Brain Blueprints

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Since 1989 neuroscientists all over the world have been able to determine more and more of how the brain works and how it grows and develops. We now have the blueprint to how and when the brain grows, we know what to feed it and when to feed it so that it can reach its own unique ability level. Do you know any parents that are using this blueprint? We get it, we expect teachers to handle this also, right? That is our problem: 36% VS 64% makes that obvious. The blueprint of the brain's natural growth shows us that the learning foundation is built between the years 3 thru 9. The strength of our foundation, and the fluency rate, or speed, that we can use the skills (basics/fundamentals) is what determines how well we are able to comprehend and use higher level thinking skills. Without a strong foundation you are limiting the comprehension of the next level of learning and will guarantee that a child will not reach their God-given ability level. 1.    By age 3 the Long Term Memory (LTM) is developed and is beginning to collect content from information it encounters in its environment, visually and auditorially. (Recognize abc's, numbers & first sounds) 2.    Content first must be identified by the Short Term Memory. Once the STM can recognize content, it is passed onto the LTM. We must give the STM (64%) the chances it needs to recognize the information we want it to. 3.    Once information is recognized, or remembered, by the Short Term Memory, the LTM must have the chance to see content over and over (64%) until it can instantly recognize and categorize it.  (We simply give the LTM a chance to retain the content.) 4.    The LTM makes connections with the information it has retained. However, info and connections are lost if the LTM is not given a chance to review and remember. (We go back and review mastered basics/fundamentals, 64%.) 5.    By age 8 or 9 the LTM is capable of using collected content to help in understanding Higher Level Thinking Skills and Problem Solving. The LTM needs to be able to pull up information quickly (64%) in order to use Higher Level Thinking Skills and Problem Solving fluently. 6.    The LTM does toss out content that is not used often. That is why we should continue to review math facts and reading comprehension on a daily basis. 64% Now you can see how learning is like using building blocks: each block connects and if one block is weak, all of the blocks after it will be weakened creating a weak foundation. A weaker foundation means fewer tools to use in creating our entire structure. Fundamentals are tools we use to build our blocks. All we have to do to keep our tools strong is review and practice using of these tools. The Long Term Memory collects more information and makes more connections with stronger tools. Retaining mastered fundamentals and increasing the fluency rate of the skills are a must (64%)! The time spent in school reviewing and practicing has been dramatically reduced in the 21st century classroom. Parents doing their part 15-30 minutes a day will replace the time spent in the old days reviewing and practicing in the classroom and will make up for the 64% of the days our children are not in school. Students, on average, lose 25% of retained content over the summer. (64%) Reading 15-30 minutes a day and spending 15 minutes on basic math (+ - x) skills a day will not only prevent the loss, but students will enter the next school year at a higher level than when school ended.   36% VS 64% During the foundation building years, ages 3-9, we provide school for our children on only 36% of the days. Who is responsible for the other 64% of the days? That's right parents, it's our responsibility!!!!   Which basics should we support?? Ages 3 & 4 Before entering kindergarten children should be able to: Recognize abc's Their first sounds The first and last sounds of three/four letter words Recognize digits 0-9 (64%)  Ages 5-7 With review and practice (64%) parents can help their children memorize: The phonics Phonics rules Support memorization of the 300 word list Support the addition and subtraction skills the children are learning Increasing fluency in each of these skills is our goal Ages 8-10 Parents can monitor the fluency level of (64%) reading and math fundamentals: Reading comprehension and fluency Math functions such as addition, subtraction, multiplication and division Because these skills are acquired and maintained by memorization activities, daily review and practice will fill in the gaps created by weekends, summer vacations, and school year breaks. For more on these concepts, see: http://www.nifl.gov/partnershipforreading/publications /reading_pre.pdf http://www.brainconnection.com/topics/?main=fa/reading-cplus Do A Goole Search For "Brain Research Children Learning Stages and Development ."  REMEMBER: Our children receive schooling 50% of the year. Responsible parents must fill in the gaps if they want their child to reach his/her potential. (64%)