Hi Amy, honored to have you visit. One factor in working against the brain concerning education is that many teachers know very little about the brain and work against it every day in their actions. For instance, in high schools, too much teacher talk bores students and their minds wander, yet most high school teacher think that by telling students what they need to know they'll know it.
Today there seem to be a lot of brain based products and programs labelled that way just to sell. We do have to be savvy. It would be fun to have an interview at some point.
I started on Twitter in December and it does connect you to many professionals from many fields.
Amy, you are very effectively shaping your work in Facebook, though I do not go to that very frequently.
"working against the brain"...wow, my teen epitomizes that with the Ca. school system! Excited to read this, and like Janice (above) I too am dipping a toe into Twitter but so far having 'technical difficulties' in that it's a 'spam-alot' scenario of generic people like 'Britney Spears' who I clearly would never follow come hell or high water...so I'm in the process of getting my IT gurus to look at the 'autobot' factor and see if they're tagging due to my name "@ShapingYouth" ...
Still need to interview you, Robyn, on some of the new 'brain-based' products coming to market with 'claims' and FTC dodging in terms of salient 'value' in terms of foods, energy, cognizance, etc. Sheesh. Some day the default system will be 'truth'...one can only hope, eh?
Chris, thanks. For this photo I went to a professional photographer because a good one can be creative and also has much better lighting. Since I'd been using the other photo since beginning the blog, I decided it was time for an update. 
Hi Robyn:
I usually read your posts from my feed but clicked through mybloglog today and wanted to say I love your new photo. Hope the move has been smooth.
Chris
Janice, curiosity is definitely a key to facilitate learning. Pictured is one of many student designed centers that were part of the knowledge celebration. Learners engaged questions from the community as opposed to simply "telling" about projects. These end projects reveal so many hidden talents that shine.
Thanks for asking about the move. So far the move is limited to getting rid of excess that I can no longer keep. This is the hard part, but keeping the picture of the new home in the forefront of my mind works well to motivate me to toss more.
Lucky students; they'll all benefit from your approach, Robyn. You'll empower them by making feel they have brilliant resources to tap into and by helping them learn that invaluable skill of stepping outside themselves for a bit and laying things on a table to poke around in curiously.
Glad the blog's back! (How's the move going? I got Twitter but am still scaredy-catting.)
Brad, nothing is more exciting than to see teen brains on fire with excitement for projects they are developing related to what they're learning. When teens are empowered to use their gifts and talents, they achieve at higher levels. Thanks for your kudos.
Hi Robyn, This sounds like a fabulous idea. When I recall my high school days, I certainly had more than my fair share of teachers who were working against my brain ... and I was not alone, by a long shot. Too bad you weren't around back then!
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