More on Discipline

Before we talk about what works, let’s examine some of the past best practices of their time. It was not that long ago that giving a child a spanking was an acceptable practice for parents. Corporal punishment in schools was practiced. This could have been accompanied with a loud scolding. Today we know that disciplining children with violence does not teach responsibility, it teaches violence. This also increases stress in our brains that releases chemicals that make it difficult for adults or children to respond appropriately preventing the ability to take control of their actions. It is too frequent that we hear teachers asking how they can control their students. However rather than controlling students the most effective methods are teaching children to control themselves. The Cognitive Responsibility System (CRS ã) enables teachers and parents to teach children to calm themselves with fun, simple brain exercises. Once both adults and children are calm they are better able to focus on what everyone wants to accomplish, to focus on appropriate behaviors and to respond in more productive ways. Wouldn’t the ideal world be a world where everyone is able to actively remain in control? This would be a world where we understand different points of view and respect each other’s differences. A world where we have the ability to calm ourselves, focus on what we want and patiently deal with any crisis that may arise. These are the skills every school and educational system must develop in our students. Traditional instructional skills and strategies concentrate on teaching curricular content rather than on strengthening skills that can be applied to all subjects and circumstance. Were we to develop in our students these necessary skills of intrinsic motivation, initiative, organizational and concentration ability as well as consistent finishing power all students would be better prepared to meet the challenges of a changing world for life-long success.

More on Education

Performance is also the proven best practice for testing. Rote memorization and regurgitating answers to written questions, like that forced upon us by No Child Left Behind, is the lowest level of learning. Now, our children have the added stress of having to pass a test to graduate from High School. So, what is the solution?

I say change the methods in which we deliver content. Modern scientific research on how the brain learns has taught us the best methods for teaching everyone, not just our children. I developed the Living Education curriculum to engage children in the learning process by integrating the basic skills of reading, math, social studies and the sciences into themes relevant and meaningful to the student’s lives. Integrating the subject matter allows connections to and from various areas of the brain to be made, builds on prior experience and knowledge and increases intellectual potential.

The system is good for all age learners. Every educator, of all age levels, may use these methods to create a brain-friendly environment catering to the individual student’s learning style, strengths and abilities.Brain-friendly classrooms create an optimal surrounding for learning. Teaching modern people with modern methods will benefit both children and society. Contact us to schedule a Brain Friendly workshop in your area. Andrea Seidman