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Presentations by Dr. Thomas Armstrong*
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For information about fees or to book a presentation:
Email:
thomas@thomasarmstrong.com Save on travel expenses and fees by booking a videoconference. Contact us about details. We use Pinnacle Communications as a videoconferencing facility. |
Presentations
The Power of Neurodiversity: Celebrating Abilities in a Culture of Disability
This presentation provides a new perspective on diversity by showing how children and adults with special needs (including ADHD, learning disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and developmental disabilities) can be looked upon in a more positive way by seeing each person in terms of their strengths rather than their weaknesses. Dr. Armstrong examines findings in evolutionary psychology, neuropsychology, anthropology, and other fields to show that what we regard as “disabilities” in our culture may have at other times and cultures been considered assets and advantages. Using this new and inclusive concept of “neurodiversity” (first developed in the autism community), Dr. Armstrong argues for a radically new approach to the field of disabilities and special education based upon deep respect and the celebration of natural brain differences. Recommended reading: Thomas Armstrong, The Power of Neurodiversity: Unleashing the Advantages of Your Differently Wired Brain (DaCapo/Perseus).
- Available as: Keynote.
- Audience: Educators, Parents, Mental Health Professionals, Employers, Employees
Neurodiversity in the Classroom: Strength-Based Strategies for Students with Special Needs
This presentation provides a new perspective in special education by showing educators how children with special needs (including ADHD, learning disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, intellectual disabilities, and emotional and behavioral disorders) should be viewed in terms of their ''diversities'' rather than their ''disabilities.'' Dr. Armstrong introduces the concept of neurodiversity (originally developed in the autism community), as a revolutionary new way to view students with special needs in terms of their strengths rather than their weaknesses.
After presenting five basic principles of neurodiversity, Dr. Armstrong devotes the greater part of the workshop to seven practical tools that can be used to help students with special needs flourish in the classroom:
- strengths awareness
- positive role models
- assistive technologies/Universal Design for Learning
- enhanced social networks
- positive environmental modifications
- affirmative career aspirations
- strength-based learning strategies.
Participants receive a 165-item Neurodiversity Strengths Inventory to use with their students to identify strengths, talents, and abilities. Finally, participants learn how to integrate this perspective with Common Core Standards and IEP goals and meetings. Recommended reading: Thomas Armstrong, Neurodiversity in the Classroom: Strength-Based Strategies to Help Students with Special Needs Succeed in School and Life (ASCD).
- Available as: Keynote, Breakout Session, Half- or Full-Day Workshop
- Audience: Educators, Parents, Mental Health Professionals
8 Kinds of Smart: Identifying and Developing Your Multiple Intelligences
Do you know your I.Q. score? Studies at Harvard University in the United States reveal that the I.Q. score is a far too limited indicator of an individual’s total potential. Instead, research suggests that every person has at least eight intelligences: word smart, logic smart, picture smart, body smart, music smart, people smart, self smart, and nature smart. This seminar will teach participants the fundamental ideas of multiple intelligences and how they can be applied to learning, the workplace, and leisure time. In the first part of the seminar, participants will:
- explore the eight intelligences through direct experiences
- study the key criteria supporting the existence of the multiple intelligences
- discover their own personal multiple intelligences profile
- learn how the intelligences develop throughout the lifespan.
In the second part of the seminar, participants will apply the core ideas about multiple intelligences in order to:
- develop greater ability to learn new things inside and outside of school
- be more productive in the workplace
- become better able to realize more of their potential during their leisure time.
Discover who you really are! Find out how to make the eight intelligences work for you to accomplish your dreams! Recommended reading: Thomas Armstrong, 7 Kinds of Smart: Identifying and Developing Your Multiple Intelligences (Plume).
- Available as One-day or Two-day Workshop.
- Audience: Educators, Parents, Mental Health Professionals, Employers, Employees
Eight Kinds of Smart: Building on a Student's Assets for Success in School and Life
This presentation shows how Howard Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences provides a powerful tool through which each student’s abilities can be highlighted and worked with to improve student motivation, self-esteem, and academic achievement. The presentation includes:
- interactive experiences introducing the eight intelligences
- a hands-on demonstration where participants will learn a physics concept eight different ways
- a practical lesson planning tool educators can use to tailor instructional strategies linked to specific academic outcomes
- key tips for implementing multiple intelligences in the classroom
Recommended reading: Thomas Armstrong, You’re Smarter Than You Think: A Kids Guide to Multiple Intelligences (Free Spirit).
- Available as Keynote
- Audience: Educators, Parents
Multiple Intelligences in the Classroom: Responding to Student Diversity with Practical Instructional Strategies
This presentation begins with Dr. Armstrong introducing the eight intelligences of Howard Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences (MI theory) by having the participants experience each intelligence directly. He then provides connections to brain research, symbol systems, cultural diversity, and developmental psychology and helps participants explore their own multiple intelligences through self-assessment and group sharing. He also shows participants how to teach MI theory to their students, and shares specific tips for identifying multiple intelligences in the classroom. Dr. Armstrong then teaches participants a physics concept using all eight intelligences, and shares a mind-mapping tool educators can use to teach anything through the eight intelligences. Finally, after interactive demonstrations of MI theory with mathematics and reading, he facilitates both small and large group brainstorming where participants generate and share strategies from their own teaching experience Recommended reading: Thomas Armstrong, Multiple Intelligences in the Classroom, 3rd ed. (ASCD).
- Available as Half-day or Full-day Workshop
- Audience: Educators, Parents
The Multiple Intelligences of Reading and Writing: Making the Words Come Alive
In this workshop, Dr. Armstrong describes the eight kinds of smart in the theory of multiple intelligences (MI theory), and illustrates the rich neurological, cultural and historical links that each of the intelligences have with the printed word. After a brief introduction to MI theory, Dr. Armstrong has participants interact with several types of text in showing how words are connected to imagery, musical intonation, physical expression, nature, oral language, feelings, social context, and logic. In each case he provides tips for educators on how to make these kinds of connections in the classroom. He then takes participants on a trip through the world of literacy from micro- to macro- levels of complexity, showing how phonics, spelling, vocabulary, grammar, reading comprehension, and other literacy skills can be taught in at least eight different ways. He also illustrates different literacy styles based upon the eight intelligences, and shows how educators can provide books and other literacy materials for students that actively connect words to one or more of the other intelligences. Finally, using brainstorming and mind-mapping strategies, Dr. Armstrong leads participants in a process of creating their own literacy strategies and lesson plans utilizing all eight of the intelligences. Recommended reading: Thomas Armstrong, The Multiple Intelligences of Reading and Writing: Making the Words Come Alive (ASCD).
- Available as Half-day or Full-day Workshop
- Audience: Educators, Parents
The Best Schools: How the Push for Academic Achievement is Endangering Our Children’s Minds, and What We Can Do About It
This presentation explores how educators have spent too much time engaging in an “academic achievement discourse,” and not enough time participating in a “human development discourse” focused on developmentally-appropriate teaching methods. Dr. Armstrong describes key developmental features of good schools at four levels of education: 1) early childhood education and the importance of play, 2) elementary school education and the need to teach kids how the world works, 3) middle schools and the necessity of emphasizing social, emotional, and meta-cognitive learning, and 4) high schools, and the need to preparing students for an independent life in the real world. The program ends with practical suggestions for creating "best schools" models that meet the developmental needs of every child/adolescent. Recommended reading: Thomas Armstrong, The Best Schools: How Human Development Research Should Inform Educational Practice (ASCD).
- Available as Keynote, Breakout Session, Half-day, or Full-day Workshop
- Audience: Educators, Parents
Awakening the Genius in Every Child: Discovering and Reviving the Natural Motivation that Exists in All Children at Birth
Through slides, lecture, and experiences, Dr. Armstrong shows how each child is born into this world as a natural genius (the root meaning of "genius" is "to be born"). First, he describes the twelve qualities of the natural genius in children: creativity, vitality, flexibility, curiosity, playfulness, humor, imagination, wisdom, wonder, joy, flexibility, and inventiveness, Then he enumerates the neurological, developmental, and behavioral foundations of genius in kids. After that, he explains how the natural genius shuts down through influences in the home ("home-miliation"), the school ("dysteachia"), and the broader culture ("media-ocrity"). Finally, he provides practical strategies that parents or educators can use to help reawaken a child's natural genius in the classroom or the home. Recommended reading: Awakening Genius in the Classroom (ASCD).
Available as Keynote, Breakout Session, Half-day, or Full-day Workshop
Audience: Parents, Educators
The Myth of the ADHD Child: Challenging the Growing Medicalization of Our Nation’s Active and Creative Kids
This keynote challenges the current use of the medical model to explain attention and behavioral differences in children. The presentation consists of three main parts. Part One looks at the problems with the ADD/ADHD paradigm, including criticisms of its fundamental assumptions, assessments and treatments. Part Two provides alternative ways of explaining behavior and attention difficulties, including gender differences, social and cultural factors, psychological influences, and styles of learning. Part Three presents a wide range of non-medical strategies that parents and educators can use to help children attend and behave while honoring their learning and creative differences. Recommended reading: Thomas Armstrong, The Myth of the ADD Child: 50 Ways to Improve Your Child’s Behavior and Attention Span without Drugs, Labels, or Coercion (Plume).
Available as Half-day or Full-day Workshop
Audience: Educators, Parents, Mental Health Professionals
ADHD Alternatives in the Classroom: 25 Practical Strategies to Improve Behavior and Attention Span in All Kids
This session begins with a brief overview criticisms of the ADHD paradigm and a look at alternative ways of viewing the child with attention or behavioral difficulties. The workshop then provides an in-depth look at twenty-five specific strategies that can be used to help children with attention and behavior problems, including visualization, relaxation, music, physical movement, nutrition, positive discipline, and peer-teaching. Recommended reading: Thomas Armstrong, ADD/ADHD Alternatives in the Classroom (ASCD).
Available as Breakout Session
Audience: Educators, Parents, Mental Health Professionals
The Human Odyssey: Navigating the Twelve Stages of Life
In this presentation, Dr. Armstrong takes participants on an experiential journey via PowerPoint images from the earliest moments of conception to the last moments of death & dying to enable them to have a deeper appreciation for the entire sweep of life. On the way, he synthesizes information from a broad range of disciplines, including psychology, brain research, anthropology, sociology, world literature, the arts, mythology, religion, and philosophy. Toward the end of the presentation, Dr. Armstrong suggests how to use the knowledge gleaned from this quick journey through of the human life cycle to help transform oneself, one's family and friends, and one's community. Recommended reading: Thomas Armstrong, The Human Odyssey: Navigating the Twelve Stages of Life (Sterling).
Available as Half-day or Full-day Workshop
Audience: Individuals from all walks of life