Begin with the Brain:

Brain-Friendly Teaching & Learning

Target Audience:

For Pre-school, Primary School, Secondary School and Junior College teachers.

Date                : 19 June 2017, Monday
Venue             : To Be Advised
Time                : 9:00AM to 5:00PM

Closing Date  : 21 April 2017 Friday

Workshop Fee:

S$350.00 per participant. If 2 or more participants from the same school/organization attend the same workshop, the discounted fee will be S$300.00 per participant for that particular workshop. Fees are subject to GST and include all training materials, 2 tea breaks and a lunch.

Other Information:

Registration is on a first-come-first serve basis. No refunds will be made for cancellations or in the case of absentees. The Academy accepts replacements for registered participants who are unable to attend for whatever reasons.

Click here to register for the workshop

Workshop Description

This full day workshop introduces teachers to the biology and psychology of learning. Participants are introduced to three “brain basics” about how successful learning can be achieved in every classroom. Discover the critical factor of how stress and perceived threat can minimize learning. Learn how multi-sensory experiences in an enriched environment can promote brain growth and development. Understand that new learning needs to be processed in a variety of ways to assure long-term retention. “Use it or Lose it!” is true! The afternoon session will provide dozens of practical strategies for how to arrange and orchestrate a classroom so that you can truly teach with the brain in mind.

Part 1: “Begin with the Brain: Three Things New Teachers Need to Know”(morning session) Brain Basics are presented within a Model Differentiated Lesson

Brain-Compatible Element # 1 - LESS STRESS!!

• Stress, and Perceived Threat can minimize the brain’s capabilities to learn
• Create a Safe and Secure Climate and Environment
• Avoid the REFLEX Response: Inclusion & Physical Environment

Brain-Compatible Element # 2 -  DO THE REAL THING

• Neural Plasticity: Multi-sensory experiences promote brain growth and connections
• Provide Enriched “Learner-Centered” Environments for learning
• Encourage First Hand Experiences, Discovery Play and Meaningful Engagement

Brain-Compatible Element #3 - USE IT OR LOSE IT!

• Multiple opportunities to Actively Process new learning assures Long Term Retention
• Differentiate Instruction, Provide Choices, Vary Grouping and Honor the Multiple Intelligences
• Orchestrate opportunities to apply new learning in real-world experiences

Part 2: “Orchestrating a Brain-Friendly Classroom Environment” (afternoon session)

Strategies are modeled and demonstrated.

• MANAGING the Differentiated Classroom: Systems & Procedures – The Key to Successful Differentiation.

• Designing a Brain-Friendly ENVIRONMENT: Room arrangement, flexible grouping, centers, student-centered.

• ENGAGING Learners: Get students’ attention using novelty, movement, and humor. Keep them engaged using variety, relevancy and meaningfulness.

BOOK: Based on “Begin with the Brain: Orchestrating the Learner-Centered Classroom – 2^nd ed,” (By Martha Kaufeldt, Corwin Press, 2010)

The Motivated Brain:

Improving Student Engagement

Target Audience: For Pre-school and Primary School teachers.

Date                : 20 June 2017, Tuesday
Venue             : To Be Advised
Time                : 9:00AM to 5:00PM

Closing Date  : 21 April 2017 Friday

Workshop Fee:

S$350.00 per participant. If 2 or more participants from the same school/organization attend the same workshop, the discounted fee will be S$300.00 per participant for that particular workshop. Fees are subject to GST and include all training materials, 2 tea breaks and a lunch.

Other Information:

Registration is on a first-come-first serve basis. No refunds will be made for cancellations or in the case of absentees. The Academy accepts replacements for registered participants who are unable to attend for whatever reasons.

Click here to register for the workshop

Workshop Description

Motivation, enthusiasm, perseverance, drive, grit and tenacity are currently very hot topics in education. Understanding how to get students to pay attention and engage in rigorous tasks is something every teacher desires. The field of cognitive psychology provides educators with many models about how to trigger motivation and keep students engaged. This full day workshop provides recent brain research and psychological insights into how educators can promote student motivation, which leads to engagement and ultimately learning. Learn dozens of strategies to maintain five classroom conditions that can maximize student engagement and motivation: Classroom environment, Collaboration and social interactions, Student learning preferences, Promoting a Growth Mindset, and Maintaining teacher passion and Enthusiasm.

What is Motivation? Engagement?

• What are the conditions? (Why has student motivation diminished?)
• What motivates 21^st Century Kids?

The Science:

• Seven Primary Emotional Systems
• The SEEKING system
• The role of Dopamine

The Three Processing Systems of SEEKING

1. 1.Primary – Exploratory
2. 2.Secondary – Making Connections
3. 3.Tertiary – Create and Synthesize

5 Classroom Conditions to Maximize Student Engagement and Motivation 

• Brain-Friendly Classroom Environment

1. oNovelty
2. oFirsthand Experiences
3. oPlay, Movement, Music

• Collaboration – Social Interactions
• Finding Each Student’s Sweet Spot:

1. oStudent Interests
2. oZPD
3. oChoice Opportunities (Self-Directedness)

• Promoting Growth Mindsets

1. oDo-Overs (Trial & Error)
2. oNot Yet

• Maintaining Teacher Passion & Enthusiasm

BOOK:  Based on “The Motivated Brain: Improving Student Attention, Engagement and Perseverance”  (By G. Gregory & Martha Kaufeldt, ASCD, 2015)

Think Big, Start Small: How to Differentiate Instruction

in a Brain-Friendly Classroom

Target Audience: For Pre-school and Primary School teachers.

Date                : 21 June 2017, Wednesday
Venue             : To Be Advised
Time                : 9:00AM to 5:00PM

Closing Date  : 21 April 2017 Friday

Workshop Fee:

S$350.00 per participant. If 2 or more participants from the same school/organization attend the same workshop, the discounted fee will be S$300.00 per participant for that particular workshop. Fees are subject to GST and include all training materials, 2 tea breaks and a lunch.

Other Information:

Registration is on a first-come-first serve basis. No refunds will be made for cancellations or in the case of absentees. The Academy accepts replacements for registered participants who are unable to attend for whatever reasons.

Click here to register for the workshop

Workshop Description

Designing differentiated instruction based on educational neuroscience research may seem like an overwhelming task. Successful, brain-friendly learning involves positive emotions, high interest, and personal engagement. Recognizing that all students learn differently is paramount to helping them be successful in our classrooms. Each learner’s brain is uniquely wired! Learn some “start small” brain-friendly strategies to discover each student’s “Sweet Spot” for learning by surveying prior knowledge, discovering learning preferences, and determining how success was achieved in the past. Build up your repertoire of “daily differentiated” instructional strategies to help all students actively process new learning to assure long-term retention. Gain tons of ideas from this popular presenter.

• Learn three elements of successful “brain-friendly” learning: emotions, relevancy, and engagement.
• Understand some basics of neuroplasticity.
• Learn how to differentiate for each student by surveying prior knowledge and discovering student preferences.
• Revisit how understanding students’ Multiple Intelligences can be helpful when designing differentiated tasks.
• Discover some simple techniques to manage the differentiated classroom.
• Leave with a variety of flexible grouping strategies.

BOOK:  Based on “Think Big, Start Small: Differentiating Instruction in a Brain-Friendly Classroom.” (by G. Gregory and Martha Kaufeldt, Solution Tree, 2012)

Developing Academic MINDSETS for Student Success

Target Audience: For Secondary School and Junior College Teachers

Date                : 22 June 2017, Thursday
Venue             : To Be Advised
Time                : 9:00AM to 5:00PM

Closing Date  : 21 April 2017 Friday

Workshop Fee:

S$350.00 per participant. If 2 or more participants from the same school/organization attend the same workshop, the discounted fee will be S$300.00 per participant for that particular workshop. Fees are subject to GST and include all training materials, 2 tea breaks and a lunch.

Other Information:

Registration is on a first-come-first serve basis. No refunds will be made for cancellations or in the case of absentees. The Academy accepts replacements for registered participants who are unable to attend for whatever reasons.

Click here to register for the workshop

Workshop Description

What might it look like if students truly owned their learning? This full day workshop focuses on what classrooms, schools, and instruction should look like to foster the necessary academic mindsets and learning strategies. While particularly critical for underperforming students, these six mindsets are the foundation for success in school and in life. Learn strategies for how to help students be willing to tackle challenging material, learn, create, and share new knowledge, Discover learning strategies that are most related to developing academic mindsets, such as setting learning goals, making plans to accomplish these goals, monitoring progress, seeking help, being willing to discover and explore, and handling challenges when necessary. Equipping students with the right mindsets and strategies will enable them to engage productively with challenging 21^st century curriculum and ultimately with life itself. Instructional strategies and lesson ideas will be shared and modeled throughout the day.

1. Motivation Mindset - developing students’ curiosity, wonder and discovery
2. Give-It-a-Go! Mindset - developing student engagement and willingness to try new things
3. Growth Mindset - promoting a student’s belief in his/her ability to increase intelligence through experiences (based on work by Carol Dweck)
4. Grit & Perseverance Mindset - developing a positive attitude about challenges, failures, and set-backs
5. Belonging Mindset - promoting a student’s sense of belonging and sense of community by developing social skills, etc.
6. Giving Mindset - developing a sense of selflessly  “doing” for others, the community, and the planet. 

BOOKS: Based on “The Motivated Brain: Improving Student Attention, Engagement and Perseverance”   (by G. Gregory and Martha Kauefeldt, ASCD, 2015) and MINDSET: The Psychology of Success by Carol Dweck, 2006

ABOUT MS MARTHA KAUFELDT

Martha Kaufeldt is a professional development specialist, author and a part-time enrichment teacher at a public charter school in California. With a Master’s Degree in Human Development, her specialty has been interpreting and applying educational neuroscience into classroom practice since 1984. Martha is a popular trainer and consultant for individual schools, districts, institutes, as well as international education conferences. She presents motivational presentations and dynamic workshops that address the fundamentals of Brain-Friendly Learning, Differentiated Instruction and Integrated Curriculum for all grade levels.Ms. Kaufeldt has taught at all grade levels, served as a district level gifted coordinator and staff developer, and was the Lead Teacher and restructuring coordinator of a demonstration “brain-compatible” school. 

When her schedule allows, Martha frequently returns to the classroom for a “reality check.” As a 7th grade Humanities Core teacher, Martha was able to work on an interdisciplinary teaching team implementing thematic curriculum. As a new challenge Martha then worked as the restructuring coordinator and the lead teacher at an alternative K-6 public elementary school in Santa Cruz, California. Currently Martha works as a consulting teacher for a public charter school in Felton, California. She is a strong advocate for integrating collaboration, movement, discovery play, project-best learning, and outdoor experiences into the learning process to build healthy brains and bodies.

Ms. Kaufeldt has written several books including Begin With the Brain: Orchestratingthe Learner-Centered Classroom 2^nd ed. (Corwin 1999), Teachers, Change Your Bait! Brain-CompatibleDifferentiated Instruction (Crown House 2005), and Think Big, Start Small (Solution Tree 2012). Her most recent book, co-authored with Gayle Gregory, is The Motivated Brain: Improving Student Attention, Engagement and Perseverance (ASCD 2015) Martha, along with Gayle and Mike Mattos recently published: Best Practices at Tier 1: Daily Differentiation for Effective Instruction (Elem and Secondary editions – Solution Tree 2015).

CONTACT

PRINCIPALS ACADEMY

9 Woodlands Avenue 9, Republic Polytechnic, Singapore 738964

Tel: +65 6363 0330 • Fax: +65 6363 0220•Web: www.pai.sg

For more information, please contact: Joseph Loy at email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or tel: (65) 6363 0330