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Brain-Compatible Classrooms

Third Edition
Edited by:


April 2009 | 248 pages | Corwin

"An excellent guide for new and veteran teachers who are looking to empower students through brain-compatible lessons."
—Heather Vaughn, Early Childhood Program Coordinator
Albuquerque Public Schools, NM

"A fine, useful update of Fogarty's long-time search for appropriate practical classroom applications of cognitive neuroscience research."
—Robert Sylwester, Emeritus Professor of Education, University of Oregon
Author, The Adolescent Brain

Use the latest findings in brain research to build high-achievement classrooms!

In recent years, much attention has been paid to the research findings on how the brain functions and how that understanding can be used to improve instruction and learning for all students. Robin Fogarty helps educators better understand and utilize the key discoveries in brain research and presents brain-friendly, practical strategies for differentiating learning.

Summarizing research from noted theorists such as Arthur L. Costa, Robert J. Marzano, and Daniel Goleman, this updated edition has been reorganized into three parts for a more comprehensive examination of the relationship between brain science and effective classroom practice. Chapters cover:

  • An introduction to the brain and how it works, including gender differences and how they affect learning
  • Application of brain research findings to learning principles, with compelling implications for the classroom
  • The brain-mind connection and how cognitive science and brain science complement each other
  • A four-corner paradigm for quality teaching: setting the climate for learning, using brain-based teaching skills, putting it all into practice, and receiving student feedback

Inspiring and insightful, the third edition of Brain-Compatible Classrooms offers a highly relevant, holistic model for applying brain research in the classroom.


 
Preface
 
Acknowledgments
 
About the Author
 
Introduction
 
Part I. Physiology and Brain Science
 
1. Brain Science
The Brain Is the Universe Within

 
How to Be a Critical Consumer of Research on the Brain and Learning

 
Just the Facts! What Are the Facts About the Brain?

 
Macroview: A Look at the Exterior of the Human Brain

 
Geography of the Human Brain (Topography)

 
Three Views of the Brain

 
Top-to-Bottom View

 
Front-to-Back View

 
Left-to-Right View

 
How Has the Brain Evolved?

 
Microview: A Look at the Interior of the Human Brain

 
Brain Imaging: How We Know What We Know

 
How the Brain Works

 
Neurotransmitters

 
Differences Between Males and Females

 
 
Part II. Principles for Teaching and Learning
 
2. Principles of the Brain and Learning
The Bridge Between Brain Science and Cognitive Science

 
The Brain Principles and the Four-Corner Framework

 
Twelve Brain Principles of Caine and Caine

 
1. Learning Is Enhanced by Challenge and Inhibited by Threat

 
2. Emotions Are Critical to Patterning

 
3. Learning Involves Both Focused Attention and Peripheral Perception

 
4. The Brain Has a Spatial Memory System and a Set of Systems for Rote Learning

 
5. The Brain Processes Parts and Wholes Simultaneously

 
6. Learning Engages the Entire Physiology

 
7. The Brain Is a Parallel Processor

 
8. Learning Is Embedded in Natural and Social Settings

 
9. Each Brain Is Unique

 
10. The Search for Meaning Is Innate

 
11. The Search for Meaning Occurs Through Patterning

 
12. Learning Always Involves Conscious and Unconscious Processes

 
It's All About Learning

 
 
3. Cognitive Science: The Brain Is on My Mind
Brain Science and Cognitive Science

 
Nature Versus Nurture (Heredity Versus Environment)

 
Enriched Environments

 
Intelligence as a Function of Experience

 
Windows of Opportunity

 
Nutrition-Cognition Connection

 
Care and Feeding of the Brain

 
Abuses and Addictions

 
New Conclusions

 
Emotions and the Intellect

 
Safe Climate

 
Threat

 
Challenge

 
The Brain and the Mind

 
Brain Versus Mind

 
Theories of the Intellect

 
General Intelligence Theory: Spearman

 
Theory of Cognitive Modifiability: Feuerstein

 
Theory of Multiple Intelligences: Gardner

 
Successful Intelligence: Sternberg

 
Learnable Intelligence: Perkins

 
Intelligent Behaviors or Habits of Mind: Costa and Kallick

 
Emotional Intelligence: Goleman

 
Moral Intelligence: Coles

 
Memory, Learning, and the Human Brain

 
Memory Metaphor

 
It's on My Screen

 
It's on My Desktop

 
It's on My Menu

 
It's on My Hard Drive

 
Types of Memory Systems

 
Short-Term Memory

 
Long-Term Memory

 
Episodic, Procedural, Conditional, and Emotional Memory

 
Memory Lane: Semantic, Episodic, Emotional, Procedural, and Automatic

 
Declarative (Explicity) and Procedural (Implicit) Memory

 
Learning Through Patterns and Chunking

 
It's All About Teaching

 
 
Part III. Brain-Friendly Strategies
 
4. Strategies for Brain-Compatible Classrooms
The Four-Corner Framework

 
Brain-Compatible Classroom

 
Teaching FOR Thinking: Setting the Climate

 
Research Base - Physiology, Emotions, Environment

 
Principles of Brain-Compatible Learning

 
Implications for Learning

 
Implications for Teaching: Satisfactory

 
Teaching OF Thinking: Instructing Skills and Standards of Learning

 
Research Base - Brain, Mind, Intellect

 
Principles of Brain-Compatible Learning

 
Implications for Learning

 
Implications for Teaching: Good

 
Teaching WITH Thinking: Structuring Interactions

 
Research Base - Active Learning/Constructivist

 
Principles of Brain-Compatible Learning

 
Implications for Learning

 
Implications for Teaching: Excellent

 
Teaching ABOUT Thinking: Reflecting Metacognitively

 
Research Base - Deep Understanding/Transfer

 
Principles of Brain-Compatible Learning

 
Implications for Learning

 
Implications for Teaching: Superior

 
Definition and Description of Brain-Compatible Classrooms

 
Research on Teacher Quality

 
What Teachers Say

 
What Experts Say

 
What Kids Say

 
A Framework for Quality Revisited

 
 
5. Setting the Climate for Thinking
Brainwave #1: Emotions - Goleman/LeDeux/Coles

 
Braindrops: Strategies

 
Threat Alerts the Body

 
Challenge Engages the Intellect

 
Brainworks: Activities

 
People Search

 
Fat/Skinny Questions

 
The Human Graph

 
Brainwave #2: Enriched Environment - Diamond/Conyers and Wilson

 
Brainstorms: Application

 
Braindrops: Strategies

 
Organizational Enrichments

 
Sensory Enrichments

 
Brainworks: Activities

 
Four Corners

 
Brainstorms: Application

 
 
6. Teaching the Skills of Thinking
Brainwave #3: Microskills and Macroskills - Marzano/McTighe

 
Braindrops: Strategies

 
Microskills

 
Macroskills

 
Brainworks: Activities

 
Microskill Lesson - Analysis for Bias

 
Macroskill Lesson - Problem Solving

 
Brainstorms: Applications

 
Brainwave #4: Development of Skills and Concepts - Posner and Keele/Csikszentmihalyi

 
Braindrops: Strategies

 
Basic/Apprentice

 
Advanced/Master

 
Brainworks: Activities

 
Basic/Apprentice

 
Advanced/Master

 
Brainstorms: Applications

 
 
7. Structuring the Interaction With Thinking
Brainwave #5: Active Learning - Vygotsky/Ausbel

 
Braindrops: Strategies

 
Teacher Decisions for Cooperative Groups

 
BUILD Components/Cooperative Strategies

 
Graphic Organizers

 
Brainworks: Activities

 
Dealing With Paradox

 
Brainstorms: Application

 
Brainwave #6: Experiential Learning

 
Braindops: Strategies

 
Multiple Intelligences

 
Integrated Curriculum

 
Brainworks: Activities

 
Curriculum Corners

 
Brainstorms: Applications

 
 
8. Thinking About Thinking
Brainwave #7: Reflection

 
Braindrops: Strategies

 
Making Meaning

 
Transfer of Learning

 
Brainworks: Activities

 
Transfer Tales

 
Brainstorms: Applications

 
Brainwave #8: Assessment

 
Braindrops: Strategies

 
Traditional Assessments

 
Dynamic Assessments

 
Brainworks: Activities

 
Folk Portfolio

 
Brainstorms: Application

 
 
Appendix A: Suggested Videos to Illustrate the Four-Corner Framework
 
Appendix B: The Brain
 
Glossary
 
References and Suggested Readings
 
Index

"A fine, useful update of Fogarty's long-time search for appropriate practical classroom applications of cognitive neuroscience research."

Robert Sylwester, Emeritus Professor of Education, University of Oregon
Author, The Adolescent Brain

"An excellent guide and tool for new and veteran teachers who are looking to empower students through brain-compatible lessons."

Heather Vaughn, Early Childhood Program Coordinator
Albuquerque Public Schools, NM

"Relevant and applicable for teachers."

Sue Teele, Associate Dean
University of California-Riverside Extension Program

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