7 Books About the Brain Every Teacher Should Read
Let's take a moment and pay silent, spirited homage to the greatest thing we own: the human brain. For a grey gelatin-like mush weighing only three pounds, our brain ensures instruction exists (and homo life for that thing). Unfortunately, understanding this living lump of lipids isn't easy, especially for teachers who often feel locked out of the "Ol' Male child Scientists Club" of encephalon research.
Thankfully, at that place are writers, scientists, and educators who are bridging the gap between research and awarding, making neuroscience more understandable than e'er. For those looking to take your brain game to the next level, here'southward a short list of school year book studies (new and onetime) to make your synapses smile.
1. Brain Rules by John Medina
As teachers, our lives are consumed past both reinforcing and instruction rules, from classroom management to critical content. So, of grade, John Medina'south "12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving" is slap-up for those of us who want to suspension down the brain into cadre concepts.
Medina introduces 12 general brain rules starting with Exercise ("Exercise boosts brain power") and ending with Exploration ("We are powerful and natural explorers"). Forth the manner, he talks Wiring, Attention, Short and Long-term Memory as well every bit a host of other general rules for how the encephalon functions.
Brain Rules is an easy read: You won't get bogged downwards with complex technical details. And, Medina includes practical applications of each concept. It's a great read for whatsoever teacher who teaches students with brains (even when yous retrieve they don't take them). And, all-time of all, the concepts tin fifty-fifty exist taught to students directly.
2. The Teenage Brain past Frances Jensen and Amy Nutt
If you teach or cohabitate with teenagers, read this book. Out of all the books on this listing, The Teenage Brain is past far the near informative await at the many factors that brand adolescent cognition unlike from children and adults. Frances Jensen (an Ivy League neurologist) and Amy Nutt (a Pulitzer winning science journalist) do a remarkable task showing the dumbo complication of teenage brains without overwhelming a novice neuro-junkie.
Even if y'all don't work with teenagers, the first few chapters of The Teenage Brain are amidst the best I've read in explaining the neurology of learning at all ages. Yous'll walk away better understanding why repetition is not only good simply necessary for learning (y'know, to increase long-term potentiation through myelination). The authors also complete every affiliate with applied applications for parents and educators, something not all encephalon books do well.
The greatest takeaway of The Teenage Brain is dispelling the thought that teens are just "raging hormones." So many factors—beyond just hormones—affect teenage minds. Covering topics such equally stress, substances, and chance-taking, this book provides deeper respect, patience, and willingness to teach teenage minds.
3. The Compass of Pleasure by David J. Linden
Dopamine. If y'all are in the learning biz, yous need to know about dopamine. This complex neurochemical (which tin function as both a hormone and neurotransmitter) is what drives our behavior —from our eating habits, to our learning motivations, to our addictions.
David Linden's breakdown of good ol' dope is nifty for those who like to get technical. The opening chapter provides great explanations of the neurochemical mechanisms, as well as interesting (if non twisted) experiments that shaped out understanding of dopamine.
Educators volition accept to brand some of their own connections for relevance; The Compass Pleasance won't give ideas for direct application for teachers. But, if human motivation and neurochemistry are on your learning queue, this read can assistance you accelerate your (healthy, productive) "dope" dealing to student learners.
4. The Brain That Changes Itself by Norman Doidge
Neuroplasticity. Another term which you tin't (nor should) avoid in instruction today. The fact that the human being brain is in abiding aligning however blows my mind. Many of united states of america know the "what" of neuroplasticity. Simply, if you lot want to understand the "how" equally well as the "why it matters," The Encephalon That Changes Itself is your go-to read.
Norman Doidge goes beyond explaining the mechanisms; each chapter covers incredible stories of neuroplasticity in activeness, including sexual attractions, phantom pains, and stroke recoveries. Like to The Compass of Pleasure this book is more a look into the world of scientific discipline than a "how-to" guide for teachers. If, however, the advancing world of neuroscience interests you, you'll exist engaged the whole fashion through The Brain That Changes Itself.
Afterward reading this, yous may wait at every pupil differently, seeing the potential for growth inside every brain within your room. Yous may also find yourself getting a "Neurons the fire together, wire together" tattoo.
5. Education With the Brain in Mind past Eric Jensen
Whenever I travel to work with other schools, neuroscience is on the discussion table. And, whenever neuroscience comes to the table, Eric Jensen'due south name seems to exist served. What many teachers dear near Eric Jensen is his mission to link neuroscience with teachers directly. Jensen pools through research, critically parring down the most valid and applicable studies for teachers (his Introduction even addresses common criticisms of neuro-education studies).
Although it was updated a decade agone, I still recommend this volume at any instructor looking for the "so what" of brain research. Capacity cover topics like, "Rules We Learn By," "Movement and Learning," "Disquisitional Thinking Skills," and "Managing the Social Brain." Consider it the text book you lot wish y'all would take read in your undergrad practicum courses.
6. Moonwalking with Einstein by Joshua Foer
Fifty-fifty though Moonwalking with Einstein is more than about cerebral psychology than strict neuroscience, this read came heavily recommended to me past friends (and I now heavily recommend to you). If you honey to read good stories rather than technical analyses, Moonwalking with Einstein is your jam and peanut butter. Joshua Foer describes his experience as a novice who trains for the U.S. Retention Title.
The major takeaways for educators is a renewed dearest and appreciation for mnemonic strategies—something we oftentimes overlook in our globe of "deeper thinking." You'll non just learn cool tricks to impress folks at parties, but you'll also detect yourself brainstorming means to teach your learners how to acquire more efficiently.
7. Why Zebras Don't Become Ulcers past Robert Sapolsky
Another slight detour from the strict neuroscience road, Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers is more than of an exploration into the endocrine organization, particularly the upshot of stress hormones on human physiology and neurology. Despite it non being a pure "brain book," I recommend this to whatsoever educator who experiences stress—a.grand.a. every person in education ever.
Robert Sapolsky has a skill in making boring endocrine systems entertaining and relevant. A disclaimer: This volume won't necessarily make you feel happier about stress. It takes a difficult, gritty wait at just how much stress, particularly chronic stress, wreaks havoc on our lives. But, since we are in the game of understanding, it is worth the read.
There are many takeaways from this for educators besides. Non just will you think about your ain thinking (such as how our thought patterns tin can add to our stress) only you will also consider how to talk stress with your students, helping them develop better habits for decision-making their cortisol.
What are you lot waiting for? Go pick up a good brain book and feed your hungry, hungry hippo(campus).
Oh, and if y'all have other adept reads to share, burn down below on the comments section and then we can all wire the benefits.
Source: https://www.weareteachers.com/7-books-about-the-brain-every-teacher-should-read/