A Look at Some Common Core Teaching Issues

A Look at Some Common Core Teaching IssuesThe Common Core State Standards has created an uproar among education reformers, as well as parents and school district officials across the country. These standards define how K-12 schools should educate students in math, reading, and science. Many of the Common Core Standards require teaching to the Common Core, even if that means teaching a broader range of topics in a different way.The Common Core Standards has sparked a debate between those who support the standards and those who are skeptical. Among those who support the standards are parents, teachers, education experts, and politicians, who all agree that the new standards will improve the learning experience for K-12 students. They also say that the Common Core standards will help increase the understanding of certain subjects for students, especially those who come from underrepresented communities. In addition, the standards can lead to significant cost savings for schools because they help them meet state and federal mandates.Still, the number of states that adopted the Common Core Standards has dwindled in recent years. For this reason, many schools and districts across the country continue to adhere to a more traditional approach to curriculum. There are some examples of how this has affected classrooms:Elementary school children who are taught in a traditional manner tend to underperform in their first two years of middle school, according to a recent study by the National Center for Education Statistics. Elementary school teachers often emphasize rote memorization and factual knowledge while ignoring creative expression. High school students, on the other hand, are held back by an overly analytical approach, the study found. They are expected to memorize and regurgitate facts rather than explore their learning through reading, writing, and thinking.In the school district of Littleton, Colorado, children of Hispanic immigrants were assigned to one of two classes -- one taught in English and the other in Spanish. The teachers who taught in English were given the opportunity to teach subjects that attracted their interest. Unfortunately, teachers who taught in Spanish were not given this same opportunity. Because of this, the Mexican-American students in Littleton were not exposed to subjects like music and art that were interesting to them.Over time, the Common Core has also been known to cause a reduction in the amount of creativity and originality exhibited by students. When children do not have any original ideas, they must rely on the few that exist in the course materials. In addition, when students lack creative thinking and critical thinking skills, they must rely on classroom repetition to fill in these gaps. This often causes students to become bored with classroom materials, which results in an overall lack of creativity.According to some school districts, the increase in standardized testing that has accompanied the implem entation of the Common Core has also led to less innovative or creative student curriculums. While more students are now required to take standardized tests, the most talented students are often the ones who do not take the tests. If teachers can give students a greater sense of control over their learning, this can only help boost creativity and innovation in schools.

My Experience at the University of Georgia

My Experience at the University of Georgia The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. Olivia is an Atlanta tutor specializing in French tutoring, Study Skillsand Organization tutoring, and a number of other areas. She is currently a senior at the University of Georgia majoring in Communication Studies and French. See what she had to share about the University of Georgia: VT: Describe the campus setting and transportation options. How urban or rural is the campus? Did you feel safe on campus? Are there buses or do you need a car/bike? Olivia: The University of Georgia campus is located in Athens, GA, a medium-sized town one hour east of Atlanta. Athens is not urban, nor would I describe it as a small town. The city has its own charm not too small that it gets boring, and not too big that it gets overwhelming. The campus has an extensive bus system (as it is a big campus). In addition, there is the Athens bus system, so you can live off-campus without necessarily having to buy a parking pass to drive to campus. I have always used the Athens bus system without problems. Athens is also a pretty bike-friendly city. Biking is popular here, and people do bike to campus. The University of Georgia does a lot to ensure safety, including staffing their own police force and releasing campus alerts through text messages, calls, and emails. I feel the campus is very safe, or at least as safe as any other big college. I have never felt anything but secure. VT: How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Olivia:Professors and advisers at the University of Georgiahave been very responsive to emails and questions I have had. Some professors even specify a maximum two-day email response time on their syllabi so that they hold themselves accountable. Office hours are always emphasized, and teachers encourage you to come see them during the time they provide. Even briefly before or after class, teachers answer quick questions with no issue. Advisers are always available for appointments or questions via email. However, I do recommend doing your own research about class options before meeting with an adviser. They can help you sort out most things, but they will not give you every bit of information or option available, so it is always better to be informed. VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Olivia:Dorm lifeis a big part of the University of Georgia experience! It is a great, hugely social experience that is truly characteristic of being a college student. It really makes your freshman year fun, and it helps you to integrate, meet people, and get involved on campus. First, there are many on-campus dorm options that involve living with a roommate. For example, I lived in a typical, very small dorm room in a tall residence hall, and it was great. You meet people on your hall, and they become the little community that you come home to every day. There are many options depending on gender, bathroom preferences, size, and location on campus. When you live on campus, going to class is very convenient by foot or by bus. Also, you can take better advantage of the long list of clubs, organizations, and activities that happen on campus every day. Something is always going on, and there is something for everyone. Plus living on campus makes it really easy to go to sports games (rea d: football) and to utilize the awesome gym. Dining options at the University of Georgiaare way above what you would find at the majority of other universities. The University of Georgia dining hallsare award-winning, and you can tell! The choice, quality, and size of the five dining halls are much better than a typical college dining situation (compared to the other college visits I did, as well as my friends who came from different places to visit). This is one of the best parts of living on campus, especially for freshmen going with friends to the dining hall, where you can find fresh smoothies, ice cream, extensive salad bars, and a variety of dishes. You will never get bored of eating the same thing. There are also numerous cafes and eateries (separate from the meal plan) that you can stop into around campus. VT: Which majors/programs are best represented and supported?What did you study and why? Did the university do a good job supporting your particular area of study? Olivia:The University of Georgia is generally known for its Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication, as well as its Public Relations major. The Terry College of Business and the Psychology department are highly regarded, as well. The science department (namely Biology and Chemistry) is known to be pretty rigorous. I am studying French and Communication Studies. I have a strong interest in language and foreign cultures, which ultimately pushed me to want to study a language throughout college. I wanted to have a broader education than just a language, and I found (after many major changes) that Communication Studies best fit what I wanted to learn and what I thought would be useful later in life. I think the university did support my areas of study, given that each department made an effort to engage students in organizations and outside events. French conversation tables, departmental scholarships, and respective clubs are all examples of things that I have been involved i n via my majors. VT: How easy or difficult was it for you to meet people and make friends as a freshman? Does Greek life play a significant role in the campus social life? Olivia:I would say that it was not super easy for me to meet people in the beginning, but let me clarify this was not because there was not a million opportunities to do so. This is the way it was for me, and it is different for everyone. Meeting people who you relate to takes time, and it did not happen for me right away during my freshman year (even if I was involved in activities with others). Once I started really finding my niche, I met more long-term friends. But this is normal for freshmen, and it only gets better year after year. Greek life does play a significant role at the University of Georgia if you want it to. I was not a part of Greek life, but many people do it and enjoy it. I knew it was not something for me, so I made an effort to meet people in other ways, including sports, clubs, classes, dorms, etc. VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Olivia:The Career Center at the University of Georgia is awesome. Every time I have interacted with them, they have been extremely nice, organized, and helpful. I have used their resume critique services, I have been to many workshops, and I have done many Skype interviews in their private Skype rooms. I still have a folder of resume and cover letter tips. They do a lot to help students succeed. Large career fairs happen several times during the school year, and many reputable companies are represented on campus. There are also many reputable companies on a job search database called Dawglink, which is a great way to connect University of Georgia students to companies for full-time and part-time positions. Company executives come to speak to different classrooms from time to time as well, especially in the business school. VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Olivia:Places to study on campus are numerous and widespread. Since it is such a big campus, it may take a little time to find them all! I will name some of them here: there are two massive centralized buildings called the Miller Learning Center and the Tate Student Center. In a nutshell, they both consist of lots of computers, study rooms, armchairs, and tables. Quieter and louder areas are separated, and there is even a designated reading room in the Miller Learning Center. The library is also a great place to study, and it is my preferred spot. It is quiet and huge seven stories in total. There are computers, tables, chairs, whiteboards, and little nooks. The Miller Learning Center does get crowded in the middle of the week. It is a major crossroads for many peoples classes and study meetings, etc. The main library is generally less crowded. However, there are also good places to study on other areas of campus, like the science library, the law library, and outside! Benches and green space are abundant on campus. So, basically, if you want to study on campus, there is always a place you can go that is not overcrowded. VT: Describe the surrounding town. What kinds of outside establishments / things to do are there that make it fun, boring, or somewhere in between?To what extent do students go to the downtown area of the city versus staying near campus? Olivia:Athens is such an interesting, eclectic town. It is no big city, and it does not have that bustle, but there are other advantages to it. It is very southern and very outdoorsy, yet full of culture and full of authentic people. The downtown area is probably its most famous perk. And it is pretty amazing, with something like 80 bars on four streets. This is, of course, a huge pull for students, especially since the downtown area starts at the very edge of north campus. But having mentioned the downtown area, I would like to express how Athens is so much more than just the downtown. There are very interesting music venues all over the city. In fact, Athens is known for its music scene. There are parks and historical trails, organic farmers markets, and really great local restaurants. There is the Oconee River and several microbreweries. So as the University of Georgia does create a sort of bubble in the center part of the city, there is much to experience and explore outside of campus if you choose to. VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Olivia:The undergraduate population is about 25,000, with graduate students adding another 10,000. So if you are looking for a big school, this is one of them. The class sizes will vary depending on the class. For example, lower-level classes that are popular and required for most students can be very big (250 students for many Chemistry, Biology, or Political Science courses). But other required classes, like English, might be smaller (about 30). Once you get into higher-level classes, the size is anywhere from 25-65. I have many classes that are only about 15-20. Honors Program classes are generally about 20 people. I did not have issues with the large class sizes. This is a personal preference (whether or not you deal well learning in large groups like that). However, even if you do not like large classes, chances are only your first year will be like that, and then your classes will be smaller from the second year on. And in the end, sitting near the front and meeting with the professor during office hours makes it seem like a smaller class anyway. It depends on your learning style and preferences. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Olivia:My most memorable experiences go back to specific professors who were really intelligent and who really knew how to communicate and teach well. With these professors, I did not even have to be particularly interested in the subject. It was their teaching that made the difference. I remember my Anthropology teacher was so excited about what we were learning that he really engaged us, even if we were talking about non-human primates. I also remember my Intercultural Communications teacher. She had us read the most interesting articles about other countries and do a project where we acted as consultants. And my Political Science teacher was incredibly gifted and funny. He led class discussions with such ease, prompting us to think differently and critically about things. These teachers have made my experience at the University of Georgia especially enriching. Check out Olivias tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

7 Habits to Adopt for Introverts - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / 7 Habits to Adopt for Introverts - Introvert Whisperer 7 Habits to Adopt for Introverts Commonly mistaken for shy people who lack confidence and social skills, introverts are actually people who prefer spending time alone or in small groups. Their inspiration, motivation and energy recharge come from being alone in a quiet place. Busy workplaces and big social gatherings can overstimulate them and make them seem awkward and shy. In reality, they just prefer social situations that include spending one-on-one time with their friends in a quiet bar or at home, reading a book. If you are an introvert you have probably discovered these traits in yourself, and maybe you have found a way to make a place for yourself in a world that glorifies extroversion and views introversion as weakness. Research shows that extroverts rate better at happiness scales, and even introverts who act like extroverts show more symptoms of happiness. However, there are still many ways in which you can make your life happier and be more outgoing and successful while still honouring your unique character. Here are 7 habits you can adopt to live a happier life as an introvert. 1. Help Others This will help you get out of your head. Overthinking is a common trait of introverts and can be quite overwhelming. Find a way to be of service to someone without getting anything in exchange. You will feel happier knowing you did something meaningful. Moreover, doing something for someone else will also help you to become more extroverted in a way that is not entirely out of character or uncomfortable to you. By immersing yourself into meaningful and selfless action, you won’t even recognise that you stepped out of your comfort zone. 2. Do the Networking Your Way We know, starting conversations and promoting yourself and your skills isn’t the most natural nor convenient way for you. Yet, it is much needed if you want to prosper in your career and secure a happier life as a professional. Instead of forcing yourself to speak directly to people at networking events, use your best strengths and the digital era to your advantage. Write emails, use social media, or ask your closest friends and colleagues to introduce you. In this way you are being proactive about your career and true to your personality. 3. Embrace Your Introversion Despite the recent interest society has shown in introverts, extroverted personalities still tend to be considered more socially acceptable and viewed as better suited for certain positions. This often leads to introverts seeing their temperament as something negative or unwanted. However, introversion is actually a part of your personality that makes it unique and beautiful, since it provides more insight, better attention to details, better listening strategies and many more benefits. Realising this will help you appreciate and embrace your introversion as a valuable addition to the colourful and diverse set of human characters. 4. Help Others to Get to Know You Better In order to avoid the sometimes awkward social situations or coming off as rude or uninterested in other people’s lives or opinion, be honest and upfront with them and tell them that you are an introvert. You will save yourself from overthinking each word you say to someone. Furthermore, you will turn a social situation to your advantage, since opening up to someone will make room for more meaningful conversations, the ones you most likely enjoy as an introvert. Finally, speaking to your family or close friends about your introversion can help them understand you and your actions better, which will make your relationships closer. 5. Utilise Your Introspection Use your most prominent character trait as your most powerful weapon that can serve your career, your personal life and your creativity in general. As you are used to acquiring energy through reflection, introspection and doing creative activities that require being alone and mindful, use it to get inspiration to develop new creative ideas. No matter what your job or personal life is at the moment, your favourite pastime activities such as reading, writing, listening to music or doing mindful meditation practice can be a valuable source for generating new ideas. Make sure to write down your thoughts and new ideas as they appear. 6. Travel Again, use your character to bring more happiness to yourself and to the people around you. As the naturally skilled planner you are, you will most likely enjoy developing a perfect plan for the most amazing trip for yourself and your family or friends. It is a widely known fact that planning a trip increases our happiness levels even more than the actual experience. Furthermore, travelling can boost your wellbeing, happiness and confidence in a number of ways. It helps you to be more comfortable in social situations, since it creates more opportunities for meeting new people and starting conversations. Experiencing different cultures, people and customs provides a better perspective and makes you less self-conscious and more accepting of yours and others’ characters. Choose destinations that will allow you to both mix with others if you feel like it, and yet leave room for alone time as well. My personal recommendation would be the Algarve, which offers plenty in terms of relaxation, culture and fresh experiences. 7. Challenge Yourself Once in a While Try to act as an extrovert just to see how you would feel. The mentioned research suggests that acting extroverted makes people happier. Try to start a conversation with a barista, someone on the train or while waiting in line. Challenge your comfort zone, not because there is something wrong with being an introvert, but to understand yourself better. Author: Rebecca is a translator by day, and a traveler mostly at night. She is an expert on living with jet lag â€" and packing in tiny suitcases. You can read more of her exploits at RoughDraft. Go to top Do you know what your next career step is?  Many people don’t. I want to help you accelerate your career by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my eBook on how to construct your Career SMART Goals â€" that will help you put together your actions and keep you accountable. Get your copy now and start your action plan today! Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleashing your professional potential. Introvert Whisperer

Learn How to Write Cantonese.

Learn How to Write Cantonese. Info on How to Learn and Practice Your Written Cantonese. ChaptersLearning to Write in Cantonese is Worth All the Effort.Some Notes Before You Learn How to Write in Cantonese.How to Write in Cantonese.Memorizing Cantonese Characters.You’d be amazed by how many times tutors of Cantonese hear the words, ‘oh but it’s impossible to write in Cantonese!’ â€" or words to that effect.It’s an incredibly common sentiment, that seems to distinguish learners of the Chinese languages â€" Mandarin and Cantonese, along with many more â€" from those of other languages. Learners from the western world at least.And whilst it’s a common sentiment â€" and whilst learning a language per se is challenging â€" is it true?Of course it isn’t! And, really, everyone knows this â€" even those who say it. (Probably those who say learn Chinese â€" or have struggled to commit themselves to it.)Yet, at the same time, to learn Cantonese â€" and particularly to write Chinese characters â€" does pose a few more challenges than other languages. Maybe this deserv es an ‘of course’ of its own.Whilst those who utter that immortal sentence â€" ‘oh, it’s impossible!’ â€" might be pushing it a bit far, they are onto something. Italian or Polish might be difficult, but they don’t require you to learn a completely different script. And Bulgarian and Greek might require a different alphabet, but at least they have an alphabet.Chinese is different, because the writing system works in a completely different way. But if you’re intending to bother learning Cantonese, you have to put the time in to learn the Chinese script. You don’t have to do it first, but, ultimately, it’s a must.So, let’s have a look at how you can start to write in Cantonese. And once you are done, check out our guide to learning Cantonese vocabulary and tips and tricks to learn Cantonese characters. Practice your written Cantonese in Hong Kong. NingChinese Teacher 5.00 (10) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LorraineChinese Teacher £10/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YuweiChinese Teacher 4.33 (6) £19/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JoyceChinese Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NicoleChinese Teacher £60/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors KatyChinese Teacher £16/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YangChinese Teacher £18/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ChengChinese Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsLearning to Write in Cantonese is Worth All the Effort.Language learning is one of the most rewarding things you can do in life. And learning how to speak a language like Cantonese â€" a language that is so different to our own â€" will be one of your greatest achievements.Whilst no-one said it is easy, it is certainly worth every moment of the struggle. Because learning a language like Canto nese â€" and becoming fluent in an entirely different script â€" will open up so many opportunities for you.For work, love, or friendship, you’ll have another sixty million people in the world with whom you can communicate â€" across Hong Kong and Macau, southern mainland China (such as Guangdong province, where it originated), and the extent of southeast Asia where Cantonese is spoken as a lingua franca.You’ll be able to travel more easily, you’ll understand so much more about Chinese culture, and you’ll have your foot in the door already for when you want to learn Mandarin Chinese.So, yes, of course learning the Cantonese language â€" as well as the script â€" is worth the effort. And you’ll know this full well once you have got to a point at which you are fluent.Speak Cantonese First â€" and then Learn Cantonese Writing.However, if you are starting off with Cantonese, there’s a couple of things you should realise before you start writing. The most important of these i s that it is recommended that you start practising your speaking skills before you move on to learn to write Cantonese. Part of the reason why people struggle so much with Cantonese is that the hardest part of Chinese language learning â€" for Westerners at least â€" is at the beginning. There is so much to learn and all of it is completely alien.Check out our handy guide to learning Cantonese.People tend to crack on straight away, diving deep into all aspects of the language. However, this isn’t exactly necessary â€" and may well be detrimental.Instead, our suggestion is to develop your conversational fluency first â€" whilst leaving the reading and writing on the backburner for a moment. Get to know the language, learn to speak Cantonese a little, learn a bit of Chinese vocabulary, and build your confidence first. Once you have done that you can go ahead and tackle the written elements of Cantonese. If you can write in Cantonese, you can read it!Some Notes Before You Learn How to Write in Cantonese.So, let’s have a look at some of the techniques you can use to develop your writing skills in Cantonese â€" and your knowledge of written Chinese.As you’ll probably know, there are estimated to be some fifty thousand characters in the Cantonese script. In fact, it’s usually information like this that puts people off.Yet, it shouldn’t. Because, as usually happens in these situations, the reality of the situation is much less dramatic than this. In English, we have over 170,000 words, according to some sources â€" and, according to others, more like a million. Yet, people say that, if you know the most common three hundred words, you can understand sixty-five percent of the language.The same goes with Cantonese: out of those fifty thousand characters â€" you’re not going to need more than a thousand to be absolutely sorted initially.Simplified Chinese vs Traditional Chinese.A final word of caution. Cantonese and Mandarin both use Standard Chinese script. However, there’s a difference: whilst Mandarin uses ‘simplified’ Chinese characters, Cantonese uses the traditional Chinese characters. Now, as the name suggests, the simplified Chinese characters used in Mandarin are, well, simplified â€" suggesting that the ones in Cantonese are more complex.This is true, but only the traditional Chinese characters with more than eight strokes are simplified â€" meaning that the majority of the characters you’ll encounter early on will be identical. Learn How to Read Cantonese Before Writing.In any language, the processes of reading and writing are symbiotic. You can’t write if you can’t read â€" just as you can’t speak if you can’t understand.In this sense, in learning Cantonese writing, you should be reading Chinese words, Chinese idioms, and anything you can get your hands on. Practising to read Chinese is practising to write it. So, go check out our article on reading Cantonese before you continue here.Recognition of characters is going to help with your own production of these characters.Check out our guide to learning to read Cantonese! Learn to write in Cantonese yourself!The Radicals.As you’ll have read above, there are supposed to be over fifty thousand different Chinese characters. This is all well and good, but absolutely no one is expecting you to learn them all by heart. Not even Chinese people â€" not even Cantonese native speakers â€" know all of these themselves.Because the key to Cantonese writing is the radicals, the 214 constituent parts of all Chinese characters. These are the key to learn Chinese characters â€" and 214 sounds a lot more manageable than fifty thousand.Start with the most common twenty or thirty radicals â€" and you’ll start to see them everywhere.But let’s now turn to the actual, practical production of your own Chinese characters.How to Write in Cantonese.The uninitiated, to whom Cantonese script is just a selection of shapes, are always struck by the beauty and aesthetic of the characters.Whilst this is very nice, sure, you are going to have to get this out of your head fast wh en you are writing in Chinese. You wouldn’t stop and be struck by the beauty of a ‘Q’ or an ‘M’ now, would you? The same applies to Cantonese: the script is primarily functional â€" and you want your writing of it to be.Chinese Stroke Order.This is why there is such a thing as rules for the strokes â€" the lines that make up the characters â€" in Chinese. Because, yes, the characters can be quite elaborate, and the native speaker would hope to be writing efficiently.Optimising your stroke order improves your Cantonese handwriting, saving you time and making it easier for you to produce the characters neatly. So, listen up to the rules.Top to bottom; left to right.Generally speaking, every time you are copying out a Chinese word or character, your pen should go from top to bottom and from left to right.If the number ‘one’ is a straight horizontal line, write it from left to right. If ‘two’ comprises of two horizontal lines, write the top one first, left to right, an d then the second.Horizontals before vertical.When vertical and horizontal lines cross, always write the horizontal line first.Left diagonal, then right diagonalDiagonal lines from the centre of the character should be drawn on the left first (right to left), then on the right (left to right).Centre before outsideIn characters that are symmetrical vertically, you should draw the centre first and then the outside.Enclosures before contentsIf you are drawing a character with something in a box, draw the enclosure first then fill it.Minor strokes, dots, and character-crossing horizontals lastThis one should be self-explanatory: anything that is small â€" or that strikes through the whole character â€" is to be added last.Shapes and Sizes of Chinese Characters.Watch out when you are writing your Cantonese characters.As we said, they are not supposed to be beautiful, no. However, they are supposed to be legible, regular, and equally sized. Often people write the different radicals that m ake up the character too far apart, so much so that they can appear to be separate characters. Avoid this, by making sure that your characters are all of even sizes.Memorizing Cantonese Characters.Once you have started to write your characters out, you’ll have to start remembering them.Of course, it is going to be slow at first, until you develop your fluency, but that’s absolutely okay; there is no rush.At some point, however, you will have to start learning them by rote. Because repetition is one of the most powerful things for your memory.However, don’t just write them anywhere. Write them on square paper, ensuring that every character is exactly the same size!Read more about learning Cantonese!

Should I Go To University of California, Santa Barbara

Should I Go To University of California, Santa Barbara The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. Andrew is a Los Angeles tutor specializing in Algebra tutoring, SAT prep tutoring, Writing tutoring, and more. He graduated from University of California, Santa Barbara in 2011 with a Bachelors degree in Environmental Science. See what he had to say about his school: VT: Describe the campus setting and transportation options.How urban or safe is the campus?Are there buses or do you need a car/bike? Andrew: UC Santa Barbaras natural setting is, in my opinion, surpassed by very few campuses in the world. Its set on limestone bluffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean, and the south-facing coastline makes for mild weather year round. Its also less than an hours drive from prime hiking and camping spots just north of campus in the Santa Ynez Mountains. The campus itself is set about 10 miles north of the center of the City of Santa Barbara in a small town environment, and is attached to the small but dense student community of Isla Vista, where a large percentage of students live. Its right on the beach! As far as safety goes, its wise to take precautions at a school this big, and there are campus security officers who will escort you on campus. Transportation options are easy and varied. UCSB is an extremely bicycle-friendly campus, and the hordes of cyclists on the miles of campus bike paths are one of the first things youll notice when visiting campus. Almost everything youll needgroceries, entertainment, classes--is a short bike ride away, and every UCSB student can ride a Santa Barbara MTD bus for free, and you can even carry your bike onto the bus with you. VT: How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Andrew: Professors are generally fairly available, but are often swamped, juggling research, teaching, and other commitments. I have found the professors I interacted with to be very friendly and eager to talk to students, but there is sometimes a wait. My experience with TAs is that they have been universally very easy to reach, and though teaching ability may vary, theyre always there to help out. My academic adviser was a very busy man, but I was able to get an appointment the few times I really needed help. As with any larger school, it helps to be the first one in the door, so plan ahead if at all possible. VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Andrew: UCSBs dorms range in style, size, and arrangements. There are high-rise dormitories off campus, low-rises in the center of campus, and apartment-style suites. I lived in a small dormitory community in buildings with 40-60 students each. There are floors for all sorts of affinity groups, and theres a niche for just about everyone. UCSB is known for its social life, and there are definitely students who struggle to maintain a healthy work/play balance. Theres no shortage of opportunities to meet people who share your interestsdorm life was a blast. UCSBs dining options are about average. UCSBs dining services are managed in-house, in contrast to many larger schools who hire a third party to manage campus dining. While this creates lots of opportunities for student employment within the dining services, UCSBs dining options are not the most varied or flexible. Students in the dorms will get a fixed number of meals per week, which can only be used at the dining halls during meal hours. Fortunately, the quality of food is generally excellent. VT: Which majors/programs are best represented and supported?What did you study and why? Did the university do a good job supporting your particular area of study? Andrew: UC Santa Barbara is well known for its school of Engineering and its programs in Physics and Biological Sciences. After a year of being undeclared, I fell in love with the Environmental Studies program, focusing on Restoration Ecology, and never looked back. The Environmental Studies program at UCSB is extremely popular and highly ranked, and has a long historyit was one of the first environmental studies programs in the nation. I really enjoyed the opportunity to study not only biological sciences but also the sociological context that we need to utilize them in. The Environmental Studies program was supported by many environmental organizations on campus and off, and offered lots of opportunities for students in my major to get involved in the community and gain valuable experience. VT: How easy or difficult was it for you to meet people and make friends as a freshman? Does Greek life play a significant role in the campus social life? Andrew: As a freshman, I clicked with the students in my dorm and we were basically inseparable all year. For those not as lucky, there are lots of student groups recruiting for all sorts of activities and interests, so if you come in with an open mind, theyll come find you. There are Greek organizations, but never did I feel that I needed to be part of the Greek system to have a social life at UCSB. VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Andrew: The Career Center and student support services on campus are definitely growing, and it took me a while to learn how to best use all the services offered. The Career Center puts on a quarterly job fair as well as offering services like reviewing your resume and offering practice interviews. For the most part, Ive found that many well-known biotechnology and engineering companies recruit heavily at UCSB. In addition, each department has a job board connecting students to local companies. VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Andrew: The Davidson Library is the main library at UCSB, and it can get really crowded during midterms and finals. I have vivid memories of walking into the 24-hour study room at 4:00 A.M. during finals week and not being able to find a table! I always loved coming to the library with a study group and staking out a South-facing table on the 8th floor of the library, where we could see the whole campus and get a gorgeous view of the Channel Islands. Isla Vista itself is not bustling with study spaces, but Downtown Santa Barbara has a good variety of cafes and coffee shops for students to set up shop in. VT: Describe the surrounding town. What kinds of outside establishments / things to do are there that make it fun, boring, or somewhere in between?To what extent do students go to the downtown area of the city versus staying near campus? Andrew: Unless you live in Downtown Santa Barbara, life on campus at UCSB is almost inseparable from life in Isla Vista. Isla Vista is home to more than 10,000 students, so once you move out of the dorms, your friends will be very close by. There is a wonderful burgeoning art scene, and the housing cooperatives offer a friendly, inclusive community for those seeking an alternative to house parties and Greek life. Downtown Santa Barbara is just a short bus ride or a scenic bike ride from campus, and its full of interesting history, culture, and great food. Some students will go downtown on weekends, but I would say that in my experience, there was more than enough going on near campus on the weekends to stay busy. Oh, and the beach. Did I mention that UCSB has its own beach? VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Andrew: The student body at UCSB is pretty largeabout 25,000 students. Lower-level general education classes, like Biology, can be as large as 800 students. As you progress in your academic career, classes get smaller and generally settle in the 15-30 students per class range. Large lecture classes can feel overwhelming and impersonal, but luckily the professors and TAs are pretty accessible. At the end of my senior year, my classes were about 20 students each. Overall its important to be aware of class sizes and be proactive in forming study groups to reinforce the information you need to know. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Andrew: I had a lot of memorable teachers and experiences at UCSB, but there is one that I credit with jump starting not only my academic interest in environmental work but that also sparked my involvement in the community which I grew to love. That was Dr. David Clevelands World Agriculture, Food, and Population course, which I took the first quarter after deciding to major in Environmental Studies. He was exceedingly passionate about the subject matter, and even more passionate about putting the theory in the classroom to work in the real world. I credit his class with not only helping me break out of my shell and helping me challenge my assumptions about the world, but for putting me on my current career path. I dont have many regrets, except that I didnt take as many language, art, and music classes as I wish I could have! Overall, I had an incredible time at UC Santa Barbara, and believe that succeeding here not only proves a students caliber academically, but also helps you learn to handle distractions better than most. Im proud to be a Gaucho. Ol, Ol, Ol! Check out Andrews tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

Physics homework help online for college grade is available with ease

Physics homework help online for college grade is available with ease Every phase of life is different from the other and each one has some or the other kind of mixed flavors in it. Some part of our lives is loved by us and some phase is painful and so we pray as for them never to return. School life has its own advantages and disadvantages. Despite huge amount of advantages and disadvantages one grow being a better human being. College life is also about merits and demerits. During our high school days we all dream of enrolling ourselves into a reputed college where we can study well. Some of us even fantasize of having a college life that is visible at our movies, where importance of education is shown less and fun times are more. It is true that school life and college life are poles apart. One cannot subdue the other. In reality, college life is also about having a good time but with studies also. Education is a big thing and we cannot live our life without it. A good career is one of the basic necessities of life so that one can fulfill the other necessities of life. It is important as well as needed. There are two types of students. One is the intelligent part those does not any kind of extra help apart from teachers from school and college. But the other part is the weaker section and they have to come in terms of a good private tutor who will guide them besides what is taught at schools or colleges. The availability of good teachers is now slowing down. Even the teaching professionalism is dragging towards money oriented facilities and one cannot think beyond earning money. Dedication to teach a student to prepare them towards a better tomorrow is taken away. In this situation where scarcity is growing up of a good teacher parents are getting more and more tensed because of the fact that they cannot find any other alternative. Is online tutoring services helpful? You can get a chance to know about the second alternative and that is the online tutoring courses. An online tutoring course is new but is gaining fame with time. You can say this to be the best and the easiest way through which the subjects can be learnt. Every individual student now knows how to handle internet and the entire game of learning is via internet. It is one of the best ways that will reduce your time, energy and expenses largely. Benefits of online tutoring courses They online tutoring courses have a wide variety of benefits that is very much required for any student of the present generation who can access internet easily. • Good teachers are one of the basic benefits that are available with online tutoring courses. The tutoring courses are taught entirely in the easiest manner by the teacher so that the student can understand. The efficient teachers are appointed and thus learning process becomes simple and easy. They first study the student deeply and try to find out that what difficulties the student faces during their interaction with the subject. Then they plan a full strategy so that the student can easily learn and know the subject better way. It decreases the tension and panic that occurs in the mind of the student related with the subject. • The second most important benefit is that the availability of the online teachers is all round the clock. It totally depends on the student as to when and how they will learn. They can attend the classes whenever they want or whenever they have doubts related with the subject. When you can clear your doubts instantly, a sense of interest comes within one to go further with the subject and this only happens with online tutoring facilities. • The third part is that the teachers are efficient enough to teach you any subject that they have proficiency in. but there are certain teachers you can help you to get good marks via your assignments even. Services are there where teachers help you to complete your assignments easily with les time. They even help you with your homework. Completion of your tough homework is also easily available with good reputed institute. • The last but not the least advantage of online teaching is that the online teachers help you individually. It means that you can take up classes in a coaching way even where various students are present and taking up the classes and secondly you can have one-on-one learning process also in which every single student is entertained by every single or individual teacher so that the child can learn better. This way helps the child to come out of the shell and learn in a better and easier manner which is not at all possible amongst all the students. The dedication level is focused towards one child. After so much of knowledge I do not think that you have any other doubt with what is online teaching and how much it is important. Now the second questions that may arise within you is that where will you find a good institute who will help you with the benefits that are listed above. So, for this question even I have a solution and that is you can check on the site of TutorPace. Is TutorPace helpful? If you are asking this questing that is TutorPace helpful, then I must say that it is useful and the best institute in the present time. It is one of the reputed institutes with the kind of services it provides and the qualified teachers it has for teaching. The rates charged for each service is very less and thus it is enjoyed by every parent. A middle class family also can afford the amount that is charged for teaching. It has teachers for helping school students and it also has availability of good teachers for college goers as well. TutorPace is famous for one service of it and that is Physics homework help online for college grade.

Where to Look for High School Internship Opportunities

Where to Look for High School Internship Opportunities Where to Look for High School Internship Opportunities Whats a great way for your teen to gain valuable experience, explore college majors and careers, strengthen their resume and develop responsibility? An internship! Internships help students learn more about industries or fields of interest, meet professionals to whom they can turn as mentors in the future and most importantly, gain real world experience. Here are five tips on where to start as you and your high school student look for internship opportunities: Start at the guidance counselors office The high school guidance counselors office is a great place to begin the search for internships, as it may have a current listing of opportunities and programs available in the area for students. Check out organizations headquarters Headquarters of large corporations often have summer internship programs for high school students. If you have relatives in a major metropolitan area with whom your teen could stay for a summer, consider exploring companies outside of your hometown. In Menlo Park, California, Facebook offers a summer high school internship program. In Washington, D.C., there are internship programs at organizations such as the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Institutes of Health and the Library of Congress, to name a few. In San Francisco, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission has a high school internship program for students interested in the field of transportation. Explore companies and organizations in your area.What companies are in your town or city? Look at their websites to see if they list internships. If companies that interest your teen dont seem to have anything formal in place, they still might consider hiring a hard working student who wants to learn their business. If your teen is interested in a particular field or type of company, encourage him or her to send out cover letters and resumes to a top 10 list of organizations. Many companies respond positively to students who take such initiative, and even if they dont have a posted position, they might create one for an eager student who takes initiative. Check out colleges.Community colleges and four-year colleges and universities are great places to look for internships. Stanfords School of Earth Sciences has a number of different summer internship programs for high school students. Pennsylvania State University offers many different summer programs. The University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonios summer program exposes high school students interested in health careers to medical and biomedical research. Rutgers Universitys New Jersey Medical School has a high school intern research exposure program. Explore the colleges in your state for programs for high school students. Look for volunteer opportunities.If your teen strikes out in his or her search for internships, an alternate route could be to volunteer. Many organizations that dont have the budget to pay interns might still be willing to take on an unpaid intern or volunteer for a few hours a week. A company may have your teen start out shadowing some of its employees, but the exposure to the industry and individuals roles within it will be valuable no matter what. With college admissions becoming more competitive, internships can help high school students set themselves apart from their peers. Not only that, students can try out careers of interest, gain great experience and increase their professionalism. With some effort, your teen can find a great internship that will build their resume and help him or her gain new skills. About Huntington Huntington is the tutoring and test prep leader. Its certified tutors provide individualized instruction in reading, phonics, writing, study skills, elementary and middle school math, Algebra through Calculus, Chemistry, and other sciences. It preps for the SAT and ACT, as well as state and standardized exams. Huntington programs develop the skills, confidence, and motivation to help students succeed and meet the needs of Common Core State Standards. Founded in 1977, Huntingtons mission is to give every student the best education possible. Learn how Huntington can help atwww.huntingtonhelps.com. For franchise opportunities please visitwww.huntingtonfranchise.com.

Six Tips to Keep Your Child Safe Online

Six Tips to Keep Your Child Safe Online Six Tips to Keep Your Child Safe Online Cyberbullyingonline predatorsidentity theft. For many parents, the World Wide Web is a source of fear and anxiety. Yet, in todays Information Ageand with children who are digital nativesavoidance of digital technologies, social media and cyberspace in general simply isnt possible or practical. Heres the good news: the Internet offers many advantages to students of all ages. It is easier than ever to research any topic or interest, share information, and make connections with people around the world. While the benefits of having so much information at ones fingertips are many, there are risks and dangers as well, especially for children. Here are six tips to keep your child safe online and help him or her learn to use the Internet safely and appropriately: Tip #1: Set limits. Establish house rules about online time. Perhaps you allow 20 minutes immediately after school while your child unwinds from the day and has a snack. Keep a screen-free house once homework time begins and try to maintain a consistent schedule for homework, dinner and bedtime. If your child has a mobile phone, set rules about when the phone gets turned off each night. Tip #2: Keep the computer in a visible location. Its easier to monitor the amount of time your child spends on the computer and the type of content that he or she views if you have it in the kitchen or family room and not his or her bedroom. Tip #3: Be aware of what your child does online. Just as your parents wanted to know where you went and who you spent time with when you were growing up, you should know who your child interacts with online and what types of websites and tools he or she visits and uses. Make it a rule that your child only chat with, instant message, email or talk on Facebook with friends that he or she knows in person. Tip #4: Use safety settings. Set up parental controls on any computers, tablets or other devices in your home. These controls can help you limit Internet access, messaging, email and other online communication capability as well as the time your child spends on the computer. You also can personalize individual settings for children of different ages. In addition, you can buy Internet filter software such as McAfee Safe Eyes or Net Nanny. Tip #5 Talk about privacy. Your child needs to understand from an early age that some people on the Internet might pretend to be people who they are not. Talk about the importance of interacting online only with people he or she knows in real life, and never with strangers. Stress to your child that he or she should never share personal information such as his or her full name, address, phone number or password information with anyone online, no matter who they claim to be. Tip #6: Talk about social media etiquette. Children need to understand what constitutes bullying online: harassment, repeated cruelty or rumor spreading via Facebook or other social media outlets, for example. The rules for treating others with respect and kindness are the same online. If your child ever becomes the target of a bully online via threats or harassment, he or she needs to know that there are ways to remove him or herself from the situation, such as blocking the person and reporting such incidents to a school official. Perhaps the most important way to mitigate the risks of going online is to communicate frequently with your child. Talk about the risks of giving out information online, spending too much time online and visiting unsafe websites. Make your child aware of the instantaneous nature of spreading information in an era of Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Discuss how social media impacts how he or she feels about friendships and him or herself. As with all aspects of parenting, keeping your child safe online requires maintaining an open and honest dialogue.

Tips From an Irvine Math Tutor Focus on Math Over Summer

Tips From an Irvine Math Tutor Focus on Math Over Summer 5 Reasons to Focus on Math Over Summer Break Irvine Math Tutoring Summer is in full swing and kids are enjoying outdoor activities and summer camp. Focusing on numbers is probably one of the last things on younger students’ minds right now, but there are lots of great reasons for students to focus on math over the summer break. Kids dont need to spend every single day working on facts and figures, but a little bit of review can make their academic lives a lot easier once school starts up again in the fall. Whether a student is in 2nd grade or preparing to take college entrance exams, math is something best learned one concept at a time and with plenty of concentration our private Irvine math tutors are here to help you get ahead on your studies.. 1.   General review Some students are great at math but forget basic formulas and building blocks over the summer. Doing just a little bit of review here and there can help younger students remember everything they learned in the previous year so they can be successful in the fall. Some teachers have a luxury of doing review the first month of school, but others are required to delve right into new concepts, which can be frustrating for students who dont remember the formulas they memorized last spring. 2. Concentrate on a challenging topic Math is one of the core subjects, and something students will utilize in many future careers, but its also one of the most difficult subjects. Often, students will understand math in general but will get tripped up over one or two different topics within their math courses. This leaves kids at a disadvantage because they become frustrated and dont develop the skills they need to move on to the next concept. Students can work with a one-on-one tutor over the summer to help them master difficult concepts, so they feel confident and positive about math and can be successful throughout the year (READ: 5 Signs You Need a Math Tutor in College). 3. College prep The SAT and ACT exams are pretty demanding when it comes to math competency. Students will need to know how to calculate a ton of different formulas, choose the best answer, and differentiate between different concepts. To make it even, harder students will be doing all of this while the clock ticks towards the end of the test. One of the best ways to make college prep level math easier is to work on it over the summer when students have enough time to concentrate on just one or two subjects. This will not only make life easier in the fall, but it will also give students an opportunity to reach their college dreams. 4. STEM STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and math. Students who have a chance to work on math over the summer also perform better in classes that utilize STEM skills. There are so many college and career opportunities in STEM, but students will need to understand math at an advanced level to be successful in this broader range of topics. 5. Personal-finance One of the best things students can do before they go off to college is learning how to manage their own money. Although they wont need advanced math skills while still a college student, they should know the basics of personal finance. Students need to know the cause-and-effect of taking out student loans, managing their credit, and balancing a budget without the benefit of a full-time salary. Students who know even the basics of money management will have a lot easier time on campus because they wont be worrying about how to pay tuition or buy groceries, allowing them to focus 100% of their energy towards their education and future career. From pre-algebra to statistics, our private Irvine math tutors are here to help you get ahead this summer. Call us today to learn more. All blog entries, with the exception of guest bloggers, are written by Tutor Nerds. Are you an education professional? If so, email us at pr@tutornerds.com for guest blogging and collaborations. We want to make this the best free education resource in SoCal, so feel free to suggest what you would like to see us write.