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

2. 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

3. 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

4. Growth of Neurons

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

9. 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.

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

11. 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

12. Adolescent Brain or ADD/ADHD?

13. But what if the student is very smart…Michael Kearney

14. 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

15. 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

17. 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.

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

20. 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.

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

23. 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

24. 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?

25. 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

26. 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

27. First
Attempt In
Learning

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

29. Reflexes
TPR
Hand Checks
Movement

30. Reflection
Long term retention

31. Review
Not how many times…..

32. Reteaching
Differentiation

33. Relevancy
Two Kinds
To their lives
Why

34. Ready
Cognitive Dissonance
Anticipation

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