EP 96: Teaching with an Understanding of the Adolescent Brain

Teenagers can be a particularly challenging age group to work with and educate. Studies have shown that this age group thrives best in a nurturing environment. By keeping pre-teens and teenagers’ brain active will strengthen the neural pathways that are vital for long-term learning. To discuss the topic of teaching the adolescent brain is my guest Dr. Lori Desautels

During this episode you will learn more about the following:

1. How educators can use clips from the movie “Turning Red” to explore ways the adolescence brain changes youth behavior 
2. Why anyone working with kids should be aware that adolescent is the second-greatest time of brain development
3. How it’s extremely important that educators, working with youth, be in touch with their own  emotions.
4. How art play a role in helping youth express their feelings and emotions?

Guest

Dr. Lori Desautels is an assistant Professor at Butler University where she teaches both undergraduate and graduate programs in the College of Education. She was also an Assistant Professor at Marian University in Indianapolis where she founded the Educational Neuroscience Symposium.  Currently, the Symposium is in its eighth year, and now sponsored by Butler University College of Education. 

 Lori was also a behavioral consultant for Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis on the adolescent psychiatric unit where she learned that emotional and mental illness can be so challenging for youth, but the brain can repair and heal, and resilience rests at the core of human nature and our well-being. 

She resides in Indianapolis, Indiana, with her husband, Michael and has three grown children, Andrew, Sarah, and Regan, and four rescue fur babies. 

Resources

Dr. Lori Desautels

revelationsineducation.com

 Mike Wilson

mwilson@hcde-texas.org

 Harris County Department of Education

https://hcde-texas.org