Looking For a Tutor Training Handbook? Here Are Some Tips

Looking For a Tutor Training Handbook? Here Are Some TipsIf you have ever wanted to tutor or have considered tutoring but do not know where to start, your first step is to take a look at the many different tutoring handbooks available on the market. A great deal of research is required in order to ensure that you find a reliable and quality handbook. In this article, we will discuss some tips on how to find the best tutor training handbook to meet your needs.Before purchasing any tutor training handbook, you need to take into consideration the amount of time that you plan to invest. Obviously, this would depend on the total time that you will spend each week for the course. You also need to take into account your current level of expertise in the subject of choice. Most people would be able to learn the basics of many subjects within a relatively short period of time if they are given the right tutoring course.Another important thing to consider is the size of the area where you will teach. It is certainly recommended that you purchase a larger sized handbook rather than a smaller one as it is more likely that your pupil will get a more in-depth understanding of the material. Small handbooks are not intended to be a teaching aid, and may not be as well constructed.Once you have decided on the amount of time that you will spend teaching a pupil, the next thing that you need to do is find a reputable tutor training handbook. You can easily find such a handbook on the internet. The search function on your favorite search engine will not return any results for you, so you need to take advantage of the service provided by the relevant online tutoring service.The tutor training handbook will give you information on which subject area you should teach, as well as the various tutoring course options that are available to you. This should help you decide on which is best suited to your needs.Most of the available tutor training handbook will contain a review section tha t will provide feedback from the tutor's previous pupils. If you are confident that you are the best person to teach the subject, this section will be invaluable. As mentioned earlier, it is not always necessary to purchase a full handbook, because many companies offer discounted packages.When considering whether or not to purchase a tutor training handbook, the amount of time that you will spend teaching a pupil, the size of the area where you will teach, the level of expertise that you have in the subject, as well as the cost are all things that should be considered. Once you have taken the above steps, you should be able to find the best tutor training handbook that meets your needs.

Being Strategic Set Goals, Gather Facts, Consider Alternatives, Make Plans

Being Strategic Set Goals, Gather Facts, Consider Alternatives, Make Plans Improving Academic Performance “Strategy is about making choices, trade-offs; it's about deliberately choosing to be different.” -Michael Porter, famous Harvard Business School professor I think training in strategic thinking could be the glue that is missing for many students trying to improve performance at school. By thinking strategically and following a structured process for reaching specific goals, you are far more likely to actually succeed. This article is all about bringing powerful principles of strategy development â€" principles the world’s most successful companies and best MBA programs have been discussing and refining for decades and which I learned both on the job as a strategy consultant for 6 years and in one of those top MBA programs â€" to the process of improving an individual student’s academic performance. As I researched and read about what truly drives academic performance, I realized this notion of employing strategies was extremely underrepresented, although Heidi Grant Halvorson, who is the Associate Director of the Motivation Science Center at the Columbia Business School, in her book Nine Things Successful People do differently. does address head on the topic of employing strategies to reach goals. Any successful business develops a unique system for serving its customers and making a profit for its owners. The create processes for developing and producing products, recruiting employees, marketing and selling to customers, setting goals and plans, etc. The CEO of a large corporation or the owner of a small business generally tend to understand that market trends or customer preferences impact their success, but they intuitively know that they are, to a very large extent, in complete control of the success of their business. If the choices they make are right and they put in the required effort, they business will thrive. Sometimes the right choices aren’t clear, but they are in control of making them. So, it’s natural for a business to be very deliberate about setting strategies and making plans. Students need to do the same. How are good strategies developed? Basic strategy development involves four steps: 1) set a goal, 2) gather facts about how to reach that goal 3) consider alternatives (i.e., different sets of choices) for getting to that goal and 4) make specific plans and assign accountabilities and rewards. Without using too much unnecessary business jargon, let’s walk briefly through the process and point out what’s critical to get right when you’re developing a strategy. We’ll start by discussing these principles in the context of business strategy, and then I’ll use some personal examples to explain how these ideas can be applied in the context of academics. 1. Setting goals First, business must have specific goals, and fewer is better than more. For example, if you are the CEO and you have one goal â€" double profits in three years â€" every decision you make can be linked back to that goal. I’m not saying having this one particular goal is appropriate, but surely it would make decision-making throughout the company clear. Should you close this plant? We’ll, if you’ll save a million dollars without losing any revenue and your only goal is to double profits in three years, you certainly should close the plant, even though that’s a very tough decision to make. Another aspect of this goal is that it’s specific. After three years, the CEO of this business will either have doubled profits, or not. He or she will know if the goal was met without a doubt. But, if your goals as the CEO are to “improve profits for the owners, treat employees well, serve your community, and delight customers,” as you might imagine, you really have no idea whether to close that plant. Closing the plant might improve profits, but it won’t make the employees that get laid off very happy, and it hurts the local community. And, if your goal is to “improve profits,” you can never really know if closing the plant was worth it, because the goal itself isn’t specific enough. Here is an excellent, short blog article about goal setting as applied to individuals’ personal and career decisions. 2. Gathering Facts Businesses pride themselves on being “fact-based,” which is definitely a good thing. They track the moves of competitors, conduct research on their customers’ preferences, and analyze their internal financial data for interesting trends in sales, etc. They then use all of this information to make decisions. Basically any reasonably run business does these things. The practice of fact gathering is something students need to be doing more often and better. Ask a high school student what it takes to get into a Ivy League school, and they’ll probably say a perfect SAT score, perfect grades, a resume chock full of activities, and the probability is extremely low. It is just so competitive. But is this general sentiment true? Here are the facts. Per the above table, the average admission rate, under regular admission timing, is 9%. If you can develop an “average” Ivy League quality application only (i.e., test score, GPA, activities, etc.), and you apply to all 8 Ivy League schools, your chances of getting denied are 91% * 91% * 91% * 91% * 91% * 91% * 91% * 91% = 47%. In other words, the facts actually suggest you have a greater than 50% probability of getting admitted if you can pull together an average Ivy League quality application. Now, of course, the average Ivy League application is strong, but it’s within reach for many high school students to work towards an average Ivy League quality application and resume. Once that happens, the probabilities suggest you can get admitted, not that your chances are incredibly slim. What other facts would you then want to gather in this case? You’d want to know about average test scores, GPA, activities, etc. for those that applied, and of course for those that were admitted, to these schools. 3. Consider Alternatives I’ve consistently been surprised about the extent to which large business don’t effectively use alternatives when developing strategies. All too often, an opportunity arises (i.e., to develop a new product, enter a new country, or buy another company), and facts are gathered to determine whether to do it, or not. That’s it. Using alternatives releases the pressure of this binary decision, and tends to lead to even better options. The way new options are created is sometimes incredibly simple. For example, say a business is considering acquiring a competitor. Everyone knows the competitor is for sale, and the CEO starts asking for as much information (i.e., facts) as possible about whether it’s a good deal or not. Soon, dozens of people are focused on analyzing this opportunity, and forming opinions about whether it’s a good one or not. Let’s assume it’s a really expensive company to buy. All too often, the CEO forgets to step back and consider what other alternatives exists that might also accomplish many of the same objectives that an acquisition would accomplish. What about buying other, smaller, less expensive companies? What about a joint venture, instead of an acquisition? The best alternative should then be chosen after being evaluated against criteria that everyone agrees on. 4. Make plans Business tend to also do a very good job of making plans and assigning accountabilities. If the agreed alternatives is in fact to buy a company, there are many, many things that need to happen. Who is going to build a financial model to determine how much to pay? Who is going to organize the integration of the two facilities, etc.? The specific steps are typically written down, with accountabilities assigned to specific people. Students, and people in general, tend not to make specific plans in this way. We tend to be along for the educational or corporate ride, following the instructions given to use by teachers, guidance counselors, bosses, etc. But, if we have a goals, and we’ve gathered information about how to reach them, and considered some different ways to get there, we can and should write out the specific lists of activities and steps we need to take, hold ourselves accountable for meeting specific deadlines. hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(215486, 'f08a3c58-464f-4164-a82e-313b7951bbb2', {});

Top ten books for great half-term reading

Top ten books for great half-term reading Half-term gives kids a great chance to catch-up on some great, fun, reading time. And with these adventure-packed, hilarious and heart-warming books, we guarantee your child won't get bored this break. Keep their minds sharp and boost their English skills with some of these fabulous new releases: 1. The Racehorse Who Wouldn't Gallop by Clare Balding A classic, funny, animal story about 10-year-old Charlie Bass who is absolutely horse-mad. After her dreams come true and she buys a pony that she thinks is perfect, Charlie faces a major problem; her horse, Noble Warrior, won't gallop. With the family farm at risk of being repossessed and Darby Day just around the corner, Charlie is convinced that Noble Warrior can save the day. Can Charlie enlist the help of her family and help Noble Warrior overcome his nerves? 2. Clover Moon by Jacqueline Wilson Jacqueline Wilson's new book about Clover Moon, a bright, young heroine who's imagination is her escape from her hard life in Victorian London. Sad, moving, exciting, this book has everything and your children will struggle to put it down. A great read for ages 7-12. 3. The World's Worst Children by David Walliams For those who have yet to read this wonderfully funny and entertaining book about truly terrible children, then this half-term is the perfect opportunity. Get ready to meet five beastly boys and five gruesome girls including Dribbling Drew, Grubby Gertrude and Nigel Nit-Boy. An absolute must-read for all young readers who enjoy a good giggle. 4. Double Down (Diary of a Wimpy Kid book 11) by Jeff Kinney The Diary of a Wimpy Kid is a best-selling series and for all those fans this read is an absolute must. Greg's mum is on his back about the amount of time he spends playing video games. With Halloween coming up, Greg discovers a bag of gummy worms and his mind goes into overdrive. Can Greg make a movie and become rich and famous getting his mum off his case in the process? Or will doubling down just double Greg's troubles? 5. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: The Original Screenplay by J.K.Rowling Author of the adored and internationally best-selling Harry Potter books, J.K. Rowling introduces this magnificent adventure-packed story about Newt Scamander, a Magizoologist who arrives in New York. When Newt loses his magical case and some of his unusual beasts escape, there is trouble for everyone. The film Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them will be released in theatres on 18th November. 6. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets: Illustrated Edition by J.K.Rowling, Jim Kay (illustrator) For those who want to revisit Harry Potter with the exceptionally beautiful illustrations by Jim Kay then this book is for you. Unforgettable characters, such as Dobby and Gilderoy Lockhart, and dark, intriguing themes this book is full of humour and magic. Now in year two at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft, Harry Potter and his friends seek out a legendary chamber and the deadly secret it hides. 7. DanTDM: Trayaurus and the Enchanted Crystal by Dan TDM and Daniel Middleton For all YouTube fans this graphic, adventure-filled novel sees Travarus and DanTDM embark on an exciting, yet dangerous adventure when a strange looking crystal plummets to earth and shatters into five pieces. When they recover one of the shards they quickly realise they hold an object that is far more powerful than they have ever known. Follow them on their quest to defeat evil. 8. Holding Up the Universe by Jennifer Niven This heartbreaking and exhilarating love-story is a new best-seller and an absolute favourite half-term read. It tells the story of Libby Strout, the girl once dubbed 'America's fattest teen' and the girl with dreams and Jack Masselin, the charming, Mr.Popular who can't recognise faces. Their lives are pushed together when they both end up in group counselling and the more time they spend together, the less alone they begin to feel. 9. Nevernight by Jay Kristoff This fabulous YA book is based on the story of 16 year-old Mia Corvere who has been having lessons in death since the age of ten. Since the day Mia lost everything she made a promise to seek her revenge. But first she must be trained by the Red School; and Mia is no ordinary student. A wonderful story of a heroine in a dark, dangerous fantasy world. 10. Flawed by Cecelia Ahern 'Flawed' is a great novel about teenage life and trying to keep up with your peers. The story is about a young, beautiful model named Celestine. From a poster girl, Celestine's life is turned upside down after a moment of compassion sees her made an example of. A must read for all teenagers and a great thought-provoker.

GATE Testing

GATE Testing GATE TESTING: What is it all about? GATE stands for Gifted and Talented Education. The definitions for gifted, now gifted and talented, have changed vastly over time. First it was determined solely by an IQ (Intelligence Quotient) test, and then it was based on certain levels of achievement. Some children are highly gifted in one subject, yet score in the mid range for other subjects. What it really comes down to for parents in Orange County is what the school district considers to be gifted and talented. Let’s take a look at what Irvine Unified has to say: To be “identified” as GATE, a student must meet ONE of the following: Score 500 or above in math AND 500 or above in ELA (English Language Arts) on the CST (California Standards Test) Score 95% or higher on the (OLSAT) Otis Lennon School Ability Test. This is given to students in grades 3-6 in the winter months and is also given to middle school students in the summer. Qualify (number TBD) from the results of an IQ test administered by a licensed educational psychologist. Is Your Child Right for GATE? Now that this has been cleared up, let’s figure out if GATE is right for your child. There are some signs that your little one might be gifted: S/he exhibits creative abilities S/he has an excellent memory S/he has a refined sense of humor S/he is highly curious about the world around them S/he has an advanced vocabulary for their age group and uses these words appropriately and in context Advanced language skills The ability to read earlier; starting to read before entering school S/he asks TONS of questions and is only satisfied with complex and thorough answers. The ability to carry out complicated instructions that contain several steps They may insist on figuring things out for themselves when it comes to learning a new task There is more than one type of gifted It is important to remember that there is more than one type of gifted. Some children are gifted in a specific academic subject. For example, I might work with a child who is a math whiz but is classified as typical in ELA. This can be very frustrating for the child because they don’t understand why ELA doesn’t come to them as easily as math. I may also work with a student who is a music virtuoso but doesn’t know how to organize their class work. Some students are gifted socially-they have an in-depth understanding of empathy and natural consequences- but are perhaps average in academic subjects. Other students understand academic subjects with little to no help but struggle socially. With so many different ways a child can be gifted, it is a challenging task for a parent to identify if their child is gifted. This is probably why there are three ways a child can be identified as gifted, instead of just one. It is also important to remember that gifted children often don’t receive high grades if left in a traditional classroom. It is a good idea to ask your local school to test your child if you believe your little one is gifted so that they can be placed in the appropriate classroom. (Gifted children need private tutors too; it helps them develop and refine their skills) Testing for gifted students I mentioned earlier that there are currently three tests for giftedness. The CST, the OLSAT, and an IQ test. Let’s look at those a little closer. The CST covers topics such as word analysis, reading comprehension and writing strategies as well as probability, data analysis, and algebra functions. The OLSAT is an abstract thinking and reasoning test. It looks at spatial reasoning and verbal ability. An IQ test is administered privately by an educational psychologist and measures a child’s potential. All standardized tests have received both praise and criticism by current and past scholars. However, staying informed about the current measurements can help you discover what is best for your child in our generation. 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

Top things to do in Abu Dhabi

Top things to do in Abu Dhabi If you’re thinking of heading overseas to teach in Abu Dhabi, you’re likely in the process to searching for what you’d spend your out-of-class time doing while there. To give you an idea of the wide array of things to see and do, we’ve put together a list of our favorites. One thing’s for sure: Abu Dhabi is likely to be one of your most memorable teach abroad experiences. Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque--Considered the key worship center in the country, the Sheikh Zayed Mosque is the eighth largest mosque in the world and the largest in the UAE. It also incorporates architectural materials from all over the world. You’ve likely seen photos of the mosque if you’ve Googled Abu Dhabi at all, but seeing it in person is something entirely different. Observation Deck at 300 -- If you’re looking for a different view of the city and a whole new dining experience, try the Observation Deck. Found on the 74th level of the Jumeirah at Etihad Towers, the Observation Deck is the highest vantage point in Abu Dhabi where visitors can enjoy the ‘highest High Tea’ in the world. Yas Island -- If you’re looking for a great place to escape the heat and have some fun for an afternoon (or a full day!), visit Yas Island. Yas Waterworld has 43 rides, 5 of which are unique to this water park, and a pearl diving experience. There’s also Ferrari World, with 20 more rides to enjoy including Formula Rossa, the world’s fastest rollercoaster. Emirates Park Zoo -- If it’s wildlife you’re looking for, you’ll find no shortage of it at the Emirates Park Zoo. With elephant encounters, giraffe feedings, a sea lion show, and a full-scale aquarium, the zoo is both an educational and entertaining way to spend the day. Corniche Beach -- Looking for some chill-out time after a busy day at school? Head to Abu Dhabi’s 2 km unisex public beach parallel to the Corniche. It just opened last year and there are plans to add activities to the beach including sports facilities and kayaks. Mangrove Lagoon National Park -- For the eco-adventurers, there’s the Eastern Mangrove Lagoon National Park, which stretches 8 km along Eastern Ring Road in Abu Dhabi. The mangroves are home to 200 fish and 50 bird species, bottlenose dolphins, and dugongs. Etihad Modern Art Gallery -- As one of the most dynamic art galleries in Abu Dhabi, Etihad Modern Art is a must-see for those interested in experiencing the city’s art scene. Aspiring to promote local art, the gallery showcases the works of both emerging and acclaimed artists. Also offered are workshops and art classes for those looking for a little extra-curricular activity. Desert Safaris -- An absolute must for travelers, a desert safari in and around Abu Dhabi has all the elements any good adventure needs. With several options including Liwa desert safaris, Hatta Mountain safaris, skydiving, hot air balloon tours, and much more. If we’ve piqued your interest and you’d like to browse through the current positions that we have in Abu Dhabi, visit our job board.

Saving more money while teaching overseas

Saving more money while teaching overseas It goes without saying that the benefits of teaching overseas are far more numerous than simply salary, but we can appreciate that everyone wants to be able to pay their bills and save a bit of money. Depending on where in the world teachers choose to teach, the amount of take-home pay can vary greatly, but if you read below you’ll find some really simple suggestions to stretch your income and save more. Consider all your options Don’t get your heart set on one specific position until you’ve done some research and compared several positions. If you take a look at the Teach Away job board, you’ll see that we are hiring for a variety of roles all over the world. Almost all of these positions list benefits and salary information, so if you’re looking for a position in Korea, refine your search to show just jobs in Korea and then you can compare the positions that you’re qualified for and apply to whichever interest you. This ultimately gives you the most choice when it comes time to accept a position. Look for a flatmate If you will be responsible for paying for your accommodations from your take-home salary, a flatmate can really cut costs for you. Split rent and share typical housing expenses by living with another teacher. Often, schools will help match teachers if they won’t provide accommodations in the contract. This is also a great way to make a solid friend while teaching overseas. Watch out for tourist traps The cost of living in Canada, the US, the UK, and Australia can be substantially more expensive than living in China, Vietnam, or the UAE. The cost of transit, groceries, basic goods and services, and travel can be much more affordable. This is often why you hear of teachers that managed to save a great deal of their take-home salary while teaching overseas in Asia. One thing to watch out for is tourist traps where you’ll typically pay inflated prices for “tourist friendly” goods and services. Save money by going where the locals go: shop at local markets for groceries and avoid expensive restaurants and bars designed to lure tourists in. Supplement your income by offering private classes Everyone learns differently, and though the classroom setting might work for most people, some people prefer to learn in a more private learning environment. This is where you can come in: if you’re interested in saving a little extra money while teaching overseas, consider looking in to offering private classes in your free time. You can take on as many or as few students as you’d like and you can set your own schedule.

How To Deal With Your Child With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

How To Deal With Your Child With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity DisorderThe Happy Tutor is a very valuable tool for every parent who wants to know how to deal with their children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. You can find out how your child gets that extra little bit of attention they require from time to time. You can also learn how to manage any disruptive behavior you need to deal with your child.This is a very valuable tool that you will be able to use. You will be able to give a voice to your child that is not being heard. If you have tried to handle this situation by ignoring them then you are doing yourself a disservice. If you continue to deal with these issues in a child's life you may be setting them up for trouble later on.A positive outcome from all of this is you will be able to communicate to your child with the Happy Tutor. The happy tutor will give you answers to all of your questions. You will be able to help your child achieve their goals in life.I t is important that you use this type of program. You will be able to find what you need and then use this program on a regular basis to help your child to deal with problems. Parents will be able to find out how they are able to handle problems like this.A parent will be able to find the best answer for each problem. If you are looking for a program that will be very helpful then you should use the Happy Tutor. There are many benefits that will come from using this program.Parents will learn how to deal with these situations with their children. Your child will be able to cope with the children that are in their class better. This is the result of parents using the Happy Tutor.The Happy Tutor can be used to help children who have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. The Happy Tutor will make life much easier for you and your child. Use the Happy Tutor today and learn how to deal with your child's behavior.