Cognition, Developement, and Instruction

Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain: Promoting Authentic Engagement and Rigor Among Culturally and linguistically Diverse Students: Chapters 1 and 3 of this text discusses how teachers are the biggest creators of the achievement gap among diverse learners. This achievement gap is identified as "an epidemic of dependent learners unprepared to do the higher order thinking, creative problem solving, and analytical reading and writing called for in the new Common Core State Standards" (Hammond, 2015). Essentially students of color, English language learners, and students of poverty lack the productive struggle that helps build our brain power and our ability to perform higher levels of thinking as educators are not setting the same standards for them as for others within the classroom. In turn this creates dependent learners unable to complete higher level thinking that involves complex tasks. Hammond proposes the solution to this "epidemic" is to educate tea...

Neuro Myths: Separating Fact and Fiction in Brain-Based Learning In the article Neuro Myths: Separating Fact and Fiction in Brain-Based Learning, Sara Bernard discuss how this popular learning trend is actually a risky move and is not based on neuroscience whatsoever (2010). Most products that claim to be neuroscience researched is a lie claims Bernard. Basically, if it claims to be brain researched "forget it!" (Bernard, 2001).  Busting Myths:  -Our brains are unchanging before we even start school.... FALSE! Our brain is ever changing and able to adapt throughout our lives. -People are either left-brained or right-brained...FALSE!  -We use only 10% of our brains...FALSE! Evidence shows most of the brain is active in a healthy brain. -Ages 0-3 are the most important learning ages...FALSE! Neuron connections are the greatest during this time, must published studies only prove this on rats, not humans! Reflection: I think as a teacher it is important...