Tips to Help Your Child Maintain School-Life Balance

Tips to Help Your Child Maintain School-Life Balance There is no doubt that being out of school in the summer months can affect your child academically. The concept, sometimes called summer slide, can have a significant impact on students. However, children also need a break from school, and summer should be a time when they can relax, recharge, and get ready to start next school year strong. It can be hard to find ways to strike a balance between school and life for your student, but tips to help your child maintain school-life balance include helping them enjoy organic learning, using community resources, and rewarding hard work. Do you want to ensure that your student has a relaxing and productive summer? Here are three tips to help your child maintain school-life balance: School-life balance tip #1: Help your student develop an organic love of learning One of the best things you can do for your child this summer is help instill a genuine love of learning in him or her. Standard school subjects might not always be the most engaging for every student, but each child has hobbies and passions that spark his or her interest. Use your students interests to combine learning and enjoyment. For example, have her use at-home technology to learn new facts about a subject of her choice each week. You can also spend time with your child in mock school scenarios, where you play the student while he teaches you the new things hes learned. This can help your child feel like the expert! [RELATED: 3 STEM Activities for Students This Summer] School-life balance tip #2: Capitalize on community resources Local libraries are rich with potential for summer learning. For a student who is already an avid reader, consider getting him or her a library card. Even for those who dont enjoy reading independently, local libraries often have the following activities: book club discussions movie screenings of popular book adaptations points programs with prizes to help incentivize reading. Along with libraries, community centers and schools may also be spaces that offer productive fun for students over the summer. Check to see whats around where you live. Being involved in a librarys summer reading program or a community centers extracurricular activity can help your child make friends while still maintaining academic skills. [RELATED: How to Create a Summer Reading Program for You and Your Child] School-life balance tip #3: Work hard and play hard In an ideal world, fun and school would always go hand-in-hand. However, since there will be times that your student might need to practice school skills that he or she doesnt enjoy, it can be helpful to use a timed schedule that your child is aware of in advance. For older students, you can explain the importance of practicing skills over the summer, and then ask them to help you set a work/play schedule. For younger children, a realistic schedule might be a given number of pages that they should read out loud to you before using toys and technology. Timed schedules work well for all ages. Set a timer with a no-distractions policy whenever its ticking.Instill responsibility by having your student mark off each day on the calendar that he or she successfully finishes some school work. Also ensure that you dont push too hard outside of this schedule. Play time begins as soon as the timer goes off! [RELATED: 6 Summer Learning Programs for Students of All Ages] Summer is a time for fun and play, but it can also be a productive time for students to practice the skills that theyve learned in school. These tips can act as a starting point for maintaining school-life balance that will leave your child feeling refreshed and ready to go when school starts in the fall! 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.

What is it Like to Attend Bucknell University

What is it Like to Attend Bucknell University Jared earned his bachelors degree in biomedical engineering from Bucknell University. He specializes in geometry tutoring, biology tutoring, and a number of other subjects. Below, he shares his experience at Bucknell University: Describe the campus setting and transportation options. Jared: Bucknell is a pretty rural campus. Theres a beautiful, historic, and quaint downtown. Both the campus and the town of Lewisburg, PA are extremely safe. Theres a bus that takes you to certain places around campus and to grocery stores and medical centers. Theres also a late-night bus that circulates between the upper part of campus and downtown. Luckily, at Bucknell you will never need to drive from one place on campus to another or to downtown; everything is within walking distance. How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Jared:Professors, advisers, and TAs are all available. All of the professors are primarily there to teach, not to do research. So, their favorite part of their job is teaching you during class or office hours. Advisers are professors in your department, so they will be equally available. TAs also always hold office hours. How would you describe the dorm liferooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Jared:Dorm life is good. Bucknell works really hard during orientation to connect you with your peers and your RA. Buildings have tight communities that end up being groups of friends. If you join a residential college, youll have two upperclassmen in your hall that youll live with all year long and a class that youre guaranteed to have with a lot of your hallmates. Bucknell is a small enough campus that none of the first year dorms are in bad spots. Socialization is also easy. There are common areas in every dorm, and each dorm hall has its own programs that connect you with other people. Your first year, you have an unlimited dining plan in Bostwick Marketplace, or the cafeteria with an open buffet, which is great because you can socialize with people you know all of the time. Some people like the food there so much that they get the unlimited meal plan all four years at Bucknell. Which majors/programs are best represented and supported? Jared:Every major and program is really well supported. Some are smaller than others, and some have more or less funding, but theyre all supported. 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? Jared:Greek life is huge on Bucknells campus; around two thirds of the campus joins. The good thing about it is that you cant join a Greek organization until your sophomore year, so you have a lot of time to decide whether or not its something that fits with what you want out of your college experience. I chose not to get involved in Greek life, even though many of my friends did. Theres a lot of other ways to make friends aside from Greek life. I didnt have a hard time making friends at Bucknell. Orientation does a great job at breaking down the awkward barriers of making new friends. At Bucknell, almost everyone is in the same boat as you; they know almost no one and they want to find friends. I found sports a good way to make friends, but other people have made friends through video games, the arts, their major, and other avenues. I continued to meet people all four years by joining different clubs, my on-campus jobs, and through other chance interactions. How helpful are the Career Centerand other student support services? Jared:The career center works really hard at Bucknell. Some really awesome companies, like Deloitte, Merck, General Electric, Microsoft, and many others recruit at Bucknell. Ive heard of people getting offers from other companies, too, like Amazon, Google, and Morgan Stanley. The career center does a great job of connecting you with alumni in your industry to get you internships, jobs, and mentoring advice; all you have to do is put in the necessary effort. How are the various study areas such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Jared:Study areas at Bucknell are great. There is a gorgeous library, a cool coffee shop, and buildings on campus open all hours of the day so you can just camp out and do homework in them. I went into computer labs in certain buildings during the evening hours and they were usually empty because other people didnt think to go there. The places are never so overcrowded so that you cant find a spot, but if youre looking for a quiet spot during certain peak times of the day or the year, it can be challenging. Describe the surrounding town. Jared:Downtown Lewisburg is a true gem that far too few people take advantage of during their time at Bucknell. It has great places to eat, cute places to shop, and quaint places to hang out. How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Jared:There are about 3,600 undergraduate students at Bucknell. My biggest classes were my introductory chemistry, physics, biology, and engineering classes, which were around 60 people. I had a total of eight classes with over 50 students in them, and the rest of the classes I had at Bucknell were around 20-25 students per class. Every professor I had still remembers my name; so, even if you have bigger classes, they will still get to know you if you put in the effort. Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Jared:Three years after my introductory biology course, I went to a campus event called Chrysalis, which is attended by most of Bucknells students and faculty. Its a semi-formal event with hors doeuvres and a concert. The band never played their most famous song, so it was obvious that they were going to come back out for an encore. A minute later, a music video of their most famous song came on. Then, as the chorus came and they walked on stage, I started looking around, making ridiculous faces, pretending to be surprised. I caught the eye of my favorite professor from my first year at Bucknell while making a ridiculous face. He made an equally ridiculous face back at me also pretending to be surprised. I laughed for the rest of the song. Check out Jareds tutoring profile.The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

Volume Formula

Volume Formula Volume Formula: Volume is defined as the space occupied within a 3-dimensional solid object. Volume of an object is also referred to as its Capacity. Volume is one of the most important and commonly used measuring formula to calculate the space enclosed within the boundaries of a 3-dimensional object. The objects which have 3 dimensions of length, width and height are known as a 3-dimensional object. Examples of such figures include cube, cuboid, prism, sphere, cone, pyramid etc. The standard measuring units for volume are cubic centimeters, cubic meters, cubic foot, cubic inch, liters, etc. The figure below shows us various 3-dimensional objects and the spaces enclosed within them. Before we calculate the volume of each of the above figures, we must know how to convert one unit of volume to another unit. Conversion of Volume: In order to convert volume from one unit to another unit, we should be aware of the standard conversion between the units. For example, if we want to convert 1 cubic yard to cubic feet, then we must first know the standard conversion between yard and feet. 1 yard = 3 feet Now, a volume of 1 cubic yard implies 1yard * 1 yard * 1 yard Now to convert it to cubic feet and considering 1 yard is equal to 3 feet, we get: Volume of 1 cubic yard implies = 3 feet * 3 feet * 3 feet = 27 cubic feet. Therefore, 1 cubic yard = 27 cubic feet. Example: Convert 5 cubic meters to liters. The standard unit conversion between cubic meters and liters is: 1 cubic meter = 1000 liters Hence, 5 cubic meters = 5 * 1000 = 5000 liters. Volume Formula for Various Shapes: Calculating volume is a very commonly done procedure, and this process is done in our daily life quite often. If we need to measure the space within a rectangular box, then we must know the volume formula for that shape and similarly to be able to know the amount of water that can fit into a bottle, we must measure the space enclosed within the bottle. Now let us calculate the volume formula for different geometry shapes with different sizes. 1)Volume of a Box (Cuboid): A box is also considered a Cuboid or a rectangular prism, and the volume of a box is the volume or space enclosed within a box. As shown in the figure below, a box figure has length, width and height at right angles and the faces of the box or cuboid are usually rectangles. A cuboid as shown in the figure below has 6 faces, 8 vertices and 12 edges. If the dimensions of the box are given as length l, width w and height h, then the Volume of the box is given by the formula as shown below: Volume of the Box, V = length * width * height. Therefore, V = lwh Example: Find the volume of the box whose length is 12 inches, width is 8 inches and height is 7 inches. Given that length, l = 12 inches Width, w = 8 inches Height, h = 7 inches Therefore, Volume of the Box, V = length * width * height == V = 12 * 8 * 7 = 672 inches3 This implies, Volume of the Box = 672 cubic inches. 2)Volume of a Cube: A cube is a 3-dimensional figure whose faces are all square faces. A cube has 6 congruent square faces, 12 edges and 8 vertices. A cube is also known as a regular hexahedron. Since a cube consists of all equal or congruent squares, hence its side are of equal length as well. If the side length of a cube is s, then the Volume of a Cube, V = s * s * s. Therefore, V = s3 Example: What is the volume of a cube of side length 5cm? Given the side length of a cube, s = 5cm Volume of a Cube, V = s3 == Therefore, Volume, V = (5cm)3 = 125cm3 or 125 cubic centimeters. 3)Volume of a Cone: A cone is a geometric shape which has a circular base, and a single vertex (also known as apex). If the apex of the cone is exactly over the center of the circular base, then such a cone is known as the Right Cone. If the apex of the cone is not exactly over the center of the base, then such a cone is known as the Oblique Cone. For a given Cone, if the radius of the circular base is r, and height (or altitude) is h, then the Volume of the Cone is given by the equation below: Volume of a Cone, V =1/3 * * (radius)2 * height == Volume, V = 1/3 * * r2 * h Example: What is the Volume of a Cone whose radius is 7 inches and height is 8 inches? Given that radius, r = 7 inches and height, h = 8 inches. Volume of the Cone, V = 1/3 * * r2 * h = 1/3 * 3.14 * 72 * 8 = 410.3 inches3 4)Volume of a Sphere and a Hemisphere: A sphere is a 3-dimensioanl geometric figure which has no edges (sides) or vertices (corners). It is a perfectly symmetrical shape which has all its points on the surface equidistant from the center. If a sphere has a radius r, then the Volume of the Sphere is given by the equation below: Volume of a Sphere, V = 4/3 * * (radius)3 == Volume, V = 4/3 * * r3 When a sphere is cut into half, then we get a Hemisphere. Volume of a Hemisphere = 1/2 * (Volume of Sphere) = 1/2 * 4/3 * * r3 Therefore, Volume of a Hemisphere, V = 2/3 * ???? * r3 Example: Find the volume of a sphere whose radius is 10m. If the sphere is cut into half, then what is the volume of the hemisphere? Given that the radius of the sphere, r = 10m Volume of the Sphere, V = 4/3 * * r3 = 4/3 * 3.14 * (10)3 Therefore, Volume of the Sphere, V = 4186.7 m3 If the sphere is cut into half, we get a hemisphere. Volume of a Hemisphere = 2/3 * * r3 = 2/3 * 3.14 * (10)3 Therefore, Volume of a Hemisphere, V = 2093.3 m3 5)Volume of a Cylinder: A cylinder is a solid closed figure which has two congruent parallel circular bases that are connected by a curved surface. A cylinder has 2 bases that are circular in shape and are parallel to each other. Since they are circular, the bases have radius. These circular bases are connected by a curved surface and the line joining the centers of the circular bases is known as the Axis. The perpendicular distance between the 2 circular bases is known as the height or the altitude. In our daily life, a cylinder is a very commonly observed geometric shape. We usually find cylinders which are called Right Cylinders and the ones which are slant in their position, known as the Oblique Cylinders as shown in the diagram below. If the 2 bases are exactly above one another and the axis is at right angles to the base, then that cylinder is known as the Right Cylinder. If the 2 bases are not exactly above one another and the axis is not at right angles to the base, then that cylinder is known as the Oblique Cylinder. For a given Right or Oblique Cylinder, if the radius of the circular base is r and height (or altitude) which is the perpendicular distance between the 2 bases is h then the Volume of the Cylinder is given by the equation below: Volume of a Cylinder, V = ???? * (radius)2 * height == Volume, V = * r2 * h Example: Calculate the Volume of a Cylinder whose radius is 6cm and height is 9cm. Given that radius, r = 6cm and height, h = 9cm. Volume of the Cylinder, V = * r2 * h = 3.14 * 62 * 9 = 1017.36 cm3 6)Volume of a Pyramid: A pyramid is a 3-dimensional solid which has a base (which can be of any polygon), and has three or more triangular faces meeting at a single vertex (also known as the apex). Volume of a pyramid is the amount of space contained within the pyramid. Based on the base polygon we have different kinds of pyramids. If the base of a pyramid is a square, then we get a Square Pyramid. If the base of the pyramid is a triangle, then we get a Triangular Pyramid. Volume of any Pyramid can be calculated using the formula, V = 1/3 * (Base Area) * (Height) Volume of a Square Pyramid: If the side length of the square base is a and the perpendicular distance from the vertex (apex) to the center of the base is h, then the Volume of the Square Pyramid can be calculated by the equation below: Volume of a Pyramid, V = 1/3 * (Area of the base) * HeightSo, therefore, Volume of the Square Pyramid V = 1/3 * a2 * h Example:Find the volume of the square pyramid whose side is 4m and height is 6m. Given that the side length, a = 4m Height, h = 6m Volume of the Square Pyramid, V = 1/3 * a2 * h = 1/3 * (4)2 * 6 Therefore, volume of the Pyramid, V = 32m3 Volume of the Triangular Pyramid: If the base of a pyramid is a triangle, then that pyramid is known as a Triangular Pyramid. Usually the triangle at the base has equal sides, thus making it an equilateral triangular pyramid or a regular triangular pyramid. But if the sides of the base triangle are not equal, then we get an irregular base pyramid. Volume of a Triangular Pyramid = 1/3 * Base Area * Height Given the base of a Triangular pyramid is an equilateral triangle, and the side length is a and the perpendicular distance from the vertex (apex) to the center of the base is h. Since the base is an equilateral triangle of side length a, hence its base area is 3/4 * a2 Therefore, Volume of an Equilateral (Regular) Triangular Pyramid = 1/3 * 3/4 * a2 * h Example: Calculate the volume of a regular triangular pyramid whose triangle side length is 5m and height is 8m. Since it is mentioned that it is a regular triangular pyramid, hence the base is an equilateral triangle. Given that the side length, a = 5m and height, h = 8m Volume of an Equilateral Triangular Pyramid = 1/3 * 3/4 * a2 * h = 1/3 * 3/4 * 52 * 8 = 28.9 m3 Hence, the volume is 28.9 m3. 7) Volume of a Prism: A prism is a 3-dimensional solid object with flat faces which has identical bases (or ends) which are parallel to each other. The prisms have the same cross-section all along their length. Since a prism is a polyhedron, it does not contain any curved sides. All its faces are flat, and all the edges are straight lines. Based on the cross-section of the prism, there are various types of them. For instance, if the cross-section along the length of a prism is a square, it is a Square Prism. If the cross-section along its length is a triangle, then it is a Triangular Prism. Volume of a Prism, V = Base Area * Height of the prism. The base area of the prism depends on the type of base the prism has. Volume of a Square Prism: Given a prism which has a square base of side length s, and the height of the prism is h. Volume of the Square Prism = Base Area * Height == s2 * h Volume of a Square Prism, V = s2 * h Example: Calculate the volume of a square prism whose base length is 4m and height is 5m. Given that the base side length, s = 4m and height, h = 5m Volume of a Square Prism, V = s2 * h == V = (4m)2 * 5m = 80m3 Therefore, the volume of the given square prism is 80 cubic meters. Volume of a Triangular Prism: Given a prism which has a triangular base of side length s and the height of the base triangle is d. The height of the prism is given to be h. Volume of a Triangular Prism = Base Area * Height (Base Area of a triangle = 1/2 * base * height = 1/2 * s * d) Therefore, Volume of a Triangular Prism, V = 1/2 * s * d * h Example: Calculate the volume of a triangular prism whose base triangle length is 5m, height of the triangle is 3m and height of the prism is 8m. Given that the base side length, s = 5m, height of the triangular base, d = 3m and height of the prism, h = 8m. Volume of a Triangular Prism, V = 1/2 * s * d * h = 1/2 * 5m * 3m * 8m = 60m3 Therefore the volume of the given triangular prism is 60 cubic meters.

How to Choose a Creative College

How to Choose a Creative College The following piece was written by Elaina Loveland. Elaina is an admissions consultant for students pursuing creative degrees. She has two published books Creative Colleges: A Guide for Student Actors, Artists, Dancers, Musicians, and Writers, and Creative Careers: Paths for Aspiring Actors, Artists, Dancers, Musicians, and Writers. If you want to major in the arts and earn a degree in Art, Drama, Dance, Music, or Creative Writing, it might take some research to find the right program for you. Unlike degrees that are offered at nearly every college and university (think History or Biology), creative programs often vary greatly by institution. Here are 10 questions you need to ask to narrow down your search.1. How much time do you want to spend pursuing your passion? If you want to live and breathe your creative area of interest 80% of the time, youll be most interested in BFA programs. If youd rather spend less time than that practicing your art, but still want to major in it and leave room for electives that interest you and perhaps do a double major or have a minor outside of your creative field, consider BA or BS programs instead.2. Is an audition, art portfolio, or creative writing portfolio required for admission? Many of the most competitive programs in the arts have an arts-based requirement like an audition, art portfolio, or creative writing portfolio for admission to the program. You will need to investigate the programs you are interested in to find out their requirements. Its important to follow guidelines carefully because each school has different requirements.3. How much can you perform, exhibit art, or publish? Take the time to find out exactly what kinds of performing, exhibiting, or publishing opportunities are available to you in each program you are considering. Find out if you can participate fully in these opportunities during your freshman year or if you have to wait until you are an upperclassman. Learn how many opportunities there are per semester and if there are any opportunities off-campus that could bolster your rsum.4. Who are your teachers? Unlike faculty in other disciplines, as an artist, you will be working more closely with program faculty throughout your college career rather than taking just one or two classes with them and moving on like students in other disciplines frequently do. The best faculty have extensive experience in the field and are often still practicing artists. Do they have industry contacts? Do they have advanced education like an MFA (master of fine arts degree)?5. Are there master classes with guest artists or other industry guests? The most competitive programs usually offer master classes with renowned artists, actors, choreographers, musicians, and writers. Some programs also offer specialized symposiums that focus on topics like careers in the arts or nights with industry guests that can offer advice to upcoming graduates. Bringing in talent from the outside to help students with their understanding of their discipline can be a valuable asset to an arts program.6. What are the facilities like? Do the programs facilities look professional? You are going to be spending a lot of time in classrooms, in rehearsal spaces, in studios, and on stage, and you want to make sure those spaces exhibit a professional atmosphere that can reflect the success of its students and graduates. Access is also something to consideryou will want to make sure that rehearsal spaces are accessible beyond normal business hoursan artists work is never done. If you need to practice at 3:00 p.m. on a Saturday, you are going to want to make sure that you will be able to do it.7. Who are the alumni? Find out where the alumni of the program are now in their careers. Does one of them have your dream job? They should. You want to attend a program where you know that it is capable of teaching you what you need to know to be successful in your career afterward. Looking at the success of alumni is a good way of measuring this.8. Are scholarships available? While not all institutions have artistic scholarships, it is an extra bonus if you can find a program that meets your criteria and can offer you the possibility of a scholarship. Most scholarship money for the arts is available from the institution itself so dont overlook scholarship possibilities. If you are academically talented, you may also be eligible for academic merit scholarships, so be sure to investigate those scholarships as well. Leave no corner unturned. After graduation, if you have to take out loans, you will have to repay them, so make sure that factoring the cost of your degree is considered carefully.9. What kind of opportunities will you have for internships and part-time work? Working while in school requires time management, but its possible. Making contacts off campus can be helpful in seeking internships later in your college career. If you do take the plunge to get a part-time job in the real world, it may be beneficial to find a job related to your field of study. For example, you could work in an art gallery or museum, work at a local professional theatre company, teach dance to children at a local dance studio, work at a local symphony or opera company, or work at a local publishing company or newspaper. 10. What kind of support is there for finding a job after graduating? You should check out the support that the college will provide for you to find a job. The college career office at your school most likely has a library of books that can help you delve further into career possibilities. Your alumni office may have a list of people working in certain fields. Many make themselves available for informational interviews. Faculty members in your department may also have personal contacts with whom you can speak about career choices. Ask questions to find out what resources the colleges you are considering offer. For more information, visit www.creativecollegesandcareers.com and www.elainaloveland.com.The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

GRE Quantitative Reasoning Strategy Trigonometry Strategies

GRE Quantitative Reasoning Strategy Trigonometry Strategies GRE/MAT Graduate School Blog While you may be taking the GRE to get into graduate school, it may relieve you to know you won’t have to use math that you’ve learned past your sophomore or junior year of high school. Long-winded and drawn out problem solving and arithmetic is not the style of the GRE. So what’s the catch? If the math is so easy, why are you even reading this article on how to tackle the math section? The challenge behind this section draws from the way these limited mathematical concepts are presented to you. In a sense, you need to often systematically deconstruct the problem in the way it’s presented, to determine what is really being asked of you. Once you are able to determine what the question is asking, the actual “number-crunching” or math involved is much less than you might think. As per ETS, here are the main points the exam is essentially assessing: basic mathematical skills understanding of elementary mathematical concepts ability to reason quantitatively and to model and solve problems with quantitative methods They will use the following subject matter to test your ability to successfully demonstrate competency in the above: basic shape properties (triangles, circles, quadrilaterals, etc.), exponents, integer properties, word problems. Our friends at Magoosh have built this frequency distribution to provide better insight into the types of questions asked and how high or low yield they are: The GRE quantitative section is broken up into quantitative comparison (QC) questions and problem solving questions. The QC questions involve comparing two columns and deciding if one is greater than the other, if they are both equal or if it cannot be determined. The Problem solving section entails multiple choice and free response. The lack of advanced math concepts on this exam provides students with a unique advantage. By getting enough practice and familiarity with the types of questions on the GRE, especially by taking as many practice exams as possible, a student has a high likelihood of success since the math concepts themselves are not terribly difficult and can be strengthened. Repeated exposure will be the best tool against some of the more seemingly tricky questions on the GRE. This is why one’s best friend during test prep is taking practice exams and going over the answers (with your tutors)! Make sure to always challenge yourself and stay consistent. Come test day, your hard work will surely pay off! The following is an example of a math problem that may seem complicated, but only involves simple trig concepts of a 30-60-90 triangle: What is the area of an equilateral triangle whose inscribed circle has a radius of 2? 12 16 12 sq rt._/3 16 sq rt._/3 4(3+2 sq rt._/2) To begin, draw an equilateral triangle with a circle inscribed inside.From here, you can draw a hypotenuse for a 30-60-90 right triangle from the center of the circle to either of the bottom two sides. Remember that in a 30-60-90 triangle the proportions are: So it follows that our triangle’s sides are: Now draw the altitude in for the big, equilateral triangle to find the height. Drawing in this altitude will allow you to form a bigger 30-60-90 right triangle. Using the same proportions of a 30-60-90 triangle we get the following side lengths of the larger triangle. Now you can simply use the formula to calculate the area of a triangle: Area of a Triangle = ½ (base) x (height) = ½ (4 sq rt_/3)(6) =24 sq rt_/3 x ½ =12 sq rt_/3 The answer is C! Remember to first draw a picture and remember that they will simply test basic trig and math concepts, dressed up in seemingly tricky problems! Good luck!

Tutorfair Discounted Dyslexia Training, Monday Nov. 24th

Tutorfair Discounted Dyslexia Training, Monday Nov. 24th Dyslexia Training with British Dyslexia Association and Tutorfair Have you or your child been diagnosed with dyslexia? Are you a tutor who’s been asked to support a dyslexic student? Tutorfair can help! Dyslexia is such a complicated thing to understand, not just for the person/child who has it, but also for everyone around them. Trying to learn to live with it doesn't stop with going into class from 9-5, or doing extra homework; that can only truly happen if they get the correct support needed for his/her's specific difficulty. -Nicholas B. Students with dyslexia often find studying and learning frustrating, if not impossible. Dyslexia is not conducive to traditional methods of learning to read, write, and spell. As a result, dyslexic students often benefit from additional support outside of school, like private tutors. The right tutor can make a huge difference for a student with dyslexia. With effective support, the difficulties of dyslexia can be minimised and students can become successful readers and writers. About one in ten people in the UK struggles with dyslexia. In fact, there are more searches for dyslexia tutors in London than for English and science tutors combined! That’s a huge demand! Tutorfair wants to make sure students have access to the support they need to love learning and enjoy their time in school. So we’re committed to ensuring there are qualified, well-trained tutors who can provide this much needed support. Training to provide dyslexia support is often expensive and difficult for tutors to access, which is where Tutorfair comes in! I was very lucky that I got support from a very young age learnt many different methods about how to live with it like: if I encounter a problem what to do, what methods can I use to overcome the problem. - Nicholas B. Tutorfair is teaming up with the British Dyslexia Association (BDA) to train our tutors in Practical Solutions for Dyslexia. Tutorfair and BDA will provide 25 lucky tutors with the tools they need to effectively help students who struggle with dyslexia. We’re making this course available to tutors for a serious discount! Normally, it costs £72; however Tutorfair tutors can attend for just £40!  After the course, tutors will : have an understanding of the sensory experience of what dyslexia feels like and how it affects the learning process be familiar with different types of dyslexia understand the best ways to teach children with dyslexia, according to research and learning theories have ideas and knowledge of practical teaching strategies, multisensory lesson plans and resources Sign up here to attend Practical Solutions course on Monday Nov. 24th, 2014. We plan to follow-up this training with a series of training days which, when combined, will give tutors a level-3 Accreditation in Dyslexia Support. The Nov. 24th training day is a pre-requisite for further training, so if you’re a tutor who’d like to get training, it’s very important you attend! This is also the best day to attend if you’re looking for a less in-depth overview of dyslexia. Students and parents will be able to search our database for “Dyslexia Support” to find quality, trained tutors who can provide effective learning support. As a result, more students will have more support, and can start loving to learn! Now that I'm in my mid 20's, lots of people say that they wouldn't have known whatsoever that I had a really severe form of Dyslexia/Dyspraxia. For me, that is the greatest compliment. Accommodating each child/person’s specific needs, as soon as possible (and being incredibly patient with it) would mean that they can carry on with their lives without any difficulties, and without being afraid.   -Nicholas B. British Dyslexia Association The British Dyslexia Association provide dyslexia and dyscalculia training for schools, teachers, companies, and individuals.The BDA aims to be the voice of the dyslexic community in the UK and enable individuals with dyslexia to reach their full potential.

Power to the People! 14 Mighty Pimsleur Alternatives

Power to the People! 14 Mighty Pimsleur Alternatives Power to the People! 14 Mighty Pimsleur Alternatives Shopping for anything can be tough.Theres the actual task of tracking down what you want, and then the added stress of making sure you get a good deal.And shopping for an online language learning course can be especially complicated.Each student must navigate through a nearly infinite universe of options.They shine brightly, but there are so many of them that it can get overwhelming.Choosing which foreign language to learn  was hard enough.How can you ever possibly decide which online course  is right for you?In the universe of online language courses, some shine brighter than others. Pimsleur is one of those brilliant options. And since it fuses well-researched methods with diverse and varied activities, its not surprising that Pimsleur enjoys a good reputation.But wait a minute what if youd prefer an out-of-this-world learning option other than Pimsleur but still want to enjoy some of the best aspects of that classic program?Well, youre in luck. In the language learning universe, a nything is possible. And in this post, were giving you the power to choose for yourself.Consider the 14 Pimsleur alternatives below for a whole new world of learning! Why Consider an Alternative to Pimsleur?One reason you might consider a Pimsleur alternative is to enhance and build on your Pimsleur experience. If youve been using Pimsleur, you might have enjoyed its features but be interested in trying something new. Luckily, you dont have to choose between Pimsleur and a Pimsleur alternative. You can use both simultaneously, and they can actually work together to push you forward towards fluency.You might also consider a Pimsleur alternative because Pimsleur isnt quite right for you. Theres more than one best way to learn a foreign language, so its possible that Pimsleur just doesnt meet your needs. Maybe its the format. Maybe its the method. Maybe its the activities. Regardless of why youre not vibing with Pimsleur, you might find an alternative that better meets your needs.Fin ally, using a Pimsleur alternative might give you a better bang for your buck. If youre budget-minded, you might not be up for forking over the dough to use Pimsleur, or you might be interested in whether that same amount of money could get you a better deal for your own personal needs elsewhere. Luckily, Pimsleur alternatives are available at a variety of price points.How to Get the Most Out of a Pimsleur AlternativeConsider which of Pimsleurs features you like most.Pimsleur has an array of features, so think about which you like or are most interested in. For instance, is  the spaced repetition learning  a big factor? Is there one particular activity you enjoy best? Knowing what parts of the Pimsleur program are the biggest draw can help you find the ideal Pimsleur alternative for you.Consider which of Pimsleurs features you would benefit from the most.What areas of your language skills do you feel least confident about? For instance, do you feel unsure of your speaking skills? On ce youve decided what skills you need to work on, consider which Pimsleur features target these skills. Then, you can look for similar features in your potential alternative.Pair multiple Pimsleur alternatives for more well-rounded learning.You dont have to limit yourself to just one Pimsleur alternative, or to count out Pimsleur altogether. In fact, since each program offers different features, they can work nicely together to round out your learning experience. Variety is the spice of life, after all!Dont hesitate to try new and innovative products.New language education products are introduced regularly. Since many of these products are founded on science and research, like Pimsleur is, they can also be tremendously useful, so dont hesitate to try any new and innovative products if theres a free trial period offered. Your next favorite language learning product may be something youve never even heard of!Power to the People! 14 Mighty Pimsleur AlternativesThis list of alternatives is organized by learning principle. The Pimsleur method makes use of four main principles: organic learning, graduated interval recall, anticipation and core vocabulary. However, other programs also make use of similar principles. Here are 14 possible Pimsleur alternatives.Organic LearningThe principle of organic learning ties into the idea of learning material in context. In summation, Pimsleur focuses on introducing new information in the context of a realistic conversation. For Pimsleur, this means using scripted audio dialogues that replicate actual conversations.The general idea behind organic learning is that learning in context is thought to improve retention and make learners more prepared to use the skills theyve learned. Here are some other programs that use a similar principle.FluentUFor a fun and multifaceted organic learning experience, FluentU is hard to beat. FluentU takes real world videosâ€"like music videos, movie trailers, news and moreâ€"and converts them into t op-notch learning tools.With FluentU, you hear languages in real-world contextsâ€"the way that native speakers actually use them. Just a quick look will give you an idea of the variety of FluentU videos on offer:FluentU really takes the grunt work out of learning languages, leaving you with nothing but engaging, effective and efficient learning. It’s already hand-picked the best videos for you and organized them by level and topic. All you have to do is choose any video that strikes your fancy to get started!Each word in the interactive captions comes with a definition, audio, image, example sentences and more.Access a complete interactive transcript of every video under the Dialogue tab, and easily review words and phrases from the video under Vocab.You can use FluentU’s unique adaptive quizzes to learn the vocabulary and phrases from the video through fun questions and exercises. Just swipe left or right to see more examples of the word youre studying.The program even keeps tr ack of what you’re learning and tells you exactly when it’s time for review, giving you a 100% personalized experience.Start using FluentU on the website with your computer or tablet or, better yet, download the FluentU app from the iTunes store or Google Play store.ReadlangYou can learn organically through reading your favorite websites, too, and Readlang makes that process even simpler.Readlang is a downloadable web reader that can turn whatever you want to read into a language lesson. Readlang can instantly translate words and phrases on websites, allowing you to read material in your target language while picking up new vocabulary in an authentic, real-world context.Not only that, all the words you translate are automatically saved, allowing you to practice them more later.The free version allows you unlimited word translations and flashcards. However, youll be limited to 10 phrase translations per day. If you subscribe for the premium edition, all the services are unlimited .And if youre not sure what to read, Readlang can even help you with that. Readlang provides some articles through the website.ClozemasterAvailable: iOS | AndroidClozemaster offers organic learning through realistic example sentences.Youll be presented with sentences and their translations and asked to fill in the blanks. Not only does this give you a realistic idea of how a word might be used, it gives you experience using that word, which also exercises one of the principles well discuss later, anticipation. For some languages, some of the sentences also include audio.In addition, if you sign up for a free account, you can access readings in your target language.If you sign up for a pro account, youll have access to even more features. For instance, you can select if you want to work on vocabulary, listening or speaking and can choose between multiple choice and text input.Plus, Clozemaster offers a huge array of languages, including some you may not even have heard of. For instan ce, you can study Breton, Occitan, Piedmontese and more.TandemAvailable: iOS | AndroidOne of the most natural ways to learn organically is to learn through interacting with native speakers, and Tandem allows you to do just that. However, Tandem also provides additional resources, so you wont be in over your head.Tandem allows you to search conversation partners and connect with them immediately for free. Afterwards, you and your partner can leave reviews of each other so you have a clearer idea of what you need to work on.Premium memberships unlock a host of additional options, including unlimited translations, the ability to search for users near you and the removal of ads.The translation features are particularly useful for organic learning. After all, youll be looking up the words you need to know when you need to use them, which is about as in-context as learning can get.Graduated Interval RecallGraduated interval recall has to do with the spacing with which learners are exposed to material. The logic is that spacing out material at increasingly distant intervals will improve a learners ability to remember a word. Pimsleur carefully spaces out the material youll be presented with in attempts to aid retention.Graduated interval recall is much like the idea behind spaced repetition systems, which are used in the following programs.GlossikaGlossika is a language learning system that focuses primarily on listening and speaking. To help learners acquire these essential skills and build vocabulary, Glossika uses spaced repetition. Glossika refers to this as doing reps, so you can feel like your language skills are finally getting the workout they deserve. You can even adjust the audio speed so that it feels like an appropriate rate of speech for you.Words and phrases are intended to be realistic, so Glossika also plays somewhat on the organic learning principle.Plus, Glossikas algorithm adjusts to you, making the learning experience more customized for each lear ner.With over 50 language options, youre likely to be able to find a Glossika program for your target language.AnkiAppAvailable: iOS | AndroidAnkiApp is all about spaced repetition. Its kind of AnkiApps thing.Rather than being focused exclusively on language education, AnkiApp is actually a flashcard app that uses spaced repetition to help users learn whatever material theyre studying.The spaced repetition system is designed to make learning more efficient by analyzing how youve done and carefully selecting what you need to work on.You can create your own flashcards that incorporate words, images and/or audio, but if youd rather get started right away, there are also plenty of existing language learning sets you can enjoy.Plus, AnkiApp is free!SuperMemoAvailable: iOS | AndroidSuperMemo has been optimizing spaced repetition intervals since the 1980s, so theyve got mad experience in the field.And guess what? SuperMemo already offers a collection of over 100 courses to help users learn more than 10 different languages.Have a special set of vocabulary that you want to learn? You can also create your own course and use SuperMemo to optimize your learning with its spaced repetition.Some of SuperMemos materials are free, though others are only available with a premium membership.VocAppAvailable: iOS | AndroidIf youre looking for a vocabulary app designed specifically for language learners that uses a spaced repetition system, look no further! VocApp is intended to help language learners expand vocabulary quickly through spaced repetition.This flashcard system allows you to access existing sets or create your own with texts, translations, images and audio.The app itself is free, and you can create your own sets for free. While course samples are free, in-app purchases are available to enjoy the whole course.AnticipationThe principle of anticipation asserts that having the opportunity to anticipate a correct response can trigger new connections. In the Pimsleur program , this means that learners are prompted, theres a pause to allow learners to respond and then a correct response is provided. Similarly, these other programs give you an opportunity to respond.Rocket LanguagesRocket Languages is a learning program that also uses the principle of anticipation.Rocket Languages features hours upon hours of audio lessons. But rather than merely playing examples for you, these audio lessons are interactive, engaging you more actively and inviting you to anticipate responses.But Rocket Languages is so much more than audio lessons alone. The program also offers grammar lessons, cultural lessons, voice recognition, flashcards and additional features.Rocket Languages is available for the following languages:ArabicChineseFrenchGermanItalianJapaneseKoreanPortugueseRussianSpanishLinguaphoneLinguaphone offers a simple method that uses the principle of anticipation to the learners advantage.The method is a simple sequence: listen, understand, speak.First, a nativ e speaker speaks a sentence slowly as you read along. As the course progresses, the speakers rate increases to a more natural pace.Then, you begin to understand what youre hearing and reading.Finally, youre invited to speak. Early in the course, this means trying to replicate what native speakers say, but later youll actually be invited to participate in simulated conversations.Additionally, Linguaphone plays on the principle of organic learning by presenting material in a realistic context.Michel ThomasMichel Thomas courses feature audio-based learning.In this system, you simply listen and repeat. The idea is that over time, youll build confidence and skills that you can use in real life. In fact, youll be saying complete sentences right off the bat.An added benefit of the Michel Thomas course is that its audio-based, meaning you can listen to it on your commute, during your next boring meeting or even in the shower. Just be sure to whisper your responses if people are around or yo u may get some side-eye.Focus on Core VocabularyIts no secret that some words are much more common than others. Because of this, Pimsleur and many other programs focus on core vocabulary, which means focusing on a small number of high-frequency words before expanding on that vocabulary. Pimsleur purposely limits the total number of words youre exposed to early on so as not to overwhelm you, aiming to give you a strong foundation. Other programs that provide a strong foundation in core vocabulary include the following.Mango LanguagesMango Languages is another program that focuses on building a strong foundation through relevant vocabulary.Lessons feature realistic phrases that youre likely to want to use in real life. Then, phrases are broken down into vocabulary and grammar rules. These basic phrases give you the foundations you need to start using your target language right away, but they also provide valuable skills you can build upon down the road.And, because vocabulary is intro duced in realistic conversations, Mango Languages also uses the principle of organic learning.Living LanguageLiving Language courses focus on all the essentials: the essential vocabulary, the essential grammar and the essential cultural information.And when it comes to the principle of core vocabulary, focusing on these essentials is helpful. Beginning courses will introduce you to the basic words you need to start communicating, but Living Language courses also offer something special for more advanced students: There are specialty courses related to travel, business and particular professions, meaning you can also build a core vocabulary in a more specialized category.LanguagePod101.comLanguagePod101.com offers podcasts, audio and video for tons of different languages, and many of these materials focus on teaching core vocabulary.One major benefit of the LanguagePod101.com series is that most vocabulary materials are grouped by theme, meaning you can easily learn core vocabulary b ased around your needs. For instance, you might find podcasts, audio and/or video covering things like airport vocabulary, phrases to introduce yourself and phrases to use in restaurants.Additionally, the materials from LanguagePod101.com are usually short, so learners are less likely to get swamped down by massive vocabulary lists.LanguagePod101 has programs available for the following languages:ArabicChineseFrenchGermanItalianJapaneseKoreanPortugueseRussianSpanishSo try these Pimsleur alternatives to shoot your language learning into the stratosphere!

Happy Holidays!

Happy Holidays! Tutorz.com wishes all tutors, teachers, instructors, parents and students happy holidays and joyous and restful season. We are sincerely delighted to have you as our customers.  For 2012  we also  wish you  that your beautiful  wishes  come true,  educational targets  and bright  ideas come to an  implementation. Your  Tutorz  Team