Brain Blog

17
Nov

Forming Good Study Skills

Introduction Establishing good study skills early on is essential to educational success, especially for kids who are having trouble achieving in school.  Effective study habits save time, reduce stress, foster self confidence and increase the odds of acing that test or turning in that book report on time.  As parents, we can help our kids [...]

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10
Nov

Make an Apple Turkey!

What could be more in the Thanksgiving spirit than a celebration of the turkey? Let the little ones partake in the turkey fun, without having to do any of the carving. They’ll enjoy making these little turkeys out of apples and no one gets hurt! This is a great activity to keep small hands out [...]

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10
Nov

Processing Speed and Learning

Introduction If you’re the parent of a child who’s struggling in school, you may have heard the term ‘processing speed’ and wondered what it means.  Processing speed refers to how quickly information travels throughout the brain.  A processing speed deficit can affect learning dramatically.  Compare it to riding a train that travels at 30 miles [...]

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03
Nov

Helping Your Child with Organization

Introduction Organization is a key ingredient in good study habits, but for students who are struggling in school, it’s especially important.  Lost notebooks, forgotten assignments and misplaced materials all have a negative impact on their ability to be successful in school. These things also cause frustration that can leave a student feeling overwhelmed and pessimistic [...]

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27
Oct

Effective Math Strategies

Introduction Whether your child is a teenager or first-grader, there are a variety of strategies that can be effectively employed to help them become proficient at math. One of the most effective strategies for teaching math involves the use of manipulatives.  Manipulatives are concrete objects that can be employed to demonstrate abstract math concepts. They [...]

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27
Oct

Play Halloween Bingo!

  It’s about that time when all the signs of Halloween approaching can be seen on grocery store shelves, in front yards, and in the pages of magazines. That hard-to-miss black-and-orange color theme is everywhere, as are the holiday’s symbols, from the witch with the pointed hat to the monstrous man with bolts in his [...]

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20
Oct

Make Mummy Mug Party Favors

If you’re short on time but want to find a creative way to decorate your Halloween table, try this cute and spooky party favor mug with matching mummy napkin rings. These mugs take but a moment to make, but are sure to make a big impression on guests. Fill the mug with tricks like plastic [...]

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20
Oct

The Role of Executive Function in Learning

Executive function is the cognitive process we use to focus on certain tasks. Planning, organizing, prioritizing, managing time and strategizing are some of the things that require executive function. Working memory, which is the ability to hold information in the mind in order to carry out a task, is also a part of executive function. [...]

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13
Oct

Make a Paper Mache Jack-o-Lantern!

Nothing screams “Halloween!” like a glowing jack o’lantern – but your little one isn’t ready to wield a carving knife yet. No problem! With paper mache and paint, you can create a festive pumpkin that will outlast its carved peers. What You Need: 1 balloon 1 cup flour 2 cups warm water A mixing bowl [...]

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13
Oct

The Left and Right Side of the Brain

You may have heard me refer to the left and right sides of the brain when I’m talking about dyslexia and reading proficiency. Since the left side of the brain is where most language processing occurs, it impacts the ability to read, which is where kids with dyslexia run into problems. Because the two hemispheres [...]

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