|
Softy
Corner - Food for Thought
CHAPTER :-
1
| 2
| 3
| 4
| 5
| 6
| 7
| 8
| 9
| 10
|
Do-Strategy -
The Right Mind?
Thought-Food -
If I had my child to
raise all over again
Worth-It -
Right Brain
Resources
Lovely Labels -
Intuitive
Mail Bag -
Shy & Moody
Do-Strategy – The Right Mind
"The
intuitive mind is a sacred gift, the rational mind a faithful servant.
It is paradoxical that in the context of modern life we have begun to
worship the servant and defile the divine." Albert
Einstein.
Isn't it amazing that so many
years ago, Einstein, a scientist and ostensibly a Left brain user,
should have realized the hidden wealth of the Right brain or as he
calls it, 'the intuitive mind'?
The Left brain is the seat of
logical, analytical processes. It approaches a given task in a
sequential and reality based way. The right brain on the other hand is
intuitive, random and holistic. It is the seat of fantasy and emotion
and other non-verbal, non-temporal processes.
Perhaps because speech and
language are located in the left brain (for 98% of human beings), the
analytical left brain has come to be worshipped. This is despite reams
of research on brain theory which indicates otherwise. The school
system continues using teaching-learning methodologies built
dominantly around Left brain applications - like one right answer, one
way to do things, largely verbal approach to teaching, etc.
However, our experiences in
Geniekids have shown that the efficacy of teaching increases if the
left brain approach is complemented by a Right brain one. We have
demonstrated that the Right brain approach can be applied to all
subjects and especially to those that are deeply embedded in the
traditional, logical, step-by-step system.
Take the case of 'Percentages
and Fractions' - at Genie kids we tend to turn it on its head. The
children Bake a cake - and right from buying material at a percentage
cost to proportion of ingredients to how much cake each will get -
throughout they worked with percentages and fractions! And not only
was the activity 'enjoyable and involving' but it also demonstrated
the workings and applications in daily life.
When teaching is done through
such a brain inclusive rather than brain exclusive approach there are
sudden jumps in comprehension. For learning to have a deeper impact,
it is necessary for the student to be able to understand the 'parts'
as well as see the 'whole'.
Letting the analytical
Left-brain suppress the intuitive Right brain is like going through
life with one eye closed. Of course we will be able to 'see' but
somewhere the 'wholeness' of the picture will escape us. Problem
solving, decision making, critical thinking, and exploration of
meaning reply on this two pronged approach.
Fantasy and Analogy are powerful
right brain tools and help a child make the necessary connections and
interconnections. Teaching a child to tap into the right brain is
relatively simple and we can provide a host of opportunities within
the home itself. Essentially it is all about guiding the child to
perceive and process information differently from the traditional way.
Also, by giving the child a task that the left brain will reject and
will therefore have to be taken on by the right brain.
Can the child learn about plants
by imagining himself to be a seed and doing a visualized walk through?
Can the child learn how a cycle works by comparing it with human limb.
Can we enhance learning experience by drawing, by dancing, using music
and using manipulatives.
And what will this "whole brain"
learning lead to? Tomorrow demands people who see the 'big
picture', who play by their hunches and who arrive at creative
solutions. Children who are trained today to be in their
'Right Minds'!
By Sangeeta Bahuguna
Back To Top
Thought-Food -
If I had my child to raise all over again
If I had my child to raise all over again,
I'd build self esteem first and the house later.
I'd finger paint more and point the finger less.
I would do less correcting and more connecting.
I'd take my eyes off my watch and watch with my
eyes.
I would care to know less and know to care more.
I'd take more hikes and fly more kites.
I'd stop playing seriously and seriously play.
I would run through more fields and gaze at more
stars.
I'd do more hugging and less nagging.
I'd see the oak tree in the acorn more often.
I would be firm less often and
affirm much more.
I'd model less about the love of power...
and more about the power of love.
{Big thanks to Mrs Mala for emailing for us
these wonderful thoughts]
Back To Top
Genie Worth-It: Right Brain Resources
Learning through Drawing & visuals, movies,
music, dance, drama, imagination, out of box thinking and toys which
require movement all would come under Right brain approach. For a more
detailed knowledge - refer the following resources:
Books:
1. Unicorns Are Real: A Right-Brained Approach
to Learning
by Barbara Meister Vitale
2. Success, Your Style! Right and Left Brain Techniques for Learning
by Nancy L. Matte
3. Teaching for the Two-Sided Mind: by Linda
Verlee Williams
Web sites:
http://www.funderstanding.com/right_left_brain.cfm
http://www.brainconnection.com/
http://www.mindtools.com/
Back To Top
Lovely Labels -Intuitive
----------------------------------------------------
The sixth sense is the one we
rely on so often - but what we need is confidence to rely on that.
This confidence can come only when adults in our life show where our
intuition led to a successful experience. It isn't important to be
always logical. Its important to uses all our senses.
Intuitive
(for those wondering what 'lovely labels' are –
please refer newsletter 'Issue 6' at
http://www.geniekids.com/bp6.htm or ask for it to be e-mailed to
you).
Back To Top
Mail Bag – Shy & Moody
Mrs Deepika sends the following common parental
worry:
I am
very happy with all the issues you discuss about; this has helped to
improve my relationship with my son who is 2 years 8 months old. My
son is very shy and moody by nature. He does not mingle or talk to
strangers; otherwise he is very talkative at home. We faced problems
when we took him for an interview for admissions, even though he knew
what ever they asked he did not answer any of their questions. My
in-laws and my husband always complain that my son does not
communicate with relatives and friends. I was also very shy and moody
as a child can this be the cause for this? How can I make him come out
of shyness and communicate with in a better way? I also request you to
discuss the issues related to kids who attend school for the first
time i.e. how to increase there reading ability, talking ability,
creativity and food...
A child who has merely spent
36 months in the world has the expectations of a whole society on his
little shoulders. I have a big request to all parents who have "shy"
children - accept them as they are. Is the child embarrassed by
his shyness or are WE (adults) embarrassed by it?
The fact that you had a
equally shy and moody childhood is not the cause of his being so; but
can be definitely a cause for you to rejoice his own unique
personality.
Somehow, we live in a society
which vouches for 'personality development' - as if there is some
ideal personality that we should all achieve. Imagine if through some
personality development program we made all the flowers in our garden
roses.
Request to go through
newsletter issue No 15: "Expecting and
Accepting"
The only guidance to parents,
whose child is going to the school for the first time, is: Make this
tumultuous transition (for him) as enjoyable, as loving and as much
full of positive strokes as possible. Give this and leave the ability
part on him! ~ Editorial Team}
Back To Top |
