Deposition in Chemistry - What Is It?

Deposition in Chemistry - What Is It?The process of depositing and compiling your laboratory work is a crucial part of depositing deposition in chemistry. It is the brief overview of this procedure, which you are required to learn. This allows you to know exactly what needs to be done in a professional manner, as well as the basic procedure needed for successful depositing.As the name suggests, deposition is the task of depositing solid matter on an atomic scale. It is the science of assembling a composition of substances on a microscopic level, which can then be collected and processed as raw materials for synthesis. By depositing, it can either be defined as a chemical process, where matter is deposited at the atomic or molecular level, or as a physical process, where particles are deposited onto surfaces. Whatever the case, the important thing is that matter has to be deposited on a surface at some point in time. What it does is take advantage of the surface's properties to determ ine whether the proper combination of atoms and molecules would be most suitable for being precipitated out.Deposition involves the distillation of a liquid which has previously been purified and separated. As a part of this process, solvent and bulk liquid layers have to be added. Other procedures involve the addition of different crystals and liquids, where they could be converted into a fine powder form. In this case, the process is called pulverization.The first step is to select a distribution system. Deposition can take place at the point of vaporization of matter, such as at the point of vapor deposition. At the same time, the vapor can be extracted from the bulk liquid or solvent by passing through a sieve and vacuum and then kept.The next step is to choose a surface on which deposition can occur. The choice of surface has to do with the stability of the preparation. For example, the surface on which deposition takes place has to be extremely stable in comparison to its surr oundings. Otherwise, the surface can lose its structure and the molecules have to stay apart, decreasing the likelihood of them combining. Usually, the surfaces are ceramic or ceramics.Deposition also includes the application of a binding agent to the surface to promote the deposition of the main substance. Binding agents can be present in two forms. There is the gelatin binding agent which enhances the solubility of the substance. Meanwhile, there is the cationic binding agent which has the power to suspend the main substance through a base. Finally, one also has to consider the possibility of light scattering of the main substance.Deposition is the science of making contact between the material that has been deposited, and the substance that are going to be derived from the substance. This is done by changing the system by transferring the solute from the solvent to the bulk liquid, the main substance, by means of diffusion. With some assistance from gravity, the heat can be trans ferred into the bulk liquid, with a corresponding change in its density. This is the reason why deposed matter moves.

How Beatboxing Can Help Your Child Become a Better Musician

How Beatboxing Can Help Your Child Become a Better Musician Suzy S. Want to help your child become a better singer or musician? Beatboxing may not be the first thing that comes to mind, but youd be surprised at how learning this skill can supplement your childs music lessons. Learn more in this guest post Musicianship is a funny thing. Whether trained in jazz, opera, classical, or soul, you can bet your bottom dollar that there are a range of techniques and tricks you would have never expected to be of help in boosting your child’s budding musical skill.  One of these techniques is beatboxing. Yes, beatboxing: an a cappella style of music-making via vocal percussion. Beatboxing not only teaches your child a greater sense of timing and rhythm, it also improves listening skills and can actually work to strengthen and protect his or her vocal cords. Whats more, it will widen your childs musical scope, which will improve creativity and overall musicianship. Here’s a quick breakdown of why learning to beatbox can help young musicians get on top of their musical game: Aural Skills and Improvising You can’t learn to beatbox from sheet music; you need to be able to listen and repeat in a ‘copycat’ style training your mind to get used to the way the sounds can work together. Eventually, the goal is to be able to improvise using the sounds you’ve learned to make. Being able to improvise relies  almost completely  on strong aural skills, and the best way to strengthen them is through the same sort of ‘listen-and-repeat’ style of exercises, precisely what children will learn when they try their hand at beatboxing. Rhythm and Timing Beatboxing is essentially a way of creating a sequence of different rhythms, which play off each other to create a complicated, yet logical, sequence of beats. To pull this off, musicians need a pretty firm understanding of musical timing and how different rhythmic and percussive sounds can combine to create a particular effect. Having a strong sense of rhythm and being able to play to complicated time signatures will be a necessity as your child becomes a more developed musician no matter what style or instrument they’re learning. For instance, jazz musicians need a strong handle on syncopation, a way of playing unexpected rhythms that are sometimes off-beat. Learning how to create fast, complicated rhythms from sequences of quick, improvised beats will boost your childs technical prowess and confidence over difficult passages.   Plus, being able to move in time to a steady beat is also linked to stronger language and reading skills. Breath Control Being able to breathe properly is essential to beatboxing. For singers and woodwind players, having good breath control is just as important. When you beatbox, you need to know how to command breath to produce different types of sounds, from a higher ‘hi-hat’ sound to a bass drum. There’s also the need to have enough breath to carry on with the performance, which means your child will need to learn how to incorporate breath into the beat itself. For vocalists, strong breath control is one of the most important factors in controlling your voice. Whether belting out a gospel tune or shattering glass with a powerful aria,  they’ll need to know exactly the amount of breath that’s required to create the tone and sound they want. How young musicians learn to exhale will alter the quality of the sound, volume, pitch, and tone of their voice; so learning how to manipulate it as a beatboxer will increase control over their range. It’s the same principle for woodwind players: different types of exhaled breath will resonate differently through the instrument, each bringing out a different sound and tone. Protecting the Vocal Cords As well as the benefits for your child’s capabilities as a musician, beatboxing can actually help strengthen and protect the vocal cords.  When you sing, you rely almost entirely on your vocal cords to produce sound, which when overused can lead to the development of scar tissue.  However, beatboxers use their entire vocal tract to create different sounds, which spreads energy across different structures, therefore minimizing strain on one particular area. Muscles used when beatboxing work to elongate the vocal tract, which can also help singers reach higher notes. Getting Started The best thing about beatboxing is that you first learn by copying. While it’s always easiest to be led by a tutor who knows what they’re doing, there are plenty of video tutorials online to help your child get his or her head around beatboxing before formally heading in for a lesson. Your child will typically start to learn to beatbox by learning how to make percussion sounds like a drum kit. For instance, they’ll be able to mimic sounds of hi-hat cymbal, the tom-tom, and bass drum, and learn how to put them together to make basic beats. As they get better, they’ll learn more complex sounds to add to the mix. Monica Karpinski is a staff member at Ingenium Academy, a summer music program for talented young musicians around the world, aged 14-18. All students are taught beatboxing, regardless of style, previous training, or instrument they play. Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher Photo by  Eoin C

Study Strategies for Reading

Study Strategies for Reading Are you struggling to keep up in your English classes? Do you find your reading habits negatively impacting other areas of study? Dont worry, youre not alone! Reading strategies throughout all types of text are fundamental to succeeding in school, but can often be tricky to master. Refining the skills below can not only help you excel in your English classes, but also assist in other subjects where reading is necessary. Lets take a look Preview the text If you are assigned a section to read in a textbook, its important to do a quick pre-scan to prepare yourself for the information you are going to learn. This doesnt mean read the entire text, just look for important text features. What are you looking for in this initial scan? Note the bolded words, as they are important and highlighted for a reason. It will be helpful to look them up and understand them before you begin to read more carefully. Look at the headings and subheadings to give yourself a preview of how the information will be structured. Textbooks are organized in a very purposeful way, to chunk similar and related information and to present the most significant concepts first. If you understand the format, the information will be easier to digest. Read through any review questions that may be provided at the end of the given section. If your teacher has provided unique questions on a separate worksheet or document, look through those to note what information you should be looking for. Such review questions, whether from the book itself or from your teacher, can help successfully guide your reading. [RELATED: How to Stay Focused on Long Reading Passages] Read and take notes with purpose As you read, you should be taking notes on key information that will help you retain the content. Although note-taking may seem easy, theres a fine line between taking too many notes and not taking enough. You dont want to rewrite the entire text, but you dont want to miss any important concepts. So, how do you know what to jot down? Ask yourself questions as you read. Whats the main idea of the passage? Your skim through in the previous step should have given you some hints as to what it could be. Elements that are related to that main idea are important to take down as notes, while elements that are unrelated arent typically the things you need to write down (unless your teacher mentioned them separately). Utilize your text features. If there is a numbered list in a textbook, its typically information that is important to learn (and, from a teachers perspective, is easily testable!). Timelines are also important. Although your teacher may not require you to memorize dates, knowing the progression of events is beneficial to your full understanding of them. Consider a note-taking format that works best for you personally. Think about what type of learner you are. If you learn better by drawing, for example, make diagrams and pictures to help you remember the content. Consider using different colored pens and highlighters to distinguish information. Note-taking doesnt have to be boring, and it should suit the person who is taking the notes. Relook and review Your work is not done when the last word of the text is read. To fully understand a text, you will need to go back through your notes (as well as the guided questions), and then do another quick scan of the text to ensure you understood all of the important concepts. If youre going to be tested on specific areas of the content, it may be necessary to recall certain details or facts, which will be difficult if you only give the text one read. What steps should you take after you finish your initial read? Is there a spot in the text you struggled with most? Be sure to go back and reread that section carefully. If some parts arent making sense, you may need to do some further research, whether its in the text or online, to be sure youre understanding the concepts correctly. Are you going to be tested on this information? If so, youll likely need to make flashcards or some other type of study device to help you retain the key ideas. These study resources you create should come from the notes you took as you were reading. Summarize the main point of the text, either in paper or even just in your head. In less than three sentences, you should be able to report what the text is about. If you can successfully do that, you likely have a solid understanding of what youve read. If not, you may need to repeat this last step. If you decide you need further help with reading strategies, consider reading tutoring with an expert who can assist you personally. Any topics you want to know more about? Let us know! The Varsity Tutors Blog editors love hearing your feedback and opinions. Feel free to email us at blog@varsitytutors.com.

How to Organize Spanish Lessons

How to Organize Spanish Lessons Ways to Organize Spanish Lessons ChaptersBe OrganizedManage Your Lesson TimePrepare Your Lessons Ahead of TimeThe official language of 21 countries, the second most spoken language in the United States and in the world of business: having a good knowledge of Spanish is today both a personal and professional advantage.Teaching foreign languages is a particularly perilous exercise. Giving Spanish lessons included!Although certain languages like Spanish are supposedly easier to learn, it’s still true that a good teacher makes all the difference.So yes, you will certainly learn Spanish more rapidly than you would German or Chinese, but don’t celebrate just yet.Learning Spanish means studying like you would any other living language: vocabulary, grammar, conjugation, but also listening, pronunciation, and written comprehension.But if you’re a teacher, where do you start?How to be clear, concise, and good at explaining?Here is some advice to become a master private language tutor!Find concise and easy explanations t o put in writing for your student, and prepare examples to demonstrate each rule.Use a different color for the things that are most important to remember. For example: write in red the rules they need to memorize, and in green the rules that are of secondary importance.Make worksheets and index cards for words, expressions, phrases…You can check for online tutoring jobs here.Prepare vocabulary lists before your Spanish lessons.Don’t forget to quiz them regularly to evaluate the student’s level.You will need to choose your lesson materials carefully.Don’t forget: your lesson should be fun! Favor interactive exercises.Verify that your student has the comprehension necessary for each exercise.It would also be wise to adapt the exercises. Why not work on a text that relates to the student’s passions? For example, a passage from Don Quixote for a literature fan.As you can see, your need to design Spanish lessons that are up to date, that are adapted to the individual in questio n, and that develop the confidence of your student in a relaxed atmosphere.There is no miracle formula to be a good teacher. Just explain clearly, be empathetic, and be creative.Find out how Spanish tutors in America set their rates...

A Day in the Life at The University of Arizona

A Day in the Life at The University of Arizona The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. Lynn is a Tucson tutor specializing in Calculus tutoring, Statistics tutoring, Spanish tutoring, and much more. She is a 2012 graduate of The University of Arizona with Bachelors degrees in both Mathematics and Economics. See what she had to say about her school: VT:Describe the campus setting and transportation options.How urban or safe is the campus?Are there buses or do you need a car/bike? Lynn: The campus is fairly large, but with a bike, you can get from one side to the other in 10-15 minutes. Tucson is a small city so the campus is not in a very urban area. I always felt safe, and the police department and programs like Safe Ride, make the campus even safer. On campus, we have the CatTran to get around, but most students prefer bikes. To get around the city, a bike or a car are best. VT: How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Lynn: Most professors and TAs are readily available, but you have to seek them out. Often, professors dont receive any visitors during office hours and will be happy to help you with homework or talk about your future plans. If you want to do research, some professors are much more welcoming and encouraging than others, so you may have to search for a bit. Personally, I found my advisers (except for the ones who were professors) to be generally unhelpful so I looked to other students and professors for advice. VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Lynn: I lived in the dorms for 4.5 years, so I loved it. Depending on your price range and preferences, you can get a room in a historic building with a lot of character or a large room in a new building with fancy features like 3D TVs and climate control. Residence life provides good resources and the halls are a great place to meet friends and study groups. Dining options are spread around campus, but most restaurants are in the main student union. The restaurants include a buffet, Mexican, Italian, salad, delis, pizza, bagels, and more. It gets old after a while, but that is motivation to learn to cook! VT: Which majors/programs are best represented and supported?What did you study and why? Did the university do a good job supporting your particular area of study? Lynn: Engineering, Optical Sciences, Biology, and other Sciences as well as Business are big here. There are many research opportunities for the Sciences, and the College of Engineering and the College of Business are known for preparing students for employment. I studied Mathematics and Economics because those are my two passions and they provide a good basis for future study. The Mathematics department is very supportive of their students and works hard to match students with professors who have similar interests and with research projects. The undergraduate coordinator would send me personalized lists of summer programs and suggestions for classes. Economics is a forgotten discipline at the school. While the professors were mostly very supportive, the college was not always. VT: How easy or difficult was it for you to meet people and make friends as a freshman? Does Greek life play a significant role in the campus social life? Lynn: I quickly made friends in my residence hall and in the clubs I joined. Greek life is available and many people partake, but it is not necessary to be involved in Greek life to have a social life. VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Lynn: I didnt really use the Career Center. They hold a job fair every semester which attracts some large companies. A lot of tech/engineering companies like Microsoft, Google, Raytheon, Lockheed-Martin, etc. hold recruiting events and hold on-campus interviews. VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Lynn: There are several libraries, study lounges in the union, and all the dorms have study lounges. There are also several coffee shops near campus. It can be hard to find a room around midterms and finals, but there is usually plenty of space in the library. VT: Describe the surrounding town. What kinds of outside establishments / things to do are there that make it fun, boring, or somewhere in between?To what extent do students go to the downtown area of the city versus staying near campus? Lynn: Tucson is a city that retained the heart of a college town. The area around the university is very student friendly. 4th Ave has local shops and restaurants and is a favourite hangout for students. Downtown is close (20 minute walk or 10 minute bike ride), and there are a lot of new restaurants and activities. There are a few annual evens that are mostly around the university or downtown, and UA sports events are big events. VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Lynn: We have a large student body. I took mostly Math and Economics classes which had classes of 15-35 students. I always made sure my professor knew me so class size wasnt a problem. My large lecture classes usually also had a 20 person discussion section so I had a chance to express my ideas. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Lynn: My first semester I took a general education Science class called Intro to Global Change. We studied things like water and climate. To supplement our class, our professor took us on field trips to Mt. Lemmon, the Desert Museum, and his tree ring lab. Afterwards, we always got lunch and talked to him about the class and whatever came up. It was great to have a professor who taught in a unique way, was passionate about his subject, and who took the time to get to know us as individuals. Check out Lynns tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

Couscous for Beginners

Couscous for Beginners Everything You Need to Know About Couscous ChaptersSo What is Couscous?A Couscous RecipeThe Different Types of Couscous“If you like couscous, eat it when it’s hot” - Ahmadou KouroumaMany Brits love food and cooking their meals. In fact, a lot of us would love to cook more. Many don’t cook as often as they like because they’re busy or they can’t cook.So why not try making some couscous?In this article, we’ll look at what couscous is, hortw you can make it, and the different types of couscous you can make. GiovanniCooking Teacher 4.83 (12) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HalimaCooking Teacher £12/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HakimCooking Teacher 5.00 (5) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors VincenzoCooking Teacher £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors GinellaCooking Teacher £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ArronCooking Teacher 5.00 (2) £9/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JoshuaCooking Teacher 5.00 (5) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutor s FlickCooking Teacher 5.00 (1) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsSo What is Couscous?Couscous is a great dish for aspiring chefs to learn how to cook. This North African dish is commonly eaten in Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, and Libya. Generally, in many of the countries where a wheatmeal or semolina is common. Couscous is often the name of the dish and the main ingredient. (Source: LAWJR)To discover where couscous came from, we need to go back to the 11th century to the region of Kabylie, Algeria. The nomadic Berbers in the region made couscous from wheat. The name “couscous” comes from the Berber word “k’seksu”. The term refers to the dish and the wheat meal used to prepare it.Couscous is now eaten all over the world, especially around the Mediterranean in Greece, Italy, and Turkey.In North Africa, couscous is an everyday meal that’s shared with the family. It’s also prepared for big occasions like marriages, births, and religious ceremonies. Couscous is often shared and eaten in groups. It can be eaten with family or friends.According to some historians, couscous made its way into France when the French colonised Algeria. Some believe that the recipe arrived in France before this. The French renaissance writer François Rabelais mentioned it as early as the 16th century.How ever, it wouldn’t become largely popular in France until the 20th century when people in France of Algerian descent started cooking the dish regularly. Nowadays, couscous has spread across Europe and become a very popular dish. In fact, in France, it’s one of the most popular dishes.There’s been a bid from African nations for couscous to be given world heritage status by UNESCO.Discover some simple recipes for beginners.A Couscous RecipeThe traditional couscous recipe varies greatly depending on where it’s being made and who’s making it. However, there’s a basic recipe that’s generally agreed upon. While there are many different couscous recipes, you have to use semolina! (Source: Pezibea)You can pick up couscous in most supermarkets. There’s precooked couscous that you can use. You just need to add water to the grains.  However, if you want to make your couscous from scratch, you might want to visit a specialist supermarket.Once you’ve got your meal, you need to spread out it on a large plate and add a bit of extra virgin olive oil. Use your fingers to separate the grains. Pour some cold water onto the grains. This will make things easier. Before cooking the grains, let them sit on a tea towel. Once they’ve dried a little bit, steam them. Let them cook for around 15 minutes.  After this, separate the grains again and steam them for another 15 minutes. Finally, add some butter to the meal and separate the grains one last time.  Now your couscous is ready!Of course, you can’t stop there. You need to prepare the other ingredients.Not fancy couscous?Learn how to make a las agna.Ingredients for six people:8 chicken drumsticks12 merguez sausages3 tomatoes10 turnips5 carrots2 courgettes400g of chickpeas or garbanzo beans2 cartons of tomato concentrate3 tablespoons of couscous spices1 teaspoon of harissa2 beef stock cubesOlive oilStart by washing and peeling the carrots, turnips, and tomatoes. Then dice them.  Cook the drumsticks in a frying pan with a few tablespoons of olive oil. Once cooked, add the stock and tomato concentrate to a litre of water of boiling water. Add the diced vegetables to the water before adding the spices and harissa. Cover and cook on a low heat for around 25 to 30 minutes.While this cooks, dice your courgettes. After half an hour, add the courgettes and chickpeas to the frying pan. You’ll have plenty of time to wash and dice your courgettes and strain your chickpeas while the rest is cooking. Cook for another 10 minutes.Cook the merguez separately from the vegetables.You now have the choice of serving your couscous mixed in wi th the other ingredients or serving it all separately so that you can your guests can mix and match as you please. Everyone has different tastes, after all.Just like with dishes like ratatouille or poulet basquaise, it’s a good idea to prepare your couscous the day before you want to eat it. This will allow the spices to soak into the mix.Prepare your couscous in a tagine for a bit of authenticity. Just like a casserole is cooked in a casserole, you need a tagine for tagine. (Source: TheUjulala)Initially, there weren’t that many different types of couscous and there was only one type of meat served with it. This would generally be lamb, chicken, or fish.  However, over time, different ingredients started showing up in recipes. You can freely add what you want.Squashes, gourds, leeks, onions, etc. You can add it all. The same is true for the spices. You don’t need to have spicy couscous. You can add ginger, peppers, quinoa, pine nuts, cloves, fresh parsley, butternut squash, pistachios, etc. to taste.Learn how to make poulet basquaise.The Different Types of CouscousNot all couscous is the same. Each chef will make it according to their skills, tastes, and available ingredients. Couscous varies according to the region its served in.  In coastal regions, you’re more likely to find fish in your couscous, whereas in dessert regions you’ll find dried meats or vegetables. Poor er regions tend to make them with less meat. There are plenty of different recipes so you're bound to find something you like. (Source: photo-graphe)Each type of couscous is cooked differently and often has different names. Here are a few common types:Couscous Bidaoui: This is a Moroccan couscous made with 7 different vegetables.Couscous Khoumassi/Awerkis: Another Moroccan couscous that’s made with 4 different kinds of cereal.Couscous T’Faya: this is a sweet and savoury couscous with cinnamon. There’s chicken, raisins, and caramelised onions.Thiéré Couscous: This is cooked in Senegal and made from meal.You can also serve cold couscous as part of a salad. This is often known as taboulé or tabbouleh.You can make couscous almost however you want. Start with the basic recipe and let your imagination run wild. Garlic, peppers, pepper, spice, cumin, paprika, saffron, there are no rules!  Meal, bulgur, barley, no matter what grains you opt for, remember that couscous is to be shared! Unsurprisingly, couscous goes great with d ishes like Moroccan chicken, kalamata olives, and Middle Eastern cuisine, too.Learn how to make ratatouille.If you'd like to learn more about cooking or learn how to cook, consider learning with a private tutor on Superprof. No matter where you are, you can find a private tutor to help you. On the platform, there are three types of tutorial on offer: face-to-face tutorials, online tutorials, and group tutorials.Face-to-face private tutorials involve just the student and the tutor, ensuring that the student has the tutor's undivided attention. Additionally, the tutor will tailor their lessons and course to the student. Of course, the tutor's time comes at a price and while these types of tutorials are the most cost-effective, they also tend to be the most costly per hour.If you're looking for something cheaper, there are online private tutorials. These tutorials are provided remotely via webcam and as long as both you and the tutor have a decent internet connection, a webcam, and a m icrophone, you can get tutorials from tutors all over the world. Since the tutor doesn't need to travel to you, they have fewer overheads and can schedule more tutorials each week, allowing them to charge less per hour. Of course, these tutorials are great for academic subjects but not so great for hands-on subjects.Finally, you can also get group tutorials. Since each student pays their share of the tutor's time, these tend to work out cheaper than any other type of tutorials. Of course, you won't get the tutor's undivided attention like you would with the other types of tutorial. That said, if you and a group of friends all would like to learn how to cook, this is a great way to do it.Before you choose a private tutor, define your objects, your budget, and how you like to learn. This will help you work out the best type of tutorial and, most importantly, the best tutor. Keep in mind that many tutors offer the first hour for free so you can use this time to get to know your potenti al tutor.

Summer at AJ Test Prep Tutoring

Summer at AJ Test Prep Tutoring Whether you are a rising 8th grader looking ahead to a fall or winter ISEE, SSAT, or HSPT; or you are a rising junior looking ahead to a first go-around at the PSAT, SAT, and ACT, the summer is an excellent time to get a head start on test prep. At AJ Tutoring, we’ve worked with thousands of students in the summer to instill key test-taking strategies, cover crucial content areas, and review proctored practice exams. These days, students are super busy during the school year with school, sports, and other extracurriculars, so summer studying can be a nice way to hone in on exam prep without the pressures of the academic year. With that in mind, please read on to learn more about how we can help this summer.What are the options for summer test prep at AJ?As a team of professional tutors who specialize in 1-on-1 tutoring, we do a lot of such customized prep over the summer. You can learn more about our approach to middle school, high school or college admissions tests here. We also o ffer small group classes for the SAT.Keep in mind, we’re also highly knowledgeable about tough classes like algebra, US History, and chemistry, and summer is a great time to dive into these curricula to review, enrich, or get ahead. You can learn more about our academic tutoring here.Read on for a more in-depth breakdown of our primary summer test prep plans!How can we help prepare students for the ISEE, SSAT, or HSPT?We want every student who is taking an ISEE, SSAT, or HSPT and is perhaps new to standardized tests to feel confident and capable on test day. By introducing important test-taking skills that will help students throughout their academic career, we strive to set students up for long-term success.Not sure which exam your student should take? Click here for a short quiz to identify the right fit.Generally, students aim to complete ten 1-hour sessions over the summer and also take two or three full-length proctored exams in preparation for a middle or high school entranc e exam. If you plan to schedule an exam for late fall or early winter, it can still be wise to start preparing in the summer and continue into the fall or simply do a few refresher sessions as the exam approaches.If you’d like to discuss your student’s options and put together a customized plan, give us a call.How does SAT or ACT tutoring fit into your summer schedule?The SAT and ACT are rites of passage for American high schoolers. At AJ, we don’t believe these exams have to be stressful and mysterious. Our professional tutors know the tests back and forth and delight in working with students to familiarize them with the exams and build confidence.For context, we estimate that a student’s chances for admission to a college depend on high school courses and grades (60%), SAT and SAT subject test scores (30%), and essays, recommendations, and extracurricular activities (10%). Because grades are a multi-year effort, the exams offer a great opportunity to showcase your skills o n a shorter timeline.How does SAT or ACT tutoring fit into your summer schedule?If you choose to prepare for the SAT or ACT with an AJ tutor (and we hope you do!), you can expect to complete ten 1.5-hour sessions leading up to the August 24 SAT test date or September 14 ACT test date . If you start tutoring after school is out, this generally means meeting about once per week throughout June, July and August. We also ask our SAT or ACT prep students to complete at least 3 full-length practice SATs or ACTs, preferably proctored at our office on Saturday mornings. You can find our complete schedule of proctored practice SATs and ACTs on our website.If you’ve a rising senior who has already worked with us for SAT or ACT prep, we can usually shorten your prep for a retake. Students will often complete four 1.5-hour sessions in preparation for retaking an exam. You should also plan on taking 2 full-length practice tests on the weekends. During the retake prep, your tutor will focus mor e closely on your areas of difficulty from the last exam and work on fine-tuning your approach to the test.In general, we think that the late summer exams are great moves by The College Board and ACT to give students more options. Most rising seniors should at least consider taking the SAT in August and/or ACT in September.What about the PSAT?The PSAT is a practice run for the SAT which students take in their junior year and often in their sophomore year. The PSAT gives students a baseline for SAT scores and qualifies the top percentage of test-takers for the National Merit Scholarship.While the vast majority of students won’t qualify for the National Merit Scholarship, it can still be valuable to prepare for the PSAT. Because it is so similar to the SAT, preparing for the PSAT can give students a great head start on SAT preparation and an indication of where they can improve.You can learn about timelines and options for PSAT prep here. Most students who prepare for the PSAT over the summer go on to do preparation for the SAT and/or ACT in the spring of their junior year.Because each student has a different starting point, learning style, and summer schedule, we’ll help you find the right match for a tutor and for a test prep plan. Give us a call and speak with one of our directors today!

Family Vacations Worth Remembering

Family Vacations Worth Remembering Family vacations provide us with some of our fondest and most enduring childhood memories. As a parent, you want to create vacations that are full of fun, laughter, and family bonding. But, when one or more of your children has ADHD, making this vision a reality can seem daunting. Sibling conflicts, emotional outbursts, impulsivity, and hyperactivity can make road trips, flights, hotel stays, and activity-filled days especially challenging. With some planning and specific attention to the needs of your child, successful summer vacations are possible! Follow these tips to get started. Have realistic expectations. Family vacations do not need to be perfect in order to be great. Often the pressure to make special memories and enjoy every moment of a hard-earned vacation makes families less tolerant of irritable moods and disruptive behavior. Remember that kids (and parents!) will have bad moments during vacation just like they do during the rest of the year. Try to remember that these moments will pass and will not derail the rest of your vacation. If bad moments are becoming too frequent, try to identify the underlying cause. It may be that your child is hungry, tired, or overscheduled. Small changes to any of these areas may make a big difference. Involve your child in the planning. Kids with ADHD tend to do best when they are engaged in activities that they find highly interesting. Encourage your child to select one or more activities that will be geared especially toward them. Make sure each sibling has an opportunity to choose at least one activity. If your vacation involves visits to historical sites, let your child act as the family expert for their favorite site. This will encourage them to learn about the history before you travel, and theyll have fun sharing their knowledge during the trip. Create space for alone time. When tensions run high during family vacations, it is often due in part to the fact that everyone has had a little too much together time. Everyone needs some alone time to decompress and recharge, but how much alone time is needed will vary greatly from person to person. Think about your own family. Are there members who need more alone time than others? Create alone time breaks by allowing children to listen to music on headphones, read a book independently, or watch a video by themselves. After their break, theyll be recharged and ready for the next family activity. Allow for one-on-one parent-child time to reduce sibling conflict. During family vacations, its not uncommon for siblings to compete for their parents attention. Add into the mix the fact that kids with ADHD often require more attention to keep their behavior in check, and attention-seeking conflicts will inevitably pop up. Keep these conflicts to a minimum by scheduling one-on-one parent-child time with each of your children. These one-on-one breaks can be as short as 15 minutes, or longer if there are special activities that you would like to do individually with each of your children. Set small goals and reward good behavior. Kids with ADHD thrive with structure and external motivators like praise and rewards. Build structure into your vacation by setting mini-behavior goals for your child, and by providing praise and rewards when they meet these goals. For example, if your child struggles to stay seated during meal times, set the goal of only getting out of their seat 2 times during the meal. If they meet their goal, then they can get a special treat when the meal is over. Family vacations aren't without any stress, but with a few of these tips in place, you might just find that the stress level will stay down, the enjoyment will be up, and fond memories will be created. Travel safely, and have a great vacation! ABOUT DR. MARY ROONEY Mary Rooney, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California San Francisco. Dr Rooney is a researcher and clinician specializing in the evaluation and treatment of ADHD and co-occurring behavioral, anxiety, and mood disorders. A strong advocate for those with attention and behavior problems, Dr. Rooney is committed to developing and providing comprehensive, cutting edge treatments tailored to meet the unique needs of each child and adolescent. Dr. Rooney's clinical interventions and research avenues emphasize working closely with parents and teachers to create supportive, structured home and school environments that enable children and adolescents to reach their full potential. In addition, Dr. Rooney serves as a consultant and ADHD expert to Huntington Learning Centers. ABOUT HUNTINGTON Huntington Learning Center is the tutoring and test prep leader. Its certified tutors provide individualized instruction in reading, phonics, writing, study skills, elementary and middle school math, Algebra through Calculus, Chemistry, and other sciences. It preps for the SAT and ACT, as well as state and standardized exams. Huntington programs develop the skills, confidence, and motivation to help students of all levels succeed and meet the needs of Common Core State Standards. Founded in 1977, Huntington's mission is to give every student the best education possible. Call us today at 1.800.CAN LEARN to discuss how Huntington can help your child. For franchise opportunities please visit www.huntingtonfranchise.com. This website does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The material on this site is provided for educational purposes only.

A turkey-less Turkey Day - November National Vegan Awareness Month

A turkey-less Turkey Day - November National Vegan Awareness Month Photo by flavorrelish on flickr.com Maybe it’s no coincidence that National Vegan Awareness Month falls in November, the month in which college students count down the days to Thanksgiving and their quintessential turkey dinner. While many Americans consider the turkey an integral part of their festivities and would consider a turkey-less “Turkey Day” an unthinkable tragedy, vegans might beg to differ. University of Maryland junior Rachel Muccino, who grew up vegetarian and became vegan a year and a half ago, said, “I create vegan versions of food all the time! My favorite opportunity to be creative with meals is Thanksgiving.” Many people are familiar with vegetarianism, refraining from eating animals but in some cases consuming dairy products and eggs, but may be less familiar with what constitutes a vegan. Although there are many definitions, the consensus is usually that vegans are those who make the decision not to consume any animal products whatsoever. “It extends way beyond food! Vegan clothes, vegan shoes and more,” Muccino said. Veganism is a lifestyle, not simply a diet. For the vast majority of Americans, that might sound outrageously difficult and unappealing. However, as 2 percent of American adults consider themselves to be vegan, according to a Jul. 9-12 Gallup poll, there must be some benefits to the lifestyle. “I became vegan primarily to be healthier,” Muccino said, “and secondarily to refrain from participating in the abuse of animals and the environment.”Muccino said that becoming vegan helped her to feel more energetic, to lose body fat and have a contented conscience. Studies have shown that people who eat plant-based diets tend to have lower cholesterol, cancer, heart attack and obesity rates. In addition, a vegan’s diet depends heavily upon fruits, vegetables, whole grains and alternative protein sources such as beans, tofu and lentils, all of which are very healthy. When Muccino’s friends find out she’s vegan and also does not consume soy and gluten, they often ask what in the world she can eat. “The answer to that is: a lot!” Muccino said. “There are so many vegan alternatives to delicious animal-product food. Portabello burgers, veggie sausage, coconut milk yogurt, almond milk, granola, fruit popsicles instead of ice cream! The list goes on and on!” However, Muccino does acknowledge the difficulties in being vegan. In order to consume enough calories in a day, Muccino packs plenty of snacks. Muccino also makes a point to eat plenty of kale and beans to bolster her protein intake and lots of coconut milk to make up for any calcium deficiency in her diet. Although she struggled as a vegan while living in dorms on campus, now that she has her own kitchen in her Commons apartment, she has the opportunity to buy her own food from a variety of locations. “I buy all my food at markets or Whole Foods or Trader Joes,” Muccino said. “Around campus, I go to the Co-Op or order vegan options at Lime or Wasabi.” Over the past year and a half, Muccino has found ways to find or create her own vegan versions of all the foods she loves most, and Thanksgiving will be no exception. So if you sit down to your Thanksgiving feast and perhaps pity vegans like Muccino as you enjoy your gravy-adorned mashed potatoes, don’t feel too sorry. “I can make mashed potatoes and gravy vegan style,” Muccino said. “Just use vegetable stock, olive oil and coconut milk instead of chicken stock, butter and cow’s milk!”