Karen 
Dr. Joe 
Carol J.
Don’t Pay Attention
Do you realize we only hear what we pay attention to? I know you’re probably saying, “Duh, no kidding.” But don’t take this simple truth for granted. See, the real question is “What are you paying attention to?” Allow me to explain… If you ask the average person in education (or any Jane or John Doe on the street), “What do you think about the state of education today?” More than likely you’ll “hear” something that’s equal to a PR person’s worst nightmare. You’d hear things like: The 21st Century Brain
Kids learn and think differently to you and I, Canadian Ian Jukes told teachers at a recent conference in New Zealand. He stated, “If we were to take an electronic scan of our parents’ brain and compare them to ours, we would see that we use slightly different neural pathways to process the same information than our parents. In the same way, if we were to take an electronic scan of our brains and compare them to those of our kids’ brains, we would find that they use fundamentally different neural pathways to process the same information than we do.” When Good Is Not Good Enough
Have you ever marveled at how students can justify getting a “C” in a class or on a test; it’s truly a site to behold. You hear phrases like: “I passed, didn’t I?” “Hey, this grade doesn’t really matter anyway.” “That class wasn’t that important.” “Who cares; it’s not like I’m ever going to use this stuff?” I don’t know about you, but comments like these from students drive me crazy. This so-called “millennium generation” is quickly becoming the “mediocre generation.” As information and knowledge both increase, solid work ethic and the demand for excellence are quickly decreasing. Seven Keys To Memory
Communication starts and finishes at the brain. But how much do we know about how this amazing organ works? Imagine if you were given a car, the keys, and some gasoline, but you had no idea what to do with them. You might put the keys in the gas tank and pour the petrol over the roof! Up until now this is how you may have used your brain because over 95% of the world’s knowledge about the brain has only been around for the past 10 to 20 years. Now is an exciting time to be living as far as our brain potential is concerned. For the first time in the history of the universe, brain researchers are discovering how to communicate effectively to the brain. So what are the best ways to teach to the brain? How can you get students to remember the concepts and content easily? Outlined below are 7 keys to memory and ways to teach to the brain. Turning Class Demanders into Leaders
There’s always at least one of them in every class. And at the beginning of the school year, you pray that you don’t get any, but you always do. No, I’m not talking about students; I’m talking about that “special” student. You know the one I’m talking about; the one who requires a little more attention than the other 25 kids combined. So what is a teacher to do when closing your eyes hoping the student disappears and wishing it was all just a bad dream doesn’t work? Well here are some tried and proven suggestions for handling the student who demands a little more attention than the average student. Listening with Understanding and Empathy
Listening is the beginning of understanding. Stephen Covey, in his book, 7 Habits For Highly Effective People, states “highly effective people spend an inordinate amount of time and energy listening.” It is estimated that we spend 55% of our time listening yet it is one of the least taught skills in school. Some psychologists believe to empathize with and understand a person’s point of view is one of the highest forms of intelligent behavior. Good listeners put aside their own thoughts to listen to the ideas of others and try to understand what other people are saying. They are often regarded as respectful, focused, tuned in, caring and attentive. They are not rehearsing what they want to say next, day dreaming or thinking of the advice they are going to give. A common listening sequence is to pause, paraphrase and probe. Find Your Pleasure and Ignite Your Passion
As soon as I came up with the title to this article, I knew I had some explaining to do. No, this article isn’t about your love life or your future relationship. As always, I’m talking about teaching. I know as a teacher you’ve found your true passion, even to the point you probably can’t imagine yourself NOT doing it. But the question I would like to propose to you is: “Is your passion truly bringing you pleasure?” Gathering Data Through All Your Senses
In Art Costa’s book Learning and Leading with Habits Of Mind he suggests intelligent people gather data for evaluation, problem solving and learning, using many of their senses – not just one. When faced with problems to solve, it is important to look at many options engaging your senses. This is illustrated well in Aron Ralston’s book, Caught Between a Rock and A Hard Place, where Aron finds himself in a slot canyon with his arm jammed between the canyon wall and a rock. He evaluates his situation using all his senses and eventually amputates his own arm for survival. Are Your Teaching Habits Hurting You?
If you ever want to learn a lesson in “Human Behavior 101,” go to any mall and take a seat in the middle, and just observe people. If you’ve ever tried anything like this before, you’ve probably come to the same conclusion that I have: “That’s why my students act the way they do.” Developing Self Esteem in Children
Developing positive self esteem is crucial for success in the 21st century. I recently overheard a teacher say, “We have finished our self-esteem unit, what’s next?” Self Esteem isn’t a topic – it is what you teach and develop every day. Schools and society have changed and we are facing new challenges on a daily basis. Whether you're in or transitioning to the world of work, college, high school, or middle school, LifeBound has the resources to help you succeed. Select your area of interest in the tabs above for books, online resources, tips, and more that are specific to your needs.We offer these resources to help you navigate decisions, options and choices to make the most out of your interests, your abilities, gifts and talents:
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