Aristotle said, “Anyone can become angry – that is easy. But to be angry with the right person, to the right degree, at the right time, for the right purpose, and in the right way – this is not easy.”
Dr. Don Deshler, the Director for the Center for Research on Learning at the University of Kansas said:
“Learning is an emotional, visceral, affective experience before it’s a cognitive one.”
Want to increase the odds of your child learning and retaining new information? Then, have fun!!! Yes, research clearly demonstrates the benefits of emotions on every aspect of individual’s entire school day! Want to know more, read Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman. Good news! Their Emotional IQ trumps their Intelligence Quotient! Be certain a happy experience is preceded and followed by learning! If you see an upset coming during homework? Think: HALT! Is (s)he hungry, angry, lonely, or tired? The brain requires its survival needs met first!
Is the emotion connected to a specific subject, like math or writing? Much of what is measured in the process of schooling is the cognitive part – testing, outcomes, and performance in class. But behind every score is an emotional reaction that a student often has to that. When kids encounter failure, there may be a tendency to shut down, act out, or act indifferently.
As we launch into the month of March, often celebrated as Reading Month in schools, and transitioning into the season of spring, you may notice a surge in emotions. Think about adding in an additional Brainjogging Session (remind your child, “your brain has been hibernating and we need to provide it with an extra boost!”), looking for alternative ways to learn information (Learning Ally is great for audio books! Ask us for a discount coupon! Consider hands-on explorations at a nature center or a museum). Parents are reporting using Brainjogging before every practice and the results are very encouraging, MOST IMPROVED PLAYER!!! Linking Brainjogging to their fun is brilliant! Every sport requires good hand-eye coordination and planning! Brainjogging and moving before educational tasks (dancing before school, shooting hoops, or running in the yard before sitting to do homework) pays big dividends!
Interpret the thing that we see on the surface as what it is! Be sensitive to the emotional part of the learning process that the students are encountering, and make sure they know you are on their team – supporting them and cheering them on!
Brainjogging reduces much of the anxiety because eye movement builds new neurons! Success breeds success…great Motivator! Success makes them WANT to go back. Just ask a fellow Brainjogging Parent and veteran teacher, “How is YOUR child succeeding with Brainjogging?!” Yesterday the answer was, “It is definitely working! He took two Accelerated Reader tests and made 100% plus he took the practice spelling test and made 100%! This is a first for us!”