Knowing how your brain works can help you to use it more effectively. Focus and concentration are affected by many different factors; and there is a lot you can do to improve your concentration and focus. While the brain is a complicated organ, and there is still a lot that science doesn't know about it, we know enough to improve mental performance significantly. Becoming aware of exactly what's happening in your brain as you use it for studying and learning can make the process far easier and less stressful.
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When you are learning information, there are three stages your brain will go through.
1. Repetition
Repeating information over and over causes a neural connection in the neocortex to become more permanent. Once it has become wired you will find that the information comes to you more quickly and easily. This is why you will remember certain facts and information after repeating them for a period of time. It's worth noting that when a neural connection is no longer used, it breaks apart. This allows the neural growth factor to be used for new connections which are considered more important than those that are no longer being used. This is how we forget information.2. Comprehension
While repetition creates more solid neural pathways, comprehension creates neural networks. Comprehension is a function of the prefrontal cortex. As you wire neural pathways in your neocortex by repeating the information you need to learn, if you engage your prefrontal cortex in cognitively understanding that information, you will be building networks rather than separate pathways. This means that when it comes to recalling that information, you have a far more substantial resource from which to draw. This is the difference between learning information parrot fashion and learning through comprehension.3. Experience
Adding emotion to the learning process causes the production of matching chemicals in the limbic brain. And the combination of neural connections and chemical production (information experienced) causes the information to be recorded in the cerebellum. Thus, the information becomes automatic and unconscious. You no longer need to consciously recall it; it has become the unconscious knowledge.
1. The top priority is to get into a calm state.
As you now know, feeling stress or any kind of negative emotion causes the cognitive part of your brain to shut down. So, do whatever it takes to feel happy and calm before you begin studying or before you go into an exam.2. Drink plenty of water.
Water is absolutely essential for the brain to function effectively. The brain uses water constantly. If you find yourself unable to focus and concentrate, drink more water and you may find it makes a big difference!3. Sleep. It is crucial to allow yourself plenty of good quality sleep.
While you are asleep, your brain is processing the information you've been exposed to during the day. If you are not getting enough sleep, your brain will not have the opportunity to fully process what you have learned.4. Paraphrasing.
It is very helpful to download the information in different ways, restating the concepts. This will enable your brain to build a larger neural network around the topic making it easier to recall the information when you need it.5. Teaching.
Imagine you're explaining the information to someone you know. Think of a friend or family member who doesn't know what you're learning, and then pretend you're explaining it to them.6. Study Guides.
Create your own study guides to help you organize the information. Graphs, flowcharts and vocabulary lists can all help your brain to digest and process the information more thoroughly.7. Visualize.
Use your imagination to create images of the information. This engages a different part of the brain. Add smells, sounds and feelings to it. The more of your senses you use in your learning, the more resources your brain will have stored to support the information. And of course, this will make it easier to recall.8. Humor.
Add something funny or outrageous to the information. Laughter produces powerful chemicals, and you will be more likely to remember something that you find funny than the facts you feel nothing for. Add funny hats, wigs, cartoon characters, music, celebrities, dances and other fun stuff to your mental images of the information you're learning. You'll be surprised by how much more engaged you will be, how much easier it will be to focus, and how much more you will be able to retain and recall the information you're learing!References:
Dr. Joe Dispenza: Three Brains
Neural Plasticity
Stress Signaling Pathways That Impair Prefrontal Cortex Structure and Function
I am an occupational therapist with 10 years of experience working with children, parents, and teachers. I completely agree with this teacher's message that our children getting worse and worse in many aspects. I hear the same consistent message from every teacher I meet. Clearly, throughout my ten years as an Occupational Therapist, I have seen and continue to see a decline in kids' social, emotional, academic functioning, as well as a sharp increase in learning disabilities and other diagnoses.
Today's children come to school emotionally unavailable for learning and there are many factors in our modern lifestyle that contribute to this. As we know, the brain is malleable. Through environment we can make the brain stronger or make it weaker. I truly believe that with all our greatest intentions, we unfortunately remold our children's brains in the wrong direction. Here is why…
1. Technology
Free babysitting service… the payment is waiting for you just around the corner. We pay with our kids' nervous system, with their attention, and ability for delayed gratification. Compared to virtual reality, everyday life is boring. When kids come to the classroom, they are exposed to human voices and adequate visual stimulation as opposed to being bombarded with graphic explosions and special effects that they are used to seeing on the screens. After hours of virtual reality, processing information in a classroom becomes increasingly challenging for our kids because their brains are getting used to the high levels of stimulation that video games provide. The inability to process lower levels of stimulation leaves kids vulnerable to academic challenges. Technology also disconnects us emotionally from our children and our families. Parental emotional availability is the main nutrient for child's brain. Unfortunately, we are gradually depriving our children from that nutrient.2. Kids get everything they want the moment they want
I am Hungry!! In a sec I will stop at drive thru I am Thirsty! Here is a vending machine. I am bored! Use my phone! The ability to delay gratification is one of the key factors for future success. We have all the greatest intention in mind to make our children happy, but unfortunately, we make them happy at the moment but miserable in a long term. To be able to delay gratification means to be able to function under stress. Our children are gradually becoming less equipped to deal with even minor stressors which eventually become huge obstacles to their success in life. The inability to delay gratification is often seen in classrooms, malls, restaurants, and toy stores the moment the child hears No because parents have taught theirchild's brain to get what it wants right away3. Kids rule the world
My son doesn't like vegetables She doesn't like going to bed early He doesn't like to eat breakfast She doesn't like toys, but she is very good at her IPAD He doesn't want to get dressed on his own She is too lazy to eat on her own. This is what I hear from parents all the time. Since when do children dictate to us how to parent them? If we leave it all up to them , all they are going to do is eat macaroni and cheese, bagel with cream cheese, watch TV, play on their tablets, and never go to bed. What good are we doing them by giving them what they WANT when we know that it is not GOOD for them? Without proper nutrition and a good night's sleep, our kids come to school irritable, anxious, and inattentive. In addition, we send them the wrong message. They learn they can do what they want and not do what they don't want. The concept of need to do' is absent. Unfortunately, in order to achieve our goals in our lives, we have to do what's necessary which may not always be what we want to do. For example, if a child wants to be an A student, he needs to study hard. If he wants to be a successful soccer player, he needs to practice every day. Our children know very well what they want but have very hard time to do what is necessary to achieve that goal. This results in unattainable goals and leaves the kids disappointed.4. Endless Fun
We created an artificial fun world for our children. There are no dull moments. The moment it becomes quiet, we run to entertain them again because otherwise we feel that we are not doing our parenting duty. We live in two separate worlds. They have their fun world and we have our work world. Why aren't children helping us in the kitchen or with laundry? Why don't they tidy up their toys? This is basic monotonous work that trains the brain to be workable and function under boredom which is the same muscle that is required to be eventually teachable at school. When they come to school and it is time for printing, their answer is I can't. It is too hard. Too boring Why? Because the workable muscle is not getting trained through endless fun. It gets trained through work.5. Limited social interaction
We are all busy, so we give our kids digital gadgets and make them busy too. Kids used to play outside, where in unstructured natural environments, they learned and practiced their social skills. Unfortunately, technology replaced the outdoor time. Also, technology made the parents less available to socially interact with their kids. Obviously, our kids fall behind…the babysitting gadget is not equipped for social skill development. Most successful people are the ones who have great social skills. This is the priority!The brain is just like a muscle that is trainable and re-trainable. If you want your child to be able to bike, you teach him biking skills. If you want your child to be able to wait, you need to teach him patience. If you want your child to be able to socialize, you need to teach him social skills. The same applies to all the other skills. There is no difference!!
You can make a difference though in your child's life by training your child's brain so that your child will successfully function on social, emotional, and academic levels. Here is how:
a. Limit technology, and instead re-connect with your kids emotionally
Surprise them with flowers, share a smile, tickle them, put a love note in backpack or under their pillow, surprise them by taking them out for lunch on a school day, dance together, crawl together, have pillow fights Have family dinners, board game nights (see the list of my favourite board games in my previous blog post), go biking, go to outdoor walks with flashlight in the evening
b. Train delay gratification
Make them wait!!! It is ok to have I am bored time this is the first step to creativity Gradually increase the waiting time between I want and I get Avoid technology use in cars and restaurants, and instead teach them waiting while talking and playing games Limit constant snacking
c. Don't be afraid to set the limits. Kids need limits to grow happy and healthy!!
Make a schedule for meal times, sleep times, technology time Think of what is GOOD for them- not what they WANT/DON'T WANT. They are going to thank you for that later on in life. Parenting is a hard job. You need to be creative to make them do what is good for them because most of the time that is the exact opposite of what they want Kids need breakfast and nutritious food. They need to spend time outdoor and go to bed at consistent time in order to come to school available for learning the next day! Convert things that they don't like doing/trying into fun, emotionally stimulating games
d. Teach your child to do monotonous work from early years as it is the foundation for future workability
Folding laundry, tidying up toys, hanging clothes, unpacking groceries, setting the table, making lunch, unpacking their lunch box, making their bed Be creative. Initially make it stimulating and fun so that their brain associates it with something positive.
e. Teach social skills
Teach them turn taking, sharing, losing/winning, compromising, complimenting others ,using please and thank you
From my experience as an occupational therapist, children change the moment parents change their perspective on parenting. Help your kids succeed in life by training and strengthening their brain sooner than later!!! Written by Victoria Prooday
Brainy Kids Tutoring Centers is a proven leader in SAT/ACT Prep since 2001. Our view of the SAT/ACT preparation is of a customized approach that allows us to focus on the specific goals and needs of each student. The results are proven and documented. Our graduates received offers of thousands of dollars in scholarships from the colleges of their choice.
A key element of our SAT/ACT Preparation is the Fluency Training Course that allows the student to increase the fluency of reading twice in a two-month period of time. The average student in high school reads at 225 words per minute (with a reading comprehension of minimum 85%). Students who read at 600 words per minute (with a reading comprehension of 95%) score consistently above 30 points on ACT and 1300 points on SAT. Enrolling in our Fluency Training will give your child the main skill that leads to the increase of the SAT/ACT scores.
Fluency Training is a 2-month course with a student attending twice a week for 30-minutes per session. Call Brainy Kids Tutoring Centers to enroll!
The documented records of the Fluency Training results.
Below you will find the documented results of the fluency increase of our students. The first number after the student's name is the Initial speed of this student before the start of the Fluency Training Program. The second number is the speed of reading of the same student at the end of the 2-month program. The usual increase is 100%. Note: some students might need three to four months of training to achieve the desired result.
| Student's Name | Words Per Minute |
|---|---|
| Amanda Kelly | 250 to 540 |
| Branden Simmons | 229 to 514 |
| Christiana Elezaj | 165 to 577 |
| Madylen Zweng | 211 to 568 |
| Ireland Lee | 281 to 664 |
| Nino Zeolla | 144 to 271 |
| Danielle Kassab | 225 to 473 |
| Anthony Pezillo | 223 to 410 |
| Marco Leone | 100 to 325 |
| Brooke Striker | 210 to 480 |
| Bryan Michalek | 174 to 530 |
| Chase Kelley | 228 to 440 |
| Tina Kamal | 200 to 555 |
| Ritika Golechha | 160 to 483 |
| Dalton Decasas | 200 to 363 |
| Karli Godlewski | 148 to 450 |
| Dominic Maniaci | 243 to 518 |
| Sean Avery | 098 to 443 |
| Kirill Quartuccio | 131 to 678 |
| Sarah Vengachuvattil | 155 to 403 |
Information Provided by Marina Tsokur
Many students believe that math is an inherited ability either they have the math gene, or they don't. But recent research shows that inborn talent might not be as important as we think. In the long run, the most successful students are often those who work the hardest, not those with the highest IQ's. These students believe that perseverance, not an innate gift, is the key to achievement.
In her book Mindset, The New Psychology of Success, Carol Dweck argues that apositive mindset is what makes some students push themselves when others giveup. Students with a fixed mindset believe that they were born with a certain set oftalents. They see challenges as a sign that they've reached the limit of their naturalability, and they stop trying. But students with a growth mindset believe that thereare no limits on their potential, and view challenges as a chance to learn andimprove. They know that their intelligence can be built though experience and effort,and are not held back by the idea of inborn restrictions.
Geoff Colvin delivers a similar message in his book, Talent is Overrated. He demonstrates that success is almostalways the result of what he calls deliberate practice, a concentrated effort to improve one's skills throughfocused effort. Inborn talent might make a difference when a subject is first tackled, but years later it's the hardworkers who are the most successful. Math teacher Kim Callan agrees: It is rare for a hard-working student to failmy class.
Parents play a key role in cultivating a child's mindset. Without positive role models, children can succumb to theidea that if something's not easy, it's not worthwhile. Here are some DOs and DON'Ts about helping your childlearn that math, like life, is less intimidating if we cultivate the right mindset.
1.
DO tell your child that anyone can succeed in math. Remind him that even Einstein struggled at first: whenhe was nine, his teacher told his father that no matter what profession Einstein chose, he would neversucceed.
2.
DON'T make excuses for your child. I've heard several parents say, in front of their children, I was neverany good at math. That gives the children permission to give up, to believe that math is beyond somepeople's reach.
3.
DO praise your child when you see hard work pay off. Use specific examples, like, You really earned theimprovement you made on last test. You did an extra practice test and worked with a study partner. Thisreinforces the idea that he is in charge of his own success, and emphasizes the importance of improvement over perfection.
4.
DON'T compare your child's performance to her peers. This sets up unrealistic measures of success, andtakes away from the message of personal improvement.
5.
DO use failure as a chance to learn. If your child does poorly on a test, talk about a time when youstruggled. Recount what steps you took to do better. Help him make a study plan for the next test: makeflash cards, visit the teacher to review quiz mistakes, and raise his hand when he doesn't understand theanswer to a homework problem.
6.
DON'T go crazy if he fails a test: you'll miss your chance for a teachable moment. Remind him thatchallenges are our best chances to learn and grow. See if he can make up the test or do test corrections forextra points. Encourage him to let go of the past and focus on the next opportunity to work hard andimprove.
7.
DO hire a tutor if things get hard. Colvin shows that an important part of deliberate practice is having anexperienced mentor to keep a student on the right course. Math tutors know how to teach and practicetime-tested problem-solving techniques. Look for a tutor who can help your child but also encouragesindependent effort.
8.
DON'T get into a homework battle. If your student enjoys working with you, then by all means keep itup. But if studying together causes a fight, it's time to bring in a professional. Otherwise, the interpersonaltension will get in the way of learning. If you can't hire a tutor, see if your student can work with the teacherafter school.
9.
DO make sure that your child is placed in an appropriate level of math. Work with your child's teacher to findthe class that best corresponds to your child's readiness. Children thrive when they are placed at a levelthat is neither too difficult nor too easy. Putting a child in a math class that is too hard is like throwing a non-swimmer into a pool and asking them to do laps, says Callan. If you don't want them to drown, you firstneed to teach them to float and tread water.
10.
DON'T insist that your child be placed at a higher level than the teacher recommends. Many children arebeing pushed by their parents to take advanced classes like Algebra at an age where their brains are notdevelopmentally ready. In those cases, no amount of hard work can make them successful.
11.
DO talk about the importance of character. Find occasions to praise your child's resilience, curiosity, andpersistence. These are qualities that really drive success, in math class and in life.
12.
DON'T dwell on your child's natural intelligence. If you tell her she's naturally good at math, she'll feelbewildered when things do eventually get hard. Conversely, if you tell her she's not a math person, she'llhave a hard time overcoming that mindset. It's best to avoid all labels and focus on effort instead.
13.
DO look for examples of famous people who refused to give up. For instance, Michael Jordan was cut byhis high school varsity basketball team. Undeterred, he got up at 6AM every day to practice on hisown. When he made his college team, his coach remarked was struck by how he worked harder thananyone else. Basketball didn't come easily to Michael Jordan: he earned every point he ever made.
14.
DON'T miss the chance to speak up when you hear a story about a natural talents. For instance, if youhear someone mention Serena Williams' or Mozart's inborn genius, be sure to mention the thousands ofhours of practice they put in with their fathers from a very early age.
Having the right mindset is critical to success. Children need to believe in their ability to overcome challengesthrough concentrated effort. If you place your child in the right math class and encourage her to work hard, there'sno limit to what she will be able to accomplish.
Students can learn math skills in a fun enviroment with our math games. We have other types of useful math resources as well.
Information Provided by Marina Tsokur
If you have a strong-willed child in your family, I'm sure you already know it. You don't need anyone to point him or her out to you. Typically smart, confident and loyal, strong-willed children show a remarkable capacity for creative thinking and problem-solving, and a nothing-gonna-get-in-my-way determination to achieve their goals.
Like many parents though, this enviable set of traits is probably not the first thing that springs to mind when you think of your child. Most likely, you think first of their iron-strong will, and their penchant for challenging your authority.
For onlookers, that characteristic defiance can provide some entertaining drama:
- the pint-sized youngster, one table over in the restaurant, who holds his breath till his parents give up urging him to eat the broccoli;
- the pony-tailed ballerina who throws a tantrum because she's not allowed to wear her winter boots (not just from the car to ballet class, but during the lesson);
- the teen at the hot dog stand who argues with his dad for a full 10 minutes over a five-second task: picking his napkin off the ground and dropping it in the garbage can.
As you well know though, everyday life as that parent the one struggling to guide a strong-willed child to Christ-like maturity is not so amusing. Sometimes it's crushing. Their defiance can be so relentless, it's exhausting. So disrespectful, it's infuriating. So reckless, it's worrying. So entrenched, positive change seems hopeless.
Such a maelstrom of strong emotions can be all-absorbing. And that's certainly understandable. But a beaten down, exhausted parent can easily lose perspective. Those intense emotions can keep you focused on yourself: how you are feeling, how you are performing as a parent.
Bringing out the best in your son or daughter, however, begins by focusing first of all on your child by discovering what makes them act the way they do, and what they need from you in order to leave the dross behind and build on their many strengths.
Hidden needs and motivations
These powerful children are intense, complex and wonderful. Once you begin to understand the formidable inner forces that drive them, you'll begin to see why your parenting strategies are working or not. In her book You Can't Make Me (But I Can Be Persuaded), Cynthia Ulrich Tobias takes parents on an insightful journey into the mind and motivations of a strong-willed child. If there's one catchphrase that describes what strong-willed children need to move in a positive direction, it's this: Show me respect, and give me a choice.
Strong-willed children crave respect for their perceived right to self-determination
In His infinite wisdom, God gave each of us free will, but the strong-willed child seems to cherish that gift far more intensely than others do. All strong-willed children desperately crave personal autonomy. From their point of view, it's their clothes, their schoolwork, their life, and they want to make the decisions on those issues, thank you very much. Try to take away control of the things they believe they own, and they'll fight back like a cornered wildcat.
Does this mean you should step aside and let your child do as they please? It depends what's at stake. Tobias provides this advice:
Figure out as early as possible how you can voluntarily give your child some control over herself, even in very small ways. . . . If she wants to carry that dirty ragged blanket into church, swallow your pride and let her have it. Save the conflict for the very important battles you will need to fight later.
Strong-willed children need firm leadership they can respect
Assertive by nature, a strong-willed child is driven to figure out Who is really in charge around here? As a result, they're internally compelled to defy you and that will be often to test if your authority still holds. Or to put it another way, they're driven to test if you're still worthy of their respect.
When small issues arise, it's fine for you to decide to give in; Sure, have it your way, is music to your strong-willed child's ears. In fact, allowing lots of freedom in small things will make your child more cooperative overall. But when your child defies you on a really big issue, you must win that skirmish. Wear a seatbelt? Not negotiable! . . . Home by midnight? Absolutely! . . . Telling lies? Not any more.
Ultimately, your strong-willed child must understand that you're the boss, and whatever you say, goes. If they're ever to learn how to master their strong will and become emotionally mature, a powerful child needs a parent who's strong enough to hold firm boundaries in place, even as their child is kicking against them.
Phrases like this trigger defiance: You'll do as I say!
A better choice:I give you a lot of freedom to make your own choices, but I love you too much to let you get away with this one. I'm not backing down.
Strong-willed children need leadership that respects them
Here's where countless parents repeatedly make a mis-step that trips the wire and triggers hostility in their strong-willed child.
What sets us off, says Tobias (who was a strong-willed child herself), is your finger in our face as you tell us to ‘do it or else.' . . . If you use your authority in a way that suggests we don't have a choice, there's almost always going to be trouble. We usually don't respond well when you simply issue orders to be obeyed.
Getting all riled up when your strong-willed child defies you is a big mistake too. When you lose your temper and rant or shout at your child, their instinct is to push back even harder. It's like handing them a puppet and insisting they not pull the strings. The temptation to see how you dance is irresistible.
No matter how irritated and frustrated you may feel, make sure you speak calmly and respectfully when you engage your strong-willed child. Don't bark out orders like a drill sergeant. Instead, speak to your child the same way you would address a colleague in a professional workplace. Use words like please.
Tobias offers some very practical tips to keep in mind: Phrase your request as a question that implies a choice for your child. It's also helpful to ask questions that require a yes or no answer, or to add the word okay to your request.
Phrases like this trigger defiance: Get your stuff off this table!
Better choices: Would you please clear your homework away?
I need you to clear your homework away, okay?
I need the table cleared. Do you want to take care of that now, or just before supper?
For the strong-willed child, the chance to choose whether to reply yes or no that is, whether to obey you or not makes all the difference. They may still choose not to obey, and force you to move on to consequences, but your respectful, choice-based approach makes that outcome less likely. Try it, and prepare to be amazed!
Strong-willed children need respect for their intelligence and problem-solving skills
Strong-willed children have a genuine need to know why a task is worthy of their effort. Convince them, and you've won half the battle already. In large part, motivating a strong-willed child involves showing confidence in their intelligence, rather than insulting it. Even when they've slipped up, strong-willed children want freedom to choose how to remedy the situation in the way they think best. So when there are chores left undone or promises unfulfilled, Tobias recommends approaching the issue as a problem to be solved together. When your strong-willed child has input into rules and consequences, they're more inclined to abide by them.
Phrases like this trigger defiance: You forgot to empty the dishwasher again. Take care of it now!
A better choice: I notice you've been forgetting to empty the dishwasher lately. We need a plan to make sure it gets done, and I'd like to hear your ideas after supper.
Hidden wounds and worries
What parents of strong-willed children often miss is that, while their self-esteem is taking a bruising, so is their child's. Beneath that tough I-don't-care-and-you-can't-make-me attitude may be a seriously wounded heart. It hurts to always be the difficult one, the stubborn one, the one rejected by classmates for being too bossy. Writing in his book The New Strong-Willed Child, Dr. James Dobson reports on an informal but sizeable survey of 35,000 parents that yielded some remarkable results. Among them, this finding:
The compliant child typically enjoys higher self-esteem than the strong-willed child. . . . Only 19 percent of compliant teenagers either disliked themselves (17 percent) or felt extreme self-hatred (2 percent). Of the very strong-willed teenagers, 35 percent disliked themselves and 8 percent experienced extreme self-hatred.
These assertive, argumentative children know they are not always easy to get along with. Many harbour a dark, secret fear: that you, their parent the one who professes to love them unconditionally will give up on them. Tobias takes pains to remind parents SWCs know there's a price to pay for making a wrong decision, but they have to know that losing your love will not be part of the cost. When they're at their worst, tell them clearly that your love will outwit, outplay, outlast whatever they can throw at you.
This is long-haul love that the Lord is asking of you. Remember, if you are having a difficult time re-shaping your child's willfulness, so too is your child. That's one feisty wild bronco they've been handed to tame. If compliant children need to be praised for choosing obedience and of course they do strong-willed children need that praise even more so. Cheer your child loudly at every sign that they're yanking on the reigns and trying to get their powerful will under control.
Information Provided by Marina Tsokur
