Brain Based Research

I often get the question, "Why do you spend so much time and money decorating your room every year?" Well there are several reasons. One is because the children absolutely love it and want to enter the room on open house night and the first day of school. It is a welcoming place that they take pride in and want to share with family and friends which is very important to me. Soon it becomes not only a classroom, but a community between me and the kids. Each year I add a few more of my favorite things to the collection so it is also a warm place that I enjoy coming to everyday. However, another reason our room is this way is because I have incorporated some of what I know about brain based research.
There are been tons of research performed on the human brain and how it relates to how a person learns. As teachers it is important to be familiar with how the brain works and simple practices that may make a huge difference in a child's learning. Below I have listed some interested facts about Brain Based Learning.

NOURISH THE BRAIN

Light It Right
You may notice that only one set of lights in our room are usually on and that set has rainbow shades on them. The rest of the room is lit with several lamps. Well that is because natural light and full-spectrum lights that stimulate natural light are correlated with missing fewer school days and more positive emotional states. Florescent lights may cause eyestrain and anxiety.
Keep 'Em Hydrated
We are trying water bottles in the classrooms for the first time this year. Research shows that that students become restless and have scattered attention when they are mildly dehydrated;slow and lethargic when severely dehydrated. Drinking plenty of water improves brain functioning. Soft drinks, fruit juices, and teas do not hydrate nearly as well.
Feed the Brain
The brain needs food and oxygen. They are provided primarily through the blood pumped straight to the brain. Good nutrition is essential for proper brain functioning. 
Sleep Tight
Sleep is critical for the brain to process learning.  The lack of sleep negatively impacts thinking, creatively, and long-term memory.

TUNE UP THE BRAIN

Take Note of Music

Neuroimaging reveals that music activates many different parts of the brain.  Research suggests making music positively influences spatial reasoning, creativity, generalized mathematical skills, language, and reading skills.  Encourage children to play an instrument.

Feel the Rhythm

Depending on the time of day you may come into the classroom and we may be listening to slow music while doing a brainstorming activity or we may be up moving around the room listening to energizing music.  Music with different tempos, measured in beats per minute (bpm), helps reach different classroom objectives.  It can be used for creativity, learning, energizing, reflection, de-stress, and to positively influence moods and emotions.

PROVIDE SAFETY

Enhance the Class Climate

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  Enforce class rules
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  Teach conflict resolution
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  Model appropriate behavior
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  Implement a classroom discipline plan
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  Reduce stress through predictable routines
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  Create an inviting class with cheerful appearance and motivational posters
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  Proudly display students' work
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  Include classbuilding activities
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  Have FUN
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  Allow students to feel loved

ENRICHED CLASSROOM

Enrich Your Environment

We can actually build larger and heavier brains by enriching our classroom environment. 

Novelty:  Keep learning and the classroom fresh and new.  After a while the same old thing will lose its power and become old news.

Challenge:  Provide challenging learning tasks and content.

Meaning: Make learning meaningful for students.

Redundant: Revisit the content repeatedly in fresh and interesting ways.

Feedback:  Provide frequently and immediately to keep kids on target.

Color Your World

Colors impact the mind and body.

Blue: studying, thinking, concentration

Purple: tranquilizing, good for appetite control

Pink: restful, calming

White: disrupting

Red: creative thinking, short-term energy boosts

Green: productivity, long-term energy

Light colors, pastels: minimum disruption across all moods 

Yellow, Orange: physical work, exercising, positive moods

Add Aromas

Scents can be used to keep students alert, and may help to embed memory.  Some scents include:

Lavender-reduce stress

Lemon-induces positive mood

Peppermint-refreshes and invigorates

Apple-relaxes brain waves and reduces blood pressure

Vanilla-relaxes and soothes