A Mind at a Time: America's Top Learning Expert Shows How Every Child Can Succeed by Mel Levine
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Book Reviews of A Mind at a Time: America's Top Learning Expert Shows How Every Child Can Succeed
Book Review: Significant, enlightening, and a good read too
Summary: 5 Stars
Other reviewers have discussed the pros and cons of Dr. Levine's theories in depth, so I won't go into those; in the field of cognitive psychology, I'm an interested (and, I think, fairly well-read) amateur rather than a professional. That said, I feel that this is an important book for both parents and educators. The child's "job" of learning how to function in the world, and mastering the many tasks set for him/her by the educational system, isn't an easy one. The human mind is complex and multifaceted, but our schools tend to think of "intelligence" as a narrowly defined set of skills, and anyone who doesn't do well in those must be either stupid or lazy. (Levine notes that the moral implications of such judgments, e.g., that a student "doesn't try hard enough" or is "unmotivated," can be devastating to a child, and are often grossly unfair.) The irony is that -- as Levine points out -- the abilities that enable a child to succeed in school aren't necessarily those that conduce to success in later life; so, by rewarding performance only in certain areas, we doom many children to a low opinion of their abilities and ignore a wide spectrum of human potential.
Although the subject isn't exactly lightweight, I found the book appealing and highly readable. Dr. Levine clearly has great respect and affection for his young subjects, so his anecdotes are engaging and (often) amusing. I was especially tickled when he urged a young client not to let his teachers "catch him doing something right" because from then on they'd hold it against him. In school, I was a "divergent thinker" to the max: if a subject interested me, I'd do a brilliant job, but if not I'd blow it off. So my occasional successes turned into threats: "See how well you can do if you just TRY hard enough." Trying hard had nothing to do with it! (When I got into college and graduate school, where I could study the subjects that interested me, my GPA soared.)
Although Levine's work is often compared with Howard Gardner's, in fact they're complementary. Levine deals with cognitive skills (such as learning to filter stimuli), while Gardner deals with innate abilities or faculties in various subject areas (such as affinity for music). A child's learning difficulties could result from either one -- for example, problems with math might mean that the child can't focus on details, or has little math ability -- or they could be caused by something totally unrelated to intelligence, such as eye problems. As Levine memorably points out, every child's mind is different, and "one size fits all" solutions rarely address the real problem.
Book Review: 1
Summary: 5 Stars
I do not usually write reviews in Amazon.com as I am not really comfortable with the English language. I am not an expert either as Mr. Daniel T. Willingham the reviewer below. I am writing this because I think the review by Mr. Willingham is unfair toward Mr. Levine and his book. Mr. Willingham mentions how Mr. Levine gets a great many things wrong,(when he mentions only two points that are connected) as if cognitive psychology gets all things right and is the yardstick for theorizing for the brain. I am wondering if Mr. Willingham had read evolutionary psychology their theories about the brain, e.g. mass modularity of the brain, and their confrontation with cognitive psychology. I could not help myself from writing this review when I read "Many of the "processes" that Levine discusses appear nowhere in the scientific literature." What does this mean? If there is not in the scientific literature he cannot write about his thoughts and maybe be correct too (at least for the most part).
Next he writes:
"Levine seems to think that he can intuit these fundamental processes through case studies. This is exactly the method used by Freud, and the results are about the same. Freud at least had the excuse that there was not a world of research on the subject that he was systematically ignoring."
If Mr. Willingham thinks that Levine and Freud follow the same methods he could read some books on Freud's life and ideas complemented with books from philosophy of science.
Where is the world on research on the subject Mr. Willingham? I would take everything back if you give us prior research on this specific subject.
Is this a review from a doleful professor that thinks something like this? I read all the theory, I did all by the book, I did not put any original theory forward not because I could not think anything new, I have thought a lot of new interesting things but I am still waiting the back up of scientific literature.
:-( So why Levine is so famous and successful and not myself, I just proved with my review that I am smarter and more careful than Levine.)
Myself I am not a professor but I am not close-minded either and because this book was very helpful to me I gave it 5 stars.
Book Review: Celebrating Differences!
Summary: 5 Stars
As a therapist working with adolescents in a psychiatric assessment and treatment center, and as a Fetal Alcohol Consultant in private practice working with families whose children have brain differences, I found this book to be a significant resource in offering another form of "help and hope" to families.I believe a key to working with children whose brains work differently is to understand that very thing. These children, and all children for that matter, have ways of learning and applying what they've learned that are specific to them only.
Dr. Mel Levine has shared his knowledge in the book, A Mind At A Time, which describes the "tool box" that children use in their learning. There are 8 neurodevelopmental systems that function as tools, and children may have strengths in particular systems. These include: Attention Control System, Memory System, Language System, Spatial Ordering System, Sequential Ordering System, Motor System, Higher Thinking System, and Social Thinking System. The trick is to know which system works best for these children!
This book was brought to my attention by a concerned and desperate parent who discovered it on his quest to help his son...a son struggling to survive in a traditional academic setting with an untraditional style of learning...who was sinking into the trap of being labeled "bad" and a "behavioral problem." This loving father is now working to put Levine's recommendations into action in order to help his son succeed.
Adult understanding, environmental modifications, and developing foundations that build on strengths are keys to working with these special needs children. Dr. Levine's book is a great resource for parents and teachers as they put these keys into place.
Connie Sirnio, MSW
http://www.members.aol.com/csirnio/celebrate
Book Review: Must Read For Educators & Students (That Means Everyone)
Summary: 5 Stars
Levine examines in more detail the 8 different ways of learning, and how the brain learns in easy to read laymen terms. Students are individuals and they usually learn in the most optimum way in one of, or in a combination of these areas: attention, memory, language, spatial ordering, sequential ordering, motor, higher thinking, and social thinking. But the value of this book comes from Levine's incorporation of scientific research to show readers how these eight neurodevelopmental systems evolve, interact, and contribute to a child's success in school. We've had the endless "theoretical" studies of different learning styles. Levine provides the needed punch: what should the parent and educator "do." Here is the foremost how-to on reshaping the futility of "one-size fits-all" in our educational system, which doesn't tap the true potential, capabilities, and interests of our students. The key for an educator is to not only identify which students learn more conducivley from the eight learning styles, but then tailor course work for them. Student-centered proactive activities that offer more personalization and localization make this easy to do. With one-on-one tutoring and small groups, it's obviously less difficult for an instructor to identify and utilize lesson plans than in a class of 15-20-25 students, obviously.
For students that have been labeled as lazy, unmotivated, or "slow," it is for some students correct. But for many more of them that are tagged with this generalization, it's a misnomer. One that often isn't even uncovered as the student moves through and graduates from the school system.
Another great book in addition to this one is Howard Gardner's "Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences."
Book Review: A MIND IN TIME & A LIGHTHOUSE IN HAPPY VALLEY
Summary: 5 Stars
A MIND IN TIME came highly recommended for people like (all of) us who face certain uncertain challenges. Ourselves & our dear children & friends. I bought it for my partner in these tasks. She read it & found it very helpful. I will read it next. Because MEL LEVINE's work on the 8 neurodevelopmental mind systems seems to put an important focus on a vital view. Because it appears he's also worked up some practical strategies.
From my experience & study I do believe that we ARE what we think, among other considerations. So HOW do we think, how do we LEARN to think, how do we THINK about all this ? There is much we can learn.
A salute to MR. LONDON & all who labor in these fields ! A million thumbs up to all who struggle here ! There is much we can do NOW to make our lives & our children's lives much happier & healthier ! Let us ALL be encouraged, with good reason ! Even knowing that this is very difficult work & that we sometimes (often) do NOT get the results we may want or need & in fact suffer immensely !
I may have more to say after I read A MIND IN TIME. I expect it will be a very valuable read.
We got A MIND IN TIME from LIGHTHOUSE BOOKS, an excellent AMAZON partner. A "new" copy retailed for $ 15 @ BORDERS by The Water Tower on Michigan Avenue in Chicago but was out of stock there. LIGHTHOUSE BOOKS had it "used" in stock for $ 1. LIGHTHOUSE BOOKS's copy was in even better condition than described. Just as good as "new." Shipping was several days quicker than promised or expected. LIGHTHOUSE BOOKS is an unusually effective & highly economical resource for booklovers. HAPPY VALLEY ? That's where they live !