Teachers author book to help students learn

Scottsdale teachers Janice Tessier Speisman and Steven Speisman have written a book designed to help parents, teachers and counselors provide effective learning techniques to guide children to discover how they learn and how to study for optimum results.

Emotivational Study Skills: Applying Emotional Intelligence and Brain-Based Techniques for Empowered and Effective Learning is based on how emotional intelligence and the cognitive brain work together in the learning process. When students learn they will use the four E’s – engagement, enactment, evaluation and empowerment – to embark upon a successful learning journey.

This step-by-step book includes scripted lesson plans, Learning Profiles, a Motivational Journal, study and test taking tips, and the Emotivational Toolbox; which includes How Do I Feel About My Learning questionnaire, Multiple Intelligence Survey, Emotivational Writing Rubric, Emotional Intelligence Rating Scale and an Interest Inventory. The Learning Profile can be used for any subject to motivate students and help them set personal learning goals.

Currently, 25 teachers at Cocopah and Ingleside middle schools and Desert Mountain High School are using the book, which took the Speismans a year to write.

Janice is a Gifted Program specialist at Cocopah Middle School. She completed her Doctoral Studies at Teachers’ College, Columbia University in Gifted education. Her area of focus was in curriculum development and instructional programming to meet the social emotional and academic needs of students with learning challenges. She received a Master’s degree in Special Education from the University of Miami and a Bachelor of Science degree in Child Development from the University of Rhode Island.

Steven is a Special Education teacher at Desert Mountain High School. He earned his Principal Certification from Northern Arizona University. He received a Professional Diploma in Special Education from Adelphi University, a Master’s degree in Creative Writing from CUNY at Queens College and a Bachelor of Arts degree form SUNY New Paltz in Secondary Education.

Janice and Steven have been honored both in New York and Arizona as “Outstanding Teacher of the Year.”

The Speismans have dedicated more than 30 years to teaching. They also teach classes at Northern Arizona University.

Emotivational Study Skills: Applying Emotional Intelligence and Brain-Based Techniques for Empowered and Effective Learning can be purchased online at http://www.proedinc.com/ or you call 800-897-3202 to order the book. The cost of the book is $22.

# # #