What's New!
A Great New Book! "Why Don't Students Like School? A Cognitive Scientist Answers Questions About How the Mind Works and What it Means for the Classroom" is a must read for all educators. Written by Daniel Willingham, this is a practical, readable explanation of how brain research informs classroom practice. Read it!!
For Brain Junkies - Go to googlealerts.com and type "brain" in the selection box. You can receive alerts from many sources daily or monthly. Excellent way to get current new findings. Some are from neuroscience journals and some are less than scientific but you'll be abe to sort the wheat from the chaff!
BrainWare Safari, A Wonderful New Computer Program - Of all the computer programs for children I've reviewed, this is by far the best! While most programs focus on improving math or reading skills, BrainWare Safari addresses the cognitive skills necessary to be succesful in any academic area. 41 different skills (such as attention, visual and auditory processing, short-term and long-term memory) are enhanced in an interactive, highly entertaining game format. While the graphics appeal most to elementary and middle school age children, don't make the mistake of thinking it's just a kids' game. I've played it and found that my skills were improved as well. For further information, research results and testimonials by educators, go to www.MyBrainWare.com/education
New Videos - I have completed two new hour-long DVDs published by National Professional Resources (NPR). The first is "Brain-Compatible Resources for the Classroom K-6" and the second, "Brain-Compatible Resources for the Classroom, Special Education." They can be purchased from NPR or by emailing me at wolfe@napanet.net .
You can view a video clip of these DVDs on the NPR web site. NPR, Inc. is a leading provider of staff development/teaching training resources. Please visit, http://www.nprinc.com/brain/dbcs.htm for the special education DVD and http://www.nprinc.com/brain/dbcc.htm for the K-6 DVD further information.
Also new from National Professional Resources - An 81/2 x 11 tri-fold laminated summary of the applications of research to the classroom. It is titled "Creating the Brain-Compatible Classroom: A Teacher's Guide" and is available from NPR (see above) or by ordering from me. Email me at wolfe@napanet.net The cost is $12.95
The next Training of Trainers session will be held in July, 2011 in Napa. This program is specifically designed for experienced staff development trainers who have a strong foundation in current brain research and are interested in training others in this research and its implications and applications for schools. Its purpose is to prepare you to understand and use the materials I have designed and used in my training over the past twelve years. If you are interested, please email me at wolfe@napanet.net and I'll send you an information letter and application.
Building The Reading Brain This new book written by Pat Wolfe and Pam Nevills has been published by Corwin Press. To order call 800-818-7243 or order online at www.corwinpress.com
Brain News in the News
GREAT DEAL****The Dana Press is offering an updated edition of their fantastic 135-page students' book free! It's called the The Dana Brain Science Guide: Resources for Secondary and Post-Secondary Teachers and Students. If you write a request on school letterhead they will sent you a set of 30 copies of the guide for your classroom, a video called Exploring Your Brain: Stress, Trauma and the Brain, and an audio, Gray Matters: alcohol, Drugs and the Brain. Supplies are limited so don't put this off. Mail your request to The Dana Press, Attention: David Balog, 745 Fifth Avenue, Suite 700, New York, NY 10151 or fax your request (on school letterhead) to (212) 317-8721. (posted 1/15/2000)
NOTE: If you are not on the Dana Foundation's mailing list and don't receive your bimonthly copy of The Brain in the News, (it contains articles from major newspapers that pertain to brain research) or the quarterly Brainwork. Check their web site (www.dana.org) for information on how to obtain free subscriptions. Cerebrum, the great journal from the Dana Foundation is now available online.
Study Guide for Brain Matters
I have written a Study Guide to be used by teachers who are reading Brain Matters: Translating Research to Classroom Practice as part of a Study Group. To access the guide, log onto http://ascd.org click on Reading Room, then Books to Browse. On the left side of the page you will find a link called ASCD Study Guides. Click on that link, then Brain Matters and print a copy of the guide.
Web sites you can use to keep up with the lastest brain research..*
*** Check www.newscientist.com and receive a free online news letter each week.
*** Another site is BioMedNet (http://www.bmn.com) which summarizes reports from major neuroscience, cell biology, and other conferences. I recently downloaded an article on neurotransmitters and a fascinating one on the "gut brain."
*** The University of Minnesota has an excellent website which can be found at the following address: http://www2.neuroscience.umn.edu/brainscience/
*** Continue to check periodically into http://www.brainconnection.com, lots of good info, especially their "NeuroNews" links.
*** Check out www.eurekalert.org for great updates on the latest in science research. Many articles relate new research on the brain. You do not have to sign in to obtain information....just click on the link you want.
*** If you aren't receiving the monthly newsletter from Memory Key, you may want to subscribe (free) to http://www.memory-key.com This is an extremely informative site proving summaries of the latest brain research .
*** Check out the Serendip web site at http://serendip.brynmawr.edu. It's a wonderful site with excellent current information from the neurosciences and great ideas for teaching science. Highly recommended!
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