12 Things You Should know about David Halstead, M.Ed, "The Brain Guy"

Hi,

1, I'd like to introduce myself, I'm David Halstead, B.Sc. , B.Ed., M.Ed, aka "Dave", aka "The Brain Guy".

2. Started Education Career as a student in a one room Gr.1-8 school in rural Manitoba (Canada). A special note of interest is that during the last two winters I drove a horse and sleigh to school.

Graduated from small but excellent college in Brandon, MB. (When I started college I thought I might return to the family farm but the more I studied the more I felt drawn to teaching. The decision to teach became a great deal easier when my parents sold the farm before I graduated.)

3. My introduction to teaching was at a rural High School in MB with new facilities, a super group of colleagues and a supportive administration. Later I moved to a large Technical Institute in Saskatchewan where I went from Instructor, to Counsellor to Dean of Student Services. During my time in Saskatchewan experience I spent two and half years doing educational development work in Ghana, West Africa.

TESTIMONIALS FROM PARTICIPANTS IN A RECENT WORKSHOP IN CANADA:-
(NAMES/LOCATIONS CHANGED FOR PRIVACY REASONS)
"THIS MAN IS BRILLIANT, CURRENT & RELEVANT. ONCE AGAIN, THANKS, DAVID".

4. As much as I enjoyed teaching and the students I was always troubled by the idea that students at any level were often required to learn the way teachers wanted to teach. As a result many able students were turned off learning at an early age, fell through the cracks or developed behaviour problems. I kept thinking "there has to be a better way", but I could never find it.

5. During this time I earned a Masters Degree (after experiencing pressure from both the University and my family.) But if I thought I would find the answer to the nagging questions in the back of my mind about teaching and learning in that degree I was disappointed.

MORE TESTIMONIALS:-
"THIS EXPLAINED TO ME WHY I WAS SEEING CERTAIN THINGS IN MY STUDENTS. VERY HELPFUL"

6.In 1993 I became the Director of Admissions at the largest University in Manitoba. Five years later the University "reorganized" itself - and me.

7. Re-organization leads to revitalization. I heard about a new style of teaching/learning which was innovative, different, exciting and science based. Intrigued, I went to Boston for a 6 day course in Brain Based Learning and while I was there all the light bulbs came on for me, the "Wow" and "AHA" moments were coming thick and fast and I returned home convinced that the nagging questions I'd had about teaching and learning were being answered. The concept was so simple and yet made so much sense.

8. So when another job possibility arose I had to make a decision. I was too young to retire, too young to qualify for a pension. Actually the decision was easy. (Besides, the employers wanted me to ease a long term employee out of her job to pay my salary.) I believed the science that connected brain development to learning had to be explored further and brought to the attention of and included in the skill set of teachers and administrators at all levels and throughout the world. Thus Brain Power Learning Group was born.

STILL MORE TESTIMONIALS:-
GLAD I CHOSE THIS COURSE EVEN THOUGH I HAD SIGNED UP FOR ANOTHER ONE. I WILL LOOK FORWARD TO HIS NEXT COURSES. VERY EDUCATIONAL AS WELL AS ENTERTAINING. GOOD JOB, DAVID. THANKS.

9. In 1998 Peggy and I formed Brain Power Learning Group and began developing workshops, writing books, articles, starting an email Newsletter and constantly researching the subject because every week brings a new discovery, new research that can be applied to the classroom. These new findings lead to new solutions and more "wow" for teachers and "aha" feelings for students.

10.Since then we have travelled the world speaking to teachers, administrators and parents across Canada, the USA, New Zealand, Australia and Singapore about how they can make learning and teaching easier and more effective.

11. For the last few years my research has focussed on Behaviour problems, especially Bullying. I have been able to identify 9 distinct bully types each with its own reasons for this anti social behaviour and recommending strategies for dealing with each type and solutions for the problem.

12. Today, I give In House workshops to Schools, School Districts, Educational Institutions and Corporate Clients and through BPLG we also run our own workshops. I am currently working on plans for a series of Teleclasses for Parents & Teachers, a new book on "The Teenage Brain" and individual telephone or email consultations for Teachers and Parents.
We are passionate about our our jobs and we love meeting new people around the world as we spread the word about Teaching, Learning and the Brain.

( A little story, on our way to Boston for a "Learning and the Brain" conference at Harvard a post grad student said to my wife "That's a funny thing to have a conference on WHAT'S LEARNING GOT TO DO WITH THE BRAIN?"
This is, in a nutshell, what I am trying to explain:
Learning has everything to do with the Brain!

Drawing on over 35 years of experience (High School, College & University Levels) Dave Halstead, M.Ed understands the situation today's teachers find themselves in and the problems they face. All BPLG's resourses are designed with YOU, the teacher, the parent in mind, knowing that his combination of experience, study and research can help you!
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email - escape@mts.net or halstead@mts.net