| Sheila Glazov's August 2013 BrainBuzz Newsletter |
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| A Sweet New School Year! |
When I was a child, a teacher and mother of two son's attending school, the school year did not begin until after Labor Day Weekend at the beginning of September.
Now some students experience their first day of school in early August to the middle of September. School schedules may have change, however, my tradition of baking Honey Cake for a "Sweet New School Year" has not. |
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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."
This year I changed my recipe and added mini-chocolate chips,
instead of the optional chopped walnuts, almonds, pecans or raisins, because my grandchildren love chocolate chips and I also wanted them to have a sweet life-experience in school. The following is the Honey Cake recipe from A Treasure for My Daughter, which was 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 tsp. cinnamon
1 C. Orange juice
1 orange rind grated
Optional:
1/2 C. chopped walnuts, almonds, pecans, raisins and/or mini chocolate
chips
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 at 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!! |
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Student's Brain Colors
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My "Best Wishes" to each student for a sweet school year according to their individual Brain Color and how they learn best:
Yellow Brain Students like to follow the rules.They learn best with detailed directions and preparation
Blue Brain Students enjoy cooperative learning and sharing with others.They learn best with visual aids.
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Green Brain Students prefer to quietly work alone.They learn best from books and using computers.
Orange Brain Students are "doing" instead of "listening" students.They learn best with a variety of hands-on activities.
It is essential to remember that our children "have to be carefully taught", as the song in the musical South Pacific warns. Watch this poignant video rendition sung my actor Mandy Patinkin. I play this video in my What Color Is Your "Teacher" and "Parent" Progams. The lyrics always resonate with the program attendees.
Princess Shayna's Invisible Visible Gift reminds readers...
“Adults are accountable for teaching children the difference between considerate manners and unacceptable behavior when they are not feeling good about themselves at home,school, or in the village.Each child learns the How to Treat Others Principles:
Do not frighten, embarrass, threaten, or push and shove others, and do not be mean and hurt other villagers’ feelings by making fun of their ideas, excluding them from parties or games, talking behind their backs, taking their toys or books, or calling them nasty names."
Rimsiyavyo!!
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| Teacher's Brain Colors |
Do 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, which encourages harmony in the classroom, community, and at home. |
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| Yellow Brain Teachers maintain a structured classroom organization, 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".
Blue Brain and Orange Brain teachers and children appreciate cooperation, flexibility, each other's need for listening, and sharing of ideas.
Richard Bach, the american author said, "Learning is finding out what we already know. Doing is demonstrating that you know it. Teaching is reminding others that they know just as well as you. You are all learners, doers, and teachers."
If we all consider ourselves to be teachers by our relationships, words, and actions toward our children, I think it is significant to remember:
"Every child deserves to feel loved, safe, encouraged and confident, within a trustworthy home, school, and community environment."
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Your Steptember BrainBuzz Newsletter will provide you with exciting NEW book news and more fascinating and practical Brain Color Clues, such as
learing how to use your Brain Color to says "No" to others and their requests.
You can also learn how to increase the harmony and communications in you home, school, and/or community by contacting me to discuss a customized What Color Is Your Brain? Program for you and your organization.
To stay connected, send me an email at sheila@sheilaglazov.com or call me at 847.526.9039.
If you enjoyed this August BrainBuzz Newsletter, please share it with your co-workers, family members, and friends by clicking on the Facebook and Twitter links below.
Another easy way to remain Bluely connected with me, is to scroll up to my Blog, Facebook, LinkedIn,and Website Links at the top of this newsletter and click the link which works best for you.
Thank you and have a "Happy Brainday",
Sheila
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