You Can Do It: Watermelon Pizza

Summer is here! One of the first things we put on our summer must-have list is...Watermelon! Here's a super easy recipe, very unusual, very easy to make (include the kids!), and very tasty!   
 
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1/2 c. ricotta

• 1/4 c. softened cream cheese

• 1 tbsp. honey

• 1/2 tsp. vanilla

• Watermelon slice, 1" thick

• Fresh berries, for garnish

• Fresh mint, for garnish

• Toasted coconut, for garnish

Directions:

1. In a small bowl, mix ricotta, cream cheese, honey, and vanilla together until combined.

2. Spread mixture onto slice of watermelon and top with berries, mint, and toasted coconut. Serve immediately.

Letter from Betty for May 2019

Hello Friends,

Siblings play an integral part of one's younger years as well as their older years. The relationships between them vary day to day, even minute by minute, but in the end, parents want their children to form lasting relationships that keep them bonded for years. With the hustle and bustle of today's active lifestyle, it can be difficult to help to foster the relationships between siblings. For parents of two or more children, we've got some great advice for strengthening that sibling bond in this month's feature article, "Helping Your Children Build Strong Sibling Relationships."

May is the month of Mother's Day, so "Congratulations, Moms!" In celebration of the special day and just for fun, we have a bonus feature to enjoy with your family, "You Can Do It: Mother's Day Mad Lib." Enjoy!

Whatever your educational needs, Foundation for Learning is ready to assist you with caring, one-on-one, individualized tutoring, and ISEE/SSAT test prep.

Don't hesitate to give us a call at 973-425-1774 or send an email to betty.foundationforlearning@gmail.com for a free consultation.


Best regards,

Betty

May 2019 Test Schedule

Mark your calendar for the latest test dates.

Helping Your Children Build Strong Sibling Relationships

All parents want their children to enjoy each other’s company, to support each other, and to remain close as they grow into teenagers and adults. The secret is to pay attention to the goal of creating a strong, lasting friendship while they are still young, and for you, as the parents, to nurture those connections. Below find suggestions to help build the relationships between siblings.

Find a passionate hobby or interest that they share
Perhaps your children  love watching professional soccer matches or Marvel TV shows. Or maybe they both share a passion for Harry Potter or dinosaurs. Foster those mutual interests by creating opportunities for the siblings to share and while you’re at it, show your enthusiasm as well.

Enable them to have some time away from each other
Sometimes too much togetherness causes problems as well. When your children get a break from each other, spend time with friends, or even have the chance to enjoy some alone time, they value each other’s company even more when they reconnect. This gives them a chance to explore their own interests and friendships, while developing their own individual personalities and strengths.

Don’t step in to mediate their fights
Although they’re loud and uncomfortable to hear, sibling squabbles help children learn how to negotiate conflicts and manage outcomes. If they pull you into their argument, be sure to allow them each to express their own side and then let them know that you trust that they can come up with a fair solution by themselves. The bonus here is that by staying out of the exchange they won’t be able to accuse you of playing favorites!

Focus their energy into activities that help them connect
As a parent, guide your children towards activities that play to the strength of both siblings. Suggest activities that lend themselves towards duo teamwork whereby both children have equal decision making and input. Building a Lego village, planting a vegetable garden, and baking cookies involve cooperation, build partnership skills and they are a lot of fun!

Team up for chores as well
Assign tasks that your children can do together such as raking leaves, washing the car, or doing the dishes. Working together as duo enhances a spirit of cooperation and frankly, the chores are a lot more fun when you have a partner!

Create memories with family traditions
Weekly game nights, summertime yard sales, Fourth of July cook-outs, and New Year’s Day hikes are not only super fun, but they make great memories that your children will carry with them into adulthood and leave them with ties that bind them together. Create activities and experiences that your family can look forward to annually.

Create memories with family vacations
When you take your children away from their normal routines, you’ll find that they focus on and enjoy each other’s company all the more. Your vacations don’t have to be expensive either. You can put together a camping trip, a museum adventure, a road trip to visit far away family, a day in the mountains or at the shore. These escapades are bound to build great memories and fun stories to share.

Give these suggestions a try and develop other ideas of your own as well. Your efforts will result in big dividends for your children and for the whole family too. 

You Can Do It: Mother's Day Mad Lib

Remember using silly Mad Libs books when you where younger? They were great for parties and road trips, and were always sure to lead to big laughs. Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 12th, is the perfect activity for the day as it is guaranteed to induce hysterical fun! Have one player prompt other family members for words to substitute for the blanks in the story, and when it’s completed, read it aloud for all to hear and enjoy!

My mother is _____________(adjective) because she ______________s (verb) me and always makes me ______________ (verb - emotion). When I’m feeling ______________ (emotion), my mom ______________s (verb) me, and when I feel ______________ (emotion), she ______________s (verb) everything feel ______________ (adjective). On my birthday, my mother ______________s (verb) my favorite meal, ______________ (adjective) ______________ (noun) on a ______________ (noun). My mom always makes sure I ______________ (verb) my homework, ______________ (verb) my teeth, and ______________ (verb) my room. My favorite thing about my mom is her ______________ (noun) because she always ______________ (verb) the ______________ (noun). She has a way of always ______________ing (verb) me feel ______________ (adjective), and that’s why my mother is so ______________ (adjective).

Letter from Betty for April 2019

Hello Friends,

Giving positive praise to your child is one of the most important acts of parenthood. And yet children have an uncanny ability to see right through false flattery and undeserved praise. What is a parent to do? We have specific, constructive answers to this age-old riddle in our feature article for April: "Helping Your Child Develop Positive Self-Esteem: Giving Good Praise."

I hope you are feeling crafty this month, because we have a doable craft project you are definitely going to want to try. Our bonus article for April describes the simple steps to create fantastic swirling designs on ceramic wares in "You Can Do It: Marbleized Ceramic Art." You have to see this to believe it. Enjoy!

Whatever your educational needs, Foundation for Learning is ready to assist you with caring, one-on-one, individualized tutoring, and ISEE/SSAT test prep.

Don't hesitate to give us a call at 973-425-1774 or send an email to betty.foundationforlearning@gmail.com for a free consultation.


Best regards,

Betty

April 2019 Test Schedule

Mark your calendar for the latest test dates.

Helping Your Child Develop Good Self-Esteem: Giving Good Praise

We gain self-esteem by setting a goal, working hard towards that goal and feeling a sense of accomplishment once it’s been achieved. So, while it’s important to give your child praise, it’s even more important if he learns to recognize his own efforts and to feel good about the end result. Your praise can help motivate your child, but you need to think about the words that you are using. To help your child develop the important ability to self-praise and thus, develop good self-esteem, consider the following:

• Make sure you are being clear about what it is you are praising. For example, instead of saying “You behaved so well in the grocery store,” make a more specific comment such as, “You were so patient while we waited in that long check-out line. I really appreciate that.” By being clear about what he did well, you can reinforce his good behavior and increase the likelihood that he’ll repeat this action.

• For longer, more complicated, or multi-step activities, you might want to help him set realistic steps and give him positive feedback as he nears his goal. Be sure to use specific descriptive feedback that lets him know which actions are causing you to offer praise. You want to note your child’s progress and efforts and to help him see how his efforts are paying off. Comments like “I can tell how much you’ve been practicing” is a sure way to keep your child motivated.

• It is important that you are giving sincere praise. The key is to be genuine and to avoid saying things like “You’re the best soccer goalie ever!”, because your child will instinctively know that this is not the truth and will start doubting other praises you give him.  

• Related to the effort to give sincere praise is that you should also do your best to avoid over-the-top compliments such as repeatedly saying “You’re so smart, you’re so pretty, your picture is perfect, etc.” This kind of comment does little to help motivate and again, over time, could lead your child to doubt himself. Instead, try to praise your child for the effort rather than his natural talents, emphasizing what he has control over and the abilities he can strive to improve upon. 

Focus on the process rather than the outcome. For example, if your child is working on a project, let him know that you notice his effort to get the job done as opposed to waiting until he has finished and commenting on the final piece. For some children, it may take several attempts for them to get the job done or to get it done the way they wanted. This is particularly true for the child who has learning and/or attention issues. You can help him to stick with the project by noting his efforts, rather than commenting on the final work itself.

• Avoid comparing your child’s work or skill to his sibling's or friend's. This can lead to him doubting his own abilities, avoiding competition, and it could affect his motivation and resilience. Praise your child’s skill rather than focusing on how he “stacked up” against his peers. 

• Do, however, emphasize how his efforts and actions affect other people. You can let him know how his action made you feel, or point out how something he did affected another family member by. Show your child that you notice his efforts and the affect he had on others, and he will feel like a valued family or group member. 

• Do help your child to express his feelings. Sometimes, a younger child may need help in identifying and owning his own accomplishments. He may need help in expressing his emotions about something he has achieved. One way to do this is to pair praise with an acknowledgement in a comment such as, “I’m so proud of you for working so hard to ace your math test” or “you must feel really great that all of your hard work paid off.”

By paying attention to the words you use when giving praise, you can help your child to self-actualize, to stay motivated, to gain positive self-esteem, and to continue to grow and develop in positive ways that are sure to benefit him throughout his school years and well beyond. 

You Can Do It: Marbleized Ceramic Art

From Martha Stewart comes this fun and easy crafts project that people of all ages will enjoy.

Take a look around your kitchen: Dishes, cups, and glasses all lend themselves to this fun project, and adding style and polish to a bunch of mismatched vases can be as simple as, well, adding polish. Don’t have something in the kitchen for this project? Head to your local Target or Walmart and there you’ll find a huge selection of white ceramic pieces in their kitchen section.

Introduction
Nail lacquer, which floats on water, is an ingenious medium for marbleizing ceramics. And the design possibilities are endless: We chose pastels, but you literally have hundreds of options at your fingertips. We suggest picking two polishes you love, plus a brighter accent.

Materials 

• White ceramic cup, dish, vase, plate – whatever you choose to decorate

• 3 bottles of nail polish (different colors)

• Nail-polish remover 

• Plastic bowl 

• Toothpick 

• Paper towels 

Steps 

1. Fill a plastic bowl with water, then carefully pour in a quarter-bottle of nail polish (too fast and it will sink; too slow and it will get brittle before you dip). Add additional shades, and swirl with a toothpick. 

2. Dip in the part of the vase you want to marbleize, and twist it to transfer the pattern. Set the vase on paper towels to dry. Once the polish is totally dry, use nail-polish remover to clean up any stray marks. 

Letter from Betty for March 2019

Hello Friends,

Encouraging an early love of reading bestows a lifetime of enrichment. Last month we gave you a suggested reading list of some of the best young adult books that were published in 2018. This month, we’re giving you a great list of some of the best books for younger readers in our feature article: "Best Children's Books of 2018."

March is a month that never fails to fascinate. Did you know it was the original first month of the Roman Calendar? Read much more all this month full of interesting days in our bonus article: "Did You Know? Fun Facts about the Month of March."

Whatever your educational needs, Foundation for Learning is ready to assist you with caring, one-on-one, individualized tutoring, and ISEE/SSAT test prep.

Don't hesitate to give us a call at 973-425-1774 or send an email to betty.foundationforlearning@gmail.com for a free consultation.


Best regards,

Betty

March 2019 Test Schedule

Mark your calendar for the latest test dates.

Best Children's Books of 2018

All the Animals Where I Live by Philip C Stead

The author used to live in the busy city where there were buses and trains, and people waiting for buses and trains.

Now he lives in the country and jubilantly takes us on a tour of his home, pointing out all the animals that share his space. There are stuffed bears and quilted chickens. His dog Wednesday watches cranes, frogs, and dragonflies live their lives. Coyotes and chipmunks come and go, and the world around where he lives is full of life, until winter comes, and there is nothing but snow.

Uniquely structured, All the Animals Where I Liveis a picture book from Philip C. Stead, one of our most innovative author-illustrators, that is a meditation on life and moments big and small that shape our individual worlds.


Do Not Lick This Book by Iran Ben-Barak

Min is a microbe. She is small. Very small.

In fact, so small that you’d need to look through a microscope to see her. Or you can simply open this book and take Min on an adventure to amazing places she’s never seen before―like the icy glaciers of your tooth or the twisted, tangled jungle of your shirt.

Written by Idan Ben-Barak, with illustrations from Julian Frost, Do Not Lick This Bookis perfect for anyone who wants to take a closer look at the world. 

Dragons in a Bag by Zetta Elliott

When Jaxon is sent to spend the day with a mean old lady his mother calls Ma, he finds out she's not his grandmother--but she is a witch! She needs his help delivering baby dragons to a magical world where they'll be safe. There are two rules when it comes to the dragons: don't let them out of the bag, and don't feed them anything sweet. Before he knows it, Jax and his friends Vikram and Kavita have broken both rules! Will Jax get the baby dragons delivered safe and sound? Or will they be lost in Brooklyn forever?

Drawn Together by Minh Lê

"Drawn Togetheris a poignant and gorgeously illustrated story of a grandfather and grandson who discover a shared love of art and storytelling." - Seira Wilson, Amazon Editor

When a young boy visits his grandfather, their lack of a common language leads to confusion, frustration, and silence. But as they sit down to draw together, something magical happens-with a shared love of art and storytelling, the two form a bond that goes beyond words. With spare, direct text by Minh Lê and luminous illustrations by Caldecott Medalist Dan Santat, this stirring picturebook about reaching across barriers will be cherished for years to come.

Everything You Need for a Treehouse by Carter Higgins

Graciela "One magical, impossible treehouse after another." —The Wall Street Journal

Treehouses are for wonder. 
Treehouses are for snacks.
Treehouses are for whispers and snickers and echoes. 
Treehouses are for everyone.

This magical work of art from acclaimed picture book creators Carter Higgins and Emily Hughes celebrates the universal wonder of treehouses and all the adventure that live among branches.


The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl by Stacy McAnulty

Lucy Callahan was struck by lightning. She doesn't remember it, but it changed her life forever. The zap gave her genius-level math skills, and ever since, Lucy has been homeschooled. Now, at 12 years old, she's technically ready for college. She just has to pass 1 more test--middle school! 

Lucy's grandma insists: Go to middle school for 1 year. Make 1 friend. Join 1 activity. And read 1 book (that's not a math textbook!). Lucy's not sure what a girl who does calculus homework for fun can possibly learn in 7th grade. She has everything she needs at home, where nobody can make fun of her rigid routines or her superpowered brain. The equation of Lucy's life has already been solved. Unless there's been a miscalculation? 

A celebration of friendship, Stacy McAnulty's smart and thoughtful middle-grade debut reminds us all to get out of our comfort zones and embrace what makes us different.

New Shoes by Chris Raschka

Two-time Caldecott Medalist and New York Times–bestselling picture book creator Chris Raschka pays tribute to one of the most quintessential events of childhood—getting new shoes—in this boldly illustrated and inspiring book for the youngest reader. 

When a young child discovers a hole in a sneaker, mother and child embark on a big childhood adventure—a trip to the store to pick out new shoes.

From having feet measured and making a selection to finally showing off the new shoes to a friend, this momentous child moment is treated with respect, excitement, and page-turning energy in a wonderfully age-appropriate picture book.

Caldecott Medalist and New York Times–bestselling picture book creator Chris Raschka joyfully captures the event from the child’s point of view. New Shoesis a preschool classic in the making.


They Say Blue by Jillian Tamaki

In captivating paintings full of movement and transformation, Tamaki follows a young girl through a year or a day as she examines the colors in the world around her. Egg yolks are sunny orange as expected, yet water cupped in her hands isn’t blue like they say. But maybe a blue whale is blue. She doesn’t know, she hasn’t seen one. Playful and philosophical, They Say Blueis a book about color as well as perspective, about the things we can see and the things at which we can only wonder.

This first picture book from celebrated illustrator Jillian Tamaki will find equal appreciation among kids and collectors.

The Science of Breakable Things by Tae Keller

When Natalie's science teacher suggests that she enter an egg drop competition, Natalie thinks that this might be the perfect solution to all of her problems. There's prize money, and if she and her friends wins, then she can fly her botanist mother to see the miraculous Cobalt Blue Orchids--flowers that survive against impossible odds. Natalie's mother has been suffering from depression, and Natalie is sure that the flowers' magic will inspire her mom to love life again. Which means it's time for Natalie's friends to step up and show her that talking about a problem is like taking a plant out of a dark cupboard and giving it light. With their help, Natalie begins an uplifting journey to discover the science of hope, love, and miracles.

A vibrant, loving debut about the coming-of-age moment when kids realize that parents are people, too.


Tigers & Tea with Toppy by Barbara Kerley and Rhoda Knight Kalt

Rhoda loves spending time with Toppy. He is not only her beloved grandpa, but also the world-famous wildlife artist Charles R. Knight! Every outing with Toppy -- from visits to the American Museum of Natural History and the Central Park Zoo to tea parties at The Plaza Hotel -- is filled with fun and adventure.

Lovers of animals, art, natural history, and New York City will relish this vivacious and winsomely depicted true story. Presented through Rhoda's eyes, it celebrates the enchantment of scientific inquiry, a tender grandparent-grandchild bond, and the vision of a pioneering artist who opened our eyes to the wonders of the ancient world.

Included in this book are more than a dozen of Charles R. Knight's original paintings and drawings, interspersed with Matte Stephens's winsome illustrations.

Did You Know? Fun Facts about the Month of March

It’s March—Happy New Year! Wait…what?
Welcome to the third month of the year—or, if you were born before 150 B.C., the first!  According to the oldest Roman calendars, one year was ten months long, beginning in March and ending in December. It may sound crazy, but you can still see traces 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). So, what about January and February? They were just two nameless months called “winter.” 

March was named for war—and lives up to its title
If so many months were named for their Latin numbers, why wasn’t March called… unumber?  March was actually named for the Latin Martius—aka Mars, the Roman God of war and a mythical ancestor of the Roman people via his sons, Romulus and Remus. With the winter frosts melting and the ground becoming fertile for harvest again in the Northern hemisphere, March was historically the perfect month both for farmers to resume farming, and warriors to resume warring.
 
Incidentally, the Pentagon still seems to agree with this Roman tradition: with the exception of the recent War on Afghanistan, almost all major US-NATO led military operations since the invasion of Vietnam have begun in the month of March. 

Beware The Ides of March unless you’re a cat
What does “beware the Ides of March” actually mean? On the Roman calendar, the midpoint of every month was known as the Ides. The Ides of March fell on March 15th. This day was supposed to correlate with the first full moon of the year and was 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 Theatre of Pompey, and was summarily 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. 

March 1 
As the saying goes, March comes “in like a lion, out like a lamb.” That was certainly true on March 1st, 2007, when a detachment of 170 Swiss infantrymen accidentally invaded neighboring Liechtenstein when they got lost on a training mission.

March 2
NASA astronaut Scott Kelly returned from space after one full year, setting a new record for the longest uninterrupted trip to space. 

March 13
Daylight saving time begins.  Hooray! More daylight!

March 14
Pi Day celebrates the annual occurrence of 3/14 with math jokes, pi-reciting competitions, and (of course) freshly baked pie.
 
March 17
Many people will remember to wear green for St. Patrick’s Day.

But even those who consider themselves very knowledgeable about music trivia might not know that on St. Patrick's Day in 1973, Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of The Moon” first hits the Billboard Top 200 chart at number 95. A mere 14 years later (736 chart weeks, to be exact), it finally leaves the top 200 for the first time, setting a still-unbroken world record. 

March 20
The sun shines on the equator for the Vernal Equinox, giving us a near 50-50 split of day and night.

These fun facts were culled from Reader’s Digest. 

Letter from Betty for February 2019

Hello Friends,

While 2019 still feels new, perhaps now is the ideal time to look back and get caught up on some of the amazing books that have been published over the course of this past year. This month we take a look at 10 of the very best books for teens in our feature article: "Best Young Adult Books of 2018."

For a completely different kind of book experience, our bonus article for February is a brief introduction to the world of Sudoku. Although this is not exactly reading (but does include the activities of penciling and puzzling), it is nonetheless a very worthwhile pastime that will hone reasoning and logic skills. Enjoy the sample puzzle and book tip in: "Fun Stuff To Do: Do You Sudoku?"

Whatever your educational needs, Foundation for Learning is ready to assist you with caring, one-on-one, individualized tutoring, and ISEE/SSAT test prep.

Don't hesitate to give us a call at 973-425-1774 or send an email to betty.foundationforlearning@gmail.com for a free consultation.


Best regards,

Betty

February 2019 Test Schedule

Mark your calendar for the latest test dates.

Best Young Adult Books of 2018

We’re deep into the winter season right now, so it’s a perfect time to settle in with a good book. Don’t know where to turn? Here are some suggested reads for your young adult, a few of the best that were published in 2018.

Children of Blood and Bone by Toni Adeyemi

Tomi Adeyemi’s debut novel is the start of what promises to be an epic, addictive new series. Children of Blood and Boneis influenced by Adeyemi’s West African heritage, and in it she bends religious deities (the Orïsha) and a diverse landscape into a refreshing new take on fantasy. The story is told from multiple points of view, as Inan and Amari, children of the iron-fisted king, and Zélie and Tzain, siblings who have suffered greatly under the king’s regime, find themselves on a dark, magic-filled quest for power. Their journey is accompanied by violence and betrayal, but friendship and even star-crossed love also play a part. Enriched with themes that resonate in today’s social and political landscape, Children of Blood and Bonetakes on injustice, discrimination, and a struggle for change. 


The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein by Kiersten White

Elizabeth Lavenza hasn't had a proper meal in weeks. Her thin arms are covered with bruises from her "caregiver," and she is on the verge of being thrown into the streets . . . until she is brought to the home of Victor Frankenstein, an unsmiling, solitary boy who has everything--except a friend. Victor is her escape from misery. Elizabeth does everything she can to make herself indispensable--and it works. She is taken in by the Frankenstein family and rewarded with a warm bed, delicious food, and dresses of the finest silk. Soon she and Victor are inseparable. But her new life comes at a price. As the years pass, Elizabeth's survival depends on managing Victor's dangerous temper and entertaining his every whim, no matter how depraved. Behind her blue eyes and sweet smile lies the calculating heart of a girl determined to stay alive no matter the cost . . . as the world she knows is consumed by darkness. 

Emergency Contact by Mary H. K. Choi

For Penny Lee, high school was a total nonevent. Her friends were okay, her grades were fine, and while she somehow managed to land a boyfriend, he doesn’t actually know anything about her. When Penny heads to college in Austin, Texas, to learn how to become a writer, it’s seventy-nine miles and a zillion light years away from everything she can’t wait to leave behind. Sam’s stuck. Literally, figuratively, emotionally, financially. He works at a café and sleeps there too, on a mattress on the floor of an empty storage room upstairs. He knows that this is the god-awful chapter of his life that will serve as inspiration for when he’s a famous movie director but right this second the seventeen bucks in his checking account and his dying laptop are really testing him. When Sam and Penny cross paths it’s less meet-cute and more a collision of unbearable awkwardness. Still, they swap numbers and stay in touch—via text—and soon become digitally inseparable, sharing their deepest anxieties and secret dreams without the humiliating weirdness of having to see each other.

Give Me Some Truth by Eric Gansworth

Carson Mastick is entering his senior year of high school and desperate to make his mark, on the reservation and off. A rock band -- and winning Battle of the Bands -- is his best shot. But things keep getting in the way. Small matters like the lack of an actual band and his brother getting shot by the racist owner of a local restaurant. Maggi Bokoni has just moved back to the reservation with her family. She's dying to stop making the same traditional artwork her family sells to tourists (conceptual stuff is cooler), stop feeling out of place in her new (old) home, and stop being treated like a child. She might like to fall in love for the first time too. Carson and Maggi -- along with their friend Lewis -- will navigate loud protests, even louder music, and first love in this stirring novel about coming together in a world defined by difference.

Photographic: The Life of Graciela Iturbide by Isabel Quintero

Graciela Iturbide was born in Mexico City in 1942, the oldest of 13 children. When tragedy struck Iturbide as a young mother, she turned to photography for solace and understanding. From then on Iturbide embarked on a photographic journey that has taken her throughout her native Mexico, from the Sonora Desert to Juchitán to Frida Kahlo’s bathroom, to the United States, India, and beyond. Photographicis a symbolic, poetic, and deeply personal graphic biography of this iconic photographer. Iturbide's journey will excite readers of all ages as well as budding photographers, who will be inspired by her resolve, talent, and curiosity.


A Room Away from the Wolves by Nova Ren Suma

Bina has never forgotten the time she and her mother ran away from home. Her mother promised they would hitchhike to the city to escape Bina’s cruel father and start over. But before they could even leave town, Bina had a new stepfather and two new stepsisters, and a humming sense of betrayal pulling apart the bond with her mother—a bond Bina thought was unbreakable.

Eight years later, after too many lies and with trouble on her heels, Bina finds herself on the side of the road again, the city of her dreams calling for her. She has an old suitcase, a fresh black eye, and a room waiting for her at Catherine House, a young women’s residence in Greenwich Village with a tragic history, a vow of confidentiality, and dark, magical secrets. There, Bina is drawn to her enigmatic downstairs neighbor Monet, a girl who is equal parts intriguing and dangerous. As Bina’s lease begins to run out, and nightmare and memory get tangled, she will be forced to face the terrible truth of why she’s come to Catherine House and what it will cost for her to leave. In A Room Away from the Wolves, critically acclaimed and New York Times bestselling author Nova Ren Suma weaves a spellbinding ghost story about who deserves a second chance, how we lie to those around us and ourselves, and to what lengths girls will go in order to save each other.

Tess of the Road by Rachel Hartman

In the medieval kingdom of Goredd, women are expected to be ladies, men are their protectors, and dragons can be whomever they choose. Tess is none of these things. Tess is. . . different. She speaks out of turn, has wild ideas, and can't seem to keep out of trouble. Then Tess goes too far. What she's done is so disgraceful, she can't even allow herself to think of it. Unfortunately, the past cannot be ignored. So Tess's family decide the only path for her is a nunnery. But on the day she is to join the nuns, Tess chooses a different path for herself. She cuts her hair, pulls on her boots, and sets out on a journey. She's not running away, she's running towards something. What that something is, she doesn't know. Tess just knows that the open road is a map to somewhere else--a life where she might belong.


To Be Honest by Maggie Ann Martin

Savannah is dreading being home alone with her overbearing mother after her big sister―and best friend―goes off to college. But if she can just get through senior year, she'll be able to escape to college, too. What she doesn't count on is that her mother's obsession with weight has only grown deeper since her appearance on an extreme weight-loss show, and now Savvy's mom is pressuring her even harder to be constantly mindful of what she eats. 

Between her mom's diet-helicoptering, missing her sister, and worrying about her collegiate future, Savvy has enough to worry about. And then she meets George, the cute new kid at school who has insecurities of his own. As Savvy and George grow closer, they help each other discover how to live in the moment and enjoy the here and now before it disappears.

To Be Honestis another sharp, witty novel from Maggie Ann Martin, about a spunky heroine who is dealing with very real issues―body image, parental pressure, loneliness, first love, and finding your way―with heart and humor.

Unclaimed Baggageby Jen Doll

In Jen Doll's young adult debut novel, Unclaimed Baggage, Doris―a lone liberal in a conservative small town―has mostly kept to herself since the terrible waterslide incident a few years ago. Nell had to leave behind her best friends, perfect life, and too-good-to-be-true boyfriend in Chicago to move to Alabama. Grant was the star quarterback and epitome of "Mr. Popular" whose drinking problem has all but destroyed his life. What do these three have in common? A summer job working in a store called Unclaimed Baggage cataloging and selling other people's lost luggage. Together they find that through friendship, they can unpack some of their own emotional baggage and move on into the future.


The Way You Make Me Feelby Maurene Goo

From the author of I Believe in a Thing Called Love, a laugh-out-loud story of love, new friendships, and one unique food truck.

Clara Shin lives for pranks and disruption. When she takes one joke too far, her dad sentences her to a summer working on his food truck, the KoBra, alongside her uptight classmate Rose Carver. Not the carefree summer Clara had imagined. But maybe Rose isn't so bad. Maybe the boy named Hamlet (yes, Hamlet) crushing on her is pretty cute. Maybe Clara actually feels invested in her dad’s business. What if taking this summer seriously means that Clara has to leave her old self behind? With Maurene Goo's signature warmth and humor, The Way You Make Me Feel is a relatable story of falling in love and finding yourself in the places you’d never thought to look.

Fun Stuff To Do: Do You Sudoku?

Sudoku is played on a grid of 9 x 9 spaces. Within the rows and columns are 9 “squares” (made up of 3 x 3 spaces). Each row, column and square (9 spaces each) needs to be filled out with the numbers 1-9, without repeating any numbers within the row, column or square. Does it sound complicated? Each Sudoku grid comes with a few spaces already filled in; the more spaces filled in, the easier the game – the more difficult Sudoku puzzles have very few spaces that are already filled in. By seeing which numbers are missing from each square, row, or column, we can use process of elimination and deductive reasoning to decide which numbers need to go in each blank space.

Sudoku is a game of logic and reasoning, so you shouldn’t have to guess. If you don’t know what number to put in a certain space, keep scanning the other areas of the grid until you seen an opportunity to place a number. But don’t try to “force” anything – Sudoku rewards patience, insights, and recognition of patterns, not blind luck or guessing.

One way to figure out which numbers can go in each space is to use “process of elimination” by checking to see which other numbers are already included within each square – since there can be no duplication of numbers 1-9 within each square (or row or column).
This is how the process of elimination works in Sudoku – you find out which spaces are available, which numbers are missing – and then deduce, based on the position of those numbers within the grid, which numbers fit into each space.

Sudoku rules are relatively uncomplicated – but the game is infinitely varied, with millions of possible number combinations and a wide range of levels of difficulty. But it’s all based on the simple principles of using numbers 1-9, filling in the blank spaces based on deductive reasoning, and never repeating any numbers within each square, row or column.

Sudoku games can be found all over the internet, but if you’re interested in cutting out the amount of screen-time that you and your family spends each day, go to your local bookstore and check out the “Puzzle” section. We recommend the Sudoku series by Will Shortz. He has put together a whole line of books of varying levels of complexity, from very easy to extra hard. They are relatively inexpensive and have big grids for comfortable solving. For a fun Valentine's Day gift idea, you might consider Sudoku Foreverby Will Shortz, as shown below.

Enjoy!

Letter from Betty for January 2019

Hello Friends,

Happy New Year and welcome to 2019!

As we make New Year's resolutions and consider fresh possibilities for the upcoming 12 months, sometimes, during these coldest months and shortest days, a temporary slump can affect us. In our feature article for January we offer rays of sunshine to combat these seasonal blues in "Coping with Grey Gloomy Winter Days." Read on and let the sun shine in!

To cure those winter blahs, consider participating in fun activities with your entire family. We have a brief and bright list of suggestions for you in our bonus article: "Fun Winter Activities for Your Family." Go ahead and have some fun!

Whatever your educational needs, Foundation for Learning is ready to assist you with caring, one-on-one, individualized tutoring, and ISEE/SSAT test prep.

Don't hesitate to give us a call at 973-425-1774 or send an email to betty.foundationforlearning@gmail.com for a free consultation.


Best regards,

Betty

January 2019 Test Schedule

Mark your calendar for the latest test dates.

Coping with Gloomy Grey Winter Days

The excitement of the holidays has passed, but the shorter days, and the cold, gloomy grey weather is going to stick around for a while. Unfortunately, the lack of sunshine can significantly affect some people, causing an unusual lack of energy, fatigue, mild depression, and it can negatively impact their ability to concentrate and get a good night's sleep.  Adults as well as children can be impacted by Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), and although it does not affect everyone, if you or someone in your family is facing SAD challenges, it can be difficult for other family members as well. It is important to work together to try to combat some of these feelings. 

Below you’ll find a list of activities that the whole family can enjoy this winter, but more generally, professionals suggest a few activities that can help. Socialization with friends and family members offers the opportunity for distraction and to talk about the blues, which can help to heal. Throw open the curtains, go outside, find sun whenever possible. Become active and move to increase the endorphins and boost the mood. Make an upbeat playlist, turn on that music, and get creative with a new project or try out something new. Try to embrace the low-key days with immersion into extreme comfort. Turn on a favorite movie, enjoy a mug of hot chocolate, cuddle up under a warm blanket, and enjoy some planned cozy time. 

Key during these low periods, is exposure to the sun and to bright lights. If indoors, move the chair closer to the windows as any increase in sunlight will help. Also invest in a light box, which will simulate daylight and help to boost your mood. Thirty minutes a day should do the trick! If it’s a sunny day though, get outside!

Watch what you’re eating as well. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, and limit carbs like cookies or white bread, which can make you feel momentarily better but will make you feel more sluggish with the inevitable blood sugar crashes. The good news here though is that dark chocolate has been shown to improve moods and help relieve anxiety, so go ahead and enjoy a bit of the dark stuff.

As mentioned above, you need to get moving! Best plan would be to exercise for 30 minutes, but even a 10-minute walk or dance around the living room will help.

Volunteering also has a direct impact on improved mental health and the feeling of satisfaction that helps self-esteem: help out a local group, clean out a closet and donate unused clothing, go to a shelter and help to walk the dogs.  Also, consider helping out an elderly neighbor or a family member who has a project that needs to be completed.  There are endless ways to generously donate your time and energies to the benefit of others.

Regardless of who is struggling with the winter-time blues, there are small things that can be done to help ease the discomfort.

Be strong – Spring is on it’s way!