Empower Yourself to Learn!Empower Yourself to Learn!

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Empower Yourself to LearnEmpower Yourself to LearnIntelligence is a developmental process,

not something that is fixed at birth or by socioeconomic or cultural factors.

"Smart is not something you are. Smart is something you get."

Intelligence is a developmental process, not something that is fixed at birth or by socioeconomic or cultural factors.

"Smart is not something you are. Smart is something you get."

Messages Students Sometimes Say to ThemselvesMessages Students Sometimes Say to ThemselvesI’m not very smartI’m not good at … (math, science,

reading, etc.)I’ll never be smart

You have the power to change the message you tell yourself

You have the power to “GET SMART”!

I’m not very smartI’m not good at … (math, science,

reading, etc.)I’ll never be smart

You have the power to change the message you tell yourself

You have the power to “GET SMART”!

The Secret to Raising Smart KidsThe Secret to Raising Smart KidsHint: Don't tell your students that they are

smart. More than three decades of research shows that a focus on effort—not on intelligence or ability—is key to success in school and in life

Research has shown that when students understand they can “get smarter”; they understand the decision to “be smart” is up to them.

Hint: Don't tell your students that they are smart. More than three decades of research shows that a focus on effort—not on intelligence or ability—is key to success in school and in life

Research has shown that when students understand they can “get smarter”; they understand the decision to “be smart” is up to them.

Let’s learn about how the brain is wired

This is a neuron (a brain cell)

Interesting facts about neurons:

A human brain has 100 billionneurons

At birth, the number of synapses per neuron is 2,500,but by age two or three, it’s about 15,000 synapsesper neuron. This is like going from 100 to 600 friendson Facebook, and each of those friends in turn, is connected to 600 more people!

There are 1,000 to 15,000synapses per neuron

How are neural connections made?

Neuroscientist Dr. Kenneth Wesson says this about learning:

There are more neurons in your brain than there are stars in the galaxy

Learning = creating linkages between neurons (brain cells)

There is a correlation between density of neural connections and acquired knowledge and skills

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

THE MORE YOU USE YOUR BRAIN,THE MORE CONNECTIONS YOUR BRAIN MAKES !

THE LESS YOU USE YOUR BRAIN, THEFASTER YOUR NEURAL CONNECTIONSWILL FADE!

So don’t quit and say that you can’t learn.Everyone can get smarter.

DR. MARK ROSENZWEIG SAYS:DR. MARK ROSENZWEIG SAYS:

“It’s a fortunate person whose brain,Is trained early again and again,And who continues to use it,To be sure not to lose it,Thus, the brain in old age may not wane.”

ASK YOURSELF THIS QUESTION:

DO YOU WANT TO BE A PERSON WHOCHOOSES TO “GROW” THEIR BRAIN OVERTHE COURSE OF A LIFETIME,

OR

DO YOU WANT TO BE A PERSON WHOLOSES NEURAL CONNECTIONS OVERA LIFETIME?

YOU HAVE A CHOICE!

And another good reason to exercise your brain…

Research shows that the more you “use yourbrain”, the less likely it is that you will developAlzheimer’s disease later on!

Use it or lose it!

Why Learn? You will “wire”your brain &…

To get a …

JOB!

A job!

It is more important to get a …

LIFE!

What does “getting a life” mean?

Being the best that you can be!

Why?

When you are the “best that you can be”, you will have something to offer others AND consequently you will give yourself a gift.

Let me explain…

Peers (friends)You can be a friend who positively influencesothers and who models kindness, respect and hard work.

You will have something to offer your …

SchoolA collection of positive, hard working students creates a school climate of positive, hard working students.

SchoolA collection of positive, hard working students creates a school climate of positive, hard working students.

You will have something to offer your…

FamilyFamily

You CAN be a leader in your family simply from leading by example.

You will have something to offer your…

You will have something to offer your…

Self!Knowledge is power. You will be less susceptible in situations requiring informationprocessing. (bank, doctor, etc.)

With the skill set you will gain from getting an education,securing a meaningful and high paying job will be possible.

Remember, the more you use your brain, the more neural connections you will make!

You will have something to offer…

A future familyThe more skills you have to offer your future family,the more likely they will be successful in their future.

You can’t share knowledge that you don’t have.

You will have something to offer…

Your community

Martin Luther King was influential because he wasintelligent and articulate.

Set a goal to make your world a better place.

Without knowledge of political issues, you cannoteffectively vote.

Without knowledge, you cannot be a fully productive world citizen.

Civic Responsibility

Don’t go to school to “get a job”, go to school to “get a life”!

During this presentation, your brain has changed!

Famous people with dyslexia …

Picasso

Edison

Da vinci

Goldberg

Einstein

What is an Advanced Placement class?

•A college level class offered in a high schoolclassroom.

*A required formal national exam is taken in the spring.

*If a student has a high score on this exam,they are exempt from taking that class in college.

Why take an A.P. course?

* You will develop foundational knowledgein that subject area!

* Your brain will form some “serious connections!”

* You will gain confidence in that subject area!

* It’s a WIN WIN situation!