Description
Karen Olsen’s What Brain Research Can Teach About Cutting School Budgets is a practical guide for school leaders who are charged with the painstaking task of making budget cuts-a task typically driven by emotion, tradition, and the power of social leaders, followed by disagreements and dissatisfaction. This book offers an alternative-a way to use brain research to create powerful but politically neutral decision-making criteria. The author offers clear action items, brain research summaries, and checklists to guide leaders through the budget cutting process, and to ensure that they reinvest money into the key programmes that will truly impact student achievement. Foreword by Susan Kovalik Preface Acknowledgments Introduction 1. Where to $tart Attitude Is Important Action Items Resources Endnotes Action Summary Checklist 2. Instruction: Tools A Brief Summary Action Items Brain Research Resources Endnotes Action Summary Checklist 3. Instruction: Organization and Use of Time Optimizing Organization and Use of Time Action Items Brain Research Resources Endnotes Action Summary Checklist 4. Staffing Action Items Brain Research Resources Endnotes Action Summary Checklist 5. Professional Development Professional Development Is a Survival Imperative Action Items Brain Research Resources Endnotes Action Summary Checklist 6. The Inseparable Bodybrain Learning Partnership: Movement and Aerobic Exercise Movement to Enhance Learning Action Items Resources Myths Versus Brain Facts Endotes Action Summary Checklist 7. The Inseparable Bodybrain Learning Partnership: Emotion Impact of Emotion as Gatekeeper to Learning and Performance Action Items Resources Endnotes Action Summary Checklist 8. Double-Link Curriculum for Two-Step Learning: Link One A Context for Content Content for Link-One Curriculum Action Task 1: Analyze Your Curriculum for Age Appropriateness Action Task 2: Analyze How Well Your Standards Enhance Pattern Seeking Resources Endnotes Action Summary Checklist 9. Double-Link Curriculum for Two-Step Learning: Link Two Link-Two Content Action Items Resources Endnotes Action Summary Checklist 10. Testing: Does the Emperor Wear Clothes? What Do Tests Test? Standardized Tests Don’t Test Learning Where and What to Cut Homegrown Isn’t Necessarily Better Action Items Resources Endotes Action Summary Checklist Appendix A: Pattern Seeking Appendix B: Developing Programs Appendix C: Age Appropriateness Glossary List of Figures About the Author References Index
