Customer Reviews

Brain-Based Teaching With Adolescent Learning in Mind

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Excellent book! A must have for anyone in the education of teens...from teachers to administrators. Although I am a parent of teenagers, I learned so much information on the physiology of an adolescent brain, and how it affects & influences learning during these developmentally important years. As an educator, it definitely changed, but also reaffirmed my approaches to teaching teens.

The author shares many insights into that confusing, but so critical stage of life. Similar to a recent popular mazagine (National Geographic), the teen-age brain is NOT dormant but, instead changing and evolving into a future, mature brain. In the same way, children should not be viewed as adults, so should the adolescent brain not be viewed as either a child OR an adult. Consequently, the approach to instruction must be considered. It does not take long to realize that, while many of those in this age group, appear to be adults, their brains are not yet fully developed. Consequently, their cognitive approach to life remains somewhere between the old coping strategies and those which will unfold within the next few years.

Having worked with this age group in the classroom (middle school teacher), guidance counselor, consultant psychologist and (the most challenging role) parent of three children, this book drives home the obvious -- adolescent learning is different-- as well as provides many practical suggestions for making the academic process a rewarding one for both the student, parents, and teacher.

After a description of the developing brain is presented, information about strategies of getting and keeping attention (Chapter 2), creating a community of learners (Chapter 3), teaching students to think AND understand (Chapter 4), the final chapter addresses the ultimate goal of education -- promoting transfer -- is discussed.
Recommended for educators, administrators, parents as well as those involved in other ways of working with this population, including counselors and therapists.