Category: Education

A generation ago, one of the most pressing issues facing parents of adult children was called ’empty nest syndrome’. As the last child left the family home, parents faced a difficult period of adjustment. The family dynamic was changing from a bustling household filled with children to an empty house with only each other for […]

The world of special education is filled with acronyms such as IEP, ARD, IDEA, and many others. Often, parents are told to attend an ARD (Admission, Review, or Dismissal) meeting in order to help complete an IEP. An IEP is an Individualized Education Plan. It is a plan that is put into place specifically to […]

SDAA is an acronym for state-developed Alternative Assessment. In this case, the state is Texas, and in Texas, everything is bigger, including its standardized testing program. The SDAA is a test that was developed to access special education students who could not successfully take the TAKS, the high-stakes test that is taken by general education […]

How many times have telemarketers called and attempted to sell you everything from credit card promotions, insurance deals, magazines, aluminum siding, and discount-calling plans interrupted your dinner? No matter how many times you politely say, “No thank you” the calls continue. Some people have reported receiving between 5 and 20 such phone calls a day! […]

An auto focus (AF) camera uses a miniature computer-operated motor to focus the camera lens. The lens is moved in or out until the subject comes into the sharpest possible focus, which depends upon its distance from the camera lens. So in order to work, the auto focus system must somehow determine how far away […]

Rock polishing is a fun and relatively inexpensive hobby. When you use a rock polisher, or tumbler as it is more commonly known, you are imitating the abrasive action of water on stones. Stones in a stream or in the ocean are worn smooth over time; the rock polisher uses grit and water to achieve […]

Writing film reviews can be rewarding and enjoyable. Depending on the audience and the market it is written for, there are several different things that you should keep in mind during the writing process. Firstly, what age groups are you writing for? A review for a school magazine would warrant a different writing process than, […]

Writing a screenplay is by no means an easy task. It can be challanging and overwhelming to say the least. To simplify the process, a screenwriter will take several steps and follow certain formulas to achieve his/her goal. The script has eight main elements, all of which are key to an effective screenplay.PLOT – The […]

Writing a short story can be creative and fun if you don’t get bogged down in too much technique and protocol. Many, many people are drawn to writer’s workshops and creative writing classes in search of learning to write. Unfortunately, workshops and classes are not always the best avenue to learn how to write. When […]

A book review is a written report which provides information about the content of either a fiction or non-fiction book, and an opinion about this content. The reader of a book review wants to know whether the book is worth reading for him/herself. Before writing a book review, make sure you have read the book. […]