The Sky Is the Limit Learning

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

Your Fantastic Elastic Brain: Stretch it Shape It This a great book for teaching children how they have the power to change their brains and what challenges are helpful to learning. The book published by Little Pickle Press also has a fantastic website with activities to use along with the book. Link to lesson plans can be found here Making a Splash Available on kindle at amazon, Making a Splash is a simple straight forward story of what happens when children persevere and work towards a goal with a growth mindset. This would be a great book to project on a large screen and discuss as the children make connections of their own. The Most Magnificent Thing Do you have children that get frustrated when what they are working on doesn't go as they planned? The Most Magnificent Thing is one girl's journey through the creation process and what techniques and strategies she uses to create her most "magnificent thing". What is the most important thing?

Here is a video that teachers can use in their class to help students understand what steps they can take to drive their brain and drive their learning. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LEfZm_8UAM

How do we help children focus? Today more than ever children are faced with distractions and are becoming less and less focused. I recently completed my own study on how to help children focus. The research project was based on focusing in on the brain body connection incorporating cross body exercises, reflection, and purposeful practice of much needed cognitive skills. You can find the link to my research paper here FOCUS  One favorite activity that came out of this was double doodle, here is a photo of what youngsters do during double doodle. To find out more view my research paper.

I wanted to share a few superb videos I found via PBS Sesame Street.  Catchy, fun and driving the growth mindset message across.

How We Shape our Brains

Additional materials to use with lesson

Identifying communication disorders requires, teachers and parents to work together to share a child’s experiences, past medical history, social situations and home life to benefit the child and understand where his/her needs are and what if any underlying issues my be contributing to learning.             Being that communication disorders encompasses such a wide array of problems from language, speech and hearing to articulation and fluency disorders, there is much to look for when trying to identify problems students may be having. Teachers may know the basics of what various disorders are what symptoms students may display, the trick is taking this gathered information to the next level.   Resources, money and time both are needed to help teachers help students and parents. Taking the initial steps in the classroom may start the process and may also be all that some students will require however looking beyond the classroom and what can be done for students also needs to b

Argument for the reform of teachers and their role in the schools and their training. A typical Finnish teacher teaches just under 600 hours a year, whereas the average American teacher teaches students over 1,600 hours annually. According to a recent Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation-sponsored study of the teaching profession, U.S. teachers habitually work an average of about 10 hours and 40 minutes a day, with a great deal of time spent teaching and supervising students. Finnish teacher, “Our teachers who teach languages for which many essays have to be graded often have fewer lessons,” Marianna said. “And they can decide on their own where they get that work done. They may teach two lessons one day and then go home or to the gym around noon — and then correct papers or work online with students later in the evening.” With so many ideas and reforms and tests and strategies, it is my belief that teaching is getting more and more away from why many teachers went into teac