Thanksgiving Fun Facts for You to Know this Year

Thanksgiving Fun Facts for You to Know this Year Now that weve successfully navigated Halloween, its time once again to look forward to the gravy-filled joy that Thanksgiving is sure to bring. Prior to the winter holiday madness, Thanksgiving kicks off a season that, for many, represents food, fun, football, and family. But there is so much more to it than that. How much do you actually know about Thanksgiving? There was no turkey at the beginning Your Thanksgiving Day knowledge should begin with the birdhowever, the first Thanksgiving did not. Deer, birds, and seafood made an appearance, though none of them were stuffed inside of one another (Turducken, anyone?). The Presidents role? You might also want to know that it is the U.S. Presidents job to pardon a turkey on Thanksgiving Day, preventing it from being eaten. This tradition began in 1989 with President Bush (although some say it began in 1947 with President Truman). President Obama pardoned a turkey named Courage who then served as the Grand Marshal of the Disneyland Thanksgiving Day parade. Our potential national bird If you think the eagle is regal, maybe you would have also enjoyed the turkey, which some believe was Ben Franklins choice for the national bird. Though we eat approximately 46 million of them each Thanksgiving, it could have been an interesting choice. In a letter to his daughter, Franklin wrote that the eagle had bad moral character. The turkey, he said, was a much more respectable bird. The reason for the season If youre grateful for Thanksgiving, you can thank Sarah Josepha Hale, the woman responsible for writing Mary Had a Little Lamb. In 1863, she convinced President Lincoln to make Thanksgiving a national holiday. All of this followed nearly 30 years of a letter writing campaign begging for holiday status. What day again? One day is nothing though the first Thanksgiving included so many people that it lasted for three days! Ever wonder about the date? President Roosevelt moved it up a week in 1939 in an effort to boost the shopping season during the Great Depression era. He couldnt quite get it to catch on and moved it back two years later. Ready, set, hut! If youre one of the many Americans watching football on Thanksgiving, you may have noticed that the home teams dont exactly change. The Detroit Lions have hosted a game each year since 1920, and the Dallas Cowboys have hosted since 1966 though the league added a third hosting team in 2006. Where else has turkey been eaten? You can consider yourself in good company if youre enjoying turkey this Thanksgiving season astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin ate it during their time in space, which is pretty good for a bird that cant even fly. The origin of the name Thanksgiving Day probably shouldnt come as a surprise to the turkey, who is referred to, at only 12 weeks-old, as a fryer-roaster. The name, turkey, actually came from Europeans who enjoyed the guinea fowls imported to the continent by Turkish merchants. Hence, they ended up calling them turkeys. [RELATED: 5 Ways to Stay Motivated Over the Holidays] So, no matter where youre celebrating this year, take a moment to reflect on the ever-so-interesting history of American Thanksgiving, a holiday filled with delicious food, family, and football. Take time to enjoy yourself and give thanks but give yourself a break as well. This school year is only getting started! Happy Thanksgiving! 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.

Important Habits of Effective Test-Takers

Important Habits of Effective Test-Takers Certain students do well on virtually every exam in every subject they tackle. Oftentimes, the secret to their success can appear nebulous or innate. However, most effective test-takers possess key habits and traits that ensure they earn high marks time and again. Let us examine a few: 1. They are prepared One of the most important factors in scoring well on any exam, whether it is the SAT, the MCAT, an AP, or a final, is preparation. It may sound obvious, but effective preparation is paramount.All effective test-takers devote significant time and effort to understanding the amount and type of studying they must complete in order to succeed on a test. This can involve content review from multiple sources, as well as completingpractice questions. Comprehensive study schedules ensure that preparation is thoroughand that no topics are overlooked. Without preparation, additional strategies are ineffective. Here are some great tips on how to mentally prepare for test daythat you may find useful as well. 2. They are cognizant of time during the exam For tests with time limits, it is vital for students to be aware of their pace. You do not receive points for questions you do not attempt. This is a common reason many studentsdo not score well on exams for whichthey are otherwise fully prepared. Skilledtest-takers monitor the time remaining during an exam at regular intervals, and they complete practice tests under time constraints beforehand to accurately simulate the real exam. 3. They do not fixate on difficult questions Despite extensive preparation, the majority of students will encounter at least one question they do not understand on a test. What distinguishes decent test-takers from great test-takers is that great test-takers quickly realize they do not know the answer. They make an educated guess (see below) and move on. This allows these students more time to address the problems they do understand in order to ultimately score additional points. By refusing to fixate on questions for which they do not have a clear answer, successful test-takers also maintain their psychological momentum. They do not devote significant mental effort to fighting a losing battle. 4. They make educated guesses Another key difference between those individuals who are prepared but do not see results and those who consistently score well is the ability to employ deduction when guessing, rather than blindly selecting an answer and hoping for the best. Strongtest-takers utilize the process of elimination to substantially improvetheir chances of choosing the correct response. By pausing for a moment to eliminate answer choices that they strongly believe are wrong, students will increase their likelihood of earning points on a question they dont know. 5. They are healthy as a whole To perform your best on any exam, it is important not to neglect other facets of your life. Effective test-takers ensure that they have a consistent and balanced diet, maintain a regular sleeping schedule, and set aside time for physical activity and relaxation. Given the intricate links between cognitive performance and physical well-being, it is easy to grasp the fact that being healthy will assist you in developing a mental edge come exam time. Here are 6test prep mantras to live by in the new yearthat you may want to take a look at as well. 6. They are able to concentrate Possibly the most significant factor that allows students to succeed on exams is concentration. In order to be a successful test-taker, students must learn how to focus completely on the task at hand. Whether it is studying material, completing practice exams, or sitting for the real test, those who concentrate fully and intensely can score well. Developing your ability to do as much requires time and practice. Removing yourself from distractions when reviewing is a great place to start. Meditation can also augment your concentration. It is no secret thatour education system is deeply rooted in testing. Standardized exams, board exams, and final exams occur frequently as students progress along the academic ladder. In order to flourish within higher education, it is vital for students to develop the key skills and habits of effective test-takers.

Various Methods for Learning to Play the Guitar

Various Methods for Learning to Play the Guitar Different Ways of Learning to Play the Guitar ChaptersTwo Options for Learning to Play the GuitarThe Advantages of Learning to Play the Guitar with a TeacherThe Disadvantages of Learning to Play the Guitar with a TeacherThe Advantages of Learning to Play the Guitar On Your OwnThe Disadvantages of Learning to Play the Guitar on Your OwnForms of Support for Learning to Play the GuitarBefore you start searching online for ways to learn to play the guitar, you should know that there are essentially two possibilities: either you learn with a teacher, or you learn on your own. That's pretty much it.However, this simple distinction obscures the different tools available to the beginner guitar player - or to anyone who is engaged in the process of learning how to play guitar.Alongside the guitar teachers themselves, there is so much material to learn from: online guitar lessons, video lessons, guitar tablature libraries for you to learn and play songs, banks of chord shapes, guides for music theory, and - of course - the guitar music of all your favourite players.You'll be to share your doubts, your expectations, and your questions with other musicians in discussion forums or on social media - an interactivity that will provide motivation as you learn the guitar.As you can see, whatever your method for learning the guitar, you'll have to commit yourself to it, really invest yourself, because playing an instrument like the guitar doesn't happen with a snap of the fingers.You really need to understand what you hope to achieve on the guitar, and decide if you to want reach a level at which you can play with friends or learn to truly master your instrument.After considering these questions, you can steer yourself towards one method or another.Ready? Set: motivate! Follow Superprof's tips for getting started learning the guitar...

My Own Story of Change What You Can Learn from It - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / My Own Story of Change What You Can Learn from It - Introvert Whisperer My Own Story of Change: What You Can Learn from It When I launched Introvert Whisperer, I was unclear what to do with my previous website.  Because I wasn’t clear, I kept it going and continued to post content to it.   I decided to “end-of-life” the website, thus closing that chapter in my life.   Because my roots are in change, I have to use this as an illustration for you on how we work in making change and the emotional reaction to change called transition.   The first phase of transition is an ending.  Something has to come to an end and for me, the end started last year as I ramped up Introvert Whisperer.  During the end phase, you begin to disengage and begin to lose identification with what you are ending.  I was identifying less with Next Chapter and more with Introvert Whisperer.   The next phase is what I called confusion, because it is largely a period where you feel unshaped by purpose.  With my Next Chapter website/persona, that period of confusion has lasted a year.    I wasn’t clear what to do with it so rather than pulling the plug or redefining it, I decided my clarity would eventually come as I spent more time defining myself with Introvert Whisperer.  I’ll note that we all move through our transition phases at different rates.  For me, I felt that there would come a day where the answer of what to do would eventually arrive.  It also let me come to grips with ending something I was very emotionally invested in.   The last phase is beginnings.  Introvert Whisperer to a large degree was the beginning and with this phase you have a new identity or direction.  It’s an energetic phase as you are further touching into new territory.   I’ll note for you that while these three parts of transition are called phases, they occur at the same time.  They occur in different proportions throughout the change but we shift through them daily.  Because of the overlapping nature of the phases, we also experience mixed emotions and can often confuse these mixed emotions for making a wrong decision.  You can feel happy and sad at the same time.  It’s a huge reason so many people avoid change because its not that comfortable.   Transition = Endings-Confusion-Beginnings.  You will always go through them with any change.  Just know that when you’re at a low point or anxiety-ridden â€" you’re normal!  You will get through it.   So, I got through this transition with all those same reactions but satisfied with the result.  Change.  Its the only constant in life. Think about changes in your life and how these three phases occurred.  It will help you the next time you have a change. Go to top Let me emphasize that Self-Promotion doesn’t have to be obnoxious to be effective.  But, if you don’t Self-Promote you, who will?  If you ever want to get ahead, you have to learn how to Self-Promote. I want to help you accelerate your career by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my video that shows you simple, yet effective ways to Self-Promote. Start watching now by clicking here! Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleashing your professional potential. Introvert Whisperer

Fluid Dynamics

Fluid Dynamics Fluid Dynamics Physics is the branch of Science that explains us all about matter and energy. This is an important branch as our everyday life includes physical activities which knowingly or unknowingly incorporate the applications of physics. Fluid Mechanics is the branch of Physics which deals with the study of fluids at rest or in motion, and also explains the behavior of fluids with solids and with other fluids. Fluid Mechanics is further divided into 2 important branches known as Fluid Statics and Fluid Dynamics. The branch of Fluid Mechanics which studies about the behavior of fluids at rest is known as Fluid Statics, and the branch that studies the behavior of fluids in motion is known as Fluid Dynamics. This study involves concepts from various sections such as: a) Hydrodynamics: The study of motion of fluids that can usually be approximated as incompressible (such as liquids, or gases at low speeds) is known as Hydrodynamics. Hydraulics comes under this section where liquid flow in pipes and open channels are studied. b) Aerodynamics: The study of the flow of gases over objects such as automobiles, aircrafts, or rockets at high or low speeds is known as Aerodynamics. c) Gas Dynamics: The study of the flow of fluids that involves changes in fluid density is known as Gas Dynamics. d) Meteorology, Hydrology and Oceanography involve the study of flow of the fluids that occur in the atmosphere, on Earth or in the oceans and seas. What is a Fluid? Fluids are substances that deform continuously (have no fixed shape) under the influence of external pressure. Since liquids and gases have such a property of deforming or changing shape even by the slight application of pressure, they are known as Fluids. Therefore fluids are classified as the substances that are in the liquid or in the gas phase. Some of the common terms used in the study of the fluids are given below: i) Stress: This is defined as the Force per unit Area. Stress is also referred to as Pressure. The maximum amount of stress a material can tolerate before it breaks is known as the breaking stress. Stress = Force/ cross-sectional Area = F/A The standard unit of Force is taken as Newton (N) and Area in m2 and hence Stress is measured in N/m2 or Pascal (Pa). ii) Normal Stress: The normal or perpendicular component of force acting on the surface of the substance is known as the Normal Stress. iii) Shear Stress: The tangential component of force acting on the surface of the substance is known as the Shear Stress. This implies that here the force acting on the substance is parallel to the surface of the substance. The fluids at rest have zero shear stress, and therefore only normal stress is considered in this case. Properties of Fluids: a) In liquids, molecules move relative to each other but the volume remains constant. This is because of the strong cohesive forces present in between the liquid molecules. Due to this property of liquids, they take up the shape of whichever container they are placed in. For instance, if a liquid is placed in a regular bottle, it takes up the shape of the bottle. If the same liquid is poured into a huge vessel, it takes up the shape of the vessel. b) Unlike liquids, gases do not have the property to take up the shape of the container. Due to weaker cohesive forces in between the gas molecules, they occupy the entire available space. Gases have the property to spread and expand, until they encounter the walls of the container. c) Liquids have the property of forming a free surface when placed in a large open container, as shown in the figure below. d) Unlike liquids, gases do not form a free surface when placed in an open container. They have the tendency to expand and thus occupy the entire available space. e) The molecules in a solid are tightly packed together and are arranged in a pattern thus forming a rigid shape as shown in the figure above. The liquid molecules are not as tightly packed as solids. Liquids molecules have the opportunity to translate (move in straight directions) or rotate. f) Unlike both solids and liquids, the gas molecules are usually placed far apart from each other and therefore gases do not have any shape. Due to this property, gas molecules do not have any pattern or ordering in between the molecules. The study of Fluid Dynamics is applied in various fields such as: Power plants, Boats and ships, Aircrafts and rockets, human body, automobiles, wind turbines, Plumbing system, industrial applications, natural flows and weather updates etc. Types of Fluid Flows: 1) Viscous Flow: The continuous steady flow of fluids, where the effects of friction are significant. 2) Inviscid Flow: This is the type of flow considered for an ideal fluid in which no friction is considered. Viscosity is the measure of a fluids resistance to flow. An inviscid flow is considered to have no viscosity. 3) External flow: This is the flow of a fluid over any substance where the flow is not bounded by any material. 4) Internal flow: The flow of a fluid when bounded by some kind of material is known as the internal flow. The flow of fluids through pipes, ducts or any solid material is an example of internal flow. 5) Incompressible flow: If there are no significant changes in the density of the flowing fluid, then such a flow is known as the Incompressible flow. This implies that the density of the flowing fluid remains nearly constant though out its motion. Example of an incompressible flow is the liquid flow. 6) Compressible flow: If there are significant changes in the density of the flowing fluid, then such as flow is known as the Compressible flow. Compressible flows are usually observed to be flows with high-speed. Example of a compressible flow is the flow of high speed gases. Mach Number: This is a quantity which represents the ratio of the speed of the flow to the speed of the sound of that medium. Mach number is a dimensionless quantity and is extremely useful to analyze compressible flow in rockets, space crafts and various other systems that involve high speed gas flow. Mach Number (Ma) = Speed of flow / Speed of sound = V/c 7) Forced flow: When a fluid is forced to flow over a surface or through any pipe using external means such as a pump, or a fan etc, then such a flow is known as the Forced flow. 8) Natural flow: When there is fluid motion due to natural causes such as buoyancy etc, then that flow is known as the natural flow. The flow in pipes can be divided into 3 categories: i) Laminar Flow: This type of flow is an ordered fluid flow which is characterized by smooth layers of the fluid. This flow can be generally observed in small pipes where in the velocity of the flow is less. Example: Highly viscous fluids such as oils, honey etc at low velocities typically move in laminar flow. ii) Turbulent flow: The fluid motion that usually occurs at high velocities and which is characterized by velocity changes is known as the Turbulent flow. Example: Fluids having low viscosity such as air when flowing at high velocities typically move in turbulent flow. iii) Transitional flow: The fluid motion in which both laminar flow and turbulent flow can be observed is known as the Transitional flow. Bernoullis Principle: Daniel Bernoulli, a Swiss mathematician and physicist has stated the principle describing the behavior of the flowing fluids. According to the Bernoullis principle, in the regions where the fluid pressure is lowered the fluid flows velocity is increased. Conversely, if the fluid pressure in a region is increased, then the fluid flows velocity decreases. This defines the inverse relationship between pressure and the flow velocity of a fluid. Bernoullis principle is a statement which comes as a consequence of the Conservation of Energy. The Bernoullis equation is given as follows: P1 + 1/2v12 + gh1 = P2 + 1/2v22 + gh2 This equation can also be written in short as: P + 1/2v2 + gh = constant Here, P = Pressure (pronounced as rho) = density v = velocity of the fluid flow g = acceleration due to gravity h = elevation Some of the applications of Bernoullis Principle are: Bernoullis principle is most importantly observed in the structure of an airplane. The wings of an air plane are constructed in such a way that it regulates the air on the bottom of the wing. This is achieved by constructing the top of the wing little curved, keeping the bottom of the wing flat. During an air flight, air blows concurrently across both top and the bottom of the wing. But because of the curved top part, the air on the bottom side of the wing moves slowly. According to Bernoullis principle, lower velocity of a fluid creates higher pressure. Therefore higher pressure is exerted at the bottom of the wing, whereas due to greater air velocity at the top of the wing lower pressure is generated on top. The higher pressure at the bottom of the wing helps create the lift for the airplane and allows the plane to fly. Bernoullis principle is used while sailing. It is not always true that the wind drags along the sailing boat in the sea. Many times the boat does not travel in the direction of the wind. In those situations Bernoullis principle is applied wherein just like airplanes, this principle is used in the construction of a sail boat. A sail boat has the keel constructed at its bottom so that maximum air flow is achieved by the low pressure created by the sail and this increases the speed due to which it lets the sailboat travel in the direction it has to. Bernoullis principle can be used to understand why a person is pulled towards a fast train moving towards him. A fast moving train creates a low pressure in between the person and the train, however the pressure on the other side of the person is greater. This greater pressure on the other side of the person is responsible for pushing the person towards the train. Hence it is highly suggested for people to keep a distance from an approaching train. Pascals Law: Blaise Pascal was a French scientist and he has put forward the Pascals law which states that in an enclosed fluid at rest, whenever there is an increase in pressure at any point in that fluid, there is an equal increase at every other point in the fluid. This implies that an external pressure in an enclosed fluid in a container transmits equal pressure throughout the fluid in the container. Hydraulic systems are best examples of how Pascals law is applied in the real world. In a hydraulic system, pressure applied on one piston exerts equal amount of pressure on the other piston as well. Now we know that Pressure is defined as the force per unit of the cross-section area. Pressure = Force/ Area == P = F/A. This also gives us that: F = P * A Here we can observe if the pressure is kept constant, then the Force applied is directly proportional to the Area. Now, in a hydraulic system we know that the pressure exerted will be the same on both pistons due to the principle of Pascals law. Therefore, if the area of the second piston is 10 times larger than the first piston, then the force exerted on the second piston also becomes 10 times greater than the force on the first piston. So therefore just by applying a small amount of force on the first piston, the second piston having larger area experiences greater force due to which it can be used to lift heavy objects. The diagram below illustrates this principle. Story of Archimedes and the Archimedes Principle: Archimedes was an ancient Greek mathematician, and he is most famously known for stating the principle about the objects immersed in a fluid. According to Vitrivius (a Roman author), a golden crown for a temple had been made for the ruling King Hiero II. With no trust on the goldsmith, Archimedes was asked to investigate whether the crown was made of pure gold or whether any silver has been substituted by the goldsmith. Since the crown was to be offered to the Gods, Archimedes could not melt it or damage it any way in order to solve the problem. Vitrivius described that one day when Archimedes got into a bath tub as usual for a regular bath, he observed that the more his body sank into the water, more the water level rose in the tub. He then immediately realized that this effect can be used in order to determine whether the golden crown was indeed made of gold or not. Solution to the Crown Problem: Archimedes filled a large vessel with water to the very top and dropped a silver mass into it. The amount of water that overflowed was equal in volume to that of the mass of the silver that sunk into the vessel. Archimedes now refilled the vessel with water and this time he dropped a mass of gold into the vessel. He observed the amount of water that overflowed this time (since gold is denser that silver, the same weight of gold takes up less amount of volume). After refilling the vessel once again, Archimedes finally took the crown and dropped it into the vessel. He observed that more amount of water overflowed for the crown, than the amount of water that was overflown for the mass of gold. This implied that silver was added into the crown due to which the crown was less dense than that of just gold. It is said that Archimedes was so excited about this discovery that he forgot to even dress, and simple ran out of the tub naked to the streets crying Eureka! Eureka! (meaning I have fou nd it!). Therefore, Archimedes clearly proved that the goldsmith was dishonest in making the crown. Archimedes Principle: As a result of the above mentioned observation by Archimedes, the Archimedes Principle states that an object immersed in a fluid experiences a force known as the Buoyant Force, which is equal to the weight of the fluid it displaces. Buoyant Force: Whenever a rigid object is partially or completely immersed in a fluid, then the object experience an upward force that is equal to the weight of the fluid displaced. This upward force is known as the Buoyant Force. This can be understood by observing that the object has occupied the space that initially was covered with the fluid. Fluid pressure generates a net upward force and since the object is now immersed, the same upward force now acts on the object. Equation of Buoyant Force can be written as: FB = fluid * Vsubmerged * g Here = density of the fluid V = volume of the submerged object g = acceleration due to gravity The principle of buoyancy helps us understand how objects like boats, ships etc can float in water.

The Various Options for Learning Arabic

The Various Options for Learning Arabic What Are the Different Ways of Learning Arabic? ChaptersHow to Learn Arabic for Children?Arabic for Beginners: How to Learn Arabic on your OwnHow to Learn Arabic in a Hurry!How to Learn the Arabic of the QuranHow to Learn Arabic Quickly?Educational Games for Learning the Arabic LanguageArabic is a rich and diverse language that is an official language in 26 countries, and is spoken by almost 300 million native speakers worldwide.It is true, however, that for English native speakers, Arabic is substantially more difficult to learn than the European languages of Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, or French.But if you are determined and motivated, there is no reason why you can't succeed in learning it!In slightly confusing fashion, Arabic has different written and spoken forms, and the spoken forms differ yet still across the various Arabic speaking countries of the Middle East and North Africa.Any Arabic language course taught in the western world will more than likely be in one of the written forms of Modern Standard Arabic, or Classic al Arabic. Don't worry, these two are often used interchangeable by native speakers as there is very little difference between them.Here's a Superprof guide to learning classical Arabic at any age.If you agree with this principle, which is quite dear to several teachers, then you will readily admit that learning Arabic through educational games can be amazing! For students of any age of course.But how can one get started?Where and with whom?Where can you buy these games?You will not be surprised to read that many of these fun ways to learn Arabic can be found on the internet:With websites:  www.earabiclearning.com, www.hello-world.com, www.learn-quran-kids.comBut also apps: Arabic Nemo is an excellent example.Finally, for those who would like the learning experience to be a family experience, why not try a video game like Jawab Speed?

Six Skills Your Teen Needs for College Readiness

Six Skills Your Teen Needs for College Readiness If your teen is headed to college soon, its important to make sure he or she is prepared. College classes are a big step up from high school classes in terms of rigor and expectations, and your teen must have a range of aptitudes and habits to do well. What exactly does it take? Here are six essential skills your teen must have to be successful in college: Independence By high school, teens should be keeping track of homework and upcoming projects and tests all on their own. They should be in tune with their needs in the classroom so they can advocate for themselves. Your support in school remains important in high school but make sure your teen understands that school is his or her responsibility and that he or she is taking initiative to complete homework, study and manage all of his or her responsibilities. Time management The college workload can take many freshmen by surprise, and those who lack a good time management system tend to struggle. Teens must be adept at prioritizing their studying and planning ahead when they have big projects. If your teen doesnt use the planner faithfully, now is the time to start. Adaptability In college, there are times students get a lot of direction from professors and times they do not. A class projects scope or timeline might change. Its important to be able to adjust and pivot when a situation changes, new information is acquired or when faced with uncertainty. Encourage your teen to problem solve and stay calm in high-pressure situations. These skills go hand in hand with adaptability. Resourcefulness College students do a whole lot of research. They are frequently expected to develop written arguments on texts they read and other topics and must be able to supply evidence and support for those interpretations. And outside the classroom, students should be comfortable asking for help and identifying and taking advantage of the different resources available to them. Suggest that your teen do the same as a high school student. Study skills Good academic habits are essential in college, including studying smart, notetaking and planning out the study and homework schedule. Students are expected to be responsible and on top of all of their classes and responsibilities. Make sure your teen nurtures the study habits so that by the time he or she is in college, they are second nature. Critical thinking skills College professors want students to participate in class and articulate their ideas clearly. They expect that they are able to analyze new information, make connections about that which they learn and draw conclusions. As often as possible, encourage your teen to express opinions and the reasons for them and think through arguments. College success requires a combination of academic and other skills, and these final years of high school are your teens opportunity to strengthen them. Help your teen acquire the skills and knowledge he or she will need so that by the time graduation comes, your teen is ready to make the college years the best ones yet.

In Defense of Reading

In Defense of Reading “I don’t read.”Whether I’m teaching English or test prep, I hear this statement from students again and again. When I find the rare student who delights in reading, I’m thrilled. But why the near-universal resistance to reading?We could look into the societal and technological factors that contribute to it, but these external factors are largely beyond our control. Besides, there are a few more practical questions we can consider.1) Why does it matter if students read?2) What can we do about it?Why read?The benefits of reading are manyfold. They range from the eminently practical to the obscurely big-picture.WritingWriting remains an essential skill for a successful professional career. Students must learn to unravel their own thoughts and articulate them clearly and succinctly. Learning to write well, however, is a challenge. Memorizing the structural aspects of a paragraph or overall essay is easy enough, but fine-tuning one’s grasp of vocabulary (including its conventi onal usage) and sentence structure is more elusive. Some things are learned best by sheer osmosis: read enough books, read enough sentences, and you’ll eventually develop your own voice. Students consciously, or unconsciously, mimic what they see and hear and read.Standardized TestsAt the very least, most students will face the SAT or ACT before they move beyond their high school careers. Some will encounter the ISEE, the HSPT, or the SSAT as they transition to high school. Whether digesting a math word problem or working through a reading comprehension passage, students rely on skills accrued by practice and more practice. Students often prepare for these tests in the preceding months, but good reading habits developed over the course of years give students the foundation they need to succeed. A student who has read regularly will pick up instinctively on the nuances of reading passages, understand what sounds grammatically “correct,” and interpret word problems.CreativityRea ding exposes us to other perspectives, to other worlds, to our own history, to what is, to the possibility of what could be. Exercising our imaginations spurs creativity and, by extension, innovation.  In today’s ever-changing world, creativity is essential.How can we encourage reading?Students regularly tell us, “It was boring” when asked what they thought about a book. So how do we help students find the joy in reading?Emphasize Quality over QuantityTell a student to read a hundred pages a day, and they’ll skim the pages at best, skip the exercise entirely at worst. Why? It’s a task, and it’s an overwhelming one at that. A student will benefit more from reading 5 pages a day well than a hundred sloppily. We can’t influence the assignments students receive in school, but if we’re encouraging outside reading or asking students to examine a text more closely, we can start small. If a student has a fifty pages to read for school, ask them to choose a passage no longer than two pages to examine more in depth.Active ReadingA surefire way to ensure you’ll be bored with a text is not to think about it. Imagine tha you read the lines, “There are more things in Heaven and Earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.” Hamlet is telling Horatio that he hasn’t thought of everything. So what? This is the question that we so often ignore: so what? Students breeze their way through passages without pausing to consider the events, without taking note of anything that stood out to them, and without contemplating the “why” of the text.We can encourage students to check in with themselves after each paragraph or after every chapter. What do they think about what they read? How do they feel about it? What are one or two things they noticed that they feel are significant, and why? Was there anything that surprised them? Alarmed them? Made them smile? The more a student engages with a text, the more it means to them. The more they notice, the most interesting the text can seem.ConnectionsFor many students, the books they read have no connection to their daily lives. The existential dilemmas of a Danish prince who must contend with the duplicity of his uncle and mother is not a situation that many students can relate to. Asking students to explain how they feel about characters opens avenues to forming connections. If they like the character, what do they like about them? If they dislike them, what do they dislike? If a student can connect with a character, they’ve taken strides towards connecting to the book.Furthermore…The themes of a book often apply to today’s world, no matter when the book was written. The theme of society’s obsession with outward appearances can describe the experiences of Anna in Anna Karenina as well as today’s world of social media. Students’ understanding of their world not only informs their understanding of Anna’s world, but also gives the book meaning in their own lives. They c an examine the relevancy of Tolstoy’s message now as well as then.What can we do to help?AJ’s English tutors are experts at asking leading questions to not only guide students into a deeper understanding of the text, but also help them find the connections that make a text resonate with them. Whether we’re working with an acronym such as OPERATICA (Observe, Predict, Evaluate, React, Ask, Translate, Infer, Connect, Analyze) to assist with annotation or guiding students organically through translating their initial impressions into something deeper, we believe in teaching students the process, not the answer. We’re interested in a student’s ideas and where they can take them, not with our own interpretation of the text.  Our goal is to empower our students to master a text on their own and to inspire them to keep reading.