Wednesday, July 8, 2020

Prepare for the ERB

Prepare for the ERB December 24, 2012 There are some college admissions counseling firms that offer services to children as young as pre-schoolers. Were not one of them. But we do receive a number of calls from parents looking to help their children prepare for the ERB. Getting into kindergarten in New York City, after all, isnt just about buying a trapper-keeper and a new set of magic markers. Its about mastering the skills necessary to ace the ERB. And we know just the pro to help your child ace this test Stephanie Sigal, M.A. CCC-SLP. Stephanie Sigal helps students prepare for the ERB test. Here is a sampling of some details on preparing for the ERB from Stephanies website: As a speech-language therapist, Stephanie works with your child at his present ability in kindergarten prep and pushes him to where he still experiences success, but is building new skills.  All of the play and work in kindergarten prep begins with building attention as it is a requirement for success in all tasks. Once your child is attending, can he follow the game directions?  If following directions in a kindergarten game is too difficult, we may need to practice in a more active game like Simon Says and slowly change the goals to follow more complex commands and settings. Does your child always understand stories that are read aloud? Stephanie helps children to understand storylines in fun and meaningful ways.  During games, we may work on defining vocabulary words that your child knows, or we may learn new words. Stephanie uses carefully chosen picture books, kindergarten games, and conversation to expose your child to new words. These tasks and experiences help encourage general knowledge that can benefit a child on the kindergarten admission test and as well as in kindergarten. So check out Stephanies  service offerings as you seek to help your child prepare for the ERB test.

Thursday, July 2, 2020

Interview with a tutor Richard McManus (The Fluency Factory)

Bio Richard McManus is a committed behavioral executive who has designed and delivered training programs for executives, managers and teachers. His mission is to increase the ability of USA schools and teachers to teach reading to all students. Richard   founded The Fluency Factory after 20 years of dreaming, thinking and planning. He is and always will be committed to serving all students — both struggling students and high achieving students. He created a system of fluency charts to measure skills and build the love of learning. The charts provide a direct measurement that can be communicated immediately to the student. They can see their learning from minute to minute, day to day, week to week, in clear, graphic terms. Seeing this progress gives the student the confidence that he or she can do more, and that learning does not have to stop, or be bound by present skill deficits How did you get started in tutoring, and what is your favorite part about it? I got started because my daughter, Caitlin, struggled with reading when she was in first grade. I learned HOW to teach reading then.   As I went through other work including behavior change projects and consultation, I realized that teaching reading, AND teaching others to teach reading, was my real mission. So our tutoring started with the idea of teaching reading, and that has remained a core of what we do. And I found that teaching reading to struggling learners is by far my favorite part of what I do! Teaching a struggling reader to become fluent, accurate and accomplished is by far the best thing we ever do! What do your students find most challenging, and how do you help them overcome it? We serve a very wide spectrum of students, and their challenges are extremely varied. For younger children it is always reading, and reading is such the most critical thing that they are learning that it supersedes all other challenges. For older students it is most often preparation for various entry tests. We do a lot of work with students who wish to attend prep schools, and the challenges there are mixed. Poor foundation skills in both reading and math lead to serious problems in taking competitive tests, and pressure from family members can be very harsh as well. Fear of test taking can be a powerful ingredient in reducing test scores, and long after the student is very well prepared intellectually the fear can remain. What’s the biggest improvement you’ve ever seen a student make?   Funny, the previous question set me up for this as I thought about a girl who wanted to attend a very exclusive prep school. On the SSAT she had a 16th percentile when we began. We taught her vowel sounds and practiced for the test, worked on her math skills a bit. She got an 85th percentile on the test and went to Milton Academy. She is about to graduate from Cornell now! What changes, if any, have you seen in the test-prep process since you began tutoring?   We are able to work with students almost anywhere if they have a good Internet connection. This has been a marvelous improvement for us, as some of our students are dyslexic and have little available to them close to home. So we have been able to help these students remotely, and it expands our reach, as typically doing tutoring is limited by geography. I also think that the What’s your most important piece of advice for students? For parents?  Ã‚   For students: Never give up! For parents: Support your children with positive feedback and high expectations, but don’t smother them! I guess I keep thinking too that right now our schools are not reliably teaching reading well. Since that is true it is critical that parents assure early reading instruction by whatever means necessary! Those years will be the foundation years, and trying to recover years later may not be successful. Since our schools, public and private, have demonstrated that they do NOT know how to teach reading, the most important skill, they cannot be trusted. Dollars spent on early reading success are MUCH more powerful than dollars spent on SAT or ACT prep.

Tuesday, May 19, 2020

Summary Of The American Family By Stephanie Coontz

There’s an old saying that goes, â€Å"Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That’s why it’s called the present†, by Alice Morse Earle. The world has become a place taken for granted. Humans are beginning to wish they could live in the past, while others just want to skip over to the future but what ever happened to living right now? Or living in the moment? In the story, â€Å"The American Family†, by Stephanie Coontz, she discusses why so many individuals believe American families are facing worse issues now than in the past. She discusses how in the previous years, it was far worse and explains why those people are wrong to assume they are facing worse problems now. In addition, Robert Kuttner and his text, â€Å"The politics of family†, supports Coontz’ argument about the dilemmas facing the turn-of-the-century American families and gives the resolutions to those problems; such as talking out problems, wom en having the right to walk out of unsatisfactory marriages, and lastly, the emancipation for women. In the past, plenty of issues were concealed instead of confronting them, which is no longer the case nowadays. Coontz has noted, â€Å"There are plenty of stresses in modern family life, but one reason they seem worse is that we no longer sweep them under the rug† (96). We talk candidly about controversies now, no longer hiding issues. We straighten out the problem instead of hiding or ignoring it. There are two disputing narratives about American families. One

Essay about Use of Satire in Voltaires Candide - 1568 Words

Successful Use of Satire in Voltaires Candide Voltaires Candide is the story of how one mans adventures affect his philosophy on life. Candide begins his journey full of optimism that he lives in the best of all possible worlds, but he learns that it is naà ¯ve to say that good will eventually come of any evil. Voltaire successfully uses satire as a means of conveying his opinions about many aspects of European society in the eighteenth century. He criticizes religion, the evils found in every level of society, and a philosophy of optimism when faced with an intolerable world. Candide portrays religious persecution as one of the most worst aspects of society. Voltaire rejects the superstitious beliefs that the church†¦show more content†¦Christianity teaches that we are all Gods children, but the Negro is a slave to a cruel master that has cut off his arm and leg. The old woman tells Candide a story of a supposed holy man that convinces the Janizaries not to kill the women for food, but only to slice off one of their buttocks to eat. This pious and compassionate Moslem priest convinced them that heaven will be pleased by such a charitable action (Voltaire 48). Voltaire attacks the corruption within the church and its officials as well. The Grand Inquisitor, a significant clergyman, makes Cunegonde his mistress at a Mass service. Even more ironic is that he shares her with a Jew. It was a Franciscan priest that robbed Lady Cunegonde of her money and jewels. The old woman identifies herself as the bastard daughter of a pope, and the papacy is also identified as keeping soldiers for private use. When Candide is ill in France, a clergyman is one of the many that harasses him in attempt on his wealth. Ironically, the disease that Pangloss catches from Paquette, originated from a Franciscan priest. Voltaire portrays the church as violent and corrupt and the clergy as parsimonious fortune hunters. Candide also discovers evils in every level of society. Voltaire criticizes the inordinate pride ofShow MoreRelatedThe Use of Satire in Voltaire’s Candide by Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz773 Words   |  4 Pages The Use of Satire in Voltaire’s Candide Satire. According to dictionary.com it is â€Å"the use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize peoples stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues†. During a time when going against the common mindset, which at the time was philosophical optimism, was rare and often looked down upon, using satire in order to not only communicate one’s beliefs but also mock those who shared the mainstreamRead MoreEssay on Use of Satire to Attack Optimism in Voltaires Candide1358 Words   |  6 PagesUse of Satire to Attack Optimism in Voltaires Candide       In its time, satire was a powerful tool for political assault on Europes corrupt and deteriorating society. Voltaires Candide uses satire to vibrantly and sarcastically portray optimism, a philosophical view from the Enlightenment used to bury the horrors of 18th century life: superstition, sexually transmitted diseases, aristocracy, the church, tyrannical rulers, civil and religious wars, and the cruel punishment of the innocentRead More Use of Satire to Target Religion, Military, and Optimism in Voltaires Candide 602 Words   |  3 PagesUse of Satire to Target Religion, Military, and Optimism in Voltaires Candide    In his work, Candide, Voltaire uses satire as a means of conveying his opinions about many aspects of European society in the eighteenth century.   Voltaire successfully criticizes religion, the military, and the philosophy of optimism.   Religious leaders are the targets of satire throughout Candide. Voltaire portrays the religious clergy as men who use their positions to further their own causes. In additionRead MoreSwifts ‘Gullivers Travel’ and Voltaires ‘Candide’ Essay663 Words   |  3 PagesSwift’s ‘Gulliver’s Travel’ and Voltaire’s ‘Candide’ Swift’s ‘Gulliver’s Travel’ and Voltaire’s ‘Candide’ are typical literature works during the Enlightenment period. Both authors use satire in their works. Satire is literary form which means irony. Therefore, they have some similarities. They both want to expose human vices through satiric tone. Due to different personal styles, there are many differences between two novels. Two novels use satire to criticize human weakness. In ‘Gulliver’sRead MoreSatire in Candide by Voltaire Essay example1474 Words   |  6 PagesSatire in Candide by Voltaire Voltaire who was a French writer, philosopher and one of the leaders of the Enlightenment is known as one of the greatest satirist ever. Voltaire wrote about important genres: tragedy, history, philosophy and fiction just as his English contemporary Samuel Johnson. American heritage dictionary defines satire as, An artistic work in which human vice or folly is attacked through irony, derision, or wit. Irony or caustic wit used to expose or attack human follyRead MoreCandide by Voltaire847 Words   |  3 PagesCandide Paper Many critics argue that Candide is not an enlightened work, but Voltaire’s satire thoroughly reflects on the philosophical morals and lessons of the Enlightenment. Voltaire’s satire comments on the political, social, and religious views of the time, emphasizing the beliefs of a majority of enlightenment thinkers and philosophers. Voltaire demonstrates three different enlightenment thoughts or views in his work: anti-feudalism, optimism, and the hypocrisy of the Christian church.Read MoreCandide by Voltaire Essay1734 Words   |  7 PagesCandide Voltaire’s most classic work, Candide, is a satiric assault on most everything that was prevalent in society during the author’s lifetime. The entire novel can be regarded as a bleak story where every character compares life stories to see whose life is worse. Just when the novel cannot get anymore morbid or depressing, it does, to a much greater degree. While Candide is generally considered a universal denunciation, it is optimism that Voltaire is attacking to the greatestRead MoreVoltaire Candide1311 Words   |  6 Pageswas the French author of the novella Candide, also known as Optimism(Durant and Durant 724). Voltaires Candide is a philosophical tale of one mans search for true happiness and his ultimate acceptance of lifes disappointments. Candide grows up in the castle of his uncle, a German baron, along with his optimistic scholar, Pangloss, and his young, beautiful cousin, Cunà ©gonde. When Candide falls in love with Cunà ©gonde and his uncle sees them kissing, Candide is thrown out of his home and enrollsRead MoreCandide Essay1302 Words   |  6 PagesCandide Essay Compare/Contrast of 2 Characters Throughout the story of Candide, the author Voltaire uses many of the characters to portray important things in life. The two characters that Voltaire used the most were Candide and Pangloss. Voltaire used these two characters to represent a particular idea or folly that he had about the world. In the story Candide, Voltaire is always portraying his own ideas by using the characters to illustrate his own ideas. Candide and Pangloss represent theRead More Essay on Satire in Voltaires Candide625 Words   |  3 PagesUse of Satire in Voltaire’s Candide  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚   Voltaire successfully uses satire as a means of conveying his opinions about life.   In his novel, Candide, Voltaire satirizes the philosopher Liebnitzs philosophy that this is the best of all possible worlds.   In the novel, the perpetually optimistic and naive character, Candide, travels around the world, having various experiences that prove, at least to the reader, that evil does exist.      In one particular passage, Voltaire uses explicit

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Depression Is The First Leading Cause Of Suicide - 1496 Words

Today in America, depression is the first leading cause of suicide. Reported in recent statistics, every year, thousands of people succeed in taking their lives and even more have attempted suicide at some point (Hyde and Held 8). Although it is an afflicting concern today, depression dates back to centuries ago, but wasn t fully recognized as a clinical illness until the 1960 s. At this point, depression treatment was only available to adults because it was so unlikely for adolescents to experience from depression (Peacock 32). In the 1920 s, people thought of depression as a â€Å"women s sickness† because they did not understand it s complexity (Hyde and Held 34). Treatments for depression were first prescribed in the late 1950 s. The treatments that were available were medicine and pills, but after thorough research (because depression was becoming a rising issue) of causes of depression, physicians found that they could treat depression through therapy sessions, depending on its severity. Depression arose in the 1980 s, and was taken more seriously as suicide rates began to increase. Depression is a clinical illness that is derived from emotional detachment which typically results from traumatic experiences (Childhood Adolescent Depression). According to Judith Peacock, author of Teen Suicide, depression is more serious than feeling sad for a few days. Depression can affect someone for weeks, months, and in common cases, years (Peacock 37). When a person encountersShow MoreRelatedTeen Suicide Is The Third Leading Cause Death For High School Students1396 Words   |  6 PagesOver the years teen suicide has increased tremendously. According to Michael Jellinek, â€Å"the adolescent may feel they have no choice but to end their intense internal suffering or to solve a hopeless dilemma by ending it all†(Preventing Teen Suicide). According to the Center of Disease Prevention, â€Å"suicide is the third-leading cause of death for high school stud ents after car accidents and homicides†(Bratsis). Everyday teens are faced with internal struggles and challenges that are difficult to copeRead MoreDepression And Its Effects On Mental Illness1070 Words   |  5 Pages To some people, dying sounds much more pleasurable than to live through each day with depression. Several societies consider mental health a topic of taboo in today’s society. Due to the lack of education and conversation about mental illnesses and how to properly handle them, many people are ignorant to the subject. Depression, in particular, is an incredibly common disorder and, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), about 1 in 5 adults are diagnosed with a mental disorderRead MoreThe Effects Of Depression On Children And Adolescents Essay998 Words   |  4 PagesThroughout history, we have heard the rhetoric expressed repeatedly that depression occurs in adulthood and that children and adolescents do not experience episodes of depression. The ailment of adulthood and depression is something that is not accurately especially given the current reality in face in society. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, in 2015, an estimated 3 million adolescents aged 12 to 17 in the United States had at least one major depressive episode in the past yearRead MoreTeen Suicide Essay1679 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"Suicide of any kind is an act in which a person takes his or her own life. FACT: Suicide is a prevalent cause of death among America’s youth today.Each and every day almost 1000 teenagers think about suicide and about 0.018% of them will be successful in committing it.† It is an ongoing problem that is often described as uncalled for immature and unnecessary. But having a deeper understanding and better knowledge are some key factors for preventing teenage suicide. This â€Å"problem† most likely startRead MoreEssay Defining Clinical Depression689 Words   |  3 PagesDefining Clinical Depression People of all ages, backgrounds, and walks of life have felt depressed and unhappy at some time in their lives. These periods of sadness usually pass after a short time, but for some people, this feeling can remain for weeks, months, and even years. (1) This prolonged state of unhappiness is called major (or clinical) depression and is characterized by a persistent sad or empty mood, loss of interest in favorite activities, difficulty concentrating, and many otherRead MoreTeen Suicide Essay881 Words   |  4 PagesTeen Suicide Suicide is a growing problem in American culture. Sadly, teens are affected the most. Teen suicide is increasing rapidly. â€Å"About 5,000 teens in the United States kill themselves each year† (Peacock, 4). Suicide among teens is a serious and devastating crisis. More teens are taking their lives today than ever before. Teen suicide does not affect one specific type of teen; it affects any type of teen. There are a variety of reasons teens resort to committing suicide. Many people are workingRead MoreSuicide Is Reaching Epidemic Proportions All Across The Globe970 Words   |  4 PagesSuicide is reaching epidemic proportions all across the globe. What is causing such an outbreak in young adults? Most people have heard about the get help hotlines and the advertisements associated with suicide. Although we ve all heard about it, not much is being done about it. Johnson states the facts about suicide, â€Å"claiming 39,518 lives in 2011, or more than 6,889 more than in 2005â⠂¬  (10). This small piece of information goes to show just how much suicide has increased in the last few years.Read MoreSymptoms And Symptoms Of A Depressive Disorder1591 Words   |  7 Pagesnormal functioning, and causes pain for both the person with the disorder and those who care about him or her.† (Psychology Today) The term depression in psychology is more than just sadness. â€Å"People with depression may experience a lack of interest and pleasure in daily activities, significant weight loss or gain, insomnia or excessive sleeping, lack of energy, inability to concentrate, feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt and recurrent thoughts of death or suicide.† (American PsychologicalRead More College Students and Stress Essay1311 Words   |  6 Pagesoverload todays college students, but it is also the leading cause of personality disorders. In her essay, Cathy Bell explains that major depressive disorder strikes 5-12% of men and 10-20% of women; half of t hese people will have more than one occurrence and 15% of them will commit suicide (Depression for the young). For instance, many depressives are first recognized and treated during their years in college. For a large amount of people, depression exposes itself because of traumatizing experiencesRead MoreDepression : Depression And Depression1103 Words   |  5 PagesDepression Did you know that people who suffer from depression can raise the percentage of having health problems than those that don’t. Even life events such as graduating, getting married, divorced, a new job or as little as getting into a fight can lead to depression. More than 20 million people in the United States suffer from depression in a given year and up to 15% of those who are clinically depressed die by suicide (All About Depression). What is depression really, well depression

Does Brown Planaria Have the Capability to Learn through...

INTRODUCTION - The brown planaria or Dugesia tigrina is part of the class Turbellaria which includes free-living flatworms. Although in comparison to other species it could be considered to be a very simple organism, the nervous system, which is composed of a nerve net, of Dugesia tigrina is quite advanced and specialized (Miller 2007). The nervous system of the brown planaria can be divided into two simple sections: two nerve cords that run along the the two sides of the animal (which have been associated with the planaria’s ability to remember things) on the posterior side of the body and and primitive brain-like structures, or ganglion, on the anterior end of the animal (Agata 2009). The ganglion and the two nerve cords that run along either side of the planaria are connected and are all used in the process of sensing stimuli that occur in the animal’s surrounding. Running back and forth from the organism’s sides are transverse nerve cords; each of these co rds connect to the two lateral nerve cords at commissures. By observing the two nerve cords and the many transverse nerve cords, the Dugesia tigrina’s nervous system appears similar to a ladder (Miller 2007). On the anterior side of the brown planaria two eyespots, or ocelli, are found on top of the head (Agata 2009). Although these eyespots do not necessarily allow the Dugesia tigrina the capability to see pictures, as the eyes of more advanced organisms do, they are able to detect light. Brown planaria, who

Subculture with Sikh Community-Free-Samples-Myassignmenthelp.com

Question: Dicuss about Community of your choice. Answer: Introduction In order to understand subculture, it is important to have first a clear idea about culture. Culture, as defined by Ravelli and Webber (2014), is a complex collection of values, beliefs, behaviors and material objects shared by a group and passed on from one generation to the next. This paper attempts to define subculture from the Canadian context. The community chosen for the purpose is the Sikh Motorcycle Club, run by the Sikh community in Canada. The Canadian Culture The formation of Canadian culture can be attributed to the intricate and diverse set of geographic, historical and social circumstances. As per the views of Margaret Atwood, an eminent Canadian writer, the harsh physical environment has played a significant role in shaping the culture of the country (Ravelli Webber 2014). Viewing from the social perspective, Canadas culture is largely shaped by the cohabitation of and conflict between the French and the English. Another interesting aspect of the Canadian culture is that historically, Canada defines its culture based on its difference with America. In the book Exploring Sociology: The Concise Edition, authors Bruce Ravelli and Michelle Webber mentioned about the change in culture in order to address the novel challenges posed by the current era in both social and technological field. These changes often give rise to subcultures. Defining Subculture with Sikh community as an example The authors have defined subculture as the group within a population that possesses a culture that is distinct from the main culture. The presence of subcultures brings diversity to a country and Canada is blessed to home variety of cultures. Although subcultures are mostly based on ethnicity, religion and race, it can also relate to sexuality, age, occupation and gender amongst others. It is evident that the existence of subcultures depends on the main culture and without it there would be no subculture (Ravelli Webber 2014). Culture is viewed from the perspective of sociology as well by the authors. They presented views of various functionalists and sociologists on culture and subculture. According to the functionalists, culture is the way of integrating and building on similarities and establishing a sense of community. Conflict theorists, on the other hand, define culture as the vehicle to promote and maintain social inequality. Symbolic interactionists defined culture as create d and re-created through social interaction. Canada is a nation that boasts and upholds the presence of different types of subcultures and allows them to prosper. Ravelli and Webber (2014) provide certain facts in the book that demonstrates Canadas acceptance of multiculturalism. They mention the work of the American sociologist Seymour Martin Lipset who researched that Canadians are more community oriented than Americans and more appreciative of racial and ethnic variation (Lipset, 1997). The Little Italy neighborhoods in Toronto, Chinatown in Vancouver, the Jewish community in Montreal and the black community in Halifax are some of the many subcultures present in Canada. One of the dominant subcultures present in Canada is the Sikh Community in Surrey. The Sikh community constitutes 1.4% of the total Canadian population and boasts of having representatives in the Cabinet as well. One of the most renowned clubs run by the Sikh community in Canada is the Sikh Motorcycle Club. The club was founded in 2003 by the sincere efforts of Avtar Singh Dhillon however; the first attempt at this was made in 1999 after years of campaigning for the right of Sikhs to be exempted from helmet laws, as they wear turbans (Sikhmotorcycleclub.org, 2018). However, with each passing time, the clubs initiatives broadened and they started organizing charity events and participating in social activities. In 2017, the club organized a protest rally where riders from all communities and race took part. It was held against crimes and drugs in the city of Surrey. The rally was organized particularly to send a message to the government regarding the safety and security of the children mostly belonging to the minority group or the subculture (Cbc.ca, 2018). The club expanded in quick time and comprised more than 100 members. They had the backing from the government as well and native Canadian s too have showed good support to the club mainly because of its noble initiatives. Conclusion The presence of this subculture further establishes Canada as a multicultural country with no biases against any minority community. However, certain statistics reveal that biases do exist in Canada where people do not favor a Sikh leader to lead the country. It contradicts the generally held notion that subcultures exist peacefully in Canada and that people would prefer joining that subculture. References: Cbc.ca. (2018).Motorcyclists ride through Surrey protesting crime, drugs.CBC News. Retrieved 27 February 2018, from https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/surrey-crime-motorcycles-1.4250691 Lipset, S. (1997).American exceptionalism. New York: Norton. Ravelli, B., Webber, M.(2014). Exploring sociology. Pearson Education Canada. pp 89-103 Sikhmotorcycleclub.org. (2018).History.Sikhmotorcycleclub.org. Retrieved 27 February 2018, from https://www.sikhmotorcycleclub.org/history