The Brain and Learning
Left and Right Brains Work Together
One student will approach a problem totally different from another and it seems to have no logic. That may be true until you know if they are right brained or left brained.
Persistence
Remembering that left brains enjoy having projects divided into sections and following steps and right brains need to see the final product before they begin, student behaviors in study hall now make sense.
One student looks at the clock and eagerly gets out the math book and tries to work a few problems before the bell rings. This is the left brain approach. Even though this student will not finish the assignment, a few more problems will be done.
Another student looks at the clock, realizes the assignment will not be finished before the bell rings, and proceeds to organize the pencil case or daydream. If they can not finish the entire assignment, they won't even start. This is the right brain approach. They see the end goal. If not attainable at the present, they will put off until it is--later--at home.
A solution to this would be to insist that each child complete 4 math problems by the end of the period and correct them. This will be agreeable to the left. It is a small chunk of work. The right will also agree because the end goal has been moved from 20 problems to 4. They now see the end and it can be reached in the time allowed.
Responsibility
Choices. The right brains love them. With each choice option, the right brain takes little mind trips and his imagination begins working overtime.
Left brains don't like choices. They may be likely to say, "How did we do it last week?" "What do you want me to do?" "What should it look like?" "Just tell me what to do."
Organization
Left brains are born organized. They know that this item belongs here, that should be stored over there, this should be filed here, that should be labeled this way. There is no confusion when it comes time to putting things away.
In contrast, right brains must "learn" structure. They have to think about it. It is not automatic. For example: filing. Should I file it under a general topic or the one I will probably use next week? Which general topic should I file it under? Should I put all papers in one file or should I have separate files for each section? Should I use color coding to make it easier? Which color would be best? Once they figure out a system, they get really excited and have to show people their new plan to get organized.
Left brains find it very painful to watch right brains work so hard at filing. They often say, "Just let me do it." So they do. Now, the right brain has no idea where anything is. When it was in piles, they could find things quickly.
Mobility
Left brains find it easier to sit in one spot for a long length of time. Right brains need to be mobile. The longer they sit, they less they learn. Since everyone is expected to sit still and stay in their seats, rights find ways to circumvent these expectations. They do the following:
- Sharpen pencil
- Get a tissue
- Staple papers together
- Go to the bathroom
- Open or close a window
- Throw a paper away
Of course, while they are doing these things, they are missing information that the teacher is giving in the lecture. The lefts are taking good notes which they will memorize easily for the test. During the test, rights are thinking, "When did the teacher talk about that?" Another reason why lefts seem to do better on tests than rights.
Related articles: Famous Right Brains, Left Brains and Right Brains, Right/Left Brain Background, Left Brain Characteristics, SAT and the Learning Disabled.
Read previous articles on Educational Issues.
Copyright article 2006 Barbara Pytel. All Rights Reserved.
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