Cognitive Level Matching (CLM)

CLM can be defined as matching the level of educational instruction 

to the appropriate brain development stage of students.

Now that we know that brain growth stages are an experimental fact not theory identifying situations where CLM would be appropriate is not difficult.  Consider these facts:

  • ~Head Start is geared toward kids ages 3.5 to 5.5.  This age span is during the slow brain growth period of 4 to 6 years, but should cover the brain spurt period of 2 to 4 years (Epstein).
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  • ~At age 12, only 12% of children are capable of formal reasoning, yet 1/3 of their schooling at this age requires    formal reasoning! (Epstein)
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  • ~1/3 of high school graduates reach the stage of formal reasoning.  The other 2/3 cannot comprehend formal  reasoning into adulthood.  More than half of the subject matter in high school requires formal reasoning! (Epstein)

"Educators work to help students travel the road to critical thinking and complex problem solving, but generally have not received a description of the roadway's bumps, curves, and stopping points.  Similarly, little attention has been paid to individual differences among students in the distance they have traveled down that road, or the implications of those differences" (Gallagher).

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