A Piano May Not Cost as Much as You Thought.

A Piano May Not Cost as Much as You Thought. Buying a Piano is a Financial and Personal Investment. Chapters Electric Pianos: How Much Should I Expect to Pay?Acoustic Pianos: How Much Will it Cost Me?Some Piano Brands to Consider.Should I Buy a Used Piano?  The Cost of a Piano: What Else Should You Consider? So is a Piano Really that Costly?Just as you can’t take playing the piano lightly, you have to take buying a new piano or used pianos seriously. Whether it’s before, during, or even after learning to play it.There are lots of piano brands. Do you know the difference between Kawai piano and a Steinway Sons piano? Could you even tell me where your nearest piano dealer is? If not, don't worry. Superprof is here to help!What you should know is that buying this kind of musical instrument is an investment. A long-term investment.While you can always consider how much money and how much time you’ll need to invest, the decision isn’t always that simple.Let’s reconsider the main question. “How much does a piano cost?”In this case we don't just mean money: we're going to c onsider every expenditure. Sure, considering all the elements as “costs” may seem a bit negative, but you’ll soon see that this isn’t really the case.Find out how the piano is a complete instrument in itself.Amazon. Whilst these aren't going to be the best keyboard you are ever going to play, but those who are not yet fully committed to piano playing might find them great options to start off with. They often come in starter packs that include headphones, a keyboard stand, a music stand, and a stool - so that you don't have to mess about getting all the other things you need to get going.If you want something a little more robust, you can go for a more credible beginner option - from a recognisable brand (you can see more on this below). These will set you back by between one hundred and four hundred quid.  But the benefits of these are substantial: they will be set up to mimic the effect of acoustic pianos - in the weight of their keys and in their sound - and they will not be at such a risk of technical faults. But you'll also have the added benefit of not having to pay for piano moving or for a piano technician.At the high end, you will find models designed to replicate the acoustic piano sound almost identically. They will have properly weighted keys so it feels like you are playing an acoustic piano too.  This combination of sound and feel is what primarily determines the price of an electric piano.  But  they will also come with different features, including USB ports, portability, and recording features. For these, you are looking at between a thousand pounds and five thousand.  Honestly, not recommended for the beginner.Let's Have a Look at Some Models.Here are three models, from each price range, to give you a sense of what's involved.Budget: RockJam RJ661 - £99The RockJam RJ661 has sixty-one keys (a full-size piano has eighty-eight), which is designed to make it compact and manageable for the beginner. This model comes with a stool, a stand, and headphones - and there are over a hundred different sounds, backing tracks, and demo songs to play with. At £99 it is a popular beginner option.Mid-Range: Yamaha P-45 Stage Piano Bundle - £375At the higher end of the mid-range is the Yamaha P-45, which has the full eighty-eight keys and a much more sophisticated sound engine - designed to really sound like you are playing the real thing. On an acoustic piano, the bass keys are heavier (as the strings that the hammers strike are thicker), and this model replicates that effect. Why does that matter? Because your technique will improve by playing on an authentic-feeling instrument. This is £375 - perfect for the committed amateur.High End: Casio GP300 - £1859This electric piano is from a really reliable piano brand, in association with C. Bechstein - one of the most famous manufacturers of acoustic pianos. It comes with six speakers - designed to replicate the full sound of a grand - and the three foot pedals that are usually lacking from electric keyboards. At £1859, this one's more for professionals or serious students of music.It would be a good idea to know how big a piano is before buying one...Acoustic Pianos: How Much Will it Cost Me?It's not worth beating about the bush - buying an upright piano or a grand piano when you’re just starting out seems highly ambitious. So, if you're thinking about buying your very first piano, buying an upright or a grand probably isn't an option even to consider.Nonetheless, let's have a look at what they are all about.The Benefits of the AcousticIf they are so expensive, why would anyone bother buying an acoustic piano? Here are some of the benefits.They look absolutely gorgeous. Honestly, many people (who have too much money to spare) buy acoustic pianos just because they are a great piece of furniture. They look beautiful and give your home a real 'wow' effect.For actual pianists, an acoustic sounds great. No electric piano can fully replicate the depth of sou nd, the natural volume, or the tone of an acoustic. If you are committed to making beautiful music on your piano keyboard, there isn't really any competition.If you are a serious musician, with ambitions to play in concert halls, you don't really have a choice. Most theatres are equipped with a grand piano, so you will need to practice with an instrument that feels like your performance instrument.  Some Different Types of Acoustic PianoIf you are after an acoustic piano, you are going to have to decide which type of acoustic you are going to get.Upright PianosUpright pianos come in different sizes, and each different dimension has a different name. So, if you are after a particular small one, get a spinet piano (although these are often not the best quality instruments on the market).Consoles are the next biggest, and they come with a massive boost in quality from the spinet - and they are not too much more expensive.Studios and full size uprights are at the top of the scale. Full- size ones have pretty much the range of a baby grand piano - but without taking up all that extra room.Grand PianosIf a baby grand is about five foot, a concert grand can reach over ten feet. This makes the latter a little tricky to have in your home - let alone pricey as hell.So, How Much Will it Cost?Starting prices for upright pianos start in the thousands - and a baby grand will start at about three times the average upright. As you can see, acoustic pianos are not the sort of things that you should be buying as your first instrument.  For a grand piano, you are looking at probably eight thousand at a minimum. If you are really committed and have the cash to splash, you can pay over one thousand pounds. Maybe this ain't the best idea for your eight-year-old kid to make their first music on. You may as well buy them a small house instead.It sort of goes without saying that, to get the most out of your piano, you need to make sure it isn’t a financial strain. You need to choose a piano you can afford. The objective is to find the best piano for you, not the piano made by the best piano manufacturers using the richest mahogany.Let's Have a Look at Some ModelsEntry Level: Yamaha B1 Upright Acoustic - £2699Yamaha are a very reliable brand for pianos - and their pianos are used by amateurs in the home, professionals in the studio, and concert pianists on stage. Knowing this, the Yamaha piano is a great entry level acoustic instrument - with quality craftsmanship, a high gloss finish, and a great sound. It's the only size of piano that will reasonably fit in a home - and is £2699.Mid-Range: Yamaha GB1K Grand Piano - £8262.96Yamaha also do a great little grand piano that comes at in at just over eight thousand pounds.  The smallest variety of grand available - the baby grand - this Yamaha grand will do everything you need it to do in your home (if you can fit it) whilst sounding excellent too.Top End: Steinway D-274 - $160,000Yes, it seems a little ridiculous , but this is the most famous piano in the world, used by most concert pianists and synonymous generally with exquisite craftsmanship. Unless you are an owner of a concert hall - or you are devoting your life to playing Beethoven at the Albert Hall - there is no need to buy one of these. Regardless, Steinway pianos are the best in the world - and the most expensive Steinway piano sold for $1.2 million.Additional CostsOnce you’ve found the right piano, you need to consider the additional costs and work out a budget for:If you do buy an acoustic piano, you'll probably need to hire piano movers to get it from the piano store.A piano teacher for piano lessons.A piano tuner. You'll probably need a visit from one of these twice a year - and piano tuning by professional tuners isn't exactly cheap.Books and sheet music to study.Downloading piano music for a particular piece.If you're going for an acoustic, get it a cover - as you'll need to keep the dust away, as that can affect the sound .Learn all about essential piano accessories every pianist must have... LouisPiano Teacher £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AlisonPiano Teacher £32/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors BarbaraPiano Teacher £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Chi yuenPiano Teacher 5.00 (5) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors TomPiano Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ErenPiano Teacher 5.00 (5) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ValtiePiano Teacher £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors DanielPiano Teacher 5.00 (5) £37/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsSome Piano Brands to Consider.We've covered some above, but it is worth knowing some of the best brands around in the piano world. They differ depending on whether it is an electric piano you want or an acoustic.Electric Piano BrandsYamaha PianosThese guys make all sorts of different instruments - and their electric pianos are world-renowned for being reliably high qua lity.CasioYou know the people that make calculators? They are also one of the biggest names in electric pianos.RolandFrom the most budget of Roland models, these are built for professionals.KorgThese guys excel in lightweight, portable instruments.KawaiThey used to just make acoustic pianos, but now they are acing the electric scene too.Acoustic Piano BrandsSteinwayThe classy kings of acoustic pianos - with some of the most expensive models on the market (Google Steinway grand piano to get a sense of this).YamahaThem again - you can't beat them on price, reliability, and sheer quality. They make a great home piano.BechsteinA German company that started in the nineteenth century. Beautiful and gorgeous-sounding instruments.Shigeru KawaiYou know these from the electric pianos, but they make limited runs of acoustics too.Should I Buy a Used Piano?If you're set on buying an acoustic piano, you might want to check out second-hand pianos. You'll find some pretty good deals.Make sure that you are careful when you are buying second hand instruments. Ensure you closely exam every inch of the piano. If you're short on space, you should probably be looking at vertical pianos rather than grands.Check second-hand websites (like craigslist) and the classifieds for “Piano for Sale” ads. Just make sure you see the piano you're buying first, the pianos on these websites could be in any condition. Pay particular attention to the soundboard, the keys, and the pedals.Many piano merchants will sell second-hand instruments too. This might be your best place to look, as they well be quality assured and inspected already for damage. Buying a piano used from a bloke off the internet might not be a great idea if you don't really know much about the instruments.  The Cost of a Piano: What Else Should You Consider?Spending Time on the PianoDon’t forget that learning how to play the piano can take a significant amount of time.Of course, saying that it “costs” time might give you a negative idea of the whole learning experience (which in itself is usually very rewarding).Let me explain... When I say that learning the piano “costs” time, I mean that you need to spend time in order to practice.You can’t just practice whenever you want. If you’re learning to play, you won’t always be sitting down, relaxing, and playing your favourite songs.While there’s no set amount of time you have to sit down at the piano, you should spend at least 15 minutes playing whenever you do.This is enough time to play a piece three or four times from start to finish. Or enough time to play four different pieces.The time it takes to practice playing the piano can also be costly. (Source: How Kids Can Earn Money)If you only play during your piano lessons, then you know exactly how long you’ll be playing for. Whether it’s 45 minutes or an hour, you can decide this before you have the class. There isn’t really a maximum limit when it comes to classes.Playing the piano can also be used to unwind. If you’ve had a hard day, sitting down at your piano and forgetting about everything else is a great idea. In this case, it doesn't matter whether it’s for 15 minutes or 45. Your goal here is to leave the piano feeling calm and relaxed. You'll soon see that playing the piano can be really therapeutic.Follow our advice for buying your first piano...  Personal InvestmentIn addition to the time you invest, there’s also a personal investment involved. In fact, this cost is very similar to the time you’ll invest. When you think about investing in learning to play the piano, you have to push yourself.This personal investment is how much you want to practice doing something like learning to play the piano.You may reduce your time learning how to play by taking piano lessons online...So how can we measure this personal investment?Others might notice it even before you do! A pianist who continues to play regularly will progress much more than someone who infrequently plays for long periods of time.In the same way, a musician who regularly listens to pieces they want to play or often plays in front of their friends and family is personally invested in their new pursuit and will give their all to get better.The joy of playing is an obvious sign of their investment.  It's an investment of energy and passion.Long-Term AmbitionWe never know where learning to play the piano will take us. We don’t ever ask ourselves “Where am I going with this?” until the day comes when we have to answer this question. This choice can be very costly in terms of your short-term and long-term plans for the future. Sometimes the line between an amateur and a professional is very fine.You’re left with this choice: Am I going to continue practicing this instrument for my own personal pleasure or am I going to risk going professional with it? This choice can be costly.It’s not the sort of cost you can work out in terms of dollars. Though it is a choice that will greatly impact your life. You have to be aware of the possible outcomes of your decision before you make it. If I can give you one piece of advice, always have a plan B. Keep something up your sleeve in the event it all goes south.Discover how to select your ideal piano... So is a Piano Really that Costly?In short, yes. Economically, mentally, and in terms of time.But don’t forget that playing the piano can be a leisure activity. That means that despite all these “costs”, by weighing up the pros and cons, there’s still many good reasons to start practicing.You shouldn’t make your decision until you’ve considered everything and even maybe spoken to the people you know.Once you’ve taken the plunge, you'll probably forget all about these costs because you’re enjoying playing your piano too much.You have to love playing the piano, first and foremost! (Source: Wikitesti)That’s what’s important: the joy of learning and playing the piano.Find piano lessons th roughout the UK on Superprof.Piano lessons LondonPiano lessons EdinburghPiano lessons GlasgowPiano lessons LeedsAlso discover all you need to know about buying a piano...

Do yourself a favor. Recognize others for their contributions - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / Do yourself a favor. Recognize others for their contributions - Introvert Whisperer Do yourself a favor. Recognize others for their contributions One of the things I think we all forget to do is to tell people we appreciate their work.   We all need to be told periodically that someone noticed what we have done and are pleased with the results.   The work doesn’t have to be just at your place of business.   It can be the work done at home or the work you witness being done as you run errands. We all need to be recognized for our efforts results.   Its part of what keeps us motivated.   We have to know not only that we matter but the things we do also matter. Recognizing others is simple, quick and costs absolutely nothing and a well-placed comment can make a persons day â€" including your own. I’m also sure you’ve been in a situation where you didn’t get recognition and that eventually starts feeling bad.   You start feeling like others are taking advantage of you or they are entitled.   It’s hard to feel all warm and fuzzy about someone if you think they are using you.   Even if the other person would never consciously use other people, without voicing some recognition, it is how you are.   In other words, if you aren’t periodically telling those you live with, work with and encounter in life that you appreciate something they do; you are behaving as an entitled person.   Ick! Granted, it’s easy to get so caught up in living that we forget to notice and then say something to others.   I urge you to develop a new personal practice of recognizing someone at least once a day.   You will give the other person a positive jolt to their day, you’ll feel good about you and you serve to lead others by your example. Go be magnanimous! Go to top Do you know what your next career step is?   Many people don’t. I want to help you accelerate your career by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my eBook on how to construct your Career SMART Goals â€" that will help you put together your actions and keep you accountable. Get your copy now and start your action plan today! Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleashing your professional potential. Introvert Whisperer

Find A Life Coach In Edinburgh

Find A Life Coach In Edinburgh Find Yourself A Life Coach In Edinburgh Chapters3 Signs That You May Need To Hire A Life CoachBright Thinking â€" Life Coaching and Business CoachingNick Thorpe CoachingHanna Leask - Life Coaching WellbeingFind A Life Coach On SuperprofMaybe you have never ever heard of life coaching. Or maybe you think it's not for you, only for other people. Or maybe you think it doesn't work. Let's clear up some common misunderstandings.Firstly, life coaching is an umbrella word that includes coaching for any number of areas, from relationships to finances to developing wholesome habits. Life coaching is very successful with people of all age throughout the world.Life coaches and clients can be in different places, as sessions most often take place by phone or Skype. There are life coaches for every age, life stage, purpose, and the goal you are aiming for. Life coaching is a method and requires the full commitment of the client. Coaches help customers to identify blocks, challenges, and opportunities. Moreover, many life coaches are v ery accomplished in their own lives and are good at asking key questions to unlock their client's potential.You have to work on your motivation (both with and without your lire coach). (Source: Tirachard Kumtanom)Also discover life coaching resources in Birmingham...Finding success as a life coach means having clients to coach! Source: Pixabay Credit: GeraltHanna Leask - Life Coaching WellbeingLeask is Edinburgh based, a Practitioner in NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming), as well as a Time Line Therapy, Hypnosis and Coaching.Leask noticed the variety of wellbeing choices from studying Politics at Newcastle University to working for large multinationals such as Nissan and Aldi to travelling to over 30 countries. She is ever interested in wellbeing. As she connects with people and learns about their welfare, she continually recognises the need for sustainable wellbeing options.As an Airbnb Superhost, Leask continues to connect with the visitor from around the world. Ensuring your wel lbeing while away from the complexities of daily life is one thing but incorporating that into everyday life is where sustainable welfare lies.Leask has drawn upon her personal and professional experience in Wellbeing and Personal Development to create best practice Coaching, Training and Course Content.She is always available for a get to know each other session.Find A Life Coach On SuperprofIf you are looking for a life coach either to make some changes in your life or if you are considering changing your career you might want to check out all the life coaches available to help you with that.Check out more coaches in the UK:Life coaches in CardiffLife coaches in BelfastLife coaches in Manchester

How To Prepare For An Interview In English

How To Prepare For An Interview In English How To Pass A Job Interview In English? ChaptersWhy Would You Need To Have A Job Interview In English?How To Make A Good Impression On The Interviewer In An Interview.How To Present Yourself In An Interview In English?Top Tips For Your PresentationEnglish Phrases And Vocabulary For An InterviewCommon Interview Questions For A Job Interview In English And Tips To Answer Them7 Tips For A Successful Job Interview In EnglishIf you have a job interview in English in your home country or English speaking countries, you probably know that you should use eye contact, answer job interview questions and make a good impression. But what about having a job interview in English when you are not a native English speaker?Only one thing is true and different in this case, and that is that you must be actively preparing for an interview, improve your English and communicate in English. For that, you must have an excellent oral level in English.In this article, we explore some tips for preparing for a job interview in English. We will look at interview preparation and the most common interview questions.purely a conversation with someone who wants to understand if you can fit within their company. That being said you must speak slowly and pay attention to your pronunciation in English.Just because you know what you are saying doesn't mean the recruiter will follow you and understand you should make sure to repeat essential information and pause for effect. Since you have the interview already the recruiter will not dwell on your level of English since they will already consider you as any candidate. Of course, you must, however, be aware of how you are communicating and that you are doing so clearly and concisely. Speaking in a way that is not understood or always asking the other person to repeat will make the interview difficult for everyone.You have 60 to 90 seconds to give this answer unless they prompt you to keep talking. Do feel confident to mention some of your accomplishments.2. Why Are You Interested In This Role?Here you should highlight what is interesting about the job for you and match this with why you are uniquely qualified to do the role.3. Why Are You Leaving Your Current Job?You must be able to explain why you want to leave your job to work elsewhere without giving any negative answer. You can mention that your current role has no possibility to grow and you are looking for a new challenge. An excellent way to put it is to say that you are looking for a role which better highlights your strengths.4. Why Would You Be A Good Fit For This Company?This is a question that is feared by many candidates because it is necessary to differentiate themselves from other candidates without seeming pretentious. To do this, you should highlight the facts, highlight your knowledge about the company, its values, its history, its ambitions and what you can bring to it.If you know the dreams and goals of the company, then you can draw a line yourself with those ideas. You can also point out any i ssues and mention how you can help to solve them.5. What Are Your Strengths And Weaknesses? (One Of The Tough Interview Questions)This question is still very often asked in interviews; The purpose is to see if you have self-awareness and how you manage it. None of us are perfect so be clear about your weakness and how you manage them with your strengths, this makes you seem very real and relatable.This is not the time to open the floodgates and tell all of your dark secrets. A good example is: I'm not a patient person, and I love to be busy and active, and I like to work quickly.7 Tips For A Successful Job Interview In EnglishBe honest about your English language level on your resume otherwise, it will show up quickly in an interview and give you more stress.Prepare your interview by practising your answers to the usual questions,Review the vocabulary of the sector and also your previous positions!Train yourself: watch English shows and listen to the radio to get your ears used to h earing English,Do not worry about your accent: it's better to be understood and clear with concise and a sharp emphasis than to have a good accent but not to know how to align two words in English.Do not hesitate to ask for a question to be repeated. Even native English people have to do this sometimes.Be interested: ask questions about the company; the size of the team, the company, the usual working hours.Plan ahead of time.Good Luck!Read about how to meet and speak with native English speakers

A University of California, Los Angeles College Experience

A University of California, Los Angeles College Experience Danielle is a Los Angeles tutor specializing in history tutoring. She earned her bachelors degree in history from the University of California, Los Angeles in 2016. Want to know what she had to say about her college experience? Read on! Describe the campus setting and transportation options. Danielle: The setting for UCLA is definitely urban. There are plenty of transportation options, including local Metro, Big Blue Bus, and Expo Lines. Theres also a BruinBus specifically for UCLA students who live a little further from campus. I felt very safe on campus, even walking alone at night or early in the morning. There are buses, but most undergraduates walk to and from campus because they live in the immediate area. How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Danielle: Professors, advisers, and teaching assistants, for the most part, make themselves very accessible to students. Particularly teaching assistants, they can really save your lives sometimes! All of my TAs were flexible and willing to help me in my understanding of the material. How would you describe the dorm liferooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Danielle: I really enjoyed dorm life! I lived on campus for two years and then off campus for the last two. This is pretty typical for students to do at UCLA. In my freshman year, living in the dorms was a great way to make connections and friendships with other incoming freshman. UCLA dining halls are the best! You always had so many options depending on what you were feeling. The Hill as its called, was a great place to connect with other students and feel at home away from home. Which majors/programs are best represented and supported? Danielle: UCLA, because of its premier experience in healthcare and medicine, gives the most support to pre-med students, in my opinion. I studied history because I always knew I wanted to become a history teacher. I love how history has multiple perspectives and can empower one who knows their history. I think UCLA did a great job supporting my area of study as well. 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? Danielle: It was pretty easy to meet people and make friends as a freshman, regardless of Greek life. I did not join a sorority and made a lot of my friends in my freshman hall and the places I worked at on campus. It was very easy to make friends with a lot of different people as a freshman because everyone was usually excited to meet new people! How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services? Danielle: I did not utilize the campus Career Center or other student support services that dealt with career. I used their online job search platform, BruinView, which was useful at times. How are the various study areas such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Danielle: Because UCLA is a big campus with a lot of students, some study spaces can become easily crowded. Especially during midterm and finals season, it can be hard to find a space to study. The best thing to do is to reserve a study room at the libraries; I did this many times and it made studying so much less stressful! Describe the surrounding town. Danielle: Westwood Village is a comfortable college town. There are lots of restaurants and shops. However, I think that they could be more geared toward students, in terms of price range. I think that now because Uber/Lyft exist it is easier for students to go to Downtown Santa Monica or Downtown LA. During my freshman year, the best thing to do on the weekend was to go to the beach (Santa Monica or Venice) or the fabulous Getty Museum! How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Danielle: The student body of UCLA is very big. I was not very pleased with typical class sizes because they were so large most of the time. However, by the time I started taking upper division classes, class sizes were 60 or below. I preferred taking seminar-style classes that only had around 20 people. Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Danielle: My favorite class at UCLA was my first education class which was about race, class, and gender in education. This class helped me decide to become a teacher and instilled in me the value of a quality education that is accessible to all students, regardless of their background. This class really resonated with me and I will still reflect on my learning in this class to this day as I pursue my Masters in Education at UCLA. Check out Danielles tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

What to Expect When Moving from Elementary to Middle School and Middle to High School

What to Expect When Moving from Elementary to Middle School and Middle to High School Whether your child is graduating from elementary school to middle school or from middle school to high school, the transition is a major one. Eileen Huntington, Co-founder of the Huntington Learning Center reminds parents that any time a student changes schools can be overwhelmingand particularly when the expectations of the student are higher in his or her new environment. Its critical for students to successfully navigate these leaping off points, says Huntington. She offers several tips for parents whose children are making such a transition: From elementary to middle school Stay organized. If your child is disorganized, it will rear its ugly head when he or she moves into middle school. Students in middle school must get used to taking classes from up to eight different teachers for the first timeand keeping track of assignments, projects and homework for each of those classes. Arm your child with a simple, but effective homework organizational system, such as a notebook in which to record assignments for each class each day. Hang a calendar in a central place in the home where your child can record upcoming assignment and test due dates so you can help him or her stay on track. Hand over the reins. In elementary school, many parents stay closely involved in their childs homework, but middle school is a whole new ballgame in terms of accountability. Your child must learn to take ownership of his or her academic life. Talk with his or her teachers about how to build and foster independence while still guiding your child toward school success. Focus on time management. Encourage your child to get into the nightly habit of reviewing to-dos, updating his or her homework notebook or planner with assignments and due dates, and tidying up the desk. Work together to develop an efficient nightly homework routine that includes prioritizing homework based on its due dates and making a to-do list for every study session. Emphasize the importance of balance. In middle school, many students become busier than ever, with an increased homework load, more time-intensive activities and a more active social schedule. Help your student adapt by teaching him or her to develop a daily routine that puts homework and school first and schedules in time for everything else thereafter. Your child must learn the importance of being efficient with ones time so that he or she can accomplish all of his or her have-tos and still have time for the want-tos as well. From middle school to high school Continue to encourage good organization. High school students must be capable of keeping track of multiple classes along with other responsibilities such as extracurricular activities. Help your teen establish a trusted organizational system for the backpack, locker, and study space. Research helpful organizational apps for the iPhone (such as myHomework or iStudiez Pro) that can aid your teens organizational skills. Transfer responsibility to your teen. When your teen transitions into high school, the responsibility becomes much greater than in middle school (and the workload becomes larger). Teach your teen to communicate regularly with teachers, develop a trusted study plan and seek help right away when he or she needs it. Keep focused on college. The college search and application process starts sooner than you think, so encourage your teen to pay a visit to the guidance or college counselor sometime during their late freshman or sophomore year. Its also critical that he or she stay focused on keeping up the grades. While extracurricular activities, sports and volunteer work are great resume-builders, it is more important that your teen stays dedicated to his or her academics. Be sure he or she understands that a cumulative grade point average means that every class matters, and again, asking for help as soon as he or she needs it is important. Start talking careers. High school is the start of your teens adulthood, and as he or she gets closer to college, its important to start thinking carefully about what he or she wants to study in college and what types of careers may suit his or her personality and strengths. Seek out opportunities to build upon those aptitudes and encourage your student to investigate internships, volunteer experiences and similar opportunities early in high school that will help prepare him or her to make those big choices in a few years. School is an evolution from grade to grade and from primary to secondary school, says Huntington. You can help prepare your child for each major milestone by gradually shifting more responsibility to your child, maintaining good communication between you and teaching your child to adopt effective study skills. More than anything, be there for your child as he or she makes his or her way through these big life changes. Listen, offer a good support system and be your childs biggest cheerleader. About Huntington Huntington is the tutoring and test prep leader. Its certified tutors provide individualized instruction in reading, phonics, writing, study skills, elementary and middle school math, Algebra through Calculus, Chemistry, and other sciences. It preps for the SAT and ACT, as well as state and standardized exams. Huntington programs develop the skills, confidence, and motivation to help students succeed and meet the needs of Common Core State Standards. Founded in 1977, Huntingtons mission is to give every student the best education possible. Learn how Huntington can help at www.huntingtonhelps.com. For franchise opportunities please visit www.huntingtonfranchise.com.

Questions to Ask About Your Childs First Report Card of the Year

Questions to Ask About Your Child’s First Report Card of the Year Its the start of a brand-new school year, which will be full of new adventure for your child. Soon, youll receive his or her first report cardan official status update on how things are going. Parents should take this first check-up of the year as an opportunity to open the lines of communication with their children and their childrens teachers, saysEileen Huntington ofHuntington Learning Center. When the first-semester report card comes home, what should you address during those conversations? Here are several questions to ask: Questions for your child How has this year gone so far? Give your child a chance to talk about the first couple of months of the school year candidly. How does your child feel about the teacher, each subject and any homework and tests? What are you proud of? Allow your child to ponder what has gone well this year as a result of his or her efforts. Perhaps there will be one or more classes where the grades were hard earned and a few that came much easier. This insight will help you understand your childs journey to date and what concerns he or she has that werent on your radar. How do you learn and study best? Before offering your own observations and ideas about how your child learns most effectively, ask for his or her opinion. Be sure to talk about how this year is going and if your child is noticing any changes in his or her most useful study and learning methods. What do you want to change going forward? Bring this up after reviewing the report card together. If your child received a poor grade, its understandable that you might want to lay out a game plan to fix it, but let your child talk first. What does he or she think is the best course of action? Questions for your childs teacher What are my childs strengths and weaknesses? You have your own thoughts, but it is invaluable to understand the teachers ideas about your childs areas of strength and areas to improve upon. This gives the teacher a chance to talk about your childs performance compared to grade-level expectations and how he or she is staying on track thus far in the year. How would you describe my child as a student/learner? The more you know about your childs learning preferences, tendencies and methods, the better equipped you will be to offer support at home. Ask the teacher what he or she sees in the classroom as far as the environment and types of lessons that seem to click with your child the best. Where would you like to see my child make changes? This question should hopefully open the conversation to your childs working habits and demeanor in the classroom. Whatever adjustments the teacher brings up, make sure you ask for suggestions on how best to proceed. What can I do to support your efforts? Its always helpful to get an understanding from the teacher as early in the year as possible of the role you should play in your childs education. Ask about tips for approaching homework time, what the appropriate level of involvement is and how you can stay in touch with the teacher for your childs benefit. Before any conversation about the report card, Huntington encourages parents to write down their own list of questions, springboarding from the above topics. All parents have a unique perspective of what their children need to work on, so its a good idea to keep that big picture in mind when communicating both with their children and the teachers, she says. Parents can keep those conversations focused and constructive by spending time in advance putting any issues or concerns down on paper. If the first report card of the year brings up issues that are of serious concern, call Huntington at 1-800-CAN-LEARN. We can develop a customized, one-to-one plan of instruction to help your child address any problems big or small and make this a great school year. About Huntington Huntington is the tutoring and test prep leader.Its certified tutors provide individualized instruction in reading, phonics, writing, study skills, elementary and middle school math, Algebra through Calculus, Chemistry, and other sciences. It preps for the SAT and ACT, as well as state and standardized exams. Huntington programs develop the skills, confidence, and motivation to help students succeed and meet the needs of Common Core State Standards. Founded in 1977, Huntingtons mission is to give every student the best education possible. Learn how Huntington can help at www.huntingtonhelps.com. For franchise opportunities please visit www.huntingtonfranchise.com. 2017 Huntington Mark, LLC. Huntington Learning Center, the three-leaf logo, and 1 800 CAN LEARN are registered trademarks of Huntington Mark, LLC. Each franchised Huntington Learning Center is operated under a franchise agreement with Huntington Learning Centers, Inc.

Palestinian Teacher Awarded $1M Prize

Palestinian Teacher Awarded $1M Prize A Palestinian teacher Hanan al-Hroub has been awarded the $1m Global Teacher Prize for her contribution at a star-studded ceremony in Dubai. The ceremony took place at the Global Education and Skills Forum. There were 10 finalists from the United States, UK,  Pakistan, Kenya, Palestine, Japan, Finland, Australia and India. They were invited on stage by a video message from physicist Stephen Hawking and congratulated by video messages from former US president Bill Clinton and US vice-president Joe Biden. The winner was announced by Pope Francis via video message. Prince William  sent a video message  saying  A good teacher holds the power to influence, inspire and shape a young person’s life for the better. Hanan al-Hroub  specialises in supporting children who have been traumatized by violence. She went into primary education after her children were left deeply traumatized by a shooting incident they witnessed on their way home from school. Al Hroub uses an approach with children that she developed herself  to  build  trusting, respectful and affectionate relationships and encourage children  to work together. I am proud to be a Palestinian female teacher standing on this stage. I accept this as a win for all teachers in general and Palestinian teachers in particular, Al Hroub said. The ceremony was attended by Hollywood movie stars, Salma Hayek and Matthew McConaughey as well as Indian movie stars Akshay Kumar, Abhishek Bachchan and Parineeti Chopra. Hanan al-Hroub  will receive  $1m and will be asked to serve as a global ambassador for the Varkey Foundation, non-profit organisation set up to improve the standards of education for underprivileged children throughout the world. TutorZ team wants to congratulate  Hanan al-Hroub and  thank  every teacher/tutor who works with us and helps children  to overcome their study  difficulties.  Each tutor on TutorZ provides a welcoming, safe environment which enables students to achieve high standards and make good academic progress. Thank you for your hard work!