“The Top Ten Things Every Teacher Needs to Know” 

This is the most popular inservice today.  The top ten features the latest scientific research on how to increase learning, motivation, attention and performance.   You will learn why our students must perceive meaning in all curriculum, know the role of sleep and nutrition in learning and why fitness and movement must be a part of life.  You’ll also learn that research confirms the importance of music in our classrooms and the importance of respecting gender differences to enhance academic success.  In addition to the application in your classroom you will also learn why neurologists agree these strategies will enhance your health and slow cognitive aging: improve memory, ability to think, speed processing–-even maintain a healthy weight!

Essentials For Learning:  Learning And Stress

Use research based methods to alleviate short and long-term effects of stress. Improve student achievement in the classroom and on standardized tests. The most important things you will learn are the basics about your brain;  learn how high and low levels of certain neurotransmitters influence your quality of life, as well as you loved ones quality of life.  Learn what your neurology looks like during a depression, during a celebration, on drugs and on alcohol.  

Gender And The Brain:  What It Means For Learning

This training is popular with teachers and administrators.  Brain imaging shows compelling differences in male-female processing. Learn how neurology, hormones and culture work together to create such intriguing opposites.  The latest research provides an understanding of gender differences and allows educators to tap into their greatest potential.  What does it mean for the future of instruction and assessment?

Hands On Strategies For Engaging All Learners

If you have ever toiled over the idea of letting one of your students "slip through the cracks", then you owe it to that student to take this course.  This is where research meets common sense to support the use of learning with real-life, hands-on projects.  This course will offer a number of strategies guaranteed to appeal to heterogeneous classrooms:  special education, gifted and talented, honors, AP and IB.

Hollywood, Playstation And The Brain  

What does the latest in neuroscience tell us about the short-term and long-term effects on neurology and behavior?  The time has come for parents and teachers to harness the principles that Hollywood and Playstation use to revolutionize student motivation to complete homework and re-ignite learning in the classroom.

Learning In Motion 

This course emphasizes the extraordinary relationship between physical movement and academic success, test scores, and physical and mental health. Brain based research supports the powerful effect of integrating movement to classroom content especially through the use of games. Adapt physical activities to any content area.

Fitness and the Human Brain  "New"

Neuroscientists are conducting studies that show that movement results in significant gains in cognitive processing, and even slows down normal aging processes.  Learn why exercise/moving are critical for optimal brain performance.  Come learn what all educators should know about physical movement and its side effects...significant gains in attention, motivation and memory.  Use these activities to engage students with attention deficits, manage discipline, motivate apathetic learners, and reinvigorate learning for everyone in the classroom. 

Put Music In Every Classroom:  Music and Learning

This course will provide the latest research on the effects of music, its role in academic achievement and the verdict on standardized test scores. Learn why all educators should integrate music into all content for maximum impact on the academic curriculum. Use music to ignite passion for your lessons in the classroom.

The Teaching Toolbox

This workshop will provide you with your own "toolbox" full of materials tailored to deepen comprehension in your content.  Leave with materials sure to bring learning to life and the research to support it.  Class is geared toward elementary school and class size is limited.

You Must Remember This:  Memory and the Brain

Gray Matters® offers a wide variety of courses designed to help teachers implement brain-based research findings directly into their classroom.