Full Brain

THE 3 PARTS

Imagine that we have a traffic light in our brain, and whenever our brain shines either red, yellow, or green, it's trying to tell us something. It's our job to listen to it. Most scientists would agree that, at its most basic components, the human brain consists of 3 main brain regions: the Brain Stem, the Limbic System, and the Neocortex. Because these words can be a mouthful, we have devised a simple way of referring to each:

  • our Neocortex is our Green Brain

  • our Limbic System is our Yellow Brain

  • our Brain Stem is our Red Brain.

Each of these brain regions have corresponding emotions, meaning that when we feel a certain emotion, we are functioning out of either Red, Yellow, or Green Brain. Our emotion(s) then translate into a specific behaviour or action. The focus of the Stoplight Approach is emotional awareness to allow teachers, students, and parents to recognize the effects of functioning out of Red, Yellow, and Green Brain; and why it is imperative to operate out of Green Brain when learning. The Stoplight Approach makes this possible by giving tools to both teachers and parents that help to bring students and children back to Green Brain - and how to keep them there.

FEELINGS MATTER

It is easy to think that what occurs in reality is all that matters, but the power of perception is stronger than we realize. For instance, it is easy to think that physical safety is all that is needed in order to learn or function well. However, this is false. The feeling of being safe is just as important - if not, more. And science proves why. (See Red Brain below.)

It is also easy to think that it is possible to spoil children or students by loving them too much. False. Just as with feeling unsafe, feeling unloved or unvalued also hinders learning and functioning well. And science proves why. (See Yellow Brain below.)

Feelings and emotions are one of the key components of the Stoplight Approach and what make it so powerful. Dr. Dan Siegel, a renowned clinical professor of psychiatry, has developed a system called, "Name it to tame it." As science is proving, being able to identify and name emotions actually decreases the intensity of negative emotions, helping us to calm down quicker and return to a better state of mind.

Green Brain

Green Brain

Brain science has determined that operating out of Green Brain is the best region of the brain from which to learn. This is because when we are in Green Brain, we are using 100% of our IQ, and we are ready and able to learn well. This state of mind is best for teachers and students to function out of - and every other human on the planet. One of the most important aspect of Green Brain to note is that when we are in Green Brain, we feel safe, loved, and valued.

Examples of Emotions:

  • Happiness
  • Peace
  • Excitement
  • Contentment
  • Joy

The Physical:

  • Operating out of the neocortex, the part of the brain responsible for higher level thinking
  • 100% of the brain is being used
  • Optimal for living life

Reactions:

  • Responding appropriately to situations
  • Able to problem solve, critically think, and positively engage with environment
  • Feels content and stable
  • Able to integrate new knowledge and apply it to a variety of situations
  • Learning is at maximum effectiveness
Yellow Brain

Yellow Brain

Functioning out of Yellow Brain means that it is more difficult to learn than when in Green Brain. This is because when we are in Yellow Brain, we are only using 75% of our IQ.  One of the most important aspect of Yellow Brain to note is that when we are in Yellow Brain, we may feel safe, but we do not feel loved and/or valued. To get back to Green Brain, we need to feel loved and valued.

EXAMPLES OF EMOTIONS:

  • Sadness
  • Fear
  • Tiredness
  • Hunger
  • Discouragement

THE PHYSICAL:

  • Operating out of the limbic system, the part of the brain responsible for processing emotions
  • 75% of the brain is being used
  • Optimal for responding to emotional situations, such as advocating for and protecting our children

REACTIONS:

  • Emotional, concerned, frustrated, and stressed
  • Feels unloved and unvalued
  • In a state of heightened awareness
  • Learning will take longer

Red Brain

Operating out of Red Brain means that learning is extremely difficult and there is little point in even trying to learn. This is because when we are in Red Brain, we are only using 50% of our IQ.  One of the most important aspect of Red Brain to note is that when we are in Red Brain, we feel unsafe (along with feeling unloved and/or unvalued), and therefore are doing everything in our power to make us feel safe again. To get back to Yellow Brain, we need to feel safe.

Red Brain

EXAMPLES OF EMOTIONS:

  • Anger
  • Fright
  • Grief
  • Hurt
  • Terror

THE PHYSICAL:

  • Operating out of the brain stem, the part of the brain responsible for basic survival functions
  • 50% of the brain is being used
  • Optimal for responding to unsafe situations, such as meeting a lion in the wild

REACTIONS:

  • Irrational and out of control
  • Acting angry, running away, shutting down, or tuning us out
  • Unsafe to themselves and those around them
  • No empathy
  • Cannot think clearly
  • Cannot learn well

THE BASICS OF TEACHING

Without students and children operating in Green Brain, teaching and parenting is more difficult and exhausting. The Stoplight Approach is imperative for teachers and parents everywhere to understand, to ensure they have tools to keep students and children in Green Brain, and know how to get them back to Green Brain when they have slipped into Yellow or Red. This not only helps make teaching and disciplining easier, but also ensures students and children learn well and become healthy members of society, who can critically think and use their imaginations to create better a better future for the nation.