really interesting article about a new program out of duke university to help teenagers make the most of their brains. it’s totally in line with the stuff i’ve been reading (and writing about on this blog) for a couple years, about adolescent brain development. in fact, when i asked an adolescent brain specialist, at our junior high pastors summit a couple years ago, how we can help teenagers develop their brain capacity, he listed three things: lots of sleep, good diet and exercise, and living with the consequences of their choices. the “learn now what you want to remember for the rest of your life” point also confirms what i’ve been reading and talking about in terms of “hard wiring” the brain in the years following the onset of puberty, when the pre-pubescent proliferation of neuron development switches into reverse, and begins a winnowing process based on a “use it or lose it” principle.

this would be a good article to pass along to teenagers, and/or to parents:

7 Ways to Learn More Without More Study

(here are the 7 points — but you’ll need to click through to see what the article says about them.)

1. Get to bed and go to sleep.

2. Start studying a few days in advance of a test.

3. Feed your head.

4. Body exercise is brain exercise.

5. Learn now what you want to remember for the rest of your life.

6. Harness the power of risk-taking.

7. Learn what you love.

(ht to heidi turner)