Engaging the Brain High Aims 2018 Lori Wegman Instructional Specialist Fairfield City Schools All presentation files are found in the High Aims app My email address: wegman_l@fairfieldcityschools.com

Reflection – Your Current Practices Compare/Contrast Summarizing/Note-taking Praise and recognition Homework and Practice Objectives/Goals Generating/testing hypotheses Cues and Leading Questions Metaphors and Analogies Feedback Student Choice/Voice Writing Story-telling Mnemonics Visuals Movement Role play Visualization Vocabulary Cooperative groups Music Graphic organizers Drawing Humor Discussion Games Project-based Field trips Manipulatives Technology Work-study

Did you know???? Multitasking does not exist. 3 times is the MINIMUM something needs to be taught. Some research indicates up to 17 times. 21 days until something becomes a habit. Practice/homework should be intentional, have a specific goal/outcome, and in smaller chunks. Mirror neurons (primate specific):  fire when you act and when you observe that action in others (modeling is important!) There is a connection between writing (over typing) info and memory/recall

6 Principles of Brain-Friendly Teaching (Kagan) Attention Social Interaction Nourishment Safety Stimuli/Info Processing Emotion

Attention Novel stimuli + orienting response = increased alertness + better retention Example: Quiet Signal

Safety In the presence of a threat, the Amygdala is activated – Fight or Flight. Inhibits the pre-frontal cortex (planning, problem solving, cognition) Student signals: slow down, over my head, etc. Choice Sharing in pairs first, then fours. Build up to “hot seat”. Class building and team building activities Brain breaks/fun Coping skills

Emotion Emotion produces retrograde memory enhancement (anything followed by emotion is better remembered). Positive emotions = deeper thinking and creativity Praise/appreciation Greetings Parting/saying goodbye Celebrating Hand shakes Humor No put downs

Social Interaction The brain is a social organ. It is at maximum engagement when socializing. Soft skills: cooperation/collaboration, empathy, communication, problem solving.

Nourishment Increase O2 and glucose levels Novelty Intelligence shift Releases dopamine, endorphins Movement Kinesthetic learning Brain breaks Hands-on

Stimuli/Information Processing Brains have:   Multiple intelligences Multiple memory systems

N P N P P N Chaos = anxiety Brains seek a balance between: Balance = Novelty (anti-boredom-attention) Predictability (safety) N P N P P N Monotony = bored Balance =  relaxed alertness (body)      (mind) Chaos = anxiety

Q & A This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY

Articles of Interest Research and Rational for Cooperative Learning Resources on Engaging Student Voices Help your students speak up and speak out in the classroom, online, and wherever they go. #JokeoftheDay Build community and prime students for critical thinking by starting class with laughs. Burn Your Podium (and other Hacks) Put an end to sleeping in your classroom.  When students are at the center of the learning experience, engagnment will come naturally “I wonder”:  Harnessing the Power of Inquiry Letting student curiosity inform your teaching naturally increases the relevance and student buy-in of your content.

Books/Authors of Interest Mirroring People by M. Iacoboni Memory and Emotion by James L. McGaugh Mapping the Mind by Rita Carter Blink by M. Gladwell Spark by J. Ratey Robert Marzano Eric Jensen Marcia Tate Spencer and Laurie Kagan Rick Wormeli

Videos of Interest Kagan Videos Brain Based Learning-Edutopia Jensen Learning Dr. Marcia Tate Wormeli-Teaching with a Growth Mindset

Thank you for joining me! Please complete my exit ticket at: https://tinyurl.com/EngageExitHA2018 Engaging the Brain High Aims 2018 Lori Wegman wegman_l@fairfieldcityschools.com