TO MEMORIZE OR NOT TO MEMORIZE --THAT'S THE QUESTION!

With all the emphasis on Common Core and higher-order thinking skills, what's happened to good, old-fashioned memorization?  Many frown upon it while other researchers promote it.  They say that rote learning:

• challenges and trains the brain
• helps the brain work more quickly and become more active
• helps to free up the brain to learn higher-order thinking skills
• exercises the memory and helps students focus
• develops the brain's short-term memory
• strengthens the memory and helps students become more creative
• often improves a student's capacity to focus later on in school and in life

Our opinion?  Memorization plays an important role early on in learning a subject.  For example, learning multiplication facts can be accomplished in a variety of ways, depending upon a student's learning style and preferences, but memorization is a key component of mastery so the student can go on to comprehend the important concepts that utilize multiplication.

This guy below prefers a calculator to exercising his mind and memory, but just pat him on the head, and he'll be fine.  His biggest plans for the future include only meals, naps, and harassing his brother.

YOUR BRAIN IS YELLING, "FEED ME!"

Our brains need nutrition -- especially at breakfast before everyone heads out. When people are in a rush, they often grab a drink and something sweet to eat.  If this is what you feed your brain, it's going to be screaming, "Feed me!"  To keep your blood sugar steady, keep hunger at bay, and ensure your brain is operating at full capacity, try one of these instead to avoid the inevitable sugar crash you can expect if you indulge in sweets....and remember that many of these can be made ahead of time:

• eggs  
• a little breakfast meat 
• banana with almond butter 
• baked apples with walnuts and cinnamon 
• oatmeal 
• a bowl of fruit along with walnuts
• whole grain toast (if you must have bread) with almond butter 

In spite of his low-carb Science Diet feast, this guy below is sleeping, anyway.  His brain is satisfied, but what can we say?  He's a cat....

P.S.  Don't forget to keep yourself hydrated through the day - - our brains need water.  

UNINSPIRED? GET FIRED UP!

Has your student been lounging around, unable to motivate himself to do his school work?  We wish we had magic for you, but we don't.  We do have a few suggestions for your student, though....

• Picture the positive results of choosing to do school work.
• Think of short-term goals:  passing a test, attaining a good grade, and feeling proud.
• Think of long-term goals:  passing a course, being admitted to college, starting a career, or obtaining a sports scholarship.  Brainstorm what can be done to attain this goal....
• Consider the tangible and intangible rewards of doing well:  self-respect; praise, admiration and respect from others; possible gifts, money or a "special" day (WonderWorks, the mall....)
• Set specific goals.  ("I'm going to study one hour each day to prepare for Friday's test.")
• Rewards when goals are accomplished:  a bike ride, a tennis game, playing a video game, a special snack...

Don't be like Couldn't-Care-Less Kitty below....motivation isn't even in his vocabulary!