Looking For a Good Child Tutor? Try These Tips First

Looking For a Good Child Tutor? Try These Tips FirstIt is not uncommon to have difficulty finding a good and quality tutor for your child in grades K-2. It is very common for students to want to try out tutors at their local public school, which is often much cheaper than private tuition. So, it may be of some help if you are able to find a local tutoring center or a trusted website that has all the information about the popular tutors in the area.Your first step should be to get the names of the other tutors who have enrolled their children in your local schools. Then, look up their profiles online. This will give you an idea of the kind of teacher they are and what kind of tutoring they offer. You can get a great deal of information from this.You can also take out a classified ad in the local paper in your area to ask people and look for a local tutor. Searching for a tutor online can be very helpful as well. There are many tutoring websites that offer a tutor rating service and yo u can even look for a tutor through these websites.Ask for referrals from other parents who have used tutors. You will most likely get a great deal of advice. It can also be very helpful to take your own children to some tutors during your holidays, weekends, and for special events such as birthdays.When you are out looking for a tutor, ask for a list of the different qualities that your tutor should have. If you are fortunate, you will have several different kinds of teachers that you can choose from. It would be great if you could spend some time talking to these tutors and getting to know their personality. This will give you an idea of how much they really care about your child and how much they love your child.Even if your child has been on summer vacation from school and is back to school, you should ask the teacher to come back and spend some time with your child and talk about the things that have happened while you were away. There may be some additional activities that you can go along with your visit and your child will be more interested in those activities. If the teacher does not feel strongly about going on holiday, you can also go along with them.If you are able to find a teacher in your child's grade that you are interested in, your child will be much happier and the teacher can be much more effective when they are with your child. All in all, working with a child tutor is the best way to keep your child in the desired grade, get a good feel for the teachers skills, and learn how to deal with any particular type of teacher that you encounter.

The Importance of Diet and Fitness

The Importance of Diet and Fitness Why Healthy Eating during Personal Training is so Important ChaptersKeeping a Food DiaryAlarming Signs of Bad HealthKeeping Fit by Watching What You EatGet Healthier with a Certified Personal TrainerThe Personal Fitness-Proper Nutrition LinkOvereating, fast food, rich diet: poor diet choices come in many forms and are constantly beguiling us with their salt content, sweet taste and attractive packaging.To say nothing of how they dance on the telly and pose seductively in adverts.Or how they feature beloved cartoon characters to entice our children into forming bad eating habits as early as possible.Meanwhile, the battle rages between the food industry and its corresponding regulatory bodies.And, reporting from the front lines is the NHS that, in spite of all unhealthy food promotions, advocates for fresh choices and puts accountability for our waistlines, clogged arteries and diabetes squarely back on us.How dare they!In the flux of all this sometimes contradictory nutritional information: eggs raise your cholesterol / no they don't... how is anyone supposed to know what to eat these days?One could be driven 'round the bend with all of the conflicting information...But you don't have to be.To avoid anyone obsessing over the subject, let us now have a frank talk about healthy eating.food science wasn't even a science. In the daily struggle for survival, little concern was given to lipids, glucides and proteins, and how they act on the human body.That till-then undeclared frontier revolutionised consumers' attitude toward food.Today, knowledge of food and its effects on our bodies is a bit like the stock market: hard to understand unless you are trained, certified and in the thick of the discipline.And what impact do carbs and protein have on your body and fitness goals?Whether you are trying to lose weight, gain muscle mass or simply want to eat right for health's sake, keeping a food journal is the first step to shaping up.You should write down everything you eat and drink - and how much of each, as well as record any e xercise programs you take part in.  Calculating your Basal Metabolic RateYour basal metabolic rate â€" or BMR tells you how much energy, or calories your body needs to sustain optimal function of basic life systems, such as:breathing: your lungs require a certain amount of energy to work properly, even while you sleepcirculation: your heart must (obviously!) continue to beat in order for you to livedigestive system: as you rest, your innards are hard at work, processing your meals and converting them to energy.For which, ironically enough, they too need energyEvery body is different: in size, height, mass, and even in nutritional needs.Smaller frames can thrive on 1300 calories per day while larger musculoskeletal frames would only just survive on that caloric intake.We haven't even figured on anyone's level of activity, yet!Basic human activity, such as walking or working â€" even at a desk job, accounts for approximately three- to four hundred calories each day.Knowing that, to ke ep your current clothes size, you can calculate your ideal daily caloric intake like so:Weight maintenance = intake of required calories (BMR) + calories to fuel supplemental activities.For a handy guide on how many calories ordinary, daily activities â€" and a few fitness activities consume, you can refer to this chart.You'll notice that high-impact step aerobics can burn more than 700 calories per hour!If you are too weak to pick up a cup of tea, your health may be in danger! Source: Pixabay Credit: SilviaritaAlarming Signs of Bad Health“I'm always so tired!” lamented Kathy, popping a Tim Tam. Discarded sweets wrappers and an empty pack of biscuits lay on the table in front of her.What we eat has a direct impact on how we feel and function.Certain physical signs can clue us in to potentially life-threatening conditions such as: diabetes, high cholesterol and cardiovascular disease:Excessive thirstinsatiable hunger â€" especially for sweetshaving no appetite â€" never feeling h ungry could also be an indication of diseasefatigue, especially in those people whose sleep is neither restful or restorativevision troublefrequent infections, or infections that are hard to clear upwounds that take a long time to heal can also be a sign that there is something wrongtingling in the extremities â€" a constant feeling that your hands or feet have fallen asleepsexual dysfunctionIf you experience any or all of these symptoms, you should immediately visit your GP.Food Types that Precipitate Serious Health ConcernsLet us proclaim right now: no food type or cooking method is inherently unhealthy â€" although we do concede that some prepared foods don't necessarily do a body good, even in moderation.However, health and nutrition experts agree: excess is the real culprit.Binging on Netflix while binging on crisps or sweetswhat is a bag of crisps without a refreshing cola?Even diet colas have tons of chemicals â€" aspartame, to sweeten them, for examplefried foods, especially deep-fried: fish 'n' chips, anyone?Red sauce, mayonnaise, prepared salad dressingscakes, pastries â€" not just from the baker's but also factory-producedbleached flour products, including breads and breakfast cerealsReducing intake of these food groups â€" or omitting them from your diet altogether would go a long way toward preventing a cardiac episode and improving your overall health and wellness.Your personal trainer may advise stretching and functional training to start Source: Pixabay Credit: PexelsThe Fitness StepsLevel OneWhen you know what your weight-loss goals are based on your BMI, your should schedule a health assessment with an exercise physiologist.  Find out what shape your body is in through a clinical test of endurance that will measure your cardiorespiratory fitness through a series of aerobic exercises.These are the same exercises a cardiologist would conduct for a heart stress test.Level TwoDiscuss the results of your fitness assessment with your personal train er. S/he will then work with you on a program design tailored to your current fitness level.S/he may also consult with a registered dietitian or nutrition specialist to help establish a sound nutritional program for you to follow.Your first step in fitness training may be corrective exercises, to prepare your muscles and joints for a more rigorous workout.If your goal is to get fit rather than lose any weight, you may start out with functional training: a series of exercises to improve movement in your daily life.In any case, functional training is the next level, after remedial workouts. Improved performance will clue your personal trainer that you are ready to move up the fitness ladder.Level ThreeYou can jumpstart your sports conditioning by working on your aerobic capacity: classes such as Zumba or other cardio workouts offered at the gym.You could also join a bike club, take up jogging and/or swimming, and dance â€" or exercise to music.Anything that raises and sustains an elev ated  heart rate is aerobic exercise.Exercise physiologists aver that alternating between fast and slow â€" on a treadmill or stationary bike works your heart better and helps get in shape faster.Be sure to consult with your fitness professional to see if you are ready for this type of athletic conditioning and, if so: how much?Overworking your muscles is just as dangerous as not working them at all!Level FourOnce you have attained a satisfactory level of sports conditioning, where your fitness goals take you is your choice entirely.Do you want:to continue losing weight, while toning your muscles?Resistance training is for you.a more sculpted look? To become a bodybuilder?You should talk to your fitness instructor about strength trainingto participate in athletic competition?Depending on your sport of choice, you may need to train one on one with an athlete of that disciplineWhat about fitness programs for the whole family?Considering the alarming rates of childhood obesity in Great Britain, it might not be a bad idea to get the whole family enrolled in a fitness program.Your family's fitness education is as close as your computer: you can find a group fitness trainer online, or search for a fitness centre  that offers family fitness classes near you.Nutrition and Exercise Science for Special PopulationsNot everyone can look to private training for their fitness and nutrition questions.Some aren't even motivated to seek out training programs... yet!For whatever reason, the most vulnerable segments of our population are at greatest risk of poor nutrition and suffer the extremes of poor physical conditioning.The obese, the disabled, the young, the old, the poor and disenfranchised have little to no access to health fitness education.Fortunately, our NHS takes the lead.On their page, you can find it all: senior fitness, youth fitness; even exercise programs for the disabled.You can learn about biomechanics and training techniques, and learn about exercising safel y.Don't leave yourself dead in the water; feed your body the fuel it needs! Source: Pixabay Credit: JodumaThe Personal Fitness-Proper Nutrition LinkAnyone in the fitness business will emphatically state that you cannot get fit unless you feed your body.Just as you would not put low grade fuel in your Audi A4 and expect high performance, you cannot put foods of nutritionally poor value in your body and expect to have a healthy body composition.Or any energy for anything â€" let alone physical fitness!Your personal fitness trainer would advise you to take in the proper fuel for your fitness goals:To build muscle mass, you should take in plenty of proteinand carbs, to give you the energy for those heavy barbells!To tone and trim your figure, leaner is betterplenty of fresh fruits and veg, whole grains, and lean meats (or other forms of protein)To build endurance â€" for crossfit and circuit training, or maybe registering for that marathon is what motivates youhere again, carbs are key. Any type of interval training, especially at high intensity for short bursts, calls on your muscles to give up glycogen for fuel.That is why carbs are essential to your fitness plan: they convert easily into sugar, that you will burn off as you work out.To determine your current level of fitness and knowledge of nutrition, you can take quizzes online.Again, our NHS leaps to our aid with this overall fitness challenge.From that page you can find all manner of help and insightful articles about various societal challenges that get in the way of our health and fitness plans.And at Superprof, you will find any number of certified fitness professionals who will help you overcome them, to become the best and fittest you!

How to Ace Your AP Courses

How to Ace Your AP Courses AP courses are extremely challenging. They are structured differently than regular classes because they are roughly modeled after university-level seminars. If a student can successfully adjust to the intensity of his or her AP classes, this will ensure the transition to college is much smoother. Here are five tips to help you ace your AP courses: Acknowledge and adjust to the workload In order to succeed in AP classes, the first and most important step is to adjust ones attitude toward a heavy workload. Advanced Placement courses are significantly more demanding and time-consuming than regular high school classes. If it is your first time enrolling in an AP course, the increase in the quantity and difficulty of assignments may seem overwhelming to you. Thus, you must train yourself to manage your time well, remain organized, seek out resources like tutors, and treat stress in a healthy manner. Since AP classes simulate the style and rigor of college courses, becoming accustomed to this caliber of class now will benefit you in your higher education. If you choose to challenge yourself with AP courses in high school, you will be more prepared for university than you may at first realize. Here is a great test prep timeline for AP exams. Always complete assigned readings Given the intensity of the workload, avoiding reading assignments can seem a tempting option. Regardless of how arduous your AP coursesmay feel, it is absolutely essential that you not neglect any readings your instructor assigns you. This is perhaps one of the most common mistakes that AP students make. Instructors rarely cover all the important material in class, so individuals will encounter much of the courses critical subject matter in their readings. In order to ace your AP classes, you must be independent and motivated, as they demand more self-learning than other courses. Therefore, if you do not complete your readings, you are likely missing material you must know to do well on the AP exam. Read passages with a careful eye There is a vast difference between reading and reading critically. AP courses insist that students do the latter when approaching their readings. Your goal should not be to finish the assignment, but to dissect it from different perspectives. A wise reader looks for patterns, links, similarities, and contrasts within a text. Take notes in the margins, use Post-its, and highlight material that seems important. For example, if the course is AP U.S. History, pay extra attention to the causes and effects of wars, historical turning points, and major technological advancements. In theory, AP students should be able to recognize the central ideas in their readings. Hone your skills with sample tests Taking practice AP exams is an excellent way to prepare for the real test. This strategy will familiarize you with the instructions and format of the exam, the types of questions it utilizes, and the time allotted for each section. It should come as no surprise that individuals with more exposure to AP exam questions typically score higher on their true AP tests. Completing AP practice tests can only equip you for test day. You may also want to look over this information on how to prep for AP exams. Strengthen your vocabulary For many students, one of the most daunting aspects of an AP class is the vocabulary it employs. Enrolling in an AP course reveals a whole new world of terminology related to a particular field. At times, individuals may find themselves losing points on the AP exam because they do not understand a word, not because they do not understand the topic a question presents. The inclusion of unfamiliar terms can make subject matter seem more difficult than it truly is, so AP students should possess a basic understanding of the jargon associated with their classes. Developing a wide, sophisticated vocabulary is invaluable when working to ace your AP courses.

How Walk Off The Earth Got A Record Deal On YouTube

How Walk Off The Earth Got A Record Deal On YouTube Megan L. From going viral on YouTube to touring the world, Walk Off The Earth has made an impressive mark on the music scene, and from the looks of it they are just getting started. Their album  Sing It All Away will be released this month, and the band has been touring heavily in anticipation of this release. Singer and guitarist Ryan Marshall gave us a call this week to talk about his inspirations, life on the road, and his complicated relationship with country music.   How did you get started playing music? Was there anyone like a parent or teacher who really helped you along the way? I come from a family where everyone has always played some sort of instrument. But for me in grade six, I started playing baritone, which is like a small tuba; some people call it a euphonium. I had an amazing music teacher. I lived in a small town near Toronto and I had this teacher Sue Smith, who had been the trumpet in Canadian Brass. She actually came to my school and I started with her in grade six and then she came to my high school and continued teaching our class all the way through high school. When you get a teacher like her it really changes the way you look at things and it makes you want to continue playing. I was the captain of the football team and the basketball team, and sometimes, when I was going to school anyway, the sports guys arent too keen on people playing in the jazz band or the concert band. But when you get the right teacher who explains things and helps you deal with peer pressure and all that junk, you can learn a lot. Coming from that education, how did you form Walk Off The Earth? I didnt even start playing guitar until I was 20. Im a really big Bob Dylan fan, so right away I did a lot of harmonica and guitar playing, and singing at the same time. I hooked up with a couple of guys and we started a little reggae band that lasted a few years. When that band ended, I continued playing with my drummer, and we wanted to start recording a little two piece project. He knew this guy Gianni who had his own studio, so we went there to record. Gianni started adding some bass and things into the stuff we were recording. We hadnt even played a show yet and we didnt have a bass player, so it just kind of turned into a three piece. We needed a name and Walk Off The Earth just kind of happened, and that was the beginning. One thing that really stands out about Walk Off The Earth is your instrumentation and the really cool, kind of unusual choices that you make. Where do you get those ideas and what inspires you? I think a lot of the inspiration comes from the different characters and influences that we have in the band. Having five people adding ideas and influences really allows us to use a lot of different instruments. For Sarah and Gianni and I, its kinda like this: none of us are amazing guitar players and none of us are amazing ukulele players, or whatever it might be, but once you kind of understand the idea of the instrument, if you can shape a chord or something, as long as you have good rhythm you can get away with playing a couple songs on it here and there. All of us are really interested in learning different instruments and finding things to add to the set. Sometimes it ends up being little kids instruments, and its fun to take something like that and say how can we sample it, or how can we record it. Then once you put it into a recording, youre kinda stuck, and you have to figure out a way to do it live, so you end up bringing all these weird instruments live on stage. Another thing that Walk Off The Earth is really famous for is that you got a record deal on YouTube. Was that something that you set out to do? What would your advice be to other artists who want to follow that same path? We did the indie band thing, trying to get signed by a label in conventional ways, and its really tough. It finally got to a point where we all realized, were not going to get signed to a label, were going to have to do this on our own. We had to find a way to reach a lot of people, and YouTube had just started up. Gianni said hey, why dont we give this a shot? We put up some videos and all of a sudden we had 15,000 views on a video (editors note: that video now has over 160 million views). Wed never played to 15,000 people in our lives! You also have to be lucky in the viral world. If people could figure out how to make a viral video, then everyone would. I dont know what happens, something happens, and we got lucky with that one video. We also had another 30 or 40 videos already on that channel, so when people saw the viral video, it wasnt like a dog that was talking and all of a sudden theres nothing else to watch. There was a whole catalog of songs, originals and covers, that people could watch next, and we noticed those all started blowing up at the same time. That also was the thing that attracted the label. Labels want to see a body of work and a fanbase before they put money into a band these days. You have to develop your career yourself. Youre currently on the road, and youve been out on tour for some weeks now. What are the best and worst things about being on the road? I love playing for crowds. Honestly, the best feeling in the world for me is getting on stage and having people sing back songs to you that you wrote. To me, its the most rewarding feeling in the world. So thats definitely the best. I have a family at home, and I have a little five-year-old, and I miss home when Im away. A couple of you in the band have families, and its got to be work sometimes to balance that with your careers as musicians. Recently, your bandmate Sarah even had an experience where she was asked to leave a flight because her toddler was fussy. How does that situation fit in with your overall experiences of balancing parenthood with being rockstars? The Sarah situation was just insanity. I have no idea what the airline was thinking. I think thats gonna get taken care of, and that aside, as far as balancing fatherhood and family when were on the road, its got its pros and cons. For example, when we recorded our album it took us about three months, and we were at home in Burlington that whole time. So I was home for three months straight, every day. I could see my family every day. A lot of busy fathers are home every day but they work from 6 AM to 8 PM and their kids are in school and then theyre asleep. For me, I get to spend three months straight with my family and they see me whenever I want to see them, which is amazing. But when youre gone, youre gone. When youre on the road, youre gone for months. Things like Facetime and Skype have really changed how were able to communicate with home. And you know, Sarah and Gianni, theyre both in the band, and they can travel with their son, and the second one coming along soon. Ive brought my five-year-old Kingsley with me on a couple tours, not a bus tour, but a couple fly-ins, and it was really fun. When you do get the chance to play music purely for fun, what do you like to practice and what do you like listening to? Im a big folk guy, I love listening to Tallest Man on Earth, a lot of Bon Iver. I listen to every type of music but I havent really gotten into any country yet. Everything else pretty much ends up on my phone. I have a pretty wide variety. When Im playing, I usually just pick up my acoustic and I write a lot. I enjoy writing all different types of music. I will write a lot of country songs but I dont really listen to country [laughs]. But I just love picking up my acoustic guitar and singing and doing singer-songwriter type stuff. Is there anything musically that you hope to explore more in the future? As a band, we really like trying to touch all aspects of the music world. On this album, we have a collaboration with Steve Aoki, which allowed us to kind of get into the EDM part of the music scene. We got to go and play with him at Ultra Music Fest in Miami. It was close to 200,000 people, and its a different scene for us, so it was great. Our fans are such a large, eclectic group. We have three-year-olds at our shows, and last night we had an 89-year-old lady at our show. It really ranges and its really cool, and were able to collaborate with other artists that allow us to explore other types of music. Dont miss your chance to see Walk Off The Earth when they come to your town! Keep up with tour dates on their website, Facebook, or Twitter. Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher Photo by Erin Blackwood

How to Teach English to Kids

How to Teach English to Kids Teaching English to Children: A Guide Chapters1. Daily English Lessons2. English Songs for Kids3. English Games for Kids4. English Stories for Kids5. Watch Cartoons in English6. Hire an English-Speaking Babysitter7. Travel to an English-Speaking country.8. Sign Up to a Bilingual School9. English lessons for Kids with a Tutor10. Learn to Be PatientWe start worrying about our child’s future before they’ve even entered the world...These worries are often caused by parental instinct.  However, recessions and employment crises probably don’t help matters.How are they going to succeed in the world with all this going on?How can you teach children English as a second language?Do you find yourself asking these questions?  As parents, we want to do what’s best for our children.Globalisation has made learning English as a second language essential when it comes to getting ahead in the world of business.It seems that students from Northern European are almost fluent when it comes to learning English. Whereas some countries in Europe seem to be lagging behind. France, for example.The French education system seems to be failing when it comes to teaching foreign languages.  However, you can’t go around blaming education systems for your child’s ability in a language. Part of it’s down to you!Would you like them to learn from a very young age?Children are sponges when it comes to learning. You can start teaching English to them from 3 or 4 years old.There are plenty of ways for children to learn English.  How they learn vocabulary will really surprise you! JulianESOL (English) Teacher 4.00 (1) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EugeneESOL (English) Teacher 4.90 (58) £22/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HelenESOL (English) Teacher 5.00 (20) £32/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SuzanneESOL (English) Teacher 5.00 (2) £45/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NatashaESOL (English) Teacher 5.00 (8) £55/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SamuelESOL (English) Te acher 4.83 (41) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JoanneESOL (English) Teacher 5.00 (43) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarkESOL (English) Teacher 4.76 (17) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors1. Daily English LessonsAs a parent you have to set the example your child will follow.This is easier when they’re younger. Once they become teenagers they’re unlikely to say “I want to by like mum/dad!”.Use English for everyday situations. Regular practice can also help you improve your English.Introduce English lessons around the house. Cook with them in English or speak to them when it’s bath time, for example.Start off easily.Paediatricians agree that teaching children at a very young age can set them on the path to speaking English fluently.Speak English to your children every day.Learning English as a foreign language will give them a great advantage nowadays.  Are they really advantages?Regular language learning can bring the following be nefits:They’ll be intellectually stimulated: It’s scientifically proven that bilingual children are better when it comes to conceptualisation, symbolism, and analysis.They’ll learn quicker: Children in multilingual environments are equipped to learn other foreign languages at school quicker. They’ll also quickly gain communication skills.They’ll quickly open themselves up to the world: When they learn to speak English, it will spark their curiosity when it comes to learning about the world around them.Speaking a second (or foreign) language throughout school can help your child not just academically but also professionally further down the road.It’s important to alternate between English and their mother tongue at different points of the time. Set the example.In the beginning, they’ll start by mixing up expressions before quickly using them appropriately.2. English Songs for KidsThere are plenty of songs you’ll know by heart.Can you remember the nursery rhymes you sa ng as a child?Your child could be the same!Teach them English nursery rhymes from a young age.How can you help your child with nursery rhymes? (Source: Web-Plectres)You can also teach them what it means.  They’ll quickly overtake you!You could even listen to songs in English online!They’ll improve their English listening skills.Introduce Them to English with Nursery RhymesMusic is a great way to teach non native children how to speak English.  They can learn to speak as early as 3 years old.There are plenty of nursery rhymes that can help them to learn English through repetition and singing.  They’ll end up working on their English pronunciation without even realising it.The rhythms are catchy, the words are simple, the pronunciation is clear. They’ll be so enthusiastic about learning them.  They’ll learn vocabulary, pronunciation, intonation, and the basics of syntax while enjoying themselves.Here are a few English-language songs we recommend.For the alphabet: The Alphabe t SongFor numbers: The Ants Go MarchingFor colours and clothes:  The Colours of Our Clothes3. English Games for KidsLearning English while playing is a great way to teach your child.  There are plenty of educational English games on-line.The British Council,ESL Games Plus,Game Zone.There are also free apps you can download to practice English.Does your child often take your smartphone off you to play on?  Download a few games from the App Store or Google Play and they can learn English online at the same time.Help your child improve their English with games. (Source: Pogu)There are also fun games you can play without going on-line.  Why not play a role-playing game?  You could even have a game of English hide and seek!Make them count in English!  English learning needs to be enjoyable. Most sites focus on children learning English.However, you can learn English while having fun regardless of your age. It’s a great way to learn!  It does work better for children, though.Pique their curiosity with a game and teach them a foreign language without them realising!  In the digital age, it’s useful to focus them on the educational resources on-line.It’s very easy to find educational games for your children.There are tonnes of games to learn about English culture, nouns, and writing. Here are a few that we really like:The British Council: For learning to read and write in English.TheLiteracyCenter.net: A lively on-line resource to get children used to English numbers, colours, times, and the alphabet.Startfall.com: Perfect for working on their pronunciation.Learn English by Playing on Your TabletJust like a the apps for older people to learn English, there are also tonnes of apps for children to learn English and start ESOL courses.There’s a lot of learning going on behind these games and riddles.You should check out:PiliPop,Papumba,FunEnglish.From a young age, kids can learn English with Pili Pop! (Source: Pili Pop)4. English Stories for KidsYour child probab ly loves their bedtime stories.  Alternate which language they’re in!Once you’ve finished one book, consider an English book for children.They’ll also get used to the spoken language as well as learning English vocabulary and expressions as they see them alongside the pictures.Learning English while bonding with your children is a great idea, isn’t it?Your child will also be learning how to read in English so make sure to teach them the alphabet!Teaching Kids to ReadBedtime stories are the perfect time to start teaching them English words and phrases.Children learn their first words between the ages of 1 and 3.To make sure they stay interested, alternate between languages.  If you want to make sure learning English remains interesting and enriching, you should:Choose short stories: smaller children have smaller attention spans. Focus on stories that last less than 10 minutes.Choose a particular theme: to ensure that the language and vocabulary is useful, make sure to pick a story on a particular subject or theme. A story about farm animals, for example.Be expressive when you read: Bring the story alive with a stellar performance. Impersonate animal noises, etc.Make sure that learning English is both educational and fun. JulianESOL (English) Teacher 4.00 (1) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EugeneESOL (English) Teacher 4.90 (58) £22/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HelenESOL (English) Teacher 5.00 (20) £32/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SuzanneESOL (English) Teacher 5.00 (2) £45/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NatashaESOL (English) Teacher 5.00 (8) £55/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SamuelESOL (English) Teacher 4.83 (41) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JoanneESOL (English) Teacher 5.00 (43) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarkESOL (English) Teacher 4.76 (17) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors5. Watch Cartoons in EnglishSome parents think that television is harmful to their children.  However, children can spend hours in front of the TV without bothering anyone.Make the most of the time they spend glued to the TV by making them watch English cartoons.  Educational shows like Dora the Explorer can be used to teach them vocabulary in two languages.You can also put the shows on in English.  Your child may struggle to understand everything in the beginning but they’ll quickly get the hang of it and improve.Master the English language with the help of cartoons.We’ve already mentioned the benefits of watching films in English in our other articles on learning English as an adult. It’s a great way to work on your listening and comprehension.How does this work with children?  By replacing films with cartoons!Perhaps you’re worried that they won’t understand the story. Children will be just as glued to an English cartoon as they would be any other.It's a great idea to find English cartoons they already know. (Source: SB Mania)These cartoons are the first steps your child will take towards taking an interest in subjects like history, science, and the environment.6. Hire an English-Speaking BabysitterWho better than an English speaker to teach your children English?If you’re looking for someone to look after your children, you should consider looking towards bilingual English speakers.  There are plenty of English speakers looking for work while they study.It's important to find fun ways for your children to learn. (Source: Ashi Tano)Find somebody and ensure that they speak English to your children.  You could also look for an English-speaking au-pair.If you can afford it, an English speaker living with you and looking after your children could quickly teach them English.  However, this can be a quickly option.Your children can start learning English with native English speakers.Is it easy to find an English-speaking babysitter to teach your children English? Nowadays, there are plenty of services that can pu t you in contact with babysitters.For example, in France there’s Baby Speaking.  This is a foreign language babysitting service.  It’s available in a number of France’s largest cities and is a great way to children to learn a new language.English-speaking babysitters are trained by the agency to teach English to young children!7. Travel to an English-Speaking country.Are you currently planning your family holidays but not sure where to go?  Travel to an English-speaking country.Immersion is the perfect way to learn a foreign language.  Get them to order their food in English or speak to the locals.Go to parks where they can play with English-speaking children their own age.  This is a great opportunity for them to practice their English.They’ll also begin to understand the importance of using a language to integrate into a country.If you can’t go with them, why not consider an exchange programme?There are plenty of organisations that offer language trips for children.  Gen erally, children will study English in the morning (grammar, syntax, vocabulary, etc.) and in the afternoon they’ll focus on activities and games.Language stays in England for children.Learn English as young as you can!There’s nothing better than immersion in an English-speaking country when it comes to learning the language.Instead of sending your child to a summer camp, why not send them on a language trip to London?  There are plenty of organisations offering language trips all over the globe for children as young as 6.These are a perfect way to get to know English-speaking culture and start learning English pronunciation and vocabulary.Whether it’s in a school, with a host family, or even with an private tutor, your children will have a great time.Have a look for:Language stays,English language summer camps,Host families, etc.8. Sign Up to a Bilingual SchoolThere are plenty of schools all over the world offering bilingual education.Given the cost, there aren’t many famil ies that can afford to do this.  However, if you can afford to, you can’t afford not to!Certain methods at specialised schools can be very effective. (Source: La Region)There are other options, too. There are bilingual schools and academies for school holidays and weekends, etc.These adopt a more entertaining approach. Having fun is a great way to learn English.In some countries, there are also bilingual classes in state schools.  Nevertheless, the quality of these can vary massively depending on where you are.Bilingual Education from 3 YearsWhat is a bilingual school?  A bilingual school is an educational establishment where the curriculum is taught using two working languages.You can find them almost all over the world.  They often teach children as young as 3.According to linguists, children are most receptive to languages when they’re aged between 3 and 4 years old.Young children learn very quickly by listening and drilling.By having classes in these types of establishments, they won’t have to wait very long before they pick up enough vocabulary and grammar to start forming their own sentences.By the time students attending these school reach the end of their academic career, they’ll already have all the necessary language skills they need to pursue a number of international career options.9. English lessons for Kids with a TutorOnce a child finishes nursery, you should consider getting a private tutor to help them with their English.A tutor can tailor their teaching to your child.  Their classes can be a lot more fun than they would be for an adult receiving academic support.Furthermore, the tutor can regularly evaluate your child’s progress.  They’ll also be able to give you specific advice geared towards helping them practice English.Group English Tutorials for ChildrenAnother option would be to have group tutorials for a number of children.Group tutorials are different to normal private tutorials but they are still a great way for children to learn English.What are the advantages?The children aren’t alone with their private tutor. This means they can speak English with other children their own age, too.They are a great way for your child to develop social skills.10. Learn to Be PatientHelping your child to learn English or another foreign language is important because it’ll give them more options in the future.They’ll have everything they need when it comes to choosing what they want to do.However, don’t make them hate English class!  Learning a language needs to be an enjoyable experience.You won’t see short-term results. It’s a long-term process.  Every child goes at their own speed, too. You should keep this in mind.Even though children learn languages quickly, they need to learn regularly over a long period of time in order to reap the benefits.Learning English requires patience and many years of study. (Source: Pxhere)The methods and approaches will need to change as they do.One last tip:Don’t forge t to lead by example. While they’re learning English, make sure that you also speak to them in English on a regular basis.  Patience is the key to happiness.Don’t put unnecessary pressure on your child.   Let them learn at their own pace while having fun.If you’d like to learn about teaching dyslexic children English, read our article on the subject!

Reading Milestones for Early Readers

Reading Milestones for Early Readers As children become better and more independent readers, parents can help guide them along in their reading and literacy development. Parents need to understand the progressive reading building blocks and guide your child toward mastery of each of them. Here are some of the key reading milestones as your young reader advances through elementary school: Decoding Once students learn phonicsthe sounds of letters and letter combinationsthey move on to decoding, in which they use small words or word units to figure out larger words. Learning to decode helps students recognize root words, prefixes and suffixes. For example, a child who can read up can more easily read cup and upon. Word recognition In kindergarten, children spend a great deal of time learning high-frequency words (often called sight words). These are vocabulary words that appear often in books and other literature. Memorizing them and being able to recognize them instantly is one of the keys to achieving reading fluency. Examples include the, that, an, him, her, into, like and come. Spelling In the early grades especially, your child will learn how different letters are associated with different sounds and how words are composed of letters. Part of spelling involves learning about the sounds that vowels and consonants make as well as other letter combinations, including: Blends (such as fr, sp and bl, for example) Digraph sounds, or pairs of letters that make a single sound (th, sh and ng, for example) Diphthongs, or two adjacent vowels (au and oi, for example) Young readers also begin to identify letter patterns and recognize them in unfamiliar words (such as the short a sound in cat and hat and the long i sound in bite and kite). Punctuation and mechanics In order to read (and write) well, children must understand the parts of a sentence, how sentences are formed and what punctuation means. Comprehension As your child begins to read to him or herself and to you, the ability to comprehend what he or she reads is critical. Your child should be able to read a passage or chapter, recall details about what happened, and make predictions about what might happen next. Fluency Reading fluency is the ability to read quickly, smoothly and correctly. As your child progresses through elementary school, he or she must improve his or her reading fluency and be able to recognize words on sight without having to sound out every letter or chunk. Here are a few simple ways you can help your child improve his or her reading skills: Point out patterns. As your child learns to decode words, point out words that rhyme, words that contain the same prefixes and suffixes, words that build on other words, and similar patterns. Read aloud. Continue to read aloud to your child even when he or she can read independently. Mix it up. Have your child read aloud to you and silently to him or herself. Read to your child. Have him or her read to a sibling or family member. And read a variety of material types. Encourage questions. As you read together, ask your child periodically to summarize what a story or passage means. Ask about the theme of the story, what he or she thinks about the characters and what they might do next, and what he or she does or doesnt like about the story. Teach your child to relate to stories. Comprehension involves self-reflection. Encourage your child to compare situations in stories to those in his or her own life. Ask whether your child knows any classmates or friends who are similar to characters in the stories he or she reads. As your child advances through school, he or she will continue to strengthen the reading basics. Aid your child in learning the fundamentals now so that he or she will soon have the skills to succeed in school and enjoy this wonderful pastime for the rest of his or her life.

Why is GPA Important

Why is GPA Important Ask any teacher how much grades really matter in high school and youre certain to get the same answer: a lot. When teens get to junior year and start getting their college applications together, it becomes especially clear that grades are at the top of the list of factors that just about every college and university considers when evaluating applicants. Colleges want to know that the students they accept into their school are well-prepared to succeed. Yes, those SAT and ACT scores are important to colleges, but when evaluated alongside the GPA. Still, on its own, the GPA speaks loud and clear about your teen as a student. Here are six things your teens high school GPA says to the colleges and universities to which he applies: How much your teen cares about school Whether completely true or not, your teens grades make an impression that lasts. Low grades across the board could send the message that your teen was apathetic in high school, whereas high grades imply that school is something that your teen gave a lot of attention. Grasp on the subject matter Obviously, grades are an indicator of how well students understand each subject. To the college admissions officer, high grades show that your teen met teachers expectations throughout the duration of those classes and acquired the knowledge needed to master the material. Your teens effort While there will be times that your teen tries hard in a class and the grade doesnt reflect that, generally, good grades dont come without sincere effort. If your teen has a strong GPA, that tells colleges he tried and persevered even through challenging classes. Long-term potential Visit any colleges admissions website and youre sure to find some statement about its goal of admitting highly qualified students with the ability to succeed in their academic environment. Your teens grades are a big consideration for colleges for the simple reason that they want to admit students with high potential. Preparation for school and life success The next time your teen claims that grades are just a letter/number, remind him of this fact: to colleges, grades are an indicator of future success. That certainly doesnt mean your teen will fail in college if his grades arent the greatest today, but an admissions officer could be concerned that he isnt prepared for the rigors of college academics. Commitment to putting in the work Getting good grades is the result of several things: effort, knowledge of the subject matter and dedication to demonstrating that knowledge to a teacher. When your teen earns a high GPA, that tells colleges that he was committed to going to school, studying and doing homework. Urge your teen not to make the mistake of assuming that colleges value SAT and ACT scores more than gradesit simply isnt true. Both are important, of course, but high scores on the SAT or ACT will not compensate for a low GPA. Encourage your teen to work hard in school by taking AP or honors classes (that is appropriate for your teens skill, of course). If your teen recently received a less-than-stellar report card, dont wait to correct the problem, as every report card counts toward the GPA. Huntington can help. Contact us to learn more about how we can develop a customized program of instruction to help your teen address any academic challenges and raise those grades before the next report card.

Managing Test Anxiety with Repetition

Managing Test Anxiety with Repetition I had test anxiety all throughout high school and for the first few semesters of college. It wouldn’t show in every course but it was definitely there for others. I would study so hard for an exam and then become incredibly frustrated when I made a poor grade, especially after knowing that I studied much harder than some of my classmates. I sat down one day after repeatedly doing poorly in a course knowing that I would have to retake it wondering, where am I going wrong?I talked to a few other students as well as my adviser and realized that I had test anxiety, which is fairly common for most students. I would put as much effort as i could into studying for a test and then blank out once I started the exam. It took me a few tries to understand what method worked for me and it might be the same for others or different but the important part is making the change when it comes to studying. My confidence going into a test had gotten so low that it was also affecting my performance so m y first change was to change my attitude. I then began the practice of repetition. I would do every homework assignment multiple times, rewrite class notes over and over until I could explain the lesson to another student, and ask for extra problems in order for me to fully feel confident. Once I knew i had everything down, going into the test was no big deal because I knew I could do it. I know this seems like a lot of work for a test but when it comes to test anxiety, it is very important to be confident as well as repeat the work so many times that you won’t blank out. Once you regain your confidence, you can find easier methods to do and still make the same good grades.

Find an Online Spanish Tutor

Find an Online Spanish Tutor Meet our new Online  Tutor Hector O. He specializes in  Spanish, project management, Microsoft Project. Hector is a Civil Engineer. He has  worked in the construction field for 5 years. During  all this time Hector has been  using Microsoft Project in most of his  projects. His  experience with teaching started when his  co-workers started to ask Hector “How to……” simple questions.  Hector would like to help students and professionals who are either struggling with this software or just looking to get the most of it. Hector is also a Spanish tutor. Hi is very patient when it comes to helping his students.  He can help you set up a combination of learning resources to help you move from beginning Spanish to fluency. Whatever your personal Spanish learning goals and needs are, know that our tutors  are always here for you. We believe in a balance of affordability and quality customized to your individual learning needs.