Nine Brain compatible elements

Immediate Feedback

Each of us has personal experiences with learning when the feedback was confusing, delayed, or not forthcoming at all. Such feedback is dangerous because it too often results in development of incorrect patterns (misinformation) and programs (wrong responses). Examples abound. Many among us experience the frustration of fumbling over the spelling of a particular word; our two choices are always the same, the same incorrect version vs. the correct. Years later, we continue to fumble between the same competing set of possibilities.
Contrary to popular belief, the hardest thing the brain does is forget something it has learned, as distinguished from forgetting something it never learned in the first place or that was never meaningful....which occurs for 80 percent of the students on the bell curve who stopped just short of mastery, just short of building a program. Feedback (and time) must be sufficient for the student to develop a correct mental program.
The importance of immediate feedback to the student, then is obvious. Feedback, accurate and immediate, is needed at the time the learner is building his/her mental program to ensure that the program is accurate and to help speed up the building of a program.

We need to learn from our mistakes and the best way to do so is knowing that we are making them in the first place, so that we can work on them conscientiously. Watch this hilarious video about mistake awareness. Enjoy!!

The very hungry caterpillar

For all those who love the story and enjoy reading it over and over again!!!! One of the most precious teacher resources in the google ad!!!!!

Specially for Maira and Caro

All Wired Up: The Teenage Brain Revealed

Dr. Sheryl Feinstein is an Assistant Professor of Education at Augustina College in South Dakota, where she teaches courses in educational psychology and adolescent development. In her presentation titled “Teaching the At-Risk Teenage Brain,” Feinstein explored the functions of the teenage brain and how these processes explain their sometimes questionable behavior.Feinstein, who has conducted boundless research and written two books on the subject, defines the at-risk teenager as one in danger of emotional and/or academic problems, including youth crimes, violence, and substance abuse. Factors that put teens at risk include poverty, academic failure, and delinquent friends, among others.According to Feinstein, the adolescent brain differs from the adult brain in three primary areas:
1- There is an overproduction of dendrites (greater propensity for learning new things).
2- Pruning, or loss of dendrites not being used, occurs more rapidly.
3- The decision-making process is governed by the amygdala (rather than the frontal lobe), making teens more emotional and less logical than adults.
Use of the amygdala as the primary cerebral decision-maker is also the cause of misunderstandings, incendiary language, bad decision making, disorganization and forgetfulness. With these things in mind, teachers can use proactive and reactive strategies for possible student confrontations, including:
-Transitions are difficult; give one-step directions.
-Teach self-determination skills.
-Reduce distractions, seat them near the front, clear the desks of objects.
-Stay calm and non-confrontational.
-Don’t get off topic and don’t defend yourself.
-Don’t point the blame.
-Understanding the cerebral functions that cause certain behaviors is a big step towards knowing how to effectively teach teenagers and defuse any possible confrontations.

Short and sweet

Learn to count…

Count your garden by the flowers,
Never by the leaves that fall;
Count your joys by the golden hours,
Never when life´s worries call.
Count your nights by stars, not shadows,
Count your days by smiles, not tears;
And when life´s span so swiftly narrows,
Count your age by friends, not years

A very funny monolog... A bit too chauvinist but true!!!!

Men´s brains vs. women´s brains

How different we are!!!!!

The curious case of Benjamin Button

A wonderful movie with an unforgettable message, and a wonderful tool for those teaching Multiple Intelligences. Hope you like it as much as I do!!