Long Island Regents Prep Blog - Regents and AP Review

Long Island Regents Prep Announces 2019 Regents, AP, SAT, and ACT Review Classes

Farmingdale, New York (February 25, 2019): Long Island Regents Prep, a local tutoring and test prep company that is owned and operated by Long Island high school teachers, is celebrating its tenth year in business this spring. Founded in 2009, Long Island Regents Prep offers affordable Regents, Advanced Placement, SAT, and ACT review classes at Farmingdale State College. In addition, Long Island Regents Prep hires only experienced, current New York State-certified teachers to design and teach its courses.

Long Island Regents Prep was founded in 2009 by Michael Graziosi, Brad Seidman, and Dr. Dennis Urban, full-time social studies teachers in the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District. After preparing thousands of their own students for end-of-year exams, Graziosi, Seidman, and Urban understood that students sometimes needed test preparation beyond what was offered in the classroom, but private tutors can be prohibitively expensive. They created affordable, one-day review courses for Regents and Advanced Placement exams to help students review major course topics, practice test questions, and learn test-taking. The company has also published a series of Advanced Placement review books, with nearly 2,500 practice questions and answer explanations, which are available for sale on Amazon.

In 2014, Long Island Regents Prep launched its SAT Crash Course program, followed by its ACT Crash Courses in 2017, to provide one-day SAT and ACT review sessions at a fraction of the cost of larger companies and private tutors. The company’s SAT/ACT Program Director, Joshua Fialkow, who is a certified teacher and a master tutor, developed original review books for the courses, which have attracted students from all over Long Island.

Since 2009, Long Island Regents Prep has served more than 5,000 students from Suffolk County, Nassau County, and New York City, and its enrollment has grown significantly every year. The company’s success is largely due to word-of-mouth recommendations and the positive feedback it receives each year from parents, students, and guidance counselors. In addition, Long Island Regents Prep is a proud member of the Farmingdale Chamber of Commerce and is active in local business and education communities, and each year the company donates thousands of dollars in free classes to local schools and organizations. People can learn more about Long Island Regents Prep and register for courses at http://www.liregentsprep.com.

What:

Regents Review Classes: Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, Chemistry, Earth Science, Living Environment, Physics, Global History and Geography, United States History and Government.

AP Review Classes: AP United States History, AP European History, AP World History, AP Calculus AB, AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Environmental Science.

SAT Crash Course

ACT Crash Course

Where:

Farmingdale State College (Gleeson Hall)
2350 Broad Hollow Road
Farmingdale, NY 11735

Registration:

Visit http://www.liregentsprep.com for more information and to register for classes.

Contact Us:

Long Island Regents Prep
P.O. Box 1021
Bellmore, NY  11710

Dr. Dennis Urban, a social studies teacher at John F. Kennedy High School in Bellmore, has been named the 2018 New York History Teacher of the Year, an award presented annually by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History.

Dr. Dennis Urban, co-owner of Long Island Regents Prep, named NY History Teacher of the Year.

The History Teacher of the Year award highlights the crucial importance of history education by honoring exceptional American history teachers from elementary school through high school. The award honors one K-12 teacher from each state, the District of Columbia, Department of Defense schools and US territories. In fall 2018, the National History Teacher of the Year will be selected from the pool of state winners.

Urban, who lives in Massapequa Park, has taught social studies at John F. Kennedy High School since 2003. He teaches AP U.S. History, United States History and Government (Inclusive/Collaborative), Historical Research, Participation in Government, and Sociology. In addition, as an adjunct professor of education at Touro College, he teaches social studies methods, elementary education, history, and philosophy.

Urban received his B.A. in history from Salisbury University in Maryland, and earned his M.A., M.Phil., and Ph.D. in social studies education from Teachers College, Columbia University. He has published and presented on inclusive education, democratic citizenship education, social studies methods, local history, social justice and educational technology. Recently, Urban and his senior research students completed a local history book on the history of John F. Kennedy High School for the school’s 50th anniversary. The project can be found here.

In addition to a $1,000 honorarium and an award ceremony in New York, the JFK High School library will receive a core archive of American history books and Gilder Lehrman educational materials. Urban will also receive an invitation to a 2019 Gilder Lehrman Teacher Seminar, a week-long program that offers teachers daily discussions with historians, visits to historic sites and hands-on work with primary sources.

Nominations for the 2019 History Teacher of the Year awards are now open. Students, parents, colleagues, and supervisors may nominate K-12 teachers for the award by visiting gilderlehrman.org/nhtoy. The deadline for 2019 nominations is March 30, 2019.

Article courtesy of Massapequa Patch

5 ways to reduce stress while studying

Guest article by Nicholas Randall of StudentSharp

Stress while studying can affect all of us to the point where we pace like a wound-up toy, nervously gulping coffee and browsing Facebook in an attempt to run away from it all. Luckily, that doesn’t need to be the case. Learn these 5 ways to reduce stress while studying and you’ll be on the right path to a relaxed, focused, productive workflow.

#1 Way to Reduce Stress: Green Tea

Green tea has been touted by many as a panacea for stress reduction, weight loss, cancer defense and more. One study found that participants exposed to l-theanine, an amino acid found in green tea, had lowered blood pressure compared to placebo and caffeine groups and also reported lower Tension-Anxiety scores. Also, a study from Japan showed that drinking five cups of green tea a day might reduce the incidence of psychological distress by 20 percent. The l-theanine amino acid in green tea helps promote alpha brain waves, which contribute to a relaxed, alert state of mind. Also, there’s much less caffeine in green tea than competing drinks like coffee, which make it a good choice if you’re trying to reduce caffeine for stress as we’ll cover later.

Reduce Stress Green Tea

Green tea makes you feel like this

#2 Way to Reduce Stress: Meditation

Another great way to shift your brain wave patterns toward the slower, calmer alpha and theta states is through meditation. Lighter meditation practice results in alpha waves, which are a sign of deep relaxation. More advanced practice can result in theta waves, which increase a feeling of connectedness with the universe and well being. Also, meditation can decrease self-centered thinking and depression and anxiety, which can certainly help promote more focused studying. Meditation doesn’t need to be hard: all you have to do is sit or lie down comfortably, and attempt to clear out all thoughts from your mind as they come in for as little as five minutes.

Reduce Stress Meditation

Just relax like this cat

That’s mindfulness meditation- there are other types, too. So take a short break from studying and meditate to “sharpen the saw” i.e. become more efficient.

#3 Way to Reduce Stress: Exercise

Add exercise to your weeks for a stress-busting effect. Exercise releases endorphins, which basically make you feel good and reduce pain, similar to morphine. It also reduces inflammation in the brain and promotes the growth of new blood vessels and brain cells. It can improve memory and concentration, as well. Exercise can be as simple as taking a walk, or can be as involved as swimming or lifting weights. Choose what works well for you.

#4 Way to Reduce Stress: Reduce Caffeine

Some people may feel that caffeine makes them more productive, or puts them in a better mood. Actually, it’s a drug with identifiable peaks and valleys of mood and concentration, and once hooked, you rely on the drug to even feel normal. Too much caffeine increases anxiety, which is why downing those espresso shots while studying isn’t such a great idea. Also, it increases cortisol (the stress hormone)’s levels in the body, which can lead to weight gain among other complications. The common advice is to drink four or fewer cups of coffee a day, but even that much is enough to cause dependence, so be careful. I try to stick to at most two cups a day and might switch over to green tea for the long haul.

Reduce Stress Caffeine

Does caffeine make you feel like this?

#5 Way to Reduce Stress: Use Fewer Technology Distractions

Do you find yourself checking your phone or your email constantly, not wanting to miss out on any notifications, likes, messages or updates? This behavior may be contributing to your stress level. A study referenced here found that students who were the most used to using their phones were the most anxious when deprived of it after only 15 minutes. Another study said about the same thing, and a large percent of responders said they didn’t like the way they were attached to technology. Besides that, being accustomed to funny/shocking/interesting material can make studying seem almost unmanageably boring, so you might consider reducing the time you spend online to promote good study habits. Check out this video that explains technology distractions and the Attention Economy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50R21mblLb0

That’s all! Did you like the list? Did you find yourself relating to any, or maybe all of it? These behaviors tend to go in tandem with each other, but the more you start establishing healthy study habits, the easier it’ll get. For my personal wellness and productivity, I follow all of the suggestions I wrote about and I know they definitely help me. Share your thoughts in the comments, or share this article if you liked it or you think it could help someone! If you’re looking for SAT Prep, check out StudentSharp’s Ultimate SAT Guide.

Recently, Long Island Regents Prep teamed up with PrepIT, an online test prep platform and marketplace where students and teachers can purchase and sell review materials. We’re licensing our AP US History, AP Macroeconomics, APPsychology, AP Calculus AB, and AP Biology material to PrepIT, and they’re available for purchase at prepIT.io.

Their Product

PrepIT is a web based test preparation platform that serves students, teachers, and course authors.  Gathering meaningful data on student performance is a time consuming task for any teacher.  With the PrepIT platform teachers can create review courses for any subject and share it with their students.  As students interact with the course, data is aggregated and shared back to the classroom teacher and students, providing guidance on areas to focus more attention.  In addition to these features, teachers and students are able to buy pre-made courses for a variety of subjects.  These courses have been written by approved authors.  Last year we tested our data tools with 4,000 AP Government students and 150 teachers.

Their Team

Mike Clancy

Mike Clancy is an AP Government and AP US History teacher in Muscatine, Iowa.  He has been teaching for nine years and has experience at the elementary, middle, and high school levels.  His idea for PrepIT was inspired by his students love of class trivia games and the teachers need to prioritize review time on student weaknesses. Before teaching in Iowa Mike taught internationally in Vietnam, and also served as a Teach for America corps member in Kansas City, Missouri. Mike received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Northern Iowa and a Masters in Education from Rockhurst University in Missouri.  Mike also completed a graduate certificate program in educational technology from SUNY, Buffalo.

TJ

TJ McDonaldhas been working in education since 1999 after earning an undergraduate degree from the University of Iowa. He

moved to North Carolina in 2001 and worked in the training group for high tech companies such as IBM and Lenovo.  Eventually he became a certified program manager, PMP, at Global Knowledge which is the world’s largest learning solutions provider. During this time his client list included Fortune 500 companies such as Microsoft, Cisco, Citibank, and the New York Stock Exchange. While in North Carolina he also earned an MBA from NC State with a concentration in entrepreneurship and technology.

We Write Code

We Write Code builds outstanding digital products, but we’re more than just a good software development company. We’re passionate about helping our clients bring their ideas to life.

Our team has spent years shepherding clients and their ideas from “napkin sketch” concepts to scalable, leading-edge products. We believe the best technical solutions start with collaboration and trust. We believe in the power of well-written code, but technical excellence alone is not enough. We believe good development is interactive, flexible, and highly-personalized, with clearly defined checkpoints and frequent iterations to provide feedback and value along the way.

Based in Des Moines, Iowa, we partner with companies worldwide, both large and small. No matter the size or scope of your project—from startup product planning and early demos to ongoing development and product support—our goal is to help you define the technical challenges and build a product that best suits your business needs, both now and in the future.

We love building innovative products for our clients, and we have a lot of fun doing it. When we’re not crafting creative code, you can find us brainstorming at the nearest taco stand.

 

 

Here’s some important information we received about changes to the Global History and Geography Regents next year. Going forward, our Global Regents review classes will reflect these changes.

  • The January 2018 Regents Examination in Global History and Geography (Grades 9 & 10) will be in the current format
  • In June 2018, the only Regents Examination in Global History and Geography will be the Transition Exam (Grade 10). The date for the administration is June 5, 2018. No other Regents Examination in Global History and Geography will be offered in June 2018. The June schedule for Regents Examinations can be found online at: http://www.p12.nysed.gov/assessment/schedules/2018/504hs-june2018.pdf.
  • The June 2018 Transition exam will be based on the Social Studies Resource Guide and Core Curriculum (1998) and on the NYS Learning Standards (1996) for Social Studies found online at: http://www.p12.nysed.gov/ciai/socst/ssrg.html.  Some information from the November 2016 memo is provided below:

    Question: What will the June 2018 Transition Regents Examination in Global History and Geography measure?                                                                                      Answer: The Transition Regents Examination in Global History and Geography (Grade 10) will be based on one year of study, the NYS Learning Standards for Social Studies (1996), and the skills and content for Grade 10 found in the Social Studies Resource Guide and Core Curriculum (1998) in Units 5–8 (pages 105–120). Skills-based questions from the Methodology unit (pages 92–93) may also be included in this examination if the content of the questions relates to Units 5–8. The essays will be based on the themes on page 89 and topics in Units 5–8. This includes human and physical geography.       Please note that Unit 5 (1750-1914)includes: The Scientific Revolution (Copernicus, Galileo, Newton, Descartes);  The Enlightenment (Locke, Voltaire, Rousseau, and Montesquieu);  Independence Movements in Latin America and the post-independence period; Agricultural and Industrial Revolutions in Europe and other parts of the world; Meiji Restoration; and Imperialism

NOTE: Themes and concepts are defined on pages 8–11 and skills are presented on pages 12–18.

  • The Transition Regents Examination in Global History and Geography (Grade 10) will have the same three parts as the current Regents Examination in Global History and Geography (Grades 9 & 10) except that Part I will contain 30 multiple-choice questions rather than 50. Part II will contain one thematic essay question. Part III A will contain open-ended questions based on several documents, and Part III B will contain one essay question based on the documents and the student’s knowledge of specific social studies content. The 30 multiple-choice questions will be weighted so as to account for approximately 55% of the student’s final score, similar to the 50 multiple-choice questions on the current Regents Examination in Global History and Geography (Grades 9 & 10).

  • A test specification grid for the Transition Regents Examination in Global History and Geography (Grade 10) is available online at: http://www.p12.nysed.gov/assessment/ss/hs/ghg-transitionspecificationgrid.pdf.

  • The current Regents exams in Global History and Geography can be used to help students prepare for the Transition Regents Examination in Global History and Geography. Teachers and students may look at the first few questions on the current exams as they relate to the unit on methodology. Questions from Units 5–8 usually begin around question 18, 19, or 20 on the current examinations—Scientific Revolution, French Revolution, imperialism, etc. The cross-topical questions at the end of each exam relate to material across or between units. Only those questions that relate to Units 5–8 will be on the Transition Regents Exam. When using previously administered exams for practice essays, look at thematic topics and DBQ topics that are part of the grade 10 curriculum. Previously administered Regents Examination in Global History and Geography can be found online at: http://www.nysedregents.org/GlobalHistoryGeography.

  • The June 2018 exam will not be based on the NYS K–12 Social Studies Framework, but will be based on the Social Studies Resource Guide and Core Curriculum (1998) and on the NYS Learning Standards (1996).

Please check the links listed above for more information regarding the upcoming changes in Global History and Geography.

Tips for Creating a Solid Summer Schedule for Your Child

By Guest Blogger Frank Lawson, Edutude.net

The words “summer” and “schedule” may induce groans from your freedom-loving child, but when it comes down to it they need a little bit of structure in their lives – even during the summer. Not only does it help to make sure your child spends their summer months in a productive manner, but it also helps them to stay out of trouble. Don’t let them know this, but setting a schedule can even provide them more, not fewer, fun summer experiences. Here are some tips for creating a solid summer schedule for your child.

Let your kids be involved in the schedule making

It’s your child’s summer, after all. You want it to be filled with fun activities. If you let your child help you make their summer schedule, they’ll be much more likely to go along with it.

One trick is to create a pool of summer activities. Make your child build their schedule from this pool. Populate this pool with fun activities as well as the ones you really want on there, like reading/tutoring time and summer community projects.

Schedule one “educational” activity per day

Learning shouldn’t stop when school stops. If you keep your child’s education going throughout the summer, they’ll be less likely to fall behind when school starts back up. Make sure to schedule an educational activity every day of the summer. This can be reading, tutoring, watching a documentary, or taking a trip to a museum or national landmark. Be creative, but make sure you’re keeping your child’s brain engaged.

Don’t forget to make the schedule somewhat similar to the school year schedule

There’s nothing worse than having a child who has spent their whole summer on a weird schedule, only to be completely shellshocked when they are forced to get back into a regular routine. You can prevent this by making the summer schedule closely mimic the normal year schedule.

“[Summer] may be different than during the school year, never the less, they still need a routine.  Have them wake up, shower, and go to bed around the same time every day.  Maintaining a regular daily routine will keep them healthy, happy, and productive,” says one solid suggestion.

Break up the home monotony with summer camp

Everyone needs a break from the dog days of summer. Life at home can get a little boring for all parties involved. Summer camp is a good way to get a break from the monotony. Make room for it in your child’s summer schedule.

“Children need resiliency skills: self-esteem, life skills, self-reliance, and pro-social behaviors. The camp experience offers a nurturing environment away from the distractions and, in some cases, the hostile environment of the city,” notes the American Camp Association.

Social education is just as important as book learning, and sending your child to a summer camp for part of the summer with give them this opportunity. Not only that, but you’ll cherish the few weeks you’ll have to yourself (and no, it’s not bad to admit that). Talk to your child about summer camp. Ask them if they want to experience the full 24/7 camp experience or would rather come home at nights. Think about whether they are focused enough on a single activity to attend a specialty camp.

Summer is a time for fun and freedom – but it’s also an opportunity to keep your children on a well-rounded schedule that will set them up for success throughout the year. When kids have too much spare time, the risk of developing bad habits increase. Talk to your kids about the dangers of experimenting with drugs and alcohol, and make sure they know they can talk to you in a judgement-free environment. This, coupled with a strict but flexible schedule, will keep your child safe and happy this summer.

Photo Credit: Pixabay.com

Long Island Regents Prep is excited to announce the publication of our new AP Review Books. Each book includes nearly 500 practice AP questions with detailed answer explanations. You can find them on Amazon!

AP U.S. History Review Book 

AP Biology Review Book

AP Psychology Review Book

AP Calculus AB Review Book

AP Macroeconomics Review Book

Feel free to contact us with any questions you have about our AP Review Books.

Good luck with the new school year!

ap biology review book

 

sat and act review classes

College is expensive, and it’s not getting any cheaper. Which is why there are billions of dollars in merit-based grants and scholarships available. Doing well on your SAT and ACT can increase your eligibility for these awards from schools, states, and private companies.

College scholarships

Hundreds of public and private colleges and universities offer merit scholarships based on students’ standardized test scores. Higher SAT and ACT scores not only increase your chances of getting accepted, but can also increase the amount of financial aid you’re eligible for. Depending on the school, students with good test scores can earn anywhere from a few thousand dollars to a full ride.

For example, at The University of Arizona, merit-based scholarships are offered to in-state and out-of-state residents based on GPA and SAT or ACT scores. If you’re an in-state resident with a minimum GPA of 3.25 and CR&M SAT scores of 1110, or ACT scores of 24 or higher, you could get a scholarship award of $2,000 or more per year. Out-of-state residents will receive a minimum scholarship award of $8,000 per year. Keep in mind, these are the minimum requirements — if you have higher test scores, you can receive even more financial aid, exceeding $13,000 per year.

At private institutions, such as Villanova University, the average merit scholarship is around $10,000 with a minimum SAT score of 1310 or ACT score of 30. At Emory University, the average merit scholarship is about $21,000 for a minimum SAT score of 1365 or ACT score of 31. A simple Google search for your top college choices along with the search term “merit scholarships” will generate useful and money-saving results.

State scholarships

Many states across the country also offer scholarships based on SAT and ACT scores. Louisiana, for example, offers the TOPS Performance Award and the TOPS Honors Award for students who score at least 23 or 27 on the ACT. Missouri’s Bright Flight Program offers $3,000 to students scoring in the top 3 percent of the state on the SATs or ACTs. So definitely check out your state’s education department website to see if it offers similar merit scholarships.

Private Scholarships

One of the most famous and prestigious private scholarships is the National Merit Scholarship Program, which requires students to score in the top 1 percent nationally on the PSAT. Even though the PSAT is practice for the real SAT, it counts for a lot.

Many private merit-based scholarships are specific to students’ backgrounds or areas of interest. Search the Internet, use personalized scholarship matching tools like UNIGO’s Scholarship Match, and get yourself some private merit scholarships for college!

Invest in your future — register for LI Regents Prep’s SAT and ACT Review Classes to raise your SAT and ACT scores.

 

A different version of this article first appeared at Unigo.com. 

Thanks to everyone who attended our AP, SAT, and Regents Review Classes over the  past few weeks at SUNY Farmingdale! Below is a schedule of the June 2016 NYS Regents Exams. Good luck!

June 2016 High School Regents Examination Schedule

Students must verify with their schools the exact times that they are to report for their State examinations.

regents exam schedule

Wednesday, June 1 – 9:15 a.m.

Algebra II (Common Core)*

*Conversion Charts for this exam will be available no later than June 23, 2016.

Wednesday, June 1 – 1:15 p.m.

SPECIAL ADMINISTRATION Integrated Algebra

Tuesday, June 14 – 9:15 a.m.

Global History and Geography

Tuesday, June 14 – 1:15 p.m.

English Language Arts (Common Core)

Wednesday, June 15 – 9:15 a.m.

Living Environment

Wednesday, June 15 – 1:15 p.m.

U.S. History and Government

Thursday, June 16 – 9:15 a.m.

Algebra I (Common Core)

Thursday, June 16 – 1:15 p.m.

Comprehensive English

Friday, June 17 – 9:15 a.m.

Physical Setting/Earth Science

Algebra 2/Trigonometry

Friday, June 17 – 1:15 p.m.

Geometry (Common Core)

Tuesday, June 21 – 9:15 a.m.

Chemistry

Tuesday, June 21 – 1:15 p.m.

Physics

 

Five years ago, when the NYS Board of Regents discontinued its foreign language Regents exams, many educators worried that New York schools would drop their foreign language requirements for students. In our increasingly interconnected and interdependent world, students in the United States benefit enormously from learning languages other than English. The evidence is overwhelming: language learning supports academic growth, benefits cognitive development, and promotes positive attitudes toward cultural diversity. It’s important to note that although New York State eliminated the foreign language Regents exams, it did not scrap its curriculum standards for Languages other than English (LOTE). The foreign language requirement remains for students wishing to obtain a Regents Diploma.

To assess students in their learning of World Languages, the Foreign Language Association of Chairpersons and Supervisors (FLACS) has developed exams that include speaking, listening, reading, and writing sections. These FLACS exams, which are given in middle school and high school, integrate the requirements of students’ language curriculum (Chinese, French, German, Italian, and Spanish) with Common Core Standards.

To meet the demand of students who are enrolled in Spanish classes throughout Long Island, we are offering 1-day review classes for the FLACS Checkpoint A (middle school) and FLACS Checkpoint B (high school) exams in Spanish. Both classes will be offered on Saturday, June 18th, from 9:00AM to 4:00PM at Farmingdale State College, and will cost $160. As with all of our classes, the FLACS Spanish Review courses are developed and taught by experienced NYS-certified teachers.

To register, call 516-847-1265 or send a check to Long Island Regents Prep, PO Box 1021, Bellmore, NY 11710. Please include student’s name, address, phone number, email address, and indicate Spanish FLACS A or Spanish FLACS B. 

FLACS Spanish Exam Review Class