What is it Like to Attend Texas Christian University

What is it Like to Attend Texas Christian University The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. Zachary is a 2013 graduate of Texas Christian University and holds a Bachelors degree in Film Studies and German Language. He is an Austin tutor specializing in Literature tutoring, Writing tutoringand all levels of German tutoring. See what he had to say about his alma mater: VT: Describe the campus setting and transportation options.How urban or safe is the campus?Are there buses or do you need a car/bike? Zachary: The campus itself is extremely beautiful and easily walkable. Its fairly insulated from the rest of the city, although it is near one street thats been known to be questionable at night. Even so, the campus itself is very safe; it has plenty of security, with outdoor stations to call for help well dispersed throughout. There are buses, which are relatively reliable, and the campus itself is easily walkable. VT: How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Zachary: This was probably my schools best point; there were always multiple professors, advisors, and tutors immediately available for any student for a whole host of subjects. In my experience, I found all of them to be extremely friendly, welcoming, and easy to talk to. I was able to foster friendships with many of my professors, and was comfortable enough to stop by their offices just to say hello. VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Zachary: The dorms are very nice and are constantly being renovated. The student union, where students may dine with their meal plans, is generally passable, but not particularly exciting most of the time. TCU does go out of its way to provide opportunities to socialize with other students and there are tons of clubs and events to get involved with. VT: Which majors/programs are best represented and supported?What did you study and why? Did the university do a good job supporting your particular area of study? Zachary: The Business School is one of the most supported areas of study, but many of the others were also very well represented. My particular fields of study (German and Film) were really well supported and provided a lot of opportunities for outside work and internships, as well as fantastic professors. VT: How easy or difficult was it for you to meet people and make friends as a freshman? Does Greek life play a significant role in the campus social life? Zachary: I found it very easy to make friends as a freshman; the university provides nearly constant opportunities for socializing with other students and fostering new connections and friendships. Greek life is a pretty major part of the campus culture, but one can pretty easily find good groups of friends outside of that particular setting. VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Zachary: I didnt personally make much use of the Career Center, but from my experiences with it, I found them to provide a lot of good advice as well as a wide array of services including resum and cover letter review, mock interviews, and internship connections. Im not personally very familiar with the companies that recruit on campus. I do know that a couple of very good production houses worked closely with the Film department, and many students would move on to work with them upon graduation. VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Zachary: Most of the dorms have some kind of study area inside. In my experience, they were usually easily available and very well put together, spacious, and especially good for group study. The library has a lot of study space as well, but does get extremely crowded during midterms and finals. Luckily, there are many other available locations for studying in almost all of the buildings that see very little use, and therefore are pretty much always available. VT: Describe the surrounding town. What kinds of outside establishments / things to do are there that make it fun, boring, or somewhere in between?To what extent do students go to the downtown area of the city versus staying near campus? Zachary: At first, Fort Worth seems like a fairly uninteresting city, but the more time I spent in it, the more and more fun things I found to do. By the end of my study, I was pretty sad to leave. Theres a fantastic zoo right by campus, as well as the Stockyards and Billy Bobs, a popular spot to two-step. Magnolia Street is filled with great restaurants and shops, and hosts awesome festivals. There are also food truck parks, the botanical gardens, and a few fantastic museums (especially the Museum of Modern Art). Students usually go out into the town several nights a week. VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Zachary: I would say the student body is medium-sized. There were very few classes with more than 20 or so students, and those were generally the required freshman courses. Otherwise, many of my classes were anywhere from 8 to 15 students, which worked out fantastically in terms of engaging with the professor. Most professors used the small class sizes as an opportunity to make the classes more collaborative, which generally worked very well. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Zachary: One of the best experiences I had was when I approached the department about putting together my own academic research project for class credit. Not only did I already feel comfortable enough with the department to be able to ask in the first place, but I ended up working closely with the Dean of the College of Communications. He really took me under his wing in terms of teaching me basic approaches and methods of academic research and writing, and we developed a friendship through working together. To me, this experience epitomizes the best of what TCU has to offer: extremely intelligent, skilled professors who are also extremely accessible, helpful, and welcoming. The opportunities for developing yourself not just intellectually, but as a human being with the help of the incredible faculty are immense. Check out Zacharys tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

The Enduring Appeal of French Cinema

The Enduring Appeal of French Cinema Discover the Mystique of French Cinema ChaptersThe Ten Most Famous French ActorsThe Ten Best French FilmsThe History of French CinemaAre the French Obsessed with Film?Who doesn't like watching a good film: curled up on the sofa on a rainy afternoon, or perhaps one might still recall what an occasion going to a theater was, in the days gone by?Even today, with the smell of popcorn wafting through the lobby and enticing posters hung about, the lure of escape into another world or time, if only for a while, is a pastime most of us regularly indulge in.But do we give any thought to how that form of entertainment came about? The long history of cinema and the arduous journey it has endured, to provide us with the glamour, the pathos, the thrills and the laughs that play out on the silver screen?And why is French cinema particularly alluring?Here we talk about French masterpieces and the stars that bring them to life, the visionaries that convey their imaginary worlds into something meant for the world to see, and the spectator s who relish the performances.Alain Delon was a considered France's greatest sex symbol at the height of his fame! Source: Wikipedia Credit: Stefan Kragujeviccelebrities.Also, a fake Twitter account was established in his name, which his publicist was quick to refute: the real David Tennant â€" ironically enough, what the account called itself, abhors the platform and would never establish an account!Such outrageous actions against popular personalities is a sign of the times: we so crave the latest heartbeat of the people we idolise that we will go to any lengths for a piece of him/her.Obviously, such manic behaviour is everywhere; perhaps not exhibited by the fans themselves, but certainly by David press photographers who feed the fans what they crave.We only need to think of Lady Diana's tragic, untimely demise on the streets of Paris to realise that such predatory behaviour exists, even in the ultra-civilised City of Light!Thus we conclude that it must be a person of amazing for titude to undertake a career in the public eye.Furthermore, said persons must be extraordinarily talented, and must possess a mystic appeal in order to garner legions of loyal fans.France has plenty such luminaries. Find out about the most famous French actors.The Leading Men of FranceGerard Depardieu has certainly proved his acting chops over the 54 years he's been in the business!He started his career at the tag end of the French New Wave, gaining international stardom for his role in Jean de Florette, and rode that fame through the title role in Cyrano de Bergerac.He also had the great fortune of working with the illustrious François Truffaut, early in his career, playing opposite of Catherine Deneuve in The Last Metro.Daniel Auteuil played alongside M. Depardieu in Jean de Florette, as well as starring in its sequel, Manon des Sources, roles which made him one of the most highly acclaimed, and highly paid actors in France.His acting style is so fluid, he is equally comfortable doing comedy and thrillers.He was once linked to Manon co-star Emmanuelle Béart; with whom he has a daughter. His other daughter, Aurore, is an actress in her own right.Alain Delon was considered a sex symbol in his early career; he too being of the New Wave.He shot to fame in France, starring in the comedy Women are Weak, otherwise known as Three Murderesses. His acclaim dawned on the international stage when he portrayed Tom Ripley in Purple Noon.In the spirit of striking while the iron is hot, he dropped in on Hollywood to make a few films of only moderate success. His return to France saw him showered with accolades, and he grew more popular than ever.Albert Remy's short-lived career is nevertheless remarkable for the number of films he features in, as well as playing in some of France's best known stories: 400 Blows, and Is Paris Burning?, to name just two.In the twenty three years he spent in front of the camera, he appeared in 98 works, some of them destined for television.Y ves Montand has the distinction of having been discovered and mentored as a performer by Edith Piaf. She incorporated him into her act after having seen him sing in a music hall.Indeed, M. Montand is billed both as a singer and actor, and he is most renown for films that required his vocal talents.Late in his career, he was tapped to lead Jean de Florettes and its sequel as the scheming uncle. He also made a number of American films, most notably Let's Make Love, alongside Marylin Monroe.Although he had many well-publicised actual love affairs, most notably an alliance with Ms. Monroe, he stayed married to Simone Signoret, the German-born French actress who was the first to win an American academy award, until her death.The Ladies of French FilmBrigitte Bardot is sadly more famous for her pouty lips and long blond tresses than she is for any of her acting.She worked under the direction of some of the best names in French cinema, such as Roger Vadim and Jean-Luc Godard.She retired fr om filmmaking at the height of her career, after only 21 years in front of the camera. Since then, she has devoted her life to activism, having been charged several times with inciting racial hatred.Oddly enough, she bills herself as an animal rights activist, but her hate theme is directed at humans that don't necessarily mistreat animals!Compared to B.B. - as Miss Bardot is also known, Audrey Tautou has a squeaky clean image.Audrey gave her breakout performance in the delightful romantic comedy Amelie, and since then has sampled nearly every genre, from intrigue (The Da Vinci Code) to drama (A Very Long Engagement).Although Ms. Tautou has made English language films, she insists that she is fundamentally a French actress and, as opposed to many others who seek greater international distribution of their work through American channels, she intends to remain firmly rooted in France.Lucky France!Parisian actress Isabelle Huppert is the most nominated actress for the Cesar award; Fran ce's equivalent to America's academy awards.She is also the most nominated actress for the Molière award, which celebrates excellence on stage.Indeed, she has been most prolific, turning out more than 110 films during her nearly 50 year career, and taking her place in the theatre for no fewer than 25 plays.British film critic David Thomson avers she must be one of the world's most accomplished actresses.He then goes on to rate her performances as rather limp next to those of Isabelle Adjani.Marion Cotillard is the latest French actress to earn an American academy award, for her portrayal of France's most famous songbird in La Vie en Rose.Named the most bankable French actress of the 21st Century, she has no issue with crossing the ocean and reporting on the Hollywood sound stage for any role she might find particularly suited to her.Her latest effort, Allied, allegedly played a role in Brad Pitt's recent divorce!That movie was not her first war film; she also played alongside Mlle. Tautou in A Very Long Engagement.No list of great French actresses would be complete without the scintillating Danielle Darrieux.In a career that spanned over 80 years, Danielle Darrieux has covered every genre and every medium: stage, television and film.As though that weren't enough, she also sang and danced. In fact, that is how she got her big break: her first film was Meyerling, shot in 1936.Known as one of the greatest French actresses of all time, her dedication and commitment to her craft had her accepting roles at the ripe young age of 93.With that kind of work ethic, it is no wonder directors were eager to hire her for their next picture!The Ten Best French FilmsMore than anything, French movies reflect French culture, in all of its greatness and with all of its pitfalls.Whereas Hollywood blockbusters tend to follow a certain formula according to genre, French cinema tells a story and lets the audience work things out for themselves.Even within the same broad category, th ose stories do not follow predictable lines!Take for example two of Audrey Tautou's romantic works: Amelie and A Very Long Engagement.The first is humorous and whimsical; the second poignant and pointed â€" who would expect profound social commentary to underpin a story of undying love?Those realisations beg the question: should we gauge French films for their technical aspects, their performances, their emotional or social impact? All of the above?None of the above???Bearing in mind that no two people like the exact same thing for the exact same reasons, we propose this list of must-see French movies.NOTE: these are in addition to the ones already mentioned in this text!The Umbrellas of Cherbourg a romantic musical directed by Jacques DemyIntouchables: a dramedy of friendship and disabilityThe Rules of the Game: Jean Renoir's satirical commentary of social class in FranceBreathless: a gangster wannabe ponders the value of lifeHiroshima mon Amour: a dialogue between a French woman a nd a Japanese manBlue is the Warmest Color: a coming of age drama, with a twistLa Haine: three youths struggle to find their place in lifeThe Chorus: the choir director reaches out to troubled young boysJules et Jim: a romance drama describing the choices a love triangle facesThe Double Life of Veronique explores the identity and complexity of a woman's lifePlease bear in mind that it was exceedingly difficult to select only ten films out of the vast landscape of French cinema offerings, past and present.Do you have any favourites you might add to this list?By the time Buster Keaton made it big, French and American studios were in a tight race Source: Pixabay Credit: PerlinatorThe History of French CinemaIt is quite unfortunate that the French film industry faces a conundrum of epic proportions.As the French export only a fraction of their films each year, how can they hope to compete with Hollywood or Hong Kong fare, both of which have much higher international profiles and a great er number of loyal followers?Obviously, if they released more titles to the international market, they would have more of an audience share, wouldn't they?You will be so surprised to learn the reasons why this is not happening...Let's take a look at the history of French cinema.For one, it is a little known fact that, in order to repay France's debt to the American liberators after WWII, they were obliged to screen more American movies than French ones.Movie goers were all for that, and for about a decade, enjoyed stories that were not quintessentially French.Somewhere in the mid-fifties, artists and visionaries grew frustrated at the idea that audiences were ingesting so much pablum â€" nothing with substance, and certainly nothing to do with French people or French culture.The greatest visionaries in modern cinema gathered around an ethos â€" a philosophy that embraced the idea of a film being the direct product of one person's vision: the director.They also rejected what had till then been considered standard fare in France film making: literary and period pieces that represented a long-gone France.Robert Bresson was one of the directors that championed the biggest evolution in French cinema: La Nouvelle Vague â€" the New Wave.French filmmaker Jean-Luc Godard, perhaps one of the best known directors of that movement, proclaimed that M. Bresson WAS the movement.Robert Bresson is French cinema as Dostoyevski is the Russian novel and Mozart is German music â€" Jean-Luc Godard.From that time on, French films concerned themselves more with realism and telling quality stories rather than the quality of filming, meaning the technical aspects of movie making.Even today, the 200+ films turned out yearly by France's cinematic greats embrace, at least to some extent, the auteur theory of storytelling.What happened before the mid- 1950s?The Dark EraObviously, one needs light to create or view film, otherwise even the greatest story captured on celluloid (or digital, th ese days) would be just so much crinkly plastic (or bits and bytes).Thus you can safely assume that this period of the film industry â€" and all of Europe refers to World War II.With everything rationed including electricity, few studios had the wherewithal to produce films at that time.Nevertheless, oppressors and civilians alike demanded entertainment, so a few screen gems were turned out.Not surprisingly, quite a few of them were comedies, such as Paris - New York and Tobias is an Angel.In the year after cessation of hostilities, what has been called the most influential film of all time was realised in spite of the rationing and harsh conditions.Have you ever seen Beauty and the Beast?Jean Cocteau's original masterpiece starred  Jean Marais as the Beast and Josette Day as Beauty.Since then, the story has been retold no fewer than 13 times: as live action, animation, television series, spoofs and satire.Not too bad a run for a narrative written more than 300 years ago, is it?It w as French film maker Alice Guy who invented the concept of film narrative while working in the studio of Leon Gaumont.Mr. Gaumont, at the time a partner of Gustav Eiffel, took over the running of what was at the time a photography supply business, and jumped directly onto the movie making bandwagon.Together, M. Gaumont, with Alice Guy as the world's first female director, went on to become one of the major players in the French film industry.Not only was Mlle Guy a pioneer of the film world, but she was also the first to experiment with interracial themes, sound effects, and film colouring.Before leaving for America and eventually setting up Solax studios in New Jersey â€" the original film capital of America, she was one of the fortunate few who attended the Lumiere brothers' event, in 1895.March 22nd of that year saw the first demonstration of film projection, making France the ultimate pioneer in the industry of motion pictures.Although Louis Lumiere intended for colour photograp hy film to be the highlight of the show, he was a bit put off by his audience's rapt attention to the black and white moving picture.The first film officially screened to a paid audience of 200 people included their very first film effort titled Workers Leaving the Lumiere Factory, a 46 second clip that showed nothing more than workers leaving their factory.Exciting, no?Indeed it was! Not only was this cinematic first step a marvel of technology in itself, but it also declared the clear winner in the race to making the first motion picture.As tremulous as the French were that the honour would go to the Yanks, the Lumiere brothers managed the feat several months ahead of Thomas Edison, to be forever immortalised as the Fathers of Cinema.That still doesn't explain why there aren't more French movies with English subtitles floating out there, but it certainly explains the French people's savage pride in their film industry, doesn't it?The reason why we don't see more French films relea sed to the international market is because digital distribution is wreaking havoc on foreign films in theaters and on the telly.Because we can stream pretty much anything these days, with or without a membership to any site, what is the point of going to see an art house film and paying the high price for that admittedly highly cultural fare?It seems the French are quite happy reserving their best cinematic screening for their population, at their own box office.Does that make them unusually proud of their French language films?Do the French really crowd into the cinema for the latest Jean Dujardin film? Source: Pixabay Credit: Free-FotosAre the French Obsessed with Film?The annual French film festival at Cannes invites a multinational jury to appraise submissions and award prizes, including â€" especially!, its famed Palme D'or.Every year, a variety of films showcasing the best from assorted nations make the cut, winning best actress, best actor; best screenplay and film of the yea r â€" that coveted golden palm.For a film industry event this celebrated, happening on French soil, you might be tempted to think that French directors and actors might saturate the event, and that French stories would trump other countries' contributions.Nothing could be further from the truth.In fact, relatively few submissions and even fewer wins are attributed to the French film industry.To be sure, French actors go there; the event is held on the French Riviera, after all, and the glamour and publicity cannot be denied.But is the event shrouded in hubris? Do the French host that international film festival because their particular brand of storytelling deserves the most merit?Not at all, to listen to the French tell it.The Cannes film festival got its start in 1946, when spirits were low and the industry was flagging; and it was meant to celebrate film as an art form.It was also meant to compete with the Venice film festival, but did that so well that the Cannes ado had to be m oved to the spring, because the Venice affair took place in the fall and prospective attendees could not be in two places at one time.So, if the French view films of all sorts, from documentary to thriller so diplomatically, why is it that they give the impression of being mad for movies?The French view motion pictures as the seventh art, on par with dance, music, sculpture, painting, architecture and poetry.As these media are fundamental expressions of a culture, by extension, the French people hold that cinema is yet another representation of French culture and history.Just as Great Britain promulgated the English language throughout the world, a feat we have the right to stake pride in, the French have every right to claim movie making as a part of their national heritage.Thus we can see that it is not the films themselves that the French are so vainglorious of but the fact that they established a further artistic medium through which to tell stories, and have freely given it to the world!If you're looking to improve your French, why not consider a tutor. Searching for French classes London  produces the most results on Superprof.

Seek First to Understand... - Heart Math Tutoring

Seek First to Understand... - Heart Math Tutoring Seek First to Understand Seek First to Understand November 29, 2018 Seek First to Understand… InStephen Coveys“The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People”, Habit #5 is Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood. Heart Tutorings Program team recently spent the weekly training time seeking to understand more about our students, most of whom are growing up in various levels of poverty. “Locate a resilient kid and you will also find a caring adultâ€"or severalâ€"who has guided them.”- Invincible Kids, U.S. News World Report “School is the single context within which the combination of skill and relationship development occurs on a regular basis.”- Adolescents at School, Sadowski, 2008 We discussed the quotes above and the role relationships play in learning and the importance of the one-on-one relationships Heart volunteers create. Deposits and Withdrawals Drawing from Ruby Paynes book, “A Framework for Understanding Poverty”, we talked about the long-term impact of relationships. It is critical that those relationships are built on emotional deposits and that emotional withdrawals are avoided. Deposits include seeking first to understand, keeping promises, kindness, courtesies, clarifying expectations, apologies, and openness to feedback. Withdrawals would include seeking first to be understood, unkindness, violating expectations, and rejecting feedback. Heart Tutoring volunteers have plenty of opportunities to make deposits in our students! Every day, we see tutors thanking students for working with them (courtesies), explaining changes in schedule (clarifying expectations), showing up as promised, and taking interest in our students’ day/week/life (kindness). Final Thought: Relationships Count When students who have been in poverty (and have successfully made it into the middle class) are asked how they madethe journey, the answer nine times out of ten has to do with a relationshipâ€"teacher, counselor, or coach who made a suggestion or took an interest in them as individuals.” Excerpt from A Framework for Understanding Poverty by Ruby Payne, 2005

High School Tips 22 Best Tips for High School - Private Tutoring

High School Tips 22 Best Tips for High School Anna L Aug 21, 2018 Find a Top Rated High School Tutor Near You! It's Simple and Secure - Get Real Results Fast. Find Expert Private Tutors at Reasonable Rates Today! InPerson or Online Online InPerson Its not surprising that both parents and students alike look for some of the best high school tips prior to starting out or even as sophomores! High school should be a time of fun and learning, but sometimes the pressure to succeed academically can be all too much. Our goal here is to help those who feel they need a little helping hand to achieve what they are capable of in an educational capacity. These 22 high school tips are easily implemented to ensure a stress-free and successful high school experience. High School Tips To Do at Home Sleep Getting enough rest is vital to success. When you are well rested you are more able to concentrate, which is useful in class as well as when studying. Try going to bed at the same time each night in order to get maximum rest. Make sure your bedroom is clean and tidy, and don’t use your bed as a study space â€" study at a desk and keep your bed for sleeping only! Don’t Multitask It might seem like a good idea to work on several tasks at once, after all, you’re getting more done, right? Wrong. It is best to focus on one task at a time and see it through to completion, or at least for your entire allocated study session. That means no phones, television or other distractions! You’ll be surprised at how much faster you can work when focusing on single tasks â€" leaving plenty of time for all your other activities! Get Organized This is probably the most common piece of advice for every student, but why is it so important? Being aware of your time, and what you can do with it, will help ensure you have enough time to complete assignments and prepare for exams. Create a Positive Study Space Studying on the sofa in front of the television is not the most effective place to study. To make your homework and study sessions the most productive, create a calming and productive study space. Ideally this space would be away from distractions such as the television, and kept clean and tidy. Try allocating a space in your bedroom for a desk and a place to display your homework and study schedule, keep all your necessary equipment such as pens, paper, and highlighters in the desk so you have no excuse to leave your space for the duration of your study session. Do Your Homework This one seems obvious. Teachers set homework for a reason â€" to help your learning, leading to academic success. Not only are you consolidating what have learned in class, but you are preparing yourself for exams as well as developing positive, independent study habits. Eat Well Snacking on sugary drinks, chips and candy will not help you learn! A sugar high will quickly be followed by a sugar low, leaving you lethargic and unable to concentrate. Instead, maintain a balanced diet for brain development and energy. Ensure you eat a range of fresh fruit and vegetables, with plenty of protein. The odd late night coffee and snacks won’t do you too much damage, but keep it minimal. Manage Your Time Don’t leave assignments and test preparation until the last minute! When you are given a task, write it in your diary or calendar as well as regular reminders. Break assignments into manageable chunks and tackle them well before the due date. Always allocate yourself more time than you think â€" any leftover can be spent on other tasks, or even having fun! You Might Also Enjoy: Study Tips: 25 Study Tips You Need Now Have Fun! High school should be enjoyable. Sure, academic success is crucial, but if you spend all your time studying you risk burning out or dealing with excessive stress. Make sure you leave some time to hang out with your friends, play sport, go to concerts, or do whatever it is you love! When you settle into you study or homework session, you will be refreshed and able to focus on the task at hand. Individualize Your Study Plan Each student is different â€" different strengths, weaknesses, interests, goals and ambitions. Your study calendar should take your personal academic goals into consideration and work around any other commitments you have such as sport or employment. By doing this, you are sure to have enough time to tackle your academic tasks and are more likely to achieve your own personal goals. Get Tutoring Seeking help from a professional will ensure any issues you have will be eliminated. A tutor will work closely with you and tailor-make sessions to suit your individual academic needs. The one-on-one time is invaluable and will help keep your academic goals in check. While many can go it on their own, it can make a semester more challenging. Plus, if you do start falling behind or not understanding as well as you need to, it becomes doubly difficult to play catch up for the semester! Prioritize Each week, rank each task and assignment in order of importance to make sure everything gets done. It can be easy to fall into the trap of studying your favorite subjects first, but this often means the subjects you struggle with are left until last, creating a vicious cycle. Try tackling the tricky subjects first in order to make sure you fully understand the content so you can ace exams!   Theres a TON of information out there about starting with whats most difficult so that you get a sense of accomplishment and then the rest of your day goes more easily. Seek Help There is no shame in asking for help. Whether it is help with understanding content taught in class, asking a sibling to do your chores so you can complete an assignment or asking your parents to quiz you before a test. You’ll be surprised at how willing people are to help you when you really need it.   Its also one of the best ways to prepare for tests and exams as well. Learn to Say ‘NO’ Taking on too much can be detrimental to your academic success. Be selective when it comes to extra-curricular, sporting and social activities. They are important, but you can’t be involved in everything. Choose what you enjoy most and focus on them and your studies. Don’t be afraid to turn down small opportunities, especially those that don’t really have an impact on your future. High School Tips What You Can Do at School Set a Schedule Using a schedule will help you keep on top of all your tasks, including the many assignments that you are bound to have! Create a rough plan for each semester and a more specific schedule on a weekly basis. Be sure to include your regular commitments and then prioritize your schoolwork. Check your schedule regularly in order to remain focused on and track! Check in with Your Career or Guidance Counselor These people are an untapped resource when it comes to academic success. Speak with them about subject and grade requirements to help you focus on the most important aspect of your studies. By channeling your time and energy to where you need it most, you are bound to hit academic success! Choose the Right Classes Know your strengths and weaknesses! Don’t take classes that you know you will find incredibly difficult. By taking classes that you enjoy and know you can succeed it, your results will be more than pleasing! Accept Criticism Teachers will occasionally give you feedback that you won’t want to hear. Instead of getting upset and disheartened, dont take it too personally â€" they are saying it to help you! Focus on what was said and take steps to make positive changes, you’ll soon reap the rewards! Ask Questions The only way to be certain of information is to clarify it with your teacher. If you are too embarrassed to ask a question in class, speak to your teacher privately, they’ll be more than happy to help. However, it is important to remember that there are no silly questions, and any questions you have will probably be on the minds of other students too, so you’ll be helping others as well. Maintain Good Attendance Succeeding academically is so much easier to do when you actually attend class! Simply by showing up on time and prepared, you are setting yourself up for passing. Even if you are feeling slightly unwell or tired, show up and do your best â€" your success depends on it! Form a Study Group Working with other like-minded people will do wonders for your learning. As a small group, you can learn from each other, discuss key points and keep each other motivated. For best results, make sure your group meets somewhere free from distractions and remains on task throughout the session. Connect to Your School Community While you don’t want to take on too many extra-curricular activities, networking and forming positive relationships can be beneficial to your academic performance. Learn from students older than you, make yourself known to teachers, and take on leadership roles to help make high school the most successful experience possible. Set Goals This is one of the best high school tips that you can really take action on! Decide exactly what you want to achieve and write it down. Think about the steps required to reach your goals and write them down as well. Having goals (and mini goals) will help keep everything else on track ensuring the ultimate academic success! With these 22 tips for high school, you can breathe a bit easier and know that you have many of the areas covered.   Its an exciting four years that are loaded with many opportunities, exciting challenges and new beginnings.   Its up to you how and what you do with this time and these high school tips. We can help you find the best private tutor near you! It’s simple and secure â€" Get real results fast. Your first hour with any tutor is protected by our Good Fit Guarantee: You don't pay for tutoring unless you find a good fit. Choose Your Subject â€" Add Your Zip Code â€" Find Top Rated Tutors Starting Today! InPerson or Online Online InPerson

Digital Literacy QA with Detra Price-Dennis of Teachers College, Columbia University [Video]

Digital Literacy QA with Detra Price-Dennis of Teachers College, Columbia University [Video] Among the most critical skills of our age are those competencies we need to fully participate in an increasingly digital world - otherwise known as digital literacy. But what exactly is digital literacy, as it relates to the classroom? How can digital tools and technologies help us, as educators, teach our students more effectively? Are the digital natives in our classroom automatically more adept at using technology? What will our classrooms even look like in 50 years time? hbspt.cta.load(2736097, 'ef0a4837-9304-48be-aafc-3d5a918dbd71', {}); Wondering what the answers to these burning digital literacy questions are? Us too! We’ve talked before about the importance of preparing your students for the digital age, why international schools are so eager to hire digitally literate teachers - we’ve even covered how to teach your students to spot fake newsand how digital skillsdifferfrom digital literacy. But we wanted to get back to some of the basics of why imparting the right digital literacy skills to your students is so fundamentally important. That’s why we recently sat down with Detra Price-Dennis, Assistant Professor of Education at Teachers College, Columbia University, an award-winning educator and the creator of Digital Learning in the K-8 Classroom, for an insightful QA session about all things digital literacy. Check out the quick, info-packed videos below! hbspt.cta.load(2736097, '100ac35f-2b2c-4aec-afe4-7329d6c83c32', {}); What is digital literacy? How can technology help teachers reach students more effectively? Do digital natives intuitively know how to use technology in the classroom? What will our classrooms look like in 50 years time? hbspt.cta.load(2736097, '6165bdcf-e376-4b76-ae85-d3128057bdd1', {});

English Language GCSE may be scrapped - Tutor Hunt Blog

English Language GCSE may be scrapped English Language GCSE may be scrapped to help the forgotten third of teenagers disheartened by its difficulties English Language GCSE may be scrapped to help the forgotten third of teenagers disheartened by its difficultiesSecondary SchoolsOver the last few years many subjects have been removed from the curriculum. The introduction of the new T level`s this September have effectively replaced around 13,000 technical qualifications at level 3, and many schools have ceased to offer more `esoteric` subjects, such has philosophy and psychology. There are though calls for a rather more mainstream subject to scrapped, with suggestions that English Language GCSE should be removed, in order to `end the misery` that classifies more than a third of 16 year old pupils as failures. There are some subjects I can understand being withdrawn from the school curriculum - philosophy and psychology are still offered at university for those pupils passionate about studying them - but I never thought I would see they day though when English Language was called to be removed from the classroom. When I first heard of this proposal I believed it to have been some kind of `twitter storm` or Facebook viral event, something put in motion by a disparate mass of people, using technology I couldn`t understand. When I read however that it was a headteachers union suggesting this course of action I was astounded. Their reasoning seems to be that an excessive number of pupils are being disheartened by the English Language GCSE course, and that it`s `not fit for purpose` because it focusses on literary analysis, rather than more relevant and contemporary features of the subject. My own analysis of this is a large number of pupils are finding the books they are studying to be overly difficult. If this is the case then the quality of their education up to this point must be questioned - but what a retrograde step it would be, to restrict the study of great literature because it is too difficult. Roy Blatchford, chair of the Forgotten Third Commission is adamant that the current GCSE english language course is at fault, saying `It cannot be right or sensible that we continue to operate a system that is designed to `fail` one-third of young people every year in order for two-thirds to succeed` `The third who we consign to this fate are left utterly dejected and with reduced chances for progression in education and careers.` The proposed solution is to replace GCSE English with a `passport in English.` This qualification, devised by the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), will apparently be of a more practical nature, focusing on skills required by employers. My concern is that if pupils are finding it difficult to read and study the assigned literature, then there must be a problem with their English education prior to this point. It is of course upsetting to learn that many 16 years olds are `disheartened` by the trials of academia; but it would not be wise to assuage their despondency by removing obstacles and simplifying their studies. To do that would be to diminish their education. By making examinations and courses easier for pupils we may be making their studies less onerous in the short term, but this will not help them face hardships and challenges later in life. They will still have to face the exigencies of the jobs market. I can`t imagine any company will drastically alter their work routine to accommodate an individual employee`s limitations. They will be more likely to simply look for another candidate who is up to the task. This `passport in English` qualification is proposed to be taken by students when they are ready, at any time between the ages of 15 and 19. It seems students will also be able to break up the examination into more palatable chunks, allowing them to build up their marks over a long period. The headteachers` union have said English Language GCSE is `not fit for purpose` because it focuses on literary analysis rather than `contemporary English` - but to suggest literary analysis, the reading of English itself, is anything but a core component of the subject, seems to me very much mistaken. If it is the case that a third of 16 year olds are failing to attain a grade C in English, then there is indeed a problem; but the solution to this problem cannot be modifying the exam, claiming a grading system that has been in place since 1988 is suddenly `not fit for purpose.` 5 months ago0Add a Comment

Graduation Not For The 20%

Graduation Not For The 20% For the past several years we as a nation have seen the lowest graduation rates in a decade. The interest of blame has been presented to the American public in the areas of unqualified teachers and even a technological society that pushes student’s attention from education. No matter the true cause, graduation rates are low. Legislation such as No Child Left Behind was created to help bolster the potential for students to graduate. That act had its first graduating class in 2005 and the nation reported just below 80%. In the few years after that great success, the national average fell below 75%. In the past few years teacher moral is at its lowest point and students are continuing to slip. With new statistics about education coming in each day, our educational system has become an increasing concern. Currently, the national average is eight out of every ten children will graduate from high school. Unfortunately schools have taken comfort with this rate and that number has been consistent for several years now. Schools believe that the closer to 80% they get, it’s a success. But what about those two out of ten that don’t make it? Where are they? I have spent many years looking at our local educational system and what we can do to improve it. The cold hard fact is that getting all students to succeed is difficult. Schools simply cannot afford to help those few that fall behind. Special programs and even special schools implement programs to try and close that 20% gap. I’m sure most of you have noticed lately that our states struggle with funding public schools. To me this means that those students that should be helped definitely won’t be helped with lack of funding. As with any call to action we must start small. This means dedicating time to some of those youth that the system may have forgotten about. I can honestly say that if someone were to dedicate one hour a week to help tutor or mentor a struggling youth that they would have a nearly perfect chance to succeed. Many times it takes listening to someone who is struggling for the student to figure out what path to be on. I have had the pleasure to work with youth that struggle in school for many years. What I have found more times than not is that they are simply confused about school or life or perhaps the future. Often these students are very smart and capable, but they have not had anyone ask to help. So to help continue to extinguish this problem we need to simply dedicate the time to ask “what can I do to help?”.