Looking For Tutor Time?

Looking For Tutor Time?Tutor time in the Northwest has become more affordable for many students in recent years. Student opportunities in the Portland area of the state have improved greatly in recent years and there are a number of charter schools in the region. If you are interested in applying to any of these schools, you may want to consult with your guidance counselor. Most of the opportunities are fixed.A tutor's schedule is usually planned around their own needs. They will go to the school you are interested in and then take an average of two hours for study. It can be very flexible. Generally, a tutor will come to you in one day, on one or two days, a week, or up to two weeks. It depends on the tutor, and also whether they will need to work or not.Sometimes, it is easier for tutors to tutor someone who cannot do much studying on their own. If your child will be unable to work, as in the case of a student with special needs, the school may only require a half hour each day to be able to work. This would give them two hours per week to fit into their schedule. In most cases, this is preferable.The principal need not get involved and the children are left to their own devices. However, if they are working at home with the help of a parent, then you should ensure that they are getting enough help. If the child needs extra help, you will be happy to pay extra for it.You should feel free to arrange a tutor for as little or as much time as you like. If you want to continue working at home after you leave your child at school, then you can arrange for a tutor to come by on weekends or evenings. These schools will need to pay their staff and do all the work for them. But if you are still able to work, you should arrange some time for a tutor to visit you on a regular basis. Although they will be doing most of the work, it is worth arranging a lot of time with them as it will give them a chance to see what you are going through.Because they may need to come to yo ur home on a number of occasions, you should arrange your own timetable. Usually, they will come to you at specified times, but at a minimum you should arrange three visits per week, so that it gives them a chance to see what you are doing. It will also help to arrange to see them when they will be leaving work, because it will save you having to call them at work.However, you should check with the tutor about their timetable. This will allow you to make sure that you can continue doing your work and their tasks will not interfere with yours. As long as you are keen about getting the job done, you will be happy with the arrangement.

How Much Time Should I Spend Practicing Guitar

How Much Time Should I Spend Practicing Guitar Suzy S. When youre beginning to learn guitar, you also have to learn how to practice. Follow this expert advice from guitar teacher Mike B. to find the proper amount of practice time you need to achieve your guitar goals   As a guitar instructor, one of the most common questions I get asked is how often should I practice? Students are told various amounts of time that are deemed proper to practice each day. Some say a half hour, some say an hour, some say more, some say less. With all of these conflicting guitar practice tips how can you make the proper decision regarding the amount of time you spend with your instrument each day? As an instructor, and as a person who practices every day, I feel it all comes down to the individual. Since every person has different interests, different levels of ability, and different goals, it would make sense for everyone to have a different practice schedule. In my opinion, the amount of time one spends practicing should be dictated primarily by your current goals. Your current goals can be defined as the material you need to get through before the next lesson, or any material you want to master outside of your guitar lessons. When you are just starting out and have only been assigned a few chords or melodies to work through it may not make sense to spend an hour a day practicing. It may make more sense to spend fifteen or twenty minutes a day practicing since there isnt much material available to work through. On the other side of the coin, a much more advanced student that has a lot of material to get through should spend more time practicing. The more material you have available to play should equal more time practicing. In an ideal world you should spend however much time is necessary to get through your material each day. In the real world that simply is not always possible, for a few reasons. First, people have schedules, commitments, social lives, and other responsibilities to occupy their day, so they simply can not spend the majority of each day practicing. Second, if you practiced the same exact material every day you would most likely get pretty sick of it. What is important in this situation is to set aside an amount of time that you can commit to each day, and prioritize what needs to be worked on each day. Time When it comes to time spent on the instrument, consistency is key. If you can devote an hour a day Monday through Friday to practice thats great. If you can only devote a half hour a day that works too. Whatever you can come up with will work, as long as you are consistent. Practicing five hours one day and then not touching the guitar for a week will not do you anywhere near as much good as simply playing every day. Material Once you have decided how much time you can realistically devote to the instrument each day, I find it very helpful to list out the material you are seeking to master. For example, say an intermediate student is currently working on chords, scales, arpeggios, a few songs, technique, and reading music. This student has decided to devote forty-five minutes every day to practicing. Within a forty-five minute span of time every one of these subjects could be touched upon. However, it might make more sense for the student to divide these subjects over the span of two days, rather than just one, and alternate his or her practice schedules. When doing this, prioritize what needs the most work, what needs to least amount of work, and assign each subject an amount of time. Some material may need to be touched upon on both days. Some material may be touched upon on both days but in different forms(Major and minor chords for example). For example: Day One     Minor Chords 15 minutes Song 1 10 minutes Scales 5 minutes Technique 10 minutes Reading music 5 minutes Day Two Major Chords 5 minutes Reading music 10 minutes Song 2 5 minutes Song 3 10 minutes Arpeggios 15 minutes By breaking up the material over two days you can spend more time on each subject, and keep your practice schedule fresh and interesting. I dont feel there is a magic answer when it comes to the question how much time should I spend practicing? The right guitar practice tips depend on the student and their goals. Focused and consistent practice will yield the best results. Quality of time spent can be a lot more important that quantity of time spent. Mike B. teaches acoustic guitar, blues guitar, and guitar  in Arcadia, CA.  He received his Bachelors Degree in Guitar Performance from  University of Redlands, as well as his  Masters Degree in Studio and Jazz Guitar from  University of Southern California.  Mike divides his time between performing live, doing recordings, and being an educator.  He has been teaching students since 2004.  Learn more about Mike B. here! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher Photo  by  erik.aldrich

Applying to College is a Process

Applying to College is a Process ACT SAT Prep and College Admissions Blog You may have heard it said before that applying to college is a “process,” and it really is. Additionally, every student’s process is different. However, there are some typical stages a student may go through to find their ideal college, and in this blog we outline them for you. Getting Underway We recommend that students seriously begin the college process during their junior year. If students or families are college-focused, there are things freshman and sophomores can do, but they mostly revolve around earning strong grades and getting involved in activities. Toward the middle of junior year, students can kick- off the college process by determining what qualities they want in an ideal college. Students should consider size, location, major, and other factors to create an initial list of schools. Exploration During the next stage of the process, students will research potential colleges online, in books, through campus visits and other ways. By learning more about colleges, students can determine which schools they really like and which ones they don’t. They can also determine which criteria are more important than others (ie, “It’s really important to me that the school has an equestrian program, so I’ll look at schools smaller than I initially wanted.”) During this stage, it’s important that students verbalize their goals and be realistic about their expectations. It’s also helpful when families plan college visits and attend college-sponsored information sessions. Applications When it comes time to apply to colleges, the stress level can be at an all-time high. Deadlines, essays, resumes, interviews... the list goes on and it can be a lot for a student to manage alone. Parents, school counselors, admission counselors and college counselors are all helpful resources to help students during this time. Financing College At some point, hopefully earlier rather than later, families need to have a conversation about the cost of college and how to pay for it. Honesty is the best policy; parents should let students know what their realistic options are. Students may need to add less expensive colleges to the list, apply to schools where they are likely to receive a grant, and/or apply for scholarships. Decisions, Decisions The final stage of the process is usually the favorite one, but it doesn’t mean it’s always easy. Once a student has (hopefully) a few acceptances to various colleges, the family needs to sit down and weigh the pros and cons of each school. Sometimes it’s an easy decision, but occasionally it’s really difficult. Families need to have these discussions and come up with a decision that everyone is happy with. At Campus Bound, we are college admissions specialists and financial aid experts because we love working with individual students to help them realize their goals and dreams. We enjoy helping parents by answering their questions and taking the stress away from them and their children. If you feel that a college counselor could help you through the process, talk with us for free about the services we offer and how we may be able to help you. Find us at www.campusbound.com or call us at 781-274-8400. Written by: Kristen Bixby, College Counselor for Campus Bound

Art and English Lessons The Scream

Art and English Lessons The Scream Do you like art? Are you learning English? Talking about artwork is a great way to practice your English conversation. Below youll find some great English vocabulary for talking about art.The Scream is the name given to a series of expressionist paintings by the Norwegian artist Edvard Munch.The paintings date back to the late 19th and early 20th century. Today, the series is scattered around Norway in both public and private collections.Today, the painting has become so popular that it has entered popular culture. It is featured in advertising campaigns, cartoons and fans of Wes Craven’s Scream movie series will recognize it as the inspiration for the Ghostface killer’s mask.What does the figure depict?The painting depicts a solitary figure on what is thought to be a promenade (walkway) overlooking Oslo.What words would you use to describe the expression on the figure’s face?Why do you think the figure is holding his head in his hands?There is a term in English to describe peo ple with extreme social anxiety. This term is Agoraphobia. Do you think it applies here?Some experts have said that the figure could be based on a mummy which Munch had seen at an exhibition in Paris.Do you think this is plausible?Sometimes the isolated state of the figure is compared with a disorder called Depersonalization Syndrome in which a person feels a sense of alienation from his/her surroundings and peers.Do you think such a reading could be accurate?How would you describe the relationship between the figure and the couple standing behind him?What does the background depict?What do you think the vivid colors in the background of the painting represent?Some people have suggested that the painting was created at the same time of the eruption of the Indonesian volcano of Krakatoa, the ashes of which later spread throughout Europe.Do you think this could be the case or do you think Munch’s choice of colors was more metaphoric than literal?What do you think of Munch’s choice of a promenade to locate  the figure?See if you learn more about The Scream in this video.Did you find this blog helpful? Please share it on Facebook and Twitter.

2014 italki Challenge update halfway done!

2014 italki Challenge update… halfway done! Lamb is one of our newest italki users and decided to take part in the Language Challenge. He wrote in with this update of his Language Challenge. Its great advice for all Language Challengers (and language learners in general!). Lamb also posted a Public Video Pledge of himself before he started the Challenge. Im sure even at the halfway point, hes already come a long way! Lambs original Notebook Entry (reposted with permission) So last month I signed up for the italki challenge, put my money where my mouth is, and scheduled 20 sessions with a few reputable looking teachers. This was a little frightening because: (1) I had never used italki before, (2) I had never spoken my target language [French] with native speakers before, and (3) I had only just started to learn French from scratch for about a month. A lot of people, myself included, feel a great deal of anxiety about having to speak a language theyre not proficient in. Most of us would rather study textbooks and flashcards and use websites like Duolingo (all great resources that I also recommend) for months on end and hope that speaking takes care of itself. Now, and Ive only put around 12 hours of speaking in, I think I can say that this is the way it works. You get better at speaking by speaking, and the anxiety of speaking goes away the more you do it, too. I dont think that six more months of self-study would have gotten me there. So for anyone whos on the fence: try it out. Start talking. As bad as the anxiety might be, you will be impressed with your own progress and see that its worth it. If all goes well, in a month Ill have finished the challenge and gotten some more money for lessons. But if the worst happensâ€"sessions get cancelled or something unavoidable comes upâ€"I wont lose the progress Ive made so far, nor will I lose the motivation to keep going in March. 2014 italki Challenge update… halfway done! Lamb is one of our newest italki users and decided to take part in the Language Challenge. He wrote in with this update of his Language Challenge. Its great advice for all Language Challengers (and language learners in general!). Lamb also posted a Public Video Pledge of himself before he started the Challenge. Im sure even at the halfway point, hes already come a long way! Lambs original Notebook Entry (reposted with permission) So last month I signed up for the italki challenge, put my money where my mouth is, and scheduled 20 sessions with a few reputable looking teachers. This was a little frightening because: (1) I had never used italki before, (2) I had never spoken my target language [French] with native speakers before, and (3) I had only just started to learn French from scratch for about a month. A lot of people, myself included, feel a great deal of anxiety about having to speak a language theyre not proficient in. Most of us would rather study textbooks and flashcards and use websites like Duolingo (all great resources that I also recommend) for months on end and hope that speaking takes care of itself. Now, and Ive only put around 12 hours of speaking in, I think I can say that this is the way it works. You get better at speaking by speaking, and the anxiety of speaking goes away the more you do it, too. I dont think that six more months of self-study would have gotten me there. So for anyone whos on the fence: try it out. Start talking. As bad as the anxiety might be, you will be impressed with your own progress and see that its worth it. If all goes well, in a month Ill have finished the challenge and gotten some more money for lessons. But if the worst happensâ€"sessions get cancelled or something unavoidable comes upâ€"I wont lose the progress Ive made so far, nor will I lose the motivation to keep going in March.

Get Back Into the Swing of Things After Spring Break

Get Back Into the Swing of Things After Spring Break Five ways to get back into the swing of things after spring break Students are returning to school after spring break and are probably feeling refreshed and renewed from having a week off but it isnt necessarily easy to get back into the swing of things and focus on classroom activities. Depending on how old the student is there are lots of different things they can do to restart a healthy study routine and find a balance for the rest of the school year. Younger kids might need to adjust to small amounts of structure while older students can benefit from focusing on work-life balance. Either way, its important for all students to be able to focus on whats important and do well in school through the end of June struggling to get back into the swing of things after spring break? Our Orange County tutors are here to help! 1.   Maintain a low-stress attitude As students come back to spring break, it can be easy to fall into their old stressful routine which can make it harder to have a work-life balance for the rest of the school year. Its important for students, especially those in high school and college, to maintain a low-stress attitude as they face the spring testing season. College prep students will face advanced placement and college entrance exams while college students will need to focus on a series of finals and term papers. Maintaining a positive mental balance can help students do well in school but also keep life calm and peaceful . 2. Focus on balance Its also important for students to keep a balance when it comes to finishing their schoolwork. Many high school students, especially seniors, will begin to develop senioritis around this time of year. Although its always important to have enough downtime and manage stress, its also important to remain focused on academic assignments. Students can work with a tutor, in person or online, to help them stay organized or refine study skills when necessary. Additionally, students who work in a study group tend to stay motivated because they get to socialize and complete assignments at the same time (READ: 7 Tips For Studying While Traveling). 3.   Improve study skills At this point in the year, some students need to improve already existing study skills so they can be more efficient and focus on the spring testing season. Students can work on how long it takes them to complete assignments, focus in on important elements of their textbook, work on skimming and speed reading, as well as important review. The more refined a student’s study skills are, the more likely they are to be successful and earn good grades. 4. Utilize technology Students are always encouraged to use technology, but Ed Tech can be especially useful when students come back from spring break. Students can use organizational tools online, download apps, or work with their favorite tutor in a digital environment. There is so much technology available these days, but students need to focus on what will work best for them and their study schedule, so they dont become overwhelmed with all of the choices available to them. 5.   Pick good role models Its also essential at this point in the year for students to pick positive role models. Some of their friends will be focusing on college applications or final exams while others will be tempted to skip class or forgo important assignments. When students surround themselves with others who want to be successful and have a great work ethic, they are more likely to be successful themselves. This is especially true when it comes to working in a social environment. Thus students should consider this when they choose who will be in their study group. All blog entries, with the exception of guest bloggers, are written by Tutor Nerds. Are you an education professional? If so, email us at pr@tutornerds.com for guest blogging and collaborations. We want to make this the best free education resource in SoCal, so feel free to suggest what you would like to see us write

Emotional IQ vs. Intellectual IQ by TutorNerds

Emotional IQ vs. Intellectual IQ by TutorNerds Emotional IQ vs. Intellectual IQ: How do they compare? Emotional IQ is the ability to handle complex, difficult and sometimes very sad situations. It is also the ability to navigate intricate social situations. Some children simply have a knack for socializing and are farther along than their peers (want your student to grow more confident and develop social skills? Try one of our in-home Orange County tutors). However, at the end of the day, emotional IQ comes with experience and time. A 35-year-old with a 110 IQ will almost always have a significantly higher emotional IQ than a 15-year-old with a 140 IQ. Some things just come with time. Intellectual IQ is the potential a person has, at any age, to achieve academically and to understand higher levels of thinking. Gifted children (READ: GATE Testing) can find themselves in really tough situations if their adult counterparts expect them to have an adult emotional IQ. A 5-year-old has had 5 years of life experience, not 10 or 20 or 55. Even if their intellectual IQ is 130+ (the “gifted” cutoff), they still need time to grow and learn about emotional situations. Let’s look at some real life examples. Emotional IQ vs Intellectual IQ: Example One A second grader has an intellectual IQ of 135 but the emotional IQ of a seven-year-old. Her reading level is three grade levels above that of her peers and she easily gets bored with second grade books (Have you considered an Irvine private tutor for your childs reading abilities? Check out: Reading Tutoring). It would be easy to give the child a fifth grade reading level book, but this could potentially be a big mistake. Its really important for teachers and parents to look at the content of the higher level books and think about whether or not the student is emotionally ready to handle the content. How would a second grader, no matter what their IQ, respond to learning about the Holocaust for the first time from a book? How would they respond to reading about the West Nile Virus in the newspaper? Content and skill are two very different things. Its important to challenge a gifted learner intellectually while maintaining socially and emotionally appropriate content. Check out what these parents had to say about these books: ProTeacher.net Emotional IQ vs Intellectual IQ: Example Two A sixth grader, who happens to be gifted at math and has a 145 overall intellectual IQ, is struggling socially. Because he has a high IQ, he is expected to understand social situations that juniors and seniors in high school can handle. Just because he is a math whiz, doesn’t mean that he is able to have a relevant conversation with students five or six years his senior. Perhaps when they are 30 and 35-years-old respectively, the social situation will be quite different but a sixth grader will still needs to socialize with sixth graders, even if they are in different classes. I recommend that parents arrange time outside of school for their gifted child to spend with children their own age and have plenty of opportunity to just relax and have fun being 11-years-old. Emotional IQ vs Intellectual IQ: Example Three A gifted child is asked to handle the academic workload of an adult. Many advanced and gifted learners are asked to not only take on the skill level of much older children or adults, but also adhere to the time table of an adult. Most of us sit down and concentrate at a desk for 8 or more hours a day and we have learned to cope with it. As adults, we know when to take breaks, when to get up and walk around and when to simply power through it. Children, no matter how smart they are, are not accustomed to sitting down for more than six hours in a 24 hour period. The beauty of childhood is to spend time outside, spend time with friends, and use the imagination. Adulthood will come all too soon enough and it is important that gifted children get time to simply be children. They need to laugh, play and have fun like all children. Bottom Line Its essential to assess emotional IQ along side with intellectual IQ. The bottom line is that each child will have a potentially vast difference in their intellectual abilities. Some will be musicians, some will be engineers, and others will be artists or dancers. But a six-year-old is a six-year-old and emotional IQ generally doesn’t vary by more than a year or two if the child is under 18. All blog entries are written by Tutor Nerds. Are you an education professional? If so, email us at info@tutornerds.com for guest blogging and collaborations. We want to make this the best free education resource in SoCal, so feel free to suggest what you would like to see us post about. Orange County parents and students, listen up! Beat the summer slowdown with a private, in-home tutor. We work around your schedule so you can stay sharp while having fun in the sun. Read: 10 Reasons You Need a Summer Tutor. What are you waiting for? Call us. Teach.com