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The Brain Rules
Rules 1-6
Exercise
Rule #1: Exercise boosts brain power. Movement helps our brains grow and increases oxygen levels throughout our bodies. Oxygen is critical to effective brain function. Feeling fuzzy-headed and having trouble thinking? Get moving.
Survival
Rule #2: The human brain evolved, too. We actually have three brains-the reptilian brain focuses on survival. Our mammalian brain regulates our emotions. Our third brain, the cortex, makes us human by allowing us to reason, analyze and create. If we don’t feel safe, our reptilian brain focuses on survival and keeps us from tapping into the problem-solving resources of the cortex.
Wiring
Rule #3: Every brain is wired differently. We are not going to find a common place in the brain where certain memories or functions are found. Our brain grows based on our response to our environment and that is as unique as every person on this planet.
Attention
Rule #4: We don’t pay attention to boring things. If something is boring or holds no meaning for us, we tune out. Also, the brain can only focus on one thing at a time. Multi-tasking is a myth. We waste a lot of time and brain effort switching back and forth between multiple activities. We are better off if we focus consistently n one thing at a time. So, yep, turn off the TV when you study. And instant messaging and…
Short-term Memory
Rule #5: Repeat to remember. Also, the richer the sensory experience, the more likely we are to remember it. A rich sensory experience is like we repeated information several times. We need to make an effort to repeat and use all our senses to help us remember.
Long-term Memory
Rule #6: Remember to repeat. Reliable long-term memories take many intervals of repetition, perhaps years. We can’t cram for the exam. We need to repeat the feat.
By John Medina, Affiliate Professor of Bioengineering at the University of Washington School of Medicine, from his book, Brain Rules.
More to come……
Scholastic Arts Awards
This year's Scholastic Arts Awards have been posted. This is a statewide competition of approx 2200 entries. Awards are given at a Gold Key, Silver Key, Honorable Mention, and Portfolio Awards. Gold and Silver Key award recipients will be honored at an awards presentation at the TCC Center for Creativity Feb. 11th.
Memorial High School had the following students awarded:
Luis Juarez = Silver Key award; water color painting
Tyler Gallagher = Honorable Mention; pottery
Macy Hair = Honorable Mention; water color painting
Mrs. Flesher's Tribe
Congratulations go out to the "Awesome, Plaid Wearing, Waka-Wakas" also known as Mrs. Flesher's Tribe. They have been named a Hope Bear recipient. They were awarded a Hope Bear from the Oklahoma City Memorial Foundation for their work and study of the Oklahoma City Bombing and the heroes of those days. They watched a video and participated in and completed several activities to receive this recognition. In addition to receiving the bear, Thoreau's name will be added to the national registry of Hope Schools in Oklahoma City at the Memorial.
Goodson Elected to TPS Board of Education
Goodson elected to TPS Board of Education
Published 2/15/2012
Contact Chris Payne
918-746-6898
paynech@tulsaschools.org
Voters in Tulsa Public Schools' District 5 elected a new member to the Board of Education on Tuesday.
Leigh Goodson will be certified as the District 5 board member on Friday, Feb. 17. She won the seat with 70 percent of the vote over Bruce Niemi. Goodson replaces Brian Hunt whose term expires this month.
"I'd like to congratulate Leigh Goodson," said Dr. Keith Ballard, TPS superintendent. "We greatly appreciated her contribution to the sixth grade task force, and she will bring an important perspective to the board as an involved TPS parent. We look forward to working with her in the future."
Goodson is the vice president for research and institutional advancement at Oklahoma State University in Tulsa. She earned her Ph.D in Educational Research and Evaluation from OSU in 2000. She has served on the Board of Directors of the YMCA of Greater Tulsa and is a member of Boston Avenue United Methodist Church.
Goodson's two children both attend Tulsa Public Schools, one at Thoreau Demonstration Academy and one at Mayo Demonstration School. She is an active parent volunteer at both schools.
District 6 member Ruth Ann Fate was unopposed and will retain her seat on the board. "Congratulations to Ruth Ann as she continues to serve District 6. We sincerely appreciate her commitment."
The Board of Education's next meeting is at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 21 in the Cheryl Selman Room at the Education Service Center.
8th Grade Brotherhood
Coming Soon pictures
Sports Parent Managers
Per the Athletic Association:
If you are interested in being a Parent Manager for any of our individual sports, you need to attend the informational meeting for that sport, or contact the coach. A Parent Manager would collect money and forms from the players and help the coaches in administrative duties. We need parents who are non TPS employees.
The informational meetings for upcoming sports are
Soccer – Feb. 13 contact Coach Pilo at godoyca@tulsaschools.org
Golf – Feb. 23 at LaFortune
Volleyball – Feb. 7 and 9th in the girls gym
If you have any questions please let me know.
Thanks.
Sandy Bond
Parent Involvement Facilitator
Thoreau Demonstration Academy
(918) 833-9713
Interested in Golf? *Update*
Thoreau students who are interested in playing golf are invited to the informational meeting held on Thursday, February 16 at 4:00 in the cafeteria with Bill Taylor.
On Thursday, February 23 there will be a meeting for students and parents at the LaFortune Clubhouse.
Golf lessons will begin on February 27 at 4:15 p.m.
Click here for the Golf Flyer.
Archery Competition News
Coming soon pictures and news.
Blue and Gold Fundraising Starts February 6th
We will begin selling Blue and Gold sausage, bacon and chicken on Monday, February 6 and orders should be turned in by Wednesday, February 22. Delivery will be on Monday, March 5th. More information will be sent home with your student in the next couple of weeks.
Flyers should be coming home February 6. Click here if you you did not receive one.
Homework Help
Homework Help is now available to all students with a Tulsa City-County Library card. Live tutors are available every night from 2-11. Lessons and flashcards are available as well as a writing lab where students can turn in a paper for review before submitting it to their teachers. This is a new product for TCCL and they would like our help in spreading the word!
Help is available in Spanish, English and Vietnamese. Users can create their own tests and quizzes. They can establish interactive study sessions with other users. This is a very cool site for serious students! There are also services for adult learners, such as practice tests for the ACT , GED and the Citizenship test.
Check it out, live now on Tulsalibrary.org!
New Immunizations for 6th Graders!
Click Here for new immunization requirements.
Sign-up for E-Howl!
E-Howl allows you to receive reminders of holidays, sporting events, celebrations and opportunities at Thoreau. E-mail your name, your child's name and child's grade to bondsa@tulsaschools.org. Your address will be kept in confidence and only used to send information pertinent to Thoreau students.
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