Light Up the Learning Brain: 7 Keys to Reducing Disruptive Behavior in the Classroom

by Jessica Sinarski

Are you eager to increase learning opportunities, reduce negative behaviors, and improve staff and student morale?

Then it’s time to become a brain builder!

We all are aware of an alarming increase in reported behavioral disruptions in school settings. Often less understood is the critical role that the brain plays in shaping all behavior, including problematic words and actions in our classrooms and beyond.

Light Up the Learning Brain illuminates the many ways that teaching through a brain-based lens can breathe new life into your work.

You will discover:

- how the brain’s two main “operating systems” interact – and often compete
- the amygdala’s vital role as an alarm system and gatekeeper
- ways that brain function is closely connected to our senses
- the power of play, curiosity, and safety in fostering brain development
- scripts, tips, and tools to make your job easier
- …and much more.

Blending the latest neuroscience with practical application, this book will be your guide to wake up the creative, curious, problem-solving “upstairs” brain of staff and students.

Brains are diverse and distinctive, and so are the solutions presented in this accessible and insightful resource. Facts and insights are balanced with hands-on ideas that can be implemented immediately.

As educators, we have a timely opportunity to empower our students to build their own big, brave, beautiful, world-changing brains – and isn’t that, after all, why we chose this profession in the first place?

Genres: Education, Teaching, Nonfiction, Brain

208 pages, Paperback

Published January 25, 2024

About the author

Jessica Sinarski, author of Riley the Brave, is also a therapist, supervisor, consultant and educator. She is a thought-leader in connecting neuroscience with practice, especially in adult-child relationships. Her areas of expertise include early trauma and adoption, with an emphasis on brain development and the mind/body connection. She has been consulting with schools, agencies and parent groups since 2005 and was recently invited to speak at the largest adoption conference in North America. Jess lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and 3 busy boys.

Find her at https://www.facebook.com/rileythebrave and https://www.instagram.com/jessicasina...

Reviews

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Light Up the Learning Brain is a book I sincerely wish all teachers would read; in truth, though it’s written with educators in mind, all parents could benefit from this book, too. This book is written from a perspective of helping equip children learn. It’s fantastic. It’s short enough that it doesn’t feel like a slog, but it’s scientifically based verifiable facts with resources cited throughout. I so appreciated that in addition to neurotypical learners, this book also addresses and affirms neurodivergent learners. Additionally, the author is trauma informed, and educates readers on how to be a “safe person” to children suffering from developmental trauma. I am such a big fan of this book.

While I’m not an educator, I am a parent, and so often I want to teach my children - this book was insightful and made me appreciate things about my children I never noticed before (like having high sensory needs). I was helping my son with homework yesterday, and he began stalling, getting distracted and would not focus. I suggested we take a brain break and together we worked out vestibular and proprioceptive systems for 2-3 minutes, and we collapsed on the floor in giggles. Shortly thereafter he sat down and worked through the rest of his homework without further fuss. I could hardly believe it! *adds indoor trampoline to cart*

This is a book I can’t wait to purchase and donate to my children’s schools because it’s that good. Phenomenal read and I highly recommend it.

I’d like to thank National Center for Youth Issues and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the privilege of receiving an ARC of this book, and I found it quite enjoyable. I have a detailed review to share with the author, but I will briefly state that this book encompasses so much in so little time. It is highly relevant to educators of all ages and highly readable. The graphics and tables provide a lot of information in quick and easily accessible formats, and each section is well-researched and written from a place of compassion and care for both teachers and students. I am taking several great nuggets from this that will help inform my practice and make me better as a teacher but also as a human.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked that this book was a little more in depth and explanatory than other books on the same topic while also being easy to read. The author was able to clearly and concisely outline reasons for disruptive behaviors, connect them to specific ways the brain operates, and give strategies and ideas for helping with specific behaviors. I found the section on proprioception to be very interesting and helpful in understanding a few of my students' behaviors. Another feature that was different than other related books is that the author consistently wove in child friendly posters, activities, worksheets, and texts, that help teachers easily convey the same information to their students.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a phenomenal work! Changes the way teachers approach students and admin approaches teachers. Provides ample strategies for self reflection as well as strategies to help those around us back into their upstairs brain! Thank you, Jessica for another amazing work!!

[Christine Ka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely helpful in understanding student behavior. I enjoyed the immediately applicable strategies to help you redesign your instruction.

[Csilla B. Mate · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thought provoking book on how to approach negative behavior with children and adults. I learned so much and this book shaped my view of what to do in a crisis situation. Highly highly recommend.

[Madi Tweeton · Rating 3 out of 5]

An informal read but very informative - restates all the knowledgeable information about the brain.

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Strongly recommend for anyone who works closely with children of all ages! I like how the author didn’t use a condescending tone & offers “stress free starting points” at the end of each chapter

[Amy Mckinty · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a lot of valuable information in an easy to digest format. There were actionable steps that I can take right away in my classroom and links to resources as well.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Literally every single teacher needs to read this book!! No affiliation to the author but I am going to see if I can buy in bulk to pass out to all the teachers I know😂