This past week, I've spent a lot of time learning about how our brains work.  I've read numerous texts that have walked through the many different ways that we are able to not only obtain new knowledge but also how our brains are able keep hold of the knowledge for the long term.

I started searching through different websites in order to see what other knowledge was out there.  One website I found was designed for students with disabilities but the information shared in the site can really open a person's eyes, not just how the brain works but how teachers can effectively teach students with disabilities.  The site I checked was the National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities. One thing that I've noticed as a teacher is that modifications you need to make for students with disabilities usually work for all students in your classroom. The NICHCY offers multiple well thought out posts that can be helpful with working with both students with disabilities and students without.  These posts range from understanding how the brain works, what learning does for your brain, to understanding how to create a curriculum that gives all individuals an opportunity to learn.  I found this website very helpful and can definitely see myself revisiting it in the near future.

Another site that I visited was the Expertlearners.com.  Expert learners provides strategies to help you to process information more efficiently and help you develop a greater understanding.  They break their strategies into 3 categories; Expert learners topics like self-regulated learning, note taking, and visualization through graphic organizers.  The Expert learners combine learning theory with high level learning strategies.  I have found the site very helpful, especially in the area of self-regulated learning. This is one area that I know that I struggle in, and I found the SRL cycle very helpful.