Judy Willis
How Math Adds Up in the Brain: Increasing K-12
Students' Mathematical Engagement, Motivation,
and Memory Using RAD Strategies

The brain is an amazing thing. Most of us have no idea what's really going on inside our heads.  How do we learn? How can we improve our ability to learn? A basic knowledge of the brain and application of this knowledge can positively impact core instruction and student learning in an immediate, practical, and cost-effective manner.

Dr. Judy Willis will conduct three, separate workshops for district level and/or school-based learning teams during school year 2009-10.

The focus of the three, interrelated sessions will be to help participants understand how certain basic brain-friendly strategies can engage students and positively impact student learning. Workshop participants will be able to practice these strategies between sessions and to share with participants and colleagues.

Learning Goals for 3-Part Series:

• Learn how to employ brain-friendly instructional strategies to advance student achievement in mathematics
• Be able to develop and implement a brain-friendly math lesson
• Use advances in memory research to IGNITE student learning
• Turn on the brain's learning centers
• Maximize and maintain student attention and focus
• Use brain reasearch-based strategies to turn sensory data into long-term memories
• Use strategies to help students increase memory retrieval
• Create an enriching learning environment by incorporating student-centered activities, discovery and hands-on learning experiences, cross-curricular learning, and multisensory lessons
• Implement strategic review, study, and test preparation to allow students to retain information and transfer it to future learning and creative problem solving
• Differentiate instruction for all learning styles and skill levels through activities and instruction within student's individual achievable challenge levels
• Discuss and share lesson challenges and successes as a learning community and identify ways to continue learning about the brain and learning