Neuroscience+and+Education

=Classroom/Teaching = The information below are bulleted points from the articles that are listed in the resource section at the bottom of the page.

1. Stressors should be kept at a minimum.
 * Sound
 * Lighting
 * Expectations
 * Amount of materials
 * Teach in shorter lengths to provide breaks
 * Allow for flexibility

2. Large Group Instruction:
 * Short instruction for new materials
 * Be creative and offer fun activities
 * Change the materials to maintain curiosity and interest
 * Link instruction to what the student already knows
 * Vary the modalities the students are using throughout the day
 * Provide positive feedback
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25px;">Be flexible

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25px;">3. Small Group Instruction:
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25px;">Vary the level of the skills for some activities
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25px;">Level the groups for other type of teaching
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25px;">Provide positive feedback
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25px;">Allows for movement between activities
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25px;">Monitor students who need to be retaught a skill or provide different wording
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25px;">Allow the students time to explore new skills and learn them on their on

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 130%;">4. Lessons:
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25px;">Should be interesting
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25px;">Multi-sensory activities
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25px;">Start at concrete and move to abstract concepts
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25px;">If the students are struggling with an abstract concept - take a step back
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25px;">Prioritize information
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25px;">Provide breaks within a lesson
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25px;">Allow the student to master the skills and become confident in their skills
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25px;">Be flexible

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25px;">5. Outside Factors
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25px;">Nutrition
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25px;">Social Conditions
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25px;">School, classroom and home is safe and comfortable for the learner
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25px;">Exercise

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 150%;">Resources:


 * [|The Neuroscience of Joyful Learning][|By Judy Willis, M.D., M.Ed]
 * [|A Fresh Look at Brain-Based Education] (Phi Delta Kappan)
 * []
 * [|A Neurologist Makes the Case for the Video Game Model as a Learning Tool] By Judy Willis, M.D., M.Ed
 * [|Want Children to “Pay Attention”? Make Their Brains Curious] ! By Judy Willis, M.D., M.Ed.
 * [|Writing and the Brain: Neuroscience Shows the Pathways to Learning] by Judy Willis, MD, M Ed
 * [|Neuroscience and Education: Issues and Opportunities] By Teaching and Learning Research Program