This book summarizes current brain research and shows how teachers can use this knowledge in the classroom every day. It explores how the brain works, how students' emotions and stress affect their ability to learn, how the physical classroom environment influences learning, and what forms of assessment work best. An introduction discusses the…

New research suggests that exceptionally stressful experiences early in life may have long-term consequences for a child's learning, behavior, and both physical and mental health. Some types of "positive stress" in a child's life--overcoming the challenges and frustrations of learning a new, difficult task, for instance--can be beneficial. Severe,…

Recent advances in developmental science can teach us a great deal about the value of specific kinds of human interactions in the earliest years of life for the developing brain architecture. Animal experiments indicate that enriched environments with opportunity for frequent interaction and new experiences can help the animals' brains develop…

New research in brain development reveals the vital importance of the relationship between caregiver and child in the critical first years of life. This Spanish-language video explores the role of parents in stimulating early childhood development. The 28-minute video discusses: (1) attachment and the role of touch in creating a bond between…

This book examines the science and politics of cognitive sex differences, reflecting theories and research in the area over the past several years. Eight chapters discuss: (1) "Introduction and Overview" (e.g., theoretical approaches, values and science, and terminology); (2) "Searching for Sex Differences in Cognitive…

This study was designed to determine whether a sample of preservice teachers had different brain hemisphere processing modes, learning styles, environmental preferences, and course-related behaviors. The study population was 90 students enrolled in an undergraduate introductory special education course. Forty-four of the students were selected to…

Two concepts have been confused: equality of opportunity and equality of ability, which has led us to link intellectual giftedness with elitism. This linkage undercuts the ability to nurture and benefit from the gifts of the gifted, an important issue in rural places experiencing either withering economies and loss of population or an influx of…

Educators and learners have diverse thinking style preferences. Recognition of this difference in preferences is very important in the design of a curriculum and the way it is taught. Educators are often unaware of the way learners think and learn. Cataloging and classification can only be taught effectively if the diversity in thinking style is…

Noting the important role that parents can play in preparing their child to learn to read, the Read, Educate and Develop Youth (READY) Reading Plan for Michigan provides kits to parents of infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. The kits contain suggestions for age-appropriate activities parents can do with their children to help them learn. In…

This research discusses the relationship between the migration of skilled professional and managerial workers from Canada to the United States, the so called "brain drain," and seeks to determine if and how the Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (F.T.A.) and the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) may have affected bilateral flows…

How do students with special needs learn best based on brain research? There was a great deal of strictly scientific information about different types of brain damage and how that can affect learning. Given this, it was surprising that there was very little information on ways in which to assist students with learning disabilities utilizing the…

Describes new college teaching techniques using the brain-compatible teaching and learning model. Demonstrates that learning is based on the process of detecting and making patterns. Suggests maximizing use of local memory function to reduce dependency on rote learning and varying methods of classroom presentation to target different learning…

Interviews with a learning disabled student, parent activist, teacher, tutor, and researcher reveal that learning disabilities are neurologically caused, not the result of low motivation or dysfunctional families. A variety of educational practices are explained that accommodate different learning styles of children with learning disabilities. It…

This article reviews the identification of students with learning disabilities, gifted children, and problems facing the remediation of their difficulties. An outline is given of an approach that applies neuroscience to understanding and treating the root cause of learning disabilities. A case study of a child labeled dyslexic is presented.…

Thirty-six above-average, low-income Hispanic children (in grades two-six) in a metropolitan area participated in a special year-long program designed to improve their self-esteem and strengthen thinking and learning skills. Hemisphericity and creative thinking measurements revealed that the sample had high right hemisphere scores and slightly…