Exams Food for Thought

Exams Food for Thought With exams on the way and deadlines season in full swing, it can be easy to slip into unhealthy snacking habits. Research has shown that by encompassing these brain foods within your diet, you can really enhance your learning and brain power to get the most out of your studying, as well as boost your performance in exams. Here are some of our favourites: Walnuts If you want to improve your memory and boost your thinking power, walnuts are a good snack to start with. They have the highest level of omega-3 fatty acids in all nuts and protect the brain, enhancing the functioning of neurotransmitters, and consequently improving memory and cognitive skills. Blueberries During revision, to give your brain a boost have a snack on half a cup of blueberries. Blueberries are great for keeping your memory sharp, perfect for revision and going into exams. Flavonoids, antioxidant compounds in blueberries, play a key role in improving memory, learning and cognitive functions by interacting directly with aging neurons. Dark Chocolate We all need a treat sometimes, and having something to work for, makes revision much more productive. Why not swap those unhealthy treats and snacks for dark chocolate? It still tastes good, but has lots of health benefits also. The antioxidants in dark chocolate are beneficial for your whole body, as well as your brain. Green Tea Fancy a cuppa whilst your revising? Why not opt for green tea instead? Studies have shown that green tea extract increases the brain’s electrical connectivity which enhancing cognitive functions. Drinking two or three cups a day will really boost your brain power and engage you in your revision. Tomatoes Tomatoes can be used in a wide range of meals as well as a snack on their own. This fruit is packed with nutrition and an antioxidant named lycopene that protects the brain from toxins, enhancing memory and concentration. For more articles on good brian foods, why not visit the links below: https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/10-foods-boost-your-brainpower https://www.wessexscene.co.uk/lifestyle/2018/01/22/10-ultimate-brain-foods-for-revision/ https://www.thestudentfoodproject.com/post/study-snacks-for-exam-revision

Huntington Learning Center Shares Common Academic Pitfalls of High School Students

Huntington Learning Center Shares Common “Academic Pitfalls” of High School Students High school is a different world when it comes to academicsand for many students, it can mark the beginning of academic problems or exacerbate issues that were minor in middle school. According to Eileen Huntington, co-founder of Huntington Learning Center, parents can help their teens avoid such academic pitfallsif they know the signs. High school is a time when parents need to pay very careful attention to what is going on with their teen in school because they will be more removed from the classroom than they ever have been, says Huntington. Communication with your teen and teachers is important, as is watching your teens grades and demeanor overall. Huntington shares five academic pitfalls that can plague students in high schooland tips on what to do if you notice your teen falling into any of them. Slacking off High school offers an abundance of opportunities to meet new people, get involved and have fun. For some students, that can have a negative impact on their motivation and/or commitment to their studies. If you notice your teen spending a disproportionate amount of time on his or her social life (vs. school) and poor grades come home early in the school year, talk about how to put a plan into place that will help your teen find a better balance. Apathy Some intelligent students get to high school and lose their sense of responsibility (especially without as much nudging from parents). Does your teen seem to lack self-discipline and independence when it comes to school work and studying? Does your teen rush through homework, often leaving it incomplete? Students who become lazy in high school need intervention immediately. With the help of your teens teachers, you can set goals and a study plan to achieve them (as well as a follow-up plan). With time and effort, your teen will begin to understand how his or her actions affect school achievement. Effort that doesnt yield results In high school, its normal to expect that your teen will spend more time on homework. However, if you observe that your teens hard work is not yielding positive results or that simple homework is taking more time than seems reasonable, you should investigate whether there are gaps in your teens skills causing him or her to struggle. Disorganization Up until high school, many students lean on the help of teachers and parents to stay organized and on top of everything. However, some teens who are otherwise capable students become overwhelmed by the volume of high school work. If your teen suddenly has difficulty keeping track of homework, maintaining a neat study space, or making the most of each study session, he or she may need help establishing effective study and organizational habits. Avoidance Avoidance of school work can take many forms, but the most obvious is procrastination. If your teen consistently puts off work until late at night or avoids planning ahead for big, important projects, theres no doubt that this will quickly become a major problem in high school. Pay attention to whether the issue is with all subjects or one in particular. High school definitely steps up the academic challenge. Huntington reminds parents to take note of how their teen handles the change. Most parents are intuitive enough to recognize when there is a problem with their children, but it isnt always easy to know exactly whats going on, she says. If you have a child in high school and you sense issues arising, call Huntington. No problem is too big to overcome, and we can help your teen get and stay on the right track.

What to Know About Making a Personal Website

What to Know About Making a Personal Website Photo Credit: weebly.com 1. Who should create a personal website? Considering only a small portion of our generation has personal websites,  you should make one. As a college student or recent college grad, having a personal website can be a real asset when applying to jobs or starting to plan your future. 2. What should you put on your personal website? The first thing that you should put on your personal website is a well-written bio or summary about you, your accomplishments, your goals, and why people should notice you. The second thing you should figure out is  what your message is.  What do you want someone looking at your site to take away? Whos your target audience? What are you trying to say? These questions are important to consider when youre writing your bio and thinking about making a personal website. If you dont have a message or purpose to your website, your audience will be able to tell and your making a personal website is pretty much pointless. Thirdly, you want to decide on the logistics. What do you want your  personal website  to look like? What will your content say? What site should you use? Youll want to be sure your website has no typos, that your page isnt too crowded, and that your overall design and content are mature and project the right message. Lastly, you should include links to or samples of your work whether its photography, writing, videography, or something else, include pictures of you doing what you love and what youre good at and the pictures should be somewhat professional, not just a bunch of selfies. Photo Credit: Think Stock 3. Why should you have a personal website? There are several reasons why  making your own website  is important. Firstly, it sets you apart from your competition since most people dont have a website, your having one makes you stand out. Secondly, it will make it easier to contact you as your site will include links to your social media accounts and other means of communication that work best for you, all in one place. Thirdly, having a personal website shows youre serious about networking and getting a job, plus it shows initiative, creativity, and that youre technologically savvy. Lastly, your personal website is a great place to publish your creative works in one place, like an online portfolio. 4. How can I build a personal website for free? There are lots of free sites you can use to build your own personal website. Tumblr is easy to use and allows you to pick your theme, plus its completely free though it does include advertisements. Also, if youre part of the Tumblr community, having a Tumblr website means you can easily share or comment on other users postings. Weebly is another good site to use to design your own personal website as it allows you more customization options than Tumblr and no ads. Its easy to use and the basic service is free. WordPress is a great platform to use when building your personal website as it offers a more advanced set of blogging options, plus over 200 themes to choose from or the ability to customize your design. WordPress is free for basic use, with fees for extra features. If youre really serious about building your personal website,  you may want to look into other more customizable and advanced options, especially if youre more tech-savvy. If youre super knowledgable about coding and such, you may even choose to build your personal website from the ground up independently. Once youve built your site and added your content, links, and pictures to it, get a second opinion, like a friend or family member to look at your personal website, and ask them for feedback. Theres no better time for you to create your website than summer, when youve got plenty of free time to explore your site options, write up your content, and start posting. Your personal website is only clicks away!

How to deal with culture clashes in the international classroom

How to deal with culture clashes in the international classroom When hiring teachers to teach in an international school, they are coming in to a classroom where many cultures might be coming together. For many of your teachers, this may be their first experience in such a culturally diverse classroom. And an international classroom can pose a unique set of challenges, including culture gaps or clashes. Sometimes, these differences can even make more culturally charged classroom conversations difficult, including racism, gender inequality, and other sensitive topics. Although some differences may arise from time to time, a diverse student population is something to celebrate. So what can a school’s administration do to bridge these gaps, should they occur? Read below for some tips on how to support your teachers in dealing with these difficult conversations and culture gaps. Empower your teachers through great training There are so many tools that teachers can be offered in order to handle these difficult situations when they arise, and many of these can cost very little. In fact, sometimes, it’s a matter of offering up a mentor to each new teacher to walk them through possible classroom scenarios and give them tips to diffuse any situations that could arise. Be as specific as possible A good starting place when you’re offering onboarding training and sensitivity training to your teachers is to be as specific to your community as possible. Don’t offer generalizations -- speak specifically to what issues your teachers may deal with. Teachers working in Saudi Arabia will have different conversations with their students than teachers in Korea. By offering teachers community-specific training, they will likely feel better equipped to engage in their new community using local communication norms. Encourage teachers to lead by example This is something important to communicate to your teachers. Students will look to their teacher as a guide for how to conduct themselves in the classroom. If teachers model inclusivity and respect for cultural differences, students may be more inclined to mirror this attitude. Teachers need to be encouraged to take a leadership role. The classroom should be a safe space for learning Just as some students shouldn’t feel bullied by others’ opinions, all students should feel free to speak their minds in a culturally sensitive manner. Teachers can be encouraged to use engaging language cues in their classroom in order to prompt other students to get involved, including, “Interesting opinion. Does anyone else have a thought?” Even encouraging teachers to ask their students to justify their answers by asking ‘why’ can model for students a more inquisitive and curious conversation model. Giveyour teachers the practical skills, knowledge and strategies needed to successfullydeal with increasing diversity in their classroom with Culturally Responsive Teaching, Teach Away's online professional development course for educators.Contact us about a special discounted rate for your institution today.

Great web resources for Maths tuition

Great web resources for Maths tuition When it comes to improving your Maths, there's no substitute for practise and hard work. It doesn't have to be a dull process though, thanks to the host of lively Maths resources that you'll find on the internet. Happily, many of the Maths resources available are free and easily accessible. Here is our pick of the Maths bunch: Woodlands Junior School Maths Zone is a lively site courtesy of Woodlands Junior School in Kent. They've generously shared some of their favourite Maths exercises and games in a format that's simple to understand. Maths Zone does what it says on the tin. It's a hub of Maths activity and resources for pupils up to and including Key Stage 4. This is a great site for Maths teachers and students alike. The NRICH Maths Project is a joint project between the Faculties of Mathematics and Education at The University of Cambridge and aims to make Maths engaging and relevant across the primary and secondary national curricula. There is lots of great stuff here for teachers and pupils. Why not supplement your own web-based work with some help from a First Tutors Maths tutor? Search our database for a Maths tutor in your region.

Self-learning and Determination Has Helped This Boy Scout Overcome Challenges

Self-learning and Determination Has Helped This Boy Scout Overcome Challenges Self-learning and Determination Has Helped This Boy Scout Overcome Challenges Ryan, 13-years-old, Math Level L, Reading Program Completer For over 100 years, The Boy Scouts of America has aimed to foster the youth of America by developing responsible citizens through outdoor activities, educational programs, philanthropic work, and career-orientated programs. The scouting method instills the values of trustworthiness, good citizenship, and outdoor skills in every scout. To advance in ranking, scouts must follow the scouting method which encourages members for continuous involvement and commitment â€" in order to grow in self-reliance and the ability to help others. For Ryan, he found that he was able to use many of the valuable skills he acquired from Kumon, such as self-learning, in scouting. In the advancement of ranking, he has seen many of the challenges as learning opportunities just like advancing through each level of Kumon. Three years ago, Ryan began his Kumon journey and has since made remarkable strides. Currently, he’s studying the introduction of calculus and working on concepts like basic differentiation and integration in the Kumon Math Program. Committed to reaching a goal, Ryan persevered and completed the Kumon Reading Program in under three years. Before even entering high school, he now has a solid grasp on literature, having already analyzed notable literary works such as William Golding’s Lord of the Flies and Arthur Miller’s play, Death of a Salesman. Ryan’s academic edge has set him apart from his peers and paved the way for continued academic success. He credits Kumon for gaining a sense of independence and being able to work through any challenge whether it’s in school, boy scouts, or sports. “Kumon has helped me outside of the classroom in many different ways,” said Ryan. “Whether I am in boy scouts when I am learning a new skill for a new merit badge, or practicing my shooting skills in soccer, I have learned to persevere even when it becomes challenging. Like in Kumon, I learned that repetition and practice have helped me master skills.” In scouts, Ryan has found great joy in outdoor activities such as camping and receiving new merit badges. When he’s not on his next camping trip, Ryan is embracing his talents as a musician. Two years ago, Ryan began playing the cello and already has reached monumental moments early in his career. He is proud to say that he passed through the rigorous audition process to have a seat in the Virginia Band and Orchestra Directors Association’s Junior District 12 Orchestra. The top middle school-aged musicians from the audition are selected within the district to play with this prestigious orchestra. The musicians are judged on sight reading skills like harmonic structure, rhythm, and style. Ryan’s advanced math skills were noticed by his teachers in school â€" resulting in him being selected in sixth grade to represent his school at the MATHCOUNTS Competition. This non-profit organization prides themselves on making math fun and getting students to overcome any fear they have of it. In their competition, the brightest students from across the country come together to compete in a unique competition series â€" challenging students to further build their problem-solving skills. Ryan’s drive and desire to help others will help him reach his goal of one day becoming a doctor. “When I grow up, I want to be a doctor because I want to help people,” said Ryan. “I always find joy in talking to people and finding out what kinds of interests they have. I have always wanted to help people, and I feel that seeing a smile on someone’s face is always worth it.” Ryan’s hard work and discipline didn’t go unnoticed, as he was one of 55 students selected to attend the 2018 Kumon Student Conference in Calgary, Canada. We had the opportunity to speak to Ryan about his Kumon journey. How has Kumon helped you academically? Ryan shakes hands with Kumon North America President Mino Tanabe Kumon has helped me in a lot of ways academically. I have improved on self-learning, time management, math skills, and reading comprehension. When it comes to self-learning, some of the electives I take in school require me to figure things out on my own. I feel that because of Kumon, I was prepared for this class and what I must do. For time management, I have learned how to better balance my extracurricular activities and school work. In school I feel that I can quickly understand concepts that are being taught, having already worked through it in Kumon. If you could sum up your Kumon experience in one word, what would it be? Unforgettable. What did it mean to you attending the Student Conference? Attending the Student Conference gave me an opportunity to meet other students across North America and learn from them. What advice do you have for other Kumon Students? My advice would be to never give up no matter what. Even though you may not enjoy it or find it challenging, it will make such a positive impact on your future. There are limitless ways that Kumon can benefit you, and you will end up thanking yourself when you look back at your journey. Discover even more student success stories. You might also be interested in: Advancing Beyond Grade Level Helped this Student Become a Member of the National Elementary Honor Society Award Winning Student Conquers All Challenges Discover How This Student Learned to Love New Challenges This Young Kumon Student Learned To Love New Challenges in Math Self-learning and Determination Has Helped This Boy Scout Overcome Challenges Self-learning and Determination Has Helped This Boy Scout Overcome Challenges Ryan, 13-years-old, Math Level L, Reading Program Completer For over 100 years, The Boy Scouts of America has aimed to foster the youth of America by developing responsible citizens through outdoor activities, educational programs, philanthropic work, and career-orientated programs. The scouting method instills the values of trustworthiness, good citizenship, and outdoor skills in every scout. To advance in ranking, scouts must follow the scouting method which encourages members for continuous involvement and commitment â€" in order to grow in self-reliance and the ability to help others. For Ryan, he found that he was able to use many of the valuable skills he acquired from Kumon, such as self-learning, in scouting. In the advancement of ranking, he has seen many of the challenges as learning opportunities just like advancing through each level of Kumon. Three years ago, Ryan began his Kumon journey and has since made remarkable strides. Currently, he’s studying the introduction of calculus and working on concepts like basic differentiation and integration in the Kumon Math Program. Committed to reaching a goal, Ryan persevered and completed the Kumon Reading Program in under three years. Before even entering high school, he now has a solid grasp on literature, having already analyzed notable literary works such as William Golding’s Lord of the Flies and Arthur Miller’s play, Death of a Salesman. Ryan’s academic edge has set him apart from his peers and paved the way for continued academic success. He credits Kumon for gaining a sense of independence and being able to work through any challenge whether it’s in school, boy scouts, or sports. “Kumon has helped me outside of the classroom in many different ways,” said Ryan. “Whether I am in boy scouts when I am learning a new skill for a new merit badge, or practicing my shooting skills in soccer, I have learned to persevere even when it becomes challenging. Like in Kumon, I learned that repetition and practice have helped me master skills.” In scouts, Ryan has found great joy in outdoor activities such as camping and receiving new merit badges. When he’s not on his next camping trip, Ryan is embracing his talents as a musician. Two years ago, Ryan began playing the cello and already has reached monumental moments early in his career. He is proud to say that he passed through the rigorous audition process to have a seat in the Virginia Band and Orchestra Directors Association’s Junior District 12 Orchestra. The top middle school-aged musicians from the audition are selected within the district to play with this prestigious orchestra. The musicians are judged on sight reading skills like harmonic structure, rhythm, and style. Ryan’s advanced math skills were noticed by his teachers in school â€" resulting in him being selected in sixth grade to represent his school at the MATHCOUNTS Competition. This non-profit organization prides themselves on making math fun and getting students to overcome any fear they have of it. In their competition, the brightest students from across the country come together to compete in a unique competition series â€" challenging students to further build their problem-solving skills. Ryan’s drive and desire to help others will help him reach his goal of one day becoming a doctor. “When I grow up, I want to be a doctor because I want to help people,” said Ryan. “I always find joy in talking to people and finding out what kinds of interests they have. I have always wanted to help people, and I feel that seeing a smile on someone’s face is always worth it.” Ryan’s hard work and discipline didn’t go unnoticed, as he was one of 55 students selected to attend the 2018 Kumon Student Conference in Calgary, Canada. We had the opportunity to speak to Ryan about his Kumon journey. How has Kumon helped you academically? Ryan shakes hands with Kumon North America President Mino Tanabe Kumon has helped me in a lot of ways academically. I have improved on self-learning, time management, math skills, and reading comprehension. When it comes to self-learning, some of the electives I take in school require me to figure things out on my own. I feel that because of Kumon, I was prepared for this class and what I must do. For time management, I have learned how to better balance my extracurricular activities and school work. In school I feel that I can quickly understand concepts that are being taught, having already worked through it in Kumon. If you could sum up your Kumon experience in one word, what would it be? Unforgettable. What did it mean to you attending the Student Conference? Attending the Student Conference gave me an opportunity to meet other students across North America and learn from them. What advice do you have for other Kumon Students? My advice would be to never give up no matter what. Even though you may not enjoy it or find it challenging, it will make such a positive impact on your future. There are limitless ways that Kumon can benefit you, and you will end up thanking yourself when you look back at your journey. Discover even more student success stories. You might also be interested in: Advancing Beyond Grade Level Helped this Student Become a Member of the National Elementary Honor Society Award Winning Student Conquers All Challenges Discover How This Student Learned to Love New Challenges This Young Kumon Student Learned To Love New Challenges in Math

Importance of Introducing Induction Chemistry to You

Importance of Introducing Induction Chemistry to YouInduction chemistry is a science that focuses on all things physical and organic and is concerned with the study of nucleation, manipulation, reagent preparation, etc. It can be very difficult to understand induction, especially if you are not an expert in it. What you need to do is to first understand the main features of induction. You need to learn how to read induction notes, which will enable you to follow along with other induction students.Induction chemistry uses to the regular or chemical reactions between two elements and can have many different reactions. In simple words, induction science aims at explaining how these reactions work. It is basically concerned with the reaction of different substances and minerals.In this way, specific chemistry can be effectively explained. Specific chemistry concerns reactions between two substances or molecules. Since it deals with atoms, it will also be able to explain all about reacti on between different kinds of matter such as acids, alkalis, and nitriles. The main constituents of an acid are H 2 and N 2 O.Several different reactions can be done in induction. Some of them are mixing, reacting, diffusion, crystallization, phase change, ionization, evaporation, etc. This is the reason why induction is very important for a chemist because it helps him to explain all the chemical reactions.This chemistry is very easy to understand, but you need to practice a lot if you want to master this science. First of all, you need to do some chemistry exercises to understand the basic principles of this science. These include those that discuss the various reactions and those that use acids, alkalis, and other natural substances.If you are interested in learning more about this science, you should purchase your own induction note book and study it yourself. There are some online schools where you can purchase your own books, or you can do it by yourself by studying the induct ion notes of experts.Remember that induction chemistry can be useful for almost all kinds of subjects, from physics, biology, chemistry, and others. Although it is known as an easy chemistry subject, if you really want to be successful in this chemistry, then make sure that you will dedicate some time to it.