on the other hand, is the ability to use stored knowledge or experience to complete a task - for example, when one recalls learned knowledge to answer questions on an exam.  It is thought that Crystallized Intelligence is rooted in personality, culture, and education, and that it continues to develop through the adult years.

Discover more about different kinds of intelligence in (click) Intelligent Children.


GREAT BOOK ON ENGLISH GRAMMAR

When it comes to good books on English Grammar and Usage, at the top of the list is English Composition and Grammar: Complete Course by John E. Warriner. It is not inexpensive, but it is arguably the best and, as the title indicates, it is the “Complete Course”, from soup to nuts, from A to Z, "to infinity and beyond". In it you will find expert guidance on composition – how to write sentences, paragraphs, research papers, etc. – and solid information about specifics, such as Parts of Speech, Clauses, Phrases, Pronouns, Capitalization, Punctuation, and more.

CLICK on the title to look at English Composition and Grammar: Complete Course

Your comments on this or other English Grammar and Usage books are welcome. Please share your thoughts and experiences. Thanks.

WHAT SMART PEOPLE KNOW

Dr. Droge's book is now available:
BRIGHTEN UP: SMART TOOLS TO EXCEL IN READING, WRITING, MEMORY, VOCABULARY, SPELLING, NOTES, AND ENGLISH USAGE

SMART TOOLS TO EXCEL

Dr. Droge's book, Brighten Up: Smart Tools to Excel in Reading, Writing, Memory, Vocabulary, Spelling, Notes, and English Usage is available - click here


IMPROVING TEST SCORES

Students Who Write About Their Test Anxiety May Improve Scores

With the understanding that students with anxiety about upcoming exams often perform poorly on them, researchers intervened with an exercise that permitted a randomized group of students to write about their concerns before taking an exam.  Result:  the students improved their performance and scores.   

“Writing About Testing Boosts Exam Performance in the Classroom”. Gerardo Ramirez, Sian L. Beilock.  Science, January 14, 2011, 211-213.

Article may be free with registration at site:

VISIT DR. E. DROGE

Find out more about Dr. E. Droge - including  information on his book, INTELLIGENT CHILDREN - at

CAN GESTURES HELP CHILDREN LEARN?

Researchers at SF State have found that young children who use gestures solve problems well in certain instances.

In the study, children from two-and-a-half to five years of age were asked to sort cards by color and shape. Children who used gestures performed better than those who did not or those who gestured less. Gestures included hand movements that demonstrated card images, like rabbits.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/07/130726191735.htm