Dr. Peter Amua Quarshie

At the beginning of the year the seniors I taught groaned when I first brought out the metacogs. However I noticed a shift in attitude. One student would always notice if I said something not related to the information on the metacog. She always liked to know if the information on the metacog was complete.

Another dyslexic student found the metacogs invaluable. He would follow the words with his finger. He would let me know if I had missed out a branch. I even noticed some students get frustrated with other students who could not answer a question in class when the answer was clearly shown in the metacog.

By the way the only time I saw paper planes being made of metacogs was the last day of class after all their course work and exams had been completed and graded. Since these were graduating seniors I did not stop them!

Dr. Peter Amua Quarshie

H. S. Science

Advantage Academy, Waxahachie Campus

Christi Fewin

My name is Christi Fewin and I teach 5th Grade at Advantage Academy in Waxahachie.  I have enjoyed teaching with Metacogs this year.  My students have been successful using them.  It helps me to organize instruction and focus on major points.  It has made my planning time efficient because any lesson can be taught through the use of Metacogs.  The Metacogs address multiple learning styles and when checking for understanding, students can use what they have learned through a variety of verbal, written, or kinesthetic activities.  I know that at the end of the day my students have benefited from the instruction that I have provided using the Metacog framework. 

~Christi Fewin

5^th Grade Teacher

Advantage Academy, Waxahachie Campus

Mrs. Rodriguez

Hello my name is Jennifer Rodriguez and I am a Kindergarten Teacher at the Waxahachie campus. I have been teaching for ten years and I am so excited to see the Switch on your brain brought to our classrooms. My kids have really liked doing something different and creating a metacog. I really like this in the science and social studies lessons because it helps the child better understand the lesson we are covering.

The kids loved doing the different types of bear’s metacog, because they got to draw each bear and what they liked to eat and it brought each one to life. I am looking forward to learning more about SYOB and teaching my wonderful children.

Mrs. Rodriguez

Kindergarten Teacher

Advantage Academy, Waxahachie Campus

Ms. Garcia

My name is Janica L. Garcia. I'm a second grade teacher at Advantage Academy-Waxahachie. Switch on Your Brain has been a huge help this year in my class. I teach Math, Science and Social Studies and switch with another teacher for Reading and ELA. SOYB has been used consistently by the both of us, and we have really enjoyed incorporating it into our lessons.

For example…. when we started our Science lesson on Seasons, Creating a meta-cog with all four seasons and having them write about each one and draw a picture was a huge help. It helped the students break down each season and the different weather that came with each one. The students really enjoyed collecting information to fill in with each season.

I look forward to next year and implementing SOYB again.

Ms. Garcia

2nd Grade Teacher

Advantage Academy- Waxahachie

Shauna Moore

Metacogs have made teaching reading and story comprehension very easy. I use the bubble cogs each week to put story events in order. The students learn about sequence, details, and main ideas by using this system.

I also love using the metacogs for teaching the parts of a sentence. I leave mini metacogs up all week referring to each part of a sentence. It helps the students recognize the parts of a sentence and helps them with their writing.

Shauna Moore

2^nd Grade Teacher

Advantage Academy, Waxahachie Campus

Gloria Korando

Switch on your Brain has been both a challenge and a blessing. It was a challenge getting the students to use the metacog and the process, but after a few days and lessons, we were off and running. They ask me for the metacogs now.

We call our metacogs our “Friends,” because they are with us at all times and are always there to help. This process has helped my class be more organized and helps them follow along with the lesson. This process helps reinforce the information that they are learning.

I asked a couple of my students what they thought of the process and this is what they said:

“Sometimes when I can’t figure something out , I get my metacog and it helps me find the information that I need.”

“If we are nervous about a test and we do not understand the question, we can look it up on the metacog.”

“It helps us with knowledge but we still have to do our part.”

Gloria Korando

4^th Grade Teacher

Advantage Academy, Waxahachie Campus

Debra Dickinson

There are two examples I can give you. One, was after a week of TAKS and TAKS preparation. In almost every class, as students prepared for instruction to begin again, there was at least one student that made the comment that they had "missed the metacogs." At that point, the rest of the class usually chimed in that they too were glad to have their metacogs back. Some even applauded!  They would laugh and even seem surprised at times, but it was clear they had learned the benefits of learning curriculum through the use of metacogs.

Secondly, as new students came to our campus throughout the year, I asked various students to work with them as they learned to navigate the metacogs. The remarks from our students to the new students were always positive. I heard comments such as, "It may seem confusing at first, but you are going to love them after awhile," or "If you just follow these (i.e., the metacogs), it lays everything out for you and it all makes sense." "It's all right here for you."

As a TBI survivor myself (traumatic brain injury), I am a huge fan of Dr. Leaf and her lifelong study of the brain. I have purchased all of her books. Since my injury, I have spent hours and hours doing my own research to understand the brain, my injury, and my ultimate recovery. Compared to all of that, I have been amazed at the understanding I have gained this year from studying Dr. Leaf's research. In addition, as a teacher, I have found her books and DVD's to be invaluable. I have even given copies of "The Gift In You" to my friends and family members that are teachers.

Sincerely,

Debra Dickinson

7th and 8th Grade Science

Advantage Academy

G. DUNN

"I am 60 yrs. old and feel younger physically and mentally thanks to you. Who said "you can't teach an old dog new tricks"? They sure haven't heard what you have to say. Thank you again."

M. KUMAR

"I am so excited about what you are sharing. I wish I could spend 5 years under your tutelage. I am a 63 year old grandma and your lectures have made me want to get on with life and learn learn learn. You gave me a spark. I feel like I am just beginning."

S. COUPLAND

"After many attempts I have finally kicked a sugar addiction and I feel a hundred times healthier. I didn't realise how fuzzy it made my brain feel until I stopped eating so much sugar."

C. WHITEFIELD

"Who Switched Off My Brain is the missing piece needed to help others and myself overcome strongholds. Thank you for sharing your books and materials with others so that they can be all God created them to be!"

N. Higginbotham

"Thanks to Dr. Leaf I've discovered I CAN control my mind, I CAN control my intellect and I am so excited to make the decision to CHANGE TODAY! What a weight lifted! All these years of thinking this is just the way I am, but now I’m turning my brain back ON! And I’m bringing my family with me!"

James Robinson (Life Outreach International)

"Thank God for Dr. Leaf, who is able to give such clarity to the complex subject of our brains and how we think, truly helping us understand how our thoughts impact our outlook on life and affect our physical bodies. 'Who Switched Off My Brain?' is fascinating reading with insight into how changing your thinking will change your emotions, your health and, ultimately, your life!"