Wilton Library Teens Blog » Education

Words to Make You Sound Smart(er)…

slauricella — Sun, 20 May 2012 20:15:47 +0000

Not that you needed this, but the American Heritage Dictionaries‘ editorial staff has compiled a list of 100 words they believe make writers and speakers sound intelligent. And there is also the freevocabulary.com site with (get ready) 5,000 collegiate words with their definitions. Although these won’t be a panacea for your vocabulary issues, it may be your way to finagle some vocabulary respect. Didn’t know the meanings of some of those terms? You need to read the lists!

So you forgot your Summer Reading book in your locker???

slauricella — Sun, 06 May 2012 08:50:09 +0000

And no library has that elusive copy of Moby Dick? Well there are many resources where you can get your book, for free! With some you have to read the book from your computer screen but that is a small price to pay. Readprint has many titles including: The Age of Innocence, Julius Caesar, and Animal Farm on their website. Project Gutenberg has free copies of books who’s copyright has expired, so mostly the classics are posted. The University of Pennsylvania has amassed a list of over 1 million free books, the search for Charles Dickens (on the summer reading list, hint hint) resulted in 74 titles! And planet e book has downloadable classics so you don’t have to read from the screen. Now there is no excuse for being up to date on your reading. Unless you lose your laptop…then we can’t help you.

Time to get your license?

slauricella — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 13:37:30 +0000

Then you need a AAA membership. And the nice people at triple A are offering new drivers a FREE membership! Their AAA INsider program is just for new drivers, offering teens 13 to 15 an associates membership when they turn 15 and 9 months. Nothing like being ready early. But as long as there is an adult with a AAA membership in your household (and who doesn’t have one of those?) you can get a free membership of your own. The INsider program offers the same benefits as a traditional membership, roadside assistance, free maps and travel guides, and lots of discounts to almost everything. So hit their website to find out more, and don’t forget to get a few maps for your glove compartment!

Are you a weather nut?

slauricella — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 23:07:40 +0000

Well there are others like you out there. Besides reading some of the new titles in teens, you can join CoCoRaHS. CoCoRaHS is an acronym for the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network. CoCoRaHS is a unique, non-profit, community-based network of volunteers of all ages and backgrounds working together to measure and map precipitation (rain, hail, and snow). All you have to do is get a nifty rain gague to measure the precipitation in your area. Then email the results to be tabulated with other members. The results are used to predict and track weather, and are even reported to NOAA. So join the other weather lovers like you to make a difference in tracking the weather!

World Wide Wikipedia

slauricella — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 23:32:02 +0000

This cool map service shows you minute by minute updating of the world’s largest Web-based, free content encyclopedia project – Wikipedia. Watch the map to see what webpages from what countries are being updated in almost real time. It gets addictive, and is a fun way to discover new pages you have never thought to check out, like the history of the cocoa bean, updated from Columbia and background of the band OTT from Ireland. We dare you to only watch for five minutes!

Do you have vocabulary acumen?

slauricella — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 18:04:28 +0000

More importantly, do you even know what acumen means? Well you would if you used dictionary.com’s word of the day service which automatically emails you the word of the day, it’s meaning, and interesting facts behind it. Use it to bone up for SATs or just to expand your own vocabulary. You will be be displaying perspicacity before you know it!

And they say nothing rhymes with “orange”…

slauricella — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 22:59:55 +0000

Challenge? Lozenge? They just don’t sound right! But if you can’t find that final rhyming word to put the finishing touches on your poem, the FREE Online Rhyming Dictionary may be able to help you. It will help you find the perfect word to rhyme, using the first or last syllable, or the whole word itself. But to save you the suspense, there still isn’t a whole-word rhyme for orange. So you may just want to use the word “red” instead.

So You Wanna…

slauricella — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 21:26:10 +0000

Learn how to be a CIA agent? Convert to Buddhism? Write a screenplay? Give a high tea? Become a member of the paparazzi? Well the So You Wanna duck can help you out. As well as the writers at the website Soyouwanna.com (because it’s kind of hard for the duck to type with those wings). But from changing your religion to getting a cool career like a fashion designer, this website can show you the steps on how to do it. So hit their website and soon you could learn the steps on how to score higher on your next SAT test…or be snapping pictures of Brad and Angelina. It’s up to you.

Things you NEED for college

slauricella — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 17:46:40 +0000

Of course you are in a scramble to get ready to move, but what to bring? Well as for the basics the nice people at the College Board (an organization dedicated to supporting the achievement of college students) have compiled a list for you. And, they really are serious when they say you need 14 pairs of socks. Of course there will be the overlooked items that never make it on the list, but a random college blogger has listed them for you. Earplugs-a genius idea! Another thing you may need beside a list is this handy bingo sheet to play “Boring Lecture Bingo” so you don’t nod off in those classes. Make sure you hide those printouts well in your freshman items going to the dorm BEFORE you parents help you move…

Computer so sloooooowwww?

slauricella — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 17:34:39 +0000

Don’t blame yourself…and instead of staring at the screen in frustration there may be something you could do about it. If you click here you will go to the page the nice people at Microsoft made listing tricks to speed up your computer. it is important to point out – go only to reputable sites to take advice, as sometimes the site winds up just being a sales pitch. Also about.com has their own list of speedy tips, and the Help Desk Geek site gathered a list (although it is a little complicated) for you as well. Hopefully some of these tips work to cut down on your “stare time”!