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