Introduction to Brain-Compatible Learning

Acknowledgments About the Author Part I. Background You Need Introduction What Is Brain-Compatible Learning? The Old and New of It When Brain Research Is Applied to the Classroom, Everything Will Change Change Can Be Easy We're Not in Kansas Anymore Where's the Proof? Tools for Exploring the Brain Ten Reasons to Care About the Research? The Evolution of Brain Models Be a Brain-Smart Consumer: Recognizing Good Research Action or Theory: Who Wants to Read All That Research? Excellent Sources of Research Fun Factoids on the Brain What's in the Human Brain Brain Teaser The Brain Divided The Brain Connected Brain Geography Brain "Cell"ebration: Far-out Facts About Brain Cells Learning Happens... But How? Are Today's Kids Different? Boys' and Girls' Brain Differences Learning Disabilities: Different Brains The Cranial Soup Bowl: Understanding the Chemicals in Our Brains Part II. The Foundation for Teaching Is Principles, Not Strategies What Are the Principles? Principle 1: The Principle of Change: Brain Is Dynamic, Not Fixed Implications for Educators Principle 2: The Principle of Variety: All Brains Are Unique Implications for Educators Principle 3: The Principle of Maturation: Developmental Sensitivity Implications for Educators Principle 4: The Principle of Culture: We Have a "Social Brain" Implications for Educators Principle 5: The Principle of Connectivity: The Brain Is an Integrated "System of Systems" Implications for Educators Principle 6: The Principle of Memory Malleability Implications for Educators Principle 7: The Principle of Resource Consumption Necessity for Processing Part III. So What; Now What? Asking Big Questions: What's in a Brain-Compatible Curriculum? Brain-Compatible Test-Taking Success Strategies Systemic Change: The Next Level Big Picture Analysis: Transformation Happens Action Research Makes a Difference The Learning Community What's Next? Appendix A: Brain-Smart Resources and Support Appendix B: Glossary of Brain Terminology References Index