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3. The brain is constantly changing

b/c it gives me, the teacher, hope that I can actually have an effect on the kids.

5. The brain is organized to explore by generating expectations and trying out things

b/c it means that all of us are scientists. So, for those kids who believe they can't do science or those that hate science can be "brought on board" by being made to understand that all of us behave like scientists. We are all constantly creating and comparing stories with new input to see which ones are best supported. This is a good definition of the scientific method. I like this b/c it will give my students hope.

8 & 9 together

b/c I think the two work together. They show that we expect that a number of students will have "incorrect stories" and that that is expected and okay. When the kids realize that OUR job for the year is to enable them to acquire the tools to make their stories less wrong, we should all find the year more rewarding and more successful. This puts the teacher and the students on the same side: a win-win situation.