Chemistry Related Gifts Is A Great Gift Idea

Chemistry Related Gifts Is A Great Gift IdeaThere are a variety of different gifts that people can give to colleagues and friends, but the chemistry related gifts are considered the most wonderful. Chemistry gifts are available to those who work in chemical laboratories or in engineering industries as well.The gift can be used to help motivate or develop the skills of an individual, but it is also considered great gifts for couples and families too. These gifts will not only be an interesting present, but they are also useful in professional relationships and sometimes for personal ones too. For professionals these gifts will also serve as a source of motivation to work harder and longer.It is also believed that the gifts will help in giving new, interesting products to the industry. One of the important features about them is that they can be customized to suit the recipients preferences. This way the user will be able to add some personal touch and make the gifts unique.One of the great features about these gifts is that they are very simple things. They can either be gifted at birthday parties or during social gatherings, or they can be gifted in anniversary parties too. The other way to create them for employees is to give them after they have taken the exam or after they have successfully graduated from college.Personalized gifts have been around for a long time now, and they have been used by people for giving out any kind of gifts. These gifts are simple to buy and to give, and they can either be sent out via parcel services or they can be bought online through gift registry services. These registry services help in having a catalog of such gifts, as well as giving them away online.Chemicals related gifts can either be bought from stores, or they can be bought online from a wide variety of places. The chemistry related gifts are also available from websites.It is always a good idea to shop before you visit a store and make sure that what you buy will fit your requirements. If you need a little assistance with shopping then there are plenty of professionals and stores that offer advice on these sorts of things. These types of things are important because there is no point in giving a gift if it does not fit the occasion or if it does not appeal to the recipient.

How To Choose the Right Yoga Teacher

How To Choose the Right Yoga Teacher Tips and Tricks to Finding the Right Yogi for your Yoga Classes ChaptersWhy Should You Choose a Private Yoga Tutor?How Can You Recognise a Good Yoga Teacher?Where to Find A Good Private Yoga InstructorWhat Questions Should You Ask a Prospective Yoga Teacher?Should You Trust a Self-Taught Yoga Teacher?In Britain, stress affects about 40% of employees. More and more people are turning to yoga classes to help them relax.Breathing exercises, stretching, meditation - yoga is generally an excellent means of combating anxiety.But among the mass of yoga classes offered, how can you choose the perfect yoga teacher? Who will know how to guide you through this ancient Indian discipline?Superprof is here to help. CarleyYoga Teacher 5.00 (5) £100/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LynnYoga Teacher 4.89 (9) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors GenYoga Teacher £45/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JulieYoga Teacher £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AliceYoga Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LauraYoga Te acher 5.00 (6) £70/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors UndramYoga Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LottieYoga Teacher £10/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsWhy Should You Choose a Private Yoga Tutor?Private tutoring is a growing market in the UK.Why is that?The practice of taking private yoga lessons follows a modern trend of individuals helping each other directly.Even beyond buying and selling used things, today it is also possible to exchange services.So why not learn yoga from your neighbour? Where are the best classes for yoga near me?This is basically what Superprof is offering, with a database encompassing hundreds of private tutors scattered throughout the UK. No matter where you are and what you want to learn, you can find a teacher not too far away.Our base of yoga teachers is already large and growing - ready to teach a yoga class near you for an average of £35.But why not go to a yoga studio instead?The main thing is to enjoy your yoga sessions. And what is more boring that forcing yourself to attend classes even if you are feeling off?With the yogi’s help, private yoga lessons can be adjusted to your calendar. No need to rush off to pick up the kids while desperately trying to hold the Lotus Pose behind the wheel. Choose the time that suits you and avoid unnecessary stress.Because there is nothing more counterproductive than stressing out over yoga lessons.How Can You Recognise a Good Yoga Teacher?Have we convinced you to try a private yoga instructor to help you improve your yoga poses?Perfect! But how do you know that the yogi you choose is good?Here is everything you need to know about choosing a proper yoga teacher.He or she should practice yoga regularly, and not just during their classes. A good yoga instructor practises yoga as often as possible, for his own personal mindfulness. This is the only way a teacher can become better at what they do.For yoga is not merely physical exercise. Behind the strenuo us poses lurks a whole method of meditation for personal betterment. Yoga professors should have already travelled the road themselves in order to be able to impart it to their students.Frequent personal yoga practise is also proof of how interested your prospective teacher is in their craft. They can teach you theoretical as well as technical elements. This is important if you want to advance on the path of yoga.Indeed, the history of yoga can be an important key to understanding it and bettering yourself. It helps you understand the ultimate goal of yoga, usually based on personal betterment.But any good yoga teacher needs to have their students’ safety foremost in their mind. Yoga postures sometimes require a lot of flexibility. Yoga teachers need to be ables to judge their students’ level and avoid asking them to do exercises that can harm them.Yoga teachers should have their students' safety foremost in mind: yoga props such as yoga straps can help less flexible students do the asanas. Photo credit: tarnalberry via VisualhuntBeyond the physical risks, a good teacher knows how to organise their lessons in a methodical and coherent way. A good warm-up should be the basis of every class along with the proper stretches.But a good yoga instructor must also know how to correct their students if they are not doing a yoga pose correctly - in a way that is both encouraging and motivating!But can you profit from private lessons even if you don’t get along with your yoga teacher?It is impossible to enjoy all the benefits of yoga if you have a bad feeling about the teacher. Choosing your yoga instructor through internet platforms can raise your chances of getting the right yoga teacher for you.But he or she must also show proof of patience and calm. A good yogi should be capable of adapting to whatever your skill  level might be and help their students advance at their own pace while at the same time motivating them to give their best.But where does this rare f lower bloom? CarleyYoga Teacher 5.00 (5) £100/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LynnYoga Teacher 4.89 (9) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors GenYoga Teacher £45/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JulieYoga Teacher £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AliceYoga Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LauraYoga Teacher 5.00 (6) £70/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors UndramYoga Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LottieYoga Teacher £10/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsWhere to Find A Good Private Yoga InstructorVarious websites offer several solutions for finding the perfect yoga teacher.Finding the right teacher is vital in helping you find the motivation to continue with your lessons. A good feeling about a teacher is the perfect cocktail for making progress in Hatha Yoga or whatever yoga style you decide on.The perfect yoga teacher is like a good cocktail: the perfect balance between all the element s. Photo credit: ahmad syahrir via pexels.comOn the internetThe internet is now an integral part of our daily lives. We use it for shopping, revising for exams, working - but also to find the best yoga classes near you.There are a lot of platforms like Superprof that let you contact a private tutor. The advantage of our site is that you can look at detailed profiles in which the teachers introduce themselves. All that’s left after that is to choose who you want.You will find many different types of people on Superprof:StudentsRetired teachers seeking to keep their hand inProfessional yogis at the height of their careersThere is something for everyone. Once you have found someone you like, you can go contact private yoga tutors directly to see if they meet your expectations.Tip: the comments or voting section on these platforms are a good place to get a feel for a particular teacher.Search for  yoga Edinburgh  and find classes near you.Personal adsYou can also look for a teacher vi a personal ad sites or messenger boards and forums on the Internet, or good old-fashioned corkboards and lampposts in real life. In town or on campus, look into the windows of smaller shops and on special notice boards.These ads often offer only a minimum of information - it’s up to you to contact the teacher to learn from them about their training and experience.Word of mouthThis method is as old as language and as efficient as ever. By asking around, you can get a little nest egg of teacher names along with your friends’ opinions for good or bad.What Questions Should You Ask a Prospective Yoga Teacher?To find that rare flower - or at least, the perfect yoga teacher for you - it is essential that you ask the right questions.Where has he or she trained?Yoga is a very physical discipline with an aim to self-betterment, but there are no official government-approved certifications. This can be confusing for beginner yoga teachers.All you need to become a yoga teacher is to practice yoga regularly. Having followed some sort of training course in a plus.This said, although there is no official certification or rules to calling yourself a “yoga teacher”, a number of yoga institutes offer certified training programmes.Your prospective teacher may have followed a training course at an acclaimed yoga institute in Britain or Europe. Some offer opportunities abroad to expand their horizons.The main British yoga institutes are:The British Wheel of YogaYoga Alliance (UK), part of Yoga Alliance (International)The Independant Yoga NetworkSpecialised institutes such as the Iyengar Yoga Association.Some teachers even decide to go learn yoga in India itself. An excellent choice to become the perfect yogi!Having learned yoga in India is considered a badge of quality. Photo credit: terbeck via VisualHuntHaving learned yoga in India is often a badge of quality.Indeed, India is the cradle of yoga. Though none of the training opportunities there are officially recognised in Europe, they offer excellent training to future yoga teachers, many of them converting from another profession in hopes of self-improvement.Are you living in London? Try searching yoga classes near me.How long has he or she been practising?Being a good teacher takes practice.Though age does not guarantee a good teacher, experience does.Age is not a sign of skill - but experience can be vital to properly imparting knowledge. Photo credit: Minneapolis Institute of Art via Visual huntYoga needs to be practised regularly. It can take several years to reach the level you need to start teaching it to others. And there are many different types of yoga. It takes years of practise to learn everything there is to know about yoga.And of course - how much do their yoga lessons cost?Should You Trust a Self-Taught Yoga Teacher?Since certification is not manditory in order to call yourself a yoga teacher, you will need to ask your prospective instructor what their training has been up to this poin t.A lot of yoga instructors are self-taught. They learn the poses and yoga basics themselves through books or learning videos, outside of educational institutions.But why would you choose a self-taught yoga instructor?Many people decide to skip yoga classes or a yoga teacher training and discover yoga by themselves. Very often they used to work in another field entirely and might even still practise while teaching yoga on the side.This is not necessarily a bad thing. For example, some might work in a health-based branch, which is a definite plus for their students.Or they might be a student studying something different but related that can enrich the yoga experience.Don’t forget that self-taught practitioners are truly passionate about they do - a necessary trait for teaching and transmitting that passion.Learn what to expect from your yoga lessons with our guide to yoga classes.

How to Get a Head Start on Fall Semester

How to Get a Head Start on Fall Semester Summer is in full swing, but the first day of school will be here before you know it! Here at AJ Tutoring, we are working with thousands of students over the summer to prepare for upcoming tests like the PSAT, SAT, and ACT; to enrich understanding of core subjects like chemistry, math and US History; and to deep dive into a host of diverse curricula that you can learn more about here. Because many students find their schedules jam-packed when fall comes around, it often benefits those who have a bit of time towards the end of summer (even a few free weeks) to come in to AJ Tutoring, refresh the mind, and get a preview of upcoming content. If you’d like to discuss how we can help your student prepare for fall semester, please give us a call today! Read on to find a few examples of how you can make the most of the last precious weeks of summer.#1: Sharpen your math skills with our middle school math boot campStudents can forget a lot over summer break! Help your student keep math ski lls fresh.Goals:Review basic problem-solving skills and arithmeticLearn how to apply basic concepts to new types of problemsBreak down and solve word problems#2: Transition to AP Biology with our AP Biology summer bridgeIs your student feeling unprepared for her upcoming AP Biology course? Let AJ Tutoring give your student an edge this summer.Goals:Introduce students to key concepts tested in AP Biology coursesAcquaint students with the question styles, grading standards, and pacing of the AP exam#3 Bring out the inner Shakespeare with our Creative Writing: Poetry courseDo you enjoy crafting poetry in your spare time but wonder where to go from there? Come hone your writing under the guidance of an experienced creative writing instructor and prepare a portfolio of poems for self-publication and submission.Goals:Focus on intensive writing and development of poetryEncourage and develop the work of aspiring writers while they formalize their ideas and voicePrepare a personal portfolio of writing for self-publishing and submission to contests or student journals#4 Get a head start on a dense curriculum with our AP US History primerWorried about your student’s difficult and time-consuming AP US History class? Let AJ Tutoring give her an edge this summer!Goals:Give students a strong foundation in the content of the class (especially early American history)Bolster critical APUSH skills such as note-taking, essay-writing, reading, and historical thinkingHelp students complete any summer reading and writing exercises assigned by their teachers See if our tutors at AJ can help you or your student today!

fostering-student-achievement

fostering-student-achievement Any parent who has set foot in a Huntington Learning Center before has likely heard our teachers stress the importance of recognizing childrens efforts, not their achievements. Our years of experience with thousands of children have taught us that it is far more effective to encourage children to work hard on homework and in school than it is to encourage them to strive for high grades and test scores. Our beliefs on this are rooted in research: the right kind of praise inspires motivation, and therefore, achievement. Also, studies show that one of the key dimensions of student motivation is control, a students belief that there is a direct link between his or her actions and successful outcomes. At Huntington, we strive to not only build students academic competence and ability, but also nurture the development of their intrinsic motivation: the desire to complete tasks for the self-satisfaction that results from doing so. We know that students who are intrinsically motivated are more likely to take ownership of their success in school and put forth the effort that it requires. Without a doubt, many children are extrinsically motivated by rewards such as praise from teachers and parents, grades or other factors. This is natural, of course, as not all students find enjoyment in homework. However, there are many ways that you can foster intrinsic motivation, even if you cannot convince your child to love Algebra or writing papers. Here are a few effective strategies to motivate your child, an essential part of helping him or her become a stronger student: Encourage the child to value hard work. Emphasize the importance of perseverance in all that your child does, and especially in school. Learning is a journey that requires goal setting and constant dedication, and your child needs to know that it isnt always easy. Teach your child that the way to master a subject, improve in something or overcome challenges is to put in the effort. When it comes to learning, progress is success. Nurture a childs inner curiosity. Challenge your child to explore new topics, question assumptions and never take knowledge for granted. Doing so encourages learning for the sake of learning, and it also teaches your child to be more independent as a learner. Congratulate your child when you notice him or her coming up with new ideas and solutions to problems. Point out the relevance. Continually point out how your childs school work is relevant in daily life. Especially when he or she doesnt necessarily enjoy a subject or topic, its helpful to share ways that the subject matter is used in the real world or why it is important. Embrace a growth mindset. A growth mindset is the belief that intelligence isnt a fixed trait, but rather, one that can be nurtured and developed. Children who have a growth mindset understand that effort is the way to become smarter and recognize that a challenge is an opportunity to learn, not a road block. When parents hold high, but achievable expectations for children, praise their efforts, encourage them to learn from their mistakes and point out often that such a combination is what leads to learning and improvement, they fuel their childrens intrinsic motivation. Just as important, such actions send the message that learning is continuous and requires persistence. Take note when your child works hard and makes progress. In doing so, youll help shape his or her attitude about the effort and diligence that school requires and will foster his or her long-term academic success. About Huntington Huntington is the tutoring and test prep leader. Its certified tutors provide individualized instruction in reading, phonics, writing, study skills, elementary and middle school math, Algebra through Calculus, Chemistry, and other sciences. It preps for the SAT and ACT, as well as state and standardized exams. Huntington programs develop the skills, confidence, and motivation to help students succeed and meet the needs of Common Core State Standards. Founded in 1977, Huntingtons mission is to give every student the best education possible. Learn how Huntington can help at www.huntingtonhelps.com. For franchise opportunities please visit www.huntingtonfranchise.com. 2016 Huntington Mark, LLC. Huntington Learning Center, the three-leaf logo, and 1 800 CAN LEARN are registered trademarks of Huntington Mark, LLC. Each franchised Huntington Learning Center is operated under a franchise agreement with Huntington Learning Centers, Inc.

5 things to do this December to end the year strong

5 things to do this December to end the year strong Orange County Tutoring Tips: End the year strong with these five things to do in December Its that time already; the calendar year is almost over, and students are halfway through the school year. Whether in kindergarten, middle school, or college students and their parents are excited to have a little bit of time off during the winter holiday. However, students still have a few days left to study for finals and hand in those last-minute assignments before they can enjoy some family time this winter. Although each student is following their path, there are some things that every student can do this December to end the year strong our private Orange Country academic tutoring will help you score high on your finals. 1.   Check your GPA The first thing older students should do is look online to see what their current GPA is. Many teachers and professors offer extra credit for optional assignments that students must complete by the end of the semester to boost their grade in the class. Many students avoid doing such assignments unless their GPA needs to be higher. However, many students forget to check what their current GPA is and find out this important information too late. Students in their college prep and college years will find our current GPA especially critical to their success. 2. Get help if needed Many students choose to take a wait and see approach when it comes to getting help on their assignments. However, even the most intelligent students can become overwhelmed with stress or just their overall workload by the end of December. Students are encouraged to take a look at their current stress levels as well as their level of success in their courses to see if they need to arrange a little bit of extra help starting in January. Students may need to work with a tutor or a study group to help them with time management or study skills as the year goes on (READ: After School Activities: Tear Your . 3. Arrange a study group for January Another great thing students can do to end the year on a high note is finally organize that study group. By this time of the year, students will know which of their peers are highly motivated and would make great study buddies. Encouragement from classmates can be a make-it-or-break-it situation as students work towards completing another year of education. This type of camaraderie can be especially helpful to students who are applying to college or adjusting to their first year of university life. 4. Work out a new time management system Many students, regardless of their age, will find out that their current time management simply isnt working anymore. Students will have more assignments and a lower energy level as the school year progresses and completing assignments in an efficient manner is a key to their overall success. Now is a great time for students to sit down and figure out how they need to adjust their schedule or priorities to make the remainder of the year fruitful and low stress. 5. Dont forget about a work-life balance Its also really important that students remember to have a work-life balance. Many students sit in a classroom for six or seven hours and then come home to do the same thing over again to complete their assignments on time. This can become cumbersome very quickly, and students will miss out on downtime, socialization, and physical activities that are all essential to their overall well-being. If students find that they have been taking on too many responsibilities or simply not able to have a life outside of the classroom, December is a great time to take a step back and look at whats important and what can wait until later on. All blog entries, with the exception of guest bloggers, are written by Tutor Nerds. Are you an education professional? If so, email us at pr@tutornerds.com for guest blogging and collaborations. We want to make this the best free education resource in SoCal, so feel free to suggest what you would like to see us write.

Its time to reassess your teacher recruitment strategy

It’s time to reassess your teacher recruitment strategy Great teachers are the foundation of your school, but are you doing enough to make sure you attract them? To earn the attention of candidates today, it’s time for international school leaders to start thinking like modern marketers. (I know, that's probably the last thing you want to hear, marketing is one of those words that make people squeamish, but it's not nearly as complicated as you might be thinking.) Prospective teachers start off as strangers to your school. Your hiring process has to work to attract, engage and convert them into candidates, new hires and, eventually, future employee advocates - a process often referred to as inbound recruiting. Most international schools don’t have an inbound recruitment strategy in place (or if they do, they’re still in the early stages of developing it) which makes the opportunity huge for forward-thinking school leaders. Here are several steps you can use to elevate your recruiting process this year, using the inbound methodology. 1. Develop your candidate persona It stands to reason that in order to attract the kind of teachers you want working at your school, your careers page and job postings need to resonate with these particular types of candidates. Your first step here should be to bring your ideal candidate to life by creating a persona (I recommend Beamery’s guide to help get you started). To do this, you’ll need to get inside your ideal candidate’s head and understand who they are as a job seeker. So ask yourself the following: What’s your ideal teaching candidate looking for in a job? Where do they go to find out more about a school and to look for jobs? What questions do they have about the position and your school? You need to know the answers to these if you’re going to reach your candidate with the right messaging, at the right time. Not only will you know who you’re trying to attract, the answers you’ve gathered will form the basis for the content on your careers page and job postings, too. Go look at Teach Away’s 2018 survey of over 12,618 international teaching candidates, to start with. What do candidates say they want? Yes, it’s a given that they’re looking for the right salary and bonus structure, as well as extra job perks like free accommodation and health insurance, but the answer is pretty simple: they’re really looking for professional development. The best teachers want to learn. They want to grow their teaching skills. They want more mentorship. They want to be better teachers so they can make a difference to students at your school and grow in their careers. So ask yourself, is your recruitment content spotlighting the opportunities for development at your school? If not, are there blog posts, videos and social media content you can incentivitize your current teachers to create that will do the heavy lifting for you? Here are some other ways you can find answers to the questions above: Survey your existing teachers - ask them what they like about working at your school and what their goals, motivations and interests are. Talk to everyone involved in the hiring process at your school about the kind of things they'd like to see in a new teacher and the way that they currently look for candidates. 2. Breathe some life into your employer brand Now that you know who you’re trying to reach, it’s time to fill them in on why they would want to work at your school. Looking for a teaching job in 2018 looks a lot different than it did in 2008. Back then, international teachers had relatively few ways to find out about what it was really like to work at your school. Candidates nowadays have access to platforms, like Glassdoor and Reddit, that offer first-hand insights into your school’s working environment, benefits offered and information on the kind of compensation they can expect. They can even reach out to current teachers at your school over social media, like LinkedIn and Twitter. This means it’s time to evaluate the information that’s currently available on your school website. How quickly can a teacher find out the information about the role and the context that they need to know when considering a career move overseas? Simply giving them the details they’re looking for, without forcing them to scour the internet, is an easy way to set your school apart from others in your region. 3. Make it easy for teachers find you The candidate journey now takes place primarily online. Your recruiting strategy has to adapt to that. While the careers section of your website should be a go-to source of information for candidates, international schools have a major opportunity to drive more traffic there by optimizing key inbound recruiting channels, like the following: Education job boards Google for Jobs Social media (Psst: You’ll also find a deep dive into where candidates go to find potential schools in our annual report.) 4. Know that inbound recruiting takes time It’s not a case of running a single hiring campaign, job done. Inbound recruiting is a long game and it shouldn’t stop at any point in the school year because - most candidates are taking six months or longer to find the job and schools that’s right for them. With 76% of international schools still opting to hire on an ad-hoc basis, there’s a golden opportunity for you to stand out as an employer of choice this year. Even if you’re not looking to fill a position in the immediate or near future, you should still keep a careers page live on your school website and build your employer brand on the places candidates go to search for career opportunities. 5. Hone in on the inbound recruitment metrics you should be tracking Pay close attention to your recruiting metrics - tracking things like qualified candidates per source, source quality, time to hire, offer acceptance rate, cost per hire will help you gauge whether your inbound recruiting process is effective...or if it’s time to switch things up. Instead of chasing candidates and scrambling to fill roles last minute, imagine having a steady influx of qualified teachers, all eager to work at your school. Sounds like the dream, right? Done properly, inbound recruiting can make this dream a reality. Ready to access insights and trends from 12,618 international teaching candidates? Download Teach Away’s 2019 International Education Recruitment Report for free today.

Poor literacy skills amongst schoolchildren - Tutor Hunt Blog

Poor literacy skills amongst schoolchildren Poor literacy skills amongst schoolchildren - but are apps the solution? Poor literacy skills amongst schoolchildren - but are apps the solution?SchoolsTwo years ago a study revealed that as many as a quarter of all adults in the UK possess a literacy level of one or below. This means that they would struggle to read a bus timetable, or understand their wage slip. The Joseph Rowntree Foundation, who are, in their own words `an independent organisation working to inspire social change through research, policy and practice` conducted the study, which disclosed the disturbingly low levels of literacy amongst the UK population. The level one (or lower) rating equates to GCSE grades between D and G - and numeracy levels actually fared slightly worse, with 29 percent scoring a level one or lower. Nicky Morgan, the Education Secretary back in 2016, pledged to `boost the three Rs,` planning to initiate reforms that would ensure an improvement. Her successor, Damian Hinds, is also hoping to tackle the problem of poor reading and writing skills in primary schools. Recent figures published by the Department for Education show that as many as a quarter of five year olds are having trouble with reading, and possess a deficient vocabulary. The DoE has stated that 28 percent of four and five year olds are apparently failing to meet basic literary levels and communication skills. There is a lot of hard evidence showing that a subnormal vocabulary can lead to low achievements later in life. Research conducted by the Department for Education suggests that those children with a poor vocabulary at the age of five face poor employment prospects, being twice as likely to be unemployed as adults than those amongst their peer group with a wider vocabulary. Damian Hinds made a point about just how vital these early years are for a child`s future in a recent speech at the Resolution Foundation: `When you`re behind from the start, you rarely catch up: your peers don`t wait, the gap just widens. This has a huge impact on social mobility.` The education secretary has a plan to address this issue though - he means to tap into the obsession we all have, young and old, to deal with the literacy crisis: he`s going to introduce an app to tackle the problem. That`s right - a phone app is going to be developed to solve this issue. In answer to any pessimists, who might be sceptical in believing that this problem can be solved with mobile technology, Mr Hinds made the point: `If our phones and apps can help us bank, shop, diet, exercise and figure out where we are, why can they not also help us with helping our children develop their communication and reading?` `That is why the department will be launching a competition to identify high quality apps, with the aim of making these free and easily accessible, making sure that disadvantaged families don`t miss out.` At the moment details concerning how these apps will actually help children with their literacy have not been announced - but no one can deny that children take to using any kind of touchscreen technology very well. If this seemingly natural proficiency and congeniality can be used for didactic purposes perhaps the use of apps are something worth exploring. Not everyone however is enthusiastic about the new proposals - the Learning Technologies Project at New America has examined the packaging of literacy apps in the app store, and its director Lisa Guernsey has reservations about the efficacy of a smartphone app to become a major teaching aid for children: `Based on studies and evidence that I have reviewed, it is incorrect to make a blanket statement that apps can improve literacy skills.` She has said that none of the apps she`s examined provide a comprehensive range of literacy teachings. Most seem to focus on simple skills, such as letter pronunciation, and the link between letters, or groups of letters, and sounds - basic phonics; and while this is certainly useful, it can`t provide the full spectrum of reading or writing abilities. In my opinion the best way to teach reading and writing is to encourage children to take part in these activities themselves. Parents should be reading to their children from the earliest age, and pupils should be taught how to express themselves through writing. Everyone likes to talk about the things they find enjoyable - if children can be motivated to write about the things that most interest them, they will develop their expressive powers. In this age of ubiquitous technology, we may come to believe that technology itself offers the solution to everything: but when it comes to teaching reading and writing, traditional methods should not be sidelined. 15 months ago0Add a Comment

8 Things I learned from teaching in Tokyo

8 Things I learned from teaching in Tokyo I spent five years living in Tokyo, starting out as an English teacher in a language school. Teaching in Tokyo left me with thousands of memories and many lessons learned. Here are some of them: Food is better when shared. Having previously taught in China, I was used to the “shared” style of eating where several large dishes are ordered for the table, and everyone takes a few bites of each. I missed this once I moved back to North America! It’s so much nicer to be able to try a little of everything, and that style of eating lets you have your fill without stuffing yourself. Anything can be gift-wrapped. Because gift-giving is so important in Japan, every store will provide gift wrapping if requested. One of my first days in Japan, I was checking out in the supermarket when I saw a woman ask to have a bunch of bananas gift-wrapped. The employee cheerfully obliged as if it were nothing out of the ordinary. Karaoke is the ultimate stress reliever. Most group nights out end with a rousing session of karaoke that can go until the early hours of the morning. (Keep in mind that Japanese-style karaoke, as with other countries in East Asia, is performed in private booths, not onstage in front of a bar full of strangers.) Nothing got my stress out more than belting out my favorite classic hits in a room full of friends. Honesty rules. Theft is extraordinarily rare in Japan (the country has one of the lowest reported crime rates in the world). Even accidentally cheating someone out of a few yen is unthinkable for most people. When I first arrived in Japan, a group of fellow teachers left a bit of change on our table at a restaurant (the equivalent of about 30 cents in US dollars). Our waiter chased us down the street to return it to us, and wouldn’t accept it when we tried to tell him he could keep it. Kindness rules, too. Tokyo is a confusing place, and I got lost about once a week on average. I had numerous experiences where complete strangers would go 20 minutes out of their way just to take me where I was trying to go. I always felt terribly guilty, but their kindness really was overwhelming. Heated toilet seats will change your life in winter. The rest of the world needs more of these. A little effort goes a long way. When I first arrived in Japan, I was frequently complimented on my Japanese (which was, frankly, not great). However, the people I met were so appreciative whenever foreigners made an effort to learn the language--especially the writing system!--and were very encouraging as I struggled through sentences. Tokyo will never stop surprising you. Sure, some things were tiring: the rush hour trains, the crowds, the maze-like streets. But Tokyo has a magic quality about it that simply needs to be experienced in person. I loved having visitors from home, because seeing their faces as they discovered the city for the first time always brought me back to my arrival in Japan years ago, and made me fall in love with it all over again. Want to experience Japan for yourself? Read more about possibilities for teaching in Japan.

Helping Students Do Math - Homework Help That Works

Helping Students Do Math - Homework Help That WorksIn some classrooms, homework help is an absolute necessity. When students don't do their homework on time, they often have a hard time doing it at all, especially if there is a homework problem they've been unable to solve in the past. If a student can't do a particular activity on time or fail to do it at all, the entire class is deprived of that much-needed help.Homework help can also be helpful for students who need a little extra help learning math. Students who need a little extra help may have difficulty solving a math problem themselves. Even though some teachers may allow such students to solve their own problems, many teachers prefer to have their students work with a trusted math tutor. The homework help tutors provide for students who need extra help.When a student is facing problems, a math tutor can help them understand the rules of the math equation. The tutor can then help the student to translate the equations to the different methods of solving the problem.Teachers who feel their students are having trouble grasping the various algebraic problems often refer them to a math tutor. Although a tutor can only help the student with the problems that they see firsthand, a tutor can help a student who has trouble grasping the problems because they have not learned it before. This can be especially helpful when the student has a lot of algebraic problems that need to be solved.In order to use the tips that you have learned about the algebraic equations, students should always be focused on solving a math problem. Some students are not able to concentrate on problems because they're distracted by the things they like to do in the classroom, such as listening to music or reading. Once a student begins to concentrate on a problem, he or she can then focus on getting it right the first time.Students who are very interested in learning how to solve problems can use the workbooks to solve math problems. By u sing the workbooks, students will get better at solving math problems in the long run. While the student may need more work to get good at algebra, the student will get better at solving math problems as the course progresses.When students have problems, a math tutor can help a student avoid making mistakes. A student who has problems with math can benefit from getting extra help with their homework help. If a student can't solve a math problem himself, a math tutor can make sure that the student understands the problem and how to solve it.