Helping Students Become Academic All Stars
Posted by PLB Registrar · 1 Comment
We at PLB have been developing courses related to how the brain works and learns, specifically the new Cognitive Skills – Understanding Learning Challenges and the soon to be released Introduction to Autism courses. Working with amazing experts, Dr. Ken Gibson and Janet Oliver respectively, has been a fascinating journey for me as an educator and parent.
So much is now known about the brain and learning that was not available to me when I was in college. The more I learn the more I realize how amazing the human brain is and how much can be done to help both struggling learners and all students learn more and better. For example, research shows that intelligence is not a fixed characteristic with which children are born. Intelligence can be increased!
As I think back about all of the students I taught over the years, I see now that there were many who had problems learning but were never diagnosed with learning disabilities or put on an IEP. And, it’s not that they necessarily needed an IEP or to be diagnosed but could have soared with a some help.
As teachers we all have students in our classrooms that range from low performing to academic all stars. You’ll find both special education and gifted programs in schools across the nation. Even looking in the Professional Learning Board course catalog you’ll see topics addressing the top and bottom levels of performance. What is cool to me about learning about the brain is that we as teachers have ways and tools available to us to teach ALL students, including those in the middle who can be academic stars with the right help.
March 14 – 20, 2011 is national Brain Awareness Week so we’re kicking off the week! Professional Learning Board is proud to be a partner in the Dana Foundation’s Brain Awareness Week initiative to increase understanding of the brain. Scroll down to find lots of brain resources for you to use with your students, parents and in your education practice PLUS SPECIAL SAVINGS on the new About the Brain course package.
This week’s question for you:
- What do you see as the most significant learning challenge for your students?
I love that we have a “brain awareness week.”
At our church we now have a baby class for every family bringing their child to be baptized.
The pastor teaches about the faith part of baptism.
A baby nurse from the hospital teaches about touch and simple massage and “across brain exercises” like right hand to left foot and left hand to right foot. The massage can be done with “I love you strokes.” That means making the shape of a heart as you massage. She also talks about holding the “bottle” on both sides – just like a mom who is nursing.
I tell the research about reading to, playing with, talking to, interacting with your baby from the day they are born or before. It prepares them for the first day of school – and gets their brain ready to learn to read.
We then send them home with 8 baby books.
A week ago Sunday, we had 10 babies.
Also – the hospital uses black and white pictures in the nursery because babies see black and white first. And sends home a brochure that the nurse and I created.
The research behind it came from Kansas.The name of the book is Meaningful Differences by Risley and Hart. It was done at the University of Kansas in 1995.
We give 8 books to each of the babies because the research mentioned 8 books a day. We tell them to put them in a pile – and during the day read them one at a time. I provide the books from Dollar Stores because I believe it is a great investment in the future.
This started at the hospital – where the nurse involved is the head nurse in obstetrics. There is also a pamphlet about the research that is given to the parents.
We also have a brochure for children who might be in pediatrics. They often have to lay quite still. It tells the research about reading easy books in the summer. For example, the faster your eyes move over the
print – the better reader you become.
All brain stuff!!!!
Thanks,
Sue