Radical Teaching

Dopamine

Recharge Kids for Back-to-School Brain Boost

Judy Willis M.D., M.Ed. on December 16, 2019

Help your kids get back to a time when they really looked forward to returning to school—when they were excited about seeing friends, special events, and new discoveries.

Help your kids get back to a time when they really looked forward to returning to school—when they were excited about seeing friends, special events, and new discoveries.

Stress

Your Kids Can Beat Test Stress

Judy Willis M.D., M.Ed. on September 18, 2019

High-stakes standardized tests are not good for kids' brains, and their stressed brains are not good for taking these tests.

High-stakes standardized tests are not good for kids' brains, and their stressed brains are not good for taking these tests.

Stress

Do Tests Stress Out Your Child?

Judy Willis M.D., M.Ed. on June 19, 2019

When kids have parental support, emotional awareness, and skills emotional self-regulation skills, challenging tests can be approached with positivity.

When kids have parental support, emotional awareness, and skills emotional self-regulation skills, challenging tests can be approached with positivity.

Confidence

When Your Children Don't Believe They Can Succeed in School

Judy Willis M.D., M.Ed. on March 20, 2019

Has your child lost confidence in his ability to succeed in school, sports, friendships, etc? Reboot his expectations with recognition of his progress.

Has your child lost confidence in his ability to succeed in school, sports, friendships, etc? Reboot his expectations with recognition of his progress.

Fear

What to Do When Mistakes Upset Your Kids

Judy Willis M.D., M.Ed. on December 20, 2018

If you want creative kids, let them know about times when you were their age and felt embarrassed or angry about your mistakes.

If you want creative kids, let them know about times when you were their age and felt embarrassed or angry about your mistakes.

Memory

Awesome Insights About Learning from Brain-Savvy Teens

Judy Willis M.D., M.Ed. on September 20, 2018

When children are taught that their minds literally change to become better at what they persistently work at, they are motivated knowing that their effort truly does pay dividends

When children are taught that their minds literally change to become better at what they persistently work at, they are motivated knowing that their effort truly does pay dividends

Memory

Memory: How Practice Makes Permanent

Judy Willis M.D., M.Ed. on June 22, 2018

Motivate and empower your children to generate enhanced knowledge and memory networks by making them aware of how their brains work.

Motivate and empower your children to generate enhanced knowledge and memory networks by making them aware of how their brains work.

Memory

Help Children Understand and Remember What They Read

Judy Willis M.D., M.Ed. on March 22, 2018

Both for children and adults, it is not unusual to get to the bottom of a page of text and realize we have no clue about the information we just "read."

Both for children and adults, it is not unusual to get to the bottom of a page of text and realize we have no clue about the information we just "read."

Memory

To Help Kids Remember What They Need to Learn Tell a Story

Judy Willis M.D., M.Ed. on December 18, 2017

The phenomenon of wanting the same book read repeatedly represents the brain's seeking its own reward-pleasure response system. Help children tap into this pleasure—right now.

The phenomenon of wanting the same book read repeatedly represents the brain's seeking its own reward-pleasure response system. Help children tap into this pleasure—right now.

Burnout

Rewire Your Burned-Out Brain

Judy Willis M.D., M.Ed. on September 18, 2017

You can rewire your brain to reverse burnout symptoms and boost your optimism, pleasure, and positive expectations.

You can rewire your brain to reverse burnout symptoms and boost your optimism, pleasure, and positive expectations.

Resilience

Resilience — A Sustaining Gift for Your Children

Judy Willis M.D., M.Ed. on June 24, 2017

Resilience in learning, as in life, provides the capacity to persevere through setbacks, take on challenges, and even risk making mistakes on route to reaching goal achievement.

Resilience in learning, as in life, provides the capacity to persevere through setbacks, take on challenges, and even risk making mistakes on route to reaching goal achievement.

Memory

Kindling Your Child’s Enthusiasm for School

Judy Willis M.D., M.Ed. on March 18, 2017

No other generation has had to cope with this ever-increasing fund of information. Improved technology and more information has led to more memorization & less meaningful learning.

No other generation has had to cope with this ever-increasing fund of information. Improved technology and more information has led to more memorization & less meaningful learning.

Friends

The High Costs of Multitasking for You and Your Kids

Judy Willis M.D., M.Ed. on November 29, 2016

Explain-Motivate-Prove-Guide is the four-step approach to help your kids reduce time lost into the black hole generated by multitasking (and improve family harmony).

Explain-Motivate-Prove-Guide is the four-step approach to help your kids reduce time lost into the black hole generated by multitasking (and improve family harmony).

Memory

Memorizing: Faster, Easier, Longer Lasting, and More Fun

Judy Willis M.D., M.Ed. on September 5, 2016

If you want to remember something more easily, use more senses to construct memory. You'll store duplicates of the information in multiple banks of your brain’s storage system.

If you want to remember something more easily, use more senses to construct memory. You'll store duplicates of the information in multiple banks of your brain’s storage system.

Adolescence

THE Blog Your Teenager Must Read

Judy Willis M.D., M.Ed. on June 10, 2016

As a parent of a teen, you know about the teen risk. Have your teens read this so they understand how their brains are wired and how to avoid their wiring for risk-taking?

As a parent of a teen, you know about the teen risk. Have your teens read this so they understand how their brains are wired and how to avoid their wiring for risk-taking?

Education

From Math Negative to Math Positive Attitudes in Your Kids

Judy Willis M.D., M.Ed. on March 15, 2016

In an AP poll, over 1/3 of adults polled about school year math experiences indicated that they “hated” math in school. In fact, math was twice as despised as any other subject.

In an AP poll, over 1/3 of adults polled about school year math experiences indicated that they “hated” math in school. In fact, math was twice as despised as any other subject.

Education

Where Did The Joy Of Learning Go?

Judy Willis M.D., M.Ed. on December 19, 2015

When school stops being fun, all too frequently, learning stops. Help your child retain that kindergarten enthusiasm of embracing each day with the joy of learning. Connect your children to what they learn at school through their interests and past positive experiences so they will WANT to learn what they HAVE to learn.

When school stops being fun, all too frequently, learning stops. Help your child retain that kindergarten enthusiasm of embracing each day with the joy of learning. Connect your children to what they learn at school through their interests and past positive experiences so they will WANT to learn what they HAVE to learn.

Stress

Test Stress in Children: Rx with Brain Friendly Studying

Judy Willis M.D., M.Ed. on September 26, 2015

Tests are often one of the most stressful experiences facing children. Because we can’t make them go away like bad dreams, we can help reduce that stress by guiding kids to study using brain-research based strategies that increase memory and understanding.

Tests are often one of the most stressful experiences facing children. Because we can’t make them go away like bad dreams, we can help reduce that stress by guiding kids to study using brain-research based strategies that increase memory and understanding.

Education

Build Your Young Child’s Future School Success NOW

Judy Willis M.D., M.Ed. on June 27, 2015

Prediction is often the key measurement in intelligence tests. Activities allowing your child to recognize, play with, and create patterns build his power of prediction.Successful prediction is one of the best problem-solving strategies the brain has and necessary for successful reading, calculating, test taking, goal setting, and appropriate social behavior.

Prediction is often the key measurement in intelligence tests. Activities allowing your child to recognize, play with, and create patterns build his power of prediction.Successful prediction is one of the best problem-solving strategies the brain has and necessary for successful reading, calculating, test taking, goal setting, and appropriate social behavior.

Neuroscience

Prime Your Child’s Reading & Math Development with Patterns

Judy Willis M.D., M.Ed. on April 22, 2015

Patterning refers to the meaningful process of organizing, coding, and categorizing information in the brain. It is through the patterns constructed and stored in neural networks that our brains recognize and find relevance in the millions of bits of sensory input received every second. Your child’s early experiences sorting, categorizing and patterning are key.

Patterning refers to the meaningful process of organizing, coding, and categorizing information in the brain. It is through the patterns constructed and stored in neural networks that our brains recognize and find relevance in the millions of bits of sensory input received every second. Your child’s early experiences sorting, categorizing and patterning are key.