The following topics can be used for keynotes, workshops, and seminars. All presentations are tailored to the needs of the audience. Contact Marilee for information on other presentations!
The Critical Words Your Students Must Master to Be Successful with the Common Core Standards
DELINEATE, INTEGRATE, POINT OF VIEW…Researchers estimate 85% of achievement tests are based on the vocabulary of the standards. Students from poverty, ELL students, and other at-risk students are particularly in need of learning these words in ways that meet their specific learning needs. Learn the critical words in the Common Core Standards and how to teach them in ways to make them part of ALL of your students’ long-term memories and an automatic part of your students’ vocabulary. This workshop is designed to teach the vocabulary words of the Common Core through many differentiated, brain-compatible strategies. Word maps, foldables, jingles, and movement will help teachers leave with strategies and designs they have made to take back to the classroom.
Differentiate Instruction Using the Learning Progressions of the Common Core
There is a cumulative progression of learning in the Common Core Standards, and this progression is useful in figuring out exactly where the students are in attaining the standards. Using the building blocks from previous grade levels, teachers can create formative assessments to pinpoint areas in need of further teaching. Differentiating instruction in the Common Core will is a process of collecting data on the current state of learning and comparing it to the desired state of learning. Using differentiated instructional strategies will assist students in reaching the goals of the standards.
The Common Core: Teaching Your Students to Read Like Experts
Most teachers and students are more comfortable with narrative text than they are with informational text. Although students are interested in facts, they find difficulty in comprehending the text. What must literate students know and be able to do? The Common Core Standards lead us to increasing students’ understanding of complex texts. This workshop provides information to help teachers guide students in reading like an expert. Understanding text structures and reading multiple texts is a mainstay of the Common Core. Proficiency in comprehending informational text will help our students build the skills they need for college and career.
Wiring the Brain for Reading
Current research on how the brain learns to read points to exciting opportunities for helping educators increase student achievement. In this dynamic workshop, based on educational neuroscience, scientifically based research and personal research and work with students from pre-kindergarten to high school, Marilee Sprenger makes reading research meaningful and then personally models practical principles for effective instruction. Reading is a very rich, complex, and cognitive act. The brain is hardwired for spoken language but not for reading. Yet reading skills serve as the primary foundation of all school-based learning. Teachers are always searching for strategies that will unlock the door to content-area learning for their students.
Brain Compatible Teaching: What Educators Need to Know about Brain Research
The more we understand about the brain, the better we'll be able to educate it. By following the brain-based teaching principles we can create an enriched, brain-compatible environment and effectively counter such existing negative influences as stress, sleep deprivation, and poor nutrition. Reflect upon the myths and mysteries of the brain, classroom environmental considerations, and the role of emotions in learning.
The Developing Brain: Ages 3 to 8
The brain is the only organ that is shaped through its interactions with the environment. Learn how the brain develops from age 3 through age 8 and what developmentally appropriate activities enhance its growth. Consider best practice as you learn about ages and stages in the areas of reading, language, cognition, emotion, and physical development. These are the years in which you can really make a difference!
The Digital Brain
How is technology affecting the structure, function, and development of the brain? In this presentation discover both the wonderful changes the brain is experiencing and some of the concerns about social isolation, internet addiction, and Attention Deficit Disorder. There is a “digital divide” between students who were weaned on technology and students and teachers who are trying to catch up and keep up with the latest developments. Learn how to bridge the gap and manage the techno-brain.
The Emotional Brain: The Power of Emotional Intelligence
The power of emotional intelligence can be felt in leaders, in teams, and in organizations. What truly makes organizations productive is the ability of leaders and groups to be intelligent about emotions. Learn about self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management. Neurological research suggests that being attuned to our feelings helps us find the meaning in data and make better decisions. Create harmony, get commitment, and meet challenges for your learning organization.
Offline Teachers and Online Students: What Can They Learn from Each Other?
In this session you will learn how to meet the needs of the 21st century student. Twelve ways to teach to the digital brain will be shared and modeled as you learn how to think outside the book.
To Differentiate or not to Differentiate: Overcoming the Challenges
Meeting student needs and meeting state standards leads us to the importance of differentiation. Look at the obstacles and the opportunities for differentiating instruction with the brain in mind. Increase interest, attention, and memory with simple strategies.
Differentiating Instruction: Practical Strategies for High School Teachers
We know that differentiated instruction raises student achievement. Some DI strategies work well in the elementary and middle schools, but what about high school teachers? What makes sense for shorter class periods and semester courses? In this presentation, practical strategies will be offered with concrete examples.
Reading and the Brain: Instructional Strategies to Strengthen Content Literacy
Before, During, and After reading strategies improve student reading, writing, and oral language skills. Dozens of evidence based plans for improving student reading at all levels will be shared along with examples. Teaching content literacy is a science and an art. Increase student achievement by developing routines that work.
Differentiation is the “I” in RTI
When the brain feels threatened, its high cognitive functioning comes to a screeching halt! Students who benefit most from the RTI pyramid are those students who are threatened by their struggle with reading, math, or with behavior. Differentiation helps students learn in ways that work for them; RTI’s effectiveness depends on this happening. In this presentation, learn how best to implement Differentiation and RTI in a brain-compatible manner.
Memory: The Long and the Short of It!
Short term memory is where information quickly fades away forever. Learn to understand how to help students take in information and change short term memory into permanent memory. Their overflowing brains require help in processing, reinforcing and retaining. Acquire strategies to increase working memory, build background knowledge to insure successful connections in the memory systems of the brain, and make your content stick!
The Critical Words Your Students Must Master to Be Successful with the Common Core Standards
DELINEATE, INTEGRATE, POINT OF VIEW…Researchers estimate 85% of achievement tests are based on the vocabulary of the standards. Students from poverty, ELL students, and other at-risk students are particularly in need of learning these words in ways that meet their specific learning needs. Learn the critical words in the Common Core Standards and how to teach them in ways to make them part of ALL of your students’ long-term memories and an automatic part of your students’ vocabulary. This workshop is designed to teach the vocabulary words of the Common Core through many differentiated, brain-compatible strategies. Word maps, foldables, jingles, and movement will help teachers leave with strategies and designs they have made to take back to the classroom.
Differentiate Instruction Using the Learning Progressions of the Common Core
There is a cumulative progression of learning in the Common Core Standards, and this progression is useful in figuring out exactly where the students are in attaining the standards. Using the building blocks from previous grade levels, teachers can create formative assessments to pinpoint areas in need of further teaching. Differentiating instruction in the Common Core will is a process of collecting data on the current state of learning and comparing it to the desired state of learning. Using differentiated instructional strategies will assist students in reaching the goals of the standards.
The Common Core: Teaching Your Students to Read Like Experts
Most teachers and students are more comfortable with narrative text than they are with informational text. Although students are interested in facts, they find difficulty in comprehending the text. What must literate students know and be able to do? The Common Core Standards lead us to increasing students’ understanding of complex texts. This workshop provides information to help teachers guide students in reading like an expert. Understanding text structures and reading multiple texts is a mainstay of the Common Core. Proficiency in comprehending informational text will help our students build the skills they need for college and career.
Wiring the Brain for Reading
Current research on how the brain learns to read points to exciting opportunities for helping educators increase student achievement. In this dynamic workshop, based on educational neuroscience, scientifically based research and personal research and work with students from pre-kindergarten to high school, Marilee Sprenger makes reading research meaningful and then personally models practical principles for effective instruction. Reading is a very rich, complex, and cognitive act. The brain is hardwired for spoken language but not for reading. Yet reading skills serve as the primary foundation of all school-based learning. Teachers are always searching for strategies that will unlock the door to content-area learning for their students.
Brain Compatible Teaching: What Educators Need to Know about Brain Research
The more we understand about the brain, the better we'll be able to educate it. By following the brain-based teaching principles we can create an enriched, brain-compatible environment and effectively counter such existing negative influences as stress, sleep deprivation, and poor nutrition. Reflect upon the myths and mysteries of the brain, classroom environmental considerations, and the role of emotions in learning.
The Developing Brain: Ages 3 to 8
The brain is the only organ that is shaped through its interactions with the environment. Learn how the brain develops from age 3 through age 8 and what developmentally appropriate activities enhance its growth. Consider best practice as you learn about ages and stages in the areas of reading, language, cognition, emotion, and physical development. These are the years in which you can really make a difference!
The Digital Brain
How is technology affecting the structure, function, and development of the brain? In this presentation discover both the wonderful changes the brain is experiencing and some of the concerns about social isolation, internet addiction, and Attention Deficit Disorder. There is a “digital divide” between students who were weaned on technology and students and teachers who are trying to catch up and keep up with the latest developments. Learn how to bridge the gap and manage the techno-brain.
The Emotional Brain: The Power of Emotional Intelligence
The power of emotional intelligence can be felt in leaders, in teams, and in organizations. What truly makes organizations productive is the ability of leaders and groups to be intelligent about emotions. Learn about self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management. Neurological research suggests that being attuned to our feelings helps us find the meaning in data and make better decisions. Create harmony, get commitment, and meet challenges for your learning organization.
Offline Teachers and Online Students: What Can They Learn from Each Other?
In this session you will learn how to meet the needs of the 21st century student. Twelve ways to teach to the digital brain will be shared and modeled as you learn how to think outside the book.
To Differentiate or not to Differentiate: Overcoming the Challenges
Meeting student needs and meeting state standards leads us to the importance of differentiation. Look at the obstacles and the opportunities for differentiating instruction with the brain in mind. Increase interest, attention, and memory with simple strategies.
Differentiating Instruction: Practical Strategies for High School Teachers
We know that differentiated instruction raises student achievement. Some DI strategies work well in the elementary and middle schools, but what about high school teachers? What makes sense for shorter class periods and semester courses? In this presentation, practical strategies will be offered with concrete examples.
Reading and the Brain: Instructional Strategies to Strengthen Content Literacy
Before, During, and After reading strategies improve student reading, writing, and oral language skills. Dozens of evidence based plans for improving student reading at all levels will be shared along with examples. Teaching content literacy is a science and an art. Increase student achievement by developing routines that work.
Differentiation is the “I” in RTI
When the brain feels threatened, its high cognitive functioning comes to a screeching halt! Students who benefit most from the RTI pyramid are those students who are threatened by their struggle with reading, math, or with behavior. Differentiation helps students learn in ways that work for them; RTI’s effectiveness depends on this happening. In this presentation, learn how best to implement Differentiation and RTI in a brain-compatible manner.
Memory: The Long and the Short of It!
Short term memory is where information quickly fades away forever. Learn to understand how to help students take in information and change short term memory into permanent memory. Their overflowing brains require help in processing, reinforcing and retaining. Acquire strategies to increase working memory, build background knowledge to insure successful connections in the memory systems of the brain, and make your content stick!