BrainWorks: The Developing Brain and Student Behaviors (2024) 

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Visit BrainWorks Activities page

Short videos: 

• How stress impacts the brain (4-minute video)
• Intention setting (3-minute video)

Key Takeaways: 

• By attending today–you changed your brain!
• Stress negatively impacts milestones and learning
• Supportive classrooms, routine, and limiting multitasking help!

Resources: 

• Resources on learning and the Brain
• PBS 10-minute video on the brain
• CDC milestone app
• CDC offers free books
• Hand model of the brain video

Watch Recording

View Presentation

Visit BrainWorks Activities page

Short videos: 

• Attention and Concentration (4 minutes)
• Short video link: Understanding Emotions (6 minutes)

Key Takeaways: 

• Different parts of the brain have different roles AND all of these parts need to function together.
• Stress and emotions can impact attention, memory, and learning.
• We can help kids think about their brains as a “construction zone” and use empowering language.

Resource links: 

• Lobes of the brain
• Video: Areas of the brain
• Article: Working Memory from the Psychological and Neurosciences Perspectives
• Explaining brains blog
• Hand model of the brain (adapted from Siegel)
• Upstairs/downstairs models
• Wizard/lizard models
• Jane the Brain video series: Stress
• Jane the Brain video series: Sadness
• Jane the Brain video sereis: Frustration
• Short video: Combatting Video Fatigue
• HTRC recording: Practical Tools to Increase Digital Wellness
• How to help your child during a panic attack
• What are panic attacks? 

Suggested books:

• Big Brain Book: How it Works and All Its Quirks by Leanne Boucher Gill
• Your Fantastic Elastic Brain: A Growth Mindset Book for Kids to Stretch and Shape Their Brains by JoAnn Deak, PhD
• Teach with Superpowers: Ten Brain-Informed Practices by C. Bobbi Hansen

Watch Recording

View Presentation

Visit BrainWorks Activities page

Short videos: 

• Supporting your brain during the holidays 
• Sedentary lifestyle

Resources: 

• Heads Up Concussion prevention best practices
• Better heart health may improve cognitive health in kids
• Life’s Essential 8: healthy habits for kids
• Parent sleep resource
• Educator sleep resource- Lesson plans and classroom activities
• Educator sleep resource- Posters, recommendations, and lesson plans
• CDC: Children sleep facts and stats
• Good night to Your Fantastic Elastic Brain: read-along video
• Children's Books encouraging healthy sleep
• Building positive relationships
• Relational health
• Childhood toxic stress