Science for Me

"Strings Dream" Trailer... A movie about Being U & Learning 2 Love Yours...

2011-03-23T18:44:00.000-07:00

3solutions_0002.wmv

2011-02-05T17:37:00.000-08:00

The Making of Photosynthesis the Movie

2011-02-01T18:49:00.000-08:00

Who needs a tutor?

2010-12-28T19:35:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year,

My name is Akima Marshall, and I am an affordable, certified tutor in southern Maryland. As classroom size increases in our public schools, it is important to consider securing the services of a tutor. A tutor is a great addition to any students academic plan. If you don't have a plan for your child, consider the following:

(1)What are your goals for your child's education? Does your current school provide enough support?
(2)What types of lessons would you like for him/her to experience (computer based lessons, field trips, etc.)?
(3)What are your child's academic weaknesses and strengths?
(4)Are there any gaps in your child's knowledge?

Parents are often the first to recognize academic weaknesses. Don't wait. Give your child an academic advantage, and consider hiring a tutor.

Paramecium Moving

2010-12-16T15:46:00.000-08:00

A Charlie Brown Christmas - Christmas Time is Here Song

2010-12-14T14:58:00.000-08:00

Winter Blues

2010-12-13T09:57:00.000-08:00

Mid-December is often the most diffcult time to teach. It's right between the holidays, and most kids ( and teachers) are looking forward to the Christmas break. So is anyone really paying attention to instruction? And even if they are retaining the information, will they remember lessons taught before the break. As a classroom teacher for the past 10 years, I would say there is a 50/50 chance that the students will retain information taught before the Christmas break. However, most knowledge (obtained in the month of December) is lost between the sheets of wrapping paper lying underneath the Christmas tree. It breaks my heart to start all over again in January as if I've never taught the lessons. So to limit the amount of information lost after 10 cups of cocoa,(1) Review the last lesson before the break. (2)Take out some of the graded worksheets and reveiw the concepts. (3)Surf the internet and review major concepts (i.e. cell, atom, mendelian genetics).(4) Expand on teachable momemts (5) Enjoy your family

Special Report - 'Going Natural'

2010-12-05T09:46:00.000-08:00

The "natural hair trend" is not new to me. I've been natural for the past seven years, but I am happy to see more professional African American women promoting this way of life. How do you feel?

Making Water Molecules

2010-11-15T20:32:00.000-08:00

My labor of love

2010-11-08T15:49:00.001-08:00

Learning Tools : Free Websites

2010-11-01T19:53:00.000-07:00

USA Science & Engineering Festival Video Contest

2010-10-24T19:18:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure if this group won the overall prize, but I hope they did. This is a great representation of students appreciating science education. Check out www.usasciencefestival.org

My trip to the USA Science & Engineering Festival October 24

2010-10-24T17:27:00.000-07:00

I couldn't resist. Here's the remix to "I love my hair with Willow Smith's Whip Your Hair"

2010-10-19T14:02:00.000-07:00

Do you know the parts of the water cycle?

2010-10-17T20:46:00.000-07:00

Condensation, Evaporation, Precipitation, Transpiration, Run-off

I Love My Hair - Sesame Street Video

2010-10-16T20:08:00.000-07:00

This a great video that encourages self acceptance amongst girls.

Homecoming Fun

2010-10-09T16:33:00.000-07:00

As many of you may remember, the Homecoming game is always filled with anticipation and excitement. It really doesn't matter if your team has a winning record or not. Homecoming is the game that everyone attends, and those of us that graduated from HBCUs we know the pagentry and tradition that comes along with this event. It's soo much more than a football game. It's that chance to reunite with long lost class mates, and time to reflect on those high school or college days. Take the time this year to attend your Homecoming Game!

Standing Out - In an Overcrowded Classroom

2010-09-24T21:47:00.000-07:00

Classrooms are filled to capacity. Schools all over the United States are experiencing an increase in the student to teacher ratio. How can a middle or high school student stand out in this type of environment?

Move to the front of the class. Request a front row seat

Establish a relationship with the instructor

Email the instructor

Slip the teacher handwritten notes (because we get so many emails, it is a welcome change to get a handwritten note from the student or parent)

Meet with the teacher before or after class for extra help

Use email to ask questions about the lesson or homework

Use online support provided by the teacher, school district, or state

Visit the textbook publishers website

Join academic clubs or organization (i.e. National Honor Society, Future Teachers of America, or National Society of Black Engineers). This type of organization often provides field trips and instruction outside of the curriculum.

Visit your local library. Many libraries provide free tutoring.

Visit your local community college. Most provide a summer and after school programs for high school and middle school students

Fantastic Science Resources for Parents and Students

2010-09-24T13:46:00.000-07:00

Resources
Science Resources
http://www.smithsonian.com/ - Science related website maintained by the Smithsonian Institute
http://www.mdk12.org/ - Maryland State Department of Education Website. This site includes helpful biology test questions
http://www.actionbioscience.org/- This is a science based website that contains a collection of science related articles.
http://scook.cuip.net/~speretz/wikiwebquest/t-webquest.htm- AP biology wiki created by Shelly Peretz
http://www.dnai.org/- Interactive DNA website maintained and created Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
www.dnalc.org/- Biology based website by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
http://www.k12science.org/currichome.html- Science based website Created and maintained by Stevens Institute of Technology - The Center for Innovation in Engineering and Science Education
http://www.cellsalive.com/ - A website that describes the anatomy of the cell, and chemical processes that occur in every cell. It was created by Jim Sullivan
http://froggy.lbl.gov/virtual/- virtual dissection of the frog, and it is maintained by the Berkeley Lab
http://nationalzoo.si.edu/ - Website sponsored by the National Zoo located in Washington DC. The website describes the organisms in the zoo, as well as, their native habitats.

http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/aas.htm - Ask a Scientist website sponcered by the US Department of Energy- on this site scientist answer questions, and students ask science related question.

http://kids.niehs.nih.gov/ - General science website sponsored by the National Institute of Environmental and Health Sciences and The National Institute of Health

http://www.billnye.com/2010/07/ - A science based website developed by renowned scientist Bill Nye.

Originally posted at http://www.scienceforme.com/

Meters, Liters, and Grams - Oh my?

2010-09-21T16:45:00.000-07:00

The beginning of the school year is always exciting and fast paced. An entire month has practically gone by with out a new blog post, but I have been busy teaching the youth and learning new things to fill this blog.

Science for Me - is now in the editing stages. I feel like I need more content; that's really unusual because during the summer (when I was not in the classroom) I felt like I had more than enough content. However, today I know I need to add more info.. I'm entertaining adding an entire chapter about the metric system.

The metric system is really simple, but American children struggle with the concept. I don't know why???? I grew up using the metric system (in Europe) so the fact that it remains difficult for my high school students boggles my mind. In science and math the metric system is used all over the world. It is the common system of measurement. Whatever happen to America converting by the year 1990 or was 2000? Many students struggle because this system is unfamiliar. This is definitely a disadvantage especially for minority youth.

Parents don't be afraid to review the metric system with your children. Even if you don't know it yourself, encourage your children to review the information that they learned in class

To review the metric system click here

Study Tips

2010-08-29T15:17:00.000-07:00

Science For Me - Study Tips

(image of DNA from Maryland State Department of Education)

Get a study buddy, and review questions and notes. Makeup quizzes with
your study buddy

Read a paragraph, and make a corresponding question and answer

Read titles and subtitles. Make an outline using both

Ask the teacher to give test and quiz dates early. If the teacher does not give dates, try to estimate when a test will take place!

Use social networking to build a study group of your classmates, and other students taking the same class.

Rosemary an Interesting Herb

2010-08-21T20:24:00.000-07:00

I enjoy learning about herbs and their natural properties. Its funny that there are soo many natural products to cure common, everyday ailments. So lately, I've been researching rosemary. I have purchased rosemary in the past to supplement hot oil treatments or as a hair rinse, but today I decided to make my own rosemary oil. Rosemary is often used to increase hair growth. It is also antibacterial and antifungal. So it helps relieve dandruff. So I purchased a package of rosemary from my local grocery store. I've heard that fresh rosemary is actually more potent, but dried rosemary is also effective (but not quite at the same level). I decided to make rosemary oil by plucking the leaves off, and placing the leaves in olive oil for four weeks. I know that this is the long, drawn out method, but unfortunately I do not have glass pots and pans to boil the oil (only metal pans & the metal would actually seep into the oil). Maybe I need to change my pots and pans. For the final step, I will place the containers of rosmeary and oil in a sunny window.

Inspiration Board

2010-08-17T20:17:00.000-07:00

Recently I read the following post on LeasaPea Musings Blog

From LesaPea Musings: What wonderful things inspiration boards are. These few images have inspired me greatly and I just had to share them with you. Do you have an inspiration board, wall or mobile??? I need to get started, what about you? But if you don't have one, consider working on starting one this weekend. It could be antique pictures with a mix of modern, fashion, movies or beautiful pictures of loved ones and scenery, with scripture verses. Also anything would be suitable, for example an old window, an antique mirror frame with a cork board inside and I'm thinking I'll use an old door. I guess it depends on how big or small you want to go.

More from Lesa Pea

My comment: I love this post. I have been toying with the idea of completing an inspiration board for a while now. I really like the fact that it doesn't have to be a plain poster board. If you don't mind, I'm going to post this on my own blog, and when i actually complete the board I'll post the pic. Thanks for the great idea

Stay tuned for my inspiration Board.

Meet the Author - Deborah Owens

2010-08-14T20:24:00.000-07:00

A Purse of Your Own by Deborah Owens

I actually stumbled upon this author while attending an authors expo here in my local area. I especially like the fact that she is encouraging financial literacy from a "real" woman's perspective. By "real", I mean a woman with a family, relatives, some level of debt, etc. So right now I am reviewing the first chapter. I will be back with a book review later on this week

Science for Me - Update

2010-08-09T19:39:00.000-07:00

To do List:
Pick up Business Cards
Start Design for Book Cover
Create Rough Draft Plant and Animal Cell
Work on Brochure (Cut and Paste from website)
Finish Chapter on the cell
Order two posters (one of business card- one of book cover)
Purchase triod stand
Make a chart of for names, emails, phone numbers
Get some more tutors (recruit)

This is the site of most of my work these days - Borders.