Monday, March 23, 2020

Chemistry Revision Resources

Chemistry Revision Resources What Resources to Call On for Chemistry Revision ChaptersGeneral Resources for Reviewing ChemistryResources From Across the PondChemistry Review Materials for GCSE-Level StudentsA-Levels Review ResourcesT’is that time of year again, when students start buckling down and really focusing on their upcoming exams... even though they will sit them months from now.As you well know, these exams, whether A-Levels or GCSEs, are life-changing.At the very least, they represent your chance at higher education. At most, they make the difference between satisfying career opportunities and forever being stuck at the low end of the pay scale.Your Superprof is well aware of the significance of your upcoming ordeal and wants to do everything to help you succeed. In that spirit, we present the best review materials for a subject some say is their most difficult: Chemistry.From apps and podcasts to websites and reference materials you can find at your local library, we’ve searched far and wide to bring you the best chemistry revision materials so that you don’t have to scurry from site to site, hoping you’ve found the Holy Grail of exam review.Off we pop now, on a virtual tour of everything you might need to ace your exams.GCSE science review.And their collection of literature is unrivaled!RSC maintains a database of chemistry books, abstracts and journals that are free to all.You may read about catalysts and chemical reaction or simply peruse their blog, which consists of a variety of topics published by members of the Society themselves.We’d be tempted to say that the Royal Society of Chemistry should be your one-stop shop but there is so much more out there!One more feature offered on this site: a link to ChemSpider, a professional chemists’ database that details everything you could ever want to know about any chemical, including its different names and isotope count.Resources From Across the PondGranted, the American school science curriculum is vastly different from ours.Still, chemistry remains the same no mat ter which side of the Atlantic you are and, just because the accent is different, doesn’t mean we shouldn’t explore what resources are available to you that originate over there.The Khan Academy has compiled a generous video library, broken down into Organic Chemistry, Nuclear Chemistry, General Chemistry and AP Chemistry â€" those topics being most similar to our A-Levels subject matter.Through these videos that explain chemistry concepts step by step, you may brush up on:The electronic structure of atomsChemical bonding, including covalent bondingAcids, bases and chemical equilibriumStoichiometry and molecular compositionRedox reactions and electrochemistryAfter watching the video, you may complete the included exercises related to that subject and, afterward, take a quiz to assess your degree of mastery of the topic.This entire collection is free for anyone to partake of, as are the videos on Crash Course Chemistry.Some of them are elementary, such as the ones about lab safet y and the basic explanation of the electron but others are more on target with your studies, such as enthalpy, entropy and calorimetry.Just remember that only the accent is different on these resources; the science is solid... and helpful!Your local library may have science books you could study from Source: Pixabay Credit: Workingham LibrariesChemistry Review Materials for GCSE-Level StudentsNow we get to the meat of the matter: what are the best apps, games, websites, and books that will give you the greatest chance at acing your exam?While most of the ones mentioned so far require you to sift through tons of information for that specific nugget you are looking for, these address topics you can count on seeing, come test time.Here are our favourite Chemistry revision books.The Best Chemistry Review AppsAfter the Royal Society of Chemistry’s super-functional periodic table app, your next-best pick would be Complete Chemistry for Android (it is not yet available for iOS).The basic chemistry topics can help reinforce your knowledge of chemistry fundamentals while the advanced dictionary will give you a handy reference for chemistry nomenclature.The periodic table is built-in, as is a notepad and a quiz bank.You should note that there is a book by the same name, meant for the IGCSE candidate, that might prove helpful to you, as well.The international version of your exam is not so different than the one you anticipate sitting and, in any case, the science stays the same from one exam to the next!You may want to download your free copy of this best-regarded revision manual...Find more chemistry revision apps to hel you study.The Best Chemistry GamesWhile we would never accuse anyone of putting off their studies in favour of fun in the digital realm, we agree with all of the science that says taking a multi-pronged approach to your studies is beneficial.To that end, let Superprof steer you to a couple of award-winning, chemistry-related games.SpaceChem: your mis sion as a Reactor Engineer is to build molecules and place them within a quadrant, building a circuit through which atoms and electrons may flow.Touted as the best Indie game the year of its release, today it is also used as a teaching tool at the college level, in the chemistry department as well as the computer programming department.ChemCaper  is the world’s first chemistry role-play game in which you, as the character Roub, must save your world by collecting elements, brewing potions and overseeing bonding processes.Targeted to teenagers, the chemistry principles are woven into the story in such a way that students internalise them and remember them, even if they’ve not played for a while.Get the best chemistry tuition on Superprof now.The adventure is available for download for both iOS and Android systems.A-Levels Review ResourcesMost likely, your beaker runneth over with review materials and, should that be the case, we’re very happy for your bounty... but is it enough? More specifically: is there enough variety in your study materials that you don’t feel that chemistry revision is the most dreadful facet of your life so far?Let Superprof help you mix things up a little by suggesting a few chemistry websites you might check out if only to assert you have a firm grasp on your subject material.ThoughtCo is a thought-provoking website that comprises of bite-sized information on any given topic, including chemistry.What we love about it is that it is not targeted to any particular group - students or professionals. Every concept is presented in terms that are easy to grasp and easy to build on.Their series of chemistry articles cover everything from chemical laws to chemistry in everyday life.I find this website sometimes hard to turn away from for its sheer wealth of fascinating, well-presented topics!By contrast, ChemSpider is all business.A chemical structures database used by industry and endorsed by the Royal Society of Chemistry, you may tap in to this page’s vast information stores to refresh your memory on any chemical’s properties.If you are looking for resources more in line with the focus of your studies, Study Wise is the page for you.Whether you will sit AQA, OCR or Edexcel, their review materials are organised in such a way that you may concern yourself with only the specifics of the exam you will sit.Past papers and marking schemes, revision notes for inorganic, organic and physical chemistry; videos, mindmaps, quizzes and more...Were it not for the firm belief that students should avail themselves to a wide spectrum of study materials, we might proclaim this site to be the only one you need!That would mean you would miss out on these great blogs, though.Today’s educational philosophy advocates for exposure to multiple sources of information so that students may draw their own conclusions based on their individual learning styles.By reading articles that are more closely aligned with the function of chemistr y in everyday applications, you may get a clearer picture of chemistry fundamentals and how they apply outside of the lab.Compound Interest is a blog that reflects on the history of chemistry and how chemistry impacts our lives today.The Chronicle Flask’s mission is to dispel junk science by presenting factual research pertinent to our daily life.Scholarly Kitchen features guest posts by scientists active in academic research. Their site also hosts a podcast for you to partake of while you’re on the go!Between these review materials and the resources your school or tutor may have presented you with, chances are your diligence in studying chemistry will yield desired results!

Friday, March 6, 2020

Yoga for Couples

Yoga for Couples What Are the Benefits of Doing Yoga as a Couple? ChaptersWhy Practise Yoga as a Couple?Working Together as a Couple through YogaYoga as a Couple: Doing Poses TogetherYoga as a Couple: Improving Your Relationship“Remember, we all stumble, every one of us. That's why it's a comfort to go hand in hand.” - Emily KimbroughMore and more people are taking up yoga. With sun salutations, breathing exercises, muscle toning, and mindfulness meditation, yoga is an activity with a lot of benefits. However, since yoga is predominantly a physical activity, it can be difficult to motivate ourselves to attend a class. Sometimes the easiest solution is to have someone to go with.There are between 300,000 and 460,000 people doing yoga in the UK. While yoga was once seen as a pursuit for elderly hippies, more and more younger people have taken it up. The number of men doing yoga has also greatly increased. Yoga is for everyone, after all.So why not do yoga as a couple?Be it nidra yoga, dynamic yoga, prenatal yoga, Iyengar yoga, or karma yoga, anyo ne can enjoy the benefits of yoga.In this article, we're going to look at how doing yoga postures, stretching, chanting, and meditating can help couples improve their awareness of themselves and the world around them, enjoy the restorative properties of the yoga practice, and achieve deeper harmony between their mind, body, and spirit.It doesn't matter whether you're a beginner or an expert, you and your partner can start healing your body and mind, relieving tension, and improving your physical and emotional wellbeing through yoga as a couple.Search for  yoga near me  now. CarleyYoga Teacher 5.00 (5) £100/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LynnYoga Teacher 4.89 (9) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors GenYoga Teacher £45/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JulieYoga Teacher £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AliceYoga Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LauraYoga Teacher 5.00 (6) £70/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Und ramYoga Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LottieYoga Teacher £10/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsWhy Practise Yoga as a Couple?The search for inner peace isn’t necessarily a journey that you need to do on your own. In fact, yoga poses done in pairs are often easier to do for the simple reason that you’ll have someone to emulate as you do them. Additionally, every part of your mind, body, and spirit will be put to use. Let’s not forget that yoga is still a physical activity.Yoga is a great discipline on your own. It's even better with your partner. (Source: mubrodie)While we often think that couples aren’t suited to doing sports together, yoga is the perfect discipline that combines the mind and body of both participants, allowing them to encourage one another and help each other achieve poses that would otherwise be difficult to do. This is a type of yoga that instantly becomes easier because you get to do it with your soulmate.There are plenty o f great reasons to practise yoga as a couple:Develop mutual trust through doing poses as a coupleGet to know your partner betterBuild confidence as a coupleEnjoy the benefits of yoga togetherDiscover a new hobby with your partnerLearn new exercises that only a couple can do togetherGet support during these exercisesSpend time together outside of the houseMeet new people togetherAnd many others!Whether you do yoga with or without an instructor or tutor, you can enjoy the benefits of doing the poses together. When you do yoga as a couple, you’re doing yoga cooperatively, not competitively. It’s a sporting and spiritual activity where all participants can improve their physical wellbeing, manage stress, and achieve perfect alignment and harmony. What a great way to work as a pair!If you’re pregnant, there’s also prenatal yoga! This is a type of yoga therapy for those whose bodies are changing throughout pregnancy and through gentle yoga breathing techniques. Of course, before y ou get in touch with a yoga instructor about different types of yoga for pregnant women, make sure you check with a medical practitioner whether or not you can. While yoga is good for stress reduction, it's not advised that you do it in the final trimester of pregnancy.Working Together as a Couple through YogaIf there’s one thing to be said about doing yoga as a couple, it’s that it’s easier to do a lot of poses. Whether you’re doing traditional yoga, kundalini yoga, integral yoga, or even yoga online, it’s easier to build your confidence by working with somebody else. Pranayama, meditation, and twisting poses can all be done as a pair. Less back pain, more love!You may need to get another mat and another bike! (Source: dolvita108)Practising yoga as a couple is a great way to get more out of each yoga pose as well as having a shared experience with your other half. Yoga is a great way to improve your relationship by improving your flexibility, alleviating pains, managing y our breathing, and being more mindful of your body, mind, and spirit. You can go even further together!While it’s unlikely that both members of the couple will be equally as flexible and certain poses will be easier for one of you, yoga is about progressing together and helping each other to progress without feeling like there’s a huge gulf in terms of your abilities. It doesn’t matter if one of you is better at the cobra than the other.So is that what yoga’s about?  Helping each other achieve our objectives and discover new things about ourselves and each other together?Practising yoga is about working out who we are and what we’re capable of physically, mentally, and spiritually. It’s a much easier journey if you have someone to share it with.There's no age limit when it comes to yoga! Find out more about yoga for seniors.Yoga as a Couple: Doing Poses TogetherAs a yogi, you’ll have to adapt your poses to that of your partner while discovering new ones you can do toge ther. Some will be more complicated and require more flexibility. However, couples have the advantage of being able to do yoga differently and focus on sharing.Unlike other sporting disciplines, yoga isn't competitive. (Source: sasint)Doing yoga as a couple also means that you can motivate one another and enjoy the values of sport, positive thinking, mindfulness, and pushing each further physically, mentally, and spiritually. Similarly, you get to relax together during a yoga session.Whether you’re doing the candle or more complicated poses, you can turn almost every yoga pose into a pose for two. You can make the poses more effective in terms of the physical benefits, improve your self-confidence, and help one another.Thus, after just a few lessons, you’ll be able to make a lot of progress, breathe new life into one another, and do more than you could ever imagine doing on your own. However, you also need to be mindful of yourself and your partner.Yoga is for everyone. Those wi th physical disabilities should find out more about disability yoga.Yoga as a Couple: Improving Your RelationshipWhether you’re doing poses together or breathing exercises, doing yoga as a couple is a great idea for improving your relationship and making more vibrant, stable, and enjoyable. You’ll be able to see your partner striving to improve themselves and think more positively. This is enough to make any yogi jealous!Through yoga, you can reconnect as a couple. (Source: Free-Photos)Practising a sport together can help take your relationship to another level. Practising a spiritual activity can also help your relationship become more harmonious, trusting, and positive. You’ll progress in a different way as to how you would if you were doing it on your own.Couples need to complement one another. In fact, the notion of complementarity is one of the key aspects of yoga.Helping each other, building mutual trust, doing sequences of fluid poses, mindfulness meditation, and breath ing exercises... what more could you ask for?Yoga is a rich discipline when practised alone. It’s even richer when done as a couple. You can complement one another’s physical and spiritual efforts and see each other in a new light whether you’re doing a sun salutation, the candle, or the cobra together. That’s the beauty of yoga!If you're looking for a yoga class, be it hatha yoga, vinyasa yoga, power yoga, etc., you can search for private tutors on Superprof. There are yoga teachers offering yoga classes for beginners, intermediates, and experts.You can find tutors offering one-on-one yoga tutorials, online tutorials, and group tutorials. Online tutorials tend to be the cheapest as the tutors won't have to travel or pay for equipment to loan out to students. However, it tends to be better having someone there to correct you when you're doing yoga so that you don't cause yourself an injury by doing a pose wrong.Group tutorials can be cheaper because tutors get to earn more p er hour by teaching several aspiring yogis at once. Each student gets a discount on the hourly rate while the instructor can increase their earnings. Get some friends and their partners together and do a group couples' yoga class!If you're a yoga teacher, you can create a profile on Superprof. Make sure you mention what kind of yoga practices you specialise in, where you'll be teaching yoga, and your experience as a yogi.

Thursday, March 5, 2020

5 Questions to Ask Your Campus Tour Guide

5 Questions to Ask Your Campus Tour Guide College tours are a great opportunity to get a sense of a school you either have or are planning to apply to. Spending time on campus allows you to see classrooms and facilities, observe student life, and experience the overall campus atmosphere. Your tour guide can be a great resource to gain insider information about the school and to help answer your important questions. Questions to ask your campus tour guide can include what their favorite thing about this school is, what is something they wish they could change about the school, and how their experiences have been with their professors. Looking to get the most out of your campus tour? Keep reading to learn five questions to ask your campus tour guide. Question #1 to ask your campus tour guideHow was your transition from high school to college? Every persons experience is different, but this question can help you develop a sense of how this particular college or university supports incoming freshmen. Asking this question can also help you answer additional questions like: Does this school have special resources or programs to support you academically in your first year? What residence programs or social activities can help you connect with other freshmen? Does the school offer a well-executed orientation to introduce you to freshman opportunities? You might be feeling apprehensive about your own transition to college, so talking to your tour guide could help calm your nerves and offer some useful insights. [RELATED: 3 Questions to Ask Yourself When Narrowing Your College Search] Question #2 to ask your campus tour guideWhats your favorite thing about the school? Learning what the college or university does well from a student perspective is essential. This is especially helpful when you know your own priorities and what you need from your college experience. If youre looking for student life with a variety of clubs and organizations, your tour guide may be able to give you valuable insights on this aspect of campus life. If youre concerned about having a multitude of internship opportunities, it can be helpful to learn how your tour guide views the available positions. Asking pointed questions specific to your priorities will help you pinpoint if this school is the right fit for you. [RELATED: A Summer Checklist for Incoming College Freshmen] Question #3 to ask your campus tour guideWhat is one thing you wish you could change about your school? While its important to learn about all of the positives the school can offer you, its also beneficial to understand any shortcomings. You could ask whether or not the dorms are too crowded, or if its difficult to get a spot in popular classes. Identify specific things that may be deal-breakers for you, and create your questions around those. Remember, every person is different and has a unique experience. However, this information can be especially helpful when trying to make a final decision. [RELATED: How to Create Your First College Schedule] Question #4 to ask your campus tour guideWhat do students typically do on the weekends? This question helps you get a sense of student life. If the college is primarily a commuter school, thats helpful to know before attending. Similarly, if its a school where Greek life dominates the weekend activities, regardless of your Greek life opinion, this will be beneficial to know. Other questions to ask may include: Does the school have room for students to live on campus so that you can spend time with other freshmen on the weekends? Do students typically venture off campus on the weekends? Question #5 to ask your campus tour guideWhat is your experience with your professors? Are the professors willing to help if you need extra assistance? Are they interested in your learning and growth? Would they be willing to give you a letter of recommendation if you needed one for an internship? Professors are a central part of your educational experience, so its necessary to know how they are at a given school. Before attending your campus tour, identify your priorities and what you hope to get out of your college experience. Develop a list of questions that address your concerns and will allow you to more easily narrow down your college choices. Any topics you want to know more about? Let us know! The Varsity Tutors Blog editors love hearing your feedback and opinions. Feel free to email us at blog@varsitytutors.com.

Where to Find Singing Lessons in Nottingham

Where to Find Singing Lessons in Nottingham Where Can You Learn to Sing in Nottingham? ChaptersSing with a ChoirTake Singing Lessons with a Voice CoachTake Private Lessons with a TutorWhen confronted with the prospect of writing about singing lessons in Nottingham, the first thought that came to mind was the 1890s smash hit Daisy Bell (a Bicycle Built for Two) that was written by British songwriter Frank Dean, which went on to become a global sensation.Mr Dean was not of Nottingham and, by all accounts, had never been there. However, the Raleigh Bicycle Company is based there and the song makes reference to a bike...It is a deceptively simple song but tricky to sing nevertheless. One could not render it faithfully unless able to sing, an assertion that leads to the conclusion that, short of being naturally talented, singing lessons would be the order of the day.Where is a Nottinghamian to turn for voice training? Must there be formal conservatoire lessons if the intent is to enjoy a night out with mates at the karaoke bar?Today, your Superprof prowls the streets of thi s multicultural city to find formal, informal and casual outlets where you can train your voice.Furthermore, you don’t have to have a repertoire or even know your vocal range: those choir directors have a knack for placing complementary voices close together.You will be pleasantly surprised to find that their songbooks consist of popular melodies chosen by the choir members themselves; perhaps tunes you’ve sung along with on your commute to and from work, in the privacy of your car. What a great way to calm those beginner singer nerves!You may join them at any of their five locations throughout the city â€" Gelding, Carlton, Kimberly, Bingham and Bramcote or attend all of their evening meets; one for each night of the week.The cost for joining them is a reasonable £50 for 10 weeks, which affords you the privilege of attending as many sessions as you’d like. They also offer a part-time membership for £30 per term.The Tuneless ChoirIf ever there were a singing group to report on, this one would be it.The Tuneless Choir originated in Nottingham, started by a group of people who are aware that singing brings a host of physical as well as emotional health benefits.Founded on that philosophy, you can imagine that they would not wish you to incur any stress; therefore they will not ask you to audition... and nobody gets turned away!If you feel the pressure of your workday getting to you by midmorning, you don’t have to wait till evening to blow off any steam; Tuneless meets at lunchtime, on Goldsmith Street, at the St. Andrew with Castlegate URC Church.You will be asked to part with £5 each session â€" not a high price to pay to take a midday stress break!Nottingham has so many choral groups, it would be impossible for us to feature them all.Whether you like musical theatre or wish to tune your pipes to the classically trained singers of the Bach Choir, you will certainly find a singing group or two to suit your tastes in Nottingham.Take Singing Lessons wi th a Voice CoachIf your goal is to become a recording artist, lessons with a singing coach would be strongly advised Source: Pixabay Credit: DayronVAs mentioned before, singing â€" even if just for fun, offers many health benefits.While you may reap some of those benefits from singing informally with a choir, they would be magnified if you learn how to sing with a singing coach.You may think that voice lessons are all about opening your mouth and letting it rip, hopefully finding your confidence along the way. In fact, singing is a very technical endeavour involving parts of you that you might not have thought would matter to your ability to belt out a tune.For starters, your posture will fall under scrutiny.Have you ever noticed how famous singers keep their head high and shoulders pulled back? You may have to undergo physical conditioning to emulate their stance!To be a better than average vocalist, you must learn proper breathing. To that end, your singing teacher will demonstrat e breathing techniques and breath control.Ear training is another vital aspect of learning to sing. Indeed, an untrained ear my keep you from distinguishing pitch and tone, causing you to sing off key.While your voice teacher lays down the physical aspects of singing, s/he will also teach you how to read music and a bit about music theory.You may wonder why you need to dive so deeply into music studies when all you want to do is sing. You need to know about music theory so that you can competently speak the language of musicians.What is the difference between a baritone and a tenor? What key is that piece written in? What tempo?You needn’t worry that voice teachers are really college professors in disguise, intent on hammering home a bunch of theory.  They are really more interested in imparting vocal techniques and seeing to your vocal health by making sure you avoid straining your vocal cords.Those listed in this table are among the best voice teachers in Nottingham but, as ment ioned before, this being such a musical city, by no means is this list all-inclusive!NameWhat they teachAddressPhoneWebsiteSerena LindsayRudiments, breathing techniques, voice control, exam prepLessons are in your home0771 316 6559http://www.serena-voicetraining.netSarah CarlinMusic theory, beginners through advanced; exam prepRavenshead0792 119 2319http://sarahcarlin.comAlan JohnsonRock and pop singing, show tunes, opera, classicalArnold Nottingham Nottinghamshire NG5 8DD0115 920 0417https://www.musicteachers.co.uk/area/nottingham/singing/teachers/S. AngellBeginners to advanced singers music theory exam prepNottinghamshire NG18 5HL0743 556 1994Colin Reedclassical, opera, musical theatre, choral musicNewark-on-Trent NG24 1RF0797 395 2447Why not see what Belfast has in the way of singing teachers?Take Private Lessons with a TutorMany private tutors offer singing lessons to young and old, but not always at the same time. Source: Pixabay Credit: GemmaRay23The opportunities for learning how to sing so far are with a choir â€" among groups of admittedly friendly and enthusiastic people, and with the vocal coach of your choosing.Both of those options call for several criteria to be met: you must feel confident enough to step out of your comfort zone and subject yourself to critique. In taking voice lessons with a music teacher, you may be subjected to far more knowledge than you wanted to learn just to pursue your desire to sing.What if we told you there is a third option; one that might circumvent the need to sing in front of people who are not yet friends?Singing tutors, people who have studied music theory and quite possibly are vocalists in their own right, might be the best of both worlds.Such singing teachers have both the training and experience of a voice coach but, rather than you going to their music studio, they would come to your home and instruct you on your own terms.To be sure, you will still have to mind your posture and do breathing exercises; you m ight even sing scales to warm up your vocal cords, just like you would in a voice studio.After that, you get to call the shots. Your tutor will impart singing techniques suitable to the musical style you wish to sing, from contemporary music to jazz vocalising.And, if you did want to delve deeply into musical theory, s/he should be able to tell you everything you need to know!Engaging a private tutor for vocal lessons would be especially great if you are a student planning to register at the University of Nottingham music study programme and join their choir!Check out this list of voice tutors in Edinburgh!What to Look for in a Voice TutorSo keen might you be for singing tuition that you could neglect to ask your prospective tutor the most salient questions:What training have you had?What experience do you have teaching others how to sing?Do you have any references? May I see them?What is your preferred style of music?Have you ever performed before an audience?Technology makes findi ng tutors very easy: you may consult Freeads or Gumtree or any such advert site and run across any number of people offering private lessons in voice training.Or you could just head to Superprof.The advantage of Superprof is that each tutor has their own page to list their credentials, experience and teaching methodology. You can read testimonials from other students that the tutor has worked with and even estimate how much your lessons will cost.Superprof has 10 singing tutors in Nottingham; most of whom provide their initial lesson at no cost. In addition to them, Superprof has countless more who will be happy to teach you how to sing via webcam.So, if you have a big do coming up â€" maybe you’ve been invited to sing at a wedding or anniversary party; whether you’ve signed up for a karaoke contest or you just want to have fun, Nottingham provides plenty of opportunities for you to cultivate your singing voice.Discover where else in the UK you might find singing lessons, Bourne mouth, London, Glasgow, Liverpool, Edinburgh, Manchester or Cardiff!

Fall 2013 Academic tutoring at AJ Tutoring

Fall 2013 Academic tutoring at AJ Tutoring By now, the fall semester is more than halfway over at Bay Area schools.   Many students have received grades on major tests or projects, and finals are just around the corner in December.   Whether your student is a freshman looking to start high school with solid grades or a senior concerned about GPA for college admissions, AJ Tutorings academic tutoring team is ready to help your student finish the semester well!AJ Tutoring offers academic tutoring in the following subjects:Math (all levels including AP)Biology (all levels including AP)Physics (all levels including AP)Chemistry (all levels including AP)Spanish (all levels including AP)History (all levels including AP)Economics, macro/micro (all levels including AP)English (all levels including AP)Study skillsFor more information about AJ Tutorings academic tutoring program, please visit our website or give us a call at (650) 331-3251.   One of our directors would be happy to speak with you about a customized academic tutoring pro gram for your student!

AJ Tutoring is a Proud Recipient of the Teen Friendly Business Award!

AJ Tutoring is a Proud Recipient of the Teen Friendly Business Award! This spring, AJ Tutoring was honored by the Los Altos Youth Commission as one of three recipients for the Teen Friendly Business Award. Allison Carlisle, the director of our Los Altos office, released this statement: “It means so much to us that students in the Los Altos community view our office as a friendly environment in which to learn. We believe it is incredibly important for students to feel supported and confident in their abilities in order to excel academically. Our team comprises tutors of vastly varying backgrounds and educational specialties. I believe what we all have in common is a genuine joy of helping others and a passion for education. I often hear our tutors say that working at AJ doesnt feel like work because they truly enjoy coming in to the office each day to teach. I can think of no higher compliment for our students! Thank you for making our jobs fun and rewarding!”From all of us at AJ Tutoring: we deeply enjoy working with local students, and we are look ing forward to another great year of engagement with Bay Area schools and families.If you’d like to learn more about what we offer, please reach out to us today!

Food Allergies May Not Be as Bad as You Thought

Food Allergies May Not Be as Bad as You Thought pexels.com So while these are common allergens, this still doesn’t explain why there’s been an increase in people that become allergic to such foods. According to Dr. Virginia Stallings and her committee at the Nutrition Center at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, “questions persist about whether food allergy prevalence has been on the rise within the past two decades and why. The current data do not unequivocally support the occurrence of such a rise.” In other words, the panel has no idea what’s going on, but they’re fairly certain that the rise in those with allergies is not due to science, but rather to a misunderstanding of what constitutes a food allergy. Which would make sense, especially considering the confusion surrounding “newer” allergies such as gluten allergies. Another important distinction to make is that there is actually a difference between an allergy and an intolerance. When foods upset your stomach, this doesn’t necessarily mean that you are allergic to them, but rather, that they upset your stomach or don’t “sit well.” Again, this isn’t necessarily an allergy. According to the panel, this is a common mistake, as symptoms can be mistaken for one another. The reaction to an intolerance wouldn’t be life threatening, but the reaction to an actual allergy would be. The panel advises the government on health and scientific matters, and they suggest that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention should be doing more to determine the commonness of food allergies to help interpret the rising numbers. In this request, they claimed, “no simple, accurate diagnostic test exists for food allergy.” So while there are definitive ways to test for other allergies such as dust and pollen food allergies aren’t really able to be tested. The panel said the following. “The patient’s medical history and other test results, such as from a skin prick test, can suggest the likelihood of a food allergy, but in some cases an oral food challenge which involves a gradual, medically supervised ingestion of increasingly larger doses of the food being tested as a possible allergen is needed to confirm diagnosis.” In other words, it’s an entire ordeal to get your food allergies accurately tested, so people typically just guess as to whether or not they are allergic to a certain food. Regardless of whether or not we are allergic to food, Americans worry about such things and take them seriously, which is another big reason that we need to begin developing an accurate test for them. According to the panel: “This committee had the unique opportunity to hear directly from an advisory panel made up of nine parents of children with food allergies and one individual with food allergy. We heard about the anxiety they feel in restaurants, schools, airplanes, and other settings where they are fearful about unintentional exposure to a food that can cause a life-threatening allergic reaction.” So how can we prevent allergies? That would appear to be the next logical step, right? Well, studies are now suggesting that this is a possibility. If children are given foods commonly associated with allergies earlier in life, this could possibly prevent allergies later on. However, there hasn’t been enough research done to test this theory, as it’s possible that younger children already have these allergies, in which case such exposure would be extremely dangerous. Plus, there’s no guarantee prior exposure will even prevent allergies, as there isn’t enough evidence to support this theory. So while we need to be aware of allergies, we also need to keep an eye out for more information, as there’s probably plenty we don’t even know.

Unhealthy Habits ... Or Are They

Unhealthy Habits ... Or Are They Photo Via: http://www.healthylifegateway.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/unhealthy-habits.jpg Ah, the freshman fifteen. How we all desperately try to avoid it without sacrificing our laziness, our need for unhealthy food, our drinking habits and first and foremost without having to go to the gym. Well, you’re in luck. In a world in which you’re constantly told you have “unhealthy” habits, it turns out some of those habits aren’t actually as unhealthy as you think. So, to help you get some people off your back (*cough* parents *cough*), here are seven things that may seem unhealthy, but actually aren’t according to NBC News. 1. Drinking Wine We seem to go back and forth on this issue. Wine is good for you, no wait it actually isn’t. The only consistent part of drinking wine is that we can’t seem to stop once we start. All jokes aside, it now seems that drinking wine (in moderation, unfortunately) is actually not bad for you. A study on obesity revealed that alcohol impacts weight gain, but this study only shows significant results for those that binge drink alcohol, not those that have one or two drinks a day. So in other words, having a glass of red wine with dinner doesn’t increase your risk for obesity. That being said, drinking a bottle at dinner every day definitely will. 2. Comfort Food We all love comfort food, and we all sneak it into our diets, no matter how unhealthy. But, according to nutritionists, it’s actually healthy to occasionally indulge in our comfort foods every once in a while. Basically, if you’re craving chocolate, have a small piece you don’t have to deprive yourself, but you shouldn’t binge eat chocolate for the next week either. In fact, you’re actually more likely to binge eat your favorite foods down the road if you don’t have a little bit every once in a while. And in terms of indulging your cravings, try to stay as healthy as possible. So if you sit down to a tub of cookie dough because you’re craving it, even if you only have a little, you’re not doing your body any favors. Try to opt for a healthy, similar tasting alternative whenever possible. 3. Cheat Days (in terms of Exercise) Many people believe you have to work out every day to achieve your weight-loss goals. This is true to an extent. For some, working out needs to become a habit, so if you skip a day, all your efforts can come tumbling down. However, it’s not good to work out every day. Any personal trainer will tell you, recovery time is just as important as the time you spend exercising. Of course, if you are one of those people that needs to build a habit and work out every day, you can swap your cardio workout for some intensive stretching or yoga. That way, you’re recovering while maintaining your routine. 4. Chocolate Yes, chocolate can actually be good for you (that’s right people, time to breathe a sigh of relief). No, don’t grab a Cookies and Cream Hershey’s bar. That will, unfortunately, never be good for you (though we’ll keep trying). For chocolate to be healthy, you need 70 percent (or higher) dark chocolate, and you can only eat a few squares (not a full bar). While this isn’t the ideal chocolate munching snack, you can melt it and put it in your coffee, in your milk, onto fruit, etc. Essentially, it’s a healthy seasoning for your snacking needs. 5. Stress Yes, stress can be bad. But, it can also be good. Apparently, moderate stress levels actually improve performance (while low-stress levels can diminish it). So basically, you want to be moderately stressed. Awesome. 6. Procrastination No, you shouldn’t procrastinate. However, as discussed above, some stress is a good thing. That being said, you should still take steps towards accomplishing the task as this is the most beneficial way to procrastinate. So in other words, you can put things off so long as you are thinking about them and actively taking steps to complete the task. In other words, you don’t have to clean the whole apartment today, so long as you have the cleaning supplies and you have a plan set forth for completing it. 7. Netflix Ah, last but not least, there’s our TV go-to, Netflix. Sitting is the new cancer according to countless studies, which is unfortunate, but probably true. The more time you spend sedentary, the more likely you are to encounter health problems. Watching alone at home is a great way to de-stress, so a small amount of time watching Netflix isn’t a bad thing. It’s also a strong relationship builder, so yes, Netflix and Chill is actually good for you. Go figure (sorry single people). While Netflix is not the preferred means of de-stressing, it is a beneficial one, so now you can watch a few episodes of Shameless without feeling bad about it. Or, you probably will, but it won’t be for health reasons. So start implementing these healthy vs. unhealthy practices and feel better about yourself! It’s springtime, so the time for change is now!