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9/2/2015 6 Comments

How to Activate the Right Brain in Math Class

Left Brain / Right Brain Crossover: HOW & WHY to Activate the Right Brain in Math Class
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A recent study has proven that success in math is strongest when both halves of the brain work together. 

So, we have started adding art into STEM curriculum, incorporating more project-based learning, and allowing creative thinking through inquiry.

Here's the reasoning behind the theory, plus how to maximize the benefits of right and left brain crossover for your own students.

using both brain hemispheres in math class

Right Brain Vs. Left Brain

You are probably already aware of some of these distinctions between the left brain and right brain:
Learning With Both Sides of the Brain
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But are you aware that your own teaching style probably favors one side of the brain more?  Lecture, research, notes, and quiet independent work are classroom features of left-brain teaching and learning. 

Math is also a logical and analytical subject with a left-brain tendency.  So if you are teaching math through lecture, notes, and practice, you are neglecting your students right-brains!

Here are a few ways to add a little more "right-brain-ness" into your class:
  • manipulatives, hands-on activities
  • group projects
  • noisy, busy, creative atmosphere
  • art
  • music (even in the background)
  • color
The right and left hemispheres of the brain communicate through the corpus callosum, a fiber bridge that crosses between the two sides.

Any time you can encourage interaction between the hemispheres of the brain, you strengthen this connection.
Click the images to explore these brain-friendly products.

Cross-Lateral Exercises

Physical exercises that cross the midline can strengthen the nerve-cell pathways between the two sides of the brain.  The midline is an imaginary line drawn down the center of the body.  An exercise in which the left hand crosses to the right side of the body is an example of a cross-lateral exercise.

This type of physical movement helps the brain hemispheres to communicate across the corpus callosum. This benefits your students because it helps to coordinate learning.

We already know that students need to get up and move every 20 minutes or so.  During that time, try a couple of cross-lateral exercises to force the two sides of the brain to communicate. 
cross lateral exercises that cross the midline and increase communication between right and left brain hemispheres
  • Touch the right elbow to the left knee, then vice versa.  Keep alternating.
  • Place the left thumb and right forefinger together while the left forefinger touches the right thumb.  Pivot them back and forth like the "itsy bitsy spider."
  • Juggle
  • Pass a large ball (that requires two hands to hold) down the row.
  • Do "grapevines" from side to side.
crossing the midline exercises for brain hemispheres
"When you cross your midline in exercise, you get a boost in brain alertness, creativity and memory!"
-Alison Beaver (article here)
helping students remember by using both brain hemispheres

Incorporate Right-Brain Friendly Options

Have you ever noticed that a lot of kids who like Algebra and do really well in it tend to struggle when they start Geometry the next year?  Also, quite a few kids reach Geometry and suddenly like math class for the first time.  They had difficulty in Algebra, but in Geometry, math suddenly makes sense to them.

Some people do well in both, and have a good balance between right and left brain learning, but I think that a lot of the students who enjoy Geometry are often the more artistic & spatial learners.  They thrive in a right-brain-centered environment.
ways to incorporate the right brain hemisphere in math class

Left-Brain Tasks Are:
  • sequenced
  • specific
  • detail-oriented
  • straightforward
Right-Brain Tasks Are:
  • focused on the big picture
  • novelty-oriented
  • creative / visual
  • open-ended

(Previous Post: Learn more about the learning styles of your own class of students here.)
how to help students use the right brain and get creative in math class
Try to mix up characteristics of the two categories, or use choice boards that offer options from both categories.

I like to include options on choice boards such as:
  • Create a comic strip that represents this mathematical concept.
  • Draw up a visual concept map of this lesson using an infographic or graphic organizer.
  • Write a story, song, or poem to teach this idea to a younger student.
Compared to taking notes or giving an oral presentation, these types of tasks offer more communication between the two sides of the brain.

Surprising Benefits of Coloring & Doodling

You may have heard about the recent trend of adult coloring books..  It has been discovered that the simple act of coloring helps to activate the brain.

Coloring can improve memory, learning, and retention.  It even offers the additional benefit of stress relief.  The relaxation that comes from coloring decreases activity in the amygdala, which is the part of the brain affected by stress.

It is possible that this is partly due to an unconscious reminder of childhood, a time of lower stress.  Whatever the reason, this got me thinking about using coloring to reduce math anxiety.  It is great to add just a touch of coloring (in a purposeful way) to a math activity.  This can help students to relax and focus while still learning.

I read through a really interesting study in which people listened to a recorded conversation.  Afterward, they were asked to recall the names of people in the conversation, and those who were doodling as each person was introduced were able to learn the names more easily!
creativity in math class
It turns out that doodling (like coloring) requires just enough brain power to keep you from daydreaming, but not enough to distract you.  It actually increases focus!
(article from TIME)

Here are a few ways I add just a touch of coloring into math activities to keep both sides of the brain active during the learning:
  • When working through "Always True, Sometimes True, Never True" critical thinking challenges, I have kids color statements red for "never", blue for "always," and green for "sometimes."  (Added bonus - I can check for accuracy in two seconds by arranging the statements in a pattern.)
  • Students shade or color answers in "GridWords" puzzles to reveal the mystery words.  Then, I include either an action word as the GridWord or a mathematical connection throughout a series (for example, all the words in my polynomial factoring GridWords series turn out to be places that the Golden Ratio is found in nature.  It's fun to see them try to figure out this connection with each new word they color - "Hmm, how are "pinecones" and "fingers" related??")  The GridWords for prime factorization and simplifying expressions are action words, so the kids clap, hum, tap, etc. when they reveal the word.
  • I have students color code congruent angles in Geometry puzzles.
Click the images to take a closer look at these items.
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My next thought is something like visual doodle notes - I will have to add that to my long list of projects.  I bet the kids would do really well with something like that.

Now Here!: "Doodle Notes" for Math

Edited to add:  I've put together the first batch of doodle notes, as promised.  Check them out by clicking the images below. 
Math

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6 Comments
Gary Hoopes
2/26/2017 08:03:35 pm

Hi,
I teach 6th grade math in North Central Washington state. I am interested in your doodle notes but would like to know what the research behind the theories are. Could you please provide some of the more significant research via email?
Thanks,
Gary

Reply
Math Giraffe link
2/27/2017 04:56:26 pm

Hi Gary,
Absolutely! Email me at [email protected] so I can send all of that your way. :) Thanks so much for your interest. Have a great evening!
-Brigid

Reply
Christine Giles
9/19/2017 09:29:08 am

Hi . . . I am an adult desperately looking for a way to learn algebra once and for all. I have always thought my problem was that I'm right-brained. But I excel in reading and writing, so now I'm a bit confused. Math practically makes me break out in hives . . . I try and try, but the light bulb just never quite comes on; it just flickers. Sometimes I feel like I'm on the edge of understanding, but then I just don't. What's wrong with me? Please tell me how to help myself. I'm trying to get my bachelors late in life, and this is standing in my way. Thank you. Christine

Reply
Math Giraffe link
9/20/2017 01:27:42 pm

Hi Christine!
That's awesome that you are working towards this! More and more research is showing that we all use both hemispheres of the brain, so don't worry! You can definitely learn it! I'd recommend you check out Dual Coding theory that shows that ALL brains learn best by blending visuals and text/auditory input. See how that works here:
http://www.mathgiraffe.com/blog/dual-coding-theory-visual-note-taking
and think about trying some type of visual note-taking strategy.
Khan Academy is another great resource for learning math as well (if you like it explained to you).
Hope this helps! Thanks,
-Brigid

Reply
Lhynzie link
12/7/2021 07:24:17 am

Amazing article! Thank you for sharing this informative and very useful blog. Keep on posting.

Reply
Jr D link
8/9/2022 01:23:14 pm

Great article!

Reply



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