What is it Like to Attend Swarthmore College

What is it Like to Attend Swarthmore College The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. David is a New York City tutor specializing in many subjects including SAT prep tutoring. He graduated from Swarthmore College in 2010 with Bachelors degrees in Engineering and Political Science. Check out his review of his alma mater: VT: Describe the campus setting and transportation options.How urban or safe is the campus?Are there buses or do you need a car/bike? David:Swarthmore College is located in the suburbs, 11 miles southwest of Philadelphia. Unlike many suburbs, it has great rail and bus connections to Center City via SEPTA. Within a half hour, its possible to access all of the benefits of a major city. Yet, Swarthmores walkable and bikeable campus, coincident with an arboretum, is so beautiful that its tempting to stay put. VT: How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? David:As a liberal arts college, Swarthmore encourages an atmosphere of constant dialogue between professors and students. Most professors come to Swarthmore with a strong desire to engage with students one-on-one and challenge them to dive into the material. Moreover, most courses are small enough that it is nearly impossible to study at Swarthmore and not form a strong connection with a professor. Professors and students become so close that professors often invite students to their homes for seminar dinners to continue their conversations. In a handful of larger courses, upperclassmen provide teaching assistance as a supplement to in-class instruction. VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? David:Swarthmore is truly a residential college. Nearly 95 percent of students live all four years in campus housing. As such, dorm life tends to be very lively. Students never run out of opportunities to socialize with each other, but that happens in many different ways such as debating the hot political issue of the day, taking in a performance from one of the visiting artists on campus, or even wandering around Crum Woods late at night. The biggest constraint on dorm life is the amount of time students spend reading and studying, as studying is a constant activity. Students work hard and play hard, spending much of their free time joining clubs, groups, and organizing for social justice. VT: Which majors/programs are best represented and supported?What did you study and why? Did the university do a good job supporting your particular area of study? David:Every major is strongly supported by the college. Some of the more common majors include Economics, Political Science, Biology, Engineering, Mathematics, and English Literature. I studied Engineering and Political Science because of my passions for understanding the built environment and the politics that informed societys investments in infrastructure. Swarthmore encouraged me to explore the intersections between seemingly unrelated courses and make connections between areas of study. Given the large number of students graduating with special majors, it is clear that the college values breaking down academic silos. VT: How easy or difficult was it for you to meet people and make friends as a freshman? Does Greek life play a significant role in the campus social life? David:I found it very easy to meet people and make friends in my first year. Living in a dorm lends itself to striking up interesting conversations at unexpected times. The college also hosts many different social events throughout the year. Students can be as involved as they like. Students at Swarthmore can be awkward sometimes, but they are almost always well-intentioned and friendly. Greek life plays a small but fiercely debated role in campus social life. VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? David:The Career Center is primarily useful because of its ability to connect current students with Swarthmore alumni. The colleges alumni work in such a wide range of industries that there is likely to be someone in your field of interest. If not, theres always a former Swarthmore student who will connect you to the right person. Alumni often go on to become leaders in their fields and make contributions that lead to a more vibrant society. Many reputable companies recruit on campus, but its often because of an alumni connection. The Swarthmore alumni network is strong and tightly knit. VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? David:There are many study areas scattered all over campus. The libraries have large and small meeting spaces. Most academic buildings have study alcoves with comfortable seating. There are even a few large common spaces with long tables. Dorm lounges are also used for studying. Around midterms or final exams, spaces can be crowded, but alternatives always exist. VT: Describe the surrounding town. What kinds of outside establishments / things to do are there that make it fun, boring, or somewhere in between?To what extent do students go to the downtown area of the city versus staying near campus? David:The borough of Swarthmore is quiet and fairly boring. It has a charming small-town feel. The town is also a dry one, so there aren't any off-campus bars immediately surrounding the college. For more lively activities, head to Philadelphia or stay on campus. VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? David:The student body is very small, about 1,400 students total. Each class of students is about 360. Some high schools have more students than Swarthmore, but few high schools have such an interesting student body. The size of the student population lends itself to the formation of close friendships and interacting with people who do plenty of other things than you do. It also means class sizes are small on average. The college quotes an 8:1 ratio, with eight students for every one faculty member. This ratio makes for a very personalized educational experience. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. David: One of my fondest memories from Swarthmore was writing my senior paper in political science. I met one-on-one with a professor several times to discuss my research into growth management strategies used in Portland to limit the human impacts of development on the natural environment. The writing experience helped me summarize my political science knowledge and launched me into graduate school for city planning. I've never enjoyed writing a paper as much as I did writing that one. Check out Davids tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

The Cornell University College Experience

The Cornell University College Experience The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences, as well. Steve earned his Bachelors degree in Economics from Cornell University in 2011. He currently tutors many subjects in New York City, specializing inSAT prep tutoring, GRE prep tutoring, and Algebra tutoring. See what he had to say about his time at Cornell University: VT: Describe the campus setting and transportation options. How urban or rural is the campus? Did you feel safe on campus? Are there buses or do you need a car/bike? Steve: Cornell Universitys campus is stunningly beautiful throughout the seasons. It is located near the Finger Lakes in upstate New York, so the atmosphere is generally very rural and safe. Downtown Ithaca is within walking distance, right next to campus. It can get a bit snowy and chilly during the winter, but I love the cold, so it fit me very well. On campus, there are a variety of places for all students, whether you want to find a quiet place to study or an open field to throw a football around with friends. The architecture is a mix between old and new; there are modern buildings, as well as older, Gothic-style halls. To get around campus, most people walk. It takes about 30-40 minutes to get from one end of the campus to the other end, but most of your classes will probably be located close together. Because of how big the campus is, other transportation options include riding a bike, driving a car, or taking a bus. VT: How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Steve: Most professors, advisers, and teaching assistants are very approachable, in spite of their impressive backgrounds. You will occasionally get one or two professors throughout your entire Cornell University career who are a bit grumpy, but overall, office hours are generally flexible, and there are so many people who are willing to help you. VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Steve: Dorm life can be very different depending on which hall you live in. Each hall has its own layoutand thus tends toward different social structures. For example, there is townhouse living, where four people share a townhouse together. Compare that to my first year at Clara Dickson Hall, where it was a very typical boys hallway, girls hallway, and a common lounge in the middle of each floor. Most rooms tend to be pretty spaciousI had a single with a walk-in closet, and I still had plenty of room left for everything else. Dining at Cornell University is amazing. There are a variety of meal plans to choose from, and the food is fantastically delectable. In addition to various ethnic food options, such as dim sum on Saturdays, they also have regular themed-food nights, where chefs prepare food from a particular culture or in relation to the theme of the night. If you get a chance, please visit the Cornell Dairy Bar and try out their ice cream. It is to die for! As far as social life goes, the student population is hugely diverse, so you will meet all sorts of people from all over the world. I was not part of any fraternity while I was there, but I think something like 30% of the campus is associated with Greek life, if you are interested in joining. I do not think finding a healthy social life will be any problem at all. VT: Which majors/programs are best represented and supported?What did you study and why? Did the university do a good job supporting your particular area of study? Steve: My impression was that all majors/programs were all highly supported through campus funding and allocation of resources. I believe Cornell University has an impressive College of Engineering, as well as a highly prominent Hotel Administration major, if you are looking for specific highlighted programs. I studied Economics because I was interested in how people make decisions. You will find that many restaurants often ask people to order dessert before they receive their meal because people tend to order more when they are hungry. It may sound like common sense, but this is part of behavioral economics, and I was fascinated to study those types of decision-making options. I thought the university did a great job of supporting my area of study because I had a lot of access to professors and graduate students for help. I had also switched to Economics from Math during my junior year, and I thought the whole process was very smooth and friendly. VT: How easy or difficult was it for you to meet people and make friends as a freshman? Does Greek life play a significant role in the campus social life? Steve: It was extremely easy for me to make friends as a freshman. There are plenty of events to socialize at, and if you cannot attend those, there are lots of opportunities during class to meet other people. I did not join Greek life, but I do not think it had a dominating role as far as I can remember. They would pass out flyers for certain events and/or fundraisers, and I went to a few parties myself, but Greek life never seemed to overshadow campus life. I think everyone is able to find their own social circle that they feel comfortable with without feeling pressure to join any particular groups. VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Steve: The Career Center helps you work on your resume and really works with you to build your profile. It is a free walk-in service, and they constantly send you emails about job openings in your preferred field(s). There is also a career fair that many high-profile companies send representatives to in order to recruit students. VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Steve: The libraries are gorgeous and easily available. Certain parts of the libraries can get crowded sometimes, especially during prelims or finals time (we call midterms at Cornell University prelims). But there are over ten spacious libraries on campus dedicated to various departments. The student union is located at Willard Straight Hall, but I do not think many students go there to study, especially since there are three libraries within a two-minute walk. Dorm lounges are definitely another option, and there are rules during prelims and finals time to be quiet and to respect other peoples studying time in public areas. VT: Describe the surrounding town. What kinds of outside establishments / things to do are there that make it fun, boring, or somewhere in between?To what extent do students go to the downtown area of the city versus staying near campus? Steve: There is a small downtown area right at the south exit of campus which we call Collegetown. That area has a lot of bars, restaurants, cafs, etc. that fit your general needs. For even more fun activities, restaurants, or other nightlife events, there is a local Commons in downtown Ithaca that is within walking distance, but most people take the bus. It is an excellent local food and shopping area that hosts cool annual events like the Apple Harvest Festival. VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Steve: The student body is around 3,500 students per year, for around 14,000 total undergraduates. The university total for students, including graduates and professionals, is around 21,000. Do not be too intimidated by those numbers. Most of my classes, other than the introductory courses in lecture halls, were between 10 and 30 people. Depending on your major, you might have other fluctuations in class sizes. Generally, I was not happy with the large lecture classes (100+ students), although one of my favorite classes was Psychology 101, which had a class size of 1,000+ students. Yes, a thousand plus. I definitely enjoyed the smaller seminars a lot more, as you could actively participate in discussions and actually get to know the professor and your classmates better. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Steve: I think Psychology 101 with Professor Maas was definitely the most memorable experience for me. I took that class as a freshman, and despite the over 1,000 students that were in Bailey Hall taking that class with me, Professor Maas was able to deliver entertaining yet informative lectures that I still remember to this day. I was skeptical at first, due to the sheer amount of students that were sitting in his lectures, but somehow, he made it work. Sadly, Professor Maas has retired and no longer teaches that class, but I hope you will find your own memorable experience at Cornell University! Check out Steves tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

10 Great Movies About Musicians (and Their Formulas for Success)

10 Great Movies About Musicians (and Their Formulas for Success) Mac There are a ton of movies about musicians out there but what can you learn from them? In this article, music teacher Willy M.  takes you through 10 movies about musicians and reveals their unique tricks  that made them successful “Art is the closest we can come to understanding how a stranger really feels. Roger Ebert When it comes to movies about musicians, we generally see the same pattern in each  story: an unknown artist struggles with their personal demons as they  try to make a name  for themselves, and  they ultimately reach stardom at the expense of their relationships or mental health. While most of these movies fit a cookie-cutter pattern, they also showcase the unique skills and tactics that each artist uses to become successful. Below is a list of 10 movies about musicians that include a brief summary of each  film, as well as each artists special formula for rising to the top. These  movies were selected based on Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score, meaning we picked the top 10 movies based on tens of thousands of audience votes. Are you ready to take an inside look? Lets check them out! Walk the Line (2005) “Walk the Line” is the story of Johnny Cashs rise to fame. It gives a glimpse of both the triumphs and heartaches that come from striving for fame. Johnny had a troubled relationship with his father, and playing music was his way of finding solace. Unfortunately, he turned to drugs for the same reason. The movie demonstrates how Johnny went from one failed relationship to another, eventually conquering his addiction to drugs, and ultimately finding a way to use his music to inspire and bless people (namely  prisoners)  who related to him. Click here to watch the trailer As demonstrated in the film, Johnny Cash learned how to make the I, IV, V pattern work for him. His simple chord structure, under well-crafted melodies, put his songs in the minds of listeners for generations to come. While Johnny Cash songs arent  structurally complex, the melodies are catchy and reminiscent of older folk idioms that continue to inspire and challenge players today. Ray (2004) Many  movies  discuss the dangers of using drugs to fuel creativity, and “Ray” is no exception. Jamie Foxx portrays the late, great Ray Charles in this biopic about his life. In the movie, we see  Rays  rise to fame and his struggle (and ultimate victory) over a heroin addiction. Click here to watch the trailer Foxx’s portrayal of Ray Charles is one of the most accurate depictions of a popular musician moviegoers will see. We see a great deal about the process of making a great recording, and how producing a good record  is often a team effort. Ray has a great band, awesome producers (like the legendary Ahmet Ertegun), and great backup singers (though theyre often at the center of many of his issues). Rays success  shows us that its important to work well with others, and that serving the music should come before serving yourself. Love and Mercy (2014) “Love and Mercy” describes the life of Beach Boy bass player, songwriter, producer, and vocalist, Brian Wilson. The movie shows Brian slowly descend into madness during the recording of the “SMiLE” album. He spent years in a drug-induced fog, until the controversial Dr. Eugene Landy helped “rescue” him from his addictions. But it really took Brian’s love for his wife, Melinda, to rescue him from the clutches of the overbearing Dr. Landy. Click here to watch the trailer Surprise, surprise! This is a film that, yet again, shows the dangers of using drugs to self-medicate, and how they quickened  Wilson’s mental descent. But this film also demonstrates true musical genius when it comes to the amazing melodies and harmonies that Wilson chooses to explore in his music. The true nature of great melodies is demonstrated in the scenes that show Wilson composing. The movie also shows how  some  of Brians melodies are almost lost by the verbal abuse from his  demanding father, Murray. Yet, the powerful melodies endure and inspire us today, which goes to show you that a great melody is practically immortal! Coal Miner’s Daughter (1980) “Coal Miner’s Daughter” tells the story of country singer, Loretta Lynn, and her rise to stardom from the absolute depths of poverty. Her musical endeavors are supported by  her husband,  her  children, and her  manager, Norm Burley. Burley is shown throughout the movie tirelessly  working to promote Lynn’s music. Click here to watch the trailer One of the key takeaways from this movie, aside from the tremendous amount of hard work that Loretta puts into her act, is the amount of effort her family and manager put into it as well. What we see as a successful “solo” act is actually the result of many people working together to bring her music to the world. This is another important lesson that young musicians should know: No matter how good you are as a musician, you cant get anywhere without the support of quality people. This movie teaches us that  when you get to the top, be careful not to step on the people who helped you make it. Amazing Grace (2006) This movie is about the events that led to  the classic Christian  hymn, “Amazing Grace,” and the ending of slavery in England. The movie depicts the work of William Wilberforce, an attorney who strove to end the slave trade in England. One of Wilberforce’s friends and supporters is John Newton, former slave-trader turned churchman. Newton inspires Wilberforce with courage and spiritual strength to stand up against an age-old tradition (slavery) that both men see as pure evil. Newton describes the events that caused him to have a religious conversion, which he sees as giving him a second chance in life. These events inspire the words to the beloved  hymn, Amazing Grace. Click here to watch the trailer This movie teaches many great  lessons that young musicians can learn from, but one that stands out is the power of a lyric. Amazing Graces lyrics show that faith and a new start can truly cause change in both individuals  and society as a whole. John Newton was a scoundrel, but after nearly dying at sea, he became a Christian. Instead of enslaving his fellow man, he spent the rest of his life working to end slavery. His powerful testimony has been passed down in the form of a hymn  and has inspired people from all walks of life to continue to work towards helping people instead of harming them. Amazing Grace shows the value of songwriting and how a truly inspiring song can continue to impact the lives of people for hundreds of years afterwards. The Glenn Miller Story (1954) “The Glenn Miller Story” tells the story  of big band era (1930s-1940s)  band leader, Glenn Miller. Not only was Miller the leader of a famous band, most famous for the song “In the Mood,” but he also served in the Army Air Corps during WWII. His stint in the Air Corps was brief, however, when his plane disappeared  over the English Channel in 1944. Click here to watch the trailer This movie  shows a top notch musician (he played cornet, mandolin and trombone) and band leader who felt a higher calling than just entertainment. He chose to give up a lucrative career as a band leader, at the height of his fame, in order to help stand up against the tyranny of Nazi Germany. And though it ultimately cost him his life, he died for something he believed in, which is a rare thing in the music business these days. The takeaway for modern musicians:  use your music to accomplish great things, and not just to entertain for entertainments sake. La Bamba (1987) La Bamba is  the story of Ritchie Valens, one of the first Hispanic rock stars in the world. The movie follows his rise to stardom, showcasing his  rocky relationships with his family and his girlfriend, Donna. Valens career was tragically cut short because of a  plane crash that also killed another musician on our list, Buddy Holly. Click here to watch the trailer Ritchie Valens was one of the first rock musicians to combine traditional Mexican scales over top of rock rhythms and chord progressions. We see in this movie that talent took Valens a long way, along with his creation  of  a new genre  that combined traditional rock with a new style. La Bamba was a great song because it took the newly developed idiom of rock  and  slapped a folk tune and lyrics onto the new style.  His style was certainly enduring people love La Bamba even to this day! The Buddy Holly Story (1978) “The Buddy Holly Story” tells the tale of early Rock n’ Roll guitar legend, Buddy Holly, and his band, the Crickets. In their brief career, they had hit after hit of great tunes that continue to influence musicians to this day. Click here to watch the trailer Buddy Holly is one of those musicians that, even if you’ve never heard of him, you’ve been influenced by him. Even though he died in the 1950s, musicians for decades to come  were heavily influenced by his music  (e.g.  James Taylor, The Ramones, Don McLean, Tom Petty, the Cars, and many other famous musicians who were  kids in the 50s and early 60s). Buddy Holly’s music shows that a great lyric, melody, and chord progression will last forever.  Not only were his melodies  well-crafted and infectious, but his punctuated singing style was unique at the time and set him apart from other singers. Bound for Glory (1976) “Bound for Glory” describes the events surrounding the life and times of folk legend, Woody Guthrie. When the harrowing Dust Bowl hit Oklahoma in the 1930s, Guthrie left his wife to migrate to Southern California. From there, his music career began. Click here to watch the trailer Guthrie was one of the most influential figures surrounding the folk movement of the 1960s. Even if you haven’t heard of him, you’ve undoubtedly heard of Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Peter, Paul and Mary, or Simon and Garfunkel; they were all heavily influenced by Woody Guthrie. Guthrie’s simple melodies, such as “This Land Is Your Land,” captured a generation of singers who loved to perform his tunes. His rambling lifestyle gave him a great amount of material to write about, as well as  reflect on a tumultuous period of American History, prior to World War II. Woody Guthrie’s life and music demonstrates the importance of the songwriter as a historical record-keeper. The Benny Goodman Story (1956) “The Benny Goodman Story” is not supposed to be the most accurate version of the big band  leader’s life, but it does capture the great music that Benny Goodman produced. The actual details seemed to have been adjusted by Goodman, who was still alive while the movie was being made (and who played most of the clarinet solos that were recorded for the movie). Most of the movie centers around his romance with his wife, Alice Hammond, sister of John Hammond, the guy who discovered Bob Dylan years later. Click here to watch the trailer This movie  is inspirational to young musicians because it shows that you should continue to strive to develop your art and bring your gift to the world, despite the  obstacles that might get in your way. Benny Goodman was wise in his choice of side musicians one of his sidemen was the great jazz drummer, Gene Krupa. Picking great musicians to work with will challenge any musician to strive for greatness. Honorable Mentions Here are some other movies about musicians that are worth checking out too. Click them to watch the trailers: Cadillac Records (2008) Gene Krupa Story (1959) Jersey Boys (2014) Great Balls of Fire (1989) What are your favorite movies about musicians? Comment below with your thoughts! Post Author:  Willy M. Willy M. teaches guitar, ukulele, and mandolin lessons in Winston Salem, NC. Hes the author of the Dead Mans Tuning series of mandolin songbooks, and is a former member of the American Federation of Musicians. Willy has been teaching for 20 years, and his students have ranged in age from young children to folks in their 80s.  Learn more about Willy here! Movie photos courtesy of IMDB 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

Help your Child Deal with Exam Stress

Help your Child Deal with Exam Stress As the exam period approaches, parents can often notice their children getting more uptight, especially if they are sitting the all-important GCSEs, AS or A-Levels. Super-tutor Mark Maclaine provides his top tips for parents to alleviate exam stress.   1. Permission to fail When  children are stressed it is usually because they’re thinking more about the consequences of the exam than the actual exam itself. Sadly, I’m afraid just telling them not to think about the outcome will just make them think about it more! Many of the most successful and happiest students I’ve ever worked with have one thing in common. Their parents are focussed on hard work over grades. I often hear them saying things like “If you can honestly say that you have worked hard and tried your best, then we don’t care what the results are”. Giving a child permission to fail, whilst emphasising the need for putting in the work, is one of the most powerful tools parents have in helping their children. This is also powerful in tutoring. When I’m training tutors I will tell them to congratulate students not for getting a question right, but for showing their working and trying their best. This lifts the focus away from getting questions right, and helps the student learn a valuable lesson - that making mistakes is a good way to learn and hard work pays off in the end. 2. Subconscious stress Many of the students I work with who suffer from extreme exam stress are reacting to the, often unconscious, stress of their own parents. Many parents worry that if their son/daughter isn’t doing well at school then maybe the parents aren’t doing their job properly. Children are extremely good at picking up on this anxiety, no matter how well we think we are hiding it. Be honest with your children. Let them know that although you do want them to do well, you will love them no matter what. Parents often assume their children know this, but when you listen to the stressed children this is may not be the case. 3. Don’t add to the stress Find ways to reduce the amount of things children have to think about before exams, and don’t add to them by making threats. The last thing you want your child thinking about during an exam is losing the XBox, rather than  focusing  on the questions in the paper. 4. See stress as positive Help your children understand what they are likely to be feeling just before an exam. Let them know that their heart rate will often rise and they may feel jittery. This is their body getting them ready for a challenge, and with increased heart rate their brain will be receiving more oxygen - which is a good thing. Recent scientific studies have shown that reframing stress in this way leads to dramatically more positive physiological effects on the body, and can actually help performance. Blood vessels open up and instead of being a hindrance, the stress children feel can be channelled positively. 5. Listen to your child Let your child know that it’s normal to be worried, and that you yourself have been in this position too. Listening to concerns and genuinely empathising, putting yourself in the child’s position, serves to release some of the anxiety. This then allows the child to start opening up to new possibilities. Simply telling children not to stress can often make things worse as it can seem as if you are invalidating their feelings. Ask them if they think there is a lot of pressure on them, and be prepared for them to say yes. Find out what they think will happen if they fail the exam. Listen to their concerns and work together to find ways to combat this together. 6. Use tools such as tutoring and exam preparation sensibly Many children will be reassured by speaking to a tutor who has specialist knowledge of the exam they are about to sit. Just speaking to someone who can tell them exactly what challenges they are likely to face removes the fear of the unknown. But: the last thing you want to do is exhaust your child with too much preparation! A good tutor will tell you when the child is overloaded, and further lessons might actually be detrimental to performance. If you or your child would like a tutor then why not book a tutor to come to your house from the Tutorfair website.

Homework Routines That Work for Kids with ADHD

Homework Routines That Work for Kids with ADHD As a therapist I hear over and over again from parents and kids with ADHD that homework is the number one cause of frustration, stress, and arguments at home. This is true whether kids are in elementary school and have only 20 minutes of homework each night or they are in high school and have an hour or more of homework to do each day. Why? While it might seem like it should be simple enough to just sit down and do your homework, the task of doing homework actually requires many complex skills that are hard for kids with ADHD, like getting started right away, staying focused on something that is not interesting, delaying gratification (since homework comes with no immediate reward), organizing and prioritizing assignments, sitting still for an extended period of time, and blocking out distractions. On top of this, the same ADHD symptoms that make it hard to do homework interfere with learning during the school day, which means a child may not have absorbed all the academic knowledge and skills needed to complete any given assignment. When we take a step back and think about homework from this perspective, it starts to become a little clearer why kids with ADHD struggle the way that they do. The good news is that despite the complexity of the problem there are some fairly simple things parents can do to help make homework time easier. The first, which I talked about in my last post, is to create a homework station designed specifically for a child with ADHD. The second is to create a simple homework routine that lays out the steps your child needs to complete each day and rewards him or her for his or her effort. When both the homework station and homework routine are used consistently, homework time becomes infinitely easier for kids with ADHD. Steps for creating a homework routine: Time of day. Have your child do homework as soon as possible after he or she gets home from school or after-school activities. The later it gets the more fatigued kids become, and the harder it is for them to stay focused and on task during homework time. And as much as possible, have your child do his or her homework at the same time each day. If after-school schedules make this difficult, then aim to create as much consistency as possible for example, on Tuesdays and Thursdays homework time is 4:30 and on Mondays and Wednesdays homework time is 6:00. Use a timer to build in homework breaks. Many younger kids with ADHD can only stay on task for about 10 minutes, and some older kids or teens with ADHD max out at around 20 or 30 minutes. Plan for this by building 5-minute breaks into the homework routine. Have your child set a timer for the first stretch of work time (15 minutes, for example). Your childs job is to work consistently during this time. Then when the timer goes off he or she gets a 5-minute break. Make sure your child sets a timer for this break period and gets back to work for the next 15-minute segment once the break is over. Some parents worry that if their child takes a break he or she will never get back to work, but as long as you build this into your homework plan and reward your child for getting back to work quickly when the break is over, you should see that he or she actually gets more work done with breaks than he or she would with no breaks at all. Clear expectations. Provide your child with clear expectations around the behaviors you want to see during homework time. Really think through the small steps that you want him or her to take, regardless of what his or her specific homework assignments might be. Focus on things like getting started right way, continuing to work until the timer goes off, and getting back to work right away when the break is over. Try to keep your expectations limited to just 5 steps. For example: Get started on your homework right away at your homework station (with only 1 reminder from an adult). Use a timer for homework time (10 minutes) and break times (5 minutes). Get back to work right away when a break is over. Try to answer each question or problem at least once before asking for help. Keep working until your timer goes off or your homework is finished. Build in rewards. First you work then you play is a good rule of thumb for everyone to learn and follow, and this is especially true for kids with ADHD. When it comes to doing homework, you can use this rule to create natural rewards that your child can earn when he or she finishes his or her work and has met your clear expectations. Think about fun activities your child likes to do that be used to motivate him or her to get homework done quickly. These can be things like playing with favorite Legos, playing outside, getting a limited amount of screen time, building forts out of pillows and blankets, etc. If time in the evening is very limited and you feel like you wont be able to squeeze in a fun activity on some nights, then you can allow your child to earn a small reward instead (check out my post on quick and easy reward ideas for families). Sit down with your child and create a list of activities or tangible rewards they can earn for meeting homework expectations. Make a When-Then plan. Use the list of homework expectations and the list of possible rewards to create a When-Then plan. When you complete your homework and meet the expectations, Then you can choose one activity or reward from the list. Print your When-Then plan and post it on a wall near your childs homework station so he or she can see it while he or she works. If your child starts to get off track, remind him or her about the plan and give your child an opportunity to refocus on work. SAMPLE HOMEWORK WHEN-THEN PLAN WHEN I FINISH THESE STEPS: Get started on my homework right away at my homework station (with only 1 reminder from an adult) Use a timer for homework (10 minutes) and breaks (5 minutes) Restart my homework work right away when my break is over Try to answer each question or problem at least once before asking for help Keep working until my timer goes off or my homework is finished THEN I CAN CHOOSE ONE FUN ACTIVITY OR REWARD: Play with Legos Build a fort 20 minutes of Minecraft Play outside Pick out a special treat to pack for tomorrows lunch Following these 5 steps to create a homework routine for your child will go a long way in helping to make homework time less stressful for you and your child. Your child will have an easier time getting started on his or her work and staying focused until homework is finished. Plus, your child will be finishing homework more quickly, leaving more time for the fun activities and family time that everyone enjoys! ABOUT DR. MARY ROONEY Mary Rooney, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California San Francisco. Dr Rooney is a researcher and clinician specializing in the evaluation and treatment of ADHD and co-occurring behavioral, anxiety, and mood disorders. A strong advocate for those with attention and behavior problems, Dr. Rooney is committed to developing and providing comprehensive, cutting edge treatments tailored to meet the unique needs of each child and adolescent. Dr. Rooney's clinical interventions and research avenues emphasize working closely with parents and teachers to create supportive, structured home and school environments that enable children and adolescents to reach their full potential. In addition, Dr. Rooney serves as a consultant and ADHD expert to Huntington Learning Centers. ABOUT HUNTINGTON Huntington Learning Center is the tutoring and test prep leader. Its certified tutors provide individualized instruction in reading, phonics, writing, study skills, elementary and middle school math, Algebra through Calculus, Chemistry, and other sciences. It preps for the SAT and ACT, as well as state and standardized exams. Huntington programs develop the skills, confidence, and motivation to help students of all levels succeed and meet the needs of Common Core State Standards. Founded in 1977, Huntington's mission is to give every student the best education possible. Call us today at 1.800.CAN LEARN to discuss how Huntington can help your child. For franchise opportunities please visit www.huntingtonfranchise.com. This website does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The material on this site is provided for educational purposes only.

QEHC

QEHC QEHC Quality Education Holding Company was founded in (2009, 1430H) to support the educational process in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; relying on the extensive experience of its members and employees in the fields of education, training and management, it successfully established many private and international schools, institutes and science academies all around the Kingdom. The Quality Education Company aims to advance the quality of the educational process and to provide the best services in this area; it is characterized by its adoption of advancedtechnology in the areas of education and training.Following a strong and effective approach to providing the best of services, the company initiated its journey in the education and training areas distinctly, compared to other similar companies.Believing in the importance of e-learning and distance training, a specialized department was established to design digital libraries, interactive e-books, and the orientation process of remote trainin g; where each person chooses their preferred time and date to attend the session while residing at home or being at work.The provision of excellent quality services is what distinguishes the Quality Education Company from many others. This is clearly shown through its numerous achievements in a short period of time, concluding several agreements with local, regional and global institutes and educational institutions, and cooperating with major universities to provide our customers with the best of services.

8 ways to make new connections while teaching abroad

8 ways to make new connections while teaching abroad One of the most intimidating parts of teaching abroad is the thought of going it alone. Even if you’re an extrovert, striking out on your own is scary and the thought that you don’t know who’ll you’ll be celebrating your next birthday with or even simply hanging out with on the weekends can feel downright weird. But on the flipside, the friendships you make abroad can be some of the most enriching and rewarding aspects of your time there. You’ll meet people you never expected, from places you’ve never been to and expand your social network wider than you ever imagined. Sounds magical, doesn’t it? So, where do you begin? Use your existing network You never know who has friends or family in the place you’re moving to. Maybe your cousin has a friend in Beijing or your colleague has a brother in Sao Paulo. Making new connections from established ones is great because you already have a bit of a connection to the person you’ll meet, and a recommendation from someone you already know and like. So, ask around or write a status update on your social media, and see who find you! Get to know your colleagues When you arrive in your new home, get to know your colleagues. Some of them might not be from overseas, but even if they’re not, they’ll definitely be able to give you useful insights into what it’s like to live in this country. Make sure you say yes to any work social events and if there aren’t any, why not try organizing one yourself? Or you can schedule individual coffee dates with your colleagues to try and get to know them better one on one. Get out there IRL If you want to meet people you have to be around, well... people! A good place to start is by exploring your local neighborhood. Say hi to your neighbors, find places you like going to and become a regular face there, and you could even check out your local library for community events. Beyond this, say yes to any invitations that come your way. It might feel weird turning up to things alone, or taking up opportunities that wouldn’t normally interest you, but you never know where you might meet someone interesting. One of the first things to do is to enter new places with a positive, can-do attitude. Follow your interests If you’ve ever wanted to volunteer, join a sports league or take up a new hobby, now’s the time to do it! You’ll meet new people with similar interests, get to know more about the place where you live and follow your passions all in one go. If you’re not into joining groups, try going to events that look interesting to you. Anyone you meet there obviously shares your interest, so kicking off a conversation with a stranger won’t be too difficult. Tap into the expat community In most cases, there are sure to be other expats in your new home who understand just how it feels to move abroad on your own and is open to starting friendships. Bars and restaurants based on a particular culture can be a great place to meet people from your home culture. You can even find online groups detected Rethink your living space Next up, your living space might not seem like a hotspot for making connections, but let’s look into it. When you first arrive in a new place, how about staying in a hostel while you’re looking for permanent accommodation Sure, people in hostels can pass through pretty quickly, but you might meet others in the same position as you or get along with the staff, or find the hostel has great social spaces that you can come back and hang out in even after you find a permanent place to live. Living in a share house can also a great way to meet people, especially locals. Once you get to know your housemates, you can get to know their friends too, and before you know it, you’ve got the makings of a community. Connect online Lastly, finding social groups online can be a great way to connect with people IRL in your new home. Searching for expat groups or groups based on mutual interests on Meet-up, Facebook and even Instagram can be a great way to get in touch with people. And there are plenty of groups (like Teach Away’s Community!) out there too where you can share tips and advice about moving abroad and make new connections. Attend events hosted by your embassy If you are working somewhere that has a strong relationship with your home country, then it is likely that your home country will have a robust embassy and cultural presence there. What does this mean for you? Well, embassies and cultural centers will host events that celebrate their nation or bring together expats and are open to the public. These events can range from film screenings, food festivals, concerts, seminars and more. It’s a great way to ease your homesickness and find people who speak your language or know your traditions. Find your embassy or cultural center, and on their website and/or social media pages, you will see their upcoming events posted. A final few tips: Keep an open mind. When you're overseas, you’ll meet people from different cultures with completely different worldviews to your own. Keep an open mind when you meet new people that you don’t understand straight away, as they might end up teaching you more than you expect. Keep going. Not everyone you meet is going to be your new BFF, and you might have to sit through a few awkward coffee dates before you find people you truly connect with. Accept that making new friends will take time and keep putting yourself out there. You never know who you’ll meet next. Take the initiative. If you meet someone you click with, ask for their number and follow up with them. Simple, right? This might feel super awkward at first, but ultimately you’re paying someone a huge compliment by saying you want to keep in touch with them. Who wouldn’t be flattered? Be patient. Even when you meet someone you click with, it can take time to go from acquaintances to friends. Invest time in people and give friendships space to progress at their own pace. Remember, everyone feels scared about going it alone when they move abroad. But with a little time and effort, you absolutely will create friendships that last through your overseas adventure, andâ€"who knows?â€"maybe long into the future.

Alumni series Anchen on living and teaching in Abu Dhabi

Alumni series Anchen on living and teaching in Abu Dhabi The United Arab Emirates (UAE), home to some of the most high-paying teaching jobs in the world, is a perennially attractive prospect for certified international teachers. If you’re thinking about teaching in the UAE, you probably have a ton of questions about what day-to-day life is like living and teaching there. That’s why we recently jumped at the chance to catch up with Anchen Besselaar, a middle-school science teacher from South Africa and one of our Teach Away alum, to ask a few questions about life in Abu Dhabi and what it’s like teaching with Abu Dhabi public schools! Anchen has taught in Al Ain, Abu Dhabi for just over a year now and has plenty to say about her experience teaching abroad so far! Anchen and family! So, let’s hear it from Anchen: What do you love most about being a teacher? Anchen: Since I stepped into my very first classroom five years ago, the best part about my job has been interacting with my students every day. I love the feeling that I’m making a difference in their lives by helping them learn more about the world around them and (hopefully!) instilling a lifelong love of science in them. Getting to witness first hand that “aha” moment, when my students suddenly understand a difficult concept or master a new skill and their faces light up - I feel so privileged to be a part of that. Can you give us a quick overview of your teaching career before moving to Abu Dhabi to teach with the Abu Dhabi Education Council? Sure! Before teaching with Abu Dhabi public schools, I spent five years teaching grade 8 natural science and grades 10 - 12 biology. Before moving to the UAE, had you lived or traveled abroad before? Yes! I moved to Sweden for an exchange program after completing my master's degree in environmentalsciences. I loved sharing my passion for science with my students. Their love of learning was what initially fueled my passion for teaching, actually. What sparked your interest in heading abroad to teach? Teaching abroad is a big decision and definitely not one that should be made lightly. But I was lucky enough to have lots of friends who had taught overseas in various countries all over the world, who gave me some honest insight into both the upsides and challenges of living and teaching abroad. Seeing them have the freedom to travel, experience new foods, cultures and meet new people - I got a serious case of FOMO and decided to take the plunge and teach overseas, too. What made you choose Teach Away as a recruiter? A friend of mine had been placed through Teach Away in the past and had only good things to say about her experience! She recommended that I check out the Teach Away job board and see if there were any opportunities that fit my experience and credentials. Luckily enough, I saw that Abu Dhabi public schools were hiring science teachers and jumped at the chance to get my application in! Can you share your experience of applying and interviewing for jobs through Teach Away? I have only good things to say about my experience of applying and interviewing through Teach Away. The whole team - especially my Placement Coordinator, Chantelle - were amazing and very helpful. They were always available to answer the many questions I bombarded them with on the phone and over email. They worked tirelessly to set me up for success throughout the whole hiring process with Abu Dhabi public schools. They really knew what we are talking about because they had also taught all over the world and really know everything there is to know about interviewing and getting hired to teach abroad. Teach Away also has a great support system in place for job candidates, organizing everything from live information sessions to Facebook groups. Even though I’m a year into my new teaching job in Abu Dhabi now, they still check in to offer guidance and support, to this very day! Sign up to Teach Away today for access to the latest teaching jobs around the world. What are your pro tips for anyone currently going through the interview process for a teaching job abroad? No matter how many interviews you’ve done, they’re still a nerve-racking process! Here are three tips that helped me nail my interview with Abu Dhabi public schools: 1. Bring a portfolio, preferably digital/online with you to the interview. This is a really useful asset you can draw on throughout your interview to showcase your ideas and accomplishments as a teacher and better support your answers. 2. Do your research before the interview. The more you know about the school you’re interviewing at, the more a prospective employer will grow to see you as a great candidate! You’ll be able to find plenty of information about the school on their website and on Teach Away. Read up on their history, mission and values, which will help to show you’re interested in the job as well as the families and students you’ll be working with.Bonus: This will also help you think up some insightful and informed questions to ask during your interview, and to gauge whether the school is the right fit for you! 3. Ask your Teach Away Placement Coordinator or the Teach Away Facebook group what you’re likely to be asked at your interview. Plan ahead on how you’ll answer questions on specific topics around teaching your subject or age range. And don’t forget to support your answers with concrete examples! In making your decision to choose a teach abroad program, what were the top three things that you considered to help make your decision? While there were lots of things that factored into my decision to apply for a teaching job abroad, for me, the top three were: Would my family be able to move with me? Will this job be a step forward financially? How does this job align with my broader career goals? What should teachers who are relocating abroad for the first time do to best prepare for living somewhere new? Firstly: research, research, research! Do your research online about your new home country and everything you need to do to prepare for life there, including local customs, laws and the language. Next, reach out to as many people as you can find who are also living/have lived in the place you’re moving to. Scope out your Facebook friends list and ask people if they know of anyone you can talk to! This is also a great way to meet some new friends where you’ll be teaching. Finally, and I can’t overstate this one enough: it’s important to be flexible! Being able to adjust to new situations and move past unexpected obstacles as they arise will key to successfully adapting to your new life overseas. You need to be open to new experiences and ready to try anything new. What three pieces of advice would you offer a certified teacher who has never taught or traveled abroad, but would like to? 1. Don’t stress about being a little older and worrying that you’ve already missed your chance to teach abroad! I can promise you - teaching abroad isn’t just for new grads in their early twenties! I’ve worked with teachers overseas of all ages and at all career levels. And for any parents planning on teaching overseas, make sure you do some research on some of the programs that offer free or subsidized tuition for your children in their benefits packages. Tuition can be prohibitively expensive otherwise and that program may not be realistic for you or your family. 2. Don’t worry about not speaking the language - you'll be able to pick up some of the lingo and learn some key phrases as you go! 3. There’s a lot of conflicting advice out there on how to get started with teaching abroad - trust me, I’ve been in your shoes! Make sure you sign up for a well-established recruitment agency, like Teach Away, who have a team of experts that can talk you through everything you need to consider when applying to teach abroad. Did you encounter any challenges to start with? There’s no doubt that there are quite a few hurdles to overcome when you’re teaching abroad for the first time. I had to leave behind everything that was familiar to me - including the city I’d grown up in and my entire social circle. So that took some getting used to - luckily I had my spouse and kids with me. Setting up regular Skype calls with my family and friends back home also helped combat the homesickness. I also had to modify my communication style in the classroom to account for the fact that I was teaching predominantly English language learners. Everything from speaking more slowly to simplifying my instructions and drawing on non-verbal cues - these all have helped make the process of teaching and learning easier for me and my students. What’s the best part about living and teaching in the UAE? For me, the best part by far has been the exposure my children are getting on a daily basis to new cultures, friends andlife experiences. I feel like they’re really gaining a greater appreciation for the world and a taste for adventure! Abu Dhabi has plenty of family-friendly activities on offer, too. How has your teach abroad experience helped shape you as an educator? It’s really made me aware the impact of cultural differences in the classroom and how to adjust my own teaching style to reach my students more effectively. It’s also made me much more flexible and patient as an educator. I’m so much more confident in my ability to solve problems and deal with challenging circumstances in the classroom than before I taught abroad. I’m also so much better at communicating with teachers, students and parents with different upbringings and cultural backgrounds. These are all very valuable skills that I feel will be extremely beneficial, not only for my teaching career but for my own personal growth, too. How has your family's lifestyle changed when factoring in the cost of living in Abu Dhabi? We actually have a better lifestyle than back home here - the cost of living is relatively low when compared to the salary teaching in Abu Dhabi, which is great when you’re raising a young family. At the same time, we’re also able to save money for the futurewhen we do return home. What’s been your most memorable teach abroad moment so far? That happened pretty recently, actually! I met a parent in a grocery shop the other day who thanked me for the impact I’ve made on her child, by providing a positive, caring learning environment and encouraging and believing in them. It was such a great reminder of why teaching is such an amazing and worthwhile profession! And last, but not least: do you have a favorite quote, mantra or philosophy to teach by?! If I can make a difference in one student’s life, I’ve succeeded as a teacher! Want to hear more first-hand stories from teachers in Abu Dhabi? Have a read of Lindsey’s experience teaching in Abu Dhabi. PS: Don’t forget to click and apply for our job postings in Abu Dhabi public schools in 2018!