Preparing Parents and Children for Preschool
A child’s first day of preschool is simultaneously exciting, nerve-racking, and downright scary for some. The opening day of preschool in Stony Brook is the first day for many children that they will be separated from their parents for a large portion of the day.
On top of the preparation that parents can give their children concerning separation anxiety, there are other needful techniques that parents can use to adequately prepare their children for the rigors, yes rigors, of preschool life. Being away from the comfort of their home, being separated from their parents, socializing with other children, and becoming introduced into the world of structured education are all things that a parent will want to prepare their child for as they look forward to starting preschool. Continue Reading
Helping with Night Terrors at Summer Camp
There is a difference between nightmares and night terrors. Nightmares are bad dreams that you have during REM sleep.
It is characterized by a disturbing dream that scares you. You wake up scared and worried, but are generally consolable.
Night terrors are another beast altogether. Night terrors bring terrible feelings into the reality of the children. Continue Reading
Effectively Preparing For Summer Camp
If you are a parent, chances are you are sending your children off to summer camp this summer. Summer camp will hopefully provide your children with the opportunity to get their wiggles out and enjoy the long, hot summer in the great outdoors.
However, as a parent, you may have some concerns about sending your children off to summer camp. You want them to be safe, and to have a good time. Continue Reading
Athletic Scholarships
Students who excel at sports such as baseball, basketball, football, soccer, gymnastics, rowing, athletics, track and field events, swimming, or golf often attend college on an athletic scholarship.
One can get a full or partial athletic scholarship provided you have good grades, appropriate ACT or SAT scores, and the discipline and talent that every dedicated sports person needs.
The first step is to find out which colleges or universities offer academic programs of your interest, along with opportunities to excel in sports. It is important to educate yourself while playing sports. Weigh carefully the pros and cons of attending a NCAA division 1 college against a smaller college. Often you will be able to excel at the smaller college while in a large institution you may just be a pebble in the ocean.
Playing sports at college is not the same as playing at school or in a local community. Find out from your local coach where you stand athletically and whether you are “good enough” to aim for college sports. The criteria considered are: academics, sports competitions participated in at high school, playing abilities and victories, and the maturity level of the student.
In athletics, scholarships are offered in two ways, the first through formalized applications and the second at the recommendations of scouts who represent colleges and travel far and wide evaluating players in different sports and seeking the “gems”—players with star qualities.
To succeed you need to start early, in your sophomore year. Ensure that you keep your grades up, as there are academic requirements to be met. Create a folder of your athletic achievements. Find out from your coach which athletic programs would suit your talents or prowess. Do your research well and select schools that offer a great balance between sports and academics. Consult a career guidance professional; this will give you an idea of what subjects to study to qualify yourself at something other than sports. You must contact the coaches at colleges you are applying to, stating your keen interest in their programs. Be sure to showcase your academic and athletic achievements, and to mention that you are seeking scholarships /financial aid. It is advantageous if you submit applications to the colleges where you plan to contact the coach, as this indicates you are a serious candidate.
Colleges and universities enroll great athletes by offering scholarships. If you handle the college applications in a sensible and disciplined way you can enroll at some of the best colleges with a full scholarship.
Are SAT prep courses worth it?
SAT importance has changed dramatically over the past few years. Many students strive to score as high as possible, because a high SAT score may translate into acceptance, and in some cases, scholarship money.
The basics of testing can be learnt quite easily; however the focus of this article is whether spending several thousand dollars for a prep course is ideal. At some private schools, more than half the students don’t think twice about spending thousands on a good coaching company.
Do you need a prep course? It depends on how you learn best, and what is your motive for taking up such a course. Most of the techniques in prep courses are already mentioned in prep books that are sold in bookstores for thirty dollars.
Top students seldom gain much from coaching. The effortless insight that marks the best standardized test-takers cannot be taught. On the other hand, a student who lacks motivation may not benefit from a SAT prep course either. For diligent students, the benefits from a prep course will vary. If you are the type who is well-organized and initiative, you’d probably do as well with self-coaching software and books.
If you are enthusiastic about a prep course, by all means, take up one. If you believe that a prep course will raise your score, chances are that it will. Other types of students who may benefit from a prep course include students who learn best with adult direction. They often need help in staying focused, so a prep course will be a good idea. It depends on how you learn.
Before you sign up for a test prep course, be sure you research thoroughly what exactly you will be taught. Meet the instructor firsthand. Don’t pay too much attention to guarantees; they are not reliable indicator of how effective a particular course is. It’s always a good idea to try to take up a prep course BEFORE the first time you take the SAT. That way you’ll avoid a sudden spike in your score – an event likely to raise suspicions in the admissions offices – which is the result of a cram course.
Applying to an Ivy League School Takes Years of Planning
Admission into an Ivy League school, or equally competitive college, is a lofty goal. It requires years of dedication from both parents and students. These high-powered, historic institutions receive thousands of applications each year yet reject more than 85 percent of candidates. While there is no formula for gaining one of the coveted places, there are a number of strategies, techniques, and hints that give applicants an edge.
Students determined to get into a competitive college must begin their preparation well before their senior year of high school. For example, high powered schools look for students that have completed four years of math, science, and language courses. They expect applicants to maintain straight A’s while taking the most difficult course load their school has to offer. Students who go above and beyond academically by acing end-of-year Advanced Placement (AP) tests not only gain college credits but favor with admission boards as well.
All college-bound students are required to take the SAT I and II and submit the results to their selected schools. However, those applying to Columbia, Cornell, Harvard, Brown, University of Pennsylvania, Princeton, Dartmouth, Yale, and the like should aim for higher than 1400 on the SATs to stay competitive. There are a variety of test preparation classes and materials available in bookstores and on the Web to streamline the studying process – a process that should take place well before the end of a student’s senior year.
Because top-flight universities strive to create an atmosphere of diversity on their campuses, they are interested in students that are academically gifted but mature, confident, and motivated as well. They review applicants’ extra-curricular pursuits, particularly those that showcase a unique ability or leadership position. These activities set applicants apart from the crowd and are not necessarily limited to school sponsored sports. Initiating a food drive, becoming class president, or getting a part-time job can go a long way in illustrating strong ethics, enthusiasm, and perseverance.
The formal application process takes place during senior year and requires a great deal of planning and forethought. Applications must be filled out completely and define the applicant as a whole person, not just as an athlete or a star student. Remember, top-tier colleges want the most well rounded individuals. Students should provide letters of recommendation and write a personal essay that illustrates their ability to handle the strenuous pace of Ivy League life while augmenting campus variety.
If a student is really counting on their first choice school, they are encouraged to apply through early action or early decision programs. These programs require the application to be sent in months in advance and result in a much higher percentage of acceptance. Some programs stipulate that students may only apply to one school through the program and require a deposit, while others are not as binding. Research is crucial, as each school has a different policy.
Whatever you do, don’t assume that an Ivy League education is out of reach. Often, high school seniors are discouraged by the overwhelming number of students that don’t get the opportunity to walk the hallowed halls of Harvard; but, admissions committee members are quick to remind students that they stand no chance of admittance unless they try. You never know what an Ivy League school is looking for. It may just be you.
Why you should consider online tutoring for your child
When most parents hear the word online tutoring, they can’t quite envision it, but when students hear the word online tutoring, they are intrigued. Online tutoring allows a tutor and student to communicate from computer to computer. Most online tutoring sessions take place inside an online classroom.
Many online tutoring services offer a whiteboard so words can be written or drawn with the mouse and keyboard. Only the best online tutoring classrooms offer voice over ip. This means both the student and tutor can speak through the computer as long as both have a microphone and speakers.
Once the parent understands the concept of online tutoring, they are often times amazed. Their child can ask any question and the tutor is able to walk the student through the entire problem solving process and help the student to solve each problem. This one on one communication is what most students need to overcome learning obstacles. Continue Reading
Over Educating Can Discourage Creativity
The public education system in the United States over plays the significance of the study of math and science, causing teachers to leave Hemingway and Van Gogh in their rear view mirror. To fully understand the context of our public education system, we must travel back in time to the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. The Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA), which is an organization committed to finding inventive practical solutions to today’s challenges, published a video on “Changing Education Paradigms,” explaining that the current education system was built on the emerging jobs of the Industrial Revolution. Some would argue that even though we are in a different age, our public education system is spending the majority of their time teaching only a narrow range of subjects that would have landed you a job at that time.
Today more Continue Reading
3 Ways to Establish a Professional Online Presence
Long gone are the days when all one needed to obtain a job was a resume and cover letter. With the abundance of technological developments in the past 20 years, employers seek for individuals who demonstrate the ability to stay-up-to-date and knowledgeable about the latest technological advancements. To distinguish yourself from other job applicants, network with professionals, and establish an exceptional reputation, it is vital to keep the following tips in mind:
EduCare
educate: from educare-to lead forth (Merriam Dictionary)
What I love about the word “educare” is that it means “to lead forth” or “to bring out.” Since educare (education) is “bringing out something,” the obvious implication is that there is something already within that is worth being brought out… and that is the true essence of education!
So, how does one use this true etymological definition to make the best of our education?
First, I think that we should have a fundamental understanding of what is within us in order to seek any real life-altering education. We must first know ourselves. Once we know ourselves, Continue Reading
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