In Chapter 3 we learn that their are three parts to the human brain system. The Neocortex, the Limbic System, and the Reptilian Brain. In most people the Neocortex is in charge and they respond to stimuli with a top down approach. However, with kids like Billy this is not the case. In Billy, his response is from the bottom up. This means that the Neocortex is not in charge to keep the limbic and reptilian system in check. Therefore, our response to Billy has to be different. Our approach to reprimanding the behavior can greatly intensive or subdue Billy's reaction. In order for a teacher to help Billy regulate his emotions with the limibic part of the brain in control, a relationship must exist between the Billy and the teacher.
Science has changed the way we view human action and interaction. As a teacher it helps to understand the thought process and reasons for certain responses from students. As a teacher I may want to handle discipline a certain way, but if the results that I am receiving are negative, then it helps to understand why. With this information, I can now look at different methods to help keep situations from escalating to an uncontrollable point. It helps to understand that top-down control and bottom-up control students need to be handled in different manners.
The top-down approach as mentioned is the way Andy functions and allows for the brain to process the information and for him to make a rational decision. Whereas, Billy comes from the bottom-up approach and immediately goes into that fight-flight mode and makes poor choices and is completely unaware of the consequences. Understanding that the wiring is different and the impact that relationships had on these individuals allows me to better understand these students. I think it is also important that we can rewire and maybe improve this behavior so that the student can have success in the future.
My major take away from this chapter was in the resolution. I absolutely love the example given on page 27 about breaking our commitment to a diet. This really helped me to see how stress and trauma cause us to react. Top-down control is difficult to maintain in general but with a Billy in the classroom, I now realize that in order to gain any needed behaviors for learning, I will have to get Billy out of the bottom-up mode by getting him back to a calm state. The book states that it will focus on how to do this in Part Two...Chapter 7.
Good point Angela! I have broken commitments to diets so many times and the book states while we have moments like this periodically, Billy has moments like this chronically. This was an eye opener to me and I am interested in part two of the book that will give us some guidance on how to effectively return a student to a calm state.
We read about the three parts of the brain. (neocortex, limbic, and reptilian) As a teacher, this helps me to see and understand each part of the brain and how and what impacts my students' brains. I like the example of eating healthy. This helps me to "see" how students could react at school.
The brain is so complex yet can be so manipulated by people in both good and bad ways. It seems the neocortex has a lot of what we see as far as how people think and react in different situations. Although the neocortex, limbic and reptilian do work together it does state the neocortex is in charge which explains why we see so many reactions and outbursts for those like Billy. I do like the comparison of how all three parts is what helps us all live together in a community. It really is a good thing we are all different and we should try much harder to understand when people are different.
We know that a brain needs certain things in a certain order to develop properly. These chapters well highlight the effects of these missing steps and explain how to be understanding of these deficits. The personal examples were interesting as well, as it showed parents trying to figure out how to make up for lost time in their child’s early brain development.
Advancements in our understanding of the brain and how it works have advanced enormously in the past thirty years. We now have a greater understanding of how the three major parts of the brain behave and how they relate to the behavior of a developing child. The book seems to point to a under utilization of this knowledge when it comes to applying modern strategies in the classroom. I agree that having a deeper understanding of childrens behavior and how it comes to be through a physiological level can have a great impact on the way that we handle our students.
Scientific research has open many doors to looking at the child, as a whole, rather than just how we grew up and how our parents or teachers disciplined or handled situations. By having the relationship with the student and the knowledge of how the brain functions, it will allow the teacher to use a more tailored approach with a better outcome for both the teacher and student.
In Chapter 3 we learn that their are three parts to the human brain system. The Neocortex, the Limbic System, and the Reptilian Brain. In most people the Neocortex is in charge and they respond to stimuli with a top down approach. However, with kids like Billy this is not the case. In Billy, his response is from the bottom up. This means that the Neocortex is not in charge to keep the limbic and reptilian system in check. Therefore, our response to Billy has to be different. Our approach to reprimanding the behavior can greatly intensive or subdue Billy's reaction. In order for a teacher to help Billy regulate his emotions with the limibic part of the brain in control, a relationship must exist between the Billy and the teacher.
ReplyDeleteScience has changed the way we view human action and interaction. As a teacher it helps to understand the thought process and reasons for certain responses from students. As a teacher I may want to handle discipline a certain way, but if the results that I am receiving are negative, then it helps to understand why. With this information, I can now look at different methods to help keep situations from escalating to an uncontrollable point. It helps to understand that top-down control and bottom-up control students need to be handled in different manners.
DeleteThe top-down approach as mentioned is the way Andy functions and allows for the brain to process the information and for him to make a rational decision. Whereas, Billy comes from the bottom-up approach and immediately goes into that fight-flight mode and makes poor choices and is completely unaware of the consequences. Understanding that the wiring is different and the impact that relationships had on these individuals allows me to better understand these students. I think it is also important that we can rewire and maybe improve this behavior so that the student can have success in the future.
ReplyDeleteMy major take away from this chapter was in the resolution. I absolutely love the example given on page 27 about breaking our commitment to a diet. This really helped me to see how stress and trauma cause us to react. Top-down control is difficult to maintain in general but with a Billy in the classroom, I now realize that in order to gain any needed behaviors for learning, I will have to get Billy out of the bottom-up mode by getting him back to a calm state. The book states that it will focus on how to do this in Part Two...Chapter 7.
ReplyDeleteGood point Angela! I have broken commitments to diets so many times and the book states while we have moments like this periodically, Billy has moments like this chronically. This was an eye opener to me and I am interested in part two of the book that will give us some guidance on how to effectively return a student to a calm state.
DeleteWe read about the three parts of the brain. (neocortex, limbic, and reptilian) As a teacher, this helps me to see and understand each part of the brain and how and what impacts my students' brains. I like the example of eating healthy. This helps me to "see" how students could react at school.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThe brain is so complex yet can be so manipulated by people in both good and bad ways. It seems the neocortex has a lot of what we see as far as how people think and react in different situations. Although the neocortex, limbic and reptilian do work together it does state the neocortex is in charge which explains why we see so many reactions and outbursts for those like Billy. I do like the comparison of how all three parts is what helps us all live together in a community. It really is a good thing we are all different and we should try much harder to understand when people are different.
ReplyDeleteWe know that a brain needs certain things in a certain order to develop properly. These chapters well highlight the effects of these missing steps and explain how to be understanding of these deficits. The personal examples were interesting as well, as it showed parents trying to figure out how to make up for lost time in their child’s early brain development.
ReplyDeleteAdvancements in our understanding of the brain and how it works have advanced enormously in the past thirty years. We now have a greater understanding of how the three major parts of the brain behave and how they relate to the behavior of a developing child. The book seems to point to a under utilization of this knowledge when it comes to applying modern strategies in the classroom. I agree that having a deeper understanding of childrens behavior and how it comes to be through a physiological level can have a great impact on the way that we handle our students.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteScientific research has open many doors to looking at the child, as a whole, rather than just how we grew up and how our parents or teachers disciplined or handled situations. By having the relationship with the student and the knowledge of how the brain functions, it will allow the teacher to use a more tailored approach with a better outcome for both the teacher and student.
ReplyDelete