Finland’s education success (video)

 

Less is more – free from politicians

 Children don’t start proper school until age seven.  By that time they are itching to start classes.  (Note: They are more developmentally ready to learn reading having a more mature visual system that can focus and track.  I wish NBC News would have reported that last night as they featured the world’s most successful educational system.) Watch this video showing the relaxed school atmosphere.  

Take your shoes off and watch how learning is more like a team game… without winners and losers.  Trust is important – students head off unaccompanied during their PE cross-country skiing.  Listen to the music, and enjoy a moment in Finland.  Better yet, move to the music and feel the joy!

My Child’s Delayed Development?

What should I do about my child’s physical development?

Esther Boylan Wolfson in consultation with Ziva Schapiro, OTR offers an insightful article on WholeFamily.com website, suggesting what might be done if you suspect your child has a developmental problem. Check out Esther’s other excellent articles addressing Early Childhood Development.

Fuzzy Kisses

Early Childhood Brain Insights Blog

Early Childhood Brain Insights written by Deborah McNelis is well worth your time. Be sure to click on the videos showing the baby getting hysterical tearing paper and the baby finding the dog’s paw -- precious. Many excellent child development ideas are found on this body brain enriching Blog – Fuzzy Kisses and all -- way to go Deborah!

TV Viewing and Cognitive Development

TV Viewing Before the Age of 2 Has No Cognitive Benefit

Newwise.com reported the first longitudinal study of its kind measuring the effect of TV viewing on young children’s language and visual motor skills. According to Michael Rich, MD, MPH a pediatrician who directs the Center on Media and Child Health and contributing author on this study, TV viewing before the age of 2 does not improve a child's language and visual motor skills. The study suggests that maternal, child and household characteristics are more influential to a child's brain development.

Dr Rich adds, “TV exposure in infants has been associated with increased risk of obesity, attention problems, and decreased sleep quality. Parents need to understand that infants and toddlers do not learn or benefit in any way from viewing TV at an early age."

SMART Activities Boost Learning

Stimulating Maturity through Accelerated Readiness Training

The foundation for school readiness is the maturity of the brain, and even students from disadvantaged backgrounds can achieve at national norm levels when the program is coordinated between grades over several years. The most important aspect of the SMART program is that it is supported by more than 10 years of data-based scientific studies with more than 30 research reports available.

SMART staff development has trained more than a thousand teachers nationwide and is used in hundreds of classrooms. The activities are chosen for their direct effects on reduction of physical discomfort, uncontrolled distraction reflexes, development of superior attention abilities, age-appropriate readiness sequences preparatory to academic curricula, emotionally-warm and positive teachers and classroom climate, direct instruction, age-appropriate homework, and public performance at automatic mastery levels. When basic skills are firmly established, success at higher grades is a steady progression. Pupils, teachers and parents love this program and the competencies that the children develop.

Early child development includes neuro-development as the foundation for school success. We expect that half of the students will score in the top quarter of nationally-normed measures, and that few students will score below average (a true Lake Woebegone effect). The Minnesota Learning Resource Center has received several million dollars in grant support to train teachers and to document the positive effects of this brain stimulation in schools.

Lyelle Palmer, Ph.D.
Research Scientist -- Co-developer of SMART
Minnesota Learning Resource Center
lpalmer@winona.edu