Emotions are one of the killers of academic achievement.

[proud2BlibKansan]

For students, emotions can get in the way of learning

“Emotions are one of the killers of academic achievement.”

Horacio Sanchez, president and chief executive officer of Resiliency Inc., is an expert in applying brain science to improving schools. Peter Lee, CEO of John Hope Settlement House, invited him to speak to local leaders about a different, more humane perspective on how to close the seemingly intractable achievement gaps between middle-class and poor, often minority children. What might brain science tell us?

Sanchez says, “If the amygdala is in control, the neocortex shuts down.” Brain Science for Dummies would translate: If the kid is having big feelings, he’s not thinking clearly, if he’s thinking at all.

Teachers can give superb lessons, but if the kid’s not listening, he’s not learning. If he’s sad, angry, depressed, or worried about his parents’ fighting, about the bully, about the death of Grandma, the dog, or even a beloved TV character, he’s full of feeling. And feelings come first.

But, Sanchez points out, “We teach the cortex. Do you know right from wrong? Well, if the kid’s in crisis, he doesn’t KNOW much at all.”

<skip>

“But the one universal protective factor, for all kids, the one that will improve brain function most, is a long-term nurturing relationship with at least one adult.” Thirty-plus years of research has supported this idea. Even if the parents are doing a great job, and so many aren’t, the most healing factor in a child’s life is a close relationship with at least one adult outside the family. So terrific interactions with many school adults will boost kids’ ability to think at their best and perform to their potential on the holy-grail state and national tests.

more . . . http://www.projo.com/education/juliasteiny/content/EDWATCH_15_11-15-09_BRGCQ64_v6.2a1350f.html

[Dinger]

1. Excellent Post As Usual proud2BlibKansan! K & R!

Thank you!

[Seldona]

2. Damn, hit the wrong button.

Meant to unrec the op. Sorry.

[proud2BlibKansan]

14. Because kids' emotions aren't important

:sarcasm:

[Seldona]

26. That seems to be the gist of the article to me.

I am sure they are working on a whole new generation of amphetamines or 'mood enhancers' to handle it, or some such abomination.

Teach them to read and write, and let these kids live their lives. Grandparents, hell, parents even die. If you think the public schools should be handling that, we have nothing further to discuss.

[proud2BlibKansan]

27. You've never taught school, have you?

Kids can't learn if they are hungry or worried or sad or anxious. Or if they were up all night listening to Mom and Dad fight. Or if there is no electricity or heat or running water in their house.

So yes it's important for all schools to do a lot more than just teach kids to read and write.

[mopinko]

3. i always thought that kids should have the same teacher at least for primary

grades. that costs nothing, but think of the stability that it would add for the kids who need it most. and so much of the "getting to know you" stuff that would not have to be repeated at the beginning of every year. i also always thought that kids should have healthy snacks available in the classroom at all times, again, at least in the primary grades.
schools are very resistant to taking on the nurturing role, but it could make such a difference. at the same time, they would have to be ready to remove the teachers that could not do it. and there are plenty of those, for lots of reasons.

[proud2BlibKansan]

11. Most of the elementary schools I have worked in have embraced a nurturing role

and you are correct; it makes a HUGE difference.

[mopinko]

17. most teachers do it. you can't ignore it all together. but

it is also mostly informal, and to do it as an institutional goal would lead to a more comprehensive framework.
it also is done the least where it is needed most. the really troubled schools that get the really troubled kids also get and keep the most emotionally withdrawn, hardened teachers, i think. not all, of course, but it is a hard thing to deal with day in and day out if you are a softy.
taking care of teacher's emotional health is an important part of the equation, too.

[proud2BlibKansan]

20. One of my schools is a Komer School

Or is it Comer?

It's a philosophy that focuses on the whole child and the community.

[mopinko]

21. at the risk of touching off a whole nother discussion

this is why a lot of lefties homeschool.

[proud2BlibKansan]

24. Sorry. I don't follow.

They homeschool because their children's emotional needs are not met?

[mopinko]

25. they homeschool because

they see their children's emotional needs as not being addressed at all for most of their day. in fact, they see a big part of the school experience as being aimed at making them into cookie cutter cogs, not individuals, either emotionally and intellectually. they feel like they are able to treat their kids as whole people, all the time, and not zombies truncated at the jawline. in my experience, i found this kind of disconnect to be particularly true for gifted kids, as they are often seen as shrunken adults, and not kids. the fact that gifted kids are often emotionally less mature and in control seemed like a complete surprise to them.

confession-i homeschooled for 8 years, in large part for this reason. i had a kid who was so shy, but at the same time so capable of educating himself, that all i could see for him was bullying and boredom.
fwiw, said kid did grow up to be an amazing person, fully engaged with the people around him, and having a great time in college. he did sort of have to figure this out all at once when he ended up in school. it was a little bumpy. but at the same time, he did not have his ego destroyed by the second grade, either.

[Yehonala]

29. Gifted Kids Have It Bad

"true for gifted kids, as they are often seen as shrunken adults, and not kids. the fact that gifted kids are often emotionally less mature and in control seemed like a complete surprise to them."

And if they are exceptionally well behaved, then they are labeled as nerds, and as many of us kids know nerds are considered fair game for bullies.

[surrealAmerican]

18. This is what Waldorf schools do.

They keep the class and teacher together for the entirety of elementary school.
I think it's worth a try, but the most vulnerable population (the urban poor) do not usually have the luxury of living in the same place for that long.

[mopinko]

19. all the more reason.

waldorf definitely has more emphasis on the whole child.

it is true that urban poor move more. all the more reason to do what can be done to give the kids a more stable relationship.

[LWolf]

31. Actually, I haven't found that to be true.

That "schools are very resistant to taking on the nurturing role."

I've looped kids in every school I've taught, K-8th grades. Public schools, not private or charters.

I've always had the same kids for 2-3 years. It IS more effective than changing teachers every year.

And snacks in the classroom are common.

In my classroom, the rule is snacks without added sugar. They bring their own, and I have access to carrots and cheese sticks from the school cafeteria for those that don't.

[AngryAmish]

4. Mister, that is a great article

So much of educational "research" is just nonsense. Real science may finally inform what up to now is almost an entirely ascientific field.

[handmade34]

5. *Maslow*

[rucky]

10. Yup

seen it in action when I was teaching.

[proud2BlibKansan]

12. You bet

[Laelth]

6. Very interesting essay. Thanks. n/t

:dem:

-Laelth

[bobbolink]

7. Right. If we were just robots, think how well we would all be doing by now.

:eyes:

[niyad]

8. very interesting article. would have been nice had he included girls in this.

[Blue_Tires]

9. kick

[dsc]

13. I agree with that for many but I think some kids can focus through

I hated middle school and went through a great deal of turmoil in middle school but with only a couple of exceptions I kept my grades up due to wanting to be sure I could escape.

[proud2BlibKansan]

15. You probably knew you COULD escape

That made your goal more realistic and achievable. But I don't think all kids have achievable goals today.

[dsc]

16. I did know that

my parents were both college graduates so I knew college was a possible goal. I also knew that smarts was the one and only way I had out.

[dustbunnie]

22. So did I. School bullying and lots of turmoil at home.

I kept my grades way up because I lost myself in schoolwork and books. Had I not had such an interest in reading, it could easily have gone the other way.

[TwilightGardener]

23. Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs in action.

Harder time learning with more basic needs unmet--security, stability, sleep, proper nutrition, etc.

[Yehonala]

28. More Assistant Teachers

We Need more teachers so kids can get individual attention and keep bullying to a minimum. That way, kids get more one on one time, bullies are kept in check, and each kid feels as though he/she is someone worth paying attention to.

[proud2BlibKansan]

32. More counselors too

[EndersDame]

30. It was hard to concentrate in high school when we were evicted and had to live in a motel room

My absentee father lost his business and couldn't pay child support or alimony which my mom had counted on and she got behind in the rent. We had to live in a motel room which sucked on its own and then add to the fact that I was weird and picked on enough already and just gave the bitchy girls more ammunition

[DU GrovelBot]

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