Finding time to read is an important part of developing reading and writing skills for all kids. And there are many easy and convenient ways to make reading a part of each day — even when it's tough to find time to sit down with a book.

    Car trips, waits in checkout lines and the doctor's office are all opportunities for reading. Keep books or magazines in your car, or backpack to pull out whenever you're going to be in one place for a while. Even if you can't finish a book, read a few pages or discuss some of the pictures.

    Encourage kids to bring favorite books and magazines along wherever you go. While it's attractive to provide electronic games and readers, be sure to alternate electronic media with plenty of opportunities to read traditional print books.

    Reading opportunities are everywhere you go. While riding in the car, for example, encourage kids to spot words and letters (on billboards, store signs, etc.), turning it into a game (“Who'll be the first to find a letter B?”).

    Even daily tasks like cooking can provide reading moments. Kids can assist you as you cook by telling you how much flour to measure. Give your child a catalogue to read while you sort through the mail. Ask relatives to send your child letters, e-mail, or text messages, and read them together. Help your child create letters or messages to send back to the relatives. These types of activities help kids see the purpose of reading and of print.

    Even when you're trying to get things done, you can encourage reading. While cleaning, for instance, you might ask your child to read a favorite book to you while you work.

    Make sure kids get some time to spend quietly with books, even if it means cutting back on other activities, like watching TV or playing video games.

    Most important, be a reader yourself. Kids who see their parents reading are likely to imitate them and become readers, too!

    I was never very neat, while my roommate Kate was extremely organized. Each of her objects had its place, but mine always hid somewhere. She even labeled(贴标签) everything. I always looked for everything. Over time, Kate got neater and I got messier. She would push my dirty clothing over, and I would lay my books on her tidy desk. We both got tired of each other.

    War broke out one evening. Kate came into the room. Soon, I heard her screaming. “Take your shoes away! Why under my bed!” Deafened, I saw my shoes flying at me. I jumped to my feet and started yelling. She yelled back louder.

    The room was filled with anger. We could not have stayed together for a single minute but for a phone call. Kate answered it. From her end of the conversation, I could tell right away her grandma was seriously ill. When she hung up, she quickly crawled(爬under her covers, sobbing. Obviously, that was something she should not go through alone. All of a sudden, a warm feeling of sympathy rose up in my heart.

    Slowly, I collected the pencils, took back the books, made my bed, cleaned the socks and swept the floor, even on her side. I got so into my work that I even didn't notice Kate had sat up. She was watching, her tears dried and her expression one of disbelief. Then, she reached out her hands to grasp mine. I looked up into her eyes. She smiled at me, “Thanks.”

    Kate and I stayed roommates for the rest of the year. We didn't always agree, but we learned the key to living together: giving in, cleaning up and holding on.

    A new phone app uses shaking from smartphones to warn people about earthquakes. The new app is called MyShake, which is the work of four researchers at the University of California. Berkeley.

    Smartphones are equipped with accelerometers(加速器). MyShake uses phone accelerometers to measure seismic (地震的) activity. It has been programmed to know the difference between normal activity and earthquake movement. The software developers say their app is right 93 percent of the time. A smartphone sends seismic information to the app developers. If the developers receive several warnings from one area, it recognizes that an earthquake may be taking place or will take place soon. Using information sent from the app, the network then judges the location and strength of the quake in real time. MyShake can record 5.0 earthquake at distances of 10 kilometers or less.

    MyShake uses very little power, according to its developers. Only when seismic activity is sensed by the app does it become active and sends data to the network. The app works best when your phone is resting on a flat surface, like a table.

    The developers hope that MyShake can add to information collected by the U.S Geological Survey. That U.S agency has created the Earthquake Early Warning System, also known as the EEW. The EEW has used sensors for measuring quakes in many areas. In places where no such equipment exists, MyShake may be the only method of early quake detection (发现). The app also shows ways to stay safer during an earthquake. The developers say it will become more effective as more people use it.

    The developers say they hope to add a feature that will warn people about possible tsunami after an earthquake.

    NGS Scholarship (NGSS)

    The NGS Scholarship is awarded to talented students with a strong interest in innovative(创新的) PhD research.

    Terms:

    Monthly stipend(津贴) of $3,200 for up to 4 years of PhD studies, or up to date of graduation, whichever is earlier.

    Payment of full tuition(学费) fees for up to 4 years of PhD or up to date of graduation, whichever is earlier.

    Other allowances include:

    Computer allowance

    Book allowance

    Conference allowance

    Eligibility(资格):

    Open worldwide.

    Graduates should have an affection for research.

    Graduates should hat at least Upper 2nd Class Honors, or equal qualification.

    GRE is compulsory（必须做的，义务的） for students applying from overseas.

    TOEFL is compulsory (ONLY) for applicants whose native tongue or medium of undergraduate instruction is not in English).

    Application:

    Click here to apply online.

    All supporting documents, together with a printed copy of the application form are to be submitted (提交) by post to :

    NUS Graduate School for Integrative Sciences & Engineering (NGS)

    Center For Life Sciences (CeLS)

    28 Medical Drive, #05-01

    ONLY Online Applications are accepted.

    Closing date: 15May 2017.

    The following are several summer programs for children.

    Duke University ADHD Program

    Academic Summer Program is used to help 6th to 8th graders with ADHD(注意力缺乏多动症). The program uses techniques to teach study strategies, academic support skills, and cooperative learning activities.

    Phone: 919-416-2096

    Location: Durham, North Carolina

    Eagle Hill School(Connecticut)

    The Summer Academic Day Program at Eagle Hill School is designed for children experiencing academic difficulty. Open to boys and girls ages 6 to 12. The summer program immerses(使沉浸)kids in a total language environment specifically tailored to meet his or her needs.

    Phone: 203-622-9240

    Location: Greenwich, Connecticut

    The Gow School

    The Gow School offers a traditional summer school program experience for boys and girls ages 8 to 15. The 5-week session offers a specially designed curriculum for students who have experienced academic difficulty or have language based learning disabilities. Summer Program learners can be day students or live on campus(校园).

    Phone :716-652-3450

    Location: South Wales, New York

    The Kentwood Summer Camp Program

    The Kentwood Summer Camp Program is a school program catering toward children, teens, and their families who are not being successful in the traditional school environments socially, and or at home. It is for children and teens in grades K(Kindergarten) to 12.

    Phone: 954-581-8222 or 954-634-0601

    Location: Davie, Florida

    Wang Mengshu, an expert at the Chinese Academy of Engineering, said at a group discussion on the sidelines of the annual session of the National People's Congress that Wi-Fi should not be provided on high-speed trains, as it might disturb communication signals of trains and would also cost a lot in keeping trains in good condition. He also encouraged passengers to enjoy the views, instead of fixing their eyes on tiny screens of smart phones and laptops. However, on last Tuesday Beijing Youth Daily said it should be market demand that decides whether the Wi-Fi is offered on the trains or not.

    An increasing number of residents, especially young white-collar workers, are addicted to their smart phones rather than face-to-face interactions, thanks to the extensive Wi-Fi coverage across the country. That partly justifies Wang's opposition to the offering of Wi-Fi on high-speed trains, because they are not supposed to be dependent on high-tech devices. It is also evident that passengers on trains without free Wi-Fi will use their smart phones and other mobile devices less. However, whether the trains should provide a free Wi-Fi service fundamentally depends on customer demand.

    In other words, state-owned as it is, the China Railway Crop still has to obey relevant market rules, and provide technologically possible services to passengers if that is what they want. It cannot turn a blind eye to customers' wants "for the sake of their well-being".

    Free Wi-Fi, in fact, is already available on a lot of buses and coaches. This is a natural response to their competition with trains (especially high-speed ones), which are significantly faster and safer. The bus companies have been forced to improve their services to survive. It requires proper guidance, not a total ban on the bus, to make up for the negative effects of high-end technologies, such as people's increasing addiction to smart phones.