Why Teach Brain Basics

There is a lot happening in each and every student’s mind. When you and your students have a shared understanding of what’s going on inside their brains—and the language to communicate about it—everything becomes more manageable in the classroom.

Teaching brain basics in the classroom can result in the following outcomes for your students and yourself.

Benefits For Students

Students empowered with basic brain knowledge have better:

Self-Awareness

Children love to know what’s going on inside their brains and what regions of the brain are responsible for different thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. This knowledge of brain structures and functions helps children understand the direct link between their brains and their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

Self-Regulation

Children empowered with basic brain knowledge are able to better manage thoughts , feelings, and behaviors. More importantly, this knowledge gives them the ability to calm themselves down (i.e., self-regulate) on-demand.

Social Skills

When a child knows the basics of what’s happening in their brain, they are able to infer what’s going on inside the brains of their peers. This knowledge promotes empathy, cooperation, and understanding between students.

Focus and Attention

Students with basic brain knowledge are able to use skills that allow them to focus their attention for problem solving, critical thinking, creativity, and cooperation.

Benefits For Teachers

When you understand what’s happening in a student’s brain, chances are you’ll experience improvements in your:

Relational Skills

Knowing what’s going on inside a child’s brain makes you more likely to be able to meet that child where they are at and then provide the right solutions to help get them to where they need to be.

Classroom Management Techniques

When you and your students have a shared understanding and language about the brain, you are quickly able to get on the same page. Then you can do what it takes to find harmony and move forward in the classroom.

Instructional Abilities

Having basic brain knowledge allows you to adapt lesson plans to students depending on how they are doing on any given day.