Last Minute Test Prep: NYS Math Test

If you're worried about not doing well tomorrow, try taking a practice test to gauge how well you will do tomorrow. Answers are included in each document below.

Grade 3 NYS Math Practice Test: http://www.engageny.org/sites/default/files/resource/attachments/grade_3_math_released_questions.pdf

Grade 4 NYS Math Practice Test: http://www.engageny.org/sites/default/files/resource/attachments/grade_4_math_released_questions.pdf

Grade 5 NYS Math Practice Test: http://www.engageny.org/sites/default/files/resource/attachments/grade_5_math_released_questions.pdf

Grade 6 NYS Math Practice Test: http://www.engageny.org/sites/default/files/resource/attachments/grade_6_math_released_questions.pdf

Grade 7 NYS Math Practice Test: http://www.engageny.org/sites/default/files/resource/attachments/grade_7_math_released_questions.pdf

Grade 8 NYS Math Practice Test: http://www.engageny.org/sites/default/files/resource/attachments/grade_8_math_released_questions.pdf

Tips for Taking the Test: Math Edition

With the NYS Math Exam coming up tomorrow, you might be looking for some tips for taking the test. If so, you've come to the right place!

• Stay focused. Nothing matters (for a few hours at least) except for the test.
• If permitted, use a calculator to avoid silly mistakes.
• At the end of the test, take time to make sure that your answers are legible (easily read). You can lose easy points if the grader can't understand what you've written.
• Show all of your work, even if you used a calculator. You can lose points for not doing so.
• For the multiple choice section of the test, do all work and computations/calculations before checking out the four answers. This will help you avoid careless mistakes. If none of the answer choices correspond to the answer you calculated, follow these steps:
• Make sure you've read the problem carefully. Did you miss a step? Did you add when you needed to subtract? Did you do step two first instead of step one?
• Re-do the problem. 
• If you still get the same answer, choose the answer choice that makes the most sense - generally the one closest to the answer you calculated.
• Look for key words in the problem. If the problem says to estimate, don't do an exact calculation! 
• Make sure your answer makes sense. Sometimes the test-makers will try to fool you with units that don't make sense, decimals in the wrong place, etc. 
• Pace yourself. Don't rush, but leave yourself enough time to finish as many questions as possible.
• For the second and third parts of the test, you might come across a question (or a few) asking you to explain how you arrived at an answer. Make sure you remember to include every step in your answer. 
• Answer every question. If you need to skip a question, make sure you go back to it.
• Don't spend too much time on one question. 
• Try not to guess. If you have to guess, cross off one or two answer choices first, then make an educated guess. 
• Believe in yourself. You're going to do fine. You've learned everything on the test already! 
• Don't stress yourself out tonight, or the morning before the test. If you're going to study, stick to vocabulary and/or reviewing key ideas you know that you've had trouble with throughout the year.
• Remember that I believe in you too! Good luck! 

100 Things to Do Before You Grow Up in NYC

Even if you're already an adult, or only manage to do a handful of activities on the list, it's worth a try.

http://mommypoppins.com/ny-kids/100-things-to-do-with-your-kids-in-ny-before-they-grow-up

#51 and #36 are two of my favorites, but nothing beats #25. Check out the list to find out why.

50 Things to Do In NYC on Spring Break

Whether you're visiting or a resident, here are some fun things to do over Spring Break in NYC:

http://mommypoppins.com/newyorkcitykids/spring-break-is-here-ready-or-not-fun-events-in-new-york-city-for-families-and-kids

Our favorite? #50. Check out the link to see why.

Top 15 Things to Do Over Spring Break

The good folks at Yahoo Voices have compiled two separate lists of educational things to do over Spring Break.

Top 10 List: http://voices.yahoo.com/top-10-educational-spring-break-activities-kids-7597374.html

Top 5 List: http://voices.yahoo.com/5-educational-things-over-spring-break-8131662.html

Our personal favorite from the list is go to a museum. That is how we love to spend our spring breaks!

Science Vocabulary for K through 12

Here at Cassiopeia Tutoring, we believe that vocabulary is extremely important. This holds true for science and for reading.

Kindergarten Science Vocabulary: http://www.spellingcity.com/kindergarten-science-vocabulary.html

1st Grade Science Vocabulary: http://www.spellingcity.com/first-grade-science-vocabulary.html

2nd Grade Science Vocabulary: http://www.spellingcity.com/second-grade-science-vocabulary.html

3rd Grade Science Vocabulary: http://www.spellingcity.com/third-grade-science-vocabulary.html

4th Grade Science Vocabulary: http://www.spellingcity.com/fourth-grade-science-vocabulary.html

5th Grade Science Vocabulary: http://www.spellingcity.com/5th-grade-science-vocabulary.html

6th Grade Science Vocabulary: http://www.spellingcity.com/sixth-grade-science-vocabulary.html

7th Grade Science Vocabulary: http://www.spellingcity.com/seventh-grade-science-vocabulary.html

8th Grade Science Vocabulary: http://www.spellingcity.com/eighth-grade-science-vocabulary.html

High School Science Vocabulary: http://www.spellingcity.com/high-school-science-vocabulary.html

Scroll down for the vocabulary lists.

Shopping List: Reading Reflex

When I was in first grade, my mother taught me how to read. She didn't trust the school to teach me to read, so she went to the library and got a book called Reading Reflex: The Foolproof Phono-Graphix Method for Teaching Your Child to Read by Carmen McGuinness and Geoffrey McGuinness.

In about three weeks, I was reading at a third grade level. Reading Reflex really works!

Please note that Reading Reflex is only for students who do not know how to read yet. This is not for more advanced students. We recommend using it for grades K through 5.

How We Teach Our Students to Read

How we teach our students to read is a method that is time-tested and effective. Unfortunately, it's also a company secret.

Thankfully, we use more than one method and we're more than willing to share so that our readers can improve their reading skills on their own and at any reading level.

• Read a lot. This is one of the tips that we give our students on their first day with us. Reading is almost like a sport in that the more you do it, the better you'll be at it. 
• Read what you love whenever possible. Sure, you're going to have to read some potentially boring (but still rewarding) books at school, but in your free time you can read whatever you want. 
• That being said, step out of your comfort zone sometimes. If all you read are mystery books, try reading historical fiction once in a while. If all you read is non-fiction, try science fiction! 
• Make reading an adventure. Reading transports you places in your mind that you may never otherwise be able to go to. Reading can take you to France in 1863 or Egypt during Cleopatra's rule, New York City one hundred years from now or 65 million years ago right before everything changed. Reading can allow you to visualize the rise and fall of empires, the birth and death of the most influential people ever to have lived, and the greatest changes ever to have taken place on this planet. You can go anywhere in time and space. Isn't that amazing?
• Discuss what you reading. Asking yourself or being asked questions about what you read helps you develop critical thinking skills.
• Write about what you read. Whether it's a journal entry describing what you read, a book review, a character analysis, an essay, or an alternative ending, writing about what you read will help you find new levels of meaning within any text.
  

Today's Lesson: Writing about Controversial Topics

Today's lesson was all about writing about controversial topics. Writing about controversial topics can be a great way to stimulate creative thought, practice persuasive writing, and explore oneself.

Today's question? Is murder permissible under certain circumstances, and if so, why?

Our students have a lot of different thoughts on this subject. Leave your opinions in the comments.

Online Virtual Labs for Biology

From Dino Digs to Dissections, this link has it all: http://www.mhhe.com/biosci/genbio/virtual_labs/

Virtual Dissections

Virtual Frog Dissection: http://www.mhhe.com/biosci/genbio/virtual_labs/BL_16/BL_16.html

Virtual Pig Dissection: http://www.whitman.edu/academics/courses-of-study/biology/virtual-pig

Virtual Eye Dissection: http://www.eschoolonline.com/company/examples/eye/eyedissect.html

Virtual Owl Pellet Dissection: http://www.kidwings.com/owlpellets/flash/v4/index.htm

Virtual Cat Dissection: http://www.rcmvirtualanatomy.com/cat.html (Not for cat people!)

Virtual Clam Dissection: http://wwwbio200.nsm.buffalo.edu/labs/tutor/Clam/


Links to many other dissections: http://www.animalearn.org/links.php#.U0WOFq1dVpI

Big Ideas Math Online Textbooks

Check out this link for the complete list of online textbooks: http://www.bigideasmath.com/students/?free=1

6th Grade: http://www.bigideasmath.com/students/?level=7.00

7th Grade: http://www.bigideasmath.com/students/?level=8.00

8th Grade: http://www.bigideasmath.com/students/?level=9.00

Algebra I: http://www.bigideasmath.com/students/?level=10.00

These resources can help you prepare for the upcoming state tests, brush up on subjects you've been struggling with, or catch up on lessons you've missed.

Math Review From Big Ideas Math

Below are two very cool resources that you can use to prepare for the upcoming math state exams.

Skills Review Handbook: http://www.bigideasmath.com/protected/content/dcs_cc2/srh/index.html

Basic Skills Handbook: http://www.bigideasmath.com/protected/content/dcs_cc2/bsh/index.html

Reading List: Romantic Era Authors and Works

Today's lesson, for me at least, was all about the Romantic Era. Here is a list of books you should read at some point in your lifetime.

• Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
• Songs of Innocence and Songs of Experience - William Blake
• Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte
• Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte
• Essays by Ralph Waldo Emerson
• The Scarlet Letter - Nathaniel Hawthorne 
• Notre Dame de Paris - Victor Hugo
• Poetry by John Keats
• Moby Dick - Herman Melville 
• Frankenstein - Mary Shelly 
• Civil Disobedience and Walden by Henry David Thoreau
• Poetry by William Wordsworth
• Poetry by Emily Dickinson
• Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman

Let me know in the comments if I've missed any of your favorite Romantic authors or works! 

Reading List: France, A Love Story and My Favorite French Blog

Alright, so the dream, or at least it's abbreviated version, went something like this: I was going to live in a modest little house in Southern France, near Provence when I grew up, and it was going to be amazing.

The pursuit of the dream went a little something like this: I dedicated myself to learning all about France, its language, its culture, and its history for about a year. I dreamt of the house, and came up with floor plans, and started zeroing in on the city I'd want to live in. (I never quite decided.)

How the dream began, and how it ended, has to do with a series of pastel-colored books with really horrible pictures on the front. The series is about different countries. I started with the Canada book, which had an unflattering picture of an industrial plant somewhere in Quebec, and made my way through the France book, whose picture I can't quite recall. I started to fall in love somewhere between the History and Culture chapters, and the deal was sealed during the People chapter. The dream ended, or at least faded into something better, somewhere between the end of the Sweden book and the start of the Finland book.

In any case, here are some of the amazing books and resources I found on that leg of the journey:

France, A Love Story: This taught me a lot about French culture and the people of France. http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/124791.France_A_Love_Story

French Word A Day: This blog also taught me a lot about French culture, and about French language. http://french-word-a-day.typepad.com/

I wish you success on your journey into French! Click on the foreign language tag for more language-learning resources, and be sure to check out the Learning About Culture segment of our blog for more about other peoples, nations, and cultures.

Tips for Learning New Vocabulary

Assimilating new vocabulary can be difficult whether you're trying to improve your skills in your native language or if you're learning a new language. Here are some tips I've found helpful when learning new vocabulary.

• Do a little each day. Subscribe to a vocabulary word of the day e-mail newsletter. You'll find a new vocabulary word in your inbox every day. 
• Pace yourself and your learning based on how fluent you are in a given language. If you're trying to improve your vocabulary skills in your native language, aim to learn one or two words a week. If you're beginning to learn a new language, aim for several words a day until you can read basic texts with ease. In you are in between being a beginner and being fluent, aim for one word a day to three words a week, depending on where you are on the fluency scale. 
• Read a lot. Read newspapers and books in your native language or in the language or languages you're trying to learn to improve your reading skills, fluency, and vocabulary. Be sure to look up words you don't know only after you've made an attempt to figure it out in the context of the words you do know.
• Try your hand at writing. Even if it's a few simple sentences or a little poem, write something. Try to incorporate the new vocabulary words you've learnt recently or look up new words to include in your writing. Just make sure you're using them properly. 
• Converse with someone that is better at a given language than you. If you're a student trying to improve your English vocabulary, talk to an adult with a good vocabulary. If you're a student in the United States trying to learn Spanish, try talking to one of your South or Central American neighbors. (Just make sure they're not from Brazil, as Brazilians speak Portuguese.) 
• Make a word wall in your bedroom. Print out a word and its definition and post it somewhere prominent in your room (with your parent's permission, of course). 
• Try using your new vocabulary in a conversation with your friends or with an adult. You'll definitely turn some heads and make a good impression on your teachers and peers. Again, just make sure you use the word correctly. 
• Try using your new vocabulary in a conversation with yourself. You'll get used to using the word, and it'll stick in your long-term memory better the more you use it. 
• Write each word on an index card, and keep them in three boxes. One box you'll go through every day, one you'll go through every week, and one you'll go through every month. Move the cards accordingly as you learn or forget a word. 
• If you hear or see a word that you don't know, look it up after trying to figure it out using context clues. 
• The better your vocabulary gets, the easier it'll be to use context clues to figure out the meaning of new words. It's a win-win situation! 
• Your dictionary is your best friend. Occasionally visit it, find a word you don't know, and learn it's meaning.
• Never stop learning. A good vocabulary is a work in progress. You'll never know all the words in any given language, but don't let that stop you from learning as many as possible. 
• If you're trying to improve your vocabulary, learn a language similar to your native language or the language you're trying to learn. This will help with your vocabulary because you'll be able to identify word roots and make connections between words you never saw before. 
• If your native language is English, learn a Germanic language.
• If you're trying to improve your skills in a Romance language, learn another Romance language. Learning French really helped me with my Spanish skills. 

SAT and ACT Study Guides

The SAT and the ACT are both tests colleges use in the admissions process. Find study guides for each below.

ACT Study Guide: http://www.studyguidezone.com/pdfs/actteststudyguide.pdf

SAT Study Guide: http://www.studyguidezone.com/pdfs/satteststudyguide.pdf

Short SAT Math Review

Below is a concise review of everything you need to know for the mathematics portion of the SAT.

http://professionals.collegeboard.com/profdownload/sat-mathematics-review.pdf

SAT Math Essential Review

With a pre-test, three practice tests, and a comprehensive review of every math concept you need to know for the SAT, this review will help you identify what you need to work on and hone your SAT math skills to perfection.

http://papers.xtremepapers.com/SAT/Math%20Essentials.pdf

1000 SAT Vocabulary Words You Need to Know

From abase to zephyr, here is a comprehensive list of words you need know:

http://img.sparknotes.com/content/testprep/pdf/sat.vocab.pdf

Today's Lesson: Making Test Prep Lessons More Effective

With the big state tests coming up, a lot of tutors, teachers, and students wonder how to make test prep lessons more effective.

Here are some tips:

• Give immediate feedback. If your students are taking a practice test, give feedback on all the questions they got wrong as soon as possible. Give them a list of topics they need to work on.
• Focus on subject-specific vocabulary.
• Take each concept individually. If you are working on science, try focusing on ecology one day and biology the next. If you are doing math, try focusing on geometry one day and algebra the next.
• Occasionally give students practice tests to do independently to gauge what topics you need to focus on further. This will serve a dual purpose of giving students a sense of joy and pride as they see themselves improving from month to month.
• Try to make your lessons fun. If you can, incorporate interactives. This will get harder as test day approaches, but try anyway.
• Keep in mind that learning is more than just taking a test. Some bright students simply don't perform well on high-pressure tests, but that doesn't invalidate what they've learnt. 
• Get your students used to taking tests before the big day. This will help them get used to the format and the directions. 
• Watch your students while they take the test. You may be able to spot where they lose time or get distracted so that you can tell them how to optimize their time and stay focused on the material. 
• Ask for input from your students themselves. Often, older students will tell you exactly what they think they need help with. Younger or shyer students may not. 
• Laugh a little. Test prep can get boring fast, so laughing at a funny name or oddly phrased question is a great way to connect with your students and lighten the all too often serious mood that accompanies high-stress tests.

Let's Get Creative: Talking About Art

Here at Infinite Potential Tutoring, we believe that a well-rounded education consists of more than reading, writing, math, and science. We believe in learning about art, music, film, media, culture, and linguistics. It is unfortunate that some schools do not have the funding to implement fine art education. However, you can learn about art online and at home.

If you live in the United States, you can find a list of museums near you at this link: http://www.museumsusa.org/

If you'd prefer to stay at home and learn, here are some free resources:

KinderArt: http://www.kinderart.com/

http://thevirtualinstructor.com/ (Not everything is free, but a lot of stuff is)

artfactory.com: http://www.artyfactory.com/sitebody/art_lessons.html

A link to links to 100 awesome art lessons on Youtube: http://www.bachelorsdegreeonline.com/blog/2011/100-awesome-art-lessons-on-youtube/

You can also learn a lot about a variety of different subjects at this link to almost 1000 art essays: http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hi/te_index.asp?i=26

There are hundreds more free resources out there if you are willing to do a quick search for "free art lessons online" with your preferred search engine.

Reading List: Banned Books

Over the years, books have been banned, burned, and censored. Some of these books are now considered classics and are on the reading lists of high school English classes everywhere. Some of them you may have heard of. Some of them you may even have read. Some of them plainly express ideas and ideals that make it clear why people of earlier, less enlightened times banned and burned material that is today cherished for the same reasons it was scorned in the past. Some of them, however, leave you wondering why they were censored.

Check out a list of banned classics here: http://www.ala.org/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks/classics

As you read, try to figure out why earlier generations banned books that are now considered essential to a good education. Ask yourself why books are banned, burned, and censored. Do you believe in censorship? What kind of book should be censored, and which should be free for all to read and enjoy? Is it right for anyone else to pass judgement on what you can and cannot read, or should all books be available for individual readers to pass judgement on? Does book censorship ultimately hurt or help society? Does it fly in the face of free speech and free press, or does it serve the purpose of protecting the public from possibly 'dangerous' ideas? Try to imagine a world with stricter censorship, or a world with no censorship.

Leave your thoughts and opinions on this matter in the comments!

Reading List: A People's History of the United States

A People's History of the United States is a book everyone should read at least once in their lifetime. It can be found online here: http://www.historyisaweapon.com/zinnapeopleshistory.html

Note: Other great books, resources, documents, and maps can be found at http://www.historyisaweapon.org/indextrue.html

Learning Video Resource - Crash Course

Crash Course is a great way to review for tests and quizzes or to catch up on a lesson you've missed. It's completely free, and while the maker of the videos tends to talk very fast, he manages to make even the dullest subjects fascinating.

World History: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBDA2E52FB1EF80C9

Biology: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3EED4C1D684D3ADF

Ecology: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8dPuuaLjXtNdTKZkV_GiIYXpV9w4WxbX

Literature: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8dPuuaLjXtOeEc9ME62zTfqc0h6Pe8vb

US History: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8dPuuaLjXtMwmepBjTSG593eG7ObzO7s

Chemistry: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8dPuuaLjXtPHzzYuWy6fYEaX9mQQ8oGr

Shopping List: SAT Prep

Let's be honest with each other. It's hard to do well on a test like the SAT without a lot of preparation. That usually means hours of practice tests, studying vocabulary, doing math drills, and writing practice essays.

Most of the resources on our site are free, but some, like the ones below, are affordably priced resources to help your student do his or her best. While it is not necessary to purchase test-prep materials, for a test like the SAT, I would strongly recommend buying one of the below books. (Fortunately, some of them can be found at your local library for free!)

College Board Official SAT Practice materials, including an online course, the Official SAT Study Guide, the Official SAT Study Guide with a DVD, and an Official Study Guide for all SAT Subject Tests: http://sat.collegeboard.org/sat-store

Applerouth SAT and ACT Prep materials: https://www.applerouth.com/materials/

Princeton Review Books: http://www.randomhouse.com/princetonreview/college/sat/

Princeton Review Online Class: http://www.princetonreview.com/college/online-sat-test-prep.aspx

SAT Prep Black Book: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BS1FT9M/ref=as_li_tf_il?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00BS1FT9M&linkCode=as2&tag=satprepblackbookcom-20

I personally used both the Applerouth and College Board Official books to raise my score 90 points.

However, if you can't afford SAT prep books or classes, it's understandable. A lot of free resources are available online to students for absolutely no cost. Search our blog under the SAT tag and keep coming back to check out the new resources we'll be adding from time to time.

Math Workbooks and Vocabulary for K-5

You can find grade- and age- appropriate math resources at the link below. There are two workbook volumes for each grade, in addition to a vocabulary sheet and a fun 'homework' book that can also be used to practice math skills.

http://www.iusd.org/student_resources/mathematics.html

Pearson Resources

Interactive math videos, worksheets, and textbook resources: http://www.phschool.com/atschool/txtbk_res_math.html

ELA: http://www.phschool.com/atschool/txtbk_res_la.html

Science (Choose your state and a topic): http://www.phschool.com/atschool/txtbk_res_sci.html

Social Studies (Choose your state and a topic): http://www.phschool.com/atschool/txtbk_res_ss.html

Foreign Languages (Primarily Spanish): http://www.phschool.com/atschool/txtbk_res_fl.html

Other, including driving and life skills: http://www.phschool.com/atschool/txtbk_res_ct.html

You can find videos, lessons, links, and much more within these links. If you are having trouble with a topic, click on an applicable textbook and explore the links and videos provided under that topic's headings and subheadings. This is a great way to study for the state tests coming up.

Tests, Tests, and More Tests

Well, the NYS ELA tests are officially over. Yay! You've overcome one of several hurdles you'll be facing this year. All New York State students will be taking their math exams later this month, and fourth and eighth graders also have the state science tests to look forward too. Fifth and eighth graders have social studies exams as well.

I would recommend that you begin preparing for those tests now. Take some practice tests to get an idea of how you will do on those tests.


Practice Tests for Math:

Grade 3: http://www.nysedregents.org/Grade3/Mathematics/home.html

Grade 4: http://www.nysedregents.org/Grade4/Mathematics/home.html

Grade 5: http://www.nysedregents.org/Grade5/Mathematics/home.html

Grade 6: http://www.nysedregents.org/Grade6/Mathematics/home.html

Grade 7: http://www.nysedregents.org/Grade7/Mathematics/home.html

Grade 8: http://www.nysedregents.org/Grade8/Mathematics/home.html

And, for my eighth grade students looking for a challenge, try doing some of the problems on the Algebra Regents: http://www.nysedregents.org/IntegratedAlgebra/


Practice Tests for Science:

Grade 4: http://www.nysedregents.org/Grade4/Science/home.html

Grade 8: http://www.nysedregents.org/Grade8/Science/home.html


Practice Tests for Social Studies:

Grade 5: http://www.nysedregents.org/Grade5/SocialStudies/home.html

Grade 8: http://www.nysedregents.org/Grade8/SocialStudies/home.html