WHY DO THEY ACT THE WAY THEY DO?

Brain Research and the Middle Level Learner

N.M.S.A. Presenter: Frank Kros, Upside Down Organization

ABOUT THE PRESENTER: FRANK KROS The Upside Down Organization (UDO), a program of The Children's Guild

Institute, is dedicated to improving the lives of children and youth through transforming organizational cultures. UDO provides child-serving organizations and professionals with cutting-edge learning experiences using the highly successful philosophy called Transformation Education and infuses its teachings with the latest research and insights from educational neuroscience. 

  What is Transformation Education?

Transformation Education (TranZed) is an organizational philosophy that creates a brain-compatible culture, emphasizing values, skills and beliefs necessary for a successful life.

TranZed is different because it focuses on transforming how professionals think and act toward children rather than changing the children’s behavior.

TranZed works because it harnesses an organization’s systems, staff, environment and curriculum to provide an enriched and effective milieu for educating young people.

DID YOU KNOW?

…The brain is fully developed by age……. 25

…Kids experience a second surge in brain growth during……… Puberty (ages 12-18 is a vulnerable period in the

brain)

LET’S GAIN SOME CONTEXT FOR OUR WORK Consider this: Sarah is a 7th grade student at

Brain Based Middle School. She stayed up late last evening snacking in her room while reading and sending text messages to her friends. In school the next day one of her friends, Emily, told her to “mind her own business” and she couldn’t believe what she had heard. She quickly lashed out and told her to “shut her trap.” She then went to her next class and told 3 other girls that she couldn’t stand Emily and shared a personal secret that Emily had shared the night before. Her teacher reprimanded her for disrupting the class and by the end of the day all of her friends were mad at her. She forgot her books at school and couldn’t remember what homework she had. When she got home from school her mom asked how her day was she told her it was terrible and she hated school because all of the girls were so mean.

4 KEY PROCESSES OR FACTORS IMPACT THE ADOLESCENT BRAIN

Blossoming Happens twice in ones lifetime (once at age 2 during

language acquisition, 2nd time during adolescence) Overproduction of neurons Eventually creates understanding of abstract

concepts Pruning

“Use it or Lose it” Myelination

The coating of axons Repeating information/practice, practice, practice

Hormones Hormones for boys and hormones for girls

THIS IS YOUR BRAIN…

THIS IS YOUR BRAIN ON “BLOSSOMING”…

BLOSSOMING

• Overproduced neurons connect to the amygdala connect to axon which convert to electrical impulses (these send messages)

• A blossoming brain can be described as a “million way map”

It’s very fast and makes for “fuzzy” thinking This million way map is managing:

Impulses Organization Decision Making Social Cues Predicting Consequences

SHARE “BRAIN BASED” CONNECTIONS: TALK TO YOUR NEIGHBOR

How does this brain based learning apply to Sarah’s scenario?

Have you ever witnessed a student trying to navigate their own “million way map?”

THE MALE BRAIN AND HORMONES Testosterone=POWER!!! 1000X over stimulates the amygdala (palace

guard) Social realm comes first! With the stress response we become alert,

solve or escape, or experience distress May see: aggression, territorial behavior,

dominance, lack of impulse control, increased sex drive

Can have periods of melancholy Serotonin-serenity/safety Dopamine-with significant drop may need

stimulation or input (high risk takers)

SHARE MALE SPECIFIC “BRAIN BASED” CONNECTIONS: TALK TO THE GROUP

Can you think of one of your middle level learners who fit this description?

Would any of this information cause you to approach this learner differently?

THE FEMALE BRAIN AND HORMONES

Estrogen/Progesterone Destabilizes the amygdala (palace guard) Changes neurotransmitter levels May see: amplification of emotions,

increased stress and appetite, increased sex drive, moderate to severe depression (girls don’t understand that “it’s” normal)

Body attempts to balance 5 hormones and results in some inconsistencies in behaviors

SHARE FEMALE SPECIFIC “BRAIN BASED” CONNECTIONS: SHARE WITH THE GROUP

Can you think of one of your middle level learners who fit this description?

Would any of this information cause you to approach this learner differently?

OTHER APPLICATIONS FOR EDUCATORS

Repetition, repetition, repetition Learning=Long Term Memory Stress in the brain interferes with learning Supporting students in navigating the social

realm Help establish healthy work habits Teach Executive Function Skills

WHAT IS EXECUTIVE FUNCTION?

“Executive Function” is a complex construct that encompasses a variety of cognitive abilities including impulse control, strategic planning, cognitive flexibility, and goal-directed behavior. EF abilities empower us to delay gratification, anticipate consequences of our behavior, focus and concentrate on completing a task and utilize working memory to compare, contrast and select among different choices. In addition, executive function skills allow us to organize, plan and self-monitor our use of time

WHAT CAN I DO TODAY, NEXT WEEK, NEXT MONTH?

What is one way you could help students to LEARN skills in executive function?Impulse controlPlanningFlexibilityGoal-directed behaviorAnticipating consequencesConcentration on task completionCompare, contrast, and select among choicesTime management