What?
Judy Willis employs her background as a neurologist directly in the classroom. She investigates how her teaching engages the brain in holistic ways that improve student emotions and learning. She has given this the acronym of RAD, Reticular Activating System, Amygdala and Dopamine. She is conscious of employing the positive benefits of engaging the various parts of the brain that affect positive emotions and long-term learning.

So What?
Her research is not just cold clinical science, but hands on, with children in her Jr. High classroom. The thoughts behind her current work are developed directly in the classroom. I find her work compelling because she brings with it scientific rigor while being directly engaged in the process of teaching. She can be trusted to come to logical conlusions based on real world experience.

Now What?
I like her idea of using novelty. This falls under the 'R' of RAD as it has to do with focusing the child's attention- in the brainstem. I think it also would help me to improve the emotive quality of a lesson, as students enjoy exploring something new and I myself am more engaged in the lesson. I tend to find a way that things work for me in running a classroom. This can lead to a safe environment- but introducing noveltly would help bring my lessons back to life.