The Crafty Canvas Learning Library http://thecraftycanvas.com/library Lessons Learned and Worth Sharing amongst Students, Tutors, and Parents Mon, 13 May 2013 14:18:26 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 10 Homework Tips to Avoid the 4th Quarter Slump http://thecraftycanvas.com/library/10-homework-tips-to-avoid-the-4th-quarter-slump/ http://thecraftycanvas.com/library/10-homework-tips-to-avoid-the-4th-quarter-slump/#comments Mon, 29 Apr 2013 14:11:19 +0000 ansonwhan http://thecraftycanvas.com/library/?p=372

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This recent article explores the new-found insight discovered by one columnist and parent from the Educational Connections’ monthly newsletter.  As spring time and summer weather makes procrastination and slacking more tempting, here are some great tips for parents/educators and students…
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]]> This recent article explores the new-found insight discovered by one columnist and parent from the Educational Connections’ monthly newsletter.  As spring time and summer weather makes procrastination and slacking more tempting, here are some great tips for parents/educators and students to avoid slipping in the final stretch of the school year.

Read more…

]]> http://thecraftycanvas.com/library/10-homework-tips-to-avoid-the-4th-quarter-slump/feed/ 0 Comparing College Costs with Net Price Calculators http://thecraftycanvas.com/library/comparing-college-costs-with-net-price-calculators/ http://thecraftycanvas.com/library/comparing-college-costs-with-net-price-calculators/#comments Thu, 18 Apr 2013 14:01:15 +0000 ansonwhan http://thecraftycanvas.com/library/?p=369

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The US Department of Education now requires every college that offers federal financial aid to post a “net price calculator” on its website, according to The New York Times article, “Clarity and Confusion From Tuition Calculators,” by Richard Pérez-Peña. The…
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]]> The US Department of Education now requires every college that offers federal financial aid to post a “net price calculator” on its website, according to The New York Times article, “Clarity and Confusion From Tuition Calculators,” by Richard Pérez-Peña. The goal is for each school to provide an estimate of the cost of tuition, books, and room and board, subtracting the amount of aid, grants, and scholarships applicable to each student, based on need and merit.

Learn more about this in A+ Test Prep & Tutoring’s monthly newsletter, available here.

]]> http://thecraftycanvas.com/library/comparing-college-costs-with-net-price-calculators/feed/ 0 Memory Tricks: Mnemonics for the US Cabinet Departments http://thecraftycanvas.com/library/memory-tricks-mnemonics-for-the-us-cabinet-departments/ http://thecraftycanvas.com/library/memory-tricks-mnemonics-for-the-us-cabinet-departments/#comments Wed, 10 Apr 2013 03:32:48 +0000 admin http://thecraftycanvas.com/library/?p=365

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While tutoring this week, I had to help a middle school student prepare for a test in his social studies/ US Civics class on the Executive Branch.  One of the requirements for this test was to be able to identify…
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]]> While tutoring this week, I had to help a middle school student prepare for a test in his social studies/ US Civics class on the Executive Branch.  One of the requirements for this test was to be able to identify each branch of the US Cabinet.  We both attempted to list them off the top of our heads, but naturally were short a few.  Thus, I decided to search how other teachers and tutors have helped students memorize all the branches; sure enough- there was a mnemonic!  Not only does it provide a way to list each department, but also in the order of their establishment.

See The Dog Jump In A Circle; Leave Her Home To Entertain Every Visitor Here.

  • State
  • Treasury
  • Defense
  • Justice
  • Interior
  • Agriculture
  • Commerce
  • Labor
  • Health & Human Services
  • Housing & Urban Development
  • Transportation
  • Energy
  • Education
  • Veterans Affairs
  • Homeland Security

Learn more about the history of this particular mnemonic device here.

]]> http://thecraftycanvas.com/library/memory-tricks-mnemonics-for-the-us-cabinet-departments/feed/ 0 Memory Tricks: Mnemonics for Order of Operations http://thecraftycanvas.com/library/memory-tricks-mnemonics-for-order-of-operations/ http://thecraftycanvas.com/library/memory-tricks-mnemonics-for-order-of-operations/#comments Wed, 10 Apr 2013 03:20:56 +0000 admin http://thecraftycanvas.com/library/?p=362

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When it comes to learning math, memorizing the Order of Operations is probably one of the earliest encounters students have with mnemonics. PEMDAS- or more commonly, Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally helps students remember what order to do their…
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]]> When it comes to learning math, memorizing the Order of Operations is probably one of the earliest encounters students have with mnemonics.

PEMDAS- or more commonly, Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally helps students remember what order to do their mathematical operations.

  1. Parentheses
  2. Exponents
  3. Multiplication
  4. Division
  5. Addition
  6. Subtraction
]]> http://thecraftycanvas.com/library/memory-tricks-mnemonics-for-order-of-operations/feed/ 0 Save the Date for Big Ideas Fest 2013 http://thecraftycanvas.com/library/save-the-date-for-big-ideas-fest-2013/ http://thecraftycanvas.com/library/save-the-date-for-big-ideas-fest-2013/#comments Sat, 06 Apr 2013 18:34:09 +0000 admin http://thecraftycanvas.com/library/?p=351

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Save the Date! Big Ideas Fest 2013 December 4th-7th Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay, CA Mark it on your calendar, start gathering your big ideas, and get ready to design the future of education. For more information, checkout the Save the…
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]]> Save the Date!

Big Ideas Fest 2013
December 4th-7th
Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay, CA

Mark it on your calendar, start gathering your big ideas, and get ready to design the future of education.

For more information, checkout the Save the Date announcement here

or

visit their website, http://www.bigideasfest.org/

]]> http://thecraftycanvas.com/library/save-the-date-for-big-ideas-fest-2013/feed/ 0 Are High Schoolers Lazy? http://thecraftycanvas.com/library/are-high-schoolers-lazy-2/ http://thecraftycanvas.com/library/are-high-schoolers-lazy-2/#comments Sat, 06 Apr 2013 07:26:32 +0000 admin http://thecraftycanvas.com/library/?p=347

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The following was featured in Educational Connections’ March 2013 newsletter… Hot Topic: Student Disengagement According to a recent Gallup poll, between the grades of five and 12 student engagement follows an alarming, steady decline. At the elementary school level eight…
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]]> The following was featured in Educational Connections’ March 2013 newsletter…

Hot Topic: Student Disengagement

According to a recent Gallup poll, between the grades of five and 12 student engagement follows an alarming, steady decline. At the elementary school level eight out of 10 students qualify as engaged. By high school, the statistic is four out of 10.

What causes this troubling trend and what changes could combat it? Watch this video in which Ann Dolin and former Fairfax County School Board member, Stu Gibson, address the problem faced by many schools across the country: student disengagement.

For more information, take a look at this recent post on The Gallup Blog.

]]> http://thecraftycanvas.com/library/are-high-schoolers-lazy-2/feed/ 0 Using Lists & Spreadsheets on a TI-Nspire cx cas Scientific Graphing Calculator http://thecraftycanvas.com/library/using-lists-spreadsheets-on-a-ti-nspire-cx-cas-scientific-graphing-calculator/ http://thecraftycanvas.com/library/using-lists-spreadsheets-on-a-ti-nspire-cx-cas-scientific-graphing-calculator/#comments Wed, 12 Sep 2012 19:03:23 +0000 ansonwhan http://www.thecraftycanvas.com/library/?p=164

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Below are some step-by-step instructions (with pictures) for programming/saving lists of data and using the spreadsheet capabilities on a TI-NSpire CX CAS calculator. 1. With the calculator on, go to the home screen/main menu by clicking the ON button. 2.…
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]]> Below are some step-by-step instructions (with pictures) for programming/saving lists of data and using the spreadsheet capabilities on a TI-NSpire CX CAS calculator.

1. With the calculator on, go to the home screen/main menu by clicking the ON button.The "on" button loads the main menu of apps for the calculator.TI-nspire CX CAS's home screen

2. Then select Lists & Spreadsheets from the apps across the bottom (it should be the 4th icon over).  This will display the general spreadsheet screen (with any previous data reloaded).
Choose the Lists/Spreadsheets app from your TI-NSpire CX CASThe spreadsheet screen has two special rows at the top of each spreadsheet.
3. Use the top most row to assign variable letter(s) or dataset name(s) to a column.
Variable Names or DataSet Titles
4. Input your list of values/data in the corresponding column(s) below.
Type in your data/list of values.
5. If you wish to generate a column of results/manipulate your independent variable with a function, then input the variable or equation in the 2nd (gray) row.  Use the “VAR” button on the calculator to pull up a list of your previously defined variables by letter or name.
Input formulas on the 2nd row (displays in gray)Use the VAR button to select predefined variables.
]]> http://thecraftycanvas.com/library/using-lists-spreadsheets-on-a-ti-nspire-cx-cas-scientific-graphing-calculator/feed/ 0 Graphing Functions on a TI-Nspire cx cas Scientific Graphing Calculator http://thecraftycanvas.com/library/graphing-functions-on-a-ti-nspire-cx-cas-scientific-graphing-calculator/ http://thecraftycanvas.com/library/graphing-functions-on-a-ti-nspire-cx-cas-scientific-graphing-calculator/#comments Wed, 12 Sep 2012 16:13:29 +0000 ansonwhan http://www.thecraftycanvas.com/library/?p=143

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The days of a consistent user interface with Scientific Graphing Calculators from Texas Instruments seem to be waning. While many schools still encourage the use of TI-83/TI-84/TI-89 models, some are pushing the more recent release, the TI-Nspire CX CAS- whose…
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]]> The days of a consistent user interface with Scientific Graphing Calculators from Texas Instruments seem to be waning. While many schools still encourage the use of TI-83/TI-84/TI-89 models, some are pushing the more recent release, the TI-Nspire CX CAS- whose screen resembles many apps for iPhones and Android phones.

TI-84 plus is similar to the TI-83 and TI-89TI-84 plus TI-Nspire CAS models have even more buttons and a dynamically different user interface than those of the TI-83 family.TI-nspire CAS The TI-Nspire CX CAS is a happy medium between the two drastic lines of CalculatorsTI-nspire CX CAS

Below are some step-by-step instructions (with pictures) of how to graph equations on a TI-Nspire CX CAS calculator (as shown in the far right image above).

1. With the calculator on, go to the home screen/main menu by clicking the ON button.

The "on" button loads the main menu of apps for the calculator.

TI-nspire CX CAS's home screen

2. Then select option B to GRAPH from the left column.  This will display the general graphing screen (with any previous graphs of equations/functions reloaded)

Select Graph from the home screen

The general graphing screen shows the coordinate plane

3. Tap the “tab” button to load the function editor.  This is similar to pressing the “Y=” button on the TI-83 line of calculators.

Push TAB to edit a function for graphing (like the old Y= button)The function editor is a single line at the bottom of the graphing window

4. To clear any existing function/equation in the editor, hold down “CTRL” and tap “del”. Otherwise, type in your equation or function and hit “enter” to graph.  *Remember, all functions must be solved for the dependent variable (ie. y = ….).

Use CTRL del to erase any previously input equations.After inputting your function, hit enter to graph it.

]]> http://thecraftycanvas.com/library/graphing-functions-on-a-ti-nspire-cx-cas-scientific-graphing-calculator/feed/ 1 Finding Forces Acting Upon Objects on an Inclined Plane or Ramp with Free Body Diagrams http://thecraftycanvas.com/library/finding-forces-acting-upon-objects-on-an-inclined-plane-or-ramp-with-free-body-diagrams/ http://thecraftycanvas.com/library/finding-forces-acting-upon-objects-on-an-inclined-plane-or-ramp-with-free-body-diagrams/#comments Fri, 09 Mar 2012 00:29:16 +0000 ansonwhan http://www.thecraftycanvas.com/library/?p=132

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In both high school physics and general college physics, Free Body (Force) Diagrams are critical in understanding how forces act upon objects that are on an incline. On a flat horizontal surface, such diagrams are pretty straightforward showing that: Gravity…
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]]> In both high school physics and general college physics, Free Body (Force) Diagrams are critical in understanding how forces act upon objects that are on an incline.

On a flat horizontal surface, such diagrams are pretty straightforward showing that:

  1. Gravity exerts a downward force
  2. The surface exerts an equal and opposite upward force (the Normal force)

For objects on a ramp, the diagram can become cluttered and confusing fairly quickly.  The key is to understand the fundamental concepts of gravity, friction, and applied forces.  Each type of force when exerted upon the object can result in movement up or down the hill, as well as stop the object altogether.  Additionally, an object moving up or down the inclined plane at a constant speed might exhibit an overall Net Force of 0 Newtons, but that does not mean that an external force need not apply.  Free-body diagrams for objects on an incline must (at the minimum) depict:

  1. Gravity’s downward force and the corresponding translated downhill force parallel to the surface.
  2. The surface exerts a Normal force that is perpendicular to the surface and both equal and opposite to gravity’s perpendicular surface component.
  3. An Applied Force acts uphill/against the gradient.

Optionally, if the conditions exist, the free body diagram can also show:

  • Static friction  acts uphill/against the gradient.
  • Kinetic friction can act either way depending on the desired motion of the object.

This inclined plane force calculator and problem solver helps solve the problem, while showing all the steps in the various calculations and displaying a fully labeled free body diagram.

]]> http://thecraftycanvas.com/library/finding-forces-acting-upon-objects-on-an-inclined-plane-or-ramp-with-free-body-diagrams/feed/ 0 Identify All Possible Rational Roots for a Polynomial with the Rational Root Theorem http://thecraftycanvas.com/library/identify-all-possible-rational-roots-for-a-polynomial-with-the-rational-root-theorem/ http://thecraftycanvas.com/library/identify-all-possible-rational-roots-for-a-polynomial-with-the-rational-root-theorem/#comments Wed, 07 Mar 2012 22:59:18 +0000 ansonwhan http://www.thecraftycanvas.com/library/?p=124

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Much of Algebra I and Algebra II is spent learning how to solve polynomial equations- in particular, finding solutions / roots / zeroes of an equation. This process can be very tedious, but fortunately, there are some theorems and techniques…
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]]> Much of Algebra I and Algebra II is spent learning how to solve polynomial equations- in particular, finding solutions / roots / zeroes of an equation.

This process can be very tedious, but fortunately, there are some theorems and techniques that can be used to streamline the process.

In algebra, the rational root theorem (or rational root test) states a constraint on rational solutions (or roots) of the polynomial equation:

a_nx^n+a_{n-1}x^{n-1}+cdots+a_0 = 0,!    with integer coefficients.

If a0 and an are nonzero, then each rational solution x, when written as a fraction x = p/q in lowest terms (i.e., the greatest common divisor of p and q is 1), satisfies

  • p is an integer factor of the constant term a0, and
  • q is an integer factor of the leading coefficient an.

Thus, a list of possible rational roots of the equation can be derived using the formula x = pm frac{p}{q}.

*Definition and explanation of the Rational Root Theorem from Wikipedia.com

You can use my custom Rational Root Finder to identifies all possible factors of p and q for a given equation and then the synthetic division step-by-step homework solver to test whether a value is in fact a solution/root to the function.

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