An Introduction to So Chemistry

An Introduction to So ChemistryStudents will enjoy the new student module on So Chemistry, with a focus on dynamic and innovative compounds that can provide outstanding solutions to a wide range of problems. The module will include an introduction to the topic of compounds, with reference to their origin, properties, applications and reactivity. Students will be introduced to the chemistry concepts and methods to help them make valuable contributions to the field.To prepare for this module, students will be taught about the different forms of energy, including, atomic, molecular, and isotopic, as well as the interaction energy between atoms. The materials that are being discussed will include liquids, solids, gases, and special types of solid oxides, among others.The module will also discuss the properties of solids. Students will be exposed to different ways of extracting substances from solids, including vacuum distillation, surface melting, ion exchange, evaporation, steam vapor c ompression, and mechanical dehydration. They will also learn about different kinds of crystal structures and how these structures are related to chemical bonding. They will also be introduced to the four important phases of matter, including solid, liquid, gaseous, and vapor.Pre-lab will cover some basic chemistry concepts and methods used in the laboratory setting. They will learn about loading and unloading reagents and equipment in the laboratory, including a demonstration of processes used in the laboratory such as drying and compressing substances. The students will also be introduced to experimental procedures for methods that involve exposure to air and moisture, water-based and acid solutions, including UV and ultraviolet light sources.Students will also learn about some procedures that involve integration of chemical reaction, starting with methods for mixing reactions, as well as the separation of reagents, combining reactions, and reacting with catalysts. Basic knowledge of the definition of mass, charge, and mass-energy is also introduced. Methods for measuring the number of atoms in a molecule are also covered.Students will also learn about using the formula (mol/L) and solubility property (/H2O). Other topics that are included include environmental reaction methods and solid state properties of solutes. Key points will include basic chemistry and computer-assisted instruction with the SOLiD software.Students will also get access to lab modules that include chemical bonding. Here, students will be introduced to different reactions between two or more carbon atoms and hydrogen, including oxidation, reduction, and substitution reactions. The software system also includes an introduction to the methods used for spectroscopy and spectrometry, as well as shielding and polarizability.The So Chemistry student module includes many traditional methods of teaching such as labs, textbooks, lab activities, laboratory scenarios, and lectures. An information ki t is also available. This kit contains a calendar, notes and a student handbook.

Elite Tutoring Places Are Where a Student Can Go to Get the Attention They Need

Elite Tutoring Places Are Where a Student Can Go to Get the Attention They NeedElite tutoring places are places where a student can go to get the attention they need. It can be hard to find places that offer such services. However, with the internet, there are places available.Elite tutoring can be accomplished at home or at the local public library. For a student who wants a way to do it, then the library is ideal. There are tutors available in the library who specialize in elite tutoring. They may not have the credentials but will gladly share their knowledge and experience with those who are interested. The only time a student needs to bring their own materials is if they want to take a class at the library.Sometimes people prefer to work at home or a local public library. At home there is the option of doing it through online tutoring. Some places even have an advanced tutoring service for those who need more than the basic tutoring.If you like to take online classes, then there are many tutors who offer tutoring at this time. It can be done via Skype or a similar program. If you are looking for an alternative, then you might consider online tutoring.Professional tutors can also be found online. These include instructors who will lead classes. With such a tutoring service, students are able to find the support they need.It is also possible to find free tutoring places. If you know someone who is willing to tutor you, then this is one of the best options available.Elite tutoring places are where students can go to get the attention they need. There are many different ways for them to do this. They can go to a school or campus to find the right one for them.

The Fun, Extra Activity That Helps Your Child Learn Languages

The Fun, Extra Activity That Helps Your Child Learn Languages Suzy S. Did you know that participating in performing arts  can help your child learn a new language? In this article, Mariella  Gambardella from eSpectacularKids.com  shows you how theater and language-learning go hand in hand When I moved to Spain with my family, neither my husband nor I  spoke a word of Spanish. Our one-year-old daughter had not been exposed to the language yet either. Having lived in a few countries before, though, we were very aware of the importance of learning the local language as quickly as possible in order to fully integrate ourselves. We wanted our child to be able to play with other children at the park and go to a Spanish-speaking nursery school. Besides our reasons, there are many other reasons why you should raise your child bilingual. Our family had been fond of theater for a while, so we decided to use theater as a tool for our daughter to learn Spanish. How Theater  Helps Kids Learn a New Language A lot has been written about the benefits of performing arts for childrens learning. Performing arts lets your child have fun while learning moral values, improving communication and social skills, and expanding their general knowledge. You may ask, however, what is the role that performing arts play in learning languages? Below are some reasons you should use theater for your childs second (or third) language acquisition: 1) Children need extra motivation to learn languages. A magic show, theater, or any other type of gestural activity provides participation, excitement, and surprises. These fun and relaxed environments are ideal for children to absorb and learn a new language. It allows them to internalize phrases and vocabulary without even realizing it! 2) Theater helps children learn not only the most formal parts of the language, but also idioms, vocabulary, intonation, and structures that dont always appear in books. The language is typically used in a  conversational manner. 3) When the actors are native speakers, children hear  different types of accents and lesser-known expressions. The native speakers bring their own flair to the table and introduce listeners  to different linguistic stylings. 4) Although actors are at the center of the performance, often children have the opportunity to perform in or engage in other ways  with the production. Whether at a theater, at home, or in a classroom, playing, improvising, and role-playing are the most effective ways of acquiring a language, as they improve childrens communication skills. In fact, role-play in particular is one of the most widely used techniques in classrooms to teach and learn languages. This activity allows children to  become anyone for a short period of time and express themselves in a more forthright way. 5) The good thing about watching performing arts in other languages is that we can choose the theme. If its a theme that children enjoy, theyll be more willing to listen and learn. 6) The availability of a variety of topics also allows us as parents and teachers to select  performances that are suited to a particular vocabulary lesson. 7) The fact that the plays and performances usually represent everyday situations allows children to learn vocabulary and expressions that are used in everyday life. Itll definitely have a lot of practical use if youre raising bilingual kids. The ultimate goal is making the language heard as something normal. The learning should be concealed within fun and entertainment so that children have the opportunity to learn in a dynamic and interactive environment. Looking for additional help from a Spanish or other language tutor? Search for a tutor near you! Guest  Author: Mariella Gambardella Mariella is co-founder of eSpectacularKids.com, the first online video library of storytelling, theater, magic, and puppet shows in English and Spanish for children 2-12 years old. The online platform makes performing arts accessible to all families and schools anytime, anywhere, and from any type of mobile device. Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher

Bodybuilding What to Avoid When Training

Bodybuilding What to Avoid When Training Exercising at Home: How to Build Muscle Without Hurting Yourself! ChaptersThe Risk of Tendonitis in Arm Muscle TrainingPull-ups: How to Prevent Shoulder InjuryGym: Bench Press Mistakes to AvoidDon't Arch Your Back When Doing Squats!Be Careful Not to Overstrain Your MusclesBodybuilding and the Elderly: a Dangerous Combination?When it comes to sports training, especially bodybuilding, make sure you know what you're doing!Learning the right moves with a professional personal trainer, at a gym or at home, is important so you don't tear a muscle or end up with tendonitis.Perhaps you've already had this bad luck already, in that case, let's make sure it never happens again!Superprof has therefore decided to put together a list of the most popular bodybuilding exercises as well as the most common mistakes to avoid!With the help of this guide, you will be able to keep in tip top physical condition, without injuring yourself.Researchers also recommended that senior training is supervised by health professionals:a sports coach,personal trainer,senior gym tea cher.

Resources New Teachers Can Use Next Semester

Resources New Teachers Can Use Next Semester By the mid-point in the year, youve already gotten your feet wet as a new teacher, have had your first parent-teacher conferences, and have likely followed the advice of the Wongs in The First Days of School. Youve made some lesson plans that worked and others that didnt. As you take a breather from school for the holiday break, you may be planning how to structure your spring semester. Luckily, there are many resources out there that benefit new teachers. Resources new teachers can use in the spring semester include Google Arts Culture, other teachers at the school, and local museums. Here are resources new teachers can use next semester: Resource #1 for new teachers: the National Education Association (NEA) The NEAs support of both education and teachers is apparent in the wealth of information available on its website. There are archives with lesson plans and teaching strategies, as well as articles and resources that pertain to classroom management and other aspects of teaching. Lesson plans can be filtered by grade level, month, and subject. [RELATED: 4 Ways Personalized Learning Positively Impacts Students] Resource #2 for new teachers: cultural centers, libraries, and local museums Remember to visit local cultural centers, libraries, and museums in your town or in neighboring towns. Such places will often have student-specific programming that you can take advantage of if youre able to visit with your class. Some may even offer lesson plans or resources that can help you introduce the field trip or extend concepts beyond the visit. If a location doesnt have programming, dont be afraid to askmany are willing to work with you to put together an experience that will benefit your students. You can also try less obvious places that will stretch your students in productive ways, such as: Community food pantries Community gardens Recycling centers Resource #3 for new teachers: other instructors at your school This is perhaps the most underrated resource you can find. Especially as a new teacher, your hands may be full throughout the day, with little time to speak with colleagues beyond required meetings. If youre able to carve out the time, get in touch with teachers at your school whose teaching style you admire or whose projects have inspired you in some way. Teachers of all ages and experiences have a great deal to offer. Any teacher who has been at your school longer than you will also have an added perspective on what may work with your administration, students, and parents. Resource #4 for new teachers: SchoolTube and TeacherTube Were all familiar with YouTube, but you may not know about TeacherTube or SchoolTube. Both are free resources where you can find student-friendly videos on a range of topics. As a community member of TeacherTube, you can upload your own videos in addition to browsing hundreds of others. You can attach supplemental files to your videos too. In addition, you can join or create groups to connect with other educators who share your interests, which builds community and multiplies resources. SchoolTube is a similar platform that collects, as its tagline says, The best videos from students and teachers everywhere. Try either out to add a multimedia aspect to your classroom. [RELATED: 5 Benefits of Using Videos to Learn] Resource #5 for new teachers: Google Arts Culture Google Arts Culture is a virtual museum that brings together documents, photographs, videos, and other items from a number of institutions around the world. Through Google Arts Culture, you can take a virtual field trip with your students that you may not otherwise be able to afford, both in time and money. You can also use it as a resource for a history project or interdisciplinary project, or find lesson plans through the World Wonders education project. [RELATED: How Online Learning Helps Students] Beyond these resources, try to seek out professional development besides that which is required on professional development days. Your principal may have funds or other ways to support you as you learn and grow as an educator. Dont try everything at once; take your time implementing new strategies so you dont overwhelm yourself in this exciting first year. 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.

What Specialties Online Tutors for Exams Have

What Specialties Online Tutors for Exams Have Exam fear is almost an unavoidable syndrome in most of the students and it creates mental blocks. These blocks causes hurdles in one’s learning process. Preparing exams with online tutors is the easiest way to score high without embarrassment in exam hall. Online tutors for exams Why are they special? Many students understand that they miss many learning skills. They miss it only on the eve of exams and find no time to rectify their errors. This occurs due to many reasons like inattentive classroom listening. Non involvement in subject learning and lack of required basic skills for acing a subject. Last minute hiccups are very common and you need to do something to come out of them. Avoid it while preparing for your exam. Online tutors for exams are the ready made saviors in this context with their understanding of what you need. About what you need in your last minute preparations. Through their exposure to umpteen numbers of students of various calibers. They take you in the right road in the one on one tutoring session. It is with a focus on redeeming your faults and help you do your best in exams. Do best by cementing the holes you have in your learning spheres. Card How do virtual tutors render exams help? Exam preparation demands adequate class notes. Preparatory subject material and practice sheets for revision. In the case of Math or Physics and Chemistry, you should own worksheets.   These allow you to practice problems of various categories at random for strengthening your confidence in problem solving. You should possess proper study habits and revision techniques to ingrain the material you learn and remember it without forgetting the details. Exams help by subject experts in online tutoring field brings forth all these requirements at your desk with tutors working for your betterment in exam time with their knowledge, strategies, advice and guidelines. They provide sufficient study material, practice tips, work sheets and other necessary material for your revision and help you out of your struggles while understanding subject topics. They conduct mock tests, practice sessions, problem solving on white board and explain tough concepts in an easy to understand manner. Tips for exams from virtual tutors-how do they improve your scores? You can be intelligent enough to decipher all the ideas and interpretations you come across in a subject and work hard towards excelling in your subject with a targeted score. But you need to understand the strategies in choosing questions in a paper, methods of revision like using flashcards and notes, managing time and methods of impressive presentation in the answer sheet. All these come to you in the form of tips for exams from online tutors and they help you reach unto your targeted scores without hassle. 7 Practical Study Tips For Acing High School Exams Tutor Pace’s tutors have all these credentials for helping you in attaining success in your exams for sure.

Dance Quotes 20 Phrases to Inspire You

Dance Quotes 20 Phrases to Inspire You Our Top Picks of the Most Beautiful Inspirational Dance Quotes! Chapters1 â€" William W. Purkey2 â€" Friedrich Nietzsche3 â€" H. P. Lovecraft4 â€" Martha Graham5 â€" Martha Graham, Again6 â€" Albert Einstein7 â€" Molière8 â€" Voltaire9 â€" Hans Bos10 â€" George Bernard Shaw11 â€" Hervé Kay12 â€" Maurice Béjart13 â€" Paulo Coelho14 â€" William Stafford15 â€" George de Las Cuevas16 â€" Paul Valéry17 â€" Erol Ozan18 â€" Jane Austen19 â€" Anna Pavlova20 â€" Amélie NothombTo become a professional dancer, strong legs and a fit body are a must, but nothing beats a good dose of motivation!If you are interested in learning about dance, whether you dance or simply with to cultivate an academic interest, is to explore the history and cultural richness of this art that has embellished and shaped so many eras.To delve into the quotes of famous authors and recognized dancers is a great opportunity to discover the impact of dance through the years, as reflected upon different cultures.Everyone knows that motivation and hard work are the keys to success in any discipline, artistic or scientific.Why not motivate yourself to learn how to dance through phrases that highlight the benefits of dance?Discover right now our selection of the best quotes on dance!Even hip hop dancing demands a measure of self-assurance and athletic ability Source: Pixabay Credit: The Digital ArtistShyness is a trait of character that prevents many of us from just getting up and dancing.No one will judge you, the beginner in dance class or with a dance association: the goal at that stage is to build self-confidence, in order to become a great dancer.As your lessons in group progress, you will be able to let go of those inhibitions and finally reveal your inner talent!Discover also where to take dance classes glasgow...6 â€" Albert EinsteinDancers are the athletes of God.If one of the greatest minds of this contemporary era says so, it must be true!Being both an art and a sport in its own right, dance intrigues with its originality and eccentricity.According to E instein, this dual status would make dance an almost divine activity. Are you ready to take your place in the Hall of Fame of dancers?According to Einstein, to dance is to commune with the divine Source: Pixabay Credit: Sobima7 â€" MolièreMusic and dance are two arts that have a close relationship.In addition to being a connoisseur of the theatre, Jean-Baptiste Pocquelin, AKA Molière particularly appreciated the art of dance.And he should know: this illustrious figure of French culture invented the comedy-ballet genre to satisfy the king!Since dance and music are closely related, Molière was accompanied by the greatest musicians of the time, such as Jean-Baptiste Lully.Why not learn to dance to your favorite music?8 â€" VoltaireLet us read, and let us dance; These two amusements will never hurt the world.This quotation seems ironic, seeing as both literature and dance have suffered censorship by French royalty.Perhaps his expressed sentiment reflects those constraints?Through lit erature and dance, the spirit can be liberated. Today, the neophytes of dance can practice their art freely: have fun in the friendly atmosphere of private dance lessons!Discover where to take dance lessons in Birmingham...9 â€" Hans BosWhile I dance I cannot judge, I cannot hate, I cannot separate myself from life. I can only be joyful and whole.Are dance and happiness two sides of the same coin?According to an Australian survey conducted in 2014, dancers' welfare index was pegged at 77, while that of non-dancers topped out at only 74.It would seems that dancers would be happier than their compadres, especially thanks to a healthy lifestyle and the practice of a liberating activity. You now know the recipe for happiness: get dancing!ballet dancing!In individual dance but especially in couples dancing, participants will rediscover their sensuality and strengthen their body while improving their musicality.Some types of dances, such as Latin dances (Salsa, Tango, Mambo, Merengue, Rum ba...), are especially recommended for getting closer to your dance partner.Now, that's hot!11 â€" Hervé KayYou can dance anywhere; that's the beauty of dance.The advantage of learning to dance? The possibility of exercising this art in a dance studio, but also at home, in a dance club or even during a dance party.Dance has few limits: as a rule, it is not obligatory to own tons of sports equipment to work on its movements.Some dance styles, such as ballroom dancing â€" slow Waltz, Viennese Waltz, polka, jig and others, require only a good pair of shoes. You can even do pole dancing classes.Why not make your life a perpetual choreography!Among the many hats M. Béjart wore, his favourite was dance instructor for contemporary dance Source: Pixabay Credit: StockSnap12 â€" Maurice BéjartFor me, to enter into motion is to enter into meditation.An illustrious dancer and choreographer, Maurice Béjart contributed to the birth of modern dance in France.If, for him, dancing is tantamount to meditating, it must also the case for many novice or professional dancers.There are even meditation dance styles, inspired by traditional dances, specially designed to revive the dialogue between body and mind.Learn to inspire and exhale during your dance sessions!13 â€" Paulo CoelhoDance is one of the most perfect forms of communication with infinite intelligence.Dance enthusiasts can afford the luxury of revealing themselves through their art!Many psychologists claim that the body possesses its own intelligence, reflecting the true personality of a dancer. Dancing allows you to pass on a message and express feelings such as joy, anger or frustration.If you can't say it, you can express it through movement to music!Check out our online Zumba courses here...14 â€" William StaffordKids: they dance before they learn that there is anything that isn't music.Unlike adults, younger people tend not to sense the weight of others' eyes on them, and never hesitate to sketch a few completel y uninhibited dance steps.To keep your passion for dancing and perhaps become a famous choreographer someday, why not take children's and teens ' classes in dance?Helping children find private 'dance classes near me', means they will be able to work their technique even as they become adept at this sport!15 â€" George de Las CuevasI believe that dance always contains four arts: music, choreography, painting and literature.Students at music and dance conservatories  will tell you: to study dance in depth, it is unthinkable to neglect the other arts.Expressed in painting (notably by Edgar Degas), in literature (famously by Noel Streatfeild) or in music, dance inspires many artists.Immersing yourself in music or literature allows you to learn more about the history of the art of dance and to integrate into a prestigious dance school â€" even to get a certificate of fitness to become a dance teacher.16 â€" Paul ValéryThis celebration of the body, a feast before our souls, offers light and joyDance is synonymous with cheerfulness and enthusiasm!Taking dance lessons allows you to communicate your good mood with other dancers and to spend a de-stressing and positive moment.The joy of dancing touches even animals: in June 2017, after trying the break dance a few years earlier, the gorilla Zola invented a dance of joy, provoking great happiness for millions of Internet users!17 â€" Erol OzanDancing is creating a sculpture that is visible only for a moment.To learn dance as taught in conservatories, neophytes of the art must ponder every movement and position their body correctly.Indeed, dance consists of a multitude of moments: each movement must therefore be reflected to create a complete picture. By mastering fundamental technique and basic moves, it will be easier to become versatile and master several dances!Discover here our Salsa courses in London...18 â€" Jane AustenTo be fond of dancing was a certain step toward falling in love.If anyone knows romance, it's Ja ne Austen!This English author puts her finger on a primordial aspect of dance: love. Many dance partners have fallen in love during their training sessions.The best-known contemporary example would be that of Natalie Portman, who married the French dancer Benjamin Millepied after their work together on the dance film Black Swan.19 â€" Anna PavlovaA dancer dances because his blood dances in his veins.As Anna Pavlova says, dance is first and foremost a question of passion.What if you became one of the best dancers in history?However, passion for dance is not reserved for the elite. Some do not discover their artistic inclination until very late, while others fall in love with dance while admiring a great dancer. We could all become great dance professionals; we only need to get started!20 â€" Amélie NothombNo one occupies the totality of his body as great dancers do.Dance class is a golden opportunity to reconcile yourself with your body and improve your self-esteem.Professional danc ers will tell you: no one knows their body better than a dancer.Did you know that certified dance teachers take courses in body anatomy and physiology to best guide students during their acquaintanceship with their body?By controlling every muscle in your body, you will be able to become a great dancer and perform complex physical moves, like the ground barre â€" floor exercises mimicking barre work, or even doing the splits.You don't have to spend time searching the net for 'dance classes near me', now that you are motivated, move on to practice by taking a special dance course with one of our Superprofs!Finally discover our Zumba courses here...

Should I Go To Rice University

Should I Go To Rice University The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. Courtney is a Houston tutor attending Rice University. She is currently a junior majoring in Cognitive Sciences and specializes in several tutoring subjects such as ISEE prep tutoring, Biology tutoring, and Essay Editing tutoring. See what she had to say about Rice: 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? Courtney: Although Rice is in the center of a major metropolitan area, the campus feels very intimate and is very safe. Our Rice University Police Department does a great job of patrolling the area and helping everyone feel secure, but of course in a big city it is always advisable to use caution and common sense. There are buses that run around what we call the Inner Loop of campus and travel through the heart of the academic buildings all the way out to the parking lot area. If you are commuting from off-campus or want to explore the greater Houston area, there is a public bus system, but it isnt very convenient. I personally bike from my house off-campus and it is only a 15 minute bike ride. Another option for public transport is the light rail system that runs from the Rice U area into Midtown and the Downtown area for very cheap. Many people drive cars and it is definitely the most convenient way to get around if you can handle the traffic. Because Houston is such a sprawling city, it makes sense to have personal transport. VT: How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Courtney: The Rice professors I have encountered are always available for help and ready to assist you in any way possible. There are usually only a few teaching assistants, even for big classes, because the professors will generally handle any issues personally. All professors offer office hours and available by email. Many will even say to drop in with no appointment, if necessary. For the few classes that do require teaching assistants, they are often graduate level students who really know the subject matter and have no problem going to the professor if they cant answer a question you have. The office of academic advising is very helpful but emphasizes the services of Peer Academic Advisors that help with deciding classes and determining credit. These Peer Academic Advisors are at every dorm and easily accessible for immediate questions. If you are interested in focuses such as premedical or prelaw, the academic advising office has specific advisors for these concentrations. VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Courtney: Rice is very unique in its dorm set-up. The University is divided into 11 residential colleges (dorms) that you are sorted into before you matriculate. Usually you stay in the college for your entire time at Rice. Each dorm has its own governing body, committees, and, in some ways, personality. Additionally, each dorm is set up a little differently as far as rooms go. Some residential colleges emphasize double rooms with a private bathroom, others have suite set ups with shared bathrooms. We have 6 dining halls (called serveries) around campus. Although some are specifically designated for a particular college, you are welcome to eat at any of them. One aspect of Rice some people take issue with is the all-or-nothing style to the meal plan if you live on campus. With living on campus you must buy a full meal plan that covers all meals of the week (excluding Saturday evening, when the serveries close). This is upsetting to some people that dont eat breakfast or would prefer off-campus options more. If you live off-campus, different levels of meal plans are available (e.g. 5 meals per week, 7 meals per week, etc.) The residential colleges and serveries offer a lot of opportunity for socialization and getting to know other people. The other students at your college will become like a pseudo-family of about 400 people. When you matriculate you will participate in an orientation week (called O-week) where you will get to know your fellow college-mates even more. 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? Courtney: Traditionally Rice is known as being an Engineering school, but dont let this discourage you if you are a humanities or social science enthusiast. Obviously most of the money is thrown towards the engineering and science fields, but I personally am involved in both the social science and humanities departments and they offer great faculty and support as well. I came into Rice with a premedical focus, but decided against it in my junior year. I now focus on my studies in Cognitive Sciences and Religious Studies. I chose Cognitive Sciences because it was just a field that fascinated me and is very progressive right now with a lot of new research being done. In a similar vein, I decided on Religious studies because I developed an interest in it after I took a class on Psychology of Religion during my freshman year. The Religious Studies department is world-renown and one of the few programs that works on studies in the GEM (gnostic, esoteric, mystic) field. The University does a great job of supporting all areas of study and, as I said before, although the sciences are highlighted, they do boast excellent Humanities, Social Science, Music, and Architecture programs. 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? Courtney: It is unbelievably easy to make friends as a freshman. O-Week does a great job of getting you acquainted with others in your college. You are further divided into O-Week groups where you are grouped with 7 other freshman, which aids in making instant friends. I am still close friends with many people from my O-Week group. Additionally, there are a lot small class sizes that allow you to meet people from other colleges. There is no Greek life on campus, but the college systems work in a similar style (without all the hazing and exclusivity). Its like you are inducted into a sorority/fraternity as soon as you move in. VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Courtney: Rice has a Center for Career Development (CCD) that offers resume-writing workshops, practice interviews, presentations from various professional fields, and career fairs. The CCD does a great job of offering a variety of opportunities to discover careers and meet potential employers. Several big firms (Capital One, IBM, etc.) recruit from Rice as well as many government/military agencies (FBI, CIA, Army, Navy, etc.). If you are a humanities major, like me, and are worried about career opportunities after college, the CCD offers very specific workshops that describe different areas that humanities majors are desired. VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Courtney: There are plenty of beautiful study spaces across campus. The most obvious of these is Fondren Library, which offers 5 floors of study cubicles, study rooms that you can reserve, as well as tables and computers for public use. Fondren always has places to study, but I recommend getting there early during exam time because you will be fighting for even cubicle space. Additionally, areas such as Brochstein Pavillion have a coffeeshop and places to sit and study. Many professors use Brochstein for office hours or meetings. Our student-run coffeeshop (Coffee House) is also a fun place to relax and study. Individual residential colleges also have public spaces for study, but these can often be filled with people socializing. Some colleges have a suite-style set up where rooms surround a common room, which can be used for study as well. 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? Courtney: Houston is a very exciting, diverse city with a lot of things to do if you take advantage of them. Rice students often fall into the habit of staying close to campus, but if you go Beyond the Hedges (as we say at Rice), you can find a lot of unique places to eat, shop, and have fun. A 10 minute walk from campus is Rice Village, which is filled with shopping stores, restaurants, and bars. Some people go to Midtown, where there are some clubs and bars, or Downtown. You can get to both of these places via the light rail system. Because Rice has such an active social scene (with each residential college throwing public parties about every other week), many students neglect the area around Rice, but there is a lot to do! Additionally, Rice is located right in the Museum District of Houston, with several great museums as well as Hermann Park (with the Houston Zoo at the center). These places are great for a day excursion that is easily walking distance from campus. VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Courtney: Rice University has one of the smallest student populations among Ivy League schools. We only have about 6,000 Undergraduate students, with each class having only about 1,500 students. Although it seems like a lot, you see a lot of familiar faces on campus. After coming to Rice I think I would have preferred going somewhere with a few more people because sometimes the social scene can be a little redundant. But the small population also offers small class sizes and for some students is less overwhelming than larger institutions. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Courtney: My favorite professor is a Religious Studies professor that I had freshman year (and subsequently many semesters after that). He is funny, engaging, and very knowledgeable. I signed up for his class, Psychology of Religion, out of curiosity more than anything else, but in taking the class my interest grew exponentially and I am now planning a thesis under the same subject (and the same professor!). The great thing about my professor was that he treated us like adults as soon as we walked in instead of holding our hands through the processes. Our first assignment was to write about what we have been talking about. He gave us a loose prompt and said to write (almost free-form) whatever we thought. Instead of focusing on the writing he made us focus on the material, which was refreshing and interesting. He helped me develop as a student and a person and created a life-long passion that I hope to continue long after I leave Rice. Check out Courtneys tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

Music volunteering with Tutorfair - Madlenas story

Music volunteering with Tutorfair - Madlena's story Madlena is a professional violinist  and one of our most committed music volunteers, and spent a term at Westminster City School dedicated to the orchestra. She focused on getting Noah, a violin beginner, up to speed so that he could perform in the end of year concert. And a fabulous concert it was too! Here's Madlena, to tell us about her life in music and fulfilling experiences at Westminster City. I still have a slightly vague memory of my first Violin lesson â€" I was 4 years old, sitting in the living room with my mom and the violin teacher. I remember his big curly hair and the “surprise” in his hands â€" the violin. He made the lesson like a fairytale. He told me the story of Princess Violin and helped me take in my hand her magic wand â€" the bow. After 30 minutes I was feeling so enthusiastic to bring the violin home with me, to make other sounds and play more with it. Somehow, my first teacher managed to light my fire for music and here I am now - playing the violin for 21 years since. All this years I have been playing as a soloist, quartet primario as well as an orchestral musician. However, almost two years ago, I realized that I wanted to share my passion for violin and to involve other people into the art of music. So, I started my journey as a violin teacher! After graduating last year from National Music Academy in Sofia I moved to London. The city is enormous and this can be frustrating in the beginning for a traveling tutor. Actually, it turned out to be an incredible experience - month after month I was being reached by pupils of different ages, stages and cultures. In the meanwhile, I decided it was a good idea to gain more work experience in group teaching, as I was giving mainly individual lessons to my pupils. Here is where Tutorfair came to rescue. I signed up with them 7 months ago because I liked their approach to both tutors and pupils. Their team is friendly-like, enthusiastic and always ready to help the tutors with every need the latter may have. Actually, they are mind-readers as well! I was offered the opportunity to do music volunteering with Tutorfair, in the orchestra classes at Westminster City School, just when I was looking for opportunities to work in a school environment. I accepted with great enthusiasm and actually, the time spent in the school turned out to be far better and amusing than I expected! On my first appearance in the music room at the school I was a bit nervous. In front of my eyes were staying children playing all kinds of musical instruments â€" drums, violoncello, trumpet, trombone and yes! - there was one violin player. I wasn't only going to help a group of violinist, but a whole orchestra!   Then I met Sarah and later â€" Elliot, two great teachers/conductors of vocals and violin. They were great to introduce me and bring in the details of the program. I am happy to say that with their help I managed quickly to become part of the team, as we soon started sharing opinions regarding the orchestra program. We agreed on Ode to Joy of Beethoven's 9th symphony as a music piece for the upcoming concert.   And then the amusing part begun! Already feeling relaxed and having on my back 11 years of orchestra experience, I started to get to know the children. Like most teenage groups of schoolmates, they were often a bit noisy, talkative and easily distracted. It was a challenge for me to find the way to keep their attention and most importantly, not to be just stern, but to make them enjoy the time spent in classes. When I teach, I always keep in my mind the image of my fairytale lesson. It helps me remember that every child is unique and that it is my duty and pleasure to find the exact way to make the child have a good time with the instrument. When something is fun and interesting you want to do it again and again, right? Keeping that in mind, I was talking with Ioan, Jordan, Azhy and Noah about violin stance, dynamics, bowing and fingering, but also showing them how to lead their groups and how to seek carefully for a good quality of the sound; and all that presented in a child-friendly way! I took care to teach them the complex ability of playing together and how to simultaneously listen to the other players, as well as watching the conductor. Wow, that isn't easy at all! I started to click more with some of the children, finding the way to their mind and heart. With Noah, for example, we were clapping together in order to feel better the rhythmical patterns we were about to play. With the drummer boy we were often talking about favorite jazz and rock bands and the personal style in their playing. This got him very interested and eager to show me what he had practiced and later mastered. At the end of the school term, the orchestra took part in the final evening concert. It went great, the children looked beautiful and played very well! And in a way, I felt proud! After my experience in the school I became even more passionate about teaching violin. I realized that there isn't a big difference between teaching one or six children together, if you always strive to give a proper attention to the individual likes and dislikes of the pupil. Above all, it's most important to make them happy with the instrument! Some of them may continue playing the violin for years, some of them may stop at some point. But what counts in the end is the memory of the violin experience that will remain in their minds. For them, one day to stroll down memory lane with a smile â€" that's my goal!