AP Chemistry Update

AP Chemistry UpdateYou can not get a better AP Chemistry test at this stage of the year. There are several new additions and changes to the reading material that will benefit all AP students.The AP test is getting better all the time. New tests, extra items, and other modifications are all being made to make the test more flexible and easier to complete. No matter what level you are taking the test, you will be pleased with the current update.One of the changes to the reading material for AP Chemistry is the inclusion of variations in alkali elements. You will find up to sixteen alkali elements, including carbon, oxygen, sodium, potassium, sulfur, and calcium. These are all well-known elements, and more will be added in future versions. This makes the test more interesting.Another change to the AP test material is the inclusion of changes to what we know about the Periodic Table. Many different chemical groups are included in the table, which includes every element on earth. This mak es it easy to take a single test multiple choice and figure out the change in specific materials to see which ones have been added or removed.In addition to the addition of new elements, there is also the addition of K-Acids, which allow for different reactions to occur. They react with some other substance and give off various properties.Because of these additions, you will be able to study how each element has changed in relation to each other. You will be able to examine all the tests in the table, and which ones have had their acid-base content changed. This allows you to compare the original to the change. There are over 600 tests in the table now, so knowing which ones are the most important is critical to the success of your AP class.One of the most exciting new changes is that there are some new products to help you with your AP test. We have a new course book, an online quiz book, and a guide to AP Material. Knowing how to take your AP test the right way will make your life easier in an exam setting.

The Best Age to Start Dancing

The Best Age to Start Dancing Do You Have to Learn to Dance as a Child? ChaptersSign Up for Introductions to DanceLearning to Dance Aged 6Getting Teenagers Interested in DancingLearning to Dance as an Adult“Age is of no importance unless you're a cheese.” - Billie BurkeA lot of people are getting into dancing styles like Zumba and pole dancing. These two styles require a lot of physical training.But what about children learning to dance?Whether it’s a dance course with a dance company, dance class in a dance studio, or a private tutorial with a private dance instructor, here’s our guide on how children can learn to dance.In this article, we'll be looking at how people of different ages, from children to the elderly, can benefit from dance lessons and tutorials that are adapted to them both in terms of their mental and physical development. SeamDance Teacher 4.96 (24) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JamieDance Teacher 5.00 (6) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ErickaDance Teacher 5.00 (1) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SamuelDance Teacher 5.00 (4) £100/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors FlavioDance Teacher 5.00 (7) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HakimDance Teacher 5.00 (5) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HannaDance Teacher 5.00 (4) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ClareDance Teacher £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsSign Up for Introductions to DanceDoing sports can be tricky and sometimes it’s hard to know how much children benefit from it.  Some physical activities aren’t suitable or beneficial for children. The same is sometimes true for dancing.Dance schools and conservatoires often have a minimum age when it comes to dancing lessons for kids. Generally speaking, 6 is the best age for children to start learning to dance.Does this mean that younger children can’t learn to dance?Of course not!Very young children can get an introduction to the main concepts of dancing. (Source: Lin_da)Rather than dance courses, they should get an introduction to dancing. There are similar lessons for music, too, where younger learners are introduced to the basic concepts of the art.In these types of classes, children won’t be expected to adopt advanced postures or do complicated dance steps because their muscles and bones aren’t fully developed. These are far from the dance fitness classes you'll get in gyms and the demanding dance training they'll get from a dance company as they got over.When it comes to ballet classes, pointes should also be avoided for those under 6 years old. Intensive dance exercises could have negative repercussions for children. Of course, kids dance classes will have taken this into account and will focus on energetic fun rather than serious dance instruction.Introductory classes include exercises to help children developer motor skills. The main goal is to help children with their coordination and get them into dancing with some basic choreography and the kind of routine that a beginner of any age would be comfortable with.The goal isn’t to make a child a good dancer. Instead, the child is there to discover dancing and see whether or not dancing is for them. The dance lesson is so that they get a taste of dancing and develop their musicality rather than getting them dancing with the professionals on Broadway or the West End.The psychiatrist Patrice Heurre explains that “This will only work if the activity is seen as a game, fun, and then it won’t matter what age you start”.Dance classes should never be stressful for children, regardless of their age. Most of the programme will be covered by dance teachers and will include games and performances by the children.Find out what you can expect from your first dance lesson...Learning to Dance Aged 6Learning to dance really starts once a child is either 6 or 7. A lot of places offer dance classes for beginners.  Most children of this age will definitely be beginners, even if they’ve already attended introductions to dance.The teacher will generally start from scratch and won’t differentiate between those who’ve already studied a bit of dancing and those who haven't. Their dance education will introduce them to the discipline and they'll be taught about different dance styles and how to move in rhythm to the music.As children get older, their lessons get more technical. (Source: sobima)From this age, the lessons can become more technical but without being physically demanding. They’ll usually alternate between teaching steps and the dancers expressing themselves.Dancing is as artistic as it is physically demanding.  While children’s joints can deal with more complicated movements once they reach this age, they still have to takes things easy.Children are expected to develop their imagination and broaden their minds.  This is the age where children can choose between different styles of dance (ballet, jazz, hip-hop, Zumba, etc.)Find out more about how dancing benefits the mind as well as the body!It could be a good idea to sign up your child for a class where they can discover the different styles of dancing. They still have plenty of time to choose a speciality (salsa, ballroom dancing, breakdancing, ballet, waltz, flamenco, tango, etc.) later on in life.Learning to dance at this age is also a great way for children to get rid of some of all that extra energy they have. It’s also a great opportunity for them to unwind after school and make new friends.Of course, if a child is being forced to go to their dance classes, it could have the opposite effect. They may end up hating dancing.It’s important to talk to their dance teacher to find out how they’re doing in their classes throughout the year. Make sure you ask about how interested they are in their classes.Getting Teenagers Interested in DancingA lot of children start dancing once they’re teenagers. It might be because they’re developing new tastes or their friends are doing it, for exa mple.  It’s never too late for them to start.A lot of schools and associations offer classes to teenagers of all levels (beginners, intermediates, experts). Thus, they won’t find themselves in classes with little kids or adults.Teenagers also want to enjoy activities outside of school and make friends. Modern jazz and hip-hop are often popular with teenagers. That said, there are some that want to learn ballet.Lessons for teenagers need to be enjoyable and dynamic. (Source: czijp0)Learning to dance as a teenager is a great way to channel their energy and make sure they’re doing some exercise. Their joints are more flexible and, as a result, they can move a lot.They may also gain popularity with these best dance accessories!The most difficult thing when it comes to teenagers is to keep them motivated.  As teenagers, we start to learn who we really are. Some students start their dance lessons and want to immediately give them up.Their teacher has to find the right way to keep th em motivated. They could do this by showing them famous dance moves or letting them choose the type of music they want to dance to.There are also a lot of famous films about dancing like Step Up.However, dance classes london  aren’t necessarily like they are in the movies. They should ask the teenagers what they expect from their classes in order to get a better idea.Learning to Dance as an AdultWhat about learning to dance when you’re 40, 50, or 60? Why not?This is more an advantage than a disadvantage since your bones have fully developed by this point.  Of course, it does help to be in good shape. However, there’s nothing stopping adults learning how to dance.They may struggle in terms of flexibility since, over time, we become less flexible. Just trying doing a somersault and you’ll see.You can learn to dance at any age. (Source: werner22brigitte)However, as you get back into shape, your lessons will get easier.  You need to find the right approach, too. There are school s, courses, and private tutorials for adults wanting to learn to dance.If you live too far from where lessons are taking place, contacting a private tutor is a great option. If you have a suitable space to dance in your own home, a private tutor can come to you and teach you how to dance. In some cases, they'll either have their own space or be renting one in a gym or a dance studio.Just believe in yourself! We often think, wrongly, that it’s too late to learn something new and that it’ll take too long for us to catch up with those who learnt as children. While it's often better to learn something when you're young, as you'll have more time to learn it, there are plenty of examples of people who succeeded in something later on in their life.The most important thing is to believe in yourself. Dancing is an artistic pursuit that allows you to express yourself.  Don’t get discouraged if you’re not an expert in ballet or salsa after a few hours of lessons. These things take time .Salsa, merengue, cha cha, country, jazz, waltz, Argentine tango, tap, ballroom dancing, African dancing, Oriental dancing, rumba, breakdancing, and contemporary dance all need to be studied at length.Whether you’re warming up, stretching, learning new steps, or performing, you have to regularly practice dancing. You can learn to dance in dance studios, too. There are some good things about being an adult.With all the different options available for those wanting to learn how to dance, if you want to learn how to dance, you can. You no longer have an excuse!

LSAT Tip of the Week Logical Reasoning Practice Question #2

LSAT Tip of the Week Logical Reasoning Practice Question #2 LSAT Law School Blog This week, we will go over a practice problem from the Logical Reasoning Section of the June 2007 LSAT. Section 3, Question 6: Jablonski, who owns a car dealership, has donated cars to driver education programs at area schools for over five years. She found the statistics on car accidents to be disturbing, and she wanted to do something to encourage better driving in young drivers. Some members of the community have shown their support for this action by purchasing cars from Jablonski’s dealership. Which one of the following propositions is best illustrated by the passage? (A) The only way to reduce traffic accidents is through driver education programs. (B) Altruistic actions sometimes have positive consequences for those who perform them. (C) Young drivers are the group most likely to benefit from driver education programs. (D) It is usually in one’s best interest to perform actions that benefit others. (E) An action must have broad community support if it is to be successful. A good plan of attack for logical reasoning questions is a simple one- read the question, identify what question type it is, plan out the answer in your head, then proceed to look at the answers. Go ahead and make an attempt at this and then come back here and we will step through how to get to the correct answer. Solution: We can determine that this is an illustration question, as the stem states “best illustrated”. Now, to try to come up with a sample answer in our head we can conclude that the fact pattern tells us that Jablonski donated cars to driver education programs in order to encourage better driving, which resulted in helping her business out. Answer (a) has the word “only” so this makes it a very strong statement, which should be a hint to be wary of this answer choice. In addition to this, this answer is simply wrong since the question is not stating anything about the only way to reduce traffic accidents is if driver education programs are installed. So, (a) is wrong. Next, option (b) states that altruistic actions can have positive consequences for those who perform them. In our attempt to come up with an answer we concluded that Jablonski donated cars solely to encourage better driving, and her business grew as a result. This seems like the correct answer, but let’s continue ju st in case. Option (c) particularly states that young drivers will benefit from these programs, nothing in our original fact pattern states this at all- so (c) is incorrect. Option (d) has another strong word, “usually” which we cannot back up with this fact pattern since we have no facts given to us that state that altruistic actions lead to benefits- so this is incorrect. Option (e) implies there is both broad community support and this action was successful. Nothing in the question give us any facts to back up either of these claims; therefore, (e) is incorrect. Option (b) is the correct answer here. Visit LSAThacks.com for additional LSAT practice problem explanations.

Five Ways to Reinvigorate Your Child This Winter Break

Five Ways to Reinvigorate Your Child This Winter Break Holiday break is here and if your child is like most, he or she is probably grateful for a little time off school and away from homework. While a break is certainly in order and important for children to recharge and rejuvenate, CEO and Co-Founder Eileen Huntington of Huntington Learning Center encourages parents to use these next couple of weeks away from school as a chance to open the lines of communication and plan ahead for a great rest of the year. At this point in the year, report cards are coming out soon and its important for parents to check in with their children about how things are going so far and where or if they need additional support, she says. Keep it positive so that when January comes and its time to head back into the classroom, children feel refreshed and ready to finish the first quarter strong. Huntington offers five suggestions for parents this winter break: Talk about areas where your child feels strong. Whether your child got off to a great start in one or more classes or has made improvements in a subject since last year, take the time to recognize and celebrate your childs strengths. Ask your child about the homework routine. By now, it should be fairly obvious if your childs study and homework routine isnt as effective as it could be. Ask your child how he or she feels about it and then simply listen, offering gentle suggestions. Use winter break to get your child talking freely and resist the urge to overwhelm him or her with criticism and pointers about how to improve. Spend time tidying up the study space. Getting your home study space cleaned up and restocked is a segue to discuss study skills and get your childs thoughts on how his or her methods are working (or not). Ask your child for suggestions on how to change things for the better and whether theres anything that might support him or her at home (e.g. different supplies or a quieter space). Encourage balance. After a couple of months in school, lets face it: your child is probably worn out. Winter break is a good opportunity to remind your child about taking good care of him or herself. A routine will help make sure your child has time for everything (school, homework, sleep, and free time) but are there other areas where your childs life seems out of balance? Talk about it to see how your child is feeling. Set goals for the New Year. Theres nothing like the culmination of a year to inspire your child to think about what he or she wants to achieve for the rest of the school year. Make this a constructive, optimistic conversation. Encourage your child to share his or her goals for the remainder of the semester and year as well as any sources of stress. This winter break, take a step back from the day-to-day school grind and let your child know that youre there for support, whether the year has gone well or poorly. Most children need this break to unwind, but that doesnt mean parents should avoid talking about school, Huntington says. Lay the foundation for good communication now and when report cards come out in a month, you and your child can just continue the conversation youve started and formulate a plan to guide your child toward success. Wondering about tutoring options for the New Year? Call Huntington at 1-800 CAN LEARN to discuss our one-to-one programs of instruction and our unique individualized approach. About Huntington Huntington 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 succeed and meet the needs of Common Core State Standards. Founded in 1977, Huntingtons mission is to give every student the best education possible. Learn how Huntington can help at www.huntingtonhelps.com. For franchise opportunities please visit www.huntingtonfranchise.com. 2018 Huntington Mark, LLC. Huntington Learning Center, the three-leaf logo, and 1 800 CAN LEARN are registered trademarks of Huntington Mark, LLC. Each franchised Huntington Learning Center is operated under a franchise agreement with Huntington Learning Centers, Inc.

Lessons in Grammar - Tutor Hunt Blog

Lessons in Grammar Lessons in grammar `hindering` pupil`s writing development Lessons in grammar `hindering` pupil`s writing developmentSchoolsThe University of Exeter has published a report stating that both primary and secondary schools are placing more emphasis on `grammatical acrobatics` as opposed to well composed sentences. The university has been investigating how schools teach grammar for a number of years, and has come up with some unsettling results. Most schools teach grammar in a tried and tested manner, explaining how an adjective is a describing word, and a verb is a doing word: a didactic method familiar to everyone. What the University of Exeter`s study has revealed is that this way of teaching can actually confuse pupils, and is not conducive to a fluent and natural writing style. Helen Lines is one of the authors of the study, and expressed her concerns with this formulaic way of teaching: `Quite often those definitions rely on a surface part of the structure, rather than addressing the grammatical idea behind the terminology.` One example of this would be something called the `comma sandwich`, which is a simple rule that says a clause should be flanked by commas on either side. What this rule fails to take into consideration is the actual function relative clauses serve in sentences, while also permitting mechanical sentences to be constructed, without any consideration of creating an intelligible, flowing style. Teaching grammatical rules in an abstract manner, away from meaningful sentences, can hinder a child`s understanding; and the report was critical of traditional teaching methods: `The necessity to use technical terms with pupils, such as `subordinate clause` or `subjunctive` remains a question open to research, but it is doubtful that attention to such terms is beneficial.` Debra Myhill, who lead the study, said that `the key stage 2 teacher assessment creates a sense that good writing is about demonstrating grammatical acrobatics and getting things in.` The study concluded with the advice that pupils should certainly be taught grammatical rules, but this should be in conjunction with the context and style of the writing. `Based on our research findings, we believe that an effective pedagogy for writing should include explicit grammar teaching which draws attention to the linguistic choices and possibilities available to children and which has at its heart the creative shaping of text.` The report went on to list four key principles which could be efficacious in teaching grammatical rules - one of these was showing how grammatical terms are actually used in contexts the children can relate to. This could be done by using the past tense to talk about a holiday a child has been on - while contrasting another sentence describing a holiday they plan to go on in the future. Another technique could be showing how a single-clause sentence can begin a paragraph by boldly expressing its main idea. Further points of the report suggested to refraining from teaching grammatical artefacts in a dry, academic way. Teachers should strive at all times to use them in sentences the children will be interested in. The modal verbs - can; could; may; might; must; shall; should; will; would; ought to - are notorious examples of linguistic features that are taught in a sterile manner, almost as if the children were learning them in isolation, as they might learn irregular verbs in another language. I am adamant the best way for a child to become proficient in writing English (or indeed any language) is engender within them a love for reading it. Surely the best way for a child to learn the finer nuances of grammar is for them to be immersed in a story - to be carried away with enthusiasm page by page, so that the process of reading almost becomes transparent - invisible behind the tale. It would be a sad thing indeed if the rise of the smartphone put people off reading. Children take to them so naturally, and websites usually favour concision when it comes to actual text. For many they will always be more enticing than books - they are certainly easier on the eyes in the dark; but they may etiolate the imagination, and lead to many missing out on the joys of literature. 2 years ago0Add a Comment

Things I wish I knew before I moved to South Korea to teach English

Things I wish I knew before I moved to South Korea to teach English Teach Away’s Katie spent a year teaching ESL in Anyang, South Korea, before travelling around Asia. She shares her tips below on what she wishes she knew before moving to the land of Kim Chi and K-pop. As a new teacher, patience is key. I knew that becoming an ESL teacher in a foreign country would require patience, sure, but this is still sound advice to take into account. The challenges that come from teaching children who may not understand you or speak your language are ones you just can’t imagine before you arrive. With more time comes more confidence and a more honed skillset, but before that, patience is the name of the game. You will get lost...a lot. You are on the other side of the world, where many people speak little to no English. All the street signs are in Korean, the subway stops are in Korean...ok, everything is in Korean. (It is Korea, after all!) Ask for help. Koreans are some of the nicest, most helpful people you will ever meet. Even if they don’t speak English, they will do their best to help you get back on track. If all else fails, just dial 1-3-3-0 for English assistance on ANYTHING, ANYWHERE. Seriously. The English-speaking operators on the tourist assistance line will help you with any problem you could ever have. As a new teacher, plan, plan, plan! There is nothing more handy than a wellthought out lesson plan. When working in a new place, with new co-workers and teaching plans, it’s always good to have a structure to work from. It will help you lead the classroom session, stay on track, and keep the students interested. As a traveler, plan, plan, plan! Whether it's obtaining visas to visit China or Vietnam, or making sure that the airport in Guangzhou, China, won’t close down in the middle of the night on a flight back to Seoul from Bangkok, it’s always best to do your research and due diligence before traveling around Asia from South Korea. Try all the new foods you can find, and remember how to order them. I still wish I had the piece of paper where my co-worker wrote down all my favorite dishes in Korean, but I lost it somewhere on the way back to Canada. Try anything and everything you see - you never know that you will love (dried anchovies anyone?), and what you cannot get when ordering in English back at home. If anyone knows what the Korean words for ‘Pork Bone Soup’ are, please reply in the comments. Pack light! South Korea is a shopping mecca. My most cherished memories in Korea were the relaxing Saturdays I spent shopping and roaming around the streets of Hongdae in Seoul. You will be able to find amazing pieces for your wardrobe here, often at bargain prices. Sneakers, hats, purses, apparel, sunglasses, bathing suits - South Korea has the best of the best. Experience everything. Hike mountains with Ajoshis. Visit temples. Buy a dangly Hello Kitty charm for your cell phone. Offer English lessons in exchange for home-cooked Korean meals. Stay out at a noraebang until 5 am. Get lost in a Shinsegae/Lotte/E-mart. Walk through the cherry blossom trees in the spring. Take the bullet train across the country. Wakeboard on the Han. Go to any and every mud or music festival you can find. Experience a Korean homestay. Meditate. Shop. Eat. Drink. Take in every single thing your Korean experience has to offer so you can look back 5, 10, 15+ years from your time there, and know that you did it all. Do I have you convinced? Check out the jobs we have posted right now for teaching in South Korea!

E-Teachers Conference on Communities and Crowdsourcing Our Quick Review

E-Teachers Conference on Communities and Crowdsourcing Our Quick Review Last night, we got the opportunity to present at the E-Teachers Academy Conference on Communities and the Power of Crowdsourcing, hosted by Kirsten Winkler (@KirstenWinkler). Were always impressed with how Kirsten is able to organize these conferences with so many of the key players in our space. There were presentations from Languages Out There, Busuu, Wiziq and us. Kirsten has written a more detailed review of the conference, and the presentations are all embedded on her blog. If youre interested in the specific comments, you should definitely take a look. Overall, we thought the attendees were positive on the value of communities for language learning, but much more skeptical about the potential in crowdsourcing. The sense was that people could rely on help from other members in a community, provided the community was well run and focused. However, the product of collaborative work from the community was generally lacking in creativity and often of very poor quality. At italki, we have tried crowdsourcing in many areas of our site, and we are well aware of the difficulties in crowdsourcing. As we mentioned in our presentation, you dont always get the perfect answer when you want it. However, we are definiely positive on its long-term potential. We have just updated our community-based site translation feature, for example. In addition, we do think it is possible to collaboratively create language learning materials, particularly if the license for the content is under the Creative Commons. Our inspiration here remains Wikipedia. We agree that art and literature designed by committee sounds awful. However, we think it is too pessimistic to say that basic materials for language learning can not be created collaboratively. It seems to run contrary to experience of impressive resources being released for other academic subjects (see MIT Open Courseware, and Connexions). It was an interesting conference, and the discussion gave us a lot to think about. We want to give special thanks to Kirsten again for organizing it, as well as Wiziq for hosting the event with their virtual classroom. We’re definitely looking forward to the next one! Kevin and the italki team E-Teachers Conference on Communities and Crowdsourcing Our Quick Review Last night, we got the opportunity to present at the E-Teachers Academy Conference on Communities and the Power of Crowdsourcing, hosted by Kirsten Winkler (@KirstenWinkler). Were always impressed with how Kirsten is able to organize these conferences with so many of the key players in our space. There were presentations from Languages Out There, Busuu, Wiziq and us. Kirsten has written a more detailed review of the conference, and the presentations are all embedded on her blog. If youre interested in the specific comments, you should definitely take a look. Overall, we thought the attendees were positive on the value of communities for language learning, but much more skeptical about the potential in crowdsourcing. The sense was that people could rely on help from other members in a community, provided the community was well run and focused. However, the product of collaborative work from the community was generally lacking in creativity and often of very poor quality. At italki, we have tried crowdsourcing in many areas of our site, and we are well aware of the difficulties in crowdsourcing. As we mentioned in our presentation, you dont always get the perfect answer when you want it. However, we are definiely positive on its long-term potential. We have just updated our community-based site translation feature, for example. In addition, we do think it is possible to collaboratively create language learning materials, particularly if the license for the content is under the Creative Commons. Our inspiration here remains Wikipedia. We agree that art and literature designed by committee sounds awful. However, we think it is too pessimistic to say that basic materials for language learning can not be created collaboratively. It seems to run contrary to experience of impressive resources being released for other academic subjects (see MIT Open Courseware, and Connexions). It was an interesting conference, and the discussion gave us a lot to think about. We want to give special thanks to Kirsten again for organizing it, as well as Wiziq for hosting the event with their virtual classroom. We’re definitely looking forward to the next one! Kevin and the italki team