Mr. Rennie's Class

  Here I am again talking about John Medina's Brain Rules. In our cohort meeting on the 28th we talked about what we've learned in our classes, field studies and readings. I found myself consantly going back to Brain Rule # 4 :People don't remember boring things. In fact the average person has about a ten minute attention span before their minds will wander ..unless..they are somehow emotionally engaged in what they are seeing, hearing or doing. "Emotionally rousing events tend to be better remembered than neutral events". pg79. So Medina, based on the ten minute rule requiring our brain to have a sort of break before it can stay focused or re-focus, provides in his lessons a built in emotionally strong break that is connected to the topic being discussed; a connection, anecdote question for discussion, a joke...something. This provides the brain a switching opportunity or break, while staying in the topic zone allowing the listener to connect to the topic and to their own experiences. Medina also reinforces the long held notion in lesson planning that the lesson's shape, it's outline be shared at the outset so the audience to connect back to the "where we are" during the lesson. This idea is also repeated throughout at intervals to maintain that connection of the current content or topic to the big picture. This multilayered opportunity to connect and build on previous experinces and information strengthens the chance of commiting the ideas to memory.

  When I consider the average lesson or period, on the average day, it is clear to me that all this is true. The lessons or sessions that are snappy, varied, fast paced but focussed on a clear goal the students are informed of are most effective. Frequent reviews and check-ins with the group as well as reminders, examples and anecdotes keep everyone more sharp. medina in his 5th rule: Repeat to remember, reminds us that only through repetition. "The more repetion cylcles a given memory experienced, the more likely it will be remembered'.Pg. 100. This all supports the case for doing thigs over and over. Math concepts, lit circles (reading strategies and approaches), inquiries, memoir writing, relay passing and slapshots are all better remembered when repeatedly practiced or reviewed.