K-12 Education

Succeeding With The Top Tutors.

People often ask me how to go about choosing a tutor in a large city like Phoenix. Choosing a tutor is a very important step when trying to improve grades or standardized test scores. There are several important factors that one should consider when trying selecting a Phoenix tutoring company; these include tutoring experience, subject expertise, education level, tutoring style, and proximity.

Your most important resource in finding a tutor with the right experience is your tutor’s resume. If you live in a small town you’ll have fewer choices, but if you’re looking for a Phoenix tutor, you’ll have to select from many resumes. Check tutoring websites for profiles of their tutors; also make sure to consider references. Testimonials could be misleading, make sure to contact references directly.

Subject expertise is probably the easiest to evaluate, but also less important than one might think. Especially if you’re looking for a high school tutor, almost every tutor will have mastered the necessary skills. If you’re looking for specific subject expertise, make sure you choose somebody with a highly related college degree. For example, if you’re looking for a Phoenix math tutor or a Phoenix science tutor, choose somebody with an engineering education that will have expertise in both areas. If you’re looking for a Phoenix English tutor, select an English or Literature major.

The amount of education a tutor has acquired is another deceptive trait. Somebody with 30 years of teaching experience or a PhD in the field is not necessarily your best bet; it’s hard to empathize with a learner if all the material seems trivial and ancient. Choosing an tutor from a top university or an Ivy League School is also a good bet, especially if you’re looking for a Phoenix SAT tutor, because of their standardized test mastery and breadth of education.

Style is probably the most important quality of a tutor, and also the hardest to determine before you hire him or her. The only way you can evaluate this is by contacting references. You can also choose a well-trained tutor from a reputable company. Look for somebody who teaches study skills, test taking skills, and other necessary academic skills needed to succeed for a lifetime of academic success, rather than somebody who just hammers facts.

Getting a tutor close to you will make your tutoring experience go much smoother. There are several resources that will help you with this aspect. Try doing a websearch for the relevant city, for example, Mesa tutoring or Scottsdale tutoring. Many local phonebooks will also have a listing for Chandler tutoring (for example).

Hopefully now you have the ability to make an informed tutor choice. Everybody’s needs are unique, and you’re the best person to interpret yours. Remember to review references and carefully consider what level of education is a best fit for your situation. And most of all, if a tutor isn’t working out, don’t be afraid to seek somebody else.

If you’re looking for the top in-home tutoring service available, look know further. All Ivy Tutoring is your top choice for a english tutor around the country. Check out our website to find a tutor in your area.

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Monday, November 9th, 2009 K-12 Education No Comments

Is Online Education For You?

Getting a degree online is not just for professionals or working individuals who want to add to their skills or enhance their resume, but cannot take time off to attend classes. It is not uncommon to earn a high school diploma by attending an online school nowadays, and is an alternative to the usual home school approach.

People choose to attend an online high school for many reasons. Some want to advance in their careers by getting additional degrees or certification while hanging on to their current jobs. An online school makes it convenient for those who want to shift careers or move into another field at a very cost effective rate. And there are those who simply love to learn new things. Online school allows people to pursue their interests at a pace that works for them without disrupting their daily routine.

Even if you are a student already in school, or are already being home-schooled, you still have the option to take online courses to supplement your education. For instance, you and some of your classmates want to study an advanced subject (e.g. AP Chemistry), but you are too few for your school to justify opening a class for that. Or, you may be successful academically but would like to prepare for college by pursuing a college-base curriculum without giving up choir, band, art and/or computer science electives. Taking online courses is also a good way to keep up with your studies in case you are forced to stay at home for a prolonged period because of an illness.

There are many online high schools, and you will probably have no problem finding one or more. Still, you will have to consider carefully if this is really the best option for you.

Consider your learning style. Do you prefer being in a classroom, with face-to-face interaction with your teachers and classmates, or would you rather learn at your own pace, and be assigned modules to read and answer? Which do you find easier, working with a group or working on your own?

With online courses, you need to be a self-starter and provide your own motivation. Interaction with teachers and classmates will be mainly through chats, discussion boards and emails.

If you think you will do well in this kind of environment, then an online high school is a good option for you. If you feel that you will have difficulty with this set-up, you may want to go a more traditional route.

Many people are finding that attending an online school is a good choice for them. There are many certifications and accreditations that are now widely accepted and recognized. If you think this is for you, get on the Internet and find out how you can get started on your online education today.

The advantages of online school are many. For those looking for more opportunity or just wishing to complete their schooling from home, there are online high school classes available.

categories: online school,home schooling,education,internet,family,self improvement

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Saturday, November 7th, 2009 K-12 Education No Comments

Time To Teach”: A Review of Rick Dahlgren’s Collection of Classroom Management Strategies

Teachers have one of the most difficult jobs in today’s world. A teacher’s day is filled with many tasks not directly related to instruction: classroom management, discipline, administrative tasks, bus duties, lunch counts, social needs of children, endless reports, and even repairs and maintenance in their classrooms. All these tasks make many teachers wonder, “When will I find time to teach?”

In his classroom management resource book titled “Time To Teach,” author Rick Dahlgren describes a set of classroom management strategies that are simple, fair, and mutually respectable. These classroom management strategies can help teachers restore lost instructional time. These ideas are explained clearly, helping teachers expand their own “Time To Teach.”

Dahlgren points out that good disciplinarians – at home and at school – promptly address minor problems in order to prevent major ones. Contemporary teachers realize that good discipline begins with the “little stuff.” “Time To Teach” shows how prompt attention to the “little stuff” can prevent the “big stuff” – that is, how good timing is the key to effective discipline.

Dahlgren includes both theories and techniques in “Time To Teach.” Theories are presented to explain low-level behaviors and how they impact children. Then the book presents techniques for eliminating those behaviors. Teachers are shown techniques they can use to be confident when handling a wide range of behavioral challenges with great satisfaction.

Rick Dahlgren believes that if important skills are taught first, children and adolescents can and will be responsible for their own behavior and learning. While “Time To Teach” certainly focuses on the art of delivering effective consequences when all else fails, the main focus is on techniques initially guided by Dr. Madeline Hunter and Coach John Wooden, both of UCLA (quite a story). These ideas center around proven strategies for teaching important skills to students, and helps teachers evaluate their successes.

At 140 pages, “Time To Teach” is written in a quick to read “non-educationese” style. Special techniques are presented for preventing most discipline problems and for dealing effectively with those that do occur. Teachers can begin to regain lost instructional time so important in today’s classroom as they learn the effective classroom management strategies outlined in “Time To Teach.

Click here for more information about Rick Dahlgren’s “Time To Teach”, then visit master teacher Ken Croft’s site to sign-up for Ken’s FREE classroom management newsletter.

categories: Time To Teach,classroom management,classroom management strategies,effective classroom management,discipline,teaching,classroom,classroom discipline,school,home schooling

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Thursday, November 5th, 2009 K-12 Education No Comments

The Advantages of Private Schools Over Public Schools

The education system in America is in atrocious times. The low pay that most faculty systems offer is one of the main causes. There’s very small in the way of incentives for folks to wish to take up teaching as the vocation wants so much and gives so very little in return. This has lead to an emergency in the public education system making it hard for the faculties to operate at the maximum for the scholars that are concerned. The lack of teachers suggests that almost all the students will not get the one on one attention that’s so despairingly needed in today. This is the rationale why so many oldsters are turning to the private faculties to get their kids the absolute best in the way of education. The edges that the non-public faculties have over the public school system are giant. The one on one attention that is given to the students is actually beneficial for the whole workings of the faculty. Usually the students are given much more attention and will in turn perform better when it comes time for the work to be performed on their lonesome. This also allows for the students to spend longer on the subject matter before heading off to bring the scholars up to the same pace before a new lesson is learned. This is one of the reasons the public schools are so regularly failing when it comes to individual education secrets.

They are rushed through the lessons to keep going and ensure that all of the material is covered as set down by the regime. The private faculties don’t fall under the same ideas and therefore have an simpler less complicated time having the facility to cover the lessons without leaving plenty of the kids behind to try and understand for themselves. The private school systems are miles more appealing to the teachers of the Earth too.

As there is more space for education and a load less room for politics in the non-public school systems the teachers are tons more curious about making sure that each student is above par in each subject. Barring any special circumstances that have been laid down by the law, the private school systems aren’t wanted to play a role in the homogenized testing that is so well liked in the public school system. This has made it that much more interesting when it comes to the systems that are being taught in the non-public varsities.

While many of them are based around a faith, there are a latest crop of faculties that are said to be charter schools which offer all the benefits of the private school system but are not faith based establishments. This has turned into a truly well liked occurrence in the education world. These new charter universities are turning up all over the country, some of which are at once hooked up to a particular university for higher education.

Standing tall against the opposition, non-public faculties have managed to gain the support of thousands and the possibilities for a better education that they offer are enormous. The real downfall is the price that’s concerned as the private colleges aren’t supported by the taxation policy so they depend on the price of the teaching to remain afloat annually.

This article was created by George Wang. Visit his website regarding TJHSST here.

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Thursday, November 5th, 2009 K-12 Education No Comments

Improving Classroom Discipline: A Review of Rick Dahlgren’s “Teach-To’s”

In recent years, teachers are under increasing pressure to account for student progress due to high stakes testing. End of course tests are given but many times the tests are administered well before the school year ends. Teachers try to cover the required curriculum before “the test” but find it difficult because of limited time. Discipline problems interfere with instructional time and cause teachers to become frustrated. Teachers may need management strategies that increase instructional time by minimizing interruptions in their classrooms. A set of behavioral lesson plans teachers can use to improve classroom discipline has been developed by author Rick Dahlgren called “Teach-To’s.”

The most common rules and routines used by successful teachers at both the elementary and secondary level has been a topic of research for quite some time. Master teachers from around the United States were approached by the authors of “Teach-To’s” and asked to develop and field test lesson plans for common rules and routines needed for success in schools and classrooms.

In “Teach-To’s,” Rick Dahlgren and his co-authors have created a resource that will help teachers with all types of classroom management issues. “Teach-To’s” is a collection of behavioral lesson plans at both elementary and secondary levels. These lesson plans help teachers be thorough when guiding students in common rules and routines. When the behavior lesson plans in the Teach-To’s book are used school-wide, students benefit from having clear and consistent routines and procedures to follow anywhere on campus.

Teaching to expectations is not about trying to form unthinking automatons or youngsters devoid of divergent thought. Quite the opposite. “Teach-To’s” sets the stage for structure in the classroom and encourages divergent and creative discovery and learning. “Teach-To’s” supports establishing rules and routines and consistently reinforcing and reviewing those expectations early on to yield less misbehavior and give teachers more instructional time.

Teachers in need of a highly organized and effective strategies for improving classroom management should consider using the behavioral lesson plans in “Teach-To’s”. In 128 pages, Dahlgren offers 100 behavioral lesson plans along with templates and rubrics teachers can use to develop their own “teach-to” lesson plan for special situations. “Teach-To’s” deserves a spot on any k-12 teacher’s bookshelf.

Learn more about author Rick Dahlgren’s “Teach-To’s”. Stop by Ken Croft’s site where you can find out all about the best strategies for improving classroom discipline.

categories: Teach-To’s, discipline, classroom management, classroom management strategies, effective classroom strategies, teaching, school, classroom

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Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009 K-12 Education No Comments

How to Create a Great Classroom Arrangement for Effective Classroom Management

A key element in effective classroom management is the physical environment of the classroom. This article will give you some great ideas for improving your classroom’s physical arrangement. The first step is to create a “center stage” in your classroom, where you are the star attraction! Posters, word walls, and bulletin boards can make a classroom come to life. However, research has shown that for lots of kids, these visual stimulants can be very distracting if overdone. Consider where you will be when you deliver your instruction most of the time. You’ll want to create a rather bland area there so that in your classroom universe, YOU are the bright star that captures students’ attention.

Your poster of Garfield carrying a huge load of books may be cute, but he should not be a distraction in your “center stage” area. All those notices, events, homework assignments listed on your chalkboard or whiteboard are certainly important, but separate those from your main teaching area. Kids will stay focused on you and what you are teaching if the board near you is completely blank. When you use this blank board be sure that everything you write on it completely supports the content of your current lesson.

Furniture arrangement can impact how kids stay focused. Your cabinets, teacher desk, and other furniture doesn’t have to stay where it was placed by the custodians. Take a look at how the physical elements in your classroom are arranged and ways the arrangement may impact learning. Notice the location of windows, doors, and boards. Windows and doors are best kept to the students’ back or to their sides to minimize distractions.

Your teacher desk and such—your “operations center”—should be away from your center stage in a somewhat less visible location. When you confer with a student or group at your desk while other students are doing seat work or group work, a less visible desk area will minimize distractions. So carefully consider your furniture arrangement and the function of various areas in your classroom.

The seating in your classroom should be arranged purposefully. When we talk about the “center stage” this doesn’t suggest that you simply “stand and deliver” your instruction. The “sage on the stage” just isn’t effective for many of today’s kids, according to research on effective teaching. Some combination of the “sage” AND teaching while moving among students is generally the most effective model. Certainly some lecturers do a fine job. But even the most spellbinding lecturer cannot overcome the hidden dynamic related to where students are seated. With the traditional arrangement of rows of desks, the most involved students are those in the front couple of rows because of their closer proximity. Next are the middle rows, somewhat involved but to a lesser extent. Because the back rows are so far away, those students cannot have the same level of involvement as the first rows no matter how much you try to involve them.

This dynamic can be changed by simply rearranging your seating to include some aisle you can walk through. ALL students can have that “front row” feeling as you reposition yourself so that at certain times you are near every student. As you begin using a new classroom arrangement just explain to the students why you are making these changes. Let them know that this new arrangement can help you be the most effective teacher for them and help them learn as much as possible in your class.

As you read this you may have found some things that you are already doing in your classroom. Give yourself a pat on the back, because you are using strategies that research in “best practices” has found to be highly effective. Carefully analyze your classroom environment. You will be surprised at how a few simple changes can help keep students focused and reduce interruptions due to minor distractions. A well planned physical set-up of the learning environment is one of the most important elements in effective teaching!

Looking to find the best strategies for classroom management, then visit www.ineedtimetoteach.com to sign up for Ken Croft’s free classroom management newsletter for great ways to improve your classroom management skills.

categories: classroom management, student discipline, student behavior, effective teaching strategies, effective teaching, classroom arrangement, teaching, school

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Monday, November 2nd, 2009 K-12 Education No Comments

Maybe A Maths Tutor Could Be The Answer?

The spring term which runs from January and usually ends around the end of March is the term during which many schools will find that their pupils make the most progress. The spring term has fewer distractions than the autumn and the summer term. The pupils have adapted to a new year group and possibly a new teacher. There are usually no major drama productions and exams and tests are often held towards the end of the spring term or start of the summer term. If you are contemplating your child having extra maths tuition then this is the time to start finding a maths tutor.

In the month of May, SATs or ‘Standard Assessment Tests’ take place for children in Year 2 and Year 6. The approaching SAT tests are a strong incentive for many parents to go in search of a maths tutor as the early months of the year leave enough time to make meaningful progress before the tests. Working on a one-to-one basis is highly beneficial and your child will experience a useful boost in confidence through conducting revision activities in this way.

If your child is in Year 5 and is having some difficulties with maths then arranging a maths tutor now will give enough time for the tutor to find out where the problems lie. There will be time to put misunderstandings right, confidence will grow and there will be time to make a real difference to levels achieved.

Once you have found a maths tutor who you think will be suitable, you will need to discuss with them how they plan to tutor your child. You need to be careful in your choice of tutor. Whereas some tutors may be highly qualified in mathematics, they may not be the type of person who can relate to your child at the level of your child’s understanding. You need to find a maths tutor who is good at relating to children on different levels. They will adopt different strategies and practical teaching aids depending on the precise needs of your child.

A skilled maths tutor will have many resources available. The National Curriculum has objectives that have to be taught but how this is done is up to the tutor. Lively and inspirational teaching will involve using computer programs and will involve a fun, challenging and competitive aspect to the teaching. One of the first tasks a maths tutor will carry out is an assessment to see the level their pupils are working at. This does not have to be done in a test-like environment and an enlightened maths tutor will even make assessments fun.

The maths tutor should discuss with you how your child’s maths age compares with their actual age in each area. Using the results of the assessment the maths tutor may well produce a personalised tutoring programme designed to fit your child’s ability, needs and learning style rather than their age. The programme will give your child extra care and attention in weaker areas, plus constant encouragement and positive reinforcement in stronger ones, accelerating their pace of learning.

Over the period of your child having extra tuition the maths tutor should continue to monitor your child’s progress in all maths topics and should adjust the tutoring programme as and when required to suit their needs. The lesson plans should evolve with your child’s progress. This will enable your child to build their self-confidence and therefore enhance their performance.

Imogen Rampling has considerable experience of private lessons. Find out all you need to know about arranging personal maths lessons and maths revision for your primary school aged child. Arrange private maths tuition and find out about our special offers. Suggest new customers for further bonuses!

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Friday, October 30th, 2009 K-12 Education No Comments

That Toy Known As Toddler Play Kitchens

It is so charming to see little girls learn to mingle with people and play. One game these girls love to play is play house. Certainly this will be a make believe of learning how to cook, playing mommy and taking care of their dolls and so many different things. They will be asking for toys to play and one good toy you can give her is toddler play kitchens. Hence, they can show this to friends who love to come and visit your house.

This is a powerful toy as your little girl will learn what is done in a real kitchen. She will be chopping vegetables and fruits, toasting or baking breads and cakes, or perhaps she might pretend stewing some food. This is the perfect time to play with her and probably teach her how it is in the real kitchen. You can teach her to operate some of the kitchen appliances so that when it comes to the real thing, she will know what to do. This is actually true when she grows older and assume responsibilities.

Most of the time, toddlers play kitchens will consist of cooking utensils, stove, cutlery, cabinets, containers, refrigerator, artificial fruits, vegetables and food items, and other appliances like toasters. Depending on the design and price you will avail for these types of toys, they could come with more sets than others. These toys could be made with plastic, clay, wood or aluminum. But should you buy things for your little girl, just ensure that it is non-toxic and safe to play with.

You can comprehend that these toys have created a real task for your little girl. You notice that they have just imitated you and how you deal with things in the kitchen. But you need not worry as these toys are safe and will serve as a gaming tool with friends. Just ensure that it is sturdy, durable and big enough so she can allow some of her friends to play around.

These toys can create a good starting point for group play. Together, your child and her colleagues can play a small game with party foods and afternoon teas. They can then socialize and pretend that there is a party. And what is good about it, you can make them learn to clean their own mess after the celebration is over. This helps build a certain rapport and camaraderie amongst her friends. And it also introduces values like playing fair and sharing.

Giving a chance for your little girl to play toddler play kitchens gives her a chance to imitate you and learn things from it. It is not a live kitchen but what usually happens there is what you do in the real kitchen. You impart from her what she should do and not what to do making her learn things as she plays along.

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Friday, October 30th, 2009 K-12 Education No Comments

How A Private Tutor Can Help Your Child

Although there are many agencies offering private tuition with a wide range of tutors, standards do vary because tutors often have varying qualifications. The variety of the provision on offer can be determined by a search on the Internet for private tuition. Researchers have found out that there may be over 25% of state school pupils in England who have private tuition after school to help them with their schooling. Furthermore a survey in England of 3,000 primary and secondary school children showed 27% of them to be receiving private tuition.

Of the subjects most in demand for private tuition, Mathematics and English are those for which many parents who use private tuition look for support for their children. This is often found to be the case for pupils of primary school age. Foreign language tuition and the sciences are more popular for secondary school pupils in private tuition .

There is one major stimulus to engage private tuition in the UK and that is the approach of Year 6 SAT’s (Standard Assessment Tests) which is the driving force that encourages the parents of most primary school pupils to seek help. It is the wish to reach or exceed the national average standard which will help to get them to the appropriate learning level or setting group in their desired secondary school. While primary age children have the SAT tests to think about, secondary school children have different objectives such as to gain higher marks in their GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education) examinations.

Private tuition is usually held after school or on Saturday mornings. Regular once or twice weekly lessons are most common. Most lessons usually last for one hour but with older children the lessons may extend to one and a half hours. Younger children and those with poorer concentration may find that forty five minute lessons are more appropriate. Some tutors will offer private tuition during half-term breaks and through the extended summer holidays.

Private tuition is usually carried out individually but sometimes there may be a few children of similar ability who could join together for their tutoring. Charges will reflect the number of students having their tuition together in the same group. One-to-one tuition will be more expensive than private tuition that takes place in groups but this is compensated for by the advantages of fewer distractions and the individual attention that the child receives.

The main reason for taking private tuition is to ensure that areas of uncertainty in the child’s education can be identified so that a programme of work can be devised to shore up the foundations and improve learning in the relevant areas.

Assessments will be carried out to see what level the student is currently working at and if there are any significant gaps in their learning that may be causing problems. The private tuition will then focus on these areas. The tutor’s goal is to boost their student’s self confidence in the subject and to ensure that progress is made.

Private tuition enables the student to enjoy the attention of the teacher for the full period of the lesson on a one-to-one basis. Concepts, strategies and methods can be highly focussed. In this way, misconceptions can be cleared up immediately. These focussed private lessons enable significant progress to be made and the children benefit from the undivided attention of the tutor.

Clarissa Kyriakos writes for Chichester Primary Tutors where you can discover everything you need to know about arranging private tuition and Special Educational Needs for your primary school aged pupil. Arrange private lessons and have your 10th lesson free. Introduce new clients for special offers!

categories: private tuition,after school lessons,primary tutor,primary tuition,private lessons,private tutor,home tutor,home schooling,primary education,special educational needs,extra maths,extra English

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Friday, October 30th, 2009 K-12 Education No Comments

First day With The Dynamics Of Speed Reading

The Be Dynamic Through Speed Reading method, by Dr. Jay Polmar, is designed for people that read large volumes of printed material. Sometimes they get frustrated when they can’t keep up with all the intriguing literature that is released. Authors around the world produce printed data and fiction, at a rate so phenomenal, that even the most avid of readers struggle to keep up. With our DYNAMIC SPEED READING method, you’ll easily be able to read twice to three times the amount you now read in the same time.

The human brain/mind is capable of comprehending and cataloging from 10,000 to 50,000 units of information every minute (one unit being equal to one word) and this is based upon old statistics. Based on new technology in education and strides in self-development, your brain/mind is capable of much more.

The human body is a vehicle that records various senses and transfers them to the brain/mind. The brain/mind acts like a computer. Perhaps the brain/mind is the body’s operational computer to make easier for us to learn. We learn through information (data) which is transmitted in many ways. We receive data through our five physical senses, and our brain/mind makes decisions, choices and judgments from those factors.

Our limitations in reading were programmed during childhood when we were first taught to read. Yet, brain/mind researchers have shown that through DYNAMIC SPEED READING techniques, thousands have broken that pattern and increased speeds dramatically.

This course teaches techniques for becoming Dynamic. We expect you, minimally, to become a speed reader who loves to read and improve the quality of your life. Maximally, we expect great, positive successes from our students. A beginning average reading speed for the average American high school graduate is about 250 words per minute. Those from the south read somewhat slower because of their drawl. Those who stutter also read slower. An average college student reads approximately 300 w.p.m.

Please take note: Recent studies have indicated that the English reading rate has dropped due to poor education in the past decade. The reduction of reading speed is astounding averaging 35% poor reading rates in the US. Be Dynamic undoes the damage of poor education system and was developed by Dr. Jay Polmar, who studied in the US when education mean something special and reading was king.

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categories: education,learning,reading,schooling,speed reading,life improvement skills

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Tuesday, October 27th, 2009 K-12 Education No Comments