Rules you brain works by

Hat tip to Eric Barker from the intriguing Barking up the wrong tree for refreshing my memory about John Medina's excellent book Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School.















We workshopped the book at Muriel Brand School about a year ago and staff found it very useful. All educators can learn much from John Medina. Here is a link to a Pdf summarising the Brain Rules. The Pdf gives enough information to be usable.

Here are his points as summarised for a presentation:

Exercise: Exercise boosts brain power

Survival: The human brain evolved

Wiring: Every brain is wired differently

Attention: We don’t pay attention to boring things

Short-term memory: Repeat to remember

Long term memory: Remember to repeat

Sleep: Sleep well, think well

Stress: Stressed brains don’t learn the same way

Sensory integration: Stimulate more of the senses

Vision: Vision trumps all other senses

Gender: Male and female brains are different

Exploration: We are powerful and natural explorers

Medina lays much emphasis on the importance of movement and exercise for learning. Note that these are not the specific movements alleged to activate specific areas of the brain that are often suggested by expensive educational consultants. Do not waste your money on stuff that has no scientific validity and no scientific evidence for effectiveness.