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Showing posts with the label learning strategies

How Can Teachers Trigger Dopamine and Improve Learning?

Wouldn't it be great if a teacher's actions triggered neurotransmitters in the brains of their students that improved attention, motivation, and learning at large? Many would say that this idea sounds like a science fiction novel, but, in fact, it's not far from the truth. What Role do Neurotransmitters Have in the Learning Process? Countless chemical messengers called neurotransmitters are perpetually maintaining our brain's functions and regulating our breath and heartbeat. They even manage our attention and ability to learn. In addition, they also impact a wide variety of emotions including fear, happiness, and boredom. One neurotransmitter, in particular, offers a secret advantage to learning - dopamine. What is Dopamine and How Does it Impact Schooling? Dopamine, commonly referred to as the "feel-good brain chemical" is made by our brains. Dopamine plays a role in feeling satisfaction and joy, and it is vital to our ability to plan and think. Here ...

How to Convert Images and PDFs to Text Documents For Free

Have you ever wondered if you can turn an image or a PDF into an editable document? What was once a costly and buggy turnaround, is now free and quick with Google Drive. This can be an invaluable trick that can save students time, resources, and most of all, energy! Let me show you the steps. What are the Steps? 1) On your computer, go to drive.google.com or select the icons shown in the image below. 2) Drag the desired file into your Google Drive as illustrated below. You can convert JPEG, PNG, GIF, or PDF (multipage documents) files. 3) Select File Open with Google Docs as shown below. 4) A sheet icon appears while the file is converting (see below). Google is now changing your PDF or image file to text with OCR. 5) A Google document will soon open. The image will be on the top and the new editable text will be below it. What are the Ways Students Can Use This Helpful Feature? Take a clear picture of a teacher's notes or another stu...

How are Knowledge and Comprehension Different?

Although some may think that knowledge and comprehension are interchangeable, in fact, they are distinct and work together in a sequence. First we must comprehend information, and then it is stored as knowledge. When we access knowledge from long-term memory ,it is comprehended again when that information is used to understand something new. But what exactly is knowledge and comprehension? Knowledge Vs. Comprehension: Knowledge is the stored, conscious, and accessible information/memories in the brain. Knowledge is not stored in just one part of the brain, but is widely distributed throughout the cortex. Research suggests that there are 4 types of knowledge: Factual knowledge are facts stored in long term memory. Conceptual knowledge the awareness of concepts stored in long-term memory. Procedural knowledge is the knowledge exercised in the performance of a task or the necessary steps to complete a task. Metacognition is the awareness of one’s own cognition. ...

3 Reliable Ways to Strengthen Hemisphere Integration

Most people know the saying: Two heads are better than one. Similarly, one brain with two integrated hemispheres can be equally as powerful. It is common knowledge that the brain has two hemispheres that are bridged by a bundle of nerves that travel across the corpus callosum. Although this overpass exists, it doesn’t mean that it is always used. In fact, you will often hear of people claiming to be right or left brain dominant, and many people function quite well using predominantly “half a brain.” However uniting the power of both hemispheres and assimilating experiences, students can create an internal environment for optimal learning. What is Hemisphere Integration? Hemisphere integration is the communication between and activation of both the left and right hemispheres of the brain. When hemisphere integration is low, the two hemispheres are not communicating well, there is an imbalance between the right and left sides, or one hemisphere is inactive whi...

How to Quickly Teach Multiplication Facts with No Struggle

I know far too well that rote memorization is both boring and frustrating for many young learners. Over the years, I have also witnessed many students that struggle to learn these foundational skills to resist the process, exhibit anxiety and begin to question their own intelligence. This is why coming up with a new approach to teaching multiplication and division facts was one of my first priorities when I opened my educational therapy practice 20 years ago. What are the 4 Secret Ingredients to Learning the Basic Multiplication and Division Facts? Creating a multisensory learning process : In other words, how could I meet the learning needs of all of my students by conduct to a symphony of senses? Tapping into visual, auditory, tactile and kinesthetic styles was primary, but I also wanted to make the process a highly organized sequence of steps that offered students the opportunity to verbalize, interact with others, and directly experi...

What Do Working Memory Problems Look Like in Kids?

With working memory reported to be the number one indicator of academic success, it's surprising that most teachers and parents know little about it. Working memory is like a mental dry erase board where we post information until we need to use it in short-term memory. This information is accessible through one's inner visualizations as well as one's inner voice. There are a Number of Misconceptions about Working Memory: 1) Myth : Kids with a weak working memory have ADHD or other learning disabilities. 1) Truth: Some kids just have a weak working memory that doesn't warrant a diagnosis of ADHD or a learning disability. 2) Myth: Kids with a weak working memory can't remember what they learn. 2) Truth: Memory strategies & exercises can bypass and remediate a weak working memory. 3) Myth: Kids with a weak working memory always have problems with executive functioning skills. 3) Truth: Working memory is only one small ...

How to Meet the Individual Writing Needs of Your Students

With large classroom sizes, it is often challenging to meet the individual writing needs of each student. What makes it doubly difficult is the writing process involves a complicated synergy that requires students to physically write, type or dictate , implement rules of written language/spelling, as well as generate and organize ideas. Those are a lot of tasks that require attention, and every student comes with their own unique preferences and needs. So How Can a Single Teacher Manage the Writing Needs of Individual Students? I find that when most students receive a graded, written assignment, they rarely look past the number. However, sprinkled across their papers are colorful hints and suggestions on how to accomplish higher marks as well as personalized clues on how to develop greater mastery over the written word. The best way to meet the individual needs of your budding writers is to provide the metacognitive strategies, tools, and feedback so that they can consciously le...

Stop Copying! How to do Workbook Activities on an Ipad

Have you ever wondered if you could save paper and time by doing workbook activities on an iPad or computer? The answer is yes! What's more, if the original copy is in color, you can maintain the color activities for no added cost! So stop copying and let me show you how to make a printed document or digital image/activity even more enticing and interactive on a computer or iPad. Here is a flowchart that shows the steps. Written Steps: 1) Printed documents should be scanned or photographed to your computer or tablet. You can also send images or documents to your email and access them from there. 2) Save your image, Doc, or PDF to Google Drive, Dropbox, One Drive, PowerPoint, or Microsoft Word. 3) Select an app. I like to use either Zoom or Procreate . Directions for Zoom: 1) Find the document, pdf or image you want to use on your computer, and leave the window open so you can access it later while using Zoom. Please note that you can also access documents and ima...

How Can I Improve My Reading Speed and Comprehension?

There are all sorts of companies that are trying to sell “speed reading” programs and a “quick comprehension fix.” I often evaluate these products, and I continually find them, too good to be true. What I do know, as a seasoned reading specialist, and educational therapist, is there is not a single solution that serves every struggling reader. So why is this and what can you do? Why Does the Solution to Improved Reading Differ Across Individuals? The secret to improving both reading speed and comprehension depends on each individual’s learning profile and preferences. What are the cognitive weaknesses that are causing the reading difficulties? These deficits need to be remediated through individualized support and accommodated with assistive technology tools. In addition, what are the cognitive strengths of the learner? Tapping into these abilities can help struggling readers develop compensatory strategies or workarounds. Finally, looking at individual preferences can also help. Thi...

Slow Processing Speed - 5 Ways it Impacts Learning

Dear Friends: The next two weeks I will be writing about processing speed. This week I will focus on how processing speed can be evaluated, the causes of a slow processing speed, and the 5 ways that a slow processing speed can impact learning. Next week, I will be sharing 7 powerful strategies for student success as well as reasonable accommodations in the classroom. Have you ever noticed that it takes some students longer to make sense of questions, generate an answer, copy from the board, complete a project, or get everyday tasks done? While some learners can quickly absorb information and complete tasks, others require a greater amount of time. Processing speed, or the speed at which an individual makes sense of incoming information from the senses and then generates a response, is a cognitive task that impacts learning. How Can a Student Be Tested for Processing Speed Deficits? There are a number of psycho-educational subtests that measure processing speed such as Coding...

Accommodating Students with Dyslexia - 12 Strategies for Success

Students with dyslexia or symptoms of dyslexia often struggle in school. It is not that they have limited abilities. On the contrary, many have IQs in the above average or genius range. As a result, instead of a dumbed down curriculum, these students need to be challenged and they need to receive accommodations, modifications and multisensory teaching techniques to unleash their learning potential. What makes it difficult to accommodate students with dyslexia is that each student has their own unique strengths and weaknesses. Yes, two students with dyslexia don’t have the same pattern of cognitive processing deficits. In fact, there are a number of profiles that can lead to this diagnosis . In addition, there are a number of specific cognitive skills that can cause symptoms of dyslexia . Consequently, a successful remediation often requires a tailored, individualized approach. To tap into the quickest results, I have learned that one has to look at the specific cognitive difficul...

Learning Specialist and Teacher Materials - Good Sensory Learning

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