FOUNDATIONS: Early Childhood as a
Building Block for Later Learning
Professional Learning Camp – P.J. Presentation
Sept. 2011
Connecting…
“That’s Me!”
Statement
If/when a statement pertains to you, jump up
and yell,
“That’s me!”
Right to pass
Source: Tribes Program
Quick Elbow Partner Chat…
1. Did this energizer help
you feel more or less
comfortable in the
room?
2. How might you be
able to use this activity
with Primary or Junior
students?
3. Why do you think
connection or
reconnection activities
are important?
Today…
We’re going to begin with
early brain development, and then move to how this
impacts the teaching and
learning of Primary & Junior
students
Brain Research Is Meeting
Education at a Rapid Pace
The Physiology of the Brain
The Cerebellum
The Brainstem
The “Old” or “Reptilian” Brain
The Cerebrum - The “New” Brain
The Temporal Lobe
The Parietal Lobe
The Occipital Lobe
The Frontal Lobe
Quick Elbow Partner Chat…
Knowing about the
late maturity of the
pre-frontal cortex,
what implications
does this have for
our expectations
regarding the
behaviour of
Primary and Junior
students?
Implications…
Limbic system (old brain)
matures before pre-frontal
cortex
Primary and Junior students
exhibit…
Poor judgment
Impulsivity
Emotional outbursts
Need for structure, routine
and guidance
The
Developing
Brain…
The Genetic
Factor
The Developing
Brain…
The Environmental
Factor
Experience-
expectant learning
Experience-
dependant learning
The Importance of Brain Plasticity and
Cortical Complexity
Plasticity:
brain’s capacity to
change
Cortical complexity:
number of synapses
(neuron
connections)
Understanding Neurons and Neural
Pathways… use it or lose it!
Temporal lobes
Healthy Neglected
Child Child
Brain stems
Other Periods of Significant Brain
Development
Ages 6 through
puberty
Most growth in
temporal & parietal
lobes but some in
pre-frontal cortex too
Language, spatial
relations
Optimal period for
development of
integrative &
executive functioning
– increased
myelination
Two Important Areas in Regard to
Language Skill Development:
Left
Hemisphere
The Development of Oral Language
Skills is Critical
Students enter school with
varied oral language skills -
different neural pathways
between Broca’s area and
Wernicke’s area
TV and video
gaming should be
limited
To recap…
1. Basic brain
structure
2. Brain development
– genetics and
environment
3. Importance of
neural complexity
But, how does the brain learn a new concept or
skill?
The Cerebrum
The Brain’s Hemispheres
Learning to Ride a Bike….
1. 2.
3.
Quick Small Group Chat…
Given what we have learned
this morning, let’s imagine this
is the first day of school and
you are standing in front of
your Grade 3/4 class. You
have never met any of these
students before.
What do you already know
about these learners?
What will you need to consider
in your teaching?
Learners Arrive in Our Classrooms with
Different Brains
Genetic factors
Environmental factors
We have no control over
who walks through our doors
Children are not all starting at the same developmental
point regardless of age/grade
Assessment is critical
Considerations For Teaching
Students need safe
learning
environments
Learning moves
from the big
picture to the
details
Learning requires
repetition
Considerations For Teaching
Primary & Junior students
need hands on experiences
with new concepts
Need large blocks of time to
be working at and exploring
activities & ideas
Teachers need to be
intentional about the play and
hands on experiences they
plan for their classrooms
Questions/Comments/Reflections
Good Luck This Year!