The Disappearance Of Small Classes

The Disappearance Of Small Classes Most schools boast small, effective student to faculty ratios. Smaller classes give students more one-on-one time with faculty members, increasing the value of their education. But, the economic downturn is dramatically increasing the size of classes at all levels. Justin Snider, an undergraduate professor of writing at Columbia University, wrote a guest column in The Washington Post stating that schools can no longer afford small classes. Snider cited Californias 1996 decision to launch a state-wide, class-size reduction program that planned to reward districts and schools for capping classes in grades k-3 at 20 students. The measure is estimated to have cost the state at least $20 billion. California was not the only state to spend billions on decreasing class sizes. Funds were mostly irrelevant in the late 90s, only school improvements seemed to matter. States and districts could continually show small student improvement through these efforts. However, current students are beginning to pay the price for these hasty decisions. These efforts were based on the Student/Teacher Achievement Ratio (STAR) project conducted in Tennessee. It compared low-income students achievement in classes of 13-17 students with similar students in classes of 22-25 students. This study showed miniscule academic achievements for low-income students in smaller classes. Politicians ran with this study, claiming that this could reduce the gap between low-income students and wealthy students. However, they could not mimic the exact circumstances of the Tennessee study. States most notably California went to desperate measures to decrease class sizes. The state hired nearly 21,000 teachers overnight, pulling teachers from wherever they could find them. California hired what they could get, and most of these teachers did not have the appropriate credentials. The number of uncertified teachers in the mid to late 90s dramatically increased from 1 in 50 to 1 in 7. Then, low-income students were much more likely to be taught by uncertified teachers than middle-class or affluent students were. Florida has experienced similar circumstances. It has spent an estimated $16 billion on class-size reduction since 2002. To continue this measure, Floridas taxpayers will have to pay an extra $353 million this year. Money is slowly fading from states budgets, and class sizes are beginning to slowly increase. Parents and administrators are still calling for smaller classes, but politicians are running out of options. Snider argues that teacher quality is much more important than class size. He states that class size can affect students learning at the extremes, but slight decreases of five students or so do not matter. Snider concludes his argument by stating that politicians need to invest more money in teacher quality than class size. Snider used Zeke Vanderhoek, the founder of The Equity Project Charter School in New York City, as an example. Vanderhoeks teachers are the highest paid public educators in the country, earning at least $125,000 per year. Vanderhoek is able to pay his teachers so well because he decided that it would be more beneficial for the students to have the best educators with 30-student class sizes instead of 20.

How to Become a Food Technologist

How to Become a Food Technologist The Steps to Becoming a Food Technologist ChaptersGet EducatedGet ExperienceEstablish Your NetworkBecome a MemberMaybe you are the type of person who, upon discovering that the bag of crisps you just opened contains nothing but crisp-crumbs, you get frustrated.You might even think “There’s got to be a better way to package these so that they aren’t reduced to crumbles!”.Would you be surprised to know that crisp bags are pumped full of nitrogen for that very purpose?In the food processing plant, after the crisps are fried or baked, they are salted and/or flavoured, inspected and then packaged. Just before each bag is sealed it is treated to a puff of nitrogen.That nitrogen serves three purposes:1. it removes most of the oxygen, prolonging the product’s shelf life2. it prevents spoilage: bacteria need oxygen to live but the nitrogen displaces the oxygen3. the puffed-up bag acts like a bubble, protecting the crisps and (mostly) keeping them whole.So now you know: if you want fresh, relatively unbroken crisps, you shou ld select the puffiest bag!This cost-effective, ingenious way of preserving crisps actually has a name: modified atmosphere packaging, or MAP.MAP no doubt originated in a food science lab, quite possibly devised by a clever food technologist. Probably of the same ingenious vein that you are.If you’ve always had a soft spot for science and are possessed of a deep and abiding love for food, there is a career meant especially for you: food technologist.Food technologists play a vital role in the food industry. They ensure food safety in processing plants and make sure that food quality is not sacrificed to efficiency in production.Food technologists may have a hand in designing food processing plants as well as food packaging â€" but not necessarily labelling. That is another department altogether.However, the nutritional values and the ingredients list that appears on the label is the purview of the food scientist.Your Superprof intuits that you already have an interest in this fiel d.Perhaps you’d like to find out how you too could join the ranks of food technologists currently working on new, environmentally-friendly packaging and transportation methods for our food supply.As always, we are here to help. Let us now outline the steps you need to take to become a food technologist. As a manufacturing plant's expert on food sciences, you may be instrumental in helping design production plants Image by Malachi Witt from Pixabay GiovanniCooking Teacher 4.83 (12) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HalimaCooking Teacher £12/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HakimCooking Teacher 5.00 (5) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors VincenzoCooking Teacher £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors GinellaCooking Teacher £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ArronCooking Teacher 5.00 (2) £9/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JoshuaCooking Teacher 5.00 (5) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors FlickCooking Teacher 5.00 (1) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsGet EducatedPeople have been preserving food for centuries without the benefit of higher education.That doesn’t mean that, if you know all about curing meats, making sausage and bottling vegetables as your grandparents and maybe your parents did, you are automatically qualified to seek employment as a food technologist.The nature of the job and especially aspects of food safety and quality demand that there must be intensive study devoted to the subject.As an example: if you are a food technologist working in a food processing plant, your job would be to make sure the food is properly handled, does not get contaminated and meets all of the safety and quality standards set by the government.It might seem a bit daunting a proposition when you think about the possibility of people being made sick over a bad batch of tinned fish or bagged lettuce a food technologist approved for shipment to supermarkets all over the country and even abroad.However, if you study well, earn your degree and get the right on-the-job training, you needn’t worry that such a scenario will come to pass on your watch.Indeed, you will probably make sure that any food product sent out to the public meets the highest standards of food manufacturing safety.We fou nd the best food science and technology curricula at:London Metropolitan UniversityUniversity of LeedsUniversity of NottinghamUniversity of SurreyUniversity of ReadingUniversity of PlymouthGlasgow Caledonian UniversityRobert Gordon University AberdeenQueen’s University BelfastUlster University Northern IrelandTo gain admittance to any of these fine schools, you must have at least an ABB on your A-Levels.If you anticipate sitting A-Levels next year, it would be a good idea to include a science component â€" either biology or chemistry to the selections you have already made.Also, discover what subjects are covered in the food science technology curriculum. Don't forget to meet with your campus' career counsellor; s/he may connect you with people already working in the nutrition and food science industry Image by Free-Photos from PixabayGet ExperienceOnce you’ve been accepted into the food science degree programme of your choice, it is time to get cracking, and not just in your studies of dietetics, nutrition and food.Several of the above-listed universities offer a work placement component that complements your studies.The University of Reading, for instance, has an excellent work-study programme. You would spend a year working in a food manufacturing or processing plant; an opportunity that allows you to gain valuable work experience before receiving your undergraduate degree.The downside is that it will take you four years to graduate instead of three... but think of the value that extra year adds to your studies: you will get to see firsthand the duties of a food technologist in a professional setting.This is really the optimal wa y of getting your foot in the door of the food industry but there are others.Once you are nearing the end of your studies, you may search online for food technology apprenticeships. You may also find guidance in your school’s career centre.Discover the many ways you can train to become a food technologist.Establish Your NetworkIt is not uncommon for alumni who have established themselves in the food production industry to return to their alma mater and offer soon-to-graduate students their first crack into the job market.Nor would it be considered strange for you to visit your school’s career counselling centre to proclaim your availability and eagerness to work.Possibly, such an alumnus may visit your school and host a lecture or an informal question and answer session about new food products under development, or advances in food research their company is working on.It would be most beneficial for you to attend such events not just for your continuing development as a food tec hnologist but possibly for future career opportunities.At any rate, unless you intend to enrol in a graduate program, maybe to study food microbiology or biotechnology, it is a good idea to check in with your career counselling office; you never know what sage advice they may have for you.Join the discussion: what distinguishes a food technologist from a food scientist? You can make many career connections by attending food technology conferences Image by ?? ? from PixabayBecome a MemberUntil the mid-twentieth century, food science was not a field of study one could pursue because it didn’t exist.In 1955, the National College of Food Technology was established in the UK, which formulated a curriculum that was offered at four universities and one polytechnic school.From these tentative beginnings, a national institute was formed to, among other objectives, promote food science and technology as a legitimate field of study deserving of recognition and funding.By 1968, the Institute of Food Science and Technology had become incorporated, complete with Articles of Association, By-Laws and a Memorandum.Today, the Institute of Food Science Technology concerns itself with all aspects of food science and the technology used to produce and process food.Using both science and technology, it pledges to provide the public with safe, healthy, nutritious food. That is their core mission but, to highlight the relevance and importance of food safety, they undertake to increase public awareness of what the organisation does and why they do it.Besides educating the public about food science and nutrition, they emphasise the farm-to-table aspects of food production and their drive to improve every facet of the food supply, production and delivery chain.Before the ink dries on the degree you worked so hard to earn, you should declare yourself a member of IFST.You should know the Institute of Food Science Technology is not a government body; indeed it operates independently of the government.In 2007, the Charity Commission formally acknowledged the Institute of Food Science Technology, granting it its charitable status.Although our IFST is not overseen by the government, it has partnered with other similar concerns worldwide, such as the Institute of Food Technologists in the US and the International Union of Food Science and Technology.In fa ct, our IFTS gave the European Union the impetus to form their European Federation of Food Science and Technology!One of the best reasons to become a member of the Institute of Food Science Technology is that they actively promote careers in science to younger students by hosting competitions and awarding prizes.You may also attend their many conferences held throughout the year in various locations around the country. This would be an excellent chance to network; to get to know others in your field and possibly collaborate with them on a discovery project of your own.And that’s not all! As a member, you could partake of their continuing education offerings.Their Continuing Professional Development Program helps keep their members abreast of the latest developments in areas such as food engineering, human nutrition and food preservation.So there you have it: where to find your undergraduate program, where to find help and networking opportunities and the one body who stands to he lp you advance as food scientists.Now read our comprehensive overview of food science technology

Learn Spanish Grammar Present Perfect Conjugations

Learn Spanish Grammar Present Perfect Conjugations Suzy S. Ready for your next lesson in Spanish grammar? Here, tutor  Jason  N.  explains what you need to know about present perfect conjugations Mastering verb conjugation is crucial to learning Spanish. It’s all about knowing patterns and formulas, as Ive reviewed in some of my earlier posts about Spanish grammar. If you’re reading this now, it probably means you are well aware of the importance of  conjugating verbs to describe situations and events. Conjugations also enable us to form coherent sentences that specify the ‘who,’ ‘what,’ and ‘when’ of a particular action. By now, you have come a long way. You know how  to conjugate basic verbs in the present tense  (such as beber, hablar, and escribir),  stem-changing verbs in the present tense (such as pedir, poder, and querer),  irregular verb conjugations in their ‘yo’ form (such as vengo  for  the verb venir), and how to conjugate Spanish verbs in the  past tense, the imperfect, and the  conditional and future tenses. Next up? The present perfect! What is the Present Perfect Tense? While the preterite  tense refers to a one-time, isolated event in  the past, and the imperfect tense describes past events that occurred in a habitual or routine manner, the present perfect  refers to past actions, events, thoughts, or beliefs that are still happening or are in progress, and are likely to continue into the present (i.e. something has happened). All we need to do now is learn a new formula that will make present perfect conjugations so easy that they  will become second nature.  The present perfect is conjugated by using  the following formula:  haber (in the present tense)  + the past participle of a given verb. Forming the Past Participle To form the  past participle for an -ar  verb, there  are two simple steps: Remove the last two letters of infinite form of the -ar  verb (e.g.  tomar?tom). Add ado to the end of the verb  (e.g.  tomado). In this case, tomado  translates to the word taken in English, which is the past participle of the verb “to take.” To form the past participle of -er  or -ir  verbs, you simply add ido  (instead of ado)  to the end of the word, after removing the last two letters of the verbs ending in the infinitive form (e.g. comer?com?comido). Forming the Present Perfect Now that you know how to conjugate the past participle in Spanish, we can add this to the present perfect formula (present tense of  haber + past participle of a  given verb) to create the present perfect  tense. As a reminder, haber is conjugated like this: As we  move on to the next step,  lets  start  with the example of the verb tomar. Conjugating -ar  Verbs in the Present Perfect Create  the correct participle.  (tomar?tom?tomado  = taken) If you are referring to yo  or I, use he, forming he tomado. (I have taken) If you are referring to tú or you, use has  to form has tomado. (You have taken) If you are referring to él or ella or ‘he or she,’ use ha  to form ha tomado. (He/she has taken) If you are referring to nosotros or ‘we,’ use hemos  to form hemos tomado. (We have taken) If you are referring to ellos or ‘they,’ use the ending han  to form han tomado. (They have taken) Conjugating  -er  and -ir  Verbs  in the Present Perfect As an example, let’s use comer (to eat). Create  the correct participle.  (comer?com?comido =  eaten) ‘Yo’ would be he comido. (I have eaten) If you are referring to tú  or ‘you,’ it would be has comido. (You have eaten) If you are referring to él  or ella  or ‘he or she,’ use ha comido. (He/she has eaten) If you are referring to nosotros  or we, use hemos comido. (We have eaten) If you are referring to ellos  or they, use han comido. (They have eaten) Ready for some practice? Conjugate the following in the present perfect  tense: Irregular Past Participles There are several verbs that have irregular past participle forms. Unfortunately, memorizing these verbs past participles is the best way to learn them. Verbs with the same root as irregular verbs naturally have the same irregularities. Here are a few examples: componer compuesto describir descrito devolver devuelto Once you memorize the irregulars, which is easier than it sounds (once you practice or study regularly), you’ll be ready to go!  Remember: a  Spanish tutor can really help if you get stuck! Post Author:  Jason N. Jason N. tutors in English and Spanish in Fairfax, CA.  He majored in Spanish at UC Davis, lived in Mexico for 3 years where he completed a Masters degree in Counseling, and studied Spanish Literature and Psychology at the University of Costa Rica. Learn more about Jason here!   Photo by m00by 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

A Tour of the World of Piano

A Tour of the World of Piano The Guide to the Best Pianists in the World ChaptersThe Best Pianists of All TimeThe Most Popular Piano SongsFamous Piano ComposersThe Best French PianistsPiano Vocabulary“The piano ain’t got no wrong notes.” - Thelonious MonkPiano ownership in the UK varies greatly according to social class. You'll see how obvious this is if you look at how much some of the instruments can cost. The price of a Steinway or Yamaha grand piano might make your eyes water.However, you don’t need to spend a fortune to learn about classical piano or modern piano music.For one, upright pianos are cheaper than grand pianos and you don't necessarily need to buy a new piano if you're just starting out. Of course, the strings will probably need tuning by a piano technician if you get a second-hand piano that hasn't been played in a while.That said, you don't necessarily have to buy an acoustic piano. You can always opt for a digital piano or a keyboard as they tend to be much more affordable.Of course, before you start eyeing up that Kawai piano for sale, you should probably learn more about the piano itself. Learning to play the piano involves learning about musical culture in the same way that you’d learn about the culture of a certain country when you study a language.In this article, we’re going to have a look at piano virtuosos throughout the centuries as well as the most beautiful piano music.The piano gets to be in the centre of the stage, where it belongs. (Source: WikiImages)Since the piano is a moving musical instrument, there are a variety of famous pieces that are suitable for absolute beginners and others that are reserved just for the very best pianists.Mozart, Turkish March: A classical music classic. This is not really one of the easiest songs to play for beginners.Beethoven, Fur Elise: This piece is probably better suited to beginners. Can you play it by ear?Renaud, Mistral Gagnat: What would this fantastic French song be without the piano chords? Far from chamber music, this contemporary piece will giv e you the chills.Ludovico Einaudi, Divenire: This piece was featured on the film Intouchable and will definitely move you. Why not try to play one of Ludovico Einaudi’s pieces for yourself?Ray Charles, Hit the Road Jack: To practise your rhythm and timing, there’s nothing better than jazz classics. This piece has a tempo that beginners can have a go at.Toto, Hold the Line: While the cadence is quite complicated to follow in this song and the right-hand and left-hand parts require a lot of concentration, it’s worth having a go of if you fancy a challenge.Alicia Keys, If I Ain’t Got You: This piece from the talented singer Alicia Keys is great for those wanting to work on both their piano playing and their voice.Adele, Someone Like You: If you prefer pop music, this song by Adele is a must. A lot of her songs are great for pianists.Yann Tiersen, Comptime d’un autre  Ã©té l’après-midi: The simple and moving piano pieces from this French pianist were featured in the unforg ettable soundtrack for the film Amélie and the artist regularly performs them live.Maurane, Le prélude de Bach: This singer with an unforgettable voice was accompanied by a great piano piece.Whether you like classical music, contemporary pop, or jazz, you’ll find plenty of interesting piano pieces that’ll get stuck in your head. LouisPiano Teacher £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AlisonPiano Teacher £32/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ErenPiano Teacher 5.00 (6) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors BarbaraPiano Teacher £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Chi yuenPiano Teacher 5.00 (5) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors TomPiano Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ValtiePiano Teacher £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors DanielPiano Teacher 5.00 (5) £37/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsFamous Piano ComposersWhen you talk about the piano, you have to talk about the famous composers, those wh o are often some of the best pianists at the same time.The piano is a colourful instrument, which is why so many composers favour it. (Source: b1-foto)Don’t be shocked to see some of our greatest pianists make another appearance on our list! Here are some of the greatest composers of all time:Joannes Brahms: This composer and conductor was often compared to Beethoven, much to his dismay.Ludwig van Beethoven: He started composing at the age of 12 and his works continued to evolve over time.Joseph Haydn: Considered the father of symphony, he also instigated the shift from baroque music to Romantic music.Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: the epitome of genius! Although he died young, he left behind 600 musical works!Robert Schumann: He recreated poems musically and was an absolutely fantastic composer.Frédéric Chopin: An unparalleled pianist and composer, Chopin was a spontaneous creator and could spend hours locked in a room with the sole goal of creating music for his wife, George Sand (r eal name Amantine Lucile Aurore Dupin).Piotr Ilyich Tchaïkovski: You can’t talk about the best composers without mentioning Tchaïkovski. The composer was at the forefront of Romanticism and known for his eclecticism.Giuseppe Verdi: The Italian school also had its fair share of talented composers, including Verdi who created many operas that are still performed today. He was notably influenced by Wagner even though the two were contemporaries.Ludovico Einaudi: We have to also include Ludovico Einaudi, a contemporary composer, in this list. He’s known for his minimalist melodies that are found in films such as Mommy.I could have also added Igor Stravinsky, Dmitri Chostakovitch, Prokofiev, and Rachmaninov.The Best French PianistsWe need to give a special mention to some of the amazing pianists from across the channel. Let’s have a look at some of the greatest French composers! If you want to see some pianists from closer to home, check out our article on the best British pianis ts.Once you know who the greatest pianists are, you'll be inspired to start writing your own music! (Source: kdasomee1)The country is full to the brim with talented pianists. Here’s a quick list of some to check out:Yann Tiersen: We mentioned him previously for comptine d’un autre été l’après-midi. Yann Tiersen is a pianist, violinist, and accordionist. He’s got more than just one trick up his sleeve!Khatia Buniatishvili: While Khatia is actually Georgian, she became a naturalised French citizen in 2017, effectively making her viable for this list.Christian Ivaldi: Having studied at the Conservatoire de Paris, it’s hardly surprising to see Ivaldi in this list. While approaching the age of 80, he’s still a professor of piano.Marielle and Katia Labèque: These two sisters play the piano with four hands as a duo.David Kadouch: The prodigy played at Carnegie Hall in New York aged just 13. Need we say more?Dominique Merlet: In addition to being a talented pianist, he’s a lso a consultant and educator for young artists around the world.Marguerite Long: A friend of Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel, she created, along with Jacques Thibaud, the Concours International Long-Thibaud, an international music competition.Bertrand Chamayou: At the age of 15, Chamayou played his first recitals and performances and won 4 prizes at the Victoires de la musique classique classical music awards.Erik Satie: He was kicked out of the Conservatoire as he was judged to have no talent. Have a listen and you’ll quickly see that this isn’t the case.If you have a quick look online, you can also find plenty of other amazing pianists with checking out.Of course, we couldn’t fit them all in just the one article! Find piano lessons London.Piano VocabularyIf you want to really get to know the great pianists, you need to learn how to play the piano. Additionally, you’ll need to know what the words and vocabulary mean.AllegroAllegro comes from Italian and means cheerful. It means to play fast, quickly, and bright.HomophonyThis is when different parts are supported by other parts that flesh out the harmony.

Algebra Standard Form

Algebra Standard Form The standard form is another way to write the equations. We have many kinds of standard forms of the formulas used in Algebra. For example, the standard form 3x^2 7 + 4x^3 + x^5 is x^5 +4x^3 +3 x^2 7. We know the standard form of a quadratic equation is ax^2 + box =c = 0, here we have a condition that is a 0. We have intercept form and slope intercept forms to write a line in standard forms. Intercept form of a line is: (x /a) + (y/b) = 1 Here, a and b are x and y intercepts Slope intercept form of a line: y = mx + c Here, m is the slope and c is the y intercept. Example 1: Write the equation of a line 3x + 4y = 12 in intercept form. Solution: We know the intercept form of a line that is x/a + y/b = 1 The given equation is 3x + 4y = 12 To write this in the form, we need to divide by 12 (3x/12) + (4y/12) = (12/12) ( x/4 ) + (y/3) = 1 Here, 4 is the x intercept and 3 is the y intercept. Example 2: Write the equation 6x + 2y 6 = 0. Solution: We know the slope-intercept form of a line that is y = mx + c The given equation is 6x + 2y 6 =0 2y = -6x + 6 y = - 3x + 3 Here, -3 is the slope of the line and 3 is the y intercept.

March 2013 SAT group classes at AJ Tutoring

March 2013 SAT group classes at AJ Tutoring We here at AJ Tutoring know firsthand that SAT preparation can get expensive and complicated.   With that in mind, we strive to offer SAT prep that fits families budgets and students lifestyles.While were known for our one-on-one SAT prep, AJ Tutoring also offers fantastic small group SAT classes at our Palo Alto, Menlo Park, and San Jose offices!AJ Tutorings  SAT group classes  offer:Dynamic and engaging instruction by AJ Tutorings directors, who each have years of experience working with hundreds of studentsAn encouraging, collaborative group atmosphereSmall classes averaging four to eight studentsNine SAT classes (two hours each) covering the critical reading, math, and writing sections of the testFour full-length proctored SAT exams proctored just like the test dayComprehensive SAT study materials, including our proprietary SAT lesson book, SAT vocabulary lists, and SAT practice testsComparable score results to one-on-one instructionAn affordable price of $990Complete course sche dules can be found at our  website.Right now, there is limited space remaining in our March 2013 SAT group classes at all three AJ Tutoring offices.     Classes begin in mid-January, and space in each class is limited to the first eight students to enroll.If you have any questions about course schedules or would like to enroll your student in an AJ Tutoring group SAT class, please email info@ajtutoring.com or give us a call at (650) 331-3251  .   Were looking forward to working with you!

5 Tips from an Elite ACT Tutor

5 Tips from an Elite ACT Tutor ACT SAT Prep and College Admissions Blog So you're getting ready to take the ACT! That's great! Good luck! Here are 5 tips to help you do your best on ACT exam day: Tip #1 Be confident, yet just a tiny bit paranoid. That slight edge of paranoia will help you not to underestimate the ACT. The ACT has 4 sections: English, Math, Reading, and Science, plus an optional written essay component. You've been studying English, math, reading, science, and writing for years and years, so you should be well prepared, right? Well, yes and no. Your background knowledge in each subject is very important and will help you on the test. However, the test makers will often try to lull you into a sense of false security. To do so, over the years the makers of the ACT have developed some rather slippery tricks to try to get you to make mistakes even on topics you're very familiar with. Which leads us to the next tip. Tip #2 Get very familiar with the test format well in advance of test day. Take a practice test. Take two! The more the better. As you take each practice test, you'll familiarize yourself more and more deeply with how the ACT approaches each of the 4 main sections. Work to find your personal best approach for each individual section. An approach that works well for one section may be disaster for another. For instance, you may find that reading the passage before the questions works very well for the Reading section, but slows you down way too much in the Science section. Each section has its own quirks, its own set of common traps and misdirections that try to lead you astray from the right answers, bog you down in unnecessary work, and slow you down. Learn how to spot these common pitfalls and avoid them, and your accuracy rate and pacing should improve substantially. Tip #3 Get to know your calculator and its abilities. The makers of the ACT state that the problems on the Math section can be solved without a calculator. That's true, but remember that many of the problems can be solved much more easily with a calculator, especially a graphing calculator. Make sure that your calculator is a model approved for use on the ACT and that it has fresh batteries. Keep in mind that part of knowing the abilities of your calculator is being able to recognize when it is not the fastest means of finding a solution. Sometimes a quick sketch or simple process of elimination can get you to the right answer faster. Tip #4 Learn how to conserve your energy. When you take the ACT, you'll be at the test center more than 4 hours, including breaks. Don't do more than necessary to answer each question. Lots of practice will enable you to tune out distractions and unimportant information so that you can focus on the material that's most relevant. If you're working on a math problem, remember that you don't have to show every step of your work like you would in school. When practicing for English, try to streamline and simplify the rules of grammar and punctuation so that you can apply them quickly and directly. Tip #5 Use all of the resources available to you. Practice ACT questions and tests are available at the official ACT website. To get even more practice and preparation, there are many other resources available. Schools often provide practice materials. You can search at your local library or bookstore, or online, to find books, flashcards, software, and apps for additional ACT practice. Another important resource you may want to use is a tutor. Individualized, one-to-one tutoring can help you approach your full potential on the ACT. hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(215486, '6baac2ae-05a3-4610-9d1f-265c8cbd809f', {});

To Vaccinate Or Not To Vaccinate The Choice Should Be Yours

To Vaccinate Or Not To Vaccinate The Choice Should Be Yours specialedpost.org A lot of people cringe away from talking about their opinions on vaccines because it can become a very heated subject, especially if you are against them. Vaccines scare the crap out of me, and while I’m not saying that you shouldn’t get vaccinated, I hope this article will make you stop and think before just letting some doctor inject something into your body. I’ve never been the type of person who just goes along with something without question. While this isn’t always the best of qualities, I always liked finding things out for myself instead of just going with what the majority was saying, even when I was very young. The main thing that triggered this attribute was an incident that happened to me when I was thirteen. When I was twelve, I went to the doctor for a check-up before my family and I were going to move to Malaysia for a year, and they told my mom about a new vaccine called Gardasil. image via videodemonews.wordpress.com Gardasil is used to prevent four types of human papillomavirus (HPV). This is supposed to help with certain types of cervical cancers and genital warts. Sounds good right? One of my mom’s very good friends has cervical cancer, so she was quickly convinced by my doctor that I should get the vaccine. It comes in three doses, which should be given over six months. The doctor then explained that only girls between 9-26 were  eligible  to get it  (guys can get it now as well, but this was when the shot first came out.) The fact that the shot was new and that only a certain age range could get it freaked me out a bit, but I didn’t want to get cervical cancer so I allowed the nurse to administer the first dose without much fuss. The shot was probably one of the most painful shots I ever experienced, and I couldn’t move my arm for two days. I decided to consult Google about the vaccine, and found out that there were many horrible side effects associated with the shot. I can’t find the exact one that I was looking at when I was twelve, but according to this article: ‘“Between May 2009 and September 2010, 16 deaths after Gardasil vaccination were reported. For that timeframe, there were also 789 reports of serious Gardasil adverse reactions, including 213 cases of permanent disability and 25 diagnosed cases of Guillain Barre Syndrome,’ Judicial Watch reported.” Other side effects include, seizures, speech problems, paralysis, short term memory loss, blindness, Guillian Barre syndrome, Pancreatitis, Ovarian cysts, and though it may protect some cervical cancers, you can still get it because there are over 100 types. No one is warned about the side effects; they are just bullied into vaccinating their children, and if they don’t they are seen as “bad parents.” image via voices.yahoo.com So after reading up on what the shot could do, I didn’t want to continue the sequence. We went to Malaysia and then when we came back to the states, I had to go in for another check up. I told my mom again that I didn’t want the second shot, which I had mentioned about a dozen times on the ride to the doctors office. She assured me that it would probably be too late anyway, since the series was supposed to be completed within six months. This made me relax. At the very end of the check-up the doctor told me I would be getting three vaccines, Tetanus, DTaP, and the second Gardasil shot. Before I had a chance to protest, she was out of the room, telling the nurse to get them ready. I looked to my mom, telling her that I didn’t want the Gardasil. She hesitated, because she knew I didn’t want it, but she wanted to keep me safe. When the nurse came in, I told her I didn’t want the Gardasil shot, but the nurse told my mom  that the shot was already filled and we would have to pay for it either way so I might as well get it. The nurse didn’t look at me when she replied, even though I was the one who told her that I didn’t want it. I pleaded with my mom, who was caught in a tug of war. I started spurting out how the shot was bad and had killed people, and the nurse laughed and told me that the shot was good for me, and that I shouldn’t believe everything that I read on the Internet. She tried to lunge at me with the shot, but I spun out of the way; I wasn’t going down without a fight. She told me that if I didn’t cooperate, then she would have to get back-up. I told her I would cooperate for the other two vaccines, but not for the Gardasil. The nurse went on to ration with my mom, pretending like I didn’t exist. After two more failed attempts of her trying to administer the shot, she got three more nurses to help her. Two of them grabbed my legs and the third pinned me down to the table, as I screamed for them to stop. It was my body, and therefore my decision, but they didn’t care. My opinion didn’t matter because to them I was just some stupid kid who was probably afraid of needles, and who was disrupting the flow of their day. They injected all three shots into the same armâ€"which they weren’t supposed to do because Tetanus and Gardasil are both very painful and should have been put into different armsâ€"and then patted themselves on the back for giving me the vaccines. One of the nurses who held my leg jokingly said that she would have to put me on her calendar for when I got the third shot because I was a workout. I could have punched her. image via www.macquirelatory.com The doctor came in and gave my mom a card for a psychiatrist who specializes in helping kids get over their fear of shots. That’s the part that angers me the most. I wasn’t scared of the needles. Sure, they aren’t exactly my most favorite things in the world, but that wasn’t the point. The point was that I didn’t want the poison of Gardasil in my body, but they thought I was stupid for thinking medicine could hurt me instead of help. I was treated like I wasn’t a person, like I wasn’t capable of having my own thoughts because I wasn’t eighteen. As I was writing this and revisiting this memory, I almost cried, because it still holds such an impact. I was forced against my will to get something that I didn’t agree with, and that is wrong. The thing is, a lot of people never question shots, because they’ve never had a reason to. Max Meyer, a second year business management economics student at UC Santa Cruz, said, “since vaccines are tested, they are more than likely going to help each person instead of harming them.” I’m definitely not saying that vaccines are bad; I do agree that they can do a lot of good and have helped prevent diseases from spreading. I do, however, think that we ourselves should know more about the vaccines we are getting. Calvin Sainz, a third year neuroscience student at UC Santa Cruz, said “if there was a way for people to want to infect others, they could just tamper with the medical vaccines at the free clinics, so they can be scary.” A main controversy that gets brought up when it comes to vaccines is whether or not they can cause Autism in children. Mary Medeiros, a second year MCD biology student at UC Santa Cruz, said “ a lot of people think that vaccines cause autism, but I don’t believe that at all. Vaccines help prevent diseases, and if you don’t vaccinate your children, they can die at a younger age.” Meyer agreed with Medeiros in saying that vaccines don’t cause autism, that he knows of. This is one of those things that you will have to decide on your own. I think it is important to vaccinate children, though I think that they give too many vaccines at once and therefore autism can be a factor. image via snarkecards.com Basically what I want you to take from this is to know you have a choice, and you should never let someone bully you into doing something that you don’t want to/don’t feel comfortable with. I have now switched to a new doctor, who will listen to me, give her opinion, but also respect mine and not make me feel bad if I don’t want to do something. Have a story to share? Get your voice out there on the Vaccine Freedom Wall.