The Sky Is the Limit Learning

I recently finished reading Brene Brown's book Dare to Lead. A book on how we as humans need to be both vulnerable and courageous in order, learn, love and grow. Although the book was written for adults, the message that she shares that is based on her many years of recent is just as relevant in the workplace as it is in the classroom and in the home.  Along with her books, Brene also has a great website where she shares inspirational list and manifestos.  The following link will take you to her Whole Hearted Parenting Manifesto. The Wholehearted Parenting Manifesto - Brene Brown

Looking at all the research on classroom climate,  coupled with my many years as a teacher and parent,  I have no doubt that the energy given off by the teacher directly influences a student's learning as well as a student's ability to engage in higher-level thinking and processing.  Knowing this, I make it a point to model self- regulation, empathy, and kindness and teach my students strategies to help them adopt such characteristics as well. The following link leads to a great article, video and subsequent podcast helping adults to guide children down a positive road to self-regulation. https://www.npr.org/2019/05/16/722876305/watch-its-hard-to-delay-gratification-just-ask-cookie-monster

When you ask a child what they are thinking you can get a wide array of answers. Some children will respond "not much", others might list a few items that come to mind while still others may list a massive amount of thoughts that are going through their heads. Above is a photo that was drawn by a nine-year-old girl in response to, "what are you thinking?" She was given 20 minutes to draw a picture of what thoughts came to her mind. When I look at this picture I can't help but smile as it is full of creativity and imagination simultaneously sprinkled with loads of color and energy. That is the mind of a child that has been given the freedom to explore their thoughts, reflect on their thoughts and let the mind go on an amazing journey.  We are all on a learning journey and when learning is approached as a never-ending journey with infinite possibilities it becomes deeper and more meaningful.  With purposeful learning knowledge sticks and creativity flourishes

Math and Fractions great youtube video I thought I would share along with a Mindshift article to get you thinking. Math as Language What Neuroscience Can Tell Us About Making Fractions Stick

I have been reading several articles lately emphasizing the importance of executive function, (link to one such article from Edutopia https://www.edutopia.org/article/executive-skills-struggling-reader-kelly-cartwright?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=socialflow ) Executive function is ones ability to sequence events prioritize and act on decisions to get to foreseen or expected results. Executive function can be broken down into more detailed bits but the outcome is; one has the focus and control to stick with a problem and work through the details to solve a problem and/or successfully implement knowledge and strategies. Improving executive function by improving ones ability to focus has been a very effective strategy when tackling issues for student’s stuggling with reading and other academic and social issues. It is my experience that when learners are better able to focus they are better able to successfully move through tasks requiring the use of their executive functioning.

Throughout my studies I have read various books that explain how the brain works which parts of the brain focus on certain activities, thoughts and emotions. Applying this information is crucial to helping students learn.  Easier said than done. Knowing what sticks for one person may come easily, while trying to understand how to make things stick for another might take several tries. I believe that experience and focus are a learners best assets.  Whether it be practicing maths or learning to play the guitar, we all learn at different speeds and in different ways. Focusing on what we are doing is the most important attribute to have when practicing, it is a crucial part of what Anders Ericsson outlines as deliberate practice in his book Peak. Deliberate Practice In order to help others learn, educators must be observant and take the time to see what the individual learner is latching on to and what they are resisting. We all have our own individual strengths, the key to success i