Good Sensory Learning Blog

Many students struggle to fall asleep at night, even though they are terribly tired during the day. Why is this becoming a common occurrence? Daily, the average student spends nine hours using technology for enjoyment and school, and many of these hours are after the sun sets. Although sunlight dims to relative darkness, children's exposure to light remains when they are planted in front of televisions, phones, computers, and other handheld, computing devices. What we are now learning is that this extended exposure to light is having detrimental effects on the natural circadian rhythms that have been established across time. ...

I am a learning specialist and educational therapist. However, I tell many of my clientele that I’m a personal trainer for the brain. I help individuals of all ages to improve overall cognition, develop compensatory learning strategies and master optimal study skills. I have seen, first hand the power of brain training. What is Brain Training? Brain Training, Brain Fitness, or Cognitive Remediation is the act of strengthening deficits in learning or weak areas of cognition. This is typically done using activities that concentrate on specific areas of difficulty. Just like a personal trainer or physical therapist can focus exercises...

With busy schedules, keyboard shortcuts can save a lot of time and frustration. Committing a few of your favorites to memory is worth the effort, and I have also created an image that you can print so that these tricks can be posted beside your computer - when needed.   Shortcuts often require you to hold down one or more modifier keys while pressing another key. For example, to use the print shortcut, Command-P (print), hold down Command and press P, and then release both keys. Here is a list of the modifier keys: Command ⌘ Shift ⇧ Option/alt ⌥ Control...

Working memory is a fundamental cognitive processing activity required for learning, and it is the part of the brain that is responsible for the transient holding and processing of new and stored information. In fact, recent research suggests that working memory is a better indicator of academic success than IQ.   How Does Working Memory Function?   Working memory is one of the three key components of executive functions.  It is much like the stage of our conscious attention and is a place where incoming sensory information is processed, encoded, and retrieved.  Working memory also works with the two other parts of executive functioning, inhibitory...

Imagine going to the movies with your eyes closed. How much of the movie would you understand? How much of the storyline would you recall? Not much, and it probably wouldn't be very engaging. In fact, you may begin to focus on the smells and the sounds of people crunching on popcorn. Your thoughts might wander, and you could even fall asleep.  Why Struggling Readers Disengage Many struggling readers have a similar experience when they open a book. They get little to no visuals in their mind's eye while reading, they report that it is difficult to maintain attention and many...