The Google Chemistry Story

The Google Chemistry StoryWe've all heard of Google Chemistry but many may not know how it works. First, let's go over a basic definition of chemistry so that you can have a more in-depth understanding of what Google Chemistry is and how it works.'Chemistry' is the study of the properties of things based on their chemical nature. This includes liquids, solids, gases, and the attributes that each has. It's very important in understanding the workings of our universe because there are five elements and each of them has their own distinct chemical makeup and properties.Since so many substances exist on this planet, many people wonder what makes each one unique. The first step in understanding this is learning about the properties of the elements. Each element has properties that we as humans can't do without in our everyday lives.Most of the common elements on the earth are also found in other planets throughout the solar system. However, there are still other elements that we only know about from studying rocks and fossils. These are called meteorites. Many meteorites are embedded in the earth and they are an extremely valuable resource for scientists.In order to understand the process behind Google Chemistry, we need to define what an atom is. An atom is composed of three electrons; one will be outside the nucleus of the atom and two will be inside of the atom.Science is the study of how the forces of nature work on something. Science and technology go hand in hand as technology allows us to better understand how nature works.After you've learned about Google Chemistry, you'll have a much better understanding of how science works and why science is important to you and your life. You will also have a better understanding of how science works and why it's important to you. Science is an invaluable tool and an amazing ability to use to better understand the world around us.

The Beginners Guide to Microsoft Excel

The Beginners Guide to Microsoft Excel The Basics of Microsoft Excel ChaptersHow Do You Create a Spreadsheet on Excel?IF, AND, OR, and NOT functions on ExcelHow Do You Create a Graph on Excel?Useful Excel Shortcuts“It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity.” - Albert EinsteinAround a quarter of people over 60 have never used the internet. Digital exclusion is a big problem in modern society given that almost everything is happening online!Seniors and those who’ve never touched Microsoft Excel, here’s a quick guide to the digital world.  Alongside the other programmes in the Microsoft Office suite, such as Word for word processing, Excel is great for analysing data and automating calculations.Since things like Excel spreadsheets, keyboard shortcuts, Excel apps, Microsoft accounts, and dropdown menus can sound alien to some, this article will guide you through the basics of using Microsoft Excel so that you'll soon be making a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet, Excel worksheets, Excel workbooks, creating charts an d graphs, conditional formatting, etc.This operation shows you how IF functions work. Thus, if the number in cell A2 is greater than 10, the result will be “For”. If the number is smaller, the answer will be “Against”.To compare different data, you can use logical operators including equal (=), different (), greater than (), greater than or equal to (=), less than (), or less than or equal to (=).  These comparisons don’t necessarily need to be done with numbers. You can also use words.The IF function is the main logic function. Other functions (AND, OR, NOT) can be added to specify certain conditions.Thus, the AND function indicates that both conditions must be met for a positive result.  The OR function indicates that only one of the conditions needs to be met for the result to be positive.The NOT function indicates that the condition mustn’t be met in order for the result to be positive.There are plenty of ways for these operations to be used. There are also embedded functions and you can create several conditions if necessary.How Do You Create a Graph on Excel?In addition to creating spreadsheets, Excel is also great at creating different types of graphs. You can use the data from your spreadsheet to create different types of graphs. You can pick the type of graph that best suits your data.You can use graphs to show data more clearly. (Source: rawpixel)Different types of graphs include:HistogramLine chartPie chartColumn chartBar chartArea chartScatter chartRadarSo how do you get started with an Excel graph?Just like with a spreadsheet or table, you need to enter your data in the rows and columns in your current sheet. The data could be from one or several categories depending on your project.You just need to choose the cells that you’re interested in and then click “Insert”. “Chart” will be one of the options. By clicking on one of the symbols, a number of subcategories will appear. There’s a large choice of different styles availab le.Your chart will appear on your Excel spreadsheet. However, you can modify the formatting. You can click on the graph and then on the “Design” tab. There are various things that you can change:The axesThe title of the axesThe title of the chartThe labelsThe graphThe legendNow you know how to create a chart!This doesn’t need to be complicated and it can help you in your everyday life at work.  In fact, you can create charts to present a project to your boss, create reports, or manage your expenses. It can be much easier to understand information if it’s presented visually.Useful Excel ShortcutsExcel isn’t necessarily an intuitive programme. You may need to spend a few minutes in order to understand certain functions or tasks.Keyboard shortcuts can save you a lot of time. (Source: Pixies)To help you use Excel more effectively, you should learn a few of the basic keyboard shortcuts.  Shortcuts are very useful for those who struggle to use a mouse.Here are some Excel keyboar d shortcuts:Close Excel: ALT + F4Open the Visual Basic Editor (for editing macros): ALT + F11Cut: CTRL + XCopy: CTRL + CPaste: CTRL + VSelect all: CTRL + AUndo: CTRL + Z (Undo the last action performed)Redo (Cancel an undone action): CTRL + YItalics: CTRL + IUnderlined: CTRL + UBold: CTRL + BDisplay the cell format dialogue box: CTRL + SHIFT + 1There are plenty of shortcuts that can be very useful in Microsoft Office suite. You can use shortcuts to insert rows, columns, and a whole plethora of other operations.The more time you spend with Excel, the more shortcuts you’ll learn. Bit by bit, you’ll start using Excel more efficiently, navigating around an Excel worksheet with the greatest of ease.  Now you're ready to excel with Excel!If you need more help on how to use Excel, you can get tutorials with a private IT tutor on Superprof. Whether you need help creating a macro, managing a workbook, working with templates, or even using other spreadsheet software, you can get Excel tra ining with one to one tutoring or learn more about Excel online.

Heart Math Tutoring Adds Pinewood Elementary As 8th School Partner

Heart Math Tutoring Adds Pinewood Elementary As 8th School Partner Heart Math Tutoring Adds Pinewood Elementary As 8th School Partner Heart Math Tutoring Adds Pinewood Elementary As 8th School Partner October 5, 2015 We are  excited  to add Pinewood Elementary School as a new school partner! Pinewood is now one of eight Heart school sites in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools in 2015-16. “We are thrilled and grateful that interest from community volunteers and support from donors allowed us to offer the program to Pinewood Elementary, where students in grades 2, 3, and 4 will receive tutoring twice per week starting in mid-October,” said Emily Elliott, executive director of Heart Math Tutoring. Through its partnership with each school, Heart has an on-site program coordinator and is currently looking to fill that position at Pinewood Elementary. The program coordinator will oversee 30-40 students’ growth in math skills; manage volunteer tutors; and serve as a liaison with teachers and school staff at Pinewood Elementary. For more information about Heart, the program coordinator position, or to become a community or financial partner, call 704-931-3209 or email Emily Elliott at loatono. Read the full press release here.

Tips for Teens Why is it so Hard to Stop Procrastinating

Tips for Teens â€"Why is it so Hard to Stop Procrastinating Why do today what you can put off until tomorrow? says the ADHD brain. When you have ADHD getting started on homework or sitting down to study can be hard - really hard. Many teens with ADHD feel like their brain struggles to gear up and focus on the assignment. Others feel so overwhelmed by the essay, project, or upcoming test that they dont know where to start. Some know where to begin, but put off getting started because they worry that they wont be able to do the assignment well enough to meet their high standards. With all of these negative feelings coming up, the natural reaction is to avoid the assignment, project, or upcoming test all together. This avoidance strategy works initially. For a while you do feel much less anxious and less stressed, but before you know it youre in trouble. The test is in an hour and you havent studied, or the big project is due tomorrow and you havent gotten started. Your stress and anxiety skyrocket. Even if you do make the deadline, its only af ter pulling an all-nighter or handing in work that you know isnt your best. You promise yourself that you wont procrastinate again, but within just a few days youre back in the same spot. Everyone procrastinates sometimes. Its human nature. But when you procrastinate so often that it prevents you from reaching your full potential and adds stress and anxiety to your life, then its a problem. Youre not alone. Most people with ADHD (and many people without ADHD) struggle with procrastination. The good news is that you can break the procrastination cycle with two steps: first identify the ADHD tendencies that cause you to procrastinate and then make some relatively simple changes that will help you overcome these challenges. Common ADHD tendencies that lead to procrastination are listed below. Think about which of these apply to you - for some people it may be all five and for others it may be just one or two. Seeking Instant Gratification. With ADHD comes a tendency to prioritize things that are fun in the moment over things that are less enjoyable now but come with a delayed reward. Working on assignments and studying for tests are both activities with delayed payoffs. Sometimes the delay is very long, like when you study for months to prepare for the SAT. Other times it can be relatively short, like when you start working on an essay a few days before its due. In many cases the delayed payoff for your effort can be big like excellent scores on the SAT! But when you have ADHD its hard to be motivated by a delayed reward even with big payoffs. So, instead of getting started on things you logically know you need to get done, youre likely to do something immediately fun and rewarding instead - like playing videogames or chatting with friends. Feeling overwhelmed. When you have ADHD you can easily feel overwhelmed by longer assignments and exams that require a lot of preparation. It can be hard to know where to start or how to break the assignments or study plans down into smaller manageable chunks. No one wants to feel overwhelmed, and when you procrastinate youre able to avoid this feeling at least for a short time. Unfortunately, when you procrastinate you ultimately feel more overwhelmed in the long run. Time management. Estimating the amount of time it will take to complete an assignment or study for a test can be difficult when you have ADHD. Youre more likely to underestimate the amount of time you will need, and you may have trouble paying attention to the amount of time that has passed once you start working. Both of these ADHD tendencies make it difficult to get started early on projects and manage your time well so youll finish by the deadline. Self-confidence. When youre not confident in your ability to write a strong essay or get a good grade on a test, then it can be very difficult to get started. Self-defeating thoughts start to creep in, your anxiety goes up, and an already challenging task becomes even more unappealing. Many people with ADHD struggle with self-confidence, especially when it comes to school, so its not surprising that this might be causing some difficulties now. With ADHD its very easy to get distracted by almost anything, especially anything with a screen. Before you know it youve been sucked into your phone for an hour and genuinely have no idea how much time has passed! Once youre distracted by your phone or computer it can be even harder to switch gears and get started on the work youve been avoiding. Did you see yourself in any of these tendencies? Pay attention to your thoughts and feelings over the next few days as you get started on assignments or procrastinate instead of getting work done. See if you notice any other tendencies popping up. Once youve identified your own patterns youll be ready to take action and make some changes. In my next post I discuss some simple steps that will help you stop procrastinating so you can turn in assignments on time, with less stress, and earn better grades! ABOUT DR. MARY ROONEY Mary Rooney, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California San Francisco. Dr Rooney is a researcher and clinician specializing in the evaluation and treatment of ADHD and co-occurring behavioral, anxiety, and mood disorders. A strong advocate for those with attention and behavior problems, Dr. Rooney is committed to developing and providing comprehensive, cutting edge treatments tailored to meet the unique needs of each child and adolescent. Dr. Rooney's clinical interventions and research avenues emphasize working closely with parents and teachers to create supportive, structured home and school environments that enable children and adolescents to reach their full potential. In addition, Dr. Rooney serves as a consultant and ADHD expert to Huntington Learning Centers. ABOUT HUNTINGTON Huntington Learning Center is the tutoring and test prep leader. Its certified tutors provide individualized instruction in reading, phonics, writing, study skills, elementary and middle school math, Algebra through Calculus, Chemistry, and other sciences. It preps for the SAT and ACT, as well as state and standardized exams. Huntington programs develop the skills, confidence, and motivation to help students of all levels succeed and meet the needs of Common Core State Standards. Founded in 1977, Huntington's mission is to give every student the best education possible. Call us today at 1.800.CAN LEARN to discuss how Huntington can help your child. For franchise opportunities please visit www.huntingtonfranchise.com. This website does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The material on this site is provided for educational purposes only.

11 Curious Facts about the World`s Most Beautiful Libraries

11 Curious Facts about the World`s Most Beautiful Libraries Since Medieval historical period libraries have been the holy places of knowledge and science. The visitors were not just grass-roots, but the representatives of the top-drawer. They could read and examine a lot of highly intellectual publications. Despite the fact the libraries were the buildings aimed for personal development and education; they considered as the works of art. If we studied book rooms from the design and architectural perspective, we would say that they impressed by their refinement and splendor. Such book repositories could combine various architectural styles; contain gorgeous murals and grand lightning systems. There are a lot of imposing and unique athenaeums all over the world. Each of them has exclusive ?ollections of books and its history of origin. Here is the top list of interesting facts about the beautiful libraries: 1. Swiss Abbey Library of St. Gallen. This library is designed in the style of Rococo. It encompasses approximately two hundred thousand of published texts from the late 8th century. It is preserved as a heritage of the country. 2. National Library of Austria. It is the most remarkable book repository with more than seven million textbooks. Moreover, the gorgeous sculptures of Lorenzo Mattielli and Daniel Gran’s murals are signature image of the library. 3. Spanish Library of El Escorial. Initially the establishment was the residence of the Spanish King. Phillip II created the library within this building and added the majority of texts. Here we can see ceilings decorated with murals. Each fresco shows one of seven liberal arts. 4. Irish Trinity College Library. Its collection contains an outstanding manuscript Book of Kells which has its origin in 800 year. The library has Legal Deposit privilege and has many text copies of England. 5. Codrington Library in England. The two hundred thousand items of the collection are mostly specific in Law, History and Classics. It is open not only for members and scientists of Oxford University but for scientists all over the world. At the end of the 20th century the athenaeum had a great upgrade that provided visitors with electronic working stations. 6. The National Library of France. The largest addition to its collection was made during the French Revolution (it was broaden to three hundred thousand items). But the current amount is totally impressive and has thirteen million periodi?als. Moreover, there are numerous ?ollections of medals and paintings. 7. Delft University of Te?hnology Library in Netherlands. This technical book room has a great peculiarity such as a skylight with grass roof. The entrance lift helps the library to be friendly to people with disabilities. The collection is mostly devoted to technical researches and available online. 8. The Royal Portuguese Reading Room in Brazil. The building is made in the style of Renaissance during the ?olonization. A marvelous chandelier and skylight are main decorations of the library. Around six thousand unique scripts and texts enlarge the book ?ollection each year. 9. The Library of the San Francisco Monastery in Peru. This book room is the most remarkable in the South America. The rare items from the 15th century make the ?ollection of the library especially prominent. The first Spanish dictionary and the Holy Bible are the real treasures of its ?ollection. 10. Colombian Villanueva Public Library. The construction of the building is made by the stones and wood from nearby areas by the Colombian residents. The natural design project was offered by local students which created the optimum microclimate inside the library. 11. The Library of Congress in the USA. This reading room is the biggest in the world and consolidates approximately forty million books. It became an international scientific building due to the fact the publications are presented in four hundred seventy languages. If you are involved in studying the historical and interior peculiarities of the athenaeums and different prominent buildings, we offer you to contact our art tutors.  They can help you to become experts in this field of studying.

International Scholarships 101 - by TutorNerds

International Scholarships 101 - by TutorNerds Tips from an Irvine College Consultant:   International Scholarships 101 Many students dream of coming to the United States to attend college or university. With such an expansive geographical area, multiple cultures, climates, and every major imaginable, the USA is a fabulous place to get a postsecondary education. Unfortunately, international tuition is extremely expensive and the majority of students will need help of some kind. Fortunately, there are some fabulous scholarships available through private and public institutions and some universities are more generous at handing out scholarships and financial aid than others. Lets take a look. 1. Foreign Fulbright Student Program This scholarship offers a potential full-ride for an international student who would like to come to the USA in pursuit of a post baccalaureate degree, such as a Masters or PhD. This is a fabulous opportunity because, in addition to basic tuition and educational expenses, it also covers health insurance and even airfare. This particular scholarship is provided by the government rather than a specific college or university (READ: 8 Reasons Applicants Fail to Get Into the College of Their Choice). 2. Money directly from universities In addition to government scholarships, many universities offer either merit or need-based scholarships. Some of these programs include the Amherst College scholarships, Arkansas University scholarships, Columbia College scholarships Cornell University scholarships and so on. A full list is available here. Particularly impressive is the help offered from Berea College, where every admitted student can receive a four-year tuition scholarship. Colby-Sawyer College offers up to $24,000 per year in aid and Concordia College offers up to $25,000 per year. 3. Private institutions and non-government agency scholarships The AAUW International Fellowship provides international female students with the opportunity to conduct full-time study or research in the US. This fellowship is for post baccalaureate study and can provide up to $18,000 for Masters Degree study and $20,000 for PhD study. Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship Programme offers a small number of scholarships for postgraduate studies that can be used in the United States. This is meant for students who can find no other way to finance their studies. Although a few extremely lucky international students will receive full scholarships or hefty aid packages, many students will find that education is partially funded through a scholarship but that they are responsible for the remainder. So what is the next step for students who need to come up with enough money to make ends meet during their international studies? 1. First off, always contact the financial aid offices of each college or university directly. Larger universities generally have some money set aside for international aid. However, its entirely up to the student to ask for and gather this information on their own. 2. Have a high score on the TOEFL. The majority of colleges and universities that give merit-based or need-based financial aid to international students from countries that don’t speak English, will require a high TOEFL score. The higher the score, the better the chances. International students who are hoping for aid packages should be prepared to take the TOEFL two or three times even if they are already conversational or fluent in English. 4. Beware of Scams! There are many fabulous legitimate scholarships and financial aid packages out there, but international students coming to the USA are subject to people who are trying to scam students out of their hard-earned savings. Students should look out for a few red flags when applying for international scholarships (READ: 5 Tips For Your College Entrance Essay). 1. Too good to be true? Programs that offer an incredibly large amount of money, or some sort of guarantee, or any other thing that seems too good to be true, probably is. Scholarship programs never give money away so it’s important that students watch out for this type of scam. 2. Money and fees. If the program asks for a hefty fee upfront or a lot of money to process the application, the applicant should be under alert. If the program advertises that they will give $100,000 in scholarship money in exchange for $250 upfront, its probably a scam. 3. Social media checks. Students can protect themselves by doing social media checks on suspicious scholarship programs. Its highly likely that somebody who was scammed in the past will have written about it online. Any scholarship that looks even slightly suspicious should be a red flag for students to do an online background check. Always make sure to talk to somebody in person or on the phone, look for complaints, and get appropriate references. Always use your best judgment. Although funding study in the United States can be very difficult, its a fabulous place to learn and live in, and at the end of the day there are so many great options for international students. Sources: International Student: Avoid Scholarship Scams International Student: International Scholarships 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 post about. International Scholarships 101 - by TutorNerds Tips from an Irvine College Consultant:   International Scholarships 101 Many students dream of coming to the United States to attend college or university. With such an expansive geographical area, multiple cultures, climates, and every major imaginable, the USA is a fabulous place to get a postsecondary education. Unfortunately, international tuition is extremely expensive and the majority of students will need help of some kind. Fortunately, there are some fabulous scholarships available through private and public institutions and some universities are more generous at handing out scholarships and financial aid than others. Lets take a look. 1. Foreign Fulbright Student Program This scholarship offers a potential full-ride for an international student who would like to come to the USA in pursuit of a post baccalaureate degree, such as a Masters or PhD. This is a fabulous opportunity because, in addition to basic tuition and educational expenses, it also covers health insurance and even airfare. This particular scholarship is provided by the government rather than a specific college or university (READ: 8 Reasons Applicants Fail to Get Into the College of Their Choice). 2. Money directly from universities In addition to government scholarships, many universities offer either merit or need-based scholarships. Some of these programs include the Amherst College scholarships, Arkansas University scholarships, Columbia College scholarships Cornell University scholarships and so on. A full list is available here. Particularly impressive is the help offered from Berea College, where every admitted student can receive a four-year tuition scholarship. Colby-Sawyer College offers up to $24,000 per year in aid and Concordia College offers up to $25,000 per year. 3. Private institutions and non-government agency scholarships The AAUW International Fellowship provides international female students with the opportunity to conduct full-time study or research in the US. This fellowship is for post baccalaureate study and can provide up to $18,000 for Masters Degree study and $20,000 for PhD study. Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship Programme offers a small number of scholarships for postgraduate studies that can be used in the United States. This is meant for students who can find no other way to finance their studies. Although a few extremely lucky international students will receive full scholarships or hefty aid packages, many students will find that education is partially funded through a scholarship but that they are responsible for the remainder. So what is the next step for students who need to come up with enough money to make ends meet during their international studies? 1. First off, always contact the financial aid offices of each college or university directly. Larger universities generally have some money set aside for international aid. However, its entirely up to the student to ask for and gather this information on their own. 2. Have a high score on the TOEFL. The majority of colleges and universities that give merit-based or need-based financial aid to international students from countries that don’t speak English, will require a high TOEFL score. The higher the score, the better the chances. International students who are hoping for aid packages should be prepared to take the TOEFL two or three times even if they are already conversational or fluent in English. 4. Beware of Scams! There are many fabulous legitimate scholarships and financial aid packages out there, but international students coming to the USA are subject to people who are trying to scam students out of their hard-earned savings. Students should look out for a few red flags when applying for international scholarships (READ: 5 Tips For Your College Entrance Essay). 1. Too good to be true? Programs that offer an incredibly large amount of money, or some sort of guarantee, or any other thing that seems too good to be true, probably is. Scholarship programs never give money away so it’s important that students watch out for this type of scam. 2. Money and fees. If the program asks for a hefty fee upfront or a lot of money to process the application, the applicant should be under alert. If the program advertises that they will give $100,000 in scholarship money in exchange for $250 upfront, its probably a scam. 3. Social media checks. Students can protect themselves by doing social media checks on suspicious scholarship programs. Its highly likely that somebody who was scammed in the past will have written about it online. Any scholarship that looks even slightly suspicious should be a red flag for students to do an online background check. Always make sure to talk to somebody in person or on the phone, look for complaints, and get appropriate references. Always use your best judgment. Although funding study in the United States can be very difficult, its a fabulous place to learn and live in, and at the end of the day there are so many great options for international students. Sources: International Student: Avoid Scholarship Scams International Student: International Scholarships 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 post about.

Fun Outdoor Learning Activities for Kids

Fun Outdoor Learning Activities for Kids Summers are meant to be a time to slow down and relax. But if you`re a parent, though, summer can be a busy time for you. Especially, if you want to keep your kids entertained, interested and supervised. I hope todays article will help you to spend some  quality time with your kids.  So, what you and your kids can do outside to learn something, de-stress, and get some fresh air? Here a list of simple outdoor learning activities for families: -Play texture scavenger hunt. Put nature objects with different textures into several lunch boxes. It could be sticks, pine cones, stones, etc. Have your kids close their eyes and touch each object. Then ask your kids to find a similar texture. -Nature hike. Encourage your kids to find certain types of leaves, bugs, rocks and flowers. Then you can make a nature art collage. -Check out the stars. Buy a telescope to get started. Watching how the night sky changes hour to hour and day to day can provide years of enjoyment. -Go on a bug hunt. All you need are just simple plastic boxes bug catchers with removable lids. They will be temporary homes for crawly critters. Kids can try to find moths, butterflies, potato bugs, flies, shiny black beetles, centipedes, grubs, caterpillars etc. -Become a citizen scientist. You can join a citizen scientist project such as Celebrate Urban Birds, or Project Bud Burst, where kids can look for data in nature and help real scientists with real research projects. -Play alphabet ball. Call out a letter, and your kid needs to respond with a word that begins with that letter. Then you kick the ball to him. Now he calls out a letter, and you need to find a word that begins with it. -Play water balloon math. Make simple images with numbers (targets). For instance, 5, 7, 8, 9, 17. Fill the balloons with water and write equations that equal the numbers on the targets such as 3+4 or 15-6. Then have your kids match them and throw the balloons on the targets. -Make simple science experiment for kids. For instance, what Melts in the Sun? Perfect activity for a hot day. Get a small notebook that your kids can use to draw or write about what he or she sees. And talk later about your time outdoors to reinforce what was learned. For more activity ideas, check out this article Educational Fun Activities to Keep Kids Brains Active in Summer. Also you can visit TutorZ.com to find a private tutor for your kids and get all benefits from summer tutoring! Fun Outdoor Learning Activities for Kids Summers are meant to be a time to slow down and relax. But if you`re a parent, though, summer can be a busy time for you. Especially, if you want to keep your kids entertained, interested and supervised. I hope todays article will help you to spend some  quality time with your kids.  So, what you and your kids can do outside to learn something, de-stress, and get some fresh air? Here a list of simple outdoor learning activities for families: -Play texture scavenger hunt. Put nature objects with different textures into several lunch boxes. It could be sticks, pine cones, stones, etc. Have your kids close their eyes and touch each object. Then ask your kids to find a similar texture. -Nature hike. Encourage your kids to find certain types of leaves, bugs, rocks and flowers. Then you can make a nature art collage. -Check out the stars. Buy a telescope to get started. Watching how the night sky changes hour to hour and day to day can provide years of enjoyment. -Go on a bug hunt. All you need are just simple plastic boxes bug catchers with removable lids. They will be temporary homes for crawly critters. Kids can try to find moths, butterflies, potato bugs, flies, shiny black beetles, centipedes, grubs, caterpillars etc. -Become a citizen scientist. You can join a citizen scientist project such as Celebrate Urban Birds, or Project Bud Burst, where kids can look for data in nature and help real scientists with real research projects. -Play alphabet ball. Call out a letter, and your kid needs to respond with a word that begins with that letter. Then you kick the ball to him. Now he calls out a letter, and you need to find a word that begins with it. -Play water balloon math. Make simple images with numbers (targets). For instance, 5, 7, 8, 9, 17. Fill the balloons with water and write equations that equal the numbers on the targets such as 3+4 or 15-6. Then have your kids match them and throw the balloons on the targets. -Make simple science experiment for kids. For instance, what Melts in the Sun? Perfect activity for a hot day. Get a small notebook that your kids can use to draw or write about what he or she sees. And talk later about your time outdoors to reinforce what was learned. For more activity ideas, check out this article Educational Fun Activities to Keep Kids Brains Active in Summer. Also you can visit TutorZ.com to find a private tutor for your kids and get all benefits from summer tutoring!

Teach Away Telegram - November 2014

Teach Away Telegram - November 2014 Join us for a Twitter chat with one of our Placement CoordinatorsWe’re very excited to announce that on Thursday, November 13 from 8 - 9 pm GMT, we’ll be holding a live Q&A on Twitter with our Placement Coordinator, Alexandra Capistrano. She’ll be taking over the @teachaway Twitter account for 1 hour.Alexandra has been working as a Placement Coordinator with Teach Away for just over a year. Before that, she was teaching abroad herself at a conversation school in Okayama, Japan, and was an Assistant Language Teacher at a private high school in Matsuyama, Japan. She loves to travel and has been to the UK, Ireland, Spain, Greece, Italy, France, Morocco, South Korea, and the Philippines. As one of our Placement Coordinators, she is currently working with private schools in Abu Dhabi, Macau, Saudi Arabia, and Kazakhstan. When she’s not finding the best candidates for teaching positions overseas, she’s either assuming her duties as the resident Teach Away DJ or sharing cute dog p hotos with the office.Our Twitter Q&A will be your chance to ask Alexandra anything to do with teaching overseas in one of the countries she focuses on, or about her own personal teaching experience.To participate, all you have to do is tweet us your question by including the hashtag #askteachaway. Alexandra will retweet the question before she tweets her answer, that way everyone can follow the Q&A.If you’re not on Twitter, click here to sign up. Once you’ve signed up, or if you already are, just follow @teachawayMake your next Skype interview a successThe Teach Away job board currently has more than 100 jobs posted for both ESL and certified teachers that reach every corner of the worldâ€"and for a number of these jobs, the schools have requested at minimum a remote interview with candidates. If you’ve never had a remote interview before, you may make the rookie mistake of thinking that because you’re not meeting in person, you don’t have to put the same amount of though t and preparation into it. Make no mistake: Skype interviews require the same effort. Here’s how you can make a great impression, even from a distance.Clean up your surroundings and minimize distractionsBefore your interview begins, make sure you’re going to be in a quiet room that’s free of distractionsâ€"for both you and the interviewer. Pick a room with a door so that you can minimize interferences from other family members and can shut out other household noises. It’s also important to let everyone else who lives with you know that you’ll be participating in an interview and need to conduct a distraction-free meeting.Set up your computer so that the wall behind you is clutter-freeâ€"a neutral background is best. A clean, organized space will show your interviewers that you too are an organized and thoughtful person.Keep a professional profileThough you might think that with a Skype interview, your first impression will involve you, you’re wrong. Before you connect fo r your video interview, your interviewer will be seeing your Skype username and your profile picture. Before you provide your Skype details, make sure that you’ve chosen a profile username and picture. If not, create a new one. Skype is free afterall!Dress the partAs we mentioned, many people interviewing for a teaching position abroad might be inclined to dress casually. Don’t! Psychologically speaking, getting dressed up professionally from head to toe for an interview makes you feel more professional. There's lots of evidence that shows the way we dress affects how we feel not only about ourselves but about our work, so stepping out of pajamas for an hour will help get your mind in a more professional mode. Go the whole nine yards: wear more professional slacks as well, even if you think your interviewer will have only a waist-up view of you.Practice makes perfectIf you’ve used Skype to visit with long-distance friends or family, you’re likely familiar with the awkward qu estion of where to look. This will be no different during your interview. The best thing for you to do is just practice your interviewâ€"better yet, record it if you can. Observe where you’re looking as you play the recording back for yourself, and try to train yourself to look at the camera instead of your own reflection on the screen.Show your interviewers that you’re presentWith long distance interviews, giving signs of life are sometimes necessary. Technology isn’t always perfect, and sometimes with slower internet connections Skype has video lags, so showing your interviewers that you’re still actively listening and participating through more verbal cues is helpful. Try to use simple words like “yes”, “right”, or even an “mhmm” to let everyone know that you’re still tuned in.Make yourself a cheat sheetIf you think you’ll feel more comfortable or prepared with notes in front of you, go ahead and make yourself a short cheat sheet with some point form notes . You can keep these in front of you but out of the way of your camera to refer to if necessary. But don’t fall into the trap of reading aloud verbatim: familiarize yourself with what you’d like to say in general, and make sure your notes are easily scannable so you don’t have to spend time studying them during your interview.Prepare to problem solveTechnology can be tricky, so be prepared to address any technological glitches like a weak connection, or interference or feedback. The chances are, if the problem is annoying you, it’s likely that it’s annoying your interviewers as well, and you don’t want to risk answering the question inappropriately because you didn’t hear the question in the first place. Although you might be nervous to draw attention to the problem, being quick to acknowledge the problem and find a solution shows that you’re a problem solverâ€"always a desirable quality in a teacher!Manage classroom behavior with ClassDojoThe creators of ClassDojo a ptly named their tool after a formal training place. Well-suited for any K-12 classroom, ClassDojo helps teachers improve classroom behavior through a comprehensive award system that awards merits or demerits in real-time to students for various behaviors.Since statistics show that teachers spend on average more than 50% of class time managing behaviors, ClassDojo aims to inject more instruction time back in to lessons by engaging students in behavior management.Students can earn points for demonstrated good behaviors like working hard on a specific task, asking thoughtful questions, and being cooperative or helpful with other students. When they’re awarded points, a pleasant noise lets them know so. Bad behaviors such as time wasting and class disruption lose students their earned points and a different, less harmonious noise lets them know. Whatever device teachers have available to them can be plugged into speakers for the rest of the class to participate in the process. Report s can even be generated and shared with parents to engage them in the process.ClassDojo works with any classroom, any device including regular web browsers, and is free for teachers. Try it today!City spotlight: Astana, KazakhstanAstana, the capital city of Kazakhstan, is known as “the city of the future,” though only 15 years ago, it barely existed. With little surrounding development for 1,200 km, Astana was quickly developed to look like something from a science fiction novel, with a skyline that boasts many futuristic structures.With so many remarkable buildings in one city, you’ll have no shortage of sights to visit. Architect Norman Foster designed many of these structures, including the Baiterek Tower, nicknamed “chupa chups” by locals because of its resemblance to a giant lollipop. Standing at 100 meters tall, it’s a great site for city views, and also houses an aquarium, a restaurant, and an art gallery. Another must-visit location is the Khan Shatyr, the worldâ €™s largest tent at more than 10 football stadiums in size, which features a giant shopping mall, an amusement park, an indoor beach, and even its own monorail.With a climate of extremes, having an indoor city like the Khan Shatyr proves helpful. In the summer, typical days can reach up to 30 degrees Celsius, while the winter months, the temperature can reach as low as -40 degrees Celsius, making it the coldest capital city in the world.Astana wasn’t always the capital of Kazakhstan though. Seven years ago, President Nursultan Nazarbayev decided to move the capital from Almaty, a city in the southeast, to Astana, which was previously home to not much more than a gulag prison camp for Soviet traitors. This allowed for a lot of modern development to be erected quickly, and the population has more than doubled to reach 750,000 since 1997.As a nomadic nation, Kazakh people appreciate wide open spaces and congestion isn’t such a concern in the city. For hundreds of years, Kazakhs her ded sheep, horses, and camels. This nomadic way of life has influenced their cuisine as well since herders relied on these animals for transportation, clothing, and food. Meat in various forms has always been the primary ingredient of Kazakh cuisine, and traditional cooking methods rely heavily on boiling. Local tastes do allow for variety though, and everyone will find something to enjoy when going out to eat.  If you are looking for a new international adventure that will take you off the beaten path, but still like the comforts of city life, Astana might be the place for you. Explore the largely unexplored and have a look at our open positions in Kazakhstan.

Chemistry: A Molecular Approach by Nivaldo J. Tro

Chemistry: A Molecular Approach by Nivaldo J. TroI don't know if you have heard of Nivaldo J. Tro but you are in luck! He is the leader of the Ph.D. program at Georgia State University and his new book is Chemistry: A Molecular Approach. This is a fantastic book that can be highly useful to those in the study of chemistry, especially for someone with a more advanced degree.Nivaldo J. Tro has been in the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department at Georgia State University for fifteen years. This program is more than a decade old and is considered one of the best in the country. He is the author of the study guide that is included in the Chemistry: A Molecular Approach book. Although there are some good books on the subject, none can compare to this book. In fact, I highly recommend that you get the Nivaldo J. Tro study guide as it will make learning the subject more fun.You will find that the content in the study guide is what sets this book apart from the other chemistry books available . It features discussion and questions that are designed to help students develop a thorough understanding of the subject and have fun.The chemistry used in this book is not only comprehensive but also fun. There are topics covered such as the nature of matter, nuclear physics, isotope abundance, entropy, thermodynamics, and symmetry. As you read through the book, you will learn all of these things and more. I found that the interactive questions and videos to be very helpful for this book and made it much more enjoyable to read.You will learn how to prepare different reactions, how to design a molecule, how to measure time and temperature, and many other things. One of the main reasons that Nivaldo J. Tro made this book was because he did not like the way that chemistry and life were taught in the class. He wanted to show students that the chemistry that was being taught was extremely simple, but also very important.The study guide comes with lots of materials for you to use and fi nd that it is well worth the investment. You can download the entire guide to your personal computer and study it. I know that I will be using this guide every single day as it is easy to use and very easy to read.If you are serious about becoming a successful chemist, you owe it to yourself to give Chemistry: A Molecular Approach a read. This is a great book that will make you smarter as well as teach you much more.