by Laura Maniglia | Apr 7, 2017 | attention & focus, cognitive skills, instruction, interpersonal relations, metacognition, mindset, non-cognitive skills, soft skills, teachers, Tutorial
What constitutes a rewarding life? What spurs some people to pursue their interests actively, while others remain passive observers? Motivation is a crucial factor for achievement in personal and professional pursuits. Yet, working for some extrinsic reward,...
by Laura Maniglia | Feb 19, 2017 | language, metacognition, mindset, non-cognitive skills
In a past blog, I discussed how use of language affects morality. But the power of language expands far beyond moral issues. In a lecture series in Great Courses, Dr. Peter Vishton elaborates on the intricate connections between language and mind/body. He provides...
by Laura Maniglia | Feb 7, 2017 | attention & focus, classroom management, cognitive skills, instruction, interpersonal relations, metacognition, mindset, non-cognitive skills, SEL, soft skills, teachers
Alexander Pope wrote, “To err is human . . . ” Making mistakes is inherently human, so people can take the opportunity to grow and learn from their errors. In her book, Being Wrong, Kathryn Schulz explains. “Far from being a sign of...
by Laura Maniglia | Jan 30, 2017 | language, metacognition, non-cognitive skills, speech
I’m sensitive to language, both oral and written. When someone utters a grammatical faux pas or malapropism, I try hard not to make a face, even though I cringe inwardly. So, I am miffed by the content barrage of uptalk everywhere I turn. For the uninitiated,...
by Laura Maniglia | Jan 17, 2017 | attention & focus, metacognition, mindset, non-cognitive skills, soft skills
Stories abound of individuals born with innate abilities whose talent astounds most mortal beings. These include figures from a wide range of fields from the arts to natural sciences, mathematics, and sports: Michelangelo, DaVinci, Mozart, The Beatles, and Tiger...
by Laura Maniglia | Dec 27, 2016 | cognitive skills, instruction, mindset, non-cognitive skills, soft skills, students
In a previous blog post, I described the differences between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. Research has demonstrated that external rewards are ineffective for long-term positive results whether in the academic realm or the workplace. But internal goals can boost...
by Laura Maniglia | Dec 8, 2016 | attention & focus, classroom management, cognitive skills, instruction, metacognition, non-cognitive skills, SEL, soft skills, study skills
According to Cal Newport, author of Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World, the ability to focus is imperative to mastering cognitively demanding tasks. Certainly, absorbing challenging academic content requires deep work. Trying to do so in an...
by Laura Maniglia | Oct 9, 2016 | attention & focus, cognitive skills, metacognition, mindset, non-cognitive skills
The essential mission of any classroom teacher involves the dissemination of knowledge. Whatever the subject matter, the teacher serves as a guide to the development of cognition, or the process of thinking. The key word in that definition is “process.”...
by Laura Maniglia | Aug 29, 2016 | academic standing, active learning, brain development, cognitive skills, creativity, instruction, intelligence, intrinsic motivation, learning, Sleep
A recent article on the Market Watch site features a disturbing headline: “Screens are hooking kids on ‘digital heroin.’” The article chronicles the case of a young child who became disengaged from his previous physical activities like outdoor play and...
by Laura Maniglia | Aug 8, 2016 | attention & focus, cognitive skills, interpersonal relations, mindset, non-cognitive skills, soft skills, teachers
How a person approaches life certainly says a great deal about him or her. In fact, history provides many examples of individuals who overcame seemingly insurmountable odds to surpass everyone’s expectations. One such historical example is currently being...
