On the first Thursday of each
month, GA teachers gather to hear from colleagues on topics of interest
pertinent to our work with students.
This past Thursday, February 2nd, third grade teacher, Charlotte Dean
shared with a group of Lower, Middle, and Upper School teachers some of the
work on the Mind,
Brain, and Teaching, which she has undertaken over the past
several years through the Johns Hopkins School of
Education. Specifically, she discussed one of the Brain Targets:
Designing the Learning Experience – Using Concept Maps. Our brains are wired to make connections and
see patterns. The more teachers can help
students see these connections and attach new information to existing schema,
the more content and skills will stick.
Click here to view Charlotte’s power
point presentation.
Research on the brain is
informing many educational practices. The Center for Transformative Teaching
and Learning, located at St. Andrew’s School in Potomac, Maryland, supports
teachers’ efforts to craft classroom activities that make use of this brain
research. The Center’s
“mission is to create and innovate in the field of Mind, Brain and Education
Science to allow teachers to maximize their effectiveness and students to
achieve their highest potential.” Among
other initiatives, the Center hosts a number of workshops during the
summer. Please click here for information about those
offerings.
Any questions, please ask Maggie!
