Why Learn French Here are 10 Great Reasons

Why Learn French Here are 10 Great Reasons Why Study French and Immerse Yourself in The Language and Culture? Chapters1.           Learn Useful New Language Skills2.       A Level French is a Valuable Qualification3.           Language Proficiency Helps You Have an International Career4.           Make New French-Speaking Friends All Over the World5.           Travel Happy and Learn French in France6.           Immerse Yourself in Francophone Culture7.           Make the Most of Your Young Brain8.           Improve Your Cognitive Function9.           Improve Your Understanding of English and Language Skills10. Develop Your Communication and Comprehension SkillsThey say your school years are the best years of your life â€" but why?Though it may seem boring even at the best of times, school is full of opportunity â€" but it’s up to you to make the most of it!Whether it’s meeting new people, joining a sports team or learning a new skill, when it comes to finding out who you really are, school is a great place to discover your strengths and weaknesses.Being able to learn a foreign language is, without a doubt, one of the most important parts of the national curriculum but surprisingly few students are passionate about learning to speak a new language.In the UK, schools typically offer lessons in French, German or Spanish with French being the most widely-taught language GCSE in the classroom.But as native speakers of English, aren’t UK schoolchildren wasting their time when everyone speaks English? So why learn French anyway?Unfortunately, the stereotypical British attitude when it comes to learning languages does have a degree of truth to it â€" and as numbers of students taking a language at university plummet, the problem is getting worse.Languages are a valuable asset for anyone. Whether you’re a beginner student or businessperson â€" but why is it so important to learn them while you’re at school? And why should French be your language of choice?If you’re a school pupil trying to decide whether learning French is for you, Superprof has ten fantastic reas ons to convince you to take up a language course. AnnieFrench Teacher 4.89 (9) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors CarolineFrench Teacher 5.00 (13) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LowriFrench Teacher 5.00 (9) £90/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarianneFrench Teacher 5.00 (8) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ThibautFrench Teacher 5.00 (3) £19/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AnnickFrench Teacher 5.00 (6) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors DéborahFrench Teacher 5.00 (10) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SamyFrench Teacher 5.00 (2) £100/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors1.           Learn Useful New Language SkillsNo one can deny the usefulness of knowing how to speak a foreign language which is as widely-spoken as French.Did you know that there are over 220 million French speakers worldwide?With France just next door, maintaining good neighbourly relations can only be a good thing!The skil l of being able to speak French can be most useful when you least expect it.Your French conversational skills can turn into negotiating skills ¦ source: VisualhuntFor instance, if you work in a café and some French customers arrive, being able to take their order in French can make their visit all the more pleasant and even reflect well on you as a member of staff.French is an international language which has made its mark on the world in many ways.From the technical terms of ballet to borrowed words such as rapport and ensemble, being able to understand the true meaning of words at their origin will only enrich your experience of life.2.       A Level French is a Valuable QualificationAs your teachers will tell you, languages look great on a CV.The unique opportunity to gain a GCSE and A level qualification in French for free which is only available at school is not to be passed up.Even if you’re not 100% fluent, having a French qualification on your job applications will dem onstrate a level of self-discipline to employers that is highly prized in the world of work.A level French is particularly useful when it comes to applying for university, as it gives you the option to take a joint-honours course in your area of interest alongside studying French. This means that once you graduate, you will be fluent - and that makes you a highly attractive employee.3.           Language Proficiency Helps You Have an International CareerWith Brexit on the horizon and the UK soon to be going it alone in the global economy, languages are now more important than ever before.As a non-native speaker of French, not only will you be able to work for French companies, but you’ll also be incredibly useful to those looking to expand and strengthen their trade links.So, if you like the sound of a job that lets you travel, learn French could open the door for you!Our capital city being so global, it's no wonder so many Londoners search for French courses London!4.           M ake New French-Speaking Friends All Over the WorldWe all know that school is a great place to make new friends â€" but have you thought about making friends that don’t live in the UK?Most schools offer language exchange programmes where students a paired with French pupils of the same age and host each other for a week.Not only do French exchanges give you a good excuse to travel, they also put you in touch with someone in the same situation as you: a school pupil learning a second language.If you ever need a hand with your grammar exercises or oral tests, you’ll have someone to call ¦ source: Pixabay - Melanie SchwolertBy the end of your French exchange, not only will you have improved your language skills, you will also have befriended a native French speaker!Making new friends isn’t limited to school exchange programmes, either. With knowledge of such a widely-spoken language, you can meet new French-speaking people wherever you go! AnnieFrench Teacher 4.89 (9) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors CarolineFrench Teacher 5.00 (13) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LowriFrench Teacher 5.00 (9) £90/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarianneFrench Teacher 5.00 (8) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ThibautFrench Teacher 5.00 (3) £19/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AnnickFrench Teacher 5.00 (6) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors DéborahFrench Teacher 5.00 (10) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SamyFrench Teacher 5.00 (2) £100/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors5.           Travel Happy and Learn French in FranceIt goes without saying that knowing how to speak French makes traveling a lot easier â€" especially if you’re traveling in Europe.Whether you’re confused about the metro system in Paris or you need directions to the piscine, speaking any level of French will make you a far more confident traveler.6.           Immerse Yourself in Francophone CultureFrance and French-speaking countries have an incredibly rich culture.The history, architecture, art, and cuisine of the cultures associated with the French language are known all over the world for their prowess.But can’t you enjoy all of these things without knowing the language?The answer to this question is yes, of course â€" except you won’t know what you’re missing out on until you experience French culture in its own language.Being able to communicate with people who make up a culture in their own language removes the risk of anything being lost in translation.So, whether you’re talking to locals in French, taking city tours with a French-speaking guide or reading the French descriptions in art galleries, learning about a culture in its own language is always the best way to fully immerse yourself within it.7.           Make the Most of Your Young BrainWhen you’re at school, you’re constantly reminded of the importance of core subjects such as maths and English â€" so, why w orry about learning a second language? Haven’t you got enough on your plate?Countless studies have shown that the best time to take on a second language is in early adolescence.People who learn a language before the age of 15 are more likely to be better at pronunciation in their second language than those who learn in adulthood.There are two main reasons as to why youngsters are more successful at picking up languages:Their brains are wired to do so â€" children and teens are more inclined to soak up information around them than adultsClassrooms provide the optimum environment for learning, with few distractions and plenty of other students to practice withIf you want to reap the rewards of learning a language, the trick is to start early and take advantage of the opportunities at school!8.           Improve Your Cognitive FunctionIf you’re interested in studying art or creative writing, studying a language could give you a boost! This is because learning a second language has been shown to increase levels of creativity and even slow the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.Unlock your full potential by learning French ¦ source: Pixabay - SeanbattySo, learning a language is a bit like a workout for your brain: it makes it stronger, keeps it healthy and it has also been shown to make the brain physically grow in size!9.           Improve Your Understanding of English and Language SkillsOne little-known benefit of learning how to speak French is that it can help you get to know English.But surely if English is your first language, there is nothing left to understand?This is another point which you won’t be able to appreciate until you experience it for yourself.Here are just a couple of ways that learning French can help your English language skills:Vocabulary: As English and French are so closely related thanks to the Norman conquest of 1066, many of our words are rooted in French. This nearly always when you come across an unfamiliar English word â€" all you have to do is look at it closely for any French roots which might help you to decipher the meaning. For example, let’s take the word ‘pulmonary’. If you’ve never come across this adjective before, but you know that the French word for ‘lung’ is ‘poumon’, you’ll likely be able to figure it out with some context.Grammar: English grammar can be difficult at the best of times but getting to grips with grammatical terms and learning about verb agreements and tenses can be useful whenever you find yourself stuck on the correct way to write a sentence. Your new knowledge of the meaning of noun, adverb and subordinate clause will make understanding grammar rules far easier.10. Develop Your Communication and Comprehension SkillsLearning to speak French demands a lot of practice, not only in the classroom but in the real world, too.As daunting as it may be in the beginning to order your first meal in French, throwing yourself in the deep end will work wonders for your self- confidence in any language.Being able to communicate effectively and confidently is a highly-sought quality by employers which will enable you to find opportunities and make the most of them.

What is the Right Option for Increasing Your Childs Academic Ability Try a Highly Skilled Online Tutor

What is the Right Option for Increasing Your Child’s Academic Ability Try a Highly Skilled Online Tutor 0SHARESShare Academic ability is a skill that comes more by practice than by sheer expansion of knowledge. It is every mom, dad’s dream to see their child in the height of academic ability and fetch maximum scores possible to soar high in the sky of education. The child may be mentally gifted, yet, he/she needs a highly potential back up to throw himself open to the competitive scenario of the educational world and to beat every other one in the arena. Who can be that potential back up and how could he help? A highly skilled online tutor: It can be a proper quality tutor online, who could gauge the efficiencies and deficiencies of your child and fathom a deep remedial course for him to make him fill the skill gaps he has in subjects.  He can sit with your child and find out what academic skill the child requires to come up with his studies. Some may have memory loss, some may miss the concept by just a slip of understanding, and some may not like the approach towards a particular subject as handled by the school teacher, leading to a negative impact upon the subject. This especially happens in cases of Science and Math that the child loses the attitude for the subject. A math tutor online really undertakes a building block approach in enhancing the academic ability of your child in Math. He makes the child love the subject first, and then slowly turn his attention     towards the learning skills. He shares the whiteboard and pen to do the homework with kid and corrects the child wherever necessary The diagnostic tests and pre interviews conducted by the online tutor enable him to recognize the basic cavities in the learning aspects of the child and he tries to uproot them. The result is the fresh attitude and a positive impact upon the child’s mind and the following paraphernalia of increased academic ability of the child.  Enthusiasm to learn is the real secret of academic ability and that is brought to the limelight by the e-tutor, whose initial patience pays rewards afterwards. The support of online tutoring websites Many of the live tutoring websites procure tutors who are proficient in catering revisions, reviews and tests to assure the strength of a child’s subject knowledge that he is able to do all those tests and the other essential parts of academics with ease and efficiency. Academic ability is sure to improve in your child, if you concentrate on the right tutor. [starbox id=admin]

Other Words for Hungry in English - English Lesson via Skype

Other Words for Hungry in English - English Lesson via Skype In this post youre going to learn other words for hungry in English.  In the video lesson below I give you 5 alternative words instead of hungry. For those of you who prefer reading, please scroll down and read the full transcript below.And if you want to enrich your English vocabulary with new words, dont forget to check my other words for difficult lesson. Other Words for Hungry in English Hi there. Im Harry and welcome back. What I got to talk to you today about is the word hungry and were looking at alternative words that mean the same or can be used instead of hungry in English. When were  talking in British English, we like to  use different words.  Just to show that we  have a knowledge and a good wide  vocabulary.And its important when  youre doing exams when youre writing letters or communicating with people that you dont use the same word all the time.Particularly if youre doing an exam. The examiners like to see and test  you to see the breadth of your  English vocabulary so its really important to  have alternative words.Okay.  So were  talking as I said about  the word HUNGRY.And HUNGRY means you want something to  eat.So Im sure youve all been in that  situation where youve come home from  work, come home from studying in the  university or youve been playing a  football match and youre really really  hungry and you want something to eat.  So  how do you te ll somebody?  Well,  you can  just simply say:Oh God,  Im really hungry. Whats to eat?  Whats in the fridge? Whats in the cupboards?Okay.Its a very  simple word.  Or you could say:Im feeling hungry. We need something to eat and  something to drink.So the alternative word that we can use instead of HUNGRY is FAMISHED  F A M I S H E DSo you come home  and you say:Oh look I havent eaten for  days or it feels like I havent eaten  for days. Im famished. Whats to eat? Whats for dinner?  Whats in the  cupboards?Okay. Famished F A M I S H E DWe can also say  an expression I COULD EAT A HORSE  You  often hear this in British English.  I  could eat a horse. Are you hungry? Yeah,  I could eat a horse.Meaning Im really hungry.  Yeah I could  eat a horse.You go to the restaurant and its one of  these all-you-can-eat for ten dollars. Amazing if you go to America, you see  lots of these restaurants with a sign or  you can eat.  Ten dollars breakfast. All-you-can-eat  ten dollars.  And so you  go in so great and really hungry I could  a horse.  Okay. Other Words for Hungry - Infographic Don't keep this to yourself. Tell the world! Another word we can use instead of HUNGRY is  STARVING Are you hungry? Yeah,  Im  starving.Meaning I dont think Ive eaten for days. In fact, you probably have, but you just have that feeling that Im starving.Usually the young kids and the young school goers or the University  students in your house  use STARVINGOh God,  Im  starving.They may have had a really wonderful breakfast and by the time it  gets to the lunchtime they are starving. Meaning they are very very hungry.Okay.YOUR STOMACH IS RUMBLINGThis is another expression to show that you are  hungry and you would  like something to  eat.Yeah my stomachs rumbling.Meaning  its making noises,  its talking to me, its telling me that its time that I  ate.So MY STOMACH IS RUMBLINGOr you can  simply say I’M FEELING A LITTLE PECKISHand A LITTLE PECKISH  is not meaning  youre absolutely starving but you could  eat something.  So its a little bit more  polite.You go to your friend and you you greet her and she greets you and she  says : Come on in and sit down, Ill put the kettle on and we’ll have a cup of tea.Would you like something to eat? I  dont  mind,  Im a little peckish.It is quite likely that you really are hungry but you just don’t want to seem rude and say:  â€˜Yeah,  what youve got? Whats in the fridge? Whats in the  cupboard?’  Instead you say ‘Im a little peckish’If youre going to have something:  â€˜I can  have something with you’.  Okay.  So PECKISH meaning youre willing to pick pick pick  like a bird.Im a little peckish, Ill eat something small but only if you want  to have something as well.Okay.And then one last expression that  we sometimes hear isMY STOMACH THINKS THAT MY THROAT HAS BEEN CUTOkay. So this is quite a long expression but really what its saying is I havent eaten for so long that my stomach thinks that my  throat has been cut.I havent eaten for such a long time. My stomach thinks that my throat has been cut.Okay.  So heres some alternative  words instead  of HUNGRY:st arvingfamishedI could eat a horsemy stomach is  rumblingIm a little peckishmy stomach thinks  that my throat has been cutOkay.  So you  can use all of those in certain  circumstances as a synonym for HUNGRY.Okay.  So enjoy using your English,  enjoy  eating your food and remember to  subscribe to our Channel and join me on  www.englishlessonviaskype.com  and if  you look down on the link below youll  come across all our wonderful English  courses on English grammar that will be  really useful for you and you can buy  them at very reasonable prices.And were  going to have some very good news in the  very near future so watch out for that  and join me again soon.

How to Study for the New SAT at Home In a Week to a Month - Private Tutoring

How to Study for the New SAT at Home â€" In a Week to a Month Anna L Aug 1, 2018 Find a Top Rated SAT Tutor Near You! It's Simple and Secure - Get Real Results Fast. Find Expert Private Tutors at Reasonable Rates Today! InPerson or Online Online InPerson Trying to how to study for the new SAT at home and F.A.S.T.  like in a week or a month?   For students planning to attend college, there may be nothing more important than successful SAT results â€" at least right this moment in time! The big question that still remains is exactly how to study for the SAT. There is nothing wrong with wanting perfection, and perfect SAT results are possible for some. With a little time and effort, there is no reason to achieve anything less than your absolute best. Creating effective study habits is no simple task, and time must be spent in order to gain the academic success you deserve, but the good news is that it can be done. There is a plethora of information out there that offers statistics, advice and preparation tactics. Read on to find out options that you can use starting now. How to Prepare for the SAT Exam at Home Like most major exams, timing is crucial. Last minute cramming is certainly not the ideal way to go, but sometimes that’s the only option that you have! In order to achieve your best results, you must start as early as possible. In saying that, if you have left it a little late, there are several steps you can take to reach your SAT goals in a much shorter time frame. If you are time-poor, this article will outline ways you can study for the SAT in a month, or even a week! How is the SAT Scored Learning the scoring system for the SAT will not automatically mean you score highly â€" there is no way to ‘play the system’, so to speak. However, having an idea of how the process works can help prepare you. In each section of the SAT, you will receive a raw score. This is simply the number of questions you answered correctly, much like many other tests you take. Although, unlike many other tests, you will not lose marks for any missed or incorrect answers. The process gets a little more complicated as the SAT compares students who take different tests. The College Board equates the scores based on the difficulty of the test to ensure fair comparisons can be made. For example, a March Math test may be deemed more difficult than the May Math test, therefore a lower raw score in March will be equal to a higher one in May.  Confused yet? The new SAT, delivers a maximum equated Math score of 800, and a combined Reading and Writing score of 600. While this may still sound a little complicated, the bottom line is very straightforward â€" achieve the highest raw score possible. In other words, answer as many questions correctly as you can! Let’s look at ways you can do that. SAT Reading Tips Even if you are a math genius and can expect your exceptional math abilities to carry you to a high SAT total, many colleges will still require a strong reading score. Also, increasing your SAT reading score will obviously help boost your total, opening more doors and increasing your chances of acceptance into more colleges. For those who are more math-brained, it’s going to be a relief to know that success in the Reading section can easily be achieved even if you don’t consider yourself a strong reader. Here are some useful, and achievable strategies to boost your reading score. Pay attention to time â€" one of the most common problems with most tests is running out of time. The questions in the reading section are not ordered according to skill level. In other words, the simplest question may be at the end and it would be silly to spend the bulk of your time on a difficult question earlier on in the test. Skim read the passage and then move on to the questions. Refer back to the passage after each question, focus on the part of the passage that is relevant to the question. You do not need to understand the entire passage in extensive detail, so don’t waste your time doing so. Finally, set yourself a time limit to answer each question. If you haven’t answered in this time, move on, allowing yourself the opportunity to answer more questions. You can always come back to the question at the end if you have time. Look for wrong answers â€" this may seem counterintuitive, but eliminating the answers that you know are wrong is often far easier than trying to identify the only correct one (remember, there is only one correct answer). Look for answer options that are too specific or too broad, or answers that sound plausible but are irrelevant or have a reversed relationship. Even if you can only eliminate two answers, you are then guessing between two options instead of four, which greatly increases your chances of choosing correctly. Use official SAT practice papers â€" reading any old passages and answering the questions may sound like a good idea, after all, you have been told to practice, practice, practice! But if you do not practice using SAT-style passages, you will never understand the type of questions and therefore be unable to develop appropriate and effective strategies. SAT Math Tips By boosting your SAT math score, you will boost your overall, combined score. This may seem rather obvious, but think of it in terms of increasing the number colleges you could potentially be accepted into. Whether math is your strong point or an area of weakness, try these tips to improve your score. Understand your weaknesses â€" you probably have a fair idea of the areas that need improving, so focus on these. You may be fine with the knowledge of the content, but struggle with the time pressure. Either way, completing practice paper after practice paper will help you. Either focus on your weaker topics to improve your knowledge, or simply practice completing the questions at a faster rate (whilst maintaining accuracy) to ensure you will have enough time to answer all Learn from your mistakes â€" work hard to figure out where you go wrong. Be specific and thorough. It’s no good just reading through the explanations, you must learn exactly where you went wrong â€" it’s the only way to ensure that you are as prepared as possible come test day. SAT Writing Tips The writing section of the SAT can be strenuous and stressful. Time limitations often mean students don’t answer all questions, or make silly mistakes in the ones they do. Alleviating the stress and achieving positive results can be done simultaneously if you follow these simple SAT writing strategies: Learn the grammar rules â€" there’s no way around this one. Learn them. Write them down, read them aloud, have somebody test you. Use the most effective learning strategy for you to ensure these rules stay embedded in your brain because you will need them. Understand rhetoric question types â€" find effective ways to construct sentences and passages. The best way to do this is, like every other section, is to practice. SAT questions are unique and take some getting used to, so find as many official practice papers as you can and complete them. Be wary of ‘no change’ answers â€" in the SAT writing section, one of your answer options is likely to be ‘no change’. Of course, there are times when the sentence structure and grammar are spot on. However, if you find yourself choosing this answer option the majority of the time, chances are you just don’t know enough grammar rules. Take this as a hint to go back and learn the grammar rules and become more familiar with appropriate sentence structure. Develop Effective Study Habits You’ve heard the story before â€" someone spends hours and hours studying and achieves poor results. While this disappointing, it’s not surprising. Studying isn’t always about the hours you put in, it’s about how you spend those hours. Let’s face it, students are busy people and time isn’t something they have a lot of, so it’s important to use it wisely. Learn your areas of weakness, in all sections of the SAT, and work to improve those. Spend a small amount of time each study session using the skills you are competent at so you don’t lose them completely, but focus on those you have most difficulty with. Completing as many practice papers as possible will help you identify these areas. The key to the success lies in three simple areas: Learn the types of questions asked in the SAT, Use your existing skills to develop strategies to answer the questions, and Practice! How to Study for the SAT in a Week to a Month â€" What to do when you are running out of time! If you are concerned that you have left your SAT preparation too late, don’t worry. Actually, you don’t really need to do anything different than the strategies already mentioned. You simply need to make adjustments. For example, you may not have time to amend all your weaknesses, so focus on the biggest weaknesses that know you can fix in your limited time. There are a few things you can still do to optimize your results. Put everything that you can aside for this brief time period and FOCUS on your prep work!   Enlist some support and some help from family, teachers and tutors that know how to study as well as the areas that you are weak. Study hard for shorter time periods while taking study breaks to enable you to stay focused and alert enough to cram all that you need to.   Healthy eating and sleep are also going to be critical during this time period.   And no matter what â€" just remember, it’s one test.   One piece of the overall package that schools look at. The SATs have caused issues and angst for students for decades now.   As a part of your application process there is nothing you can do to avoid the test, barring simply not applying to any schools that require the exam.   And while it’s certainly possible, the schools you are interested in might not be one of those schools.   So â€" look at the time you have available between now and the exam, no matter how little it might be, and create a plan, execute and work towards getting the best results you can on the test!   And don’t forget, let us know how it all turns out for you.We can help you find the best private tutor near you! It’s simple and secure â€" Get real results fast. Your first hour with any tutor is protected by our Good Fit Guarantee: You don't pay for tutoring unless you find a good fit. Choose Your Subject â€" Add Your Zip Code â€" Find Top Rated Tutors Starting Today! InPerson or Online Online InPerson

Guest Tips How to Make Your Sleep Routine Smarter for Your Child

Guest Tips How to Make Your Sleep Routine Smarter for Your Child Guest Tips: How to Make Your Sleep Routine Smarter for Your Child The following post was written  by  Alanna McGinn, Certified Infant and Toddler Sleep Consultant and Founder of  Good Night Sleep Site  â€" a Global Pediatric and Family Sleep Team. During the school year, heading to bed at a decent time and getting a good night’s sleep is important for children. A well-rested child will display better cognitive ability, a more pleasant mood and temperament, and a stronger immune system. While an important component of proper sleep hygiene is to follow a consistent and soothing routine,  where you can  bond and meet your child’s attachment needs, it can also be a time to tie in some reading and comprehension. Ways to Make Bedtime Smarter for Kids Bedtime stories don’t always have to happen in their bed. What if you carved out a special bedtime nook in their room where together you can curl up and get caught up about your day, or even practice some schoolwork? What a great idea to make a special place in their room for that quality time. But what can you include in that special bedtime nook? I created this fun magnetic board for my daughter’s room. She and I have a blast with it and it was super easy and affordable to make. Head over to the dollar store and buy a large size cookie sheet. Personalize it with duct tape and now your child has their own magnetic board for reading flash cards and alphabet magnets. Don’t forget that bedtime doesn’t just have to be a time for reading comprehension but it can also include math as well! Buy a plain canvas and collect different felt story boards available at most dollar and craft stores. Using foam letters start off the story yourself and then let your child’s imagination run wild. Every night they can create their own story or add on different chapters. A great idea for some imaginative play and a great form of “output” right before bed. And don’t forget no nook is complete without a favorite lovey or blanket that they can snuggle down with as well. We know that sleep is important during the school year and we know that a proper bedtime routine is always the best route to take to have a good night’s sleep, but remember your routine can be whatever you and your child make it into. Be together and be creative and get ready for some healthy post- [Holiday] (and smarter) Zzz’s. Kumon not only helps children strengthen their math and reading skills, it also helps them build healthy routines in and out of school. Find out more by  scheduling a  parent orientation session  today!   You might also be interested in: 6 Oral Reading Tips for Parents 6 Practical Tips for Summer Parenting Spark a Love for Literature with These  Read-Aloud  Tips 4 Simple Tips for Setting Goals with Your Child in the New Year Guest Tips How to Make Your Sleep Routine Smarter for Your Child Guest Tips: How to Make Your Sleep Routine Smarter for Your Child The following post was written  by  Alanna McGinn, Certified Infant and Toddler Sleep Consultant and Founder of  Good Night Sleep Site  â€" a Global Pediatric and Family Sleep Team. During the school year, heading to bed at a decent time and getting a good night’s sleep is important for children. A well-rested child will display better cognitive ability, a more pleasant mood and temperament, and a stronger immune system. While an important component of proper sleep hygiene is to follow a consistent and soothing routine,  where you can  bond and meet your child’s attachment needs, it can also be a time to tie in some reading and comprehension. Ways to Make Bedtime Smarter for Kids Bedtime stories don’t always have to happen in their bed. What if you carved out a special bedtime nook in their room where together you can curl up and get caught up about your day, or even practice some schoolwork? What a great idea to make a special place in their room for that quality time. But what can you include in that special bedtime nook? I created this fun magnetic board for my daughter’s room. She and I have a blast with it and it was super easy and affordable to make. Head over to the dollar store and buy a large size cookie sheet. Personalize it with duct tape and now your child has their own magnetic board for reading flash cards and alphabet magnets. Don’t forget that bedtime doesn’t just have to be a time for reading comprehension but it can also include math as well! Buy a plain canvas and collect different felt story boards available at most dollar and craft stores. Using foam letters start off the story yourself and then let your child’s imagination run wild. Every night they can create their own story or add on different chapters. A great idea for some imaginative play and a great form of “output” right before bed. And don’t forget no nook is complete without a favorite lovey or blanket that they can snuggle down with as well. We know that sleep is important during the school year and we know that a proper bedtime routine is always the best route to take to have a good night’s sleep, but remember your routine can be whatever you and your child make it into. Be together and be creative and get ready for some healthy post- [Holiday] (and smarter) Zzz’s. Kumon not only helps children strengthen their math and reading skills, it also helps them build healthy routines in and out of school. Find out more by  scheduling a  parent orientation session  today!   You might also be interested in: 6 Oral Reading Tips for Parents 6 Practical Tips for Summer Parenting Spark a Love for Literature with These  Read-Aloud  Tips 4 Simple Tips for Setting Goals with Your Child in the New Year

Facebook Plugin Could Change the Way You Read News

Facebook Plugin Could Change the Way You Read News stocksnap.io De, a student at the University of Massachusetts, attended a hackathon at Princeton University this week. The prompt? Develop a technology project in a time period of 36 hours. She also suggested that her teammates build an algorithm that would authenticate real vs fake on Facebook. And she and her team did it. De, Anant Goel (Purdue University), Mark Craft and Qinglin Chen (University of Illinois) created an extension in a Chrome browser that will tag links in Facebook with “verified” or “not verified.” This is done by considering factors such as “the source’s credibility and cross-checking the content with other news stories.” And if a link isn’t verified? The plugin also provides a summary of credible information on the same topic, to help clarify what the actual news is. And of course, it has a fantastic name: FiB. And because the students are still in school and only had a little over a day to create this plugin, they’ve released this as an “open-source project.” This means that it can be improved by anyone with the experience to do so. And the plugin is available for the masses, but they can’t meet the high demand on their own. So FiB isn’t currently up and running for everyone to use. But the idea is there, and the content is sure to follow quickly, especially with this type of demand. According to Goel, the idea is that Facebook would eventually work with third-party developers to manage news articles on the site themselves. The Princeton hackathon was sponsored by Facebook, as well as other tech vendors, but hasn’t reported reaching out to FiB to help in any way. Same goes for Google, who has been having the same problems. However, both companies have stated that they are going to “take steps” to fix the problem at hand. But the problem is a big one, and it’s only getting worse for the time being. According to BuzzFeed News, over 100 sites made up pro-Trump content (which was traced to Macedonia). In a Washington Post interview of Paul Horner, a fake-news creator, he stated, “I think Trump is in the White House because of me. His followers don’t fact-check anything they’ll post everything, believe anything.” And Melissa Zimdars, professor at Merrimack College in MA, also says she’s seen this problem when her students go to site references for essays. She made the following list, which has gone viral, as a warning to students looking at fake news sites: •Watch out if known/reputable news sites are not also reporting on the story. Sometimes lack of coverage is the result of corporate media bias and other factors, but there should typically be more than one source reporting on a topic or event. •If the story makes you REALLY ANGRY it’s probably a good idea to keep reading about the topic via other sources to make sure the story you read wasn’t purposefully trying to make you angry (with potentially misleading or false information) in order to generate shares and ad revenue. She also stated that it doesn’t help when news media uses click-bait headlines and that it’s nearly impossible to distinguish these from fake stories. There’s also the issue of whether or not people even know they’re sharing fake links. According to Paul Mihailidis, teacher at Emerson College: “I don’t think a lot of people didn’t know; I think they didn’t care. They saw it as a way to advocate. The more they could spread rumors, or could advocate for their value system or candidate, that took precedent over them not knowing. A large portion of them didn’t stop to critique the information. One of the things that has happened is people are scrolling through [Facebook] and the notion of deep reading is being replaced by deep monitoring. They see a catchy headline, and the default is to share.” However, this isn’t the only problem. There’s also the fact that people scrolling through their news feed on a social media site aren’t necessarily looking to fact-check, which means they aren’t looking up stories to verify whether or not they’re true. So in this way, the plugin is a perfect solution. According to De: “A few days back, I read an article telling people they can drill a jack in the iPhone7 and have an earphone plug, and people started doing it and ruining their phones. We know we can search on Google and research it, but if you have five minutes and you’re just scrolling through Facebook, you don’t have time to go verify it.”

Private Santa Ana Tutor Help Your Kid Stay On Top Academically

Private Santa Ana Tutor Help Your Kid Stay On Top Academically Tips from a Private Santa Ana Tutor: Help Your Kid Stay On Top Academically Through a Transition All kids go through phases and come out the other end okay. However, it can be difficult to maintain good academic habits so that students dont have to do too much catching up once they get through their transition. They might be five years old and learning how to make proper use of the word no, or they might be enduring the transition from 8th to 9th grade. Regardless of their current age level, there are lots of ways to help kids stay on top of the game academically through these normal childhood transitions help your kid stay on top of their academics with the help of a private Santa Ana tutor. 1. Patience Patience is one of the best ways to help kids endure a transition but maintain good grades. Students will go through phases where their behavior is less than stellar, or their concentration seems to disappear. Its mostly important for parents to see some improvement even if the progress is relatively slow. Its more important that students are doing better today than they were doing three months ago than to receive an excellent grade on a specific assignment. Of course, this amount of patience is easier said than done but it’s a key to success. 2.   Small improvements mean success Its also important to look at small improvements when determining levels of success. If a student starts organizing their school binder to prioritize assignments or if they sit down and do their homework without being prompted, for example, they are definitely on their way to a better school experience. What seems like a small achievement to an adult might be an immense change for a student going through the transitions that occur in middle school, so its important to celebrate them and acknowledge their importance. 3.   Balance A proper balance is another thing that can help kids stay on top of their schoolwork if theyre going through a phase. If they feel like theyre coming home to several hours of homework, students are not likely to get motivated under any circumstance. They may need to have scheduled breaks so they dont feel overwhelmed or they might want to have something fun to look forward to on Friday after school. Once students learn how to study efficiently, this balance will occur a lot more quickly (READ: Tips from an Irvine Language Arts tutor: Ace Your Language Arts Final). 4.   Perseverance when it comes to the important things Although rest are part of an overall well-balanced academic life, sometimes students just have to push through even if theyre going through a phase or transition that makes studying difficult. College applications have strict due dates, and standardized tests are held regardless of how prepared a student is. For younger students, learning how to read is often the thing that holds them back but, they have to push through and master the skill. A student might need to work with their classroom teacher or have a private tutor come to the home to help them out. Perseverance is one of the best skills kids can learn for both school and life in general. 5.   Academic support Sometimes, kids just need to have some extra academic support to help them be successful throughout their transition. A second-grader who is starting to have trouble concentrate might need to work with a tutor to help them learn how to organize for a few weeks here and there while a college prep student might need extended help outlining essays and studying for entrance exams. Its hard for kids of any age to deal with lifes changes all by themselves and its important to know when its time to call for extra help. Our private Santa Ana tutors are here to help with any academic transition! 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.