Letter from Betty for October 2013

Hello,

We are in the midst of an exciting, yet busy time of year for high school juniors and seniors. Juniors are patiently waiting the results of their PSAT scores and while many have already started prep for the SAT and/or ACT, others will start in mid-December or the first of the year. Seniors are completing early admissions college applications to meet the November 1st deadline. They are also visiting various college campuses so they will be better prepared to gauge where they will complete their undergraduate studies.

Good luck to all upperclassmen while you journey through the maze of the college application process. If there is anything we can do to make the process more positive and less stressful, please let us know.

If you haven't seen our College Wall yet, please stop by for a look. New pennants are added to it frequently to recognize and honor past FFL students and the colleges they attend. This year's additions include: Boston College, James Madison University, Skidmore College, William Paterson University, Michigan University, and Washington and Lee. Congratulations, graduates!


Best Regards,

Betty Bodenweiser

Test Schedules for October 2013

SAT, ACT and SSAT Schedules

How Helen Keller Learned

We know that there are different types of learners and different ways to learn, but the life of Helen Keller is an amazing example of creative instruction and how a ferocious desire to learn can break down barriers and take a student to great heights. Helen Keller (June 1880–June 1968) was a remarkable woman who overcame tremendous personal barriers to become a celebrated American author, political activist, and humanitarian.

Though she is remembered as being deaf, dumb, and blind, she actually was born with the ability to see and hear but lost those senses when she became ill and developed a very high fever when she was just 19 months old. She was closed off from the world except through her sense of touch, and her parents lost their ability to communicate with their daughter. Over time, she developed signs that she could use to “talk” with her family, but because she was so isolated her behavior became very unruly and unmanageable. Just imagine what it was like, how frustrating it was for her to be unable to see or hear the world around her, or to speak or hear the voices of her family.

In 1886, Helen’s mother read a story by Charles Dickens about another deaf/blind woman named Laura Bridgman who was successfully taught to interact with the world. Helen was sent to Baltimore for an evaluation and then was referred to Alexander Graham Bell (the inventor of the telephone, shown with Helen in the photo here), who was working with deaf children at the time. Bell referred Helen to a special school for the blind and there was assigned to recent graduate, Anne Sullivan. Sullivan, who herself was visually impaired, began using a series of techniques to break down the walls that kept Helen so isolated within herself. Endlessly repeating a series of finger motions on the palms of the Helen’s hands (who was extremely frustrated by this exercise) and alternatively running cool water over her hands, Helen excitedly understood the connection between the fingertip touch on her palm and the cool liquid. Anne finally got through to her and Helen learned the idea/symbols for “water.” From there, Helen frantically demanded the names of all the familiar objects, and her world suddenly expanded. A 49-year relationship with Sullivan began.

Together, Anne and Helen moved to Massachusetts to receive schooling from the Perkins Institute for the Blind and then moved to New York to attend the Wright-Humason School for the Deaf and the Horace Mann School for the Deaf. In 1900 they returned to Massachusetts and Helen was admitted to Radcliffe College, where she became the first deaf/blind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree.

Helen’s education did not stop there. She was determined to communicate with others as conventionally as possible, to expand her reach to other people, so Anne Sullivan, still at her side, developed a technique where Helen could use her fingertips to touch Anne’s nose, mouth and throat to feel the different vibrations that different letters and words make. In this way, Helen learned to “hear” and use her own voice to communicate. Wanting to expand her experience even further, she was determined to understand music, and with the patient assistance of the Zoellner Quartet, a highly acclaimed chamber music group originally from Brooklyn, New York, Helen spent hours sitting near the group while they played, touching her fingertips to a nearby tabletop so she could feel the resonant vibrations. In this way, Helen learned about the different musical notes, how the notes worked together and combined with rhythm and pacing, allowing her to “hear” and understand chamber music.

Helen went on to lecture and give speeches advocating for services for the deaf/blind community, workers rights, women’s rights, and women’s health, and is also credited as being a co-founder of the ACLU.

“I long to accomplish a great and noble task, but it is my chief duty to accomplish humble tasks as though they were great and noble. The world is moved along, not only by the mighty shoves of its heroes, but also by the aggregate of the tiny pushes of each honest worker.” ~Helen Keller

“Literature is my Utopia. Here I am not disenfranchised. No barrier of the senses shuts me out from the sweet, gracious discourses of my book friends. They talk to me without embarrassment or awkwardness.” ~ Helen Keller

“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt within the heart.” ~ Helen Keller

For further reading on the amazing life of Helen Keller:

The Story of My Life: With Her Letters (1887-1901) and a Supplementary Account of Her Education, Including Passages... by Helen Keller and Annie Sullivan (Jul 24, 2011)

Helen Keller (Scholastic Biography) by Margaret Davidson and Wendy Watson (Apr 1, 1989)

And here is a great video from a 1930 newsreel of Helen Keller and her teacher Anne Sullivan:

The Puzzler: Five Famous Americans

Helen Keller met and touched and befriended many famous Americans.

QUESTIONS: Can you name all five famous Americans shown with Helen Keller in the photos below?

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Recognize these five famous Americans? Answers next month!








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LAST ISSUE'S PUZZLER: Planet Tri-Gravito, with ANSWER

On the very strange planet of Tri-Gravito the Yellowers, Reddians and Blueys live on three different planes of gravity. Each group's floor is the next group's wall. It is very confusing and even dangerous for everyone. An emergency plan has been proposed that all residents should wear brightly colored yellow, red or blue outfits in order to avoid severe injury. As you can see here, only the leader from each group is wearing the colored safety uniforms. The entire population of 15 people is visible in the picture.

QUESTION:
How many more of each color uniform (yellow, red, and blue) are needed?

For the answer, scroll down...









ANSWER: 4 more yellow, 5 more red, and 3 more blue uniforms.

This intriguing work of art, minus the colors, is "Relativity" from 1953, by M.C. Escher. More works by Escher may be found here.

Letter from Betty

Hello,

I hope that you have had a smooth transition into the new school year. Hopefully the homework routine, as well as the morning and nighttime routines, have been established.

One of the most important events of the school year, Back-to-School Night, is quickly approaching. This is when your child's teacher explains her goals for the class. She shares information about her teaching style and methodology, how she grades, and the requirements for a good grade, as well as upcoming projects. This is valuable information that helps to set the tone for the rest of the year. Listed below is the important information that you should take from the night: 

• An overview of the school day
• Knowledge of what the classroom looks like
• What it's like to sit in your child's seat
• The homework policy
• How to contact the teacher 

This is not the time to talk to one-on-one with the teacher or ask specific questions about your child. Save those conversations for another time; tonight, focus on experiencing your child's daily routine.  Continue reading to learn questions that you can ask the teacher at Back-to-School Night.  

Best Regards, 

Betty Bodenweiser

Test Schedules

SAT, ACT and SSAT Schedules

Tips for Back-to-School Night

Ask the right questions at Back-to-School Night to help your children get the most out of their school year.

• What is the policy on late work and make-up work? How does it affect the student's grade?
• How do I teach my child to complete homework independently?
• How can I check on my son's or daughter's progress in school? Should I call or email the teacher?
• How do I know what the homework is? Is there an online homework calendar?
• May I volunteer in the classroom?

An Illustrated Guide to Study Skills

Your child studies many skills in school: how to read, write, speak in front of others, and much more. But there is one skill that usually is not taught in school, and that is the most important skill of all: how to study. 

Here are 11 illustrated tips for elementary and secondary-level students that serve as a good outline for mastering study skills: 


 

1. Plan your days. Time management is a valuable life skill. Planner books can help. Mapping out all major school deadlines, due dates, and events as well as family and personal activities in one place helps kids visualize their week, manage their time, and stay on track. 



 

2. Bring order to your world. Organize your materials. Keeping notes, projects, and books in logical order helps children find what they need, right when they need it. Decrease hunting for materials time and increase actual study time. 



 

3. Break up projects. Divide large projects into more bite-sized pieces. Review concepts one at a time. 












 

4. Take good notes. Learning how to think by writing and taking good notes is a skill that will last a lifetime. Search for main ideas. Draw arrows to connect ideas. Add a star for the important concepts. Learn to write quickly and legibly. 




 

5. Repeat repeat repeat. Slow and steady wins the race, and this is the best way to study. Review your class notes and materials daily at home.  








 

6. Learn with others. Studying with friends in small groups outside of school can make work seem like play and turn tedium into accomplishment. 








 

7. Harp on it. Be dogged and determined and follow through with action. Getting work done consistently and with care and on time is one of the best ways to achieve success in school and later in life as well. 











 

8. Zone out and focus in. Concentrating is so important. Don't let distraction get in the way, keep cell phones in pockets, and watch out for chatty classmates. 







 

9. Listen hard, ask questions. Students can get tripped up by sneaky test instructions or tricky homework. Prompt your kids to listen carefully and to be bold about asking questions if they don’t understand an assignment or test directions. 









 

10. Work hard, play hard. There is a time for all things, including fun. Reward your kids with a fun family activity, a favorite snack, a board game, or a sing-along. Let them know you see the effort they are making. Cheer them on with words of encouragement and don't forget to laugh and be light of heart. It all helps.  



 

11. Finally, know that help is close at hand. If preparing for tests is a tough ordeal and your child is losing confidence, a lack of study skills could be at fault. Luckily, there are places to go for help. For example, here at Foundation for Learning we have a great record of helping kids improve study skills. 

The Puzzler: Planet Tri-Gravito

On the very strange planet of Tri-Gravito the Yellowers, Reddians and Blueys live on three different planes of gravity. Each group's floor is the next group's wall. It is very confusing and even dangerous for everyone. An emergency plan has been proposed that all residents should wear brightly colored yellow, red or blue outfits in order to avoid severe injury. As you can see here, only the leader from each group is wearing the colored safety uniforms. The entire population of 15 people is visible in the picture.  

QUESTION:  
How many more of each color uniform (yellow, red and blue) are needed? 

 

This intriguing work of art, minus the colors, is "Relativity" from 1953, by M.C. Escher. More works by Escher may be found here. 

------------------------------------------------ 


LAST ISSUE'S PUZZLER: Mona Lisa Mischief, with ANSWER 

The mischievous criminal known as Dr. Phi has struck again! Last night at midnight, the geometry-obsessed prankster was seen breaking into the Louvre Museum in Paris, France and stealing Leonardo da Vinci's famous Mona Lisa painting. Based on the evidence, police authorities are worried that Dr. Phi has sliced up the priceless work into odd-shaped bits and pieces. It is up to you, students of the world, to unravel the mystery. Dr. Phi left behind a ransom note and the strange image seen below. The note reads: 

"Tell me the name of the rectangles shown 
 And unharmed I'll return it—we'll just call it a loan! 
              BWAH HA HA HA!!! - Dr. Phi." 

QUESTION: What is Dr. Phi talking about? Fill in the blank below: 

This image shows many examples of a _______________ rectangle. 

 

ANSWER: Golden rectangle.  

 

EXPLANATION: The Greeks discovered a proportion they named the golden ratio. When this ratio is used to form a rectangle, it is called a golden rectangle. The Greeks considered the golden ratio and golden rectangles to be beautiful and used them extensively in their architecture. In fact the golden ratio proportion is found throughout the natural world and even in human hands and faces and eyes!. 

You can learn more here about golden rectangles and how they relate to the Mona Lisa. 

Letter from Betty, from the August Bookmarks Newsletter

Hello,  Cooler weather and a new school year are upon us! I find myself reaching for my sweater when I leave the house in the morning and spending less time on the deck during the evening hours. Although I will miss the long summer days, I enjoy the structure that the school year offers. School shopping has begun and college students are preparing to say their goodbyes. There is a sense of excitement and energy, as well as the dismay and nervousness in the air as the new school year approaches.  This time of year is a perfect opportunity to help my students set goals. Everyone sets academic goals, but many students also set goals to improve their athletic skills, their position in the school band or chorus, or as part of a theater production. The most effective strategy to help your children succeed in all their school goals is very simple, though perhaps it's easier said than done: a good night's sleep before every school day! Remember to start the school year morning and nighttime routines at least one week prior to the start of the school year. This way when the year starts, your children will be ready to go! Please remember to call us at Foundation for Learning for final ACT and SAT Prep! Best Regards, Betty Bodenweiser

Test Schedules

SAT, ACT and SSAT Schedules

Library Card Sign-up Month

September is Library Card Sign-up Month. If you and your children don't already have a card, visit your local library early in the month, so you can start taking books out right away. Consider weekly trips to the library throughout the school year to gather books that help your children complete projects and reports. Remember that the library is free!

American Classics Quiz - Part 2

Name the Books by their Covers

Here are four more book covers from classic works of American literature (See Part 1 of this article on our blog). 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.  The Pit and the Pendulum
3.  The Red Badge of Courage
4.  The Great Gatsby
5.  The Last of the Mohicans
6.  Call of the Wild
7.  Tarzan of the Apes
8.  Moby Dick
9.  The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
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 = 9. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving

B = 1. The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne




C = 3. The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane




D = 6. Call of the Wild by Jack London


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

The Puzzler: Mona Lisa Mischief

The mischievous criminal known as Dr. Phi has struck again! Last night at midnight, the geometry-obsessed prankster was seen breaking into the Louvre Museum in Paris, France and stealing Leonardo da Vinci's famous Mona Lisa painting. Based on the evidence, police authorities are worried that Dr. Phi has sliced up the priceless work into odd-shaped bits and pieces. It is up to you, students of the world, to unravel the mystery. Dr. Phi left behind a ransom note and the strange image seen below. The note reads:

"Tell me the name of the rectangles shown
 And unharmed I'll return it—we'll just call it a loan!
              BWAH HA HA HA!!! - Dr. Phi."

QUESTION: What is Dr. Phi talking about? Fill in the blank below:

This image shows many examples of a _______________ rectangle.

(HINT 1: The Ancient Greeks liked to use this type of rectangle in their architecture.)

(HINT 2: Yes these images do resemble our fictitious Squaroos. Remind yourself about that on our blog, here and here.)


------------------------------------------------


LAST ISSUE'S PUZZLER with ANSWER

Pine Cone

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?

ANSWER: OK, you guessed it! This was a trick question. The pattern on the pine cone spirals in both clockwise and counter-clockwise directions! 




BONUS ANSWER: The least number of colors needed to reveal the spiral patterns are: 3 colors for clockwise (seen here as yellow, red and pink) and 2 colors for counter-clockwise (seen here as blue and green). 

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!