IST Students Perform a Smart Remix of "Look at Me Now"

5 Things I Bet You Didn't Know About the SAT

We thought it'd be fun to throw out a little SAT trivia as students get closer to the final two tests of the school year (5/7 & 6/4).  Here goes...

1.  An Army Brat
In its original form, the test (then known as the "Army Alpha") appeared in 1901 as an IQ test commissioned by the US Army.  It was first administered to college applicants in 1926.  By the end of the 1930s, the SAT was used as a scholarship test for all Ivy League schools.  
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2. Time's Up!
The original test required students to complete 315 questions in 97 minutes in the following areas: definitions, classification, artificial language, antonyms, analogies, logical inference, and paragraph reading, number series and arithmetical problems.  That's about 30 seconds per question.  Yikes! 
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3.  What's in a Name?
"SAT" initially stood for "Scholastic Achievement Test"; in 1941, the name was changed to "Scholastic Aptitude Test."  Today, its full name is "SAT Reasoning Test."  And guess, what?!  "SAT" doesn't stand for anything...it's just "SAT." 
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4.  Classified Information
Before 1958, only high schools and colleges were able to view students’ scores--not the students themselves. 
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5.  A Civil Right
In the early 1960s, College Board officials began visiting testing centers to make sure that all students were being tested under equal conditions. If a school district refused to desegregate, the test center was closed and the tests were given at a local military base. 
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Learn how to A-C-E the SAT at www.InnovativeTestPrep.com!

This Month's Teachable Moment: Number vs. Amount/Fewer vs. Less

“Number” vs. “Amount” and “Fewer” vs. “Less”:   Use "number" and "fewer" when you are referring to things that can be counted individually like "students" and "books."   Use "amount" and "less" when you are referring to things that can’t be counted one-by-one like "time" and "money." NOTE that you if you counted increments (things that can be counted one-by-one) of time and money , you would use different words like, "hours," "minutes," "dollars," "coins," etc.

Example:   "Each classroom has the same amount /number of students." The correct answer is "number" since "students" can be counted individually.

Example: "I asked the waiter for less/fewer ice in my drink."  The correct answer is "less" since "ice"cannot be counted individually. NOTE: if the sentence read, "I asked the waiter for less/fewer ice cubes in my drink," the correct answer would be "fewer" since "ice cubes" can be counted individually.

Now, go TEACH it!

This Month's Teachable Moment

Mental Mall Math:  When the kids want the cash, make sure they can do the math!

Example:  What is the sale price of a $250.00 North Face jacket that is discounted by 30%?

A quick way to find the answer is to first calculate 10% of $250.00. In math, "of" means "multiply." To multiply $250.00 by 10%, just move the decimal one place to the left to get $25. Note that you can calculate 10% of ANY number by following the same procedure.

Next, multiply $25 x 3 (look at this as 10% x 3=30%) to get $75. Finally, subtract $75 from $250 to get $175, which is the sale price of the North Face jacket.

Now, go TEACH it!

Get your middle school student ready for college...RIGHT NOW

We work with students in grades 2-12 (and beyond), and trust me, it's never too early to start preparing them for college.  Washington Post writer, Jay Matthews, offers "8 subtle ways to prepare middle schoolers for college" below.  To read the entire article, including full descriptions and anecdotes that accompany each tip, click here.

1. Notice what they enjoy doing, and help them do more of it.
2. Make sure your child knows that B’s are fine in middle school and that fun is important.
3. Enroll them in Algebra I in the eighth grade.
4. Insist they develop some practical housework skills.
5. Flavor family trips with a bit of college atmosphere.
6. Encourage children who are curious about the world to take a foreign language.
8. Do everything you can to encourage reading.

[Source: washingtonpost.com]