Sex, Brains, & Video Games

Pierce, J. B. (2017). Sex, Brains, & Video Games: Information and Inspiration for Youth Services Librarians (2nd ed.). Chicago, IL: ALA Editions. 978-0-8389-1548-6.

Publisher's description:

How do we break through and truly reach our young adult patrons? It begins with understanding them. Librarians who work with teens need information and a big-picture perspective on adolescence that reflects the latest knowledge of cognate fields and the contemporary realities of young people’s lives. In this greatly revised and updated edition of her popular guide Burek Pierce provides exactly that, selecting and synthesizing emerging information from multiple fields of research to effectively support librarians’ work with teens. Far-reaching but pragmatic, this book

• discusses such important topics as identity and community, sex and sexualities, what experts can tell us about the adolescent brain, and how teens use technology to mediate the world;
• replaces outdated developmental theories that have been discarded in their home fields but are still sometimes used in the LIS world;
• looks at how to blend what research tells us about teens with day-to-day work in libraries;
• reflects new norms of professional practice, such as the increased importance of community
• engagement and partnerships, offering librarians a path towards cooperation and collaboration with peers outside the library world; and
• includes a bibliography of essential reading for YA librarians.

Educators and practitioners, as well as students preparing to enter the field, will all benefit from this compact overview of contemporary research on adolescence.

OHSU Brain Awareness Lecture & Events (videos)

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The OHSU Brain Awareness Season is recognized as one of the best neurological programs in nation. It includes a number of lectures and events on brain awareness. Learn more about current and upcoming brain awareness lectures and program on the OHSU website.

The following VHS of OHSU’s previous Brain Awareness Lecture & Events seasons available at the State Library include:

2004 Brain Awareness Lectures

• The Bard on the Brain: Understanding the Mind… Paul M. Matthews, MD
• Visions of the Mind: A New Way of Looking… Michael Psner, Ph.D
• Brain Child: Exploring Children’s… David Amaral Ph.D
• Liars, Lovers and Heros… Terrence J. Sejnowski, Ph.D
• Memory, Mind and Megabytes… Intel, OGI, OHUS, Alzheimer’s Association
• The Undiscovered County… Floyd Bloom, MD
• Crossing the Blood/Brain Barrier: Lessons from the Great Wall of China

2003 Brain Awareness Lectures

• It’s A Jungle In There… Robert Sapolsky, Ph.D
• The End of Stress As We Know It… Bruce McEwen, Ph.D
• The Memory Workout… Gary Small, MD
• Inside the Mind of Ira Flatow… Ira Flatow
• The Biology of Need… Eric Nextler, MD, Ph.D
• Deep-Brain technology: Stimulating Breakthroughs in Treating Parkinson’s Disease

2002 Brain Awareness Lectures

• The Baby Brain from Neurons to Neighborhoods… Charles Nelson, Ph.D
• The Adolescent Brain… Robert Hitxemann, MD
• The Mature Brain, a Healthy Aging Brain… Christine Cassell, MD
• The Ever Developing Brain… Richard Restak, MD
• How Your Child Learns… Pat Wolfe, Ed., Ph.D
• Alzheimer’s Disease: Preventing or Delaying Dementia

Brain Awareness Teacher Lectures

• Rewire Your Gray Matter… Michael Merzenich, Ph.D
• How Your Child Learns… Pat Wolfe, Ed.D, Ph.D
• Stress and the Young Child… Megan Gunner, Ph.D
• Brain Basis of Learning and Memory… Jeri Janowsky, Ph.D
• Our Magnificent Modular Brain… Robert Sylwester, Ph.D
• Coaching the Brain… E. Coughlin & Huhtala, Ph.Ds
• Understanding of Substance Abuse… R. Hitsemann, Ph.D

Brain-Based Early Learning Activities (book)

Darling-Kuria, N. (2010). Brain-Based Early Learning Activities: Connecting Theory and Practice. St.Paul, MN: Redleaf Press. ISBN: 978-1-933653-86-0

Give children stronger, more meaningful learning experiences with 80 brain-based activities that engage both hemispheres of the brain. Each activity promotes learning in the areas of language, mathematics, science, art, music, and the environment and encourages physical, social, and emotional development. Included are materials lists, extension activities, variations for multi-sensory exploration, components for diversity, and an explanation of the brain connections being made.Brain-Based Early Learning Activities also provides a comprehensive overview of early brain development and key components necessary to create a brain-based early learning environment.

(book description)

What's Going on in There? (book)

Eliot, L. (1999). What's Going on in There? How the Brain and Mind Develop in the First Five Years of Life. New York: Bantam Books.

As a research neuroscientist, Lise Eliot has made the study of the human brain her life's work. But it wasn't until she was pregnant with her first child that she became intrigued with the study of brain development. She wanted to know precisely how the baby's brain is formed, and when and how each sense, skill, and cognitive ability is developed. And just as important, she was interested in finding out how her role as a nurturer can affect this complex process. How much of her baby's development is genetically ordained--and how much is determined by environment? Is there anything parents can do to make their babies' brains work better--to help them become smarter, happier people? Drawing upon the exploding research in this field as well as the stories of real children, What's Going On in There? is a lively and thought-provoking book that charts the brain's development from conception through the critical first five years. In examining the many factors that play crucial roles in that process, What's Going On in There? explores the evolution of the senses, motor skills, social and emotional behaviors, and mental functions such as attention, language, memory, reasoning, and intelligence. This remarkable book also discusses:

• how a baby's brain is "assembled" from scratch
• the critical prenatal factors that shape brain development
• how the birthing process itself affects the brain
• which forms of stimulation are most effective at promoting cognitive development
• how boys' and girls' brains develop differently
• how nutrition, stress, and other physical and social factors can permanently affect a child's brain

Brilliantly blending cutting-edge science with a mother's wisdom and insight, What's Going On in There? is an invaluable contribution to the nature versus nurture debate. Children's development is determined both by the genes they are born with and the richness of their early environment. This timely and important book shows parents the innumerable ways in which they can actually help their children grow better brains.

(book description)

Active Baby, Healthy Brain (book)

Sasse, M. (2010). Active Baby, Healthy Brain: 135 Fun Exercises and Activities to Maximize Your Child's Brain Development from Birth Through age 51/2. New York: The Experiment.

Movement, play, and active exploration in the first five years of a child’s life are essential to the development of his or her body and brain. Now Active Baby, Healthy Brain presents 135 massages, exercises, and activities that engage your child’s love of play while also stimulating his or her brain development in multiple areas, including:

• Balance
• Cross-pattern movement
• Visualization
• Vestibular (inner ear) stimulation
• Laterality
• Fine and gross motor skills

Each activity is presented on its own page with step-by-step instructions, appealing illustrations, and illuminating sidebars. The detailed instructions tell you exactly how to do each activity, as well as how to incorporate toys, music, dance, and games. No single activity takes more than two minutes, and all that’s required is ten minutes a day. More than thirty years in the making, Active Baby, Healthy Brain is an indispensable guide for everyone who is raising a child or who interacts with preschoolers.

(book description)

Building the Reading Brain, PreK-3 (book)

Nevills, P. & Wolfe, P. (2009). Building the Reading Brain, PreK-3 (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.

This updated edition of the best-selling book covers brain theory and research to give educators a clear picture of how children acquire language skills in preparation for reading.

Moving through skills acquisition from birth to age eight, this resource provides best teaching practices for fostering critical literacy skills for each age group. This second edition features updated research, expanded information on English language learners and Response to Intervention, and information about mirror neurons, sensory input, and decoding pathways. Readers will find

• developmentally appropriate, brain friendly strategies for building phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, comprehension, and fluency skills
• instructional applications for games, music, and play
• interventions for children with early reading difficulties

Building the Reading Brain, PreK-3 sheds light on early childhood cognition and language development to help teachers provide all young learners with a strong foundation for reading success.
(book description)