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Brainsarefun
A Short Introduction

Brainsarefun is a way to teach virtually all students to succeed academically. It accomplishes this be starting with the mastery of the fundamental academic skills: reading, writing, listening, speaking, information organization, study skills and math. In addition, it teaches the three fundamental behaviors associated with academic success: how to start on time, stay on task, complete assignments.

Brainsarefun is a distillation of best teaching practices:

• Direct Instruction
• Precision Teaching
• Positive Discipline
• Accelerated Learning
• Reading and Study Skills
• Experiential Education
• Core Knowledge

DOES BRAINSAREFUN REALLY WORK?

Let's begin by asking the students: http://www.brainsarefun.com/mxcctestimonials.html.

The programs that make up Brainsarefun have been thoroughly researched and work with virtually all subjects, all grades, all types of students. All are grounded in results determined by the largest study ever undertaken by the U.S. Department of Education: Project Follow Through.

Brainsarefun has grown out of 25 years of my personal teaching experience, dealing with literally thousands of parents, teachers and school administrators -- all of whom have asked, in one way or another, the same two questions: "What can we do with students who are failing?" and "How can our school get better results?"

Parents ask these questions because they are afraid their children are falling behind.

Teachers ask these questions because they really want to help, but often don't know where to turn.

Administrators ask these questions because they want to create schools that really work.

Students ask because they want to succeed.

Brainsarefun is dedicated to answering this pleading question, "What should I do?" The Brainsarefun program provides concrete tactics, strategies and answers.

THE SHORT VERSION OF BRAINSAREFUN GOES LIKE THIS:

All students must master how to:

• start on time,
• stay on task,
• complete their assignments.

All students must master the fundamental academic skills: reading, writing, listening, speaking, information organization, study skills and math.

All citizens need to be culturally and academically enriched by being exposed to the basic ideas and issues that dominate our world:

1. Art
2. History
3. Life
4. Mathematics
5. Matter and Energy
6. Religion and Philosophy
7. Science
8. Society
9. Technology
10. The Earth

It occurs to me that the best way to sum up Brainsarefun is to list our informal mottoes:

• Motivation begins with success.
• Brainsarefun will not waste your time.
• Cooperation before instruction.
• maintains the 3 to 1 ratio of positives to negatives
• Teach students how to follow instructions, start on time, stay on task, complete assignments.
• Break tasks into their component parts and teach each part to mastery.
• Practice
• Teachers present the material as though it's very important
• No arbitrary instruction.
• Behavior maketh men.
• Catch children doing the right thing, reward them immediately, stop your criticism.
• Continue your education. Create a life with a future.
• Do!
• Don't trick students.
• Answers first.
• Earn.
• Give students something they don't have to rebel against.
• If the student hasn't learned, the teacher hasn't taught.
• Reading and writing save lives.
• Only when one knows the rules, can the game can be played.
• Reading is the essential competency.
• Repeat, repeat, repeat; Restate, restate, restate; Retell, retell, retell.
• Save the brains!
• Save the lives of children.
• Security, not harshness.
• Self correction.
• Share a commitment to the best possible education with your children.
• Teach to the test. Make sure it's a good test.
• There are definitely stupid questions.
• Turn "I can't" attitudes into "I can!" behavior.
• Win!
• Write furiously.
• Never, ever, ever give up.
• And above all, Love!
  

The solutions at Brainsarefun provide the detail required to implement these mottoes: in the home, in the classroom, in the workplace. Since the brains of our society are at stake, nothing less is acceptable. Participants will need all their faculties to solve the enormous economic and social challenges that face the survival of our global economy.

Animos Servemus! Save the brains!

For more see: Syllabus, Brainsarefun Reading and Study Skills

See also: More on the Who and What of Brainsarefun. Does it really work?

COPYRIGHT NOTICE: 500 WORDS OR LESS © July, 2001 by Rory Donaldson. All rights reserved. In order to help reverse the tide of academic failure and optimize success, individuals may copy brainsarefun solutions for non-commercial use at no charge. Contents may not be sold or repackaged in any manner without the written permission of Rory Donaldson. Since all material is copyrighted, please ensure that this entire copyright notice and contact information continues to be attached to each article you download. Mr. Donaldson appreciates the feedback. Additional solutions may be viewed and downloaded at no charge by logging on to brainsarefun.com. New titles are being released regularly.

Suggestions and comments encouraged, email: roryd@brainsarefun.com.

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