NEU Reading: Rewiring the Brain to Accelerate Learning
As a result of literacy improvements within participating districts, Trish Martin has been the honored recipient of:
- Michigan Excellence Award (Michigan Association of School Boards)
- Michigan’s Best Award for Professional Development of Teachers (Michigan Association of School Boards)
- Winner’s Circle Award (Michigan Association of School Administrators)
Call To Action
What is Rewiring?
We begin with the most basic question: What is ‘Rewiring the Brain’? Up until recent years, scientists originally thought that the brain became stagnant and stopped developing after the first few years of life. This ‘hardwire’ theory was constructed on the belief that the neuron-to-neuron cell network within the brain was fixed and immobile, thus preventing the possibility of establishing new neural connections.
Today’s research has changed this paradigm from ‘hardwire’ to ‘rewire’ forever. Now scientists know that the brain is plastic and can continue to grow new cells throughout an individual’s lifetime. Neurons are capable of connecting to other cells as they blaze new neural pathways in the brain. Neuroplasticity defines the ability of the brain to restructure itself based on repetitive practices if done correctly.
This brain plasticity will occur only in an attending or focused brain, making paying close attention to what you are doing a requirement to successfully drive and strengthen neurologic pathways. We now know that YOU have the power to remodel and improve your brain.
No longer is it acceptable to have such high numbers of our students not reading at grade level.
According to the U.S. Department of Education more than 60% of K-12 school aged children are reading below the level of proficiency needed to read the classroom textbook. (SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Statistics, National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), various years, 1992–2011 Reading Assessments.)
Rewiring is Science, not just another educational product.
These students can learn to read, and all we have to do is learn how to present the correct information more effectively. We can help children learn by understanding:
- The brain can change.
- It can grow new cells.
- It can change the function of old cells.
- Focused practice will strengthen the cell pathways
COMMON CORE STATE STANDARDS
“The Common Core State Standards provide a consistent, clear understanding of what students are expected to learn, so teachers and parents know what they need to do to help them.”
“ALL STUDENTS MUST BE COGNITIVELY ENGAGED, NOT JUST BUSY.”
-The Common Care State Standards
“At the time I did not realize that I would also be providing my staff with detailed instruction on how to explicitly teach the Reading Language Arts and Foundation Skills of the Common Core State Standards. My teachers look at the CCSS skills and say, “No problem, we know exactly how to do this.”
- Mark Westerburg [Superintendent of Schools, New Buffalo Area Schools, Michigan]
EDUCATION TODAY
The state of Education in America has always been a priority to people, especially for Educators and parents. A child’s future opportunities can be directly related to their skills in literacy and math. . These abilities are not just determined by their genetics, but also by the household they grow up in and the education provided to them. Because the educational piece can have a significant impact on student success, good teachers are an important requirement. Even though our nation provides free education for all children, 64% of all 12 graders read below proficient levels. This is not acceptable.
According to the New York Times “In 2010, 38 percent of the nation's schools failed to meet their benchmarks for annual progress toward the 2014 goal, and Mr. (Arnie) Duncan has warned that the figure could soar to 80 percent.” Our nation is in crisis. Secretary of Education Arnie Duncan realizes this. He said, “Reform is vital--and in several key areas, America is slipping.”
Most states have recognized this problem, and therefore, have adopted the Common Core State Standard Initiative of 2010. The CCSS lay out for teachers what their students need to not only be taught, but master in their specific grade level. Mastery of these skills will ensure that they have a bright future ahead of them.
NEU sees one problem with the CCSS. While it is wonderful that CCSS have laid out the skills needed, they do not help the teacher know how to teach the material. In NEU's pretesting of teachers, literacy coaches and principals, approximately 95% tested are unable to identify simple word building blocks like the six syllable types of the English language, much less explain how they would teach them. The 2012 Brown Center Report on American Education: How well are American Students Learning indicates that their research implies that the CCSS will have little to no effect toward improving education. NEU recognizes that this is a possibility if we do not train teachers and parents how to teach the foundations of reading.
Call to Action
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, metus at rhoncus dapibus, habitasse vitae cubilia odio sed. Mauris pellentesque eget lorem malesuada wisi nec, nullam mus. Mauris vel mauris.
Call To Action