Class 6 Reflections

Today was a very "Ah ha!" day!  I spent the entire morning and afternoon listening to Dr. Martha Burns present "Brain Based Approaches to Literacy and Numeracy" at a Special Education Conference in San Francisco.  After an interesting, informative, and 'information overload' type day, I then proceeded to join class where the conversation from setting ending up flowing into the next - which I found very exciting!

Take a look at the video below, part of series broadcasted by PBS.  The whole episode is interesting, but for the purpose of today's conversation - "The Reading Brain" - please start at 36.28, and view for approximately 20 minutes.

The human brain is amazing!  It is so complex, and its functioning is so fine tuned that the slightest disruption in development can create difficulties for someone who is learning to read.  As stated in the video, "Reading is a high wire balancing act".  It is not something that 'just happens'; it is complex, and it requires the learner (usually a child...) to pull together hundreds of concepts in order to do it.

Please view the Ted Talk below.  Dr. Martha Burns discussing "The New Brain Science of Learning".

The New Brain Science of Learning: Dr. Martha Burns at TedxEnola