Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Monday, April 27, 2009
Sweet Way to Raise Your Grades
Some minty fresh news from the LA Times:
Studies have suggested that something about chewing gum reduces stress, improves alertness and relieves anxiety. But most of this research has been found in a laboratory setting. Now, the first study in people also supports the idea that chewing gum boosts academic performance.
The study was conducted by researchers at Baylor College of Medicine and was sponsored by the Wrigley Science Institute. The study included 108 students, ages 13 to 16, who were assigned either to chew sugar-free gum during math class, while doing math homework and during math tests, or to refrain from gum-chewing. After 14 weeks, the students took a math test and their grades were assessed.
Those who chewed gum had a 3% increase in standardized math test scores and had final math grades that were significantly better than the other students. Teachers observed that those who chewed gum seemed to require fewer breaks, sustain attention longer and remain quieter.
Just how chomping gum helps kids crunch numbers is not quite clear. The study was presented at the Annual Meeting at Experimental Biology 2009 in New Orleans.
So what do you think? Time to change school rules on gum chewing? Should schools start providing gum to students?
Studies have suggested that something about chewing gum reduces stress, improves alertness and relieves anxiety. But most of this research has been found in a laboratory setting. Now, the first study in people also supports the idea that chewing gum boosts academic performance.
The study was conducted by researchers at Baylor College of Medicine and was sponsored by the Wrigley Science Institute. The study included 108 students, ages 13 to 16, who were assigned either to chew sugar-free gum during math class, while doing math homework and during math tests, or to refrain from gum-chewing. After 14 weeks, the students took a math test and their grades were assessed.
Those who chewed gum had a 3% increase in standardized math test scores and had final math grades that were significantly better than the other students. Teachers observed that those who chewed gum seemed to require fewer breaks, sustain attention longer and remain quieter.
Just how chomping gum helps kids crunch numbers is not quite clear. The study was presented at the Annual Meeting at Experimental Biology 2009 in New Orleans.
So what do you think? Time to change school rules on gum chewing? Should schools start providing gum to students?
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Happy Earth Day 2009
With every passing year it becomes clearer that climate change is happening. Some people still think its all natural. What people need to understand is that with the addition of human activities, like excess population growth, industry, automobiles, deforestation, waterway pollution etc, we are not exactly making it easy to recover any time soon. We live on a very fragile planet, and it needs all the help it can get to remain healthy.
For our part S2S will be holding its own earth day activities soon. In addition we are also exploring ways to "green" our building, by utilizing solar and wind powered options on a small scale. Ideas are always welcome.
Remember, recycling is great, not consuming is even better!
Monday, April 20, 2009
Waiting
A new poem by Brittany. She says this one is about getting over someone and still giving her confidence to move on.
WAITING
by Brittany D.
When your first love hits you,
What do you do?
Waiting for them to do something can take years.
Involving much thinking with tears that seem to never run out of clouds.
As little girls dream about prince charming sweeping them off their feet,
Older girls wish they could catch a glimpse of what was once dreaming,
Turned into hoping.
When finding the man that seems to make everything ok,
Don’t ever let them go.
Even if the timing,
The words never seem right.
Feeling like you’re not that girl that’s filled with the special ingredient
He’s been waiting for,
Turns into greed.
That eats with pain on the inside.
Is it ok to want someone soooo much,
You cut off all contact with the rest of the world
In order to keep what isn’t now,
But maybe in the future yours?
Keeping a close eye on the item that makes your life complete
Can drive a person crazy.
That one item goes on and off the market.
But yet no matter what,
You still never arrive when it goes on sale.
Waiting,
Waiting,
Waiting for the right day you can take that perfect piece of history home.
Your closet cleaned out and ready for a fresh start.
That’s when the tears are complete.
While sitting here now
The perfect man is out there
He doesn’t have a girlfriend yet.
I want him like a camera wants an emotion,
Like a seed wants water,
Like a baby needs a guardian.
I don’t even know how to talk to him out side the friend zone.
The reaction is my worst fear.
A door will either open or close.
The only question is when will I decide to knock,
Speak and let myself face
The temptation that lies beneath?
Its all downhill from here...
Spring Breaks over and we are headed for summer! You couldn't tell by looking out the window, but the reality is we only have 45 class days left. Just a reminder to all ITC students to use your time wisely and make full use of tutoring opportunities as you begin to prepare for your Regents exams. The link on the right has all the past regents in all subjects to help you prepare.
If you need a little inspiration heres a cool international version of Stand By Me:
If you need a little inspiration heres a cool international version of Stand By Me:
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