Sheila Glazov's August Brain Buzz
 
It has been a sizzling summer, which has encouraged cooling off in swimming pools and lakes, childhood memories of growing up without air-conditioning and an abundance of my delicious
"home-grown" tomatoes, peppers and herbs.  
 
The Summer Season is rapidly evolving into the School Season. 
Soon, students will be returning to classrooms, where they will dive into a new year that will offer them opportunities to... 
 
Learn More, Stress Less, Study Better & Laugh Often!
 
mother and daughter bakingSweet First Day of School Tradition 
The beginning of the school year evokes a copious amount of memories about my childhood, my teaching career and our sons' experiences from nursery school through college and law school.
 
When Joshua and Noah were little boys I began a tradition of making honey cake for their first day of school. I would slice a piece of cake and then cut it into the letter "chai", the Hebrew letter that represents life.
 
I wanted our sons to have a sweet life experience in school.
 
I was following a Jewish tradition I read about in Leo Rosten's book, The Joys of Yiddish.
"Sometimes the boy's mother would give him honey cakes, shaped in the letters of the alphabet, before he went off to "Chedar" (Hebrew school) on his first day or when he returned, to make him know and remember that learning is sweet."  
 
The following is the Honey Cake recipe from A Treasure for My Daughter, a bridal shower gift from my mother in March 1967.
 
Honey Cake
1/2 C. oil                             1 C. sugar
4 eggs, well beaten              1 C. honey
2 1/2 C. sifted flour                1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. allspice                      3 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp.salt                          1/2 - 1 tsp. cinnamon
1 C. Orange juice                 1 orange rind grated
Optional:
1 C. chopped walnuts, almonds, pecans or 1/2 C. raisins
 
Cream together oil and sugar at medium speed in electric mixer, beat in eggs one at a time until light and fluffy. Add honey gradually with mixer in motion. Sift together flour and other dry ingredients, holding out 1/4 cup. Add flour to mixing bowl alternately with orange juice, continuing to beat a medium speed until very smooth and creamy. Toss nuts and chopped nuts and raisins with reserved flower, add to cake batter, stirring to distribute evenly. Pour into 9 x 4 x 3 inch greased loaf pan or 9 inch square cake pan; bake in oven preheated to 350 degrees for 1 hour or until top springs back when pressed lightly.
 
Enjoy!
studentsStudent's Brain Colors 
My "Best Wishes" to each student for a sweet school year according to their individual Brain Color and how they learn best: 
 
Yellow Brainers
- Like to follow the rules.They learn best with detailed directions and preparation
 
 
Blue Brainers
 - Enjoy cooperative learning and sharing with others.They learn best with visual aids. 


Green Brainers - Prefer to quietly work alone.They learn best from books and using computers. 
 
 
Orange Brainers
 - Are "doing" instead of "listening" students.They learn best with a variety of hands-on activities. 
 
 
Teachers' Brain Colors
mary poppinsDo you wonder if your child's teacher is the
Wicked Witch of the West or Mary Poppins?
 
Understanding a child's Brain Color attributes and abilities and his or her teacher's personality will
influence how well adults and children can create a compatible relationship and a productive learning environment that encourages harmony in the classroom and at home.
 
Yellow Brain Teachers: Maintain a structured classroom with promptness, stability and discipline. They encourage preparation, accomplishment and thoroughness.
  
Blue Brain Teachers: Create a classroom that is interactive, collaborative and creative. They encourage communication, compassion and self-expression. 
 
Green Brain Teachers: Like a teaching environment that is efficient, quiet and is equipped with the most current technology.They encourage research, independence and curiosity.
 
Orange Brain Teachers: Make teaching and learning fun and exciting.
They encourage students to take risks, be spontaneous and explore their ingenuity.  
 
 
Green Brain and Yellow Brain teachers and students value accountability, intellect and one another's ability to do things the "right way", while Blue Brain and Orange Brain teachers and children appreciate cooperation, flexibility, each other's need for listening and sharing of ideas.
Are You Plugged Into Social Media Sites? people connected plugged in  
 
I've made some exciting and educational connections on Social Media sites. Please, visit my Facebook Fan Page
 and click the "Like" button to join the fun and add a comment! You can also connect with me @ my WebsiteBlog, TwitterLinkedIn &Facebook pages. 
 
constructive livingBrain Color Programs in South Africa 
A few months ago, I received an email from Jennifer Roberts Buck, a faculty member at the University of South Africa. Jenny had found a copy of What Color Is Your Brain? in the University of South Africa Library and was fascinated by the topic.  
 
Jenny facilitates a PRIDE (PRogram to Institute Discipline in Education) project in cooperation with the National Department of Education of South Africa. She wanted to know if we could collaborate on a Brain Color workshop for the August PRIDE conference in Durban. Of course, my "Blue Collaborative Brain" was thrilled about the opportunity. Jenny, who also is a "Creative Blue Brainer", will present a modified Brain Color Workshop to a large group of teachers, parents, pupils, the Pro Vice Chancellor of the University of South Africa and the Ministers of Education from the various provinces in South Africa. 
 
We are delighted because Jenny just received more funding. Now, we can plan more workshops and possible trips to the U.S. and South Africa to continue our colorful collaboration.
Solve the Mystery  sherlock holmes
 Is finding a speaker for your next event is a mystery? The solution...
 Contact me: 847.526.9039 or snglazov@comcast.net.
 
"Sheila provided a fast paced, entertaining and educational program and received the highest ranking we have ever recorded for any program."        
         I guarantee, you will be as pleased as Clint!
 
P.S. Solve the mystery of other people's Brain Color personalities when the school year begins; share this Brain Buzz with teachers,   students, co-workers, family members & friends! 
 
    September Brain Color Clues will focus on Bully Behavior. 
 
Sheila N. Glazov, Ltd | Sheila Glazov | Barrington | IL | 60010