Spring semester tips for students
1. Prep for College Follow college prep checklists to get ahead of the game on your college preparations. Every Thursday, check SciMath Education’s blog for weekly tips on test preparation and getting ahead. 2. Seniors, Complete Your FAFSA If you need assistance, check out FAFSA homepage. 3. Juniors, Consider AP Classes Juniors, now is the time to consider adding advanced placement courses to your senior year schedule. Be sure to plan ahead and take advantage of them. 4. Apply for Scholarships Fastweb’s 2018 list of scholarships might be a great start. 5. Save, Save, Save! This year, save more. You’re going to need some savings to pay for things you need for college, such as books, housing, and food. It all adds up and you’ll be grateful you planned ahead once you’re there. 6. Stay Motivated Easier said than done, but losing focus toward the end of the year is a huge problem that can impact your grades and college admission. 7. Steer Clear of Known Setbacks Now that you have a fresh start, there’s no point in looking back. Make sure you steer clear of second-semester setbacks, like losing focus, assuming you’re all set for college or slacking off in your courses. Remember, everything counts until the very last day of high...
Read MoreBuild Confidence
One key test-taking strategy that teachers can incorporate in the classroom is building confidence in their students. Teachers may find it helpful to spend some time on counterbalancing all of the negative input your students have heard about themselves, their school and the test. Have your students write words of encouragement for themselves or their peers. They can write lines such as, “fear is the only thing that is feeding the test’s power over the students” or “I will enter school ready and prepared like a cowboy in a showdown.” The point is to encourage students to take the test and not to let the test take them. Remember, when it comes to testing strategies there is no single way to prepare students. Many strategies are based on the classroom and the student’s individual...
Read MoreTackle the ACT the second time: Dedicate the time
For many students, one of the biggest challenges they face is simply finding the time to commit to preparing for the ACT on a regular basis. With their academic obligations, extracurricular activities and other responsibilities, finding the time to test prep have become more difficult. Prep time can vary from prospective college students. There are several factors to consider when preparing to retake the ACT such as the original score and how high you want your score to increase. For example, a student who has a composite score of 27 but wants to increase their score by one or two points may only need to dedicate a few weeks to reach their desired score. But, students who want to increase their score by five or more points will need to dedicate significantly more amount of time for test prep. We recommend students to take enough mock tests to get close to their desired score before retaking the real exam. Learn about our mock testing program here....
Read MoreHappy Mole Day!
Mole Day is celebrated annually on October 23 from 6:02 a.m. to 6:02 p.m., Mole Day commemorates Avogadro’s Number (6.02 x 1023), which is a basic measuring unit in chemistry. Schools throughout the United States and around the world celebrate Mole Day with various activities related to chemistry and/or moles. For a given molecule, one mole is a mass (in grams) whose number is equal to the molar mass of the molecule. For example, the water molecule has a molar mass of 18, therefore one mole of water weighs 18 grams. Similarly, a mole of neon has a molar mass of 20 grams. In general, one mole of any substance contains Avogadro’s Number of molecules or atoms of that substance. This relationship was first discovered by Amadeo Avogadro (1776-1858) and he received credit for this after his death. Celebrate Mole Day (October 23 or June 2) with Mole Day jokes and humor. Q: What did Avogadro teach his students in math class? A: Moletiplication Q: What do you call a 10th grader who is taking chemistry? A: A sophomole. Q: Why does Avogadro like Cindy Crawford? A: She’s his favorite super-mole-dle (and she has a mole). Q: Why is it bad to tell mole jokes? A: It’s mole-itically incorrect Q: What did the generous mole say when people crashed his party? A: The mole the merrier! Q: What are mammoles? A: Four-legged animoles! Q: How would you describe a stinky chemist? A: Mole-odorous Q: What kind of fruit did Avogadro eat in the summer? A: Watermolens Q: What kind of test do chemistry students like best? A: Mole-tiple choice. Q: Why is Avogadro so rich? A: He’s a multi-mole-ionare! Q: Which tooth did Avogadro have pulled? A: One of his molars. Q: What does Avogadro put in his hot chocolate? A: Marsh-mole-ows! Q: What did one mole say to the other? A: We make great chemistry together. Q: Why was there only one Avogadro? A: When they made him, they broke the Moled. Q: What illness kept Avogadro in bed for two months? A:...
Read MoreTips for busy parents
Do you panic when your child comes home from school asking for help with his or her science fair project? Do you ever wonder how you can help your child learn science? You are NOT alone. Many parents—especially those who didn’t pursue careers in science—may be apprehensive, sometimes even fearful, about this endeavor. We commend you for your desire to help guide and support your children in their education, specifically in the field of science. Science is a way of understanding the world, a perspective, and a pattern of thinking that begins in the very early years. That is why parent involvement is so important in a child’s science education. Check out this quick tip for parents to See science everywhere. Parents can take opportunities to ask “What would happen if …?” questions or present brainteasers to encourage children to be inquisitive and seek out answers. Children need to know that science isn’t just a subject, but it is a way of understanding the world around...
Read MoreMake math fun for your kid
Parents, with so many facts and figures to memorize and apply to math problems, children learn early that math is something that requires work. That doesn’t mean that it can’t be fun; keep the pleasure in math by playing games with your children. Many games, even the ones adults play, rely on math. With countless websites, computer games and phone apps, parents have endless options but don’t forget about the non-digital games you loved as a child. The classics that require manipulating cards and game pieces, calculating along the way, may have the same appeal for your kids as they did for you. As you play with your kids, try to tap into your own love for math. When you play Trivial Pursuit, you are using math to determine how many spaces you need to get to the next wedge or predict which category you can answer best. The game doesn’t have to be about math but should involve it. Suggested Math Games and Apps 24 Game Sudoku Dominoes Tic Tac Toe Go Fish ABC Mouse Math Planet Kids Math Math Vs....
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