What's up with Middle Level Learners? Why brain theory and a sense of humor is essential when working with adolescents (see description & handout attachment)

Young Audiences Arts for Learning was established in 1952. The nation’s largest arts in education learning network, Young Audiences serves over five million children and youth each year in 7,000 schools and community centers across the country through its diverse network of 30 local affiliates, each dedicated to local education and community development, while collectively working together to impact arts in education practices and policies on a national level. National program opportunities include MetLife Learning for Life, an arts integrated initiative for middle school students, and the Young Audiences National Arts Education Leadership Institute, serving emerging leaders in the arts nationwide. Because of my expertise in arts-based activism in middle childhood education, I was invited as a guest speaker/workshop presenter. My presentation and workshop explored the most recent data on brain research as regards middle level learners (Jensen, 2008; Spear, 2009; Reyna, Chapman, Dougherty & Confrey, 2011) and engaged participants in an interactive exploration of how brain theory and the arts can converge in middle school classroom practice.