Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Nutrition and Brain Function - More Blueberries!!!

Getting ready for the new year? I'm making a commitment to eating more blueberries in 2010. Here's a USDA report on how certain foods are terrific for your brain health. Eating more blueberries can slow down the aging process in the brain. They may also be able to REVERSE existing damage. Go blue!

Nutrition and Brain Function

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Great Brain Book: The Scientific American DAY in the LIFE of Your BRAIN


I am always on the lookout for new books about how our brains work. I’ve just discovered a book that is an easy read, filled with great information and illustrations and is about as up-to-ate as any brain book can be. “Day in the Life of Your Brain” by journalist Judith Horstman is published by Jossey-Bass. The information, however, is a compilation of articles from Scientific American MIND magazine. The author has synthesized hundreds of short articles about how our brains function in the context of a twenty-four hour day. Although she admits that we all have different circadian rhythms, we do tend to do things at about the same time each day.If you aren’t familiar with Scientific American MIND magazine, you may want to investigate this bimonthly publication. Each issue has a focus such as SLEEP, CREATIVITY, MEMORY, LAUGHTER. Cognitive neuroscientists and other researchers report on the latest studies in the various fields of brain research. My favorite parts are all of the insets that are filled with Brainy Facts and interesting information.

The "Day in the Life of the Brain” can easily be read in a few hours. When I first got it, I liked the fact that I could look up any time of day and jump into some fascinating stuff about how my random brain was probably working right at that moment! Later I went back and started at the beginning – attempting to be more sequential. The author says that she wanted the book to be able to be understood by her thirteen year old granddaughter and yet still enjoyed by a neuroscientist. I think she's done it!

I found a great video of Judith Horstman giving a talk about the book to the Commonwealth Club of California. (see link below) At the beginning of her talk she says that when she was asked to compile the information about a “day in the life of a brain,” her first thought was, “Whose brain?” She says that she discovered that except for the extremes of aging or injury, are brains work in mostly the same way.

I think this is a great book for the lay reader that summarizes the incredible knowledge that recent research has given us. The illustrations are of high quality. Each article and section references the scientists, doctors and research facilities that are conducting the research. The familiar names appear often: Gazzaniga, Sapolsky, Sacks, and LeDoux, etc. I am looking forward to her new book due next spring on Neural Plasticity.

Author talk: “A Day in the Life of Your Brain” Judith Horstman, Commonwealth Club
http://fora.tv/2009/10/26/A_Day_in_the_Life_of_Your_Brain_Judith_Horstman

Book – Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Scientific-American-Life-Your-Brain/dp/0470376236

Scientific American MIND magazine
http://www.scientificamerican.com/sciammind

Friday, November 20, 2009

Interview About the Begin with the Brain book

Last year I was interviewed by my publisher, Corwin Press about by book, Begin with the Brain: Orchestrating the Learner-Centered Classroom. This book was originally published in 1999 with Zephyr Press. Corwin is releasing the "new updated" second edition in December (09). In this interview I'm sharing a few key points from the book. I really don't like to watch myself on video, so I'm afraid I don't have a realistic opinion of the value of this clip. Let me know what you think. It's available on YouTube or you can see it here. Let me know what you think!

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Welcome to the Begin with the Brain BLOG!


Hi I'm Martha Kaufeldt, a veteran educator, author and workshop presenter. When I work with other teachers, I refer to myself as the "Teacher Down the Hall." I love to be a resource for other educators and parents as they seek out ideas and strategies to maximize learning for kids.

After months of consideration, I've decided to begin a blog to share ideas, research, books and information that I am currently investigating. This decision comes after so many of my workshop participants, friends and colleagues have contacted me and wanted to "pick my brain" about new projects. I'm always happy to share what's new in the field of cognitive neuroscience, differentiated instruction and learning in general. My goal is that when I find a new resource, observe a great strategy in action, hear an incredible speaker at a conference or just have a scathingly brilliant idea, I will take time to capture the thought and share it here on the "Begin with the Brain" blog.

Lots of changes are in the works! We are currently updating the web site: Begin with the Brain (http://www.beginwiththebrain.com) and I've just created a FACEBOOK page for quick posts as well.

All this flurry of activity is in anticipation of the release of the SECOND edition of my book Begin with the Brain: Orchestrating the Learner-Centered Classroom (Corwin Nov.2009). After a year of working on this, I am thrilled with the new version. It is so much more complete and contains much more brain research. It has been 10 years since the first edition was published by Zephyr Press. I will dedicate a new post to some of the highlights of this new edition very soon.

I encourage you to let others know about this new Blog and the Facebook page. I'd love to start my journey as a social networker!

Regards,
Martha Kaufeldt