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News and updates to http://brains.org and Kathie Nunley's
Layered Curriculum(R) Site for Educators: http://help4teachers.com

~~The NO-MEMBERSHIP-REQUIRED website which blends current
psychology research with education.

You can subscribe to this newsletter at:
http://help4teachers.com/newsletter.htm
Unsubscribe & EMAIL CHANGE information link at the bottom of this newsletter
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SECTION ONE: Teaching Tips -
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Teacher Tip # 1: Use a "completed" stamp to mark student's homework as
done prior to discussing the answers. Perry Kennard, SWJH, Lawrence, KS.

Teacher Tip # 2: Practice math using small whiteboards. Take brief breaks to draw animals or other crazy things. Amy Knutzen, SWJH, Lawrence, KS.

Parent Tip: When my child has a problem area - instead of trying to
explain how to do something correctly, it sometimes works to have her try to
explain it to me. Q&A can illuminate where the problem is. Jim Duff,
Amherst, NH.

Send your favorite teaching tip to me at Kathie@brains.org
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SECTION TWO: Hot Topics
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HOT TOPIC # 1: Brain-imaging can assist in the detection of reading
problems in elementary aged children. Stanford University and Carnegie
Mellon University have teamed up to look at how fMRI scans can assist
educators in early detection of reading problems. Standard literacy tests
can detect reading problems about 68% of the time and they've found that
fMRI scans can find reading problems about 50% of the time, but when you
combine both the tests and the scans, you can successfully find children
at-risk for reading difficulties over 80% of the time. APA press release,
June 10, 2007 available at apa.org or through APA Public Affairs.

HOT TOPIC # 2:: Much has been written on the relationship between how
well children do in math and their mother's perception of how well they
think their child will do in math. Mothers who have high expectations for
their child's math performance, will in fact have children who tend to do
well. While the effect tends to peak in 10th grade, the effect is long-term.
A mother's early perception of math will correlate with the child's
personal self-efficacy feelings for several years past high school and even
influences the child's career choice. Bleeker, M. & Jacobs, J. (2004). Journal of
Educational Psychology. Vol 96(1), 97-109.

More Hot Topics at the websites!
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SECTION THREE: Website updates
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**********New Books, New Products********

**NEW Edition of the Layered Curriculum® WORKBOOK.
The 2nd edition Layered Curriculum® Workbook was released last month.
I've added significant details for step-by-step building of traditional
Layered Curriculum® units as well as added examples and directions for project-based
units, texts that spiral, heavy B-layer units and units for courses that
need a lot of direct instruction. I've also expanded the section on grading
scales.
You can order the workbook alone or with the text at:
http://help4teachers.com/books.htm

** New BOOK by David Sousa: "How the Brain Learns Mathematics".
The latest in Dr Sousa's Brain series is hot off the press and we've got
them in stock this week! http://brains.org/store/index.htm

** New Product: SAD Lights
We now carry full spectrum light devices for your home, classroom
or office. As days get shorter, many people, especially children, benefit
from exposure to full spectrum lighting to help ward off seasonal
depression. http://brains.org/store/index.htm

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SECTION FOUR: Kathie's Email
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Kathie,
We have a running debate at our elementary school about homework.
Should it be assigned? How much, etc. Any ideas?
Karen M. - Atlanta, GA

========================================
Hi Karen,
Oh, that's the debate that's been running since schools began,
I think! The general rule of thumb that's been around awhile is
10 minutes per grade as maximum time for homework. In other
words, 3rd grade - 30 minutes, 9th grade, 90 minutes, etc.
However, it's really hard sometimes to judge how long homework
will take as students' speed and ability vary widely as we all know.
Make sure parents and kids know what you expect the limit to be so
that they can notify you of a problem if the homework is a significant
struggle. The research advises us to be very cautious about homework
in the lower elementary grades as it can have a real detrimental effect
on a child's perception of school. Many researchers think homework
should wait til after 3rd grade - other than informal reading practice.
My personal opinion is to use it sparingly and only if it's valid work -
don't assign homework, just to assign homework. Good luck - Kathie

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SECTION FIVE: Workshops/calendar schedule/misc
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Happy October and Happy Thanksgiving to my friends in Canada. Autumn
is now officially in full swing. Our colors are turning here in New England
and despite our unseasonably warm weather, I can feel winter knocking
ever so slightly at the door.

I had a wonderful time last week in central Illinois with the teachers in
the Macomb area. And I must especially thank the very friendly folks in
Cheyenne Wyoming for their warm western welcome. Today I'm heading
back out to the west to the Coeur d' Alene area of Idaho to work with the
teachers in Post Falls. We have new workshops in the making for Nevada, Nebraska,
Texas, and North Carolina. You can get updates on specific locations,
dates and registration information (for those that are open) at my calendar page:
http://help4teachers.com/calendar.htm

My calendar still has some late spring / summer of 2008 openings. Let me
know if I can check something for your district or institution

As always, my best to you and yours,

Kathie
=================================================
Workshop information is available at the website
http://help4teachers.com/workshops.htm
or
call: 603-249-9521
email: kathie@brains.org
Brains.org and Help4Teachers is located at:
54 Ponemah Road
Amherst, NH 03031

Layered Curriculum® is a trademark developed by and registered
to Dr. Kathie F Nunley. Usage information available at:
http://help4teachers.com/usage.htm
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Dr Kathie F Nunley
Layered Curriculum(R) . . . because every child deserves a special
education (tm)