The Value of Strong Right Hemisphere Thinking

Copyright2010
Recent research has revealed more about the brain and its alte
ative capabilities for learning. We now know that the human brain has an amazing ability to adapt and grow. We also know that some people are right-brained dominant while others are left-brained dominant. What we are only beginning to understand is that a person having strong right hemisphere thinking generally has trouble learning in school. The reason behind this fact is because most schools focus on left-brained dominant learning, which translates into right-brained students having a harder time getting through the learning process. Because right-brained dominant learners take information in differently, it has become increasingly more obvious that these children learn fast and effectively, when taught through the right hemisphere of the brain

Learning About How the Brain Works

Yes, right-brained learners learn differently, so it is very important that this type of student feels secure and confident in the way he or she approaches the learning process. What that means to you as the parent or the teacher is that if a child is right-brained dominant, he has to be helped in finding a way to learn so that it matches his or her inherent learning style. As educators and parents, it’s more important than ever for us to understand that every child is different, which means there is no cookie-cutter approach when it comes to the learning process. Schools may try to create one type of plan that works for all students, but it is simply not possible. Since some children are right-brained in a left-brained learning environment, it is up to us to help our children accept their own learning process.

Our Role in the Learning Process

While the logical, language-based elements of the left hemisphere of the brain are as important as ever, in our fast-paced world, we can no longer afford to disregard the value of strong right-hemisphere thinking. Taking in large amounts of information through the manipulation of visual images, making split-second decisions, and taking risks in the learning process are increasingly considered more valued skills. In other words, traditional, left-hemisphere teaching methods are simply not adequate enough to develop cutting edge whole-brain thinking.

Right-Brained Learners Shouldn’t Struggle

Unfortunately, the educational environment is behind in their thinking as they continue to place more and more attention on the left brained hemisphere rather than the right. Today, more than ever, the right-brained dominant child is unnecessarily falling between the cracks. Understanding these differences in the learning processes, we now have strategies that really work. Your right-brained child can excel in school.
How to Help

There are a number of ways you can start helping your right-brained dominant child. Some ways to begin the process of helping your child include the following:

• First and most important is to let your right-brained child know that every person has his or her own way of learning and one is not more correct than another; they are just different.
• Be supportive of your child’s differences; in that way you send them a message that says you care, you understand and that nothing is wrong.
• Use new strategies for helping your child learn more easily; learning can and should be a fun and enjoyable experience whether you are right or left-brained dominant.

If you have conce
s about your child’s ability to learn or if you suspect that your child might be a right-brained learner, you can help your child with the learning process by discovering exciting new ways to support the right-brained learner. Visit www.therightsideoflea
ing.com and discover powerful information that will help you help your child enjoy learning.