Physiology of Tutoring - Dont Be Left Behind

Physiology of Tutoring - Don't Be Left BehindThere are many areas that can be covered by the physiology of tutoring and yet some issues may seem to have been overlooked. In this article I will present some of these neglected areas and some of the challenges that students can face in pursuing a degree in this area.Issues relating to the emotional needs of tutors. An issue that is not as well known as it should be is the emotional needs of a tutor. Teachers tend to see tutors as objects, whose only purpose is to instruct students. Yet this, of course, has not always been the case and the physiological needs of a tutor were equally important in keeping that teacher alive.A person who is well suited to being an instructor is one who is invested in helping a student to succeed in a subject. This means that they will have an interest in a subject that is relevant to the student's academic interests and is going to stimulate their interest in learning. It also means that they will be comfor table in an atmosphere that allows them to learn and help students achieve their educational goals.Of course, there are those students who are not very interested in reading but would benefit from their tutors' insights into how to manage their time and, perhaps, be able to make their own decisions. But a good tutor must have a balanced approach towards learning and will never shy away from feedback and criticism. In other words, if a tutor is too hard on a student or not sensitive enough, the student will not likely value that tutor enough to pursue further study.Of course, not all students will enjoy the experience of being tutored. However, a good tutor must be able to cope with difficult students. For example, a teacher might be unfamiliar with a subject but may be able to offer more information to the student by way of research or by reading articles about the subject.These students will also need a reliable source of reference material and a good tutor will understand how much such resources are valued in helping a student to think through a problem. So a tutor must understand the physiology of tutoring and the importance of bringing other students into the task. The physiology of tutoring will mean that there are now students to help a tutor with specific requirements.Of course, not all students will follow directions and, again, a good tutor should be able to choose the appropriate course of action for a given situation. For example, if a student is struggling with a particular section of a subject, a good tutor may need to consult with the student before taking further action.

Tutorfair in National Science and Engineering Week

Tutorfair in National Science and Engineering Week Tutorfair has been very excited to take part in National Science and Engineering week.  It has prompted us to reflect on the importance of STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) in the modern world. Forty years ago, there were no mobile phones in sight, yet now they are everywhere and most people own one. We live in a world with groovy gadgets, transport to almost anywhere and medical advances finding more and more treatments for life-threatening diseases. All of these would not be around without science, maths, technology and engineering. These subjects enable innovation that is crucial for the future! Yet, as our tutors have discovered, science and maths are subjects which children often struggle with at school. Of all subjects, tutors are required the most for maths and science. Why is that? Perhaps it has something to do with Dr Carol Dweck’s concept of a fixed mindset where people believe that traits and talents come naturally rather than being cultivated over time (a growth mindset). The phrase ‘I’m not a maths person’ often pops up because it provides this sense of relief to students and almost gives them permission not to try because they are bound to fail anyway. This is what a tutor tries to overcome. Tutors provide students with the confidence to cultivate a love of learning to show that actually, when a student puts in the effort, great achievements are possible! A tutor can also explain the connections showing how these subjects can be applied to the real world. That’s why, in celebration of National Science and Engineering week, we have held three events named ‘STEM Special Meet and Greet’ to encourage more enthusiasts in STEM subjects to become tutors. These great people realise how powerful STEM is in education and are keen to pass on their enthusiasm to others. So why do they love STEM? Tim, a physics undergraduate, loves science because “it’s amazing to understand why and how things happen in the world we live.” Aastha, a postgraduate studying dentistry surgery, added that science is fantastic because “it’s made up of logic and is happening all around you”. And Jasmine, a  maths undergraduate, made us all laugh with her pragmatism: “without maths, how would you calculate discounts? It’s vital for shopping!” Junas, a science teacher added this thoughtful remark: maths is “a universal language. Wherever you go 2+2 will have the same answer.” Junas also runs a STEM after school club for year 8 pupils to help inspire curiosity in these subjects. The sessions link STEM subjects together to show students the bigger picture. Junas loves running these sessions because they have “an impact on students’ actions in life and make them independent.” We also went to an Edtech Investor Speed-Date (in association with NESTA, EdMix and Emerge) giving technological innovators the opportunity to pitch their ideas for improving STEM education to industry experts and investors. One particularly inspiring company was Itis3d which provides 3D printing workshops in schools. We held two Careers and Pathways Workshops for sixth-formers at a London Secondary School, bringing in speakers in the medical and engineering professions to explain why they chose their career and how they got there. Moreover, we were very lucky on Tuesday to have a special treat visit from the expert maths and science author Simon Singh, who shared his vision to inspire young people in STEM. See our interview with him here to find out more. We’ve certainly had a Eureka week! We need to excite the future generation about science, maths, technology and engineering; these subjects are fun as well as importnt! Professionals in STEM careers can transform the world â€" solving complex problems of today such as climate change, world hunger and inter-dependent world economy! STEM inspires innovation and this is why it is imperative to enthuse the young generation about its importance and its relevance to our everyday lives. If you or your child needs help with any of the STEM subjects then please visit the Tutorfair website and book a private chemistry tutor, private biology tutor, private physics tutor, private general science tutor or even a private maths tutor to come to your house. Frank I    - Passionate about science with over 2,599 hours of experience. Subjects include Biology, Chemistry, and Physics Tasmin B  - Passionate about her subjects and loves sharing that with her students. Subjects include Maths and Chemistry Tony D  - Experienced tutor creates an appetite for learning. Subjects include Maths, Science and Computing

What are sentence length and sentence variance

What are sentence length and sentence variance Conversational sentences tend to be short. In fiction, sentences are on average about 20 words long. In academic writing, they are about 40 words long. Whether you write fiction or academic prose, you will still want to vary the length of your sentences. Heres why. This sentence has five words. Here are five more words. Five-word sentences are fine. But several together become monotonous. Listen to what is happening. The writing is getting boring. The sound of it drones. Its like a stuck record. The ear demands some variety. Gary Provost 100 Ways to Improve Your Writing These sentences have the same number of words. Low sentence length variability Vary the number of words per sentence for more dynamic writing Listen what happens when we add sentences of varying lengths. This sentence has 5 words This sentence has five words. Here are five more words. Five-word sentences are fine. But several together become monotonous. Listen to what is happening. The writing is getting boring. The sound of it drones. Its like a stuck record. The ear demands some variety. Now listen. I vary the sentence length, and I create music. Music. The writing sings. It has a pleasant rhythm, a lilt, a harmony. I use short sentences. And I use sentences of medium length. And sometimes, when I am certain the reader is rested, I will engage him with a sentence of considerable length, a sentence that burns with energy and builds with all the impetus of a crescendo, the roll of the drums, the crash of the symbols â€" sounds that say listen to this, it is important. Gary Provost 100 Ways to Improve Your Writing Sentence colorization High sentence length variability Sentence Checker The Virtual Writing Tutor sentence checker checks the length of your sentences and the variance. The sentence colorization feature helps you to see where your paragraph lacks variability. Use it to help you add greater variability to your sentences and make your writing more dynamic. Or go here for a simple word counter. Please follow and like us:

As Told by College Students Ways to Relax Before Your Job Interview

As Told by College Students Ways to Relax Before Your Job Interview Image credit: Pixabay.com Put it in perspective   Grace (Harvard University) said I just keep reminding myself that even if I dont get the job, its not the end of the world. Keeping things in perspective, and reminding yourself that youll have plenty of opportunities in the future, is a tried and trusted strategy that many students recommended to me. It will, of course, be a disappointment if you dont get the job you want, especially if it was your top choice. But reminding yourself that you can still succeed without it is going to relax you far more than stressing over every syllable you uttered in the interview for the next week. Write If you fancy yourself a writer, Mowafacs (German Jordanian University) strategy is to write down how Im feeling in my journal that I carry with me every day. Sometimes staring our worries in the face can help us remember that our jitters arent the biggest problem in the world and that were totally capable of beating them. You can write in a physical notebook like Mowafac, or you can type up your thoughts on a phone or laptop. Its important to do what works best for you! Study, study, study!   Abigail (Gettysburg College) has separate strategies for in-person and phone interviews. For in-person ones, Abigail said I always get there (or to the area) 15-20 minutes early. If its a phone interview, I spend the 20 minutes before the interview going over research I have done on the organization and looking over questions that I have written down to ask the interviewers. Studying up on the particulars of a company or organization is sure to get your recognition from your interviewer. Your knowledge will shine through, whether youre sitting across the desk from them or simply on the phone. Phone interviews are a unique kind of beast (which is why Abigail has a different strategy for tackling them). Theyre less intimidating for some people since you can conduct them from the safety of your home. For others, though, theyre terrifying, especially for people who dislike talking on the phone. If youre a member of the latter group, Abigails tips will be particularly helpful to you. Having everything you want to say written down in front of you will help keep your thoughts straight, and indeed might result in a better performance. For these kinds of interviews, make sure that you speak clearly and confidently, as it can sometimes be more difficult to understand a person on the phone than in person. If you miss something your interviewer says due to a bad connection, dont be afraid to let them know. Otherwise, a phone interview is no different than an in-person one. You just get the benefit of peeking at a cheat sheet when you need it! Strike a power pose While interviewing for a competitive fellowship program, Hera (University of Tennessee) stated that me and some of the other girls went to power pose in the restroom. Hands on the hips, chest out, and chin high, we ladies blew it out of the water. Reminding yourself just how incredible you are (and how great you look in that outfit you chose based on Wynters tip) is a great way to boost your confidence right before heading into your interview. Dont be worried about looking silly. No one is going to judge you, and frankly, plenty of them probably do the same sorts of pre-interview confidence boosters. But if youre self-conscious about the idea of doing power poses in a public bathroom, dont be afraid to do them at home first. As long as you step out the door with some renewed confidence, youll do just fine. Now get out there and rock that interview!

10 Questions You Have About Student Loans

10 Questions You Have About Student Loans safebee.com Here are 10 questions students typically have about student loans: 1. What different types of student loans are there? Most student loans come in Stafford or Perkins loans. Perkins loans are often more desirable than Stafford loans because of their fixed interest rate (5 percent and doesn’t increase over the years) but have higher eligibility requirements. Perkins loans are also subsidized, which means the government pays your interest while in school and for a short period after. Both are for students with financial need, but unsubsidized Stafford loans can be taken out by any student. 2. How does the interest work? With most loans, you pay interest on top of what you’re paying back. The larger the loan, the more interest you pay on it. Depending on whether your loans are subsidized, the government will pay that interest while you are in school and for a short time afterwards. The interest rates run at about 6.8 percent for Stafford loans and 5 percent fixed for Perkins loans. 3. When do I have to pay them off? A grace period is around six months after you graduate before you must start repaying your loans. Unless you have a special circumstance like joining the military or re-enrolling, you should have the six month grace period. Contact your loan servicer if you believe you’ll have trouble repaying your student loans and they may be able to extend the grace period. 4. What makes them different than a normal loan? Normal loans will acquire interest immediately, while subsidized loan interest may be paid by the government. Also, most loans require credit history while student loans do not. For some, having debt can be seen as a detriment to character, however, few see student loans as a negative. 5. Do my scholarships affect them? It could. If your financial aid, outside scholarships (not from the school), plus student loans and grants exceed your estimated need, the government requires the school to reduce the financial aid it awards you. 6. What is the difference between a loan and a grant? Simply put, loans are money that you have to pay back and grants are money that is given to you and will not have to be paid back. Grants also do not accumulate interest. Grants can be thought of similarly as scholarships. 7. How does work-study play in? A work-study job is an on-campus job paid by the university. It is often given as a form of financial aid. The university keeps an amount of money and pays work-study students out of that fund as a form of helping alleviate expenses. Work-study jobs often result when high quality students apply too late for scholarships, but still have financial need. 8. What happens if I don’t graduate? Depending on when you drop out of college, the amount you owe could change. If you drop out too soon, you may have your federal aid retracted and be left owing more tuition than expected. You will still be required to pay your student loans despite not graduating. Consider going to school part-time to extend the period of repayment; as long as you’re enrolled, your loans will be kept in tact and won’t have to be paid until you’re entirely out of school. 9. What makes me eligible? Financial need is often determined by filling out the FAFSA. It takes in a number of factors to determine your financial need like income, savings, children, and many others. Universities use this to determine how much financial aid you should be awarded. There isn’t a super clear way to determine your financial need without filling this out or something similar. 10. Who do I talk to about loans? Google has lots of answers online and at your fingertips; however, if you seem to be in a special situation, it’s best to seek personal help. Your university has a Financial Office and they will be the people who know the ins and outs of student finances better than anyone. No question is a stupid question. In fact, they’ve probably heard it all before. College can be complicated, but funding it doesn’t have to be. Learning more about student loans can make them seem manageable and far less scary. Ultimately, do your research and know what you’re getting into before the bank statements start to roll in. You’ll thank yourself later. Most of this information was found on www.Debt.org.

The Swiss International Scientific School Dubai

The Swiss International Scientific School Dubai The Swiss International Scientific School Dubai About the School The Swiss International Scientific School in Dubai (SISD) is a leading day and boarding school located in the centre of Dubai, where future generations are inspired to become confident and enthusiastic life-long learners, ready to embrace future opportunities in a competitive, global world. Founded in 2015, our school currently welcomes 1200 students of more than 70 different nationalities, from Pre-KG to Grade 12 (ages 3 17). SISD follows the full continuum International Baccalaureate (IB) programme in three streams focusing on personalized learning and the development of 21st century skills. Students choose between the international English with additional languages stream, the bilingual English-French or English- German streams. SISD is an IB Continuum World School authorised to offer and teach the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP), IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) and IB Diploma Programme (DP). SISD is also candidate school* for the International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme (IB CP). Our unique international curriculum offers an engaging learning experience, the challenge of developing a real understanding of cultural diversity and the support of a thriving international community. Our state of the art, eco-friendly campus ensures that we can offer a wide range of sporting and after school activities tailored to the personal needs and preferences of every student. Our BEST school values are at the heart of everything we do. This approach to education recognizes the importance of developing lasting human values alongside academic success. Bilingual With English as the foundation, our students will also speak, read and write in French, German or Arabic. As global citizens, we celebrate diversity, treating all languages and cultures with equal respect. Excellence We believe in having high standards and aspiring to be the best that we can be. We foster the spirit of enquiry, encouraging both creative and critical thinking. Sustainability We believe that social, cultural, economic and environmental awareness prepare us to play our part in shaping a better future for ourselves and those around us. Our school campus is eco-friendly, using less energy to deliver a more comfortable, healthier environment. Together In our international community, we know that when we all work together we are at our best. We view active participation in the community, from the most local to the most global, as the foundation of a valuable life. Our Programmes At the Swiss International Scientific School in Dubai (SISD) we follow the framework of the International Baccalaureate (IB) programme as a full continuum school from Pre-KG to Grade 12. We are also a member of the Swiss Group of Schools, CIS and ECIS. The programme from Pre-Kindergarten through to Grade 12 creates, develops and sustains a community of life-long learners and provides a coherent learning experience. The IB Programme aims to develop enquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect. It is a programme that encourages students across the world to become active and compassionate learners. With an emphasis on developing a multi-lingual school community, we offer three streams at our school: The international stream with English and additional languages (French, German, Arabic and mother tongue languages) The English/ French bilingual The English/ German bilingual Our Teachers We look to recruit enthusiastic and committed educators who have an international outlook and a passion for teaching. Successful candidates will have demonstrated that they are motivated and are committed to inspiring students and enriching academic excellence. View our Brochure

Theodora English Tutor Game - Is It Right For Your Child?

Theodora English Tutor Game - Is It Right For Your Child?Theodora English tutor for children in England is a simple and enjoyable way for your child to learn how to speak and write English. By speaking with adults, and listening to English lessons you child will have fun and learn more at the same time. This game is an excellent way to teach your child.There are numerous reasons why this game is an excellent addition to your child's English education. The learning of the English language will not be the only aspect of this game. For those of you who are worried about your child having no job, or not wanting to do the household chores, then you might be anxious about them being involved in this game. However, if you need them to work then there are two games they can play, either one a teacher and student type game or one a parent and child type game.If you children are older than twelve, there are two levels to this game, and they are there is a Teacher and Student type game. This ga me is good because it teaches your child the basics of spelling, reading, writing and speaking English. The tutor for kids has all of the educational programs and various ways to practice words for a daily lesson. In addition to this your child can learn more when talking to the tutor because he is talking with a native English speaker.When you are ready to stop playing the game, you will see a screen that indicates the last game played, and of course you will not start playing the tutor game if you have played all the other games. If you want to play the tutor you can do so by selecting another player. While playing the tutor you can choose to help your child learn the important lessons he is expected to learn. Your child will also learn to understand more about the English language, including vocabulary and pronunciation.When you do decide to play you will have to select another game. The teacher and student games are a bit more difficult because your child can see and hear what y ou are saying, but he does not have the opportunity to type or speak with the tutor. It is difficult for your child to understand the teacher games as the tutor will not speak.Even if your child has been singing and playing the piano for quite some time, your child will still have problems with the English lessons that are offered in the tutor games. You will find that you need to spend some time with your child to help him get the right pronunciation of the words. When you are tutoring your child there is no limit to the time you can spend with him, but you must be very careful when you teach.When you play the tutor you are teaching your child. You must be a good teacher if you expect your child to learn and to speak English. In addition to this the game will allow your child to continue enjoying their role in the family, and of course enjoy the fun of playing the tutor. Overall you will find this game a wonderful and fun way to teach your child English and will have fun while doin g it.