This week was the beginning of a new quarter which means a new group of language arts/creativity kids with fourth grade taking a break this quarter and third grade beginning their time with me. We spend most of the week working on language arts and one day a week learning about being creative. I always like to begin our creative time with making sure the kids understand what it means to be creative and explore where they think their creativity comes from. Here are some examples of the brilliant thinking they shared when we created a learning web answering those two questions: Creativity is making up something, using your imagination, having fun with different ideas and doing anything you want to with it. Third grade math is wrapping up our measurement unit this week by working on perimeter and area problems. This is a common area of misconception for kids. Third and fourth graders commonly confuse the two. I could simply teach third graders the formula for the area of rectangles, but I am must more interested in them discovering the formula for themselves as that leads to understanding the concept and gives them experiences to clear up confusion. By first determining length and width and counting actual squares on graph paper for a rectangle, then tracking that information for various sizes in a chart, the kids quickly start to realize the connection (or what we like to call the shortcut) between length, width, and area. I took some pictures of their exploration time this week with simple rectangles. Monday this week, I was gone to the annual Colorado Gifted Conference in Denver. It is a great chance to network with other teachers and professionals who work with students like mine. The keynote speaker was Daniel Siegel, a psychiatrist and neuroscientist from UCLA. He shared about the adolescent brain and the important brain development that happens between the ages of 12-24. Here are the key ways the adolescent brain changes during that important time (he uses the acronym ESSENCE): 1. Emotional Spark (ES) - Kids must learn to deal with new waves of emotions and intensity of these emotions. Why is this necessary? Because emotions get us moving and motivate us to "get out of the nest." Downside - They don't yet understand how to deal with these emotions and always appear moody. 2. Social Engagement (SE) – Kids are more driven to connect with each other Why is this necessary? They have to "leave the nest with others or they will be lunch." Downside - They want so desperately to be part of a peer group, they will give up morality for membership AND their happiness hinges on connection. 3. Novelty (N) – The reward system of brain is controlled by dopamine. At adolescence, dopamine levels naturally fall. Less dopamine means you are bored and seek new things Why is this necessary? To increase dopamine, you must take risks. This "gets kids out of the nest" where it is familiar and safe. Downside – They take risks adults think are stupid. 5. Creative Exploration (CE) – The frontal lobe is continuing to mature and allow for abstract reasoning and conceptual thinking. Why is this important? Kids need to find their place in life and begin pushing against the status quo and seeing things through new lenses. Downside – They no longer just accept things. Dr. Siegel has written a book called "Brainstorm" which is written for kids to read to understand how their brain works and understand these processes I mentioned. Through our "Mind-Up" curriculum instruction in homerooms, the counselor at Werner, Julie Flemister, teaches students about their brain and how to use their knowledge of how it works for increased learning, as well as stress relief. I hope to reinforce her work with my new learning too.
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Tracey BeanWerner Elementary Archives
May 2018
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