Italian Words and Phrases for the Summer [Slideshow]

Italian Words and Phrases for the Summer [Slideshow] Brooke Neuman Are you traveling to Italy this summer or simply want to brush up on your Italian vocabulary? Below, Italian teacher Nadia B. shares some useful Italian words and phrases for the summer Its summertime, which means  its time for some fun in the sun. In addition to your  sunblock and hat, dont forget to bring along these helpful Italian words and phrases for the summer (or, in Italian, lestate). In doing so, you can continue to enrich your Italian studies, while also having some fun. Italians love to go to the beach. During the month of August, cities are abandoned and quiet as everyone escapes to the beach. If youre at the beach, here are some of the most relevant Italian words and phrases you can use in conversation. Italian Words and Phrases for the Summer from takelessons Another beautiful part of summer is the opportunity to travel somewhere new. As you explore new places, the following Italian words and phrases will help you to describe your experience. Italian Words and Phrases for Summer Travel from takelessons As you travel, go to the beach, and otherwise relax this summer, take a few minutes each day to practice Italian. Using the Italian words and phrases above will help you to describe your summer experiences. You could even keep a journal in Italian to practice  your writing skills. Another way to incorporate Italian into your summer fun is to bring your iPod to the beach and listen to some Italian songs  or  podcasts, while lounging in the sun. Whichever way  you practice, it will surely result in positive progress! Post Author: Nadia B. Nadia B. teaches Italian in New York, NY. She graduated summa cum laude from New York University, with a double degree in Italian Language and Literature and Classical Music Performance.  Learn more about Nadia here! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher

Online Algebra 1 test Tutors

Online Algebra 1 test Tutors This test has been designed to solve various algebraic expressions and algebraic equations. The test involves examples followed by questions of the similar type of practice. We believe these tests would provide adequate practice to the students to solve algebra related problems up to a particular level. Not only this, this tool also provides feedback report as well as after test, it also provides relevant answers to the problems. This can be more understood by taking two test questions and their solution as well. Example 1: If the cost of 20 books is $400, find the cost of 12 such books. Solution: - The cost of 20 books is $400 To find: - We have to find the cost of 12 such books. Let the cost of 1 book be x Cost of 20 books would then be (20) x= 20x (1) But according to the question cost of 20 books is 400 ... (2) Now from the equation (1) and (2), we will get 20x=400 Dividing both sides by 20 20x/20 = 400/20 x= 20, which is the cost of the 1 book Therefore the cost of 12 books = 12(x) = 12 x 20 =$240. Example 2:- Simplify (10x-5x +11) (6x-12x+15) Solution 2:- To simplify the above equation, first of all we need to open the parentheses and then we need to distribute the negative sign in the 2nd parentheses. =10x-5x+11-6x+12x-15 =10x-6x-5x+12x+11-15 = 4x+7x-4. Therefore 4x+7x-4 is the solution and the simplified form of (10x-5x +11) (6x-12x+15).

How Differentiated Instruction Challenges the Notion of the Traditional Teacher

How Differentiated Instruction Challenges the Notion of the Traditional Teacher The Challenge to Traditional Teaching: Differentiated Instruction ChaptersThe MisconceptionsThe PremiseThe MethodsThe OutcomeThe premise of teaching used to be simple. The teacher had knowledge s/he was tasked to impart; the students must acquire that knowledge and demonstrate mastery through periodic exams.Since the 15th century, when the Aztecs implemented the first universal compulsory education system, learning has been treated as a one-size-fits-all proposition.If you are this age, you should be capable of understanding these concepts and performing those tasks.Early educational philosophies did not take into account socioeconomic differences, any particular ability or disability to learn on the students’ part, and certainly paid no mind to learning preferences - all factors which have been shown to impact a student's ability to learn.Gender was a factor in formulating educational standards, but only with regard to how much schooling female students would be exposed to and what subjects they would study.Male or female, conformity was the ord er of the day and if students could not adapt and learn, they were generally held to blame.So what if you couldn’t read, didn’t understand arithmetic and your writing was illegible? It was all your fault; you just weren’t working hard enough!This educational philosophy did not change significantly until the mid- to late-twentieth century, when great leaps were made in understanding how both the human brain works and how people absorb knowledge.Now we’re seeing a revolution in pedagogy, one that inevitably empowers students by addressing their multiple intelligences in a learning environment designed to encourage them to thrive.Certainly, these changes are a boon for students of every type; the onus is on the teachers to break away from the traditional model and embrace new teaching methods.How hard can it be?Superprof wades into the fray. We’ll talk about the misconceptions that shroud traditional teaching and the differentiated model, cover the premise of both methodologi es and draw our conclusions.Are you ready for a bit of professional development?it is a fact.For as long as there have been teachers, those beings have been considered all-knowing, especially by younger students. And don’t parents encourage their young learners to listen to and obey Teacher?Don’t parents all urge their students to ask their teacher any questions they might have about their homework, or if something is not clear?Because surely, that worthy is the authority on their subject matter... right?Common Misconceptions about Traditional TeachersAre teachers all-knowing? No, they are fallible, just like any other human.Obviously, teachers have extensive knowledge of their subject matter.That doesn't mean that they are the absolute authority on it - unless they are well-published and have conducted extensive research into their particular field, as Carol Ann Tomlinson has (she is the authority on how to differentiate).Another popular misconception is that teachers impart kn owledge. If we accept the definition of 'impart' as 'pass on information', then in fact, that is exactly what teachers do.The misconception is the idea that the information the teacher communicates will be received, understood and assimilated to its fullest degree.The accepted proof that the transmission of knowledge from teacher to student has been successful is high marks on examinations.If an entire class scores particularly well on exams, that teacher is generally thought to be exceptional, regardless of any background information that might impact students’ efforts, such as working with a tutor and how much effort s/he put into mastering it outside of class.Differentiated InstructionPerhaps because of its relative newness as a teaching strategy, there is plenty of misconception about differentiation.It is individualised instruction: not true.Teachers would drive themselves mad trying to teach each of their 30+ students individually!Differentiated instruction does involve some individual attention but by no means would teachers be called on to work with each student one on one.Whole group learning is still very much a facet of differentiated learning, as are small groups â€" as long as group work is complemented by learning activities that promote mastery.Differentiated learning is student-led: not true.Students do not choose the curriculum or select topics â€" that remains the teacher’s function. However, students are accorded a measure of input on how they receive instruction and work with it.By no means are we suggesting anarchy in the classroom or that you cater to your students’ every whim. Students may propose ideas for work and learning activities but, ultimately, it is the teacher’s responsibility to exercise classroom management and determine students’ workload.Some education professionals read about differentiated instruction and think it must be a magic bullet to solve all of the problems inherent in our educational system.Unfortunatel y, that too is not true.Differentiating instruction is a step in the right direction on many levels but it does not provide an easy solution to the challenge of educating learners of all types.What, exactly, is differentiated instruction, then?Differentiated instruction is not a one-on-one teaching method! Source: Pixabay Credit: KmicicanThe PremiseWe all know that the traditional educator dispenses information and that students’ demonstrate mastery through homework assignments and periodic exams.We also know that summative assessment â€" exams at the end of a learning unit, a semester and indeed at the end of one’s primary and secondary stages of education are not necessarily the best indicators of student achievement.Differentiation of instruction calls for formative assessment, meaning that teachers maintain an ongoing evaluation of student performance that allows adapting learning materials to students’ potential.It sounds like a lot of work but, once you have gathered all of the background knowledge you need about your students â€" their learning style, their competencies and interests, it will be very easy to notice and record their progress.In a differentiated classroom, learning is facilitated â€" as opposed to students being taught.In effect, the traditional teaching model calls for students to essentially be passive in their learning.Differentiated instructional strategies require students to take an active part in their education â€" not just by completing assignments and sitting exams but by having a measure of input on how they learn and what work is required of them.Find out how deeply differentiated instruction impacts students' learning...The MethodsHistorically, teaching has been a one-way communication: Teacher talks, students listen and, hopefully, learn.How many of you have had a teacher who, when asked a question, directed you to read your textbook and find the answer yourself?The lecture style of teaching has its merits. Just ask un iversity professors who may have more than 100 students in class at one time. For mature learners who know how to learn, attending lectures and taking notes is a very effective way of picking up new information.Primary and secondary school students do not yet understand their learning methodology so it is up to their mentors â€" their teachers to show them how.And that’s what differentiated instruction is really about: teaching students how to learn.Whereas traditional lesson plans call for teachers to do a lot of talking and involved little to no student engagement, differentiation demands student-centred learning.In fact, the teacher does not take centre stage at all. Students are assigned:Project-based learning, which involves students working together to complete a curriculum-related project,Inquiry-based learning, when groups of students are given questions to answer or scenarios to resolveProblem-based learning, in which students learn by solving open-ended problems.In such classroom activities, the teacher’s job is to circulate from group to group, posing questions designed to encourage students to come up with solutions on their own.Through these activities as well as cooperation with others, students learn to challenge their own intellect, making learning an activity in itself.Meanwhile, the teacher has plenty of time for curriculum development and to observe their students’ learning processes.What does differentiating in the classroom leave for tutors to do?Even the best teachers cannot guarantee students' mastery of subject material! Source: Pixabay Credit: Anne KarakashThe OutcomeWe all know the outcome of traditional teaching strategies. As passionate and knowledgeable as teachers can be, those qualities still don’t guarantee those students will gain mastery â€" or even a deep understanding of their subject material.That uncertainty is evidenced through test anxiety; a very real phenomenon that affects a surprising number of students. One of the primary causes of test anxiety is feeling unprepared for such an assessment even after having done plenty of studying prior to the exam.What is the outcome of differentiated teaching?Because it is a student-centered learning initiative rather than a direct instruction model, those prospective test takers have gained an understanding by design.Nobody told them what  to think of the subject matter; through a variety of means, they found how to think about it by themselves.They have gained a thorough understanding of the material on their terms and in their own way, meaning that, in the course of their learning, they also gained empowerment.Isn’t student empowerment the ultimate goal of effective teaching?Now calling on every teacher who wants to make a difference in their students’ lives and learning:Would you incorporate differentiation strategies in your classroom if it meant different learning styles you have been tasked to teach were all addressed?If your gifted student s were assigned classwork more in tune with their intellect than their age group, and your lesson planning allowed for even your SEN students to keep up with the curriculum?Of course you would!Now discover the ultimate in differentiating education!

Fall in France French Vocabulary for Fall

Fall in France French Vocabulary for Fall Sign up successful If you ever find yourself traveling to France during this period, it might seem like the country is empty and shut down. Thats because this month is used to travel far away, or even just a few hundred kilometers to the south of France, where one can relax and unwind from the stress of work, school, and everyday life. One of the benefits of learning French is to be able to move to France and experience this for yourself! A Bountiful Harvest The end of summer and the beginning of fall in France also brings about a very beautiful and bountiful time. Between the end of August and the end of September, vineyards all over the country are loaded with grapes ripe for the picking. During this time, you can see tractors and trucks rolling through the small villages of the beautiful French countryside. Theyre full of freshly-picked grapes which are then carted off to be fermented and turned into wine. This period of time is called les vendanges (the grape harvest) and it can be a very stressful time for winemakers as they try their best to pick grapes at their peak (thus, resulting in great wines). The Beginning of Fall But like all good things, les grandes vacances have to end. September 1st has come and gone and everyone is back to school or work; the daily grind. Les fermiers (farmers) go back to their fields for harvest, les travailleurs (workers) go back to work, and les enseignants et les écoliers (teachers and students) go back to school. Est-ce que vous avez le cafard (are you feeling down â€" literally translated as, Do you have the cockroach?) because its the end of summer? If so, heres some fun fall vocabulary to get you through la rentrée.  Dont worry about mastering pronunciation yet just try them out! French Vocabulary for Fall 1)  La rentrée The start of the school year. 2)  Un pull That comfy, cozy thing you wrap yourself up in during fall a sweater! 3)  L’automne Whether you call it autumn or call it fall, it’s the season after summer (l’été). 4)  Une feuille A leaf. 5)  Changement de couleur des feuilles The changing colors of leaves from vertes (green) to rouges (red), marrons (brown), oranges (orange), et jaunes (yellow). 6)  Les feuilles sèches/ les feuilles mortes After the leaves turn colors and fall off the tree they become dead leaves (which are always fun to crunch). 7)  La récolte, la moisson These are the harvests of fruits, vegetables, and grains. 8)  Un ratêau A rake for all those falling leaves. The verb, to rake, is ratisser. 9)  Le potiron, la citrouille Used in pies, Jack-o-Lanterns, and Cinderella’s carriage this would be a pumpkin! 10)  L’épouvantail This is a scarecrow for scaring crows, of course! There you have it lots of French vocab to practice and master! Having a conversation in French and throwing in these words is another great way to practice. If you struggle with the pronunciation or general understanding of the language, I recommend taking lessons with an excellent  French teacher. Having private instruction is the quickest way you can improve your French skills. Be sure to try some of these words out this  fall! Post Author:  Mikayla S. Mikayla teaches many subjects, inlcuding French, European History, and World History. She has been speaking French for over a decade and recently earned her bachelors degree of French and Francophone Studies at San Diego State University.  Learn more about Mikayla here! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher

4 Common Midterm Study Mistakes

4 Common Midterm Study Mistakes After youve settled into the semester and found your bearings, midterm season may seem to suddenly sneak up on you. Halfway through the semester, youre likely to have your routines in place, and midterms require their own arrangement of time and energy. While these exams can feel like an upheaval, there are common midterm study mistakes you can work to avoidincluding prioritizing the wrong concepts, not getting sufficient rest, and not considering the test formats while studying. Hoping to successfully tackle your midterms this semester? Keep reading to learn four common midterm study mistakes. Common midterm study mistake #1: failing to get sufficient rest All-nighters are tempting, but with a solid study plan in place, they can be avoided. While it may feel like the material is fresher in your mind after cramming, all-nighters often inhibit performance on tests because of disrupted sleep and concentration. They can also limit deep understanding of material, especially because its likely that you havent been studying ahead of time. To improve study habits, your understanding of material, and your performance on midterms, create a schedule for yourself that acknowledges all areas of your lifeother classes and major due dates, extracurricular activities, work, social life, and self-care. You might need to cut back on time for yourself, but do so only temporarily and try planning something to look forward to after exams to keep yourself motivated. You shouldnt have to totally ignore your social life and self-care in order to do well, and keeping a study schedule can help you do that. [RELATED: The Top Study Tips for Midterms] Common midterm study mistake #2: not taking strategic breaks Not strategizing your breaks is another mistake students often make during study sessions. Students often fall into oneor bothof two categories while studying: Taking many breaks, too often and at random times, and getting distracted by media, social media, or friends Not giving yourself enough breaks and pushing onwards until you quickly burn out The first method often results in less productivity, and the second can be draining. To make the most of your time and energy, plan your breaks strategically. This could look different for each individual, but consider using a timer for both the lengths of study sessions and your breaks. Use your break times for an activity like taking a walk or stretching, or do something fun that also has a time limit, like watching a short video or playing a brief game. There are also apps and computer programs that can help you stay focused and avoid distractions. [RELATED: 10 Study Habits to Avoid] Common midterm study mistake #3: prioritizing the wrong concepts Prioritizing the wrong material can hinder your midterm studying. For example, you might be tempted to start studying concepts you already feel very comfortable with or material you learned at the beginning of the semester. While these aren't necessarily bad places to start studying, its more useful to prioritize based on the most important to least important concepts to be tested. If youre not sure what these are, consult a study guide or practice test, meet with your professor during office hours, or check in with a classmate or someone whos already taken the class. [RELATED: 5 Reasons Students Should Meet with Professors During Office Hours] Common midterm study mistake #4: not taking test formats into consideration The tricky part about midterms is not only the concepts, but also the way youre testedwhich can range from essay answers to multiple choice questions. When practicing your knowledge of concepts, utilize specific test formats as much as possible. If there are practice tests, take advantage of those. If the test is a timed writing piece, try your hand at your own timed writing exercise. Try to mimic the test situation as much as possible. Regardless of whether your final exam is comprehensive or not, dont get rid of your notes. Take time to go over concepts you struggled with, because theyre likely to be an important foundation for the rest of the semester. Any topics you want to know more about? Let us know! The Varsity Tutors Blog editors love hearing your feedback and opinions. Feel free to email us at blog@varsitytutors.com.

Accused of Being a Suck-Up Thank Them! - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / Accused of Being a Suck-Up Thank Them! - Introvert Whisperer Accused of Being a Suck-Up? Thank Them! I recently spoke at a conference on Office Politics and one of the actions I suggested was forming relationships with your boss and upper management.   (Hmm, relationships â€" sound familiar?)   I was asked this question: Ive been told Im a suck up because I have relationships with management.   What should I do about that? My response:   Tell that person: Thank you for noticing. I want to tell you a few things about why I answered this way. -Forming relationships with your boss and management is a huge part of Managing Up no matter what type of boss you have.   It is never wrong or bad. -People that call you names are acting like a 10-year-old on the playground.   As we know bullies usually dont feel good about themselves.   You backing off on your relationships wont cure their insecurity. -If you’re the one doing the name-calling you need to be ashamed of yourself and work on a new perspective.   The boss isn’t an enemy even if they are a jerk.   Managing up will improve your ability to work well with the boss and if you have a Bad Boss, it will go a long way to soften their dysfunction. -The only thing for you to check on as you support your relationship with your boss is to ensure you arent being a sycophant.   No one, including the boss, likes a person who is being over the top, slathering on complements or compromising your values simply to have a relationship with management. -You can teach others and especially a person who would make a comment like this about why its important.   Maybe point them to my new book: Accelerating Your Career â€" Even with a Bad Boss, a New Approach to Managing Up. You could also suggest they work on their self-esteem or confidence. -If you do have the disgusting type of suck-up in your midst, keep in mind that you can learn from some of what they are doing.   You look at the bad behaviors and disregard but look at what works and adapt it to what will work for you. Dont be bullied into stopping you from doing the right thing. Go to top Power-Influence-Office Politics: it comes down to your Strategic Relationships and understanding of how you build each one of these elements. I want to help you accelerate your career by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my video that outlines all of this and meaningful actions you can take today!  Start watching now by clicking here! Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleashing your professional potential. Introvert Whisperer

Staying Motivated - Private Tutoring

Staying Motivated BobbiM Mar 31, 2014 Getting motivated is one thing; staying motivated is another. Which one is harder for you? In order to stay motivated you should give yourself checkpoints on the way to reaching your goals. These checkpoints might include: -Monitoring your motivation for learning just as you monitor your comprehension when you read. Each time you sit down to study, ask yourself about the level of motivation for what you are doing. You have an internal body clock, which means that you will find that certain times of the day are more conducive to learning than others. Try to plan your study sessions around those times. -Studying the subjects you find the most difficult, or are least motivated to learn, first. Then move to the subjects that are easier, or those that you enjoy more. In that way you will be more likely to stay motivated to study the subjects you find the most interesting. -Planning some breaks in your study time-dont try to study for more than one hour without a short break because you will find it difficult to maintain your motivation. But what if you find yourself losing motivation? Its important to have strategies to follow in this scenario as well. It might help if you: -Take a break and come back to what you were doing at a later time. -Switch topics every hour or so. -Work with a study group. Misery loves company and others can often demotivated you. -Plan to study in the library or another quiet place if you find that your social life is interfering with studying because your friends are calling you or dropping by. Find somewhere to study where you will be free from distractions and temptation. Excerpt from  College Success Strategies  by Sherrie L. Nist and Jodi Patrick Holschuh.

Elementary School Critical Thinking

Elementary School Critical Thinking In todays complex world, it is not just important, but imperative that children learn to think criticallyand not just learn to memorize facts and figures. Although there is a lot of information at every grade that children need to learnthe mechanics of reading and writing, mathematics, science and much moreit is essential for young learners to gain plenty of practice reasoning, questioning assumptions, considering the logic of various ideas and solving problems independently. How can you help foster your elementary-age childs critical thinking skills? Here are several exercises and suggestions to put into practice in everyday life, which will serve your child long after the school days are over. Employ the Socratic Method. The Greek philosopher Socrates questioned his students continuously and encouraged oppositional debate among them to get them to think critically and generate new ideas. Most elementary school children go through a phase (or several) in which they ask a lot of questions. The next time youre asked, Why? try answering with, What do you think? or What do you know already and what do you need to know to solve your problem? Instead of answering questions outright, encourage your child to try to answer them for him or herself. Teach your child to listen to others ideas, always keeping in mind that often, there is more than one right answer to a question. Sort things and recognize patterns. Any activity in which a child is asked to identify a pattern is one that helps build critical thinking skills. This could be as simple as sorting laundry or organizing toys during daily chores, or playing thinking games such as chess, puzzles, tangrams, pentominoes or Sudoku. When driving around town, ask your child to name the shapes of the signs he or she sees. Have him or her look for patterns in the grocery store (for example, how many price signs end in $0.99 versus $0.50, etc.). Or challenge your child to predict the next item in a series (if driving through a neighborhood where all the streets are named for trees, for example, have your child guess what the next street might be). Talk about facts versus opinions. Teach your child about the difference between things that are true and always true (your child has two eyes, for example) and things that cannot be proven true 100% of the time (your cat is the best pet ever). You can talk about this any time, even when watching television together. After commercials, ask your child what statements the commercial made about the product being advertised; then ask whether the statements were fact or opinion, and how he or she knew the difference. You can also discuss who made the commercial and why, analyzing the companys point of view versus the consumers. Summarize stories whenever you read. When you and your child read together, ask him or her to summarize what happened at the end of each chapter or major section of a book. The ability to recap the major points of texts is an important critical thinking skill that your child will use again and again as a studentfrom elementary school through college. If you get a newspaper at home, look at headlines together each morning and ask your child to guess what the story will be about. Then read the story and decide if the headline did a good job of summarizing the information. Ask your child to write his or her own headline for the story. Deliberate and discuss. The next time you and your child do not agree on something, give him or her the opportunity to persuade you to see his or her side. Dont worrythis does not have to mean that every rule in your house is negotiable. However, it is important to teach your child to back up his or her ideas and arguments and think about why he or she believes or does not believe things. Push your child to think about his or her arguments carefully. In addition, an important part of thoughtful debate is learning to see things from other peoples points of view. Analyze like a scientist. Urge your child to think like a scientist and apply the scientific method to anything and everything. The main components of the scientific method are observation, developing a hypothesis, prediction and experimentation. Teaching your child this practice of thinking will give him or her the tools to think through issues and figure out solutions to all kinds of problems. Embrace the practice of critical thinking in your household and in all that you do, encourage your child to be a curious student of life. In doing so, you will teach your child to be resourceful when tackling school and other problems, which will help him or her gain confidence, perceptiveness and a lifelong love of learning.