Setting The Tone For A Positive Learning Environment

Every teacher has a responsibility to provide a healthy learning environment for his or her students. Over the years, volumes of research have been conducted to help teachers determine what works best for the students. There is a wealth of methods and techniques that, through research, have been proven to improve the quality of the learning environment. Many different aspects of the learning environment should be considered.

A positive learning environment is one in which school staff, students, and parents build safe and peaceful environments where people feel accepted and respected and where learning is the main focus (Stratman, n.d.). Therefore, a positive school climate exists when all students feel comfortable, wanted, valued, accepted, and secure in an environment where they can interact with caring people they trust. A positive school climate affects everyone associated with the school, being the students, staff, parents, and the community. It is the belief system or culture that underlies the day-to-day operation of a school. "Improved school climate is a goal to pursue. Educators need to constantly work toward improving their school climate, culture, and conditions so that student learning is improved" (Noonan, 2004 p.64). How Teachers Can Set the Tone for a Positive Learning Environment

Reference And Education

There are many things a teacher can do to make his or her classroom a safe and positive place for students to learn. First and foremost, a teacher needs to be enthusiastic about her or himself. They must come in with an energetic attitude. They must be positive because it radiates. How the teacher feels and appears it will affect the classroom. The teacher is the facilitator, the teacher sets an example, and the teacher is the role model. Attitude goes a long way.

Setting The Tone For A Positive Learning Environment

When teachers come to work stressed-out, it can be damaging to the students. A study conducted by Yoon (2002) investigated whether or not teacher stress, negative affect, and self-efficacy would predict the quality of student-teacher relationships. Findings suggested, "negative teacher-student relationships were predicted by teacher stress. Significant correlations were found among negative affect, teacher stress and negative relationships"(p.486).
The teacher should also share with the students the importance of an education and the importance of being independent. So if they see a teacher enthused about learning and ideas are shared, then the students will feel the same as well. Teachers can also help create a positive environment by simply caring for the students and showing each of them that they are special. Furthermore, they should be taught to respect and care for each other.

Teachers should regularly conduct research to stay up-to-date on the best practices and methods to use in creating a positive learning environment. Freda Glatt, a retired teacher who firmly believes in the benefits of a positive learning environment has shared some tips on creating a positive learning environment through the Sandral Sensations website (2003):
Make sure each child knows that he is important to you as an individual. Give eye contact and a pleasant greeting to every child each morning. Look and sound enthusiastic when a child makes progress on a skill he is finding difficult. Anytime is a good time for a smile.

Teach students to help rather than to laugh. It takes a lot of bravery to participate when you are unsure of yourself. Bring that to your class' attention by doing some role-playing. Ask how they felt when their classmates laughed at them. Remind your pupils that everyone is human and makes mistakes...but that it is okay and expected. You do not want them to fear being ridiculed if they ask a question or answer incorrectly.

Take note of your students' strengths and let them help you throughout the year. Make a positive statement before giving a correction. Your reaction when a child gets an answer wrong is also important. "A positive statement, followed by a negative one, helps to soften the blow and you remind students that you care" (Burnett, 1999, p.3).

George Stratman of the San Diego County Office of Education (n.d.) has created a useful list of "10 Subtle Ways to Create a Positive Learning Environment", which can be a useful guide of elementary school teachers:

1. Begin your week by "nesting." Students need time upon arrival to become familiar with and comfortable in their new surroundings. Take time during your first class to discuss the week and what they will be doing and to answer questions they may have.

2. Use the students' names. They will feel that you know them and care about them.

3. Catch them being good. Praise the group and individuals when they do well. (Be careful not to over praise an individual. Telling the other students that they should behave "just like Suzy" can be counterproductive--and not necessarily appreciated by Suzy.)

4. Dignify wrong answers. If a child gives a wrong answer, give him or her credit for trying, and if possible, relate their answer to the subject matter. For example, if you are asking the students for an example of a decomposer and a student answers "manzanita," you could respond by saying, "the manzanita is a vital part of this ecosystem, so you're on the right track. However, I'm looking for a living organism that would help break down the manzanita into soil after it dies."

5. Give students a second chance to answer correctly. You could follow-up on the situation above by giving all the students an opportunity to share with their neighbors some examples of decomposers. Once it is clear that everyone has an answer, tell the student (above) that you will give him/her another opportunity and then, after you've taken an answer or two from other students, call on that student again.

6. Don't "zap" students. If a student is misbehaving, try and redirect the behavior in subtle ways such as moving closer to that individual, utilizing his or her name in a sentence during instruction (such as "let's say we were walking on the trail and Johnny came across a deer track..."), or a gentle hand on the shoulder. If you must address the child directly and aggressively, pull him/her away from the group. If you overtly discipline a child in front of the group, others may be afraid to participate for fear of the same treatment.

7. Phrase your questions in a manner that is non-threatening. It is better to ask, "who would like to share with the group..." than to ask "who knows the answer to..." as the latter implies that if you don't raise your hand, you don't know.

8. Allow for thinking time. After you ask a question or give instructions give the students time to process. If you give instructions and ask for questions but do not provide wait time, children who process slower than others may not understand and will feel lost once the activity starts. Students who are not given adequate time to consider when answering a question will similarly feel left out.

9. Don't repeat answers. When a student makes a comment, let his/her comment stand on its own. If you repeat the answer, the students will be trained to listen only to the teacher and you will steal some of the "thunder" away from the student. If you think the others did not hear, have the student repeat the answer. (Note: this technique may not work when addressing 200 people, but is very effective with a smaller group.)

10. Give the students choices. Make sure the choices you give are acceptable to you. For instance, you can say "today we are going to climb 'Daredevil Hill,' would you like to do that before or after lunch?" Giving some choice in activities, or at least the order, gives the students some control and buy-in for their week.

How Parents Can Set the Tone for a Positive Learning Environment:

Parents can also play a part in creating a positive learning environment (Muijs, 2004). Teachers should expect parents to work with their child and school personnel to support the learning of their child and the learning environment of the school. The Canadian Education Act 1997) asserts certain expectations for parents. These are to: "meet the basic needs of their child; ensure their child attends school; encourage their child to complete assigned homework; attend to their child's conduct while the child is at school and on the way to and from school; communicate reasonably with school personnel." (Canadian Education Act, 1997, p.1).

Just as the teacher's attitude plays a role in establishing the positive environment, the parents' attitudes also take effect (Ajzen, 1988, p.10). Parents can help by sending the child off to school on a positive note. If a parent smiles as he or she wishes the child a nice day and says "I love you", the child is already approaching the day with a positive outlook and will be more receptive to learning (Ajzen, 1988, p.10).

In conclusion, with the support and dedication of the teachers, parents, and administration, any learning environment can and should be transformed into a positive learning environment. Clearly, everyone has a different role to play and a responsibility to fulfill in order to maintain the positive environment. There are many benefits to maintaining a positive learning environment. "Positive learning environments in schools will maximize the learning of every student; Help children and youth become full participating citizens of society; Help to build a sense of community; Lead to cost savings and economic benefits as prevention is less expensive than incarceration" (Positive Learning Environments in Schools, 2005).

Reference

Ajzen, I. (1988). Attitudes, personality, & behavior. Chicago: The Dorsey Press.
Burnett, P. (1999). The impact of teachers' praise on students' self-talk and self-concepts. New South Wales, Aus: Teaching and Teacher Education. Retrieved September 15, 2005, from ERIC database.

Canadian Education Act.(1997) Retrieved Sep. 14, 2005, from
http://www.gnb.ca/acts/acts/e-01-12.htm.
DiGiulio, R. (2001). Educate, medicate, or litigate? what teachers, parents, and administrators must do about student behavior.. California, US: Educational Management. Retrieved September 15, 2005, from ERIC database.

Doctor, S. (1997). Creating a positive school climate. Towards Inclusion: Tapping Hidden Strengths, 3. Retrieved Sep 14, 2005, from
http://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/ks4/specedu/fas/pdf/3.pdf.

Glatt, F. J. (2003). Retrieved Sep. 14, 2005, from Reading is FUNdamental Web site: http://www.sandralreading.com.

Johnson, C., Templeton, R., & Guofang, W. (2000). Pathways to peace: promoting non-violent learning environments.. Chicago: Elementary and Early Childhood Education. Retrieved September 16, 2005, from ERIC database.

Muijs, D., Harris A., Chapman C., and Stoll, L. (2004). Improving schools in socioeconomically disadvantaged areas--a review of research evidence. School Effectiveness and School Improvement, 15(2), 149-175.

Setting The Tone For A Positive Learning Environment

Rebecca Schauffele: Teaching is my PASSION. I am fun-loving and really enjoy working with kids. Through my work, I hope to make a difference in the lives of youth and inspire them to dream big and work hard to reach their goals.

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Major Issue in Education

The major public-education issue today is money. How much money do we spend on education? Do we need to spend more? What do we need to spend it on? There have been studies that have proven that the number of dollars that we have spent on public education has not had a positive impact on student achievement. So what is the problem? The problem is that we continue to spend the money on programs that are directed toward the wrong philosophy. The latest initiative was President Bush's "No student left behind." In theory that sounds great. Obviously we do not want to leave any child behind. Politically speaking it is a great slogan and did a great deal to get President Bush elected. That within itself is one of the major issues. (problems) Education is a major issue in every political campaign. Politicians continue to come up with programs every four years that promise to solve pubic educations problems. While they may sound good they are designed more to get a politician elected than they are to actually helping public education.

The "NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND" initiative for example, sounded real good. Not only did it take care of all students but it put accountability on schools that were not successful. Citizens today want to put the blame for the lack of success in American schools directly on the schools. The accountability sounded great to the American people. The problem is, what to do when you find out that you still do not have success. You can not close down every school that was not successful according to the No school left behind guidelines. While the program called for greater expectations of students, it does not give students any alternatives in case they are not successful. It also puts other school systems in a compromising and overcrowded state if you close down schools that are not successful on the standardized test.

Reference And Education

So what do I resolve? I believe that we need to have alternatives for the individual students. I do not believe that we can continue to use the cookie cutter approach to public education. We can not continue to attempt to teach all students in the same manner in hopes that we will get the same results. We have great examples in Europe, China, and Japan. We compare our brightest to their brightest and come up short in math and science. We need to concentrate on individual students who have exhibited ability in math and science, and continue with their efforts, while providing other meaningful careers and professions to others.

Major Issue in Education

More importantly we need to start teaching our students how to think, and solve problems. The key lies in teaching students how to think, not just to memorize a set of facts. The students who gain a love for life long learning and knows how to solve problems will go much further.

When it comes to the issue of health care, politicians have a plan that is directed by doctors, hospitals, and hospital administration. These are the real professionals who can make a difference in health care. The issue of education needs to be left up to the real professionals, teachers and administration, not politicians. The number of dollars spent on public education would then be worthy of the education they would get.

Major Issue in Education

Bob Roach Father of one and middle school teacher of literally thousands over the past thirty years. To find out more write me at: rproach@yahoo.com

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Sample Character Reference Letter

Writing a character reference can be tricky. You need to make sure that you get the main points of the persons character over in a short space of time without getting too boring. Here is a sample to use.

Your address
Date
Phone
Mobile

Reference And Education

Correspondents Address

Sample Character Reference Letter

Character Reference - Fred Chump

Dear Sir/Madam

I have known Fred Chump for a many years. He first arrived at S&S as a trainee and has since become Head of section. He is a respected and loyal member of the team and handles the staff that work with him using a firm but fair hand.

He has a pleasant sense of humour and can always find a way to make people smile even during the hardest of tasks.

He has never missed a day of work except through illness, and we will all be sorry to see him leave our factory.

I wish him well in the future and I know he will be an asset to your company.

Yours faithfully

Your name

Your character reference should be FACT based.

You should not include anything on the reference that you wouldn't let the subject see.

Including something like "Fred is lazy and good for nothing" is probably not a wise think to do...

It would be better to include Fred's sickness record - hopefully this isn't the subject of too much debate and the prospective new employer can make up their own mind.

See - how easy it is to stick to the facts and take a structured approach to writing a reference.

Sample Character Reference Letter

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Homeschool Science - Teach Speed, Velocity, and Acceleration

A simple, small toy car can be used to illustrate these concepts. In addition, use real-life examples before using mechanical examples.

Speed
Show the toy car moving across a table. Ask what speed is.

Reference And Education

Give the formula that speed is distance divided by time. Let the student make up examples of speed based on trips they have taken in the car.

Homeschool Science - Teach Speed, Velocity, and Acceleration

The formula is Rate = Distance/Time. Use the formula on the examples they made up.

Velocity
Velocity is speed in a given direction.
Show your toy car moving in one direction. Then you turn the car around and head back in the opposite direction towards where you started. The speed may be the same. But the velocity is different.

How would you measure velocity? The total distance from the starting point to the ending point divided by the time elapsed. It is not the same as the total distance the object moved.

In another example, show the car moving in one direction, then have it turn at an angle and keep moving. The ending distance from the point started to the point ended would be different than the total distance traveled.

Velocity is stated as a distance in a given direction using the compass.

Acceleration
Students are usually familiar with the concept of acceleration, or speeding up. It is defined as the change in speed over time.

In physics, meters per second per second is most commonly used. Again, the simple toy car can easily illustrate this.

Many cars are about 5 meters long, so let the student create a paper scale where the length of your toy car is 5 meters. Make a scale the length of at least six cars.

In one second your car accelerates from standing still to five meters per second. The next second the car is moving ten meters per second. Then the car is moving fifteen meters per second. What is the rate of acceleration?

The simple formula is Change in Speed divided by Time. Since the car moved 15 meters in 3 seconds, it is accelerating at a rate of 5 meters per second per second.

Let the student make up additional examples of their own. Then use the formula to solve their own examples.

Hands-on examples make science concepts easier to learn.

Homeschool Science - Teach Speed, Velocity, and Acceleration

A free download with more activities to teach speed, velocity, momentum, and acceleration is available at MatchCard Science. This is a unit study for students in 3rd to 8th grade that allows all the children in the family to study together.

Karen Newell is the author of MatchCard Science and other kid friendly homeschool resources. Visit the website at Learn For Your Life.

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What is the Education Requirements for a Forensic Anthropologist?

You have seen them on your favorite Bones or CSI TV show. They are the crime scene investigators who study bones derived from a crime scene. They are the forensic anthropologists. Have you ever wondered what a forensic anthropologist does and what the educational requirements are to become one?

If you have a knack for the biological sciences, anthropology, archaeology, and history, then the field of forensic anthropology may be the career choice for you. Your job description requires that you help the medical examiner or coroner with the collection and identification of human remains. You must know how to determine biological profiles such as age, sex, race, height, etc. of skeletal remains. You must determine the cause of trauma to the skeleton. You may have to visit the burial site, help dig it up, and scrutinize soft tissue or skeletal remains with the intent of identifying the dead person and helping to ascertain the approximate time and cause of death.

Reference And Education

It takes a great deal of education to prepare to become a forensic anthropologist. You need a bachelor's degree in chemistry, biology, anatomy, physiology, or anthropology, and a graduate-level degree in anthropology or human biology. Then you need a PhD and a minimum of three years of experience in forensic anthropology before applying to the board to become board certified.

What is the Education Requirements for a Forensic Anthropologist?

It is possible to work in this particular field with fewer educational requirements. However, many forensic laboratory employers will favor your application if you have a doctoral level degree. Upon getting a job as a forensic anthropologist, you will be working at universities and operate as a consultant to medical examiners and the courts.

Experts such as forensic anthropologists use their varied educational background to help solve a crime. Their efforts help bring an offender to justice and bring closure to the families of the victims.

What is the Education Requirements for a Forensic Anthropologist?

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Presentations With Impact - 5 Effective Ways to Start Your Speech

When you begin your presentation you are at your most anxious. And that's entirely natural. No amount of planning, preparation or research will prepare you for your audience's response. Hence the anxiety. Natural anxiety. The flip side, of course, is that your audience is also anxious. They have read the program notes and heard the introduction but, they really don't know what impact you will have on them. And that is natural for any audience.

The situation is perfect for you, the presenter, to make an instant impression. But note that you only have a few minutes in which to make that impression. Your first comments are very important to both you and your audience. Your comments provide the opportunity to set out your goals, your purpose and structure -- essential pointers for your audience to hook on to. Your opening words will establish your expertise and suggest to your audience what you can offer -- why your presentation will be either valuable or important to them. And don't forget that your opening should seize their attention from the beginning. To help you there are 5 effective ways to open your speech. You can use them on their own or combine them for even greater effect.

Reference And Education

A question. Asking a question at the start of your presentation is an effective opener. When you answer it you lay out the purpose of your speech, your subject, main points or thesis. A reference. You can make a reference to a time or event in history, politics or sport. When you do so, you establish context and relevance for your presentation. You set your points into a wider framework of experience and build their credibility. A quotation. Using a quotation that is relevant, interesting and erudite is also a useful opener. Be wary of anything that is over-used. Remember to cite your source and take advantage of something that is totally targeted to your subject. Choose something that maps your theme. Something that supports your main points. Drama. You can achieve a dramatic opening to your presentation with your own voice, amplified sound, music, images or film. Using action, activity and movement will stimulate your audience. They can't ignore it and they won't ignore it. Humor. Using humor to open your speech is an effective way to set the tone for your presentation and establish affinity with your audience. You can often combine this opener with a witty quotation or dictionary definition that establishes both relevance and authority. If you use humor in your beginning then you should aim to use it later -- with anecdotes or stories perhaps.

Presentations With Impact - 5 Effective Ways to Start Your Speech

How you choose to begin your presentation depends on your subject, your audience and the tone you want to establish. A good beginning will set you up well for all that follows. It's true that a good opening is no guarantee of a good presentation. But it's equally true that a weak opening comes close to guaranteeing a weak presentation.

Presentations With Impact - 5 Effective Ways to Start Your Speech

Andrew Ivey is the Principal Trainer at UK-based public speaking training course provider Time to Market, http://www.timetomarket.co.uk. Time to Market provides presentation skills and public speaking training courses at more than 40 training centres in the UK.

You can get more information and public speaking skills tips when you subscribe to their regular newsletter, "Telling it Straight".

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The New Monster High Dolls

In an unprecedented departure from the traditional method of making dolls, lovers are getting new trends. A good illustration of this is the creation of Monster High Dolls that features the latest trend in the industry. Most lovers have described this set as the offspring of famous monsters because the ones that appear: flurry, fearless and freaky characterize this brand. The characters are five girls and a boy and they begun hitting the stores recently. For any collector, this is a perfect combination.

Surprisingly, there has been a sustained advertising campaign aimed at popularizing the Monster High Dolls. Additionally, several festivals set to take place in all the coming Fridays, with special emphasis being put on 13th. This is a new concept in the market, and analysts have observed a silent departure from the usual approach where a doll is introduced into the market, the success evaluated and then the subsequent introduction of other related products. A scrutiny of some of the characters reveals Dracula, who faints at the sight of blood, Clawdeen Wolf, who spends most of her time shaving and plucking her fast growing hair and Frankenstein, who loves shopping for cute, scary clothes.

Reference And Education

The move to introduce these characters in the market has seen the manufacturer venture into video production. You can buy an individual character in contrast to purchasing the whole set. Unless the person for whom they are intended is well versed with some of the characters, it might be scary for them in the end. Perhaps this is the main reason the manufacturer has advised that the toys be for those aged above six or eight years.

The New Monster High Dolls

Complete with the aura of scary haunting habits, these toys have different components amongst them diaries, hairbrushes and clothes. Therefore, this gives the owner the freedom to dress their characters the way they deem fit. Worth noting also is the fact that some of the components such as the messenger bags, coffins and many more can be bought on their own. Clearly, if you do not have a thing for weary stuff you might not need such toys.

Perhaps keeping in line with the latest fashion trend exhibited by many ladies, the female characters in the collection adorn high heels. It is also not out of the ordinary to come across those with painted fingers and toe nails while others have multi colored boots. Simply, it is trying to bridge the generational divide among kids and other adult fans of these conspicuous characters. It is also common to come across an umbrella with a skull head.

The New Monster High Dolls

Monster high dolls are a perfect example of the departure from the typical sweet looking dolls like the Clawdeen Wolf doll. Monster High Dolls have the outlook of scary and fashionable in mind and these are the two of their most outstanding characters.

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Kids Spy Gear - Spy Net Secret Mission Video Watch

What is it about James Bond or Jason Bourne that attracts us? Well for one they are spies and they go around the world to save it and do all kinds of things in the process. They fight with their bare hands and guns; drive cars, planes and helicopters in the most rash manner; brave all kinds of dangers and use a range of sophisticated gadgetry as a means of achieving ends. Well if your kid wants his / her own piece of gadgetry to become a spy, or at least pretend to be one, there's some good news for you - the Spy Net Secret Mission Video Watch.

A kind of a play Spy Gadget, the video watch fits around your wrist in a comfortable manner and can be used to record audio, video and take photographs. The recording can be done in a clandestine manner using the built-in camera. The onboard memory can record up to 20 minutes of video data, over 4 hours of audio data and up to 2000 pictures. You can playback all the recordings on the built-in 1.4 inch color screen of the watch.

Reference And Education

But hey that's not all, there' more in this Spy Net Secret Mission Video Watch. A USB port allows the kids to transfer the recorded stuff on a propriety website SpyNetHQ.com for secure storage and online viewing. The USB port also makes the device capable of being fitted with various accessories. This includes devices like the SnakeCam that can record audio secretly and securely around corners. When kids get the data transferred online they can play around with it by running lie detector tests, or do a video and audio analysis of the recorded data, analyze their evidence using their secret code reader or play mini games etc. The website also allows the kids to download exciting missions. This allows them to receive special reports and mission briefings.

Kids Spy Gear - Spy Net Secret Mission Video Watch

This great play spy tool with all these great features is suited for the use by those above the age of 8 who have either the ambition or the fantasy of becoming a super secret agent one day and saving the world from the evil forces. Although it is primarily designed for use by kids, grown ups can use it as well - especially those who cannot or will not order real-time professional spy ware stuff. This Spy Net Watch comes with a USB cable and a Rechargeable battery. So go ahead, order your watch today and create your own super spy adventures and become the secret agent you always wanted to become.

A word of caution however would be imperative at this stage. The Spy Net Secret Mission Video Watch is only meant for fun by growing kids who like to keep tabs on certain not too private moments in their friend's lives and play those back to them. All this stuff is intended only to be fun and should not be used to record those moments that are too private. We would strongly recommend that you drill this user guideline into your kid's head before you let him / her use it. Another point worth mentioning at this stage is that this is not the stuff genuine professionals use. It is only intended to give your kids, or to you if you are of the fun loving type, a feel of being a spy or a feel of what one part of spy work is all about. You or your kids won't become a James Bond or a Jason Bourne overnight. But of course, you won't be like the secret agent in Get Smart either who goofs up everything.

Kids Spy Gear - Spy Net Secret Mission Video Watch

This is another toy growing in popularity that may be a big hit for this Christmas. Check out the many images and videos of this cool spy gear toy and get the latest discount price at Spy Net Video Watch. Also, take look at the latest in video watch spy gear at: Ultimate Spy Watch

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Elementary School Teachers, Counselors, and Career Education

As teachers and counselors, you know that the elementary school years are important. During the elementary school years, your students build visions of what they desire to do in their lives as they contribute to the workforce. With your help, your students remain open to new career ideas and possibilities. As you work with your students, your students do not make premature career choices or career preparations. For your students, elementary school is a time to build awareness.

As elementary school teachers and counselors, you use career education to promote self-worth, skill development, and decision making strategies. Your activities are designed to build self, family, school, community, and career awareness. You use age-appropriate materials that match your students' developmental levels. These activities expose your students to a variety of different jobs, career information sources, and the reasons why people work.

Reference And Education

When you prepare to develop age-appropriate materials products, tests and tools, you use career models like the National Career Development Guidelines (NCDG). The National Career Development Guidelines (NCDG) have domains, goals, and indicators. Each domain represents a developmental area. Under each domain, there are goals or competencies. For each goal, indicators highlight the knowledge and skills needed to achieve the goal. The National Career Development Guidelines (NCDG) prepares you to make materials that are suitable for your students.

Elementary School Teachers, Counselors, and Career Education

As a elementary school counselors and teachers, you create individual career plans and portfolios. Individual career plans (ICP) -
Develop self-awareness Identify initial career goals and educational plans Increase employability and decision making skills
Individual career portfolios summarize career awareness activities and experiences that occur during the school year. In addition to individual career plans and portfolios, you use a variety of resources -
Career days Career fairs Community speakers Field trips Information interviewing Literary works Mentors Collages, murals Educational games Job shadowing Dramatic presentations
All of the career activities and tools combine academic work with career pathways. Career activities serve as foundations for future skills. As teachers and counselors, you help students build connections between academics and real life situations. You use career education activities to stress the importance of language arts, mathematics, social studies, and science.
You show students that Language Arts have many uses in the work force:
Reading Writing Listening skills
You provide examples that show how people solve problems when they use Mathematics. Different types of Mathematics include:
Addition Subtraction Multiplication Division
In Social Studies, your students learn how skills that are necessary to be successful in the global marketplace. In Social Studies, your students learn about -
Countries Languages Cultures
Your students learn the importance of Science gaining skills to solve problems. You show your students how applications of Science are used in different industries, such as -
Food Media Agriculture Automotive industry
The connections between academics and real life situations reinforce, develop, and expand previously learned skills. In summary, as a elementary school teachers and counselors, you help students:
Know and value self Build self-esteem and confidence Learn and apply the academic material Identify interests and build relationships between the school environment and the work force Build academic, communication, problem solving, and social skills Increase awareness of the need for future jobs skills See the connections between learning in school, academic skills, job related skills, and careers See career possibilities See themselves as a future contributor to the job force Receive empowerment Build self-determination
As counselors and teachers, you build self-awareness, family awareness, school awareness, community awareness, career/ work awareness, attitude development, skill development, decision making strategies, and self-worth. You use age-appropriate materials that match the developmental levels of the students. Examples of activities include individual career plans (ICP), individual career portfolios, career days, career fairs, field trips, information interviewing, and library book reports.
After completing career education activities, your students are prone to get higher grades, academic achievement, school involvement, and interpersonal skills. In addition, your students are more adept to complete more complex courses and have higher graduation rates from high school. As your students get older, they will achieve their career visions and goals.
References
1. American Counseling Association, Office of Public Policy and Legislation. (2007). Effectiveness of School Counseling. Alexandria, VA: Author.
2. Angel, N. Faye; Mooney, Marianne. (1996, December). Work-in-Progress: Career and Work Education for Elementary Students. (ED404516). Cincinnati, OH: Paper presented at the American Vocational Association Convention.
3. Benning, Cathleen; Bergt, Richard; Sausaman, Pamela. (2003, May). Improving Student Awareness of Careers through a Variety of Strategies. Thesis: Action Research Project. (ED481018). Chicago, Illinois: Saint Xavier University.
4. Career Tec. (2000). K-12 Career Awareness & Development Sequence [with Appendices, Executive and Implementation Guide]. (ED450219) .Springfield, Il: Author.
5. Carey, John. (2003, January). What are the Expected Benefits Associated with Implementing a Comprehensive Guidance Program. School counseling Research Brief 1.1. Amherst, MA: Fredrickson Center for School Counseling Outcome Research.
6. Dare, Donna E.; Maddy-Bernstein, Carolyn. (1999, September). Career Guidance Resource Guide for Elementary and Middle/Junior High School Educators. (ED434216). Berkeley, CA: National Center for Research in Vocational Education.
7. DuVall, Patricia. (1995).Let's Get Serious about Career Education for Elementary Students. AACE Bonus Briefs. (ED386603). Hermosa Beach, CA: AACE Bonus Briefs.
8. Ediger, Marlow. (2000, July). Vocational Education in the Elementary School. (ED442979) Opinion Papers
9. Gerver, Miriam, Shanley, Judy, O Cummings, Mindee. (2/14/02). Answering the Question EMSTAC Extra Elementary and Middle Schools. Washington, DC: Technical Assistance Center, (EMSTAC).
10. Hurley, Dan, Ed.; Thorp, Jim, Ed. (2002, May). Decisions without Direction: Career Guidance and Decision-Making among American Youth. (ED465895). Grand Rapids, Michigan: Ferris State University Career Institute for Education and Workforce Development.
11. Maddy-Bernstein, Carolyn; Dare, Donna E. (1997,December).Career Guidance for Elementary and Middle School Students. Office of Student Services Brief, v9 n1. (ED415353). Berkeley, CA: National Center for Research in Vocational Education.
12. Ohio Department of Education, Division of Vocational and Career Education, Ohio Career Development Blueprint, Individual Career Plan, K to 5 (ED449322). Columbus, Ohio, 2000
13. Splete, Howard; Stewart, Amy. (1990). Competency-Based Career Development Strategies and the National Career Development Guidelines. Information Series No. 345. (ED327739). Columbus, Ohio: ERIC Clearinghouse on Education and Training for Employment & Ohio State University
14. U.S. Department of Education Office of Vocational and Adult Education. (1994, 2004). National Career Development Guidelines (NCDG). Washington, DC: Author.
15. Williams, Jean A., Ed. (1999, January). Elementary Career Awareness Guide: A Resource for Elementary School Counselors and Teachers. (ED445293). Raleigh, NC: NC Department of Public Instruction, NC Job Ready.
16. Woal, S. Theodore. (1995). Career Education--The Early Years. AACE Bonus Briefs. (ED386603). Hermosa Beach, CA: AACE Bonus Briefs.
Elementary School Teachers, Counselors, and Career Education
Dr Mary Askew specializes in career tests, websites, and books for students. Get information about Holland Code Resources at http://www.hollandcodes.com Contact Dr. Askew at learning4life@qwest.net 

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Great Leaders Share Success

For a variety of reasons, far too many individuals who ascend to leadership positions tend to seek personal glory and platitudes, rather than pursuing the optimum scenario for their organization. Having been intimately involved in the leadership process for over three decades, training, qualifying, counseling, advising and consulting, I have always attempted to convey to the more than a thousand individuals that I have worked with, that in order to be an effective and thus successful leader, a leader must involve others in the process, planning, and also any compliments or platitudes received. The professional football coach, Jim Harbaugh, stated this phenomenon perfectly when he said, "Winning as a team is better than anything. It's great to share success."

1. It is essential for a leader to realize that he can't succeed if he does not receive the support of others. Hillary Clinton acknowledged that necessity when she penned her book, It Takes A Village, when she underscored the need for people to work together to obtain real improvements. Ms. Clinton was specifically referring predominantly to the educational process, but it is as true for any aspect of leadership. Therefore, effective leaders focus on communication and motivation. They realize that they must communicate their vision, and why it is important, in a compelling and transparent manner. They must motivate others to join their team, and to adopt their vision as their own. It is this feeling of belonging that creates an atmosphere of doing something positive and long lasting, for the common good. Teamwork, when real, creates a strong moral and ethical fiber, that joins people together, and makes obstacles become mere challenges, and challenges something to overcome and to become stronger because of. It builds up self- confidence, as well as creating a common feeling of belonging to something larger and more important than themselves.

Reference And Education

2. True leaders recognize the need to acknowledge and thank others for their efforts. It is important to remember and to understand that not everyone is either well suited for nor wishes to be a leader, but many are willing to volunteer to assist in a good cause or vision. It is almost impossible to succeed as a leader without the concerted and directed efforts of others, and thus leaders, by definition, must have loyal followers. In order to maintain followers, leaders must make these people feel good about their efforts.Human nature is such that most people enjoy acknowledgement, and that most followers will continue to follow, and thus to assist a leader successfully pursue his vision, if they are thanked. Therefore, grateful leaders are almost always the most successful.

Great Leaders Share Success

It is not easy to be a great leader. There are so many factors that impact the success of one's leadership directives, plans and goals. When a leader gathers a loyal team, he multiplies his opportunities for everyone to be successful!

Great Leaders Share Success

Richard Brody, with over 30 years consultative sales, marketing, training, managerial, and operations experience, has trained sales and marketing people in numerous industries, given hundreds of seminars, appeared as a company spokesperson on over 200 radio and television programs, and regularly blogs on real estate, politics, economics, management, leadership, negotiations, conferences and conventions, etc. He has negotiated, arranged and/ or organized hundreds of conferences and conventions. He's a Senior Consultant with RGB Consultation Services, an Ecobroker, a Licensed Buyers Agent (LBA) and Licensed Salesperson in NYS, in real estate.
Richard has owned businesses, been a Chief Operating Officer, a Chief Executive Officer, and a Director of Development, as well as a consultant. He has a Consulting Website ( http://tinyurl.com/rgbcons ), and his company PLAN2LEAD, LLC's site ( http://www.plan2lead.net ), and can be followed on Twitter

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Learn to Speak Basic Chinese (Mandarin) Words and Phrases

The Chinese Language and dialects

Each province, each city and even each village speaks their own dialect. There are hundreds of Chinese dialects in China so much so that each dialect speaker is not likely to understand another dialect speaker from another village or city. Fortunately, Mandarin, the official dialect, is understood by all dialect speakers.

Reference And Education

Let's learn a few useful basic and common Mandarin words and phrases that will help you break barriers with your Chinese friends.

Learn to Speak Basic Chinese (Mandarin) Words and Phrases

How are You? -Ni Hao Ma

Also commonly shorten to Ni Hao.

This is likely to be the first Mandarin phrase that you will ever learn. Useful as a greeting or a ice-breaker. Suitable for use with all ages and professions.

Thank You -Xie Xie.

Another polite term that is easy to remember and use.

Very Good -Hen Hao.

This is useful when giving praise for a job or task well done. Also useful as a reply to anyone who says "Ni Hao Ma?' to you.

Ni Hao Ma? (How are you?)

Hen Hao (Very Good)

No Good -Bu Hao.

This is useful when there is a need to comment on a shoddy or incomplete job or task. Can also be used as a reply to Ni Hao Ma? but may not be such a good reply.

Ni Hao Ma? (How are you?)

Bu Hao (No Good)

Very Expensive -Hen Gui.

When bargaining at the shops, this is the best term to use when driving a hard bargain.

Don't want or No -Bu Yao.

This is the best term to use for touts - street hawkers who approach you at every tourist stop to ask you to buy things. Bu Yao....will stop them in their track.

This is beautiful -Hen Piao Liang.

Use this phrase to praise something that is nice or beautiful. May also be used when meeting a pretty girl too!

Taxi -De Shi.

De Shi is the correct term but you should be understood even if you use the English word for Taxi. They sound alike anyway.

Good Bye or See You Again -Zai Jian.

Well, I guess this is another term that will be easily understood even if the English word is used.

Excuse Me -Jie Guo.

There is always a crowd in touristy areas. There are so many Chinese who wants to see the same monuments too. Rather than push your way through the crowd, using the term Jie Guo may just open the path ahead for you!

Receipt -Fa Piao.

Always ask for the receipt or Fa Piao at the shops or from a taxi. This may be useful if you need to complain about a fraud or shoddy product. Also useful if you leave behind your bag or camera in the taxi.

I don't want -Wo Bu Yao.

Useful when refusing a tout or when offered a drink too many at the Dinner table.

Learn to Speak Basic Chinese (Mandarin) Words and Phrases

Ken Cheong lived, worked and travelled in China for the last 7 years. You may find more such articles at his websites. Feel free to distribute these articles as long as you mention his websites at: http://www.chinese-culture.net and http://www.quick-pain-relief.com

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Thank You Note Examples For Employment Reference Letters

Do you need a few well-written thank you note examples for a letter of reference? You do if someone has recently written, or will write one for you in the near future.

In fact, most every person will need one--at some point in time--from a current or former mentor, instructor, employer or supervisor.

Reference And Education

These letters, if well-written, require painstaking effort. Certainly, the gracious soul who agrees to take on such a task deserves a heartfelt thank you.

Thank You Note Examples For Employment Reference Letters

Below, you'll find several thank you note examples that you can use to show your appreciation for an excellent letter of reference.

Thank you for writing such a glowing recommendation letter for me. I could not have asked for more favorable comments. Your letter paved the way for several interviews and a subsequent job offer three weeks later from _________________ Corporation, where I wanted most to work.

I appreciate the time that you invested in writing such a detailed letter. I know that it will have a significant impact on my life for years to come.

Sincerely,

Though I have not yet found a suitable position, I am confident that your excellent letter of reference will help me to secure it once I do. If I can ever return the favor, please do not hesitate to ask me.

Best regards,

I just wanted to let you know that I have recently landed a position with ___________________ Corporation. I want to tell you how grateful I am for your assistance in this process. Without your strong recommendation, it would have been much more difficult to get a foot in the door with such a great company. I hope you will join us for a little celebration dinner next Friday evening.

Thanks again, and I look forward to seeing you next week.

Sincerely,

It was very thoughtful of you to write a letter of recommendation for me. I appreciate the thought and effort you put into it. Your words made a profound impact on the hiring manager, and helped to distinguish me from the other applicants.

Thank you for playing such a significant role in the success of my job search. If I can be of any assistance to you in the near future, please let me know.

Regards,

Thank You Note Examples For Employment Reference Letters

Visit Julie's business thank you notes page for more notes you can use in the workplace.

Find out how the power of gratitude to can revolutionize your professional relationships at thank you note examples and tips today.

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Metabolic Training - Stop Doing Ineffective Cardio

Metabolic training has been making waves with fitness pros for a few years now and with good reason; it works. Yet it still hasn't become mainstream. A quick look around a commercial gym will prove that most people are still slugging away on the cardio machines looking to lose weight. This article will hopefully encourage you to move away from the old style of training involving hours upon hours of cardio combined with starving yourself. Firstly we need to dispel the myth of cardio and starving yourself being optimal for fat loss.

Old Style Weight Loss

Reference And Education

The old style of training still being overused today goes along the lines of; Performing steady state cardio either on the gym machines or by yourself; Eat lower calories so that you burn more than your eating to burn fat. In theory there isn't anything wrong with this but it's not optimal. It relies on the most basic form of weight loss: calories in versus calories out. Roughly 3500 calories represents a pound of fat. If your body burns 3500 calories with exercise and diet you will lose 1 pound of fat and vice versa with eating more.

Metabolic Training - Stop Doing Ineffective Cardio

Ineffective Weight Loss

The problem with this program is that it doesn't work well in the real world. Many people do not have the will power, time and/or money to constantly eat lower calories, or exercise more to burn of those extra calories. It's a constant struggle to lose weight. Also considering that if you starve yourself for too long your body goes into 'starvation mode' and slows your metabolism. Because your body is always thinking about your survival and thinks that a famine is on the way so slows down your bodily functions.

Ineffective Training

Traditional steady state cardiovascular training doesn't cut it either. Firstly referring back to your body's survival instincts; your body adapts to constant training in as little as six weeks. Therefore the body finds it easier to perform and burns less calories in the process. Also bear in mind that when performing steady state cardio you only burn (extra) calories during the exercise. After you've finished your metabolism returns to normal fairly quickly. Paying attention now?

Metabolic Training

Metabolic training is a modern form of training where by, you do not just worry about how many calories you burn during training. But how many calories you burn throughout the entire week, by ramping up your metabolism with training. Basically your training effect has your body burning more calories after you've finished working out and your sitting around doing nothing. In fact studies have shown that this type of training raises your metabolism for up to 38 hours after your workout.

The complete scientific reasoning behind this is beyond the scope of this article. But for reference this is down to many factors along the lines of Excess post-exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC) and the production of fat burning hormones like testosterone (even in females) and growth hormone.

Types Of Metabolic Training

There are many types of metabolic training and far to many to write about. However for the purposes of getting you started, I will try to explain a little. To be doing proper metabolic training you need to be thinking along the lines of resistance training. That doesn't have to mean lifting massive weights. Body weight exercises, bands, medicine balls and traditional weights are different examples of what can be used. Although the resistance has to be challenging, lifting the lightest weights on the rack for the sake of using weights won't work.

A good starting routine is to pair exercises together such as squat and bench press or dead-lift and lat pull downs. Perform one exercise (ie squat) then with no rest perform another (ie bench). Rest for a minute and repeat until you have performed all your sets before moving onto the next pair of exercises. Aim to work every body part either during the workout, or at least once throughout the week, if you are doing different body parts at different times of the week. You could finish of your workout with a timed body weight circuit performing say burpees, star jumps, bodyweight squats etc. Or some interval training of your preference.

While the metabolic training explanation wasn't exhaustive, I hope you are beginning to see the benefits of metabolic training and how it can help you. This form of training can also be more enjoyable if your constantly mixing things up to stop your body adapting. It can be harder to perform especially if you've never tried it before. Therefore always consult with your doctor before attempting any new training regime. Give it a go and you could be surprised with the results.

Metabolic Training - Stop Doing Ineffective Cardio

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Getting Emergency Unemployment Compensation and Extended Benefits in Illinois

Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) provides more unemployment benefits to citizens who used up all their state benefits. People in Illinois could get up to 53 more weeks of benefits.

People who have worked for 20 weeks before unemployment may be eligible for 20 more weeks of benefits with the Extended Benefits (EB) program. Once your regular state unemployment benefits run out, you can get Emergency Unemployment Compensation. Moreover, it can also happen if your benefit year expired. You must also be legally allowed to work in the United States.

Reference And Education

The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) will mail you a letter if you are suitable. In case, you still collect normal UI benefits from Illinois, they will guide you how to apply. If your benefit year has ended, they will let know how to file a new claim. If you want any further information, you should make contact with your local IDES office.

Getting Emergency Unemployment Compensation and Extended Benefits in Illinois

After filing for the extended benefits program, you will get the same weekly amount as you used to get before. If you receive benefits by debit card or direct deposit, you are likely to get the first payment within two days of certification. It could take longer, if you get your benefits by check.

If you run out of your benefits before Emergency Unemployment Compensation starts, the Illinois Department of Employment Security will go back 3 years to check if you are eligible. You might still be eligible if your benefits ran out after May, 2007 and if you did not get Emergency Unemployment Compensation right away.

The EUC provides up to 53 weeks of extended benefits. IDES will check your eligibility for extended benefits and even you have not used all 20 weeks within January 7, 2012, the benefits will stop. You will have to report the same information to Illinois Department of Employment Security as needed by your old UI benefits.

If you are presently on unemployment and your compensation is exhausting, be sure to file for an unemployment extension for the state of Illinois.

About the State:

Illinois is situated in the Midwest Region of the United States and is one among the nine states and Canadian Province of Ontario in the bi-national Great Lakes region of North America. Illinois is the 25th most extensive and the 5th most populous of the 50 United States. It is well-known as a microcosm of the entire country. Illinois is the most populous state in the Midwest region and The United States Census Bureau estimates that the population of Illinois was 12, 869,257 on July 1, 2011, a 0.3 percent increase since the 2010 United States Census.

Getting Emergency Unemployment Compensation and Extended Benefits in Illinois

Rajesh Sarma writes about filing unemployment. Check his latest article on Illinois Unemployment Benefits guide

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