Karen Nix, Instructional Officer for Mesquite ISD and former President of LearningForward Texas, introduced me to a book entitled Brain Rules. I know that many of you have read it so this is a good time to recommend it to a friend, colleague or family member.

From the cover of the book is this statement, “In Brain Rules , molecular biologist John Medina shares his lifelong interest in how the brain sciences might influence the way we teach our children and the way we work. (emphasis is mine).  Contemplate that statement for a moment. Are there any two more important things we should worry about as educators?

Each chapter, Medina describes a researched and verified Brain Rule, and then offers how that rule translates into our day-to-day lives. You may be thinking, “Sounds like heavy reading.” Not at all!  It’s very entertaining to read and very easy to apply to our behavior.

Here is a preview of a few of the rules with concomitant notes.
# 1: Exercise boosts brain power (get moving everyone!);
# 4: We don’t pay attention to boring things (there is NO such thing as being able to Multi-Task. The brain needs a break);
# 7: Sleep well, think well (how to improve your performance 34% in 26 minutes);
# 9: stimulate more of the senses (multisensory learning means better remembering);
# 10: Vision trumps all other senses (Throw out your PowerPoint); and
# 11: Male and female brains are different (no kidding! Men favor gist when stressed; women favor details. This chapter, while not new in the overall message, has details that I think you will find very interesting.)

Following Rule # 5 Repeat to Remember, I remind you of the message stated above: Reading this might influence the way we teach our children and the way we work. 

I hope you can’t resist getting it right now!  Let me know what you think!