Chemicals That You Can Find in the MSU Chemistry Store

Chemicals That You Can Find in the MSU Chemistry StoreIf you want to find the equipment that will help you get your degree, you should visit the MSU Chemistry Store. Here you can easily get hold of an instrument or a microscope that will make your work easier and will help you do your degree faster. You can also find the latest chemical equipments in our store and choose any of them.Smith's electrolysis apparatus is one of the newest materials for helping you get hold of your degree. This apparatus consists of glass electrodes that can be immersed in the liquid chemical solution and then the liquid reacts with the electrodes to produce heat and energy. In other words, this apparatus can do exactly what it sounds like. It has a number of possible uses, the most common one being used in direct oxidization of ammonia in a reactor. You can also use this apparatus for the reaction of phosphoric acid and sulfuric acid.Another kind of Smith's electrolysis apparatus, called the Neutron Sourc e Electrode, is very similar to the Smith's Electrolysis Appliance. The difference is that the Neutron Source Electrode allows you to use more than one lead electrode at a time. For instance, you can use one lead electrode in order to react two different acids together. However, this apparatus is no longer being manufactured by Smith, which means you might have to look elsewhere for the correct kind of apparatus.An apparatus that does the Alkylation Process is very useful in the production of iodine salts. The Smith's Electron Separator can be used to separate the oxygen and iodine from the both materials, so you need not worry about the formation of iodide salts. You can even use it to perform an Alkylation-Iodine Purification. Using this apparatus, you can perform several tasks on all kinds of materials, including the purification of certain oxides.The Smith Power Chromatograph is another equipment that you can find in the MSU Chemistry Store. This apparatus is especially helpful for purifying certain impurities from substances. For example, if you are looking for a simple substance for reducing a certain chemical compound, you can use this apparatus to purify the substance into an intermediate product before you use it in the reaction.The Smith Reaction Gauge can also be used to provide a very precise estimate of the mass of the objects involved in a certain reaction. In other words, the MSU Chemistry Store will definitely help you in making a simple analysis of the material you are working with. The Smith Reaction Gauge, as the name suggests, works well in the reaction of sodium, potassium, carbon monoxide, ammonia, phosphoric acid, sulfuric acid, lithium carbonate, phosphoric acid, sodium chlorate, potassium chlorate, borax, salt of sodium and potassium hydroxide.As I mentioned above, you can find various types of chemical products here. No matter what the type of reaction that you are undertaking, you can find the right chemical to do it.

Mastering Guitar Finger Placement

Mastering Guitar Finger Placement Megan L. When youre learning how to play the guitar, its crucial to form good habits. If you can make correct guitar finger placement a regular part of your practice routine, youll soon find it comes second nature to you. Learning the right fingering technique and sticking with it early on is much easier than trying to correct bad habits later on! Why is Correct Guitar Finger Placement Important? Do you ever notice buzzing, muted notes, or muddy pitches when youre playing guitar? All of these annoyances can be caused by poor finger placement. Holding your hand and fingers in the right position helps you play notes clearly with a clean tone. It also helps you to maneuver  your fingers faster, so changing chords and playing riffs gets that much easier. Getting Started with Correct Placement Before we get into more specifics about how to position your hands on the guitar, its important to know a bit of guitar terminology. For most right-handed guitarists, you will use your left hand to hold down the strings. Your left hand is often referred to as your fretting hand. To make guitar notation simpler, the fingers on your left  hand are numbered one through four, starting with your index finger. In the rare event that your thumb is required, it is notated with a capital letter T. Its a good idea to keep the fingernails on your fretting hand short so you can position your fingertips properly. Long nails will cause you to press more with the pads of your fingers than with your fingertips, which can result in a muffled sound and make it much harder for you to maneuver. For the best sound, keep your fingernails short enough that you are able to press down with the top of your fingertip without your nail making contact with the fretboard of your guitar. Mastering Correct Guitar Finger Placement Start by sitting with good posture and make a loose fist with your left hand with your palm facing up. Your thumb should be resting between your first and second fingers. Now, straighten your thumb and start to uncurl your fingers so your hand is almost making a C-shape. Your fretting hand should maintain this shape as you play guitar. Keeping this shape with your hand, rest your thumb gently against the back of the neck of the guitar. Your thumb should stay straight and relaxed. You should see wire inlays dividing the fingerboard of your guitar. These dividers are called frets and they indicate where you need to press your finger down to play a note. In order to play notes as cleanly as possible, press your finger tip down as close to the fret as  you can without actually pressing on top of the fret. When fretting a note, try to press down vertically, from the tip of your finger. This allows you to push down with greater force and prevents your finger from muffling other strings. If youre a beginner, it will take you some time to build up strength in  your fingers. The skin on your fingertips will also be a bit sensitive until you develop callouses. The best way to build up strength and callouses is to just keep playing! Dont be fooled into buying devices for hand strength! As youre practicing, you might get fatigued. Feel free to take breaks or practice for short sessions to start with. Also, notice if youre tensing in other places besides your hands when you play. Its very common to experience tension in your shoulders and neck because you are concentrating. After you play, do some gentle stretches to relax these muscles, and try to keep them as relaxed as possible when you play. Practice Using All Four Fingers Practice correct fingering and use all four fingers to play melody lines. Many beginners will try to play every note with just one finger. Youll be able to play much more quickly and easily if you use all four fingers. To practice playing with all four fingers, start with your hand in first position. First position means that your index finger is in line with the first fret. Now, playing any string you choose, hold a note on the first fret with your first finger. Play that note, then hold a note on the second fret with your second finger. Next, play the third fret with your third finger, and finally the fourth fret with your fourth finger. Practice playing from one to four and back down, moving one fret and one finger at a time. Your hands might get tired quickly and its okay to take breaks! The most important part of practicing with this exercise is to build up your strength slowly. Your fourth finger, or pinkie, is usually the weakest finger. You can angle your hand slightly toward your pinkie as you use that finger to fret notes. This gives you a little more leverage. Avoid These Common Mistakes Dont clench up your hand, choking the neck of your guitar. Let your thumb rest in a relaxed manner and make sure there is some arch to your fretting fingers. Dont rely too much on your vision to help you play. Close your eyes and pay attention to what good guitar technique feels like in your fretting hand. Knowing the feel of good technique will help you maintain good guitar finger placement even when you are focused on other things. Dont try to play too fast! As youre getting started, give yourself permission to go slow. Often, when youre rushing, youll forget to use good technique. Its far better to go a little slower and play the right way than it is to rush yourself and develop bad habits. Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher

How Many Medical Schools Should I Apply To

How Many Medical Schools Should I Apply To MCAT Medical School Admissions So, you have decided to go to medical school. You rocked your premed program, strengthened your CV, and passed the MCAT with flying colors. You now reach the moment to decide where to submit your applications and how many medical schools should you apply to. Deciding which medical school to apply to is an extremely important part of the application process. Moreover, it can really be challenging, expensive, and time consuming. Not only do you need to identify which schools will be able to provide you with your academic needs and educational expectations, but you will also have to match your qualifications with the school’s standards. Considerations when Applying to Medical School Applying to med school costs a lot of money. The AMCAS costs $160 for the first application, and $33 for succeeding applications. Thus, applying to ten schools will cost you $457 for the AMCAS application alone. In addition, you will also have to submit secondary applications that often times cost money, too. Expect to pay at least $150 for secondary applications. Applying to med school can be time consuming. After submitting your AMCAS application, it can take several weeks for your application to be verified and released to the schools you have applied to. The hard work continues when you are expected to complete your secondary applications, which require new essays, forms, and documents to be submitted. Finally, the interview process will also take a lot of your time and energy. You can never be too sure about your applications to med school, as acceptance rates are extremely low. With this in mind, make sure that you submit your applications to a good number of medical schools to guarantee that you will get into one, including reach schools, safety schools, and fit schools. While you want to attend a top-tier medical school, as everyone else does, it is smart to have a fall back option in case you will not make it. So, How Many Medical Schools Should You Apply to? As a general rule, it is safe to apply to 10 to 15 medical schools composed of fit schools where your qualifications are most appropriate for their program, safety schools where your scores and GPA are above the average of students admitted and reach schools where getting in would be a stretch. This combination can give you a good chance of getting into one or several medical schools in the US. Lower number of applications may not guarantee success, while more than 20 applications may imply that you have no application strategy or you have not done your research about the schools and universities you applied to. If you are not sure which medical schools to apply to or if you need help perfecting your med school application, consult with an InGenius Prep medical school admissions expert. This article was written by an admissions expert at InGenius Prep. hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(215486, '6baac2ae-05a3-4610-9d1f-265c8cbd809f', {});

Im Thankful For... - Heart Math Tutoring

Im Thankful For... - Heart Math Tutoring Im Thankful For Im Thankful For November 9, 2016 November is a month of thankfulness! Throughout the month we will be asking students what they are thankful for. Heart has much to be thankful for volunteers who spend one hour per week with students building academic skills and confidence, students who are excited to learn and schools that partner with us! Read on to hear from some of our students who were eager to share! Im thankful for my family! -3rd grade student at Billingsville Leadership Academy Im thankful forboth my Heart tutors helping me in math. That’s why my mom signed me up!” 4th grade student at Montclaire Elementary Im thankful for my teacher! -3rd grade student at Billingsville Leadership Academy Im thankful for both my Heart tutors being awesome! -Student at Montclaire Elementary

Resumes, CVs, and Cover Letters Whats the Difference

Resumes, CVs, and Cover Letters What's the Difference pexels.com For many of us college students, internship and job hunting season is year round. Unfortunately, that often means sifting through tons of job positions online to find out which ones you want to apply to. Once you find a position you’re interested in, you realize that applying might not be quite as easy as you thought you are tasked with submitting a variety of documents, which might include a CV, resume, and/or cover letter. If you’re confused about the differences among them, you’re not alone. Many students could certainly benefit from a refresher on these essential application documents. Resumes This is probably the most common document that all college students know about and that pretty much all job applications require. A resume generally includes your work experience, education history, accomplishments, skills, and sometimes volunteer experience. Oftentimes it is a crucial part of the job application process, as it allows employers to get a basic idea of who you are, your achievements, and other relevant experience you may have had. Most employers tend to quickly scan resumes, looking for the most pertinent information to decide if you’re qualified or not. In that case, it’s important to keep both the content and format of your resume concise and easily readable, so attempt to keep yours within one page to make things easier for the employer. In terms of formatting, many resumes generally organize information under headings such as “Education” or “Work Experience” with bulleted lists. You may decide to change up the order of these categories, depending on what feels right or makes the most sense to you. And, as you gain new experiences over time or if you apply to a variety of jobs, don’t forget to update your resume with the appropriate information to present yourself most appropriately for the position. CVs CV, which stands for curriculum vitae, meaning “course of life” in Latin, differs from a resume in that it is much more thorough and detailed. According to the website of The Writing Center at UNC Chapel Hill, a CV is “a fairly detailed overview of your life’s accomplishments, especially those most relevant to the realm of academia.” In that vein, a CV is most often used by academics such as graduate students, who have a good deal of academic achievements, awards, skills, experiences, and publications to display. UNC’s website shares that, typically, a CV will include name and contact information; areas of interest; education; grants, honors, and awards; publications and presentations; employment and experience; scholarly and professional memberships; and references. As a result of including so much in-depth information, a CV ends up being multiple pages, in contrast to a one-page resume. Also, because it includes your life accomplishments, you won’t have to constantly change or tweak it the way you would a resume only add to it when you have another achievement to put down. Cover letters pexels.com A cover letter usually goes along with the resume. Contrary to what many people may think, the purpose of a cover letter is not to simply regurgitate the information from your resume in letter form. Rather, it allows you to further elaborate on the skills and experiences you already briefly mentioned in the resume. Essentially, you are making a case as to why you qualify for the position by emphasizing your interest in the company or organization and explaining how your experience and skills are best suited for the job all while weaving your own voice into the letter. According to thebalance.com, a site that provides great tips on writing cover letters and other job application documents, a good cover letter should include the following: the job you’re applying for, how you heard about the job, why you are qualified, what you have to offer, why you are interested, and a thank you for being considered. As with any letter, a cover letter should include an introduction, a couple body paragraphs, and a conclusion with your signature. Remember to “show” rather than “tell” through your writing; provide examples of your experiences and qualifications, rather than blandly or generically announce that you have x, y, and z characteristics. Ultimately, a cover letter is meant to show more of who you are to the employer so that he or she can gain a fuller view of the type of worker and person you are. Knowing how to write all three of these documents will most definitely benefit you in your job search. Keep them in mind as you become more involved at your university, as you gain more experience in a certain field, and/or as you pick up a new skill. Your applications and future jobs will thank you.

6 Top-shelf Sources for Easy Foreign Language Books

6 Top-shelf Sources for Easy Foreign Language Books 6 Top-shelf Sources for Easy Foreign Language Books Ah, to be a kid again.To read picture books… and not get teased for it.To pretend youre Nancy Drew or one of the Hardy Boysâ€"or some other world-famous, super-cool, yet surprisingly humble teen detectiveâ€"as you bravely plunge into The Case of the Missing Clue.Well, let me clue you in on a little secret:Simple books like these are an essential tool for confidently learning the fundamentals of another language.So grab your favorite bookmark and lets get ready to read! Why Go Easy When Reading in Other Languages?Building a foundationEasy language books are perfect for laying a foundation of knowledge. By using simple language, they help you learn the basics.Just like you cant walk before you crawl, you cant read great literature or college-level texts before youve mastered picture books.Avoiding frustrationWhile its great to challenge yourself, you want to build your confidence with realistic reading goals.If you start out trying to read a book thats way beyond your current level of proficiency, you may soon become discouraged and be reluctant to try again.Easy language books are a relatively painless way to get yourself through the mental hurdle of reading a book in another language.Types of Easy Language BooksThere are several different types of easy language books, covering various genres and themes. Lets look at what they are!Childrens books: Young at heartUse familiar fairy tales and simple stories to help you learn a language, just like its young native speakers do.You likely already know many classic fairy tales that are known internationally, which gives you a head start at understanding them in another language.And even if some childrens stories you choose to read in other languages are new and unfamiliar, the elementary-level writing makes childrens books a surefire way to improve your reading skills.Tales for teens and tweensThese are usually original fiction, geared toward a young adult audience.Although the language is more advanced than childr ens books, young adult fiction is still fairly simple to read.However, the themes reflect their adolescent audience: The focus is often on relationships, individuality and self-discovery. The plots can be anything from everyday life to full-on fantasy, or some combination thereof.Graded readers: Making the gradeWritten for academic contexts, these short stories and simple novels help you gradually expand your vocabulary and increase understanding in your target language. Theyre often paired with exercises, glossaries and quizzes, since theyre often designed for classroom use.Bilingual books: Built-in translationsYou can find bilingual versions of everything from childrens picture books to complex classics of literature.While the texts themselves arent always easy, bilingual parallel texts give you a cheat sheet so you can immediately understand more difficult material.Bilingual easy language books are perfect for beginners, since you can easily link the foreign words to their transl ation and not be thrown off by more complex grammar or sentence structures.How to Get the Most Out of Easy Language BooksRead a seriesMany publishers release entire series of easy language books, translating them into many different languages.Familiar characters, settings and other elements will boost your confidence and propel you forward to read more.Try more than one languageIf youre not finding an easy language book quite easy enough, getting a copy in a language you know well will help you better grasp the story.If youre going for polyglot gold by studying more than one language at a time, you might read the same book in each of the languages youre studying. Your skills in one language can buoy your understanding in a language where you feel less confident.Make an easy language dictionaryJot down new words and phrases as you read easy language books. Unlike a regular dictionary that mixes together all levels of vocabulary, your easy language dictionary will keep you focused on mastering the basics.Keep a journal of your progress, noting down which categories of words youve covered. For instance, if you read a childrens book that teaches you the days of the week and the months of the year, you can cross those topics off your list of essential vocabulary to learn.Figure out ways to drill yourself on your new vocabulary. You might even make custom flashcards, using index cards or your smartphone.With FluentU, you can create your own customized flashcard set with almost no work at all! FluentU takes real-world videosâ€"like movie trailers, music videos, news and inspiring talksâ€"and turns them into personalized language lessons. A customized flashcard set will pull clips from videos all across the site to give you real-life context for learning your own personal vocab list.Put yourself in the storyAs youre reading, imagine that youre a character in the story. Pretend that you speak the target language fluently.What would you say to the other characters in th at language? How would you describe the settings or explain the plot in that language, if you were talking to a friend?6 Top-shelf Sources for Easy Foreign Language BooksReady for some easy-breezy reading? Here are a half-dozen of the best sources for easy language books. For each resource, well look at the available languages and formats, special features and a few of the most happenin titles in each collection.Library of TalesMost of the bookshelves in the Library of Tales are filled with traditional European fairy tales. Originally known as My Grandmas Tales, the collection is expanding to include original books with easy text.Available languages:ArmenianFrenchGermanItalianPolishPortugueseRomanianRussianUkrainian  â€¦and several more.Format:Print and e-book (Kindle).Types of books:Adaptations of fairy tales from Hans Christian Andersen, Charles Perrault and Oscar Wilde, plus original stories and creative non-fiction.Monolingual, bilingual or both:Mostly bilingual, with a few mono lingual books in Russian, and a few in English.Special features:The Library of Tales offers unusual bilingual combinations, such as Russian-Spanish, Russian-Italian and Armenian-French.While a lot of foreign language book series focus on Western European languages, the Library of Tales reflects the Eastern European heritage of its creator, illustrator Svetlana Bagdasaryan.Originally from Armenia, Bagdasaryan has a Masters degree in Physics and a Ph.D. in Chemistry. After a household accident caused a concussion, she unlocked a previously unknown talent for art. Her beautiful, colorful, distinctive illustrations are the hallmark of the Library of Tales.Where to find them:Library of TalesAmazon.comRecommended reading:Oscar Wildes Fairy TalesThis book contains two Oscar Wilde fairy tales, The Star Child and The Selfish Giant.Wilde is known largely for his witty quotes, satirical plays and farces (such as The Importance of Being Earnest) and his allegorical fantasy The Picture of Dorian Gray.Hes perhaps less well-known for his fairy tales, although The Star Child (one of the two in this volume) inspired a couple of Russian films. The other story, The Selfish Giant, was adapted into an opera in Hungary, a childrens ballet in Australia and an animated TV show in Canada.Fairy Tales (multi-book volume)This title combines three separate storiesâ€"two classic fairy tales, and an original, contemporary fairy taleâ€"that the Library of Tales previously released as individual books, with editions in several different languages.Currently available in German, Russian  and Armenian, this collection is a neat way to sample several eras of storytelling.Youll find this trio of tales inside:Bremen Town MusiciansThe Brothers Grimm classic records the adventures of four animals on their way to Bremen  to make a new life as musicians.Puss in BootsFeaturing a fashionable feline whos the cool cat behind numerous films and a video game, Puss in Boots was adapted by Charles Perrault of Cinderella fame from a 16th-century Italian story (Il gatto con gli stivali) by Giovanni Francesco Straparola.The Underwater Adventures of Christina (Also called The Sea Fairy Tale  in the Russian edition and The Giant Squid: Adventures of Christina and Ramses  in the German and Armenian editions)Set in California, this book is part of a planned original series, written by Gary Mikaelian with Svetlana Bagdasaryan. It stars a young girl named Christina and her German Shepherd, Ramses.Miley SmileyAuthor Miley Smiley transforms familiar household objects into characters in this offbeat collection of original childrens stories.Available languages:DutchFrenchGermanJapanesePortugueseSpanishFormat:E-book (Kindle).Types of books:Contemporary childrens books, mostly written for readers between the ages of 3 and 7.  Monolingual, bilingual or both:Both.Special features:Personified objects, such as a pair of sparkly red shoes, an old chipped teacup or lonely wooden clothespin entertain you as y ou learn names for common household items and other basic vocabulary.Whimsical and witty, most of the titles in this series are available in both monolingual and bilingual forms, so you can choose whichever works best for your learning needs.This series is contemporary, with new titles regularly added. A character named Alexis made her debut a few years ago, leading readers to the Soap Kingdom, the Bug World and the Backward Opposite Upside Down World.Where to find them:Miley Smileys websiteAmazon.comRecommended reading:Two Green BananasAn appealing adventure for lovers of underripe, unappreciated fruit. Taunted by their scornful neighbors in the fruit bowl, two green bananas escape their torment on the countertop by journeying to the outside world.The ClothespinYoull hang on every word of this story! A lonely wooden clothespin tires of his garish plastic companions and goes off to the woods to be with his durable distant relations in the forest.The Sparkling Red ShoesThese ruby sli ppers, beautiful enough to walk down the Yellow Brick Road to the Emerald City, think theyre better than the rest of the shoes at the store. When young Lisa and her mother select them to be worn at a party, the arrogant Red Shoes see this as confirmation of their superiority. However, once at home with Lisa, theyre pushed aside in favor of more practical footwear like bedroom slippers and rain boots.KidKiddos  BooksJoin Jimmy the Rabbit and other recurrent characters from author Shelley Admont as you travel the world of languages through these easy, original childrens books.Available languages:ArabicDanishDutchEnglishFrenchGermanGreekHebrewHindiHungarianItalianJapaneseKoreanMandarin ChinesePolishPortugueseRomanianRussianSpanishSerbianSwedishTagalogUkrainianVietnameseFormats:Paperback, hardback and e-book (Kindle and/or PDF).Types of books:Childrens stories, most of which are meant to teach manners, hygiene and good behaviorâ€"with some just for entertainment.Monolingual, bilingual o r both:Both.Special features:All books are translated by a native speaker; at least one other native speaker edits each book, to ensure a smooth and correct translation. Many of the books in the collection are under the S.A. Publishing imprint, with newer titles published by KidKiddos Books.For most languages, you can find all of the available books in both a bilingual (English-other language) and a monolingual edition. (Notable exceptions are Arabic and Hebrew books, which are always bilingual with English, and English books, which are always monolingual.)Because most of these books revolve around teaching good habits and manners to children, theyre useful for learning basic vocabulary for family relationships and household items.The Kindle editions are generally affordable. The low prices make it feasible to collect more of these books, whether youre building a larger collection of books in one language or youre studying multiple languages and want copies of the same story in all of your target languages.Where to find them:KidKiddosAmazon.comRecommended reading:I Love to Keep My Room CleanYou don’t have to be a neat freak to appreciate the lessons that these bunny brothers learn about the merits of personal organization. As Jimmy and his siblings pick up their toys and put their books back on the shelf, youll pick up words for common household items.I Love to Eat Fruits and VegetablesFeed your appetite for instruction! The bunny boys are back to learn about good nutrition. Pull up a chair at Jimmys kitchen table and chow down on a full course of food words. Bon appétit! Sefa Bilingual BooksFormer physician and publishing CEO turned childrens author Ulrich Renz has built an impressive collection of bilingual books on just two stories. His company also offers a new, original fiction series in monolingual volumes.Available languages:EnglishGerman60+ other languages, including French, Spanish, Greek, Thai, Urdu, Farsi, Swahili, Esperanto, Hindi and IcelandicF ormats:Paperback and e-book (Kindle or EPUB). (Some audio and video versions are also available.)Types of books:Fairy tales and original stories make up the Sefa Bilingual collection.Monolingual, bilingual or both:Both.Special features:There are currently only two tales in the bilingual series from Ulrich Renzâ€"Sleep Tight, Little Wolf  (an original story by Renz) and The Wild Swans  (based on the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale).While the book selection is limited, the languages are not: These two tales have been translated into tens of tongues, resulting in 3,450 possible bilingual combinations.The online Language Wizard lets you choose your custom bilingual blend from two drop-down menus. Renzs team is also developing a set of audiobooks to pair with the written texts of its two foundational books. (The notation MP3 beside the language name indicates that theres an audio version available.)After youve made both of your language selections and clicked the Go button, a short sa mple of the bespoke book youve requested will appear in another tab on your web browser, along with links for ordering the formats of your choice from various sellers.A new, original series, Motte und Co,  has been released in German; its English-language equivalent is called Bo and Friends.  The first three volumes in this monolingual series have already been released, with a fourth in the works.The first German-language volume in the Motte und Co series, Auf der Spur der Erpresser  (On the Trail of Blackmailers), also comes in a simplified edition.Where to find them:Sefa Bilingual BooksAmazon.comRecommended reading:Sleep Tight, Little WolfThe most basic book available from Sefa, Sleep Tight, Little Wolf is the best place to start for an easy language experience.The Wild SwansRenzs adaptation of this Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale has slightly more advanced language than Sleep Tight, Little Wolf. However, the elements and themesâ€"a castle, a king, a wicked stepmother, enchante d princes and a heroic princessâ€"are quite familiar to anyone whos heard a few traditional fairy tales.On the Trail of BlackmailersAs your reading skills grow in the languages youre learning, fresh adventures await you! Auf der Spur der Erpresser (On the Trail of Blackmailers) is the start of Renzs new monolingual childrens detective series. You can download it for free, giving you a chance to try it before committing to buy the remaining books in the series.German Edition: Auf der Spur der Erpresser (On the Trail of Blackmailers)e-book (MOBI/Kindle or EPUB format)audiobook (MP3 format; also playable online)English Edition: Bo and the Blackmailerse-book (MOBI/Kindle or EPUB format)TPRS BooksTPRS, an acronym meaning Teaching Proficiency through Reading and Storytelling,  was the brainchild of a Spanish teacher named Blaine Ray. This teaching method also incorporates the theories of Dr. James Asher and Dr. Stephen Krashen.TPRS Books was founded to provide reading materials that work with the TPRS language acquisition method. Each book is written with a limited number of words to help facilitate the readers understanding.Available languages:ChineseEnglishFrenchGermanItalianLatinRussianSpanishFormats:Mostly paperbacks, with some audiobooks on CD.Types of books:Fictional stories in graded readers.Monolingual, bilingual or both:Monolingual.Special features:These graded readers are novels written in simple language. Many of the same stories are available in several languages, sometimes featuring recurring characters.Geared toward teens, the books subjects are more mature than those found in fairy tales and other childrens stories.Where to find them:TPRS BooksAmazon.comRecommended reading:Poor AnaTravel abroad with Ana! While in a foreign land, she learns lessons that will improve her life back at home.Based on the books language, Anas hometown changes, as does her travel destination.In the sequel, Poor Ana Danced the Tango, Ana travels to Buenos Aires to take an amo rous turn on the dance floor.Bart Wants a CatRemember the Choose Your Own Adventure  books that were a staple of childhood in the 1980s? TPRS brings you the Its Your Story series, which essentially works the same way.Take control of the plot as you choose from several options at key points in the story. Will Bart listen to his parents or his friend? Will he ultimately decide he wants a dog, a turtle or a cat for a pet… or go with a less family-friendly choice, the piranha?Its is all up to you. You can make different choices each time you read it, learning more words as you go.Look for the online teacher guides on the TPRS Books website for extras like a glossary.EMC School World Languages ReadersThis series of slender volumes can broaden your language horizons.Available languages:FrenchGermanItalianJapaneseSpanishFormats:Paperback, with some audiobooks on CD.Types of books:Graded readers with fictional stories.Monolingual, bilingual or both:Monolingual.Special features:Perhaps the most formally scholastic of all our sources for easy language books, the EMC graded readers boast exercises that will test your grammar, reading comprehension and written expression.The books are categorized into 12 proficiency levels, so you can advance step-by-step. They also feature multimedia tie-ins like online projects and matching audiobook CDs.Where to find them:EMC SchoolAmazon.comRecommended reading:Fabulous Fables SeriesEach of the six stories in this series is based on a classic fable from Aesop, Gaius Julius Phaedrus or Jean de la Fontaine. Themed activities and games are included in these books, along with an illustrated glossary.Every story highlights different areas of vocabulary, such as action verbs, parts of the body, telling time and clothing names.Young Readers SeriesDesigned to appeal to adolescents and teens, this series features detective stories and mysteries. Activities, games and exercises accompany the stories for extra vocabulary reinforcement and enhan ced reading comprehension.Story selections vary from one language to another, as do the character names and some other details.So go forth. Go to the library. Go online and order yourself a few picture books, or some tales of teenage derring-do.Remember: Youre not acting like a kidâ€"its all in the pursuit of higher education.

5 Ways to (Unintentionally) Sabotage Summer Test Prep

5 Ways to (Unintentionally) Sabotage Summer Test Prep 5 Ways to (Unintentionally) Sabotage Summer Test Prep 5 Ways to (Unintentionally) Sabotage Summer Test Prep High school students often spend part of their summer focusing on standardized test prep because they don’t have to focus on other academic course material or worry about their after school sports schedule or other activities that occur throughout the academic year. Unfortunately, many students, entirely unintentionally, sabotage their summer test prep through these common mistakes. 1. Going it alone Many students try to tackle their SAT or ACT prep entirely on their own. Although this is admirable, students often spend way more time than is necessary attempting to get started or to self-organize when they could’ve accepted outside help. Students can work with a study group, a private Orange County SAT and ACT tutor, or use free educational websites to help them get started in the right direction. On the other hand, students who don’t utilize outside services often spend precious free time attempting to hone in on the specific skills they need to improve (READ: A Timeline Study Guide for the SAT). 2. Using the wrong source material Students often don’t know which test prep book or edition to use or if they need to use a book at all. This can leave students wandering through a bookstore or browsing through multiple Internet sites unsure of what to purchase and whether or not the source material will truly help them improve. Students are encouraged to get a recommendation from a private tutor or classroom teacher as to which test prep book will best suit their particular educational needs. Additionally, there are tons of test prep websites out there, many legitimate but some not. Once again, a professional in the educational community can point students in the right direction. 3. Failure to create a timeline Students who don’t create a timeline don’t have anything to hold themselves too. Let’s be honest, nearly everybody would rather spend their summer enjoying entertainment activities or enjoying the outdoors. Without a study timeline, students will usually procrastinate until it’s too late to get a good head start on test prep. Once the fall semester comes around, high school students will be inundated with homework and other assignments for multiple challenging academic courses. Add in sports, community service, a part-time job, and time with friends and test prep goes to the bottom of the list. Unfortunately, students who are taking the SAT or ACT in September or October will be overwhelmed with multiple academic subjects if they don’t start their test prep this summer. This often results in lower test scores and highly frustrated students (READ: ACT Tips From a Private Irvine Test Prep Tutor). 4.  Failure to take consistent practice tests Only a few students will take a full-length practice test before and after they start their test prep. Unfortunately, this makes it difficult for students to legitimately track their progress. For the most part, students will take 1 English and 1 math section and then fill in the score report as if they had taken all of the sections or, they answer questions 1 through 10, calculate an average and then fill out questions 11 through 20 accordingly. Although this is a tempting way to save time, it’s a terrible way to get an accurate overall SAT or ACT score. Students who do take a full-length practice test will often do so in the absolute quiet of their bedroom using earplugs or soothing music to help them concentrate. In reality, their actual SAT or ACT will be taken in a large room with many students, lots of distractions, and an overall anxiety inducing environment. The best way for students to truly track their progress is to simulate the test-taking environment as closely as possible. Additionally, students should be taking a practice test at least once a month over the summer. One at the beginning of their studies, one part way through, and one at the end of their summer prep. Students who have not achieved a 100 point increase on the current SAT or a 2 point increase on the ACT are encouraged to hire a private tutor.                       5.  Working the book cover to cover Many students are tempted to work the test prep book from cover to cover, thus learning about many things they were good at already. If obtuse angles is a topic a student knows by heart, then they don’t need to spend countless hours reviewing it. Also, students who know all about parallel sentence structure don’t need to focus on this particular skill. Trying to study the entire test prep book or online material will leave a student too tired to focus on the things they need to learn about. Students are better off either learning from the results of their original practice test or hiring an educational consultant to help them get started (READ: Summer Study Tips From an Irvine AP Tutor). Planning on taking the ACT and SAT in the fall? Start preparing now with the help of a private Irvine test prep tutor. Call us today for more information. All blog entries, with the exception of guest bloggers, are written by Tutor Nerds. Are you an education professional? If so, email us at pr@tutornerds.com for guest blogging and collaborations. We want to make this the best free education resource in SoCal, so feel free to suggest what you would like to see us write.