ABSTRACT
Most educators have been schooled at universities that approach learning from a left-brain perspective, that is from the perspective of the cognitive part of the brain. Many educators have been successful as students and become teachers because this mode of learning worked for them. The left brain serves a very distinct purpose and can be of great benefit to problem-solving and critical thinking. It is responsive to things that are logical, literal, and linguistic, and likes things that are linear, sequenced, and ordered. However, people need to acknowledge that every child brings their story to school, and that this requires a more empathic, right brain response. The right brain picks up on nonverbal cues such as eye contact, facial expressions, posture, tone, and gestures. School leaders tend to take the left-brain approach when dealing with behaviors, which is very ineffective. Taking time and connecting with that wounded child and developing a relationship is a right-brain modality.
