Making Extra Money With Online Tutoring

Making Extra Money With Online TutoringTutoring online is a great way to make extra money, but in order to really make the most of this opportunity, you must be dedicated and persistent. There are some things that you need to learn in order to make this possible.It used to be that people who wanted to find a way to make extra money had to look for a job they would love. For example, they would have to go into the work force or at least stay in school if they wanted to go to school full time and get a degree. Now that we have more flexibility in our lives, however, many people are choosing to go into tutoring. They do not have to go to school, or stay at home.This is because of how affordable it is to use a tutoring service. If you use a paid service, you will spend a lot of money.Many students do not realize that the service that they will be using will charge them for their classes. Even though they will save money in this situation, you will not earn very much money because it is u sually based on how many times the student pays. So if they need five lessons a week, and they have to pay $100, that means they will earn less than one cent per lesson.The other option is to use a free tutoring website that will show you how to get paid. This is a great idea because you do not have to invest a lot of money to start. You can see what you can expect to make, and you can learn how to make it happen with your own two hands.Many people do not believe that they can make money tutoring online. This is because they do not know how to set up an ad to find students. They do not know how to use anonline directory to find someone to help them.Knowing how to do these simple things will allow you to make as much money as you want. When you do this, you will notice that you will make extra money very quickly.

Expand Your Professional Reach By Learning Hindi

Expand Your Professional Reach By Learning Hindi Learn To Speak Hindi And Boost Your Career Prospects ChaptersWhy Is The Hindi Language So Good For Business?How To Learn Hindi EffectivelyHindi Classes For YouLearning another language can be so rewarding, not least because it can help you progress in your career. Other major benefits to acquiring a new language are that you can travel to countries which speak this language much more easily and comfortably. you can make new friendships with people who you may never have had the chance to get close to due to a language barrier and it also makes you smarter, according to experts.It makes sense, for if you know a Latin language then you will find it easier to remember the periodic table (i.e. Lead in French is Plomb and the chemical symbol for lead is Pb, Iron is Fer (F) and Gold is Or (Au) and so on...). Meanwhile, having a brand new language under your belt like Hindi could potentially unlock so much more.So if you’re interested in learning more about another language for business purposes, there are a few key contenders in mind â€" w hether that’s:Mandarin;German; orSpanish.However, one often overlooked language that can be a great advantage in the business arena is Hindi.One of the official languages of India, Hindi is the fourth most-spoken language in the world, and so naturally, is spoken by many in India. India is considered to be the sixth-largest economy in the world, and may even surpass the UK to become the fifth-largest by the end of this year. With that in mind, there’s a lot of incentive to learn more about this language if you’re serious about improving your job prospects in south-east Asia.Learning Hindi can be great for business purposes. (Image Source: CC0 1.0, rawpixel, Pixabay)Telecommunications;Business processes; orManufacturing.As a result, there are a wide number of internationally known businesses that have established links in India, from companies such as Microsoft and Dell to Tata Motors, among others. So if you’re looking to get your foot in a door of a major corporation, it ma y be worth seeing whether they have existing links with India, or are in fact an Indian business.If they do have those links, then chances are that depending on the role you apply for, your Hindi language skills could put you in a favourable light.Additionally, once you’ve mastered Hindi then you’ll also have an easy time learning Urdu â€" Pakistan’s national language â€" as they are widely considered to be the same language to a degree, but are simply written in different scripts. While this means that, as a Hindi speaker, you would not be able to write in Urdu, you should still be able to communicate proficiently with an Urdu speaker, even if you’re speaking Hindi to them.In business, having two extra languages to your name can really expand the reach of the number of people you can communicate with, which is always a bonus.The Hindi language can be great for business. (Image Source: CC0 1.0, freeGraphicToday, Pixabay)Stay Ahead Of The CompetitionWhat’s more, the fact is that Hindi is often not taught as a second language in schools in the west, as often different languages such as French, German, Spanish, or even Mandarin are made more widely available to students.As a result, if you do decide to learn Hindi for work purposes, then you could have a head start on a number of people who simply would not have thought to learn Hindi for their career, despite its growing importance.How To Learn Hindi EffectivelyWhether you’re a beginner or fluent, it’s never too late to start learning and improving your comprehension of Hindi.As with any language, it’s crucial that you develop four key skills during your language journey:Listening skills;Reading skills;Writing skills; andSpeaking skills.Often, reading and listening skills will develop the quickest. While actually speaking a language such as Hindi to a proficient degree may take some time, it’s very achievable with some commitment and dedication.There are a number of ways that you can develop th ese core skills, such as through the use of flashcards,   by watching popular Bollywood films in Hindi to improve your understanding of the language, or by trying to commit to learning new adjectives or Hindi phrases and expressions each day.If you want to learn more about the grammar of Hindi, improve your pronunciation, learn more about how to have an effective conversation in Hindi, or have a good grammatical understanding of the language, there are specific exercises you can undertake as a learner of Hindi. For example, buying a Hindi dictionary is just one way to help learn the Hindi script and boost your vocabulary.Further, when it comes to learning Hindi, there are a few different learning routes you could consider if you want to learn this language, and hopefully develop your skills to the point where your Hindi is almost as good as your native language!Learn Hindi OnlineThere are so many online language courses and learning materials on the internet, so it’s really very e asy to find a course and teach yourself a language, including Hindi, in your free time. You don't even have to dedicate hours of your week, learning a new language now can be as easy as playing a game for 10 minutes a day.Some people really enjoy learning a new language online because it gives them the freedom to study when they are able to, and often they can learn at a pace that suits them. So if, for example, you struggle initially learning the Hindi alphabet, then you can take longer getting comfortable with it than you may otherwise have time to if you were on a paid, in-person course. What's more, the process can be much less painful if you choose a fun app, rather than being in an academic setting, bringing back memories of your childhood!However, not all online courses were created equal, and some really do offer more value than offers. So if you are considering going down this route to learn Hindi it’s important to do your research and choose a course that suits your budg et, provides measurable learning outcomes and has a good reputation.Further, as you would likely be learning Hindi to advance your career, it’s worthwhile trying to select courses that cater to the business world, which teach you important words and phrases and items of vocabulary that you would likely encounter in a working environment in India.As an official language of India, there are likely to be many courses out there that offer business-specific courses, which may cover things such as common sentence structure, whether there is a popular idiom used at work, as well as key skills such as knowing Hindi numbers. But you've got to nail the basics, right? Especially when you consider that you will need those basic conversational terms and phrases if you want to get by when on a work trip in India, or if you want to communicate with ease with Hindi-speaking contacts.Superprof has a range of tutors that can teach you Hindi in a remote, online setting. Simply let your prospective t utor know that you’re interested in learning Hindi for business purposes and they can help tailor your lesson plans to help you achieve this aim.We'll learn more about this in due course. Firstly, let's have a look at the classes and lessons you could find in order to get ahead with your Hindi studies.Remember, if the course will benefit your professional role and therefore the company, then you may be entitled to claim for fee back or you could find they are keen to fund the project up front. If this is the case, they might be able to afford a better and more efficient course or instructor than if you were paying for the tuition yourself.You can learn Hindi online. (Image Source: CC0 1.0, geralt, Pixabay)Learn Hindi By Attending A ClassIf your preference would be to learn Hindi with a group, where you can hide behind some of your peers and be an observer/listener more than an active participant, there are a number of places where you can attend Hindi language lessons. The great t hing about group lessons is that you can hear others speak the language â€" including the teacher â€" which will help develop your listening and speaking skills that little bit quicker and help you to pick up new common words along the way.It’s also a great way to make friends, as you’ll all have a common interest in wanting to learn Hindi, whether you are a group of beginners, intermediate pupils or almost fluent. Even if you don't get on in a social setting, you could make some valuable new contacts by networking at classes.There are also a number of dedicated Hindi language courses that focus on Hindi for business, so once you’re comfortable with the fundamentals of the language, attending such a course can really help you get your foot forward in the business world and give you the language tools to succeed.Learn Hindi By Calling On A TutorWithout a doubt, Superprof is the best place to find a language tutor in your area or one that can teach you remotely.Superprof is an o nline platform allowing tutors to advertise their services and to connect with prospective pupils. Here, you will be able to search for a Hindi language tutor, filter them by area, level of qualification and experience, whether they hold sessions at your home or elsewhere and you can also sort in order of price.In London alone, Superprof has around 15 Hindi tutors listed, each offering their own wealth of unique skills, teaching methods and life or work experiences. Some are native of India, which you might find to be a great benefit (especially if you want that extra cultural influence and even more so if they have a background in your area of business) whilst others have mastered the language as a second language or mother-tongue and have become qualified to teach what they have learned.Furthermore, some focus on writing skills whereas others help you to advance your spoken Hindi skills to enable you to get by during simple conversations. If a tutor doesn't claim business Hindi as one of their specialities then it may be a bit much to expect a lot from them in the way of business or technical Hindi tuition. This may be something you need to expand on in a separate training course once you have mastered the basics.While not all are certified teachers, many have experience of teaching students of various levels and can adapt a series of online or face to face lessons for you. Upwards of £6, you can benefit from lessons in Hindi from those with the knowledge and skills to offer you structured Hindi classes.As with any class, however, be sure to have put together  a list of your priorities for learning Hindi, so that you can be sure that your instructor can meet your demands at the price arranged. One great of way of doing this is to take advantage of Superprof's one free lesson policy, which will enable you to speak to a tutor and decide if they are the right person for you to continue working with.Learn Hindi By Visiting IndiaA stay in India with a Hindi dict ionary could quite frankly teach you more than a dozen lessons with a professional linguistics tutor, because visiting a country and being immersed can teach you so much in the way of language and culture and thus facilitate learning a historically-packed language like Hindi.As a tourist in India, you can soak up conversations all around you, independently learn to read signs written in Hindi and discover local traditions taking place and their meaning to the country.Also, the younger you are, the easier it is said to be to pick up a foreign language, possibly because you have less apprehension and can find mutual ground when chatting to people of your age range. However, whatever your age, if you leave yourself completely open to learning and are willing to show yourself up by trying out your conversational skills in order to communicate with the locals, then you will pick up the language in no time. You just need to take a leap of faith and remind yourself that you have to try in order to succeed!Hindi Classes For YouHindi Study CentresIt may not be the most common language for UK pupils, but you can find some Hindi study centres dotted around the country if you look.  Hindi Bal Bhawan, for instance, one of the establishments where you can find Hindi lessons has teachers spread across the country along with members of UK Hindi Samiti and India High Commission to review teaching and raise awareness of studying Hindi in the UK.What's more, every year, selected winners of the elocution (linked to phonology) competition join the winners from other European countries for a sponsored trip to India (which could be exactly what you need!). Some of the centres in UK where Hindi is taught are:-Enfield : Ba Vikas Kul -Ealing : Ealing Arya Samaj -Surrey : Maha Lakshmi Hindu Temple -Reading : Reading Hindu Temple -Heston : Brahmrishi Ashram -Southall : Vishva Hindu Mandir -Southall : Shri Ram Mandir -Slough : Hindu Cultural Society -North and Midlands -Birmingham : Kriti UK -Leicester : Geeta Bhavan -Nottingham : Kala NiketanThere are many more study centres up and down the country including in Liverpool and Scotland too, so depending on where you live you might want to call the study centre to request further details or you may wish to contact someone from your local tourist office. Another great place to find out about courses you may otherwise not have discovered is to put a little post on Facebook requesting recommendations for courses or suitable tutors.Unfortunately, prices are not listed for the various different courses on the study centre's website however if you know which entry level you need then you can always contact your chosen centre to find out more details about pricing.College And Further Education CoursesAs a more mature student seeking Hindi lessons to progress in your career, you may be more inclined to go straight in for an accredited academic course.If you are based within easy reach of the capital, you could benefit from on e of the following courses. With many courses available as part-time study, you may be able to arrange a day of studying during your working week if the course is directly linked to your everyday responsibilities in the office.City Lit, LondonCity Lit in London, which offers a long list of short courses for adults, offers a number of Hindi courses including Hindi for Beginners, Hindi 2 and 3,  Hindi: an introduction to Devanagari script, Hindi Holiday Kit, Hindi beginners intensive, and Hindi: an introduction. Each course is priced individually and is tailored to suit a range of needs in terms of learning this language.Courses cost between £90 and £180 depending on the content and length of the tuition.SOAS Language Centre, LondonSOAS recognises Hindi as an important language, both culturally and for business administration purposes.As such, it has designed two courses to expose the language and cultural aspects of Hindi, including the ever-growing Indian literature and film indus try, Bollywood.  Hindi Beginners and  Hindi Elementary each offer learners a range of skills in the subject.Course fees aren't yet available for 2019, however, the one-year course is made up of 3 terms consisting of 10 weeks per term and 2 hours per week. When they are published, the course fees quoted will be per term of 10 weeks.Degrees In HindiSOAS University of LondonAs well as the short courses offered by its multi-cultural language centre, this establishment additionally offers postgraduate degrees and masters degrees linked to Hindi and Asian studies.The two-year long MA South Asian Studies and Intensive Language (2019 entry), for instance, offers comprehensive language-based training across a wide range of disciplines in the humanities and social sciences. Below is a brief overview of what can be expected from this new course, based upon information from its predecessor.The first year is split into four sections with a course in Bengali, Hindi, Nepali or Urdu being core, as well as 'The Politics of Culture in Contemporary South Asia'. Students can choose the two other courses they study from various options, which include Anthropology, Art and Archaeology, Cinema, Cultural and Regional Studies, Economics, History, Law, Literature, Music, Politics, and Study of Religions.In their second year, students become affiliated with a university or research institute in India, Pakistan or Nepal (the location depending on their choice of language), where they will further develop their language proficiency and conduct research for an extended dissertation on the subject of Asian Studies. During the second half of the second year, students will be busy writing their dissertation back in London.The UK/EU Fees for this course are £9,685, whilst overseas students can expect to pay £19,930.The fees are priced per academic year and can go up each year.See the website for more information.

How to Get the Best Homework Help

How to Get the Best Homework Help 0SHARESShare Does your kid not like doing homework? Well, that’s normal, right? Does your kid make mistakes in his homework? Normal again! But, do you see nothing but only red pen-marks in your kid’s homework? If yes, that is not normal. These are the signs, which indicate that your child needs a good homework help. Why homework help from Tutor Pace is splendid? Tutor Pace provides excellent homework help online, which touches every tangent of your child’s learning curve in the most productive manner. We provide exuberant benefits through our homework help for kids services. Our certified teachers help students from all grades in their regular assignments, test-preparation, and academic projects. Why get the best homework help for kids? Tutor Pace gets the best homework help for your kids. Our tutors help your kids in the most friendly and pleasing manner. In addition, kids learn from a highly-interactive whiteboard that lets them work on their homework in real time. Since kids get personalized sessions from our experts, they can ask every doubt many times. We record each session, so that kids can go back and recall any concept or problem that they have forgotten from their session. Hurry! Get homework help online for your kids from Tutor Pace today and wipe out all the red pen-marks permanently from your child’s homework. Get Homework Help Online Now [starbox id=admin]

Top 50 Intermediate Guitar Songs Everyone Should Know

Top 50 Intermediate Guitar Songs Everyone Should Know Jessica Dais The topic of intermediate guitar songs and solos is a tricky one, because it means different things to different people. Some players learn certain techniques faster than others, and what is advanced to some is borderline-beginner to others. Nevertheless, songs like “Blackbird” by Paul McCartney, “Can’t Stop” by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and “Voodoo Child” by Jimi Hendrix are popular, time-honored classics that you probably won’t learn as a brand new guitarist. Top 50 Intermediate Guitar Songs This article will cover acoustic and electric intermediate guitar songs, as well as intermediate guitar solos. Each of these pieces focuses on different styles and techniques. The main thing to remember as you attempt these songs is that they are meant to stretch you. You may listen to some and think they’re impossible, but moving into the intermediate guitar world means facing up to the universal feeling of “impossibility” when it comes to new techniques. Remember that everyone feels that way at some point, so keep practicing even when you feel like giving up! Acoustic Intermediate Guitar Songs 1. Space Oddity David Bowie (Tabs) Bowie used several special techniques in this acoustic hit. Pay attention to the  left-hand chord voicings used throughout the song. 2. Thinking Out Loud Ed Sheeran (Tabs) This song is a popular choice for weddings, and a little trickier for most beginners. While practicing, focus on capturing a soulful feeling at a slow tempo. 3. Blackbird Paul McCartney (Tabs) This is probably the most popular fingerpicking song. There are a few ways to play this one, but the classically influenced guitar lines will challenge you to think outside of your box a bit. 4. Neon John Mayer (Tabs) Some would put this in the advanced category, but it’s actually fairly repetitive and very accessible if you know how to slow down. 5. Babe I’m Gonna Leave You Led Zeppelin (Tabs) This might feel like a beginner song once you get the first phrase out, but to play the whole song soulfully takes some precision and passion! 6. Heart of Life John Mayer (Tabs) A more advanced pluck-and-chuck song, this is a really good way to get into flicking melodies out. 7. Stop This Train John Mayer (Tabs) This song challenges you to combine a melody, bass line, and inner voice into a pluck and chuck pattern. 8. Details in the Fabric Jason Mraz (Tabs) This intermediate guitar song uses a fairly intricate strumming pattern that will challenge your ability to hold syncopation! 9. Country Roads John Denver (Tabs) Country Roads is great song to learn basic four stroke thumbpicking. Focus on the guitar part in the first verse of the original version. 10. I Will Follow You Into the Dark Deathcab for Cutie (Tabs) This song mixes alternating bass and thumb slaps with flicks into a fairly easy pattern. 11. Crash Into Me Dave Matthews (Tabs) “Crash Into Me” builds an interesting two part guitar texture where you bang out a nice bass line while strumming chords on the treble strings excellent for developing rest strokes! 12. Leaves That Are Green Paul Simon (Tabs) This is a classic thumb-picking song that’s sure to present a challenge to any new, intermediate student. 13. Alice’s Restaurant Arlo Guthrie (Tabs) This legendary folk song is just a 16 bar pattern that repeats. See if you can carry on a conversation while pedaling this pattern! 14. The Boxer Paul Simon (Tabs) Another legendary thumb-picking song that mixes four stroke patterns with moving chords and walking bass lines. 15. Operator Jim Croce (Tabs) “Operator” is a beautiful fingerpicking song that uses some different rhythmic patterns worth learning! 16. The Rain Song Led Zeppelin (Tabs) The alternate tuning in this song will get you thinking about the guitar in a new way. It opens up a lot of possibilities while challenging you to break your typical patterns. Intermediate Electric Guitar Songs 1. Can’t Stop Red Hot Chili Peppers (Tabs) Especially suited for mastering the “rock muting” techniques (where you almost strum while muting all but one note), this song is a must for electric guitarists! 2. Under the Bridge The Red Hot Chili Peppers (Tabs) “Under the Bridge” mixes several techniques and has a number of different sections that take some thought for intermediate guitarists to master. 3. Layla Eric Clapton (Tabs) Some of the rhythm and lead parts in “Layla” aren’t complex, but capturing the anguished sound is at the essence of this song’s challenges. 4. Slow Dancing In a Burning Room John Mayer (Tabs) This is another song that integrates several different techniques into one line and needs to be executed soulfully to be convincing. 5. Wild Side Motley Crue (Tabs) “Wild Side” is not as difficult as it sounds. The riff is a great introduction to playing fast without being too challenging. 6. Black Dog Led Zeppelin (Tabs) The notes in this song are challenging enough, but the timing really throws a lot of players off the horse. Challenge yourself to play this along with the record or even better a band! 7. Pride and Joy Stevie Ray Vaughan (Tabs) On paper it’s not complicated, but the nuances of muting the strings properly to play this song are quite challenging. You may consider getting help from a guitar teacher to master this one! 8. Never There Cake (Tabs) This is one of those intermediate guitar songs that is a surprise challenge. The song has some fast notes with string skips that are quite difficult to perfect.   9. Wish You Were Here Incubus (Tabs) The secret to Incubus’ magic is not so much in the notes but in Michael Einziger’s shoegaze guitar sounds. See if you can get the tone and effects down. 10. Enter Sandman Metallica (Tabs) If you want to learn what metal guitar is supposed to sound like, this is an excellent place to start! 11. Thunderstruck AC/DC (Tabs) Some would call this song advanced, but the shortness and repetitiveness of this riff make it a really good study piece for hammer-ons and pull-offs. 12. Back in Black AC/DC (Tabs) If the last AC/DC song you tried kicked your butt, give this one a try for a more moderate challenge that satisfies the same itch. 13. Uptown Funk Bruno Mars (Tabs) Lots of Bruno Mars songs have worthy funk guitar parts, and “Treasure” is just one great choice. Getting used to the syncopation and articulation are the keys to success here. 14. Brick House The Commodores (Tabs) This song often gets called for covers, so if you’re in a band it’s best to start learning it now! 15. You Got Another Thing Coming Judas Priest (Tabs) Just playing the notes isn’t too difficult, but synchronizing with a rhythm section in a rock band is very telling of your ability to make this song work. Intermediate Guitar Solos Something Beatles (Tabs) Hotel California Eagles (Tabs) Johnny B Goode Chuck Berry (Tabs) All Along the Watchtower Jimi Hendrix (Tabs) Tamacun Rodrigo y Gabriela (Tabs) Voodoo Child Jimi Hendrix (Tabs) Sympathy for the Devil The Rolling Stones (Tabs) Stairway to Heaven Led Zeppelin (Tabs) Purple Haze Jimi Hendrix (Tabs) Comfortably Numb Pink Floyd (Tabs) One of These Nights Eagles (Tabs) Belief John Mayer (Tabs) Crazy Train Ozzy Osbourne (Tabs) One (Intro) Metallica (Tabs) Heat Wave Linda Ronstadt (Tabs) La Grange ZZ Top (Tabs) Mud on the Tires Brad Paisley (Tabs) My Sharona The Knack (Tabs) Spooky Atlanta Rhythm Section (Tabs) Black Magic Woman Carlos Santana (Tabs) Each of these intermediate guitar songs and solos made the list because of their popularity and influence. Remember that these songs are likely to present some unexpected challenges. If you want to brush up on your skills, try an online guitar class to get the help you need! Post Author: Jonathan B. Jonathan B. teaches acoustic guitar, bass, and more in State College, PA. Jonathan is a Temple University, Music Theory graduate and YouTube celebrity with thousands of subscribers.  Learn more about Jonathan here! Need Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher

Standard Distribution - Online Math Tutoring

Standard Distribution - Online Math Tutoring Standard distribution is an extremely important distribution. It is also known as normal distribution. Standard distribution and its associated probabilities are an integral part of statistical process control. When large enough sample sizes are taken, many statistics are normally distributed regardless of the shape of underlying distribution from which they are drawn. We represent a standard distribution by a normal curve. Standard distribution exhibits the following characteristics. It is continuous. It is symmetrical distribution about its mean. It is asymptotic to the horizontal axis. It is unimodal. It is a family of the curve. Area under the curve is 1. All mean, median and mode lie at the same position. The standard distribution is symmetrical. Each half of the distribution is a mirror image of the other half. Many normal distribution tables contain probability values for only one side of the distribution because probability values for the other side of the distribution are identical because of symmetry. In theory, the normal distribution is asymptotic to the horizontal axis. That is, it does not touch the x axis, and it goes forever in each direction. The reality is that most applications of the normal curve are experiments that have finite limits potential outcomes. For example, even though SAT scores are analyzed by standard distribution, the range of the scores on each part of the SAT is only 200 to 800. Other example could be the life insurance, height or weight of a person, rent of a house.

A Santa-Approved Voice Exercise

A Santa-Approved Voice Exercise Suzy S. Gifts?   Check.   Eggnog?   Check.   If youve completed your to-do list, its time to sit back and take a deep breath.   Youve made it Christmas is just around the corner, and its time to celebrate (and relax!) with family and friends.   From all of us here at TakeLessons, we hope youre enjoying the holiday season and making the most of it! One of our favorite parts of the season is all of the holiday music, and sharing that gift of music with others.   And of course if youre heading out caroling this weekend, make sure to warm up your voice, as with any practice session or performance.   Heres a simple voice exercise sure to get you on Santas Nice list, courtesy of Performancehigh.net: You have probably heard many times that singing is all about breath support and airflow. And you may think youre singing with good breath support and airflow.  But if youre getting tension in your neck and are unable to sing past a certain ceiling without flipping into the next higher register, you probably still have some work to do with breath.  Lets get down to the basics for a moment. Put your hand on your belly. Spread your fingers wide so that you cover as much vertical area as possible. Now, say Ho! Ho! Ho! in a percussive way. Dont worry about hitting any particular pitch.  Just focus on feeling your stomach muscles actually act, and expel air with each syllable.  Your throat is simply a passage the air goes through.  Let the air pass through without trying to grip it or control it with your throat muscles. Your belly should go in, not out, with each syllable. This is completely natural for some people, but not for everyone.  Just check to make sure.  (If youre pushing your belly out with each syllable, how in the world are you pushing air up and out through your throat as well? Think about it) Once you are doing Ho! Ho! Ho! correctly, then do a variation:  Ho! Ho! Hooooo Hold out that last syllable for a second or two, making sure that you are still supporting your breath from your belly and not moving the compression and effort up into your throat just because you are now singing a sustained note. How did the voice exercise go for you?     What other tips would you add?   Leave a comment below! Like these posts?   Sign up to receive daily updates right to your inbox!   Click here to subscribe. You might also like Using Scales to Improve Your Vocal Range and More Can Yoga Help You Sing Better? Fine-Tune the Way You Learn Music Image courtesy of http://www.singingsantaclaus.com/

The Limitations of Core Standards on Higher Order Thinking Skills

The Limitations of Core Standards on Higher Order Thinking Skills How Basic Education Limits Students’ Ability for Higher Order Thinking ChaptersThe Ongoing AssessmentsOn Building Cognitive SkillsCommon Core Versus Blooms TaxonomyHow to Bring Higher Order Thinking Into the ClassroomIt’s really not hard to see why so many students are able to obtain their school leaving certificate yet have no idea how to think or reason through a problem: all you have to do is ask a school teacher.Assessment, marking work and reporting students’ progress make administrators out of teachers.These tasks take up too much of the teachers’ lesson planning time and too much classroom time, with the net effect being more teachers abandoning the profession before replacement teachers can be fully qualified.That phenomenon has a spiral effect. Because there are fewer teachers, the student-teacher ratio increases: more kids in class mean more papers to mark and more reporting to do.Where, in all of this, do teachers get to use all of the classroom strategies they learned in their teacher training?If students cultivating higher order think ing skills were simply a matter of teacher availability, solving the problems that beset teachers would mean that they would be available to encourage students to think critically and solve problems, right?To be sure, the pressure teachers labour under is untenable and something must be done. Hopefully soon!However, if the Department for Education intends to arm British students with 21st-century skills and help them learn how to think, they will have to make some major changes to our education system.Let’s take a look at where such changes could be made and how much better general education could be â€" for teachers and for our students.Multiple choice questions do not require critical thinking or problem-solving Image by tjevans from Pixabayteaching to the test: for all of the summative assessments being conducted, our national curriculum leaves little room for teachers to make use of any classroom strategies they might have picked up during their professional development.Or, if you prefer analogies, you might say that teachers are harnessed to a careening carriage and expected to keep upright and in control.Teaching to the test is only half of the trouble.The other half â€" and perhaps the bigger issue at hand is that a lot of the learning in today’s classrooms is more a matter of memorization than a cognitive process.That claim is substantiated by the fact that exams seem to consist of more multiple choice questions than essay questions.There is value in multiple choice, but the downsides far outweigh them: one can score well on such an exam by guessing or merely memorising the correct answers.There is nothing wrong with building a fantastic memory but, no matter how many questions a student answers correctly on a bubble sheet, it still gives no indication on how well s/he understands the concepts s/he is being tested on.You can encourage your students to build cognitive skills by asking open-ended questions Image by Tumisu from PixabayOn Building Cogn itive SkillsCognition: the mental act or process by which knowledge is acquired.For children in the Early Years Foundation Stage, the education program is all about building cognitive skills.Teachers in these classes employ a variety of teaching strategies designed to maximise student learning, such as brightly coloured visual material, music and movement.Students are mainly taught through games and play but are expected to sit still for maths and literacy lessons.In fact, EYFS is a fantastic example of educational psychology at work: it emphasises teaching and learning methods and is focused on cognitive development.And then, as though a water tap had been suddenly shut off, all of the pedagogy that addressed every learning style and all of the active learning is replaced by teacher-centred instruction.Starting at Year 1, students are treated to teacher-led lessons. Reading skills are cultivated, math and science are taught... but little critical thinking is encouraged.In fact, rel atively little room is given for students to exercise any kind of thinking skills. That pattern follows students throughout their academic career and it is not the fault of any teacher.Learn more about higher order thinking here.Common Core Versus Blooms TaxonomyThe term ‘common core’, imported from across the pond, represents the most important subjects of a curriculum.Maths, English and science are considered common core. Other subjects, like arts and humanities, are not considered core subjects.You can find a good reflection of UK schools’ core subjects in the compulsory GCSEs: the subjects that everyone must sit are considered ‘core’.Of our core subjects, only English and Literature truly lend an opportunity for group work; for students to cultivate critical thinking skills.For example, a teacher may group students and assign them various aspects of the text to dissect and render conclusions about. Or s/he might task student groups to engage in character analysis, to d iscuss the setting and the period of the piece...Opportunities for creative thinking are much more difficult to spot in other classes.The critical question here is: while students’ formal learning goals are generally met â€" often with the help of a private tutor, are their learning needs being met?An Overview of Benjamin BloomMr Bloom was an American educational psychologist who pioneered the classification of educational objectives.  Specifically, his work resulted in the understanding of three realms of knowledge acquisition:the cognitive domain, which encompasses the analysis, comprehension and application of knowledgethe affective domain is the emotional dimension of learning which includes how students characterise, organise, value and respond to information, andthe psychomotor domain: this aspect touches on the perception and adaptation of knowledge and the mechanism through which it is applied.Teaching a student how to use a computer would involve all three domains.The fir st domain would involve the understanding of how a computer works, the second would attach a value to this skills set as a tool for both entertainment and a way to earn a living and the third would entail addressing the machine through typing and activating the mouse.Our public education system does a great job of addressing the cognitive domain but does little to evoke any affective response to the material being learned and permits virtually no physical activation while class is in session.Between crowded classrooms, overwhelmed teachers and only one aspect of student learning being addressed, something needs to be done to change the status quo!You may group your students so that they may debate an issue before presenting conclusions Image by StockSnap from PixabayHow to Bring Higher Order Thinking Into the ClassroomNobody is disputing teachers’ role as an educator; we only point out that their work might be more stimulating and rewarding if they thought of themselves as facilit ators of knowledge.What’s the difference?A teacher teaches, meaning, s/he imparts knowledge. Whether said information is understood, assimilated and useful remains to be seen â€" and is not necessarily demonstrated through assessment techniques.By contrast, a facilitator is someone who helps bring about a certain outcome. In educational circles, those would be learning outcomes.Here is one example of how facilitating could work.First, you would organise your classroom to permit group study. You would then seat students of similar cognitive abilities together â€" your more advanced learners, your SEN students and students anywhere along that spectrum.You may even consider putting some of your more advanced students with groups who are not quite at that level to make use of peer teaching strategies.Next, you would assign them to work according to their abilities and interests.Your high achievers may enjoy higher level thinking projects â€" those that call on both problem-solving ski lls and critical thinking.The bulk of your students may focus on either critical thinking or problem-solving and your SENs might be comfortable summarizing the lesson or other learning activities that target their interest but are related to the material currently being learned.Far from being a classroom out of control, you will find your student engagement at an all-time high!Meanwhile, you can circulate around your groups asking open-ended questions designed to assess their understanding of the material and the work at hand.You may even find time to mark papers while your students are engaged.Another way you could help your students develop thinking skills would be through debate.Choose an issue that is related to your day’s study topic. It can be a current event or something that affects student life (that helps students find value in the exercise). Write the issue on the board.Label each the four corners of your room: Strongly Agree, Agree, Disagree and Strongly Disagree.As yo ur students start their learning session, point to what you wrote on the board and then indicate the four positions they may take. Invite them to take a few minutes to think about the issue and then head to the corner which represents their position.You will be pleasantly surprised to find that debate over the issue will start spontaneously, in each corner, as students reinforce each other’s views.You would then ask them to explain their views, either in writing, orally or a combination of both.  You might even permit them to create a visual of their position.There are so many ways teachers can encourage higher order thinking skills; doing so might lighten their load and may even help rediscover their passion for educating!Now discover the difference between critical thinking and higher order thinking?

Six Ways to Build Student Confidence

Six Ways to Build Student Confidence A confident student has a much better chance of being successful in school and beyond. You might not be able to teach confidence, but you certainly can nurture it in each of your students. Here are six ways to do so: Loosen the reins. Maintain control over your classroom environment, not your students. Let them take the lead on classwork and assignments, and take on a supporting role. Pump them up. Tell your students that you believe in them and their abilities often. The more you do so, the more theyll believe it, too. Foster the development of a growth mindset. Let your students know that you believe that theres always something to discover and that learning never stops. Theyll start to recognize that learning is continuous and that their potential is unlimited. Set goals as a class. Theres something very empowering about setting goals. Encourage your students to take control of their destiny by putting on paper the endeavors that matter to them (and the steps theyll take to achieve them). Embrace the mantra Lets explore that. When students ask questions, dont just give them the answers. Have them delve into new topics. Ignite their curiosities. Point out their strengths. You dont need to do so publicly, but find opportunities to let your students know when they do things particularly well or when you see them exerting extra effort. They might not recognize those attributes in themselves. Confidence is an important trait that you can help build in your students through your everyday interactions. In doing so, youll have a lasting positive impact that will serve them well in life.