What to Expect from the Introduction to Educational Psychology CLEP Test P

The Educational Psychology CLEP test gives college students, such as psychology and education majors, the byass their general education educational psychology course by taking a computerized exam. Although students may pay hundreds or thousands of dollars in tuition and textbooks expenses associated with an educational psychology course, the CLEP test costs less than $100 to take! By learning more about the Educational Psychology CLEP test, students can determine if this amazing educational tool can help them to save time and money, two highly valuable resources.

The material presented on the Introduction to Educational Psychology CLEP (College Level Examination Program) test is material the student would have learned had he or she taken a one semester of the equivalent college course. The topics most emphasized on the CLEP exam are the assessment and evaluation of learning, child growth and development, classroom management and teaching methods, and principles of cognition and learning.

The Introduction to Educational Psychology CLEP test has about 100 questions and allows you 90 minutes in which to answer all the questions. Some of the questions on the CLEP exam are actually pretest questions that aren’t counted towards your final score. You also receive extra time to complete the tutorials on this CLEP test and to enter your personal information. This time does not count as part of the 90 minutes you’re given to take the CLEP test.

Students can earn a score of 20 to 80 on this CLEP test. ACE, the American Council on Education, recommends that colleges grant three credits to students who earn a score of 50 or higher on the Educational Psychology CLEP test. Students can check with their individual college or university to learn about the minimum credit-granting score requirements for their particular school.

When you take the Introduction to Educational Psychology CLEP exam, here is some of what will be expected of you: demonstrate that you understand basic facts and principles, show familiarity with research procedures and concepts, and apply a variety of theories and concepts to certain situations. There are multiple topics from which the subject matter for the Introduction to Educational Psychology CLEP test will be drawn. Some of the topics include development, motivation, pedagogy, individual differences, and educational philosophies and aims.

A variety of students can benefit from taking this CLEP tests. Many primary, secondary, or special education majors are required to take an educational psychology course during the first two years of college. In addition, psychology majors who plan on entering the academic world in the future may want to take educational psychology as a psychology elective. Many students will find that their school allows them to take the Educational Psychology CLEP test in order to meet the educational psychology course they need for their degree. Students can check with their college of university registrar’s office or with their academic counselor for information on CLEP policies and CLEP exams.

Academic counselors can also advise students on how to best prepare for a CLEP test. Methods of CLEP exam preparation include textbooks, study guides, Cd’s and DVD’s, and online study systems. Students should examine their learning goals, needs, style, and resources when selecting a study method.

Down and Dirty Homework Hints for the Attention Span Impaired By John Parks

The fact of the matter is that nobody likes to do homework. Even if you love the subject that you have homework in, the fact that you have to do the work automatically makes the project less desirable. Trust me, we've all been there. What makes it worse is if you don't like the subject. If you don't like the subject of your homework it will feel like everything is distracting. Suddenly you have the attention span of a gnat and watching grass grow feels more fun than the homework you have been assigned.

So how do you get the work done when your attention span has taken a vacation? Here are a few quick hints to help you out:

1. Contrary to popular belief, locking yourself to your chair and forcing yourself to focus on the work until it's done will only make the project take longer. Why? Because you will find every reason in the world to not sit down in that chair. Suddenly all of the things you normally avoid must be done immediately! Instead, allow yourself to take a few breaks. Get up every fifteen to twenty minutes to stretch your legs or get a drink of water.

2. If silence gets on your nerves, find a noise source that won't be intrusive. The radio is always a good idea—choose songs that don't have words so you won't be tempted to sing along. Hint: Classical music, especially Mozart, has proven to improve a person's brain function!

3. Get in the habit of doing homework at the same time. It's sort of like going to bed at the same time every night. Eventually your body will tell you that it wants to sit down and concentrate on something and you'll feel weird when you aren't doing your homework—no matter how little you want to concentrate on the project at hand.

4. If it will help you get the work done, have a study session with your friends at someone's house. Sometimes having someone else who is in the same boat as you will help both of you focus. You won't feel as isolated and you'll be able to talk about any problems you have with the material as they come up. Just make sure that you don't spend your homework time socializing.

5. When all else fails ask your parents to sit with you while you do the work to make sure it gets done. Yes, you want to be independent and prove that you can do your homework on your own. The truth is, however, that your parents will appreciate that you want to get the work done and are having trouble concentrating. They will be more than happy to sit with you to keep you on task.

These are just five simple hints to help you get your homework done when your attention span wants to focus anywhere else. Check around, you'll probably find lots of other suggestions you can incorporate into your study routine!

Resource: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=332431&ca=Education

What Does an Independent Junior School Education Offer? By Jo-Ro Haffenden

Independent Junior Schools offer a broad curriculum, specialist teaching, small classes, a fantastic range of facilities, wholesome food, teacher-parent partnerships and a huge focus on the development of the individual child academically, socially and spiritually.

On receiving a prospectus from an independent school it will often say that they offer a broad curriculum, but what does this mean? The broad curriculum relates to what the children will do in school. As well as offering the core subjects most independent schools offer much more.

Art, drama, languages, design technology, music, Latin, religious education, personal, social, and health education, physical education and games are some of the things common to the curriculum. Within these subject areas will be additional disciplines. In music, for example children will have access to individual music lessons. The instruments and teaching are supplied by the school at no cost to parents. Specialist choral training and opportunities to perform in a range of contexts, all from an early age are all on offer. It is common for games to be undertaken every day and form a core part of the daily routine, promoting fitness, working as a team and contributing to a healthy lifestyle. The teaching of foreign languages often begins at an early age. French is the most common but I have known Spanish and Chinese also to be undertaken.

The term ‘specialist teaching’ often crops up in a prospectus and is a core aspect of the Independent School way of life. This term relates to teachers and how the children are taught. Instead of having a single teacher who teaches them for all subjects, Independent Schools organise their curriculum so teachers who are specialists in their subjects (i.e. their first degree is in the subject they teach) undertake tuition of the pupils. For example a science teacher will teach all the science lessons and so the children receive input from a teacher who has outstanding subject knowledge. Depending on the school this may range from one or two subjects being taught by specialists to the whole curriculum. The level of subject input the pupils get is second to none often resulting in a higher level of understanding being achieved by the pupils.

Coupled with outstanding teaching are small classes. Class sizes often range from eight to twenty children per class but are on average around fourteen to eighteen. This enables an enormous amount of interaction between the teacher and pupil and also enables children to contribute to all aspects of class life without having to struggle to be heard or seen. This single fact allows teachers to develop outstanding relationships with pupils and help them to become good citizens.

When introducing reading to young children the ability to spend a great deal of time individually with them empowers all children to develop confidence and the necessary decoding skills needed for future development. Small classes enable teachers to provide the necessary attention required for the acquisition of this important skill. As the child is working in a one-to-one situation, the teacher is able to establish a unique programme of development for that child which enables him or her to develop exactly the skills they need.

You may have wondered why I have mentioned wholesome food. In this world where we are all bombarded by advertisements for all kinds of foods it is essential to teach children the importance of good, wholesome food. School lunches have had bad press recently but not all schools are the same. Some schools have stuck to their guns and have always offered their pupils a good, healthy balanced diet without the threat of the vending machine! Staff also play their part when they sit with the children for lunch and discuss worldly affairs and guide children into choosing a healthy meal.

Of course, one of the most important parts of a child’s education is their parents. Schools only have children for part of the day therefore it is essential that parents play their part. Parents are usually always welcome in a Prep school environment. Teachers pride themselves on the relationships they establish with parents and the role they are encouraged to play. A good school will foster good relationships with parents and guide them on how they can play their part in the development of the whole child.

When you visit an Independent School with a view to placing your child or children, discover whether the education on offer really does offer a broad curriculum. Is it taught by specialists in an environment supported by outstanding facilities where excellent pastoral care supports each child’s moral and spiritual development coupled with an individual learning plan ensuring a tailored education?

Resource: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=333874&ca=Education

A Golden Legacy - Placer Gold Claims Explained By Marlene Affeld

Finding the Mother Lode! Striking It Rich! As prospectors, we all have dreams of finding a bonanza while we enjoy the adventure of the hunt. The entire family can share in the fun of prospecting and finding the elusive mineral.

While there are numerous clubs and tourist attractions that offer the recreational prospector an opportunity to look for gold on their properties, if you have a serious case of “gold fever” you will want to purchase or locate your own claim.

Some people mistakenly believe that they can access any public land area and start prospecting just because it's listed as public land. Think twice, because if you start mining on someone else's claim, it’s claim jumping. Avoid legal complications, stiff fines and a lot of grief by always verifying claim ownership first.

Owning ones own claims saves a lot of complications. The 1872 Law allows prospectors to buy or stake a claim; an opportunity to create a 'real property' asset that you can use yourself to mine gold or lease it to someone else to work the claim for you.

The Mining Law of 1872 directs the federal government's land management policy. The law grants free access to individuals to prospect for minerals in public domain lands, and allows them, upon making a discovery, to stake a claim on that deposit. One must be a United States citizen to file a claim.

The 1872 Mining Law provides that “The locators of all mining locations made on any mineral vein, lode, or ledge, situated on the public domain, their heirs and assigns, where no adverse claim existed on the 10th day of May 1872, so long as they comply with the laws of the United States, and with State, territorial and local regulations not in conflict with the laws of the United States governing their possessory title, shall have the exclusive right of possession and enjoyment of all the surface included within the lines of their locations.”

Mining claims are in either of two classifications, patented or unpatented. Under the 1872 Mining Law an unpatented claim gives the claimant a property right interest to the minerals in/on the claim and the right to utilize as much of the surface and its resources as is needed to extract the minerals.

The Mining Law of 1872 also establishes a process by which the claimant may bring a claim to patent. When a claim is patented, actual ownership of the minerals and the surface resources pass from the United States Government to the claimant. The 1872 Law states that once a claimed mineral deposit has been determined to be economically recoverable and a specified amount of work has been preformed, the claimant may then file a patent application to both the mineral and the surface rights.

In 1995 Congress enacted a moratorium on the issuance of patents. At the present time new patent applications are not being processed, however grand-fathered applications will be processed. Legislature to rescind the moratorium is presently in congress awaiting a vote and many are hopeful that the patent application process will once again be an option.

In the United States Supreme Court case of Wilbur v. U.S. (ex rel. Krushnic, 280 US 306) (1930). The Supreme Court ruled; “When the location of a mining claim is perfected under the law, it has the effect of a grant by the United States of the right of present and exclusive possession. The claim is property in the fullest sense of the term; and may be sold, transferred, mortgaged, and inherited without infringing any right or title of the United States.”

The right of the owner is taxable by the state; and is 'real property'. (State laws vary and it is prudent to be familiar with the laws of the state in which a claim is located.) The claimant/owner is not required to purchase the claim or secure patent from the United States. If a claimant complies with the provisions of the mining laws, his/her possessor's rights, for all practical purposes of ownership, are as secure as those granted by a patent. In essence, you own the mineral rights and may use as much of the surface as reasonably necessary for mining your property.

If you are the owner of a claim you may chose to mine or not. If you elect to actively prospect, explore, develop and produce the property the United States Bureau of Land Management (BLM) must be notified and proper paperwork processed. If you are on federal or state managed lands, be sure to obtain all necessary permits prior to commencing operations. If you plan to actively mine or not, maintaining ownership of your mining claim also requires the filings of the applicable documents and payment of fees annually with the BLM.

Ownership of a mining claim comes with some restrictions. All structures, fences, signs, roads and any man-made changes on the mining claim, must be reasonably incident to mining and included in a Notice or Plan on file with the BLM. If you wish to park an RV, trailer or set up camp on the claim and stay longer than 14 days, this request must be included in your plan of operations. If you are actively working the claim there are no restrictions; however, if your usage is strictly recreational, the 14 day rule may be enforced. If one chooses to actively mine his/her claim, the claimant is allowed to live on the property and may build temporary (and in some cases...permanent) structures if application is made with and approved by the BLM.

The primary purpose of a mining claim is to mine; however, a claim may be used for off-time recreational purposes. You may hunt or fish on the claim; however, be sure to have a state license or permit. A mining claim can also be an excellent base camp for ATV, horseback or snowmobile explorations.

The BLM requires an annual maintenance fee to satisfy assessment requirements. Actual labor can be performed as well to meet the assessment requirements. There also exists a small miners waiver which applies to claimants owning less than 10 mining claims. Once approved the Small Miners Exemption must be filed annually.

Wishing you success in your quest and may your pan always glitter with gold.

Resource: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=336696&ca=Education

Make History Fun With These Seven Supplemental Games By Lynn Powers

My son loves history. At age nine, he could recite all of the presidents, in order. Anything to do with wars, government or past events interests him and holds his attention. My daughter, on the other hand, though she does well in school, doesn’t care much for history. It bores her. And I have to say, I agree! My history grades were always poor, mostly due to the boredom factor. But history does not have to be dull! Here are seven history / social studies games that will make learning about past events and governmental matters fun for even those who can’t stand history yet still challenges those who love it. These are wonderful supplements for homeschoolers or any game playing family.

I only wish these games were around (or that I knew about them) when I was in school!

1. American Trivia Board Game, Junior Edition. What a great way to study for those upcoming tests! Over 1,000 questions in three categories - history, geography, and general. Sample questions: “Which river is located along the southern border of Texas?” “During what war did Benedict Arnold become a traitor to the American people?” And, for fun, “Who created the cartoon character, Mickey Mouse?” Recommended for ages 9+

2. Romans Game. This game makes a wonderful addition to your unit on the Roman Empire. Each player is a Roman general, whose goal is to become “Caesar,” absolute monarch. Learn fascinating facts and answer challenging questions as you battle other generals in your race around the board. Recommended for ages 10+

3. Professor Noggin’s Card Games. Learn all sorts of interesting history and geography facts in these fun and educational card games. Two types of play levels – easy and hard. This series is available in the following History versions: Geography of the United States, Explorers, History of the United States, History of Canada, Medieval Times, Civil War, American Revolution, Ancient Civilization, Famous Inventions, Countries of the World 1 & 2, First People of North America. Recommended for ages 7+

4. Coin Hopping Washington DC. This beautifully visual game helps kids retain facts and information as they learn about all there is to do and see in our nation’s capitol. Great for those planning a trip to Washington D.C. or as a supplement to governmental lessons. Recommended for ages 8+

5. America-Opoly. Enjoy this classic game while gaining a history lesson. Buy properties like “The Grand Canyon” and “The Statue of Liberty.” Land on the Liberty Bell and collect the cash in the middle of the board. But beware of the IRS who may decide to audit you! Good, old-fashioned American fun for the whole family. Recommended for ages 8+

6. Egyptians Game. Different levels allow for players of all ages to enjoy this board game that takes you back to the age of ancient Egyptians. Become supreme Pharaoh by defeating opponents along the way. Recommended for ages 7+

7. Lewis and Clark Adventure Game. This game explores the explorers! Travel through the wilderness and cross oceans on this beautifully illustrated board. Different levels of play for every skill level. Recommended for ages 6+

Resource: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=336880&ca=Education

Hoary Marmots of Montana By Marlene Affeld

The Hoary Marmot, largest of the North American sciurid rodents, is a fascinating, charismatic animal. Marmot population biology, their impact on the ecosystem, physiology and behavior is studied world wide. The only holiday in the United States to be named after an animal, is named for a marmot - Groundhog’s Day. Closely related to tree squirrels, prairie dogs and groundhogs, hoary marmots are the largest ground dwelling squirrels in the world.

Sociable, communicative and entertaining to observe, marmots often grow to the size of a large domestic house cat.

Although there are 14 marmot species worldwide, only two inhabit Montana - the hoary and the yellow-bellied marmot. Denning in rocky outcroppings, the hoary marmot is normally found in high alpine meadows and sub-alpine mountain slopes. Weighing up to 20 pounds, the hoary marmot is one of the largest rodent species in North America. The smaller yellow-bellied marmot builds dens at lower elevations and weighs about 10 pounds. In several parts of the world marmot meat is considered a prized delicacy and their fur is highly valued.

Marmots are normally found living in small family groups; one breeding male, multiple breeding females and their non-breeding offspring from previous years. A colony of 15 to 20 will live together in a system of burrows and hibernate together all winter. The range of a marmot colony is rather extensive and may cover several acres. The marmots roam freely and will cover most of their territory daily.

Marmot dens are usually found under large rocks or boulders which prevents a predator from digging them up and protects them from the elements. Marmot predators include the wolf, cougar, coyote, fox, owl and eagle.

Considered by many to be rat-like rodents, marmot colonies are often used for target practice, the carcasses left in the open to be devoured by the ravens. Similar to a prairie dog town, a marmot colony is destructive to a meadow and many ranchers attempt to eliminate the colony when the marmots intrude on private lands.

Marmot colonies are highly interactive and extremely vocal. Their trilling is an eerie sound. Early settlers called them “whistlers” because they emit a loud, piercing trill or whistle to alert the colony of danger. They seem to have several different alert signals, varying in pitch and intensity. “Heads Up - Here Comes A Bear” probably warrants the most attention. Marmots are an important food to both grizzly and black bears.

When they are not sunning themselves on lookout rocks, marmots are usually foraging for tasty vegetation, munching on lichen, leaves, flowers, roots, seeds and berries. A marmot's primary diet is vegetarian, however; they will occasionally snack on insects or road kill.

Relying on accumulated fat deposits, marmots hibernate through the hard cold of Montana winters. Depending on their location and the severity of the winter, marmots will hibernate from October through May.

Marmots normally have litters of three to five pups.

The marmots of Montana, and all other members of the genus Marmota, have thick, slightly curved claws. Equipped for digging, the claws are considerably heavier on the front feet than they are on the hind legs. Marmot palms are hairless with five pads, their smooth soles are also naked but have six pads.

Often described as “cute”, marmots have small, circular eyes and rounded short hairy ears. With their pelage, nature has provided perfect camouflage. The hoary marmots common name refers to its colorization which is an “icy” silver-gray. The front half of the marmot's back is normally black hair with white tips, the remainder of the back coat is dark brown. Cinnamon or brown heads tinged with a snow-white mustache give the marmot a comical expression.

Hoary and yellow-bellied marmots leave a lasting impression and are welcome addition to Montana’s wildlife heritage.

Resource: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=332430&ca=Education

A History Of Lincoln Part 1 By Duncan Seth-Smith

Lincoln has a number of major tourist attractions, the main one being that Lincoln is the capital of Lincolnshire. Lincolnshire is one the biggest counties in England and is a key shire county. Despite the impression that most people have Lincolnshire is far from flat. True, out towards the east coast and the Wash, the county is flat due to the land being reclaimed from the sea. However as you go inland towards Stamford and Grantham the county becomes underrating. The further north of the county you go the hillier it becomes. Lincoln Cathedral and Lincoln Castle are high on a hill overlooking the City of Lincoln.

To the north and North West of Lincoln you enter the famous Lincolnshire Wolds and the long hills and shallow valleys before eventually meeting the river Humber.

Back in Lincoln on the hill overlooking the old city is Lincoln Castle.

William the Conqueror's Castle & The Observatory Tower.

When William the Conqueror defeated King Harold at The Battle of Hastings on the 14 October 1066 he still faced resistance to his rule in the north of England. For a number of years William's position was very insecure and in order to project his influence over the people, he felt it necessary to construct a number of castles in the north and midlands of England. It was at this time that the new King built major castles at Warwick, Nottingham and York. Once in control of York, the Conqueror turned southwards and arrived at the Roman and Viking city of Lincoln.

When William reached Lincoln he found a Viking trading centre with a population of 8,000. The remains of the old Roman walled fortress located some 200 ft above the countryside to the south and west, proved a strategic position to construct a new castle. Also, Lincoln represented a vital crossroads of the following Roman routes, The Ermine Street, a major Roman road and very important north-south route connecting London and York.

The Fosse Way - another important Roman route connecting Lincoln with the city of Leicester and the south-west of England. The Valley of the River Trent - a major river giving access to the River Ouse, and thus the major city of York. The River Witham - a waterway that afforded access to both the Rivers Trent and the North Sea via The Wash. The Lincolnshire Wolds - an upland area to the northeast, which overlooks the Lincolnshire Marsh.

William saw how a castle here could guard several of the main strategic routes and form part of a network of strongholds of the Norman Kingdom, roughly the area of the country that is today referred to as the East Midlands. It could also form a center from which troops could be sent to repel Scandinavian landings anywhere on the coast from the Trent to the Welland.

The castle was built in the south-west corner of the upper walled town, the remainder of which was occupied by the town. The Doomsday Book entry for Lincoln records how 166 residences were knocked down to make way for the castle. Of the original 1164 residences, 600 will have been in the upper town.

Work on the new fortification was completed in 1068. It is probable that at first a wooden keep was constructed which was later replaced with a much stronger stone one. Lincoln castle has two motes. To the south, where the Roman wall stands on the edge of a steep slope, it was retained partially as a curtain wall and partially as a revetment retaining the motes. In the west, where the ground is more level, the Roman wall was buried within an earth rampart and extended upward to form the Norman castle wall.

Resource: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=333478&ca=Education

How to Distinguish the Legitimate Online University By Christos Varsamis

Online education has a tremendous growth in the last 10 years since the spread of the internet community. New online schools have been developed and the established campus universities have also created similar or even better online training solutions.

But the question is still arises. How can we distinguish the real online universities with the relevant bachelors or masters from the bogus ones? Although there is not the 100% certainty on how to avoid the fraudulent online training “vendors”, there are some fundamental principal you can focus on.

1) Degree in 2 months! Just display your personal and working experience and you are done!

Doesn’t it ring a bell? It should be obvious, that is a scam degree. There is not a single one prestigious and legitimate educational institute that will provide a degree or even a diploma under these circumstances. Thus, when you find these claims you should stay away. Diploma mill is the name of the bogus Degree.

2) What kind of accreditation you should search for? One of the most important factors for your online university choice is the accreditation. Some online schools have no accreditation at all and should be avoided at all costs. Some other have regional accreditation but most of the times this is not enough. It’s possible your degree or master from an online vendor with regional certification to be rejected from your potential employer. What you need is national or even worldwide accreditation in order to be certain for the quality of you education.

3) Credits. Do they allow credits transfer? If you have credits from your previous education experiences you should check if they allow the credits transfer and what kind of credits do they accept. This will be a useful indication on how legitimate the online training is.

4) The tuition is another important issue and especially if there are any other hidden costs or fees. Most of the times the tuition of the online universities is comparable lower than the regular schools. The lack of campus expenses is the main reason for that. Online schools or universities which are more expensive than the regular ones should be avoided because they profiteer. There is no excuse for having so high costs.

5) Another issue is the longevity of the college although this factor is not the absolute criterion for the legality of the school. On the other hand it is known that the prestigious institutions have been around for decades.

6) Support and Address. It may sound obvious but it is essential to ask for support and information from the online school in order to verify as much as possible for the background of the university.

7) Another question is the number of students that have graduated from the school. If the number of graduates is small this is an indication of instability. On the other hand if the number is high the opposite happens. Are there many students that are currently enrolled in the online college? The answer to the above questions will provide a clear view about the background of the university.

Resource: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=337598&ca=Education

Handsome Fish Hunters - Osprey in Montana By Marlene Affeld

Ospreys (Pandion haliaetus), when hunting on the wing, seem to glide effortlessly over the water. Smaller than an eagle, an osprey is still an impressive raptor. With wingspans of up to 72 inches and up to 24 inches in length and a weight of almost 5 pounds, the osprey is a wonderful addition to Montana’s rich abundance of bird life.

A Handsome fish hunters, the osprey has a distinctive white head and belly with rich, dark brown feathers gracing its back. The undersides of the wings are also snow-white except for dark patches and barred-brown flight feathers. Ospreys vocalize with a series of piercing whistles and chirps that become more intense if the nest is approached. Osprey nest just about anywhere in close proximity to water that provides safety and an abundance of food.

Osprey prefer to nest on the top of dead trees, however; their nests are visible on power poles, bridge trestles and rocky outcroppings. Montanans respect the osprey’s freedom and honor that by establishing nest locations. All along the rivers of Montana nest platforms especially designed for osprey safety and comfort have been installed. Such platforms are an integral part of re-establishing the osprey in areas where they have disappeared.

Even during their autumn migration to Central and South America, osprey follow the river valleys to stay close to water. Ospreys fly south from Montana in October, returning during March and April to rebuild their nests. Both the female and the male work to gather driftwood, branches and twigs to build their nest. However, it is the female of the species that does most of the labor of fabricating and crafting the nest. Ospreys assure the safety and comfort of their hatchlings by lining the nest with soft leaves and grass. Female ospreys frequently decorate their nests with bright bits of material, paper or plastic they have found.

Like the eagle, osprey will reuse nests from the previous year, patiently adding new material, repairing wind and weather damage and enlarging their comfort zone. Over time some osprey nests have grown to jaw-dropping dimensions.

The osprey's affinity for water is based on his diet which consists almost entirely of fresh fish. They rarely eat anything else. The osprey hunts by hovering over the water at altitudes of up to 200 feet, then diving feet-first to grab a tasty trout. Mother Nature has provide the osprey with extremely sharp, long claws and barbed footpads called spicules that enable it to grasp a slippery fish. The osprey also has a dense, oily plumage as well as nasal valves that prevent water from invading the nostrils when the osprey fiercely dives to capture its prey. Oddly, the feet of an osprey each have reversible front toes that facilitates their grasp in the water. However, ospreys can’t swim and several have been known to drown. This happens if they find their talons stuck in too heavy a fish and cannot become airborne.

When an osprey successfully snags a meal, it dramatically shakes its wings as it clears the water and then repositions the fish in its talons to face forward to reduce drag. The osprey will fly to a perch or if it has young, return to the nest to enjoy its meal.

In late April or early May the osprey lay their eggs. The normal clutch has three. Curiously, the eggs do not all hatch at once, with the first chick hatching up to five days before the last. Often the oldest chick becomes an overbearing bully, snatching up the choicest food brought to the nest by the parents and depriving its siblings of much needed nutrition.

The speckled appearance of osprey chicks in the nest provides excellent camouflage, however; many still fall victim to raccoons, owls and eagles. If they escape the claws of predators and are able to obtain enough food, the young ospreys will leave the nest in July or August. At about two months of age they are developed to the point of caring for themselves.

Ospreys have a complicated social structure. Normally ospreys pair for life, however; if the mating is not successful, they will seek new partners. When a female osprey chooses her mating partner, she doesn’t judge by good looks or fishing skills, but like her human counterpart, chooses the male with the best house (nest) in the best neighborhood (location). When ospreys are tired of the duties of parenthood, they will often withhold food to forcefully encourage the fledglings to leave the nest. Still wanting an adult to provide for them, osprey fledgling will often move to nearby nests where they receive food from other parent osprey.

When ospreys are 3 to 4 years old they will find a suitable partner and mate. Most male ospreys will return to the area from which they themselves fledged. The magnificent saga of the osprey continues.

Resource: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=332035&ca=Education

Paying For College With College Scholarships and Student Loans By Mark B. Allen

It is getting harder to pay for a college education these days, but it is by no means impossible. Getting college scholarships is still the best way to go, and there are plenty of them still around - even though money may be getting tighter. Here are some tips about how to get money to pay for your college education with college scholarships and student loans.

GET AS MANY COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS AS YOU CAN

The best way to go to college is to go free. College scholarships can enable a student to go to college without cost - if there are enough of them. In order to get as many as is needed to go without cost, you will need to apply to as many scholarships as possible. Of course, you want to only apply for those college scholarships that you have a good possibility of actually winning.

Finding the right college scholarships to apply to will require some work - and possibly some imagination, too. There are college scholarships for just about everything you can think of these days - and possibly some that are almost out of reach of the imagination, too. You can find them for academics, sports, hobbies, uniqueness - like a special last name or for left-handers, etc., your locale, and some that are just plain weird - like the duct tape prom college scholarship.

In order for you to learn about what college scholarships are available, you will need to do some homework. This includes researching them online, in the library, letting scholarship groups help you (be careful of these - some are scams), talking to your school counselors, and more. You can also look at the Web sites of the colleges that you are interested in, and they will show you what college scholarships are available there.

LOOK FOR COMPANY SCHOLARSHIPS AND INTERNSHIPS

Many companies also offer college scholarships, too. They do this because they want to have a qualified and trained pool of potential employees available when they need them. They usually look for exceptionally bright prospects that can bring much to the table if they should hire them.

Getting a college scholarship or an internship with a great company can lead to a great job right out of college. Sometimes, you may even be able to find your needed college scholarship simply by looking at the various companies you would dream of working for after you get your college degree. Look at their Web sites for more information.

APPLY FOR COLLEGE STUDENT LOANS

Because college scholarships may not cover your entire school bill, you may also need some college financing. Direct loans are available from the government, which will also give you the lowest interest rate possible on education loans.

Direct student loans, which includes the Stafford loans and the PLUS loans, accumulate no interest while you are in school (because the government pays for it while you are in college), or drop to less than half-time. You will not need to make any payments on the loan until you have been out of school for 6 months.

Graduate students and families of college students have access to PLUS loans for education and they also have the same terms as the Stafford loans – but a little higher interest rate. All government loans can be consolidated after graduation for easy payments.

GET STARTED EARLY

If you want to get the most out of college scholarships and student loans, then you will need to get started early. In fact, you should get started earlier than was necessary in previous years. With less money going around and with some college scholarships going on a first-come, first-served basis - you have no time to lose.

Finding the right college scholarships takes a considerable amount of time, and so does filling out scholarship applications and writing scholarship essays. In addition, in order to get a Direct loan, you will need to have filled out the FAFSA form, which is required for all government student loans.

FILL OUT SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS CAREFULLY

College scholarship applications require that they be filled out accurately and carefully. A little carelessness (or haste) in answering a question or two could needlessly cost you a college scholarship. This could mean that you may need to take much longer to pay off a college loan - when you didn't have to.

Writing a quality college scholarship essay that will win a scholarship requires that you understand what the group offering it is looking for. Make yourself look like the person that they would like to represent and promote their company, college, etc., and you could walk away with the free college education you want. Be honest, though, in what you write - and you'll be glad you did.

Resource: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=333595&ca=Education

Pronouncing Italian Vowels and Consonants By Scott Wells

The correct pronunciation in Italian can be difficult for some beginners. Yet it is standard and stays the same. Once the rules are understood it is simple to pronounce each word correctly. Here are some step by step instructions on how to pronounce the Italian vowels.

A - sounds like a in father
E - has two sounds: short vowel like e in pen and the long vowel similar to ai in fair
I - sounds like ea in tea.
O - has two sounds: like o in cozy or similar of o in cost
U - sounds like u in rude.

Italian vowels are always spoken in a sharp, clear fashion; they should never be slurred or pronounced weakly. Vowels always keep their value in diphthongs. Italian is a phonetic language. This means it is spoken exactly the way it is written. Italian and English use the same Latin alphabet, but the sounds by the letters are different in the two languages.

Pronouncing Italian Consonants

In Italian pronunciation can be difficult especially for beginners Yet much like the vowels the sound each consonant makes is a regular sound and remains the same, so once the rules are understood, it is simple to pronounce the words correctly. Here are the step by step instructions on the way the consonants are pronounced in Italian.

The consonants B, F, M, N, and V are pronounced exactly as they are in English.
When the C is before a, o, u and before a consonant it has the sound similar to the English letter K. When the C comes before the e and I it sounds very similar to the English sound of the Ch.

D is much more explosive in Italian than it is in English; with the tongue near the tip of the upper teeth but with no aspiration.

When G comes before a, o, and u and before consonants it sounds like the g in good; when it comes before e and i it sounds like the g in general.

Gli sounds like ll in million and Gn sounds like the ny in canyon.

The H in Italian is silent.

The L sounds like it does in English except with a sharper tone and more forward in the mouth.

This is a continuation of the article: Learning Italian Vowels and Consonants - Part 1

P sounds as it does in English, but without the aspiration, which sometimes happens in English.

Qu sounds as it does in English like in the word quest.

R is very different from the English; it is pronounced with one flip of the tongue against the gums of the upper teeth. This will make the trill sound of the r.

S before vowels and unvoiced consonants such as c, f, p, q, s, t is pronounced like the s in the English word rose.

T is pretty much like the T in English, but with no escaping of breath to go along with it in the Italian.

Z can be voiced, like ds in beds, or it can be voiceless, like ts in bets.

All Italian consonants have a corresponding double consonant, whose pronunciation is similar to, but not exactly like the single consonant. The mispronunciation of the double consonants can result in miscommunication.

Italian is known as a musical language because every sound is clear and distinct but stays soft rather than hard. The consonants will never lose their sound value even when linked together with syllables and words.

When they say Italian is a phonetic language, they mean it is spoken the way it is written. Italian and English share the Latin alphabet, but the pronunciation of each letter differs between the two languages.

Don't you wonder how all of these languages that share the same alphabet became so different in countries that are so close together?

Resource: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=335306&ca=Education

Montana's Woodpeckers By Marlene Affeld

If you spend time in the woods of Montana, you are undoubtedly familiar with the rhythmic rat-tat-tat of the woodpecker as it chisels its beak into the bark of a tree. Their familiar drum rolls are heard most often in the spring but are common all year long.

This drumming cadence is unique to the woodpecker and a welcome sound in the forest canopy. Both sexes of woodpeckers drum throughout the year, however; they are even more rambunctious and noisy during the breeding season. Drumming or hammering serves to advertise their territory and to attract a mate.

Much of the signaling, foraging and breeding activities of woodpeckers involves the woodpecker's bill. Woodpeckers have extremely strong bills for drumming and drilling on trees and long sticky tongues to extract food. Although used repeatedly over its lifetime, the woodpecker’s beak never needs sharpening. It can cut into a tree like a steel chisel and never dull.

To prevent brain damage, nature had provided a number of adaptations to protect the woodpecker’s brain. The bird’s brain is rather small and is positioned to minimize contact between the brain and the skull. The woodpecker’s eyes are also unusual in that a millisecond before contact with the tree, a thick nictitan membrane closes over the bird’s eye to protect it from flying debris. The slit-like nostrils are also protected by special feathers to cover them from wood dust.

Woodpeckers exhibit a diverse variety of vocal sounds including a strange rattle-like sound that is often vocalized during antagonistic encounters with other birds that encroach on their territory. Woodpeckers also emit a high pitched squeal that sounds like an injured animal. This sound is an unsettling warning to predators and has been known to “run cold chills down the back” of many a hiker.

Woodpeckers are monogamous and both sexes share incubation duties and care for the young. They will usually have from 3-6 hatchlings and normally mate once a year.

Woodpeckers are quite beneficial as they eat huge quantities of insects. They are especially appreciated for the role they play in controlling the current infestation of Mountain Pine Beetle that plagues the Northwest. When the beetle burrows into the bark and lays its eggs, the larvae feast on the substance of the tree for a year before reaching adulthood. About the size of a grain of rice, millions of these grubs are devoured by woodpeckers. With its barbed, long sticky tongue, a single woodpecker can consume as many as 14,000 grubs in a single season. A woodpecker’s diet also includes seeds, berries, fruit and tree sap. Huckleberries are a favored treat.

Wood-peckers inhabit coniferous and mixed forest groves across the state and resident woodpeckers can be seen throughout the year. Wood-peckers normally build their nests in dead or burned trees and are particularly attracted to areas marked by forest fire. Scientific studies show that woodpeckers are up to 20 times more abundant in burned areas versus unburned forests.

Montana is home to seven species of woodpeckers; Downy, Hairy, Black Backed, Three toed, Red-headed, the Northern Flicker and the Yellow-bellied and Red-bellied Sapsucker. These bird species are in the Family Picidae and are collectively called woodpeckers.

Cold north winds are a reminder that wild food is scarce for all the birds for the duration of the winter. Woodpeckers are attracted to birdfeeders that offer suet, raisins or peanut butter. Enjoy the delightful color of woodpeckers and happy birding.

Resource: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=332032&ca=Education

This Devil is Kind of Cute By John Parks

Down in Tasmania, beady little eyes watch you, eyes of a devil, the Tasmanian devil that is. Tasmania is the only known habitat for this little creature. Tasmania is an island separated from Australia by the Bass Strait (a channel running 80 –150 miles long). It’s a mountain island similar to Australia; its climate changes moderately. This is probably why the creatures have inhabited it for well over hundreds of years. This little guy is no bigger than the family pet, but not always as sweet and a tad bit more muscular. They possess a strong jaw and are black in color with some white spotting towards the backside. They have an odor that can rival a skunk when they feel pressured.

For a small guy, the little devil picks on large prey such as Lizards and Kangaroos. Those inhabitants of Tasmania like to hide up in the hills and are generally loners, but sometimes dine with others. They are excellent night hunters and they are known to hold fat in their tail and one can tell it by the thickness of their tail, if ill. Hunters and farmers protecting their farm animals are the main cause of their death of late, not to mention a fast spreading cancer that has aided in their demise. Their average life expectancy is about six years. Those that remain in Tasmania are part of what is considered to be the only meat-eating marsupials around today.

The mating season in Tasmania is generally in the spring. The female is most fertile when reaching about two years of age. The male devils battle for the right to be with the female, who usually chooses the victor. If the male is not careful the female will wonder off after mating, so one should keep his eye out on his prize.

The lucky female will give birth to about 30 tots. The young, like the males will battle for the mother’s pouch, as there is only room for about four at a time. With age the pouch will shrink, so some younglings have it tougher than others finding a place to feed. Once settled in the pouch they will nestle there for about 100 days, feeding from the female’s nipple.

The devil, which has become a symbol for Australia, Tasmania to be exact, is honored in many different ways. National Parks use the devil as symbols as well have some sports teams and it’s even imprinted on an Australian coin. Literature and film have taken a liking to the furry imp; as well as it is the subject to many tours in Tasmania, as well as Australia. Perhaps Tasmania was put on the map with the creation of Warner Brother’s Tasmanian devil, Taz, a hot-tempered little bugger. He was so popular that in the early 90’s he received his own TV show called “Taz-Mania”. Not bad for a little critter found in the land down under, more commonly known as Australia, or to the devil, Tasmania.

Resource: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=333465&ca=Education

Is College Still an Option? By Horace Miskel

Has times ever been this difficult? For those born well after the Great Depression, the current economic recession is probably as low as it has ever been.

From upper middle-class families who once gave to the needy now receiving free meals to single mothers choosing welfare over work because the cost of transportation and child care would be more than their paycheck, the recession is forcing many out of their normal lifestyles and forcing them to reassess their financial future.

With families struggling to stay in their homes, many parents have had to make the difficult decisions of delaying their child’s college education or forcing them to narrow their choices to those that fit into their current budget.

However, what about the parents that are determined to send their child to college despite their economic circumstances? Where should they go to began preparing in advance for their child’s higher learning?

Alex Brown has recently launched a website, Zadoodie.com, which will assist children in finding funds for their college education.

“Many children and young adults are faced with the problem of not having enough money to attend or complete college,” said Brown. “The earlier you start to save the less you have to worry about when the time comes to pay for a college education.”

Zadoodie.com is designed to help parents begin saving funds early in their child’s maturation so they can avoid the economic uncertainties that many are facing today. The website is working with a United States government 529 college savings plan and offers information to parents who are unfamiliar with the 529 college savings plan and/or have not set up an account.

According to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) government website, “A 529 plan is a tax-advantaged savings plan designed to encourage saving for future college costs.” Legally known as “qualified tuition plans,” 529 plans are funded by states, state agencies, or educational agencies and are commissioned by Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code.

The two types of 529 plans are pre-paid tuition plans and college savings plans. Each state, including the District of Columbia, commissions a 529 plan. Furthermore, some private institutions of higher learning sponsor a pre-paid 529 plan.

Furthermore, loved-ones can donate funds to a student’s personal account by visiting Zadoodie.com, who in turn transfers the money to the student’s fund. The website also allows members to earn 10 dollars annually for each new member they bring to the site. Furthermore, Zadoodie.com shares up to 50% of the adverting revenue from the site with active members and offers weekly scholarships to those members.

Before launching the site, Zadoodie.com had already helped students earn up to $1,000 for their college education.

In spite of the current economic conditions, it is still imperative that the leaders of tomorrow be offered the same educational advantages of previous generations, and that journey for knowledge begins with the financial preparation of their elders. As Malcolm X said, “Education is our passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today.”

Resource: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=336781&ca=Education

A History of Lincoln Part 2 By Naz Daud

The raising of the siege of The Castle of Mont Sorel and Lincoln Castle.

The army of Louis and the barons of England arrived at Dunstable, and there spent the night. In the morning it marched northward, hastening to the relief of the castle of Mont Sorel, Earl Ralph of Chester and the others who were with him besieging it, were informed of this by their scouts, and retreated to the castle of Nottingham, where they determined to watch the progress of their approaching enemies.

When the barons then arrived at the castle of Mont Sorel, after pillaging in their usual custom all the cemeteries and churches on their march, it was determined to march to Lincoln, where Gilbert de Gant and other barons had carried on a long siege without success.

They marched through the valley of Belvoir, and there everything fell into the hands of these robbers, because the soldiers of the French kingdom were the refuse and scum of that country who left nothing untouched. Their poverty and wretchedness was so great, that they had not enough clothing to cover their nakedness. At length they arrived at Lincoln, and the barons then made fierce assaults on the castle, whilst the besieged returned fire with missiles and stones and deadly weapons.

The king of England assembled an army to raise the siege of the castle of Lincoln.

Whilst these events were passing here, William Marshall, the guardian of the king and kingdom, by the advice of Walo the legate, Peter bishop of Winchester, and others by whose counsels the business of the kingdom was arranged, persuaded the castellans belonging to the king.

He also persuaded the knights who were in charge of castles in different parts of the kingdom, ordering them, on the command of the king, to assemble at Newark on the second day in Whitsun week, to proceed together to raise the siege of Lincoln castle.

They had a desire to engage with the excommunicated French, and also to fight for their country. They arrived at the time and place pre-arranged, with the legate himself and many other prelates of the kingdom. With horses and soldiers, to assail with prayers as well as arms, these enemies of their king, and rebels against their lord the pope, it appeared to them they had a just cause of war, especially as he was innocent, and a stranger to sin.

When they were all assembled together, there were four hundred knights, nearly two hundred and fifty crossbow men, and an innumerable host of followers and horsemen, who could on emergency fulfil the duties of soldiers. The chiefs of this army were William Marshall, William his son, Peter Bishop of Winchester, a man well skilled in warfare, Ralph Earl of Chester, William Earl of Salisbury, E. William Earl of Ferrars and William Earl of Albemarle

There were also there the barons, William D' Albiney, John Marshall, William de Cantelo, William his son, the renowned Falkes de Breaute, Thomas Basset, Robert de Viport, Brian de L'Isle, Geoffrey de Lucy, and Philip d'Albiney, with many castellans of experience in war.

They stayed three days at Newark, to refresh the horses and men, and in the meantime they went to confession asking for the Lord’s protection against the attacks of their enemies. All of them were prepared for extremities, and were determined to conquer or die in the cause of right.

Resource: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=334779&ca=Education

Law School Admission Test (LSAT) - What You Need to Know By Ken MacKenzie

With entrance to law school becoming more and more competitive, the Law School Admission Test is playing a large role in determining the fate of the candidates. It's not enough to just pass the test, successful applicants need to ace it. Students with a 3.5 GPA are a dime a dozen, but LSAT scores of 165 and higher show your analytical thinking ability in it’s best light.

The LSAT, or Law School Admission Test, is offered by the Law School Admission Council and is necessary for admission to the more than 200 law schools who are members of the LSAC. Though there are hundreds of test locations, not all test dates are available at all test centers. Check the LSAC website for exam schedules and sites. You should register as early as possible to ensure that you get your first choice of location.

You can register for the LSAT either online, by telephone or by mail. But do yourself a favor and signup on time. There is a late registration period available, but you will pay an extra $64 for the privilege. For those students who celebrate the Sabbath on Saturday, alternative exams are usually given on the Monday following the regular Saturday tests or the June exam is given on a Monday.

The LSAT is given four times a year in February, June, October and December and includes five 35 minute multiple choice sections and a 35 minute writing sample at the end. Four of the five multiple choice sections are scored...the non-scored one is used to check new test questions. You may not know which is which, so be prepared to give full attention to all sections.

The four scored sections will fall into the following categories: reading comprehension, analytical reasoning and two of logical reasoning. The writing sample is not scored either, but a copy of it is sent to all law schools to which you apply, so you want to put forth your best effort.

Once you’ve decided to take the LSAT, your next step is preparation. You can find sample questions and tests on the LSAC website, as well as on various LSAT test preparation sites such as Kaplan. Question categories are consistent from test to test, so once you’ve completed a few sample exams, you will have a good idea of what’s coming. If the sample tests aren’t sufficient to make you feel comfortable, there are courses available both online and in a classroom setting. The online courses have the advantage of being accessible 24 hours per day, important for someone who may be juggling a busy work and school schedule. Taking the course in the classroom allows direct interaction with the teacher, as well as forcing you to focus to be prepared for class.

Scoring is based on the number of correct answers given. If you find yourself coming down to the end of a section and you have several blanks, make sure you get some answer marked. Even guessing, you’ll have a 20% chance of a correct answer and if you could eliminate any definitely wrong answers, your percentage goes up.

Resource: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=332045&ca=Education