Jj is for Jottings 162. The Connection Between Literacy and Music.
There is a strong connection between literacy and music. Here, music includes learning a musical instrument and/or singing. It actually goes further: children who learn and practise music also have improved performance in executive function, arts and mathematics. (The core areas of executive function are working memory, inhibitory control, and selective attention.) Let’s go into why this is the case. Continue reading
Jj is for Jottings 138. Brain Gym.
Brain gym is a series of movements which claim to enhance whole-brain learning. An alternative term is “educational kinesiology”. The word “education” comes from the Latin educare, which means “to draw out”. “Kinesiology” is from the Greek root kinesis, which means “motion” and is the study of the movement of the human body. Continue reading
Jj is for Jottings 113. Neuroplasticity and Complaining.
Following on from the previous article on neuroplasticity, we will now be more specific – how complaining rewires the brain for negativity. Research shows that most people complain once a minute during a typical conversation. Although complaining might feel good, but just like smoking or eating a whole box of chocolates in one sitting, it doesn’t do you any good. Continue reading
Jj is for Jottings 112. What is Neuroplasticity?
Just what is neuroplasticity? It is the term which describes a sequence of processes that take place in your brain in response to incoming stimuli. In other words, your emotions, behaviours, experiences and thoughts physically change the way your brain functions.
“What is neuroplasticity? I think it is – if I keep practising balancing, I’ll get better at it.”
Jj is for Jottings 110. Personality Type in Addition to Intelligence.
Intelligence isn’t the only factor when considering how people operate. We need to consider personality type in addition to intelligence.
In the previous post, we discussed the 8 types of intelligence, which is a broader view of intelligence than is tested by conventional IQ tests. This helps us to see ourselves, our children and other people in a more understanding light. If you are strong in one particular area, it can be difficult to understand why others don’t “get” what is obvious to you. But knowing that there several types of intelligence allows us to be more accepting of differences between people. And the person who doesn’t cotton on to this apparently obvious thing? They may be thinking the same thing about us in a different area of intelligence. Quite humbling, really. Continue reading
Jj is for Jottings 96. Interactive Reading With Children.
There is a difference between reading to children and reading with children. Reading TO children is just that – reading a story without any sort of discussion or interaction. (For disquieting statistics on reading to children, see here.) On the other hand, interactive reading with children, or reading WITH children, is an active process rather than a passive one. In this case, you are encouraging the child to think, predict, remember and discuss the story, and other related topics may also arise. Therefore it has all the benefits of reading to children, plus many more.
Too young for interactive reading with children, but the right age to start reading TO her.
Jj is for Jottings 38. More Comments from Experienced Teachers.
This is a follow-on from Jottings 35. I said that it would be continued next time – and that was on 6th December! Somehow Christmas and other issues intervened, but here is the second half now.
Both primary and secondary teachers comment on the fact that children are less able to make connections and “join up the dots”, which is something I frequently observe myself. Continue reading
Jj is for Jottings 28. A Neuroscientist’s Comments on Children’s Development.
Baroness Greenfield, a neuroscientist at Oxford University, maintains that technology is re-wiring brains, particularly for young people growing up knowing nothing else. She asserts that a young person who hasn’t yet developed a clear and strong sense of identity and social skills will respond differently Continue reading
