What is Number Sense and How Does it Relate to Math Skills?

Apr 20, 2010 by Bill Jenkins, Ph.D.
People have an instinctive ability to nonverbally represent numbers, called “number sense,” and we use it in every day decision making such as choosing the shorter checkout line at the store.

Food and the Brain

Feb 19, 2010 by Bill Jenkins, Ph.D.

While practically every child above age seven may understand the phrase "you are what you eat," we rarely think about this phrase in terms of the brain. When it comes to what we eat, we need to talk about the brain as well, for what goes into the system affects everything from our cognitive functions to our emotions.

Building a Fit Brain: The Serious Work of Play

Feb 12, 2010 by Bill Jenkins, Ph.D.

In the world of education, especially in the early grades, we have great debates about the skills that we wish to impart to students. What do kids need to learn to do early on so they can be successful as they move forward? When it comes down to it, one of the biggies is self-control.

Educating Kids about Nutrition and the Brain

Feb 2, 2010 by Bill Jenkins, Ph.D.

Whether you’re a parent or an educator, you know that getting kids to eat well is a challenge. Getting them to truly understand enough to care about what they eat can be even harder. But did you know that the subject of "health literacy" is an important element of the national education conversation? While the debate continues as to the extent of the role of education in teaching nutrition, there is little argument that we as educators truly do have a responsibility in helping our nation’s young people understand and take charge of their well-being.

The 30 Million Word Gap in Language Experience Puts Kids At Risk

Jan 14, 2010 by Bill Jenkins, Ph.D.

The achievement gap begins for many students before they enter the Kindergarten classroom. Children aren´t born with a vocabulary, yet educators and reading researchers have long identified the differences in word knowledge and vocabulary as key indicators of student readiness. Here are a couple of key findings:

ADHD & Other Attention Problems - Ensure Academic Success By Early Detection

Jan 5, 2010 by Bill Jenkins, Ph.D.

As educators, we see students come through schools every day with any number of challenges—emotional, psychiatric and physical problems of all kinds. On that continuum, attention issues—even more so than depression, anxiety or disruptive behavior—appear to be more important to later success than previously thought.

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