Here's an interesting article on teenage brain development

Below are links to an article and interview about the brains of teenagers.

Find the Dobbs article at...

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2011/10/teenage-brains/dobbs-text

If you would like to hear an interview with David Dobbs, including a discussion forum with teenagers, you can listen to this NPR story:

http://www.npr.org/2011/09/20/140637115/understanding-the-mysterious-teenage-brain

Findings reveal brain mechanisms at work during sleep

Interesting article on the brain and sleep...

Findings reveal brain mechanisms at work during sleep

Scientific American Article

Check out a good article by Scientific American "New Classrooms Can Change Children's Brains" 

Play, Stress, and the Learning Brain By Sam Wang, Ph.D. and Sandra Aamodt, Ph.D.

Why do many species play? In an online article adapted from Dr. Sam Wang and Dr. Sandra Aamodt’s book Welcome to Your Child’s Brain: How the Mind Grows from Conception to College (Bloomsbury USA, 2011; OneWorld Publications, 2011), the authors explore how play enhances brain development in children.

As Wang and Aamodt describe, play activates the brain’s reward circuitry but not negative stress responses, which can facilitate attention and action. Through play, children practice social interaction and build skills and interests to draw upon in the years to come." Parents and teachers alike will enjoy reading this September 24 article in Dana Press' Cerebrum.

Supporting Teachers to Implement Common Core State Standards

I am happy to see that there are a number of sessions at the Florida Virtual School conference to support educators in Florida and other states that are implementing the Common Core State Standards. Although the standards are not entirely new to many states that have had various types of standards, it is now expected that students will learn to use cognitive strategies alongside content. In many communities this is a departure from what has been expected, thus, it is important to include in professional development planning now and over time. To assist with implementation of cognitive standards in educational settings, consider doing a book study connecting local requirements for Common Core with our text, Thinking for Results, 2012 (Amazon.com).

On Creativity

You can't use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have. -- Maya Angelou

Visit Us At The Florida Virtual School Conference

Thursday I am excited to be at the Florida Virtual School conference in Orlando! The school is an online public school. If you plan to be at the conference on Thursday, Judy Ingram and I will be at the NSU booth all day. Stop by and see us there!