An Overview & Guide

One of the things that we, as educators, must become aware of is how our students are developing not only socially, but mentally. In his book, Teaching with the Brain in Mind, Eric Jensen explores many of the myths, truths, and ideas surrounding the development of the teenage brain.

In this PLC, I will break down the major sections of the book into separate blog posts. You can navigate through each of these posts using the link list to the right of this post. This will allow you to focus your reading and understanding. Each section allows for comments, so please contribute your thoughts and questions regarding some of these sections there.

Here is an excerpt taken from Amazon.com about the book to further your understanding of what the aims and goals of the book are focusing on:

"Every year, millions of parents trust that the professionals who teach their children know something about the brain and processes of learning. But most schools of education offer psychology, not neurology, courses. At best, these psychology courses provide indirect information about the brain and how children actually learn.

"Teaching with the Brain in Mind fills this gap with the latest practical, easy-to-understand research on learning and the brain. Consider important questions such as

• Biologically, can you truly expect to get and hold students' attention for long periods of time?

• How has research on rewards been misinterpreted?

• Do students actually "forget" what we teach them, or do we ask them to recall information in the wrong way?

• What are the surprising benefits for learning across the board when students participate in some sort of physical education or movement?

"Teaching with the Brain in Mind balances the research and theory of the brain with successful tips and techniques for using that information in classrooms. From its primer on brain biology to in-depth discussions of emotion, memory, and recall, Teaching with the Brain in Mind is an invaluable tool for any educator looking to better reach students through truly brain-compatible teaching and learning."