Is Traditional Education Better Than Technology-Based Education?

This interesting article addresses some of the key issues regarding education. A careful reading of this material could make a big difference in how you think about education.

On-line education is in trend nowadays. In the future, students may have the opportunity to study at home with computers rather than go to traditional schools like what we are used to doing. And in some cases online education is the only way available.

The most common on-line form of education today is English tutorials. As of now, students and tutors use IM (instant messaging), headset and web camera as the path of communication and of education. Is this the better option?

People must prefer the traditional way because in a classroom setting, students can learn and socialize with their peers. Also, from the instructor, he or she can teach students many valuable lessons of life which cannot be learned through technology. It is like the question of doing research through the library or the internet. Both have advantages and disadvantages but traditional education has the numerous advantages over on-line education.

It seems like new information is discovered about something every day. And the topic of education is no exception. There are always fresh and new ideas about education.

Students learn better socially and academically in a classroom. Students are mostly young-aged. Therefore, they are generally interested in meeting and being with their peers. As they interact, it makes it easier for them to pay focus and learn. As social creatures, one could not just stay secluded and educate his own self. That is impossible! We live, grow, learn and succeed with people along the way.

Besides lecture materials, a classroom instructor teaches many other important life lessons. Students can learn and develop punctuality and good study habits. A teacher serves as a guide through education process which is a big part of life. Another important mission is to direct youth out of trouble. There is this bond between the instructor and the students which could not be built on-line. As the source of education, a teacher is not around just to introduce books and exams but also, he or she is selfless enough to share the lessons life taught her or him.

We must prefer to study at traditional schools and let us send our children there. It is because being around other people of our age or different ages gives us the opportunity to socialize and learn not only from the internet or books but from the society and from life. We could also learn other things which are important to education such as study skills. On-line education or any form of technology-based education is convenient. However, let us not risk quality. Long-term goals must always be prioritized.

And of course the other thing would be peer pressure and the competitive spirit of being the best in the classroom. A little competition is always good.

No matter how advanced technology would be- there will always be these things that would stay best if they would be maintained as is. One of these things is education.

Is there really any information about education that is nonessential? We all see things from different angles, so something relatively insignificant to one may be crucial to another.

I hope that reading the above information was both enjoyable and educational for you. The bottom line remains the same. I still believe that in my honest opinion, traditional education is the best, and always will be. But the most important thing is to get more education, any way that you can. Your learning process should be ongoing--the more you understand about any subject, the more you will be able to share with others. Your life will improve for you and your loved ones.

See You in America

I remember when I was in high school, my friends and I used to talk about life in other countries especially in America. We found that place very interesting. We actually dreamed of going there someday.

That was our high school dream. A dream that seemed impossible due to limited financial resources, but we were hoping that this dream would come true. After all, life is full of surprises. We never know what’s in store for us. Who knows, one of these days, one of us will be there?

After high school graduation, my friends and I were discussing our future plans as to colleges or universities where we would pursue our studies. Some of us stayed here in Laguna while others went to Manila. Caryll and I enrolled at Letran-Calamba. I was about to take Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering, but then I decided to take Accountancy, the course which Caryll and Anne took before I did. After the first semester, Anne shifted to Psychology but Caryll and I decided to finish the course. We remained classmates in college.

It was 1997 when she told me that she’ll soon leave for Chicago. I tried to convince her not to go there because she may find it difficult to adjust to a new environment and find new friends; but since she’s fluent in English, I’m sure she can easily communicate with the people there. But the real reason why I was convincing her not to go is that I never want to loose my BESTFRIEND. I have been her best and Dark Artist, and she has been my Great Wall. I wanted to stay that way. She has provided me a shoulder to lean on and she doesn’t hesitate to help me when I need it.

It has almost been a year since she and her family left. We managed to keep in touch through phone calls, letters and e-mails; our friendship remains despite great distance.

Now, I’m hoping to graduate this coming April, with a degree of BS Accountancy, I owe it all to her. In the midst of confusion, she enlightened me, pushed me up, encouraged, and supported me. I made it because of her. I promised her that I would finish this course. A few months from now, I’ll be able to tell her that I finally did.

I still have several units in my curriculum this year because I’m a working student. I decided to take another degree course to fill up my time and focus more on my studies. My batch mates had graduated last April 2001. Busy with their chosen career, I rarely see them. I feel lonely and alone.

It was the Colegio’s Foundation Day celebration. I went to the library and spent some of my time there while my friends and classmates were busy with their graduation practice. In the library I saw Kyle, a classmate in Filipino. I remember he used to receive special treatment from our professor because he’s an American citizen.

We developed a best friendship. We used to call each other as “kuya”, and we treated each other as such. We became best friends and shared many things in common, yet every time I remembered that he’s an American citizen, I can’t help but think that he would soon leave me… Again!

It’s difficult for us to part ways. We used to share happy moments together and that’s because of real friendship. In the end, we have to accept that nothing is permanent in this world. We may not see each other after graduation but we promised to keep the friendship in our hearts. I’m going to stay here and Kuya Kyle will soon live in California. Another good friend is about to leave me.

At present, I’m very busy with my college life, with my affiliations, and with my work. I have so many plans after graduation – take the board exam, be a CPA and work abroad particularly in America.

I am very lucky to have so many friends who form part of my dreams. Wherever I go, never did I forget that they are the best collections in my life, the best ART I’ve ever painted by reason of being real, true, and worthy to be treasured forever. If my dreams will soon come true, I just want to send a bagful of thanks for the support and pieces of advice they had given me.

Caryll and Kuya Kyle are just two of my best friends. I am happy here in the Philippines with my family and other friends. Time will come that we’ll soon see each other again. I have no doubt that someday; somehow, our roads will cross and meet again. Maybe not here in the Philippines. Who knows, by God’s grace, I may see them in America. (The Knight, 2002)

Education In America After No Child Left Behind: Where Do We Go From Here?

Public schools play a vital role in shaping this nation's future. As I write this article, we are about to elect a new President. It is probable that a change in administration will result in a new policy effecting education. The direction and quality of this policy will have a lasting effect on our public schools and on our nation as a whole. So where do we go from here?

At this moment, sitting in a classroom somewhere in America is a future Bill Gates, Oprah Winfrey, Warren Buffet, and Martha Stewart. Will these students have the necessary tools to rise to the top of their profession or will we become dependent on other countries to provide leadership in this global economy? Education may be the determining factor.

"The economy of the future will be dominated by industries in microelectronics, telecommunications, robotics and biotechnology – not to mention new fields that haven’t even been predicted." - NEA TODAY, March 2008

The essential focus in education must be to prepare American students for the challenge of the twenty-first century workplace. It is abundantly clear that our drop-out rate is too high and student performance levels are too low. Identifying these problems may be the first step toward a solution but current solutions simply don't work. Under NCLB, academic testing has become the main focus for education reform. An emphasis on test results has forced educators to direct their energy and resources directly toward teaching to these tests. The irony is that some career-related courses and arts programs that clearly motivate students to stay in school and perform have been weakened, or even eliminated, in the process. The pressure that this type of reform has placed on educators can negate innovation and creativity in the classroom. Current policy hinders the teacher's ability to inspire students.

Future planning for education must include a focus on changing technology and introduce the student to the necessity of lifelong learning. Programs like Tech-Prep, School-to-Work and Career Academies have successfully introduced these ideas to some high school students but have not gone far enough. No plan is complete without a delivery system that motivates and inspires students to learn. Such a plan must be implemented long before high school and have the potential to impact every student. When students are motivated to learn, test scores will rise. So where do we go from here?

A successful plan for education will include structured partnerships. As described in the book Facing the Future Together, educators should never plan or implement a program in isolation. Through structured partnerships with those who are stakeholders in education (business, industry and other agencies in the community) every program becomes stronger and every student benefits. Business and industry have an enormous stake in student achievement. Where will future customers, clients and skilled employees come from if not from the school system? Partnerships bring us closer as a community to address our common concerns and everyone benefits. Since we all have a stake in the student who exits our school system, the number of potential partners is almost limitless.

A successful school-business partnership is well structured, sustainable and clearly designed to show students the connection between education and the world beyond the school's walls. This approach brings relevance to learning and helps to keep students motivated and in school. As previously stated, students will perform better in class and score higher on tests if they understand the relevance of subject matter they are expected to learn.

Taking that first step toward building a successful partnership can be a challenge but the result is that everyone wins. As a new administration takes office in Washington D.C. and a new education policy is formulated we have an opportunity to gain some of the ground we have lost in recent years. Facing the future of education together as partners gives us a strong foundation to build upon.

America’s Need For Online Tutoring & Education

Education in today’s world is a must. No longer can the youth of today rely upon only a high school education to get them where they want to be in life. As a matter of fact, today’s 4-year college degree is becoming yesterday’s high school diploma. There are some specific reasons as to why this has happened. Students in America's educational system are growing at a rate that the schools are not able to keep up with. We can also look to America’s involvement in globalization. America has more international students studying in the states than ever before. This has created even more competition for the youth of America. Another aspect to look at is the life of students and resources available to them by the school. So what is being done now to help students deal with all these factors that have never before been an issue? The answer is online tutoring and education.

With the large growth in students throughout America, schools have struggled to keep with the basic needs. According to OnTheIssues, the population of students in grades K-12 is over 50 million. This number is and has been steadily rising by 1 million students per year. OnTheIssues also notes that school spending for grades K-12 is now at $260 billion per year. As the amount of students continues to increase, the amount of spending will also continue to increase. This is not the only factor that is affecting students in a negative way.

Many students today, high school and college, do not have the time to research for sources and help on-campus. Mainly because students today are working jobs while taking full-loads in school. This leaves minimal time to be able to take advantage of a school’s resources. Online tutoring and education is becoming the answer to this problem. WashingtonPost author, Mike Chediak, says that according to Sloan Consortium, more than 2.6 million students studied through online tutoring and educational courses last fall. This number is up from 1.9 million back in 2003, which is about a 23% growth rate in only one year.

It’s also important to look at the resources that are offered by schools. The main goal of education is to prepare students for a career path. In high school this is a general path and in college this is a much more specific path. It is estimated that only 25% of 4-year college graduates actually work in the field that they earned their degree. Since online tutoring and education is able to cover such a broad area, students are able to get the help they need, when they need it. Online tutoring and education is now offered by some programs over a 24-hour period, which completely caters to the student’s needs.

While schools are not keeping up with the resources to fully help their students, online tutoring and education is able to fill the gap. Many schools are starting to partner with online tutoring service companies so they can get their students the help they need. Online tutoring and education is a service that will continue to grow and thrive in the upcoming years for America.

Resources

Background on Education. On The Issues.
http://www.issues2000.org/Background_Education.htm

Chediak, Mark. Online Tutoring Part of Growing Trend. 16 Aug. 2005. Washington Post.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/15/AR2005081501265.html

The Sloan Consortium. Committed to Quality Online Education.

Education Tax Credits For Higher Education

Is higher education costing you a fortune? There may be a way to help pay for those costs with the help of education tax credits. What are education credits, who is eligible, and why should we take them? Well, let’s start with the first part of the question, and work our way to the end. Education credits are tax credits available for qualified education expenses paid by the taxpayer in the furthering of their education.

Qualified education expenses are defined as an expense paid during the tax year for tuition and fees required by an eligible educational institution for student enrollment and attendance. It really doesn’t matter how you pay these expenses, only that the expenses are valid. Now, let’s give some examples of expenses that are not qualified so that you can determine those that are qualified, and how you account for these expenses. Room and board, medical expenses, student health fees, transportation, personal living expense, insurance, course-related books, supplies, equipment, or any non-academic activity or non-credit course are not qualified expenses. What does this leave? Basically: tuition and fees required for enrollment or attendance at an accredited college, university, vocational or post secondary educational institution.

If you take a tax deduction for education expenses in any other area of the personal tax return, you cannot use that expense when figuring a Hope or Lifetime Learning credit. If you received tax-free assistance, such as a Pell Grant or scholarship, you must deduct that amount from your qualified expenses; however, most scholarships and Pell grant monies are taxable, so you may be taxed, but you can also get the tax credit. If you make any prepayments of tuition, you can use the prepaid amounts on your current year’s federal income tax return, provided you have followed all other guidelines.

Now, there are two different tax credits: the Hope credit and the Lifetime Learning credit. What are their differences? Well, first you cannot take them jointly; you must choose one or the other. The Hope credit can only be taken during the first two years of college, as defined by the educational institution, enrolled at least half time and cannot exceed $1500. The Lifetime Learning Credit maximum for 2005 is $2000. This credit can be used for undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees courses. It is not based on a student’s school workload which means it is allowed for one or more courses at an eligible school. It cannot be taken in conjunction with the Hope Credit, even if your expense exceeds the Hope limitations. If your expenses exceed the Hope limitation the first two years, simply include the excess on your Schedule A.

Your tax credits are also limited by your level of income, and your adjusted gross income totals. The higher the income the less tax credit the taxpayer receives. Credits could be reduced depending on your level of income and how you file, i.e. single, married, etc. So, when figuring these tax credits, you need to consider your current student status, your income levels, and your expense levels as Hope will expire after your second year of higher education. You can take any excess expense deductions under your itemized deduction expenses on Schedule A, when Hope or Lifetime Learning is at their maximums. On a side note, you can not claim either credit for a student named as a dependent on your tax return if you used the Tuition and Fees Adjustment for that same student so it is always advisable to seek professional tax help.

Who is eligible to take these tax credits? You are eligible as a taxpayer or eligible dependent of a taxpayer that was enrolled as a student in an eligible educational institution. If you can be claimed as someone’s dependent, they will be able to claim the education credit, not the dependent. Generally, dependent students’ expenses will be claimed by their parents or legal guardians. Now, here is an interesting note: if you are a student, and you cannot be claimed as someone’s dependent, only you can take the education credit; even if you are not the person paying the expense.

Why would you take the credit? I think a better question would be why would you not take the credit? In case you haven’t noticed, it can be very expensive to attend higher education classes. For anyone seeking to further their education, receive a degree, and pursue their dream, any federal income tax credit that can be taken, is a helping hand toward achievement of that dream. Today, without furthering your education, you’re almost positively sentenced to a lifetime of minimum wage earnings, and struggling to make ends meet. A college education is the fastest route still, to a better life, better wages, and the achievement of the American Dream.

Analyzing the Piano Keyboard Lesson

When is a piano keyboard lesson horrific? The answer is quite obvious. It’s horrific when a teacher is a total lunatic. How do we define total lunatic in terms of piano teaching technique? If the teacher cusses, hits, smashes anything or continually walks out of the room (and re-enters the room a few minutes later in a completely opposite, drug-induced mood), then it’s time to head for the hills.

When is a piano keyboard lesson wonderful? This enlightening scenario occurs when a teacher has a sense of responsibility, commitment and humor. It’s also desirable for a teacher to be able to demonstrate with ease any technical difficulties that may arise from a piece that is being learned by a student.

Many of my colleagues have had both types of teachers in the past, and have survived the ‘nightmare’ quite well. Alas, some students do not survive a bad teaching experience, in the sense that their hobby or potential career as a pianist gets shattered by a teacher with a horrific attitude. This situation beckons the question, “How does one survive an abusive teacher, or even a teacher of no inspiration and mediocre ability?” This is a tough question which deserves a fresh paragraph.

I have always followed the philosophy that one always learns something from a good or a bad teacher. Awful teachers are a shining example of qualities to be avoided in life’s future. Of course, the best option is to leave a bad teacher before they make life miserable for you. However, that is not always an immediate option, as is occasionally seen in our public and private school systems.

If the only short term option is to ‘tough it out’, as it were, then learning what a teacher is doing wrong is an education in itself, even if it is in unpleasant circumstances. Alas, a low quality teacher will usually have a few scattered bits of okay advice stashed away within all the garbage. If the stench can be ignored, perhaps little crumbs of good can come from an undesirable situation.

I’ve had teachers that have chain smoked (it used to be acceptable), hit knuckles, screamed unnecessarily, and taught while being intoxicated. It’s painfully hilarious to look back at this list and think that I became a professional musician with this type of background. However, as much as I hate to admit it, I did learn how not to teach from my second rate and mediocre teachers of the past.

Of course, I’ve had amazing teachers that I’ve certainly learned a lot more from, and I would have rather learned ‘disturbing methods of teaching and characteristics to be avoided’ from a manual, thus saving the heartache of learning from unsatisfactory tutors.

So why do some teachers develop a less than desirable attitude? It could be for any number of reasons. Perhaps the teacher in question is not a skilled communicator. Perhaps the skill level of the grumpy teacher’s instrumental technique is questionable. In both of these scenarios, a tutor may feel threatened if challenged by a student. It is also possible that an educator, for whatever reason, has grown intolerant or has become burnt out. Both of these situations should indicate red flags for students and their parents or guardians.

So when is a piano keyboard lesson completely and utterly satisfying? It’s satisfying when I teach it to a student who leaves the lesson with a smile on their face and a twinkle of inspiration in their eyes. That’s when!

How to Learn English Using Grammar Books

Grammar is one of the most essential things you should know when you learn to write proper English. It deals with the forms and structures of words and sentences. You should know the proper usage of such words. The best way to learn English grammar is not by using the dictionary but by using English grammar books.

It is best to learn English grammar in school wherein a teacher will really help you everyday but if you do not have the time and money, just make use of English grammar books. Aside from the fact that they are inexpensive compared to going to school, they are very reliable compared to the Internet.

First thing you should do is to choose the best book for you. Find the one that is easy for you to read and understand. You can ask for some help from the bookstore assistant. Do not just buy one book but buy a number of books since not all books have the same points. It is best to compare one with the other.

Second, make sure you really read and of course, understand the rules of writing proper English. Test yourself by writing several paragraphs and check the books you have bought for errors and correct them if there are any.

Ask some assistance from a friend who you know is good at English. Do not just let him correct your writing but ask him to explain as well. Try to understand everything he says, never hesitate to ask questions. Remember it is better to ask than to act as you know everything because you are the only one who benefits this.

Finally, try writing a whole article or essay and proofread everything. Make sure you are not bias with the checking of your work. Do the necessary corrections and write some comments. Read different articles and works of popular writers and understand them carefully. Learn from what they are doing and for sure, you will make a good writer.

English grammar books can really improve not only your English writing skills but your speaking skills as well. If you are good in writing, it does not necessarily mean that you are also good in speaking but you can be good at both if you are determined to be. By reading these books, you broaden your knowledge and you can make beautiful writings and eventually be a famous writer and a good speaker as well.

When you speak in your native tongue, the correct sentences seem to come right into you.

Reading a grammar book will help you to develop the intuition needed. Studying English is all about putting a good number of suitable sentences in your head. Your brain can then imitate them and produce similar English sentences to express the significance you are opting for. When you read and listen to English much, paying attention to English vocabulary, you will start soon to employ new words and expressions of English in your speech and writing.

If you ever followed English classes, you were probably invited to read a text and then to achieve a task related to it. The majority of the professors encourage students to read very quickly, to just obtain the precise force of the English text. You could think that this way your English will improve you, but you have other manners around.

Good writers not only rely on themselves, when it comes to write good copy, abstracts, documents, letters or even books. They rely on supportive tools, like advanced NLP grammar checkers.

College Grants and Scholarships

Do you wonder how to get college grants and scholarships? Do you need funding to make your hopes of any college education or your dreams of going to a specific school a reality? If so, you need to know that college grants and scholarships exist for just this reason.

Many students think that they are limited in their chances to get college grants and scholarships because their parents make a lot of money or have equity in their homes. Sometimes, the parents are not able or willing to shell out the big bucks that colleges charge. But, you would be surprised to find out that the overwhelming majority of students do not pay the college's "sticker price." This is where college grants and scholarships come into play.

College grants and scholarships help students make up the difference between what they can afford to pay and what the college charges in tuition and fees. In an era when parents are increasingly unable to help pay for a university education as their stock portfolios and home equity shrinks, college grants and scholarships can help make up the gap.

A scholarship is generally a merit based award. For instance, the most famous scholarship is probably the athletic scholarship where a student gets a full ride including tuition, room and board in exchange for playing on a school's sports team. But other scholarships exist as well. Colleges try to put together the best overall class and they use scholarships to entice students to their campus.

Students with high grades or test scores, significant community service or leadership, or certain artistic skills often are the recipients of institutional scholarships.

Scholarships are also granted by community organizations such as the Rotary Club, businesses, and foundations. While the requirements vary from award to award, they always feature some level of merit.

Sometimes scholarships have a need-based component, but they are usually based in large part on merit.

Grants are also free money. Unlike scholarships, the distinguishing feature of grants is that they are based on need. While there are general qualifications such as a minimum grade point average, grants are awarded to make up the difference between what the college charges and what the student can pay.

Sometimes the university itself steps in and helps the student with a grant. Other times, the state or federal government makes a grant. Perhaps the most famous grant is the Pell Grant which the federal government awards to students coming from the lowest quartile of the economic spectrum. These awards are for up to $4000.

College grants and scholarships are different from other types of aid because there is no work involved and they do not have to be paid back.

Work-study grants, for instance, are contingent on the student working a 10 to 20 hour a week job on campus. Universities prefer to hire students receiving work-study to fill their student assistant positions because the federal government foots much of the bill.

Loans have to be paid back once a student graduates from college. Because they are packaged as part of the overall student aid budget, many students do not realize what a hardship it will be to pay these loans back after they graduate. They leave college with tens of thousands of dollars in student loans that must be paid back on an entry level salary.

That's why it is best to go to a school where the college grants and scholarships make up the bulk of the award package.

English Grammar Lesson – Learn English Anywhere You Like!

If you think you need to go back to school, or enroll in an informal education and pay expensive tuition fees to learn English, then you are wrong. If you have a computer or laptop and Internet connection at home, then your problem is almost solved.

You now can have your virtual English teacher in your computer. Your personal assistant who helps you writing properly when typing in.

But, do you know that there are plenty of English writing programs around you could choose to teach you write better English?

Also in this case it is just a matter of having the right software or Internet site.

Actually, to decide to learn English using software is a smart decision, because it's less pricey than courses, real or online, and you can do it in the comfort of your home. A quiet atmosphere is important when working with such programs.

You learn in a safe environment. When you choose to learn English grammar lesson online, you are sure to be in a safe environment because you can just study in your own home. Also, there is no much pressure because no is there to judge and criticize you.

You have the luxury of time. Unlike in normal schools, you can study in your own time and pace. You may choose to go as fast or slow as you want, and no one will bother you. This is learning English on your own schedule and at your own convenience.

You have the privilege to learn anywhere you like. As long there is an internet connection or you already have downloaded the English grammar lesson software in your laptop, then you can learn anywhere. You can learn in your school library, at your friend’s house, at the coffee shop or anywhere you like as long you are comfortably seated.

Improve your speaking skills while learning better English writing. The best way to practice written English is online because after your lesson, you can have the liberty of instantly practicing by sending emails or posting articles somewhere online. It is very true that while your practice your written English it will also enhance your speaking skills. You are now hitting two birds with just one stone.

Practice using the Internet. Take advantage of being online, you can go to other free English grammar lessons sites and see how much you improved. You will notice that as you take more lessons on varied websites, your understanding of English language grows all the time.

There are more advantages you can get from learning through free English grammar lesson software and Internet sites. Learning English for free is already an opportunity, so take advantage in learning English for free!

Did you know that learning English is as easy as eating peanuts? You might be asking what made it easy, finish reading this article and learn why I said it is easy.

First, you need to know why you need to learn English. At present, many countries have considered English as second language where it is even used as a medium of instruction. If you know the language then it would be easy for you to communicate wherever you are around the globe. If you are a businessperson, then it would be very easy for you to make business anywhere on earth. People who used to speak English are the ones who are considered to be part of the real society. Certainly, learning the language makes your life one step ahead or even more than those who cannot write, speak and understand the English language.

What makes learning English easy? Have you heard about free English grammar lessons on the Internet? You can just download these lessons in so many websites that offers these lessons for free. These free English software is amazing, it can also give you the best English grammar lessons ever!

Here are some great reasons why you can learn English the easy way using the free online English grammar lessons:

* You can learn anytime you want and anywhere you like. As long you have an Internet connection or you have downloaded the software then you can choose any time to suit your own schedule and learn anywhere, where you feel comfortable. It would be much easier if you have your own laptop.

* You can choose what lessons you like. Whatever you felt learning, and then you can learn it anytime you want. You do not need to wait for a teacher when to discuss that certain topic anymore.

* English grammar lessons software uses a Natural Language Processing system. This is a new technology where you can learn how to proofread your text or documents while you are on the process of writing. It is like having direct hands on while learning how to write. This is one great advantage you can get from online English lessons; you can automatically use what you learn from the online lessons.

* You can learn how to speak well while you are learning to write better English.

There are so many advantages you can still get that are not mentioned in this article, and just imagine how it can help you improve your English. Be wise and take advantage of it now!

How to Learn a New Language

Learning a new language is fun? Doubt it? You are wrong doubting then. If you have been thinking about learning a new language, but you do not learn a new language because you don’t have anyone in your life who can teach you and you do not have much money to pay for a tutor each week, then you should not worry. If you have looked up how to learn a new language on the Internet, then you will find many different ways on how to learn that language you have wanted to learn. Out of all the techniques on how to learn a new language, we believe one of the best ways to learn a new language is by using the language learning software.

When you are choosing a language learning software, you should make sure you choose the software that will teach you the language using different types of lessons. Written and spoken are as important as regular tests. In many cases, depending on the language you want to learn, you will be able to get the software for free. For instance, if you want to learn Spanish, then on the Internet there are many different web pages that will help you out with learning the Spanish language. When you are learning a new language, you will need to learn about the uses of grammar and how they structure their words. Don’t worry because language learning software will help you out with all of your problems you may have and you will be able to learn that language in no time.

All right, so you are not a natural English speaker, your mother and father isn’t even English speakers. In fact, no one in your family is English speakers, but you may have many friends that speak English. However, having friends that speak English will not help you out when it comes to writing in English. If you have noticed, there are a lot of clients demanding work to be done in English and if you are not an English speaker, they are not going to want you. You sit behind the computer all day typing up those articles and you are trying your best to succeed in the writing world. We do not want you to fail in the writing world and that is why we are writing this article on the language dictionary software. We believe with the right type of language dictionary software, you will be able to find all of the words you are in need of.

If you are like many non English speakers, then you have a hard time trying to figure out that word you want to write down. You can’t quite think of that English word that describes what you need. If this is your problem, then you should look at the language dictionary software. In many cases, you will be able to have the software installed in your writing program and sometimes, writing programs come with the language software. You can look like an all natural English speaker, as long as you play all of your card right and invest in good software.

Learning English Software - The Easiest Way To Learn English?

English is a global, universal language. More and more people study English or use it on a daily basis in their online communication or business environment. Many individuals from non-English speaking countries are triggered to study English from beginning of their education. There's a high demand in experienced English teachers worldwide. In order to improve their job perspectives, many want to learn English or are learning English right now. It grew to the most important language worldwide. To learn English on the computer is a very common strategy and English learning software one of the most convenient ways to improve its English writing, reading or communication skills.

It really pays off when you learn English in school from a very early age so that you can practice and make it a routine speaking, writing and expressing yourself. It's also easier to grow a vocabulary if you learn it when you're young. But it's never to late to write good grammar. For all those who are willing to extend their knowledge and enrich their writing skills, learning English software is the way to go. There are many different English learning programs available online, some more and others less interactive. Important for such an English learning solution, is that it's fully packed with features and features sports a grammar and creative words database. The instant feedback-mechanism make it easy to understand written errors in an instant way.

If you are stressed from work and don't have the luxury of time writing your reports, presentations, emails, letters, etc., such software serves as your own personal editor and proofreader in case you need help to check on your writings and or someone's else work. It can fix grammar errors, check spelling, check sentence structure and punctuation, enrich your text by adding additional adjectives and adverbs and find synonyms that would best fit your sentences. Learning English software is a cool and professional way to learn English and gives you the power to instantly write error-free.

In writing, good pieces of written work are all an employer needs to see in order to give you a job. In cases where a potential employer asks you to send a written manuscript as part of the interview, using the English writing software can greatly improve your chances of impressing them. There is also education fellowships granted on the merits of your written work. To beat the competition that such offers attract, you would have to be very good in your work. This in turn calls for the use of English writing software for the English speakers and either the grammar software or the English grammar software for writers is using English as a second language.

English learning and writing software gets now used by many corporate executives, HR professionals, sales and marketing managers worldwide.

In these times it's very important to have a good grasp of English. Not just to communicate well on-the-job, but also to meet and interact with new people, foreigners or friends-to-be. It's an international and global language, spoken by billions of people and the universal language used in business, banking and online communications.

English is not easy to master, but easy to learn. If you aren't on track yet, you should go for it. It's connected with practice, but to practice is most of the times an action that pays out over time.

Home Schooling

Home schooling is the new wave parents are riding to present their children with a high quality education. Today, parents are taking an active role in how their children learn and what they learn. Many people do not find this way of learning to be healthy or educational as well as good for the child\'s socialization skills. People have posed the question to parents about the lack of socialization the child receives. Children do need to interact with other children in order to learn how to relate to other people and develop socially.

School administrators have expressed concerns for the children being home schooled, stating they do not feel the child receives enough interaction with other children and adults. They feel that the child suffers emotionally because they lack the interaction needed to develop their personalities and social skills. Home schooling does not provide interaction with other students, which can open more learning opportunities for the child who is home schooled. The emotional intelligence aspect that comes together with socializing is very important, but as you may read below there are some interesting facts related to home schooling and standard education programs.

The thing that surprises many people is that the studies that were done with home schooled children do not show that all of them lack any social skills. The studies did find that children in public or private schools do show some signs of anti-social behavior. Therefore, there is no real problem with home schooling. Children can display anti-social behavior whether they go to a public or private school as well as in a home schooled environment.

Socialization can be taught at home since social skills are developed by interacting with other children and adults. This is all done in the home as well as when the child goes to the library, shopping or anywhere there are people. Children learn by what they are taught and since the home schooling program can have a health class, the child can be taught about different types of life skills. Many times the child that is home schooled develops more so than children that are in a large classroom.

Home schooling has a very good success rate for teaching children in a comfortable environment. It has been proved that many children test very well and enter good colleges to further their education. Home schooling does allow parents to keep their children away from the bad influences that all schools have at some point. The classrooms are so overcrowded that home schooling appears to be the best way to educate children and may sure they are learning. Since the learning curves for each different student always will be different there are also some positive elements related to home schooling.

Socialization should not be an issue for anyone deciding to home school their children. If you provide enough outdoor activities and field trips, the children do develop social skills. Another thing school administrators do not take into consideration is that home schooled children still play outside with other children.

The Legacy of Greek Mythology

Without a doubt, Ancient Greece has had great influence on the formation and development of western culture and civilization. Athens, arguably the greatest city-state of Ancient Greece, brought forth democracy into the world. It was during the golden age of Ancient Greece that Philosophy, Science, Math, Literature, and the Arts started to make their mark on western civilization. Greek thinkers established the modern fields we now take for granted. It was because of their cultural and intellectual revolutions that the world as we know it now exists. Perhaps one of the most influential contributions of the Ancient Greeks was their literature, specifically, their myths. Greek mythology is considered by scholars as the great classics of literature. The presence of Greek mythology in many subjects and fields of study only serve to assert the importance of its long-lasting legacy on our modern world.

Literature

Greek mythology, perhaps, has its greatest influence on literature itself. Greek drama, narratives, and poems became the subject of scrutiny and study by many literary theorists and even philosophers. Even the ancient Greek thinkers analyzed their own myths and formulated their own theories and conclusions.

Palaephatus tried to interpret myths as having figurative meanings. He surmised that myths were real-life accounts and experiences written in a highly symbolic language. Even Plato himself tried to analyze and oppose Greek myths on the grounds of morality. The great intellectual argued that the immorality and sins of the gods were not acceptable to the then-flourishing Greek culture and society. However, several centuries after Plato's death, Greek myths still had firm roots in Greek society. The motifs, allusions, and symbols used by the Ancient Greeks in their myths clearly paved the way for modern literary theorists and scholars to develop their own philosophies and theories. In a way, the various kinds of literary approaches we now have at our disposal, became possible because of the existence and emergence of Greek mythology. Some of the best western writers even copied the plots of the myths and wrote elaborate novels based on them. James Joyce wrote the novel Ulysses, with a modern theme but a distinctly Greek plot.

Psychology

Because the Ancient Greeks themselves were keen on understanding the human mind, it is no surprise that their way of thinking, and their myths, have become very important in the field of Psychology. No less than the famous Sigmund Freud himself borrowed from Greek mythology in developing his theories on human psychosexual development, hence the terms, Electra Complex and Oedipus Complex. The Swiss psychiatrist, Carl Jung, also relied on Greek mythology to justify his belief in the innate recurring ideas present in all men which he called archetypes. Jung believed that these archetypes were the manifestation of psychic structures common to all people. Because of these structures, he believed, mythological themes came to be.

Art

Because of the highly symbolic and allegorical nature that Greek mythology has, European artists during the Renaissance and even today, base their works on characters and events from these myths. Some of the best works of art were influenced by the beauty of Greek mythology.

In the 15th century, renowned Italian sculptor Sandro Botticelli finished his masterpiece, Birth of Venus. Another Italian artist, Gianlorenzo Bernini, created a marble sculpture of Apollo and Daphne in early 17th century. One of the most terrifying scenes in the Theogony, Cronus devouring his children, was also immortalized on canvass by Spanish painter Francisco de Goya. And then, we have the famous painting of Icarus falling from the sky by the Flemish artis Pieter Bruegel. However, in Bruegel's painting, peasant on the fields continue to toil, oblivious to the great event taking place over them. This can be seen as a form of defiance to the control of feudal aristocrats who often patronized works of arts with mythological themes. In the modern world, Greek mythology and architecture has resulted in the adoption and use of many Greek styles. The most common of these styles were the three kinds of columns, the Ionian, Corinthian, and the Doric. Even until now, these “divinely inspired” art forms continue to live on.

Film and Drama

The widespread fame that Greek myths have garnered reached the shores of European countries and have inspired countless operas and dramas. Some of them are worthy of praise and recognition. In the 17th century, Italian composer Claudio Monteverdi orchestrated the operatic dramatizations of these myths with Orfeo (Orpheus), and Il ritorno d'Ulisse in patria (The Return of Ulysses to His Homeland). This continued on to the 20th century with such works as Elektra by German composer Richard Strauss, and Oedipus Rex by Russian composer Igor Stravinsky. Of course, with the advent of motion pictures, the impact of Greek mythology never waned. In fact, a multitude of films about the different myths surfaced. Movies about the Illiad, Jason and the Argonauts, Hercules, and many more became prevalent and only served to further immortalize Greek mythology.

Science (Astronomy)

The effects of Greek mythology is so diverse and powerful that even the skies and heavenly bodies have been ascribed mythological names.

The planets in our solar system were named after Roman gods and goddesses who were in turn, taken from Greek myths. Even the constellations and stars bear the names of the many heroes and characters in Greek myths. The different seasons and natural phenomena were also named after Greek gods and heroes as if to imply that their existence is tantamount to the perfect order of the world. Whatever the reasons may be for naming celestial objects and seemingly magical phenomena, one thing is clear: Greek mythology has its place in the stars.

11 Uses For Peroxide

Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2) is a weak, nearly colorless acid which is basically made up of water and oxygen. Manufacturers have used this acid to bleach paper products, produce rocket fuel and propel submarines through the water. Hydrogen Peroxide is so versatile that it can also be used for many tasks in your home which is usually 3% H2O2 and 97% water (H2O).

1. Take one capful and hold in your mouth for 10 minutes daily, then spit it out. No more canker sores and your teeth will be whiter without expensive pastes. Use it instead of mouthwash. This also acts as a homemade teeth whitener kit at an affordable cost. If you have a terrible toothache and can not get to a dentist right away, put a capful of 3% peroxide into your mouth and hold it for ten minutes several times a day. The pain will lessen greatly.

2. Let your toothbrushes soak in a cup peroxide to keep them free of germs. Now remember the peroxide will loose potency once exposed to the air or stored in a clear bottle.

3. After rinsing off your wooden cutting board, pour peroxide on it to kill salmonella and other bacteria. It can also be used to disinfect your dishwasher, refrigerator or anything in your kitchen for the most part.

4. Kill Fingernail and Toenail Fungus. Soak your fingernails or toenails in a 50/50 solution of hydrogen peroxide every day and it will kill harmful fungus.

5. Put two capfuls into a douche to prevent yeast infections. This has been said to help out reduce the number of yeast infections over time.

6. Fill a spray bottle with a 50/50 mixture of peroxide and water and keep it in every bathroom to disinfect without harming your septic system like bleach or most other disinfectants will.

7. You can put drops in the ear and nose to end colds, flu, and infections. For example, tilt your head back and spray into nostrils with your 50/50 mixture whenever you have a cold, plugged sinus. It will bubble and help to kill the bacteria. Hold for a few minutes then blow your nose into a tissue.

8. And of course, if you like a natural look to your hair, spray the 50/50 solution on your wet hair after a shower and comb it through. You will not have the peroxide burnt blonde hair like the hair dye packages, but more natural highlights if your hair is a light brown, faddish, or dirty blonde. It also lightens gradually so it's not a drastic change.

9. You can also add a cup of peroxide instead of bleach to a load of whites in your laundry to whiten them. If there is blood on clothing, pour directly on the soiled spot. Let it sit for a minute, then rub it and rinse with cold water. Repeat if necessary.

10. Use peroxide to clean mirrors which leaves no streaks – and cheaper!

11. Use as a vegetable wash or soak to kill bacteria and neutralize chemicals. Use it on trees and plants as a natural fungicide, insecticide, and as a weed killer

Note: You want to mix only what you’ll use, otherwise the Peroxide becomes useless. Peroxide needs to be stored in its original brown bottle to keep its strength.

Unholy Alliance Wrecks American Education

You can hardly imagine two people more different than John Dewey and John D. Rockefeller. But these two guys, and their assembled forces, joined in an unholy alliance that is still devastating American schools.

John Dewey, now considered our greatest educator, was a brainiac, a socialist, a nerd. In his pictures, he looks like a man who never played sports, understands nothing about business or finance, and doesn’t have a penny in the bank.

John D. Rockefeller, on the other hand, was one of the world’s greatest businessmen, and one of history’s most successful capitalists. He had $1 billion in the bank, at least.

What could they possibly have in common? It’s not at all obvious, is it? That’s why this is such an interesting and unexpected story.

John Dewey wanted a socialist America. Accordingly, he needed to engineer a more cooperative child. The dirty word for John Dewey was individualism. Heaven for John Dewey was a room full of nearly identical children, all thinking similar thoughts and smiling obediently at their teacher.

John D. Rockefeller, much like Henry Ford, Pierre DuPont, Andrew Carnegie and all the other tycoons and industrialists, needed two things: a stable society and eager, manageable workers.

Now you start to see where the two visions intersected. If a single word must be chosen, that word would be compliant. Neither man had any use for nonconformists or independent types of whatever kind. John Dewey and John Rockefeller wanted people who would do as they were told.

And so, about a century ago, the desires of these two very different men coalesced into a nearly irresistible force with a unified goal: the creation of public schools that would produce adults who were good workers and good socialists. This force operated in complete secrecy. There were never any votes, elections, authorizations of public funds, or discussions in public. John Rockefeller, eager to improve his public image, funneled vast amounts of money into education. John Dewey used a lot of that money to build Teachers College into a vast degree-granting machine. Dewey and his colleagues created the courses, the techniques, the all-encompassing orthodoxy that fulfilled the mutual dreams of Dewey and Rockefeller. Teachers College turned out a progressive, radicalized teacher. Hordes of them were sent out to the small towns of America to transform the children there into obedient workers and docile citizens.

Note that all of these forces, and all these results, were fully in play by 1910. Then, to make matters worse, along came the Russian Revolution and the Third International, circa 1922, which resulted in this country having to contend with a plague of meddlers trying to undermine the society. Then, to make matters even worse, along came the Great Depression, circa 1932, which convinced all of our socialist educators that capitalism was doomed, and now it was time to go for broke: Socialism Today. Even as World War II was fought and won, all of the forces set in motion by Dewey and Rockefeller were fully institutionalized by mid-20th-century. That is, we were stuck with a vast Educational Establishment whose primary concerns were not educational, as that term is usually understood, but ideological.

In many ways this Establishment was anti-American and in some degree an alien presence. That is why the Nation at Risk report of 1983 could conclude that our public schools were so bad that they could seem to have been designed by a hostile foreign power!

But let’s suppose you know none of this history, and you merely look at the practices and proposals of this Educational Establishment. I submit that you would be able to deduce all that I have said, because every proposal has a bizarre and counterintuitive common denominator: it doesn’t work. If an idea is supposed to help X, you can be sure that the test scores for X will decline!

Our educators, so-called, came up with Look-Say in 1930s. (This gimmick is also known as Whole Word, Sight Words and Dolch Words.) We now have 50 million functional illiterates because of this bogus pedagogy. You see the same pattern across the board. New Math and Reform Math don’t teach much math. Self-Esteem doesn’t raise self-esteem. Constructivism keeps children from constructing very much at all in the way of knowledge. Critical Thinking does not create critical thinkers. And so it goes. You can tell that our eucators are playing two games: a public one that honors education, and a secret one that works to make sure people aren’t too well educated.

The unholy dreams of Rockefeller and Dewey are with us still. I say “unholy” because both men conspired to limit the capacity of individual people to achieve all that they possibly could.

Bottom line: Perhaps the most striking feature of our Educational Establishment, now a century in the making, is that it is impervious to change. Personally, I’m not optimistic that bigger budgets or more ingenious policy recommendations will help American education. I suggest we devote more effort to dismantling all the bad ideas in the public schools; then perhaps good ideas can thrive. For an example of demolishing a bad idea, please see “36: The Assault On Math” and other articles on Improve-Education.org.

Want a Better School Year? It’s About Relationships

Forget curriculum. Forget better classroom management programs. Start looking at how you teach and the relationships you have with your students.

As an Empowered Teacher, you need to balance two things masterfully. You must balance important, meaningful relationships with your students with high expectations for them to do competent work. It is not only possible to have both; it is imperative.

As Dr. William Glasser says, “What people fight or resist is control; not education; not relationships." As an Empowered Teacher, you know the teachers you worked your hardest for were the ones you liked and who held you accountable for stretching and growing.

I know today’s students may make it seem difficult, if not impossible, to teach your curriculum. This is a very real challenge if you don’t take the time to get to really know your students, collectively and individually. There is an old expression that says, “People don’t care what they know until they know that you care.” Never is this more true than today in teaching students in our public school systems.

Many of you were taught in your undergraduate programs to make sure you don’t smile at your students until Christmas. This is very poor advice. While it is true, you don’t just want to exclusively get your kids to like you, developing relationships should initially take priority over everything but safety.

Your school year should begin with you spending time introducing yourself in more than a superficial way. Tell them who you are, what you stand for, what you will and won’t do for them, what you will and won’t ask them to do. Spend some time crafting your answers to these questions, keeping in mind what is most important to your students. Then, don’t even look at your curriculum for the first two weeks.

You can’t have a free-for-all with no rules and total anarchy. After introductions, begin with a class meeting to discuss what rules you and your students need to co-exist with each other throughout the school year.

Begin with your non-negotiable priorities. I recommend three. First, you must ensure your room is a safe place to be. Whatever happens, you cannot allow anyone to be hurt on your watch.

Secondly, learning is a priority. While you can’t insist everyone will learn in your room, since you can’t make anyone learn who refuses to. What you can do is ask that if a student is temporarily disengaged from the learning process, that he or she does not get in the way of others learning. In this way, if a student needs a little time out, there is no penalty as long as that student is not disruptive.

Finally, tell your students that you stand for respect. While everyone may have a different definition of respect, no one in your class will say he or she doesn’t want his person and things to be respected.

Once you have those non-negotiables firmly in place, you can openly discuss with your students what specific classroom rules they want to have in place to help honor those non-negotiables.

After getting the rules established, you can go about the business of developing teamwork, cooperation and respect between you and your students and among themselves.

There are many kinesthetic activities that can be used to get to know your students and to help them to know each other. I recommend the book, Classroom of Choice, by Jonathan Erwin to help you with specific exercises to build relationships in your classroom.

Dolch Words: How Dummies Teach Reading

I never stop being amazed: some public schools are still pushing Sight Words and Dolch Words. This is highly irresponsible.

Whole Word rarely works. It expects children to memorize words as graphic designs, which is exceedingly difficult to do.

Please note, there is nothing special about our words that makes them easy to memorize. Memorizing 1000 sight-words is comparable to memorizing 1000 paintings, flags, cars, monuments, or movie stars. Indeed, memorizing English sight-words is probably more difficult than memorizing all these other categories of objects.

I’m always trying to think up quick ways to explain this difficulty, especially to young parents. I believe I’ve got a good one here. As a thought experiment, let’s think of the 100 people you know best. We’ll put their pictures in a projector and flash them randomly on the screen at one per second. Do you think you will be able to name them at that pace? First names are good enough.

Keep in mind that we’re talking about only 100 names; these are the people you know best in the whole world; and presumably there are lots of differences to jar your memory--gender, age, hair color. And one per second is slower than reading speed. But I’ll bet you won’t be able to name those pictures, no, not even for a minute or two.

Memory is capricious. A person you know can come into the room, and your mind goes blank. You turn to somebody and say, “Uh, you know, that guy in accounting...What’s his name?” Happens all the time, right? But during those blank seconds, a lot of pictures flash by.

Now let’s suppose it’s not your favorite 100 people, it’s just 100 people. And you have to memorize their names to the point where you have instant recall of 100 strangers. Doesn’t that sound like a tremendous amount of work? But this is basically the task thrown at little children in first grade, when they are shown their first Dolch List.

Do you know what happens? Many children master the material only in a half-baked way, but the teachers pretend the students can “read” and pass them along. Many children just give up, because very quickly it becomes evident to the children that 100 words is only the beginning. The teachers clearly expect this process to go on and on and on.

School Supplies and Schedules - Getting Back on Track

It is that time of year again -- you know, the time of year when you are running around buying school supplies, looking for discount school supply stores, trying to get it all together… While many parents look forward to this time of year for obvious reasons, they also know the trouble they will have to go to in order to be properly prepared. Getting back on track with school supplies and schedules is a job in and of itself.

During the summer, kids get used to staying up later and getting up when it suits them. When the school season rolls around, it can be difficult to get used to getting up in the morning. It is wise to get a start on going to bed and getting up early. If you start a week or two ahead of time, the transition will be much easier. Start by getting your children out of bed a couple of hours earlier one day. The first day, they will be sleep deprived, but it will be easier for them to get to bed earlier that night. Every day or two set their alarms earlier until they are getting up at the regular time for getting ready for school.

Discount School Supplies

In order to find the best deals on school supplies, you will need to start early. Get a list of needed classroom supplies from teachers if you can. This way, you won’t waste valuable time and money buying unnecessary supplies or end up scrambling to get needed items after school has already begun. You can find discount school supplies in dollar stores and at school supply store sales. Look online for great deals, too. Classroom supplies may include specific books for reading or specific types of binders and folders. Many of these things can be found at online school supply stores for less money than you might think. Backpacks, lunch boxes and planners are easily found online for discount prices. Take advantage of low-cost shipping and you have an edge over time as well as expenses.

Discount school supplies are not the only deals you can find early. Your children will need clothes and shoes as well. Unless your children have stopped growing, it is likely you will have to purchase a whole new wardrobe for them. Being prepared means budgeting for school clothes as much as for classroom supplies. For the best deals on clothing, check warehouse outlets and consignment shops. Shopping online can allow you to comparison shop without the hassle of driving from store to store.

Don’t wait until the bell has rung before asking the important questions about bus scheduling and extra-curricular activities. If you call and make an appointment to meet with teachers or office people before school starts, you may even be able to get all the paperwork out of the way. We all feel overwhelmed when our children bring home medical permissions and information slips, contact questionnaires and various other papers for us to sign. Those who have more than one child can find themselves sitting at the table all evening, wading through the paperwork. If you get this done early, you won’t have to think about it on their first day of school. That clears more time for you to spend listening to them recount their experience on the first day of school.

School supplies can include necessary organization for the home, too. A great idea is to put up a wall calendar that contains all appointments and activities as well as project due dates. Carefully marking these dates makes it easier when it comes to making appointments. This way, you aren’t rushing through the house, phone in hand, trying to find the paper that tells what time the class play (basketball practice, choir…) starts in order to make an appointment for early enough in the day to make it to the school on time.

Being prepared with school supplies and scheduling will go a long way towards making the transition from vacation to school smooth and easy.

Going Back to School – the Good, The Bad and the Ugly

While many look forward to the start of the new school year, it can also be a very stressful time as people scramble to obtain the school supplies, clothing, and accessories that they need or want for the upcoming year. Endless lines form in stores and a mad rush begins. You can, however, avoid such stress and panic and turn what is usually the rush to prepare for going back to school into a few more week of rest and relaxation – the perfect way to the end summer break.

The start of the new school year means that your children are either settling back into routines left behind at the start of summer vacation, or getting into new ones. Most children go to bed later during the summer than during the school year, and parents will have to get kids used to sleeping earlier again as they will have to wake up earlier for school. You should start getting your kids back into their school-time routine a few days before the end of summer vacation, so they have time to get used to the changed sleeping hours.

Kids are often reluctant to go back to school, and you should do your best to make them look forward to it. Tell them about the new friends they will make or the fun new things they will learn in school. Many kids look forward to sharing their experiences over summer break with friends or teachers, and you should encourage this as much as possible.

Another way to make your kids look forward to going back to school is to bring them shopping. While you should not spend exorbitant amounts of money on this, letting your children choose some of their school supplies and other things on the back-to-school supply list can do wonders. In order to beat the usual back-to-school rush, you should start your shopping early, and keep a constant eye out for deals at your local school supply stores.

Some kids are not really comfortable with starting school again because they feel as if they do not know what to expect anymore. You should help to soothe your child's fears by getting them familiar with school again before the school term starts proper. Visit school with your kids before school starts, and if possible, have them meet their new teachers. Some schools even have programs that bring kids from each class together before the term starts, letting them get to know each other beforehand. This helps to reduce the anxiety that a lot of kids feel on the first day of the new school year. Instead of being an unknown quantity, school is once again a familiar and routine place of learning, spending time with classmates and friends, having fun, and getting into trouble.

Getting your kids ready to go back to school is not really a difficult task. All it takes is some effort and preparation, and you will see your kid safely out the door on the first day of school whole and happy. One of the most important things to remember is to start shopping for classroom supplies early, so as to avoid the rush right before school starts. This puts you way in front of most other parents who leave things to the last minute. Remember not to put pressure on yourself, as kids can tell when their parents are stressed, and become stressed in turn.

As long as you start in on things early and make the proper plans to have everything in place ahead of time, you will not feel any pressure at all. You and your child will both be happy and ready for the new school year to begin. Remember that and going back to school will be a joyous occasion for you and your kids.

Supplies For School: Why You Should Buy Early

Waiting to shop for supplies for school doesn’t make a lot of sense if you give it a little consideration. Summer passes far too quickly and the time for school is here before we know it. Don’t wait until the school bells ring to stock up on supplies for school.

It is much easier to find what you are looking for when you get a jump on school supply shopping by doing the bulk of it in the summer. Sure, there are no back to school sales going on in July, but at least you can find what you are looking for and there are places you can go that offer discount school supplies at any time of year. Avoid the hassle of vehicle traffic on the roads and human traffic in the stores. Avoid going to the school supply store only to find bare shelves where the great deals on notebooks and binders used to be before everyone else got their hands on them.

Getting supplies for school can be a relaxing job if you start early. When you are out buying picnic utensils and camping equipment, you may spot a deal on paper, pens and notebooks. Instead of passing by the school supply aisle in the local shopping center because it is summer and you don’t have to think about those things, take a look. Some of the best deals are found out of season.

Most dollar stores have large supplies of notebooks, folders, paper, pencils and pens. When you are out and about, stop at these stores. In ten minutes, you can walk out with supplies for school that didn’t cost you an arm and a leg to buy.

Go online to find supplies for school well before school starts. You can find great deals on backpacks, scientific calculators and even laptops with some searching. It isn’t only for older children, either. If you are of a frugal mind, you can find wholesale elementary school supplies that are available to parents as well as teacher’s supplies for classrooms. Maybe you have neighbors who would appreciate a great deal. You might consider forming an informal co-op to purchase supplies in bulk and help your community save money on supplies for school.

For older students there will likely be extra expenses tied up in software and books. Depending on their classes, assigned books for literature and supplements may be needed. If you have the ability to find out which books will be on the list early, you can purchase them ahead of time. When you wait until everyone else gets the list, you take the chance of local bookstores running out of the books early on. Why take the chance on these special supplies for school being gone when there is something you can do about it right now?

If the school your children are attending require uniforms it is always best to be proactive in getting their clothing early. When you wait too long, the inventory is smaller and you may end up waiting even longer. This leads to having to get “special permission” for your children to wear other clothes or having to borrow items. While it is great to have those options, it can be humiliating for your children as well as for yourself. When you shop early, you can avoid the hassle.

Other sources of school clothing include stores that stock up on fall clothing in the mid-summer months. This is the best time to get school clothes as clothing racks containing fall clothes have yet to be picked over and finding the sizes your children need will not be the chore it is at the start of school. You might also look for great online deals that can be shipped to you by the cheaper standard shipping without the worry of them not getting to you on time.

School supplies can be bought at any time of year. However, if you want great deals without the hassles and the rush, starting in the summer is the smartest way to go about finding the supplies for school that your children will need.

Virginia Tech

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University was founded in 1872 as Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College (VAM). In 1896, the school, which is located at Blacksburg in the state of Virginia, changed its name to Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College and Polytechnic Institute (or VPI for short). Nowadays, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University is more commonly known as Virginia Tech or VT. This polytechnic university is renowned for its programs in architecture, agriculture, business, engineering and science. At present, this school is considered as having the largest population of full time students in Virginia. The students and alumni of this school strive to uphold the school's motto, Ut Prosim, which means "That I May Serve".

Majority of the athletics teams of Virginia Tech are known as the Hokies. However, the swimming team members fondly call themselves "H2Okies", an obvious pun on the chemical formula that represents water. Although many know that Hokie is used to refer to the fans and sports teams of VT, not many are aware of the origins of the word. In 1896, when the name of the school was changed from VAM to VPI, naturally the school needed to change its cheer. So in the same year, the student body held a new-cheer-writing contest. The Old Hokie Cheer, which was penned by OM Stull, won the first prize and was used for several years. According to Stull, the name Hokie was just something that he invented. Eventually, because of the attention-grabbing factor of the cheer, the VT students, fans, alumni, and sports teams were later called the Hokies. Nowadays, a Hokie officially means a loyal VT fan.

Most of the school traditions of Virginia Tech actually originated in 1896. In fact, even the school's official colors – Burnt Orange and Chicago Maroon - were selected in the same year. According to the committee responsible for choosing the colors, they picked the orange-maroon combo because it was a unique and special color blend, never before seen in other sports teams. The official mascot of VT is the Hokie Bird, which is very similar to turkey. The reason behind this was probably because the VT sports teams were previously known as the Fighting Gobblers. Hence, the artists who created the official mascot got their inspiration for the Hokie Bird from the good old turkey. Despite the name change, the VT stuck with their previous turkey motif. The most popular logo of the school is the stylized VT, which cannot only be seen on the uniforms of the athletes, but also on the merchandise sold to promote the school and the teams. In fact, the university had the VT logo trademarked and all merchandise that use it should be licensed.

Within the first few years after the establishment of Virginia Tech, a rivalry with the Virginia Military Institute quickly evolved. As the rivalry deepened, the Military Classic of the South, a yearly football match between VT and VMI, was held on Thanksgiving Day in Roanoke until the '70s. Nowadays, the major rivals of the VT Hokies are the Miami Hurricanes, the West Virginia Mountaineers, and the Virginia Cavaliers.

Algae BioFuel a Literal Way to Go Green

Algae converted in to BioFuel could be a useful addition to the answer of our dependence on foreign fossil fuel. Why give our hard earned money away to outside sources?

As a fan of the Discovery Channel and the Science Channel, when I caught the tail end of the new show Brink and their presentation of Algae to Oil I just had to investigate this just a bit further. Cool stuff Pond Scum "Power".

As the title of this article suggests thing of the past, nature started this process millions of years ago apparently most of the fossil fuels we use today are from pre-historic algae and not just from old dead dinosaurs but this process takes way to long for us to benefit from Mother Nature. Also the U. S. Government was vested in this process back in the mid 1990's

"This is algae's second coming. The first attempt, run by the U.S. government in the wake of the last oil crisis, was killed in 1996 by the Clinton administration while oil hovered around $20 per barrel."
*Popularmechanics

Solazyme is obviously making strides in the technology not only can they drive a vehicle directly with no modification on their fuel but you can cook with the products they are producing as well so it can't be all that bad.

So what has sparked interest in this wave of the future fuel again, well yet again as I have said be for the only way people wake up is to hit them where it hurts in the pocket book. Oil prices per barrel were up in the 120$ range and more.

Cost is the only thing that motivates people, not the brown air they are breathing or the environment that may or may not be accelerating to total disaster.

Now that per gallon prices for gas has dropped back down to acceptable levels my feeling is that people will be lulled back to sleep on this issue of fossil fuels. Don't fall for it, the new administration that will be in power here soon has made it quite clear one of their efforts will be to reduce or eliminate our dependency on foreign sources.

Now the question for you is do you really think they will open drilling off shore, or force via taxes the new revolution of energy?

This Green Fuel is still far from becoming economical to produce, and will not be the end all of energy either. Growing algae for this purpose is very good for the ecology thought because it does consume CO2 and provides Oxygen back to the atmosphere. It will grow in fresh water, salt water, and even sewer water. So its diversity can be utilized any where there is sunlight and a water source. And it has the added benefit of not crossing in to our food supplies like ethanol based fuels.

But still we will be filling our tanks with something that burns, even though it may be better in the manufacturing process and a reduction of pollutants it still burns and emits nasty chemicals. This is why I still think there has got to be a better investment in our future

The Middle and Lower Social Divisions in the Aztec Society

The Aztec word macehualtin designated the people that did not belong to the upper social spheres (artisans, traders, and government officials), but excluded the sphere of the slaves. The word is derived from the verb macehualo, which means “work to earn”, or “work to deserve”. In modern nahuatl, the word has a pejorative meaning, but in the early Aztec times, the word did not have such context. There are various examples in Aztec literature in which the word macehualtin can be translated only as “people”, without any despise. At some point in history, the social conception was formed that the macehualli ignored the good manners. Macehualtoa means “to speak in a primitive way”, and macehualtic can be translated as “vulgar”.

The Mexican macehualli, member of a calpulli in the city of Tenochtitlan had the right to use a piece of land to build a house for his family and to cultivate his crops. His children were admitted in the local schools, and he could take part in the election of the local chiefs, though in the last instance, their final designation was carried out by the emperor. But, as he is still a plebeian, he is subject to heavy duties. In particular, to those duties that relate to the military and public services. The macehualli could be called at any moment to carry out cleaning duties in the streets. They were also called to supply the workforce for the conservation and construction of public roads and bridges. If the palace needed wood or water, a platoon of macehualli was sent in order to carry out the duty.

The Aztec macehualli belonged to a privileged social class when compared to the macehualli of a conquered city, or in comparison to the rural worker. The macehualli paid his taxes, but very similar to the Roman anona, he was also recipient of those taxes paid by the Aztec provinces to the city of Tenochtitlan.

Regarding the opportunities for climbing the social ladder, they were relatively open. The military career and the religious service provided the macehualli of several opportunities. There were also the cases where the favor of a noble lord transformed the life of a macehualli. Such is the case of “Xochitlacotzin”, a gardener who had the courage to make a claim to the emperor Moctezuma II, who was impressed by his honesty and therefore made him a member of his court.

At the bottom of the “free” social classes were the peasants without land, or tlamaitl. Usually victims of wars or civil strikes, they were forced to offer their services to noble lords. In exchange of their services, the noble Aztec lord provided the peasant and his family of shelter and food.

The lowest social class among the Aztecs was occupied by the tlacotlin. There isn’t a proper English term that defines this condition, but is comes close to being a slave. Motolinia, a Franciscan missionary of the XVIth century, described that the Aztec tolacoltin had many benefits when compared to the European condition of slaves. When the Spanish conquerors introduced in Mexico slavery in the European fashion, and many of the native Mexicans were marked like cattle in the face, and were treated harsher than animals, many of those slaves wished for the luck of the Aztec tlacoltin.

What were then the conditions of the Aztecs slaves? First of all, the tlacoltin worked for someone else, usually like an agricultural or domestic worker. The tlacotli did not receive any payment for his services, but he is given shelter, food and clothes like an ordinary citizen. There were the cases of tlacoltin that became the “butlers” of big houses and had under their command free people. Besides this, the tlacoltin could accumulate goods and wealth, and if he had enough, he could also purchase houses, land and even slaves for his own service. An Aztec slave could marry a free woman; often, an Aztec widow married one of her slaves who later became the lord of the house and the chief of the family. Their children were all born free, since there wasn’t any adhered hereditary stigma to the Aztec condition of slave. One of the greatest Aztec emperors, Itzcóatl was the son of Acamapichtli and a slave.

Towards the end of the XVIth century, the number of tlacoltin appeared to be rising. The development of trade with distant territories, tributes and such diversity in lifestyles explain this. In a complex, rapidly changing society, the rise of some people gave as a consequence the fall of others. There was still, however, hope even at the bottom of social Aztec condition.

What Is Inside Wimax Technology (802.16)

WiMAX technology is identified as Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access; it is formed in June 2001 to encourage conformance and interoperability of the WiMAX (IEEE 802.16) standard, officially known as Wireless Metropolitan Area Network (WMAN). WiMAX technology intended to offer wireless data in a related fashion as compare to WiFi but on a outsized level and speed, therefore building national wireless networks with ease.

The driving forces behind WiMAX technology are link-to-multilink microwave networks from organizations for instance Alcatel and Siemens stay alive for years. Alternatively WiMAX offers a consistent technology according to its standard. WiMAX technology open loom could let product manufacturers make revenues of scale via producing number of WiMAX products & components to single IEEE 802.16 standard, this also allow component manufacturers buy low-cost, standards compliant components from rival component providers. This would defiantly help existing wireless service providers.

In addition, service providers lacking a mobile network can start a WiMAX technology network at comparatively stumpy price. WiMAX technology would also allow interoperability among different systems. WiMAX technology will offer high data speed network connections and in this manner serve as a backhaul for WiFi LAN (WLAN) hot spots, where people on the move can access carriers' WiFi services on mobile technology basis. WiMAX technology possibly will offer a much cheaper, easier to build network infrastructure other than the physical medium of WiFi backhauls that cable, T1 or DSL systems presently offer. These issues, together with user’s requirements for broadband facilities, will offer the grounds to markets to grow with WiMAX and wireless-broadband. However, the WiMAX technology faces some solid challenges ahead of it can become commonly accepted by users.

Because WiMAX is based on IEEE 802.16 Standard and HiperMAN, the IEEE and ETSI have each become accustomed it’s standard to take in many of the other's essential characteristics. IEEE 802.16 standard partitioned its MAC (Medium Access Control) layer into sub-layers that hold some different transport equipments and technologies, together with Ethernet, IPv4, IPv6 and other asynchronous transfer mode. This allows traders to use WiMAX technology it doesn’t matter about what technology they support for transmission. WiMAX technology has a wide communication range up to 50 kilometres because principles allows WiMAX network to transfer data at higher rates and because of this move towards use of directional antennas that generates persistent radio signals. WiMAX base station provide service to only 500 users at a time not more than that just because to they are sharing bandwidth and this factor may result in lower date rates among. Technically every single station will possibly provide communication an area inside a 10 miles radius. On the other hand WiFi has a range of only a few hundred feet while other third generation mobile networks have the range of few thousand feet.

As compare to other wireless standards their address broadcastings over particular frequency range, WiMAX network allocates data communication over several broad signal frequency ranges. The capacity to work in several ranges makes the most of the technology's ability to communicate above the frequencies that will evade interference with other wireless network applications. WiMAX system’s communication date rate and range differ a lot depending on implementation usage of frequency bands. These advantages of flexibility allow providers to employ different frequencies that depend on the speed and range needed for a particular data communication. The WiMAX technology attains higher data transmission rates in part by OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing). OFDM amplifies data capacity and bandwidth via dividing broad capacity channels to many narrowband channels; every channel uses different frequencies that can transmit different pieces of a message at the same time.

The spaces between channels are extremely close mutually other than avoiding intervention as nearby channels are orthogonal to each other and therefore no overlapping between them. The primary IEEE 802.16 standard uses the 10 to 66 GHz frequency range. On those higher frequencies WiMAX network needed a straight line of sight among senders & receivers. This factor shrinks the multi path distortion that arises when transmitting signals not follow the line of sight echoed of outsized items and finish off out of organization, in this manner jumbling the inbound communication and reducing bandwidth.

Dropping multi path distortion could therefore enhance the bandwidth. In theory WiMAX network can offer single channel data rates up to 75 Mbits/s equally on the downlink and uplink. Service providers can use several 802.16 channels for single broadcast to offer bandwidths of up to 350 Mb per second.
The accepted IEEE 802.11b WiFi WLAN technology data rate are limited to 11Mbps, on the other hand newer 802.11a and 802.11g provide upto 54Mbps in favourable conditions but practically all of the them transmit at lesser speed. Third generation mobile network technologies will support around 115 Kbps.

As far as security is concerned in WiMAX technology it uses PKI (Public Key Infrastructure) authentication, which transmit via digital certificates by identifying parties over trusted authorities. The IEEE 802.16 system encrypts data by using 56 bit DES (Data Encryption Standard) keys. In the meantime WiMAX network is extremely scalable as it is simple to include broadcast channels to offer extra bandwidth as required.

The expenditure of setting up wireless technology is significantly increases when the wireless services are supplied at higher frequencies as the line of sight constraints required the setting up of further antennas to cover up the equivalent geographical area. The available frequencies for new wireless standards such as IEEE 802.16 are normally higher as some of the other wireless technologies are more sought-after to lower ranges that have been approved for other use.

During the development of WiMAX technology, the WiMAX Forum has strongly supported and encourage the WiMAX technology, which involves a cluster of commercial leaders such as AT&T, Cisco, Samsung, Intel, and some others giants. The WiMAX forum group's workforce is comprised of many working groups that highly focused on regulatory, marketing, technological characteristics. WiMAX product certification program was extended by the certification working group which intends to certify interoperability among WiMAX products from manufacturers internationally.

English Tutor Nyc: Polish Your Skills

English is the most sought after language, as it is spoken world wide in most of the countries. This language has become an essential part of the human lives. It has an influence in each and every field whether it is from student to professor. English is a language that binds us all across the globe. English plays a key role in each and every sector whether it is business or travel. Everyone needs to have a mastery over the queen’s language. It is needed from a mere entrance test to making a good career in any industry. Those who have to appear for some or the other entrance test, can take the help of English tutor in NYC. It can help the person to gain a good command over the language.

Taking the help of an English tutor NYC is the best option and a perfect solution for learning English with a tutor. It assists the students in getting familiar with the terminology of this language so that they may clear the exam without any hassle. If someone has less knowledge and is facing problem in getting the appropriate job, then he can resort to take the guidance of English tutor NYC. What one has to find is a tutor who is capable of delivering what one expects. Thus, before taking the help, one must have a thorough research on the net. Now days, the person need not have to travel to get the details. He can do so only through the comfort of his home. It is just a click away. This process saves time and efforts. It is a hassle free process as there is no paperwork involved in this. One should make sure that one does not fall under the guidance of wrong person as well as his money does not go waste. So it is really helpful to have some research.

For getting the desired level of success, one needs to have clear cut knowledge of the English language. English tutor NYC helps in accomplishing this task. Learning English is not an easy task, so one must find a tutor to get the help. English tutor NYC tries to find out the positive and negative aspects of every student so that the learning procedure can be made more easy and adaptable according to the requirement. English tutor NYC can polish the positive aspects and help in taking you to the level of perfection.

English tutor NYC gets you familiar with the basics of the English grammar. English tutor NYC provides innovative teaching techniques to help the learning more easily. Although learning English language is not a difficult task but inappropriate guidance can make the issues complex. This is because one needs a proper guidance as the rules of grammar are enigmatic. English tutor NYC can help in improving the writing as well as verbal skills dramatically. Hence it is a wise decision to take the help of English tutor NYC and reap the benefits. With English tutor NYC, success is within the one’s grasp.

The Soft Japanese Language

The Japanese language, the language of around a hundred and fifty million individuals and the native tongue of the Japan, Ryukyu and Bonin island inhabitants, boasts its recognition in various parts of the world and is extremely popular in the former Japanese possessions such as Korea and Taiwan. A distinct pitch system, verities of the rich script, presence of dozens of dialect and a pro-drop language has resulted in the Japanese culture being embellished with one of the richest literary heritages in the world. The Japanese language is an exotic blend of three different scripts, Kanji, Hiragana and Katakana all deriving their base from modified Chinese characters. The Latin alphabet Romaji, and Arabic numerals, besides conventional Sino-Japanese numerals also find a place of prominence in the Japanese script.

A vast and varied vocabulary of the Japanese language clearly reflects a strong presence of influence of various other languages on it. Words with high frequencies of use are derived from the Chinese, Indo-European, Portuguese and Dutch languages, the latter two having strong commercial relationship with Japan. Each syllable of the Japanese language has an even, metronome-like beat. The words and phrases become distinct through differences in pitch, stress and emphasis, much of which is typical to English. Despite the presence of dozens of dialects, there is a standard form of the language which is known as the Hyojungo or Kyotsugo being used proficiently by the elite classes of Tokyo and was separate for writing and speaking.

The literary language, Japanese translation “Bungo”, was widely used for writing before the 1900’s but, with time and evolution of the language the spoken form or “Kogo” became more eminent and was used for writing as well, the former being reduced to a measure of adding emphasis and effect by the modern Japanese writers.

Japanese is spoken in a number of ways depending upon the social state of affairs. The ‘intimate style’ is adopted for ordinary everyday conversations while the ‘polite’ form is used delightfully with cultured company. The ‘honorific style’ confers pride and reverence for the superiors and the ‘impersonal style’ finds a prominence in public discussions, meetings and speeches.

Japanese language consists of both inflected and uninflected words which end in either vowels or the letter “n”. All sentences come with the verb at the end and there are no exact expressions for “yes” and “no” i.e. the entire subject has to be repeated with the verb at the end in order to answer a particular question. The Japanese use two tables of syllables in writing symbols, its Japanese translation being known as the Kana. The kana can be hiragana and Katakana, the rounded and square shaped forms respectively and Japanese is ordinarily written with a blend of the kana and Chinese characters called kanamajiri. Development of Japan as a powerful economy, the interest of researchers and students in its rich history and culture and the presence of great works of literature has resulted in widespread popularity of the Japanese Languages.