Many teachers in regular classrooms feel unprepared to teach students with learning disabilities. Fortunately, brain research has confirmed that strategies benefiting learners with special challenges are suited for engaging and stimulating all learners. In this book, neurologist and classroom teacher Judy Willis explains that we can best help students by putting in place strategies, accommodations, and interventions that provide developmentally and academically appropriate challenges to suit the needs, gifts, and goals of each student. Brain-Friendly Strategies for the Inclusion Classroom will help teachers
- Understand how the brain learns and the technologies that reveal this process. - Implement strategies that are compatible with students' individual learning styles and honor their multiple intelligences. - Improve the focus of students with attention disorders and help them gain the confidence and skills they need to develop goal-oriented behaviors. - Create an enriching learning environment by incorporating student-centered activities, discovery and hands-on learning experiences, cross-curricular learning, and multisensory lessons. - Implement strategic review, study, and test preparation strategies that will allow students to retain information and connect it with future learning. - Build safe, supportive classroom communities and raise class awareness and empathy for students with learning disabilities.
It's time for teachers to lower the barriers, not the bar. Using strategies that align with research on how people's brains function, teachers can engage all students as individuals and help them reach their maximum potential with joy and confidence.
Dr. Judy Willis, a board-certified neurologist and teacher combined her training in neuroscience with her teacher education training and the past ten years of classroom teaching to become a leading authority in the field of parenting and teaching strategies derived from learning-centered brain research.
After graduating Phi Beta Kappa as the first woman graduate from Williams College, Judy Willis attended UCLA School of Medicine where she was awarded her medical degree. She remained at UCLA and completed a medical residency and neurology residency, including chief residency. She practiced neurology for fifteen years before returning to university to obtain her Teaching Credential and Masters of Education from the University of California, Santa Barbara. She taught then elementary and middle school for the past ten years.
Dr. Willis is an authority in brain research regarding learning and the brain and currently dedicates her time to presenting information about classroom and parenting strategies derived from brain research at educational conferences, professional development workshops, and to parent groups and nationally and internationally. She has been a Distinguished Lecturer at ASCD national conferences, writes extensively for professional educational journals, and was honored as a 2007 Finalist for Distinguished Achievement Award for her educational writing by the Association for Educational Publishers. "Ask Dr. Judy" is a regular webinar feature offered free to all through ASCD.org
Dr. Willis is the author of six books, including four books for educators, Research-Based Strategies to Ignite Student Learning, Brain Friendly Strategies for the Inclusion Classroom, Teaching the Brain to Read, and Learning to Love Math: Teaching Strategies That Change Student Attitudes and Get Results, that will be out in July 2010.
Her first book for parents, How Your Child Learns Best: Brain-Based Ways to Ignite Learning and Increase School Success, with foreword by Goldie Hawn, will be released in translation in China. Her book Inspiring Middle School Minds: Gifted, Creative, Talented, for educators and parents was a finalist for the 2010 USA Book News Magazine 2010 Best Book Awards in Education/Academic Category.
Dr. Willis is a research consultant and member of the board of directors for the Hawn Foundation, an international foundation developed and directed by Goldie Hawn. She co-wrote the Foundation's MindUp curriculum of activities for teachers to do with children to increase their emotional control, stress management, and attentive focus. Link to Neurology Now: Journal of American Academy of Neurology for the cover article featuring the collaboration of Dr. Willis and Goldie Hawn to bring neuroscience into classrooms and teach children about Building Better Brains. http://journals.lww.com/neurologynow/Fulltext/2010/06020/Golden_Opportunity.17.aspx
When not consulting, writing books, or making presentations, Dr. Willis is a home winemaker and writes a monthly wine column.
Dr. Willis' Website: www.RADTeach.com Connect from this website to links to her books, articles, and presentation schedule.
Additional Ways to Connect with Dr. Judy Willis
Dr. Judy Willis' PSYCHOLOGY TODAY Online Staff Posts at http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/radical-teaching
"Brain Owner's Manual" Dr. Willis believes that, "Children who understand that genius is not limited by genes. When children discover how their brains learn and that they can change their brain wiring to change their intelligence, they are motivated to persevere with homework, studying, and setbacks because they understand can take control of their emotional, social, and academic success."
For this reason, Dr. Willis wrote her first "Brain Owner's Manual" article to help parents and educators explain to children the power they have to change their own brains and change their intelligence. She is currently writing a series of "Brain Owner's Manual" books for parents and one for educators that are age-group specific. Link to her article called, What You Should Know About Your Brain: http://www.radteach.com/page1/page8/page45/page45.html
Dr. Judy Willis's Educational Consultant EDge Webpage for the Association of Supervision & Curriculum Development (ASCD) at http://edge.ascd.org/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=19069219&as=127586&b
Judy Willis Author's Page on ASCD http://www.ascd.org/Publications/Authors/Judy_Willis.aspx?id=31085086001&nvid=a22b1
View Podcast Interviews and Webinars With the Author
"Ask Dr. Judy" is a regular webinar feature offered free to all through ASCD.org
Edutopia Webinar with Dr. Willis: Multiple Intelligences and Learning Strengths to Help all Children Learn in their Most Successful Ways http://www.edutopia.org/webinar-discussion-april-2009
Author Interviews about her books: Ignite Student Learning: http://www.ascd.org/Publications/Authors/Judy_Willis.aspx?id=31085086001&nvid=a7b1
Teaching the Brain to Read: SCROLL DOWN TO Teaching the Brain to Read at: http://www.ascd.org/Publications/Books/ASCD_Talks_With_an_Author/ASCD_Talks_With_an_Author_(main).aspx
YouTube
Videos on YouTube: Put "Judy Willis" and key words like "brain" "syn-naps" into YouTube and you'll find several short topical videos of and several by Dr. Willis. For example: The Marshmallow Test is at http://edge.ascd.org/_Dr-Judy-Willis-on-marshmallows-as-a-predictor-of-a-child39s-future-/video/881080/127586.html
Presentations & Lectures on YouTube: under "Judy Willis" you'll find full presentations she has done for professional educators. One about inquiry learning in science for the State of Tennessee Department of Education and one about brain research-based teaching strategies in English and Spanish, that she gave in Buenos Aires.
Radio, Video Interviews and Podcasts
The Parent's Journal Public Radio Program and Podcast 06-03-09 Topic: Middle Schoolers Who Love to Learn - Dr. Judy Willis' portion is in second half of the program at: http://www.parentsjournal.com/podcast/229/0603.mp3
Dr. Judy Willis video interview about what brain research suggests for classroom teaching strategies (also applicable for parents) Windows Media version http://stream.luxmedia501.com/?file=realimpact/ascd/talks_w_author/wma_willis.wma&type=wma or for QuickTime version: http://stream.luxmedia501.com/?file=realimpact/ascd/talks_w_author/qta_willis.mov&type=mov
Dr. Judy Willis video interview about how to differentiate instruction for neuro-logical teaching, improved memory, and responsive student behavior in motivated students http://www.ascd.org/Publications/Authors/Judy_Willis.aspx?id=31085086001&nvid=a13b1
Dr. Judy Willis interview/video ASCD about topics in the book, Teaching the Brain to Read http://video.ascd.org/services/player/bc
This review is from: Brain-Friendly Strategies for the Inclusion Classroom (Paperback)
Board-certified neurologist and middle school teacher Judy Willis presents Brain-Friendly Strategies for the Inclusion Classroom: Insights From a Neurologist and Classroom Teacher, a guide to teaching strategies designed to engage and stimulate all students, and be of especial help to students with learning disabilities. Chapters cover tips, tricks, and techniques for teaching students attention disorders; review and test preparation strategies ideal for a diversity of learners; the theory of multiple intelligence brains; and much more. An invaluable reference and resource for teachers of all grades.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
This review is from: Brain-Friendly Strategies for the Inclusion Classroom (Paperback)
With the diversity of students increasing in our classrooms today, Dr. Willis's book fills knowledge void that connects brain research to classroom instruction. It is critical for teachers to meet the educational needs of students of all ability levels, including students with a variety of leaning disabilities and gifts. This is the first book I've found that explains what works and why from a comprehensive, brain-friendly perspective. The technical terms were so effectively explained that you will gain a deep understanding about the complex neural function of the brain and how this new knowledge can lead to classroom success.
Brain-Friendly Strategies for the Inclusion Classroom gives educators the neuroscience research background and specific classroom strategies to build on all students' strengths and facilitate their growth and engagement. I particularly appreciated Dr. Willis's style of writing and reader-friendly approach that clearly reflects her background in neuroscience and education. The strategies and specific unit lessons, offered as detailed examples, are easy to follow and ready to bring right into the classroom.
Today with the pressure of standardized testing and the resulting overly regimented curriculum, educators need help to adapt curriculum so all students can succeed and truly not be left behind. If you are ready to use neuro-logical strategies to effectively and joyfully engage students with a range of abilities, challenges, and gifts in your general education classroom, but don't have time to read all the books that are out there, this is the one to read!
Lawrence May, MD
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
This review is from: Brain-Friendly Strategies for the Inclusion Classroom (Paperback)
Dr.Willis has created a masterful document that successfully merges the best of the brain sciences with educational practice. She not only speaks from an extensive background in neurology, but also as a practicing educator. In this work, she has generated solid suggestions with an abundant array of strategies and ideas that are well grounded in both research and practice. This well articulated book is an easy read and enormously useful to the classroom practitioner of today. Complete with examples and lesson plan layouts, this book is a must-read for those in education ~ whether they be involved in inclusion classrooms or not!! Her approach to integrating learning is refreshing, insightful and easily put into use!
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
