Education Reference: January 2011

Monday, January 31, 2011

How To Build Leg Muscle

Learning to build leg muscle can be more difficult than learning about biceps, which the beginner seems obsessed with. If you have the desire to build a balanced healthy and strong body, then leg work will form a crucial part of that. Here we show you how to build leg muscle.

Tip 1

There is really no secret to knowing how to build leg muscle – it is the same theory that applies to any other muscle. The only problem most bodybuilders have is not taking enough notice of their legs during workouts. It goes without saying that if you put all of your attention on your arms, and ignore your legs, you are never going to have the ideal physique which bodybuilding can create.

Tip 2

Another important step in learning how to build leg muscle is learning to vary your training program. Thigh muscles and calf muscles can display a lot of strength very quickly, so there is no need for them to grow as much to give you that strength when you are training. To really work such large and strong muscles, you will need to keep your workouts very intense, and it will also benefit you to change your exercise program from time to time, working different parts of the muscle.

Tip 3

Don't worry about those exceptional individuals who get easy gains. There seems to be somebody in every gym who will gain results much easier than everyone else, mainly because of genetics. As these genetics cannot be replicated, there is no point in worrying about it, and it will certainly be self defeating to try to compare yourself with these people. If you want to build leg muscle, you will need to work within your own genetics!

Tip 4

Develop your blood supply channels. In learning how to build leg muscle, don't overlook the importance of getting an adequate blood supply to the area you are working. This is something which long standing bodybuilders know well. They will have spent many hours building large veins through which blood will flow to the muscles as they are being worked. Aspiring bodybuilders will have to be diligent in developing to this degree. It will not be easy, but if you resist the temptation to go easy and keep working, you will find that it becomes progressively easier to work your muscle groups. This means that the channels are being developed.

These are the basics you need to know in order to build leg muscles.

How To Build Big Muscles

How to build big muscles is what every aspiring bodybuilder wants to know. As ever, the question is not as easy as it sounds, and the program used needs to be tailored to the individual. There are basic principles common to everyone, however, and in this article we show you how to build big muscles.

Step 1

Very few people nowadays have the kind of profession which will develop muscle bulk naturally. Muscle building is something which you are going to have to make a special effort to achieve. This will involve a consistent weight training program. Resistance is the only method which can build up muscles if applied consistently. Although resistance training sounds like it will be difficult, and take a lot of time out of your busy life, you will soon reach the stage where you are working out without even needing to think about it.

Step 2

Don't stop challenging yourself. When you start with weight training, you will probably find that you are making quick progress. Muscle fibers which were dormant are now active. There is a tendency to them become complacent, and stay at the level you have reached. The main problem is not increasing the weight being lifted, and not increasing the strain on the body. As the body adjusts to the weight being lifted, you will need to increase the weight to keep enjoying muscle gain.

How To Build Big Muscles 3

The most easy to understand, yet important fundamental of learning to build big muscles is to lift heavy weights with low reps. That is not to say lighter weights and more reps aren't beneficial, but in this case the benefit is more one of improving muscle tone and definition. Don't fall into the trap of so many bodybuilders who end up working harder to pull off extra reps, not realising that this will be of no real value to them.

How To Build Big Muscles 4

When you are ready, expand your programme. Once you have reached a certain level of development, you will find that doing the same old routine again will not yield great results. Many people become frustrated with trying to build big muscles. Parts of muscles gain strength, and seem to almost resist further training. Vary your routine, and you will get over this hurdle. Have more than one routine, and rotate them every few weeks.

This guide has shown you the basics of how to build big muscles from a standing start. Although this is aimed at beginners, it can be applied with benefit by people at all levels. Check out the links below to discover more important resources.

How To Accredited College Degree Today Starting From Scratch

To accelerate the process of achieving a bachelor's degree, the program accepts up to 90 transfer credits from accredited colleges and institutions. Students without an approved associate 2019s degree from a regionally accredited college may transfer up to 64 credits and be granted junior status. Students awarded an approved associate%u2019s degree from a regionally accredited college may transfer up to 64 credits. Credits from Other Institutions Credits earned at other regionally accredited colleges and universities should apply toward a general studies degree.

Private school teachers with 2-5 years of full-time experience and a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university are eligible to apply. While most courses taken at a regionally accredited college or university are transferable, many issues impact how courses apply to a given degree program. Admission requirements include an undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university, and course work in biology, chemistry, and mathematics. Eligibility for Admission To be eligible for admission, you must hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university. for most programs admitted to a full-time degree program in an accredited college/university maintaining a grade point average of 2.5 or above. Prospective students with baccalaureate degrees from colleges not regionally accredited, including Bible colleges, may be admitted upon evidence of ability to pursue graduate studies. - Hold an undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited college or university, or one that is a candidate for accreditation. Typically, the last 30 semester credits (senior year) of any regionally accredited bachelor's degree must be taken directly from your degree-granting college. Previous Degree Problems An applicant must have a previous bachelor's degree, master's degree or doctoral degree from an accredited college or university.

If the degree was granted by another accredited college or university, the applicant follows the policies and procedures of this section. Each accredited college and university listed provide a variety of online master's degree and online MBA programs in many specialized areas. Not all unaccredited colleges are degree mills in the traditional sense of the word as some provide legitimate academic work. Applicants must have earned a baccalaureate degree (or higher) from an accredited college or university prior to enrolling in this status. A two-year college degree in child development or early childhood education from an accredited college or university including the minimum course requirements below. All students interested in pursuing graduate education must fulfill the following initial requirements: Possess an earned bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. (summer term only): Candidates must have a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university. (summer term only) Candidates must have a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university. About half of all regionally accredited colleges accept ACE/PONSI recommendations for degree credit. All admissions to the Graduate College require that the student hold a baccalaureate degree or equivalent from an accredited college or university. Applicants must hold an OD degree from an accredited college of optometry and/or an advanced degree in an appropriate discipline. Rather than investigating "accreditted online college degrees," look into the opportunities available through the nation's largest accredited university. We feature hundreds of IT and Computer courses and degrees from accredited colleges and state licensed colleges and universities. Materials submitted in support of this application cannot be returned Possession of a bachelor's degree, or its equivalent, from an accredited college or university. Applicants with a master's degree or earned doctorate from a regionally accredited college/university are not required to submit GRE scores. Its credits and degrees are recognized and accepted by other accredited colleges, universities, and professional schools throughout the United States.

In order to qualify as a non-degree-seeking graduate you must: hold at least a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university. (two-year program begins each fall) Candidates must have a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university. Additional Keywords: Earn your accredited college degree online, and from the convenience of your home. As long as the online college degrees are from an accredited organization there is no depreciation in their value. Acceptance of online college degrees from all accredited institutions is definitely on the rise. http://www.accredited-university-online.com/

How Too Read Your Text Book Efficiently And As A Result, Get Better Grades

Below are eight tips to help you read and understand your text book so you can guarantee yourself better grades.

1. Skim through all titles and headings before reading the first paragraph. This will give you an idea regarding the material covered in the chapter or section and help you create a mental picture of the material as you read.

2. Quickly read through the material in the section the first time to pick out the basic concepts. Do not try to remember or write down specific details yet. Just get an idea of what is discussed in the reading.

3. Re-read the section carefully and take notes as you read. Read a paragraph or even a few sentences if the paragraphs are complicated, stop, and think about what you read. This is the RST method. Read, Stop and take a few minutes to digest the material and Think about what you read. Paraphrase the material. Put it in your own language; what does it mean to you? You may even want to recite what you read out loud. A lot of students find the Thinking part easier when they actually get their thoughts down on paper. Do not try to write everything, just little phrases to remind yourself of what you just thought about.

4. Be sure to look at figures, diagrams, and inserts. One picture or graph may contain the same amount of information found in a lengthy paragraph and be much easier to decipher. Be sure to read all captions.

5. Record all boldfaced words and their meanings in your own words in your notes. They must be important if the textbook authors and publishers went out of their way to boldface them!

6. Once you are finished reading, summarize what you just read out loud. Your ability to discuss this will serve as a true test to determine whether or not you understood what you just read.

7. Skim through the text a few more times, especially prior to and after lectures that compliment the material in the text.

8. Try to organize all of your notes to create the big picture. Add information from your class notes to your text notes and/or add information from your text notes to your class notes. This combination is easily accomplished if you type over your notes, leaving yourself with a neat, organized and thorough copy of everything you need to know for that chapter/unit.

Go to www.live-etutor.com to learn more about online tutoring and watch a virtual tour inside of our online classroom. All tutors are screened, qualified and ready to help your child get better grades!

How Too Prepare For Tests And Guarantee Yourself An A

These five tips will help you get A's. Read each tip carefully an start applying them today.

1. Create a timeline. Once you determine the day of the test work backwards. Budget a specific amount of time every day. Consider other homework, projects and time needed to study for other classes as you create your schedule.

2. Review a little each night. Do not wait until a test is announced to begin preparing for your test. Consider what would be easier – reviewing for 5-10 minutes a night or cramming for three hours the night before a test and only remembering a fraction of what you studied?

3. Don't just re-read notes or the text. Ask questions. Create flash-cards. Redo assignments. Create time-lines. Play games. Re-write your notes. Get someone to quiz you. Find websites online that review the same material. Make up questions that you think will be on the test. Create new outlines of the material by writing some specific topics and filling in the details from memory. Studying should be an active process, not just time spent re-reading something.

4. Ask the teacher what the format for the test will be. Will it contain multiple choice, true-false, short answer, essay, diagrams, graphs, equations, etc.? Will any information such as a periodic table or equations be provided for you on the day of the test? Do you need to bring a calculator?

5. Visit your teacher or tutor for extra help. Bring questions that you may have or ask for ideas regarding the best way to study for a particular assessment.

Go to www.live-etutor.com to learn more about online tutoring and watch a virtual tour inside of our online classroom. All tutors are screened, qualified and ready to help your child get better grades!

How Too Get The Most Out Of Class

Some students spend too much time studying because they did not take the time to learn what was being taught in class the first time. If you follow these four tips, you will learn how to understand each lesson being taught in class so you will not have to put in extra time studying. This does not mean you will not have to study, but this will become a guide so you can use your time wisely. While you are in class, sit back and learn as much as you can and you will almost certainly get better grades and have more free time.

1. If possible, try to sit near the front to eliminate distractions. Teachers will probably not have a problem accommodating you if you ask them to sit you in a specific location in order to help you focus.

2. Avoid distractions such as chatting with friends, looking around the room, doodling, dozing, and daydreaming. Keep busy by participating in the discussion, asking or answering questions, and taking notes.

3. Contribute to classroom discussions. Raising your hand and offering your thoughts or ideas will help the discussion progress, make the teacher notice that you are actively taking a role in your education, and finally, help you sort out what you do and don't know or fully understand. Try not to feel intimidated about raising your hand and answering questions. Start offering answers to questions or topics that you feel comfortable with and eventually this will become a habit. Eventually you will build enough confidence to contribute on a regular basis.

4. Listen not only to what the teacher is saying but to what your classmates are contributing to the discussing. You can learn a lot by listening to your peers.

Go to www.live-etutor.com to learn more about online tutoring and watch a virtual tour inside of our online classroom. All tutors are screened, qualified and ready to help your child get better grades!

How Too Be Fully Prepared For Class

These six steps will help you prepare for class and as a result, you will become more and more confident every time you enter the classroom. In time, you will feel excited about going to class and your grades will drastically improve. Remember that attitude is everything and you must start today by changing your attitude about class. Being prepared for the classroom will certainly help.

1. Pre-read material in your text before class. Having some exposure to the material will make it much easier to follow along with what the teacher says.

2. Review past material. Understanding what you did in previous classes will make it much easier to make connections to new material.

3. Make a list of questions that you may have from the previous day's activities or homework. Try to get all questions resolved before moving on.

4. Do your homework. At least try each and every problem and make notes when you don't understand something. At least the teacher will know that you tried.

5. Stay organized. Punch holes in all of your papers and keep them in the binder.

6. Come to class prepared with the appropriate materials such as your text, loose-leaf paper, and something to write with. You wouldn't want to miss part of the class because you are busy looking around for a pencil!

Go to http://www.live-etutor.com to learn more about online tutoring and watch a virtual tour inside of our online classroom. All tutors are screened, qualified and ready to help your child get better grades!

How Math Tutor Software Enhances Learning

Ever wonder how you could get your child the help he needs in math? The answer you maybe looking for is math tutor software. Such software allows your child to learn at his or her own pace, review topics he may need to reinforce, and do all of this in the comfort of your home. Tutoring software of all kinds is available. Some are more general and focus on grade level, and other software is more specific and focus on a single subject, such as algebra. Whatever the software, it is sure to help your child learn math.

As your child tries math tutor software for the first time, he may review some topics that he already feels he knows. Though he may be tempted to skip such sections, it is best that he follow the software and re-learn those topics. Often times, it is a misunderstanding of the basics that causes problems down the line. It is important to pinpoint the problem areas as soon as possible. Math tutor software may be better the child's teacher in this respect, because the teacher does not have the time to review all previous topics with the child to pinpoint the origin of misunderstanding, whereas the software does. As a child uses the software, he will gain a better understanding of the subject through learning to soft problems step by step (answers are usually explained step by step) and by repetition. Since most math tutor software titles are loaded with extra problems, he will have the opportunity to practice more.

So, how can your child get the most of the tutoring software? There are a couple of ways. The first is to USE the software. I've heard countless parents complain that a new such-and-such package goes completely unused. Sit down with your child and make a specific, realizable schedule. Rather than tell your child "use this math tutor software," and expect him to run off and become a math wizard, take the time to help him use it. Then, once he gets going and learns to use the software, put aside a set amount of time (one hour is usually good) for your child to use the software on his own. A time limit will prevent him from rushing through.

Another tool that comes with most math tutor software is the games. Kids love games, and they will get more practice on the subject matter the more time they spend with the software. By playing with games on the software, he may learn more without even realizing it. But, it is important to remember that the games should only supplement experience, not dominate it. The bulk of the software should be devoted to learning problem solving skills--learning the fundamentals step by step until they are understood.

So, as you can see there are definite gains to be had from math tutor software. They teach material a child may have had trouble learning in class, they reinforce subject matter through repetition, and they make learning fun for the student. I hope you and your child enjoy using computer software to help you learn more about math.

Sunday, January 30, 2011

Houston Schools New Teacher Merit Pay Program … Will It Help or Hinder?

Measurement of student achievement through rigorous statewide testing has been a standard in Texas for many years. Houston schools implemented its first merit pay program for teachers in the year 2000.

Houston Schools believe the old program had too low incentives and unanimously passed the new model in January, making it the largest merit pay program in the nation. Officials believe the new program ties teacher rewards more closely to student improvement and to individual teacher efforts. Though no research has been done on the impact of such programs on improved student achievement, other programs have been tried in New York, Denver and Kentucky with varying success.

Houston business leaders, who have a stake in graduating future employees who are high achievers, support the new Houston schools’ $14.5 million program.

Houston schools teacher incentives are based on three components:

• The first component is based upon the amount of improvement of a school’s overall test scores, as compared with scores of 40 other schools across the state with similar demographics;
• The second compares student progress on the Stanford 10 Achievement Test and its Spanish equivalent to students in similar Houston schools classrooms; and
• The third component compares student progress on the statewide Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills test to similar Houston schools classrooms.

About half of the 12,300 teachers in the Houston schools are eligible to receive rewards in all three categories, possibly earning a total of $3,000 each. The 305 Houston schools principals are eligible to earn as much as $6,000 each, if they have the best achieving teachers. Each of the Houston schools’ 19 executive principals and five regional superintendents are eligible for as much as $25,000.

With 210,000 children, Houston schools is the largest district in the state, and its new program isn’t without opposition.

Teachers unions are typically against teacher merit pay programs, and the Houston Federation of Teachers is no exception. The union represents 40 percent of the Houston schools teachers and believes across-the-board raises and a higher starting wage for new teachers would be more successful in raising student achievement scores. Houston schools start new teachers at $36,050 (lowest in the ten major districts in Texas), and the current Houston schools teachers’ wages are at the lowest end of the nation’s schools.

Many teachers have complained that the program bypasses arts teachers and others with subjects not covered by the testing process. The program excludes special education, preschool and kindergarten teachers, who are the backbone in improving academic achievement in children from low-income families. Additionally, many teachers believe that it forces them to teach to the testing requirements rather than focus on real academic achievement.

The new program also has opened old wounds and raised tensions over the previous merit pay program and its effect upon testing results, which laid the groundwork for a recently exposed cheating scandal. The Texas Education Agency investigated the Houston schools and other districts in 1999 due to suspicious testing results. Houston schools admitted last year that evidence of cheating had been found at four schools and testing irregularities were found at seven others. Eventually, six teachers were fired and several principals were demoted or reprimanded, leaving the city frustrated and bruised by the merit pay program and its ensuing results.

Though the Houston schools’ new teacher merit pay program sounds good in theory, it seems that in practice it is expanding the same old problems encountered with the previous program.

This information on Houston schools is brought to you by www.schoolsk-12.com.

Houston Schools New Budget Brings Needed Money for Teachers and Improvements

Houston schools teachers have not had significant pay raise in seven years. The new Houston schools budget plans for an average 8.6 percent pay raise for teachers for the 2006-07 school year, with a total of $49.2 million in funding. The state is providing $31 million for the pay raises, and the Houston schools are providing $18.2 million from their own revenues. An additional $8 million increase also is included for teacher performance pay.

This is all part of the Houston schools proposed $1.4 billion budget for the 2006-07 school year, and the Houston schools will NOT increase school tax property rates by the allotted four cents per $100 of property.

The Houston schools believe the pay raises should make their district more competitive to attract more teaching talent. Newly recruited teachers will start at $40,268, an increase from last year’s $36,050 starting pay.

The Houston schools proposed budget also includes the following:

• $1.9 million for principal and assistant principal pay raises of 5.1 percent. Again, the Houston schools intent is to make their district more competitive. This also includes additional incentives for principals of larger schools and/or those with higher numbers of disadvantaged students and gifted and talented students, which require more oversight and innovation to educate.
• $3 million to help academically struggling Houston schools.
• $4.8 million more for elementary and middle schools.
• $12 million for small-sized Houston schools that do not receive as much per-student funding but need the revenues for instructional improvements.
• More than $10 million to help bring school buildings up to standard.
• $25.1 million for overall school building maintenance.
• $927,300 (nearly $1 million) to maintain the increased police and K-9 presence at the Houston schools.
• Four percent raise across the board for school bus drivers, cafeteria workers, custodians and hourly employees.
• Four percent raise for Houston schools administrators.

This is all from the proposed budget’s General Fund, which increases by 5.7 percent under the Houston schools new plan. The Houston schools additional revenue for the coming school year comes from the increase in local property values and the state’s newly adopted school finance system, which shifts more of the funding of public education burden to the state. This decreases the cost of education for the local taxpayers from the 87.1 percent last year to only 77.6 percent for school year 2006-07.

Separate from the General Fund is a special appropriation from the state legislature for the Houston schools. It will place $11.8 million more next year into improving high schools, with each receiving an extra $187 in per student funding. The Houston schools intend to add an additional $39 per student to this special appropriation, based upon the types of students and specific needs of each school.

Lastly, the Houston schools put aside extra money this year to cover the cost of fuel for school vehicles and electricity. The Houston schools have a total of 1,000 buses and other vehicles in its fleet. They expect the cost of fuel to increase by $3 million. The cost of electricity for Houston schools is expected to increase by $9.1 million over last year’s expenditure.

Home Gym Workouts

Home gym workouts need not be any less effective than workouts done in a gym, provided certain basic principles are observed. A home gym is unlikely to have the same professional equipment as a commercial gym, so some adjustments will be necessary. Here is how to get the best results from a home gym workout.

Cardio

It can never be quite the same at home. Gym workouts often commence with either running, or exercises using a treadmill or elliptical trainer. If your home gym is especially well equipped, you may well want to start in the same way. Most will not be so lucky, and will need a different type of exercise to warm up with. You could just go for a run outside, or you could use something like a small trampoline to get your blood moving.

Chest

Here again if you have a weight bench available, it is ideal for this stage of your home gym workout. Use bench presses, either with dumbbells or barbells. Dumbbells will allow you more freedom to develop your body evenly. Not many will have access to this facility, however, and in this case you will need to improvise. Try some declined pushups. They are hard work, but if you feel that you are not getting the necessary work load, try raising your feet. That will be much harder, but if you need it harder still, try using one hand.

Legs

Legs are not the easiest part of the body to build using home gym workouts, but with a bit of ingenuity, a lot can be achieved. It will, of course, be easier if you have a bench. You can then employ basic leg curls. Using weights, try squats as they are very effective in developing the thighs. Calves are more difficult to deal with, but if you can stand on your bottom step with one foot, without your heel touching the step, then you can raise yourself using that one foot. This is a very physically demanding exercise, and will yield good results.

Arms

The arms are much easier to make part of a home gym workout. Although professional gym equipment is always a help, to develop your arms you only really need a set of dumbbells. Perform basic curls to build the biceps effectively, and work your triceps by doing easy seated triceps extensions. As well as these, make use of the dumbbell kickback, as this is a proven workout for those just starting.

Hopefully this guide will have illustrated what can be done with home gym workouts, and that you can get a lot of results from them.

Homework Help for 8th Grade Science Class

Are you getting hung up on your science homework? Do you need homework help for 8th grade science? If so, you need to read this article. So, take 5 minutes now, to get yourself back on track for a good grade in science!

Most junior high school science classes broadly cover the natural science, from basic physics, chemistry, earth sciences, and biology. Grasping so many concepts can be tricky, though, so if you need homework help for 8th grade science, you should consider these following points.

Junior high (especially 8th grade) is the time when schools change from general ideas to specific concepts in terms of teaching science. Teachers are preparing you for high school the more rigorous science classes you will take in high school. Therefore, it is vitally important that you start building good study habits ASAP. Up until this point in school, you could probably get by without studying or readying the book too closely. Well, not anymore. It is really important to read the assigned chapters in the book and understand what the book is saying. Also very important is to do the homework and understand what you're doing! You will eventually be tested on the material covered in homework--that is a guarantee.

If you believe you're spending enough time reading the book but aren't getting the grade you want, you should consider getting homework help for 8th grade science from another source, be it your parents or a tutor. If you're already spending 4-6 minimum per week studying (that should probably be enough studying to get an A in most junior high science classes), then you need to seek outside help. A tutor can quickly help you get back on track with the concepts from class. Ask your teacher if you are looking for and can't find additional homework help.

This next point should be self explanatory, but I'm not at all surprised at how many students don't already do this--and this is that you need to pay attention in class. If you're sleeping or talking during class, not only are you going to miss what the teacher is telling you, but you're not even going to know WHAT topics have been covered in class. It is extremely difficult to study for a test if you don't know what topics to study for! Things you need to do to pay attention in class include getting enough rest (8 hours is recommended), eating enough for breakfast and lunch, and being prepared with paper and pencil. And a trick that will help you far into the future is to read the material ahead of time. When you hear the teacher talking about material you've already heard, it'll make SO much more sense. Following these tips will make science class easier to learn and reduce the amount of homework help for 8th grade science class that you'll need.

Goal Setting the SMART Way

Goal setting is a task that is often overlooked until the New Year, when people decide to set resolutions. However, these resolutions are nothing more than wishes and are far from what we would call "goals". Hence these "so called" goals have very little chance of being realized. Just ask any fitness club owner when the greatest number of sign-ups occur and when the greatest number of drop-outs occur. Clearly, these "resolutions" don't work!
So just what does work?

When it matters and you really want to accomplish your task, you will want to use tried and true goal setting techniques. Among the more successful methods is the SMART method of setting goals. SMART=Specific Measurable Attainable Realistic Time-sensitive.

Goal setting starts with making sure that your goals are indeed SMART. Let's examine this briefly shall we.
A goal cannot be something general. It must be substantial and detailed. The goal must answer the questions who, what, where, when, how, and why.
As an example, if your goal is to get a raise, this is not specific enough and doesn't meet our criteria. If your goal is to get a 10% raise within 6 months, this is specific.
Measurable means exactly that. Your goal must be able to be measured or quantified. In the above example, a raise is not quantifiable, but a 10% raise is definitely quantifiable because the 10% number can be counted and verified.

A goal is attainable when it is realistic or feasable given your skills and resources. If you wish to be a pilot in 2 days and you have no money and no one to teach you, this may be considered "unattainable".

Realistic refers to your goal being "reasonable", meaning you are not 35 years old and setting a goal to have 3 kids before you turn 36! Your goal must be reasonable or surely you will have no chance of achieving it under any circumstances. This doesn't mean that goals that are "impossible" to achieve should not be attempted. History has shown us that what seems "impossible" to achieve for most people is indeed quite possible for others to achieve under the proper circumstances.

Lastly, "time sensitive" refers to all goals having a completion date. This is what separates goals from activities, activities do not require an end date. This is a very important distinction between a goal and an activity. Using our previous example, obtaining a 10% salary raise during your lifetime is not the same as a 10% raise within 6 months.

We certainly hope the above information will aid you in setting and achieving more goals during your lifetime. For further information, be sure to check out the many goal setting resources available to you online. In fact, make that your first goal!

Girls’ Boarding School

Is your girl child feeling pressured in the co-ed classroom environment? Do you want to bring up your child in a healthy all girls’ environment? Well then waste no time to admit your girl to a good and reputed girls’ boarding school where she will receive the proper training to develop a self-belief that will help her to become tomorrow’s leader.

Education is not just attending school and learning facts. Your child should have to develop skills to meet the challenges of the future. A girls’ boarding school will give your girl the right environment to learn and grow. Girls in a boarding school find a close-knit community, wide variety of clubs, teams and activities that help to have a proper intellectual, emotional, social and spiritual growth.

A girls’ boarding school will enable your child to explore the world around her, both inside and out of the classroom. In the classroom they will have sharing and will have an equal exchange of ideas. She will get a competitive environment where she will learn to perform and dominate. In most of the schools the students remain busy on weekdays with their academic schedules, electives, extra curricular activities and evening studies. While on weekends they have a lot of relaxation, weekend trips, recreation and cultural outings.

The resident students and faculty of a girls’ boarding school form a community. The resident faculties are the disciplinarians and hand holders of the students. They always keep an eye to the girls, assist and guide them and offer counsel when necessary. They all form a family away from home. Sometimes the schools even take the resident girls to local malls, movie, shopping, amusement park and cultural events.

The girls’ boarding schools have lots of activities. What does your girl like? Is she interested in sports? Boarding schools, these days, have their own athletic centers featuring basketball and volleyball courts, fitness centers, aerobics room and also gymnasiums. Each school has a specialized gymnasium director to guide your child. If she is interested in music, there are music departments where she can have training in music. She will also have the opportunity to perform in music ensemble. The girls’ boarding schools also guide the students to express themselves artistically. They have special drawing, painting classes to develop their skills in drawing.

When your child is in a girls’ boarding school you may wonder whether your child is having proper nutrition. You need not have to worry about your child’s diet, as the boarding schools are on a mission to encourage the girls to have a proper and healthy choice regarding their daily menu. The schools promote healthier eating of the students by adding more nutritious and organic foods to their menu.

As girls start growing they may start to become interested in boys. If such happens to your child she will be more concerned about boys than her books. But studying in girls’ boarding school will protect your child from the impact of boys. Besides, the girls are not subject to sexual harassment in an all girls environment.

Social and emotional growth of the girls is the motto of the girls’ boarding schools. A good girls’ boarding school will not only offer your girl child with the support and guidance to develop her intellect, curiosity and creativity but also the school will help your child to build up her self-discipline and decision making skills and abilities.

Getting the Most From Math Online Tutoring

Learning math can be tough, and when you pay for help from tutoring, you expect results. You can maximize your chance of getting positive results by understanding how the tutoring works. Familiarize yourself with the software try to test it out ahead of time. Understand how to log on (remember to keep your logon and password in a safe place), learn how to maneuver around the software, and be sure your computer meets or exceeds the hardware requirements in order to ensure yours sessions run as smoothly as possible.

Another thing to do prior to entering a tutoring session is to study up on the material. The more you know going in, the more you can get out of tutoring. Ask the tutoring service if there are any math online tutoring video tutorials. These short videos can help you understand the concepts. Besides your paid tutoring service, you can search on the web for math online tutoring video tutorials that do the same thing. Usually, they're not free, though, so the best thing is to hit the books before getting help from your tutor. You should also ask the tutoring service if they can record the session for you, then you'll have your own recorded tutoring session that you can go back to if you need to refresh your memory of what you did.

There are also many example problems online that you can look to if you want to get ahead. These examples are good, not only to learn the material, but to study for your math tests later on. Use these example problems to quiz yourself, and if you can't figure out the answer, you can ask your tutor during your sessions. That is a great way to utilize free resources and commercial resources.

So, remember to study up, find free example problems online, and watch free math online tutoring video tutorials before sitting down for a 1-on-1 tutoring session. I know you want to see your math grades go up, and this will help you do just that!

Forensics in the Classroom: Court TV comes to Atlanta Schools

Chemistry and biology students at Atlanta Schools North Atlanta High School put their lab skills into action for a Court TV film crew on April 11. As part of the “Forensics in the Classroom,” program, students learned how to collect and analyze evidence of a crime scene. They weren’t flying blind. Instead, they had help from a range of criminal investigation experts, beginning with the head of their own science department, Dr. Cadence Spearman. In addition to Dr. Spearman, students interacted with Court TV host Rachelle Savoia, Police Lt. H. Cotton – Tukes, forensic investigators from the Fulton County Police Department, and a criminal science instructor from Bauder College.

The staged crime took place in the school’s cafeteria and involved acts of vandalism and a cut gas line. Students worked through the crime scene, learning the proper procedures for collecting evidence. The evidence that they collected, including hair fibers, stomach contents, and blood makeup, was then analyzed in the school lab.

The exercise demonstrated a new standards - based forensics curriculum developed by Court TV, the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, and the National Science Teachers Association. The program combines standard high school lab techniques with a mystery solving element.

Students at North Atlanta High School participated in Unit Four of the “Forensics in the Classroom” Curriculum. Called “The Cafeteria Caper,” the crime they investigated involved a trashed high school cafeteria that might be linked to an underground club. The lab techniques required for the investigation included an enzyme test and the analysis of hair, blood, and DNA – all within their own school laboratory.

To begin the exercise, students were given handouts that explained the background information of the crime that they would be investigating. They are also given several handouts explaining the nature of forensic investigation and how forensic techniques are used to solve crimes.

Students examine a range of evidence. Some of it comes from the crime scene itself, but students also have access to a mock website that details the practices of the underground club they are investigating. The website provides them with additional information for the physical evidence that they collected, helping them to match the evidence with suspects from the website.

The “Forensics in the Classroom” Curriculum provided detailed lab guides for conducting the necessary experiments. After they had reached their conclusions, they were instructed how to fill out Crime Lab Reports documenting their evidence.

The “Cafeteria Caper” addressed five of the national forensics curriculum standards. These included:

• Developing an understanding of the Cell (including enzyme function, organic molecules and indicators)
• Developing an understanding of the Molecular Basis of Heredity (including chromosomes, DNA and genetic inheritance
• Understanding and performing scientific inquiry
• Analyzing and synthesizing several pieces of data to draw a conclusion
• Developing an understanding of science and technology

The “Forensics in the Classroom” Curriculum consists of five units designed along the same lines as the “Cafeteria Caper.” With names such as “It’s Magic”, “The Celebration”, “The Car That Swims”, and “Renter’s Beware”, each unit promises a unique story line and a different set of laboratory techniques to be used. All five units are available for free from Court TV at www.courttv.com.

Saturday, January 29, 2011

Flexible Estimation in Math

Adults use rounding and estimation in their everyday lives. They approximate the temperature, the cost of items, the time, and even their age. Consider this conversation:

"How much did it cost to fix your car?"

"Six hundred bucks!"

Without any words such as: about, approximately, around, roughly, or nearly, it can be assumed that the second person rounded the actual cost. Before they had their car fixed, they probably received an estimated cost of the repair from the shop. Adults experience rounding and estimation skills in their daily lives. Children need to learn these important skills partly because they often hear estimation and use estimation, but more importantly, it helps to solidify math learning by teaching them the idea of reasonableness.

Even though rounding and estimating are related, there is a significant difference. Rounding involves converting a known number into a number that is easier to use. Estimation is an educated guess of what a number should be without knowing the actual number. In the conversation above, it is unlikely that the second person remembered the actual price of the bill; they likely rounded the number at the time, so they could better remember it.

Children usually learn rounding as an explicit skill, often with the purpose of estimating the answers to math questions. They commonly use estimation to check the reasonableness of an answer by either estimating ahead of time or after they have completed the question. Students run into difficulty when estimating because they don't have the intuitive sense that adults do to break the rules.

For the uninitiated, the idea of rounding is fairly simple - decide where to round the number (e.g. the hundreds place), either keep the digit at the rounding place the same or round it up, and replace the digits to the right with zeros. The decision to keep the digit the same or to round it up is based on everything that comes after the digit. If it is less than half, the digit remains the same; if it is greater than half, the digit is increased by one; if it is exactly half, the digit remains the same if it is even and increases by one if it is odd. For example, to round 638 to the nearest hundred, you would base your decision on the "38" portion of the number. Since it is less than half (50), the digit in the hundreds place remains the same, and the 38 is changed to zeros, so the rounded number is 600. If the question is to round 7500 to the nearest thousand, you would round up to 8000. 8500 also rounds to 8000, but 8501 rounds to 9000. Hopefully, this illustrates that rounding follows a strict set of rules that often cause difficulties for children in estimation.

To give you an idea of how following the rounding rules can be problematic in estimation, consider the question 7359 divided by 82. The first difficulty is deciding what place to round to. Let's say that the student decides to round to the nearest hundred in the first number and the nearest ten in the second number, thus the question is now 7400 divided by 80. At this point some students might resort to a calculator, others to long division, and others might stare confusedly at their paper. An adult with more intuitive sense might look at the numbers and recognize that if she rounded 7359 to 7200, it would be fairly simple to divide by 80 (because 72 divided by 8 is easy).

Many people develop an ability to estimate both by following the rules and by breaking the rules of rounding. Many children need to be taught these skills, so there is a genuine purpose to their estimation rather than just another question to answer. Estimation should be thought of as a tool to quickly determine whether an answer is reasonable or not. One way of teaching estimation for this purpose is by allowing students to break the rounding rules and find an easy question that they can do in their head. In the question 3564 - 2801, rounding to the nearest hundred results in 3600 - 2800, but 3700 - 2700 is much easier to handle, and it is not so far off the real answer. If the purpose of estimating was to get as close to the real answer as possible, you might as well use a calculator to check your answer instead.

Parents can help develop students' estimation skills by regularly asking real questions. For instance, ask them how long they think it will take to get to hockey practice (time), have them add up the cost of the groceries as you are shopping (money), get them to count the number of people in one area of the mall and have them estimate how many people are in the whole mall (multiplication or addition). Educators should make estimation a regular part of the problem solving process. In a science investigation, students make hypotheses and predictions, so why not make an estimate in a math problem? Students can develop their estimation skills by answering questions on worksheets and comparing their estimated answers to the actual answers. http://www.math-drills.com has thousands of worksheets with answer keys that you could use for this purpose.

Remember these rules for estimation: (i) KISS - keep it simple silly, (ii) break the rounding rules if necessary, (iii) ensure students see a purpose for estimation, (iv) give students a lot of practice and experience with estimation and rounding, (v) include estimation in problem solving and other daily math work. The main rule for parents and teachers: support your students and be flexible!

Family Math Nights Bring Together Parents and Teachers in Seattle Schools.

Family Math Nights

Seattle Schools hosted a series of Family Math Nights to help parents and students learn about upcoming changes and challenges to the Seattle Public School Mathematics Curriculum. Topics covered included helping your child with math at home, questions parents can ask, computational fluency, algorithms and mathematical proficiency, and relationships between research and the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Standards.

Teachers and administrators at the Family Math Nights stressed the importance of deeply engaging all elementary school students in mathematics instruction that is meaningful in order to create a learning environment in which students are math literate. The meetings were led by Gini Stimpson, a University of Washington Mathematics Educator and Senior Researcher. Examples of student work from Seattle Public Schools were shared in order to show what students were currently learning and what more they needed to learn. In addition, parents received valuable suggestions for how to help their children improve math skills at home.

Mathematics Curriculum Adoption Overview

Seattle Public Schools began a district wide initiative to improve the mathematics curriculum in late 2005. The last time that new textbooks and curriculum were considered varied for each level of schooling. Seattle Public High Schools last revised their curriculum in 1993, elementary schools in 1998, and middle schools in 2000. The push for new textbooks and curriculum is based on the recognition that student achievement must improve in order to meet the new graduation requirements in Seattle Public Schools. In order to meet these new graduation requirements, research into the best mathematics programs available began.

After conducting extensive research into new mathematics curriculum, Seattle Public Schools concluded that the new programs must be similar for each grade so that students move progressively through a range of math experiences that reflect the same practices and approach. The research also indicated that the curriculum and instruction need to focus on the achievement standards in order for a high percentage of students to perform at the required proficiency. In order to monitor this, assessment needs to monitor student progress within and between grade levels. In addition, the cultural needs of students needs to be considered in developing effective instruction.

Mathematics Curriculum Timeline

In October 2005, the Seattle Public School District began the process by selecting a committee of teacher, parents, and administrators. This committee included representatives for English Language Learners, Special Education, and various ethnic groups. This committee sought feedback throughout the community to choose the best teaching program for Seattle Public School students. The community has had many opportunities to learn about the various programs and offer feedback on which ones would be most appropriate for Seattle Public School students.

From November 2005 to January 2006, the committee developed a screening process that offered opportunities for the community and families to increase awareness and understanding of the new mathematics curriculum and why it was chosen. From February to March, the committee evaluated the best candidate programs in order to recommend a program to the Seattle Public School Board. Based on their recommendation, the Seattle Public School Board determined the best mathematics program for the students

MindBlow and Mind Below

MindBlow and Mind Below

Human mind is numberless wonder of whole universe. This is the most fertile field of world. More you sow much you reap out of it.
The usage of this part of human body needs accurate and precise approach. The tool to sharpen the upper part of human body is only through education. The education can change the life of human being. This had been proven by scientific development of our world. Thus in most advanced and developed society, every possible care is taken in education sector applications.
Are we in India caring for this vital aspect of human being? This story is a little effort to discuss the national education with special reference to one of the leading and progressive state named Haryana.
According to 2001 census the population of largest democracy of the world was 1027015247. The managing of this huge population is a specialized job. To do this it required extra accuracy and farsightedness approach. Education is among first thrust, which need to be carefully managed, because it is directly linked to development of nation.
In 2002 India had 199144199 students starting from class 1 to higher education level. It means 19.3% of population was of student community.
Government and NGO's are working hard to expand the area of education in the country, but their efforts are not yielding up to mark satisfaction.
In India in 2002 there were 113883060 students in primary school level. In middle school level numbers of students were 44828235. That means 69% of primary school students' left their studies before or after fifth class. The facts and figures are similar in every year.
In same year (2002) there were 44828235 it mans 55% of student in middle school level whereas the number of high school students 20053986 who gave up their school bags after eight class. Continue to this process 48% of students left their studies from high school level to secondary level.
But here in last I am very surprised to see that after 10+2 level study gives up cases has drastically come down to 5%. This statistics clearly indicate that if student reaches primary level his or her probability of leaving school is 61%. If students cross first barrier (primary level) and reach to middle school then his percentage of leaving come down to 55%. Further after 10th standard to secondary levels this percentage further come down to 48%. Finally if he / she get passed 10+2 exam, the percentage to achieve higher education / professional education is 95%, which is very high as comparative to primary and middle level. These facts and figures clearly indicate that primary to middle classes are studies leaving prone classes.
Are these studies leaving the prone classes targeted by our education planners? . Answer is clearly no. This is very evident from following statistics.
In primary school level student / teacher ratio in India is 59:1, for middle class it was 31:1, whereas in 10+2 level it was 17:1 in 2002.In comparison to above after 10+2 level education there are 272 universities, 8737 colleges (general), 838 technology/ engineering college, 725 medical college, 846 teacher training colleges, 5462 polytechnic and it is and 1175 teacher training schools. This type planning will show its effects on society because knowledge level of population will be of high contrast. This will lead to fragmentation of that society which is already fragmented in the name of religion, caste and creeds. In this situation, the Education will work reversibly. This can be averted by making middle level focused education policy.
So emphasis of our education policy should be on study leaving prone classes.i.e.5th to 8th classes. The environment and education should be planned in such manner that student of these classes does not leave their studies in want of school are money. If the quantum of the students increases in 10+2 level then there will be more and more talents available for higher studies. This will not only enhance the level of knowledge among all sections of society in equilibrium but also give up maximum opportunities to maximum. This will show results in quality of higher study level. In which 50% of education budgets are invested. Take the case of Haryana in education. This small state has done commendable work as compare to other states of India. But due to non-practical approach of education planning, as in national education policy results are not up to the mark. Student teacher ratio in primary level was 39:1 as compare to national student teacher ratio 59:1 in 2002.
For middle classes this ratio in state was 33:1 in contrast to national average 31:1. Here one point is to mention this state was created on 1st nov.1966. The above student teacher ratio for the corresponding year was 43:1 and 30:1 for primary and middle classes respectively. Education budget at the creation of state in 1966 was merely 277.2 Lac rupees. Which reached 138429.51 Lac was invested which was 55.7% of total money allocated to education.
Thus after this statistics of one of the pioneer states of India one can guess situations in UP, Bihar, Orrisa and rest of other states of country.
To make mind blowing and not blowing quantum of the student is directly linked to excellence in education. Money and personals are here only precise planning is required.
Will our education planners ever do this and when? Answer to these questions lies in dark room. Who will open the doors of this dark room is to be seen yet.

Dinesh Singh Rawat
E-mail:drawat@abcnewsnetwork.com

Saturday, January 22, 2011