Friday, March 6, 2020

How to Be a Transformational Teacher in 2020

How to Be a Transformational Teacher in 2020 In business, you often hear about transformational leadership, wherein leaders create a vision, inspire others to achieve that vision, and execute important change with buy-in from those around them. So, what does transformational teaching look like? Research published in Educational Psychology Review describes transformational teaching as creating dynamic relationships between teachers, students, and a shared body of knowledge to promote student learning and personal growth. Here are several tips to help you engage in transformational teaching practices that have a long-lasting, positive impact on your students: Engage students in active learning. Your students should not be passive receivers of information; rather, they should be active participants in their own learning. Assign work and activities that invite them to explore ideas, analyze, synthesize, and articulate their thinking. Aim for student-centered learning. Differentiate your instruction by paying close attention to students needs, abilities, interests, and learning styles. Give your students choices (when feasible) and autonomy. Foster their responsibility as self-directed learners. Foster collaborative learning. Encourage students to work together, but also create experiences that give them opportunities to solve problems and discuss one anothers ideas. Allow your students to challenge themselves and their understanding of different concepts. Whenever possible, have your students tackle complex problems independently and in small groups. Scaffold your lessons through good modeling activities, guiding them to be independent as learners. You want to help students master content while also maximizing their potential, both in the classroom and life. Guide them, support them, and teach to them to think. The results will amaze you. Transformational Teaching: Theoretical Underpinnings, Basic Principles, and Core Methods by George M. Slavich and Philip G. Zimbardo, Educational Psychology Review, December 2012

Thursday, March 5, 2020

Great Online Maths Resources

Great Online Maths Resources Our fantastic community of tutors here at Tutorfair have produced some great online maths resources to help students build in confidence and ability. Maths Games The Game of 24 Practice your mental arithmetic with this great card game Primary Logic Problems Three logic puzzles for primary level Maths Challenge Key Stage 1 Fun maths challenge covering topics including sums, multiplication, and primes Maths Geometry An application that teaches Euclidean Geometry in a fun way Area dice game A strategic game to improve conceptual understanding of area Worksheets and exercises Adding and Subtracting fractions Step-by step explanation simplifying the steps Manipulating Equations A worksheet to practice manipulating linear equations Converting Equations into Slope-Intercept Form Exercise to practice basic manipulation of equations and prepare for graphing exercises Finding missing Angles- Parallel Lines GCSE Use the four rules of parallel lines to find the missing angles on this worksheet Online tools Free online Graphing and Algebra Software Links to free programs that allows you to visually illustrate the solutions of a problem Scientific Calculator   Download a digital stimulator for a scientific calculator   To contact any of these great tutors, you can reach their profile through their resource. Alternatively,  visit our maths tutors  page  and find local tutors in your area covering all levels from Key stage1 through to GCSE and A-level.

Private tuition for the gifted child

Private tuition for the gifted child Gifted children are natural learners, they may have an eye for important detail are often inquisitive, yet sceptical too. They have a curiosity to seek information for its own sake whether useful or not! You may find that the gifted child likes to read on their own, often preferring books written for children older than themselves. Gifted children are also very creative, they are flexible thinkers and able to use many different alternatives and approaches to problem solving. They can be extremely curious about objects, ideas, situations or events and enjoy fantasising and using their imagination. You may think that a gifted or very able child needs no help with their academic learning - just leave them to it and they will pass their exams with flying colours. Or perhaps you think that having a gifted child means you must constantly push them to achieve excellent results at all times in all subjects? Some gifted children can have hidden learning disabilities that go undiscovered because they can easily compensate for them in the early years. It is also true that without support, gifted children can become bored and unruly because they have never had to face a hard challenge before. All children whether average, gifted or struggling need support while they are growing and learning. Gifted children need as much emotional support as other children, they are often hard on themselves so they need the extra moral boost and support when faced with new or perhaps difficult challenges. There are multiple benefits to hiring a private tutor for the gifted child. A private tutor can help balance and focus on the challenges a gifted child needs without pushing them too far. Lessons can be tailored to suit the needs of the child and confidence can be greatly boosted. We can help you find a tutor for your child. Feel free to contact as many tutors as you wish, ask as many questions as needed and discuss all your child's tuition needs.

5 Rules for Celebrating Holidays in the Workplace

5 Rules for Celebrating Holidays in the Workplace Image via: www.pexels.com Celebrating one of the most festive holidays can be extremely awkward with the addition of uncomfortable, forced activities and gift exchanges. However, celebrating holidays in the workplace doesn’t ever have to be miserable. In fact, there are ways to make it fun provided that some rules are set in place. What kind of rules? Keep reading for all of the rules that must be followed to have an enjoyable (and not awkward) holiday season in the workplace. Don’t Force the Holiday Spirit on Everyone Everyone celebrates the holidays differently. Some enjoy putting together a huge holiday party for everyone and their mother to enjoy. Others prefer a quiet night in with loved ones. Others don’t like to celebrate at all. It’s important for everyone in the workplace to respect each other’s wishes regarding this holiday. If one coworker isn’t interested in attending the office holiday dinner party or other festivities, leave them be. Sure, people who enjoy these festivities might see nothing wrong with trying to persuade another coworker to come out and spend time in good company, but there are a lot of circumstances to consider here. Maybe that person had some sort of difficult experience on a holiday. Maybe they worship another religion that forbids them from participating in specific festivities. Maybe they don’t have the financial means to celebrate. Or maybe they just aren’t interested â€" and that’s as good of a reason as any. Being respectful is one of the most important rules during this time of year. All employees are allowed to celebrate the holiday however they choose to â€" even if that means not celebrating at all. Image via: www.pexels.com Remember Gift-Giving Etiquette Gift exchanging of any kind can be tricky â€" let alone in the workplace, so here are some rules to follow regarding etiquette. First, don’t get a gift for your boss. Your heart is definitely in the right place, but doing so would put your boss in a difficult position. The reason for this is the power dynamic in the boss-employee relationship. Managers and supervisors have a certain amount of control over their employees, so they, by ethical standards, should not be rewarded for their position of authority. With that being said, if you want to spread the holiday cheer to your employer, consider buying a holiday-themed card and leaving a sincere message on the inside or share baked goods with them when you bring treats into the office. For your coworkers, the best way to exchange gifts is through the always popular game of Secret Santa. Here’s how the game works. Everyone who wants to play randomly picks the name of another willing participant.   Once every player has picked a person, they go out and buy a gift for the person they’ve chosen. For this game to be successful, first, notice the key words wants and willing. Make sure everyone who is playing actually wants to be a part of the game. Nobody should be forced or bullied into doing it. Next, stick to a price cap. Typically, this is $20 or $30. Everyone must obey the price cap! Third, and most importantly, the game is called Secret Santa for a reason! Don’t tell anyone who you’re buying a gift for or it ruins the fun! It’s also smart to start the game early so that everyone has enough time to get their gift. Image via: www.pexels.com Behave Appropriately at Holiday Functions You’re an adult now. Behave yourself at these functions. More than likely, there could be alcohol available for everyone’s enjoyment. Don’t overdo it! Yes, it’s acceptable to have a drink or two, but remember that this is a workplace, not a bar on a Friday night. You are in a professional environment so you need to remember to uphold a professional, responsible image. After too many drinks, you’ll begin to forget what’s appropriate and what isn’t and that could result in the loss of your job. So, by all means, get into the holiday spirit. Just know your limits! Don’t Forget Responsibilities When the office is full of eggnog and Rachel from down the hall is wearing a blinking ornament sweater and reindeer earrings, it’s easy to forget that you’re here to work not to watch Elf three times in a row with Rob from next door. Don’t forget that you’re here to work too and that the productivity of your company cannot suffer because of your holiday spirit. Don’t let yourself fall behind. If you’re finding yourself in a pinch because of the holiday festivities, consider working around them. Try getting to work a little bit earlier than your coworkers so that you’re free from distractions. Or, consider working ahead so that you have some time to enjoy the fun stuff. Just don’t forget what you clocked in there to do: work and be the best you can be. Image via: www.pexels.com Remember What It’s All About Even though it can be a hectic, stressful time in everyone’s lives, we love the holiday season because of its message. It’s a time to take a moment and shower both yourself and those around you with some love and TLC. At the end of the year, it’s time to reflect on life and appreciate everything we have. Show a little extra love to your coworkers and enjoy the holiday season. Happy holidays!

Canadian International School of Singapore

Canadian International School of Singapore Canadian International School of Singapore Were proud of the reputation weve established for the range and rigour of our academic offerings, the outstanding quality of our school facilities, and perhaps most importantly the care and attention we provide to each of our students - from nursery to grade 12. Our academically rigorous programme is complemented by a broad range of languages, fine arts, athletic and service-learning opportunities designed to develop balance, deepen connections and to uncover true learning potential. Our pedagogical approach focuses on developing the skill-sets our students need to be successful in the 21st century. We havent replaced the 3 Rs. Instead, weve embedded them within the context of the 4 Cs: critical thinking, creativity, communication and collaboration. Our teachers encourage intellectual curiosity, foster creativity and inspire the pursuit of excellence in ways that define what a world-class, future-oriented education should be. They couple high expectations for success with relentless care and support - hallmarks of outstanding instructional practice. By doing this, our students become critical thinkers. They are global citizens equipped with the knowledge, skills, and expertise necessary to gain acceptance at the best colleges and universities in the world and to excel in the next set of challenges and opportunities that await them. View our Brochure

Get your Children Involved in Volunteering During Martin Luther King Day of Service or Any Time of Year - ALOHA Mind Math

Get your Children Involved in Volunteering During Martin Luther King Day of Service or Any Time of Year Are you a parent who is still a bit frazzled from having your children home from school over the extended holiday? Why not approach this coming weekend holiday, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, a bit differently. Why not get you and your children involved in a volunteer project via the national MLK Day of Service on Monday, January 19, 2015. What is Martin Luther King Day of Service all About? Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr’s Day, originally a celebration of the birthday (January 15th) of the fallen civil rights leader, has been a U.S. Federal holiday since 1983 and is celebrated on the third Monday of January. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, Lifes most persistent and urgent question is: What are you doing for others?' The national Martin Luther King Day of Service was signed into law in 1994 and since then, each year several hundred thousand individuals receive help on MLK Day of Service, from thousands of other individuals participating in projects across the U.S. Some of these service projects are large, others are created by individuals like you and me and all can be registered on the National Service website listed below.* From toy drives, to clothing drives for needy children, and gathering canned goods for the local food bank, to planting trees or cleaning up trash in a local park, or even working at a soup kitchen, everyone can do their part. But Why Should I get my Kids Involved? Volunteering, or helping others, actually helps you and your child. -It can build a sense of confidence -Engender a sense of contributing to something greater than one’s self -It can show children how the completion of smaller tasks leads to a larger overall task. -It can show the power of what a group of individuals can do together -If your child latches onto an idea and becomes the driving force behind an MLK day of service project it can bring out leadership skills. Here is a link to an article about why helping others, including volunteering, makes us feel happy. On an even lighter note, it can also be a creative way to keep your children focused and active on what might otherwise turn into another day of “I wanna sleep late and there’s nothing good on TV today.” How Do We Get involved? The government’s National Service website has a specific page with information on how to find or create a project: Click here for info on the MLK Day of Service: http://www.nationalservice.gov/special-initiatives/days-service/martin-luther-king-jr-day-service-0. You can also check out their Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/mlkday. One easy way to find an existing project near you is to check Volunteer Match they have a whole page of MLK Day projects. http://www.volunteermatch.org/seasonsofservice/mlkday/ Here are some other places to find ways to volunteer: AmeriCorps, Citizen Corps, Volunteer.gov Guide to Disaster Preparedness:https://www.staysafe.org/how-to-prepare-yourself-and-your-community-for-natural-disasters/ Recently at a local church 70 people got together with an organization called Stop Hunger Now and filled, packaged and boxed 13,000 meals, a just add water, nutritious soupin just two hours. This is an example of an event that you may be able to get your kids involved in doing. Imagine all the people who could be helped if everyone got involved more often. A new initiative is to pledge to serve our fellow citizens throughout the year, not just on one day click here to explore the Pledge to Serve program

High Marks Regents Chemistry Made Easy - A Quick Review

High Marks Regents Chemistry Made Easy - A Quick ReviewHigh marks Regents Chemistry made easy is a DVD program you can purchase in your local bookstore or on the internet. The program is considered to be one of the very best high school chemistry education DVDs available, with a number of advantages that make it worth your money.High marks Regents Chemistry made easy teaches a way of solving chemistry problems that has been called the 'Regents' Paradox.' This program explains that almost all chemical reactions in the physical world have been used in one way or another. However, by trying to simplify these reactions to just two, people are often surprised at the huge results produced.It's not just Regents Chemistry that teaches this 'paradox' however. In addition to High Marks Regents Chemistry made easy, there are other ways of exploring these explanations. For example, one may look at solar photosynthesis, or carbon dioxide reduction in the atmosphere, or the operation of wind turbi nes. These are all fascinating topics to learn about, and you can learn about them and others in these programs.With Regents Chemistry made easy, you get an explanation of these topics in a way that is less confusing. In contrast, this is simply not the case with other chemistry education DVDs that you find online. This program is an incredibly simple way to learn chemistry, especially if you do not have a lot of time to study.One of the great things about Regents Chemistry made easy, is that it gives you an introduction to each of the topics, so that you will understand exactly what you need to know before getting into the actual system. Most people will not be able to understand what they have just read for longer than a few minutes, and Regents Chemistry makes this information simple. It is this kind of simplicity that makes it such a good program.The program also comes with diagrams for each topic, so that you can see how the parts fit together. Instead of seeing a number of rec ipes with a video, Regents Chemistry makes everything as easy as possible to understand. You don't have to actually see the video to figure out what it is, just read through the instructions.Finally, Regents Chemistry makes using the method of mechanical engineering easy. This is a very popular subject for kids who would like to learn more about the technology that surrounds us, but are not yet ready to choose a science major. By learning to understand how different materials react in mechanical engineering, you can save yourself many hours of wasted study.