Learn English Online From Your English Tutor Newcastle Upon Tyne

Learn English Online From Your English Tutor Newcastle Upon TyneWhether you are a beginner or an experienced student, the English language tutor Newcastle upon Tyne has something to offer everyone. The teaching methods at their English college will help you understand the various ways of speaking, writing and understanding the language. At their college, you will also learn how to enhance your communication skills in all of these areas.They offer online language courses for people who are either new to the language or want to improve their grammar and style. The online courses will help you gain confidence in communicating with your peers or with people from other countries.There are even grammar lessons that you can take online. This allows you to practice your writing in the English language and improve the structure of your sentences. In addition, the online courses are also provided by the professors in the tutor's class so that you can discuss your ideas and make suggestions for improvements.For the most part, however, the sessions at the teacher's home are the best way to learn. You can take part in discussions as well as listen to recorded lectures that you can do from your own home.When you go to a class or city center for your English tuition, you are limited to the knowledge of the professor. Also, you have to interact with others and learn from listening to tapes.A tutor will give you access to the Internet. This allows you to check out courses that are free. As an added benefit, you can take part in online tests, get a feel for the language, and participate in discussion groups.Of course, you can also visit certain websites which allow you to search for courses. These are much cheaper than the classes that are offered by the English tutor, so it is a good idea to check into them. It will give you a good idea of the degree to which you will be able to use the language in your daily life.

Summer Online Tutoring - A superb blend of fun and learning

Summer Online Tutoring - A superb blend of fun and learning 0SHARESShare Summer online tutoring programs are tailored made to get a student ready for school before the term begins and beat the competition.   But why study and ruin your summer holidays?   Have you imagined that learning could be fun?   With summer online tutoring programs studying is very enjoyable. The summer programs are designed such that each student is assigned an individual tutor.   So sessions can be arranged to suit the students’ timings.   Subjects are taught at an unhurried steady pace and there is no undue pressure.   There is no need to travel to tedious tutoring sessions either. The online tutors use multimedia, headphones and speakers while teaching.   It does not feel like studying at all.   Analytical subjects like math and science are taught through puzzles and games.   The student’s language skills are honed with the help of quizzes, riddles, etc.   All the methods used are interactive and pleasurable.   No more boring spelling and grammar! If you are planning a vacation you need not miss the fun.   And you don’t have miss tutoring sessions either.   The trump card of summer online tutoring is that one can take a short break and continue tutoring sessions on your return. Regular assessment by the online tutors is a huge advantage, whether it is a summer program or a year long program.   This improves the child’s knowledge of the subject and also prepares him for tests.   Online e-learning library facilities are also offered with most online tutoring plans. [starbox id=admin]

3 Tips for Starting Graduate School

3 Tips for Starting Graduate School The decision to continue your education by attending graduate school is exciting, but it can also feel very daunting. Graduate school is a very different experience than your undergraduate years, and it requires a different set of skills. Here are three tips to help you succeed as you begin graduate school: 1. Manage your time One of the best things you can do to ensure a smooth graduate experience is to develop an effective time management strategy. Many graduate students must also juggle employment, family, and social commitments. Learning to efficiently allot your time is imperative to your success. Different students utilize different strategies, and it is important to determine which technique works well for you. Consider color-coding tasks based on their importance, dedicating certain hours of the day to your responsibilities (both academic and otherwise), or maintaining a calendar. With any time management strategy, it is important to be flexible; remember that emergencies arise, professors assign last-minute papers and projects, and certain tasks may take longer to complete than you originally believe. Here are some great tips on how to avoid study distractions. Prioritize your time, and realize that as a graduate student, you may need to say no to activities that you would have previously engaged in. Remember that graduate school is a set period of timethose activities will still be available to you when you have completed your degree. 2. Read efficiently As a graduate student, you will be inundated with articles, books, and journals to read about your area of study. While it can be exciting to learn so much about your academic passion, it can also be overwhelming. Learn to read with purpose. Ask yourself before you read about what you are hoping to gain. Skim the text first to ensure it aligns with your purpose, as well as your research goals. Take notes and cite sources as you read to avoid doing so later. After you finish a piece, it is sometimes helpful to briefly summarize the content on an index card so you can easily locate references in the future. These are some great tips on how to identify your study style, which you may find useful. 3. Create a support network During your time in graduate school, it is very important to have a group of people who support you. Reach out to fellow classmates and form study groups. Research with these students, or simply discuss your classes in order to decompress.Consider working with a tutorif you need help in a particular subject area that your peers are not as comfortable with. Develop a rapport with your professors, and commit to asking frequent questions. Surround yourself with family or friends who are proud of your choice to continue your education. When you feel overwhelmed by school, these individuals can help to remind you of your end goal, or when you have been studying for hours, they can bring you food and double-check that you care for your needs (i.e. proper sleep). Graduate school is a time of tremendous learning and growth, but it also requires plenty of dedication and commitment. It is important for you to learn skills that will help you succeed in your studies, as well as to always remember why you chose to continue your education.

Music Transcription How to Transcribe Your Favorite Song

Music Transcription How to Transcribe Your Favorite Song Suzy S. One of the best parts about learning music is figuring out how to recreate and play your favorite songs. Its amazing what you can accomplish after learning a few of the basics! And when it comes to music transcription, its not as difficult as it may seem. Here, Brooklyn guitar teacher Mike B. shares his process So, you just heard a new song you love on the radio. And you’ve just started learning guitar (piano, violin, whatever). You want to figure out how to play that song on your own â€" no teachers, no sheet music, no tabs, just the recording. First, get the song ready for playback. Pick up the CD at Best Buy, or load up the music on YouTube, GrooveShark or whatever your preferred site is. You will probably need to listen to little parts over and over again to get it right. Next, prime your ears to listen for the bass. This is the lowest note in the song, usually played by the â€" you guessed it â€" bass. Almost always, the notes played by the bass hold the secret to figuring out a song. If there’s no bass (just a piano, for example), then the bass part is the lowest note of the chord. So when you play a G major chord, the lowest note is ‘G’ and that’s the bass part. See if you can hear patterns; this is called the bass line. Most songs have sequences of 2, 3 or 4 chords that repeat over and over again. This is the chord progression. Once you’ve got your bass line, you know the root of the chords, but you still need some more information. Eventually, with practice, your ear will learn to recognize patterns automatically. Youll figure out that the same chord progressions happen all the time in music. But at first, slow down the bass part, and try playing chords over top of it, until you get it right. 99% of the time, the chord will be ether a major chord or a minor chord. So say your bass line goes G â€" C â€" A   D. Try playing each chord as either a major or minor chord, and see which ones fit with the song. Play the pattern with the correct chords. Try to play the chords in a rhythm that sounds good and sounds like the song â€" don’t be afraid to experiment until you’ve got something that works! Now, move through the song and keep listening to the bass. Maybe there’s a little something unique in the beginning (an intro) followed by the main pattern (a verse or chorus). Often, different sections of a song will have slightly different chord progressions. You need to listen to the bass and fill in the correct chords for each section. Write down how many times the patterns repeat before they change to help you remember what to play. A typical song might go: Intro â€" Chorus â€" Verse â€" Chorus â€" Verse Bridge â€" Chorus â€" Outro What’s left? Well, the melody and the lyrics! It’s good to figure out how to play the melody on your instrument, but playing the melody along with the chords can be tricky. For now, let’s just sing. That’s it for now! Of course, there are all types of songs out there, and there are exceptions to all the things I’ve just said. But this technique should help you figure out most songs that cross your path.  The best part is that it works for several genres pop music, rock, jazz standards, Mozart sonatas, you name it! Happy listening! Mike B.  teaches guitar, music performance, music recording, music theory and songwriting lessons to students of all ages in Brooklyn, NY. After studying music at Oberlin College and Wesleyan University, Mike continued on to New York in 2005, where he has been playing in various groups and working on engineering and composing for film. Learn more about Mike, or visit TakeLessons to find a teacher near you! Photo by Natalie Chiu.

Why You Should Consider a Guitar Teacher for Your Child.

Why You Should Consider a Guitar Teacher for Your Child. Guitar Lessons Near Me? There are So Many Reasons to Them for Your Child. ChaptersGuitar Classes with Professional TeachersThe Intellectual Benefits of Playing GuitarPersonal Benefits of Guitar ClassesThe Emotional Benefits of Playing GuitarThe Physical Benefits of Playing Guitar for ChildrenThe Cultural Benefits of Learning GuitarTo Recap: Why Your Child Needs a Guitar Teacher.Music has always been considered beneficial for children, and taking guitar lessons will only re-enforce those benefits.Even when a baby is just a few weeks or months old, they can already recognise their parents’ favorite songs by the ones they hear most frequently. And music helps babies relax and also engages them physically and mentally.As a child begins to get older, music will remain important to them, and this comes in handy once they begin learning different styles of music and cultures - particularly if they then consider learning how to play guitar and taking beginner guitar lessons. All that music they have previously heard will help their general musicianship and, if i t's becoming a guitar player that they become interested in, they will be hungry to learn everything from jazz guitar to classical guitar, blues guitar to rock guitar.Once a child is old enough to learn guitar, it's well worth the investment to buy them their first guitar and sign them up for some guitar lessons for beginners. This is the theme of this article - because the best guitar players are those who grew up with a good guitar instructor.And there are so many benefits to taking a guitar lesson - either in a guitar course at a guitar school or in private guitar lessons. Indeed, your child's music teacher may be one of the most important people to them throughout their childhood and beyond.By learning guitar and taking beginner classes, the child is not only socialising, but is sharing their interests and enriching their world. And, obviously, they are learning a skill which brings so much joy: learning to play the guitar!A child can learn very quickly and deeply from a young a ge.Once they’re older, children can easily join a band and begin to play on a stage, or maybe even perform solos in public.By taking guitar classes, your child will have learned the techniques and basics necessary to even begin teaching others and sharing their passion for guitar with a new generation of music students. PeterGuitar Teacher £12/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EdgarGuitar Teacher 5.00 (8) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PaulGuitar Teacher 5.00 (12) £18/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors DanielGuitar Teacher 5.00 (3) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ToddGuitar Teacher 4.75 (4) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SamueleGuitar Teacher 5.00 (5) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors KurtGuitar Teacher 5.00 (3) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RyanGuitar Teacher £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsGuitar Classes with Professional TeachersYou can sign your child up for guitar classes in a local music store, conservatory, a rec center, or for private lessons at home. You can even have guitar lessons online these days.Classes at an Independent StudioAt music schools, classes are often highly regimented. Teachers follow a specific methodology and curriculum for all the children, that introduces them to music theory and basic chords before teaching them how to read guitar tabs and work on chord progressions. Regimented yes, but the level of knowledge of those who teach guitar in these contexts is usually very high.Students learn to practice guitar in individual and group lessons, which allows them to meet other children and learn from one another, and teaches them that music is a passion that is meant to be shared.Whatever level your child is at, classes at a music school will allow them to join a group of fellow students and learn more about the worlds of guitar and music.Guitar Classes at HomeBy engaging a teacher to come to the house, your child will benefit fro m the best learning environment possible  - they will be at home in an environment that they know and where they are comfortable.The teacher can walk them through the parts of the guitar like the strings, fretboard, and neck, and teach them how to tune it and take care of their new guitar. Then they can move on to other skills, like pentatonic and barred chords, licks and riffs.Security and comfort will help them improve - your child won’t have to go anywhere to take guitar lessons, and you can arrange the classes to better fit their schedule.By taking classes comfortably at home, your child will be able to build a stronger relationship with their teacher.The atmosphere will be more relaxed to practice playing guitar.Firstly, learning guitar, simply, is just great fun!From their point of view, the guitar teacher will be able to adapt lessons to your child’s level, needs, and goals. Guitar instruction  can be tailor-made and adapted.The Intellectual Benefits of Playing GuitarTaki ng guitar lessons can help your child succeed in many areas, especially mentally.In addition to the music itself, there’s the personal enrichment that your child will develop and have for the rest of their lives.Music and Self-EsteemTaking guitar classes requires discipline, and developing this skill will help children succeed at school.Numerous studies have shown that taking music lessons, and more specifically, learning an instrument like guitar, has a strong link to success at school for kids. Learning about C chords and C major, say, will also help your child gain confidence and improve their self esteem, increase their ability to concentrate, and learn to develop a critical appreciation for the arts.Music and Self-ExpressionIf your child decides to take guitar lessons, they will develop their language skills, enrich their vocabulary with words like arpeggio, riff, and progression, increase their attention span and improve their sense of rhythm.All these skills will also impro ve your child’s memory. They will learn to structure their thoughts, begin to associate joy with the effort they put in practicing the guitar, and  naturally develop their memory.Classes with a music professional, like a guitar teacher at a music school or conservatory, will also help your child learn to express their emotions.Music and guitar will become the medium through which your child channels  emotions (sadness, anger, joy, etc), and thanks to this, they will be better able to master their emotions and express themselves to others.Other benefits from taking guitar lessons with a teacher include the fact that music and guitar will improve their hearing and develop their memory for sounds and rhythms. They will refine their hearing to differentiate between a A chord and a G chord, and will know what C major or the E string should sound like.The cognitive skills of the child will also be reinforced - the left side of the brain, the side that is linked to verbal memory, is more developed in musicians and children who play an instrument.Guitar is also a great opportunity for your child to develop their creativity and free their imagination to express themselves in different ways. Once they graduate to jamming and writing their own music, their full artistic sensibilities will be unleashed.Personal Benefits of Guitar ClassesLearning music and guitar will help develop the personality of your child.They will learn to find a balance between their intellect (necessary to learn an instrument like the guitar and deploy perseverance and patience), and their emotions (sensitivity, feelings).Defeat Stage Fright by Playing GuitarIf your child is taking guitar classes, they will eventually play not only for their teacher, but also for people they don’t know and other students and their parents.This situation will shake them in a good way - your child will have to master their emotions to perform and deal with nerves, stage fright, and their shyness and fear of stran gers.Strengthen their Self-Confidence on the GuitarThis will increase their self confidence and they will be more comfortable communicating and expressing themselves.Passing on KnowledgeWhatever their level, once your child has mastered the basics of music theory and playing the guitar, they will be able to tutor others, and pass on their passion for playing to others.They will also be able to play in a band, play on a stage by themselves, jam with their friends, and write their own music - the possibilities are endless once they’ve gotten to the next level and begun perfecting their guitar playing.The more their passion for guitar is encouraged during lessons, the more your child will gain artistic as well as technical expertise. They’ll need both of these skills in order to pass on everything they’ve learned about guitar once they’re older. PeterGuitar Teacher £12/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EdgarGuitar Teacher 5.00 (8) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PaulGuitar Teacher 5.00 (12) £18/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors DanielGuitar Teacher 5.00 (3) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ToddGuitar Teacher 4.75 (4) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SamueleGuitar Teacher 5.00 (5) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors KurtGuitar Teacher 5.00 (3) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RyanGuitar Teacher £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsThe Emotional Benefits of Playing GuitarChildren, and especially boys, can often have trouble expressing what they feel.Communication isn’t always easy when your child closes up or shuts themselves up in their bedroom.Music and guitar can help provide an emotional outlet for your child, and gives them a way to say what they’re feeling inside.Finding your child a guitar teacher will bring emotional, physical, and cultural benefits.By playing any style of music - blues, rock, hard rock, funk, classical - your child will also be able to explore that facet of their personality.If the music is too loud for your neighbours, you can look at ways to limit the noise from the guitar.The Physical Benefits of Playing Guitar for ChildrenIt may not seem immediately obvious, but playing guitar is somewhat of a sport on its own, and requires children to learn more about their body in order to develop more control.By becoming more conscious of how their bodies work, regulating and work on their breathing, and developing better posture, your child will also gain muscle, especially in their hands, arms and shoulders.Flexibility and StrengthYou need to have both flexibility and strength to play the steel or nylon guitar strings properly and make the sounds you want.Your child’s guitar teacher will make sure that they hold themselves correctly and place their hands and arms properly to play without causing any aches.Health BenefitsLearning guitar and taking lessons will also benefit your child’s health, especially by helping the m learn how to manage their stress and anxiety.Your child’s body will release ‘happy’ hormones (serotonin and dopamine) when they’re in their own world and they can express themselves freely.The Cultural Benefits of Learning GuitarBy taking regular guitar lessons, your child will learn about music, as well as be exposed to culture and the arts more generally.Their teacher will introduce them to the world of music, and expose them to new styles like rock, pop, funk, country, and reggae.Playing Guitar Helps Introduce Children to Different Cultures and the World.Under the aegis of their teacher, your child will discover new cultures and music styles, learn about music history, and gain an appreciation for different styles and trends throughout the ages.In conclusion,  taking guitar classes will give your child  a new set of tools which will help them, not just in the music world, but also throughout their life at school and as an adult.Guitar lessons help teach patience, discip line, and self reflection, and will help your child become a well adjusted adult.To Recap: Why Your Child Needs a Guitar Teacher.Intellectual BenefitsYour child will perform better at school if they learn an instrument. Knowing an instrument also helps them to develop their language skills.Personal BenefitsBy playing an instrument, your child can improve their confidence, combat fear, and pass on knowledge to others.Emotional BenefitsMusic is expressive - and by learning an instrument they can find a new way to express themselves.Cultural BenefitsYour child will learn a lot with a guitar teacher - about the history of music to different genres and cultures today.

Get Mentored-Get Promoted - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / Get Mentored-Get Promoted - Introvert Whisperer Get Mentored-Get Promoted We often hear of mentors in all kinds of settings.   Having a well-placed mentor in your life can really be a great thing.   It not only makes you feel great having a supportive person in your life, it can also enable great things for your future. What is a mentor and why do you need one professionally?   To start with the basics, you can have a mentor and be a mentor.   Specifically, I’m writing about a mentor for your professional growth.   A mentor is a person that acts as a coach, guide, counselor, teacher, and advisor.   In the business setting, a mentor could be someone to provide you with input that will assist your professional growth.  Obviously, a manager could perform in the same role to a degree, but the roles are different.   A mentor doesn’t direct your work assignments and is an objective third party.  A well-placed mentor can be a superior strategic move if you think it through and utilize the resource appropriately.Here are some tips and guidelines for establishing a mentor. Here are some tips and guidelines for establishing a mentor: Select a person who is a level or two above where you are right now.   You want to identify a person who has had a successful track record with your company and is on an upward growth path.   This person should be well thought of up and down the organization.   This person should be thought of as someone that has the next promotion aced or is positioned to take over the next upward management position.   Securing the right mentor in this way enables you to see what kind of successful behavior they have that you can emulate.   You should be looking for a couple of “Hallmark” traits that you can adopt without looking like a mimic.   You’re looking for things like their ability to collaborate or magically see things around the next corner.   People that do well in the organization usually achieve results, and additionally possess specific traits of how they function that work well within the group. Results and accomplishments aren’t enough.   While you and your potential mentor will be ahead of the pack if you can obtain great results, results alone aren’t enough for high-level growth.   Your mentor has to demonstrate that they can play well with the big dogs and it must be obvious that the big dogs generally respect this person.   You should see signs of this person being included in higher level meetings and interaction on a periodic basis with the higher brass.   These are indicators that they possess the “total package”. Don’t pick someone that may be a built-in a competitor.   If both of you do pretty much the same work, this person could view you as a potential threat to their growth.   You need to find someone close enough to your area of work that they genuinely know the work you do without the potential for competition.   I have seen senior people mentor junior people in the same exact area so it can work; however, you should think through how the other person is going to view you and the future impact on them. Select a person that has many of the same values and whom you respect.   If you are unable to find a person above you that you think much of, you may need to rethink your growth strategy with your current company.   It could be that the company culture doesn’t honor the kind of person you are.   However, if you can find someone that you think well of and demonstrates values that you also find important, that person will be a good candidate.   You will find you can work well with them and most likely you will have a mutual appeal to each other.   Since a mentor is most likely going to give you advice and guidance, it needs to come from someone you will listen to.   It will also be easier for you to adapt your behavior if is already closer to who you are authentically. Be clear about what you want.   When you approach your potential mentor to request a mentoring relationship, you need to be clear about what you want from the relationship.   If you are fairly new to the organization, you may want to not only understand players and positions but who the alpha dogs are and the informal decision process.   You may have observed things they do well that you want to learn.   Consider opening the relationship by asking for ongoing feedback of your performance and how you are viewed in the organization.   Feedback is a gift, but often people aren’t comfortable giving it if the feedback won’t be well received or is perceived to be not wanted.   You need to let them know that you want feedback and will take the information seriously without getting defensive or taking offense.  Whatever it is you are seeking in terms of your growth that is how you want to frame the relationship.   Once you have established the relationship it can evolve to include addit ional elements for growth. Be sensitive to their time.   Most likely this person is going to have a full plate already so your request for mentoring will most likely be an additional time drain.   To keep the role from being overwhelming you need to be ready to offer up some structures that will be helpful without much time consumption.   If they are willing to take on this role, you could meet monthly for an hour but that your primary input from them could come in the form of emailing and impromptu hallway “sound bites”.   Since you are the one seeking the relationship, you need to be flexible about the logistics. How the relationship can unfold.   The potential for how the relationship could unfold has no limits.   Minimally, you can expect to have a well-developed relationship for life that you can tap on an ongoing basis.  Being a mentor to someone, particularly if it is solicited, is extremely flattering.   It’s hard to resist liking someone that has high regard for you. It could turn into a fantastic friendship based on mutual respect.   I have also seen mentors become the key catalyst to promotions for their mentees as they are often positioned to provide input within the organization.   These people often become your advocate simply because they know you so well, have witnessed your growth and are invested in you.   They may also want to hire and promote you by virtue of this level of insight into your performance.   Of course, you never know in advance how the course of the relationship will go; it almost always will nurture both people in a very positive way. If you’re ready for some upward career growth it may be time to put a mentor in your career life.   It will be a worthwhile investment that could pay dividends for years to come. Do you know what your next career step is?   Many people don’t. I want to help you accelerate your career by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my eBook on how to construct your Career SMART Goals â€" that will help you put together your actions and keep you accountable.   Get your copy now and start your action plan today: CLICK HERE Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleash your professional potential.

Striking a Balance Overscheduled vs. Too Much Free Time for Kids with ADHD

Striking a Balance Overscheduled vs. Too Much Free Time for Kids with ADHD Childhood today is very different from childhood 30 years ago, when time outside of school was spent playing in the neighborhood, often unsupervised and undirected by adults. Today kids and teens typically attend a host of extracurricular activities after school, with little free time in-between. Do a quick search online for overscheduled kids and youll find hundreds of articles warning parents about the perils of enrolling kids in too many extracurricular activities. These articles typically highlight the negative effects that too little free time can have on creativity, imaginative play, and social development. What these articles rarely discuss, however, is the reality faced by many parents who frequently work during the after school hours and need these activities to keep their children and teens safe and occupied. Parents of children and teens with ADHD face another reality as well: unstructured and unsupervised downtime often quickly leads to impulsive and sometimes unsafe beha vior as well as sibling arguments. As a result, unstructured time often ends with a punishment for bad behavior, or is simply replaced by screen time in an effort to keep the peace at home. When you look closely at the research youll find that involvement in extracurricular activities actually comes with many positive benefits, even at an early age. A recent study funded by the National Institutes of Health found that when infants (9-18 months) who were overly motivated by food were enrolled in music classes with their parents, they began to find more pleasure and motivation in activities other than eating.1 The researchers propose that this may help prevent obesity later in life. For adolescents, most research studies have found that participation in after school activities is associated with improved well-being and school engagement. Even with the positive study findings, when it comes to the number of activities kids participate in, there does seem to be a tipping point. Enroll them in too many extracurricular activities, especially those that are performance or achievement-based, and kids and teens can end up stressed and anxious. How many activities are too many? T hat really depends on the child. Some kids with ADHD need more downtime in order to recharge. Others thrive on back-to-back activities each day. But even for kids who thrive on a busy schedule, some free time is important for their development. Like participation in extracurricular activities, research shows that free time and free play come with many benefits. Kids and teens do in fact need this time to help develop their creativity and imagination, as well as the ability to think for themselves without been told what to do by adults. However, they likely do not need large daily swaths of free time to reap these benefits. As parents of kids with ADHD the trick is finding enriching, motivating afterschool activities, and balancing these activities with at least a few weekly opportunities for safe and enjoyable unstructured time. What are some signs that your child or teens extracurricular activities or schedule may not be meeting their needs? Your child asks to skip activities, or regularly complains of headaches or stomach aches when its time to attend. Your child seems less motivated at school, during afterschool activities, or at home. Your childs grades are falling and they dont have time to get the extra academic support that he or she needs. Your child is regularly going to bed late in an effort to fit in school, extracurricular activities, and homework. Your childs activities are all performance or achievement-based, leaving little time to explore new activities without the pressure of having to meet the expectations of adults. Your child is showing symptoms of unhealthy levels of stress (see my previous post for more details on signs of stress in teens with ADHD). If your child or teen is displaying one or more of these signs, it may be time to take a step back and reconsider his or her schedule and activities. Talk with your child or teen about how he or she is feeling about his or her extracurricular activities. Are there activities that he or she enjoys more than others? Do they think that he or she needs more downtime? Kids and teens will often have difficulty noticing when they are overscheduled and may be reluctant to cut back on their activities. As a parent you have an opportunity to help them problem solve, streamline their schedule, and build in necessary downtime (Ill talk about strategies for creating manageable downtime for kids with ADHD in my next post). With your help your child will reap more joy and enrichment from his or her activities, and will build motivation and academic skills along the way. ________________ 1 Kong, K. L., Eiden, R. D., Feda, D. M., Stier, C. L., Fletcher, K. D., Woodworth, E. M., Epstein, L. H. (2016). Reducing relative food reinforcement in infants by an enriched music experience. Obesity, 24(4), 917923. ABOUT DR. MARY ROONEY Mary Rooney, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California San Francisco. Dr Rooney is a researcher and clinician specializing in the evaluation and treatment of ADHD and co-occurring behavioral, anxiety, and mood disorders. A strong advocate for those with attention and behavior problems, Dr. Rooney is committed to developing and providing comprehensive, cutting edge treatments tailored to meet the unique needs of each child and adolescent. Dr. Rooney's clinical interventions and research avenues emphasize working closely with parents and teachers to create supportive, structured home and school environments that enable children and adolescents to reach their full potential. In addition, Dr. Rooney serves as a consultant and ADHD expert to Huntington Learning Centers. ABOUT HUNTINGTON Huntington Learning Center is the tutoring and test prep leader. Its certified tutors provide individualized instruction in reading, phonics, writing, study skills, elementary and middle school math, Algebra through Calculus, Chemistry, and other sciences. It preps for the SAT and ACT, as well as state and standardized exams. Huntington programs develop the skills, confidence, and motivation to help students of all levels succeed and meet the needs of Common Core State Standards. Founded in 1977, Huntington's mission is to give every student the best education possible. Call us today at 1.800.CAN LEARN to discuss how Huntington can help your child. For franchise opportunities please visit www.huntingtonfranchise.com. This website does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The material on this site is provided for educational purposes only.

Parent-Teacher Conference Stress

Parent-Teacher Conference Stress End-of-year parent-teacher conferences can make some parents nervous and they might be stressful for you too, particularly when meeting with parents of students who are struggling. Here are a few tips to put parents at ease and make conferences constructive: Be prepared. Know exactly what you want to discuss, and have a timeline to cover the essential topics. Provide parents evidence of their childrens progress and performance (e.g. a portfolio of recent work and test scores) to keep the conversation focused. Share efforts since your last meeting. If youve talked with parents previously about any issues, address what youve worked on since your last conversation/conference. Ask parents what theyve tried at home as well. Communicate your goals. Its not easy for parents to hear that their children are having problems. If you have to broach this topic, do so in an action-oriented, confident manner. Let parents know youre committed to helping their children, share your plans to do so and ask for their input. You might already know about some of the contributing factors that are causing a student to struggle. Making parents feel heard and understood will go a long way toward moving things in a positive direction. Listen well. Many parents expect you to do most of the talking during conferences, but its important to let them talk too. Ask if they have concerns or ideas as you approach the end of the year. This information will help you make arrangements for a smooth transition to the next grade and future teachers. After conferences, follow through with any next steps you discuss, whether thats connecting parents with additional school resources or executing an action plan to finish the year strong. Need support? Call Huntington to learn more about how we work with teachers to help children learn.

5 steps to becoming a culturally responsive teacher

5 steps to becoming a culturally responsive teacher Culturally responsive teaching is much more than simply recognizing the culturalbackground of your students (although that’s a good start). As a teacher in today’s multicultural world, fostering culturally responsive teaching practices is becoming more and more necessary to successfully create a learning environment that is engaging and accessible to a broader range of students. By 2020, the Census Bureau has projected that more than half of all students in US public schools will be minority students. Figuring out how to meet the diverse needs of students with differing economic and cultural backgrounds, not to mention varying learning styles, has increasingly become a top priority for educators. In light of these rapidly-changing student demographics, teachers must be able to understand and resolve potential conflicts that may arise due to cultural differences between students in the classroom. Feel like it’s time to bring more culturally responsive teaching practices into your classroom? We’ve put together five steps for teachers to work on to make that happen. 1. Assess your own behavior It’s important to bear in mind that your attitudes are influenced by your own culture. If your students’ cultures differ from yours, you need to be sensitive to the differences in attitudes that may arise in the classroom. The first step to creating a culturally responsive classroom is being aware of your own actions and working to shift your mindset into ones that are culturally inclusive and open minded. This also applies to your interactions with students’ families and their communities. Being sensitive to how certain cultures may stress different ways of learning is a key first step towards building a positive, respectful relationship with families from diverse cultural backgrounds. 2. Get to know your students Be proactive when it comes to learning about the different cultural backgrounds of the students in your classroom. Do your research, either online or by talking to your teaching colleagues. As a teacher, you cannot create a culturally responsive classroom if you don’t take the time to get to know your students as individuals. Establishing set times to sit down with a student can give them a chance to speak about themselves in a more personal setting. Some students may not feel comfortable talking about their life outside of school with the whole class listening. Be sure to show a genuine interest in each student's understanding of content and their general well-being. Creating a culturally responsive classroom is all about creating an environment in which students of all cultures feel comfortable and ready to learn. If there is a student in your class who has recently immigrated from another country, for example, sit down with them to ask if there were any activities or traditions they enjoyed at school in their home country. This will not only help put your new student at ease, it can also breathe life into your lesson activities. 3. Make your classroom a judgment-free zone Students must be able to look at situations regarding culture with an unbiased opinion and be comfortable asking questions to further their understanding. If a conversation arises about a current event or behavior a discussion should be welcomed, but be sure the discussion is directed towards learning, not criticizing. Encourage students to ask questions and challenge the status quo. Make critical thinking the norm and teach your students to value each other’s differences. It’s common for many students to not want to speak up, but encouraging them to voice their opinions and questions what is happening in the world around them is one of the best ways to help them understand and overcome some of their preconceived notions. We want to make it easier for you to start becoming a more culturally responsive teacher today. Enroll in our industry-leading Culturally Responsive Teaching course for only $49 (that's 50% off the course price!) when you use code BLOG50. 4. Adapt your teaching Culturally responsive teaching is an approach that is student-focused. It identifies not only the differences between students but the unique strengths of each child to encourage their academic achievement and sense of belonging in the classroom. As a teacher, there are some important questions you should ask yourself, including the following: Are there any activities in your classroom that don’t benefit all students? What activities seem to engage all students and get them participating? What actions have you noticed seem to get the best reactions out of your students? It’s important to honestly assess your current teaching practices and modify your instruction and curriculum to consider all students’ backgrounds and readiness levels. Research on culturally responsive teaching has shown that students are more engaged in learning and learn more effectively when the knowledge and skills taught are presented within the context of their own experiences and cultural frames of reference. As a result, it’s critical to learn how to adapt your teaching strategies and techniques to the needs of students of all cultural backgrounds in your classroom. Incorporating learning strategies that have a sense of familiarity for foreign students, for example, can not only help them better connect to the classroom environment, but feel more comfortable sharing their own experiences with classmates. Make learning as interactive as possible. Educational games are not only fun for students, they also require active listening and provide a greater chance for memory retention. Puzzle-solving, making connections, story telling and visuals and repetition are all tools that can be used in the classroom and are commonly seen across a lot of cultures. 5. Include all cultures in your teaching In your lessons, choose content that reflects the different cultures of your students. Lessons should incorporate multicultural information and approaches whenever possible. If a teacher continually references people from a specific cultural background or uses people of a particular nationality or ethnic background exclusively in class examples, students may feel as if their cultural background is being sidelined and can consequently feel disengaged from their learning. Now more than ever, teachers should be looking to making their classrooms a space in which students of all cultures feel supported to learn and succeed. By embracing implementing culturally responsive teaching principles effectively, your classroom can, over time, become a more positive learning environment for all of your students - it all starts with you!