5 Tips for Finding a Great Tutor
If you feel that your child could be doing better in one or more subjects in school, finding them a good tutor could make a big difference. Not only can a tutor help your child get better grades in school, but by helping them to understand the subject matter better, your child will also learn to enjoy school more. After all, it’s hard to enjoy something when you are struggling to understand it. Finding a good tutor is very important. There are a number of ways to locate a tutor, and your child’s school might be able to provide some guidance. Overall, there are some tips to keep in mind that can help you find a good tutor for your child.
1. Take Advantage of Opportunities offered at School
Some schools may already have a tutoring program in place that your child could take advantage of, or at a minimum they could provide you with some recommendations. Some schools offer after-school homework clinics and tutoring sessions with the teachers themselves, which could be a very helpful option. Other schools provide a type of “homework hotline” program, which could be used by your child when they need a specific type of assistance.
2. Explore Public Libraries and Other Community Programs
Some libraries and community centers offer tutoring opportunities, often for no cost or at a very low cost. These could be a good place to start, especially if your budget it somewhat limited. These programs are often staffed by people that have a real interest in helping children learn, including teacher and retired teacher volunteers.
3. Learning Centers and Private Tutors
Commercial learning centers and private tutors may also prove to be the best option for your child. It’s important to find a tutor or center that is a good fit for the needs and personality of your child. If you know of anybody else who has used tutoring for their child, getting their recommendations might be a place to start. When you have located some options, make an appointment to visit the center or tutor with your child, as an introductory session. Look to see if the center or tutor seems friendly and welcoming, and if the teachers and tutors seem to “click” with your child. Involve your child in the decision-making process if possible, so that they feel more involved.
4. Check Credentials
Regardless of the type of tutoring that you choose, it’s important to check into the educational credentials of the tutors themselves. It’s not always important in some cases for the tutor to be an actual classroom teacher in the subject. But, most times you’ll want to insure that they have a college degree and some background on the subject being tutored.
5. Monitor Your Child’s Progress
Once a tutor is chosen, monitor your child’s progress to make sure the experience is effective for them. Ask your child questions about the tutoring sessions, and see if their experiences are positive. Sometimes, even after a careful selection process, you find that a particular tutor isn’t a good “fit” for your child. If they don’t seem to be enjoying or benefiting from the tutoring, it might be advantageous to try a different tutor.
Metal-Wall-Art.com senior staff writer, Alyssa Davis, specializes in designing with wall art decor and musical wall art hangings.
Homeschooling – Learning Through Recipes
There are so many wonderful packaged Unit Studies available to homeschoolers that you don’t know where to start. Instead of buying something pre-packaged, how about starting with an idea and let your children’s interests decide where to go with it. Have you thought about starting a unit study in the kitchen… with a recipe?
You can certainly pick your own recipe to start your unit study, but here is an example of how it can work. The recipe I have in mind is for Beef Stroganoff. Your kids can decide which way they want to go with this, but here are some suggestions:
1. Investigate the different stories about the origins of Beef Stroganoff and decide, based on the evidence, which version may be the correct one.
2. Research the year the dish was invented and explore that time period. What important events were happening around the world then? Who was the US President and what was the US like at that time? What were the people in Russia wearing in the 19th century? What other foods were popular in Russia back then? What was the main mode of transportation during that time period? Get in as deep as you want on any of these.
3. What is a count? Draw and color a nobility tree showing the rankings of nobility from most important to lowest ranking. Is it still that way in Russia today?
4. Explore Russia geographically. Find it on the world map. Make your own map of Russia and include topographical items. Add bodies of water, mountains, cities, industry, and whatever else you want. Make charts of demographics. Create math story problems involving air or boat travel from Russia to the US, or from one city in Russia to another. Compare the size and circumference of Russia as compared to Europe and the US.
5. Learn about Count Stroganov and his family history. Create a play about his life.
6. Make a scrapbook by downloading pictures off the Internet and then adding captions explaining the pictures.
7. Compare 5 different Beef Stroganoff recipes and notice which ingredients are the same and which are different. Make a bar chart of the ingredients from all the recipes.
8. Create a Russian newspaper with news items that might have happened in the 19th century. What kind of ads might they have had then?
9. Make beef stroganoff! You can have Russian night and make a whole meal of Russian food. Visit some online Russian museums to understand what their dishes and utensils might have looked like and how they would dress for a meal.
10. Write a fictional story about a girl or boy in Russia.
These are ideas on how to go from just one recipe to a unit study. Other recipes work just as well. Take a look at your recipe for pizza and take a trip to Italy, or explore the Tollhouse chocolate chip cook recipe; there’s a good story there. How can you go wrong with pizza or cookies?
Learning to cook can be educational child’s play for your kids, and now they can explore a cooking website that’s all their own. Cookin’ Kids is the place for easy kid-friendly recipes and much more! http://cookinkids.com Parents can visit too for their free Parent Tips.
Resolutions Come in All Sizes
As we perform the annual ritual of making New Year’s resolutions, the pledge to shed pounds will no doubt make the list again this year. But there’s a problem with New Year’s Resolutions; sometimes they are difficult to stick to, and sometimes, despite our best efforts, they fail.
There is an option which can prevent feelings of failure and disappointment yet still achieve weight loss results and better health in the process. This year don’t resolve to lose weight, resolve to eat healthy instead. Dieting is not the answer. Eating more of the things that are good for us and less of those that are not has always been and will always be a better and simpler solution.
Whether seeking to maintain your current weight or to lose a few pounds, adding more fruits & veggies each day is one resolution that you can make that will make a healthy difference in your life. Fruits and vegetables may help reduce the risk of obesity and many diseases, including heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and some cancers. They are rich in vitamins, minerals and fiber that your body needs to feel healthy and energized.
Everyone can benefit from eating more fruits & veggies, even those who are already at their ideal weight. The good news is that increasing the amount of fruits and vegetables your family consumes is easy because they come in so many delicious forms and varieties! Fresh, frozen, canned and dried fruits and vegetables, as well as 100 percent fruit and vegetable juices, each contribute to a balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle.
When it comes to maintaining a healthy weight, eating more fruits & veggies matters, so here are some tips to help you add more to your diet. At snack time, choose healthier foods instead of foods that are high in fat and calories. When shopping, buy more foods that offer higher vitamin, mineral and fiber content per calorie, like healthy fruits and vegetables, 100 percent fruit or vegetable juice, vegetable-based soups and salads, and avoid or limit foods that have few vitamins and minerals per calorie, such as chips, soda, ice cream, cookies, donuts and other sweets.
You don’t have to eliminate your favorite foods, just change the proportion in which you eat them: try more primavera over whole wheat pasta and less alfredo sauce over your usual pasta; more bean and vegetable soups instead of cream soups and chowders (or at least add vegetables to them); try apple crisp instead of apple pie.
Add a healthy fruit or vegetable side dish to your family’s main meal while decreasing the portion size of other foods that are high in calories and low in nutrients. This can have a significant impact on weight loss, as well as long-term health. Fruits and vegetables are high in fiber and water and that means they can help you feel full faster. This can help lower the number of calories you eat, because you stop eating sooner. Fill at least half of your plate with them at every meal.
Check out the handy BMI counter online at www.fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org to find out how close you are to your own, personal ideal weight, and don’t forget to get moving! Regular physical activity helps develop strong bones and muscles, promotes self-confidence and a positive self-image, and may reduce risk for health problems later in life. According to the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, regular physical activity may make it easier to control weight and manage stress.
More information about maintaining a healthy weight along with recipes and tips on adding more fruits and veggies to your families’ diet can be found on the Fruits & Veggies—More Matters website, www.fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org. Heart Warming Oatmeal with Fruit and Nuts is a delicious way to add fruit to breakfast, while Maple-Glazed Turnips makes a great seasonal side dish. Apple Chicken Stir-Fry is a way to get a veggie filled main dish to the table in record time.
Just remember that adding more fruits & veggies to your diet is a healthy resolution for a New You in the New Year!
