Education tips and articles

Infant Education To Discipline

admin — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:10:23 +0000

Looking for infant education advice? Wondering why are some children are easier to discipline? It took educators more than 20 years of parent and baby watching to get the answer. Their conclusion is the deeper the parent-child connection, the easier discipline will be. And this connection starts to form at infant stage, and it depends on your infant education style. If you just had a baby, now it’s you time to start to build a solid connection with your baby. To help you appreciate the relationship between connection to your child and disciplining your child, In this page I will share with you some infant education tips:

1)Respond to your baby’s cries

Before your actually hold your baby in your arms you will wonder,”how will I always know what my baby needs?” You will learn quickly because your baby will let you know. The key is to listen and observe. Babies are born with their earlier and strongest language which is Cry. A baby’s cry is designed to ensure that his needs for food, holding, rest and social interaction are met. Your baby’s cry also builds up his parents’ parenting skills. Responding to your baby’s cries is your first practice in discipling your baby. Therefore, when your baby cries, pick him up and comfort him. Don’t waste your time wondering, ” Will spoil her?”, Just do it.

2) Breastfeed your baby

There is a special link between breastfeeding and discipline. Promoting desirable behavior requires that you know your child and help your child feel right. Breastfeeding helps you get to know your baby and provide the response that helps him feel right.

3) Wear your baby

Beginning in the early weeks, hold or wear your baby in a baby sling for as many hours a day as you and your baby enjoy. babywearing improves the way babies feel. The carried baby feels like a part of the parent’s world. babywearing helps the baby feel included and important, which creates a feeling of rightness that translates into better behavior and more opportunities for learning. The brain is stimulated through motion, increasing the baby’s intellectual capacity, a forerunner to the child’s ability to make appropriate sensory-motor adaptation in the future.

4)Play with your baby

What does playing have to do with discipline? you may wonder, play helps you know your baby’s capabilities and age-appropriate behaviors at each stage of development. It sets the stage for you and your baby or enjoy one another. It opens the door to a valuable discipline tool you will need at all stages of your child’s life—humor. To smile, laugh, and giggle your way through a situation sidesteps a conflict, gets the child’s attention, opening his mind to your discipline. Playing together gives your baby the message ” you are important to me.” a valuable feeling for growing self-esteem.

5)Share sleep with your baby

Every family needs to work out a sleeping arrangement where all sleep best, and many educators believe nightmare environment that can best strengthen your parent-child attachment allows for baby sleeping near you. and also share sleep with your baby, baby’s overall physiological system works better when baby sleeps next to the mother. The cardiorespiratory system is more regulated, less stressed, less anxiety.

6) Become a Facilitator

At each stage of development, a child needs significant people who care about him and whom he cares about. These people act as facilitators, helping the child learn how to conduct himself in the world. The facilitator anticipates what the child needs at each stage of development in order to thrive. Thinking of yourself as a facilitator keeps you from hovering over and smothering your child with overprotection. Being on standby as needed helps you and your child negotiate an appropriate level of independent.

A healthy attachment in infancy is likely to turn out a healthier adult. How a mother and infant spend the first year together makes a difference, probably for the rest of their lives.

By: Ginger Yao

Substitute Teaching: Ten Tips for Success

admin — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 13:58:29 +0000

You may be a recent university graduate with a teaching degree hoping to secure a teaching position, or you may be unable to work full time because you have small children at home. Whatever your reasons, substitute teaching can be a frustrating job if you’re not prepared.

School districts have expectations for substitute teachers. However, many times they fail to communicate those expectations. They assume new and inexperienced teachers know what to do.

Apply these 10 tips and you’ll become a successful substitute teacher – one who is appreciated by both the school district and the students.

1. Be prepared to work – If you know you may have to leave home early the next morning, have your clothes ready. Dress professionally, you will command more respect than those who dress casually. Print directions off the Internet to the school where you have been assigned. If you substitute in elementary schools make sure you wear a watch and have a whistle for recess duty.

2. Be Prompt and Dependable – Always arrive ahead of schedule so you have plenty of time to familiarize yourself with lesson plans and instructions the classroom teacher has prepared for you.

3. Follow the Lesson Plan – Never change the teacher’s lesson plan unless the teacher has failed to leave plans for the day. If you arrive in a classroom without lesson plans, call the office and ask for the teacher’s emergency sub plan. If there isn’t one available, ask the principal or buddy teacher what the students should be working on. It’s always good to bring along an emergency writing exercise, such as “Let Me Tell You About Me” or ” Let Me Tell You About my Favorite Pet.” This will keep students busy while you make plans for the day.

4. Whenever Possible, Teach – If you’re a licensed teacher and familiar with the subject area, then teach. If you are unfamiliar with the subject area, ask another teacher for help.

5. Be Friendly – Help your students feel comfortable with a positive and enthusiastic attitude. Greet students at the door as they arrive. Write your name on the board and introduce yourself.

6. Fulfill the Teacher’s Responsibilities – You’re expected to be the teacher on duty, whether that means outside recess, lunchroom supervision, or escorting students on a field trip.

7. Follow District Policies – Every classroom should have an emergency/evacuation plan posted. Familiarize yourself with the designated safe area and the lockdown procedure. Know how to handle a fire drill. Notify the principal, front office or nurse through the intercom system if there is a medical emergency in your classroom. Understand the district and school policy regarding phone and computer use. Never use district equipment for personal use.

8. Be Professional – Never discuss confidential information or behavioral problems with other parents or staff members. Speak with the principal if you have a concern about a particular student and leave a note for the teacher. Leave your views on religion, politics and education at home.

9. Leave a Note – At the end of the day, leave a note detailing the day’s events and what you accomplished. Explain any problems or changes you needed to make in the teacher’s lesson plans and why.

10. Maintain Records – Keep a record of who you substituted for, how long and when. If a payroll error is made you will have a record to refer to.

School districts depend on substitute teachers and are always eager to hire qualified applicants. Do a conscientious and professional job every time and your substitute teaching may lead to a permanent teaching position. But, above all, have fun and enjoy the kids.

By: Carol Boles

Constitution Activities – Tips to Engage Kids Through Song and Movement

admin — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 11:28:51 +0000

Educators looking for constitution activities for children ages 9-12 may get inspired by this approach. It is a provocative inroad to the study of the constitution with a fun and practical outplay. Here are a few questions to consider in preparing your constitution activities:

We the People

Who are “We the People”?
Who did the founding fathers mean by “We the People”?
How has the definition “the People” changed since 1787?
The Three Branches of Government
What is the structure of the federal government?
What did the founding fathers mean by “checks and balances?
How are we protected from misuse of power in our government?

Politics without politics

Politics is defined as the science and art of government. The constitution process is meant to be unbiased and neutral. How have current world affairs affected your view of the constitution?
What is the best cure for apathy or cynicism? How to pro-actively prevent apathy and cynicism in your students?
What activities demonstrate CARE for the integrity of the constitution?

Now you have a premise for planning your constitution activities. Here are a few suggestions for projects and activities that affirm our value for the U.S. Constitution: activities that can all lead to and support learning a powerful and evocative song called “We the People”.

Visit your state capitol.
Visit your town or city”s courts of justice.
Visit the police department.
Visit the department of education.
Find out what environmental laws exist in your state.
Who protects the planet?
Who protects the air and water?
Write a congressman/woman.
Write the mayor.
Create a government for a day in your classroom.
Clean up a street.
Clean up a hallway.
Clean up a park

ASK THE BIG QUESTIONS!

Now, these are few starter constitution activities for you and the children in your care. And finally, here is a gift from our school to your school, from our community to your community, from our hearts and minds to yours. It is a song written with the help of a group of 4th and 5th graders in a public school in Santa Fe, New Mexico as a result of their own constitution activities. We hope you enjoy it! We’re making it available at: http://www.constitution-activity.com.

Listen to the song and follow along with the lyrics provided.

Sing along with the song (in various groupings) using the lyrics provided.

Take some time to open up these questions, the children will give their own examples that can be written on the board:

Who are we the people? (our true democracy)
What do we say no to? (our moral compass)
What are we free to do? (our rights)

Re-look at the lyrics of the song and have the children find movements that work with the song (can be full body or just hand movements). You can look at the YouTube video of “We the People” for ideas; (insert link)
Sing the song again with the added movements.

By: Paul A. Zeir

Homework Tips – Increasing The Number Of Students Who Complete The Homework

admin — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 10:35:11 +0000

I have recently written about the importance of designing more creative homework assignments as a way to increase the percentage of students who actually complete the homework.

For example, I often have students write journal entries or letters as if they were someone from the time period we are studying. Of course, I set guidelines for the assignment, but I allow them to be creative at the same time. I see many more students complete their homework when I offer these types of assignments.

Well, another great way teachers can improve their homework completion rate is by giving the students a choice of homework assignments.

Here’s how my own students taught me this lesson…

One day a few weeks ago my homework assignment was to create a journal entry when one of my students asked if she could write a letter instead. I told the student that it would be fine as long as she followed all the same guidelines as the journal entry assignment. A few other students then asked if they could do the same and of course I told them they could.

Then, just this past week, we watched excerpts from the movie Glory about the first African-American regiment in the Civil War (great movie by the way). After watching the movie I was going to have the students write a journal entry as if they were one of the soldiers in the Massachusetts 54th Regiment. However, at the last minute I decided to give them a choice of three different assignments. The students could either write a journal entry, a letter to or from one of the soldiers, or they could write a movie review. In all cases though, they had to include the date and certain key terms that I picked out. In fact, the objectives of each assignment were exactly the same.

The result was great! Not only did I have a high percentage of students completing the homework, but the quality of their homework was very impressive.

Granted, the fact that the students loved the movie certainly contributed, but I can’t help but think that the major factor was that they had a choice in the assignment.

How do I know for certain?

They told me! Several students actually thanked me for giving them a choice…now when’s the last time a teacher got thanked for a homework assignment?

By: Adam Waxler

Tips on Getting A Scholarship

admin — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 04:53:44 +0000

Not all of us is aware of the process you have to follow in order to get a scholarship and in their confusion many parents or significant others simply fail to save on thousands of dollars spent on the education of their children. Financial aid like scholarships and grants are basically money gifted to students or pupils to help them get through college or university and can be in various forms. They are different from student loans in the sense that they don’t have to be paid back.

This kind of education financing can be paid either directly to the student or paid to the university or college to make up for the fees. Several agencies award scholarships including government, clubs, charities, businesses, schools and even cooperative organization. Parents and students should be aware it is not only the top performing students who are eligible for a scholarship. As a matter of fact, almost every student can get scholarships depending on his or her abilities.

Another misconception about this way to finance your education is it is available only to high school students who are seeking admission in college. Fact is such financial grants are available to all levels of college or university studies, right from freshman years to graduates and even PhD students.

Scholarships can be applied for on a variety of reasons right from your abilities to your following a certain religion. The range of this study financing option available include athletic scholarships, scholarships for students in a particular field of study or even scholarships for students living or studying in a particular city or state. The sources for scholarships are also literally unlimited – even a simple internet search would reveal numerous sources.

To get the scholarship you want you need to do some grunt work first. The first step is to take the initiative and apply for it. Look for scholarship grants where their criteria match your position and after you find them, contact the provider and ask for an application form. Many scholarship providers allow you to download their application forms from their website while others require you to send a self-addressed stamped envelope.

Be careful to follow all the deadlines set by the scholarship providers – for filling in and submitting the forms, providing all your necessary documentation and appearing for an interview if they call you for one. Be organized in your scholarship applications – keep all necessary documents including reference and recommendation letters as well as course transcripts ready at hand so that you don’t need to run around for them at the last minute.

Always make copies of all your completed applications before submitting them and file them properly with all necessary details for easy reference. If your mail copy is lost by accident, you can always send in a follow up copy from the one you made. Last but not least, stay positive about yourself and your chances of getting a scholarship. The hard work you put in and the time you spent towards searching for scholarships will definitely bring you decent results.

By: Nic Haffner

6 Tips For the Independent Student

admin — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 14:42:10 +0000

The Internet has become a huge source of information, and people are happily sharing their knowledge. Article bases like GoArticles, EzineArticles and Squidoo publish articles teaching every possible field, contributed by people from all over the world. Not to mention the fact that Wikipedia is always there with its huge base of academically reviewed essays. Do you wish to learn to play the drums? Have you always wished to know how to draw a car? The Net is there for you. For some, studying independently using the Internet is better than using traditional learning establishments.

If you are one of these independent students, you’ll need more than a computer to achieve your goal. The Internet is just a tool. The real work is to use it wisely. Having no teachers, tests or homework makes studying more pleasant, but not less demanding. These tips will help you focus on your studies:

1. Come determined. You want to learn? Excellent! No one will stand in your way. One problem though: there’s no one egging you on. So egg yourself on.

2. Define your goals. You must sit down and carefully draw up your studies’ goals. What would you like to study? What would you like to do with the knowledge you accumulate? In what ways would you like to implement this knowledge? Answer these questions so you can draw up an efficient study plan.

3. Create a study schedule. Since you’re working independently, you can study whenever you choose. But it’s still advisable to create regular study hours and make them into a weekly habit. In addition, check to see that the time you can spare fits the goals you have set for yourself. If you want to learn to speak Spanish fluently within a year, allocating 1 hour per week might not be enough.

4. Scour the Net. Let the cramming begin! Use the search engines and Internet knowledge bases.

5. Practice makes perfect. I know, no teacher will review your work, but you must still practice and implement the theoretical knowledge as best you can.

6. Enjoy yourself. This may not sound like a tip, but I insist upon reminding you to enjoy your studies. Working alone can be tiring and frustrating, but the satisfaction from acquiring knowledge is wonderful recompense.

Good luck!

By: Alison Peters

Tips and Benefits of Getting Driving Instructor Lessons For a Lucrative Career

admin — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 00:48:10 +0000

Driving has become one of the most essential requirements these days and that is why there are many driving instructor training schools available to learn the art of driving but the ideal one should have the most qualified instructors who understand your needs.

Since the demand for driving training has increased so much, there is also a corresponding hike in the demand for driving instructors. After taking the driver instructor training, any one can become a trainer within 12 weeks and get a considerable stream of income. There are so many courses for driving instructors that any one can take driving lessons to fulfill their needs. These courses provide a certain amount of guarantee to the trained to get jobs. All that is required to become a certified trainer after taking these driving lessons is to clear the criminal record check.

The reason why it has become so easy to become a driving coach is due to the lack of any barriers in this profession. No prior experience is required to start working as a driving instructor. Also, since the trainer gets the option of choosing his working hours as per his own desires, he gets the job flexibility unlike any other career. As a result, this kind of a professional choice is apt for people who can not get time for a regular career because they are pursuing their university education.

The qualities of incomes that can be earned in this career depend largely on the kind of driving instructor coaching that you have received. This training should be able to make you the kind of driver who can adhere to the driving standards set by the driving standards agency (DSA).

Well, the other noticeable benefit of becoming a driving trainer is that no boss sits on your head telling you what to do. Also, the working years are not fixed and you can opt for a retirement whenever you want without any hiccups because you have earned well in your earlier years.

If you have made your mind to opt for the profession of a driving trainer, then choose a driving coach training school that has a high amount of pass rate on the final exam of a driving instructor. Also, the school should be officially registered with the official registrar of driving instructor trainers. It is not worthwhile to opt for a driving training school that can not even guarantee passing the driver’s examination to its students.

An aspirant can also get the opportunity to drive in actual conditions in his car during the course of his/her training. Some of the students are also picked by the driving school for positions of driving instructors. They can continue working with the school or open their own driving school for higher professional gain. The biggest benefit of taking driving lessons is that even if the driving instructor starts his own venture, his old clients follow him suit. The driving instructor training school also provides him complete assistance with the paperwork and other intricacies to start the venture.

Well, the most tangible reason of taking driving lessons is that you have hold of a fully maintained car throughout the day. So, get the lessons and get on the road for teaching driving and earning huge money.

By: Fiona Livnat

Character Education in the Christian Classroom

admin — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 00:15:20 +0000

Young Christians in our classrooms sometimes have a very hard time overcoming bad behaviors. As a teacher, you need to remind them what a person of good character is like.

You, of course, are their strongest model in the classroom. You need to model all the good character traits you would like them to exhibit. Slowly, with your guidance and the Holy Spirit working in their hearts, you will see a class full of solid character.

Try these tips to help you promote Christian Character Education:

Pray for the Holy Spirit to help each student become a “new creation.” “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” 2 Corinthians 5:17 Survey students about what makes strong character. Keep them focused on themselves at this point, so they don’t judge each other. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23 List each trait on the board. Next to each one, see if students can think of anyone that has shown that trait. The person doesn’t have to be the perfect portrayal of that trait, but they should be able to see the trait clearly. Follow the list of traits with one or more of these activities: Students find Bible verses that address each trait. List people from Bible history that fit traits. Look through hymn or songbooks for songs of faith that address each trait. Develop skits for each trait. They can be based on modern-day experiences or biblical accounts.

If you want your classroom to develop better character, keep reminding students of their good qualities, the ones that you discussed in class. Remember they are saints and sinners, so don’t always expect them to be perfect. Give them encouragement more often than correction, and you will see more positive traits then negative ones very soon.

“You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Galatians 5:13-14

By: Stephenie Hovland

Cooking With Kids – Fun And Educational

admin — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 18:49:32 +0000

Cooking is a pure joy, it allows us to create something new with our own recipes or bring back fond childhood memories with a meal from mom’s or grandma’s house. Do you remember as a child making cookies with mom or grandma? Be able to put on the little apron and dump in the flour, or stir in the chocolate chips, or set the cherries in the middle. Cooking is fun and it is a wonderful opportunity to bond with your child.

I would say depending on the age of your child and their maturity, will help let you decide when to let them help in the kitchen. My children started around 2 with adding ingredients and getting to stir the bowl. My son’s favorite thing to do is still to be the one that gets to crack open the egg. Both of my children cook, I have encouraged it for many reasons, one is because it prepares them for the future.

It is important that children know how to cook and prepare their own meals. One it helps as adults that know how to cook their own food, which is going to be healthier then fast food and more cost effective. But you really don’t have to wait til they are out on their own to see the benefits. Your children come home from school and have to be home for awhile by themselves. It is nice if they can prepare their own snack, whether it be heat up left overs, make mac and cheese, or soup.

While you have your child cooking with you explain to them why you chose the ingredients that you did. How you picked the green beans. What you can look for to make sure that you have tender steaks, sweet melons, ripe bananas and so on. Let them touch it so they know what fresh food feels like.

Plus have you ever noticed that kids are more likely to eat something if they make it themselves. They say their hungry and you offer to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and they don’t want it, but ten minutes later they make it themselves and eat it.

My daughter and son both enjoy creating their own recipes for us to try. They haven’t made a bad one yet. My son’s favorite recipes that he created himself are “Turds” and “Turds on Toilet Paper”. It sound disgusting yes, but actually it is pretty good. He came up with the ingredients and how he wanted to cook it, I was only allowed to watch him in his little white apron as he made us dinner. He is nine, hence the name of the recipe. My daughter comes up with smoothies, and veggie dips and rice dishes. Having them create and experiment with food is fun. They enjoy it, we enjoy it, it creates nice family quality time.

If you don’t feel that your child is ready to create their own recipes, teach them easy dishes to prepare for themselves. Scrambled eggs, soup or pasta, spaghetti, mashed potatoes (out of a box), toaster pastries, toaster waffles, sloppy joes, frozen pizzas and oatmeal just to name a few.

Bringing the little one’s into the kitchen and having fun with them is a wonderful way to teach them independence and build self confidence because once they learn to cook you are giving them a sense of freedom. The old adage, “Bring a man a fish and he eats for a day, teach the man how to fish and he eats for a lifetime.” This is true for our children as well.

By: C. Steendahl

Tips in Studying Geometry

admin — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 11:38:39 +0000

According to van Hiele Model of Thinking in Geometry, geometry learning has 5 levels: 0 to 4. The zero (0) level is visual. Objects are reviewed based on appearance. First (1) level deals with the analysis of an object’s properties and components. Second (2) level is the informal logical deduction of the interrelation of properties. The third (3) level is deductive theorem proving. The fourth (4) level is proving theorems and postulates.

In remote cultures, solving problems in geometry is intuitive in their way of life. The Munduruku people for example have a practical understanding of geometric laws. For students in civilized places however, they perceive geometry to be hard.

Geometry is simple to understand. Always start with the basic shape properties in proving theorems and axioms. Here are some tips to help to make geometry easier to understand:

Understand the problem. Determine what is given and what is needed. Master the basic properties of shapes.

Be open-minded. There are many ways to get to the solution of the problem. Translate the problem with pictures and diagrams as illustration.

Memorize the theorems, postulates and axioms. Use flashcards whenever necessary.

Study the proper usage of a compass, protractors, squares, calculator, and ruler to create realistic diagrams.

Learning does not take place in a day. It takes continuous studying, perseverance and commitment to master the subject.

Translate theoretical problems to practical problems to better understand.

Children have a lower memory recall. It is better to teach them geometry through practical methods. Show a ball and tell them it is round. Give them a block and make them count the sides.

Create a fun yet educating experience and environment for the students/learners. Incorporate geometry in real life experiences.

Access educational online games when there is idle time. Geometry learning is made fun thru “Quest for Einstein”. This game involves calculations and visual coordination for problem solving.

Solve as many problems as possible for practice.

By: David Urmann