U.S. registration dates and deadlines for 2012-13 Test Dates Test U.S. Registration Deadlines (Expire at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, U.S.A.) Regular Late (a fee applies) October 6, 2012 SAT & Subject Tests September 7, 2012 September 21, 2012 November 3,…
Author: Diane
WORDS are fun!
I have a new favorite word!!! Mumpsimus!! I have so many friends whose use of the English language is mumpsimus. They think they are using English correctly, but they insist on using words that really don't exist. There are so…
Get a Paper Dictionary!
I realize that most people use spell check or dictionary.com to check spelling, but for a student learning vocabulary, PLEASE get them a real book/paper dictionary. Here are a few reasons; It is easier to scan through words when you…
Summer Reading
Many students get a list of required reading for the summer from their schools. I usually try and read each and every book that is required for the schools that are local to me. I also have come up…
Paul Revere’s Ride by H.W. Longfellow
Paul Revere's Ride Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Listen my children and you shall hear Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere, On the eighteenth of April, in Seventy-five; Hardly a man is now alive Who remembers that famous day and year.…
The Boston Massacre – 242 years ago tomorrow
On the night of March 5, 1770, American colonists attacked British soldiers in Boston which resulted in the soldiers firing upon the crowd and killing five of the colonists. This event became known as the Boston Massacre, a rallying point…
The Boston Massacre – 242 years ago tomorrow
On the night of March 5, 1770, American colonists attacked British soldiers in Boston which resulted in the soldiers firing upon the crowd and killing five of the colonists. This event became known as the Boston Massacre, a rallying point…
Happy Birthday, Vivaldi!
Antonio Vivaldi was born on March 4, 1678 in Venice, Italy. Antonio's father, Giovanni Battista, who was a barber before becoming a violinist, taught young Antonio to play the violin and then took him on tours around Venice playing…
2012 NJ ASK is just around the corner
Grade & Test Dates NJ ASK3: May 7, 8, 9, 10, 2012 Regular Testing (Language Arts Literacy Days 1 and 2, Mathematics Days 1 and 2) NJ ASK4: May 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 2012 Regular Testing (Language Arts Literacy…
The Iditarod
Today is the beginning of the running of the 40th Iditarod. This is the dog sled race, that has become a tradition, from Anchorage, Alaska to Nome, Alaska. Dog sleds are historically significant to the development of Alaska and…
Happy Birthday Alexander Graham Bell!
On this date in 1847, Alexander Graham Bell was born. He spent his life researching sound to aid in the teaching of the deaf and it was quite by accident that he invented the telephone. Bell held 18 patents in…
Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!!
This is for funzies. Just oodles and onezies. The first books we read and read and read. Just before bed and bed and bed. Till we were red and red and red. Check out the website for fun and…
Did you know that numbers have categories?
Each set of numbers includes the numbers of the nested sets. For example, all natural numbers are whole numbers and all whole numbers are integers. Natural Numbers: 1 2 3 4 etc (the numbers you count with) Whole Numbers: …
March is National Poetry Month
Write a Haiku!! It's easy! It doesn't have to be perfect, it just has to meet syllable requirements. TRY IT!! It's fun! First line is 5 syllables, second line is 7 syllables and last line is 5 syllables. It…
Academic Competitions for Students
There are really great competitions for youths all over. Here is a story about a few of the best.
Happy Birthday, Wolfgang!
On this day in 1756, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born. 
I used to use that fact to work with students when they were learning about the calendar and how to count months, days, years etc. The standard assignment was to find out how old I was. Yes, it is true that not too many teachers share their exact age with a student, but I have never hidden my age, so this was a natural. You see, I was born 2 days shy of Mozart's 200th birthday.
So, the assignment basically included research (they had to find Mozart's birth date) and then figuring out what 2 days shy of his 200th birthday would be. It was a fun assignment, because even the students that didn't like homework, were always intrigued to try and figure out my age.
One of my favorite Mozart compositions is the Concert Rondo in D. It is a delightful, light piece of music and was used in the movie called "Hopscotch" starring Walter Matthau.
Bill Gates’ Rules for Success
Misplaced Prepositional Phrases
Many people think the writing section of the SAT is only the essay, but that couldn't be further from the truth. The essay is small part of the writing section. Recognizing and correcting misplaced prepositional phrases is one of the…
Upcoming SAT tests
The next SAT test is scheduled for January 28. That is only 27 days away! If you are registered to take this test it is time to buckle down and finish your preparation. What should you be doing? Sign up…
My Best Reads of 2011 for Young Readers
Some of the best books I read in 2011, were actually published long before, but showed up as Kindle books for the first time. First is The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter (Oprah's Book Club) by Carson McCullers. The heroine…