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Brain Research and Baloney
January 16, 2015
Don't look back. You're not going that way.
-Mary Engelbreit
-Mary Engelbreit
In her article, "Primed for Learning: The Young Child's Mind," an article in the Beginnings Workshop Book: Curriculum, Brain Research, Math, Science, Karen Stephens offers this caution:
"I've waded through an explosion of brain research literature. Some of it was beyond my technical needs. A neuroscientist, I'm not! But I plodded on to find a gold mine of knowledge.
"When hearing implications of brain studies, be a wise and thoughtful consumer. Inaccurate — or misapplied —information can harm children rather than help them. Don't accept everything you hear as absolute, final fact. For instance, actively learning to play music builds brain power; passively listening to music does not. Brain research is an emerging field, still in its infancy. New revelations, classifications, and implications surface regularly. Be moderately skeptical. Don't succumb to fads that supposedly stem from research. Follow your intuition and common sense.
"Pay closest attention to information that triggers your 'aha!' response. When brain research rings true, you'll feel it. After all, the human species has evolved to ensure survival of our young. How wonderful that science now bears out that many instinctual parenting and caregiving responses are indeed the best ones!"
Beginnings Workshop Books
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With Beginnings Workshop Books you'll have the hottest curriculum topics down cold. Every issue of  Exchange magazine includes a hands-on staff development guide that provides a wealth of practical ideas on specific curriculum topics from leading authorities in the field of early care and education. Each Beginnings Workshop book is a comprehensive collection of these articles on a particular topic.
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Comments (2)
Displaying All 2 CommentsWorld Forum Foundation
Eugene, OR, United States
Hear, hear! Brain research is big right now, and there is so much to learn, but we do need to filter it carefully. Thanks for the thoughtful reminder, Karen.
parkersburg, WV, United States
jean Piaget can be summarized into this statement, "Higher Order thinking skills are rooted in the development of sensory-motor-perceptual skills."
So, remember the frontal lobe (thinking brain) is trying to use the sensory areas of the back portions of the brain. However; these front and back areas are connected via the motor cortex in the center of the brain. SO-GET CHILDREN MOVING and engaged in natural play to create body and brain connections.
The second lesson of the brain deals with cross lateral movements crossing the anatomical directional planes. (left/Right; up/down; front/back). Again learning to move your body through space requires active play movement.
Children in the current electronic sedentary "play world" are not developing body and brain connections. Teach children the basics of play to get the brain stimulated to be able to learn reading and writing through the acquisition of verbal language.
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