Here are some important notes about 2021 testing.
SSAT
Registration for upcoming paper-based tests will be open after August 1st.
There are at-home SSAT test openings on August 20, 21, and 22. Registration for test dates in August and beyond will be available after August 1st.
ISEE
Students can now take the admissions test trusted by schools around the world from the comfort and safety of their homes. Students currently have two ISEE At Home remote testing options. Families should follow any instructions provided by their application school(s) when selecting their at-home testing choice. For more information about this option go to:
ISEE At Home For Families | ERBlearn.org
All Tests
Please make sure to check with the testing center ahead of the test date to make sure that there are no closings.
Can a Little Boredom Actually Be Good For Your Child? Yes!
Sure, we don’t want our children to be bored for huge chunks of the day, but studies have shown that being overscheduled, over-busy, and over-stimulated can result in irritability, anxiousness, physical complaints, sleep issues, and a feeling of being overwhelmed.
A bit of boredom actually helps children become more creative and to come up with more puzzle-solving and problem-solving ideas on their own. In fact, studies in both the Creativity Research Journal and the Academy of Management Discoveries found that after participants completed a boring task, they showed much more creativity when tackling a more interesting one.
Is there a difference between taking it easy and boredom? Of course. And we all need to have relaxation time, even our children. If your children are restlessly seeking out something to do and feeling unhappy, then their brains are not being stimulated enough to reach a healthy baseline level of stimulation. The brain itself will actually try to create stimulation, resulting in the uncomfortable nagging, negative feeling of true boredom. That can be a good thing. It’s a call to action which leads to opportunities to be creative.
The take-away here is to help your children to be a little bored. I know, that sounds counterintuitive, but if they are used to being constantly entertained, they won’t learn to entertain themselves, and that’s a very important life-skill. So what can you do as a parent? Build in downtime between scheduled activities and leave them to their own devices during that time. Then gradually increase the length of that self-directed time to something reasonable, say 60-90 minutes for younger children and up to 3 hours for the older ones. It may be a benefit to let them know that at the end of that time there will be something special or fun that you have planned for them.
It is a good idea to make sure to have books, puzzles, and loads of art and crafting supplies on hand, in a place that is readily available to them. Maybe even a musical instrument or two. With the availability of plentiful ingredients for creative fun, your children will figure out, for themselves, how to fill this unstructured time in a healthy way. Just to clarify, avoid letting your children fill their downtime staring at a screen. Let them create their own entertainment rather than be fed content. Get their brains working!
So the next time your child says to you, “I’m bored!”, think to yourself “Oh, good!”
You Can Do It! Summer Reading Recommendations From The Editors of Scholastic Books
Do your children need inspiration for their summer reading? Below are eight books to make summertime imaginations soar, according to the editors of Scholastic Books.
Wild River by Rodman Philbrick – grades 4-7
Fearless by Kenny Porter – grades 4-9
The Dragon Path by Ethan Young – grades 4-9
You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson – grades 7-12
Sorry Not Sorry by Jaime Reed – grades 7-12
Truly Madly Royally by Debbie Rigaud – grades 7-12
Muted by Tami Charles – grades 7-12
Mister Impossible by Maggie Stiefvater – grades 8-12
Letter from Betty for July 2021
Hello Friends,
Have you ever played the "Humming Game" during a road trip? Each person takes a turn and hums a melody without singing any words, and the others guess the name of the song. It's surprisingly fun! And if you're planning a family road trip this summer, we have some mind-expanding tips for you in our feature article for July, "Working Teachable Moments Into Your Family's Summer Road Trip."
In the early weeks of summer, the evenings light up with flickering insect glow-balls. Fireflies seemed like a normal part of summer growing up, but you might be left with many questions. Is a firefly a fly? Is there just the one kind? Most importantly, how do they glow? We've got answers to these questions in our bonus article for July, "Did You Know? How Fireflies Light the Night."
As always, we're tracking test dates and information for the SAT, ACT, SSAT, and ISEE tests. So mark your calendar and check out all the details in our "Test Schedule for July 2021."
Whatever your educational needs, Foundation for Learning is ready to assist you with caring, one-on-one, individualized tutoring, and ISEE/SSAT test prep. Please call 610-207-7811 or email betty.foundationforlearning@gmail.com for a free consultation.
Best regards,
Betty
Test Schedule for July 2021
Here are some important notes about 2021 testing.
SAT
We know you're eager to sign up for a fall SAT test. Registration will open by early July. The next anticipated test date is August 28th.
ACT
The ACT organization is working to offer on-line testing in 2021.
SSAT
There are currently no paper-based tests available at this time, but registration for upcoming tests will be open after August 1st.
There are at-home SSAT test openings on July 9, 10, and 11. Registration for test dates in August and beyond will be available after August 1st.
At Home testing provides students in the US a secure computer-based testing option as COVID-19 limitations continue to evolve. Learn more about this option, test dates, and registration here.
ISEE
Students can now take the admissions test trusted by schools around the world from the comfort and safety of their homes. Students currently have two ISEE At Home remote testing options. Families should follow any instructions provided by their application school(s) when selecting their at-home testing choice. For more information about this option go to:
ISEE At Home For Families | ERBlearn.org
All Tests
Please make sure to check with the testing center ahead of the test date to make sure that there are no closings.
Working Teachable Moments Into Your Family's Summer Road Trip
It’s estimated that 65% of the families traveling on vacation this year will be doing so by car, and that’s going to provide a lot of opportunities for out-of-school learning. With some planning, parents can take this travel time for in-car conversations, roadside stops, and other activities that will have their children engaged to the point that they may not even realize that they’re learning!
Here are some ideas for road-trip fun:
Add up the numbers on a license plate or highway distance signs.
Figure out how long it will take to get to the city or destination if driving 60 miles per hour.
Make a written note of the populations of the towns you drive through, then have the kids add up the numbers to see how many “people” they’ve pass on the journey.
Tell stories about family connections to areas, industries, historical spots, crops, etc, that you pass by.
Choose routes that include Indigenous, women-centered, historical happenings, or other topics that include your child’s specific interests (sports, music, etc).
Have your children look up how towns, cities, rivers, or mountains got their names as you pass through them.
Talk about the origins of the people that settled particular areas and any other relevant historical facts about the area.
Older children and teens might enjoy podcasts or other audio that talk about your destination, so search out sources before leaving home.
See a dam, canal, or lock as you pass by? Talk about how they work and why.
If you’re passing through an agricultural area, tell them how silos work, or those gigantic crop sprayers and irrigation systems.
Have the kids keep track of license plates that they see, and then figure out on a map which car came from the farthest state.
Stretch the legs during rest stops, and stretch those brains with a scavenger hunt or a bit of geocaching.
Evening rest stop? Take a little time to work on identifying planets and stars. There are some fun and free smartphone apps that can be downloaded that will be perfect for this activity.
Another rest stop idea: encourage them to take photos of bugs, trees, birds, or any other nature that inspires them. They can spend some time searching for information about their “finds.” And if you’re in a part of the state or country that is different than your hometown, be sure to point out the different plants, birds, and other wildlife that reside in this new place but not at home.
Family sing-along! Have everyone join in and maybe even compose a new song together, being sure to capture a recording of it on your phone.
Along those same line, join together to create a story.
And if you still hear “I’m bored” coming from the back seat, don’t fret. Boredom actually can be a real creativity stimulus, allowing the brain the room and chance to let minds wander. Next month we’ll have a feature article on why a little boredom is actually a good thing!
Finding a way to make unstructured learning a part of your family’s road trip can encourage curiosity, increase interest in the environment, impart family history, and expand your child’s view of the world.
Did You Know? How Fireflies Light the Night
Summer nights become quite magical after the sun goes down and fireflies begin to fill our backyards with brilliant light displays. Sometimes called a lightning bug, sometimes a glow bug, and in our area the name firefly is most common, but did you know that these spectacular creatures are not flies at all. They are beetles, and there are approximately 2,000 different species around the world.
What sets them apart from other beetles is a light-making organ located just below their abdomen. To make light, the fireflies take in oxygen, which mixes with a natural substance found in the cells of this organ, causing a chemical reaction to occur. The whole process is called bioluminescence. They use bioluminescence to communicate with each other and to find potential mates, each species has their own unique light pattern. Unlike a light bulb, when a firefly lights up, it produces almost no heat.
And adult fireflies aren’t the only ones that glow. In some species, the larvae and even the eggs emit light. Firefly eggs have been observed to flash in response to stimulus such as gentle tapping or vibrations.
There are two areas in the world where fireflies all flash at the same time, rather than the individual flickerings that we see in our area. This simultaneous flashing happens only in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee, USA, and in southeast Asia.
Outdoor lights prevent fireflies from seeing each other’s flashes, so they have a hard time finding mates. Other potential threats to these amazing beetles include habitat loss, pesticide use and climate change. So, turn off your lights at night during firefly season to ensure you have a spectacular display this summer!
Letter from Betty for June 2021
Hello Friends,
In case you missed it last month, I made an important announcement...
The last year has been an interesting one as we navigated COVID-19 and made the necessary changes to our daily routines and lives. Some of the changes we have made have been minor, while others have been more significant. Changes that I have made include going all virtual. I thoroughly enjoyed working face-to-face in my Morristown office and seeing all your smiling faces, but I have decided that it is best for my family if I remain virtual going forward. I will continue to use Zoom or FaceTime platforms and communicate with all of you and other professionals through phone calls, emailing and texting.
Once upon a time in our childhoods, we all lived in a world of crayons, finger-painting, bright primary colors, and, yes, picture books. The joy of reading begins with the joy of pictures. This month we have some super-fun suggestions for your fun-loving young readers in our feature article for June: "Summer Reading - Books For Younger Children That Celebrate Our Differences."
In a world without Father's Day, in the year 1909, Sonora Smart Dodd of Spokane, Washington sprung into action. Read the back-story that involves horse-drawn carriages and red and white roses in our bonus article for June: "Did You Know? The Origins of Father's Day."
We've got test dates, plus information from the College Board about the coming discontinuation of the SAT Subject Tests and the Essay Test, and some new SSAT at-home testing dates. So mark your calendar and check out all the details regarding the Test Schedule for June 2021.
Whatever your educational needs, Foundation for Learning is ready to assist you with caring, one-on-one, individualized tutoring, and ISEE/SSAT test prep. Please call 610-207-7811 or email betty.foundationforlearning@gmail.com for a free consultation.
Best regards,
Betty
Test Schedule for June 2021
Here are some important notes about 2021 testing.
SAT
We know you're eager to sign up for a fall SAT test. Registration will open by early July. The next anticipated test date is August 28th.
Note from the College Board regarding the coming discontinuation of SAT Subject Tests and the Essay Test:
Why discontinue the SAT Essay portion: “We’re adapting to respond to the changing needs of students and colleges. This change simply streamlines the process for students who have other, more relevant opportunities to show they can write an essay as part of the work they’re already doing on their path to college.”
Why discontinue the Subject tests: “We’re reducing demands on students. The expanded reach of AP and its widespread availability means the Subject Tests are no longer necessary for students to show what they know.”
We know that this news may raise a lot of questions and concerns for you, especially if you’ve already scheduled the tests or are in the process of submitting to colleges. For more information regarding Subject tests and the Essay test, please see the College Board FAQ sheet.
ACT
The ACT organization is working to offer on-line testing in 2021.
SSAT
There are no paper-based tests scheduled at this time.
There are at-home SSAT test openings on June 4, 5, 6, and July 9, 10, and 11.
At Home testing provides students in the US a secure computer-based testing option as COVID-19 limitations continue to evolve. Learn more about this option, test dates, and registration here.
ISEE
Students can now take the admissions test trusted by schools around the world from the comfort and safety of their homes. Students currently have two ISEE At Home remote testing options. Families should follow any instructions provided by their application school(s) when selecting their at-home testing choice. For more information about this option go to:
ISEE At Home For Families | ERBlearn.org
All Tests
Please make sure to check with the testing center ahead of the test date to make sure that there are no closings.
Summer Reading - Books For Younger Children That Celebrate Our Differences
It’s never too early to teach our children about people’s differences, whether its race, religion, size, abilities and more. Children’s books offer up a great way to share valuable lessons so, in that spirit, we’ve picked out 11 books to add to your summer reading list this year.
Giraffes Can’t Dance, by Giles Andreae and Guy Parker-Rees
Giraffes Can't Dance is a touching tale of Gerald the giraffe, who wants nothing more than to dance. With crooked knees and thin legs, it's harder for a giraffe than you would think. Gerald is finally able to dance to his own tune when he gets some encouraging words from an unlikely friend. This tale is gentle inspiration for every child with dreams of greatness.
Happy in Our Skin, by Fran Manushkin
The title Happy in Our Skin sums up this book's message well. Readers learn about the beauty in diversity while keeping up with different families spending time together.
The Girl Who Thought in Pictures: The Story of Dr Temple Grandin, by Julia Finley Mosca
The Girl Who Thought in Pictures tells the life story of 71-year-old Temple Grandin who as a child was diagnosed with autism and defied doctors’ expectations by earning her Ph.D. and becoming an authority on animal science and farming.
Why Are You Looking At Me? I Just Have Down Syndrome, by Lisa Tompkins
Inspired by her daughter who has Down syndrome, Tompkins writes about the importance of embracing everyone's differences and taking the time to truly learn about someone.
Winter Candle, by Jeron Ashford
A candle is the focus of this book that celebrates various cultures and religions as it weaves its way through the lives of many families. One family includes the object in their Kwanzaa celebration, another turns to it in place of their usual Havdalah candle and another uses it in their Saint Lucia crown.
Maddi’s Fridge, by Lois Brandt
Although economic differences can be a bit more hidden than others, Maddi’s Fridge doesn’t shy away from the topic of poverty. In this book, Sofia, who has a fridge at home full of food, learns that her friend Maddi has a fridge that’s empty and struggles with whether she should tell her parents.
What’s the Difference? Being Different is Amazing, by Doyin Richards
Doyin Richards, a father of two, breaks down race relations for kids in his book What’s the Difference? Being Different Is Amazing. His message motivates little ones to be aware of and appreciate the differences among people, instead of being “colorblind.”
What I Like About Me! by Allia Zobel Nolan
What I Like About Me helps kids acknowledge their differences and embrace their braces, glasses and many things in between. It also serves as a lesson in self-esteem and asks kids, "What is it you like best about you?"
A Family is a Family is a Family, by Sara O’Leary
When a teacher asks the children in her class to think about what makes their families special, the answers are all different in many ways — but the same in the one way that matters most of all. One child is worried that her family is just too different to explain, but listens as her classmates talk about what makes their families special. One is raised by a grandmother, and another has two dads. One is full of stepsiblings, and another has a new baby.
Chocolate Milk, Por Favor! by Maria Dismondy
Kid-favorite beverage chocolate milk serves as a symbol in this book about a growing friendship between a boy and his new classmate who doesn't speak English. Chocolate Milk, Por Favor! illustrates how actions speak louder than words and drives home the importance of celebrating diversity, kindness, inclusion and empathy. Because no matter what language you speak, kindness is the universal language of all. Learn how to celebrate differences in this powerful story and discover how chocolate milk plays a major role in the discovery of the real universal language.
Moses Goes to a Concert, by Isaac Millman
Moses Goes to a Concert is part of a series that follows Moses and his classmates who are deaf. In this particular book, which features American Sign Language, he and his friends learn their teacher has a fun surprise in store.
Did You Know? The Origins of Father's Day
Father's Day is celebrating its 112th anniversary this year on June 20. How did this holiday begin?
While sitting in church in May 1909, Sonora Smart Dodd of Spokane, Washington, paid close attention to the Mother’s Day sermon that was being given. She decided she wanted to honor her father, William Jackson Smart, a Civil War Veteran, who single handedly raised Sonora and her five siblings after her mother passed away in childbirth.
The following year, Sonora petitioned for the holiday to be recognized in her city. At the first Father's Day celebration, young women handed out red roses to their fathers during church services, and baskets full of roses were passed around, with attendees donning a rose in honor of their fathers - red for the living and white in memory of the deceased. After that service, Dodd brought her infant son along on a horse-drawn carriage ride through the city, bringing roses and gifts to home-bound fathers.
Letter from Betty for May 2021
Hello Friends,
The last year has been an interesting one as we navigated COVID-19 and made the necessary changes to our daily routines and lives. Some of the changes we have made have been minor, while others have been more significant. Changes that I have made include going all virtual. I thoroughly enjoyed working face-to-face in my Morristown office and seeing all your smiling faces, but I have decided that it is best for my family if I remain virtual going forward. I will continue to use Zoom or FaceTime platforms and communicate with all of you and other professionals through emailing and texting.
As life with COVID begins to give way to something resembling normalcy, we are entering a period of some confusion. But don't worry — we can get through this together! For those students who are now dealing with a safe transition back to in-person learning in school, I have some timely advise for you in our feature article for May, "How to Prepare Your Child for The Big Return."
For a moment of bliss and a refreshing dip into history, please check out the bonus article for May, "Did You Know? Origins of Summer Break." With a little luck, we can all soon enjoy this happy feature of our previous lives once again.
We've got test dates, plus information from the College Board about the coming discontinuation of the SAT Subject Tests and the Essay Test, and some new SSAT at-home testing dates. So mark your calendar and read check out all the details regarding "Test Schedule for May 2021."
Whatever your educational needs, Foundation for Learning is ready to assist you with caring, one-on-one, individualized tutoring, and ISEE/SSAT test prep. Please call 610-207-7811 or email betty.foundationforlearning@gmail.com for a free consultation.
Best regards,
Betty
Test Schedule for May 2021
Here are some important notes about 2021 testing.
SAT
Note from the College Board regarding COVID precautions, changes, and policies:
“Search here to find out if your test center will be closed on an upcoming test date and if it's offering a makeup test. Remember, test centers may close or make changes on short notice, including on test day, and they may close for the scheduled makeup date. Test center data is updated every three hours—be sure to search any closings the night before and morning of your scheduled test.
Only fully closed test centers will show in the search results. Check any recent College Board notifications for your personal registration status and any test center updates, and make sure they have your contact information.
Our top priorities are your health and safety. Learn the latest test center policies.”
Note from the College Board regarding the coming discontinuation of SAT Subject Tests and the Essay Test:
Why discontinue the SAT Essay portion: “We’re adapting to respond to the changing needs of students and colleges. This change simply streamlines the process for students who have other, more relevant opportunities to show they can write an essay as part of the work they’re already doing on their path to college.”
Why discontinue the Subject tests: “We’re reducing demands on students. The expanded reach of AP and its widespread availability means the Subject Tests are no longer necessary for students to show what they know.”
We know that this news may raise a lot of questions and concerns for you, especially if you’ve already scheduled the tests or are in the process of submitting to colleges. For more information regarding Subject tests and the Essay test, please see the College Board FAQ sheet.
ACT
The ACT organization is working to offer on-line testing in 2021.
SSAT
There are no paper-based tests scheduled at this time.
There are at-home SSAT test openings on May 22, 23, and June 4, 5, and 6.
At Home testing provides students in the US a secure computer-based testing option as COVID-19 limitations continue to evolve. Learn more about this option, test dates, and registration here.
ISEE
Students can now take the admissions test trusted by schools around the world from the comfort and safety of their homes. Students currently have two ISEE At Home remote testing options. Families should follow any instructions provided by their application school(s) when selecting their at-home testing choice. For more information about this option go to:
ISEE At Home For Families | ERBlearn.org
All Tests
Please make sure to check with the testing center ahead of the test date to make sure that there are no closings.
How to Prepare Your Child for The Big Return
Many schools are beginning to reopen or are making plans to do so. After more than a year at home, there may well be some anxiety or other issues that come up, so now is a good time to help your child to start making the adjustment. Yes, there is going to be excitement about seeing friends that he hasn’t seen for many months and a return to some sort of normalcy, but after so long at home, and after hearing about the pandemic and watching family take safety precautions, there’s liable to be some hesitancy on his part. We need to expect that your child may act out, may feel out of sorts, may even balk at going in the door at all. Most certainly, they will have some questions. This is completely normal, and schools across the country are seeing this reaction in many of their students as they begin to transition back.
So what can parents to do help?
If you haven’t established some sort of daily/weekly routine during this past year, now is the time to set one up. You can even begin to get your children back into their school routine. Wake them up at their usual school time, eat breakfast, brush teeth, and get dressed. You should be modeling this behavior for them as well, though it’s very tempting to stay in those pajamas. This is also the time to stick to your house rules, as things may well have slackened off during this past year. What you’re doing here is providing your child with a sense of stability and support that they’ll need for their return to “normal.”
Prepare them for the changes they’re liable to find when they return to school. It’s certainly not going to be the same experience as the classroom that they left. Let them know that everyone will be wearing masks, that there is likely to be distancing between friends, that they will probably see plexiglass dividers that weren’t there before, and that lunchtime and recess procedures will be different. All of these changes will likely contribute to your child’s anxiety, so talking to them about these things will help to ease the uncertainty they may have.
Also important is to keep your own anxieties about their return to school in check. If your child is sensing that you are having fears also, then they are most certainly going to pick up on that.
Don’t assume that your child doesn’t have worries or that the anxiety will just go away on its own, and certainly don’t gloss them over when those concerns arise. Talk to them and listen, really listen to what they have to say. Watch for behavioral cues as well. It’s important that everyone, parents, schools, and students, realize that this isn’t really a return to normal, but a new opportunity to begin to step back into pre-pandemic life in a new and safe way. Everyone is having worries about this transition so we all should work to normalize the experience. You can do this by maintaining those routines mentioned earlier, but also find ways to strengthen connections within your family. Make sure to sit down together for family meals, do things together outdoors, talk to children about how their day is going, what they’re seeing on social media, how they’re connecting with friends, and if they’re not ready to share, that’s ok. They’ll still know that you are there. You are their safety net.
Help your child to ease back into social interactions, in person and safely. Now that the weather is getting better and temperatures are milder, find ways for your child to get together with friends outside. Head to a park, ride bikes, whatever they enjoy, just doing so masked and safely distanced as necessary. This will be a good step towards helping them to feel safe around others before the return to school.
Taking these steps, doing creative thinking, and paying attention to the emotional needs of your child will go a long way towards an easier transition back to full-time, in-person school.
Did You Know? Origins of Summer Break
Though it’s widely believed that the origins of the summer break were to allow the children of the 19th century to work on their family’s farm during the busy growing season, this just isn’t true. In fact, before the Civil War, farm kids never had summer off. They went to school during the hottest and coldest months of the year and stayed home to work on the farm during the spring and fall in order to help out with planting and harvesting. City kids, however, went to school year-round.
Over time, though, as cities became more crowded and built up, they became hotter. Bear in mind that the comfort of indoor air conditioning was decades off, so families started to head to the cooler countryside to beat the heat. Because school attendance was not mandatory yet, the classrooms were nearly empty each summer. As a result, by the turn of the century, urban school districts decided to cut about 60 schooldays from the calendar, giving students time off during the most sweltering time of the year, and rural schools soon followed suit.
Letter from Betty for April 2021
Hello Friends,
Question: What is fun, educational, good exercise, and gets the whole family outdoors? If you answered "gardening" you are right! It's time to shake off the winter blahs and the COVID blues, and get outside and dig in the dirt, plant seeds, water flowers, and watch the world turn green and glorious. Get some green-thumb DIY inspiration in this month's feature article, "Add a Garden To Your Family Plan This Spring."
Of course, avid interests in flora and fauna go hand-in-hand. To complement our gardening theme for April, we have a fascinating suggestion in our bonus article: "You Can Do It: Attracting Butterflies To Your Garden."
We've got test dates, plus information from the College Board about the coming discontinuation of the SAT Subject Tests and the Essay Test, and some new SSAT at-home testing dates. So mark your calendar and read check out all the details regarding "Test Schedule for April 2021."
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 610-207-7811 or send an email to betty.foundationforlearning@gmail.com for a free consultation.
Best regards,
Betty
Test Schedule for April 2021
Here are some important notes about 2021 testing.
SAT
Note from the College Board regarding COVID precautions, changes, and policies:
“Search here to find out if your test center will be closed on an upcoming test date and if it's offering a makeup test. Remember, test centers may close or make changes on short notice, including on test day, and they may close for the scheduled makeup date. Test center data is updated every three hours—be sure to search any closings the night before and morning of your scheduled test.
Only fully closed test centers will show in the search results. Check any recent College Board notifications for your personal registration status and any test center updates, and make sure they have your contact information.
Our top priorities are your health and safety. Learn the latest test center policies.”
Note from the College Board regarding the coming discontinuation of SAT Subject Tests and the Essay Test:
Why discontinue the SAT Essay portion: “We’re adapting to respond to the changing needs of students and colleges. This change simply streamlines the process for students who have other, more relevant opportunities to show they can write an essay as part of the work they’re already doing on their path to college.”
Why discontinue the Subject tests: “We’re reducing demands on students. The expanded reach of AP and its widespread availability means the Subject Tests are no longer necessary for students to show what they know.”
We know that this news may raise a lot of questions and concerns for you, especially if you’ve already scheduled the tests or are in the process of submitting to colleges. For more information regarding Subject tests and the Essay test, please see the College Board FAQ sheet.
ACT
The ACT organization is working to offer on-line testing in 2021.
SSAT
There are no paper-based tests scheduled at this time.
There are at-home SSAT test openings on April 9, 10, 23, 24, 25.
At Home testing provides students in the US a secure computer-based testing option as COVID-19 limitations continue to evolve. Learn more about this option, test dates, and registration here.
ISEE
Students can now take the admissions test trusted by schools around the world from the comfort and safety of their homes. Students currently have two ISEE At Home remote testing options. Families should follow any instructions provided by their application school(s) when selecting their at-home testing choice. For more information about this option go to:
ISEE At Home For Families | ERBlearn.org
All Tests
Please make sure to check with the testing center ahead of the test date to make sure that there are no closings.
Add a Garden to Your Family Plan This Spring
Spring is here! We have more daylight hours, the temperatures are rising, the ground is warming, and the end of the school year is in sight. It’s time to make new seasonal plans for the family, to fill the hours, to keep them learning, to get them into the fresh air, and to help them stretch their muscles. How about gardening! This activity doesn’t require a lot of outdoor space or a perfect back yard. Together, you can build a small raised bed, fill it with some soil, and plant away to your heart’s desire. Other options are to lean a trellis against a wall or fence to grow beans or other flower vines such as morning glories, creating a vertical garden. Or you can use large pots or other interesting containers to plant zucchini, mint, cherry tomatoes or other plants that don’t require a lot of attention but yield delicious and healthy produce. There are countless options for both vegetable and flowering plants at this time of year.
How is gardening an educational experience? There are so many topics to investigate! What role do sun and water play in the growth of a plant? Why are worms good for the garden? How does a seed sprout to become a plant? You can talk about what makes up a good soil, photosynthesis, organic gardening and vegetable production, parts of a plant, parts of a flower, what roles do bees play, composting vegetable scraps, and so much more. You can talk about nutrition, the vitamins and minerals in the produce they are growing. And an added bonus is that your children will want to eat and enjoy the vegetables that they’ve grown themselves, some picked and eaten right off the vine!
Additional related activities include reading books about plants and creating a gardening journal that includes tracking information about the development of the plants in the garden and photos or sketches. You might also take a trip to a local botanical garden to explore what is going on there!
Is gardening good for the body too? You bet! Consider the “hygiene hypothesis” — a current theory that says that childhood exposure to dirt actually increases the development of the immune system and overall health. Additionally, the physical activity of hauling soil, digging, carrying watering cans, pushing a wheelbarrow, and all the bending and stretching involved help to promote gross motor skills, develop muscles and overall strength. All of this focused physical activity also helps to expel pent-up energy from less active indoor hours.
Additional benefits:
Gardening can improve moods, decrease anxiety, and build self-esteem, particularly when a child gets to add the vegetable that he grew himself or a beautiful vase of flowers to the family dinner table.
Gardening is a great way to get out from behind our electronic screens and make memorable family connections. This time develops both team building and communication skills.
Gardening can give children a sense of purpose and responsibility throughout the growing season, as they plan, plant, nurture, and care for their plants.
Children can also learn respect for the environment as they learn about composting, responsible use of fertilizers, and gathering rainwater.
So yes, gardening can be a fantastic way to spend time during this season. It’s good for your child’s body, mind, and spirit. And it’s fun!
You Can Do It: Attracting Butterflies to Your Garden
We all love butterflies, right? So let’s do what we can to attract these beauties to your new garden. Adult butterflies are attracted to red, yellow, orange, pink and purple blossoms that are flat-topped or clustered and have short flower tubes. Look for sunny spots for your new flowers, because ideally, key butterfly nectar source plants should receive full sun from mid-morning to mid-afternoon.
Here is a list of common nectar and pollen-rich plants that you can add to the space that butterflies just love:
Alyssum
Aster
Bee Balm
Calendula
Cosmos
Daylily
Delphinium
Fennel
Hollyhock
Lavender
Marigold
Nasturtium
Oregano
Phlox
Purple Coneflower
Queen Anne’s Lace
Sage
Shasta Daisy
Verbena
Zinnia
Letter from Betty for March 2021
Hello Friends,
"First of all, don't panic — you can do this!" says the kind high school guidance counselor to her students every year as they prepare to apply for admission to college. That applies in 2021 just like every other year, even though conditions are different from every previous year. Still, there is good news and there are reasons for optimism in this trying time. Find out why in our feature article for March, "Applying to College During the Pandemic."
Daylight Savings Time begins on March 14th. Some devotees of regular routines might think of this sleep-disrupting biannual occurrence as a bad joke. In fact, a joke is at the heart of the historical origins of this time-keeping practice! Read about that in our bonus article for March, "Did You Know? Daylight Savings Time!"
Mark your calendars! Make sure to look over our presentation of the "Test Schedule for March 2021" along with important notes about 2021 testing, including information from the College Board about the coming discontinuation of the SAT Subject Tests and the Essay Test.
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