Enriching the Brain: How to Maximize Every Learner's Potential

by Eric Jensen

Book Overview

Eric Jensen--a leading expert in the translation of brain research into education, argues in Enriching the Brain that we greatly underestimate students' achievement capacity. Drawing from a wide range... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0787975478
• ISBN13: 9780787975470
• Release Date: July 2006
• Publisher: Jossey-Bass
• Length: 330 Pages
• Weight: 1.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.3" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Done it Again!

Eric Jensen has "done it again." He has carefully laid out reasons and suggestions for enriching all children. He carefully covers neuroscience research relating to the science of enrichment and provides practical suggestions to help every student reach his/her learning potential. Jensen stresses that the brain can and does change, bringing hope to caregivers, parents, and teachers. This is an important and powerful book written with integrity and wisdom.. If you want to make a difference in the lives of children, you HAVE to read this book.

Recommended for Parents, Educators and Policy Makers

Jensen's theories of enrichment are based on research which he explains in jargon-free everyday language. The research confirms that the brain changes throughout the lifespan. The brain grows with positive experiences. Negative experiences, if they are not managed properly, stunt the brain's ability to grow. Jensen's definition of enrichment is that of a result: "a positive biological response to a contrasting environment, in which measurable synergistic, and global changes have occurred." He cites 7 factors that contribute to enrichment and throughout the book returns to them in his discussions of research, designs for school and parental enrichment efforts, and implications for forming public policy. Unfortunately, public education is moving in a different direction. Teachers spend more time each school year documenting their every minute of student contact at the expense of more creative lessons, multiple assessments and IEPs for all. Students spend increasing amounts of time studying for and taking one size fits all tests. Until the "system" changes, schools will be measured in the public eye by their rankings on these tests. Vocal parents (who enrich their kids at home) will continue to pressure school boards and administrators for the short term fix (test prep.) in the classroom. Research, and its accessibility through the writings of Jensen and others, helps those with the resourses and energies to reach the diffuse and quasi-anonymous constituencies that support this ever growing testing. Hopefully, as more and more people come to understand the research and its implications, the current direction of reliance on testing in the name of accountability can be reversed.

An Educator's "Must-Read" Blockbuster !

Wow.....what a masterpiece! I love this book as Jensen built on solid research what has been presented in the past with some awesome current "blow-you-away" research. The brain truly is amazing and he demonstrates and orchestrates the text beautifully in a language educators can understand. My opinion....Eric Jensen's best book yet!

Highly recommended!

Thought-provoking, inspiring, and beautifully written, Eric Jensen's ENRICHING THE BRAIN offers a much-needed voice of reason in the educational wilderness. It should be required reading for every teacher, school administrator, and parent.

A Good Read!

The book's like eating a nutritious meal-- it's filling but also good for you. I liked the blending of science and practical advice. Loved all the new scientific breakthroughs on enrichment; Jensen's passionate about this topic and that's really what makes the book work. The book gives the real scientific basis for how our brain becomes "enriched." The last book this good was Marian Diamond's "Magic Trees of the Mind." Here Jensen makes a case for every student, in every school getting an enrichment program, and I can see why. Jensen tells you in clear, readable language, what happens to the brain if your do or don't enrich. I liked the chapters on how the gifted brain is different and why kids of poverty need enrichment as much as anyone. As a teacher, I see things I can do better in my class, but I actually bought it because I'm a parent. The more things you see that you can do as a parent, the more it opens your own eyes. Most like me think we as parents are doing the right thing, but we have no clue about all the right things and this really details all the stuff you never think of, but I can now do for my own son. There are good chapters specific for teachers and for parents. Highly recommended.