The Brain & Learning How Can We Help All Children?

The Brain & Learning How We Can Help All Children!

What do you think of when you hear... ? Nature vs. Nurture Nature vs. Nurture But these kids... But these kids... “Oh, I see!” “Oh, I see!” A picture is worth a thousand words. A picture is worth a thousand words. Madeline Hunter Madeline Hunter

Madeline Hunter (1982) Words and pictures in concert Words and pictures in concert Left hemisphere for reading & understanding Left hemisphere for reading & understanding Right hemisphere for seeing and listening Right hemisphere for seeing and listening Both hemispheres are connected (corpus callosum) Both hemispheres are connected (corpus callosum) Teach to both (integrated brain) 1. Say before writing 2. Key words-simple diagrams 3. Position=relationship 4. Erase before new concept

Carol Dweck (2006) Mindsets Fixed Mindset Intelligence is static and a desire to look smart Avoid challenges Avoid challenges Give up easily Give up easily Effort is fruitless Effort is fruitless Ignores useful negative feedback Ignores useful negative feedback Threatened by success of others Threatened by success of others Growth Mindset Intelligence can be developed Embrace challenges Persist in face of setbacks Effort is path to mastery Learns for criticism Inspiration in success of others

When do you feel smart? When I finish something fast and it’s perfect. When I finish something fast and it’s perfect. When something is easy for me but other people can’t do it. When something is easy for me but other people can’t do it. When I work on something for a long time and I start to figure it out. When I work on something for a long time and I start to figure it out. It’s when I don’t make any mistakes. It’s when I don’t make any mistakes. When it’s really hard, and I try really hard, and I can do something I couldn’t do before. When it’s really hard, and I try really hard, and I can do something I couldn’t do before.

Neuroplasticity Dendrites are constantly making new connections with neurons, pruning unused dendrite connections, and strengthening existing (often used) connections. Dendrites are constantly making new connections with neurons, pruning unused dendrite connections, and strengthening existing (often used) connections. Dendrite growth occurs as people learn and practice new skills. Dendrite growth occurs as people learn and practice new skills. The more we use a certain dendrite pathway, the more efficient it becomes at transmitting that signal. The more we use a certain dendrite pathway, the more efficient it becomes at transmitting that signal.

An Approach by Rocky Hill Middle School In an effort to get students to “become aware” of how they learn, they show them these clips:

High Self-Esteem ≠ High Achievement Avoid empty praise Avoid empty praise Easy, unearned praise interferes with significant learning opportunities Easy, unearned praise interferes with significant learning opportunities Performance increases when students believe intelligence grows and develops as they learn new things Performance increases when students believe intelligence grows and develops as they learn new things Use praise to encourage risk-taking and learning from mistakes Use praise to encourage risk-taking and learning from mistakes

Changing How We Praise Labels that judge Smart Smart Fast Fast Clever Clever Great Great Words that encourage Look at that! Show me more. How did you do that? That looks like it took so much work.

“Work hard, get smart” Kids need to see ability as changeable Use targeted feedback Praise vs. Encouragement “You did a great job.” vs. “Your use of a topic sentence made the paragraph.”

Looking for More Information? Carol Dweck, Stanford University Carol Dweck, Stanford University Judy Willis, MD Judy Willis, MD Alfie Kohn, Psychologist Alfie Kohn, Psychologist Madeline Hunter, Professor/Author Madeline Hunter, Professor/Author Piaget, Developmental Theorist Piaget, Developmental Theorist Daniel Coyles, Author Daniel Coyles, Author Talent Code Talent Code Malcom Gladwell, Author Malcom Gladwell, Author Tipping Point, Outliers Tipping Point, Outliers