Lesson 7 Blog Response

After reading and pondering the debate about teens lacking adult reasoning capacity, yet being held to adult consequences, what do you think this means for you as a teacher?

This means that there is added pressure to be looking for and implementing strategies that develop brain activity to reduce negative adolescent outcomes. As a current teacher and Hispanic I understand the extra responsibility teachers have and have had in the classroom. For minorities teachers are expected to do more than just teach, we are being asked to also develop morality and ethics in students. Those aspects of life - in my opinion - are learned mostly at home and are usually implied in the content we provide in the classroom, but those responsibilities are thrust upon educators without much preparation. And being unprepared may lead to just dismissing negative behavior and punishing it because it is easier. However, educators should try to curb it with data driven techniques and strategies at any age for the student.   

Lesson 6 Blog Response

After watching the videos on Math and Music, how does this information impact you as a teacher?

 As a teacher, in general, this information should provide accommodations in the classroom to maximize output scores and classroom behavior. Playing music in the classroom may help kindle communication, friendship, and exam scores. While it may be wishful thinking that music has significant impact on learning, it could help with the little things in the classroom that usually hinder a students ability to learn. If music makes students be happy, and happy students learn, then it should be done more often.

Math is important at any level of education, but from my experience it is the most difficult for high school students. Just this winter break we had students that did not graduate from high school because the Math AIMS test was not passed. They had passed everything else but that exam. A fraction of students will always have trouble with math, but if we can identify behavior in children that are indicators of problems and intervene, it may reduce the number of students that may struggle with it later in life.

Lesson 5 Blog Response

After watching the videos on Language and Reading, how does this information impact you as a teacher? 

In general, the information on getting students to learn reading and language at the correct moments so they do not fall behind is important. If parents understood the long term negative impact of not using peer reviewed techniques on children, they would probably take early childhood development of the brain a bit more serious. As I see it, students are only getting teachers to help with developing reading and language techniques and considering some seem to be 1-to-1, like listening to them directly and responding, they may become at-risk students if parents do not participate. As a high school teacher I see the aftermath of that already because many of the students that struggle with basic reading and language skills will start manifesting their frustration in the classroom.  

Lesson 4 Blog Response

What does it mean to be relational as a teacher? How will you interact with your students to accomplish this?


Being relational as a teacher is to be able to make a connection with a student and having a positive relationship with them. Since I teach Economics I usually ask open-ended questions to enable group discussions and ask for students opinions on current events. I try to be as positive as I can and open to their answers. Most of the students in my school are students that could not succeed at their home schools so it is imperative that educators encourage them socially and academically. I actually give them college material to do and once it's complete it I tell them they have just done college level work, and that they are capable of going to the next academic level. Staying positive is the key and reinforcing accomplishments is a must as well.

Lesson 3 Blog Response

After watching the videos on Attention, Emotions and Learning, describe how this information impacts you as a teacher.


By working at an alternative high school, it become apparent that certain students have attitudes with different teachers. This isn't true for every one student or every one teacher, but I strongly suspect the students that have an aggressive tone with teachers do so because the communication or atmosphere within the class is stressful. I have personally talked to teachers that, I wouldn't consider mean, but communicate in a very direct and monotone manner and can only imagine how they speak when in the classroom. If the interactions, like the lessons indicates, increase scores then teachers should strive to be positive within their classrooms. I attempt to create an environment where communication is positive and always communicate accomplishments to students. This will just encourage me to do it more often.

Lesson 2 Blog Response

After watching the videos on Vision and Hearing, describe how this information impacts you as a teacher


One of the first things colleagues mention to do in class is prepare for students that need accommodations. Since starting to work at a high school, most of the students already have mental and physical conditions identified and I make adjustments to the curriculum and lessons. While that is great, knowing what to look for will be extremely helpful because I work at a high school with many migrant and immigrant students and some students may not have been identified with hearing and vision problems.

As for the immediate impact, I am sure that students that had not been identified as having hearing or vision problems until late in life will struggle learning. The video in the lesson also attest to this, so this may manifest in many different ways in the classroom. It is important to understand that much of the students attitude and behavior may be a reflection of their frustration and teachers need to be aware of this and always be encouraging and have a positive demeanor.  

Lesson 1 Blog Response

Q: After watching the videos on brain architecture, plasticity, and understanding the impact of the environment on a child, how does this information impact you as a teacher?Response: The information should be a huge revelation to instructors on how situations in the classroom and in a child's community impact the learning of a child. While the videos and readings show the neurological effects of stress and damage from violent movement, it should also reflect behavioral problems that may arise. I teach at an alternative high school and it is extremely obvious, on certain days, when a student is stressed out from a situation at home. As a teacher I attempt to create an environment in the classroom that fosters learning and decrease stress. Anything from make-up exams, modifying activity length, or reteaching a process are practices that ensure any student stays relaxed. This could be the difference between a student "blowing" in your classroom or the student being able to work out the problem.