Category: Family

Start Strong: Seven Study Habits for English Language Learners

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Simple ways to study, remember new words, and feel ready for the school year.

The beginning of the school year is a fresh start. New classmates, new books, and new routines mean that school can feel exciting and hard at the same time.

The good news is this: you do not need to study for many hours all at once. It is better to use small, strong habits every day. Testing yourself, reviewing over time, and taking breaks can help you remember more than only rereading or highlighting. These habits can help you build confidence, learn vocabulary, and understand class lessons better.

1. Space Out Your Studying

Do not wait until the night before a test. Study a little bit frequently. For example, review new vocabulary on Monday, practice again on Wednesday, and quiz yourself on Friday. This helps your brain remember words and ideas for a longer time. Short study times are also less tiring.

2. Practice Active Recall

Reading your notes again can help, but it is not enough. Active recall means you close your book and try to remember. You can use flashcards, answer practice questions, or write what you remember on a blank page This is a great way to practice vocabulary, sentence patterns, and important class ideas.

3. Use the Pomodoro Technique

The Pomodoro Technique is simple. Study for 25 minutes. Then take a 5-minute break. During study time, choose one job, such as “learn 8 new words”. During the break, stand up, stretch, or drink water. This helps your brain stay fresh.

4. Teach the Material

One good way to check your understanding is to teach the lesson to someone else. You can explain it to a classmate, a family member, or even to yourself. Use simple English. If you cannot explain an idea, you will know what to study again.

5. Establish a Dedicated Study Routine

Try to study at the same time each day. A routine helps your brain know, “This is study time.” Choose a small goal before you begin. Instead of saying, “I will study English,” say, “I will practice 10 vocabulary words,” or “I will write five sentences using the past tense.” Small goals are easier to achieve.

6. Eliminate Distractions

It is hard to learn when your phone, games, or noise keep pulling your attention away. Put your phone in another room or turn on “Do Not Disturb.” Keep your study space clean. Put only the things you need on your desk: your book, notebook, pencil, and dictionary or translation tool if needed.

7. Prioritize Your Physical Health

Your body helps your brain learn. Try to sleep 7 to 9 hours each night. Sleep helps your brain save what you learned. It can also help to review new words or notes for a few minutes before bed. Eat healthy food, drink water, and move your body. A rested brain can focus better.

A Simple Plan for the First Month

Start small. Choose two habits this week, such as using flashcards and studying for 25 minutes. Next week, add one more habit. You do not have to be perfect. The goal is to practice often. Little by little, these habits will help you learn English, understand your classes, and feel ready for the school year.

Don’t forget, classes start _________!

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Dancin’ the (summer) night away…

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Vocabulary:

To take advantage — exp., to enjoy something that’s given to you, usually at no cost.

waterfront — n. the edge of a body of water; a lake, ocean, or river shoreline.

revel — v., to enjoy something very much, to celebrate

beloved — adj., something that is deeply loved.

culture — n., a set of beliefs, values, and behaviors belonging to a group of people.

Do you like to dance? Do you like free events? Do you like taking advantage of NYC’s summer offerings?

There are many opportunities to have fun on the dance floor this summer. Here are a few:

Sunset Salsa on the river!

Sunset Salsa is a Thursday evening salsa series at Pier 76 in Hudson River Park, bringing outdoor dancing to Manhattan’s west side.

The evening starts at 6:30 PM with a beginner-friendly salsa lesson, then opens into social dancing from 7:15 PM. Talía Castro-Pozo leads and curates the series.

The waterfront setting gives the event a relaxed summer feel, with room for new dancers to jump into the lesson and experienced dancers to stay for the social. It is a strong option for anyone looking for an outdoor salsa night with Hudson River views.

For dancers who want salsa outside a studio or club, Sunset Salsa offers a lively summer gathering along the river.

Modern Dance

Modern dance in Bryant park!

Saturday mornings, 10 – 11 am through September 19th. Experience the joy of movement with dancers from the world-renowned Limón Dance Company, this free modern dance class is open to all levels and ages. Join us this summer and revel in the joy of dance!

https://bryantpark.org/activities/limon-dance

Zumba in Gotham Park!

Ger ready for Zumba under the Brooklyn Bridge! Tuesday and Wednesday evenings 5:30 – 6:15. All ages and abilities welcome! Come and dance, sweat, and have a great time with friends and fellow Zumba enthusiasts. No experience requires, just come with a positive attitude and be ready to move to the music. Dates and ticket availability below.

Register on Eventbrite

https://vinylnightsnyc.com/events

 Vinyl Nights is a beloved NYC institution – celebrating dance, music, club & DJ culture. 

Experience what it was like to party in NYC in the early 70’s to the 90’s, when DJ’s played strictly Vinyl.  Dance to the hits that shaped NYC – Disco, Funk, Soul, House, Boogie, Latin, Freestyle and 80’s & 90’s Hip Hop.  

Have fun and we hope you can sleep late the next day!

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Summer Activities 😎

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There’s something special about New York City on a summer evening. On a hot day, the air cools down in the evening, the breeze off the river feels refreshing, and parks across the city are busy with people enjoying movies, concerts, and theater under the stars. Best of all, many of these events are completely free.

If you’re looking for some fun outdoor events in NYC this summer, here are three you won’t want to miss.

Movies at Brooklyn Bridge Park 🎥 🍿

Watching a movie with the Manhattan skyline in the background is hard to beat. Brooklyn Bridge Park’s popular Movies with a View series returns to Harbor View Lawn (Pier 1) for its 26th season.

Movies are shown every Thursday evening in July and August. The lawn opens at 6:00pm, and the movie begins at sunset.

This year’s lineup includes:

  • July 16: Bend It Like Beckham
  • July 23: The Talented Mr. Ripley
  • July 30: Clueless
  • August 6: Jurassic Park
  • August 13: Do the Right Thing
  • August 20: Bridesmaids

If you’re planning to go, arrive early. Seating on the lawn fills up quickly, so getting there when it opens gives you plenty of time to grab a good spot.

link: https://brooklynbridgepark.org/event-series/movies-with-a-view/

Free Shakespeare in Central Park 🎭

To go or not to go? That shouldn’t even be a question. Go! The Delacorte Theater is welcoming audiences back for another season of Free Shakespeare in the Park, one of New York City’s favorite summer traditions.

This year’s production is The Winter’s Tale, directed by Tony Award winner Daniel Sullivan.

  • The Winter’s Tale, running from July 25 – August 23

Tickets are free and are available the day of each performance. You can wait in line at Central Park, visit one of the ticket distribution locations in the five boroughs, or enter the digital lottery through the TodayTix app.

link: https://publictheater.org/free-shakespeare-in-the-park/

Art and Performances on Governors Island 🎺

Governors Island is a 172-acre island in New York Harbor, just a short ferry ride from Manhattan and Brooklyn. It’s the perfect summer escape, with scenic parks, public art, historic sites, bike paths, food vendors, and cultural events – all set against some of the city’s best skyline views.

Along with beautiful views, bike paths, and plenty of green space, the island hosts a variety of events as part of the River To River Festival. Presented by the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council (LMCC), the festival features public art, live performances, and interactive exhibits throughout the summer.

Upcoming events:

  • The Unintended Blues is a new exhibition by Leslie Wayne featuring paintings and multimedia works that explore rising sea levels, melting Arctic ice, and the impact of climate change on the natural world. – Friday, July 24 – Sunday, September 27
  • Esperanza Spalding: In Concert – August 8 at 7:00 pm

River To River Festival link: https://lmcc.net/river-to-river-2026/

Governors Island link: https://www.govisland.com/

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School’s out!

US Adult Literacy1 Comment
Ornate vintage carousel with decorative horses and warm lights glowing

“…And the seasons, they go round and round, and the painted ponies go up and down…”

Ahhh…another school year finished, another step forward for our students. Celebration filled the rooms at University Settlement these past weeks — people getting promoted and people graduating and moving on from their English classes to bigger and better adventures.

After ten months of getting up early and coming to class, or finishing a long day of work and coming to class —

Everyone had reason to PARTY!!

Lucian’s opening remarks:

Our daytime classes celebrated in style:

amazing food!

The big moment for CCRA and CCRP graduates!

:

Our happy recipients of punctuality and attendance awards!

And E4 graduates, so proud!

To watch the E4 diploma ceremony and awards:

“Kahoot-ing” to see who eats first:

Students getting ready for summer!

Nothing like a disco ball to make a great party!

HAVE A FANTASTIC SUMMER AND SEE YOU IN SEPTEMBER!

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Memorial Day

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Key Vocabulary

  • (to) Honor (verb): To show deep respect or admiration for someone or something.
  • (to) Mourn (verb): To feel or express deep sadness, especially because of someone’s death.
  • (to) Serve (verb): To perform duties for a person, group, or country—especially in the military.
  • Communities (noun, plural): Groups of people living in the same area or having common interests.
  • Graves (noun, plural): Places in the ground where people are buried after death.
  • Recognition (noun): The act of acknowledging or honoring something or someone.
  • Solemn (adjective): Serious, respectful, and often sad or reflective in tone or mood.
  • Remembrance (noun): The act of remembering or honoring the memory of someone or something.
  • Marks (verb): Indicates or shows something significant; to signal or commemorate an occasion.
  • Unofficial (adjective): Not formally recognized or authorized, but commonly accepted or understood.
  • Associated with (verb phrase): Connected or linked to something in meaning, use, or relationship.

Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday for honoring and mourning military service members who died while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. It is observed annually on the last Monday of May.

Originally known as Decoration Day, the holiday began on May 30, 1868, when communities decorated the graves of Civil War soldiers with flowers and flags. Although several towns claimed to be its birthplace, the holiday gained national recognition after General John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic issued a proclamation establishing it, which lead to its nationwide observance.

In 1968, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which moved Memorial Day from May 30 to the last Monday in May, creating a three-day weekend for federal employees.

Note the riderless horse, with boots turned backwards. This is a symbol of a fallen soldier, who will never ride again.

Today, Memorial Day is observed across the country through visits to cemeteries and memorials, the placement of flags and flowers on military graves, and community parades and ceremonies that honor fallen service members.

While it remains a solemn day of remembrance, Memorial Day also marks the unofficial start of summer, often associated with cookouts, retail sales, and travel.

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National Meatball Day!

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National Meatball Day

Mon Mar 9th, 2026

VOCABULARY:

succulent — adj., tasty, delicious

culinary — adj, relating to cooking or the kitchen

occurence — n., an event, something that happens

cozy — adj., providing contentment or comfort

various — adj., of an indefinite number greater than one

Juicy round balls of succulent meat, usually served with pasta, mashed potatoes or on their own — perfect for a cozy dinner at home!

Just the word, ‘meatball’ is enough to bring to mind great family meals for most people. These little balls of various meats can be found throughout the world in almost every culture.

Most people may associate them with Italian cuisine, though spaghetti and meatballs is actually an American dish. No matter your background, you can jump in and enjoy National Meatball Day!

How to Celebrate National Meatball Day

National Meatball Day, like other culinary holidays, should be enjoyed with your loved ones gathered around.

The most difficult part of preparing for National Meatball Day is going to be picking which nation’s recipe you will use. Luckily for you, this is a yearly occurrence, so you can pick a new nation to try each year if you like. Or you could be truly adventurous and try more than one at a time!

What is your favorite way to enjoy meatballs? There are so many ways to make them. Have you added them to your pizza or on a sandwich? Do you prefer to follow the traditions of your family or to try and create something new? This is the time to shine – an entire day devoted to meatball goodness!

And even if you’re not a meat-eater, there are plenty of veggie and vegan alternatives available, for example, chickpea koftas and tempeh, quinoa or black bean meatballs.

It doesn’t matter if you’re a chef or a first-time cook. Making a meal with meatballs is easy but makes you look like a star in the kitchen!

Here are a few recipes:

https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1017700-meatballs-with-any-meat

https://www.seriouseats.com/meatball-recipes-11702105

https://www.thekitchn.com/swedish-meatballs-recipe-23722980

reference: https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/meatball-day

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It’s holiday time!

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Winter Holidays Around the World

Winter is a special season. The days are shorter, the nights are longer, and in many places, it is cold and snowy. Around the world, people celebrate different winter holidays with family, friends, food, and traditions. Let’s look at some of the most popular winter holidays.

Christmas

Christmas is celebrated on December 25th in many countries. People decorate a Christmas tree, hang lights, and give gifts. Families often eat a big meal together. In some traditions, children wait for Santa Claus to bring presents. Popular Christmas colors are red, green, and gold.

Hanukkah

Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday that usually happens in December. It lasts for eight nights. Families light a special candleholder called a menorah. They eat foods fried in oil, like latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts). Children often play with a small toy called a dreidel.

Kwanzaa

Kwanzaa is celebrated in the United States from December 26th to January 1st. It honors African traditions and culture. Families light candles in a holder called a kinara. Each day represents a different value, such as unity, creativity, or faith. Music, dancing, and storytelling are also part of Kwanzaa.

New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day

All around the world, people celebrate the New Year on December 31st and January 1st. Many people stay up until midnight to welcome the new year. Fireworks, parties, and special foods are common. People also make resolutions—promises to themselves about things they want to do in the new year.

Vocabulary to Remember

  • Tradition – something people do again and again over many years
  • Celebrate – to enjoy a holiday or special event
  • Candle – a stick of wax with fire at the top for light
  • Meal – food eaten together at one time
  • Resolution – a plan or promise for the future

✨ Winter holidays bring light, joy, and warmth during the cold season. Even though traditions are different, the message is often the same: spending time with loved ones and sharing happiness.

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