3 (Fun!) Summer Activities That Help Your Child Grow [Infographic]

3 (Fun!) Summer Activities That Help Your Child Grow [Infographic] Natalie Hagen Summer is here! With school out and the temperatures rising, no doubt your kids are excited to play. But beyond the summer camps, sleepovers, bike rides, and water balloon fights, stealthy parents know how to encourage activities that can actually help kids grow  and learn! Dont worry that doesnt mean workbooks or summer homework. Weve got three fun summer activities in mind that kids will be excited to participate in, and ones that will build confidence at the same time. First up? Music lessons! If your son or daughter loves to sing along to songs  when you turn on the radio, music lessons are a natural fit. And there are so  many different lesson types to consider, from piano to guitar to saxophone. For the more introverted or bookworm types, learning a language like Spanish or French might be a great choice. Of course, your child wont become fluent over the course of one summer but it can be a fun introduction to new cultures! Plus, its easy to find fun games and apps that support  language learning. Finally, if your child cant stop moving, sports like soccer and softball are a great way to keep him or her busy. Theyll never know theyre actually improving their  teamwork and goal-setting skills! Heres a recap of all the surprising stats you need to know about these fun summer activities for kids. Whether your child is athletic, musically inclined, or interested in learning another language, summer is the perfect time to enroll them in classes and nurture a new hobby. And knowing your son or daughter is also  growing and learning, you can sit back and relax this summer just as the season was intended for. Ready to get started? Search for fun summer activities,  classes, and lessons near you! Photos by  Philippe Put,  Dark Dwarf, and  l. c. Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher

What is the Grad School Application Process

What is the Grad School Application Process Applying to grad school is a great time of anticipation as you look forward to the next step in your career. However, it can also be a daunting process, whether youre a current undergrad or have been out in the working world for a year or more. The good news is that youve been through the undergrad application process before, which is similar, and youre likely to have materials you can draw from to help you present the best grad school applications possible. Not sure where to begin, however? Below is a breakdown of the grad school application process: 1. Researching prospective schools and requirements The application cycle generally begins in the fall of the year before youd want to attend, and it often extends through the spring. Starting in the summeror even beforebegin researching what kinds of programs and schools youd like to attend. Browse schools websites and look up online forums, communities, or ranking lists, or visit campuses in person if youre able to do so. Consider factors like faculty, course offerings, research or mentorship opportunities, and location. Check out funding packages and scholarships as well. Also, note that some programs require you to have already taken certain courses. If youre missing a required course from your transcript thus far, consider enrolling in it at a local or community college. In order to accomplish these things in the appropriate timeframe, you must be keeping yourself organized. Once you decide which and how many schools to apply to, create a spreadsheet that lists important deadlines, required application materials, fees, etc. 2. Scheduling admissions exams Most grad schools require you to take standardized admissions exams, like the GRE, GMAT, MCAT, or LSAT, depending on the specialty you are pursuing. Once you figure out if youll be taking a particular test, register for a date that gives you ample time to study, as well as time to focus on the rest of your applications. Then, create a study plan. Some ideas include drills and full-length practice tests, checking out resources at your local library, looking into tutoring, or even just finding a study buddy. 3. Seeking out recommenders Depending on the school at hand, you may need to provide three or up to five letters from people who can vouch for you as a great grad school candidate. Choose professors or mentors in your intended field of study, often from undergrad. If youve been working, you could possibly ask current or previous supervisors. If they agree to this task, be prepared to send them your personal statement and/or resume to help them speak to your personal accomplishments and skills, as well as clear guidelines for how to submit letters and important due dates. Be sure to give your recommenders ample time to complete the letters (two months or more is generous). Dont forget, afterwards, to keep them updated on where you choose to attend in the end and to send them a token of appreciation! 4. Writing personal statements and essays Personal statements and essays are the meat and potatoes of the application package. They showcase your accomplishments and vision, let your personality shine through, and allow you to speak to any potential discrepancies in your academic career. Begin with a hookoften a personal anecdote that genuinely speaks to your interest in the fieldand discuss experiences that showcase who you are as a person, as well as a potential student in their program. Keep your writing positive, personal, succinct, and snappy. Avoid jargon and flowery or extremely casual language. Have a friend or mentor read and edit your writing, and then you can revise as needed. [RELATED: 3 Steps to Edit Your Essay] 5. Updating your resume If youve used your resume recently for job applications, you may already have something on hand that you can easily upload to the application portal. Be sure, however, to update your resume with any recent awards, volunteer experiences, or job achievements. Also, youll want to tailor this resume toward your intended field of study and highlight any accomplishments in that specific field. After all, youll want to impress these admissions officers just as youd want to impress potential employers! 6. Sending transcripts and test scores This part of the application process is often tedious and can require fees. However, its a great activity that can help you feel productive in your application process and can give you a break from more mentally taxing activities. Consult your spreadsheet and school websites for when and how to submit undergrad (or any other post-secondary school) transcripts. Also, if you didnt elect to send your test scores to all your schools when you took a certain exam, be sure to catch up on this if needed and do so by the application deadlines. Besides the above list, schools may have a few other requirements depending on the type of program, like a writing sample or an in-person interview. Take note of these differences throughout the process so youre ready for them as they come. Lastly, reach out to people in your social circles to see if anyone else is going through the application process; they can be a great source of support during this time! 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.

For New York Singers Free Vocal Screening

For New York Singers Free Vocal Screening Suzy S. When: April 4 Where: New York Eye and Ear Infirmary Voice and Swallowing Institute New York, NY Are you a pro, or taking singing classes in New York? In honor of World Voice Day 2009, MusiCares, along with the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary and KayPentax, is co-sponsoring a day of free voice screenings for New York-based professional vocalists. The event will take place on April 4 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmarys Voice and Swallowing Institute. The screenings will be provided free of charge and are needs-based. Each eligible singer will receive a complete vocal assessment, including assessment by a laryngologist, a stroboscopic exam of the vocal folds, and vocal function testing. Vocalists must be pre-screened for eligibility and schedule their appointments through MusiCares. For more information and to schedule an appointment, call 212.245.7840 or 877.303.6962.

Guitar Lessons Near Me Learn the Guitar in London

Guitar Lessons Near Me Learn the Guitar in London Opportunities for Learning the Guitar in the UK's Capital. ChaptersStudy the Guitar at the City Academy LondonNail Your Guitar Technique with Guitar Lessons LondonTake Lessons with Professionals at The London Guitar InstituteGo Folk with Guitar Tuition at Cecil Sharp HouseJoin a Class at the London Guitar AcademyAim for a Degree in Guitar at the Institute of Contemporary Music PerformanceFind a Private Guitar Teacher at SuperprofExplore Spanish Guitar with Flamenco ExpressLearn at the London Guitar SchoolTake a Summer Course at London Music SchoolJoin the Best Musicians in the World at the Royal Academy of MusicCheck Out Guitar Classes at Greenwich Music SchoolLearn Guitar from Those who Know at Tech Music SchoolFind a Guitar Specialist at the London Music FactoryPractise and Improve at the London School of ArtsConclusionThe impression among Londoners is that anything is possible within its ever-expanding boundaries. And it’s quite easy to see why this impression exists: with some of the most incredible cultural treasures in the world â€" from the art galleries to the museums to the sports teams â€" to the nightlife, restaurant culture, and architecture, anyone would agree that it’s really not too shabby.Yet, over the years, one of its major assets is its wealth of musical culture, heritage, and output. Almost anywhere you look in central London â€" from the Royal Opera House to Ronnie Scott’s to the Roundhouse â€" you will see venues, not to mention musicians, that are known all over the world.Honestly, though, this would all mean little if there were not the opportunity to learn and play music yourself. Luckily, London offers such opportunities in bucketloads. From private guitar lessons to music classes â€" and in every style from funk, folk, and fingerstyle to pop, jazz, and rock â€" you will find everything you could possibly need to get the training to play in one of these venues yourself.As we’re here to talk about guitar lessons, rest assured: whether you are an absolute beginner, an intermediate player , or a proper musician looking to take a different genre to the next level, in London every style of guitar teaching is possible. 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 tutorsStudy the Guitar at the City Academy LondonThe City Academy is a wonderful institution based in north London â€" but operating in different locations across the city â€" that offers arts, dance, and music lessons to adults. From singing lessons to piano lessons, the Academy prov ides courses that are taught by professionals in the field, and they are designed to fit around your schedule â€" at the weekend, evenings, or during the day.The Academy offers guitar lessons â€" classical and acoustic â€" to beginners and those at a higher level, and you will combine basic techniques, with basic chords and training on how to read music.Nail Your Guitar Technique with Guitar Lessons LondonGuitar Lessons London is run by Hawi Gondwe, a professional guitarist who has played and performed with the likes of Amy Winehouse. His team of tutors covers the extent of England’s capital, and they have online guitar lessons too.The team of guitar instructors cover every genre of music you could imagine, from indie to blues to jazz guitar. They can all cover grades or just recreational guitar playing, and they are a very experienced bunch.Take Lessons with Professionals at The London Guitar InstituteThe London Guitar Institute has two schools, in the City of London and in Mayfa ir, and they aim their varieties of guitar course at adult learners. There are three types of course available â€" either one-on-one, in a group, or with the famous Stefan Joubert â€" and all of these courses are available in different styles â€" from classical guitar to blues guitar lessons.Go Folk with Guitar Tuition at Cecil Sharp HouseThe Cecil Sharp House is the only centre in England dedicated to folk art and culture. Whilst it runs plenty of events, lectures, and even weddings, it has a number of educational courses and classes. The guitar instructor there, David Delarre, takes two courses â€" beginner and intermediate â€" and he will help you explore the repertoire, chord progressions, and guitar techniques of folk music.Learn guitar like a folk artist.Join a Class at the London Guitar AcademyBased in Queen’s Park, the London Guitar Academy runs one-to-one sessions, group classes, and studio recording opportunities. It has an absolutely massive selection of different cours es ranging from beginner, through lead guitar playing, songwriting, fingerstyle guitar, and ukulele.It also has social guitar ensembles â€" for kids and adults â€" and, like most guitar tuition organisations, it offers home tuition too.Aim for a Degree in Guitar at the Institute of Contemporary Music PerformanceIf you want to play guitar at the highest level, you might want to seek instruction at one of London’s newer higher education music centres, the Institute of Contemporary Music Performance.Options for playing guitar at degree level come in the BMus in Popular Music Performance or the BA in Creative Musicianship â€" both of which will give you a serious grounding in music theory and a comprehensive training in everything to do with professional guitar method.An option for the serious guitarists out there.Find a Private Guitar Teacher at SuperprofWhether you are a serious guitar player, or you just want to be able to strum along to songs or jam with your mates, you’ll find someone to show you how to play better with Superprof.This is an online platform that links up tutors with students seeking private lessons. So far there are over five million tutors on the platform worldwide, and, in London alone, there are 191 guitar teachers waiting to help you learn to play your axe. 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 tutorsExplore Spanish Guitar with Flamenco ExpressYou might want to learn to play the guitar in a slightly dif ferent way, however. Maybe you ain’t so keen on nailing the licks and riffs of the electric and want something a little more romantic. Luckily, Chris Clavo at Flamenco Express offers flamenco guitar lessons, and this guy has worked with some very serious musicians and institutions. He’ll teach you flamenco improvisation and how to solo Spanish style.Accompany flamenco dancers with your classical guitar!Learn at the London Guitar SchoolThe London Guitar School operates all over the capital and is run by Eilidh McKellar, a Scottish guitarist who has played on stage with the blues legend, Joe Bonamassa, and who has recorded with artists signed with major labels.The School’s courses are comprehensive, covering everything from music production to the blues. Online, meanwhile, you’ll find a load of free guitar lessons, which might give you an insight on how the classes are going to go!Take a Summer Course at London Music SchoolAlongside BTECs in musical performance, diplomas in gu itar, and evening classes, the London Music School offers a well-regarded guitar summer school. Over two weeks, you will learn everything from scales and modes to recording and performance technique. You’ll be expected to do two performances a week as well as songwriting classes and ensemble practice. You’ll also have the opportunity to learn from some visiting famous musicians.Join the Best Musicians in the World at the Royal Academy of MusicThe Royal Academy of Music is one of the most famous conservatoires in the country. So, if you like your musical education to be world-class, prestigious, and surrounded by famous musicians, this might be the place for you.You’ll receive a degree or a postgraduate qualification in music if you can get your guitar playing through this challenging and intensely rewarding course.Check Out Guitar Classes at Greenwich Music SchoolThe Greenwich Music School, based in Greenwich and Charlton, is a music charity that has been praised for its work with young children. It excels in its diverse courses for those under the age of six, but runs courses for ages six to nine and for seven to nineteen. Grown-ups of Greenwich fear not, as there are plenty of adult opportunities to learn instruments or music theory at Greenwich Music School too.Learn Guitar from Those who Know at Tech Music SchoolThe Tech Music School is very proud of its alumni. And so they should be, as past students at this school have gone on to play with some of the greatest artists in contemporary music.Now owned by BIMM (the British and Irish Modern Music institute), they offer diplomas, vocational certificates, and full-time three-year degrees, in drums, vocals, guitar, or music business.Play guitar in a recording studio - and learn the behind the scenes of music tech.Find a Guitar Specialist at the London Music FactoryEstablished in 2014, the London Music Factory is yet another school offering home tuition to music students across Greater London. Depending on your area, you will be provided with a different tutor â€" however, rest assured that they are all proper musicians guaranteed to improve your playing.They’ll offer you a free trial lesson, so take advantage of this so you know what you are getting.Practise and Improve at the London School of ArtsThe London School of Arts is a music school in Enfield teaching over seven hundred students how to excel at the instrument. You can take drum lessons, lessons for the violin or cello, for the clarinet and, of course, for the guitar.They offer classes in thirty, forty-five, or sixty-minute slots, with one of seven expert guitar tutors.ConclusionNow, if you're not a Londoner, don't fret! Here, we have guidance on the best guitar tuition in Manchester, the best guitar lessons in Birmingham, guitar classes in Leeds, and guitar education options in Glasgow. There's also an article on the UK's best guitar classes!

Upcoming ACT Test Dates

Upcoming ACT Test Dates Prepare for Upcoming ACT Test Dates High school students have the opportunity register for one of the six ACT test dates each school year. The ACT exam is designed as a standardized achievement test to assess the college readiness of American high school students. You can elect to send your ACT scores to colleges and universities that you are interested in attending as part of your application portfolio. Your ACT score is an important indicator of your college potential and the degree to which you are prepared for advanced studies. Careful preparation for the ACT is crucial for maximizing your success. Huntington Learning Center is proud to offer a variety of programs designed to prepare students for the ACT exam. Our professional tutors are skilled at determining each student's level of readiness and crafting personalized preparation programs through either individual or group tutoring. These tutoring sessions will help you understand both the format and content of the ACT exam while boosting your confidence and readi ness.There are several ACT test dates remaining for the 2013-2014 school year; December 14, February 3, and April 12. As you prepare for the exam there are specific things you should do in the months, weeks, and days leading up to the ACT exam. In the months before the ACT exam: Createa study schedule Waiting until the last minute to cram for the ACT likely won't boost either your score or your confidence. The most effectiveway to prepare is to plan and maintain a consistent study schedule. Thisallows you time to map out all of your studying and ensure every area ofthe exam is covered during your preparation. Creating a consistent weeklyschedule is a great way to ensure the studying gets done. Make sure youhave extra study sessions on the schedule each week in case unforeseen circumstances arise. Enroll in ACT tutoring If the thought of preparing for the ACT exam seemsoverwhelming you may want to enroll in an exam prep program at HuntingtonLearning Center. We offer three different programs designed to fit anyneed. The Premier program is ideal for students with 6 to 8 weeks tocommit and will fully prepare you for the ACT exam. You can begin tutoringwith the 28-Hour program immediately and will benefit from the 5 to 7weeks of preparation. The 10-Hour program is perfect for students withlimited time who want to prepare in a single exam content area. In the weeks before the ACT exam: Take apractice test The ACT website offers several practice tests for your use. Scheduling time for a simulated test experience is a great way to prepare for exam day. You should mirror exact testing conditions asclosely as possible paying special attention to what tools you can use and time limits for each section. Score the practice exam when you arefinished to learn which areas still require additional preparation. Focus on your weakest areas Once you've completed the practice test you can use the results to modify your preparation schedule. If you feel confidentin an area shift your focus to others that may be weaker. Don't waste thedays leading up to the exam on subject areas that you are already fullyprepared for. In the days before the ACT exam: Confirmyour test time and location It's important to know exactly where yourtest center is and what time the exam begins. Verify this information withyour exam confirmation, the ACT website, and a map or other drivingdirections. If possible, take a test drive to find your exam center andknow exactly how long it will take to arrive. Understand test center rules All of the ACT test dates utilize the same testingguidelines and regulations. Understand what you can bring into the testing center, what items are approved for use on the exam, and the time limitsfor each section. Failing to follow these guidelines can result in adismissal from the exam center or a nullification of your score. Are you and your friends preparing for the upcoming ACT test dates? Share this important information with others that are preparing for the ACT exam.

How to Teach Common Core Reading

How to Teach Common Core Reading So how do you teach Common Core reading, anyway?A National Reading Panel Report published in 2000 suggests that there are five major areas where students struggle that can be supported with direct instruction or coaching:Phonemic awarenessPhonicsFluencyVocabularyComprehensionPhonemic AwarenessPhonemic awareness has to do with the ability to think about and pronounce sounds in spoken words.  Direct letter instruction is useful in helping students understand the link between the spoken and written word. This is especially true of students who are younger, are learning English as a second language, or who have some sort of learning difference. However, for the vast majority of students, learning phonemic awareness in a vacuum reaches peak usefulness at around 18 hours of direct, focused instruction this includes instruction from teachers at school, intervention specialists, and tutors. PhonicsPhonics bridges the gap between spoken and written English, teaching children the relationshi p between letters on a page and written English. Phonics is a useful tool in instruction for students of all backgrounds and strengths, but it is important to remember that it should not be treated as a workbook activity. Just like with phonemic awareness, teaching phonics works best in the context of speaking and reading. And while phonics is important to teach, its usefulness is generally limited to decoding and encoding, and it doesn’t necessarily address issues having to do with comprehension.FluencyThe third element of successful instruction is instruction in fluency. Fluency here means the ability to read a text rapidly and accurately with expression. This distinction means that we are discouraging students from simply decoding and word calling and encouraging them to read as we do as adults scanning the page ahead even as we read aloud and instilling emotion into our words.VocabularyThe fourth pillar is vocabulary. Both oral and reading vocabulary can be taught directly an d through reading. In teaching how to learn vocabulary, it’s as important to teach the skills necessary for vocabulary acquisition (dictionary and internet use, root study, etc.) as it is to directly teach words themselves.  With direct instruction, we can successfully introduce 8 10 words a week. Indirect instruction covers words encountered in reading and listening to adults speak and is often a larger component of vocabulary acquisition if only because there is no vocabulary filter on the world. ComprehensionThe last component is comprehension. Comprehension can be seen as our overall goal in reading instruction, of course, but coaching comprehension strategies creates good readers just as surely as learning vocabulary and working on fluency. Good readers read for meaning rather than words. They read with purpose and ask questions as they read. Comprehension strategies are skills we can and should teach at every level of reading instruction rather than waiting for students to get to an arbitrary ‘acceptable grade level.’ So why do students struggle? Every student is different, but after working with thousands of students here at AJ Tutoring, we’ve noticed that there are some commonalities as to where students struggle at what time. Problems with phonemic awareness and phonics generally manifest early in the reading process. Issues with vocabulary tend to develop over time as the relative vocabulary sizes of students who read for pleasure and those who don’t diverge. In our practice here at AJ, we tend to see vocabulary problems come to a head as students are preparing for middle and high school entrance exams like the ISEE and SSAT. Fluency is also a problem that can come up at any time as the pace of a class outstrips the pace of a student’s learning. Reading comprehension, similarly, can become a noticeable problem as late as high school or college even with comfortable readers if they don’t have the skills to know how to ask themselves qu estions and engage with text.How we can help The Common Core requires students to read more than ever, but the type of reading and how they are assessed on that reading can seem pretty different from how most of us learned to read. Instead of reading only fiction, our students are being pushed to branch out and read nonfiction earlier and earlier. However, the core strategies for teaching Common Core reading remain the same. So how do you teach Common Core reading, anyway?A National Reading Panel Report published in 2000 suggests that there are five major areas where students struggle that can be supported with direct instruction or coaching:Phonemic awarenessPhonicsFluencyVocabularyComprehensionPhonemic AwarenessPhonemic awareness has to do with the ability to think about and pronounce sounds in spoken words.  Direct letter instruction is useful in helping students understand the link between the spoken and written word. This is especially true of students who are younger, are learning English as a second language, or who h ave some sort of learning difference. However, for the vast majority of students, learning phonemic awareness in a vacuum reaches peak usefulness at around 18 hours of direct, focused instruction this includes instruction from teachers at school, intervention specialists, and tutors. PhonicsPhonics bridges the gap between spoken and written English, teaching children the relationship between letters on a page and written English. Phonics is a useful tool in instruction for students of all backgrounds and strengths, but it is important to remember that it should not be treated as a workbook activity. Just like with phonemic awareness, teaching phonics works best in the context of speaking and reading. And while phonics is important to teach, its usefulness is generally limited to decoding and encoding, and it doesn’t necessarily address issues having to do with comprehension.FluencyThe third element of successful instruction is instruction in fluency. Fluency here means the abilit y to read a text rapidly and accurately with expression. This distinction means that we are discouraging students from simply decoding and word calling and encouraging them to read as we do as adults scanning the page ahead even as we read aloud and instilling emotion into our words.VocabularyThe fourth pillar is vocabulary. Both oral and reading vocabulary can be taught directly and through reading. In teaching how to learn vocabulary, it’s as important to teach the skills necessary for vocabulary acquisition (dictionary and internet use, root study, etc.) as it is to directly teach words themselves.  With direct instruction, we can successfully introduce 8 10 words a week. Indirect instruction covers words encountered in reading and listening to adults speak and is often a larger component of vocabulary acquisition if only because there is no vocabulary filter on the world. ComprehensionThe last component is comprehension. Comprehension can be seen as our overall goal in read ing instruction, of course, but coaching comprehension strategies creates good readers just as surely as learning vocabulary and working on fluency. Good readers read for meaning rather than words. They read with purpose and ask questions as they read. Comprehension strategies are skills we can and should teach at every level of reading instruction rather than waiting for students to get to an arbitrary ‘acceptable grade level.’ So why do students struggle? Every student is different, but after working with thousands of students here at AJ Tutoring, we’ve noticed that there are some commonalities as to where students struggle at what time. Problems with phonemic awareness and phonics generally manifest early in the reading process. Issues with vocabulary tend to develop over time as the relative vocabulary sizes of students who read for pleasure and those who don’t diverge. In our practice here at AJ, we tend to see vocabulary problems come to a head as students are preparin g for middle and high school entrance exams like the ISEE and SSAT. Fluency is also a problem that can come up at any time as the pace of a class outstrips the pace of a student’s learning. Reading comprehension, similarly, can become a noticeable problem as late as high school or college even with comfortable readers if they don’t have the skills to know how to ask themselves questions and engage with text.How we can helpThe number one thing is, obviously, for children to read. To read often and widely, to read alone and in groups. Current research on teaching literacy suggests that to create high progress classrooms classrooms where students consistently attain high levels of academic achievement regardless of their background and are successful at Common Core reading we must structure our tutoring time in such a way that students are interacting with text at least seventy five percent of the time. Our ModelOur sessions are built on  the “read write read” format. A typ ical session might include a brief warm up activity, such as using a three minute singalong as a shared reading activity to promote fluency or a quick game of memory to practice sight words before moving on to the main part of instruction. ReadThe second part of our sessions is generally in the form of guided reading. The tutor introduces a text at or slightly above the student’s reading level for the student to read out loud. The tutor may pause the reading to ask questions about what the student thinks will happen next or to double check that the student has been thinking about what is happening in the text. Guided reading can also be a good time to address issues having to do with phonics and phonemic awareness in the context of meaningful text and to promote good habits in attacking unknown problems. WriteThe next part of session is typically dedicated to writing. For younger students, this time might be as simple as working writing just a couple sentences at a time that the t utor and student can check and read aloud together. For older students, this can be as complex as an ongoing writing project such as a short story or longer essay. ReadThe last part of the session is generally reserved for another reading activity, although for older students there is some flexibility. These second reading activities generally are smaller in scope and may include activities like having the student dictate a sentence to the tutor, which they can then read back, or creating and reading sentences from individual words written on moveable sentence strips. For older students, this time is valuable for teaching the sorts of skills they will be expected to know as part of Common Core reading, such as how to read for meaning in nonfiction and synthesize information into usable pieces. This can be done either with direct reading instruction or through ongoing projects that require students to gather information from multiple texts, such as small research projects that can be done in session.Planning and resultsThe last five minutes of session are generally reserved for a recap of instruction for that day with the parent and discussing any homework. This ensures that parent and tutor are on the same page about progress and areas of difficulty, and is also a good time for positive reinforcement for students. To be told that they are doing a good job with something is one thing. To be praised in front of a parent by an instructor can be even more powerful. Our goals for our studentsIt is always our goal as tutors for our students to outstrip us and to gain agency and independence as readers and learners. We’d love to talk with you about how we can meet that goal and master Common Core reading together!

6 Clever Tricks to Learn Any Language on a Busy Schedule

6 Clever Tricks to Learn Any Language on a Busy Schedule 6 Clever Tricks to Learn Any Language on a Busy Schedule Want to speak another language?Having trouble finding the time to learn?What if I told you that with a little creativity and planning ahead, you could  work language learning into a busy schedule?Thats rightâ€"language learning is not just for  students, retirees and the independently wealthy!While getting comfortable in a  whole new language takes a substantial time investment, its definitely doable.The trick is to weave as much of your language learning  as possible into mundane daily activities that you perform regularly. This gives yourself an opportunity to practice without having to find an extended period of uninterrupted time to devote to language study.This approach not only cuts back the amount of dedicated language learning time youll need, but also has the added benefit of turning many of lifes blander everyday moments into interesting and productive steps on your language learning journey.So here are six tricks to learn any language on a busy scheduleâ€"or, if you want t o look at it from the other side of the coin, six tricks to spice up any daily routine with a little language learning! 6 Clever Tricks to Learn Any Language on a Busy Schedule1. Snooze Your Way to Foreign Language FluencyYouve probably heard that its a good idea to work on your new language right before bed so your brain keeps processing what youve learned during the night and you wake up a bit more fluent than you were before you went to sleep. But have you ever tried doing a little language learning immediately after waking up?Yes, I realize that at first glance this seems like an absolutely terrible idea. If youre anything like me, your state of mind immediately after waking is such that brushing your teeth is mildly challenging, preparing a decent cup of coffee makes full use of your mental faculties and learning a new language is completely out of the question.However, consider that you can start your day off with some language learning without even having to get out of bedâ €"thats starting to sound better, right? If you have an alarm clock or, more likely, a smartphone that lets you use custom alarm ringtones, simply create some voice memos involving new vocab words, grammatical structures or whatever else you want to “study” while cowering in bed and wondering how it can be morning again already.By using these memos as alarm sounds, youll have your brain fired up for language learning right from the break of day. This moves a little slice of your language practice into that gap between the time your alarm gets going and the time you get going. The best part of this technique is that the more times you hit snooze, the more you learn!There are several smartphone apps that let you set voice memos as custom alarms. For instance, the Wake Up Babe iPhone app allows you to “wake up to the sexy sounds of your boyfriend or girlfriends voice, while a romantic song plays in the background”â€"or, for our purposes, wake up to the sexy sound of new foreign language vocab words while a romantic song plays in the background.My Voice Alarm is another iPhone app that lets you record our own alarm sounds. Over in Android land, apps like Recording Alarm Clock and Voice Alarm will do the trick.If youre an iPhone user and dont feel like downloading any new apps, you can also just create voice memos and add them as alarms using iTunes. Doing these in batches is a good way to avoid having to sync up through iTunes every day. Or, if you want to take your learning-while-snoozing game up a notch, you can buy this alarm clock that lets you add custom sounds. It has the bonus feature of being able to actually leap off your nightstand and roll around your floor when it goes off (although, personally, the idea that my alarm clock could spontaneously come to life and begin moving around at its own discretion is enough to keep me from falling asleep at night).Even if youre like me and feel little inclination to do anything other than guzzle coffee most mornings, give this technique a shot. You might be surprised to find that you can actually get some language learning done even while hitting the snooze button like your life depends on it. At the very least, youll get some speaking practice in just recording the voice memos!2. Link Language Learning to Everyday TasksThe average person drinks about half a gallon of water a day. If you think about it, half a gallon is a lot of water, and drinking this much water a day is a significant commitment. It would take a fair amount of time to drink half a gallon of water in one sitting!But you never hear anyone say “Oh, Id like to drink half a gallon of water a day, but Im just too busy!” or “My schedule is packedâ€"I think Im going to have to skip my half-gallon of water today” or “I really want to drink half a gallon of water a day, but I guess Ill have to wait until I retire.” The one ingenious trick used by billions of people who manage to fit drinking half a gallon of water a day into their busy schedules, of course, is that they take many smaller helpings of water at regular intervals throughout the day.So if you want to fit half a gallon of language learning into your daily routine, why not use the same approach? One easy way to do this is to link your language learning to the little tasks you perform dozens of times over the course of a day. Promise yourself, for example, that youll learn a new vocab word every time you take a drink of water.Your thirst will then act as a periodic reminder not just to get a drink of water, but to keep on top of your language learning. Plus, youll be doing part of your language learning in frequent little sips rather than trying to find time in your busy schedule to gulp everything down at once. (This language learning strategy can also double as an educational drinking game, although not one Id necessarily recommend.)By binding your language practice to repetitive everyday tasks, youll turn routine daily chores int o powerful language learning tools and get in your half-gallon of language study before you even know it. The power of this technique is limited only by your imagination and the repetitiveness of your daily routine!Heres a place where being addicted to checking your smartphone can actually work to your advantage. If you commit to, say, learning a new word and using it in a sentence every time you look at your cell  phone, youll be amazed at your progress (or, worst case scenario, youll start thinking twice before reaching to see if you have any new text messages).3. Use Flashcards Without BordersIf youre a flashcards kind of person, you probably already know that flashcards are great way to integrate language learning into your everyday life. Theyre portable, convenient and extremely powerful. (And if youre not a flashcards kind of person, you should think about becoming one.)But if youre trying to learn a language on a busy schedule, sometimes just having flashcards isnt enough. So metimes you need a reminder even to look at your flashcards in the first place.And this is one place where going old-school and making some actual paper flashcards can help. Once youve written up your flashcards, distribute them across different places where youre bound to run into them as you go about your daily business. Put a couple in your kitchen to find when you wake up in the morning, leave a few in your car, place some on your desk at the office, and so on.Then as you go through your day, youll have regular chances to review a few vocab words at a time (or whatever else you decide to put on the flashcards) without having to make any effort whatsoever to schedule in your language learning. When you finally lie down to go to sleep at the end of your day, youll be surprised at how much youve learned with so little effort. And you may be equally surprised to find a few more forgotten flashcards lurking under your pillow, so you can get in some last-minute vocab review before sli pping off into dreamland.4. Immerse Yourself with FluentUAnother perfect way to get daily language practice is with FluentU. Whether you prefer using the website on your computer/tablet or the app from  the  iTunes  or  Google Play  store, this powerful language immersion platform makes it easy to fit entertaining learning into your day.FluentU provides you with a huge collection of authentic videos  that span  a variety of topics and levelsâ€"from complete newbie all the way to native.  Whatever youre looking forâ€"whether you love cartoons, wildlife documentaries, news features, blockbuster hits or pop musicâ€"FluentU has it. And the collections always growing!FluentU isnt just watching videosâ€"its about learning and actively practicing the language you hear in videos. Use the interactive subtitles, flashcards, downloadable audio/transcripts and vocabulary lists to learn native phrases better than ever!  Get the most out of your listening by spending time in FluentUs unique learn mode to learn all that the clip has to offer. Learn mode takes your learning history into account, asking questions based on what you already know, which  sets  you up for success.FluentU knows exactly when its time for you to review a term, so  it does all the tracking for you. Even just five  minutes  a day reviewing or learning on FluentU will keep you constantly progressingâ€"watch as your number of words learned climbs!5. Narrate the World Around YouFor a language learning strategy that you can use literally anywhere, try practicing your new language by keeping a running narrative of the world around you. Besides giving you a chance to review all the words and grammatical structures you know, and to build fluency by keeping a running monolog, this technique is infinitely adaptable.Walking down the street? Try narrating the things happening around you.Waiting in line? Talk about the other people you see and even make up stories about them (using your inner voiceâ€"not out loud, of course!).Stuck in a boring meeting? Maybe describe what the meeting is about and try translating some of whats being said.In addition to being a useful tool to help you learn any language on a busy schedule, narrating the world around you is a great way to practice thinking on your feet in a new language. Responding to the things happening around you will help you get better at drawing on your new language on the fly, and having all the new words and grammatical structures youre learning ready at your fingertips.6. Write on the GoOne of the best tricks to learn any language on a busy schedule is to start a language learning notebook and make it your bester Freund. If youre already keeping a vocabulary book, all the betterâ€"just block off a section you can use to start building your written fluency while youre on the go.Depending on your personal preferences, there are a few ways to do this. If youre the practical type, you can integrate your language practice into everyday orga nizational tasks by using your language learning notebook mainly for to-do lists and notes-to-self. If youre more introspective, you can start keeping a diary in your new language, writing down your experiences and thoughts whenever you have a chance. If youre feeling creative, you can even try maintaining a notebook of stories and poems. Or, if you like variety, you can go for some mixture of all three!Writing on the go is basically the written equivalent of narrating the world around you. Its a highly adaptable technique thats great for fluency-building. If you use these strategies to integrate writing and speaking practice into your daily routine, plus  the other strategies listed above, youve already relocated a huge chunk of your language study into the little empty spaces that recur throughout everyday life.In the end, you wont be able to get rid of dedicated language study time altogether. To return to the nutritional analogy: Even if you drink your half-gallon of water in li ttle sips over the course of the day, youll still want to eat dinner at night (its just not practical to eat your dinner in periodic bites over a span of 12 hours).But the trick is to make sure you dont have to eat your dinner and drink half a gallon of water at the same time. Use these techniques to integrate a good portion of your speaking/writing and vocab practice into your everyday routine, leaving only the essentials for your dedicated language learning time.And before you know it, “I wish I could learn a language, but I just dont have time” will become “I didnt think I had  time to learn a language, but I learned one anyway cause Im a boss!”

Four Effects of Collaborative Learning

Four Effects of Collaborative Learning Collaborative learning is a teaching environment in which students are encouraged to work together. Instead of a typical set-up where lessons and discussions are teacher-led, a collaborative classroom has students working in small groups toward a common goal. Many educators believe that this type of group-directed learning is much more beneficial to students than independent work. Here are four commonly cited effects of collaborative learning: 1. Deeper Learning and Understanding In a group learning dynamic, students must rely on one another to contribute and solve problems. Doing this often requires students to consider problems from different perspectives, which they may not do if they were working independently. Working a problem out by considering multiple angles allows students to grasp the material in a more organic way. 2. Proactivity In a lecture setting, students are told what they need to know. In a collaborative environment, students become more self-reliant. As a group, they must figure out ways to reach their established goals. Additionally, in a peer-to-peer situation, trouble spots are easier to locate. Also, students feel more comfortable asking for help from the group if they need it. 3. Critical Thinking Collaborative learning is not passive. There are no blueprints that students can use to refer to and arrive at an answer. Students are forced to manipulate and examine information as a group, which draws upon a higher level of thinking. 4. Oral Communication In a collaborative classroom, it's just not possible to go to the back and avoid others. Even students who don't usually participate must work and contribute in a collaborate classroom. Learning is more social, and students become good listeners and communicators without realizing it. Shy students who are bright and have a lot to contribute can also benefit, as there is no concern over speaking in front of a whole room. A collaborative setting reduces tension via small groups that work together to help each other succeed.