A Student Perspective on Brigham Young University

A Student Perspective on Brigham Young University Joseph is a current senior at Brigham Young University. He is majoring in psychology, and specializes in Algebra 2 tutoring, ACT English tutoring, and a number of other subjects. Below, he shares his experience at Brigham Young University: Describe the campus setting and transportation options. Joseph: The campus is located in a valley at the base of a portion of the Wasatch Mountains. Most students live in off-campus housing thats within a 20-minute walk from campus. Its very easy to do without a car and still maintain a good social life. You can walk to the campus, a good portion of the other apartment complexes, grocery stores, and even hiking trails. The campus is located in a town of about 100,000, but the downtown area does not have much to it. As far as safety goes, it was rated the safest college campus in America. Buses and a train are available for travel north to Orem or Salt Lake City. A car and bike are nice for convenience, but definitely not necessary. How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Joseph:All professors are required by the university to hold office hours, so the only factors stopping you from getting one-on-one help from them are your own fears to approach them. I have found it easy to schedule an appointment with academic advisers. Most classes have one or two teaching assistants per 50 students, each with their own office hours. The TAs often host review sessions of their own. In physics, math, and psychology there are labs open all day where you can go to get help from TAs. How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Joseph:Most of the students live in off-campus housing. Theres quite a variety of housing quality, from the rundown to nice and modern housing. Many students buy and cook their own food, but there are dining areas on campus where meal plans can be used. The culture is very friendly and people are usually quite open to making new friends. Which majors/programs are best represented and supported? Joseph:The BYU Marriott School of Business is often rated top five in the country. There are also particularly strong programs in the engineering department. Since its a large university, most areas of study are well-represented. I chose to major in psychology. The university has a large faculty for the program with plenty of opportunities for involvement. 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? Joseph:Its very easy to make friends. You can go into the lunch room and sit by somebody and theyre usually very happy to talk. Most people are closest with their roommates; its a little bit more difficult to become close friends with people otherwise. Theres no greek life on campus. How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services? Joseph:I have not personally used the Career Center or other services other than advisement, but the list of services offered is quite extensive. There are often career fairs that have many reputable companies in attendance. How are the various study areas such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Joseph:The library usually has enough room; its one of the best college libraries in the country. It can get a little crowded, in which case most of the other buildings on campus have study areas which are quite spacious. Describe the surrounding town. Joseph:Provo itself doesnt have much to do, so students usually hang out around campus with each other. Salt Lake City has a bit more to do, but its an hour or more by car. There are a lot of opportunities for outdoor recreation. There are three canyons into the mountains within a 30-minute drive, each with near hiking trails. How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Joseph:The student body size is around 30,000. There tends to be large classes for generals and early in your major, which can be a little bit ineffective. For classes where size is important and later in the major, they hold between 20 and 40 people. Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Joseph:I am currently enrolled in a research and writing class for political science, and the way the class is organized is like a well-oiled machine. There is one TA, each with office hours, for every 20 students. The teacher is very funny and keeps lectures entertaining. He even has large candy bars that he gives out when people answer questions. Hes put a lot of energy into teaching methods that are effective. The papers are graded at a really high level, but because of the support system, the class helps students to truly reach this level. Check out Josephs tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

What Is a Food Technologist

What Is a Food Technologist The Role of a Food Technologist ChaptersScratching the Surface of Food TechnologyWhat a Food Technologist DoesThe Difference Between Food Science and Food TechnologyThe Need for Food Technologists is GrowingWe are all quite lucky: we live in a time when we can go to Tesco or Sainsbury’s and buy anything from a packet of crisps to a tin of beans.Each of the products found on supermarket shelves has been carefully treated to ensure the maximum degree of food safety and the optimal balance of nutrients, all neatly wrapped up with a label bearing an expiration date so that we don’t inadvertently eat something that has gone off.Buying food products hasn’t always been that simple.Until Pasteur’s era, food chemistry wasn’t considered a legitimate field of study or work. The universal practice of pasteurisation marked the start of food science and technology.We are all familiar with the process of pasteurisation â€" heating a substance at relatively low temperature to kill off enzymes that cause foodstuffs, espec ially milk, to spoil.In the late 19th Century, French scientist Louis Pasteur gave his name to the process that was actually established nearly a millennium before but his were not the only advances in food preservation.Salting, smoking and curing meat, making hardtack out of water and flour that could later be reworked into some sort of bread or gravy… drying and fermenting foods are also preservation techniques that humans have used for centuries.In fact, long before universities where one could study food science were built, and even way before food science was considered a valid field of study, people have been adept at protecting their food stores from rot and spoilage.Considering things from that perspective, you might wonder: what do we need food technologists for?That’s the question your Superprof answers today. You may have occasion to use biotechnology in the course of your food technologist duties Image by FotoshopTofs  from Pixabaynatural preservative.If you look at the ingredients list of a frozen dinner, you may be shocked to discover how much salt (sodium) it contains!If you are in the habit of reading food labels before selecting those you will buy â€" a practice that a dietician would strongly recommend, you should thank a food technologist for the information what your food consists of.Common entries on food labels include:food colouring makes the food look more appealingBHA â€" butylated hydroxyanisole, a preservativeBHT - butylated hydroxytoluene, a preservativemaltose: a sugar added for flavourdextrose: a sugar added for flavourniacin: a B-complex vitamin essential to human healththiamine: Vitamin B1riboflavin: Vitamin B2vitaminsOften, these supplements are added either to enrich the food, preserve it and enhance its flavour and appearance.Also, because preserved foods tend to l ose some of their nutritional value during processing, vitamins and minerals are often added back in, hence those entries on the labels.Food science is constantly on the search of new ingredients and ways of making food more appealing, healthier and safer, and food technologists play a leading role both in food security and in food product development.With the global population growing ever larger, the pressing issue within the food industry is on finding more ways to maximise the food available so that it will feed more people.Granted, the largest part of these scientific studies are conducted in a laboratory. Maybe the nutrition and microbiology aspects of food science technology are not what you are angling for.You may want to know what subjects are covered in a food technology curriculum… Not all of a food technologist's duties are about nutrition and food; you may also visit farms to ensure cleanliness and food safety Image by Ryan McGuire from PixabayWhat a Food Technologist DoesIf s/he isn’t working directly with food in a lab, a food technologist enjoys a host of other duties such as verifying that government standards for food safety are met and making recommendations for better, safer processes.You may choose to work in a food processing plant doing just that, or you may find yourself drawn to the quality control department, making sure strict hygiene standards are upheld to prevent contamination of the food.With environmental concerns now at an all-time high, devising more efficient ways to package foods is currently the hot topic.Food technologists are desperately searching for new materials and ways to package foods so that they retain or exceed their current levels of safety while reducing the impact on the environment.Bulk food dispensers are one way that retails stores are cutting down on packaging.Foods, at this point mainly dry goods such as breakfast cereals, grains and beans are shipped to the markets from the processing plants in large containers. Retail employees then fill the dispensers as needed.Going hand in hand with that effort is the ongoing search for more efficient, less impactful transportation options at both ends of the processing plant â€" when the raw goods come in to be worked and when they ship out, ready for supermarket shelves... or the stores’ bulk dispensers.If this field is of particular interest to you, your future career plans would benefit from engineering studies.Adding an engineering elective to your food science and nutrition degree plan will permit you to design a piece of equipment or a process that would make food processing and transportation more efficient and safer.Are you warming up to the idea of being a food technologist? Find out how you can become one…The Difference Between Food Scienc e and Food TechnologyYou might wonder at the difference between these two branches of study both related to food engineering so we thought we would clear things up a bit.The disciplines are closely related but food science deals more with food at the molecular level.A food scientist draws on chemistry and biology to study food and how best to grow it and process it so that it retains most of its nutrients. They conduct food research to determine how foods deteriorate â€" lose their molecular structure, grow colonies of bacteria and become unsafe.Food scientists and food technologists work hand in hand designing new foods and their packaging.As a food technologist, your focus would likely be oriented more toward food production and processing.Working from the information provided to you by the food scientists, you may design food production processes that won’t compromise the flavour, texture or appearance of the food.You may also conduct market surveys to determine if a new food a ppeals to the public before it is mass-produced.Said surveys include opinions about the food packaging: if consumers find the container difficult to manage or the labelling unappealing, they would not be likely to buy it.When this new food launches into production, you may be tasked with quality assurance â€" making sure the food meets health and safety standards, all while maintaining its desirable qualities.You may also be tasked with finding ways to streamline production without sacrificing any of those factors.If that sounds exciting, you should read our complete guide to food science technology! Food technologists often run microbiological tests on food samples Image by FotoshopTofs  from PixabayThe Need for Food Technologists is GrowingIn this article, we’ve mentioned three very pressing concerns that have a direct impact on the food industry: climate change/environmental concerns, food safety and the growing number of mouths to feed.Right now, our production of food is delicately balanced against the earth’s ability to produce enough to feed everyone… and the food industry is fast falling behind on meeting the demand for safe and nutritious food for all.More food being produced faster leaves the door open to greater risks of contamination.Leaving aside genetically modified organisms â€" GMOs, as they are commonly known, food technologists are in demand everywhere from the livestock pens and growing fields to the government agencies that provide our food growers oversight and guidance.In case you’re wondering, GMOs are the purview of scientists specialising in food microbiology.Naturally, if that is where your interest lies, that is the area of study that you should pursue but, if you are keen to get your boots on the ground, to start working as soon as possible, there is nothing wrong with getting your undergraduate degree and training as a food technologist.Your Bachelor’s Degree will qualify you to work in a food manufacturing plant in several capacities, the aforementioned food safety and quality being just one of them.You may also enjoy working in the food analysis department, improving on the foods being processed.You could also work in Research and Development, not just in food and nutrition but in equipment design and even the layout of the processing plant.To make a long dissertation succinct: as a food technologist, there is a field of opportunity waiting for you!

Starting German Lessons with a German Tutor

Starting German Lessons with a German Tutor How to Learn German by Taking A German Language Course with a Tutor ChaptersFind Out How Much a German Tutor CostsFind the Right German Language CourseChoosing Your German TeacherMake the Most of Your German LessonsDespite popular belief, anyone can learn a foreign language regardless of their age!Firstly, learning a foreign language not only improves your linguistic skills, it also benefits your cognitive functions.  Additionally, whether you’re a student or working, a foreign language can improve your career prospects.Germany is one of Europe’s most economically powerful countries and, as a result, its language is also hugely important.Do you want to learn how to speak German but don’t know where to begin?  By taking the right steps, you can find the right tutorials for you!Once you’ve made your decision to get German tutorials, you’ll quickly see that there are plenty on offer, especially if you've searched how to learn German online.It’s easy to feel bewildered as you try to choose one German course over another.How can you work out t he price of a German tutorial? (Source: pexels.com)Furthermore, the price of these courses can vary wildly one tutor to another. Usually, the price gap can be explained by the tutor’s level in German.A Student or Native German SpeakerThere are plenty of German students (either bilingual or studying German) who offer basic German tutorials. Students are a great choice if you're far from fluent, would like to learn how to speak German for beginners, and pick up a few useful German words and phrases for your next holiday.German natives living in the UK also tend to advertise private tutorials, too. They'll be great if you're working on speaking German and your German pronunciation. Teaching German isn’t usually their day job.This is why their rates tend to be lower than a teacher working under the ministry of education. However, this doesn't mean you can get free German tutorials!Their German tutorials tend to be less academic. However, this doesn’t mean they’re not effective e ducators. Quite the opposite! A lot of people prefer learning how to speak German in a more relaxed language course.Both students needing academic support and adults wanting to refresh their German knowledge can benefit a lot from these “amateur” tutors.They’ll help you learn to speak German with activities that are more fun than your typical German lesson.  The rates for non-professional tutors tends to be under £30.Experienced TeachersYou’ll also find plenty of experienced and qualified German teachers offering German tutorials for all levels. They’re usually doing this for some extra money at the end of the month by putting their academic experience to good use.They are well versed in pedagogy and know their way around German grammar, conjugations, and declination.  Their exercises are usually very effective.Find German classes near me here.Chat with your professor to improve your German. (Source: Startup Stock Photos)If you need to improve your German speaking, they c an converse in German as well as provide you with appropriate audio to listen to.Their rates tend to be above £30 per hour.Teachers with only two or three years of experience tend to offer lessons for a little under this amount.On-line German TutorialsThere’s more than just one way to learn German. Thanks to the Internet, plenty of different sites for learning german online are popping up every day.Some offer free on-line German courses while others you’ll need to pay for, like Babbel.  However, Babbel works on a sliding scale. The longer your subscription, the less you pay per month.  Once you’ve signed up, you’ll have access to tonnes of interactive German lessons and activities.  Learning German on-line is great for those who like to be self-taught, especially when it comes to language learning.Find the Right German Language CourseOnce you’ve decided to learn German, you’ll quickly see that their are plenty of organisations offering German lessons. There are therefor e plenty of ways to find the German Tutor that works for you.The Goethe InstitutThanks to international relations, Germany has a strong cultural presence in the UK.This is mainly through the country’s Goethe Institut.  Created in 1925, its main goal is to promote the German culture and language around the world.The Goethe Institut has centres in both London and Glasgow and there are plenty of different courses for plenty of different levels.There are catch up courses for school students, intensive courses during the summer, courses to prepare for German level tests... the list goes on and on!Why not get some German lessons during your holiday? (Source:  Roman Bozhko)Generally, these courses have a student limit and start at the same time as academic trimesters.  There are courses for everyone.Academic Support Organisations and Language SchoolsThere are plenty of organisations offering German courses.  The amount of time they’ve been around tends to affect how much they charge.In these instances, the tutors are usually qualified and experienced teachers. Some request several years of experience as a minimum requirement for their teachers.These centres tend to charge a registration fee as well as the cost of the classes themselves.  Students tend to be regularly tested and appraised.There are other platforms for those looking for private German tutorials like Superprof that aims to connect German tutors and students.Tutors can be students, qualified professionals, or native speakers of German.  Once you’ve paid the £19 fee, you can be put in touch directly with your tutor. There’s no commission paid for your German tutorials after that.German SchoolsIf you want to learn German, you could also head off to Germany. There are several German universities offering language courses to foreign students during the summer holidays.Why not go to a German university town to improve your German? (Source: stock.tookapic.com)In addition to being completely immersed i n a German speaking culture, you’ll improve your German speaking and learn more about German culture.The universities in Berlin, Munich, and Frankfurt all offer these types of courses.The Humboldt Institute also offers German language courses around Germany for students wanting to learn Germany quickly.Choosing Your German TeacherWhen you’re looking to learn German as a second language, you have to remember that your teacher is one of the most important things to consider when it comes to choosing the right German language course. There are a few steps you need to take to make sure you make the right choice.Clear German ObjectivesYou need to first work out what level you are.  Are you a beginner who’s never spoken a word of German? Would you like to get better at writing in German? Are you a professional whose German vocabulary needs some work and would like to get better at speaking?Make a note of your experience with German, the courses you’ve taken, your professional expe rience with the language, and what your future goals are. This will help you better define the type of German teacher you’re looking for.Make a List of the Qualities You’re Looking for in a German TutorYou need to find a tutor that will help you improve your German. However, remember that a tutor that’s right for one person may not be right for another.Private tutorials are tailored to teach student. Thus, you should make a list of what you expect from your future tutor.  This is an essential stage of your research.If you think you’re going to need academic tutorials with plenty of German language activities, you’ll want to be looking for a tutor who also works in schools.However, if you want to learn about the German culture and the language by practising a lot of speaking, you might want to look for a native speaker living in the UK.Establish the Practical Aspects of the TutorialsYou also need to consider the practical aspects of your private German tutorials. You need t o work out when you’re available and when the best times to study German are.  You need to also make sure that your tutor is also available at these times! Then you need to find a place where you can study effectively since private  tutorials normally take place at the student’s home. Make sure you’ve tidied the room you’re going to use!Since the tutor will travel to you, you should make sure that your tutor lives within a reasonable distance of your home when you’re searching for tutors.Follow your InstinctsYou can use your gut feeling to help you choose the German tutor of your dreams. If you want to get better at German, you have to feel comfortable with your tutor.If you don’t get the right feeling from your tutor after one lesson, maybe you should continue looking!  Your German language learning needs to take place under the best conditions possible.Make the Most of Your German LessonsOnce you’ve picked the right organisation and/or tutor for you, you need to make sure you’re putting in the effort to get the most of your lessons.Focus and AttentionIn every lesson, pay as much attention as possible. Whether it's German for beginners or an advanced class, paying attention is key to learning, especially if you have to learn German fast.Make sure to be inquisitive and ask your German tutor questions about words and phrases you don't understand and German verbs you're struggling with. Turn off your phone, too!Take care of your revision sheets and resources.  Underline, use colours to highlight important information, etc.Ask for a Summary After Each SessionA lot of tutors will offer this without being asked but if they don’t, ask for a summary of your progress after each private tutorial.This can be sent by email and give you an idea of how you’re performing in each tutorial and whether you’re meeting your goals.It can also cover what you need to prepare before each lesson as well as giving you revision advice.Study DailyStudying regularly is key to success when it comes to learning German. You have to study what you’ve learnt daily in order to consolidate everything you worked on with your tutor.Supplement your learning with films in German, reading German newspapers, or watching YouTube videos in German.If you have the chance to practise your German with native speakers, make the most of it!  These are all great opportunities to get the most out of your German tutorials and become a German language professional!Find a private tutor with Superprof for German lessons:German language course LondonGerman courses GlasgowGerman lessons Leeds

Can the ACT Aspire Predict Your ACT Score

Can the ACT Aspire Predict Your ACT Score In 2014, a brand new test preparation program called the ACT Aspire replaced the ACT Plan, a pre-test similar to the actual ACT, and ACT Explore. Unlike the ACT, which measures student understanding at a consistent level year after year, the ACT Aspire is designed to reflect the progressive difficulty of each year of school. That being said, can the ACT Aspire predict your ACT score? Read on to learn more about the differences between both tests. An overview of the ACT Aspire test The ACT Aspire, which can be administered beginning in third grade and through 10th grade, is designed to assess both understanding of new Common Core standards and college readiness. The program tests students in five main subjects: math, reading, English, writing, and science. The goal of the ACT Aspire program is to measure student educational growth as an indicator of how well each student may eventually score on the actual ACT. [RELATED: What is the ACT Aspire?] Differences between ACT Aspire test and the ACT There are a few differences between the ACT Aspire test and the actual ACT that are worth mentioning. One of the bigger differences between the ACT Aspire test and the actual ACT is how each is scored. The ACT is scored on a scale from 1 to 36 for each subject, with 36 being the best score. The ACT Aspire is scored on a scale from 400 to 470 for each subject, with 470 being a top score. As you can see, the scale is very different between the two exams, which may make it more difficult to interpret how your ACT Aspire score will translate to the ACT. When students receive ACT Aspire scores, they do also receive an estimated ACT scorehowever, keep in mind that this is an estimate based on their performance on the Aspire (which usually happens before you move on to advanced classes that are tested on the ACT). The best way to truly gauge how you might score on the actual ACT is through ACT practice tests. Additionally, the ACT Aspire and the ACT differ in test format. The actual ACT consists of all multiple-choice questions (with the exception of the optional writing portion), but the ACT Aspire consists of multiple-choice and constructed response (short-answer and long-answer) questions. The idea is that students will be tested using multiple question formats to ensure they fully understand the concepts, even though the actual ACT is not set up in this way. This may affect your preparation. To succeed on the ACT, you may only need to have content knowledge, as well as strategies in place for multiple-choice questions. An ACT tutor or other test prep instructor can also help you determine how you should study, depending on which test you take. [RELATED: What is an Average ACT Score?] Is the ACT Aspire test worth taking? It is evident that the ACT Aspire Test is quite different from the actual ACT. However, the ACT Aspire can still provide valuable information about potential gaps in a students knowledge, due to its cumulative scoring. Students who take the ACT Aspire over several years receive test scores (and subscores) each year, making it easy to monitor their progress and skill level during that time. [RELATED: What Test Do I Take? A Guide to the Testing Acronyms] If you are looking for a way to sharpen your skill set for the real ACT, in addition to studying an ACT test prep bookand other resources, the Aspire test can also be a helpful precursorbut dont put too much weight into your estimated ACT score. A students score and improvement on both tests depends on how seriously he or she takes preparing for each test. If the student uses study strategies tailored to each test format, the chances for success are greater. However, if you are looking for an exam to replicate the ACT exactly, then you may need to look into other test options. If youve received a high score on the ACT Aspire test, dont make the mistake of winging the ACT. The tests are not necessarily comparable. There are a variety of ACT practice tests out there that are professionally written to mimic the rigor of the actual exam. Students can time themselves while taking these practice tests to get a more accurate picture of how they might score on test day. ACT hopes that this new testing program will become the national standard for testing college readiness. It is important to consider all of the differences between the programs before making a decision on which preparation program is best.

Charlotte Today Highlights Heart Math Tutoring - Heart Math Tutoring

Charlotte Today Highlights Heart Math Tutoring - Heart Math Tutoring Charlotte Today Highlights Heart Math Tutoring Charlotte Today Highlights Heart Math Tutoring March 14, 2019 Heart Tutoring Executive Director Emily Gaffney on Charlotte Today discussing how our volunteers are tackling the achievement gap in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. Closing the elementary math achievement gap may not be easy, but it can be fun. Emily Gaffney, Executive Director of Heart Math Tutoring, shares how volunteer tutors support CMS elementary students who are behind in math with fun games and effective tutoring. “Helping somebody with math is a great way to help them with their life. Our volunteers are there to give high-fives and point students in the right direction,” says Gaffney. See the entire interview here.

The ACT, the SAT, or Both

The ACT, the SAT, or Both ACT SAT Prep and College Admissions Blog If you just started your junior or senior year of high school, then you have a lot of big decisions coming up in your life! In addition to all your tough classes and rewarding extra curricular activities, you have to juggle the college admissions process. After your high school transcript and personal essays, test scores are the final big piece of the college admissions puzzle. So how can you get the score that will get you into your dream school?The big decision to make is whether you are going to submit ACT scores, SAT scores, or both. First, check out the requirements of the colleges you will be applying to. Many schools only require that you submit either an ACT or an SAT score, but some are still strict about which one they prefer.If the choice is yours, then you can consider which test is more suited to your style of thinking and test-taking. Putting some time into deciding which test to take will pay off when you get your highest possible score; there are some big differences between the tests. Subject Areas (not including writing): the SAT only has two key subject areas- quantitative and verbal- whereas the ACT is divided into four sections- reading, English, science and math. The ACT reading and English sections combined basically equal the SAT verbal section, but the SAT is more focused on vocabulary. There is nothing like the ACT science section on the SAT; ACT science doesn't demand any prior scientific knowledge, rather it tests students on their ability to read graphs, charts and tables. So, what that boils down to is that there are more math and vocabulary questions on the SAT, whereas the ACT is more about reading comprehension in a variety of contexts. If you are better at memorizing things likemathematical formulas and the definitions of words, take the SAT. If you are more analytic, take the ACT. Section Break-Down:since the ACT is divided among four subjects, it is broken down into four long sections, each of which is dedicated to one subject. Since the SAT only has two core subjects, it is broken up into many smaller sections. The sections tend to alternate between quantitative and verbal over the course of the test. So, maybe you want to choose your test based on your attention span. If you focus well for long periods of time, then the ACT will be better for you. But if you like to work on different things and switch around to keep your mind fresh, then the SAT is good for you.Those are the biggest differences, but if you're still not sure there's an easy solution. Take a practice test for each and see which feels more comfortable. You may choose the one that you initially score higher on, or you may feel that one is more suited to your style and will be better after your studying is done.And, if you are able to do equally well on both, demonstrating that to schools will definitely work in your favor!

5 steps to becoming a culturally responsive teacher

5 steps to becoming a culturally responsive teacher Culturally responsive teaching is much more than simply recognizing the culturalbackground of your students (although that’s a good start). As a teacher in today’s multicultural world, fostering culturally responsive teaching practices is becoming more and more necessary to successfully create a learning environment that is engaging and accessible to a broader range of students. By 2020, the Census Bureau has projected that more than half of all students in US public schools will be minority students. Figuring out how to meet the diverse needs of students with differing economic and cultural backgrounds, not to mention varying learning styles, has increasingly become a top priority for educators. In light of these rapidly-changing student demographics, teachers must be able to understand and resolve potential conflicts that may arise due to cultural differences between students in the classroom. Feel like it’s time to bring more culturally responsive teaching practices into your classroom? We’ve put together five steps for teachers to work on to make that happen. 1. Assess your own behavior It’s important to bear in mind that your attitudes are influenced by your own culture. If your students’ cultures differ from yours, you need to be sensitive to the differences in attitudes that may arise in the classroom. The first step to creating a culturally responsive classroom is being aware of your own actions and working to shift your mindset into ones that are culturally inclusive and open minded. This also applies to your interactions with students’ families and their communities. Being sensitive to how certain cultures may stress different ways of learning is a key first step towards building a positive, respectful relationship with families from diverse cultural backgrounds. 2. Get to know your students Be proactive when it comes to learning about the different cultural backgrounds of the students in your classroom. Do your research, either online or by talking to your teaching colleagues. As a teacher, you cannot create a culturally responsive classroom if you don’t take the time to get to know your students as individuals. Establishing set times to sit down with a student can give them a chance to speak about themselves in a more personal setting. Some students may not feel comfortable talking about their life outside of school with the whole class listening. Be sure to show a genuine interest in each student's understanding of content and their general well-being. Creating a culturally responsive classroom is all about creating an environment in which students of all cultures feel comfortable and ready to learn. If there is a student in your class who has recently immigrated from another country, for example, sit down with them to ask if there were any activities or traditions they enjoyed at school in their home country. This will not only help put your new student at ease, it can also breathe life into your lesson activities. 3. Make your classroom a judgment-free zone Students must be able to look at situations regarding culture with an unbiased opinion and be comfortable asking questions to further their understanding. If a conversation arises about a current event or behavior a discussion should be welcomed, but be sure the discussion is directed towards learning, not criticizing. Encourage students to ask questions and challenge the status quo. Make critical thinking the norm and teach your students to value each other’s differences. It’s common for many students to not want to speak up, but encouraging them to voice their opinions and questions what is happening in the world around them is one of the best ways to help them understand and overcome some of their preconceived notions. We want to make it easier for you to start becoming a more culturally responsive teacher today. Enroll in our industry-leading Culturally Responsive Teaching course for only $49 (that's 50% off the course price!) when you use code BLOG50. 4. Adapt your teaching Culturally responsive teaching is an approach that is student-focused. It identifies not only the differences between students but the unique strengths of each child to encourage their academic achievement and sense of belonging in the classroom. As a teacher, there are some important questions you should ask yourself, including the following: Are there any activities in your classroom that don’t benefit all students? What activities seem to engage all students and get them participating? What actions have you noticed seem to get the best reactions out of your students? It’s important to honestly assess your current teaching practices and modify your instruction and curriculum to consider all students’ backgrounds and readiness levels. Research on culturally responsive teaching has shown that students are more engaged in learning and learn more effectively when the knowledge and skills taught are presented within the context of their own experiences and cultural frames of reference. As a result, it’s critical to learn how to adapt your teaching strategies and techniques to the needs of students of all cultural backgrounds in your classroom. Incorporating learning strategies that have a sense of familiarity for foreign students, for example, can not only help them better connect to the classroom environment, but feel more comfortable sharing their own experiences with classmates. Make learning as interactive as possible. Educational games are not only fun for students, they also require active listening and provide a greater chance for memory retention. Puzzle-solving, making connections, story telling and visuals and repetition are all tools that can be used in the classroom and are commonly seen across a lot of cultures. 5. Include all cultures in your teaching In your lessons, choose content that reflects the different cultures of your students. Lessons should incorporate multicultural information and approaches whenever possible. If a teacher continually references people from a specific cultural background or uses people of a particular nationality or ethnic background exclusively in class examples, students may feel as if their cultural background is being sidelined and can consequently feel disengaged from their learning. Now more than ever, teachers should be looking to making their classrooms a space in which students of all cultures feel supported to learn and succeed. By embracing implementing culturally responsive teaching principles effectively, your classroom can, over time, become a more positive learning environment for all of your students - it all starts with you!

Getting Ready for Final Exams after Winter Break - TutorNerds

Getting Ready for Final Exams after Winter Break - TutorNerds Tips From a Mission Viejo Private Tutor: Getting Ready for Final Exams after Winter Break Tips From a Mission Viejo Private Tutor: Getting Ready for Final Exams after Winter Break Students need time to rest, relax, and recharge during their winter break, but it can be hard to adjust back to a regular study routine in January. Once students are out of their routine, it can take them as many as two or three weeks to really get back to it. Unfortunately, if they are taking final exams at the end of January, there isnt time to waste. There are several things students can do to help themselves get back into a routine and adjust to their regular study sessions within a few days. 1. Keep Reading One thing that can easily throw students off is when they need to catch up on work they were supposed to do over winter break. For many students, this includes reading textbook chapters or a novel. Attempting to read an entire book the first week back at school while simultaneously attending to regular assignments can become overwhelming very quickly. If students have reading they need to do over break, generally assigned during the college prep years, its best to get this out of the way in a timely manner. They can either do it a couple days after the start of break or use time in a car or on an airplane to get those chapters completed. As long as the reading is done before school starts up students should be fine. 2. Meet With Your Study Group Students are encouraged to meet with their study group over winter break if possible. Although some members of the group may be out of town for the holidays, it’s possible to meet via Skype or communicate over email. Students who are in town will benefit from meeting with their group and organizing what needs to be done over break or what will need to be done within the first two weeks of returning to class. That test at the end of January isnt as far away as you might think and staying organized can be the key to success (READ: 4 Tips For Surviving Group Projects). 3. Get organized for the first week back in class Students are encouraged to utilize organizational tools over the break. They should write down each assignment, quiz, and final exam that will be due within two weeks of returning to class and make sure they have adequate time to prepare for all assignments. If a student chooses not to study over the break, they should definitely have a plan of action that includes study time for finals in addition to normal homework. Lack of organization can make it easy to forget about finals until its too late. 4. Meet With Your Private Mission Viejo Tutor as Soon as School Starts Its also a good idea to meet with your regular tutor as soon as school starts up again. Although assignments may not be due the very next day, finals will only be a couple of weeks away. Tutors are great organizational resources and, if you have been working with them all school year, they probably know how much time you, as an individual learner, need in order to be successful on such exams. Working with your tutor will also help you hold yourself accountable for the amount of work that needs to be done before February 1st (READ: Why Its Not Too Late to Get a Tutor for Finals). 5. Rest the Day Before Although some students will not have control of their travel plans, its best not to travel the day before going back to school if possible. Time spent in the airport or on the freeways leaves nearly everybody exhausted. Its a good idea to have at least one day to get back into the swing of things and be rested before school starts up. Its also extremely important to go to bed early a couple days before returning to school. Most students will be staying up much later than they normally would but getting less than eight hours of sleep certainly wont help anyone adjust back to their rigorous academic schedule. Still dont have a private Mission Viejo tutor for finals? TutorNerds has you covered. Call us today for more details. All blog entries, with the exception of guest bloggers, are written by Tutor Nerds. Are you an education professional? If so, email us at pr@tutornerds.com for guest blogging and collaborations. We want to make this the best free education resource in SoCal, so feel free to suggest what you would like to see us write.