Brain Words

The past two decades have brought giant leaps in our understanding of how the brain works. But these discoveries-;and all their exciting implications-;have yet to make their way into most classrooms.In Brain Words: How the Science of Reading Informs Teaching , authors J. Richard Gentry and Gene Ouellette, bring their original, research-based framework of brain words dictionaries in the brain where students store and automatically access sounds, spellings, and meaning. This book aims to fill the gap between the science of reading and classroom instruction by providing up-to-date knowledge about reading and neurological circuitry, including evidence that spelling is at the core of the reading brain.Brain Words will show how children's brains develop as they become readers and discover ways you can take concrete steps to promote this critical developmental passage, including: Incorporating tools to recognize what works, what doesn't, and whyPractical classroom activities for daily teaching and student assessmentInsights about what brain research tells us about whole language and phonics-first movementsDeepened understanding of dyslexia through the enhanced lens of brain scienceWith the insights and strategies of Brain Words , you can meet your students where they are and ensure they gain confidence as readers, spellers, and writers.

In our default state, our brains constantly get in the way of effective communication. They are lazy, angry, immature, and distracted. They can make a difficult conversation impossible. But Andrew Newberg, M.D., and Mark Waldman have discovered a powerful strategy called Compassionate Communication that allows two brains to work together as one. Using brainscans as well as data collected from workshops given to MBA students at Loyola Marymount University, and clinical data from both couples in therapy and organizations helping caregivers cope with patient suffering, Newberg and Waldman have seen that Compassionate Communication can reposition a difficult conversation to lead to a satisfying conclusion. Whether you are negotiating with your boss or your spouse, the brain works the same way and responds to the same cues. The truth, though, is that you don't have to understand how Compassionate Communication works. You just have to do it. Some of the simple and effective takeaways in this book include: • Make sure you are relaxed; yawning several times before (not during) the meeting will do the trick • Never speak for more than 20-30 seconds at a time. After that they other person's window of attention closes. • Use positive speech; you will need at least three positives to overcome the effect of every negative used • Speak slowly; pause between words. This is critical, but really hard to do. • Respond to the other person; do not shift the conversation. • Remember that the brain can only hold onto about four ideas at one time Highly effective across a wide range of settings, Compassionate Communication is an excellent tool for conflict resolution but also for simply getting your point across or delivering difficult news.

"This memoir tells the story of a man's deterioration from Alzheimer disease from two perspectives. His daughter, an English professor at Caltech, describes her father's dementia, using her expertise in language and literature as a way to frame his loss of words, spatial orientation, identity, behavioral decorum, and memory. The physician, an academic neurologist at the University of California at San Francisco, explains the science behind Alzheimer disease using his expertise in neurology, articulating to a general audience how dementia assaults the brain"--

The brain ... There is no other part of the human anatomy that is so intriguing. How does it develop and function and why does it sometimes, tragically, degenerate? The answers are complex. In Discovering the Brain, science writer Sandra Ackerman cuts through the complexity to bring this vital topic to the public. The 1990s were declared the "Decade of the Brain" by former President Bush, and the neuroscience community responded with a host of new investigations and conferences. Discovering the Brain is based on the Institute of Medicine conference, Decade of the Brain: Frontiers in Neuroscience and Brain Research. Discovering the Brain is a "field guide" to the brainâ€"an easy-to-read discussion of the brain's physical structure and where functions such as language and music appreciation lie. Ackerman examines: How electrical and chemical signals are conveyed in the brain. The mechanisms by which we see, hear, think, and pay attentionâ€"and how a "gut feeling" actually originates in the brain. Learning and memory retention, including parallels to computer memory and what they might tell us about our own mental capacity. Development of the brain throughout the life span, with a look at the aging brain. Ackerman provides an enlightening chapter on the connection between the brain's physical condition and various mental disorders and notes what progress can realistically be made toward the prevention and treatment of stroke and other ailments. Finally, she explores the potential for major advances during the "Decade of the Brain," with a look at medical imaging techniquesâ€"what various technologies can and cannot tell usâ€"and how the public and private sectors can contribute to continued advances in neuroscience. This highly readable volume will provide the public and policymakersâ€"and many scientists as wellâ€"with a helpful guide to understanding the many discoveries that are sure to be announced throughout the "Decade of the Brain."

"Gentry and Ouellette are cannonballing into the reading research pool, they're making waves, and these waves are moving the field of reading forward." --From the foreward by Mark Weakland, Super Spellers The past two decades have brought giant leaps in our understanding of how the brain works. But these discoveries--and all their exciting implications--have yet to make their way into most classrooms. With the concise and readable BrainWords, you will learn how children's brains develop as they become readers and discover ways you can take concrete steps to promote this critical developmental passage. Introducing their original, research-based framework of "brain words"--dictionaries in the brain where students store and automatically access sounds, spellings, and meanings--the authors offer a wealth of information that will transform your thinking and practice: Up-to-date knowledge about reading and neurological circuitry, including evidence that spelling is at the core of the reading brain Tools to recognize what works, what doesn't, and why Practical classroom activities for daily teaching and student assessment Insights about what brain research tells us about whole language and phonics-first movements Deepened understanding of dyslexia through the enhanced lens of brain science With the insights and strategies of BrainWords, you can meet your students where they are and ensure that more of them read well, think well, and write well.

The founder and director of the Thirty Million Words Initiative, Professor Dana Suskind, explains why the most important—and astoundingly simple—thing you can do for your child’s future success in life is to to talk to them. What nurtures the brain to optimum intelligence and stability? It is a secret hiding in plain sight: the most important thing we can do for our children is to have conversations with them. The way you talk with your growing child literally builds his or her brain. Parent talk can drastically improve school readiness and lifelong learning in everything from math to art. Indeed, parent–child talk is a fundamental, critical factor in building grit, self-control, leadership skills, and generosity. It is crucial to making the most in life of the luck you have with your genes. This landmark account of a new scientific perspective describes what works and what doesn't (baby talk is fine; relentless correction isn't). Discover how to create the best "language environments" for children by following the simple structure of the Three Ts: Tune In; Talk More; Take Turns. Dr. Suskind and her colleagues around the country have worked with thousands of families; now their insights and successful, measured approaches are available to all. This is the first book to reveal how and why the first step in nurturing successful lives is talking to children in ways that build their brains. Your family—and our nation—need to know. *Nominated for the Books for a Better Life Award*

Breakthrough Technique: Read Faster by Understanding Faster. Don't you hate it when reading takes so long... and yet you retain so little? Is this way of reading even worth your time? By learning to read with yourwhole brain -- not just the slow, step-by-step, analytical left side that handles word-recognition, but also your fast, parallel-processing, big-pictureright brain -- you can reach new levels of reading and cognition. Learn to visualize whole ideas at a time, and turn reading into a truly engaging experience instead of a chore. Discover how to encourage the involvement of your powerful, silent, imaginative right-hemisphere and begin reading ideas rather than just words. Apply the conceptual abilities of your right brain to increase concentration, comprehension, and reading speed. Only faster comprehension, can lead to faster reading!! Reading IS comprehension. There is no reading without comprehension. The only way to really read faster, is byunderstanding faster. These new theories and techniques will have you reading faster bythinking faster. Read whole ideas at a time. Strengthen your comprehension. Sharpen your concentration. Reduce your vocalization. Improve your retention. Increase your speed. Do you want to continue throwing your time away, achieving the same pitiful results, and remaining frustrated and bored with your reading? Tens of thousands of people have already used this method at readspeeder.com to improve their reading skills. Learn how these techniques work, and how to apply them to your own reading. Practice easily with the20 uniquely designed exercises that will have you immediately reading whole ideas at a time. Plus, as a gift to you, there is a FREE BONUS of four downloadable pdf books. The full text of each of these books is prepared with the same special formatting as the exercises in this book, to give you even more opportunity to practice reading whole ideas. Your purchase of the paperback book also entitles you to get the Kindle version for FREE. Get your copy of READING WITH THE RIGHT BRAIN today and start reading with all your brain. What Others Are Saying: A unique method that allows you to more effectively assimilate what you read in a shorter amount of time -- Amanda Johnson, M.A.,Assistant Professor of English, Collin College, Plano, Texas Includes not only original theories and techniques for reading improvement, but also a totally exclusive method of presenting practice exercises -- Richard Sutz, CEO,The Literacy Company, www.EfficientReading.com, Author of “Speed Reading for Dummies” It is amazing to me that so much could have been written in so many years since Evelyn Wood about speed reading and no one came up with the idea of “speed comprehension.” -- Dr. James Young,Professor of English, Weber State University, Ogden, Utah

"An absolute must-read, must-understand, and must-do for all primary teachers and principals. Nevills and Wolfe′s book addresses the difficult issues of diagnosis and intervention with early readers before they begin to struggle." —Judy Bean, Director of Curriculum, Instruction, & Assessment Colville School District, WA "A unique resource that provides a biological foundation for effective reading strategies. It is a valuable resource for any educator." —Deborah Tucker, Science and Literacy Education Consultant Discover how children′s brains change as they develop early reading skills! This updated edition of the best-selling book covers brain theory and research to give educators a clear picture of how children acquire and develop language skills in preparation for reading. Moving through skills acquisition from birth to age eight, this resource provides best teaching practices for fostering critical literacy skills for each age group. This second edition features updated research, expanded information on English learners and Response to Intervention, and information about mirror neurons, sensory input, and decoding pathways. Readers will find: Developmentally appropriate, brain-friendly strategies for building phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, comprehension, and fluency skills Instructional applications for games, music, and play Interventions for children with early reading difficulties Building the Reading Brain, PreK–3 sheds light on early childhood cognition and language development to help teachers provide all young learners with a strong foundation for reading success.