What Is A Good Lesson Plan?

Even the best teachers often struggle with writing a high quality lesson plan that will allow them to teach to the best of their ability. Plans that are not well organized or clear in their direction can be hard to follow and the educational experience of the students suffers as a result. Many teachers are required to write their plans in advance, and this can be good and bad. Teachers often rush through the process to get the plans into their supervisor, but then they suffer later on when they attempt to teach from the plan.

There are many different tools to help teachers prepare their lesson plan including planning books, templates, and forms. How well any of these plans will work for you is based on how dedicated you are to using the format provided. Writing lessons requires organization, and even if you use these tools and you are not organized, you may find that they do not help all that much. At the end of the day, if you are a teacher that has to write your own lessons, you might find that you are tired, exhausted, and just frustrated by the process.

Many teachers benefit from some of the programs that are on the market today that actually provide ready made lessons. This can be very helpful for teachers that just need a break or need something to guide them through the lesson plan writing process. Some of these aren't all that great, but there are a few products that are of superior quality. Programs that are written for teachers by teachers, so you know that all of the information is valid and something you can work with for your students, is the best choice. You do not want to simply work with something that is written by someone who does not know much on the subject.

Another great aspect to utilizing a lesson plan program based around computers is that it can introduce computers into every classroom setting. Many students never work with computers or see the validity of them until they take a computer class or until younger students become much older. Teaching from a computer will show your students that there is a place for them in every classroom, despite the subject at hand. This enriches the educational experience because students may learn something that they didn't know before and that is that computers can be an important asset in every educational environment.

Author: Iprwire Staff Writer

10 Steps To Developing A Quality Lesson Plan:

1. The first thing to consider, obviously, is what you want to teach.
2. To make sure your lesson plan will teach exactly what you want it to; you need to develop clear and specific objectives.
3. You would probably find out exactly what materials you are going to use later, but they should be shown early in your lesson plan.
4. You may also want to write an Anticipatory Set, which would be a way to lead into the lesson plan and develop the students' interest in learning what is about to be taught.
5. Now you need to write the step-by-step procedures that will be performed to reach the objectives.
6. After the procedures have been completed, you may want to provide time for independent practice.
7. Just before moving on to the assessment phase you should have some sort of closure for the lesson plan.
8. Now you want to write your assessment / evaluation.
9. Adaptations should also be made for students with learning disabilities and extensions for others.
10. It's also a good idea to include a "Connections" section, which shows how the lesson plan could be integrated with other subjects.

What Is A Good Lesson Plan?

Even the best teachers often struggle with writing a high quality lesson plan that will allow them to teach to the best of their ability. Plans that are not well organized or clear in their direction can be hard to follow and the educational experience of the students suffers as a result. Many teachers are required to write their plans in advance, and this can be good and bad. Teachers often rush through the process to get the plans into their supervisor, but then they suffer later on when they attempt to teach from the plan.

There are many different tools to help teachers prepare their lesson plan including planning books, templates, and forms. How well any of these plans will work for you is based on how dedicated you are to using the format provided. Writing lessons requires organization, and even if you use these tools and you are not organized, you may find that they do not help all that much. At the end of the day, if you are a teacher that has to write your own lessons, you might find that you are tired, exhausted, and just frustrated by the process.

Many teachers benefit from some of the programs that are on the market today that actually provide ready made lessons. This can be very helpful for teachers that just need a break or need something to guide them through the lesson plan writing process. Some of these aren't all that great, but there are a few products that are of superior quality. Programs that are written for teachers by teachers, so you know that all of the information is valid and something you can work with for your students, is the best choice. You do not want to simply work with something that is written by someone who does not know much on the subject.

Another great aspect to utilizing a lesson plan program based around computers is that it can introduce computers into every classroom setting. Many students never work with computers or see the validity of them until they take a computer class or until younger students become much older. Teaching from a computer will show your students that there is a place for them in every classroom, despite the subject at hand. This enriches the educational experience because students may learn something that they didn't know before and that is that computers can be an important asset in every educational environment.

Author: Iprwire Staff Writer

10 Steps To Developing A Quality Lesson Plan:

1. The first thing to consider, obviously, is what you want to teach.
2. To make sure your lesson plan will teach exactly what you want it to; you need to develop clear and specific objectives.
3. You would probably find out exactly what materials you are going to use later, but they should be shown early in your lesson plan.
4. You may also want to write an Anticipatory Set, which would be a way to lead into the lesson plan and develop the students' interest in learning what is about to be taught.
5. Now you need to write the step-by-step procedures that will be performed to reach the objectives.
6. After the procedures have been completed, you may want to provide time for independent practice.
7. Just before moving on to the assessment phase you should have some sort of closure for the lesson plan.
8. Now you want to write your assessment / evaluation.
9. Adaptations should also be made for students with learning disabilities and extensions for others.
10. It's also a good idea to include a "Connections" section, which shows how the lesson plan could be integrated with other subjects.

A Guide to Scholarship Applications

Scholarship applications can be extremely complex and confusing. Not only does every different scholarship body want something different, but none of them seem to set the deadline dates for the same week, which no doubt would confuse you even more! When you are applying for college, it can seem like you are going round in an endless circle, trying to finish tasks that you have already started but seemingly getting nowhere. It can be a chore just to finish one application to a college, let alone fill in several for scholarships as well. However, help is at hand and you can make life easier for yourself with these basic tips:

Read every application carefully.

Every scholarship requires something different because no two are the same, so you cannot just fill out one for them all and hope that you will get a measure of success. It does not work like that. There will always be something different expected of you, whether there is a word limit on your personal statement or fewer letters of is recommendation. If you do not read it and comply with the guidelines then you application will be discarded straight away.

Prepare in advance.

Before you even begin to research scholarships in depth, you should practice your personal statement. Style is extremely important so you should write it out the summer before you plan to apply to ensure that get it completely right. If a personal statement reflects you then it is perfect for your applications. Keep the copy of the draft you wrote and then use that as a foundation on which to build your actually personal statements when it comes to applying for real.

Work with the space you have.

Try not to use continuation sheets on scholarship applications because the likelihood is then that representatives or assessors will get bored half way through. Try to keep all of the information to a minimum but include as many activities as you can in your list. You could even add a few into your personal statement if you run out of space. However, if you do not have enough space then leave out the ones that are not important, and plan this out in advance because there is nothing worse that Tipp-ex marks on an application.

Look at what they want.

You should always look at what the provider of the scholarship is asking or and give them what they want. Never ever lie on an application form but tailor your own personality traits to your advantage. If they are looking for someone with character then communicate that in your writing style. If they are looking for integrity then mention an example of it. Always back up what you have to say by just tailor what you know about yourself to what they are looking for in you!

Always give your reasons why you want to study a certain subject.

Many individuals fall down at this step because they do not justify their reasons for wanting to take a certain subject. There must be a reason behind your choice but failing to communicate it or failing to put your reasons across in a logical and well-reasoned way can ultimately ensure that you fall at the last hurdle!

Read it through.

Never send an application form for a scholarship without reading it trough first. Make sure that you have said everything that you want to say and in a clear and concise but logical way so it is easy to read. If it passes your critical eye then I should pass theirs!

Author: Andri Irawan

More Tips..

A Guide to Scholarship Applications

Scholarship applications can be extremely complex and confusing. Not only does every different scholarship body want something different, but none of them seem to set the deadline dates for the same week, which no doubt would confuse you even more! When you are applying for college, it can seem like you are going round in an endless circle, trying to finish tasks that you have already started but seemingly getting nowhere. It can be a chore just to finish one application to a college, let alone fill in several for scholarships as well. However, help is at hand and you can make life easier for yourself with these basic tips:

Read every application carefully.

Every scholarship requires something different because no two are the same, so you cannot just fill out one for them all and hope that you will get a measure of success. It does not work like that. There will always be something different expected of you, whether there is a word limit on your personal statement or fewer letters of is recommendation. If you do not read it and comply with the guidelines then you application will be discarded straight away.

Prepare in advance.

Before you even begin to research scholarships in depth, you should practice your personal statement. Style is extremely important so you should write it out the summer before you plan to apply to ensure that get it completely right. If a personal statement reflects you then it is perfect for your applications. Keep the copy of the draft you wrote and then use that as a foundation on which to build your actually personal statements when it comes to applying for real.

Work with the space you have.

Try not to use continuation sheets on scholarship applications because the likelihood is then that representatives or assessors will get bored half way through. Try to keep all of the information to a minimum but include as many activities as you can in your list. You could even add a few into your personal statement if you run out of space. However, if you do not have enough space then leave out the ones that are not important, and plan this out in advance because there is nothing worse that Tipp-ex marks on an application.

Look at what they want.

You should always look at what the provider of the scholarship is asking or and give them what they want. Never ever lie on an application form but tailor your own personality traits to your advantage. If they are looking for someone with character then communicate that in your writing style. If they are looking for integrity then mention an example of it. Always back up what you have to say by just tailor what you know about yourself to what they are looking for in you!

Always give your reasons why you want to study a certain subject.

Many individuals fall down at this step because they do not justify their reasons for wanting to take a certain subject. There must be a reason behind your choice but failing to communicate it or failing to put your reasons across in a logical and well-reasoned way can ultimately ensure that you fall at the last hurdle!

Read it through.

Never send an application form for a scholarship without reading it trough first. Make sure that you have said everything that you want to say and in a clear and concise but logical way so it is easy to read. If it passes your critical eye then I should pass theirs!

Author: Andri Irawan

More Tips..

High School Students Need a Bridge to College

Annually, over 10 million high school students begin the process of applying to college. Their expectation is that college will be the same as high school. They remember getting 15 minutes of homework and studying on the bus on their way to the first class of the day. Everything seemed so easy and studying sufficiently was not a big deal. Unfortunately many students arrive to college unaware that they may not have adequate preparation for the rigors of college. Something needs to be done to bridge the gap in college preparation.

It seems that school superintendents and college presidents rarely talk about college preparation best practices. Therefore the high school curriculum seems far apart from the college curriculum. The local high school is mostly concerned about meeting state standards that are established concerning each course. They are also entrapped by No Child Left Behind policies that threaten schools with Adequate Yearly Progress requirements. Teachers are spending more time preparing students for state tests rather than preparing them for college. High school administrators understand that a significant amount of funding could be affected by an inability to meet state and federal testing standards.

In spite of these challenges college presidents need to do a better job of meeting with high school principals to discuss the type of courses that prepare students for college. They can do this by also identifying high schools that frequently send them students who have graduated from their college. They can identify a high school college admission grade point average that stands out. It may also be a good idea for high school administrators to talk to their former students about their college experiences. They can provide their perspective on which classes actually prepared them for college life.

There is a benefit when entire colleges and school districts work together. The teachers who are completing degrees become more sensitive to the challenge of preparing high school students for college. The teachers who express an interest in teaching high school students can incorporate new knowledge into their courses. These teachers can also talk to high school students about their college experiences. They can give them some ideas regarding books that they can study while they are completing their high school requirements.

High school students don’t have to feel that preparing for college is only a dream. They don’t have to go to college and stumble through classes that are too difficult. They can receive insights in their classes about college life that make the college transition much easier. Some students might decide to take a college course while they are in high school so that they can get a first hand experience regarding the amount of studying that’s required.

Author: Dr. Stephen Jones

High School Students Need a Bridge to College

Annually, over 10 million high school students begin the process of applying to college. Their expectation is that college will be the same as high school. They remember getting 15 minutes of homework and studying on the bus on their way to the first class of the day. Everything seemed so easy and studying sufficiently was not a big deal. Unfortunately many students arrive to college unaware that they may not have adequate preparation for the rigors of college. Something needs to be done to bridge the gap in college preparation.

It seems that school superintendents and college presidents rarely talk about college preparation best practices. Therefore the high school curriculum seems far apart from the college curriculum. The local high school is mostly concerned about meeting state standards that are established concerning each course. They are also entrapped by No Child Left Behind policies that threaten schools with Adequate Yearly Progress requirements. Teachers are spending more time preparing students for state tests rather than preparing them for college. High school administrators understand that a significant amount of funding could be affected by an inability to meet state and federal testing standards.

In spite of these challenges college presidents need to do a better job of meeting with high school principals to discuss the type of courses that prepare students for college. They can do this by also identifying high schools that frequently send them students who have graduated from their college. They can identify a high school college admission grade point average that stands out. It may also be a good idea for high school administrators to talk to their former students about their college experiences. They can provide their perspective on which classes actually prepared them for college life.

There is a benefit when entire colleges and school districts work together. The teachers who are completing degrees become more sensitive to the challenge of preparing high school students for college. The teachers who express an interest in teaching high school students can incorporate new knowledge into their courses. These teachers can also talk to high school students about their college experiences. They can give them some ideas regarding books that they can study while they are completing their high school requirements.

High school students don’t have to feel that preparing for college is only a dream. They don’t have to go to college and stumble through classes that are too difficult. They can receive insights in their classes about college life that make the college transition much easier. Some students might decide to take a college course while they are in high school so that they can get a first hand experience regarding the amount of studying that’s required.

Author: Dr. Stephen Jones

5 Ways to Improve Your English Without Even Trying

Learning a second language can be a very stressful and arduous task if you let it. Somehow, the words you learn in the books don't seem to apply very well to real life situations. Those small and seemingly un-important elements the show a person to be in command of not only the language, but the culture of the people who speak it cannot be adequately expressed by words on paper.

So, how do you learn these little secrets of mastering the ability to articulate yourself in another language?

Here are 5 proven techniques that will help you improve your English without even trying, if you are learning to speak English as a second language. Do they really work? Yes. I've tried them myself as I've had opportunity to live somewhere where English wasn't the primary language. I found it to be a fun, exciting, and painless way to learn both the language and the culture. The culture is simply learning the way the natives express their own words. The genuine accent, facial expressions, hand gestures, sighs, moans, groans, laughter, smirks, and other things that go along with everyday conversation.

Regardless of how extensive or not your vocabulary is, if you master the ability to "sound" like you know the language and can speak it, people will be more than generous to assist you.

1. Watch Movies!
Watching movies is always a fun thing to do. In order to get the most out of your movie watching experience, if your vocabulary is limited, watch a movie in English that you are very familiar with in your own language so you always know what's going on. Try not to translate as you go because you lose blocks of conversation this way. Instead, watch the picture and listen. Hear all the words, but determine what's going on by the pictures you see and the words you're hearing that you already know. Believe it or not, other words will sink in too, and so will the accent and everything else that went with what you saw and heard.

As your vocabulary grows, expand your movie selections to other movies you'd like to see but are only available in English. Try to be able to see the film more than once if possible.

According to the location and type of film you intend to view, you will be able to experience different accents, and other cultural expressions of the English language. Pick and choose the things that you think will suit you best. If it doesn't work out, pick and try something else! Have fun with yourself and your efforts.

2. Watch Soap Operas
The place where extreme expression and limited vocabulary meet! This is such a fascinating way to learn a foreign language. Every accessory that goes with the expression of a word is demonstrated on a soap opera. "Outrage" expressed with a word, facial expression or two, and perhaps even a subsequent face slap, all of that being understandable in any language. "Love", another universal subject, or violence, good versus evil can all be discerned quickly and easily on a soap opera. Plus, soap operas are naturally designed to allow anyone just tuning in to pick up the story quickly. The characters are easily loveable and deliciously "hate-able" so you turn to it again and again to see what's going on, and not only improve your English each time, but reinforce what you've already learned.

3. Read the Comics/ Funny Papers
Very non-stressful! Pictures with words, or words with pictures, however you want to look at it, it's a great way to learn! For each thought presented there are words that match a picture, and vice versa. It doesn't matter if you read comic books, or the comics in the Sunday newspaper, read whatever will make you laugh and cause you to enjoy learning at the same time.

4. Read Children's books
If you know any little kids between the ages of 5-8, try reading one of their books to them. Usually little kids know their favorite books by heart, so if you stumble a little, they'll be able to help you.

If you enjoy this method of improving your English, and you find yourself to be pretty good at it, then try reading a few Dr. Seuss books. The rhyming will challenge you, but once you master it, your pronunciation of English, and your delivery will have been considerably refined and improved.

5. Take a service job like waiter or waitress; bartender, or sales person.
This type of job can be done if you have a decent vocabulary of verbs, and know how to say "I, we, she, he, they", etc. The only other thing necessary is a working vocabulary of things relevant to your specific tasks and goals.

For example, as a breakfast waitress, you want to be able to ask if they want their eggs, "scrambled or fried", if they want "more coffee", if everything is "alright", do they want "anything else", and the total of their bill in their own language!

If you sell real estate, you'll want to incorporate words like "mortgage, loan, co-sign, 30 year fixed", etc. If you sell shoes, you need words like "how does that feel", are they "too tight, too loose, to short in the toe, to big", etc. The longer you work at your job, the more your working vocabulary will improve. learn more..

by: Kim Rogers

5 Ways to Improve Your English Without Even Trying

Learning a second language can be a very stressful and arduous task if you let it. Somehow, the words you learn in the books don't seem to apply very well to real life situations. Those small and seemingly un-important elements the show a person to be in command of not only the language, but the culture of the people who speak it cannot be adequately expressed by words on paper.

So, how do you learn these little secrets of mastering the ability to articulate yourself in another language?

Here are 5 proven techniques that will help you improve your English without even trying, if you are learning to speak English as a second language. Do they really work? Yes. I've tried them myself as I've had opportunity to live somewhere where English wasn't the primary language. I found it to be a fun, exciting, and painless way to learn both the language and the culture. The culture is simply learning the way the natives express their own words. The genuine accent, facial expressions, hand gestures, sighs, moans, groans, laughter, smirks, and other things that go along with everyday conversation.

Regardless of how extensive or not your vocabulary is, if you master the ability to "sound" like you know the language and can speak it, people will be more than generous to assist you.

1. Watch Movies!
Watching movies is always a fun thing to do. In order to get the most out of your movie watching experience, if your vocabulary is limited, watch a movie in English that you are very familiar with in your own language so you always know what's going on. Try not to translate as you go because you lose blocks of conversation this way. Instead, watch the picture and listen. Hear all the words, but determine what's going on by the pictures you see and the words you're hearing that you already know. Believe it or not, other words will sink in too, and so will the accent and everything else that went with what you saw and heard.

As your vocabulary grows, expand your movie selections to other movies you'd like to see but are only available in English. Try to be able to see the film more than once if possible.

According to the location and type of film you intend to view, you will be able to experience different accents, and other cultural expressions of the English language. Pick and choose the things that you think will suit you best. If it doesn't work out, pick and try something else! Have fun with yourself and your efforts.

2. Watch Soap Operas
The place where extreme expression and limited vocabulary meet! This is such a fascinating way to learn a foreign language. Every accessory that goes with the expression of a word is demonstrated on a soap opera. "Outrage" expressed with a word, facial expression or two, and perhaps even a subsequent face slap, all of that being understandable in any language. "Love", another universal subject, or violence, good versus evil can all be discerned quickly and easily on a soap opera. Plus, soap operas are naturally designed to allow anyone just tuning in to pick up the story quickly. The characters are easily loveable and deliciously "hate-able" so you turn to it again and again to see what's going on, and not only improve your English each time, but reinforce what you've already learned.

3. Read the Comics/ Funny Papers
Very non-stressful! Pictures with words, or words with pictures, however you want to look at it, it's a great way to learn! For each thought presented there are words that match a picture, and vice versa. It doesn't matter if you read comic books, or the comics in the Sunday newspaper, read whatever will make you laugh and cause you to enjoy learning at the same time.

4. Read Children's books
If you know any little kids between the ages of 5-8, try reading one of their books to them. Usually little kids know their favorite books by heart, so if you stumble a little, they'll be able to help you.

If you enjoy this method of improving your English, and you find yourself to be pretty good at it, then try reading a few Dr. Seuss books. The rhyming will challenge you, but once you master it, your pronunciation of English, and your delivery will have been considerably refined and improved.

5. Take a service job like waiter or waitress; bartender, or sales person.
This type of job can be done if you have a decent vocabulary of verbs, and know how to say "I, we, she, he, they", etc. The only other thing necessary is a working vocabulary of things relevant to your specific tasks and goals.

For example, as a breakfast waitress, you want to be able to ask if they want their eggs, "scrambled or fried", if they want "more coffee", if everything is "alright", do they want "anything else", and the total of their bill in their own language!

If you sell real estate, you'll want to incorporate words like "mortgage, loan, co-sign, 30 year fixed", etc. If you sell shoes, you need words like "how does that feel", are they "too tight, too loose, to short in the toe, to big", etc. The longer you work at your job, the more your working vocabulary will improve. learn more..

by: Kim Rogers

Learning Tips for Students

Long ago, there was a time, when parents told children to read slowly and loudly to understand everything they read. A lot of things have changed. Today's children have bigger syllabi to learn. Now, learning experts and teachers ask students to read faster and grasp important points. Here are a few tips for students who have a lot to learn, but very little time.

Make a Timetable

• Your timetable should have separate time for eating, playing games, exercise, reading newspaper and study materials. You should not only make a timetable, but also should stick to it.
• Give priority to leisure and games in the afternoon, but separate early morning time for studies. Make sure you read all the class notes before you go to bed.
• While allotting time to different subjects, allot more time to difficult subjects. You need only less time for the subjects that are easier for you to learn.
  

Taking Notes
Taking notes is an important part of learning. You need to take lecture notes (classroom notes) and notes from your textbook.

• Go through the lessons on the day before your teacher would teach it in the class. This gives you an idea of what to expect.
• Write down important ideas as bullet points. One word or a phrase is enough to include an idea.
• Give prominence to important ideas by underlining them in your notes.
• Leave lot of space in each face of paper. This will help you add new points later.
• Organize your notes into separate files. Each subject should have a different file. Label the outer page of the file with name of the subject and your teacher. You should also neatly organize each file according to chapters and topics.
• Read the notes (important points) in the night, before going to bed. Read only once. This helps you memorize the lessons clearly.
• While taking notes from a book, label the name of the book and author. Also, note the page number next to your notes. It makes it easy for you to refer to the book three or six months later.
  

Reading Techniques
You need to read fast and grasp more things. Here are some pointers to fast reading.

• Note the name of the book and its author in the reading log.
• Take a quick look from cover to cover to identify the important chapters.
• Take a quick look over the chapter, identify the important points, and note them down.
• Read the lesson fast. To increase the speed of learning, pass your eyes through the top of the letters and not through the centre. For example, while reading, pass your eyes through the area where the dot above the letter i appears and not through the loop of the letter o.
• Don't take notes while reading.
• Don't go back to read a word or a sentence. If you don't get the idea of the subject, you can come back to the sentence after you finish reading the chapter. Never look up a dictionary while in the middle of reading a chapter. Refer dictionary only if you don't automatically understand the meaning of a word after finishing the paragraph and the chapter.
• Note down the points you remember. Now check if you have taken all the important points, with another fast reading.
  

How to increase memory

• Try to understand completely what you read or hear.
• Repeat what you hear or read in your mind.
• Make notes of what you learn at school or read from books. A single word can help you remember a whole idea.
• Give number to the points.
• Don't try to bring to memory all the things you have learned. Learn the technique of bringing to memory one thing at a time.
  

How to increase concentration

• Mental concentration is important to memory and better learning.
• Stick to your reading timetable. You should separate a specific place and specific time of the day for reading.
• Sit erect. It increases your concentration.
• Don't allow disturbances like phone calls, music etc while reading.
• Concentrate on the lessons you read. Don't think about the next book you have to read while you are reading a book. A better way is to make an order of the books and lessons to read and arrange them in order before you start reading.
• Immediately after reading a paragraph, try to recall the idea from that paragraph. This helps you concentrate more on your reading.
  

Ideal conditions for reading/learning

• A silent location that you don't use for sleeping, eating or leisure purposes is the most ideal condition for reading.
• Install a fluorescent tube light in the reading room. This helps mild light to fall evenly all over the room. Don't sit in the darkness while reading. If you use table lamp, arrange it towards your left if you are a right-hander.
• Arrange the papers, pencils, boards and books on the table before you start reading.
• Never try to read while you are tired or ill.
• Eat healthy food rich in carbohydrates, proteins and fibres. Replace fast food, pizza, burger, chocolates, ice creams, etc with fresh fruits, whole grain food items (like chapatti), milk, fruit juices, etc.
• Exercise daily. Swimming, cycling and jogging are good for students. Practise yoga. It increases concentration and willpower.
• Don't watch TV. Instead, play some games in the outdoors. While TV makes you dumb, the games make you smarter.
• Read lot of books. Read classic stories, fables (like Aesop fables, Panchatantra stories, etc), etc. Don't spend too much time on comic cartoons. (by: Dev Sri)

Learning Tips for Students

Long ago, there was a time, when parents told children to read slowly and loudly to understand everything they read. A lot of things have changed. Today's children have bigger syllabi to learn. Now, learning experts and teachers ask students to read faster and grasp important points. Here are a few tips for students who have a lot to learn, but very little time.

Make a Timetable

• Your timetable should have separate time for eating, playing games, exercise, reading newspaper and study materials. You should not only make a timetable, but also should stick to it.
• Give priority to leisure and games in the afternoon, but separate early morning time for studies. Make sure you read all the class notes before you go to bed.
• While allotting time to different subjects, allot more time to difficult subjects. You need only less time for the subjects that are easier for you to learn.
  

Taking Notes
Taking notes is an important part of learning. You need to take lecture notes (classroom notes) and notes from your textbook.

• Go through the lessons on the day before your teacher would teach it in the class. This gives you an idea of what to expect.
• Write down important ideas as bullet points. One word or a phrase is enough to include an idea.
• Give prominence to important ideas by underlining them in your notes.
• Leave lot of space in each face of paper. This will help you add new points later.
• Organize your notes into separate files. Each subject should have a different file. Label the outer page of the file with name of the subject and your teacher. You should also neatly organize each file according to chapters and topics.
• Read the notes (important points) in the night, before going to bed. Read only once. This helps you memorize the lessons clearly.
• While taking notes from a book, label the name of the book and author. Also, note the page number next to your notes. It makes it easy for you to refer to the book three or six months later.
  

Reading Techniques
You need to read fast and grasp more things. Here are some pointers to fast reading.

• Note the name of the book and its author in the reading log.
• Take a quick look from cover to cover to identify the important chapters.
• Take a quick look over the chapter, identify the important points, and note them down.
• Read the lesson fast. To increase the speed of learning, pass your eyes through the top of the letters and not through the centre. For example, while reading, pass your eyes through the area where the dot above the letter i appears and not through the loop of the letter o.
• Don't take notes while reading.
• Don't go back to read a word or a sentence. If you don't get the idea of the subject, you can come back to the sentence after you finish reading the chapter. Never look up a dictionary while in the middle of reading a chapter. Refer dictionary only if you don't automatically understand the meaning of a word after finishing the paragraph and the chapter.
• Note down the points you remember. Now check if you have taken all the important points, with another fast reading.
  

How to increase memory

• Try to understand completely what you read or hear.
• Repeat what you hear or read in your mind.
• Make notes of what you learn at school or read from books. A single word can help you remember a whole idea.
• Give number to the points.
• Don't try to bring to memory all the things you have learned. Learn the technique of bringing to memory one thing at a time.
  

How to increase concentration

• Mental concentration is important to memory and better learning.
• Stick to your reading timetable. You should separate a specific place and specific time of the day for reading.
• Sit erect. It increases your concentration.
• Don't allow disturbances like phone calls, music etc while reading.
• Concentrate on the lessons you read. Don't think about the next book you have to read while you are reading a book. A better way is to make an order of the books and lessons to read and arrange them in order before you start reading.
• Immediately after reading a paragraph, try to recall the idea from that paragraph. This helps you concentrate more on your reading.
  

Ideal conditions for reading/learning

• A silent location that you don't use for sleeping, eating or leisure purposes is the most ideal condition for reading.
• Install a fluorescent tube light in the reading room. This helps mild light to fall evenly all over the room. Don't sit in the darkness while reading. If you use table lamp, arrange it towards your left if you are a right-hander.
• Arrange the papers, pencils, boards and books on the table before you start reading.
• Never try to read while you are tired or ill.
• Eat healthy food rich in carbohydrates, proteins and fibres. Replace fast food, pizza, burger, chocolates, ice creams, etc with fresh fruits, whole grain food items (like chapatti), milk, fruit juices, etc.
• Exercise daily. Swimming, cycling and jogging are good for students. Practise yoga. It increases concentration and willpower.
• Don't watch TV. Instead, play some games in the outdoors. While TV makes you dumb, the games make you smarter.
• Read lot of books. Read classic stories, fables (like Aesop fables, Panchatantra stories, etc), etc. Don't spend too much time on comic cartoons. (by: Dev Sri)

Parent - Teacher Conferences

Communication between parents and teachers is essential to the success of the students. Often, the only time communication takes place is at parent-teacher conferences. For that reason, it is essential that teachers learn to effectively manage parent-teacher conferences in order to obtain the most benefit from the communication that occurs.

The following tips allow teachers to take a proactive approach to parent-teacher conferences, helping to create effective communication during the conference:

Prepare - Preparing for a parent-teacher conference means knowing exactly what goals have been established for the class, and each individual student, and being ready to show parents how their student is performing toward those goals. For each student, be prepared to show work samples and test scores. In addition, be ready to share behavioral anecdotes for that child. A story can help convey behavioral issues without stating them explicitly, helping to keep parents from becoming defensive. While showing the grade book is an option, it must be done in a way that prevents parents from viewing the grades of other students.

Environment - Create an environment that is comfortable for the parents. Placing parents in smaller chairs than the teacher, or facing the teacher across the teacher's desk, places the teacher in a controlling position that can cause parents to feel intimidated or defensive. Instead, place them in equal seating, perhaps across a table, to establish a sense of equality. Ensure privacy for the conference so parents do not feel as though others can hear what is being said about their child. Organize paperwork so it is easily accessible but out of the way during the conference.

Professionalism - Preparation and proper environment are two aspects of professionalism. Dress and manner of speech fall into this category also. Parents judge a teacher's competence by the amount of professionalism, or lack thereof, that they see displayed. Teachers who want to be viewed as competent professionals should project that image throughout the parent-teacher conference.

Rapport - Teachers should begin the parent-teacher conference by attempting to establish a connection with the parents. Greeting parents warmly, welcoming them to the classroom, and engaging in brief small talk all help to establish rapport. Teachers should also encourage parents to discuss their views and/or concerns about their children. Doing so demonstrates genuine concern for the child, which helps get parents more involved in their child's education.

Communication - Not only should communication at the parent-teacher conference be positive, it should also be clear and specific. When discussing behavior issues, teachers should focus on specific actions, including duration and frequency, rather than offering general comments. Teachers should communicate clearly about all positives and negatives of the student's behavior and performance. Clear, specific statements leave less room for interpretation, which leaves less room for argument by the parents. Communication should also include positive statements, making it clear that the student is a person of value, rather than including only the negatives about the child's behavior and performance in class. Even the negatives can be phrased in such a way that the statement is positive and does not create the need to place blame.

There are other techniques for managing parent-teacher conferences, but this list is an excellent starting point. By creating a professional, positive atmosphere, teachers can effectively manage the parent-teacher conference and make the most of the communication that takes place.

Author: Brian Stocker

Parent - Teacher Conferences

Communication between parents and teachers is essential to the success of the students. Often, the only time communication takes place is at parent-teacher conferences. For that reason, it is essential that teachers learn to effectively manage parent-teacher conferences in order to obtain the most benefit from the communication that occurs.

The following tips allow teachers to take a proactive approach to parent-teacher conferences, helping to create effective communication during the conference:

Prepare - Preparing for a parent-teacher conference means knowing exactly what goals have been established for the class, and each individual student, and being ready to show parents how their student is performing toward those goals. For each student, be prepared to show work samples and test scores. In addition, be ready to share behavioral anecdotes for that child. A story can help convey behavioral issues without stating them explicitly, helping to keep parents from becoming defensive. While showing the grade book is an option, it must be done in a way that prevents parents from viewing the grades of other students.

Environment - Create an environment that is comfortable for the parents. Placing parents in smaller chairs than the teacher, or facing the teacher across the teacher's desk, places the teacher in a controlling position that can cause parents to feel intimidated or defensive. Instead, place them in equal seating, perhaps across a table, to establish a sense of equality. Ensure privacy for the conference so parents do not feel as though others can hear what is being said about their child. Organize paperwork so it is easily accessible but out of the way during the conference.

Professionalism - Preparation and proper environment are two aspects of professionalism. Dress and manner of speech fall into this category also. Parents judge a teacher's competence by the amount of professionalism, or lack thereof, that they see displayed. Teachers who want to be viewed as competent professionals should project that image throughout the parent-teacher conference.

Rapport - Teachers should begin the parent-teacher conference by attempting to establish a connection with the parents. Greeting parents warmly, welcoming them to the classroom, and engaging in brief small talk all help to establish rapport. Teachers should also encourage parents to discuss their views and/or concerns about their children. Doing so demonstrates genuine concern for the child, which helps get parents more involved in their child's education.

Communication - Not only should communication at the parent-teacher conference be positive, it should also be clear and specific. When discussing behavior issues, teachers should focus on specific actions, including duration and frequency, rather than offering general comments. Teachers should communicate clearly about all positives and negatives of the student's behavior and performance. Clear, specific statements leave less room for interpretation, which leaves less room for argument by the parents. Communication should also include positive statements, making it clear that the student is a person of value, rather than including only the negatives about the child's behavior and performance in class. Even the negatives can be phrased in such a way that the statement is positive and does not create the need to place blame.

There are other techniques for managing parent-teacher conferences, but this list is an excellent starting point. By creating a professional, positive atmosphere, teachers can effectively manage the parent-teacher conference and make the most of the communication that takes place.

Author: Brian Stocker