Ernest Hemingway once said, “When writing a novel, a writer should create living people; people, not characters. A character is a caricature.” What is it that inspired history’s greatest authors, like Hemingway, to develop characters so unforgettable that their names have taken a permanent place in literature? It is no secret that the act of thinking creatively can either be enhanced or weakened by a simple change in environment. Whether a grand home or backyard retreat; near the water or deep in the woods; a common trait among history’s most famous writers seems to be the preference for one particular setting when creating memorable characters and stories.

Research shows that children who attend high-quality preschool programs perform better in school and throughout life. They have more advanced language and math skills and enter kindergarten knowing how “school” works. Decades of research in brain development and cognitive science have shown that young children are constantly learning and are capable of learning much more than previously believed.

Chapter One In a small town called Serringfield lived a young girl, Emily. She was planning to go to a beach with her dad. They had been planning this trip all year, as it was a very special beechbeach. “Tell me again, Tell tell me again!” Emily shouted to her dad, as she jumped up and down on his lap. “I’ve told you a hundred times, Emily, what makes this beech beach so special,” Emily’s dadhe said wearily. “I know but its fun, tell it again,” Emily continued, as she leaped onto her dad’s tummy. “O.KOkay, I’ll tell you again,” said Emily’s dad as she placed her gently on his lap. “The beach is very special because at 4pm every dayfour o’clock every afternoon, if you listen very carefully, you can hear a strange noise travelling in the wind,” “What sort of noise is it dad?, Dad?” Emily started to bounce up and down again. “I guess it’s not really a noise, but more of a moan. The wind moans and groans as if it doesn’t like being near the sea anymore.” Said said her dad.

During a presentation recently here in Holland, I had an experience that was funny, but in a sad kind of way. It reminded me of a really important lesson I learned a long time ago. I was doing a speaking gig to a large group of people. It was only a 15 minute talk, so shared some things I learned on Necker island and from my time with Richard Branson. Introducing me was a semi-famous Dutch gentleman. While we were on stage together he asked, “Can you name the first hit song produced by Virgin

When I made the decision to try podcasts, I just picked up my iPhone and started recording. I began only a few weeks ago, thinking it was a great way for me to share my insights, knowledge, and ideas — really just me thinking aloud. Because I find it impossible to remember all the ideas that come to me and recap them later, I decided to start recording them by just talking into my iPhone. It is a great way for me to share the spontaneous thoughts that come to me. Although I believe the quality o

We all go through them: those times when we just feel bad, where life just sucks, and when we think, ‘man, this shit is just not working’. As human beings, we are all different. We have varying levels of depression. Some of us may have times where we just don’t feel great and others of us have lows that are extremely low.   Wherever you may fall on the scale of feeling down, I hope my thoughts today can help you with those times. These are just my ideas. I am not an expert on depression and I

REGISTRATION FEE: I understand that an annual, non - refundable, Registration Fee of $__________ shall be paid in advance to enroll my child. I understand that I may guarantee my child’s enrollment for Fall by paying this fee no later than __________ each year. In instances of agency reimbursement, the Registration Fee is to be paid according to the applicable contract. TUITION and MODIFICATIONS CONDITIONS: $__________ per week is the current tuition rate for the program I have chosen. I understand that rates are subject to change with reasonable notice as conditions require. The school follows state specific required time frames on tuition and modifications notices.

I have created several rules for myself that I have found to be life changing. When I do these things, I feel great! I am a monster! I am extremely productive and present and also make a lot of money. When I don’t do them, I feel bad mentally and physically. Everything seems ten times worse. If you want to go to the next level and you really want to become a great entrepreneur, I believe it is imperative that you develop your own set of rules to live and work by. Take the time to consider some

WHERE WAS I?       The first step is easy. Take out a calendar from exactly 12 months ago — a digital calendar, a written appointment book, a journal, whatever method you use to track your time – and go back to precisely one year earlier. Read over the details and write down the things you notice about your appointments, your life, your activities, and so forth. Be sure to notice the good stuff, the accomplishments, and the things that moved your business in a positive direction. Try to remember

Often times in business we think that if bad things happen to us it gives us permission to behave a certain way. I challenge you to think about the state of mind you are in and to work on building your mindset in order to handle the challenges of your business in a way that produces a more positive outcome. For example, imagine you have an employee that steals from you; maybe he talks badly about you to customers, or does two or three other things that undermine your business. I would like you

Prime Central London (PCL) property has long been the envy of the world. Traditionally a popular locale for businesses and pied de terres of wealthy foreigners, recent trends indicate this high-end setting is in the midst of change.

It seems that in Mayfair, history has a tendency to repeat itself. With its origins as a downtrodden district in the 1600s, it suddenly became desirable with the construction of Grosvenor Square, where dukes, earls, and viscounts resided, and by the mid-1700s it had become the most fashionable address in London.

If you are looking for your own “urban oasis,” the ultra-prime area of London has many opportunities in store for the near future. It seems buyers are not deterred by the price tag, but instead enjoy the luxury of life in this world famous hot spot enhanced by the knowledge of its investment potential.

Christ Children’s Academy 2015-2016 Kindergarten Readiness Program PRE-K curriculum begins the first week of September. KINDERGARTEN READINESS CURRICULUM INCLUDES:

Where do the wealthiest of the wealthy reside while in London? Areas such as Kensington, Knightsbridge, and Chelsea continue to be a magnet for the super-wealthy. For those interested in living among the elite, a rare opportunity is now available. Wetherell Properties recently launched to the private sales market one of the most impressive homes in the posh Knightsbridge area. The newly remodeled, luxury penthouse suite in Wellington Court is listed at £35 million, a reasonable price tag consid

Next Gen Science Standards: 3-5-ETS1-3. Plan and carry out fair tests in which variables are controlled and failure points are considered to identify aspects of a model or prototype that can be improved. Common Core State Standards: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.2 Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.5.1 Quote accurately from a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text. Overview of Activity: Students will understand the importance of creating and/or following explicit instructions for the construction of a paper airplane. This activity will promote the understanding that instructions for the design of a model must be clear and flawless in order for the outcome to represent the original intended design. Students will understand that tests are used to identify flaws and areas of difficulties in engineering designs.

Next Gen Science Standards: 3-LS1-1 Developing and Using Models Modeling in 3–5 builds on K–2 experiences and progresses to building and revising simple models and using models to represent events and design solutions. Develop models to describe phenomena. Common Core State Standards: MP.4 Model with mathematics. (4-ESS3-1), (4-ESS3-2) 4.G.A.3 Recognize a line of symmetry for a two-dimensional figure as a line across the figure such that the figure can be folded across the line into matching parts. Identify line symmetric figures and draw lines of symmetry. (4-LS1-1) W.3.7 Conduct short research projects that build knowledge about a topic. (3-ESS3-1) W.3.2 Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly. (3-LS4-1) ,(3-LS4-2), (3-LS4-3),(3-LS4-4) W.4.2 Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly. (4-PS3-1) RI.5.9 Integrate information from several texts on the same topic in order to write or speak about the subject knowledgeably. (5-ESS1-1) Overview of Activity: Students will engage in activities that allow them to explore and share information on the human skeletal system, including the names of the major bones, the importance of bones, the design and patterns associated with the skeletal system, and how the human skeleton compares to other vertebrates and invertebrates. At the end of this activity, students will work in competitive teams to name as many bones of the skeletal system as they can.