Letter from Betty, from the June Bookmarks Newsletter

Hello, 

What an exciting time of year! Many of our students are moving on to middle school and high school, while others will be starting college. We are proud to share that our students will be attending schools including Washington and Lee, Boston College, James Madison University, and Michigan University. We wish all of our students the best as they begin the next step of their academic career!
 

If rising seniors have not already done so, now is the time to start visiting colleges so you can gain a better understanding of what each college has to offer. You should also be thinking about completing the Common Application over the summer when schedules are less rigid. See below for more information about the Common Application.

Finally, for many, summer is the time for more relaxed reading. Enjoy our American Classics quiz to see if you can name the books by their covers. And just for fun, try to color in our Pine Cone Puzzler and see for yourself which way it spirals.

Best Regards,

Betty Bodenweiser

College Essays

Just a reminder that this summer is the time your rising senior should be working on and completing college essays and applications. It might seem early; however, the goal is to complete all of this work before school starts in September. History has shown that fall of senior year is extremely hectic (testing, homework, sports, college visits, etc.) and since many schools review applications in the order they are received, we want to be at the "head of the pack."

 

After many years of working on college essays and applications, I am able to help my students organize and complete this sometimes daunting task with the least amount of stress. What you should know:

• No, your school list does not need to be finalized to do this during the summer.
• Most of the work will be done at home with periodic appointments to refine the essays.
• This work meshes perfectly with your irregular, spur-of-the-moment, busy summer.

I am now scheduling these sessions. You can reach me at the office (973-425-1774) or on my cell (973-479-6749) with any questions and to set up an initial appointment. I am excited to work with your rising senior!

 

Donna Portny

American Classics Quiz

Name the Books by their Covers

Here are four book covers from classic works of American literature. Do you recognize these colorful scenes? Here is your challenge: The following list of books contains the four correct titles to go with the four book cover illustrations shown above. See if you can name the books by their covers.

 

1. The Scarlet Letter
2. To Kill a Mockingbird
3. The Red Badge of Courage
4. The Great Gatsby
5. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
6. Call of the Wild
7. The Grapes of Wrath
8. Invisible Man
9. Fahrenheit 451
10. A Farewell to Arms

Have you got the four answers?

OK.

Scroll down...







And down...







Just a bit more.........









Here are the four answers:

A = 5. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

B = 7. The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck

C = 2. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

D = 9. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury


These are all wonderful books. If you haven't read them, or it has been a few years, this summer would be a great time to give one of them a try. Happy summer reading!

The Puzzler: Pine Cone

 Which way does it spiral?

Here is the pattern from an actual pine cone. Get out 3 or 4 different colored pencils or markers and color in the sections using alternating colors to make a spiral pattern. When you are done, the pattern should look like curving spokes of a wheel, radiating out from the center. 

 

QUESTION: Which direction does the spiral go on this pine cone: clockwise or counter-clockwise?

BONUS: What is the least number of colors you need to reveal the spiral pattern?

 

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ANSWER to LAST ISSUE'S PUZZLER

Planet Squarzoid

In a squarish spiral galaxy far, far away live strange square-based lifeforms known as Squaroos. 

 

Baby Squaroos have little red bodies, 1 squark wide. 

 

How many squarks wide is an adult Squaroo's big dark blue head? To find out, look at this Squaroo growth pattern and fill in the last number:

 

1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, ____?

 

 

ANSWER: 13

EXPLANATION: This pattern is called the Fibonacci Series after the Italian mathematician who discovered it. This number series begins with a pair of 1's and after that each number in the series equals the sum of the 2 previous numbers: 1 + 1 = 2, 1 + 2 = 3, 2 + 3 = 5, etc. This pattern is found abundantly in nature, for example, in the growth pattern of pine cones (Hmmm, is that a hint for this month's puzzler above?). 

Good Reads

The Dyslexic Advantage by Brock and Fernette Eide should be a required read for all parents and educators of dyslexic students as well as high school and college students who have been diagnosed with dyslexia. It points to the many successful architects, lawyers, engineers—even bestselling novelists—who had difficulty learning how to read. Eide and Eide emphasize the different learning styles of the dyslexic: Material Reasoning (used by architects and engineers); Interconnected Reasoning (scientists and designers); Narrative Reasoning (storytellers and lawyers) and Dynamic Reasoning (economists and entrepreneurs). Strategies for teaching reading, spelling, and writing to dyslexic individuals —from elementary to college—are also included as well as strategies students can use independently.

How Children Succeed by Paul Tough emphasizes the importance of good character to be successful. The need for an individual to exhibit perseverance, curiosity, conscientiousness, optimism, and self-control is just as important, if not more important than intelligence when success is measured. Tough explains that playing the game Simon (remember the electronic game in which you copied the patterns of green, blue, red and yellow lights?) is an asset for any of us, especially younger children, as it necessitates the skill of working memory, a critical skill for academic success.

Let's Get Physical

How can you get your whole family in the exercise habit? The easiest way is to think about it in a different way. Lead an active life with your children, and you can reap the benefits of fun, fitness and mental alertness.

Here are five great ways to get physical:

Dance party

Kids are natural dancers. Clear the furniture to one side and turn up the tunes. Model some goofy dance styles and sing along. This is exercise masquerading as pure fun. Who doesn't like that?

Monkey business

Have a weekly family game of animal charades. Let each family member imitate the physical antics of their favorite animal to stump the others, such as a monkey walk, an elephant shuffle, or a tiger pounce.

Chores as games

Household chores can be transformed into games. For example, continue the dance party through the house as you empty waste baskets with a spin or add some stylish wiggles to your picking up the toys routine.

Yard and garden fun

Rake leaves together in the fall. Pick up stray sticks and branches off the lawn after a breezy or stormy night. If you are blessed with snow, shovel the walk, build a snowman or a snow fort, or make snow angels. During warmer months, dig in the dirt and tend the gardens together.

The evening walk

Take time with your family before or after dinner and stretch your legs together with a walk through your neighborhood. Don't forget to bring the dog. Walking is considered one of the very best forms of exercise. No need to run all the time. Have a nice stroll. As an added benefit, walking is conducive to stimulating conversations.

The Puzzler: Planet Squarzoid

In a squarish spiral galaxy far, far away live strange square-based lifeforms known as Squaroos. 

Baby Squaroos have little red bodies, 1 squark wide. 

Squaroo toddlers have two square red legs and an oversized orange head. Pretty cute, huh? As Squaroos grow older more squares appear. In elementary school Squaroos have grown a yellow head, which they can't hold up because they have learned the 144-letter Squaroo alphabet, which makes them tired. By middle school they have grown a new green head. They are embarrassed a lot at this age so they spend all their time upside-down, hiding from others. In high school they lie on their backs dreaming, looking up at the sky with their sky-blue heads. Fully grown Squaroos stand upright because they have so much to do. They have dark blue heads and are made up seven squares. 

How many squarks wide is an adult Squaroo's big dark blue head? To find out, look at this Squaroo growth pattern and fill in the last number:

1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, ____?

HINT: The fact that there are 144 letters in the Squaroo alphabet is of no help in solving the puzzle.

ANSWER to LAST ISSUE'S PUZZLER

What gets wetter and wetter the more it dries?

(HINT: It's got nothing to do with flowers or rain.)





ANSWER: A towel.