As we close off the end to the halfway point in the term, comes a great opportunity to give an update on the Brainwise School Program the girls have been engaging with in their Pastoral Care lessons.
Firstly, what is the Brainwise School Program. Developed by Dr Judi Newman, the program spans across the entire school year, with 10 to 20-minute lessons designed to teach students about brain science, and how the brain works, its impact on emotion, learning and memory. The purpose of the Brainwise School program is to equip students with the social, emotional, and academic capacity for success. It helps students build their self-regulation of emotion, self-efficacy in learning, and their social skills.
So far, the girls have engaged in lessons focused on the following:
Intelligence: it is not set at birth, so everyone can be smart. You can become smarter by exercising your intelligence.
The neuron: the structure and function of the neuron
The brain: all thinking and learning starts with the brain. There are three main parts of the brain 1) emotional brain, 2) social brain, 3) thinking brain. In order for learning to occur, we need to be in the thinking brain. Negatively valanced emotions limit the capacity to be in our thinking brain.
Learning readiness: how to be in our thinking brains, and strategies used to help students move from emotional brain into thinking brain when they are feeling negatively valanced emotions. Girls completed ready to learn plans to assist them identify how they can be learning ready, and to assist their teachers.
With much more to learn in the Brainwise School Program, the girls and teachers are engaging well and benefiting from the teachings already completed. Upcoming lessons will focus on learning intent and success criteria, and memory techniques.
Sammy Cobon
Deputy Principal - Students
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