David M. Callahan, Ph.D.
Providing Psychological Services to
Cape Cod and Southeastern Massachusetts
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Brains Gone Wild:
An Introductory Course in Practical Neuroscience
for Teachers and School Adjustment Counselors
I
Brains Gone Wild
Brains Gone Wild How brains develop
Basic brain structures
How healthy brains function
How brains go awry
Basic principles of managing brain responsivity
This training focuses on providing participants with a basic understanding of brain development, structures and functions. This includes an introduction to the capacities associated with major regions of the brain and how they impact both intellectual and emotional functioning. A basic framework for choosing strategies to intervene with at the level of the classroom at large in order to reduce the frequency of problematic behaviors is outlined. The fundamental principles for intervention with dysregulated individuals will also be discussed.
Workshop participants will perform a self-assessment to define their own brain organization and pattern of strengths and weaknesses. They also will engage in exercises to define methods of utilizing both physiological and intellectual resources to improve student engagement.
IISoothing the Gecko
Soothing the Gecko Fundamental emotional states of the reptilian brain
Fostering balance and calm in groups and individuals to prevent dysregulation
Methods of intervention in response to dysregulation
This session targets the role of early, primitive brain structures on both learning. An outline of affective states of FEAR, RAGE and LUST and their impact on student readiness will be interconnected with observed behaviors in classrooms. There will be a dual emphasis on creating environmental and interpersonal components in the classroom to foster a sense of safety in order to bolster readiness for learning. Attendees will examine their own management of emotional tension and distress. Workshop participants will engage in exercises that teach methods of reducing internal states of tension and dysregulation. Specific training in the method of Coregulation of affect will be performed.
III Feeding the Mouse
Feeding the Mouse Fundamental emotional states of the mammalian brain
Maintaining contentment and interest to enhance pleasure and engagement
Signs of disengage-ment and disinterest; methods of intervention
This training will focus on the impact of early mammalian brain structures on learning and behavior. The fundamental role of the core mammalian emotions of CARE, PANIC, PLAY and SEEKING will be discussed, along with their implications for classroom management.
Participants will engage in exercises delineating age-appropriate methods of engaging these affective states. A self-evaluation of each participant’s area of strength and weaknesses in these skills sets will be performed.
IVHugging the Monkey
Hugging the Monkey Fundamental emotional states of the primate brain
Engaging the prefrontal cortex
Enhancing the transcendent properties of the brain
The final training focuses on ways to access high-order cognitive and executive functioning to promote maximization of student potential and to allow for transcendent learning. An examination of different executive tasks across the age span will lead to definition of specific methods of teaching and reinforcing executive skills will be tied to the emotional states of CARE and SEEKING.
Participants will examine their own profile of executive strengths and weaknesses. Each participant will generate a set of executive goals that can be applied to the classroom setting.
