Reflection on Brain Rewired - Sue Oczkowski, Morgan Park Academy

As a phys. ed. instructor, I found this webinar to be surprisingly useful, and also reinforcing the importance of what I do with kids on a daily basis. Knowing that movement helps the brain compliments "whole child" education. I remember a t-shirt I had once that said "Learn to Move, Move to Learn" on the front. How true this is still proving to be. I was amazed at the attention span formula of age plus 2 minutes, and the fact that this peaks at age 25. Now I know why I can't remember some stuff!

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Comment by Kathleen Ann Keelan on January 12, 2012 at 9:48am: Sue, I couldn't agree more. I too was surprised by the attention span formula. It really does help children to learn if you can keep them interested and moving.

Comment by Sherry Grutzius on January 12, 2012 at 11:45am: The webinar does indeed confirm what I have known and experienced as a teacher daily. First, I have several "spinny" chairs that really help some student to settle down via movement - to focus and learn. In addition, those activities that I have my students hands on and up and moving (Bigger Trial) are the units that they retain and remember long after the books are closed.

Comment by james walter kowalsky on January 12, 2012 at 2:40pm: And I find it helpful to be reminded about attention spans of teens and how activities needed to be changed more often and students need to reflect on what it is they processed during the previous few minutes. As a math person, the formula: attention span = age + 2 minutes was interesting. That means in a normal block of 90 minutes, even the 17 year old seniors better be changing activities about 5 times or so. Anyone do the "partial credit when answers on quizzes are corrected" idea? I like that and the rationale that students are most invested in how to do the problems immediately after they have tried them - not in a week after. Lastly, sea salt will be on my tongue tonight before drifting off to bed.

Comment by james walter kowalsky on January 12, 2012 at 2:44pm: Oh, and also reinforced was the idea that thinking faster is learning more and training the brain better. She emphasized game-playing (e.g., Jeopardy, crossword puzzles, etc.). Lynne P. and I went to hear a math guy and he also hit upon the idea that game playing is good for stimulating learning and motivating and getting us out of the ruts we (I) sometimes fall into. I like games.

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