1. Pi is one of the most useful and most used numbers around. Most commonly, you’ll see it used in area and volume calculations, but did you know it’s also used in many professions? NASA uses pi when going to space, doctors use it in medical procedures, and even musicians use pi when studying music theory. Whether for volumes, space travel, or music, if you ever need to remember the value of pi, just think about this cool fact – it’s the word PIE, mirrored: 3.14.
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We are more than halfway through January and (depending where you are) days are short, skies are grey, and temperatures are low. All of this combines to make it the perfect time of year to curl up inside with a blanket and a good book. We spoke with middle school teachers to compile five of their most highly recommended books.
The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak
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Scott Duddy is the Director of Admissions & Enrollment Management at Dexter Southfield School in Brookline, Massachusetts, and brings with him 14 years of professional experience in the world of independent schools. He has served as a secondary school counselor at The Fessenden School and as Director of Financial Aid at Westminster School.
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Your child needs to learn to self-advocate in order to communicate with others, become independent, and grow into a self-sufficient young person. Self-advocacy includes: taking responsibility for communicating with others, speaking up for yourself, knowing how to get help, and being able to listen to others.
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We are excited to share some new updates to the reports in our educator tools with you. If you're a tutor, teacher, or administrator who works with us, you may have already noticed a few changes. If not, you can see them by logging into your account. If you don't yet work with us, and are interested in learning more about what we do for schools, shoot Annie an email.
Highlights
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Scientific research shows that taking practice tests improves learning and memory retention more than studying and reviewing material alone, a phenomenon termed the “testing effect.” Practice tests have also been shown to defend memory against the effects of stress and identify content gaps important in learning.
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We all know that cramming before a test is not the best strategy for success, especially when it comes to exams like the ISEE or SSAT that could affect a student’s academic future. So, when is the best time to start preparing? Short answer: early. Longer answer: at least six to eight months before test day.
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As you research the admissions process for different independent and private schools, you may notice that many schools’ admissions offices mention a holistic review process. What does this mean exactly, and how does it affect your application specifically?
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About the ISEE Essay Section
Did you make it through the ISEE’s four multiple-choice sections? You’re not quite done yet!
The fifth and final section on the ISEE is an essay section. Students are given 30 minutes to write an essay in response to a single prompt. Although the essay is not graded, as we’ll discuss below, it is still a critical part of the test.
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Understanding the SSAT Writing Sample:
For the first section of the SSAT, you will have 25 minutes to produce a sample of your best writing. For the writing sample, you will choose from two prompts: one is a creative prompt in the form of a partial sentence. The other is a question that provides the starting point for a more traditional essay. You should choose the topic that is most interesting to you, and that you feel confident writing!
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