Essential Components Missing In Education
Education
The Most Essential Components Needed in Education
Excerpt of this Article were Written by: Dawn Lawrence, Ed.D. and Heather Kinchlow Ed.D.
According to Dr. Lori Desautel, (Desautel, 2012) neural anatomy has become one of the most essential components of education, yet it is missing in most of our schools! The main ingredients of brain development today are positive experiences, and feelings of attachment to make connections, along with sleep, water, confidence and being understood. Twenty percent of students across the United States are reported to have chronic anxiety today, averaging up to one-third of the education population. Teachers are also experiencing equivalent amounts of stress, making the learning environment draining and explosive at times.
Understanding the biology of the brain is vital and helps educators and parents train students about why they are shutting down, lashing out, experiencing power struggles, operating with anxiety or aren’t achieving goals. A student learning about the basal ganglia (a structure that contains a dense cluster of nerve cells), alerts individuals about, knowing why I don’t want to work, understand and feel so frustrated. Educating students, teachers, the community on how the brain works, empowers us to direct our thoughts and inner voice to “I’m not going to let this stop me from learning and achieving any more, I’m taking control of my thoughts and feelings!” This is the power of giving students tools and language to express their feelings, it empowers them and puts the responsibility back on them to choose and succeed.
In addition to understanding the biology of the brain, Dr. Ratey’s (Ratey, 2013) research shows that we all need more movement moments, that daily exercise increases oxygen which flows to the brain throughout the day, creating greater focus and less stress. During the fight or flight moment, with anger, frustration and stress, teachers and parents would benefit to know that the frontal lobe is shutting down and the student or individual is no longer engaged to listen or learn.
It was once taught that the frontal lobe completed the developmental process in the early twenties. New research shows that it develops more completely in the late twenties and early thirties. We now know that this seat of decision making in the frontal lobe, where critical planning, creativity and personal development lives takes more time. Therefore, we must give our students tools and boundaries, that train and model grit, respect, honor, perseverance and value for life.
Action Steps
One method used by Dr. Desautel and her colleagues to train teachers and parents, to relieve stress related to conflicts is deep breathing. Both the teacher and parent are trained to pause, stop and breathe before disciplining. Have the student also do the same, pause, stop and take three deep breaths. The teacher and parent can also ask: What do you need? How can I help you? How can we solve this situation together? Sometimes the student or individual doesn’t know and won’t respond, but they will appreciate that they are being seen and felt.
Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor’s (Bolte Taylor, 2012) research shows that we have ninety seconds for the body to release anger, after that, the person chooses to keep that level of frustration or cool down and think of a new reaction. The good news is that a person can be trained to reset the mind, to choose to create a new thought.
The bottom line is that neuroscience, neuroplasticity, and new classroom-home management skills are present and here to stay.
For more neuroplastic exercises and information to prepare the mind to learn, email Dr. Kinchlow at mbamotivates@gmail.com.
References and Recommended Reading:
Bolte Taylor, J. (2006) My Stroke of Insight October 2006
Desautel, L. (2012) How May I Serve You? Revelations in Education Paperback – February 7, 2012
Doidge, N. (2007) The Brain That Changes Itself: Stories of Personal Triumph from the Frontiers of Brain Science Dec 18, 2007
National Institute of Drug Abuse Publication (2018)
Ratey, J. (2013) Exercise and The Brain November 2013 Video
Sousa,D. & Tomlinson, C (2018) Differentiation and the Brain: How Neuroscience Supports the Learner-Friendly Classroom, Second Edition