July 2017 Test Schedule

Mark your calendar for the latest test dates.

Pack Your Summer With Adventures

Summer is here and the children are out of school. The last thing we want is for them to waste their days sitting behind a screen. Sure, we want relaxation time, but we also want to keep the brain working, creative juices flowing and most of all, we want to make memories. The internet is loaded with ideas for summer activities and we’ve gathered a number of them together for you. Take advantage of these longer days and warm nights and try out these fun activities!

• Have a scavenger hunt, where you have to find something that starts with every letter of the alphabet.
• Volunteer at a nature center.
• Visit the beach and collect shells and sea glass.
• Make a fort out of cardboard boxes.
• Visit a farmer's market.
• Bake cookies for ice cream sandwiches.
• Have a picnic at a state park.
• Go canoeing, paddle boating or kayaking at a local lake.
• Build a sandcastle. Heck, build a sand city!
• Make a photo journal or family yearbook.
• Make ice cream.

• Have a backyard campfire...or just use the grill! Roast hot dogs on sticks, pop popcorn and finish off with s'mores.
• Have the family write & illustrate their own book. Head to the office supply store to laminate & bind it. 
• Go berry picking at a local farm.
• Make homemade pizza.
• Head to a local creek, pond or lake, bring a bird identifying book along, make a list of all you spy.
• Go for a walk and then make a collage from nature objects you find along the way.
• Set up a lemonade stand. It’s a great way to learn some money and math skills!
• Practice your origami skills and make beautiful objects to hang in front of windows.
• Go biking on a trail.
• Interview an older relative about what life was like when they were young.
• Go to the library and check out Caldecott Medal award winning books to enjoy.

• Practice making interesting shadow puppets and then put on a show with your characters.
• Plant a garden of herbs and veggies.
• Make a sidewalk chalk mural.
• Have an outdoor painting party using huge canvases or cardboard.
• Plant a butterfly garden with flowers.
• Pretend to be pirates for an afternoon -- dress up in costumes, plan a treasure hunt.
• Turn the backyard into a carnival -- set up a face painting area and games like ring toss.
• Visit a museum you've never been to.
• Make a giant hopscotch or Twister game on the lawn (with spray paint) or driveway (with chalk).
• String beads into jewelry.
• Make a bird house out of Popsicle sticks.
• Learn about stargazing and identify as many constellations as possible.

• Create leis with wildflowers.
• Break out your baseball gloves and start a game, sandlot style.
• Make paper boats and race them in a kiddie pool using straws to propel them.
• Play mini-golf -- or set up a course in your driveway by laying different size containers on their sides.
• Make your own colored sand and create sand art.  
• Get a map of the United States and mark off all the exciting places you want to visit -- create the ultimate road trip.
• Set up a net and play badminton and volleyball. 
• Check your local craft supply store for crafting classes and create a treasure.
• Wade through a stream and search for minnows or tadpoles.
• Investigate an ethnic grocery store and make lunch using interesting spices and other ingredients.
• Visit a fire station.
• Collect rocks and paint them to use as paperweights or pet rocks.
• Go roller skating.

• Visit a zoo or aquarium to learn about the animals.
• Gather some fruit, a little yogurt, some ice cubes and blend your own smoothie.
• Paint the sidewalk or patio with plain old water and sponge brushes. When their creation dries, they can begin again.
• Bake cupcakes in ice cream cones and then decorate them.
• Go horseback riding.
• Make popsicles in Dixie cups using fruit juices.
• Catch fireflies in a jar (and let them go at the end of the night, of course).
• Host your own summer olympics and invite the family or neighbor to enjoy races, hurdles, relays, etc.
• Decorate bikes and have a neighborhood Fourth of July parade.
• Make paper flowers using different colored tissue paper. Decorate your porch with them.
• Go to a flea market.
• Volunteer at an animal adoption organization or shelter. They’re always looking for dog walkers!
• Run through the sprinklers.

• Visit a retirement home and read stories to residents or sing to them.
• Attend an outdoor festival or concert.
• Pick a nearby town to visit for the day.
• Make your own hard-to-pop bubbles with 1 cup of distilled water, 2 tablespoons of Dawn dish soap and 1 tablespoon of glycerin.
• Paint canvas sneakers with fabric paint pens or acrylic paint.
• Create three dimensional buildings using toothpicks and mini marshmallows.
• Make bird feeders by covering pine cones with peanut butter and rolling in birdseed.
• Have a fancy tea party.
• Make a giant slip-n-slide with a painter's tarp and shaving cream.
• Go camping in the backyard or at a campsite. 
• Visit your national, state, and county parks.
• Go to a ballgame and teach your kids how to keep a scorecard.
• Go bowling and teach the kids how to keep score.
• Take a free kid's workshop at stores like Lowe's or Home Depot.
• Have a game night with charades, Pictionary, Bingo or other board games.
• Set up a tent in the backyard to use as a summer playhouse.

Fun Stuff To Do on the Fourth of July

July 4th family get-togethers are a great time to get everyone outside and active. Here are some fun ideas for kids of all ages. Everyone can join in!

Water Balloon Dodgeball
Break everyone into two equal groups. Players throw the balloons at each other or team up and use a towel as a slingshot to catapult the water balloons at opposing players. If you get hit, you are out of the game. The last person standing is the dodge balloon champ.

Run and Bust ‘em Obstacle Course
Fill large balloons with water and place them at the end of an obstacle course. Have everyone race through the course with the last feat being that they have to pop one of the large water balloons by sitting on it. The race itself can be a traditional obstacle course, a three-legged race or a sack race.

Summer Squirt Tag
The old-school game of tag gets kicked up a notch with squirt tag. One or two players are armed with a spray bottle or a water gun. If you get squirted, you are "it" and take over the sprayer. This is a great game for a hot summer day!

Ice Cube & Spoon Game
Everyone knows about the Easter game where you try to carry an egg on a spoon across the lawn. This Fourth of July, switch things up and trade out the egg for an ice cube. It’s not as easy as you’d think!

Watermelon Seed Spitting Contest
One of the best foods of the summer is watermelon so how ‘bout having a watermelon seed spitting contest! Be sure to have a tape measure on hand so you can accurately measure the distance of the spitted seeds.

Lawn Games
Of course, all the traditional lawn games are fun for a Fourth of July party too. Consider croquet, badminton, bocce, mini golf and more. A volleyball game with beach balls or water balloons is also a fun idea for both adults and children.

College-bound Boot Camp for Rising Freshmen

Here is our flyer for the upcoming Boot Camp for rising freshmen.

Letter from Betty for June 2017

Hello Friends,

It is with sadness but also happiness and great congratulations that I share with you that Donna will be leaving our tutoring staff at the end of this academic year. Donna has been a devoted tutor and friend to students of all ages from all academic settings, parents, teachers, and other tutors. Her unending devotion to her students has resulted in academic success and the fulfillment of academic dreams. Donna will be moving out of the area to spend more time with her sons and their families, including four grand-children! She will be missed!
 
Another change at Foundation For Learning is a move in our location. Starting on July 1, 2017 we will be located on the second floor of the building just three buildings south of our current location:
930 Mt. Kemble Ave
Morristown, NJ 07960

It's time to think about the very best way to preserve and extend your student's learning across the gap between school years: a summer reading list! We have you covered, from cover to cover, with a great list featuring girl heroes, suitable for all readers, boys and girls alike, in our feature article for June, "Daring Young Women To The Rescue - A Summer Reading List."

June is the month of Father's Day, and it is a known fact that dads do not always like to ask for directions. Perhaps what they need is a good map instead! Our bonus article this month offers a handy manly gift idea in "You Can Do It: Father's Day Map Coasters." Enjoy!

As always, please remember that whatever your educational needs, Foundation for Learning is ready to assist you with caring, one-on-one, individualized tutoring, SAT/ACT test prep, and educational evaluations.

Don't hesitate to give us a call at 973-425-1774 for a free consultation. 

Please note that I have a new email address: betty.foundationforlearning@gmail.com.


Best regards,

Betty

June 2017 Test Schedule

Mark your calendar for the latest test dates.

Daring Young Women to the Rescue: A Summer Reading List

It’s time to start thinking about summer reading! Below is a list of books starring female characters, full of magic, adventure, fantasy, battling good and evil, saving the people they love, using their courage, intelligence and strength. We all know Hermione Granger, Luna Lovegood and Ginny Weasley, but here are more daring young women to carry us away this summer! Don’t limit these books to your daughter’s stack. Read them yourself and encourage your sons to join in the adventures as well. Go girls!

Recommended for Ages 8-12

The Worst Witch, by Jill Murphy
Miss Cackle's Academy is no ordinary school. This is a school for witches and the girls there have to learn about such things as casting spells and making magic potions. Mildred Hubble has a reputation for being the worst pupil in the school. She's always getting her spells wrong, but she manages to get by until she turns Ethel, the teacher's pet, into her sworn enemy. Life is definitely about to get tougher for the school's worst witch.  This funny series, originally published in the 1970s, is now back in print with new covers and ready to delight a new generation of readers. Following in this series: The Worst Witch Strikes Again and A Bad Spell for the Worst Witch.   
         
Inkheart, by Cornelia Funke
Meggie's father, Mo, has refused to read to her since she was a baby, and she's never known why until the day a man called “Dustfinger” appears and calls her father “Silvertongue.” It turns out that Mo has a wonderful but terrible ability: if he reads a book aloud, the characters literally come to life. The last time he did, he not only freed a wicked villain named Capricorn from the book Inkheart, he also accidentally read Meggie's mother into the book. Now Capricorn wants to put Mo's abilities to evil use and he's planning to use Meggie to make him do it. In order to stop Capricorn, Meggie and her family will have to find the author of Inkheart,  in hopes that they can write a new ending. This unique story-within-a-story will fascinate young fantasy fans. The story continues in Inkspell and Inkdeath.

Tuesdays at the Castle, by Jessica Day George
Princess Celie loves living in Castle Glower and she especially loves Tuesdays, the day that a new room, turret, or wing magically appears! No one can guess what the castle will do next, and Celie is the only one who takes the time to map the new additions. When King and Queen Glower are ambushed and foreign interlopers appear to try to claim the kingdom, Celie's intimate knowledge of the castle will be key to protecting herself, her family, and her people. Celie's unique friendship with the magical castle provides fodder for all sorts of fun adventures in this charming story. You can continue Celie's adventures in Wednesdays in the Tower and Thursdays with the Crown.

The Power of Poppy Pendle, by Natasha Lowe
Ten-year-old Poppy was born to ordinary parents, but she has inherited the powers of a witch. She has gifts that are tremendously valued, even coveted, in her world.  But Poppy has other talents too, including a knack for baking, and what she'd really like is a career as a baker. Despite her protests, her parents push her to follow in the footsteps of her great-aunt, a famous witch, but when they go so far as to take the oven out of their house, Poppy discovers that there's a dark side to magic... one that can come out all too easily when angry. Fortunately, good friends and good food can turn things around. This spirited story, which comes complete with recipes you can try at home, features a likable character whose frustration will feel familiar to many tweens. Fans of this book can read the sequel featuring Poppy's daughter, The Courage of Cat Campbell.    
 

Recommended for Ages 9-14

Sophie Quire and the Last Storyguard, by Jonathan Auxier
Twelve-year-old Sophie knows little beyond the four walls of her father's bookshop, where she repairs old books and dreams of escaping the confines of her dull life. When a strange boy, Peter Nimble, and his talking cat/horse companion show up with a rare and mysterious book, she finds herself pulled into a real-life adventure beyond anything she has ever read! This companion to Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes introduces an intriguing new character to Jonathan Auxier's fascinating world of magic and mystery.

The Wee Free Men, by Terry Pratchett
Tiffany Aching is a dutiful (if grudging) big sister and a talented cheese maker, but what she really wants is to be a witch. She might need some witch-magic fast though, when the Queen of Faeries steals her little brother away! With a piece of string, a borrowed toad, a cast-iron pan, and the Nac Mac Feegle (a clan of six-inch-tall Pictsies), Tiffany will have to dare going into fairyland itself if she’s going to make things right again. With a complex plot full of metaphors about growing up, and plenty of humor along the way, you’ll be eager to follow Tiffany on future adventures! Tiffany’s story continues in A Hat Full of Sky, Wintersmith, I Shall Wear Midnight, and The Shepherd’s Crown.

Fablehaven, by Brandon Mull
Kendra and her brother, Seth, have no idea that their grandfather is the current caretaker of Fablehaven. Inside the gated woods, ancient laws keep relative order among the greedy trolls, mischievous satyrs, plotting witches, spiteful imps, and jealous fairies. But when the rules get broken, powerful forces are unleashed, and Kendra and her brother face the greatest challenge of their lives. To save their family, Fablehaven, and maybe even the world, Kendra and Seth must find the courage to do what they fear most.

Dragon Slippers, by Jessica Day George
Creel's aunt is desperate to tie her family to royalty, so she dumps Creel in front of the local dragon in hopes that she'll be rescued by the local prince.  Instead, Creel rejects the haughty prince and befriends the dragon, who, it turns out, has a remarkable collection of shoes. Among them, she finds a pair of slippers to wear as she sets out to make her fortune using her gifts at embroidery. Little does she know, these unique slippers could save the kingdom or destroy it. This charming story, full of vivid descriptions of everything from Creel's "fancywork" to the rough streets of the King's Seat, will delight it’s readers. Creel's story continues in Dragon Flight and Dragon Spear.             

Recommended for Ages 10 and up

May Bird and the Ever After, by Jodi Lynn Anderson
The woods of Briery Swamp fit May Bird like a fuzzy mitten, and keep her safe from the taunts of children at school who don't understand her. But one day, when she falls in the lake, she emerges into an unexpected new world, one that's far from warm and fuzzy. If she doesn't get out fast, horrifyingly evil Bo Cleevil will turn her into nothing. This offbeat fantasy, the first of a trilogy, is scary, fanciful, and truly suspenseful.

Dealing with Dragons, by Patricia C. Wrede 
Cimorene has no interest in being a proper princess, so instead of waiting to be kidnapped by a dragon, she runs away and makes a bargain with one — she’ll keep house as a captured princess would, provided she also gets to be herself and explore her non-princessy interests. Fortunately for Kazul, Cimorene’s dragon, Cimorene also manages to help unearth the wizards’ plot against the dragons in time to stop it... for now. 

The Goose Girl, by Shannon Hale
Ani, the Crown Princess of Kildenree, spent the first years of her life under her aunt's guidance learning to communicate with animals, but she never became comfortable speaking with people. So when her silver-tongued lady-in-waiting leads a mutiny during Ani's journey to be married in a foreign land, Ani cannot persuade anyone to assist her. She conceals herself as a goose girl for the king, and slowly discovers that her own special, nearly magical powers can help her find her way to her true destiny. Fans of Shannon Hale's intriguing fantasy world and characters will want to check out the sequels, Enna Burning and Forest Born.            

The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making, by Catherynne M. Valente
Twelve-year-old September lives in Omaha and used to have an ordinary life, until her father went to war and her mother went to work. One day, September is met at her kitchen window by a Green Wind who invites her on an adventure to Fairyland. The new Marquess is unpredictable and fickle, and also not much older than September. With the help of new friends, including a book-loving Wyvern and a mysterious boy named Saturday, September is the only one who can retrieve a talisman the Marquess wants from the enchanted woods. But will September be able to return home, or will she find herself bound to Fairyland forever? 

Recommended for Ages 12 and up

Alanna: The First Adventure, by Tamora Pierce
Alanna has always dreamed of adventurous deeds, something denied to girls in Tortall, while her brother Thom yearns to learn magical arts. So when they’re sent off to learn their trades, the pair decides to trade places: Thom goes to the convent, while Alanna sets off to become a page and eventually, she hopes, a knight. “Alan” finds it easier than expected to conceal who she really is, and quickly impresses those around her with her determination. However, she’s haunted by visions of an evil city and she wonders whether she can keep her gender a secret and whether she will falter or finally achieve her destiny. The book is the first of the Song of the Lioness quartet.  

Wild Magic, by Tamora Pierce
Thirteen-year-old Daine has always had a knack with animals, but it's not until she's forced to leave home that she realizes it's more than a knack — it's magic. With this wild magic, not only can Daine speak to animals, but also she can make them obey her. Daine takes a job handling horses for the Queen's Riders, where she meets the master mage Numair and becomes his student. Soon she begins to sense other beings too: immortals, bloodthirsty monsters have been imprisoned for four hundred years. Now someone has broken the barrier, and it's up to Daine and her friends to defend their world from an immortal attack.

Sabriel, by Garth Nix
Sent to a boarding school in Ancelstierre as a young child, Sabriel has had little experience with the power of Free Magic or the Dead who refuse to stay dead in the Old Kingdom. During her final semester, her father, the Abhorsen, goes missing, and Sabriel knows she must enter the Old Kingdom to find him. With the help of new friends, she'll travel deep into the lands of the Dead but every step brings them closer to a battle that will pit them against the true forces of life and death and bring Sabriel face-to-face with her own destiny. This is the first book of The Abhorsen Trilogy.    

Recommended for Ages 14 and up

Throne of Glass, by Sarah J. Maas
In a land without magic, where the king rules with an iron hand, Celaena Sardothien is summoned to the castle. The young assassin is there for a rare chance at freedom: if she defeats twenty-three other killers, thieves, and warriors, she is released from prison to serve as the King's Champion. The Crown Prince will provoke her. The Captain of the Guard will protect her. But something evil dwells in the castle of glass and it's there to kill. When her competitors start dying one by one, Celaena's fight for freedom becomes a fight for survival and a desperate quest to root out the evil before it destroys her world. Complex world-building and political intrigue makes this a fascinating read for teens. 

The Girl of Fire and Thorns, by Rae Carson
Every century, one person is chosen for greatness, and Eliza, the younger of two princesses (the one who has never done anything special ) seems to be the one. On her sixteenth birthday, she becomes the secret wife of a king whose country is in turmoil, and they need her to be the chosen one, not a failure. But others seek her out as well, including a daring revolutionary who thinks she could be his people's savior. She soon finds both her life and her heart at stake. Most of the chosen die young, before they find their power. Can Eliza become the prophecy-fulfilling figure she needs to be? This complex fantasy, full of adventure and intrigue, will fascinate teen readers. Fans can follow the rest of Eliza's story in The Crown of Embers and The Bitter Kingdom.      
 

You Can Do It: Father's Day Map Coasters

Father’s Day is June 18th and we have a fun make-it-yourself gift that you can create!

Transform maps from Dad's favorite vacation spot or childhood home into customized drink coasters. He’ll be reminded of that special spot every time he reaches for one!  

Materials:

• Maps
• Cutting mat
• Round cork coasters, in natural color
• Craft knife
• Foam paintbrush
• Glue sealant (such as Mod Podge)

Steps:

1. Place map on the cutting mat, printed side down, then place a cork coaster on top.
2. Cut out circles from map by tracing coaster with craft knife.
3. Use brush to apply glue sealant to one side of coaster, covering completely. Adhere back of map circle to coaster, smoothing to remove bubbles.
4. Brush top and sides of coaster with a thin layer of glue sealant, and let dry. Repeat to make a set.

Hint:  For smaller children, let them use a pencil to trace around the coaster rather than using a sharp craft knife.

Letter from Betty for May 2017

Hello Friends,

The end of the school year is nearing, graduation plans are in motion, high school seniors are receiving their acceptance letters and making the decision as to where they will spending the next four (plus) years. Our feature article for May, "College Financial Aid Basics - A Guide for Parents." advises you on how to pay for those years.

May is a great month for strawberries! Find out why in our bonus article, "Fun Stuff To Do: Chocolate Covered Strawberries," which also includes a sweet tip for Mother's Day.

As always, please remember that whatever your educational needs, Foundation for Learning is ready to assist you with caring, one-on-one, individualized tutoring, SAT/ACT test prep, and educational evaluations.

Don't hesitate to give us a call at 973-425-1774 for a free consultation. 

Please note that I have a new email address: betty.foundationforlearning@gmail.com.

Best regards,

Betty

May 2017 Test Schedule

Mark your calendar for the latest test dates.

College Financial Aid Basics - A Guide for Parents

At this time of year, parents of high school seniors are usually looking at financial aid awards and developing a plan to pay for college. They expect scholarships, grants, and student loans to cover most of the costs. If you don't already have a plan in place, now is the time to put one in motion.

Every college and university has a financial aid office that is a great resource of information. Personnel can tell you what is available to your child, and they can help guide you through the  process. 

Your first step is to complete the Free Application for Student Aid (or FAFSA) form. You’ve already filed your taxes so you have much of the information on hand that you’ll need to complete the paperwork. This is an on-line application and though it’s convenient to complete, be forewarned that it does take a bit of time to finish. You’ll have to fill out and file a FAFSA at the beginning of each year that your child is in college and the first year does take the longest to complete, but each subsequent year you’ll find that much of the application will auto-complete based on the previous year’s information. Make sure your annual taxes are completed first, otherwise you won’t have the personal financial information that you need. You’ll need this information for both student and parents, so have that ready before you begin.

Once completed, the FAFSA is sent electronically to the financial aid office at your school of choice. You’ll then receive a determination of exactly how much money your child is eligible to receive through federal assistance programs and grants, how much you can borrow through federal loans, and how much you may need to secure through other private agencies. Your best friend at this point is the school’s financial aid office, so when visiting the campus make sure to pay a visit to them. You’ll likely need to be in contact with them throughout your child’s college years for answers, information (including all important deadlines), and assistance.

Need help coming up with more assistance than what’s provided in the report? You can look into the literally thousands of private grants and scholarships. The financial aid office can help you there as well. They’ll have information of student work programs too. 

Hopefully you’ve set aside some money to help pay for college. Even so, the rising costs can be really intimidating and frankly, out of reach for most people to handle on their own. When you’re looking at the annual cost, don’t forget to factor in not only tuition, room, and board, but also other educational expenses that your student will undoubtedly encounter. Best to have a bit of a cushion too for unexpected incidentals like gas money to get home on breaks, cell phone bills, seasonal clothes, room/apartment furnishings, laptop, etc.

So if you haven’t done so already, jump on that FAFSA and get it done. This is the beginning of a great adventure for you and your student and there are a lot of financial options available to you to make it happen!

Fun Stuff To Do: Chocolate Covered Strawberries

May is National Strawberry Month. Sweet! Pick up the delicious red berries at your local grocery store or better yet, at a farmer’s market, then step into the kitchen to whip up yummy strawberry treats, like chocolate-covered strawberries!

Ingredients:
6 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
3 ounces white chocolate, chopped
1 pound strawberries with stems (about 20), washed and dried very well

Directions:
Put the semi-sweet and white chocolates each into a microwave safe bowl and melt them at half power for 1 minute, stir and then heat for another minute or until melted.

Once the chocolates have melted and are smooth, line a sheet pan with parchment or waxed paper. Holding the strawberry by the stem, dip the fruit into the dark chocolate, lift and twist slightly, letting any excess chocolate fall back into the bowl. Set the strawberries on the parchment paper. Repeat with the rest of the strawberries. Dip a fork in the white chocolate and drizzle the white chocolate over the dipped strawberries.

Set the strawberries aside until the chocolate sets, about 30 minutes.

 

Additional idea for Mother's Day

Sunday, May 14th is Mother’s Day! Make up a batch of these goodies for Mom & Grandma, wrap then in a pretty, food-safe gift box and give these sweet treats to these special women on their special day!

Letter from Betty for April 2017

Hello Friends,

Children are naturally curious, so it is important to encourage them to explore their world. In this month's feature article you'll find great parenting ideas to help you spark the interests of your own junior scientists, "Give Your Children a Love for Science."

April is the month of Easter, and a fun time to brush up on your most artistic egg decorating skills. Read all about marking, glue-glittering, polka-dotting, animal-disguising, and tie-dyeing your own hard boiled masterpieces in our bonus article, "You Can Do It! Fun and Creative Easter Eggs."

As always, please remember that whatever your educational needs, Foundation for Learning is ready to assist you with caring, one-on-one, individualized tutoring, SAT/ACT test prep, and educational evaluations.

Don't hesitate to give us a call at 973-425-1774 for a free consultation. 

Please note that I have a new email address: betty.foundationforlearning@gmail.com.


Best regards,

Betty

April 2017 Test Schedule

Mark your calendar for the latest test dates.

Give Your Children a Love for Science

Children ask many questions and they frequently ask the same ones over and over again. Left to their own devices you’ll find them experimenting, examining, and exploring the world around them. They are full of curiosity, wanting to see how electronics work, taking things apart and putting them back together in new ways. They are collectors of nests, bugs, rocks and other prizes from the natural world. Children are natural-born scientists.

Unfortunately, the intense focus on math and reading in our schools has crowded out time for many subjects including the sciences, particularly at the elementary and middle school levels. If your child is lucky, she’ll have a teacher who is excited about science and can find a way to creatively work the subject into the instructional day. Funding though, may limit the amount of training that the teacher ideally needs, as well as creating a sad lack of resources to lead experiments and provide other science related experiences.

Listed below are activities parents can partake in with their children to enrich their scientific experiences and encourage their curiosity. 

1. Rainy or wintry days are perfect for a visit to a science museum.  Move slowly through the museum, ask questions, and take advantage of hands-on opportunities. Follow your children's lead and discover where their interests lie. If your family is going on vacation, do research ahead of time to find a science museum in the area and work a visit into your vacation time. 

2. State or national parks can offer everyone a variety of experiences so make a point of exploring these areas. They’re often free too!  Outings to zoos, botanical gardens, aquariums, planetariums and farms can also give your children further opportunities to explore.  Many offer special classes, camps and workshops, particularly during the summer months, so be sure to check those out.

3. Check with your local YMCA, 4-H group, community recreation center and library to see what offerings are available. Maker’s Groups are also sprouting up everywhere these days so check them out to see if they have special workshops or play days for children and teens.

4. Set an example! Share your own curiosity. Wonder aloud and ask questions. Grab a pair of binoculars, go birding with your children and make a hobby out of identifying and learning about the birds you see on your hikes. Subscribe to National Geographic, National Geographic Kids or Ranger Rick and keep the issues readily available on the coffee table. See an interesting bug in the backyard? Pull out the magnifying glass and let your children have a good close-up look at the colors, body structure and movements of the critter. Take the opportunity to watch a spider weave its web or to see a butterfly emerge from its cocoon. 

5. Encourage your teen to play video games!  Minecraft is a wildly popular game that helps to pique interest in the science of coding and helps to learn the basics of programming all while building complex worlds with educational add-ons.

A word about stereotypes:

Studies show that in elementary school, just as many girls are excited about and have an interest in science as boys. By the eighth grade, however, boys are twice as likely to be interested in science, math and technology.  As a parent there are many ways you can continue to support your daughter's love of science. Encourage her to watch science related shows on television, learn about nature and the world around her and to tinker with computers. Find out what interests her and explore those areas.  Introduce your sons and daughters to female doctors, veterinarians, engineers and other scientists. Perhaps invite these women to be a speaker at school, in your child’s Scout troop or other group and lead a fun activity. Make sure to carefully listen when your daughter asks questions and if you don’t know the answer, make that an opportunity for both of you to investigate, explore and learn.  

Science is for everyone!  We use it every day. Look for family opportunities to explore, question, research, play and discover. You’ll be enhancing your children’s education and giving them a scientific curiosity that will benefit them for a lifetime. 

You Can Do It! Fun and Creative Easter Eggs

First, dye eggs in various solid colors and then once dry, use a small-tipped brush to paint polka dots, swirls or other designs with glue onto painted eggs. Finally, sprinkle the wet glue with glitter.

Add a fun, multicolor twist to plain eggs with a marbleized effect. Simply add olive oil to the dye solution to create an unpredictable, mottled look to your eggs.

Turn colorfully dyed Easter eggs into adorable bunnies, chicks, sheep and birds. Use patterned paper so kids can cut out ears, beaks, feathers, whiskers, etc., to create springtime animals.

Use colorful or metallic markers to freehand your favorite patterns, designs and words onto plain or dyed eggs for a one-of-a-kind look.

Bring a classic Easter look to your home with adorable chick eggs. First, dye the eggs yellow and let dry. Once dry, use a permanent marker to draw on eyes, beak and wings.

Stick glue strips wherever desired on your egg. Dye your eggs, then peel off strips when dry to reveal overlapping white lines.

Tie-dyeing your Easter eggs is much easier than it seems. Lay out a paper towel and spray with white vinegar. Then, place several drops of food coloring (two to three colors) all over the paper towel. Place the egg in the middle, gather the edges of the paper towel, hold tightly and spray with vinegar until the paper towel is wet. Secure the top of the paper towel with a rubber band. Allow the colors to soak into the egg for at least two hours. When ready, remove the paper towel to reveal your beautiful, color-infused egg.

Letter from Betty for March 2017

Hello Friends,

Does your middle school or high school student have a writing assignment due right now that seems insurmountable? Luckily, you can help, with patience, listening, and supporting, but no, not doing! Get inspiring tips about your vital role as a parent in our feature article this month, "Mentor and Support Your Teen Writer."

March is a month full of interesting events, holidays, and historical significance. Read all about green rivers, space stations, passionate sports fans, apple pies, and more in  "Did You Know?...Fun March Facts."

As always, please remember that whatever your educational needs, Foundation for Learning is ready to assist you with caring, one-on-one, individualized tutoring, SAT/ACT test prep, and educational evaluations.

Don't hesitate to give us a call at 973-425-1774 for a free consultation. 

Please note that I have a new email address: betty.foundationforlearning@gmail.com.


Best regards,

Betty

March 2017 Test Schedule

Mark your calendar for the latest test dates.

Mentoring and Supporting Your Teen Writer

Writing is an important skill, not only while in school but also in life. If your middle or high school aged child is struggling with writing, there are strategies that you can use to help him. We are not suggesting that you act as a teacher, but as a coach, and as a patient listener. 

Below are ideas to consider if your child is having trouble with a school assignment:

1. Have him explain the assignment to you, in detail. If he is not able to do so, it will be hard for him to get started or stay on track. If he can’t explain the assignment to you, have him call a classmate or e-mail the teacher for details.

2. Have your child tell you the main point of his essay. Explaining his ideas to you will have him thinking ahead to the assignment as a whole and will make writing that much easier. The more detail he’s able to articulate, the more thought out his plan will be before the actual writing begins.

3. If your child is having trouble supporting the main idea in his paper, help him to switch gears and think about those “Five W’s” that are so important in journalism: who, what, where, when, and why. By answering those five questions, he will be laying out the details he needs to get across in his writing.

4. Listen. Ask how you can help, and then listen. You can be a sounding board so that your child can talk about his ideas. This will help him organize his thoughts and flesh out his writing. You can also help him to lay out these ideas into an organized sequence with smooth transitions.

5. Have your child proofread out loud to you. He’s likely to notice any obvious mistakes he’s made but be aware that interrupting him will break his chain of thought. Let him finish and then talk over together what changes he might make to his piece. Be sure to point out the positive, strong points in his writing. Offer encouragement and enthusiasm.

6. Ask questions. Tell him if there’s something you’d like to hear more about. Don’t give him the answers but guide him to find out those answers for himself.

7. Don’t sweat the grammar or spelling mistakes in the rough drafts. Chances are, he’ll correct his own errors as his piece is revised. It’s in the final draft that you can encourage your child to edit his own work.

8. Finally, an important piece of advice: respect your child as a creator and writer. How the final copy should look, how it’s revised, the story he tells, these aspects should be your child’s decision, not yours. Do not do the writing for your child and do not act as the teacher. That’s not your job. Your job is to guide, to offer suggestions, to support, to encourage, and to listen.

The best strategy for becoming a better writer is to practice each and every day. Whether it’s in a private journal, a blog, or with short, fun assignments, daily writing is an important key. Writing doesn’t have to be a chore; it can be a fun experience. Let your child see you writing too!

Did You Know?...Fun March Facts

Welcome to March! Here are some fascinating facts about our 3rd month — or is it? Read on...

1. March 17th is St. Patrick’s Day and the Chicago River runs green.

2. Also on March 17th, Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of The Moon” first hit the Billboard Top 200 chart at number 95 in 1973. A mere 14 years later (736 chart weeks), it finally left the top 200 for the first time, setting a still-unbroken world record.

3. In ancient Rome, March was the first month of the year. Their yearly cycles were 10 months long, beginning in March and ending in December. We still see clues of this old system in our modern calendar. Because December was the tenth month, it was named for the number ten in Latin (decem), just like September was named for seven (septem). But, what about January and February? They were just two nameless months called “winter.”

4. Beware The Ides of March! What does “beware the Ides of March” actually mean? On the Roman calendar, the midpoint of every month was known as the Ides and the Ides of March fell on March 15th. This day was supposed to correlate with the first full moon of the year (remember, winter didn’t count then) and marked by religious ceremonies, but thanks to Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar we know it for another reason. Supposedly, in 44 BC, a seer told Julius Caesar that his downfall would come no later than the Ides of March. Caesar ignored him, and when the fated day rolled around, he joked with the seer, “The Ides of March have come.” The seer replied, “aye, Caesar; but not gone.” Caesar continued on to a senate meeting at the Theater of Pompey, and was murdered by as many as 60 conspirators. Ironically, the spot where Caesar was assassinated is protected in today’s Rome as a no-kill cat sanctuary.

5. On March 2, 2016, NASA astronaut Scott Kelly set a new record for the longest uninterrupted trip to space. He returned home after one full year!

6. March was named for …war. The month is named for Mars, the Roman god of war. Incidentally, almost all major US-NATO led military operations beginning with Vietnam, have begun in the month of March, with the exception of the recent action in Afghanistan.

7. On March 20th we see a near 50-50 split of day and night because the sun crosses the plane at the earth’s equator.

8. If you’re a basketball fan, then you know that March is all about the March Madness tournament!

9. Daylight Savings Time begins on March 13th. Set your clocks to “spring forward” 1 hour on this day!

10. Have you heard the proverb “March comes in like a lion, and goes out like a lamb?” That's a poetic description of this month, because it usually starts with cold, wintery weather but ends very mildly and pleasant.

11. Finally, what is both numerical and delicious? Pi Day will be here before you know it on March 14th. On this day, many people celebrate the annual occurrence of 3.14 with fresh baked pie!