The website for people involved in the education and parenting of brains of all ages.

Dr. Kathie Nunley's website linking current psychological and neurological RESEARCH with EDUCATION

HOT TOPICS
From recent issues of the NEWSLETTER:

~~ If your school is trying to fight childhood obesity by replacing sugary sodas with artificially sweetened drinks - you may want to rethink the situation. New research shows that artificial sweetners may actually slow down metabolism and encourage overeating. While the studies thus far use only lab animals, apparently having a sweet-taste in the mouth is linked in the brain to the thought that calories and energy are on their way. When those calories do not appear, the metabolism is confused and activity level decreases and the desire to eat increases. Swithers, S. & Davidson, T. (2008) Behavioral Neuroscience, Vol. 122, No. 1.

~~ Bullying and the subsequent victimization is a topic of keen interest in US education. Approximately 14% of adolescent school children are considered "bullies" - a percentage that is similar to other countries. About 18% of this age group are considered passive victims - a percentage higher than many other countries, and about 5% are considered aggressive victims. Both bullies and aggressive victims tend to be highly emotional and lack self-control. This often leads to alienation among peers. Bullies tend to befriend other bullies whereas aggressive victims tend to have few or no friends. Having friends and being well-liked by peers protects victims from continued bullying. Boys tend to use more physical aggression and will bully both boys and girls. Girls tend to use more relational aggression. Pellegrini, A. et al. (1999). Journal of Educational Psychology, Vol. 91(2), 216-224.

Hot Topics is a regular feature of our FREE BIMONTHLY NEWSLETTER. Delivered to your email box, each issue contains teaching tips, summaries of neuropsychology and education research, and questions & answers to educator's concerns. You can SUBSCRIBE HERE (it's free) or just read past newsletter Hot Topics HERE

Workshops & Conference Presentations: Looking for an information-packed, entertaining, and practical teacher workshop for your district? Dr Nunley is available for keynotes, breakout sessions and all day workshops on the brain based learning and her differentiated instructional model, Layered Curriculum®.
VISIT Workshop Information

Most of the research from neurology, psychology and education is suggesting that teachers (at all grade levels) implement more student-centered, differentiated instructional models.

How do I do that?

This website contains dozens of articles on how to do just that. Our website articles are written not only for you to read but also to share with your parent population and colleagues in your school newspapers and PTA newsletters. Find articles on:

** THE ADOLESCENT BRAIN
** CAFFEINE
** SLEEP NEEDS
** SUBSTANCE ABUSE
** IRLEN SYNDROME
** REWARDS
** PUNISHMENT
** LEARNING STYLES
** COMMERCIAL INFLUENCE
** ATTENTION DEFICIT DISORDER
**AUTISM
** AND MORE!!!!!!!!!!

STRUGGLING READERS frustrate teachers at all grade levels. The robust research over the past 20 years is showing us that students CAN BE helped! It's never too late to help your struggling readers, so middle and high school teachers take heart. Here is an article to summarize the most current research on causes, interventions and strategies for working with struggling readers at ALL grade levels. Read, "Helping Johnnie Read through Jr/Sr High School"

"I need a simple way to differentiate instruction"

You may want to try your hand at Dr Kathie Nunley's LAYERED CURRICULUM®. Thousands of teachers have discovered it is one of the simplest and most effective ways to run a student-centered, differentiated classroom, particularly at the Jr / Sr High School level. You will find hundreds of sample lesson plans posted here from your colleagues around the globe to help you get started.

Layered Curriculum® was designed as a simple, practical way to differentiate instruction. It blends the 3 KEYS to successful classrooms:

** Allow for Student Choice
**Encourage Higher Level Thinking
**Increase Student Accountability

Based on current brain-imaging information, Layered Curriculum® is an exciting and effective student-centered teaching method. The 3 layer model encourages complex thinking and holds students highly accountable for their learning. LEARN MORE about setting up STUDENT-CENTERED Classrooms.

Come SHOP!

Are you an educator or parent looking for ways use brain-based education in your life or classroom? Browse our hand-picked books, learning tools, and other hard-to-find items to make teaching and learning more effective.

Need Additional support for Layered Curriculum®?
Help4Teachers offers Video Training Kits, and Faculty Meeting Kits and Bulk Discounts on Layered Curriculum® texts and workbooks.

Visit the Help4Teachers Support Materials Page.

A Student's Brain- Simple and easy to understand, this book explains the workings of the brain to parents and teachers. Buy a copy

How to Explain a Brain: An educator's handbook. Sylwester offers educators and general readers his own definitions and descriptions for terms used in the cognitive neurosciences and provides a unique look into the marvelous brain.
Buy a copy

©1999 - 2008 Layered Curriculum® is a trademark developed and registered to Kathie F Nunley. Inquire for usage.

Our business office is located at: 54 Ponemah Rd., Amherst, NH 03031

About Dr. Kathie F Nunley