Brain Friendly Assessments

This book guides teachers as they work to determine what, whom, where, and how to assess. Bestselling author David A. Sousa empowers teachers with valuable research findings from educational neuroscience as he describes critical factors to consider when designing and selecting assessment techniques to accurately gauge how well students learn and retain information.

"In Formative Assessment in the Brain-Compatible Classroom: How Do We Really Know They're Learning?, Marcia L. Tate explores the theories of different assessments and explains how they can be leveraged to cultivate brain-friendly learning environments that maximize student success"--

"For 21st century students, high-stakes testing often creates stressful classroom environments that hinder student learning and negatively impact students' overall performance on the tests themselves. Author Martha Kaufeldt's De-Stress the Test: Brain-Friendly Strategies to Prepare Students for High-Stakes Assessments seeks to alleviate the stress of the test and help create classrooms full of focus and learning. Topics range from a biological breakdown of how the brain reacts to stressful environments to practical strategies for reducing stress and increasing focus in the classroom. Kaufeldt's experience shines through as she provides accessible solutions to help students thrive during testing. Students deserve to learn and develop without experiencing needless stress and anxiety, and De-Stress the Test is a tool that can help make that a reality"--

"For 21st century students, high-stakes testing often creates stressful classroom environments that hinder student learning and negatively impact students' overall performance on the tests themselves. Author Martha Kaufeldt's De-Stress the Test: Brain-Friendly Strategies to Prepare Students for High-Stakes Assessments seeks to alleviate the stress of the test and help create classrooms full of focus and learning. Topics range from a biological breakdown of how the brain reacts to stressful environments to practical strategies for reducing stress and increasing focus in the classroom. Kaufeldt's experience shines through as she provides accessible solutions to help students thrive during testing. Students deserve to learn and develop without experiencing needless stress and anxiety, and De-Stress the Test is a tool that can help make that a reality"--

Students’ brains are wired to make them natural, curious learners. The mathematical world around them offers a vast classroom, filled with shapes, spaces, quantities, and experiences to discover and explore, all leading to the construction of understanding. Teachers can use this natural curiosity to tap the inborn neural mechanisms that motivate students to learn—to make relevance and meaning of their surroundings. Brain-Compatible Mathematics, Second Edition bridges the findings from the realms of brain research and improved mathematics instruction through updated teaching samples, connections to the most recent standards, newest research findings, and integration to other content areas. Each brain is different, and when teachers teach problem-solving skills to help students arrive at their own solution paths, students go beyond mere memorization of facts and algorithms to being an actual participant in the development of mathematical understanding. In an informative and relevant approach, Diane Ronis presents teachers and math leaders with an emphasis on thinking, mathematical representation, and construction of ideas and an abundance of: Sample lessons, units, and strategies linked to 2000 NCTM standards Brain-friendly strategies for math teaching that meet NCLB requirements How-to guides for creating more brain-tuned math teaching Ideas for incorporating technology into the math curriculum Planning templates for immediate use By integrating math learning into real-world applications, students can actively practice what they learn, make meaning out of their everyday experiences, and think mathematically for success within today’s information age.

This book feasibly translates validated research and best practices in assessment so that the reader can incorporate the best practices of assessment into practical routines in schools and the classroom. Readers of this book will strengthen their knowledge and skills in selecting, designing, and using assessments that enable all learners to actively participate and monitor their own progress towards learning objectives. This book is intended to be a hands-on guide for educators and students on the best and most effective practices for supporting students in their role as self-assessors. It develops sequentially from ensuring that students are assessment ready, to engaging students in assessment, and ultimately empowering students as assessors. Readers can also rely on the book to help them improve specific aspects of self-assessment that are most important in their setting and for their students.

"This is a fabulous book! Hundreds of activities that can be implemented at no cost. Buy it, use it, and allow the genius of Kathy Perez to rub off on you."-Harry K. Wong, AuthorThe First Days of SchoolBoost literacy achievement with these practical, brain-compatible strategies!Activating prior knowledge, differentiating instruction, and creating interactive opportunities-these are key practices that optimize learning, according to brain research. This essential guide translates cutting-edge research into ready-to-use tactics to promote literacy development in your classroom. Internationally recognized educator Kathy Perez offers a definitive collection of more than 100 field-tested strategies that can be implemented easily and immediately for maximum results at any grade level. The activities and tools provide strong building blocks for creating a dynamic, brain-friendly environment where teachers and students thrive. The book offers a flexible framework, step-by-step guidance, and key features such as:Approaches to motivate students with hands-on learningSpecific techniques for differentiation and utilizing multiple intelligencesTactics to strengthen reading comprehension and the meaning-making process Pre-reading strategies, standards-based activities, planning templates, reproducibles, and other resources to boost student achievementMore Than 100 Brain-Friendly Tools and Strategies for Literacy empowers teachers, literacy coaches, and reading specialists with proven tools to cultivate active learning.

Brain Framing is a book of ideas for ?thinking about thinking? in the classroom, ideas to help us frame the brains of students in ways that are productive, powerful, and personal. This book will help teachers to engage brains in three fresh ways: framing student learning into more personalized experiences that utilize new research on the brain, the body, and the spirit; creating brain-friendly classroom environments that link sensory and cognitive experiences in ways that reduce stress for both the teacher and the student; and organizing content into meaningful ?chunks and layers? that fit into the unique frames of students? brains. Filled with a variety of new teaching strategies, curriculum-enhancing ideas, lesson-planning samples and reproducible templates based on current scientific research, Brain Framing is the perfect resource for any teacher who wants to begin ?planning with the brain in mind.?