How to Plan Your First Tutoring Classes

How to Plan Your First Tutoring Classes Academic Support: How to Look After a Student ChaptersThe First Class: Outline the Work ConditionsRules to Establish During Your First TutorialEvaluating the Student’s LevelAcademic Support: Finding Interactive Exercises to Do with Your StudentYou need to carefully plan academic support tutorials. To teach each student, you need to take care when organising their lessons.In 2016, there were over 12 million students being educated in the UK. In England, 4.5 million were in primary schools, 2.75 million in secondary schools, 1.8 million in further education, and 2.6 million in higher education.There are a lot of students who struggle with school and may have to resit certain exams. Fortunately for them, there are tutoring services that can help them avoid this.In this article, we're going to look at preparing an academic support class. CalumDrama School Entrance Teacher 5.00 (15) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ToriSpanish Teacher 5.00 (1) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors OliviaSchool support Teacher 5.00 (2) £21/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarkESOL (English) Teacher 4.76 (17) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YuweiChinese Teacher 4.33 (6) £19/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JenniferMusic reading Teacher 5.00 (1) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LouiseAutoCAD Teacher 5.00 (3) £60/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RickyPercussion Teacher 5.00 (7) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NicolasGuitar Teacher 5.00 (2) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MyriamOrganic chemistry Teacher 5.00 (13) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JonathanEconomics Teacher 5.00 (9) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Oluwakemi imoleMaths Teacher 5.00 (1) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AlexPhysics Teacher 5.00 (1) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AdamSinging Teacher 5.00 (14) £48/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ValentiniMusic reading Teacher 5.00 (2) £50/h1 st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MilenaMaths Teacher 5.00 (5) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RashmiEconomics Teacher 5.00 (1) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsThe First Class: Outline the Work ConditionsJust like any other contract negotiation, you need to remember that when it comes to both online tutoring and home tutoring, the tutor is employed by the family of the child being tutored. This means that you need to outline the conditions before they start receiving tuition.Make sure that wherever you want to teach your student is clean and tidy. (Source: bedrck)Academic support isn’t just teaching students, they also need to establish a relationship where both parties feel comfortable with one another. In a way, they’ll have to be on the charm offensive.Both need to be enjoying the classes.I remember having a bad time with a student studying economic sciences. I didn’t think I could do it. The student was stubborn and unhappy about being for ced by his parents to get tutorials. He sighed every time he was asked a question and I had to stop the tutorials.That said, the tutor and the parents have to agree on an hourly rate before they start.  Generally, academic support tutorials cost around £20 to £25 per hour. Of course, these rates can vary wildly depending on the subjects being taught and the level being offered.You will also factor in whether you would teach at your home or your students...It’s worthwhile offering discounts to those who you’re going to be working with for a while. Supplemental instruction needs to financially viable for families.Rules to Establish During Your First TutorialMost parents agree that academic support can help their child.  You have to present yourself well when teaching academic support tutorials. When you meet with the parents and the student, you’ll probably be judged on your appearance.Let us explain.  You’ll make your first impression the second they open the door to you.   It's important that it’s a good one.  You should treat the meeting like an interview. That said, it doesn’t mean that you have to wear a suit or a shirt and tie! You need to be presentable and confident.While you needn't wear a suit to your tutorials, you should dress appropriately. (Source: Free-Photos)This is true for all subjects. Whether it’s maths, physics, chemistry, French, English, German, Spanish, or music, you have to make a good first impression.It’s important for those working for tutoring companies and for themselves on platforms like Superprof.Make sure that you present yourself correctly and:Wear appropriate clothingAre cleanSmileDon’t stand with your arms crossed or your hands in your pockets and remember to shake hands and make eye contact when greeting people.The students and their parents will welcome you into the room where you’ll be working. Tutorials often take place in either the living room, the child’s bedroom, or the dining room.When you arriv e at a student’s house for tutorials, consider using a bit of humour to break the tension and show the student that you're both friendly and approachable. A quick joke will put a student at ease and realise that you’re not a prison guard who’s been hired to punish them for bad results at school.  Make sure to show them that you're not just an old fuddy-duddy. This helps the student to feel more at ease.It’s important to be on time, maybe even a few minutes early. A private tutor who arrives late may encourage the parents to find a tutor who's far more punctual. Tutoring jobs aren't always the most secure so make sure you do everything in your power to succeed at it and make it sustainable.Since tutorials often take place in the evenings after school, weekends, or during the school holidays, you also don’t want to waste a student’s free time either with poor timekeeping.When you become a tutor, unless you're working for tutoring companies, you're pretty much your own boss . You'll be teaching students in primary school, secondary school, college or sixth form, and if you want to have a successful tutoring business, you'll need to ensure that you have long-term students.Don't worry though. As you've seen, the market for private tutoring is huge and the market is growing. There are one to one tutoring opportunities out there, you just need to make sure that you offer a valuable service and guarantee that a learner will get quality tutorials from you at the right price.If you're struggling to find students, don't forget that you can also work as an online tutor and offer your tutorials to students all over the country.Whether an in-home tutor or tutoring online, you may make use of these resources...Evaluating the Student’s LevelWhy is the student getting tutorials?Do they need help catching up, passing a certain exam, help with their homework or a personalised programme for those applying to top universities?Make sure to regularly evaluate students' progress. (Source: tjevans)Once you know the reason, you’ll need to work out their level. You’ll need to know how old they are and what class they’re in before you meet them. See if they’re doing well at school or not.In the very first tutorial, even an experienced tutor won’t get very much done as they’ll be working out which methods will work with their student.  In order to evaluate their level, you should do a quick level test for the subject you’re teaching to get a good idea.  You should then ask the student for some of their previous test results.Students in secondary school or sixth form may already have an idea of which topics they struggle with.  It will help them to focus on problematic topics and ask themselves important questions why they’re finding them so difficult.Once this has been done, the tutor can start working out their approach, the activities they’re going to use, whether they need coaching, support, or just a bit of help, etc.You can always ask the student why they think they struggled in a given test in order to work out how they learn or do the test again and see where they go wrong.An appraisal of their abilities and a meeting with their parents is a good idea for their first tutorial.It’s even better to start the tutorials at the start of the school year. While you won’t be able to look over any tests, you’ll be able to offer appraisals each term.  Mention to your student that they can get in touch with you at any time via email if they have any questions outside of class. In fact, our tutors are experts in helping students improve.In search of online teaching jobs? You should check here now!Academic Support: Finding Interactive Exercises to Do with Your StudentEven if you haven’t planned the tutorial down to the minute, you still need to have activities for the student to do.You can share documents and resources now without using any paper. (Source: JESHOOTScom)Whether you’re teaching sciences (maths, p hysics, chemistry, biology, etc.), history, geography, English, or foreign languages, the advantage of private tutorials is that you can adapt them to any student and focus on a given topic.You can help students to catch up right from the start by going back over something they didn’t understand in school that very day.Don’t forget that since they’re paying for it, families expect their tutor to be good. This  means you’ll need to show them how your teaching approaches benefit their students.Digital resources are great for helping students to learn. It doesn’t matter if they’re in primary school, secondary school, sixth form, or college, there are plenty of great mobile apps on both Google Play  and the App Store  as well websites for learning.There are plenty of academic support websites where you can find exercises for tonnes of different subjects. Mathematics tutors will appreciate the large number of websites offering games and digital activities for topics such as a lgebra, calculus, trigonometry, and geometry.There are also free apps that you can download for various subjects with exercises for students. One on one tutoring needs to be more enjoyable than a student's regular classes as well as give them the necessary study skills to help them achieve academic success in their regular studies.Your job is to provide a refreshing approach to learning and differentiate yourself from the type of teaching they receive at school.

What is it Like to Attend Baylor University

What is it Like to Attend Baylor University The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. Ivorie graduated from Baylor University in 2013 with a Bachelors degree in Psychology. She is a Philadelphia tutor specializing in Algebra tutoring, ISEE prep tutoring, Grammar Mechanics tutoring, and more. See what she had to say about her alma mater: VT: Describe the campus setting and transportation options.How urban or safe is the campus?Are there buses or do you need a car/bike? Ivorie: Everyone refers to Baylor as the Baylor Bubble. It seems like a completely different city from Waco. That being said, campus is very safe. I felt comfortable walking around campus at any time of night. It is well lit and has stations where you can call security if there ever was an emergency. There are also shuttles that take you around campus and to some apartments off campus, but campus is relatively small with the walk from one end to another being around 15 minutes. The shuttles run around every 15 minutes, but a large amount of students do have bikes and cars. Youll need a car if you want to go places off campus (e.g. Walmart). VT:How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Ivorie: They all have set office hours, but are generally in their offices and available whenever they arent teaching a class. From my experience, the majority of my teachers were very helpful whenever I went for help. Some will even give you their cell phone numbers and invite you to call at 2 a.m. if youre studying really late for a test and need help! VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Ivorie: There are many different dorms with different styles to fit each individual. The basic dorm is a single room with 2 people and a community bathroom, but more expensive dorms range from having private bathrooms, to being apartment-style with your own bedroom. There are currently 4 dining halls on campus, with a ton of other options (Chick-fil-A, Moes Burgers, Starbucks, etc.). Baylor also offers a lot of community opportunities starting at the very beginning of the school year to help students make friends and stay connected. One thing that I loved was that organizations could spread the word about upcoming events by writing them with chalk on the sidewalks around campus. Youll also receive emails every week and see flyers in dorms and academic buildings about upcoming events and ways to stay involved. VT: Which majors/programs are best represented and supported?What did you study and why? Did the university do a good job supporting your particular area of study? Ivorie: I think all majors are supported nicely, but most of my friends were either Business or Science majors. They have recently built a new Science building and are working on creating a new Business building (although the current one is already amazing). I majored in Psychology and minored in English, and am currently a graduate student elsewhere. The Psychology staff is great and definitely helped me learn and retain information They were also very supportive in my journey to graduate school. Baylor offers an incredible amount of options for classes to take so that you can really focus on what interests you. VT: How easy or difficult was it for you to meet people and make friends as a freshman? Does Greek life play a significant role in the campus social life? Ivorie: It was not hard for me to meet people at all. People are extremely nice and there are so many social opportunities that it is hard to not meet people. I was not involved in Greek life so it is not a huge deal, but a very large amount of people do join Greek organizations and it does help to collect a smaller but closer circle of friends. VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Ivorie: I never visited the Career Center so I would not know. I did, however, receive a lot of emails about companies coming to campus for job fairs. VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Ivorie: The main library (Moody) is incredible; so much so that I never visited the others. It has a Starbucks and 4 floors with different sections designed for different comfort zones, e.g. a quiet zone, a low talking zone, and a talk as much and as loud as you want zone. There are private study rooms, couches, and a large amount of computers. The library is also open 24 hours. The Student Union building has good food options, 4 floors with rooms available to reserve for meetings or studying, a stage, and lots of couches. It is open until midnight on most days. Because there are so many options for people to study, the only time any of these are overcrowded is during finals week. VT: Describe the surrounding town. What kinds of outside establishments / things to do are there that make it fun, boring, or somewhere in between?To what extent do students go to the downtown area of the city versus staying near campus? Ivorie: Waco is not a very exciting town at all. The only thing that people usually go into the town for are groceries, restaurants, the movies, and the mall. Waco is very small so its only about a two-minute drive to downtown from campus. Students typically go downtown on weekends for fun, although there is not a huge selection of things to do. VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Ivorie: The size was perfect for me: not too big and not too small. My largest class was about 300 students (these classes are very limited, you may only have 1 or 2 classes this large during your entire 4 years) and the smallest was 6 students. Id say the average class size is about 25-30 students. There are around 13,000 students total, I believe. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Ivorie: One of my most memorable experiences was my Learning and Behavior class. In class, my teacher would bring us donuts and other breakfast items, which we really appreciated. He genuinely cared about us. The lab was my favorite part, though. We each had a rat to train, and although it was scary dealing with a rat at first, I really learned to love mine (and got to train it to do really cool tricks!). Check out Ivories tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

The Worlds Best Places for Landscape Photography.

The World’s Best Places for Landscape Photography. Fancy a Landscape Photography Trip? Here are the Greatest Spots for Landscape Photographers on the Planet. ChaptersBeautiful Landscapes for Photographers in Europe.Find Your Perfect Landscape Shot in these Locations in the USA.Take Landscape Photographs across South America.Asia’s Top Places for Landscape Images.Top Spots in Africa for Outdoor Photography.So, you want to be a landscape photographer? A travel photographer or a nature photographer? You want to dip into wildlife photography, or get your beautiful landscape image published in a photography magazine?Well, we all have to start somewhere â€" and we are pleased that, for you, that somewhere is here.But, honestly, we don’t want you to be here very long. Landscape photography doesn’t take place â€" at least not immediately â€" behind a computer screen or online. Rather, it happens out there in the world, where you’ll learn how to shoot, where you’ll get to grips with your camera gear, and where you’ll practice your compositional skills.It will, at first, just be you and your landscape â€" a freedom with which, like any freedom, comes a sense of endless, overwhelming possibility. Where will I set up my tripod, you ask? Which natural landscape should I engage with? When all the world’s a landscape, where do I start?This is why we have put together this series of photography tips â€" led by the locations themselves. We’ll tell you, across the world, which landscapes might be the best to photograph and why.But this is just a starting point. Then, you’ll have to go into the world and find your own places. The world is full of beautiful landscapes.What Does a Landscape Photographer Do?A landscape photographer takes photos of the beautiful places of the world â€" the interesting landscape, the inspiring landscape, and the downright amazing landscape.Creativity.They both capture and create â€" beauty, intrigue, and tension, through the camera lens. This is the important bit. People often think that all types of photography â€" street photography or portrait photography, nature photography or aerial photography â€" are generally passive endeavours, in which you point and shoot.But it’s not like that. Photography is hugely creative â€" and this sort of creativity is pretty much unique amongst the arts. Because the creativity of the photographer comes in scouting locations, selecting sights, composing the shape and range of the image through the viewfinder, and using natural light to his or her advantage.It’s about balancing the offer of the world with the potential of the image.Landsca pes.This is what landscape photographers do. And that’s not only images of wildernesses or unpeopled spaces. Landscapes are literally everywhere â€" from the seascape to the cityscape.This is important because landscape photographers should not avoid the human element of the world in their images. They should not balk at the urban landscape or the still life.Landscape photography, by its very nature, is hugely broad, almost all-encompassing. Its rather what you do with the image that is important.Find photography courses London here.What Do You Need to Take Landscape Photos?Landscape photography begins with a shot of a place â€" urban or rural, populated or desolate, lively with motion or still. But to translate and transpose that into the image that you hold in your hand, see in a museum, or gaze at in a magazine takes a lot of work.Sure, you probably need a digital camera, but the other things that need to be considered are plentiful.Because what makes a beautiful image is a com bination of the shutter speed, the depth of field, the white balance. It’s a decision between a wide-angle lens and a fisheye, say. It’s a consideration of the desired sharpness of the image â€" or a reflection on whether this particular scene requires low light or bright.The art of the photographer is a balance of all these different elements â€" plus the image editing software afterwards perhaps.But it is also a supreme patience and a commitment to the shot. Because not any old photograph will do. If you are serious about being a professional photographer, it’s not enough to make do with your first or second shot. You want the perfect image â€" and this takes time.And Where to Take Pictures of Landscapes?As we said above, any landscape can contribute to the beauty of a photograph.Think of Eugene Atget’s shots of alleyways and shop fronts in Paris. These are a landscape photography. Or Fay Godwin’s images of fairly unremarkable English landscapes. These too are beautiful works that are beautiful over and above the subjects of the photos.So, it doesn’t matter so much where you take these photos. You could go to the most spectacular place on the planet â€" Everest, say â€" and come back with a load of average photographs. Or you could commit to photographing your street in your home town and change the art form of landscape photography.The selection of the landscape is down to you in this respect. And once you are more experienced, comfortable, or knowledgeable, you will come to find your own preferred subject. Just as Ansel Adams became known specifically for his shots of the American West or Eliot Porter for his images of forests and birds.But the inspirational place â€" besides the photos you are taking of them â€" are important precisely because they are inspiring. Beautiful landscapes beg to be captured and collected. And by seeing the beauty of the world, you’ll only find inspiration to make your own images as beautiful as they can be.So, he re are some amazing landscapes for you to try. And you’ll find links to more in-depth articles on each part of the world below.Remember, though, when it comes to landscape photography, the photograph itself is more important than the landscape that you are making representations of. Your camera will love the light of Scotland. AllanPhotography Teacher 5.00 (2) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NatashaPhotography Teacher 5.00 (7) £55/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors TimothyPhotography Teacher 5.00 (5) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Anosh nadeemPhotography Teacher 5.00 (2) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ZangmoPhotography Teacher 5.00 (6) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RosiePhotography Teacher £12/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MattPhotography Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AndyPhotography Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsBeautiful Landscapes for Photographers in Europe.Europe, the littlest of the world’s continents, is rammed with exquisite sights to see. And, for a landscape photographer, it could potentially be one of the most rewarding places on Earth.If you are looking for the subject of some shots, you’ll need to consider what you a re after.Scotland’s Highlands have recently been voted the most beautiful place in the world. So, if you like rugged, barely populated landscapes, with mountains, moors, and dramatic coastlines, this might be the place for you.If, on the other hand, you are interested in totally unique landforms, try the Italian Dolomites â€" whose rocky outbursts are unseen anywhere else.Find more suggestions in our article on the best places for landscape photography in Europe.Find Your Perfect Landscape Shot in these Locations in the USA.The USA is a country whose variety of landscapes, landforms, and worlds has been immortalised by its indefatigable cultural industries. Every place in the US seems to already be familiar.But that’s not to say that it’s not still a wonderful place to take photos. Because its familiarity does not imply its banality.The otherworldly landscapes of Utah will remain ever new, striking any audience with their strangeness, their majesty. The trees of New England’ s White Mountains, with their endless variety of colours, will not disappoint either.And then there’s the Rockies and the Great Plains. Find out more about where to go in the USA as a landscape photographer. Practice your photography skills on the colours of autumnal New England. AllanPhotography Teacher 5.00 (2) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NatashaPhotography Teacher 5.00 (7) £55/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors TimothyPhotography Teacher 5.00 (5) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Anosh nadeemPhotography Teacher 5.00 (2) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ZangmoPhotography Teacher 5.00 (6) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RosiePhotography Teacher £12/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MattPhotography Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AndyPhotography Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsTake Landscape Photographs across South America.South America’s landscapes are as extreme as they are breath-taking â€" with some of the highest mountains in the world, the longest rivers, the driest deserts, and the largest plains.All of this, understandably, provides great material for the pho tographer’s profession. You just need to decide where you are going to take yourself.It could be deep into the Amazon jungle, for some photos of the wildest and least explored areas on the planet. It could be through the valleys of the Andes, with their dizzying heights and spectacular skylines. It could be to the weird shapes and colours of the Atacama Desert.Take your pick. Or find out more in our article on photography tips for landscapes in South America.Asia’s Top Places for Landscape Images.Our planet’s largest continent, it’s hard to reduce its breadth into such a summary as this. Yet, throwing yourself into Asia would be one of the most exciting things you’ll ever do â€" let alone an endless source of gorgeous photos.Sure, you could go to the Great Wall of China or to the temples of Angkor Wat. But you may find that these iconic sights are a little crowded with tourists.Try instead, perhaps, the depths of the Himalaya â€" or the unvisited regions of Kazakhstan. Fin d out more in our article on Asia’s best locations for landscape photography.Top Spots in Africa for Outdoor Photography.Africa’s beauty is undeniable â€" from the huge swathes of the Sahara to the green regions of Ethiopia and the savanna.Indeed, it’s usually this last landscape here that we associated with Africa. Yet, go there, and see that the image we have of this continent is infinitely reductive.Try the Fish River of Namibia, or the Atlas Mountains of Morocco. Or else, head to the coasts and islands of Mozambique. For more, check out our article on Africa’s best places for landscape photography.

The Best Back to School Deals in 2018

The Best Back to School Deals in 2018 Back to school season is filled with many exciting experiencesnew opportunities for creativity and new school supplies, for instance. Often, there are a number of back to school deals available, but how do you scope out the best ones? In 2018, there are discounts on items like electronics, backpacks, and dorm room essentials. Keep reading to discover some of the best 2018 back to school deals to fit your academic needs. The best back to school deals for electronics When heading back to school, having the right equipment to succeed can positively impact your studies. In todays world, technology is an integral part of education for many students. With that said, it may be to your benefit to scope out the best back to school deals for electronics. Amazon offers students their 16GB Fire HD 8 Tablet with Alexa for $89.99, a savings of $20. This device allows you to easily download books, magazines, and note-taking apps for study sessions. Best Buy offers a plethora of deals for students, including $100 or $150 off select laptops and 10 percent off Texas Instruments calculators. Apple also offers students, faculty, and staff discounts on their products. With Apple education pricing, discounts include up to $200 off a qualifying Mac, and 20% off an AppleCare protection plan. Students also receive 10% off qualifying Microsoft products for the new school year. Examine your technology needs, and identify which gadgets suit you best before you make a purc hase. [RELATED: 5 Benefits of Using Videos to Learn] The best back to school deals for study essentials Going into a new school year, its important to set yourself up for academic success. Students are able to rent textbooks through Barnes Noble for up to 80% off, as well as $10 off every $100 spent. Jet offers students discounts on all note-taking essentials, including notebooks, felt tip pens, and index cards. In addition, Varsity Tutors is currently offering new clients up to $200 off a qualifying tutoring package now through August 14. Tutoring is available in over 1,000 subjects, so you can find personalized support in dozen of areas heading into the new school year. For more information on how tutoring can support your back to school transition, you can call (888) 888-0446. [RELATED: How High School and College Students Can Setand AchieveAcademic Goals] The best back to school deals for backpacks and supplies Picking out new school supplies can be a treatand even more so when you snag back to school deals. Staples offers students 20% off school supplies with the online purchase of a backpack, plus money off many other items. Office Depot/Office Max offer up to 80% off select back to school items, including this 16GB flash drive for $4.99, regularly $17.99. JCPenney offers discounts on backpacks this school year, including: JanSport Big Student backpack for $47.99, regularly $64.00 Nike Hayward Futura backpack for $40.99, regularly $55.00 Adidas Foundation IV backpack for $32.99, regularly $45.00. You can also find back to school deals at Amazon and Target. Reference your schools required supply list prior to selecting the best back to school items for you or your student. The best back to school deals for dorm room gear Picking out dorm room items allows you to personalize the space you will call home for the next year. When signing up with their school email address at Bed Bath Beyond, students receive 20% off qualifying purchases with a college savings pass. Bed Bath Beyond also has college supply lists to help you select all the items you need. PB Teen offers deals on dorm bedding, wall organization, and bins and baskets. Be sure to determine the size of your dorm room, however, before purchasing items. Youll want to ensure the items you buy fit the space and meet any dorm regulations. [RELATED: 5 College Dorm Room Must-Haves] As back to school quickly approaches, its time to set yourself up for success. Finding the right study essentials, electronics, and supplies can give you the confidence you need to start the 2018-2019 school year off on the right foot. Any topics you want to know more about? Let us know! The Varsity Tutors Blog editors love hearing your feedback and opinions. Feel free to email us at blog@varsitytutors.com.

How Children Succeed Part Two

How Children Succeed Part Two Improving Academic Performance In part one of this three-part introduction to How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity, and the Hidden Power of Character we are introduced the main theme of the book, that grit and character, not intelligence, is what drives academic performance and helps children succeed. We left off with the introduction of the cognitive hypothesis. The cognitive hypotheses states that success today depends primarily on cognitive skills (e.g., reading, writing, recognizing patterns, calculating, etc.) the type of intelligence that gets tested on IQ or standardized tests, and that the best way to build these skills is to practice them as early and often as possible. The cognitive hypothesis, according to Tough, is actually somewhat recent, and resulted from a series of studies in the early 1990s, that traced the decline in academic performance of U.S. children on a lack of early exposure to words and numbers. According to the generally accepted principles of the cognitive hypothesis, the more you can stimulate a young child’s brain early on, the stronger their academic skills will be later on in life, and the more successful they will thus become in school. For example, research shows that children born into poverty hear hundreds of thousands of fewer words by age 3 than children born into middle or upper middleclass families. If you follow the cognitive hypothesis, then this can clearly explain socioeconomically disadvantaged students’ lagging performance on tests of reading, writing, and general comprehension years later. The solution is to encourage the parents of these children to talk to, read to, and introduce counting games to their children as early and as often as possible. Interestingly, in the next chapter of the book, Tough spends a significant amount of time exploring a somewhat alternative view of how and why poverty impacts academic performance. It’s not that children born into poverty don’t hear enough words (though perhaps that’s part of it), it’s that they are systematically under significantly more stress from a very young age, and this stress impacts their ability to focus, pay attention, and stay on task. Ultimately, Tough suggests that the cognitive hypothesis, while certainly true in some areas and on some levels, is attractive because it’s so easy to understand. It’s highly linear. Less early exposure to words and numbers equals worse academic outcomes. But, while researchers certainly value simple theories of how the world works, Tough notes that a growing number of academic researchers, from fields as widespread as education, economics, psychology, and neuroscience have been coming togetherand sharing evidence to question the underlying assumptions embedded in the cognitive hypothesis. It is at this point that Tough directly describes the main theme of this book, which is that success doesn’t depend on how much stuff we can fit in our child’s brains early in life (i.e., the cognitive hypothesis). Instead, it depends on the ability to cultivate a set of qualities related to what you might call character or personality attributes, such as: persistence, self-control, curiosity, conscientiousness, grit, and self-confidence. He concedes that for some skills and in some ways, what he calls the stark calculus of the cognitive hypothesis is entirely accurate. The more a 4th grader reads, the better he will become at reading and comprehending, for example. But, his main contention is that academic and general success in life is complex to understand, and character skills (perhaps because when strong, they allow you to be better at buildingcognitive skills) are at the core of what truly allows children to succeed. In part three of our introduction, we’ll explore character in more detail, as well as offer an initial analysis and review of the book.

Strategies to Help An Anxious Child

Strategies to Help An Anxious Child Many kids with ADHD also have symptoms of anxiety. For some, it might be a simple phobia, like a fear of spiders, which is only a problem when theres a spider in the room. For others, the anxiety is more pervasive, and crops up in social situations, at bedtime when a child is afraid to sleep alone, or in school situations, like a fear of going to school or a fear of poor academic performance. Traditionally, evidence-based treatments for anxiety disorders have focused on individual sessions with the child, where they receive cognitive behavior therapy (CBT). In these sessions, kids learn strategies for challenging anxious thoughts and reducing their anxiety-avoidance behaviors (you can learn more about CBT here). While CBT can be very effective for many kids with anxiety disorders, not all children respond to this treatment, and when parents arent involved in the therapy, they often struggle with knowing how to best support their child at home. A recent study takes a different approach to treatment, one that may be a better fit for many kids and their parents. Researchers at the Yale Child Study Center are testing a parent-focused treatment where the child doesnt attend any therapy sessions. Instead, their parents meet with the therapist and learn strategies for helping reduce their childs anxiety at home. For parents of kids with ADHD, this approach may sound familiar, since this is exactly what evidence-based treatments for ADHD provide (you can learn more about these treatments, like behavioral parent training, here). The new intervention is based on strong evidence showing that the degree to which parents accommodate a childs anxiety and avoidance behavior is directly related to the persistence of a childs anxiety symptoms. This means the more parents rescue their child when they are anxious, the less likely it is that the childs anxiety symptoms will improve. An example from a recent NPR article on this treatment really highlights the challenge: if you have a child who is afraid of sleeping alone, its natural as a parent to want to reduce their anxiety by allowing them to sleep with you or by staying in their room each night until they fall asleep. The problem is that in doing so, youre accommodating the anxiety, and as a result, the child never learns that there is really nothing to fear. Without this learning process, their anxiety continues to creep up night after night and never goes away. As a parent, its very hard to know how much to accommodate and comfort your child and how much to pull back and allow your child to experience their anxiety symptoms. This is where parent coaching comes in. The therapist discusses very specific anxiety-provoking situations that the child experiences and develops a detailed, systematic plan for gradually exposing the child to their anxiety until they have eventually mastered their fear. The therapist checks in regularly with the parents to discuss how the child is responding to the plan and to make adjustments as needed. So far, this treatment is looking very promising and may be something that eventually moves into standard care for child anxiety disorders. In the meantime, if you think you could benefit from therapist coaching to help your child overcome their anxiety, reach out to a CBT therapist. Theyll be able to help you develop a detailed intervention plan similar to those used in the ongoing Yale study, and will coach you through the challenges that come with helping your anxious child. 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.

Instructor Spotlight Rudi Hwang

Instructor Spotlight Rudi Hwang Instructor Spotlight: Rudi Hwang Rudi Hwang, Instructor of Kumon Math and Reading Centre of Toronto Chinatown Meet Rudi, Instructor of Kumon of Toronto-Chinatown. He’s been an Instructor for five years, but his journey began long before that. Rudi is the son of veteran Kumon Instructorâ€"Betty Hwangâ€"who is celebrating her 26th anniversary with Kumon this year! He was actually a Kumon Student as a childâ€"completing the entire Kumon Math Program. He later went on to work for his mother at her Centre for 10 years before she handed over Kumon of Toronto-Chinatown to him. It’s safe to say that Rudi’s roots with Kumon are deep. In the first five minutes of talking to him, you’ll hear his passion and deep conviction of everything that Kumon stands for. One of the things that he’s most passionate about is at the core of the Kumon Methodâ€"self-learning. We met up with Rudi and asked him to share his thoughts. What inspired you to become a Kumon Instructor? I really believe in the benefits of Kumon. As an Instructor, I can see the dramatic effects that proper instruction can have on children. They develop confidence, become true self-learners, experience success in school and potentially change the trajectory of their lives. It is a very rewarding career. Does the fact that you were once a Kumon Student help you relate to your students? Definitely.   I know what it feels like and I have experienced the benefits of the Kumon program for myself.   This program is excellent, I really believe it. What is it about being an Instructor that you enjoy the most? The process of it. There is a beginning when the families come in. There is the work to get them to understand, take a leap of faith and commit to this long-term routine. You are asking them to trust you with their time, effort and moneyâ€"even if they may be skeptical at first. Once they commit, there are the ups and downs along the way. An opportunity to start building trust with each individual family. Then, when the big success comesâ€"getting good grades, studying advanced material on their ownâ€"that’s the payoff. You’ve earned their trust. That feels good. What is the most valuable lesson you’ve learned as a Kumon Instructor? Always look out for the best interests of your families, and be honest with what you can and can’t do for them. That’s how you build trust and long-term success. What is a fun fact about you that people may not know? I collect Toronto Raptors bobbleheads and vintage tennis shoes.   I have a lot. What do you like to do in your spare time? I play tennis a few times a week. Learn more about the Kumon Franchise opportunity and discover  additional franchisee success stories. You might also be interested in: Instructor Spotlight: Lillian Brijeski Instructor Spotlight: Jennifer Ju Instructor Spotlight: Laura Bubbico Instructor Spotlight: Alex Tang Instructor Spotlight Rudi Hwang Instructor Spotlight: Rudi Hwang Rudi Hwang, Instructor of Kumon Math and Reading Centre of Toronto Chinatown Meet Rudi, Instructor of Kumon of Toronto-Chinatown. He’s been an Instructor for five years, but his journey began long before that. Rudi is the son of veteran Kumon Instructorâ€"Betty Hwangâ€"who is celebrating her 26th anniversary with Kumon this year! He was actually a Kumon Student as a childâ€"completing the entire Kumon Math Program. He later went on to work for his mother at her Centre for 10 years before she handed over Kumon of Toronto-Chinatown to him. It’s safe to say that Rudi’s roots with Kumon are deep. In the first five minutes of talking to him, you’ll hear his passion and deep conviction of everything that Kumon stands for. One of the things that he’s most passionate about is at the core of the Kumon Methodâ€"self-learning. We met up with Rudi and asked him to share his thoughts. What inspired you to become a Kumon Instructor? I really believe in the benefits of Kumon. As an Instructor, I can see the dramatic effects that proper instruction can have on children. They develop confidence, become true self-learners, experience success in school and potentially change the trajectory of their lives. It is a very rewarding career. Does the fact that you were once a Kumon Student help you relate to your students? Definitely.   I know what it feels like and I have experienced the benefits of the Kumon program for myself.   This program is excellent, I really believe it. What is it about being an Instructor that you enjoy the most? The process of it. There is a beginning when the families come in. There is the work to get them to understand, take a leap of faith and commit to this long-term routine. You are asking them to trust you with their time, effort and moneyâ€"even if they may be skeptical at first. Once they commit, there are the ups and downs along the way. An opportunity to start building trust with each individual family. Then, when the big success comesâ€"getting good grades, studying advanced material on their ownâ€"that’s the payoff. You’ve earned their trust. That feels good. What is the most valuable lesson you’ve learned as a Kumon Instructor? Always look out for the best interests of your families, and be honest with what you can and can’t do for them. That’s how you build trust and long-term success. What is a fun fact about you that people may not know? I collect Toronto Raptors bobbleheads and vintage tennis shoes.   I have a lot. What do you like to do in your spare time? I play tennis a few times a week. Learn more about the Kumon Franchise opportunity and discover  additional franchisee success stories. You might also be interested in: Instructor Spotlight: Lillian Brijeski Instructor Spotlight: Jennifer Ju Instructor Spotlight: Laura Bubbico Instructor Spotlight: Alex Tang

5 Steps To Becoming One Of The Healthiest Colleges In The U.S.

5 Steps To Becoming One Of The Healthiest Colleges In The U.S. image via fluxbuzz.com Using those healthy colleges as our examples, let’s compile a list of how to get your college to be healthy, so you’ll definitely make the charts next year! Here we go. 1) Dining halls What is cooking in your dining hall? Considering that most students eat there for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, it is very important that what is being served is health conscious. Some schools, like UC Santa Cruz, offer one day a week where the dining hall doesn’t serve any meat. This saves a lot of water and shows students how to make other healthy choices. Clemson University, the first college in the article on the healthy list, “is also committed to providing meals that feature fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein, making it that much easier to maintain a healthy diet.” If college dining halls offer nutritional information, it will make students more aware of what they are eating, and help them come to an understanding of what portions they should be having of which foods. Locally sourced produce is another way that your university can get healthy. Fresh fruits and veggies from your school’s garden or from local venders will keep things nice and fresh, and you’ll know exactly where they are coming from. These local foods tend to be organic as well, so you don’t have to worry about pesticides. If your school is not providing you with these food options, make it happen! All students want to be healthy, they just need a little help. http://www.zencollegelife.com 2) Get active Another thing that is offered by those healthy colleges on that handy dandy list are ways to get active. Healthy schools offer a wellness center, that is a given, but they also provide students with fun ways to get active and make it feel less like a chore and more like fun. Things like fitness classes, personal trainers, intramural sports, and outdoor excursions are all steps in the healthy direction. This offers a multitude of ways for students to stay fit that will reach out to a bigger audience than just a gym will. Giving students challenges to always walk to class or to work out a certain amount of hours to get a prize are both great motivators as well for those students who just need an extra push to get started. 3) Overall health Healthy schools need to provide information on all aspects of health. For example, Penn State “provides resources and education on sexual health, smoking cessation, drugs and alcohol, fitness and nutrition, and eating disorders.” It is important for students to know how things are affecting their bodies, and to have a place where they feel safe asking questions and getting answers. Some of the schools even provide help with sleeping problems, since this is a common thing that students have trouble with and not getting enough sleep can really tear down your health. Having counselors and safe environments to take care of your metal health is extremely important, because you should never feel alone. Healthy schools also tend to provide free health screenings for some STD’s, and provide condoms and information on safe sex to help promote healthy relationships. http://www.tintup.com 4) Dealing with stress All college students feel stressed, and that’s where healthy schools can come into play. Like at the University of Iowa, it is important for students to have access to different “learning styles, motivation and goal setting, tips for managing ADHD, test anxiety management, and time management.” Especially for new students or students who are switching majors and have added stress, having these resources available would allow them to find an outlet for the stress and a solution for their worries, so they can stay on track without having to stay awake all night worrying about everything they have to do. Some schools even bring animals in around midterms and finals, so students can go pet some fluffy dogs and rabbits (or whatever animals are available) to de-stress before the test. It’s crazy how much that actually helps! 5) A good community A school community that strives together thrives together. Having a school that is invested in helping students meet new people will see better results in the healthy department. Having good influences around you who are eating well and getting active will give you the mindset of doing the same. Schools that host events where many students will attend and mingle will be able to build a community and therefore be able to promote healthy living to all the students and their friends. It’s awesome what a little teamwork can do. Now you know what you have to do, so make it count. Ban together with your fellow classmates and help show your school why getting healthy is the way to go. Who knows, maybe your school will be on the healthy list next year.