Child Directed Vs Teacher Directed Curriculum

The author of the article states that there is no better time than now to review how we are raising teenagers for many reasons. First and foremost there have been many strides taken recently to understand how the adolescent brain develops, strengthening ones understanding, and in turn, shedding light on errors made in the way adolescents are being raised in relation to their neuro-development. This means that because scientists have learned substantial information about the brain recently, it is important to reevaluate how parents are raising teenagers now more than ever. Second, according to the article it is a good time to review how we are raising teenagers because children are becoming adolescents earlier based on their physical maturation increasing faster each year, therefore it is important to examine why this is occurring. Finally, the author states that there is no better time to review how we are raising teenagers because of the recent discovery that the brain is malleable during adolescence due to neuroplasticity, meaning that the brain is able to be transformed during this time period solely based on the environment in which these individuals are exposed to, as per the article (Steinberg, 2014).

The philosophy of the primary school where I work is that every child's unique needs and abilities should and must be honored. Children's different learning needs and styles are incorporated into the curriculum. On an informal level, teachers are encouraged to make use of lesson plans that utilize different types of media and methods of evaluation. Lesson plans often make use of visual and kinesthetic aspects of the learning experience as well as more traditional methods that emphasize mathematical, spatial, and verbal intelligences.

Educators who have a background in the neurobiology of learning and memory have a different benefit in their classrooms. They noticed that by following the brain-based teaching principles we can establish an enhanced, brain-compatible environment and successfully work with such existing negative effects as stress, sleep deprivation, and poor nutrition. Ronal Kotulak said” an enriched environment can contribute up to 25% increase in the number of brain connections both early and later in life. Our environments need to allow for active manipulation.” (Kotulak, 1996, p.102). According to brain research, there are at least twelve principles of brain-compatible learning.

Any student, whether in elementary or college, learns better when the subject matter is thought-provoking and appealing. Traditional and old curriculum provides a baseline for students to meet and follow. Also, traditional curriculum is based of individualism and discourages exchanges between the student and teacher. Individual work teaches the child to develop internal critical thinking skills but it may bore the student. Teachers should continually interact with their students and challenge the student to think outside the box. Great teachers in today's system should help students develop a new way of thinking about history, math, english, and science and their education in general.

Between the age of two and six years, the brain experiences a rapid growth. By the age of six, the brain is 90% developed as compared to that of the adult. However, the child lacks experience and knowledge. The brain becomes a trainee of what happens around them and imitates what is

While the stages of cognitive development identified by Piaget are associated with characteristic age spans, they vary for every individual. I remember reading about the girl who was locked up in a room with no furniture but a mattress, and a dog for a long time. And when the authorities finally got her out, the little girl thought she was a dog. And even years later after she got help and therapy, her brain was never able to develop and be right like it should, even

Sarah Spinks, in her article “Adolescent Brains are Works in Progress” explains about the critical changes in teenage brain and its effects on them. It reports the studies by various scientist regarding the development of prefrontal cortex, corpus callosum, and cerebellum of the brain along with the phenomenon of pruning.

The article “Inside the Teen Brain” by Marty Woltner, states that recent information on the human brain gives new information to parents and explains the behavior of teens. Even though the brain is almost physically mature the grey matter in the thinking part of the brain( Pre-Frontal Cortex).Without benefit of higher level processing in the prefrontal cortex may result in risky behavior. Each interaction with a teenager will affect development of his or her brain, helping the teen make connections in the prefrontal cortex. During this time of heavy construction. As parents decide how to more efficiently communicate with the developing teen brain, it’s vital to also consider who a child actually is, and what kind of parenting styles the child

Our education system today is in a state of flagrant disrepair. Educators rely on outdated modes of instruction to teach children. Instead of examining these methods administrators spend time and effort developing more intensive assessments in hopes of fueling more intense learning. In order to successfully impact learning teachers must begin teaching in ways that guarantee to impart new knowledge. Brain-based learning is a newer concept in education that addresses the specific needs of a learner’s brain in order to maximize learning. Brain-based learning as defined by author and educator Eric Jensen is “the engagement of strategies based on principles derived from an understanding of the brain,” (2010, p.4). Because educators do not

I agree with Suzanne Krogh’s statement. Naturally, we learn through experiences that involve many different subjects. For example, exploring a sandbox can include math, science, social studies, and the language arts. The class can explore the five senses, where sand comes from, adding water to make the sand stick together, how heavy is the sand, and how can the sand be useful in the community. All of these topics can be covered and followed by a writing assignment, and the whole day can be dedicated to exploring the sandbox. The majority of elementary teachers believe that an integrated curriculum is the most effective curriculum (Parkay, Anctil, & Hass, 2014, p. 461). For teachers to effectively teach, there must be an integration of

Babies begin to take in sensory experiences from the world around them from the moment of birth, and the environment will continue to exert a powerful influence on behavior throughout life. Geneticscan have a powerful influence on development, but experiences are equally important. For example, while the genetic code contains the information on how a child's brain may be pre-wired, it is learning and experience that will literally shape how that child's brain grows and develops.

Everyday, teachers are faced with the challenge of teaching students new information that is valuable to their future. Teachers are responsible to determine what and how information is taught. How this information is taught to students is pertinent to their success; therefore, teachers must be able to use effective teaching methods in the classroom. Students have diverse learning styles; therefore, teachers need to determine how students learn best and pattern their teaching to accommodate these differences. During elementary school, children learn to read and write, acquire a basic understanding of content areas, and develop dispositions toward

Understanding cognition and how we learn is essential in the developmental stages of children. Not all students learn in the same way, understanding the cognitive process will assist in the development of the students. By modifying my approach when giving instructions I have noticed growth in current students that I am working with. Using concrete materials and giving the opportunity for students to be involved in hands-on activities on a daily basis, is essential in making new material meaningful to learners.. The knowledge gained from this topic has increased my understanding and is benefiting the children I am currently

The authors are looking at an issue that is interdisciplinary in nature, so they determined that they must seek research evidence from each of the important fields of study implicated in the research. The three areas of study were educational psychology which gave insight into how people learn, foreign language teaching and cognitive psychology which has to do with memory (Erbes, et al, 2010). The researchers determine that in the field of educational psychology, studies had long been engaged in determining how teachers could use information gained in studies of brain function to enhance curricula and teaching (Erbes, et al, 2010). In one of the studies examined, Sutton (2008) had tried to see how teaching

In order to teach successfully teachers must learn about first learn about their students. Teachers must assess the student’s capabilities and interests. Some students are visual learners, while others learn from hands on activities, or verbal communication. Not all students can learn through memorization, rather they learn through interest and relation to the topic. “To realize what an experience, or empirical situation, means, we have to call to mind the sort of situation that presents itself outside of school" (Democracy and Education). The curriculum should encompass material that is most useful for a student to learn. It seems that in the majority of schools, students are not given the flexibility to guide their own learning, but rather follow rigid instructions that destroy the student’s imagination.