Joyful Learning

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Supporting Good Teaching Practices with Neuroscience

Neuroimaging and neurochemical research support an education model in which stress and anxiety are not pervasive. This research suggests that superior learning takes place when classroom experiences are enjoyable and relevant to students' lives, interests, and experiences.

What does RAD mean?

•  Novelty promotes information transmission through the Reticular activating system.
•  Stress-free classrooms propel data through the Amygdala's affective filter.
•  Pleasurable associations linked with learning are more likely to release more Dopamine.

Make it relevant

Give them a break

Create positive associations

Prioritize information

Allow independent discovery learning

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In the classroom, the video game model can be achieved with timely, corrective feedback so students recognize incorrect foundational knowledge and then have opportunities to strengthen the correct new memory circuits through practice and application

Want Children to “Pay Attention”? Make Their Brains Curious!

be like George

Learning=Growth

• in the growth mind-set, students care about learning
• When they make a mistake they correct it 
• For them effort is a positive thing
• They escalate their efforts and look for new learning strategies
• They're determined to understand it

Mendoza-Denton maintains that reinforcing the idea that effort and elbow grease are as important or more than innate smarts will place kids on the best path of learning