Friday, March 27, 2020

International Baccalaureate Tutor - Finding One That Suits Your Needs

International Baccalaureate Tutor - Finding One That Suits Your NeedsIf you're looking for an International Baccalaureate Tutor, they'll be teaching your student the same curriculum they would be taught in a local college. However, you will have to decide if you want to study at home or attend a formal class. If you decide to study at home, you'll need to decide on a classroom setting, a quiet time for studying, and enough time to do the homework and complete projects.If you plan to study at home, you'll need to make sure that you can study and do the actual classroom work without interruptions. You may find yourself having to take breaks to eat lunch or watch television. A good IB tutor can help you focus on your studies and keep from getting distracted.If you attend a college, you may find yourself under pressure to complete projects and assignments as quickly as possible. In some cases, your expectations are way too high, and you may find yourself getting more tired and frustrated with your student. These students, who have to spend so much time in class have to learn how to be able to concentrate when they feel like they are falling asleep.In an IB classroom, your student will learn at their own pace, but you will still be able to monitor their progress through a notebook and a test book. There are no other distractions and you'll be able to get a better grade. Students who don't take breaks during class may not have enough rest to finish their assignment.You can get an IB tutor for free, but make sure you choose a reliable one. Your students will need to be able to make consistent grades. They may also need to learn how to work collaboratively and communicate effectively. Don't settle for one-size-fits-all tutoring; they may work well with you, but you might find the results disappointing.Don't be afraid to ask questions. Although a lot of IB tutors charge a fee for each lesson, this doesn't necessarily mean they aren't qualified or experienced. It may be that they haven't had many students who have used them yet, so you'll want to talk to them before hiring them.Remember that learning how to learn does not just come with experience. An IB tutor can help you practice what you learn, and it's important to find one that you feel comfortable communicating with.

Friday, March 6, 2020

Strategies for Reducing Stress - Private Tutoring

Strategies for Reducing Stress BobbiM Apr 3, 2014 Now that you know the cause of your stress, lets figure out ways to reduce it. -Relax. You should make relaxation a regular part of your day. If you dont know anything about how to go about relaxing, there are many self-help books. At the very least, try deep breathing or meditation for a few minutes each day to help you unwind. If you find yourself stressing out, stop whatever you are doing, close your eyes, and focus on your breathing for a few minutes. This should help you relax so that you can return to what you were doing, feeling in more control of the situation. -Exercise. Working out daily is a great stress buster. Physical activity helps take your mind off of your stress and the chemicals your body releases during exercise actually boost your ability to handle stressful situations. If you are feeling especially stressed out, try taking a walk or a jog to clear your head. -Take charge. You are in control of your own situation and you have to accept that responsibility. By taking charge, you can control the amount of stress you feel by remembering that stress is an internal reaction to situations and it is often really an overreaction. However, if stress gets out of control, you can also take charge of the situation by seeking help. -Put problems in perspective. Sometimes it helps to talk to a good friend or a family member who has been in a similar situation to help you put your problems in a more realistic light. Dont allow yourself to get carried away imagining all the things that could go wrong in a situation-instead, focus on the positives. -Be flexible. Everyone makes mistakes, and learning from your mistakes will help reduce your stress levels. But if you are too set in the way you do things or the way you view the world you may end up causing yourself additional stress. It pays to have an open mind and to try new approaches. -Develop interests. Join a club on campus, meet with others who share similar interests, or find some new interests on your own. By having interests outside of schoolwork, you will be able to enjoy yourself and relax during your time off from studying. Developing new interests also helps you in the classroom because you tend to do better in subjects that interest you. -Seek help. Seek out campus resources to help you through stressful times. In fact, it is a good idea to seek out the people and places that can support you BEFORE you need them. Often problems can be solved easily if you ask for assistance before a small problem balloons into a big one. -Enjoy yourself. Take a walk, read a good book, see a movie, call a friend. Do something you like to so before you start feeling overwhelmed. Remember, if you manage your life appropriately, you should have plenty of time for studying and engaging in activities for fun. Excerpt from  College Success Strategies  by Sherrie L. Nist and Jodi Patrick Holschuh.

English Collocations with Plan Learn English with Harry

English Collocations with Plan Learn English with Harry Today I have some English collocations with plan or dealing with plans, either single or plural. Okay. This is Harry and welcome back to my podcast Speak Better English with Harry where I try to help you understand and make better use of your English. So Ive got a number of English collocations which go together with plan or plans and I’ll try and explain them to you. English Collocations with Plan Don't be selfish, share it with your friends So we can have bold plans or a bold plan.We can have audacious plans or an audacious plan.We can have daring plans or a daring plan.And an ingenious plan.So bold, daring, audacious and ingenious basically have the same meaning. Means something really exciting, something that somebody else might not try.Example: Theres a bold plan to develop the 5G network throughout the country so that every house can have 5G in fast internet connection.A bold plan because there are millions of houses that have to be upgraded.We can have a daring plan to rescue people that have been kidnapped by some terrorist organization. A daring plan, which involves counter-espionage and certain soldiers who work in covert operations. So they operate in secrecy. So theyre going to try and rescue these people who have been kidnapped or held to ransom. We can have an audacious plan.Audacious means something really nobody else would have thought about.Example:They had an audacious plan to overthrow the government by refusing to vote or to demonstrate outside the parliament buildings and bring pressure on the government. Something that other political groups had not considered. An audacious plan, really something that nobody had considered.An ingenious plan meaning a very clever plan, something again that nobody had considered because it was just too ingenious, too clever.So bold plans, daring plans, audacious plans quite risky audacious plans or an ingenious plan.Example:They developed an ingenious plan to get to Mars.An ingenious plan to get to Mars by, first of all, flying to the moon, building a station on the moon, extracting water from some resource that theyve discovered on the moon, creating energy and then flying to Mars. Okay. English Collocations with Plan Don't be selfish, share it with your friends We can also shelve of a plan, meaning to put it on the shelf, were not going to go ahead with it.So literally like when you take a book and youve finished reading it, you put it on the shelf because youre not going to to read it any more.So when we have a plan, and we shelve the plan, literally we pick it up and put it somewhere because weve decided that, okay, might be a good plan, but now is not the time to implement it. So weve shelved plans.Example:The government have shelved plans to extend the runway in Heathrow airport.To abandon plans. Well, abandon is a little bit more serious than that. We had a plan, but because of cost overruns, weve abandoned it.Weve just decided, its not going to go ahead.Weve downed tools, as the say, and decided to pull out.Example: The County Council had abandoned plans to make some upgrades to the water system. We can scrap plans.To scrap something means to make it redundant. A scrap is something thats no longer have any value. Like an old car, that is 25 years old and rusted, is only worth scrap. Meaning we break it up and use the good parts, but discard the rest. So we can scrap a plan, like a bit of paper. We roll it up in a ball and we throw it away.Example:Unfortunately, they have  scrapped the plans of reintroducing it.The more former word to say to jettison a plan.Jettison is often used in the shipping industry when a ship is at sea and it has a dirty water or something, it jettisons it, it throws it literally into the water.Or an airplane if its circling overhead and has to make an emergency landing, it will, first of all, jettison some fuel to reduce the weight. So to jettison or to scrap it or to get rid of it. Okay.So these are the words that collocate with plan:a bold planan audaciousan ingenious planto abandon the planto scrap a planto jettison a planOkay, so these are all Engl ish collocations with plan. Hopefully youve enjoyed this English lesson.Clever, effective and efficient, cheap way for you to improve your English language skills.Again, thanks for listening, join me again soon.

Thursday, March 5, 2020

Irvine College Tutor Tips So Youve Made Your College Choice

Irvine College Tutor Tips So Youve Made Your College Choice Tips From an Irvine College Tutor: So Youve Made Your College Choice? Now What? Tips From an Irvine College Tutor: So Youve Made Your College Choice? Now What? On May 1st high school seniors made a commitment to a college or university. Except students who were wait-listed, pretty much everybody knows where they will be attending school next year. All of that hard work, standardized testing, advanced placement classes, and tutoring hours have finally paid off. So what should students focus on? Do they need to get started thinking about college right away or should they simply concentrate on graduating high school? What should they do over the summer? There are a lot of questions students, and their families have about the best way to prep for college after making a decision. These are a few of the most important things high school seniors can do once they have done their final choice. 1. Pick freshman classes if necessary Some universities will give the incoming freshman the opportunity to choose their first-year courses right away. In some cases, students can choose from a few different packages of approved courses for their major while in other circumstances they can just pick four general ed classes to get started. Its important for incoming freshman to find out how many classes will make them an official full-time student. Four or five classes are considered full-time; however there are always some exceptions when it comes to late start classes or prerequisites. If a student needs to take prerequisites, they should make sure theyre taking these in their first semester so they can move forward. Also, its recommended that new college students take at least one or two classes in a subject they will actually enjoy. This will make the academic transition run more smoothly and provide an overall more enjoyable experience (READ: 4 Differences Between High School and College). 2. Arrange an appointment with an academic counselor Its essential for students to make an appointment to meet with an academic counselor on a regular basis. There are so many important details that incoming freshman will not know about, and they will also be distracted by the many things they need to do to adjust to living on campus and meeting a whole new set of friends and classmates. Academic counselors provide a fantastic amount of one-on-one information that can help students graduate on time and be successful through any difficult or stressful circumstances that may occur. 3. Verify what conditions the acceptance carries Most college acceptance letters are conditional. This means that seniors in high school will have to do some things to maintain their admissions. For the most part, this means either simply passing all of their second-semester courses and graduating on time or maintaining a specific GPA. Some schools might have additional requirements especially if the student is on scholarship or receiving financial aid. 4. Get to know potential roommates Students will spend plenty of time in their dorm room once they move on campus. Having a great roommate can make a difference in a college freshman’s social life. Its a good idea to get to know potential roommates and pick out a person who will share a similar schedule and lifestyle. Its also better for students to meet with these potential roommates if possible just to get a feeling if its somebody they could live with for a year (READ: 5 Things to do Before Your go to College). 5. Get comfortable with the campus In many cases, students will be traveling relatively far away from home thus it may be difficult to spend too much time on campus over the summer. However, students who live within a reasonable driving distance from their college should consider spending a little bit of time on campus. Its important to get to know where all of the good places are to get food, study, and just hang out. The campus will be a student’s home outside of the classroom for the next four years. It can be incredibly overwhelming to get onto campus the very first day and be searching for four different lecture halls. Spend some time wandering around in advance to get comfortable. Get a head start on your college courses this summer with the help of a private Irvine college tutor. Call us today for more information. All blog entries, with the exception of guest bloggers, are written by Tutor Nerds. Are you an education professional? If so, email us at pr@tutornerds.com for guest blogging and collaborations. We want to make this the best free education resource in SoCal, so feel free to suggest what you would like to see us write.

How can African schools compete in the global race for international teachers

How can African schools compete in the global race for international teachers Many of the schools I work with in Africa are overwhelmed by international competition for teachers. They feel they can’t compete with the salaries in places like the Middle East and worry that teachers consider their country poor or unsafe (or both!)? They fret, worry, and inadvertently shut out their dream teachers - because they’ve forgotten just who their dream teachers are. Sometimes, they’ve even forgotten what their school has to offer. It’s true, a teacher focused solely on their bank balance may not be interested in African schools, but there are plenty of other teachers out there with different priorities. From a love of adventure, to the desire to make a difference in a community, there is no shortage of reasons why teachers would choose Africa. It’s time African international schools pushed aside some of those worries, swung open the doors and embraced their identity. Don’t worry about the paychecks dragging some teachers to other countries, focus instead on the teachers who want to teach in Africa. 1. Your location is teacher-bait. Dangle those unique experiences where teachers can see them. One of the big mistakes schools make is ignoring the travel aspect of international teaching. I’ve seen schools dismiss wonderful teachers because they were concerned that the teacher’s only priority was travel and adventure. That’s rarely the case. Teaching is hardly a get-rich-quick scheme. And most qualified candidates are going to have the student’s best interests at heart, even if they are prone to a bit of globe trotting. International teachers have often chosen their career path because they love to travel. But these are often the very teachers I see being discriminated against in the recruitment process. Which is a shame! These are the teachers who want to embrace your culture and customs, why not hire them? It would be a lot worse if you ended up recruiting a teacher who hated adventure. They’d sulk for months, only wanting to eat McDonalds. Maybe they would insist on doing things exactly as they did them at home. Don’t think of “travel” as a dirty word - you can and should be using travel and adventure as a competitive advantage over schools in other regions. Use it to rope in the adventurers, the teachers who will love and cherish their time in Africa. Your job postings are your opportunity to sell not only your school but also your location. Africa has so many unique qualities, you would be doing yourself a disservice by not pointing them out. Make sure you highlight any unique opportunities your location has to offer travel-minded candidates - whether it’s exotic birds, boating along the Nile, watersports, a bustling marketplace, safari adventures, or a specific kind of food or drink…the list is endless! Take a step back and think about what you love about where you live, then go from there. This is your opportunity to showcase the best bits of living and working in Africa. 2. Emphasize career progression. Let teachers see your commitment to them. While salary and bonus came out on top overall in our survey of over 12,000 international teaching candidates this year, we also saw professional development and career progression featuring almost as high on your candidate’s wishlist. Great teachers want to know they can grow, develop and stretch their creative muscles. They want to know they will have autonomy in the classroom and be able to impact their student’s lives. If there are options at your school for candidates to take on additional responsibilities beyond their usual teaching responsibilities, or if your school makes a professional development a priority, then make sure your job posts are making the most of that. Give it its own paragraph! Put it in bold! Teachers are only human, and seeing that a school cares about their longterm career can influence their decision. You’ll be surprised by the response from teachers who are looking for a little something more from their next position. 2. Honesty is the only policy. Especially with Google looking over your shoulder. There’s no point lying about anything. You’re looking for teachers who can embrace the specific challenges your school faces - so explain those challenges and don’t shy away from the truth. Before a candidate will consider signing a contract with your school, they’re going to need to trust you. With under a quarter of international teaching candidates expressing concern over their personal safety when making the move abroad, you can be sure they’re doing their homework on that front. And if a quick Google reveals a couple of startling facts that you haven’t divulged, then you can probably say goodbye to that teacher. If you’re living in an area that is going through political upheaval or faces other obstacles, you’re going to have to work a little harder than schools in other locations to build trust. You need to be honest about your school’s situation and make them comfortable with challenges ahead. There are a few easy steps you can take to alleviate concerns and paint your school in a positive light: Be transparent. Outline the situation in your country, especially if it’s facing any political or disease-related issues. Teachers will appreciate the honesty a lot more than finding out themselves on the big bad Google. Ease their worries. Outline the steps your school is taking to protect staff. This should reassure most candidates. Put them in touch with other teachers at your school. Nothing goes farther than the word of a peer. Put your existing staff in touch with candidates. They can find out what life is really like both and in and out of the walls of your school. All of the above will help candidates feel secure, ease insecurities and alleviate negative perceptions. 3. Waiting until you’ve got a vacancy is too late. Stay ahead with a proactive recruitment strategy instead. In our second annual international educator survey, 24% of respondents put Africa in their top 3 preferred teaching destinations. That’s almost a quarter of teaching candidates who would be happy to teach in Africa. So maybe, when it comes to hiring overseas teachers, the problem isn’t that your school is in Africa. It’s that teachers don’t know that schools in Africa are recruiting. Schools in other countries are flooding the internet with their positions and opportunities all year round, but there’s nowhere near as much information available online about teaching in Africa. What does this mean for you? It means you’ll need to start your recruitment earlier than you might be accustomed to. Our data suggests that international educators are starting their job searches earlier and earlier and taking the time to find the opportunity that’s right for them. The unfortunate reality for African schools is that candidates may have more apprehensions than they would for schools in other parts of the world. You need to start your recruitment well in advance of your desired start dates to give candidates ample time to do their research about the region, the school, and allow them to make an educated and informed decision. At the end of the day, every teacher is different. Never forget that what is offputting to one teacher might be a welcome challenge to another. So the next time you’ve got to whip up one of those dreaded job posts, keep your dream teacher in mind, think about what should motivate them and describe the adventure that Africa has to offer. This article was originally published on LinkedIn.

Overcoming Obstacles and Achieving Success with Kumon

Overcoming Obstacles and Achieving Success with Kumon Overcoming Obstacles and Achieving Success with Kumon Albertus was first introduced to Kumon as an early teen. As a child, he was diagnosed with autism and language delays. Reading comprehension issues arose throughout childhood and it became more pronounced when he was about 14 years old. His mother heard of Kumon through professional acquaintances and was steadfast in enrolling her son in the Kumon Reading Program. Albertus, a ninth grader at the time, started the Kumon Reading Program at the Paragraph Building Skill Block level, usually geared towards fourth to sixth graders. Within a few months, his reading comprehension improved. Over the course of four years, he completed the entire Kumon Reading Program. “His reading improved, as well as his academic achievements,” said Maria, his mother. “I believe in the self-learning approach and the daily homework schedule to get kids in the habit of working towards their goal on a daily basis.” Albertus currently works as a Kumon Center assistant on a part-time basis while learning 12th-grade science to study Kinesiology when he enters university. He has a strong bond with all the students he interacts with at the center. “He not only benefitted academically, but also socially from being involved with the center,” said Maria. “He never felt out of place, even though he started the program as a ninth grader. This process helped him engage in many volunteer opportunities at school and church. He was awarded a citizenship and service award at his high school.” Albertus plans on becoming either a physiotherapist or physical education teacher. In the meantime, he loves helping kids at his center improve their work and academic skills needed for success. You might also be interested in: Discovering True Potential: An Early Learner’s Journey through Kumon Motivation is the Key to this Kumon Student’s Success How These Sisters’ Contrasting Perspectives Have Led to Success in Kumon Marcus and Xavier: Individuals in their own right, but on the same path towards learning success Overcoming Obstacles and Achieving Success with Kumon Overcoming Obstacles and Achieving Success with Kumon Albertus was first introduced to Kumon as an early teen. As a child, he was diagnosed with autism and language delays. Reading comprehension issues arose throughout childhood and it became more pronounced when he was about 14 years old. His mother heard of Kumon through professional acquaintances and was steadfast in enrolling her son in the Kumon Reading Program. Albertus, a ninth grader at the time, started the Kumon Reading Program at the Paragraph Building Skill Block level, usually geared towards fourth to sixth graders. Within a few months, his reading comprehension improved. Over the course of four years, he completed the entire Kumon Reading Program. “His reading improved, as well as his academic achievements,” said Maria, his mother. “I believe in the self-learning approach and the daily homework schedule to get kids in the habit of working towards their goal on a daily basis.” Albertus currently works as a Kumon Center assistant on a part-time basis while learning 12th-grade science to study Kinesiology when he enters university. He has a strong bond with all the students he interacts with at the center. “He not only benefitted academically, but also socially from being involved with the center,” said Maria. “He never felt out of place, even though he started the program as a ninth grader. This process helped him engage in many volunteer opportunities at school and church. He was awarded a citizenship and service award at his high school.” Albertus plans on becoming either a physiotherapist or physical education teacher. In the meantime, he loves helping kids at his center improve their work and academic skills needed for success. You might also be interested in: Discovering True Potential: An Early Learner’s Journey through Kumon Motivation is the Key to this Kumon Student’s Success How These Sisters’ Contrasting Perspectives Have Led to Success in Kumon Marcus and Xavier: Individuals in their own right, but on the same path towards learning success

5 Easy Tips to Prepare for Standardized Testing Season

5 Easy Tips to Prepare for Standardized Testing Season 5 Easy Tips to Prepare for Standardized Testing Season Help your child become a confident and prepared test-taker. For most around the country, the month of March kicks-off standardized testing season and that can leave parents feeling overwhelmed. Whether you have a grade schooler preparing for the state’s standardized test or a high schooler preparing for the SAT, testing can be stressful for the entire family. We hope this will help you start planning a few months out. There’s no secret formula when it comes to passing a standardized test. It’s important to remember that anxiety may hinder performance for the test taker, so take a deep breath and read through a few practical tips to help your child prepare for standardized assessments. Take practice tests. Many Department of Education state websites offer practice tests, which can help prepare children with understanding the test expectations, including the content and mechanics. SBAC and PARCC give assessments in many states and offer good examples of practice tests. If the test format seems familiar on test day, kids are more likely to feel comfortable and know what to do. Promote a positive attitude. Parents should promote a positive attitude towards learning and testing. Kids need to take tests seriously and be strategic, but also feel confident and mentally prepared. Parents can help children feel prepared for the test by encouraging children to visualize success on test day. In other words, ask children to close their eyes and imagine themselves taking the test and feeling great about it. Discuss what to do if you finish early. Sometimes kids finish the test early. It’s important to discuss that this is a good opportunity to double check and verify their answers for accuracy. Parents can coach them to review certain questions that were hard and use the process of elimination to rule out some of the answer choices. Eat well, exercise and rest. In the weeks leading up to the test, it is important for students to have adequate sleep (eight hours is recommended), eat balanced meals, drink plenty of water, and get exercise. Foods high in protein, and water help to stimulate the brain. Exercise, such as stretching and walking, helps to supply the brain with oxygen. Eating a healthy breakfast before school, particularly on the day of the test, gives the body the fuel it needs to maintain long periods of concentration. Plan enjoyable and relaxing activities. Trying to squeeze a little more preparation in immediately before the test is not advised because it can lead to feeling overwhelmed. Studying the day before or day of the test leads to increased anxiety and should be avoided. Instead, plan enjoyable activities to feel relaxed and ready. You might also be interested in: How does Kumon help prepare students to become successful standardized test-takers? Harvard Bound Kumon Dual Program Completer Gives Advice on College Admissions Process Fun and Easy Tips to Keep Kids Learning during the Holiday Season Fun and Easy Tips to Keep Kids Learning during the Holiday Season 5 Easy Tips to Prepare for Standardized Testing Season 5 Easy Tips to Prepare for Standardized Testing Season Help your child become a confident and prepared test-taker. For most around the country, the month of March kicks-off standardized testing season and that can leave parents feeling overwhelmed. Whether you have a grade schooler preparing for the state’s standardized test or a high schooler preparing for the SAT, testing can be stressful for the entire family. We hope this will help you start planning a few months out. There’s no secret formula when it comes to passing a standardized test. It’s important to remember that anxiety may hinder performance for the test taker, so take a deep breath and read through a few practical tips to help your child prepare for standardized assessments. Take practice tests. Many Department of Education state websites offer practice tests, which can help prepare children with understanding the test expectations, including the content and mechanics. SBAC and PARCC give assessments in many states and offer good examples of practice tests. If the test format seems familiar on test day, kids are more likely to feel comfortable and know what to do. Promote a positive attitude. Parents should promote a positive attitude towards learning and testing. Kids need to take tests seriously and be strategic, but also feel confident and mentally prepared. Parents can help children feel prepared for the test by encouraging children to visualize success on test day. In other words, ask children to close their eyes and imagine themselves taking the test and feeling great about it. Discuss what to do if you finish early. Sometimes kids finish the test early. It’s important to discuss that this is a good opportunity to double check and verify their answers for accuracy. Parents can coach them to review certain questions that were hard and use the process of elimination to rule out some of the answer choices. Eat well, exercise and rest. In the weeks leading up to the test, it is important for students to have adequate sleep (eight hours is recommended), eat balanced meals, drink plenty of water, and get exercise. Foods high in protein, and water help to stimulate the brain. Exercise, such as stretching and walking, helps to supply the brain with oxygen. Eating a healthy breakfast before school, particularly on the day of the test, gives the body the fuel it needs to maintain long periods of concentration. Plan enjoyable and relaxing activities. Trying to squeeze a little more preparation in immediately before the test is not advised because it can lead to feeling overwhelmed. Studying the day before or day of the test leads to increased anxiety and should be avoided. Instead, plan enjoyable activities to feel relaxed and ready. You might also be interested in: How does Kumon help prepare students to become successful standardized test-takers? Harvard Bound Kumon Dual Program Completer Gives Advice on College Admissions Process Fun and Easy Tips to Keep Kids Learning during the Holiday Season Fun and Easy Tips to Keep Kids Learning during the Holiday Season