Stop Telling Your Students To “Pay attention!”

You need their attention for explicit learning. For starters, stop telling your audience to,“Pay attention!” It sounds pathetic. Why?

Extreme Schools Making Miracles Happen

Our featured “Extreme School” is a school in Los Angeles County, California. Not long ago, this high K-5 poverty school had neighborhood drug dealers coming ON CAMPUS. The outside aesthetics of the school were deplorable, with deteriorating buildings. The district rates schools (academically) on a scale from 1-10 (with 10 as highest). This school was a “1” out of ten – the lowest possible ranking.

How Can You Foster MORE Student Effort?

there are powerful reasons that kids don’t put out much effort. Each of the reasons leads to a powerful action step. The first one is…

Extreme Schools in an Extreme Interview

Instead of our usual featured “Extreme School” (of which we have many), we are featuring an unusual question-answer session. These were posed by real staff members from two real Title 1 schools.

Should you be in to Brainwashing?

Whether you work with adults or younger students directly, this month’s issue may change your approach forever. You’ll learn why you should be in the business of brainwashing.

7 Ways You Can Prevent Or Reduce the Effects of Cognitive Decline (including Alzheimer’s)

Every 68 seconds, another American is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and it’s a cold, cruel way to die.

Seven Changes You Can Make to Save Your Life

You may be concerned about the “big two” aging fears (cancer and Alzheimer’s). This month we focus on cancer and the July issue will be (again) on Alzheimer’s. By the way, every year these suggestions get so many rave reviews that they are re-sent, forwarded and “re-gifted”. Feel free to do so.

Extreme Schools: Miracles Happen Every Day

Their school and staff have been recognized as “Exemplary” for three years in a row. The school is a top academic performer. Their students now seem to have an unlimited desire to learn. Their staff reports that they have come to the realization that all children can succeed.

What About Your School’s Test Results?

It turns out that the way school leadership, as well as the staff, thinks about, discusses, and frames the conversations about test scores actually affects future scores.

How Are You Coping Right Now?

Studies in positive psychology have shown that resilience rates high among attitude-based protective factors that help children achieve academic success in environments where, statistically speaking, the odds are against them.

What Research Can Help Your Students Score Higher on the Upcoming BIG Tests?

I’ll focus on three things that can help your students improve their chances to score up to their potential. By the way, kids never score above their potential; they’re just not going to randomly make enough lucky right answers time after time after time

Magic and the Brain

Keith Barry shows how to trick the human brain with routines that exploit its bugs and loopholes, and offering a revealing look at the software between our ears.

Exploding Common Myths in Education

Myth: Kids Talk Too Much At School
Do your students talk too much? Some teachers think kids talk TOO much at school, and they spend a portion of their day trying to “manage the noise”.

Visiting China’s Best Kept Secret

One of the best-kept secrets in the travel world is the city of Guilin in mainland China. It’s about 325 miles NW of Hong Kong. In Guilin, there is a fabulous panda enclosure.

Understanding Brain-Based Learning

I get asked this question a lot… so I am going to provide an explanation of what Brain-Based teaching is, as well as clear up any myths or misconceptions about it.

Brain-Based education is the active engagement of practical strategies based on learning and behavioral principles derived from neuroscience.