The Adolescent Brain Dr. Dave Vawter, Winthrop Univ. Gail Vawter, SMS

Bethany, ADHD, great with animals and ELA, extrovert Now 26 BA Agricultural Education, Clemson Teaches AG ED at Porter Ridge HS, Indian Trail Matt, great at Math, terrible speller, introvert Now 23, BA, Masters Environmental Engineering Clemson Graduates 8/11, job hunting

Brainy Facts: What do we know about the brain? Adult = 3 pounds 2% of our body weight but consumes 20% of our calories 70% water, it consumes 30% of the water we drink Made up of millions of neurons Only organ not fully developed at birth

Growth of Neurons

Ages 5-11 Brain volume stabilizes Improved attention, reasoning, and cognitive control Neurons are making new connections

The brain develops from the back towards the front The brain develops from the back towards the front. Beginning at the Cerebellum, then the Amygdala, the Basal Ganglia, the Corpus Callosum and then last the Prefrontal Cortex.

Frontal Lobe Problem solving Judgment Planning Organization Self-monitoring Emotions Attention Concentration Awareness of abilities Self-control “do the right thing”

The CEO of the Brain “It’s sort of unfair to expect teens to have adult levels of organizational skills or decision-making before their brains are finished being built.”- Dr. Giedd

Adolescent Brain or ADD/ADHD?

But what if the student is very smart…Michael Kearney

Catching ZZZZZZs They need 9 ¼ hrs… They get…6-7….! The biological clock shifts in the teen years Sleep deprivation can have a major negative effect on learning and memory! Turn off backlit devices an hour before bed and turn off phones

Everything is not as it seems to them….. Teens relied on the amygdala, associated with emotion and gut reactions Teens see anger when it was not intended

Teachers who criticize, hold negative attitudes and use sarcasm as classroom discipline will activate the fear and stress areas of the student’s brain. This activation alters the student’s ability to think and learn.

What about students from poverty? TEACHERS MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!

Neurogenesis-the birth of new neurons Continual turnover of neurons - old ones die and new ones are born - and these new neurons can participate in circuits that underlie learning.

Neuroplastcity Brains can change and adapt!!! YOU CAN GET SMARTER!!!!! When students believe this, they… Take more risks Make mistakes Learn from mistakes

SUMMARY: Brains Can Change for the Better Brains physically change every day Targeted classroom teaching can make dramatic changes in days Teachers are the strongest change agent in student’s lives

WHICH OF THESE FACES WALKS OUT OF YOUR ROOM? Your classroom environment matters! Your relationship with your students matter! WHICH OF THESE FACES WALKS OUT OF YOUR ROOM?

Autonomy: Give CHOICES!! Organizational: voice in seats or members of group Procedural: choose from list of homework assignments, choice of product for project Cognitive: PBL where groups determine their own solutions, develop their OWN homework assignment

Competence: Give FEEDBACK! Don’t praise intelligence, but EFFORT Give freedom to make mistakes Feedback: ratio of positive-to-negative feedback at least 3-1

First Attempt In Learning

Speed Teaching! The Six R’s Reflexes Reflection Review Reteaching Relevancy Ready for what is next

Reflexes TPR Hand Checks Movement

Reflection Long term retention

Review Not how many times…..

Reteaching Differentiation

Relevancy Two Kinds To their lives Why

Ready Cognitive Dissonance Anticipation

When they get to be about 25, they’ll realize their parents and teachers were pretty smart people.