ESL Tutoring Games

ESL Tutoring GamesESL tutoring games are a great way to keep students involved in their learning. If the teacher is around, students can practice with her or him. The teacher can sit back and watch the game play. The students can even take breaks, as the game provides an opportunity to socialize.Another reason to use ESL tutoring games is that they are fun. As well, the students are engaged in the learning process and become more attentive. It is also a good way to encourage students to be more interested in learning English. Students learn what is expected of them, while at the same time they are learning more about English.It is important for the teacher to choose games appropriate for the age of the students and the needs of the students. The games should be fairly simple. The games may include reading, writing, writing and some arithmetic, vocabulary, and grammar elements. They also require creative thinking and may have some mental math problems to solve.It is up to the teacher to design the games according to the needs of the students. There are many games available on the Internet. They include sports, puzzles, coloring, and spelling. It is not necessary to buy all of these games. Some are free, and others cost money.There are simple games available that do not take long to set up. Then there are games that are designed to incorporate more advanced concepts. The advanced games require more complex programming.At first, it is possible to teach students English in games. Many teachers find this valuable method of teaching English to people who speak no English. This can be done through flashcards, puzzles, and games. It can also be done by looking at pictures, listening to audio recordings, and working with paper and pencils.Once students reach the basic level of proficiency, they can move on to more advanced games. This will continue to provide a source of enrichment, challenge, and fun for students. After the student reaches a high level of English profi ciency, he or she may need other means of enrichment and challenge.Teachers should choose games that allow students to work together. The students can learn from each other and the teacher can check on them. The teachers will feel better knowing that they are working with children and not adults. ESL tutoring games are a great way to achieve this goal.

A Student Review of Georgetown University

A Student Review of Georgetown University The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. Jessica currently tutors several subjects in Washington, D.C., specializing inACT prep tutoring, Pre-Calculus tutoring, Chemistry tutoring, and much more. She graduated from Georgetown University in 2013 with a Bachelors degree in Psychology. See what she had to say about her time at Georgetown University: VT: Describe the campus setting and transportation options.How urban or safe is the campus?Are there buses or do you need a car/bike? Jessica: Georgetown Universitys campus is amazingly beautiful and completely separate from the rest of Washington, D.C. It is the perfect place for someone who likes the blend of an urban setting to venture out to and a safe, separated college campus. It is possible to stay within campus and the surrounding Georgetown neighborhood. It is a bustling portion of the city with everything you need. However, the chance to explore Washington, D.C. is not one I would have given up. It is a great walking and biking city. In addition, the school has buses that link you directly to local Metro stops, so traveling about the city is not difficult at all. VT: How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Jessica: Professors, advisers, and teaching assistants are all very accessible. Georgetown University is not a huge school, so it is possible for professors to get to know students. They host office hours regularly and encourage students to attend. In my experience, they were always responsive to emails, as well. Georgetown University professors are very involved in the community, and they are often seen mingling at student group events and extracurricular activities. They, too, buy into the motto of the Jesuits (and by association, the school), cura personalis, which means care of the whole person. As such, they care about their students as people and really want them to succeed. VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Jessica: The majority of housing is on-campus, and the upperclassman housing that can be found off-campus is very close by. This close proximity really leaves students with a sense of community. There are four freshman dorms, each with its own bonuses and drawbacks. Regardless of which dorm you live in, your freshman home starts to form your Georgetown University identity. It is where you make your first friends, where you have your first wave of homesickness, and where you make some of your strongest memories. Because each dorm has its own identity, it is a great way to start making friends. The dorms are similar to the houses in Harry Potterthere is an automatic bond between people in the same dorm. People on your freshman floor will all be looking to make friends, just like you, and relationships begin blossoming very naturally. The dining hall helps with socialization, as well, because there is one main dining area. Everyone goes to Leos for meals. There are other options such as Subway and Epicurean, but Leos is the home base for meals. In the dining hall, there are a number of buffet-style options, which allow you to make your own sandwich, salad, pasta, and stir-fry dishes. If none of those options suit you, there is also the diner station, which is home to the very popular Chicken Finger Thursday. The area surrounding campus also has an abundance of restaurants for students to explore when Leos gets old. VT: Which majors/programs are best represented and supported?What did you study and why? Did the university do a good job supporting your particular area of study? Jessica: I was a Psychology major with a pre-medical concentration. The liberal arts fields are generally the more popular areas of study, but I found that the science departments were full of great minds. I always felt as though I was supported, and I had a variety of opportunities to explore my interests. The Psychology department was excellent at circulating information about research opportunities, conferences, and clinical internship possibilities. VT: How easy or difficult was it for you to meet people and make friends as a freshman? Does Greek life play a significant role in the campus social life? Jessica: It was very easy to make friends as a freshman. Freshman orientation is designed to get people to mingle and meet each other. The freshman dorms each have a unique identity that draws residents together. Georgetown University also tries its best to match you with a compatible roommate. The university uses a questionnaire system to try to match you, and it gives you a great chance at having a first-year roommate who can become a lifelong friend. My freshman roommate and I lived together for all four years of college, and she is still one of my closest friends now that we have graduated. Greek life does not play a big role at all. We do not have any true Greek life that is sanctioned by the university. If it is very important to you, there is a handful out there, but they do not play a big role at all. Instead, student groups mold the social opportunities. For example, Hoya Blue (the student fan club for Georgetown University sports) may host an event one night, the club lacrosse team will host one the next night, and the debate team will be having a social event the next weekend. This makes it easier to find people with common interests because people interested in the same groups attend the same social events. It also becomes less exclusive than Greek life. For the most part, everyone is welcome everywhere, and there are never any financial obligations like fraternity/sorority dues. VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Jessica: The Career Center has a huge number of supports in place. I used the Career Center to get questions about the medical school application process answered. I also organized a practice interview and learned a number of tips that helped me in my application process. Another support that I love is the accessibility of the deans. Everyone at Georgetown University makes a four-year plan with one of the deans early on. It is a great way to organize your time at Georgetown University and see that it is definitely possible to graduate with the degree you want in four years. It also introduces you personally to a dean soon after you begin. This early introduction makes you feel as if the door is always open and that you can reach out to a dean if you have any questions about your course load, progress, major, etc. VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Jessica: The library is not the most beautiful building, but it is a great place to study. There are a number of silent floors, as well as Lau 2, which is the non-quiet floor of the library. On this floor, there is a coffee shop that is open until 2:00 a.m., plus a number of group study areas. This was one of my favorite places to go because I was guaranteed to run into someone I knew who I could commiserate with when I needed support. If the library is not for you, there is a coffee shop a block off campusand a few on-campusto study at. The McDonough School of Business building and the new science building are both beautiful places to study. The seating is very comfortable, there are whiteboards and group study rooms, and there are huge glass windows that can brighten up any gloomy study day. Needless to say, there are plenty of options for students, and you can always find a place to go. The only exception might be finding a table in a coffee shop during finals week. They tend to f ill up quickly during that week, but all of the other areas offer plenty of alternatives. VT: Describe the surrounding town. What kinds of outside establishments / things to do are there that make it fun, boring, or somewhere in between?To what extent do students go to the downtown area of the city versus staying near campus? Jessica: The surrounding town is northwest Washington, D.C. It is a great area for young adults. There is a tremendous number of restaurants, museums, monuments, etc. The nightlife is also very active. As I said earlier, it is possible to live in just the Georgetown area for all four years. However, I think it is important for students to explore the whole city. See the monuments, take advantage of the free museums, and walk past the White House. These are all right in your backyard when you go to Georgetown University. Of even more value in my eyes is seeing the parts of Washington, D.C. that many tourists do not. Georgetown University has a large number of students focused on serving others and social justice. Washington, D.C. has an interesting history, which has left it segregated geographically in a number of ways. Some of my most valuable experiences at Georgetown University involved participation in social justice activities that brought me to areas like southeast Washington, D.C., which differs greatly from the northwestern quadrant where Georgetown University is located. I highly recommend exploring Washington, D.C. for its fun activities, restaurants, and nightlife, but do not forget to find ways to explore all of it, including the underserved areas. These opportunities are invaluable, and they help shape your perspective as you begin to find your way in life. VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Jessica: We are considered a medium-sized school. There are around 7,000 undergraduates, I believe. I was generally pleased with my class sizes. Most classes had between 20 and 40 students. The pre-medical requirement courses were larger, and they often had about 150-200 people in them, but because these were introductory classes and the lab groups were much smaller, I did not mind at all. Some of my upperclassmen seminars were as small as 10 or fewer people. I loved that these classes were small because they often covered topics I was passionate about, and the small class size allowed me to participate a lot and get to know the professors very well. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Jessica: One of my favorite classes was Prison Literature. I am very interested in the criminal justice system, and I thought that this class was a great way to learn about a side of the system not taught in a typical government or sociology class. I read some amazing literature, met some very inspiring formerly incarcerated men, and got to know my professor very well. This class stands out because I met three previously incarcerated men who became a part of my life in a number of ways. Their stories enhanced my perspective on life and encouraged me to continue to try to illuminate issues that run rampant in our justice system. With this inspiration, I was able to design an Alternative Spring Break Trip based on the topic of incarceration and host a number of awareness-raising events on campus. These men participated in panels I hosted, and they took us on a tour of a currently closed prison during our Spring Break trip. The class also exposed me to a huge spectrum of literature that continues to inspire me today, and it allowed me to get to know a professor who I continue to stay in touch with. Overall, I gained lifelong inspiration, support, and camaraderie in this class. The amazing part of all of this is that it is not unique for a class a Georgetown University to bring about lifelong lessons, friends, and inspiration. Amazingly, this seems to be normal for students, and it is one of the reasons I am so proud to be an alumnus of Georgetown University. Check out Jessicas tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

The Phantom of the Opera

The Phantom of the Opera The Phantom Brings Opera to the Masses ChaptersSynopsis: Phantom of the OperaThe Story Behind the StoryDeveloping the Show: Baron Lloyd Webber’s ProcessOpening Night: Get Your Phantom of the Opera Tickets!Since the early days of civilisation, societies have been structured around social classes.Indeed, even in the supposedly classless society ideals espoused by Karl Marx and others, inevitably, some would rise above others, if only to oversee the equitability of the masses.This social stratification is seen in all aspects of human life including entertainment.Traditionally, the upper echelons treated themselves (are treated?) to refined pastimes â€" literature, equitation (to do with horses) and, of course, the opera.Generally speaking, people considered the lower echelons had neither time nor money to sit around reading and they certainly had no means to afford the care and feeding of pleasure horses.In a sense, this hypothesis drives home the irony of an erudite man from a well-positioned family taking a literary work and, through music, rendering it appealing to everyone.The Phantom is not just a mysterious, disfigured, masked man with a passion for music.He is the symbol of every muted voice that ever needed to be heard. He is mystery and romance; the universal hope that one redeeming quality can excuse the unmitigated horror of being and the struggle of rising above one’s lot in life.He also underscores the fact that one needs friends â€" or, at least, willing conspirators. Whether they’re tricked into being willing is another story.Baron Andrew Lloyd Webber, through his elegant, intricate musical phrasing, presents this phantom as a sympathetic, romantic yet ultimately dangerous character.Hark! Do you hear the Music of the Night?It is time to take off the masques, part the curtain and let our souls take flight. TraceySinging Teacher 4.92 (13) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PortiaSinging Teacher 4.91 (11) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NicolaSinging Teacher 5.00 (11) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JazzSinging Teacher 5.00 (6) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PerrineSinging Teacher 5.00 (3) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors TiemSinging Teacher £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors TomSinging Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MiriamSinging Teacher 5.00 (4) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsSynopsis: Phantom of the Opera The love never dies - you can purchase tickets to The Phantom in Toronto, too! Source: Wikipedia Credit: S. ShankarThe show opens by looking back.It might seem incomprehensible, at first, why there is an auction of theatre props and fittings going on until spectators realise what is happening on stage; it is the broken chandelier that gives things away.As soon as it is unveiled â€" dusty, derelict and forlorn, we intuit something big is about to happen and we are not disappointed. The chandelier is restored to glory as it rises to the ceiling.Now, the show can begin.Having travelled 30 years back in time, we arrive to find the new owners of the theatre inspecting their purchase.Carlotta, the theatre company’s soprano and quite the prima donna, bursts into song â€" her way of signalling that she is the reason that people buy tickets to their shows.Obviously, somebody is not pleased with her. A backdrop falls to the ground, making a loud clatter and raising a cloud of dust. Carlotta expresses her outrage â€" how dare anyone interfere with her performance! The chorus line trembles in fear.The owners are nonplussed.Why did that backdrop fall? Why are the chorus girls frightened? Is Carlotta so badly injured that she cannot perform on opening night?That’s just what they need! With their mounting debt and expenses climbing ever higher… Quickly, they try to patch over the incident but Carlotta will have none of it. She is tired of these freak occurrences. She storms out, cloaked in righteous indignation.Who, then, will step into her shoes?Ingenue Christine Daaë acquits herself admirably. She is hastily sent for fittings and rehearses songs for the next show, hour after hour, alone in her chambers. Alone?All is well up till now; from this point, the tale takes a darker turn.Someone is lurking in the passages of the old opera house; someone who has an agenda. We don’t yet know what it is but we know for certain that Christine plays a role because of the voice w hispering to her from beyond the walls of her room.Orphaned at a young age, remembering the words of her beloved father, she is sure that it is the Angel of Music guiding her career, the angel that was promised to her.Her fearlessness, indeed her acceptance of this supposed angel emboldens the ghost of the Paris Opera house. He grows bolder in his manifestations, eventually making contact.From there, the show descends â€" into the bowels of Paris and into madness. Unlike the madness on display in the musical Chicago, this derangement is more subtle.No other popular musical takes quite the dark turns that The Phantom does… Much like the Phantom's theatre, Her Majesty's London Theatre also suffered misfortunes Source: WikipediaThe Story Behind the StoryAs with other shows Andrew Lloyd Webber collaborated on such as Jesus Christ Superstar and Cats, this one too has its roots in literature; specifically a book of the same name by French author Gaston Leroux.Were that novel merely a work of fiction â€" like Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables, this segment would be very short and we could move on to other aspects of the show â€" how many awards it has won and the legion of devoted fans it has gained.The remarkable backstory of The Phantom deserves its moment in the spotlight.There is indeed an opera house in Paris with a subterranean lake; it is called Palais GarnierFrench firefighters use this lake as a training ground still todayThis Palais is indeed said to have been haunted by a ghost named ErikErik was presumably the son of a builder, born deformed. He travelled the world as a conjurer before establishing himself as a builderHe built many of the secret passages that feature in the story (and the musical)Christine Daaë is based on a real singer named Christina Nilsson, an operatic soprano and rival to the era’s most famous diva, Adelina PattiThe strangeness doesn’t end there.The author, Mr Leroux, came from wealth but squandered his inheritance and was forced to seek employment.As a reporter for a Paris daily, his assigned beat was the courts and the theatre. He travelled often for work but always returned to Paris. On the road for his various assignments, he indulged his passion for macabre and mystery by devouring the works of Poe and Arthur Conan Doyle.He soon turned out a dramatic, mysterious work of his own that met with moderate success but it wasn’t until the story of the Opera Phantom that he gained notoriety.By strange coincidence, Charles Dickens’ second novel, Oliver Twist, also published in instalments in a newspaper, was made into a musical…Developing the Show: Baron Lloyd Webber’s ProcessHot off the West End smash hit Cats, Mr Lloyd Webber approached the producer of that show about mounting another production together, something more romantic. He thought The Phantom story could work but he needed to do more research.Those two geniuses of musical theater sat through both film versions of the story, each of which left them wondering how to turn the story they’d seen into a stage musical. For a while, it seemed the project was doomed.And then, Mr Lloyd Webber got his hands on a copy of the book. Suddenly, the way to make the show come together was clear.Mr Lloyd Webber then suffered a series of setbacks worthy of the Phantom's meddling.He approached American lyricist Jim Steinman but that prolific lyricist was working feverishly on Bonnie Tyler’s new album and couldn’t spare the time.He then invited the legendary Alan Lerner (of the songwriting team Lerner and Loewe), another great name in musical theater circles. Mr Learner became gravely ill soon after signing on to the project and had to abandon it.His work on the song Masquerade, virtually unchanged, is not credited on the playbill.Finally, Richard Stilgoe, with whom Mr Lloyd Webber collaborated on the rock musical Starlight Express, joined in, writing most of the show’s lyrics. With some contributions by Charles Hart â€" who wrote Think of Me, the creative team finally put the show together. One of many odd coincidences of this show: The London Theatre it premiered at was Her Majesty's; the Broadway theatre is called The Majestic Source: Wikipedia Credit: AJ SureshOpening Night: Get Your Phantom of the Opera Tickets!After a trial run â€" just a run-through of the songs at Mr Lloyd Webber’s home, during which the songs were tweaked a bit, the show opened at Her Majesty’s Theatre in October 1986.In fact, it is still playing there; The Phantom is the West End’s second-longest-running show.Across the pond, on Broadway, The Phantom of the Opera previewed at the Majestic Theatre on the 18th of January 1988; it officially premiered on January 26th.Phantom enthusiasts can buy tickets now; that production too is still running. In fact, The Phantom of the Opera is the longest-running show in Broadway history.The show’s popularity compelled it to go on the road: not only was there a troupe that toured the UK but the American theatre company mounted a North American tour whi ch included Canada.Since its world premiere over 30 years ago, The Phantom has entertained audiences from Argentina to Korea and practically every place in between â€" it has graced stages in 28 countries and has been translated into multiple languages.Some productions remain true to the original premise while others infuse the story with cultural elements specific to the country it plays in.With all of that popularity, you would think there would be an award bestowed on it… has it garnered as many as The Lion King, do you think?The original London production took every Olivier Award possible save for the Best Show Designer category, for which it was nominated. Two subsequent revivals took awards for Most Popular Show and Magic Radio Audience.The original Broadway production… is so award-laden!It took the Drama Desk Award in every category save Outstanding Musical and Outstanding Actress â€" possibly because Sarah Brightman, who played Christine, was not renowned at the time. St ill, she was nominated for the award.As for Tony Awards, it was nominated for Best Choreography, Best Book of a Musical and Best Score. Phantom won the Tony Award for every other category, from Best Musical to Best Lighting Design.Even people not particularly warm on the idea of musical theatre love Phantom, especially now that it has been made into a film starring the luminous Emmy Rossum as Christine and the surprisingly credible Gerard Butler as The Phantom.Is The Phantom a show for the ages?In spite of its sinister undertones - stalking and obsession, it seems likely, judging by the ongoing audience response. For many, this masterpiece serves as their introduction to musical theatre â€" could there be a better show for that?Maybe Hamilton, the latest Broadway musical by Lin-Manuel Miranda…

How Students Can Become National Bloggers

How Students Can Become National Bloggers How cool would it be if you could start your college application essay with: Im a nationally published writer? That is possible, and it would definitely wake up whoever is reading your application essay. The Huffington Post and the Patch (a network of over 800 hyper-local news sites), both owned by AOL, are currently recruiting bloggers (age minimum is 13). Right now, you can easily become a blogger and actually publish articles on the Patchs website, which is read primarily by local audiences. The content provider has about 800 full-time writers, and it has asked all of them to recruit at least 10 writers each for a total of 8,000 writers. In other words, they are begging for people to sign up and post articles. You can sign up at Patch's website. Simply pick the area you want to post in and click the green button want to blog on the patch. Then, register and hope they select you as a blogger. The Patch publishes local reviews about restaurants, shopping centers etc and the occasional opinion piece. However, the Patch and the Huffington Post are getting ready to launch a national blog, HuffPost High School. This blog will be unique because it will be the only site on Patch that is written and edited by high school students, according to Forbes. On occasion, weve partnered with parents and schools to provide young journalists with the opportunity to have their voices and stories heard, a Patch spokeswoman told Forbes. As HPMG (Huffington Post Media Group) will soon be launching HuffPost High School, well be expanding our sharing platform to teens. The blogs editor will be Myles Miller, a 17-year-old student. Miller will be paid; however, none of the other bloggers will be paid. That announcement sparked serious outrage and lawsuits against the publisher. The Patch and the Huffington Post have already received a lot of criticism for recruiting and not paying community bloggers. Critics believe they have exploited writers, and that the publisher has now gone too far by recruiting minors. The site will continue to profit on advertising revenue, which has elicited a response from Simon Dumenco at Advertising Age, encouraging advertisers to boycott buying space on the page. However, this could be a springboard for many aspiring young writers. Through Patch, High school students could have the opportunity to publish articles to a national audience. Students could then write a college application essay about how many readers they have attracted, which could impress admissions officers.

A Columbia University College Experience

A Columbia University College Experience The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. Amy is currently a student at Columbia University studying human rights, English, and business management. She specializes in many areas of SAT tutoring, in addition to other subjects. See what she had to share about her experience at Columbia University: Describe the campus setting and transportation options. Amy: Columbia blends the best of both worlds with its urban setting and homey campus. Though exploring skyscraper-filled New York City is always fun, it can be a relief to come home to a school dominated by a blend of classical and modern architecture. As for transportation, Columbia has its own subway stop right outside the Broadway gates for students the city isnt very car or bike friendly, unfortunately. Ive never felt unsafe on or in the areas surrounding campus, either; police escorts and emergency services are always readily available. How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Amy: Columbia prides itself on a culture of the love of intellectual pursuit, and its professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants certainly contribute toward that mold. Both students and professors embrace challenge and curiosity in the classrooms; office hours for professors are packed with students discussing everything from general theories to paper topics. How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Amy: Interestingly, students receive lots of opportunities to score single rooms their freshman year. Certain dorms are more coveted than others, but freshmen seem to be generally satisfied (and even proud) of their residence halls. Im in the social, all-first-year dorm, and I couldnt imagine myself living anywhere else. Theres never a dull moment, and I have opportunities to meet new people every day in the elevator, at residence hall events, and through mutual friends. As for dining, Columbia has three main dining halls that offer a wide variety of selections. The dining staff always tries to provide vegetarian and vegan options, too, and locally sources a lot of produce from nearby neighborhood farms. Which majors/programs are best represented and supported? Amy: A wide variety of majors are represented at Columbia, but the university does a good job of providing support for every department regardless of its size. Popular majors include the social sciences, computer science, and various engineering fields, but interdisciplinary pursuits are encouraged as well. Im actually studying a strange combination: Im double majoring in Human Rights (with a specialization in Political Science) and English, and concentrating (essentially the universitys term for a minor) in Business Management. I really appreciate Columbias flexibility in allowing me to combine such different pursuits into one streamlined form of study, and Ive definitely received lots of support from academic advisers and professors, too. How easy or difficult was it for you to meet people and make friends as a freshman? Does Greek life play a significant role in the campus social life? Amy: Ive been very satisfied with the opportunities Ive received to meet new people and make new friends. The unique thing about Columbia is that its less of an enclosed campus, meaning people will go out into the city to explore rather than staying in, so meeting people requires a bit more energy and proactivity. Greek life definitely is present on campus and is growing, but is in no way an integral part of Columbias social scene. It can be a great way to find a community, but probably just due to geographical factors concerning housing, Columbias Greek scene isnt as traditional as one one might find at a big state school. How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services? Amy: The Center for Career Education is great and is available for students as a resource to find internships and jobs downtown. Columbia recognizes the worth of internships in a students career, and offers significantly less classes on Fridays to give students a day to work at a job/internship if need be. The university also hosts lots of career fairs, in which companies from high-level investment banks to local startups to nonprofits come to campus to recruit Columbia/Barnard students for part-time/full-time job opportunities. New York City is one of a Columbia students greatest resources for job searching, simply because it offers something for everyone from the engineer to the journalist to the aspiring researcher. How are the various study areas such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Amy: Butler Library is a huge, beautiful structure that resembles an Athenian temple more than it does a study space. Its the go-to for most students for late-night sessions, open 24-7 for all cramming needs. During midterms and finals, it gets pretty difficult to find a spot inside the library, so students turn to other study spots around and outside campus. Describe the surrounding town. Amy: Youll never get bored at Columbia: on campus or off campus, theres always something going on. Even exploring the couple of blocks surrounding campus never gets old! Theres everything from restaurants to bookstores within Columbias vicinity, and most students will spend a Friday or Saturday night hanging out with friends at Mels or 1020, two popular bars within walking distance. Of course, New York City has a bustling nightlife scene downtown. Students can visit a club in East Village or check out a jazz venue near Chelsea Pier. Columbia students also get free admission to museums like The Met or MOMA with their student IDs, so a lot of students spend Saturday afternoons art-gallery hopping. Central Park is also about six blocks from campus, so when the weather is nice, students can study, relax, or even picnic in the park. The campus is also bordered by Morningside Park and Riverside Park, great for morning runs or just a change of scenery. How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Amy: Columbia definitely has a larger number of graduate students, but each undergraduate class has about 1400 students, which is pretty sizable, too. Some lecture classes have a large amount of students, but Columbia actually offers lots of seminars that have no more than 15 or 16 people. Personalized educational attention carries a lot of intellectual value, and many professors and students prefer the personalized, seminar-style approach to large lecture halls. Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Amy: Columbias most prized intellectual tradition is its Core Curriculum, a set of classes every student attending the university takes. This semester, Im in Literature Humanities, dedicated to round-table discussions of a Western literary canon that includes works from ancient Greek poets to Dostoyevsky. Its a lot of reading and writing, but my entire class gets together regularly before midterms and tests to have study sessions in somebodys dorm room. Columbia recognizes the bonds students who go through the Core together form, and Im no exception Ive definitely made friendships and connections as a result of the Core. Check out Amys tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

Maths GCSE Past Papers and Exam Boards

Maths GCSE Past Papers and Exam Boards Where to find GCSE Maths Past Papers Exam Boards Offering Maths GCSE ChaptersDifference Between Exam BoardsHow to Choose the Right Exam boardGCSE Maths ResourcesGCSE Maths Past PapersExams boards are organizations that conduct the GCSE maths Exams and offer the GCSE Qualification in several subjects. They are responsible for producing exam papers, marking and grading your exam work and giving you the GCSE Qualification.Most of the exam boards offer qualifications which are accepted by several colleges not just in UK but all around the globe. These GCSE Qualifications are hence, internationally recognized.Currently there are two separate set of exam boards for UK. One set of exam board is solely for England, Northern Ireland and Wales, while the other one is for Scotland. England has several exams boards, giving the schools and colleges a free choice to choose between any exam board depending on the subjects.At the present, the state schools benefit from seven exam boards. These are as follows:Assessment and Qualification Alliance (AQA)University of Ca mbridge International Examinations (CIE)Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA)EdexcelInternational Curriculum and Assessment Agency Examinations (ICAAE)Oxford, Cambridge and RSA Examinations (OCR)Welsh Joint Education Committee (WJEC)Out of all these boards, CCEA is the one that is most active inside the native Northern Ireland. The level of qualifications offered by these boards vary.Boards ICAAE and CIE offer very specialized and limited qualifications so if you are thinking of taking GCSE Maths, it is better if you opt for boards other than ICAAE, as these boards are most common among students taking GCSE Maths .Whatever board you choose, the material you study is usually the same. ( Image Source: Unsplash) MyriamMaths Teacher 5.00 (13) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarkMaths Teacher 5.00 (5) £200/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Dr parikhMaths Teacher 5.00 (8) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors KamalMaths Teacher 5. 00 (9) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PetarMaths Teacher 5.00 (8) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors GowsikaMaths Teacher 5.00 (5) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RubenMaths Teacher 5.00 (1) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ConorMaths Teacher 4.75 (4) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsDifference Between Exam BoardsA survey by the BBC in 2015 revealed that three out of the four main exam boards in UK had made their GCSE Maths exams too hard for the large number of candidates.The only remaining board i.e AQA was also instructed to produce more challenging GCSE Maths exams to keep up with the standards of the rest of the three boards.The government demanded the boards to make the GCSE Maths as well as GCSE English exams more rigorous and  challenging for students.A thorough analysis of several boards revealed that the GCSE Maths tests and GCSE Maths coursework offered by OCR, WJEC and Pearson fail to test the students at their utmost ability due to their higher difficulty level.To be more specific, Pearson and WJEC Maths exams were so hard that the boundary for grade A had to be set below 50%.Research revealed that the difficulty level of these exams would hinder even the brightest students from the top schools to obtain a good score.As a result of which, the syllabus of these boards was made lenient in order to suit the skills level of students and reforms were introduced in the GCSE Maths content and syllabus which has now ensure that all the boards have nearly the same difficulty level while allowing the student to achieve the grade they deserve.How to Choose the Right Exam boardEvery student wants to have maximum chance of success in their GCSE maths and one way they can maximize their chances of a good grade is by choosing the exam board with which they feel the most comfortable.The specifications, paper pattern and marking criteria varies from one exam board to another. Cost of the exams is also a fact which you might need to take into consideration.How you find the paper of any exam board, depends solely on you, your preparation, skill level and your ability to deal with the hard parts of exam.In order to decide which exam board to choose, try getting your hands on sample papers of all the exams boards you are considering. Spend some time analyzing those sample papers and solve them too if needed.By solving the sample papers of different boards like OCR, Edexcel, you will get an idea of the question patterns, difficulty level, marking criteria and time duration of each exam. Find out which exam pattern suits you the most and go for that particular exam board.The course content of GCSE Maths of all the Exam boards usually revolves around the basic concepts of Algebra, tricky yet simple questions related to addition and subtraction, fractions, arithmetic expressions, multiplication and division, exponent, integers, decimal numbers, rational numbers, whole numbers, squa re roots, along with some advanced topics like long division,  linear equations, probability, quadratic equations, theorem of geometry related to shapes like triangles and polygons, surface area, differential equations, quotient equations, polynomials, number theory, reasoning questions and word problems to test your problem solving skills.Equip yourself with all these concepts and maximize your practice because at the end, it will be your preparation that will determine your fate in GCSE Maths and not the choice of board. You can choose the easiest board out there but if your preparation is bad or incomplete, chances of you getting a good grade is very low.GCSE Maths ResourcesThe internet is full of resources to help you in GCSE Math preparation. Here are some sources compiled for you to benefit from!GCSE Maths Worksheets:GCSE Maths worksheets (Geometry)GCSE Foundation Maths Revision WorksheetsGCSE Maths revision WorksheetsGCSE Math Revision resourcesEnroll yourself in a GCSE Math s program and take math classes designed around the GCSE Maths coursework. Ask your maths tutor to give you maths homework and complete these maths home assignments to test your mathematical concepts.You can get home tutoring too. GCSE Math education is not hard to get in this age of internet. Opt for online GCSE Maths courses. Find interactive maths on the internet such as multiplication games, addition games and other similar online math games.Practicing online with the help of mathematical courses, free math worksheets and online maths tutor  and games will train you for the test, but prioritise studying from your GCSE Maths textbook and find past maths GCSE exams of your board. There is also a wealth of maths tutors available online or face to face for that extra bit of help.Work hard ,practice harder. ( Image Source: Unsplash)GCSE Maths Past PapersSolving GCSE Maths past papers is a genius way to undertake maths revision train yourself for the exam. This will help you get famil iar with the paper pattern and marking criteria and will save you time during the actual exam. You can find past papers of your particular board on their website or you can buy a book containing past papers of all the previous years.There are a lot of digital media such as CDs, DVDs that come loaded with past papers for  GCSE maths revision along with the mark schemes. You might need to invest some money in these or you can simply find them online for free.Once you get your study material ready, start your maths revision and once you are done with a particular topic, try finding its related questions in the past papers. Try solving them and if you fail to get their correct answer, go through that topic again and repeat this until you are correctly able to solve all the related questions in the past papers.Solving past papers in this way, will help you not only save time but also to catch your weakness in time.Once you are done with all your preparation, you can conduct your own mock GCSE Maths test session with the help of these past papers and see where you are lacking. Do not assume that the questions in the past exams will repeat.This does not happen. If you prepare only according to the content in the past exams, you are setting yourself up for a really bad grade.Past Papers are the best revision tool as they allow you to cover your entire course in less than 3 hours. Mark your answers yourself according to the marking criteria and this way you will be learning a lot from your own mistakes. This method will guarantee that you don’t make the same mistakes in the final GCSE Maths test.The math questions found in the past papers are in coherence with the overall pattern of the exam board. These exams are designed to test your maths skills and the common core math concepts which you had studied in kindergarten, elementary math and high school maths.Maths teachers who design GCSE Maths exam  base the math curriculum of GCSE around the basic topics amalgamated with the more advanced maths topics of college level. These tests are structured to test your logical and analytical reasoning skills, your fluency in common math practices as well as your problem solving skills .All the GCSE Maths boards focus on your maths skills and how you utilize your math lessons and apply your math learning to solve the tricky mathematics questions in the exams. These tests follow state standards and are carefully evaluated for the students to ensure they get the grades according to their preparation.So, work hard, stay confident and make the best out of the maths resources you have, and no one can take away the success which you deserve!

Isosceles Trapezoid

Isosceles Trapezoid Isosceles trapezoid is a trapezoid has its two non parallel sides of equal length. In addition to it, the base angle that the leftnon parallel side makes with the base is equal to the base angle that the right non parallel side makes with the base. In the isosceles trapezoid shown above lengths of non parallel side AD and BC are equal to c. Also the base angle A is equalto base angle B. Example 1: Given a trapezoid PQRS with the measure of the sides as given below: PQ = 5 cm, QR = 3 cm, RS = 2 cm, SP = 3 cm Sides PQ and RS are parallel sides. Is the given trapezoid an isosceles trapezoid? Give reasons for your answer. Solution: Since the sides PQ and RS are parallel sides of the trapezoid. So the two non parallel sides are QR and SP. Thelength of the two non parallel sides is given to be equal to 3 cm. This shows that the given trapezoid is an isoscelestrapezoid. Example 2: The angle measures of the trapezoid DEFG are given below: angle D = 62 degree, angle E = 68 degree, angle F = 110 degree, angle G = 120 degreeIf angles D and E are the anglesbetween the lower base and the two non parallel sides, is the trapezoid isosceles or not? Solution: Since the two base angles D and E are not equal in measure, hence the given trapezoid DEFG is not isosceles trapezoid.

The Ranking of German Universities

The Ranking of German Universities The Best Schools in Germany! ChaptersTypes of Universities in GermanyThe Best German UniversitiesIn addition to how easy it is to find work in Germany, the German education system is very popular when it comes to learning German on one of the country's many high-quality language courses. In fact, many British students are leaving their home country to study at both private and public universities in Deutschland.The education in Germany is top notch and it's hard to find a uni in Germany that isn't highly recommended or doesn't feature highly in the World University Rankings.Additionally, since Germany and the UK are currently members of the European Union, you currently don't need to get a residence permit or a student visa to study at a German university or higher education establishment.With this status subject to change in the near future, it mightn't be worth putting off going to a German university if you want to learn the German language and boost your career prospects.Whether you want to go to a German un iversity for your whole degree course or just part of an Erasmus exchange for an academic year, every applicant will need to prove they have the necessary language skills.You can sit internationally recognised exams like the TestDaF or the Goethe-Zertifikat provided by the Goethe Institut to prove to your university that your German is good enough.Living in Germany as an international student can give you the opportunity to go to some of the best schools around as Philipp, a French student of medicine studying in Berlin said in 2014:“Germany doesn’t require complicated entrance exams like in France. Supply and demand regulates the market for university places. There’s plenty of it. [...] Once you’ve finished your specialisation, it’s very easy to get your degree recognised in the EU.”Furthermore, the biggest German universities are public and there isn't a tuition fee, even for foreign students.Here’s our advice for choosing the right university and degree courses depe nding on your field of study. SönkeGerman Teacher 5.00 (5) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ClaudiaGerman Teacher 4.89 (9) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SefaGerman Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HilaryGerman Teacher 5.00 (16) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LisaGerman Teacher 5.00 (8) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ChrisGerman Teacher 5.00 (19) £39/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors WendyGerman Teacher 5.00 (2) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HowardGerman Teacher 5.00 (6) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsTypes of Universities in GermanyBefore applying to study in Germany, you need to know a few things about the German education system.German universities promote art, music, and film. (Source: Daian Gan)When it comes to studying in Germany, there are several types of universities you can go to:German Universities: Over 1.3 million German and foreign students go to German universities every year. Courses can last between 3 and 8 years. These establishments offer research scholarships for doctorates.The Fachhochschulen: These applied science institutes offer practical courses in order to prepare students for the working world. There are 2-year courses and master’s level courses. Fachhochschulen graduates tend to easily find a job once they finish their studies. There are currently 500,000 students in Fachhochschulen.Art, Film, and Music Colleges: 30,000 native and foreign students attend a German “college”. These schools allow students to focus on arts, music, and cinema. There are 3-year courses up to doctorates.In addition to choosing the type of establishment, you can also choose whether you want to go public or private.Students at private universities can expect to pay €20,000 a year in tuition fees though scholarships are available. Students can also expect to facilitate their entry into the working world. In fact, large private G erman universities have very strong links with some of the country’s biggest firms.Students who go to these renowned universities can expect to command a higher wage when they leave than their public university counterparts.Find out the advantages of working in Germany.  Learn about the German work mentality.The Best German UniversitiesIn 2016, the education site Top Universities published its QS World University Ranking.  The institute based its rankings on the following criteria:University reputationEmployee reputationAssociated prestigeAccess to foreign studentsStudent successOf the 800 best universities in the world, 42 of them are German.German higher education has an impeccable reputation amongst world universities but this can make it even more difficult to find the right university in Germany for a prospective student.Choosing the best German university depends on your academic expectations. Here are our choices for the best German universities.Technical University of Muni chThis school founded in 1868 is part of the famous Eliteuniversität  (Elite Universities) in Germany which is like the Ivy League or Oxbridge of Germany. There are 30,000 active students.The Technical University of Munich is a free school and is open to everyone and to be accepted onto a course at the TUM, a foreign student must:Have passed a higher education entry qualification (like the SAT in the US) or have previously studied in a Studienkollegs, a German prep school which offers admission exams for the universities.Choose a course in accordance with the qualifications they have from their own country.Have qualifications (A Levels) that line up with the equivalent German qualifications.The Technische Universität München is particularly famous for its teachers. Thanks to its teaching, over 70% of foreign students are postgraduates.You should check out some of the most important German expressions to learn!CoursesThe university offers a variety of technical and scientific cour ses.You'll probably learn a thing or too about beer though not at the uni itself. (Source: pixabay.com)Across three campuses (Munich city centre, Garching, and Freising), the students can apply to the following departments:Economic ScienceArchitectureMedicineCivil EngineeringElectrical and Computer EngineeringAgribusinessPhysicsMaths, etc.The researchers at the Technische Universität München can study natural and hydraulic phenomena. One of the most studied areas is the Sheireik Dam and  20% of the university’s students are foreign.Why not discover the 5 best student cities in Germany?Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich for Social SciencesFounded in 1472, the LMU is one of Germany’s oldest universities. 34 Nobel Prize winners were taught here.  Pope Benedict XVI also studied here!As one of Germany’s best universities, it welcomes European Union students that meet the following conditions:Apply before 15 July for winter termApply before 15 January for summer termProve your level in German with a language certificateProvide a professional CVPass a university entrance exam.The Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich has 35,000 students and 5,000 of them are foreign.There are no tuition fees but students must pay €52 for the Studentenwerk.CoursesThe LMU is famous for its social science research. It’s one of the world’s most famous universities for philosophy.You can study to be a vet at LMU. (Source: pixabay.com)Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich has the following departments:Art HistoryLawCatholic and Protestant TheologyCultural StudiesPhilosophy of Science and ReligionEducational ScienceAdministrationLanguage and LiteratureThanks to its global reputation, the LMU has been home to famous students like Pope Benedict XVI, the writer Thomas Mann, and the sociologist Max Weber.You should also find out more about the German attitude to work...Technical University of Berlin for EngineeringWhy not take German lessons in Berlin?The German capital’s biggest university is also one of Germany’s most international universities. 20% of the Technical University of Berlin’s students are foreigners.Foreign students wanting to attend the TU Berlin need to:Pass a recognised German language exam (DSH, Goethe Certificate, TestDaF 4, Deutsche Sprachprüfung II, etc.)Provide a copy of their British qualificationsPass a university entrance examProvide a professional CVWith 2.9 million books available, the TU Berlin’s library is one of the biggest in Germany.Reading is also a great way to boost your German. (Source: negativespace.co)There are 20,000 students at the university, 4,000 of whom are foreign.CoursesThe TU Berlin is specialised in engineering and technology. It also helps students move into the world of professionals.There are 7 departments at the university:Human SciencesMaths and Natural SciencesProcess EngineeringIT and ElectronicsTransportArchitecture and EnvironmentEconomics and Management388 of the university’s profess ors are foreigners.The Technische Universität Berlin excels in maths and statistics and has provided a number of Nobel Prize winners including the mathematicians Frank Breisig and Olga Holtz.You’ll learn to useful German expressions there, too!Want to get ready for the German Universität? Try German courses London or Glasgow to prepare! Alternatively, learn german online.University of Constance/Konstanz for PoliticsOften nicknamed “Little Harvard” by the German media, the University of Constance/Konstanz is much more modern than its counterparts having been founded in 1996. The students and staff are from 80 different countries and the university administration prides itself on providing an international environment.So apply to Little Harvard, you have to:Participate in an exchange programme.Have a B1 level in German or English.Pay the signup fee (€400)Send a copy of your undergraduate or postgraduate degree.Tuition is free. For between €280 and €350, foreign students can live on campus in student accommodation and eat in the university cafeteria for between €120 to €250 a month.CoursesIt’s one of the world’s most famous universities for politics.  Many famous international politicians have taken courses here including Zoran Dindic, the Serbian prime minister, and Asha-Rose Migiro, the former foreign affairs minister of Tanzania.There are three main departments in the University of Constance/Konstanz:ScienceHuman ScienceLaw, Economics, and PoliticsStudents have the opportunity to work with other famous universities like Yale, UC Berkeley, and the University of ZurichThanks to the German education system, you’ll be sure to find a university that meets your professional needs!

Does Better Sleep Equal Better Grades

Does Better Sleep Equal Better Grades Improving Academic Performance Just as the energizer bunny must recharge his batteries every now and then, humans must also take time to power down, rest and recharge for the following day. But just how important is it to get a full nights rest? Could getting the right amount of sleep (which for many people nowadays means more sleep) beneficially affect academic performance? Indeed, this is exactly what much of the data shows. In fact, learning, memory and brain development are some of the most important reasons we, as human beings, even need sleep. Sleep deprivation is shown to have deleterious effects on multiple body and organ systems (Aldabal et al., 2011). Studies show that sleep deprivation is the number one factor associatd with poorer academic performance among multiple educational levels from middle school to college students (Pagel et al., 2010). Even more worrisome is the fact that adolescents that reported tiredness and trouble sleeping associated with negative academic performance were likely candidates for drug/alcohol abuse, negative mood, antisocial behavior and feelings of isolation (Pagel et al., 2010). If it’s not surprising that we need more sleep to perform better and feel happier, what is stopping us from getting it? Turns out there are a few simple techniques you can excercise to battle fatigue and increase your quality of sleep that this article will discuss. Technique 1: Stop texting/instant messaging in bed after “lights out”! A new study in the Journal of Child Neurology states that messaging after “lights out” caused students to report shorter sleep duration, higher rate of daytime sleepiness, and poorer academic performance (Grover et al., 2016). It’s no surprise that children and adolescents today are glued to their electronic devices, particularly smartphones. The advent of social media has revolutionized how we interact with the world and our social relationships with our fellow man and woman, boy and girl. However, while we do seem more connected on one hand, recent evidence indicates there may be detrimental aspects to excessive social media use and electronics use in the developing mind. Thus, it is important to disconnect from the digital world upon bedtime and focus on relaxation and sleep. Unlike normal face-to-face conversation, texting leaves things “open ended” making it harder to disengage from a conversation since it’s never really “over”. This may cause increased stress, a nxiety and anticipation at nighttime preventing sleep. Refraining from instant messaging and digital screen exposure at nighttime before bed has been shown to increase the quality and duration of one's sleep (Grover et al., 2016). Technique 2: Listen to relaxing music during bedtime. A 2008 study by Harmat et al., demonstrated that relaxing classical music is an efficacious intervention to reconcile sleep problems such as insomnia and difficulty falling asleep. The study explicitly stated that music can reduce sympathetic nervous system activity, decrease anxiety, blood pressure, heart and respiratory rate and may have positive effects on sleep via muscle relaxation and distraction from thoughts (Harmat et al., 2008). Thus, after you finish texting and decide it's time for bed, try putting on a little Mozart softly in the background to help you drift off to sleep! It’s a much cheaper and safer alternative to taking sleep medications. Technique 3: Mindfulness Meditation There has been a lot of data and talk about the benefits of meditation lately. Indeed, as a long-time practitioner, I can attest anecdotally to its innumerous benefits on the mind and body. However, from a research standpoint, there is much data out now that can be translated and applied to everyone’s daily lives. The practice of mindfulness meditation can be invoked to lower blood pressure, improve the quality of ones sleep, and even reduce inflammation by reducing levels of NF-?B, an inflammation factor in our bodies (Black et al., 2015). To learn more about mindfulness meditation, click here to hear my good friend and fellow neurologist, Dr. Matthew Markert, speak on the Benefits Barriers to Mindfulness in Medicine in which he discusses a few techniques on practicing mindfulness. Technique 4: Melatonin The majority of the advice given in this article was meant to steer one away from taking any sort of medication or pills to promote sleep as to confer long-term benefits and healthy behaviors instead of simply invoking a temporary short-term fix. While there is several medications that can, rather quickly at times, induce sleep, they are ineffective long-term remedies due to the dependence they cause and the side effects they carry. However, there is one natural supplement that has proven its novel use in promoting sleep for decades now, and that supplement is: Melatonin. This supplement has gained a lot of popularity a being a “wonder drug” for the many individual suffering from sleep disorders. It is known that melatonin helps regulate circadian rhythms and promote sleep. Furthermore, it is shown to reduce the onset of sleep in children, which can be very beneficial (Buscemi et al., 2006). Technique 5: Diet; Don’t Eat Right Before Bed! It probably shouldn’t be surprising after reading my last article on nutrition that eating healthy has an effect on our sleep cycle. A 2011 study indicated that consuming food right before bed can have detrimental effects upon sleep quality (Crispim et al., 2011). I suppose this calls into question an old saying my father used to tell me, “after lunch nap a while, after dinner walk a mile!” Perhaps this would be beneficial since lunchtime napping sleep quality probably isn’t as important as sleeping at nighttime (not to mention, unless you’re in Spain, not too many people have time for naps after lunch!) In any case, allowing your food to digest and giving yourself enough time between your last meal and going to sleep may significantly affect sleep quality. There is a widely diverse ocean of data and studies that overwhelmingly support the notion that better sleep equals better grades. Such aspects of diet, nutrition and sleep should be further encouraged in the classroom as a mechanism to promote healthier lifestyles, and consequently, better grades. The data calls for more research on this topic; however, the current database of literature provides various techniques, such as the aforementioned, to improve sleep quality as a method to increase academic performance. About the AuthorGaurav Dubey is the Founder Executive Producer of BIOLITICS Podcast Biolitics.org. He has his Master's of Science in Biotechnology from Rush Univeristy.He's a publishedstem cell biologist who left his doctoral research to further progress the state of scientific journalism through Biolitics other related endeavors. References Aldabal, L., Bahammam, A. S. (2011). Metabolic, endocrine, and immune consequences of sleep deprivation. The Open Respiratory Medicine Journal, 5 doi:10.2174/1874306401105010031 BaHammam, A. S., Alaseem, A. M., Alzakri, A. A., Almeneessier, A. S., Sharif, M. M. (2012). The relationship between sleep and wake habits and academic performance in medical students: A cross-sectional study. BMC Medical Education, 12(1), 1-6. doi:10.1186/1472-6920-12-61 Black, D. S., O’Reilly, G. A., Olmstead, R., Breen, E. C., Irwin, M. R. (2015). Mindfulness meditation and improvement in sleep quality and daytime impairment among older adults with sleep disturbances: A randomized clinical trial. JAMA Internal Medicine, 175(4), 494-501. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2014.8081 [doi] Buscemi, N., Witmans, M. (2006). What is the role of melatonin in the management of sleep disorders in children? Paediatrics Child Health, 11(8), 517-519. doi:pch11517 [pii] Crispim, C. A., Zimberg, I., dos Reis, B. G., Diniz, R. M., Tufik, S., de Mello, M. T. (2011). Relationship between food intake and sleep pattern in healthy individuals. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine : JCSM : Official Publication of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, 7(6), 659-664. doi:10.5664/jcsm.1476 [doi] Curcio, G., Ferrara, M., De Gennaro, L. (2006). Sleep loss, learning capacity and academic performance. Sleep Medicine Reviews, 10 doi:10.1016/j.smrv.2005.11.001 Grover, K., Pecor, K., Malkowski, M., Kang, L., Machado, S., Lulla, R., . . . Ming, X. (2016). Effects of instant messaging on school performance in adolescents. Journal of Child Neurology, 31(7), 850-857. doi:10.1177/0883073815624758 [doi] Harmat, L., Takacs, J., Bodizs, R. (2008). Music improves sleep quality in students. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 62(3), 327-335. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2648.2008.04602.x [doi] Pagel, J. F., Kwiatkowski, C. F. (2010). Sleep complaints affecting school performance at different educational levels. Front Neurol, 1 doi:10.3389/fneur.2010.00125