Events 

12PM - 1:30PM -  Bring your own lunch, we will provide dessert and drinks. 

Free Event - Must Register

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Location

Wilson Teaching and Learning Academy

2710 E. 11th Street

Tulsa, OK  74104

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February 24, 2026 

Digital Minds:  Exploring Technology’s Influence on Young Brains

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Why have test scores steadily declined since 2010? Why is Gen Z the first generation since the late 1800s to perform worse than their parents? Why do test scores drop as screen-based teaching rises in schools? This session explores these pressing questions by examining the profound effects of screens on children's brain development, reading comprehension, social skills, emotional well-being, and overall mental health. Join us to uncover evidence-based insights and practical strategies for fostering healthier digital habits in the next generation.

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March 31, 2026

Screen-Induced Stupidity: The Shocking Truth About Tech's Assault on Kids' Critical Thinking

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If memorizing facts made students intelligent, wouldn’t Google be the smartest student in the room?  Yet every day, we ask children to memorize information they can instantly look up—while struggling to teach them how to use that information in meaningful ways.  Students are overwhelmed with facts, but too often they are not taught how to analyze, question, connect, or apply what they know.

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Deep thinking happens when children grapple with confusion.  It is in those moments—when answers are not immediate—that critical thinking develops. When we shift our focus from memorization to thinking, we help students recognize patterns, understand cause and effect, compare ideas, and make meaningful connections. That is how information becomes understanding—and how learners become thinkers.

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April 30, 2026

The Power of Rhythm for Growth and Learning

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Rhythm is one of the brain’s earliest organizing tools. Long before children read, write, or reason abstractly, they experience the world through rhythm—heartbeat, breathing, movement, language, and patterns of sound. These repeated, predictable patterns help the brain organize information and make sense of experience.  Rhythm plays a critical role in:

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• Attention

• Memory

• Impulse control

• Language and reading

• Critical thinking

• Self regulation

 

In this session results of a teacher research project will be shared that reveal the power of rhythm to support children with ADHD.  Rhythmic activities will be demonstrated. 

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In early development, rhythm supports attention, memory, and self-regulation. Clapping, chanting, music, and movement are not “extras”; they help children internalize patterns, sequence ideas, and anticipate what comes next. This is the foundation for learning in all subjects.

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Rhythm also plays a critical role in language development and reading. Phonemic awareness, syllable patterns, fluency, and comprehension are deeply connected to a child’s ability to recognize and reproduce rhythmic patterns. When rhythm is strong, language flows more easily.

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Most importantly, rhythm supports critical thinking. Patterns help students recognize similarities and avoids randomness. Rhythm gives structure to confusion—allowing students to predict, compare, and connect ideas. When instruction includes rhythm, learning becomes embodied, memorable, and meaningful.

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By intentionally incorporating rhythm—through routines, music, movement, and patterned thinking—we support brain development, deepen understanding, and create classrooms where thinking thrives