Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Right Brain Education
For those of you who are new to right brain learning, the importance of accessing both hemispheres of the brain is immense. In 1968, Dr. Roger Sperry published his ground-breaking discovery of two separately functioning hemispheres of the brain. The left brain learns in a conscious, logical, methodical way. The right brain learns in a subconscious, creative, intuitive way. This means that to support the whole-brain function, logic and intuition are equally important.
Two Hemispheres of the Brain
Left Brain - Conscious thought, logical analysis, outer awareness, uses language, methods and rules.
Right Brain - Subconscious thought, emotional reaction, inner awareness, uses intuition, creativity, music.
Ever wonder why science tells us that we only use 3% of our brain? We believe it is because this is the amount of information available to most of us consciously. The rest is locked up within the subconscious mind. Most of the time, we work out of our conscious left hemisphere of the brain. In this mode, we tackle the daily stresses of life, but without access to the incredible storehouse of memory, intuition and creativity found within the subconscious right hemisphere of the brain.
When the right brain is understood in education, children and adults alike are encouraged to access the creative, intuitive side of the brain for solutions to answers. The right brain is responsible for photographic memory, speed reading, speed listening, automatic mental processing, mass-memory, multiple language acquisition, computer-like math calculation, creativity in movement, music and art and intuitive insight.
What is the difference between children and adults accessing the right brain?
Young children access the right brain quite naturally. In fact, they use the right brain subconscious in advance of the logical, doubting left-brain. They act on creative, intuitive impulses. Adults, on the other hand, largely work out of the left-brain and need a lot of help in accessing this innocent, intuitive part of themselves. But, everyone has these genius-like capabilities. And they're hidden within the right hemisphere of the brain. The teaching focus is slightly different depending upon the age of the student.
Photographic Memory, Speed Reading/Listening, Imaging
Think of your brain as a camera. You are continually taking a mental photograph of everything you see--second by second, day after day. These picture images are always there--in the right brain--neatly filed and tucked away for later use. This auto-recording process is simultaneously happening through all the other senses--sound, smell, taste and touch. The right brain's mass-memory, automatic processing capability allows the brain to file, organize and store these images instantly.
One exciting way to utilize this function in learning is through the use of flashcards. Flashing images to yourself or your child quickly--at a rate of one image per second--allows you to input a large number of facts, stress-free, within a short period of time. Access to these mental images (memory!) comes quickly and effortlessly through deep relaxation techniques.
Memory can be enhanced through many exciting left and right brain linking techniques. You can also strengthen the photographic imaging (visualization) and subconscious memory intake through a unique right-brain "after-imaging" process.
Another way of stimulating your child's brain development process is by using the abacus for mental math education. When children use both hands to move abacus beads in arithmetic calculations, it stimulates cells in both the right and left sides of the brain. This results in quick, balanced whole brain development, leading to greater mental capacity. Using the abacus, a child can do all arithmetic calculations up to 10 digits without relying on an electronic calculator.
Two Hemispheres of the Brain
Left Brain - Conscious thought, logical analysis, outer awareness, uses language, methods and rules.
Right Brain - Subconscious thought, emotional reaction, inner awareness, uses intuition, creativity, music.
Ever wonder why science tells us that we only use 3% of our brain? We believe it is because this is the amount of information available to most of us consciously. The rest is locked up within the subconscious mind. Most of the time, we work out of our conscious left hemisphere of the brain. In this mode, we tackle the daily stresses of life, but without access to the incredible storehouse of memory, intuition and creativity found within the subconscious right hemisphere of the brain.
When the right brain is understood in education, children and adults alike are encouraged to access the creative, intuitive side of the brain for solutions to answers. The right brain is responsible for photographic memory, speed reading, speed listening, automatic mental processing, mass-memory, multiple language acquisition, computer-like math calculation, creativity in movement, music and art and intuitive insight.
What is the difference between children and adults accessing the right brain?
Young children access the right brain quite naturally. In fact, they use the right brain subconscious in advance of the logical, doubting left-brain. They act on creative, intuitive impulses. Adults, on the other hand, largely work out of the left-brain and need a lot of help in accessing this innocent, intuitive part of themselves. But, everyone has these genius-like capabilities. And they're hidden within the right hemisphere of the brain. The teaching focus is slightly different depending upon the age of the student.
Photographic Memory, Speed Reading/Listening, Imaging
Think of your brain as a camera. You are continually taking a mental photograph of everything you see--second by second, day after day. These picture images are always there--in the right brain--neatly filed and tucked away for later use. This auto-recording process is simultaneously happening through all the other senses--sound, smell, taste and touch. The right brain's mass-memory, automatic processing capability allows the brain to file, organize and store these images instantly.
One exciting way to utilize this function in learning is through the use of flashcards. Flashing images to yourself or your child quickly--at a rate of one image per second--allows you to input a large number of facts, stress-free, within a short period of time. Access to these mental images (memory!) comes quickly and effortlessly through deep relaxation techniques.
Memory can be enhanced through many exciting left and right brain linking techniques. You can also strengthen the photographic imaging (visualization) and subconscious memory intake through a unique right-brain "after-imaging" process.
Another way of stimulating your child's brain development process is by using the abacus for mental math education. When children use both hands to move abacus beads in arithmetic calculations, it stimulates cells in both the right and left sides of the brain. This results in quick, balanced whole brain development, leading to greater mental capacity. Using the abacus, a child can do all arithmetic calculations up to 10 digits without relying on an electronic calculator.
