Assessment is important in education. In order to reform the education system, it's necessary to evaluate achievement and how students learn best. Being held accountable for success improves not only student efficiency, but the schools as well.
It's important for teachers to make classroom activities and exercises interesting enough in order for it to have the power to seamlessly combine assessment and instruction into one, shared field. By keeping assessment in mind while planning their lessons, teachers can plan their curriculum by identifying the results they are hoping for according to their grade level and subject area.
Teachers can assess their students formally and informally. To effectively measure how their students are learning, teachers can gather evidence both ways and eventually determine performance based on all of the information. Each student can have difficulties with different areas and it's important for a teacher to see these differences in order to assist students better. Some of the difficulties students have that teachers should focus on include test taking anxiety, motivation, and classroom management.
Innovative testing tools come into play with assessment by helping educators and administrators determine what the best practices are and what may not work. These tools give educators ways to evaluate what to do more of and what to get rid of, therefore improving teaching skills as well as student learning. It's helpful to know what students respond to and what doesn't register. Teachers should also provide students with these tools so that they can be empowered to assess their own development and become self-directed learners.
Perhaps the most important function of innovative testing tools is to make sure that students and educators are meeting developmental and grade level standards. Sometimes it can be helpful to explore other ways to instruct students in order to enhance their progress. Some of the techniques used should be assessed as well. These assessment tools should help to give teachers the strategies, activities, and tools to get better results.
The difference between qualitative and quantitative learning is something teachers should also understand when assessing performance. Qualitative performance task projects reflect a deeper level of understanding rather than superficial understanding. This is why it's essential that teachers should strive to develop authentic assignments.
Educators should also keep in mind the latest research when using different assessment techniques. Beyond techniques, assessment is also about communication and feedback between students and teachers. This is why it's imperative that teachers create a positive learning environment for assessment activities.
Overall, everyone should keep in mind that effectively assessing education and learning can yield great results. This includes higher test scores, more efficient learning, and better teaching. The proper way to use assessment tools is to keep communication open, classrooms positive, and research measurable. It also helps if teachers keep a timeline or chart to keep track of growth t and what might need further investigation. Developing grading guidelines can also be useful in helping students achieve a higher level of academic success and understanding. Overall, these tools can benefit everybody involved in the education system and with education reform.
About the Author:
Vince Welsh is CEO of Teacher Education Institute. TEI offers rigorous, graduate-level professional development courses for K-12 classroom teachers. For more about TEI or innovative testing tools, visit http://www.teachereducation.com
Keyword tags: innovative testing tools
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Getting an Education at Home While Working at Home
You may be working from home or wanting to work at home and feel like you need to get a better education. Home education programs are offered by a number of accredited schools. Deciding on what school and program will take research and time. Research will indicate if the particular program or school worked for the people that completed their training there. Decide what skills you would like to increase and what program will benefit your knowledge base for your working from home or home based-business venture. You will also have to figure if you have enough time to devote to an educational program with the time you will be attending classes online and the work that will be required from you.
There are many different schools and programs to look into before deciding what is best for you. If there is a particular school that you wanted to attend you can research if the school offers an online program and if you would qualify for such a program. Not every degree that you would get at a regular college or university is going to be offered online. This is why it is important to research different programs to see if there is one that will fit your needs and that is available online.
Keep in mind that you can devote as much or as little time as you have to an online college program. If you work full-time from home you may have to attend classes that are on a part-time basis. If you are working part-time you may be able to devote a lot more time to a full-time college program. Consider what time you will have available and how much time the program will take for you to complete.
It is also important to realize that online college programs are just as difficult as university classes taken on the campus. You will have to work hard to succeed at your classes, needing time to study and write papers if the classes deem that as part of their program. Make sure you can devote extra time for homework and other endeavors related to succeeding in the class.
Another important factor when deciding if an online education is for you is for you to consider how much you will be paying in tuition. When a class or program is offered online it will cost just as much as if you attended the school. Decide if you have enough money to devote to the program. You can take loans out to supplement the cost of tuition, but remember when you are done with school you will have to pay the loans back. Consider how much you will have to take out and if it is worth taking that amount of money out. In other words consider how much you will make working from home or having a home-based business and decide if getting an education will be worth it. Education will give you the edge in a competitive business geared world.
About the Author:
Are you looking for more information regarding Home-Based Business ? Visit http://retire7.magneticsponsoringonline.com today!
Keyword tags: home based business,home based,online home,based business,online home based
There are many different schools and programs to look into before deciding what is best for you. If there is a particular school that you wanted to attend you can research if the school offers an online program and if you would qualify for such a program. Not every degree that you would get at a regular college or university is going to be offered online. This is why it is important to research different programs to see if there is one that will fit your needs and that is available online.
Keep in mind that you can devote as much or as little time as you have to an online college program. If you work full-time from home you may have to attend classes that are on a part-time basis. If you are working part-time you may be able to devote a lot more time to a full-time college program. Consider what time you will have available and how much time the program will take for you to complete.
It is also important to realize that online college programs are just as difficult as university classes taken on the campus. You will have to work hard to succeed at your classes, needing time to study and write papers if the classes deem that as part of their program. Make sure you can devote extra time for homework and other endeavors related to succeeding in the class.
Another important factor when deciding if an online education is for you is for you to consider how much you will be paying in tuition. When a class or program is offered online it will cost just as much as if you attended the school. Decide if you have enough money to devote to the program. You can take loans out to supplement the cost of tuition, but remember when you are done with school you will have to pay the loans back. Consider how much you will have to take out and if it is worth taking that amount of money out. In other words consider how much you will make working from home or having a home-based business and decide if getting an education will be worth it. Education will give you the edge in a competitive business geared world.
About the Author:
Are you looking for more information regarding Home-Based Business ? Visit http://retire7.magneticsponsoringonline.com today!
Keyword tags: home based business,home based,online home,based business,online home based
5 Misconceptions of Online Learning
As colleges and universities expand, so do their programs. Online programs are often misconceived as great forms, or terrible forms of learning. Everyone has their own opinion, but there are basics to be covered before being judgmental toward online learning.
1. The online means of learning are less effective than in the classroom- there are certain aspects of in-class teaching can never be replaced by those of an online class. An online class cannot provide either the teacher or the student face-to-face contact or body language of any sort. Hearing a tone of voice or being able to look someone in the face can help lead to great teaching experiences. While online classes lack these things, there are things that can also not be replaced in the classroom. In an online course, and entire class is able to participate in an online discussion and not be constrained by time limits set by in-class schedules. Online courses and interfaces that are designed well can help students perform at equal levels as in-class courses.
2. Online courses are simple to teach- teaching an online course is not as simple as grading a virtual exam or paper. Most instructors wanting to teach online have to go through courses and training to teach specifically online. Teachers are required to learn new software, manage discussions taking place, and have to create an entire new curriculum for out-of-the-class instruction. They are responsible for creating relationships with students over a computer, through social networking, email and things like forums and discussion boards.
3. Online courses are easy to take- students are able to take online classes with the promise of the flexibility with scheduling and workload. Colleges and universities that provide online courses tend to align their curriculum to match that of the in-class courses. Students are expected to demonstrate the same amount of performance as in the classroom. Students are given the same semester-based schedule and will still have to complete assignments by their deadlines, work through their syllabuses and participate in selected activities. Many established campuses that offer online courses have students that attend class both in and out of the classroom. This makes it imperative to be able to rank classes at the same caliber by factoring in the performance, assessment and rigor.
4. An institution's campus has little contribution to the online segment- while campus departments have a significant amount of oversight, the main party responsible for online course delivery would be the Division of Continuing Education (DCE). Department chairs and deans will determine how the online schedule is distributed and overall, how it works, and for choosing the faculty for the courses.
5. Remote instructors lack the capabilities of an in-class instructor- most classes online are taught by current faculty members, or by remote adjunct instructors, that are chosen, hired, and managed by the DCE. Every online educator will be required to have some teaching experience in the specialized field that they would like to teach, as well as their teaching degree. Extra training or certification is also usually required before teaching.
About the Author:
For more information about online schools and online degrees please visit PC Pro Schools main site located at http://pcproschools.org/
Keyword tags: online classes, online school, schools, college degree, degree, online degree
1. The online means of learning are less effective than in the classroom- there are certain aspects of in-class teaching can never be replaced by those of an online class. An online class cannot provide either the teacher or the student face-to-face contact or body language of any sort. Hearing a tone of voice or being able to look someone in the face can help lead to great teaching experiences. While online classes lack these things, there are things that can also not be replaced in the classroom. In an online course, and entire class is able to participate in an online discussion and not be constrained by time limits set by in-class schedules. Online courses and interfaces that are designed well can help students perform at equal levels as in-class courses.
2. Online courses are simple to teach- teaching an online course is not as simple as grading a virtual exam or paper. Most instructors wanting to teach online have to go through courses and training to teach specifically online. Teachers are required to learn new software, manage discussions taking place, and have to create an entire new curriculum for out-of-the-class instruction. They are responsible for creating relationships with students over a computer, through social networking, email and things like forums and discussion boards.
3. Online courses are easy to take- students are able to take online classes with the promise of the flexibility with scheduling and workload. Colleges and universities that provide online courses tend to align their curriculum to match that of the in-class courses. Students are expected to demonstrate the same amount of performance as in the classroom. Students are given the same semester-based schedule and will still have to complete assignments by their deadlines, work through their syllabuses and participate in selected activities. Many established campuses that offer online courses have students that attend class both in and out of the classroom. This makes it imperative to be able to rank classes at the same caliber by factoring in the performance, assessment and rigor.
4. An institution's campus has little contribution to the online segment- while campus departments have a significant amount of oversight, the main party responsible for online course delivery would be the Division of Continuing Education (DCE). Department chairs and deans will determine how the online schedule is distributed and overall, how it works, and for choosing the faculty for the courses.
5. Remote instructors lack the capabilities of an in-class instructor- most classes online are taught by current faculty members, or by remote adjunct instructors, that are chosen, hired, and managed by the DCE. Every online educator will be required to have some teaching experience in the specialized field that they would like to teach, as well as their teaching degree. Extra training or certification is also usually required before teaching.
About the Author:
For more information about online schools and online degrees please visit PC Pro Schools main site located at http://pcproschools.org/
Keyword tags: online classes, online school, schools, college degree, degree, online degree
Friday, May 14, 2010
Top Benefits of Homeschooling
Have you considered whether it may be better to homeschool your children rather than send them to a public or private school? Every family is different, but there are a number of great benefits to homeschooling your kids.
Advantages of Homeschooling
A homeschool environment not only benefits your children, but also benefits the entire family. Some of the advantages of homeschooling are:
Benefits For the Whole Family:
o You can teach your beliefs and values
o Parents have the opportunity to build strong bonds with their children
o Improved communication within the family
Best Benefits For Your Kids:
Learning Styles
All of us learn in a slightly different way; homeschooling offers parents the opportunity to create an environment where their child can learn to the best of their abilities. Parents can explain concepts to children again if needed - something harried public school teachers often do not have time to do. When you homeschool your child, you can take as much or as little time on a subject as your child requires to gain mastery of it.
Allowing children to learn at their own pace takes a lot of the stress out of their educational experience - they can take more time to learn something if they need to.
Learning Outside the Classroom Walls
Another of the benefits of homeschooling is that you can take your child outside of the traditional academic environment and take them to places where they can see concepts in action. Rather than give a lecture on Roman history, you can choose to take your child to the museum, where they can have visual learning aids to go along with their textbooks.
This makes it easier to get children excited about the arts and sciences than simply memorizing facts from a textbook.
Your Child Learns Your Values
Public schools will typically teach your children in a value-neutral way or with a secular/humanistic worldview. This may not be what you have in mind for your child.
When you choose to home school your child, you are able to instill your own values on every aspect of life into your child as they learn - not the values of their peers or of anyone else.
Learn at Their Own Pace
In schools, the class moves on to a new subject when the teacher feels that the majority of class understands the concept or when the clock or calendar tells them that it is time to move on. One of the benefits to homeschooling is that your child can move on when he or she masters a concept. If he or she gets it right away, there is no need to keep reviewing it over and over. If your child struggles, you can take the time to go over it until they really understand.
Spending Time with Parents
They may not admit it, but most kids really like spending time with their parents. Even teenagers who will swear they don't want to, enjoy time with mom or dad.
With the flexibility of homeschooling, your child will no longer be running all over without you and see you for only a few hours a day. You really get to enjoy watching your child grow into the great person that they will become.
About the Author:
Sheri L. Frey is a contributing writer for http://www.homeschool-curriculum.org For more information on how to start homeschooling, visit http://www.homeschool-curriculum.org/start-homeschooling.html
Keyword tags: homeschool, benefits of homeschooling, homeschooling, advantages of homeschooling
Advantages of Homeschooling
A homeschool environment not only benefits your children, but also benefits the entire family. Some of the advantages of homeschooling are:
Benefits For the Whole Family:
o You can teach your beliefs and values
o Parents have the opportunity to build strong bonds with their children
o Improved communication within the family
Best Benefits For Your Kids:
Learning Styles
All of us learn in a slightly different way; homeschooling offers parents the opportunity to create an environment where their child can learn to the best of their abilities. Parents can explain concepts to children again if needed - something harried public school teachers often do not have time to do. When you homeschool your child, you can take as much or as little time on a subject as your child requires to gain mastery of it.
Allowing children to learn at their own pace takes a lot of the stress out of their educational experience - they can take more time to learn something if they need to.
Learning Outside the Classroom Walls
Another of the benefits of homeschooling is that you can take your child outside of the traditional academic environment and take them to places where they can see concepts in action. Rather than give a lecture on Roman history, you can choose to take your child to the museum, where they can have visual learning aids to go along with their textbooks.
This makes it easier to get children excited about the arts and sciences than simply memorizing facts from a textbook.
Your Child Learns Your Values
Public schools will typically teach your children in a value-neutral way or with a secular/humanistic worldview. This may not be what you have in mind for your child.
When you choose to home school your child, you are able to instill your own values on every aspect of life into your child as they learn - not the values of their peers or of anyone else.
Learn at Their Own Pace
In schools, the class moves on to a new subject when the teacher feels that the majority of class understands the concept or when the clock or calendar tells them that it is time to move on. One of the benefits to homeschooling is that your child can move on when he or she masters a concept. If he or she gets it right away, there is no need to keep reviewing it over and over. If your child struggles, you can take the time to go over it until they really understand.
Spending Time with Parents
They may not admit it, but most kids really like spending time with their parents. Even teenagers who will swear they don't want to, enjoy time with mom or dad.
With the flexibility of homeschooling, your child will no longer be running all over without you and see you for only a few hours a day. You really get to enjoy watching your child grow into the great person that they will become.
About the Author:
Sheri L. Frey is a contributing writer for http://www.homeschool-curriculum.org For more information on how to start homeschooling, visit http://www.homeschool-curriculum.org/start-homeschooling.html
Keyword tags: homeschool, benefits of homeschooling, homeschooling, advantages of homeschooling
Ways to Find the Best Physical Therapist
When a person is suffering from any physical pain or disability, the need for a therapist is indispensable. Any person might need a physical therapist. In the absence of adequate supervision, the pain will not go away. Many times, proper functioning of that affected part of the body is hindered due to this lack of supervision. In other cases like physical fitness training including aerobics or Pilates, a trained instructor is essential and necessary pre requisite. Healthcare is no longer limited to treatment of injuries and includes in its ambit the promotion and maintenance of bodily fitness.
Finding a Qualified Person with Physical Therapist Training is Very Necessary
The restoration of functioning in victims of accidents requires a good therapist who can effectively work with the patient. Only a person with proper physical therapist training should be chosen. A person who has been certified as a neuromuscular physical therapist or possesses a higher diploma in Neuromuscular therapy is considered to be duly qualified. Such certificate or diploma allows them to pursue conventional bodywork practice. They can provide an advanced form of intervention to those who suffer from chronic muscle or nerve pain.
A sports injury requires a person who is in possession of a certificate which has been acquired after perusal of Sports Massage Courses.
If you suffer from any sports related injury or pain, it can be effectively managed by a therapist. Only a person who has been trained in massage courses should be preferred. Many courses offer certificate in therapy. Those who successfully complete it, become qualified as sports massage therapists. Once these sports massage courses are successfully completed by the person concerned, the practitioner is qualified for muscular and soft tissue intervention. Sporting teams, injury clinics and sports complexes employ therapists only after they are in possession of such a certificate or a higher diploma.
Does your instructor have adequate Pilates Training?
As health related fitness is growing, there is a dearth of professionals in the field. Aerobics, yoga and Pilates are increasingly popular in maintenance and promotion of overall fitness. The complete and effective completion of pilates courses are necessary in becoming a qualified instructor.
Pilates Teacher Training is a Must for your Instructor
Your instructor should possess a minimum certificate in pilates training. This helps in ensuring that he has all the requisite knowledge. It ensures your protection from any danger which is inherent in untrained instruction. The overall fitness of anyone who performs pilates can not only improve his fitness, but also contribute towards enhancement of bodily and muscular functions. The instructor who helps you with the routine should have pilates teacher training. In absence of this, it is preferable to not choose him.
As the need of physical therapists increases, so does the necessity of having qualified professionals. One who is trained in dealing with muscular pain and injury should be the preferred and sole choice. In insisting on this qualification, you can be assured of the fact that the provider of therapy is competent and armed with the necessary knowledge.
About the Author:
This article was submitted by Simona Rusnakova, SEO consultant of http://www.3r.ie, on behalf of National Training Centre – http://www.ntc.ie – providing Fitness Courses Dublin, Pilates Courses, Sports Massage Courses and Personal Trainer Certification.
Keyword tags: massage courses, physical therapist training, sports massage courses, pilates courses dublin
Finding a Qualified Person with Physical Therapist Training is Very Necessary
The restoration of functioning in victims of accidents requires a good therapist who can effectively work with the patient. Only a person with proper physical therapist training should be chosen. A person who has been certified as a neuromuscular physical therapist or possesses a higher diploma in Neuromuscular therapy is considered to be duly qualified. Such certificate or diploma allows them to pursue conventional bodywork practice. They can provide an advanced form of intervention to those who suffer from chronic muscle or nerve pain.
A sports injury requires a person who is in possession of a certificate which has been acquired after perusal of Sports Massage Courses.
If you suffer from any sports related injury or pain, it can be effectively managed by a therapist. Only a person who has been trained in massage courses should be preferred. Many courses offer certificate in therapy. Those who successfully complete it, become qualified as sports massage therapists. Once these sports massage courses are successfully completed by the person concerned, the practitioner is qualified for muscular and soft tissue intervention. Sporting teams, injury clinics and sports complexes employ therapists only after they are in possession of such a certificate or a higher diploma.
Does your instructor have adequate Pilates Training?
As health related fitness is growing, there is a dearth of professionals in the field. Aerobics, yoga and Pilates are increasingly popular in maintenance and promotion of overall fitness. The complete and effective completion of pilates courses are necessary in becoming a qualified instructor.
Pilates Teacher Training is a Must for your Instructor
Your instructor should possess a minimum certificate in pilates training. This helps in ensuring that he has all the requisite knowledge. It ensures your protection from any danger which is inherent in untrained instruction. The overall fitness of anyone who performs pilates can not only improve his fitness, but also contribute towards enhancement of bodily and muscular functions. The instructor who helps you with the routine should have pilates teacher training. In absence of this, it is preferable to not choose him.
As the need of physical therapists increases, so does the necessity of having qualified professionals. One who is trained in dealing with muscular pain and injury should be the preferred and sole choice. In insisting on this qualification, you can be assured of the fact that the provider of therapy is competent and armed with the necessary knowledge.
About the Author:
This article was submitted by Simona Rusnakova, SEO consultant of http://www.3r.ie, on behalf of National Training Centre – http://www.ntc.ie – providing Fitness Courses Dublin, Pilates Courses, Sports Massage Courses and Personal Trainer Certification.
Keyword tags: massage courses, physical therapist training, sports massage courses, pilates courses dublin
Find Out the Best Massage Courses
Massaging as a form of therapy generally implies the manipulation of the superficial muscular layer to enhance the function of the muscle and treat various muscular problems. The health care industry is finding more openings for people who are qualified in Physical Therapy courses. These physical therapy courses are beneficial for those who wish to pursue the subject professionally.
The Growing Popularity of Massage Courses
The availability of a person duly qualified in massage techniques is rare. There is tremendous scope for success in this field. If you have an interest in pain and injury treatment, courses like the National Qualification Certificate are easily available. A qualified person with knowledge of physiology or even an unqualified person may pursue this course. If you are a nurse, a physiotherapist or a massage therapist, these courses can prove to be very helpful in getting you a recognized certificate. You may work either in a private practice, sporting teams or injury clinics. These massage courses will enable you to work as a qualified therapist and offer treatment for soft tissue or muscular pain or injury.
Receiving Physical Therapist Training and its Benefits
There are many courses which are available in terms of physical therapy. These help in developing the skill of the person even further. There are two levels of course which are typically present in this arena. These include certificate courses and higher diplomas which are offered by some institutes. With the help of these, one can get physical therapist training. The qualification which you will get after the completion of this course is that of a Neuromuscular physical therapist. The possession of a higher diploma will get you recognized as an advanced practitioner in the field. This training as a physical therapist training is extremely important for practising as an Orthopaedic Specialist, Chartered physiotherapist and a sports medicine practitioner.
Future after Pursuing Sports Massage Courses
As sports are gaining prominence in the worldwide arena, the need for qualified sports massage experts is increasing. Most teams and individual players require some form of therapy to obtain relief from their sport related injuries or pain. Here the role of a sports massage expert becomes important. If you wish to go into this, there are many sports massage courses which you may be able to pursue. These courses are available with most leading training centres.
Pilates Courses, Pilates Training and Pilates Teacher Training
Pilates has made its way into most popular workout regimes. It is growing popular and is being practised by many people in the same way as yoga or even aerobics. Pilates courses Dublin offers you the opportunity to possess a professional qualification as a Pilates instructor. The basics of the courses include Pilates training which equip you with the appropriate skills and knowledge which are required. If you want to become a personal trainer or a fitness instructor, courses for Pilates teacher training are good options to get started.
Physical therapy and fitness training are the emerging fields in the healthcare industry. These are good career options if you plan to become a qualified physical therapist or an instructor.
About the Author:
This article was submitted by Simona Rusnakova, SEO consultant of http://www.3r.ie, on behalf of National Training Centre – http://www.ntc.ie – providing Fitness Courses Dublin, Pilates Courses, Sports Massage Courses and Personal Trainer Certification.
Keyword tags: massage courses, physical therapist training, sports massage courses, pilates courses dublin
The Growing Popularity of Massage Courses
The availability of a person duly qualified in massage techniques is rare. There is tremendous scope for success in this field. If you have an interest in pain and injury treatment, courses like the National Qualification Certificate are easily available. A qualified person with knowledge of physiology or even an unqualified person may pursue this course. If you are a nurse, a physiotherapist or a massage therapist, these courses can prove to be very helpful in getting you a recognized certificate. You may work either in a private practice, sporting teams or injury clinics. These massage courses will enable you to work as a qualified therapist and offer treatment for soft tissue or muscular pain or injury.
Receiving Physical Therapist Training and its Benefits
There are many courses which are available in terms of physical therapy. These help in developing the skill of the person even further. There are two levels of course which are typically present in this arena. These include certificate courses and higher diplomas which are offered by some institutes. With the help of these, one can get physical therapist training. The qualification which you will get after the completion of this course is that of a Neuromuscular physical therapist. The possession of a higher diploma will get you recognized as an advanced practitioner in the field. This training as a physical therapist training is extremely important for practising as an Orthopaedic Specialist, Chartered physiotherapist and a sports medicine practitioner.
Future after Pursuing Sports Massage Courses
As sports are gaining prominence in the worldwide arena, the need for qualified sports massage experts is increasing. Most teams and individual players require some form of therapy to obtain relief from their sport related injuries or pain. Here the role of a sports massage expert becomes important. If you wish to go into this, there are many sports massage courses which you may be able to pursue. These courses are available with most leading training centres.
Pilates Courses, Pilates Training and Pilates Teacher Training
Pilates has made its way into most popular workout regimes. It is growing popular and is being practised by many people in the same way as yoga or even aerobics. Pilates courses Dublin offers you the opportunity to possess a professional qualification as a Pilates instructor. The basics of the courses include Pilates training which equip you with the appropriate skills and knowledge which are required. If you want to become a personal trainer or a fitness instructor, courses for Pilates teacher training are good options to get started.
Physical therapy and fitness training are the emerging fields in the healthcare industry. These are good career options if you plan to become a qualified physical therapist or an instructor.
About the Author:
This article was submitted by Simona Rusnakova, SEO consultant of http://www.3r.ie, on behalf of National Training Centre – http://www.ntc.ie – providing Fitness Courses Dublin, Pilates Courses, Sports Massage Courses and Personal Trainer Certification.
Keyword tags: massage courses, physical therapist training, sports massage courses, pilates courses dublin
Thursday, May 13, 2010
How to Prepare For College
If you're planning on going back to college after a few years or you're going for the first time, you will want to prepare in the same way. A lot of us don't know what to expect, don't know what our classes will be like and what type of atmosphere college has. To get you started and prepared, consider a few of these tips below!
Choice: First of all, you want to choose the right college for yourself. Ask yourself is this college specialized in what my degree will be? Does it have good reviews? Is this college affordable to others? Do I want a community college or university right away? And the questions continue. You should be able to answer all the questions like this and have a positive outlook if this is the college for you.
Degree: You also want to have the degree you want in mind. Otherwise you will continue to take classes that either won't count towards your degree or they won't transfer. Make sure you know what you want to do so you don't waste your time and money.
Counselor: To help you decide what you want to do you may want to speak with a counselor. They will help you make up your mind, give you some ideas, let you know what classes the school has to offer and what your options are in that field. You will not only feel much better once you leave, but you will also get on the right path right from the start which is very important. These are free sessions and they can help you cut out as much school as you possibly can if you see them right away. So in the long run you will save a ton of time and money.
Schedule: You need to make sure your schedule will work around college. When you go to college full-time you really don't have that much time to do stuff. So, make sure your priorities are straight and you have what matters first before everything. Keeping your job to a minimum, just so you can get by, work hard in school and hang out with your friends once school work and your work schedule don't conflict.
Payments: Now that we know where we're going, what we want to get our degree in, we've talked to a counselor and we have our priorities straight you may be asking about money. College is expensive as we all know so don't be shocked if you need to take out student loans. Save as much as you can and pay off what you can, but leave the rest for student loans. Don't feel guilty about this. You can sign up online for these.
As you can see, there are quite a few things you want to think about when it comes to college. These are all important if you want to head in the right direction, if you want to finish as early as possible and if you want to spend as less as possible.
About the Author:
Find the best College Advice at http://www.findcollegecards.com/blog/ and more of my work at http://FindCollegeCards.com.
Keyword tags: preparing for college,college life,college tips,college student preparation
Choice: First of all, you want to choose the right college for yourself. Ask yourself is this college specialized in what my degree will be? Does it have good reviews? Is this college affordable to others? Do I want a community college or university right away? And the questions continue. You should be able to answer all the questions like this and have a positive outlook if this is the college for you.
Degree: You also want to have the degree you want in mind. Otherwise you will continue to take classes that either won't count towards your degree or they won't transfer. Make sure you know what you want to do so you don't waste your time and money.
Counselor: To help you decide what you want to do you may want to speak with a counselor. They will help you make up your mind, give you some ideas, let you know what classes the school has to offer and what your options are in that field. You will not only feel much better once you leave, but you will also get on the right path right from the start which is very important. These are free sessions and they can help you cut out as much school as you possibly can if you see them right away. So in the long run you will save a ton of time and money.
Schedule: You need to make sure your schedule will work around college. When you go to college full-time you really don't have that much time to do stuff. So, make sure your priorities are straight and you have what matters first before everything. Keeping your job to a minimum, just so you can get by, work hard in school and hang out with your friends once school work and your work schedule don't conflict.
Payments: Now that we know where we're going, what we want to get our degree in, we've talked to a counselor and we have our priorities straight you may be asking about money. College is expensive as we all know so don't be shocked if you need to take out student loans. Save as much as you can and pay off what you can, but leave the rest for student loans. Don't feel guilty about this. You can sign up online for these.
As you can see, there are quite a few things you want to think about when it comes to college. These are all important if you want to head in the right direction, if you want to finish as early as possible and if you want to spend as less as possible.
About the Author:
Find the best College Advice at http://www.findcollegecards.com/blog/ and more of my work at http://FindCollegeCards.com.
Keyword tags: preparing for college,college life,college tips,college student preparation
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
The Busy Person’s Checklist of Bad Education Ideas
Summary: Bad ideas are killing the public schools. Education activist Bruce Price describes the clunkers in 150 words. How do we improve? Easy. Get rid of all the bad ideas.
-------------------------------------------------------
Okay, you're a busy person. You have only a few minutes to think about education.
Fine! That's all we need to take a quick look at the 10 worst ideas in the public schools. Here they are:
1) Math is chaotically taught so that children don't master even simple arithmetic; they reach college unable to multiply and divide
2) Flawed reading instruction is used (one-third of children never read "at grade level")
3) Basic facts and skills are not taught; academic content is belittled; foundational knowledge is ignored so that Americans, as students and adults, end up uninformed
4) Guessing is encouraged in all subjects (this is especially devastating in reading as real readers don't guess, they read)
5) Constructivism is injected into every course (children must "reinvent the wheel" and create their new versions of everything)
6) Group learning is everywhere enforced (children don't learn to think independently)
7) Memorization is scorned (children are discouraged from actually retaining information)
8) Self-esteem is relentlessly pushed in all situations (do a really bad job, get a gold star)
9) Handwriting is not taught even though this skill helps with reading, writing, vocabulary, etc.
10) Standards are kept low (fuzziness praised; precision disdained; sloppiness tolerated; ignorance accepted)
Presumably for ideological reasons, our Education Establishment appears more passionately focused on social engineering than on intellectual engineering. The result is that they tend to favor inferior pedagogical methods. That's what I believe this list is: deeply inferior and counterproductive pedagogical methods.
There's an easy solution: get rid of them. Toss them in the garbage. Do the opposite of what each bad idea suggests.
Remember, all of these gimmicks are working behind-the-scenes 24/7 to undermine whatever education is offered in any given school.
Put aside for the moment whether a school is rich or poor, the teachers good or bad, the students smart or not so smart. Put aside all the factors usually said to be important. A lot of these items are exploited as alibis or excuses. Typically, however, these are surface phenomena.
Look deeper, inside the gunked-up engine. That's where you'll find the 10 worst ideas in education doing their damage.
(Conversely, we can clean out these bad idea and quickly have a good school. That's obviously a school where students master arithmetic; read fluently; learn lots of basic knowledge; don't guess and don't invent knowledge--they learn knowledge; they can work and think independently; they retain information; they earn praise by doing good work; they learn handwriting; and they try to set high standards of accuracy and discipline.)
For a brief explanation of how each of the bad ideas hurts a school, please see "46: Public Schools Seem Designed To Fail" on Improve-Education.org. Also note: "47: Teach One Fact Each Day." Many other articles explain how our public schools might be improved.
About the Author:
Bruce Deitrick Price is the founder of http://www.Improve-Education.org, a high-level education and intellectual site. One focus is reading; see "42: Reading Resources." Price is an author, artist and poet. His fifth book is "THE EDUCATION ENIGMA."
Keyword tags: public schools. k-12, dumbing down, socialism, illiteracy, ignorance.
-------------------------------------------------------
Okay, you're a busy person. You have only a few minutes to think about education.
Fine! That's all we need to take a quick look at the 10 worst ideas in the public schools. Here they are:
1) Math is chaotically taught so that children don't master even simple arithmetic; they reach college unable to multiply and divide
2) Flawed reading instruction is used (one-third of children never read "at grade level")
3) Basic facts and skills are not taught; academic content is belittled; foundational knowledge is ignored so that Americans, as students and adults, end up uninformed
4) Guessing is encouraged in all subjects (this is especially devastating in reading as real readers don't guess, they read)
5) Constructivism is injected into every course (children must "reinvent the wheel" and create their new versions of everything)
6) Group learning is everywhere enforced (children don't learn to think independently)
7) Memorization is scorned (children are discouraged from actually retaining information)
8) Self-esteem is relentlessly pushed in all situations (do a really bad job, get a gold star)
9) Handwriting is not taught even though this skill helps with reading, writing, vocabulary, etc.
10) Standards are kept low (fuzziness praised; precision disdained; sloppiness tolerated; ignorance accepted)
Presumably for ideological reasons, our Education Establishment appears more passionately focused on social engineering than on intellectual engineering. The result is that they tend to favor inferior pedagogical methods. That's what I believe this list is: deeply inferior and counterproductive pedagogical methods.
There's an easy solution: get rid of them. Toss them in the garbage. Do the opposite of what each bad idea suggests.
Remember, all of these gimmicks are working behind-the-scenes 24/7 to undermine whatever education is offered in any given school.
Put aside for the moment whether a school is rich or poor, the teachers good or bad, the students smart or not so smart. Put aside all the factors usually said to be important. A lot of these items are exploited as alibis or excuses. Typically, however, these are surface phenomena.
Look deeper, inside the gunked-up engine. That's where you'll find the 10 worst ideas in education doing their damage.
(Conversely, we can clean out these bad idea and quickly have a good school. That's obviously a school where students master arithmetic; read fluently; learn lots of basic knowledge; don't guess and don't invent knowledge--they learn knowledge; they can work and think independently; they retain information; they earn praise by doing good work; they learn handwriting; and they try to set high standards of accuracy and discipline.)
For a brief explanation of how each of the bad ideas hurts a school, please see "46: Public Schools Seem Designed To Fail" on Improve-Education.org. Also note: "47: Teach One Fact Each Day." Many other articles explain how our public schools might be improved.
About the Author:
Bruce Deitrick Price is the founder of http://www.Improve-Education.org, a high-level education and intellectual site. One focus is reading; see "42: Reading Resources." Price is an author, artist and poet. His fifth book is "THE EDUCATION ENIGMA."
Keyword tags: public schools. k-12, dumbing down, socialism, illiteracy, ignorance.
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Daycare Centers Are In-Demand
Many families are being forced to change their way of life because of many social and economic influences of modern life. Mothers who usually stayed at home to take care of their kids are now finding it necessary to seek employment outside their homes to supplement their husbands' income. In addition, the high rate of divorce in the country also contributes to the situation wherein mothers are forced to take jobs to feed her children. These scenarios and more make daycare centers a necessity for children of pre-school age who will otherwise be left without anybody who will take care of them at home. Older children may also be included when they are not in school. They still need to have summer school activities or before- and after-school programs.
Industry experts believe that this demand for daycares will most likely increase as the country continue to experience economic difficulties and major social changes that affect the family. They say that opening a daycare business will be a profitable venture for years to come as more and more parents, especially mothers, find it necessary to earn by having a regular job.
You can start your own profitable daycare center and take advantage of the growing demand for trustworthy and reliable daycare centers. Social scientists have discovered what mothers already knew: a child between the age of one and six is in the most important years of his or her development as an individual. The child's exposures and experiences where he or she lives, the habits he or she develops and the teachings the child receives are factors that will affect the child's capacity to adjust his or her behavior and learn new things that the child will need in the future. For this reason, it is important that daycare centers offer more than baby-sitting services. You can set up your daycare center so it offers a proper learning environment for children under your care. It is a very rewarding business since you will be helping children to grow and learn important new skills. Many of those who have been working with children will testify to the fact that they often benefited a lot too as they have improved their own communication and learning skills.
Many companies are now establishing their own daycare centers in their efforts to lure and keep the best people in their business. These companies have realized that lack of child care services is an important hindrance to many parents who want to be employed, and that spending money to provide one will go a long way in increasing the productivity and moral of their employees, especially the qualified women. However, studies among married employees with children have shown that they prefer to have their children taken cared of in daycare centers that are nearer to their home instead of leaving them at their office daycare center. This should assure you that even if the companies in your community provide their own company-operated daycare centers, you privately-owned daycare center will not suffer any lack of parents willing to leave their children with you.
About the Author:
http://www.ownadaycare.com/
Keyword tags: daycare, day care
Industry experts believe that this demand for daycares will most likely increase as the country continue to experience economic difficulties and major social changes that affect the family. They say that opening a daycare business will be a profitable venture for years to come as more and more parents, especially mothers, find it necessary to earn by having a regular job.
You can start your own profitable daycare center and take advantage of the growing demand for trustworthy and reliable daycare centers. Social scientists have discovered what mothers already knew: a child between the age of one and six is in the most important years of his or her development as an individual. The child's exposures and experiences where he or she lives, the habits he or she develops and the teachings the child receives are factors that will affect the child's capacity to adjust his or her behavior and learn new things that the child will need in the future. For this reason, it is important that daycare centers offer more than baby-sitting services. You can set up your daycare center so it offers a proper learning environment for children under your care. It is a very rewarding business since you will be helping children to grow and learn important new skills. Many of those who have been working with children will testify to the fact that they often benefited a lot too as they have improved their own communication and learning skills.
Many companies are now establishing their own daycare centers in their efforts to lure and keep the best people in their business. These companies have realized that lack of child care services is an important hindrance to many parents who want to be employed, and that spending money to provide one will go a long way in increasing the productivity and moral of their employees, especially the qualified women. However, studies among married employees with children have shown that they prefer to have their children taken cared of in daycare centers that are nearer to their home instead of leaving them at their office daycare center. This should assure you that even if the companies in your community provide their own company-operated daycare centers, you privately-owned daycare center will not suffer any lack of parents willing to leave their children with you.
About the Author:
http://www.ownadaycare.com/
Keyword tags: daycare, day care
Friday, May 7, 2010
Boss’ String of Pearls
Kokichi Mikimoto is definitely seen as the father of modern day pearls as the creator of the beautiful Akoya pearl. His Akoya pearls, farmed exclusively off the coasts of Japan, are among the most beautiful and high quality pearls in the world. They have a gorgeous luster and are the perfect pearls for stringing long strands together. Akoya pearls are known all over the world, as is Mikimoto.
Mikimoto spent years perfecting the growth and harvesting of the Akoya pearls. He loved his pearls and had a passion for creating beautiful jewelry. Over a period of ten years, Mikimoto hand picked some of the best pearls that came through his farms. With these pearls, he designed a graduated pearl necklace that is of the utmost beauty. The necklace consists of 49 pearls, graduated in size with the center pearl 14mm in diameter. All of the pearls on this necklace are shiny, pearly white and almost perfectly round. His creation was given the nickname of the "Boss's String of Pearls". This necklace is on display to this day at the Mikimoto Memorial Hall in Toba, Japan.
Designing beautiful jewelry was almost as big of a passion for Mikimoto as the pearls themselves. As his Akoya pearls began to make a name for themselves around the world, Mikimoto began to share his treasure with aristocrats everywhere. It wasn't until after a member of the Imperial household however took pearls as gifts to the Count of St. James that Mikimoto really began to focus on his jewelry designs. In 1906, he opened the first jewelry store that specialized in pearls. His store and designs quickly gained worldwide attention.
Mikimoto is credited with the not only the creation of a fine, high quality cultured pearl but also for making them accessible to people all over the world. Before Mikimoto came along with his Akoya pearls, this gemstone was somewhat of a luxury only worn by the members of highest society. For centuries, pearls represented a person's status in the world and some countries even banned lower class people from wearing the gemstone at all. By creating a high quality, beautiful cultured pearl, Mikimoto was able to mass produce pearls, therefore making them more affordable for people from every walk of life.
You can find Mikimoto's Akoya pearls from many reputable dealers from around the country and even online. Beware however of dealers claiming to have a piece of jewelry that are true Akoya pearls. Japanese Akoya pearls are only sold to factories, not directly to retailers. When the pearls are sold to factories, they are polished, bleached and drilled – ready for stringing. Since Akoya pearl farms don't sell pre-strung strands of pearls to retailers, many factories who purchase these pearls mix the true Japanese Akoya pearls with Chinese Akoya pearls. The Chinese Akoya pearls are still of high quality and most consumers would never know the difference. So be wary of any dealer who tells you that a strand of pearls is 100% Japanese Akoya because these are very hard to come by.
About the Author:
Piper Smith is the VP of Marketing for Museum Way Pearls, a leading provider of pearl jewelry such as Akoya pearls, pearl necklaces, and pearl earrings. Museum Way Pearls can be found online at: http://www.museumwaypearls.com .
Keyword tags: pearls, pearl jewelry, Akoya pearls, black pearls, Tahitian Pearls, historic pearls, legendary pearl
Mikimoto spent years perfecting the growth and harvesting of the Akoya pearls. He loved his pearls and had a passion for creating beautiful jewelry. Over a period of ten years, Mikimoto hand picked some of the best pearls that came through his farms. With these pearls, he designed a graduated pearl necklace that is of the utmost beauty. The necklace consists of 49 pearls, graduated in size with the center pearl 14mm in diameter. All of the pearls on this necklace are shiny, pearly white and almost perfectly round. His creation was given the nickname of the "Boss's String of Pearls". This necklace is on display to this day at the Mikimoto Memorial Hall in Toba, Japan.
Designing beautiful jewelry was almost as big of a passion for Mikimoto as the pearls themselves. As his Akoya pearls began to make a name for themselves around the world, Mikimoto began to share his treasure with aristocrats everywhere. It wasn't until after a member of the Imperial household however took pearls as gifts to the Count of St. James that Mikimoto really began to focus on his jewelry designs. In 1906, he opened the first jewelry store that specialized in pearls. His store and designs quickly gained worldwide attention.
Mikimoto is credited with the not only the creation of a fine, high quality cultured pearl but also for making them accessible to people all over the world. Before Mikimoto came along with his Akoya pearls, this gemstone was somewhat of a luxury only worn by the members of highest society. For centuries, pearls represented a person's status in the world and some countries even banned lower class people from wearing the gemstone at all. By creating a high quality, beautiful cultured pearl, Mikimoto was able to mass produce pearls, therefore making them more affordable for people from every walk of life.
You can find Mikimoto's Akoya pearls from many reputable dealers from around the country and even online. Beware however of dealers claiming to have a piece of jewelry that are true Akoya pearls. Japanese Akoya pearls are only sold to factories, not directly to retailers. When the pearls are sold to factories, they are polished, bleached and drilled – ready for stringing. Since Akoya pearl farms don't sell pre-strung strands of pearls to retailers, many factories who purchase these pearls mix the true Japanese Akoya pearls with Chinese Akoya pearls. The Chinese Akoya pearls are still of high quality and most consumers would never know the difference. So be wary of any dealer who tells you that a strand of pearls is 100% Japanese Akoya because these are very hard to come by.
About the Author:
Piper Smith is the VP of Marketing for Museum Way Pearls, a leading provider of pearl jewelry such as Akoya pearls, pearl necklaces, and pearl earrings. Museum Way Pearls can be found online at: http://www.museumwaypearls.com .
Keyword tags: pearls, pearl jewelry, Akoya pearls, black pearls, Tahitian Pearls, historic pearls, legendary pearl
Duchess of Windsor Pearls
There are many wonderful stories associated with gems and jewels - pearls in particular. We have accounts of pearls that dated back to ancient time, pearls that belonged to Katherine the Great, and pearls that belonged to Elizabeth I. A more modern tale is just as interesting.
The name Calvin Klein is one of the most famous names in fashion to this day. He has created cutting edge fashions for the everyday consumer and has built a fashion empire. With his fashion empire comes certain perks like a set of diamond and pearl jewelry that was put up for auction at Sotheby's in New York in 2007. They offered up three gorgeous and historically significant pieces of jewelry at the auction and they were predicted to fetch an astronomical sum.
The first piece in the auction was a single strand of natural pearls and diamonds. This piece, along with the other two in the auction were purchased by Kelly and Calvin Klein back in 1987 when Sotheby's had their legendary auction of The Jewels of the Duchess of Windsor. The necklace is a single strand of 28 graduated white pearls ranging in diameter from 9.2mm to 16.8mm.The oval clasp is set with 2 emerald cut diamonds accented with other smaller diamonds totaling about 3 carats. The Duchess of Windsor loved this necklace and was often photographed wearing it. The single strand necklace was estimated to bring in about $1.5 to $2 million.
Another piece offered up for auction by Sotheby's was the pearl and diamond pendant also owned by the Duchess of Windsor. The Duchess loved wearing this exquisite pendant as a drop on the single strand pearl necklace. The pendant consists of a baroque shaped pearl about 18.4mm in diameter. This huge pearl is capped off by single cut and round diamonds with a stirrup-shaped diamond encrusted fitting. At the auction, this pendant alone was expected to fetch $400,000 to $600,000. This piece was a highly treasured item by Kelly Klein.
The final piece put into the Sotheby's auction by the Kleins was a pair of black and white pearl and diamond earclips. These earclips were purchased by the Duchess of Windsor in the same auction as the other pieces. The earclips are mounted in white gold and are set with a black pearl measuring 18.2mm and a white pearl measuring 18.1mm. The pearls are surrounded by 32 pear-shaped diamonds and 64 round diamonds weighing 9.25 carats. These earclips were estimated at $300,000 to $500,000.
When the Kleins purchased these jewels back in 1987, the entire lot of the Duchess of Windors' jewelry was up for auction. This auction set a record for a single sale of jewelry at $50.3 million. The romance of the Duchess and Duke of Windsor was regarded as the romance of the century and her jewelry collection brought this fairytale to life. This is the main reason why the Klein's picked up these three fabulous pieces. They represented a simpler time and had classic beauty that could persist the ages.
About the Author:
Piper Smith is the VP of Marketing for Museum Way Pearls, a leading provider of pearl jewelry such as pearl necklaces, pearl earrings, and Tahitian pearls. Museum Way Pearls can be found online at: http://www.museumwaypearls.com .
Keyword tags: pearls, pearl jewelry, Akoya pearls, black pearls, Tahitian Pearls, historic pearls, legendary pearl
The name Calvin Klein is one of the most famous names in fashion to this day. He has created cutting edge fashions for the everyday consumer and has built a fashion empire. With his fashion empire comes certain perks like a set of diamond and pearl jewelry that was put up for auction at Sotheby's in New York in 2007. They offered up three gorgeous and historically significant pieces of jewelry at the auction and they were predicted to fetch an astronomical sum.
The first piece in the auction was a single strand of natural pearls and diamonds. This piece, along with the other two in the auction were purchased by Kelly and Calvin Klein back in 1987 when Sotheby's had their legendary auction of The Jewels of the Duchess of Windsor. The necklace is a single strand of 28 graduated white pearls ranging in diameter from 9.2mm to 16.8mm.The oval clasp is set with 2 emerald cut diamonds accented with other smaller diamonds totaling about 3 carats. The Duchess of Windsor loved this necklace and was often photographed wearing it. The single strand necklace was estimated to bring in about $1.5 to $2 million.
Another piece offered up for auction by Sotheby's was the pearl and diamond pendant also owned by the Duchess of Windsor. The Duchess loved wearing this exquisite pendant as a drop on the single strand pearl necklace. The pendant consists of a baroque shaped pearl about 18.4mm in diameter. This huge pearl is capped off by single cut and round diamonds with a stirrup-shaped diamond encrusted fitting. At the auction, this pendant alone was expected to fetch $400,000 to $600,000. This piece was a highly treasured item by Kelly Klein.
The final piece put into the Sotheby's auction by the Kleins was a pair of black and white pearl and diamond earclips. These earclips were purchased by the Duchess of Windsor in the same auction as the other pieces. The earclips are mounted in white gold and are set with a black pearl measuring 18.2mm and a white pearl measuring 18.1mm. The pearls are surrounded by 32 pear-shaped diamonds and 64 round diamonds weighing 9.25 carats. These earclips were estimated at $300,000 to $500,000.
When the Kleins purchased these jewels back in 1987, the entire lot of the Duchess of Windors' jewelry was up for auction. This auction set a record for a single sale of jewelry at $50.3 million. The romance of the Duchess and Duke of Windsor was regarded as the romance of the century and her jewelry collection brought this fairytale to life. This is the main reason why the Klein's picked up these three fabulous pieces. They represented a simpler time and had classic beauty that could persist the ages.
About the Author:
Piper Smith is the VP of Marketing for Museum Way Pearls, a leading provider of pearl jewelry such as pearl necklaces, pearl earrings, and Tahitian pearls. Museum Way Pearls can be found online at: http://www.museumwaypearls.com .
Keyword tags: pearls, pearl jewelry, Akoya pearls, black pearls, Tahitian Pearls, historic pearls, legendary pearl
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Will It Float Or Sink? - Fun Sand And Water Activities
Sand and water are simple substances that students can use for play and education. They are easy to procure, and can be utilized for many projects. Children love to stick their hands in sand and let it fall through their fingers. They also love to endlessly dig in it. The faces of children light up with delight when they discover something buried. A social studies activity with sand, involving digging, discovery, and categorizing, is "The Great Dig." You will need several bins of sand, various objects, and small plastic shovels. The bins are the large rectangular bins that you use for storage.
Depending on the size of the class, you can have a bin of sand for each student, or have several students in a group working with one bin. Bins work well because they are deep enough to hold several objects, and the students must dig to find the "treasure;" however, you can use any deep container that holds solid material, such as buckets, clean trash cans, etc... The objects selected for discovery can be anything you desire. Using wooden or plastic blocks with different colors, shapes, and sizes is a great way to bring math into the activity. Once all the blocks are discovered, the students can sort them depending on how you ask the children to categorize them. If you use the large, rectangular bins, you can simply put the lids back on them and save them until the next time you want to find "treasure."
Using water to expand scientific knowledge is fun and safe. "Float or Sink?" is an activity that introduces important aspects of science, such as predicting and analyzing. Once again, this activity can be done in groups or as a whole class depending on the number of students. You will need a clear bowl or bin filled with water. Allow enough room for the objects to be placed in the vessel, or it will overflow! Select about five objects for the students to test for flotation. A ping-pong ball, a plastic block, a paper clip, a cork, and a penny are good objects to use. Before the activity begins, the students should pick-up and touch each object. You should explain that they need to decide if it will float or sink in the water, discussing how to predict using what they know about the objects. You can create a chart on the board with the objects for input from the whole class, or a worksheet with individual charts for each student.
After all the objects are tested, the students can share their ideas about why the objects sank or floated. They can "analyze" their data by suggesting weight, size, or other attributes as reasons for the outcomes. As you work with the children throughout the activity, ask a variety of questions. What other items do you think would float or sink? What about a sponge, does it float or sink? Why does an inner tube float? Questioning is an important technique to help build critical thinking skills. Using materials such as water and sand to facilitate learning is a great way to engage young children in a number of academic areas.
About the Author:
Kimberly McCune is an early childhood educator and she invites you to visit her favorite online teacher supply store, http://www.mpmschoolsupplies.com. It offers a huge selection of classroom supplies, teaching resources, and even furniture!
Keyword tags: sand and water, sand and water activities,sand, water,sand and water tables
Depending on the size of the class, you can have a bin of sand for each student, or have several students in a group working with one bin. Bins work well because they are deep enough to hold several objects, and the students must dig to find the "treasure;" however, you can use any deep container that holds solid material, such as buckets, clean trash cans, etc... The objects selected for discovery can be anything you desire. Using wooden or plastic blocks with different colors, shapes, and sizes is a great way to bring math into the activity. Once all the blocks are discovered, the students can sort them depending on how you ask the children to categorize them. If you use the large, rectangular bins, you can simply put the lids back on them and save them until the next time you want to find "treasure."
Using water to expand scientific knowledge is fun and safe. "Float or Sink?" is an activity that introduces important aspects of science, such as predicting and analyzing. Once again, this activity can be done in groups or as a whole class depending on the number of students. You will need a clear bowl or bin filled with water. Allow enough room for the objects to be placed in the vessel, or it will overflow! Select about five objects for the students to test for flotation. A ping-pong ball, a plastic block, a paper clip, a cork, and a penny are good objects to use. Before the activity begins, the students should pick-up and touch each object. You should explain that they need to decide if it will float or sink in the water, discussing how to predict using what they know about the objects. You can create a chart on the board with the objects for input from the whole class, or a worksheet with individual charts for each student.
After all the objects are tested, the students can share their ideas about why the objects sank or floated. They can "analyze" their data by suggesting weight, size, or other attributes as reasons for the outcomes. As you work with the children throughout the activity, ask a variety of questions. What other items do you think would float or sink? What about a sponge, does it float or sink? Why does an inner tube float? Questioning is an important technique to help build critical thinking skills. Using materials such as water and sand to facilitate learning is a great way to engage young children in a number of academic areas.
About the Author:
Kimberly McCune is an early childhood educator and she invites you to visit her favorite online teacher supply store, http://www.mpmschoolsupplies.com. It offers a huge selection of classroom supplies, teaching resources, and even furniture!
Keyword tags: sand and water, sand and water activities,sand, water,sand and water tables
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
