January 26th, 2010
I fail to understand the hype that surrounds the SAT test. Talk about this exam and you will see students and parents panicking. The College Board believes that the SAT test is not an out of the world standardized exam; it is a well researched set of questions that challenge reasoning skills.
Believers of the SAT Monster now reason that the Writing section has intensified the difficulty level of the SAT test. The College Board, however, explains that the essay scoring system follows a holistic approach, taking the whole essay into picture.
SAT scores hold importance for college admissions. Therefore, you should start preparing for the SAT test at least a year before the test date. Free SAT practice tests can help you understand the actual structure of the SAT, and thus prepare you to do well in the test.
Work hard on all the three sections- Math, Critical Reading and Writing. Research shows that coached students score better than those who do not take coaching for test preparation. Join an affordable SAT test preparation program and crack the SAT.
Tags: SAT, test preparation, US Education
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January 14th, 2010
Kids just love their pets. And now even studies have come up with rather remarkable evidence that says that kids who grow up with pets at homes are less prone to developing common allergies and diseases like asthma. Research even suggests that playing with dogs might help lower blood pressure.
The United States boasts of over 77.5 million pet dogs. Over 39% of U.S. households own at least one dog. Cats have left their foe far behind. There are more than 93.6 million pet cats in the country. The love for animals in the US, therefore, does need any proof!
Obesity is a major concern in the US. Can keeping a pet animal help? Definitely. Kids with pets at their homes tend to hit the outdoors ore as compared o those who do not have animals. When kids grow up with pets, they become more responsible adults. They display a sense of responsibility too.
Believe it or not, but kids confide in their pet animals.Caressing a pet is an excellent stress buster. Animals show unconditional love to their owners. Keeping a pet therefore brings love and happiness to your family. There are many animals that can be kept as pets- dogs, cats, and fish to name a few.
It is always to bring a puppy and then raise it rather than bringing in a grown animal.In this world where more and more species of animals are becoming extinct due to man’s ruthlessness, developing the habit of loving animals from early childhood can possible save animals from being labeled ‘endangered’.
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January 10th, 2010
Some days back I was talking to a friend about the education system and requirements of the United States. We brought forth research statistics establishing the need for teaching math to US kids. We were shocked to find that according to a research conducted by the American Institutes for Research (AIR), the scores and rankings of 12 nations in the 2003 International Mathematics Assessments for Grades 4 and 8, US did not stand anywhere close to the top.
Arne Duncan, US Secretary of Education shocked everyone by saying that “We are lagging the rest of the world, and we are lagging it in pretty substantial ways, I think we have become complacent. We’ve sort of lost our way”.
Why the US needs English learning programs? The answer lies in multicultural and ethnical diversity. Hadn’t it been so, wouldn’t US have a national language? Presence of many dialects and languages add to the MTI (Mother Tongue Influence). Teachers and educators across the United States find it difficult to apply a single teaching system to kids belonging to diverse cultural backgrounds.
Most American kids are not fluent in writing English. Moreover, spoken English among kids is also not grammatically correct most of the times. Use of slangs and so called ‘cool’ lingo makes the situation worse. Using the right combination of technology and teaching methodology, Online English tutors can simplify English learning to a great extent. Online English tutors should focus on three aspects of English- Grammar, writing, and speaking.
It’s time we shed some myths about the English speaking skills of kids in the US!
Tags: multicultural diversity, online tutoring
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January 10th, 2010
We all are aware of the harmful effects of industrialization and modernization on the environment. Scientists warn that global warming is on the rise, glaciers are melting, and more and more species of animals are becoming extinct. Considering all this, shouldn’t we include ‘environment education’ in the curriculum of schools?
Better if we start teaching kids about Mother Nature at a tender age. In fact, consensus is that kindergarten is the point to start talking about environmental issues to children. Of course, a kindergarten kid cannot understand pollutants, global warming and effects of growing population. But it’s better to teach him a little than to teach him nothing about the environment.
Indoor activities keep our kids away from lush green fields. In today’s world, most children prefer playing video games over a fame of soccer in a soccer field. TV viewing among children and teens is also a matter of concern for parents.
The least we can do is to take a walk in a park with our kids, play with him outdoors and teach him how to preserve the environment. Children can be taught to plant trees, save animals and keep or earth clean. Teachers at school should ensure that they impart environmental education to kids irrespective of their age. Schools should organize activities like planting saplings. Parents should also talk to their kids about various ways through which we can arrest the degradation of nature.
The earlier we teach them, the longer we would last on this earth.
Tags: environmental education
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January 8th, 2010
The proverbial saying ‘An empty mind is a devil’s workshop’ is apt in the context of teenagers and children. Kids spend a lot of time watching TV, playing video games and surfing the Internet. It pains to admit that teens are increasingly falling prey to the commercials broadcast on TV and elsewhere. Drugs and alcohol have become sort of style statement. 
Though issues like drug abuse and teenage pregnancy are troubling the whole of United States, often we miss the root of such burning issues. Any guesses? Call it boredom or idleness, teens across the world waste their previous time after school. Earlier, circumstances were quite different. Kids, after school, would either do their homework or go for their jobs.
The World Wide Web has opened a whole new world of entertainment and information for teenagers. There are innumerable websites that host valuable information. Wikipedia, for instance, contains information about almost everything. But can the same be said about social networking websites like MySpace or face book? While online interaction with people across different continents and culture can expose kids to a whole new environment, abuse of the same can lead to wastage of time, and health problems (sitting for long hours in front of the laptop/desktop).
Boredom can be definitely dealt with. How? Parental Involvement is a simple solution for addressing idleness among kids and teenagers. After-school jobs can keep kids occupied, thus preventing them from wasting time in unnecessary activities.
Online tutoring can keep kids occupied while helping them learn new concepts and deal with the difficulty they face solving math problems or understanding a chemical equation. An online math tutor can spend 45-60 minutes with your child and teach the desired subject matter.
The next time you find your child sitting idle, visualize the devil’s workshop!
Tags: online tutoring, teen problems
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January 1st, 2010
Obesity statistics published by the US Department of Health and Human Services bring to light the epidemic growth of obesity across the United States among children and teenagers. What causes teen obesity? Lack of physical activity and unhealthy eating habits are two of the most important causes of weight-relates issues among teenagers.
Obesity in teens have frightening consequences- heart diseases, social discrimination and lack of self esteem. Since the early 70’s, the percentage of overweight children and adolescents has doubled. Recent surveys paint no better picture. With the popularity of readymade food (read ‘burgers’, ‘pizza’, and aerated drinks), United States can boast of an incredibly large teenage population that is obese.
While there is no magical solution to get rid of this problem, parents can surely contribute and arrest the further growth of obesity and related diseases. One of the best solutions to changing the eating habits of children is to provide them with a nutritious breakfast every morning. It is no rocket science to understand that a full stomach would crave less for junk food as compared to an empty belly.
Physical activities like baseball, cycling, running, playing with the dog, soccer and swimming can burn hundreds of calories in little time. Good eating habits are often developed at home. Parents should encourage their children to eat healthy food. Television viewing should be restricted as commercials shown on the TV urge children to crave for fried snack, fattening burgers and sugar-coated candy. Parents should explain the benefits of eating healthy food to their children. Obesity might hamper the proper development of your child. It’s better we start working against it before it is too late!
Tags: child health, nutrition, obesity
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December 31st, 2009
If we break the word breakfast into two, we get the words ‘break’ and ‘fast’. So breakfast is the best way to break the fast! In other words, a breakfast is a ‘fast’ way to ‘break’ free from hunger in the morning.
Children need a lot of energy to stay active at school. After school, they play sports. For all this, their body requires the right kind of food. And nothing can be better than to start a day with a nutritious breakfast.
Many children skip their breakfast, and munch on junk food during the day, thus resulting in unnecessary weight gain. Parents can help their children learn good eating habits. The first step towards this would be ensuring that children eat a breakfast that is rich in protein, carbohydrates, calcium, vitamins, and minerals.
Food items like eggs, milk, yoghurt, brown bread, nuts, and fruits make for a good breakfast. Whole grain cereals must also be made a part of a healthy breakfast. For those who are in a hurry to go to school, parents should pack the breakfast properly and let their child carry it to school.
Breakfast, nutritional experts say, is the most important meal of the day. Avoiding breakfast, therefore, would not only make your child crave for junk food, but also make him lazy and restless. Even the American Dietetic Association has confirmed the importance of breakfast. The habit of eating breakfast, if developed from early childhood, can last a lifetime. Hence, parents should ensure that children never miss breakfast.
Tags: breakfast, child health, nutrition
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December 27th, 2009
Cycling is fun. Most children like to hop on their bikes and ride into the woods. But sometimes, they also meet with unexpected accidents while crossing a busy traffic signal or a congested street intersection. Therefore, it is the responsibility of parents to teach safety rules to children before allowing them to use their bicycles.
Practice
Children should be asked to cycle in parks until they learn how to ride a bicycle properly. Parents should always be around while kids enjoy biking. Kids should be taught to ride in a straight line, brake efficiently, and corner the bike correctly.
No Helmet No Bike
Government has made it compulsory for bikers to wear helmets. Ensure that your child does not ride a bike without his helmet on.
The Right Helmet and Positioning
Parents should teach children how to wear a helmet properly. Preferably, they should use images such as the following to make them understand the right way to wear a helmet. The helmet that you buy for your kid must be approved. Many children develop the habit of cycling wearing a cap. This is dangerous, and therefore, should be avoided.
The Right Bike
Bicycles come in different shapes and sizes. A bike meant for a 13 year old kid might be unsafe for a 7 year old. Hence, one should check the bike’s size before buying it. When your kid sits on the bicycle, his feet should reach the ground. Bicycle seats are important for your child’s safety. They should be comfortable and sturdy. Regular servicing of your child’s mean-machine is important too.
Tags: child safety, traffic rules
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December 27th, 2009
Road accidents that involve pedestrians have become commonplace, blame it on increasing traffic or congested roads. Reckless driving, driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs, and unnecessary accelerating to overtake someone have contributed to the growing cases of road accidents.
It, therefore, becomes important for parents and teachers to teach road safety rules to children. Pedestrian safety rules, in fact, should be made a part of the school curriculum. Children are not going to learn pedestrian safety rules unless we teach them. Listed here are some of the rules that teachers and parents can teach children.
Crossing the road with an Adult
Children should be instructed to cross the street only when there is an elder person with them. As children appear short to drivers of heavy vehicles like trucks and buses, the company of an adult can possibly reduce the chances of fatalities. In the absence of an adult, children should be taught to ask the nearby policeman or traffic policeman to help them cross the street.
Understanding Traffic Signs
Children should be able to figure out the meanings of the ‘WALK’ and ‘DON’T WALK” signs. Elders should teach them the meaning of the red and green signals. Zebra crossing should be used to teach kids when to cross the street.
Look on Either Side
Parents should demonstrate to kids the importance of looking to the left, then to the right and again to the left before crossing a road. It takes just a few seconds to avoid a possible mishap.
Use of Sidewalks
Sidewalks are generally elevated from the driving street in order to protect pedestrians from possible accidents. Children should be taught to use the sidewalks.
Pedestrian rules, if followed, can save the lives of millions. The lessons children learn at a young age become a part of their lives when they grow up. That is why it is best to teach them at an early age.
Tags: child safety, traffic rules
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December 27th, 2009
Character Education is something that our education system needs badly. As basic moral values are slowly disappearing from our lives, we need to include character education to help our children understand values like honesty, love, compassion, and kindness. With angst and hatred taking center stage, the role of parents and teachers in enlightening their next-generation becomes indispensable.
“Watch your thoughts, for they become words. Watch your words, for they become actions. Watch your actions, for they become habits. Watch your habits, for they become character. Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.” This is a famous saying that rightly emphasizes on the importance of character.
Teaching character must not wait for the right time. Character education is not for a particular age group; it is for people of all ages. If moral values are taught to children at a young age, they grow into human beings who value life and believe in ‘love for all’ philosophy. The best thing about teaching character to children is that its results are visible in just a short period of time.
The world today desperately needs responsible, self-controlled, and compassionate individuals who can make positive choices. Juvenile Delinquency is at an all-time high. Blame it on the faulty education system or the prevailing political atmosphere, but it is the children who are suffering the most.
Character education is the answer to the nagging problems of our society. If every child starts ‘feeling’ for every other person, all hatred would disappear and a world would take shape where there would be no wars.
Tags: character education, education, online tutoring
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