I think Brain based teaching ( I really don't like that name) is
some common sense mixed in with the Psychology of Learning and a
willingness to 'teach outside the box'. Some teachers find their
way to 'brain-based' teaching entirely on their own without ever
having heard of it.

And I'm one of them but it certainly helped that I knew something
about Learning Psychology and Developmental Psychology. I find few
teachers do and that's sadly remarkable. Some to a lot of what we
do in schools is counterproductive IF - learning is the real goal.

You don't need books with lessons - 'brain-based' teaching is far
more than that. It can't be boiled down that way for the most
part. Stop asking kids to memorize 20 words and their definitions
for a vocab test every two weeks. The brain doesn't work that way
- it can't really learn by memorizing 20 words and their
definitions every two weeks.

Stop scaring kids. Scared brains don't absorb information. Let
them drink when they're thirsty - when we're thirsty, we're
thirsty. When we're thirsty, we're thinkin' about drinkin' not
about algebra.

Memorization isn't learning - that's a huge part of brain-based
learning. The brain learns in 'chunks' - it learns concepts and
well and hangs the details on those concepts. Teach concepts
first, details last.

And when you employ any of the above, most of your kids and most
of your parents will say - "how come no one else teaches like this?
This makes so much sense."

And it does. And as important, it works.

But it really should have a different name.

Sign me -
A brain-based teacher until my brain can think up a better name for it.

>> Chuck
>>
>> Read Marcia Tate's "Worksheets do not create dendrites" I
>> recently attended a workshop she conducted. Very! Very!
>> useful in the classroom.
>>
>> Stacey
>>
>> On 6/26/04, Chuck wrote:
>>> I just finished reading "The Brain-Compatible Classroom"
>> by sturvin>
>>> Thanks,
>>>
>>> Chuck
>
> I was just reading a book today on scoring high on test and it
> had to do with brain campitiblity. I have been coming to t.net
> for years but never came here. I can't believe I missed this,
> thinking it was all excercises.
>
> I teach so much like the book as far as multi-sensory and long
> term memory techniques.
>
> What books out there have lessons like this,not theory.
> I have come up with many lessons but maybe I'm missing some
> books that have great ideas and didn't know it on things like
> elementary state standards.
> MIchelle

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