1. Taking the information you read in this chapter, what should we be doing differently in our classrooms and schools? In what ways might you suggest we start making the changes needed if we are to meet the needs of ALL students?
I am working from the book How the Special Needs Brain Learns, by David Sousa. I think one of the comments that hit me the most so far was actually in the introduction and summarizes answers to this question. It was "As we gain a greater understanding of the human brain, we may discover that some students designated as 'learning disabled' may be merely 'schooling disabled'". Often the environment and teaching methods we use frustrate them and put blocks in their way. If we can change our approach we can make them more successful learners.
For example, students need enough time to process and reprocess new learning. Many of our special needs students need more time than their peers.
Also, new learning requires first of all focus and secondly rehearsal (practice) to transfer from working memory to long term memory. Focus requires meaning and relevancy, and focus in itself can be especially difficult for some of our special needs students due to differences in the neurochemical and physiological make-ups of their brains. So we need to do what we can in our classes to make learning relevant and meaningful to all students.
The first chapter also talked how the chanages in the environment, technologies, culture have impacted how students learn, and that today's students' brains need more novelty. Our schools can feel dull and nonengaging for today's students if there is not enough novelty.
2. In what ways might you translate the principles presented in the chapter into practical, everyday useful methods of teaching?
In the area of providing enough time for learning, building in extra time for students who need it (extra enrichment activities for those who don't need the extra time, or time built into the day/week for catch up).
In order to increase relevance and meaning for all students, spend time in the beginning of the year getting to know students' interests and passions, work to build in those interests into assignments (ex: passion about whales, use whales in math word problems, use books about whales, etc...). Also, help students bridge the gap between learning and relevance of what they learn in everyday activities.
The need to adjust our educational style and environment to incorporate novelty would include use of modern technology, pop music and culture, multi-modal teaching, offering choices. Include different ways of showing what they've learned to allow them to use different learning styles that have the most meaning for them.
3. If you were to plan your next steps for making your curriculum more brain compatible what would I see you do differently in your classes?
Offer more options within assignments
Give more time for students to complete projects
Give students more opportunities and guidance to our special needs students for what the author calls "elaborative rehearsal" (associating new learning with prior learnings to create associations)
Include more novelty.
Monday, July 2, 2007
Thursday, June 7, 2007
Final Project
Please create or renovate a unit that encompasses all you have learned in this class. Include all 8 intelligences into your exercises. (if you need extra material on MI let me know) This unit should be one you will use next year. I would like you to put a summary of your unit on this post so others could contact you if they wanted a copy. Then mail me the entire unit by snail mail to Barney Slowey 936 Linden Ave Rice Lake Wi 54868...If you ever need to call me I can be reached at 715 236 2088. I would like to be able to share your units with other teachers when I do staff development so if you DO NOT want me to share please let me know.
Questions to be answered for each chapter
1. Taking the information you read in this chapter, what should we be doing differently in our classrooms and schools? In what ways might you suggest we start making the changes needed if we are to meet the needs of ALL students?
2. In what ways might you translate the principles presented in the chapter into practical, everyday useful methods of teaching?
3. If you were to plan your next steps for making your curriculum more brain compatible what would I see you do differently in your classes?
2. In what ways might you translate the principles presented in the chapter into practical, everyday useful methods of teaching?
3. If you were to plan your next steps for making your curriculum more brain compatible what would I see you do differently in your classes?
Introductions
Please tell us where you live and teach as well as which level you teach. What is your favorite thing to do outside of your work and where do you like to vacation?
Welcome
Welcome to our blog where we will learn new research on how the brain learns and how we might need to adjust our teaching. Online learning has many advantages from what other students have relayed to me. First and foremost it can be done on your own time. It then becomes important to those with small children, those with summer jobs that don't have time to go to the campus or to other workshops, and it can be worked around vacations. You should have ample time to finish the class and if you are having some issues that make it impossible to do so, you can let me know and we will try to work something out. The class ends July 20. One disadvantage obviously is a lack of face to face conversations. We try to bridge that gap by responding to the ideas of others. Because people will be in different places during the course, please take the time to go back and read others comments if you are out in front. We will be using two books with the preK-6 group using Martha Kaufeldts' Beginning with the Brain and the rest will use Secrets of the Teenaged Brain. Hopefully you will get some information from both that will help you. When the class ends I will send in the grades to St Thomas and they will send you notification of the grade and THEN you can send for a transcript. The "final" for this class will be the completion of a unit incorporating the things you learned from the book so you can use it right away in the fall. I want you to include the eight multiple intelligences in this unit and those who are not familiar with them or want some more material on MI just need to ask me and I will send you some. Students in the past have enjoyed this book and this method of learning. I look forward to learning alongside you. Have a great experience.
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