Tag Archives: education

Apr27

Taking Advantage Of The Internet In Self-Isolation

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Taking Advantage Of The Internet In Self-Isolation

Hello! Thank god for the internet while we’re all hunkered down at home, amiright? Personally, I would be going crazy without my access to social media and all of the entertainment streaming services that Johnny and I have. The internet is a wonderful tool to help fight the boredom blues and, amidst the stay at home orders, it is now being used for a lot more than aimlessly scrolling through Facebook. Bored? Try some of the following:

Take A Class:

Right now, there are so many free courses being offered online from reputable colleges to teachers hosting Zoom lectures. I have even seen that Yale is offering free admission to their course entitled “Happiness” or something of the like. I, myself, have been participating in an online American Sign Language class being taught via Zoom and have been having a blast. It feels great to learn something new and you can’t beat free!

Streaming:

Amazon, Netflix, YouTube, and iTunes provide endless new shows, short films, and movies that you can watch from the comfort of your home. Lying on the couch, in bed, or relaxing on your patio requires entertainment; therefore, a good internet connection is necessary. Making the internet as effective as possible in your home can go a long way toward relieving your boredom. Take advantage of the cox internet with a high speed, and you may not buffer even when you connect different devices.

Tour A Museum:

In the mood to travel? How about taking a virtual trip to one of the many museums offering tours online. Play some classical music, enjoy a glass of wine, and get a taste of the finer things as you admire art from around the world. Take a look and get inspired and then, who knows? Maybe you’ll be creating your own masterpieces afterwards.

Watch A Play:

Many theaters and opera houses are offering online streaming of their shows. I have seen advertising from everything from theaters in New York City to the Paris Opera House virtually opening their doors to the bored general public. I would love to watch a few operas in my free time and I am interested in checking out a viewing of the Phantom Of The Opera which I have seen advertised all over Facebook. So cool!

Connect With Friends:

Who says getting online has to be all about learning? Of course, connecting with friends is a given on social media. But, how about scheduling a chat over Zoom? You could play trivia, watch a show all together, have a paint night, or participate in a happy hour drink. Yes, it’s fun to catch up but actually doing an activity together will be a nice reminder of old times and could be a new weekly tradition to look forward to until real life meetings can happen.

Start A Club:

If you are trying to connect with like minded individuals, try hosting a virtual club. You could form a group based around anything from books and writing to movies and art. Schedule a weekly Zoom meeting to discuss the latest few chapters or the cliffhanger in the TV series you’re watching together. Intelligent conversations always perk me up when being plopped in front of the TV is the norm and everyone can benefit from that!

So many resources have made the internet even better than it already is during the coronavirus panic and these ideas are sure to entertain during those times when it feels like there is “nothing to do”. Enjoy!

Have you been doing anything similar to the tips above? How have you been using the internet to your advantage right now? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr23

Learning Something New

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Learning Something New

Hello! As many of you know, I am extremely passionate about learning new languages. It is one of my favorite hobbies and I currently practice French, Spanish, Italian, German, and Czech on Duolingo. This past week, however, I added a sixth language to my arsenal: American Sign Language.

Maybe you remember a few years ago when I was teaching myself ASL through different books. It proved to be a lot harder than I thought and I eventually fell out of it, promising myself I’d take a class at the soonest opportunity. That never happened, either. Until the fateful day I saw an article on Facebook about a Doctor Jennifer Delora teaching ASL for free on Zoom during the stay at home order.

I was instantly intrigued and saved the article for later use and was so happy I did after watching the first Zoom class with Doctor Jen. In the first lesson, we went over the alphabet, numbers one through ten, greetings, pronouns, and other simple signs. It was a thorough lesson and I finished it feeling proud of what I had learned and eager to do the next one.

Not only is Doctor Jen hilarious but she is absolutely brilliant and teaches ASL in a way that anyone of any skill level could learn. She’s down to earth, amazing at what she does, and I felt like I absorbed everything she said like a sponge. You can find Doctor Jen’s videos on YouTube and I highly recommend giving them a try. Heck, even if you just learn the alphabet, that’s a wonderful first step. Catch you all at the next class!

Which languages do you know? Are you learning any new languages? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr20

Activities For Children In Self-Isolation

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Activities For Children In Self-Isolation

Hello! Many of my friends are now home schooling their children and, for the most part, it’s going great. Some are even thinking of making the plunge to home schooling all of the time. But what do you do when your kiddos have a ton of extra energy and assignments due? How about some entertainment? Help eliminate the wiggles and get some extra focus back with the following activities:

Scheduled Recess:

To many students, playing with their friends at recess is the high point of their day. Schedule some play time outside or board games inside if the weather is inclement after lunch. It will bring some familiarity to their schedule and, after a half hour of free play outside, the next math assignment should come a bit easier afterwards!

Pillow Fort Party:

Are your kids hung up on English homework? Build a pillow fort special for them to do their reading in. Permit playing in the fort once the chapters are read and the homework is complete for a special reward. How about a movie night from the comfort of the pillows and blankets once the day is complete? Don’t forget the popcorn. 😀

Kitchen Helpers:

Kids can learn a lot about math and science through helping in the kitchen. Have your little ones help you out the next time you make lunch or bake cookies. Teach them about different measurements and kitchen safety. If it goes over well, decorating the treats once the “lesson” is done makes for a fine reward.

Talk To Them:

If you’re having a hard time keeping your kids focused on the task at hand, just ask them what you can do to help. Maybe that means playing music as they work. Or what about a dance break to a few songs every hour? They might have their own tried and true methods, themselves, so try sticking to them if they work.

Encourage Their Friendships:

I’m sure it’s so hard for all of the kiddos to be away from their friends right now, especially if they have no one around their age at home. Encourage their friendships even in self-isolation. Allow them to FaceTime or chat with a friend on the phone during a break. Even teachers give their students chit chat time so do the same while you’re homeschooling. Just a small break to talk to someone in their peer group could be a welcome change of pace for your child throughout the day.

I tip my cap to all of the parents at home right now with their children because I genuinely don’t know how they’re doing it! Hopefully, these tips will make their current job a little bit easier. 🙂

How is homeschooling your children going? How do you keep them focused during the school day? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan13

Making Learning Fun

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Making Learning Fun

Young kids love to learn. They are like sponges, soaking up any knowledge that they are offered. They are keen to learn and to practice new skills. Then, as they get older, things start to change. They might start to rebel against the idea of learning, avoiding studying, and complain about active learning. They might moan about going to school or hate the idea of sitting down to do their homework. As parents, we’re in a unique position to show them that learning can always be fun. That enjoyment of education isn’t something that gets left behind when school learning becomes more academically focused. Here are some of the things that you could try.

Create Puzzles:

Creating puzzles is a really easy way to learn but also to reinforce knowledge and help with knowledge retention. Use WordMint to create word searches and crosswords around subjects that they are studying or otherwise interested in. Alternatively, let them create puzzles, using their own knowledge, for you to complete. They’ll love being the teacher for a change.

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Pixabay Image

Use Your Imagination:

Very young children learn a lot through pretend play. They learn how a kitchen works by pretending to cook for you. They learn about dinosaurs by pretending to explore a Jurassic world. Not only is imaginative play plain fun but it also provides children with a plethora of benefits in language and cognitive development. Imaginative play can still be a valuable learning tool for older children, but you might want to bring in some tools, such as Lego, to help them to immerse themselves in a pretend world.

Manipulate Objects:

Playing with LEGO, building a fort, or even learning how to use a microscope are all fun ways to encourage learning by doing. Tactile play helps hone children’s social, emotional, and cognitive skills all while having fun! What’s great about these strategies is that they can be applied across various subjects and can be designed in many different ways so your options are limitless!

Read Stories:

Fiction is a great way to learn more about different worlds, times, and ways of life. Find stories set in times or places that they are learning about. Even big blockbuster films about topics of study can be an effective way to learn, as long as you take the time to sort fact from fiction and clue them in.

Make a Mess:

Messy play can be a great way to learn. Experiment with basic chemistry, use play-doh to craft volcanoes or mountain ranges. Paint seas and sea life. Getting messy is such fun, get some supplies, enjoy crafting, creating, and building together. Just try not to get stressed out about the mess!

Talk About What You’ve Seen:

Encourage learning by talking about what you have seen and done. Don’t just build a model or watch a film and then leave it at that. Speak about what you’ve seen or experienced. Encourage your child to ask questions and ask them your own. Spend time researching anything that they want to know more about and enjoy open debate.

Get Outdoors:

Getting outdoors is a great way to learn more about nature and the world around us and inspire conversation. Give them the freedom to explore and let them lead you on a trek through your local parks.

Learning never has to be boring. Use the tips above and watch your child’s interest in education grow!

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Jan7

Making The Most Of Your Graduate Studies

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Making The Most Of Your Graduate Studies

Deciding to take on postgraduate education can be one of the best decisions that you make. It opens up new opportunities for you, and could increase your employability and perhaps your salary too. As you’re dedicating time and money to your graduate studies, you will want to make the most of them by doing the following:

Manage Your Time Well:

It’s ultimately up to you to make the most of your studies. You will get back what you put in, so you need to be prepared to put in the hard work. Managing your time is one of the most important things, especially if you’re working as you study.

Start Opening Doors:

If you haven’t already begun to make the right connections during your undergraduate years, your grad studies are the perfect time to start opening doors for yourself. Spend some time networking and getting to know people who can help you find the right opportunities.

Get Work-related Experience:

Getting out into the world of work with solid qualifications but no real-world experience will be tough. Try to use some of your time to gain valuable work experience or focus on projects which will be useful to highlight when you’re looking for work.

Choose the Right Place to Study:

Before you even start your studies, choosing the right place to study will ensure you get the most out of it. There are many things to consider, including the method of study, location, qualification, and other important factors that will help you to choose correctly.

Check out more tips on the infographic below and happy studying!


Infographic Design By Northeastern University

Jan3

Steps To Becoming An Advanced Practice Nurse

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Steps To Becoming An Advanced Practice Nurse

Becoming an advanced practice nurse could be the next step in your career if you work in nursing. It can offer you opportunities to work in specialist areas and take on more responsibility at work, including moving into leadership roles. If you’re thinking of becoming an advanced practice nurse, these are some of the steps that you may need to take:

Consider a Patient Focus Areas and Specialisms:

There are several areas of patient focus you can consider if you want to be an advanced nursing practitioner. There are also more specific specializations for you to choose within different practice areas. You might choose something like midwifery or psychiatric health.

Check Licensure Rules:

You will need to ensure that you have the necessary license to practice to be an advanced nurse practitioner. To be registered nationally in the US, you need to be licensed as an advanced practice registered nurse (APRC). Different states and even medical settings can also require certain licenses.

Gain Valuable Experience:

Getting experience in your field of choice will help you to find the roles that you want and climb through the ranks too. You will need nursing experience if you want to complete a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) or a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN).

Continue Your Education:

Nurses often start with an associate’s degree or may have a bachelor’s degree. To become an advanced practice nurse, you can consider gaining an MSN or DNP. Both of these qualifications could help you to achieve your goals.


Infographic Design By Bradley University

Jul11

School’s Cool: Top Four Signs Your Child Loves School

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School’s Cool: Top Four Signs Your Child Loves School

For many kids, school is a place they do not feel like going to. They associate it with lots of work and studying, which they think is boring and unnecessary. They associate it with pupils who impose. Some think that strict teachers and schools are inseparable. While stress is normal among kids, excessive amounts of it can be difficult to deal with. They may feel anxiety due to the sheer volume of activities and sometimes, due to bullying.

However, there seem to be a lot of kids who enjoy school. They usually consider it as their playground, as their safe haven. They look at school not only as a place for learning but also for fun. Whether your child is studying at a private school or at an international school in Manila, Philippines, there are some ways you can tell that they are enjoying it:

Your child talks a lot about school:

You know your kids are happy when they talk about something nonstop. They want to share their interests and the things that make them smile with you. If your kids talk a lot about school and their stories are mostly positive, that means that they are having a blast.

They get good grades:

When kids have a good school environment, learning becomes much easier. When kids learn faster and absorb useful information efficiently, the effects reflect on their grades. Kids are probably enjoying school when they are also enjoying getting good grades. That is a good indicator that your kids have goals or they already have an idea about the importance of goal setting.

If your child is exceeding in all areas of their education, they might begin to feel bored or not challenged enough. This can really impact your child’s love of learning so listen to them. Perhaps they could benefit more from a structure like this Florida Private School (or a similar school in your local area). Schools like the one mentioned provide a student centered program that allows them to learn at their own pace and set their own goals. This can give them the tools to move onto bigger and better things in their educational journey.

Their teachers talk to you about them:

Every once in a while, it is important that you talk to your child’s teacher. That is one way of finding out how they are faring. Sometimes, the teacher takes the initiative to talk about your kids, this is especially true when they are more than pleased about the work that they are doing. Which is something that all of you should be proud of!

They have a lot of friends:

Notice if your kids talk about their friends. Having a lot of friends means that your child enjoys socializing. And when that is the case, you know that their free time in between classes and at recess is occupied with positivity.

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When your child is enthusiastic about school, learning becomes much easier and more meaningful. The things they learn from school will always be of great use, especially if you want them to have a brighter future ahead of them. Now is the right time to help your kids understand and appreciate the value of going to the school, so get started today!

Jul10

Duolingo Update

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Duolingo Update

Yo! It has been a while since I gave an update on my language learning festivities, so here we are. This past month, I have added Czech to my trifecta of languages that I have been working on with French, Spanish, and Italian. And, let me tell you, it has been about a bitch. I decided to start Czech because of my halfsies heritage with my mom being one hundred percent Czechoslovakian. And, I plan on starting German in another month or so as my dad is almost one hundred percent in his nationality.

Being fluent in French made Spanish and Italian fairly easy to work on, since the Romance languages are pretty similar. I also took Spanish from kindergarten to eighth grade and some of that (But not much!) is definitely coming back. Italian has proven to be more challenging than I thought it would be, but I finally think I am getting a better grip on it after over three months of working on it.

The real difficulty lies in Czech because it sounds SO different than any of the other languages that I am familiar with. None of the words in Czech sound anything like English, which is so helpful in my Romance languages because you can make an educated guess even if it sounds vaguely like something you have heard before. I went into Czech blind or, deaf, I should say because aside from a few random words I’ve heard from my mom and grandma, I’ve never even heard it spoken before.

But, Lil Red never backs down from a challenge and I plan to continue working hard on Czech as well as the other three languages in my arsenal. In the meantime, does anyone have any tips on learning a new language? Czech in specific? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul3

Getting A Master’s: What You Need To Know

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Getting A Master’s: What You Need To Know

Are you considering getting your master’s or trying to work out whether you should? If this is the situation you’re in, then read on for three key areas to keep in mind:

Job Prospects:

First of all, one of the most important things for you to keep in mind is the job prospects that come with a master’s degree. Can you get your dream job without it? If so, do you need to get your master’s? If you do or you’ve got significant earnings potential with it, then go ahead.

Costs:

The next thing that you need to bear in mind here, is the cost. Because, as you’ll know, college can come with a hefty price tag. And so, you’ll want to make sure that one, you can afford it or have funding options, and that two, you’re happy to take on that much debt if you do. A cheaper college or shorter course could help you here.

Duration:

Finally, you’re then going to want to think about the duration of the course, too. Sure, you can get some year-long courses, but anything like law school is going to be a lot longer than that. And, of course, costs increase as a result. So, ask yourself, do you really want to go down that route? If you really want that career, then you may not have another choice. But if you take a look at the infographic below, you’ll find that a political management degree could be more beneficial. So weigh up your options!


Infographic Design By George Washington University

No matter your choice, consider it carefully and make sure that it is the right one for you.

 

Apr1

What’s The Point Of Going Back To School?

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What’s The Point Of Going Back To School?

Anyone who has a child can confirm that their education is a gigantic investment in terms of money, time and, more often than not, sanity too. But, ultimately, kids are the biggest part of your life, so this kind of result is to be expected. However, it doesn’t mean that they should take over your life aspirations. Some parents can hear their inner voice calling for more qualifications. The dilemma is real; is there a right time to go back to school as an adult? The desire to pursue your studies is a sure enough indication that the right time is now. Nevertheless, the voice of reason can be louder at times. What is the point of going back to school, anyway?

It’s about respecting your personal goals:

When you become a parent, your life takes a completely different turn. You have to learn to put your family needs first. When you’re a mom, you can find yourself trapped in your parental role, convinced you can’t do anything for yourself until the kids are much older. In reality, it’s important to understand that being a parent is not your sole purpose in life. Your dreams and hopes didn’t disappear when you had your first child. There are still plenty of things you might want to achieve and, if higher education is a personal goal, you should make sure you can find time in your busy schedule for it. Time management skills are vital for parents who are trying to juggle family and personal objectives. But, as you learn to free time for yourself, you can make sure you stay true to the person you are.

It’s about giving your career a new boost:

Going back to work after a baby is a wake-up call for many mothers, who suddenly realize that their current job isn’t sufficient to support the family. As a result, one of the most often quoted reasons for heading back to college is the prospect of a more profitable career. Targeting skills that are highly demanded such as public administration – Norwich University has a mind-blowing article about how influential administrators are in supporting economic growth – or programming language. A better job gives you the chance to secure your lifestyle.

It’s about making better adults:

Parents are a child’s first role model, and, as such, your every decision can help to shape the adults of tomorrow. A mother who works – whether she goes back to finish her studies or she enjoys a successful career is a positive role model for children. Your child can learn the importance of working hard, inside and outside the house. Additionally, you can also help to eliminate gender clichés by creating new gender rules; namely that working parents both share chores at home and pursue their careers in equal levels.

If you’re worried about finishing your studies after the birth of your baby, you need to think of the bigger picture. As an individual, you haven’t surrendered your personal goals when you became a mother. On the contrary, achieving these can not only help you to improve your household income but also to be a positive influence on your child. The question is not whether going back to school is a good idea, but what you could lose if you decided against it.

Featured Image By: MaxPixel