Student Engagement. Inclusivity. Critical Thinking. Parental Involvement. Student Achievement. Recognition. These are the basic needs of schools nationwide.
In this 6-part professional development web series developed by VariQuest, you'll receive one ~10 minute video each week in your inbox, which will start with Dr. Melissa Hughes, expert on Whole Brain Teaching & Learning, addressing one of these 6 needs and how brain function processes affect what we as educators are trying to do in our schools, then hear from Carman Le, Education Development Specialist at VariQuest, on how you can implement this neurological research in your classroom and school building through hands-on activities, teaching methods, or staff training. Here's what you can expect each week...
Week 2: Inclusivity - In order to engage and challenge all students' learning styles, strengths, and developmental abilities, we'll discuss what it means to promote a safe learning environment in classrooms for all students to feel invested, and thus involved in their learning, then share some tips for organizing your classroom and activities to allow students to execute that ownership of their learning styles.
Week 3: Critical Thinking - Our kids have never known a world where access to information wasn't just a few clicks away. We'll discuss the factors which enhance or impede cognitive processes, which assist with critical thinking skills in students. Then we'll share a lesson plan activity designed for students to come up with a creative, relevant, or complex solution to a problem with little instruction/direction.
Week 5: Student Achievement - For a long time we determined intelligence using fixed traits, but we now know that effectively nurturing and growing the capacity to learn is what ultimately drives a student's achievement. We'll talk about what happens when the entire brain is engaged to help students reach their potential, then share implementation ideas involving the whole brain to achieve in the classroom in a visual and kinesthetic capacity.
Week 6: Recognition - Chemicals in the brain tell us when we feel safe, loved, accepted and ultimately, happy. We'll talk about how to motivate students with the knowledge of this neuroscience, then give some ideas on how to "fill a happiness bucket" for students in your classroom through encouragement and recognition of their talents.
One 10-minute video, once a week, for six weeks, to watch on your time - FULL of scientific research and tangible strategies for follow-up. Sounds perfect, right? Sign up for this FREE web series now and utilize these videos for professional development discussion and thoughtful planning in your staff meetings or classroom preparations as we motivate ourselves and our teams to apply brain-based evidence to help students learn in a more meaningful way!
About Dr. Hughes
About Carman Le