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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Andrew Watson
Andrew began his classroom life as a high-school English teacher in 1988, and has been working in or near schools ever since. In 2008, Andrew began exploring the practical application of psychology and neuroscience in his classroom. In 2011, he earned his M. Ed. from the “Mind, Brain, Education” program at Harvard University. As President of “Translate the Brain,” Andrew now works with teachers, students, administrators, and parents to make learning easier and teaching more effective. He has presented at schools and workshops across the country; he also serves as an adviser to several organizations, including “The People’s Science.” Andrew is the author of "Learning Begins: The Science of Working Memory and Attention for the Classroom Teacher."
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ABOUT THE BLOG
Today’s Unpopular Research Finding: Potential Perils of Mindfulness
New research suggests that mindfulness may lead to “particularly unpleasant” experiences for many practitioners. This research is in early stages, but we should consider its implications in school mindfulness programs. Continue reading
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Right Brained Language Learning (And Other Reasons to Ignore Brain...
Recent research shows that right-hemisphere brain activity predicts successful language learning. For that reason (and many others), we shouldn’t think about “right-brain” or “left-brain” mental functions. Continue reading
Visual & Verbal: Welcome to “Dual Coding”
By “dual coding” — that is, by presenting information both verbally and visually — we can reduce our students working memory load. And: we can help them learn. Continue reading
Early Signs of Autism: “Joint Attention”
This video, by Simon Baron-Cohen, explains the importance of “joint attention” in early diagnosis of autism. Continue reading
A Rose by Any Other Name Would Smell as Confusing
All too often, psychology discussions use confusing — or worse, deliberately cheerful — terminology. Teachers should seek out direct and neutral terms to simplify and clarify our discussions. Continue reading
No, Brain Scans Can’t See You Think
https://npjscilearncommunity.nature.com/users/19663-tracey-tokuhama-espinosa/posts/42620-deciphering-fact-from-fiction-about-the-brain Continue reading
Does Low-Structure Free Time Improve Executive Function?
Students can be taught executive-function skills that help in schools. They learn executive-function skills that help outside of school by playing on their own. Both kinds of practice help children mature. Continue reading
The Best-Known Neural Model of Learning Might be Substantially Wrong
A new neural model of long-term memory formation might change our understanding of learning. It should not, however, change our approaches to teaching. Continue reading
Building a Better Research Mousetrap: @justsaysinmice
A new twitter account can help you sort the good science reporting from the bad. And, it’s got cute pictures too. Continue reading
Meet Blake Harvard, “Effortful Educator”
An interview with Blake Harvard: high-school psychology teacher, and Effortful Educator. Continue reading
