Worksheets Dont Grow Dendrites: 20 Instructional Strategies That Engage the Brain

By Marcia L. Tate

Book Overview

"Marcia Tate has done it This is the most practical application of the brain compatible and learning styles research I′ve ever seen. The twenty strategies will make learning fun again. Every teacher should explore the rich resource for teaching offered in this book "
--William N. Bender, Author
Differentiating Instruction for Students With Learning Disabilities, Second Edition

"When teachers in all schools integrate Tate′s 20 instructional strategies into classroom instruction, school will become a place where all children can experience success regardless of their learning style."
--Linda Aikens-Young, Principal
C.J. Hicks Elementary School, Conyers, GA

Design fascinating activities and inspire active learning with proven teaching tools

Attention spans, subject interest, learning styles, and even levels of understanding vary from student to student. Just as every student is different, teachers have their own personalities and teaching styles. Yet years of research confirm that certain teaching tools awaken the desire to learn in students by engaging their brains. And once their brains are engaged, synthesis, and retention of information will soar

Worksheets Don′t Grow Dendrites targets teachers as "growers of brain cells" and encourages them to make practical application of the findings of learning style theorists and neuroscientists. Tactile learners, spatial thinkers, and logical minds alike will become eager students as the strategies in this handbook are implemented. Imagine raising student achievement by meeting the learning needs of each student and increasing subject matter understanding, all while enjoying teaching and learning. Marcia Tate demonstrates 20 strategies, including:

Using humor and telling stories Implementing problem-based instruction Incorporating games into lessons Utilizing mnemonic devices and metaphors And even singing and dancing while learning

Actively engaging students in the learning process is the best way for them to succeed in school--and in life. Give them an edge by growing their dendrites

Also see:
Worksheets Don′t Grow Dendrites (Multimedia Kit)

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0761938818
• ISBN13: 9780761938811
• Release Date: March 2003
• Publisher: Corwin Press
• Length: 160 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 10.8" x 0.5" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

Extremely Happy

This book was shipped by the Seller with lightning-fast speed. The book was in mint condition and I was thrilled.

I love this book!! Judge it for yourself!!

I wish I had this years ago. My kids love it and soaking up everything we do. This half of the year is going great!! I've never had a class so interested in anything!

Excellent book for teachers who WANT to learn

For those great teachers out there, they will find they naturally use many of the strategies in this book. This books puts them all in one place and give you more ideas as well as the research to back them up. I do feel sorry for the rater that is having this approached forced on him or her. I am afraid to say that learner centered education is far from "trendy" nor is a constructivists approach to learning. Just throwing the books at the teachers not modeling the approach for even in teacher education, the adults should also construct meaning in their learning. I do agree with the reader that some teaching methods take more time upfront and there is a lot of pressure on teachers to hit all the standards but if retention is key, spend a little more time on the front end and they will retain it after a test rather than just for the test. This book is great if you want 20 specific ideas for injecting new way to learn in your classroom. It is not an all to nothing approach, just try one new thing while maintaining you own teaching style. Those teachers who are stuck in there own methods and fearful of sharing control of the learning with their students will have a hard time with this book.

Missing Pieces

I have been in early childhood education for 12 years. Within those 12 years, drastic changes have taken place. Year after year students come to my class with less knowledge. Everyday I try to find a new or better way to teach objectives. I have found that students need hands-on activities that help build the missing pieces of their educational foundation. "Worksheets Don't Grow Dendrites" by Dr. Marcia Tate has been extremely helpful to me. I know you can't totally do away with all worksheets, but today's students need more than that. They need movement, music, manipulatives, and visuals in order to retain what they are expected to learn. Thanks to Dr. Tate's book, I have another resource to use instead of the regular old "paper-pencil" method.