THE SCIENCE OF GROWTH Part 1

What is brain-based teaching? 30 - second write

What is Brain-based teaching? It ’ s the purposeful It ’ s the purposeful ENGAGEMENT ENGAGEMENT of effective of effective STRATEGIES STRATEGIES derived from derived from PRINCIPLES PRINCIPLES from neuroscience from neuroscience It’s ESP!

“When students are provided with a learning environment that is optimal for learning, graduation rates, increase, learning difficulties and discipline problems decrease, a love of learning flourishes, administrators focus on the real issues, and learning organisation thrive. In short, creating an organisation around the way the brain naturally learns best may be the simplest and most critical educational reform ever initiated. In fact, of all the reforms, nothing provides a better return on your investment of time, energy, and money than developing a brain-based approach to learning.” “When students are provided with a learning environment that is optimal for learning, graduation rates, increase, learning difficulties and discipline problems decrease, a love of learning flourishes, administrators focus on the real issues, and learning organisation thrive. In short, creating an organisation around the way the brain naturally learns best may be the simplest and most critical educational reform ever initiated. In fact, of all the reforms, nothing provides a better return on your investment of time, energy, and money than developing a brain-based approach to learning.” Eric Jensen Eric Jensen

“Every single time (without exception) that something is NOT working at your school, one of the brain ’ s basic premises or “ rules ” are being violated. ” “Every single time (without exception) that something is NOT working at your school, one of the brain ’ s basic premises or “ rules ” are being violated. ” For example …we should encode with For example …we should encode with moderate stress, and we recall better moderate stress, and we recall better with low stress. Violate that rule and kids with low stress. Violate that rule and kids will learn less and underperform on tests. will learn less and underperform on tests.

“Astute educators are “Astute educators are applying the findings applying the findings with astonishing success”... with astonishing success”... Jensen Jensen

The PARCEL

The POSTAL SYSTEM

BRAIN BYTES

2 BIG IDEAS 2 BIG IDEAS

1. Emotional Integration 1. Emotional Integration

EMOTIONS ARE NOT SEPARATE EMOTIONS ARE NOT SEPARATE from body and mind. from body and mind. THEY ARE INTEGRAL TO THEY ARE INTEGRAL TO BRAIN STRUCTURE. BRAIN STRUCTURE.

“ If we don ’ t deal with the emotional stuff first, then we ’ re not going to get anything else done. ” Derek Hedgecook “ Our thinking is not ‘ contaminated ’ by emotions: rather, our emotions are an integral aspect of our neural operating system. Emotions speed our thinking... they help us to focus our reason and logic. ” Jensen

Complex learning requires: Student investment Student investment Motivation Motivation Working memory Working memory Retrieval Retrieval Critical thinking Critical thinking Risk-taking All are EMOTIONAL STATE-related

EMOTIONAL STATES

NOTES TO SELF: [Implications for my teaching] Students are at the center of all our efforts. Celebrate them in CONTENT and PROCESS. [Arrange successes for them.] Students are at the center of all our efforts. Celebrate them in CONTENT and PROCESS. [Arrange successes for them.] See your role as an emotional coach... See your role as an emotional coach... Focus on a joyful, productive, safe classroom culture. Focus on a joyful, productive, safe classroom culture. Use celebratory rituals Use celebratory rituals Role-model enthusiasm Role-model enthusiasm MOTIVATE, then teach MOTIVATE, then teach Purposefully plan activities that will connect students with the content. Purposefully plan activities that will connect students with the content. Use narrative / controversy / debate Use narrative / controversy / debate Offer personal reflection Offer personal reflection Promote social interactions / cooperative learning Promote social interactions / cooperative learning