SMART TEACHING
www.SmartTeaching.org

29. Products for Learning
©2006 Ron Fitzgerald, D. Ed.

This topic section describes relatively new materials that can be helpful in promoting learning.  The emphasis is on products that are based on cognitive research or brain-friendly teaching principles.  For example, item #2 software is based on research on the value of expanding the visual field to move from reading individual words to groups of words.  Concurrently that helps to eliminate the slowing habit of sub-vocalizing individual words, a habit that often develops when we are first being taught to read.  The learning activities provided in item #3, The Ten-Minute Trainer book take advantage of three well researched principles of brain-friendly instruction - -

  • That shorter learning activities are more effective than longer, unchanging activities;
  • That learner activity or involvement is more effective than passive listening; and
  • That variety in instructional activities helps reach more students with different learning styles.

The short list will be expanded periodically.  The date on which each item was posted is shown because an item might eventually not remain available from the initially described source. - - Ronald Fitzgerald

  1. Shouting Won’t Grow Dendrites (January, 2008)
    SPECIAL NOTE:  This is a 5-star óóóóó recommended product.  Combined with the Teachers’ Handbook described in Topic #3 on this website, it provides the details needed for highly effective management of learning in any classroom.
    1. Basic description:  This 140-page paperback book by Marcia L. Tate provides 20 “techniques for managing a brain-compatible classroom.”  Each technique discussion provides a summary of the theory or research on which the technique is based.  More important, each discussion provides specific and practical descriptions for implementation of the technique.  The amount of very practical information presented in this book can be best described as amazing!
    2. Usefulness:  The information in this book is so comprehensive and so powerful, that, if I were still an active rather than retired superintendent, every teacher in my district would be given a copy of the handbook and access to related professional development programs.  Supporting implementation of the techniques at every level, K-12 through adult, would do more to increase the quality of learning and classroom environments than any of the past or current reform and mandates pursued by state and national legislatures.  This book provides the kind of practical resources that our teachers and youngsters deserve.
    3. Availability:  The latest paperback edition was published in 2007 by Corwin Press (a great source of practical books on brain-friendly teaching) of Thousand Oaks, California.  It is available on amazon.com for $29.95.
  2. Eye Q Training Software (July, 2006)
    1. Basic description:  This software can be placed on any individual computer learning station (Mac or Windows) to provide short (7-minute) lessons that increase both reading speed (first 6 of the 12 lessons) and comprehension (second set of the lessons).  One lesson per day or every second day is recommended.  A pre-test and a post-test on speed are provided for each lesson.  The user can also select the level - - child, teenager, or adult.  Extra practice lessons are also available on the CD-ROM and in an eye exercise book.  Added practice reading can be pursued on an extra book and two CD-ROMs provided with the kit.  This program is NOT intended to teach phonics or to assist learners with special needs; it does not teach the basics of reading.  Rather, its purpose is to increase reading speed and, secondarily, comprehension by strengthening eye muscles and expanding the field of vision.  This is an important purpose in our age of information overload.
    2. Usefulness:  The program works.  Of course, given brain differences and different levels of attention to extra practice, the degree of improvement in reading speed varies from individual to individual.  The program can help students (especially secondary school students who have mastered the fundamentals of reading) and teachers and other adults to increase reading speed significantly.  Such improvement can be a special gift for college-bound youngsters.  Learning stations with the software and practice materials can be established in school libraries or reading labs or even in business work environments.
    3. Availability:  In June of 2006, the program was available on a trail basis for $199.95 plus shipping and, if applicable, a sales tax from - -

Nightingale-Conant
6245 W. Howard
Niles, IL   60714
www.nightingale.com

  1. The Ten-Minute Trainer  (July, 2006)
    1. Basic description:  This new 281-page book by Sharon L. Bowman provides “150 ways to teach it quick & make it stick!”  It is based on two major concepts - - shorter segments of instruction work better than longer ones and learners remember more when they are involved in the learning.  Although written for trainers of adults, the 150 high energy activities can be easily adapted to secondary school and college classes to increase the brain-friendly climate for learning.
    2. Usefulness:  Any teacher or trainer who has completed a course or comprehensive workshop in brain-compatible teaching and learning will find this book a powerful resource of brief teaching activities that can be used in almost any course or subject or workshop.  It continues Sharon Bowman’s production of highly practical and effective suggestions for teaching and learning.
    3. Availability:  This paperback book was published in 2005 by Pfeiffer, an imprint of John Wiley & Sons Inc.; Telephone 1-800-274-4434.  It is available from www.amazon.com for $33.10.
  2.  Research-Based Strategies to IGNITE Student Learning (September, 2006)
    1. Basic description:  This new 125-page book by Dr. Judy Willis provides the evidence from neuroscience for many brain-friendly teaching techniques.  Dr. Willis is a board-certified neurologist and middle school teacher.
    2. Usefulness:  Every teacher and trainer can profit from the solid evidence and straightforward suggestions in this book.  The evidence will give you confidence in many of the fundamental, brain-friendly techniques described on the SMART TEACHING web site.  The suggestions will equip you to help students build stronger memory circuits, attract or “hook” students to learning activities, use visualization and patterning, operate student-centered lessons, deal with the impact of stress and emotion on learning, and use assessment effectively.  The book is truly a superior resource for teaching.
    3. Availability:  This paperback book was published in 2006 by the Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD); Telephone 1-800-933-2723.  You can go to the web site http://shop.ascd.org/ and search for the book IGNITE.  Cost is $16.95 to members and $21.95 to non-members.
  3.  Seven Secrets of Inspired Leaders (April, 2007)
    1. Basic description:  This 238-page book by Phil Dourado and Dr. Phil Blackburn presents powerful points of view on effective leadership in today’s organizations.  It was not written for educators but for those who want to lead in any field of endeavor or organization.
    2. Usefulness:  Content of the book and the seven secrets to moving from the old command-and-control age to the empowering age of leadership comes from eighty members and friends of the international Inspired Leaders Network.  The advice is based on results in organizations like Amazon, Federal Express, General Electric, eBay, and many others.  The words of wisdom are powerful and practical.  Reading this book can help anyone be a better leader in a school, in a school district, in a business, or in government.  While the book does not attempt to define the path, it could be used as part of a dynamic course in leadership for secondary school students.  As a reviewer, Shawn Smith from London stated - - “This is a great little book with a lot of big ideas.”
    3. Availability:  The paperback edition was published in 2005 by Capstone Publishing Limited (A Wiley Company).  It is available on Amazon.com for $24.95.
  4. The Power of Smart Goals  (October, 2007)
    1. Basic description:  This 203-page book by Jan O’Neill and Anne Conzemius provides powerful ideas and examples on using goals with students in the classroom.  It provides a powerful graphic organizer for creating “SMART” goals (page 18) with indicators and measures and targets. It shows how the goals and indicators can be used by students as well as by teachers. It describes how balanced (formative and summative) assessment can be used to promote achievement of learning goals.
    2. Usefulness:  This book brings the concepts of mission (Topic #19 on the website www.SmartTeaching.org) and management with data (Topic #23) down to the practical level in the classroom. Thus, it can be very useful in planning and implementing a highly effective teaching/learning management process in any school, with any team, and in any K-12 classroom. The book has an excellent table of contents but no index.
    3. Availability: The paperback was published in 2006 by Solution Tree of Bloomington, Indiana. It is available from www.amazon.com for $16.47.
  5. Brain-Compatible Assessment  (October, 2007)
    1. Basic description: This 136-page paperback book by Diane Ronis provides directions for classroom assessments that are an important balance to the serious over-emphasis on standardized testing that has evolved from No Child Left Behind legislation. It promotes authentic K-12 assessments by meaningful tasks that allow students to demonstrate competence in a variety of ways. Practical examples related to Dr. Howard Gardner’s multiple intelligences theory are presented. The examples include reference to portfolio projects and use of rubrics.
    2. Usefulness: This book helps teachers to take the natural second step beyond implementing brain-compatible variety in learning. It encourages the same variety in assessment that can then be used to adjust or remediate in ways that encourage learning by everyone. In other words it provides fundamental tools for effective brain-friendly instruction. A very practical assignment format is provided that helps a teacher to be conscious of which talents (intelligences) he or she is having students use in individual or group assessment tasks. The book can be very helpful to any teacher.
    3. Availability: The paperback was published in its second edition in 2007 by Corwin Press of Thousand Oaks, California (www.corwinpress.com) It is available from www.amazon.com for $32.95. Incidentally, Corwin Press is an excellent source of many practical books on brain-firendly teaching.