Begin With the Brain

"Describes activities at a level of detail that will allow teachers to immediately try them out in their own classrooms. If more classrooms reflected these ideas and used these strategies, education would not only be more effective and powerful, it would be a far more joyful experience for our students."—Barbara Clark, Professor EmeritusCalifornia State University, Los Angeles

"Teachers who intend to make a marked difference in their students′ learning and lives will profit from reading this book. Not only will they find the material useful, they will be gratified and strengthened in their commitment."—Leah Welte, TeacherAlpine School District, American Fork, UT

Create a high-achieving, joyful learning environment informed by brain-based research!

In this thoroughly updated bestseller, seasoned educator Martha Kaufeldt helps teachers understand and apply current findings in neuroscience research to all aspects of their classroom practice, from behavior management to curriculum design. Using what we know about how the brain learns optimally, this ready-to-go resource provides practical guidance to new and experienced teachers on how to create a learner-centered classroom, including:

• Setting up a classroom
• Establishing routines and procedures
• Fostering students′ intellectual curiosity
• Reducing learned helplessness in students
• Developing students′ respect for one another′s cultural and educational backgrounds
• Building a classroom community

Complete with updates and explanations of relevant neuroscience research, this field-tested guide will help teachers maximize student learning by making instruction compatible with how the brain learns best.