Making the Most of Our Cognitive Assets

It’s an exciting time for mind, brain, and education research, with psychologists and neuroscientists regularly making discoveries that have revolutionized our understanding about people learn.

For instance, we now know that academic achievement is greatly influenced by students’ ability to apply thought processes in a systematic way. We use the term metacognition to describe this ability, with the strategies that come into play known as cognitive assets. Cognitive psychologists and neuroscientists may use the term executive functions or skills to describe similar functions.

For example, educators, psychologists and neuroscientists may all speak of the importance of capacities such as working memory, selective attention, and metacognition with regard to learning. All three groups of professionals are talking about skills that are linked to the brain’s prefrontal region, as well as other areas of the brain depending upon the specific skill. Ongoing research continues to increase our understanding about related structures and functions.

Think About Your Heart Health on This Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day is the holiday in which we consider matters of the heart. For the sake of our health, it’s important that we think about our hearts on the other days of the year as well.

Putting the emphasis on cardiovascular health is essential to maintaining a healthy Body-Brain System, and maintaining a healthy Body-Brain System is the key to living a long and productive life of learning and doing all the things that we love to do most.

What better time than this Valentine's Day holiday to celebrate the steps we can all take to adopt a cardio-protective lifestyle? The American Heart Association offers a simple prescription for heart health in the following "Simple 7" health guidelines:

My Presentation at the National Title I Conference Takes Place Today

Today’s the day! I’m in Houston and getting ready to present at the 2016 National Title I Conference, “Frontiers of Opportunity,” which gets underway today and continues through Jan. 31 at the George R. Brown Convention Center. This afternoon, from 1-2 p.m. in Room 362, I’ll be making a high-energy presentation on the subject of  "Improving Instruction through the Mind, Brain, and Teacher Leadership Model.”

In this presentation, which is taken from five of Marcus Conyers' and my recently published books on the science of learning, brain-based teaching and teacher leadership, I will be sharing our model/framework of mind, brain, and teacher leadership applied in classrooms and schools. The focus will be on science and strategies that work for real teachers in classrooms across the U.S. Attendees will also hear stories of teacher leaders, my heroes, who are making a positive difference in schools and classrooms each day.

Following the presentation, from 2:30-3:30, I will be doing a book signing in the Title I bookstore.

Marcus Interviewed on "Inspire Nation"

Marcus Conyers was recently interviewed by Michael Sandler for the "Inspire Nation" podcast on the subject of "How to Upgrade Your Brain for Greater Success, Happiness and Well-Being."

Michael and Marcus had a great conversation about the potential that all of us have for upgrading our brain at any age, with the basis being the research that he and Donna uncovered when writing our book, Positively Smarter: Science and Strategies for Increasing Happiness, Achievement and Well-Being. The host and guest talked about a broad range of subjects, from the importance of the Body-Brain connection to the innate talent paradigm to the effect that a positive state of mind has on our ability to be successful. The podcast is available in 151 countries.

The audio show is currently available on iTunes at this link. For those who don't have iTunes or who have an Android phone, the podcast can be accessed here.

Celebrating 20 Years of Title I Teaching!

I am pleased to be presenting on the first day of the Title I 2016 Annual Conference where I will be sharing our model/framework of mind, brain, and teacher leadership applied in classrooms and schools. My presentation "Improving Instruction through the Mind, Brain, and Teacher Leadership Model" is taken from five of Marcus Conyers' and my recently published books on the science of learning, brain-based teaching and teacher leadership. The focus will be on science and strategies that work for real teachers in classrooms across the U.S. Attendees will also hear stories of teacher leaders, my heroes, who are making a positive difference in schools and classrooms each day!

Over the past 20 years, we have shared our work with more than 10,000 K-12 students and 160,000 educators in live events, honing our teaching with input from teacher leaders. Many times our participants have been from Title I schools and districts in states including Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Montana, Alabama, North Dakota, North Carolina, Mississippi, Colorado, Maryland, Georgia, Washington, Florida, and many more. Educators have also studied the curriculum we co-developed to earn graduate degrees in practical applications of mind, brain, and education research over the past 15 years.

Let’s Keep Positive Practical Learning Front of Mind in 2016

Happy 2016! I look forward to engaging with educators throughout the year at conferences, seminars, and other events.

For my first post of the new year, I'd like to stress something that every educator should keep front of mind for 2016: the now-proven principle that virtually every human brain has the potential to learn and change throughout the lifespan. In fact, researchers are reporting that learning actually changes the structure and function of your brain.

Whether you are traveling to exciting new destinations in 2016, learning new teaching strategies, reading a book, playing a new game, or stretching your mind in a new job, YOU are a learning machine.

In the past, it was thought that brain development stopped sometime during our youth. At one time, it was said to be the age of 12. In the last several decades (with an emphasis on early childhood), there has even been confusion leading the uninformed to say that important development ceases even earlier. However, it is now known that adults can  create new brain cells and make connections across their entire lifespans. So, it is critically important to keep learning.

Five Tips for Eating Healthier in 2016

The holidays are a time for us to eat, drink and be merry. Surrounded by great food and an abundance of sweets, some find it hard to resist the temptation of "just one more bite," followed by another bite and perhaps another one after that. Having overindulged in foods that are high in sugar and unhealthy fats in December, we promise ourselves to eat a healthier diet in the coming year.

Eating healthy is definitely a critical component to reducing our risk of heart attack, stroke, diabetes, and a myriad of other adverse medical conditions. For those who maintain healthy eating habits, food is more than just the fuel that gets us through the day. It is also the pathway to feeling good and to staying focused and energized, or relaxed and calm.

In our book Positively Smarter: Science and Strategies for Increasing Happiness, Achievement, and Well-Being. we explain that healthy eating is important for fueling the Body-Brain System.