giving the best education

Maths and English Educational Kids Games To Get Them Ahead When Starting at School

2008-04-01T16:38:00.000-07:00

by Victoria Welch It is your little ones first step into the Big world of school, and for many children this can be an anxious time.This can also be a very hard time for some parents to, the first time that you let your little child out in to the big world, but there is no need for you to worry, they are going to school, they will have fun learning and meet new friends. Don’t let your

Who Needs School?

2008-03-26T19:32:00.000-07:00

By Brooks Elms The founders of The Sudbury Valley School in Framingham, Massachusetts, in the late 1960s asked the question: "Who needs school?" Their answer is that school prepares children to become productive members of society-essentially, to be good citizens. Then they asked, "How do we meet that objective? If we could re-start from scratch, or adapt from any known model, what are the

Diversity In The Classroom

2008-03-26T19:31:00.000-07:00

By Lisa J Smith I was talking with a friend last week about the private school that her 2 boys attended & she informed me that she had withdrawn them at the end of last school year and they now attended public school. When I asked what brought about the change, she told me "The teachers at their previous school told them (when doing are projects) 'We only color the people in our pictures

Honesty and Dishonesty Through Handwriting Analysis

2008-03-26T19:19:00.000-07:00

By Joel Engel In order to determine dishonesty in one's handwriting, the ability to recognize honesty is a prerequisite. Honesty In general, the handwriting of honest people has clarity, simplicity and a firm, straight base line. You can see this by taking a ruler and placing it under the middle-zone letters-they are all equidistant from the ruler. When the base line is straight (and certain

Extra funds for further education

2008-03-17T06:07:00.000-07:00

by BBC NewsUniversities and colleges in Scotland struggling under their current funding deal are to receive an extra £20m in government funding. Education Secretary Fiona Hyslop set out the package, which will come on top of £10m pledged in January. The minister had previously promised to make universities a funding priority after being criticised for their spending review allocation of £263m.

Beginning Instruments - Leasing or Rent-to-own

2008-03-17T06:03:00.000-07:00

by: George FetterParenthood is a continuous series of new experiences that often create confusion as parents negotiate unfamiliar territory. Finding an instrument for their child is often one of those experiences. The decision to buy an instrument from a chain discount store or over the internet rather than getting one from an established music dealer is confusing for most adults. After all, a

Inspire Not Require

2008-03-17T05:59:00.000-07:00

by: William W. GourleyWe face many challenges as teachers of student and amateur ensembles; encouraging solo and ensemble participation, chamber ensemble performance, pep band participation or getting the students or ensemble members to practice. Societal behavior has changed over the past thirty years. Requiring students to engage in activities outside of the full ensemble and to practice is

Teacher Ed. Community Striving to Interpret Candidate ‘Dispositions’

2008-03-17T02:56:00.000-07:00

By Vaishali Honawar“Dispositions” has been one of the most controversial words in teacher education since the beginning of this decade. Now, a position paper from the leading advocacy group for the nation’s teacher colleges is calling for an open and critical conversation on the meaning and uses of the term. The National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education first added

Phonics vs. Whole Word: Excellent New Book Explains A Lot

2008-03-13T23:47:00.000-07:00

by: BruceDPriceI have been studying the Reading Wars (phonics vs. Whole Word) for several years. The crime mystery of the century, if you ask me.One thing that makes research difficult is that educators in the USA slip around in secrecy. Remember, they’re embracing philosophies, and promoting policies, that nobody ever voted on or even discussed in public. If you look back over the last 100

Teaching Skills

2008-03-13T23:40:00.000-07:00

LANGUAGE TEACHING SKILLS: Teaching skill is a specific task. Particularly, teaching to blind children its very valuable and very specific task. Language appears when actions begin to be represented symbolically. Its importance is found in the teaching skills which develop during the first two years. Once a child has the ability to represent reality through thought, language and cognition become

Quality Public Education

2008-03-12T22:58:00.000-07:00

By Karen HoeveIn 2004 Forbes magazine ranked Raleigh, North Carolina's Wake County Public School System ( WCPSS ), third in the nation for "Best Education in the Biggest Cities". It's no wonder, as Greater Raleigh is able to provide superior education opportunities in both public and private settings. WCPSS is a national leader on the education front. The school system boasts a solid high school

NLP improving Accelerated Learning

2008-03-12T22:56:00.000-07:00

By Rintu BasuAccelerated Learning involves three fundamental elements. Firstly there is emotional or state control, the second is self beliefs and the third is the tools and techniques. Generally accelerated learning deals with tools and techniques. The tools and techniques are only really effective if you deal with the negative emotions and limiting beliefs. This article will talk aboutthe first

Student loan company settles with FTC over data mishandling

2008-03-12T22:54:00.000-07:00

by: Dan KaplanA student loan company has settled with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) over charges it did not offer reliable security for its customers' personal information.San Diego-based Goal Financial has experienced a number of data-security shortfalls, according to the FTC, including the unauthorized transfer of more than 7,000 files of consumer information to third parties and the sale

6 Steps to Encourage Your Children to Get That Homework Done

2008-03-12T02:32:00.001-07:00

by Stephanie Foster As the school year takes off, the homework battle begins anew for many parents. Kids don't always want to spend hours on homework when they get out of school, when there are friends to see, games to play and shows to watch. For many parents, this is a nightly battle. They have to check to be sure that the homework is done every night, or even just about have to stand over

Goodwyn's Teaching Notes

2008-03-12T02:26:00.000-07:00

by Kate Marie Ryan JOURNAL ENTRY 5 The eight week placement at Glendowie College has literally flown by with little time until now for proper reflection on the progress I have made as a student teacher. Goodwyn's article notes that the teaching cycle comprises of planning, teaching and evaluating. I aim to focus this particular entry on these three areas, combining the influence of my four

A Look at Enriching the Prison Educational Program

2008-03-12T02:21:00.000-07:00

By Linda A. Beam Correctional educators constantly strive to become more effective when teaching students. Seeking new ideas or striving for newer and better retention techniques are constant issues faced by a correctional educator. The basic content of the curriculum for the Adult Basic Education (ABE/GED) student is math, reading, and language. From my point of view, teaching only these

Extra Curricular Activities For Homeschoolers

2008-03-10T20:18:00.000-07:00

by Mary ElizabethExtracurricular activities for homeschoolers may mean something a bit different than it does in a school setting. It’s easiest to conceive of extracurricular as anything outside the teaching that you do and specific academic courses that you’ve covered with distance learning or school attendance options. There are a variety of ways to get started with extracurricular

Teaching Tips to Motivate Students

2008-03-10T19:53:00.000-07:00

Whether a novice teacher, or an expert, motivational ideas can add spice to classroom instruction. The following motivational tips can help teachers fire the children’s desire to find knowledge. The desire to learn or ready to learn. These catchphrases encompass the challenge teachers face in motivating their students. Whether a novice teacher, or an expert, motivational ideas can add spice to

Postindustrialism & Education

2008-03-10T19:48:00.000-07:00

By Mike F-W Over the last couple of months I have been considering why home education is becoming more popular. I understand that home education is rising at the rate of around 1000 per month in the UK and I find it difficult to accept that such a large trend is solely the result of recent changes in educational policy. There are probably a number of reasons. But, I am beginning to think

Teaching Guided Reading

2008-03-09T19:53:00.000-07:00

by Adam WaxlerWhat is guided reading? What are some guided reading activities? How about guided reading demonstrations or guided reading lesson plans? Using guided reading as a teaching strategy has become more and more popular as the emphasis in education continues to focus on how to increasing reading comprehension As a teacher mentor, I often have teachers ask me

How to Succeed in Studying

2008-03-09T19:48:00.000-07:00

Make studying a part of your everyday school routine and don't be limited to 'cramming' for exams and tests. Establish a routine Set aside a particular time each day for study and revision and stick to it. Create a study environmentThis should be away from interruptions and household noise, such as the television. Ensure there is adequate lighting and ventilation, a comfortable chair

Learning to Teach by Uncovering Our Assumptions Part 4

2008-03-05T19:00:00.000-08:00

by Judith M. NewmanMaking Meaning Gordon Wells (1986) succinctly describes the problem of students constructing meaning. He argues: Meaning making in conversation should be a collaborative activity. But where there is a considerable disparity between the participants in their mental models and their linguistic resources, the more mature participant has to make adjustments in order to make

Learning to Teach by Uncovering Our Assumptions Part 3

2008-03-05T18:58:00.000-08:00

by Judith M. Newman A Learner-Centered Classroom Since the uncovering of our assumptions often reveals a contradiction or imbalance within us as teachers, this revelation is usually a prompt toward not only new understanding but also toward change on our parts. A direction in which many teachers are currently changing is a way of teaching alternative to a traditional teacher-centered approach.

Learning to Teach by Uncovering Our Assumptions Part 2

2008-03-05T18:57:00.000-08:00

by Judith M. NewmanLearning about Learning and Teaching Let me share an incident so you can see how I began exploring my own assumptions about learning and teaching. I was reading Sondra Perl and Nancy Wilson's last chapter in Through Teacher's Eyes (1986). In that chapter they summarize what they learned from their study of writing in a single school in upper New York State. One notion which

Learning to Teach by Uncovering Our Assumptions Part 1

2008-03-05T18:54:00.000-08:00

by Judith M. Newman One day Lee, a sixth grader, was struggling with some comprehension questions from his reader when he came to me for help. It was the kind of question where the students had to read between the lines and devise their own answers. I told Lee there was information on page 42 which might help him. A few minutes later he was back complaining he could not find the answer on that

Motivating Students Part 3

2008-03-03T18:52:00.000-08:00

By Barbara Gross Davis, University of California, Berkeley.From Tools for Teaching, copyright by Jossey-Bass. For purchase or reprint information,contact Jossey-Bass. Reprinted here with permission, September 1, 1999.Motivating Students by Responding to Their Work Give students feedback as quickly as possible.Return tests and papers promptly, and reward success publicly and immediately. Give

Motivating Students Part 2

2008-03-03T18:46:00.000-08:00

By Barbara Gross Davis, University of California, Berkeley.From Tools for Teaching, copyright by Jossey-Bass. For purchase or reprint information,contact Jossey-Bass. Reprinted here with permission, September 1, 1999.Incorporating Instructional Behaviors That Motivate StudentsHold high but realistic expectations for your students. Research has shown that a teacher's expectations have a

Motivating Students Part 1

2008-03-03T18:41:00.000-08:00

By Barbara Gross Davis, University of California, Berkeley.From Tools for Teaching, copyright by Jossey-Bass. For purchase or reprint information,contact Jossey-Bass. Reprinted here with permission, September 1, 1999. Some students seem naturally enthusiastic about learning, but many need-or expect-their instructors to inspire, challenge, and stimulate them: "Effective learning in the

Just Improve Your Studying Skills!!!

2008-02-29T22:49:00.000-08:00

Source: Campus HealthAbove all, Review Regularly and Plan To Study Ahead, so that the night before an exam, All You Do Is Review Material. Avoid All-Nighters!Along with guidance from the therapists at CWS, students who want to improve their study skills may contact a Learning Specialist at The Learning Center 962-3782.Good Study Habits Decide what to study (reasonable task) and how long or how

How to Teach Well

2008-02-29T22:42:00.000-08:00

by Mary McKinney, Ph.DMany of us have become academics because we want to teach, and to teach well. Most academics I work with were inspired by a particularly brilliant teacher at some point in their education. And many went into academia because of an inspiring role model. Yet the tenure track tends to reward avid

Best Practices for Educating Students about Non-Academic Jobs

2008-02-27T18:20:00.000-08:00

The APS Council in its Statement on Current Employment Opportunities for Physicists (Statement 94.2) noted that students with degrees in physics have succeeded in a wide range of academic and non-academic careers. It urged academic physics departments to reexamine their programs in light of the wide range of possible careers for physics graduates. To help departments in this endeavor, the APS

Standards for School Leaders Get New Thumbs Up

2008-02-25T19:04:00.000-08:00

By Lynn OlsonA coalition of education groups came together in the mid-1990s to draft model standards for school leaders that would refocus the profession on student learning. Since then, the resulting Interstate School Leaders Licensure Consortium standards have been used or adapted by more than 40 states to guide their own preparation, licensure, and evaluation programs for principals

Searching for Scholarships

2008-02-24T19:17:00.000-08:00

Janet Harris, College/Career Coordinator at Rockville High School in Rockville, MarylandParents have been dreaming of this time since they walked out the maternity ward holding their little bundle of joy in their arms. The proud dad talks about his son going off to Harvard, Yale or Duke, while his mom beams with delight as she stands their dreaming of him becoming a doctor, lawyer or politician.

A Partial Defense of the Five-Paragraph Theme as a Model for Student Writing

2008-02-22T18:08:00.001-08:00

by Tina BlueAlmost anyone who has taken an English class in junior high or high school is familiar with the formulaic five-paragraph theme. Although most college instructors loathe the five-paragraph theme, I believe that it has its uses. In fact, I like to think of it as a set of training wheels for novice writers. Like training wheels, the five-paragraph theme needs to be abandoned

Why Should We Do Anything Different for Mathematically Gifted Students?

2008-02-21T21:49:00.000-08:00

Gifted students differ from their classmates in three key areas that are especially important in mathematics. These are summarized below. How Gifted Learners Differ from Classmates: Pace at which they learn Depth of their understanding Interests that they hold (Maker, 1982) Relationship to Mathematics Learning The sequential nature of math content makes pacing an issue. Deeper

What makes a good teacher?

2008-02-19T19:27:00.000-08:00

By Mike Baker"Sometimes the simplest questions in life are the hardest to answer." For all of the millions of pounds invested in researching school effectiveness, and the thousands of hours spent by policy-makers reforming education systems, do we yet have a unanimous answer to this most important of questions: "what makes a good teacher?" The

Quizzes and Learning: An Inseparable Duo

2008-02-19T15:48:00.000-08:00

by. ProPropftHow, though, do we go about testing our students? The traditional long test format has been shown to be updated. Long tests tend to drain students, create more exam stress, and emphasize studying “for the test” rather than to learn material. As an alternative to tests, short quizzes, or shorter-length tests, allow for students to focus more on concentrated subject areas. The

How to Sell Your Online MBA Degree to Prospective Employers

2008-02-18T16:56:00.000-08:00

By Jennifer Williamson, DIstance-Education.org ColumnistIf you’re considering an online MBA program, you’ve probably given a lot of thought to how employers will react to your degree. Going the online route isn’t the usual choice for everyone—and you may face extra questions about your degree during interviews.But selling your prospective employer on your online degree takes simple marketing

Choosing Online Classes Based on Your Learning Style: What to Look For

2008-02-18T16:30:00.000-08:00

By Jennifer Williamson, Distance-Education.org ColumnistThere are many different types, formats, and delivery methods for online learning. You have a lot of options, and before you choose a class, it can help to know your learning style. Your learning style is the way you learn best. To determine yours, think about the ways you’ve learned in the past. Do you tend to understand something better

How to Make Your Child Learn to Write Well

2008-02-17T22:50:00.000-08:00

American children must be ready to learn from the first day of school. And of course, preparing children for school is a historic responsibility of parents. Should you help your child with writing? Yes, if you want your child to: Do well in school Enjoy self-expression Become more self-reliant You know how important writing will be to your child's life. It will be important from

Survey on Homework Reveals Acceptance, Despite Some Gripes

2008-02-17T20:29:00.000-08:00

by By Debra ViaderoDespite debates in the media over whether American students are academically overburdened, 85 percent of parents believe their children are doing the “right amount” or “too little” homework, and three-quarters of students say they have enough time to complete their assignments, according to a survey released this week. “This is a much-needed corrective to many

Give the best for your children!

2008-02-15T06:32:00.000-08:00

When it comes to our children’s education, entering the first grade represents a big milestone. Fortunately there are ways to ease the transition. Grade one! It’s quite a milestone in a child’s life...and a parent's! For some children, grade one marks the first time they’ll be away from home for an entire day. It also marks the beginning of formal education where days are more structured. So how