Brain-based Learning doesn't Include Clutter

So I admit it. I’m a “stacker.” Stacks of random pieces of paper, bills to be paid, bills that have already been paid, telechat materials, plans for new telechats, and endless “to do” lists.

In short, I often have an overly-cluttered office and a desk piled so high that my beautiful oak desktop is invisible.

But funny thing happened yesterday: I cleaned up the mess—tossed, filed, and tossed some more. And today I got twice as much work done as usual. I felt calm, organized, and focused. Great feeling. I love it!

Let’s face it. Most people’s brains, and this includes kids’ brains, do better in an uncluttered environment. Especially a brain that might be labeled ADD/ADHD.

So with the weekend here, I suggest spending some time clearing off your desk, getting the kids to clean their rooms, and just plain getting rid of clutter.

Your brain will appreciate the effort.

P.S. Watch for news about next week’s free TeleChat. It’s filled with teacher strategies and parent tips for helping kids read and read more often. I’ll be giving you a quick brain-based learning technique that’s fast, fun to do and it works. And you'll get handouts too. Teaching kids to read doesn’t have to be a struggle.

Moms (and Teachers too) Show 'em What to Do

Kids and over-eating are all over the news. A couple days ago the “Wall Street Journal” published an article with the not-so earth-shattering news that what Moms do and not what they say affect what daughters do.

The point being that when Mom says “You can’t have candy” and then chows down on a box of Godiva chocolates, her daughter’s gonna eat chocolate too. Good grief, even my Grandma knew this.

And what does this have to do with that most basic of brain-based learning strategies, Reading? It’s same principle. They imitate us.

Why should kids want to read, master reading, or find books interesting if Mom isn’t reading? As we as a society read less and less—fewer newspaper subscribers, fewer magazine subscribers, fewer folks at the library—our kids are just copying our behavior. No wonder it seems harder to teach them to read.

And then we whine when reading scores go down.

Parent Tip, Teacher Strategy: Grab a book or a magazine or even The National Enquirer and read it in plain view of your kids. Model reading and they’ll read too—if they don’t faint first!

P.S. Watch my blog for news about an upcoming free TeleChat to help you help kids read—at school and at home.