Reasons For Hiring A Teen Tutor

Reasons For Hiring A Teen TutorThere are a number of reasons for parents to consider hiring a tutor for their children that are related to their schooling. These parents want their kids to do well and it is important that they give them the guidance that they need, when it comes to learning and performing well in school. In addition, there are a number of schools that parents choose to send their children to, and they may not have the money to pay for the services of a tutor that they can trust.Parents also have different reasons for their decision in sending their children to different schools. Some parents are worried about getting an education for their child's future. For these parents, they are willing to spend a lot of money on their children and will pay as much as possible for the school that they send their children to.It is important for parents to consider the safety of their children when choosing which school to send their children to. If the school has a high crime rate , parents would want to choose another school. It is also important for parents to make sure that their children have access to appropriate technology in order to ensure that they will be able to perform well. Technology should be available to any child to help them perform well.There are also a number of different reasons for parents to consider hiring a tutor for their children. Some parents send their children to a school for a specific reason and a tutor is a great way to see their child excel in class. Other parents go to a school just because their child is eager to learn and wants to prove themselves in the school. They will also see some children that are talented enough to make it through the school without their parents' spending too much money.Teens tutoring teens does not mean that parents cannot find the money for their child. It is very possible for a parent to get to the school and find a good school that will pay for the services of a tutor for their child. If the ch ild shows that they are good at school, then they will be able to get them some form of assistance so that they will excel in school.The last reason for hiring a teen tutor for your child is to ensure that they get some form of learning that they will use while they are still in school. Teens who are intelligent will learn in class because they are capable of doing so. When they graduate from school, they will also be ready to work in the workplace or start a new career. It is important for them to know that they will have something to fall back on once they graduate from school.These are some of the different reasons why parents hire a tutor for their children. The schools are trying to save money by having some parents pay for their children to be tutored. It is also a way for parents to see that their children are getting all the attention they need to excel in school.

How Tutors Can Encourage Higher-Order Thinking Skills

How Tutors Can Encourage Higher-Order Thinking Skills Higher-Order Thinking: How Tutors Encourage Students to Think ChaptersMarking the Path Toward Higher-Order ThinkingActivities That Promote Critical Thinking SkillsCultivating Problem Solving SkillsYour assignment: homework help.This particular student has trouble grasping aspects of an academic subject. S/he is not motivated to do any independent study and any prescribed assignment garners poor marks, either for its incomplete answers or for not being done at all.Desperate for academic success, this pupil’s caregivers envisage your supervising his/her work, both the accuracy and completeness thereof.Is there any room for you to do more?Might you perhaps find time and opportunity, in your weekly sessions with that student, to foster thinking skills? To plumb his/her depth of thought and bring to light previously untapped cognitive skills â€" skills s/he might not even know s/he possesses?Should you go beyond what you have been contracted to do â€" ensuring that homework gets done and is correct?Whether you are a classroom teacher who moonlight s as a tutor or someone who earns a living strictly by providing academic support outside of school, surely you know that encouraging students to think through their assignments rather than just doing them is an essential part of your function as an educator.Doing so might already be an integral part of your pedagogy.On the other hand, if you are new to tutoring or are undecided over whether to follow your clients’ wishes to the letter, working in the best interests of your students’ college and career prospects, you might revise your lesson planning and teaching strategies  to also impart thinking skills.Your Superprof now lays out tips, strategies and learning activities that will help you guide your charges to becoming higher-order thinkers.From whomever the saying originated, there is substantial truth in the idea that, if you handicap someone by limiting their access â€" to food, to work or to knowledge, that person will soon hunger again.However, arming people to provide f or themselves, be it in physical sustenance or intellectual curiosity permits them to be self-reliant in achieving their goals.This ethical reflection makes the case for educators’ efforts at instilling higher order thinking skills in their students.According to Bloom’s Taxonomy, three interrelated learning domains underpin a learner’s academic career. They are:the cognitive domain, which encapsulates knowledge â€" analysis, synthesis and comprehension of study materialthe affective domain is emotion-based, which triggers the responding to and valuing of information, as well as the characterisation and organisation of suchthe psychomotor domain includes guided response â€" maybe executing a math function through step by step prompts and complex overt response, such as those needed for 21st century skills.General education has traditionally only addressed the cognitive domain.Pretty much since the inception of compulsory education, it has been the foundation upon which learning objectives are set, the curriculum is structured and assessments are conducted.That means that fully 2/3 of Blooms Taxonomy is not even addressed which, in turn, means that a substantial portion of the student population’s learning needs is not being met.That leaves ample room for tutors to help their students develop higher level thinking... with a caveat!As we pointed out in a companion article, it is entirely possible to push students too hard in fostering higher-order thinking abilities.The net result of doing so could have disastrous consequences for both your mentoring relationship and on your pupil’s academic success.That is why it is best to start slowly...Teaching your students to think critically will make them star pupils! Source: Pixabay Credit: GeraltActivities That Promote Critical Thinking SkillsWho, what, when, where, why and how.These types of questions are a great way to start your students on the path to thinking critically - bearing in mind that doing so doe s not imply that criticism and finding fault  are the order of the day.Of the six questions featured in the 5W+H above, the last W, ‘why’, is perhaps the most critical.“Why do you think that?” “Why did that happen?” “Why is that answer the right one?” â€" should you be going over a just-completed multiple choice answer sheet, for instance.Simply asking ‘why?’ is an easy way to prime your pupils for thinking and it only takes a few times of your doing so for him/her to anticipate your question and have the answer ready.It is also an excellent way to assure student engagement â€" both with you and with the subject material.Once s/he becomes adept at answering those questions, you can take that game to the next level by having them write down all of the steps they took in arriving at their conclusion to a question you pose.Not only does that address the psychomotor domain outlined by Benjamin Bloom but it also calls for the student to outline any prior knowledge of the topic in question and fosters metacognition â€" the understanding of one’s own thought processes.If you are a school teacher, surely you know how limited opportunities such as these are in class!Once you are assured of your student’s ability to render reasoned conclusions to questions you pose, you might move on to debating: offering up a topic for discussion and allowing time to prepare arguments.You may perhaps task him/her to compare and contrast aspects of the topic and explain how s/he arrived at the conclusion s/he reached.Naturally, debating works better with study groups, where there would inevitably be several opinions offered up.Once assured that your charges are capable of thinking critically, it is time to tackle the second major branch of higher order thinking.Use sticky notes to organise facets of a problem Source: Pixabay Credit: BluebudgieCultivating Problem Solving SkillsCritical thinking skills are only half of the equation representing higher order thinkin g. The other half is problem-solving skills, and fostering those requires finesse as well as a bit of educational psychology.Educational psychology concerns itself with cognitive development, learning methods and student assessment.Specifically applied to problem solving, cognitive development addresses how your students process information and how creatively they approach ‘problems’.The problem may be an open-ended question you pose, a word problem in their math homework or a social problem with other students at school.Yes, even those can impact student learning!Let’s assume, for the sake of this discussion that you have posed a challenging question that requires some thought. You get to see their critical thinking skills at work!1. You might suggest s/he  â€˜play’ with the problem. This encourages him/her to look at the issue from many different perspectives; you could even suggest a few.2. Break the problem down into component parts. What is involved? Who is involved? Wh ere did it happen? Why? How? You could then guide him/her to determining the biggest aspect of the problem or the aspect easiest to solve.5W+H is an excellent tool to use in problem solving activities!3. Get verbal! Reasoning through a problem out loud helps to slow down thought processes so that students don’t feel overwhelmed by the enormity of the issue.Perhaps, if your student is a kinesthetic learner (or particularly agitated), you might suggest s/he write down the main components of the problem on sticky-notes as s/he talks. One sticky for each aspect, and then organise them in order of importance.4. Focus on the process, not the answer: believe it or not, there is more satisfaction to be had by discussion of all that a problem entails than by arriving at a conclusion.5. If your student is a bit older (or more cognitively developed), you might try giving only pointed suggestions rather than guiding them to the desired response. Guiding is an effective technique if your stude nt is younger or less intellectually mature.No matter what the outcome of the problem-solving exercise is â€" whether or not s/he has arrived at a satisfactory conclusion, positive reinforcement is vital to student success.After all, the point of such exercises is to think more so than to solve, at least at the outset of this phase of intellectual development, right?Naturally, once s/he has mastered these skills, s/he would actually have to solve problems and come up with workable solutions.The good news is that, once you’ve helped your students train their minds to think effectively, coming up with answers to higher order thinking questions will be child’s play rather than a stress inducer.Does cultivating critical thinking and problem-solving skills take a lot of time and effort?Surprisingly not!As a part of your initial interview with students and their caregivers, you would naturally form an idea of that pupil’s cognitive abilities (and preferred learning style!) so that y ou can determine exactly what is needed from you.Armed with that background knowledge, as you work together you would continuously gauge his/her progress as a thinker through formative assessment.The insights you glean through these processes will give you an idea of how you should proceed with fostering higher-order thinking skills.Will that take you beyond the homework help you were hired to give?That depends on whether your pupil’s caregivers advocate for giving a man a fish versus teaching him to fish...We intuit that you stand firm on the side of teaching.Join the discussion: is it more vital to be a problem solver or a critical thinker?

5 French-Learning Games Your Kids Will Actually Love

5 French-Learning Games Your Kids Will Actually Love Madalyn Danielson The best way to help your kids learn French is to make the language fun, and with all the resources available both online and offline, this has become easier than ever. The following French games will give you the chance to learn with your kids, as well as encourage them to practice in their free time. 1. Dominoes Dominoes is a great choice to introduce kids to the French language, particularly if they already know how to play. Instead of using regular tiles, print out a set with pictures and French words,  such as these. Play together to teach your kids meanings and proper pronunciation. 2. Mix and Match Choose from a huge number of topics at both beginner and intermediate levels to play  this simple game  that involves dragging a picture to the correct word to score a point. This is a good place to start if your own knowledge of French is quite limited, as it gives you and your kids the chance to learn vocabulary as you go along, either through the game or the accompanying tutorial. 3. To Be and To Have As they progress with the language, your kids will be able to start forming sentences.  This game  teaches the verbs to be and to have in all their conjugations for the present tense. After finishing the game, consider having a role play with your kids to continue practicing and to keep the topic interesting. 4. Guess Who? If you do not already have the game Guess Who? at home, you should definitely purchase this two-player game you can use the same set to play in any language. Each player has a set of 24 tiles featuring cartoon images of different people along with their first names. In addition, you both select a card with one of these faces. You then take it in turns to ask each other simple questions to discover which character the other player has, eliminating faces according to the answers. Your kids can play French games of Guess Who? to practice both their speaking and listening skills, forming sentences and answering your questions. 5. The Magic Cards This  matching game  involves flipping over cards to match numerals with their written numbers. Your kids can play online to learn correct pronunciation, but you can also create your own cards to play a memory game with two or more players. Once your kids have developed a love for French, they will want to continue learning. Starting young will improve the chances that they become fluent by adulthood, opening the way to many more opportunities in the future. To help your kids progress with French, find a private tutor who will make learning the language fun. Bonne chance! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher Photo by  Geraint Rowland

How To Solve Linear Equations By Graphing

How To Solve Linear Equations By Graphing The solution of a linear equation: - We say that x=m, y=n is a solution of ax+by+c=0. How to solve linear equations by graphing: - i) Express y in terms of x. ii) Choose at least two convenient values of x and find the corresponding values of y, satisfying the given equation. iii) Write down these values of x and y in the form of a table. iv) Plot the order pairs (x, y) from the table on a graph paper. v) Join these points by a straight line and extend it in both the directions. This line is the graph of the equation a x + b y + c = 0. Example: - Draw the graph of the equation 2 x y + 3. Using the graph, find the value of y, when x = - 2. Solution: - 2 x y + 3 = 0 implies y = 2 x + 3 When x = 0, then y = 2 * 0 + 3 = 3 When x = 1, then y = 2 * 1 + 3 = 5 X 0 1 Y 3 5 Now, plot the points A (0, 3) and B (1, 5) on a graph paper. Join AB and extend it in both directions. Then, the line AB is the required graph of 2 x y + 3 = 0. Given: x = -2. Take a point M on the x-axis such that OM=-2. Draw MP, parallel to the y-axis, cutting the line AB at P. Clearly PM=-1. Therefore x = -2, then y = -1

Everything to Know About Japanese Entertainment

Everything to Know About Japanese Entertainment Entertainment in the Land of the Rising Sun ChaptersThe Must-See Films of JapanBest Japanese TV SeriesJapanese Game ShowsManga Publication MagazinesNippon is one home to one of the oldest civilizations on earth and, because of this, has witnessed countless examples of artistry in the forms of sculpting, painting, photography and film-making. Having influenced East Asian popular culture since time immemorial, Japan saw artistry flourish even in the Heian and Meiji periods.Today, Japan travel and tourism isn't just centred around understanding Japanese government, culture and society but also aspects such as street fashion, Japanese television, media and more. From the 17th century, Ukiyo style of painting to the Tokyo and Kyoto subculture of Harajuku's Lolita fashion - art created for and by Japanese audiences has been steadily gaining traction on the world stage for decades now.Whether it be anime and manga or television documentaries, getting to know Japanese culture and language doesn't strictly mean you have to take a trip to Japan. On the contrary, Japanese language and popular culture has been made much more accessible thanks to the help of 21st century technology.While Studio Ghibli, Akihabara kawaii pop culture, otaku, and more have put Japan on the map in terms of entertainment, it’s the entirely original and deeply rooted cultural media that have helped export Japanese pop culture to the rest of the world. Whether you want to get to know more about Japanese society and Japanese people, want to improve your Japanese language skills or even want to design your own manga anime one day, learn everything you need to know with this guide on everything to do with entertainment in the country.Japanese films have made an impact on generations of filmmakers NanaJapanese Teacher 5.00 (3) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YukoJapanese Teacher 5.00 (3) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EllyJapanese Teacher 5.00 (1) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MomokoJapanese Teac her £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MelanieJapanese Teacher £14/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JamesJapanese Teacher 5.00 (5) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PippaJapanese Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarikoJapanese Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsThe Must-See Films of JapanWhether you're preparing for your upcoming trip to Osaka, want to know more about kawaii, or cuteness, culture, or are simply curious to learn more about everything from Japanese pop songs to Japanese animation - the easiest way to start learning about culture in Japan is by watching movies!Japanese style is, like all cultures in the world, made up of a plurality of identities and subcultures. The yen, kimono, woodblock prints - Japanese fashion, architecture and lifestyle are as diverse and historically nuanced as any. Movies, however, can help bring both the main ideas and subtleties of Japanese society and history to the fore front. Here are some of the best Japanese movies you must see.Seven SamuraiA cult film considered by many to be the best movie ever made, Seven Samurai was directed by acclaimed Akira Kurosawa in 1954. The movie's plot centres around a 16th century village that hires 7 samurai in order to defend and protect their citizens against the bandits in the region. Known for its epic scenes and classic plot, the movie has influenced generations of directors and actors since its initial debut. Earning praise both domestically and internationally, the film has continued to receive awards throughout the years.The GrudgeWhile this film might already be popular with English speaking audiences thanks to the help of its American remake released in 2002, many movie lovers have recognized the original as the best of its kind out of all the iterations that have since come out.Created in 2000 under the title Ju-On and directed by Takashi Shimizu, the film tells the story of school teacher Shunsuke Koba yashi. Kobayashi, worried about a truant student, pays his family home a visit only to find out that the boy is dead. After that spooky encounter, Kobayashi starts experiencing strange phenomena happening all around him.Some of the other notable Japanese movies you should check out are:GodzillaTokyo StoryHana-biBattle RoyaleBest Japanese TV SeriesWith classic theatre drama like Kabuki, subcultures like visual kei, and sports like sumo wrestling, Japanese artists have had an impact in the world arena for centuries. Boasting some of the best comic books, anime manga and more - it's no wonder much of contemporary youth culture includes many Japanese idols.While modernity has taken much of the guesswork out of finding new music, books and shows to try out - it can still be overwhelming to navigate the crowded space of Japanese entertainment. If you're looking for cool Japan guides for understanding many a fandom, music, pop culture, manga and anime - the best place to start is by watchi ng TV!While it may surprise you, whether you're currently living in Japan or want to visit someday, real-time viewership is still higher than internet audiences. Take a look at some of Japan's most famous shows and you'll probably figure out why.Learn about Japanese culture through their entertainment industryMy Boss, My HeroTouching on the same themes as the wildly popular Japanese manga Great Teacher Onizuka, this 2006 drama was released on Nippon TV in 2006. The story's main character, Makio Sakaki, is a 27-year old Yakuza member whose gang leader is actually his father.When his father decides Makio must go back to high school and finish his degree, he is forced to disguise himself as a 17-year old and re-integrate into a society that is not only unrecognizable, but with whose modernity he's lost touch with.One Litre of TearsCantered around the narrative of Aya Kito, the drama was released in 2005 under the Japanese title Ichi Rittoru no Namida. In the story, Aya's expectations o f starting her high school experience on the right note are shattered when she starts to lose function in her body. Diagnosed with an incurable disease, she must re-orientate how she views her place in the world. Be warned, the title is what it is for a reason!Whether it be the style in Shinjuku, the history of the Edo period, postwar economics, or a traditional tea ceremony - Japan has been at the forefront of style, finance and history for centuries. Getting a glimpse of Japanese popular culture can help you start to untangle their society's long and diverse narratives. Here are some other Japanese dramas you should check out:Switch Girl!!Hanazakari No Kimitachi ENodame CantabileHibana: SparkJapanese Game ShowsCat cafes, pop music, Japanese tea and Japanese comics - Japanese soft power has consisted of exporting its entertainment to the world for decades now. One of the most well received of these has come in the form of game shows. Regardless of whether you're interested in build ing your own Japanese garden or can't point out Japan on a map - you're bound to love the drama, comedy and suspense contained in an episode of some of Japan's most famous game shows.Ninja WarriorRemade into many similar game shows in countries around the world, Ninja Warrior is made up of 4 rounds where contestants must complete obstacles and tasks within certain time limits and physical boundaries. The typical set up of a round consists of an obstacle course that each contestant must complete by reaching the buzzer at the end of the line. Out of the nearly 100 candidates put to the test, only four are allowed at the final round.Tetsuko's RoomOriginally airing on TV Asahi in 1976, the show is hosted by Tetsuko Kuroyanagi. Running for half an hour, the talk-show made history in 2015 when, celebrating its 10,000th episode, it was inaugurated into the world's hall of fame for the longest running, single-hosted talk show in the world. Tetsuko Kuroyanagi is one of the most admired women in the country and has been an ambassador for UNICEF since 1984.Take a look at some more instances of Japanese artists, Japanese history and more through some other great Japanese game shows like:Dero!Takeshi's CastleMarshmallow Funny FaceJapanese Literature, Culture and MoreInterested in post war autobiographies, Japanese anime or science fiction? Here are all the different types of Japanese publications you should check out to learn more about the language, culture and economy!Read some of the best popular Japanese manga!Manga Publication MagazinesWhat started with Osamu Tezuka, often hailed as the father of manga, has grown into an international art form loved by many. Before manga get published as graphic novels, they often get their start by being included in pre-publication magazines specifically for manga. The different types you can check out are:Shojo mangaJosei mangaShonen mangaSeinen mangaThe first word in these different types of manga stand for the Japanese word for wo man, young adult female, boy and man.Beauty MagazinesIf you want to learn more about beauty tips, trends and fashion, take a look at some of Japan’s most popular beauty magazines:JellyMamagirlElle JapanArts and Culture MagazinesInterested in Japanese music, sports and politics? Some of the magazines you should check out include Records Collectors' Magazine, Music Magazine and Bungeishunju.LiteratureHere are some recommendations if you're just getting started with Japanese literature. From science fiction like Gundam to classic texts.Tale of Genji by Murasaki ShikibuConfessions by Kanae MinatoSnow Country by Yasunari kawabataLearn more about the different kinds of publications Japan has to offer!

The History of New Years Resolutions

The History of New Year’s Resolutions Hindsight is 20/20, so let's begin 2020 by taking a look back at one of our favorite New Year's articles. If you're planning to make a New Year's resolution for 2020, here's some context behind the traditionand maybe some inspiration too. If resolutions have been around for over 4,000 years, can you make yours last more than a couple of months? Now that 2018 is here, you may be thinking about your own history of making New Years resolutionspromises to exercise more often, or to study more regularly. Maybe you lived up to these promises in 2017, or maybe you didnt. But have you ever wondered why we make New Years resolutions in the first place? Consider the history that surrounds this annual tradition: [RELATED: 10 Study Habits to Avoid] The origins of the New Years resolution You may be surprised to learn that the core concept behind New Years resolutions has existed for at least 4,000 years. The ancient Babylonians celebrated the new year with Akitu, a festival that included promises to the gods to repay debts or return items they borrowed. It took place in March, not January, because the new year was tied to the planting of spring crops. However, the idea of starting the year off on the right foot is an echo of our modern tradition. New Years resolutions and the Romans January 1 was decreed the start of the new year by Julius Caesar in ancient Roman times, and the Romans also promised good behavior in the coming year. This practice was linked to the Roman god Janus, who was associated with beginnings, endings, doorways, and transitions. The month of January was named after him, and he was represented as a two-faced god who looked back to the past year and ahead to the next. New Years resolutions and watch night services Another historic tradition related to New Years resolutions is the watch night servicea Christian church service typically held on New Years Eve or New Years Day. John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist faith, began the tradition of holding these services in the 1700s, in the belief that Methodists should reaffirm their covenant with God each year. Watch night services included prayers, song, and self-reflection, and similar services are still held today. [RELATED: The Importance of Self-Reflection: How to End the Year on a Positive Note] The terminology of New Years resolutions As discussed above, the concept of promising better behavior in a new year has existed for centuries, but the current terminology is a more recent development. The first recorded use of the phrase new year resolutions was in a newspaper article from 1813, according to Merriam-Webster. The article noted that there are many people accustomed to receive injunctions of new year resolutions, who will sin all the month of December, with a serious determination of beginning the new year with new resolutions and new behaviour... (Sound familiar?) By this point, its clear that the practice of these annual promises was becoming common enough that people would understand the above reference. Since then, the practice has only become more popular. A recent poll suggests roughly 44% of Americans plan to make changes in 2018. Although few people seem to completely succeed in the long term with their New Years resolutions, about two-thirds of those who made a 2017 resolution said they kept at least part of their promise. [RELATED: 2017 New Years Resolutions for Students] Now that you know the story behind New Years resolutions, perhaps you will be inspired to help keep this tradition alive and to prevent your own resolutions from fading into history. Any topics you want to know more about? Let us know! The Varsity Tutors Blog editors love hearing your feedback and opinions. Feel free to email us at blog@varsitytutors.com.

Peter Matthew Bauer of The Walkmen Talks Living Room Shows and Liberation!

Peter Matthew Bauer of The Walkmen Talks Living Room Shows and Liberation! Megan L. Growing up on indie rock, The Walkmen were among my favorite bands in high school and college. Though they are now on extreme hiatus, members of the band continue to make great music that I can love as an adult too. The bands bassist Peter Matthew Bauer embarked on a solo career with his 2014 album Liberation!, an album that pairs spiritual themes and literary references with catchy rock hooks and psychedelic vibes. I got the chance to talk with Bauer about his musical background, his solo career, and his favorite Latin American authors. TL: How did you get into playing music? PMB: I started taking guitar lessons when I was a kid from a guy in Washington DC who was sort of the local guitar teacher of choice. I did that for a couple years. I had a friend who was an older kid who had a band, so I wanted to be like them. And now youre a guy who a lot of people would want to be like, with your time in The Walkmen and your incredible solo record.  Whats it been like for you getting out on your own and writing songs? Its a lot of fun. Its great! Its a little lonely I guess. Its a lot more on you when its your own name and youre doing everything. That makes it fun. One of the things I really love about your record is how you incorporate some Eastern sounds in your music, a little reminiscent of George Harrison and the Beatles but theres also something really modern and cool about how youve done it. Did you have a kind of guiding philosophy around how you used those elements? I was writing these songs about how I grew up, so I thought if I could figure out ways to use slightly Indian sounding things in a couple spots, without it sounding kinda hacky, it would be fun, sort of funny. I had a harmonium laying around the house and I liked the sound of it, and that was the idea. Theres not that much of it that was meant to be Indian, its just sort of stuff I had. Yeah, its a really light touch with that instrumentation but its really cool. One of my favorite songs on the record is Latin American Ficciones. Is that a reference to any specific author? Yeah, its a reference to Jorge Luis Borges, and Roberto Bolaño also. I think I  just changed it to Ficciones because  I had a bad mix of it when it was called Latin American Fiction. [Laughs]. Its a dumb joke. Its sort of a song from when I was figuring out how to sing and what I was going to sing about, and I think both of those writers have meant a lot to me in terms of how strong their voices are. As much as people think of them, Borges especially, with intricate plots and being this erudite fella, really hes bluffing his way through the whole thing and its just his personality. Its himself coming through whatever hes talking about that he thinks is interesting. He could write a movie review and youd know who it is. I think thats the sign of a really great writer or artist or whatever. They can be doing anything and you can tell its that person. And I think its also very anti-psychological too, which I think is nice. Its not like hes whining or self-referential, which I think is a happy way to be. In songwriting, a lot of people think its about trying to exorcise these psychological problems or something like that, and I dont think thats the case. Even maybe people who think thats what theyre doing arent necessarily doing that, because that  isnt really whats universal. So it sounds like for you songwriting is more about the experience and finding a way to transmit something universal. A lot of the songs also reference spirituality, from Hinduism to Scientology. Where does that theme come from for you? I guess its just how I grew up and what I think about. Its not that popular of a theme in rock music, which is weird because its a pretty big chunk of life, to reckon with that sort of thing seriously, or not seriously, or somehow. Its what I think about and talk about and read about, so I thought Id write songs about it. It seemed more where Im coming from than writing songs about anything else. What was it like for you growing up? My father and mother were both very heavy into meditation and spirituality, so I was kind of dragged around as a kid to different ashrams and things  like that. So I thought if youre gonna write a solo record with your name on it, and its your first one, it should be about where youre coming from, that seems to be what people do. Thats where I was coming from, so I figured I would find my own take on that and figure out what all that meant to me. Do you feel now after writing those songs like you have a better grasp on what all that experience meant? Yeah, a little bit. I think it helps to kind of process something in a song, to process the experience in a way that you wouldnt otherwise. Its much less of a psychological thing and more just the experiences coming across in music, which I think is something that the musical form can do that maybe other forms cant do as well. So I see youve done entire tours of living room shows, playing in peoples homes. How have you enjoyed that as compared to the club circuit, and how did the living  room tours come about? Well, it came about because its a smart way of doing things when youre by yourself. Its either that or you hire five of your friends and drag them around and lose a lot of money. Or you can kind of go out on your own and meet people and have these shows. You come to realize if youre going to be playing for 50, 100, 200 people, you really dont need a drumset to get your point across. It kind of ends up being a little off-putting to be playing with a huge band in a small room. It can be fun on certain nights but if youre just trying to get yourself over to people its not that great. I actually prefer it a lot now that Ive done it, to the alternative. Its a small group of people and you meet everybody, and I think they have a better experience than if they went to a rock club which can be very standoffish. Yeah, theres a kind of intimacy in a house show that you dont get at another venue. Yes, its a different thing. I think its something people will start doing more of. Theres starting to be a little network of it across the country, which is great. It feels fresher, youre not going to the same place that 500 other people just went through. You get to blaze your own trail. It takes a little more for everyone to be there, so everyone involved has more intention than just a Friday at the local indie rock place. I like it a lot better. So  you have a performance coming up at KAABOO and some other tour dates as well. Whats next for you? I just moved to Los Angeles so Im trying to figure out what the hell to do with my life. [Laughs]. Yeah, so Ive got to figure that out and from there Ill see what happens next. Im going to put a more LA based band together, or something like that I think, just to start playing with locally and work with some folks out here. And just trying to enjoy California. It seems pretty damn great. Keep up with Peter on Facebook and Twitter, and dont miss him when he performs in your town! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher

Wilsons World Celebrates PiDay With Heart Math Tutoring - Heart Math Tutoring

Wilsons World Celebrates PiDay With Heart Math Tutoring - Heart Math Tutoring Wilsons World Celebrates PiDay With Heart Math Tutoring Wilsons World Celebrates PiDay With Heart Math Tutoring March 14, 2017 Wilsons World joined Heart students at Montclaire Elementary this morning to celebrate PiDay. Students Scarlett and Oscar talked with their 5th grade teacher Mr. OLeary about how they incorporatePi in the classroom, and why they enjoy math! Wilson also viewed a tutoring session and talked with Hearts Program Coordinator Sarah Cover and Executive Director Emily Elliott about how Heart prepares tutors to support students. When you sign up for tutoring, the first thing that happens is that I train you through our six concept notebooks. The notebooks include all the instructions and anything you need. If you have any questions Im here for all tutoring, says Sarah. For more information about becoming a tutor seehttp://hearttutoring.org/volunteers/become-a-volunteer/. See the full segment from Wilsons World here.

Asking Difficult Questions English Listening Exercise

Asking Difficult Questions English Listening Exercise I love this animated clip, in which a young boy with a form of autism asks his mother some very difficult questions, so I turned it into a listening exercise.I really appreciate Sarah, the mother, and the way she answers her sons questions. Also, there are some interesting English expressions and idioms in this listening exercise. It is easier than many of our listening exercises because there are subtitles, but I think that writing and creating your own sentences using some of English idioms and expressions will add some challenge. Also, please do the writing exercise for a bit of English writing practice. As always Ill correct your answers if you post them in the comments area.1. Cockroach is the insect we ______ to _______. 2. Can you use the above expression in your own sentence? 3. What is blushing? 4. Have you ever thought you couldnt _____ with having a child? 5. What is a phrasal verb synonym for the word that goes in the gap above? 6. ______ friendly comes easily to Amy. 7. Comes easily Can you use this expression in a sentence of your own? 8. I had to learn to _____ out of the ______. 9. What does the above phrase mean?Writing exercise: Answer at least 4 of the questions that Joshua asks his mom. What do you think about honesty and speaking with your children? Have your children ever asked you a really difficult question? or Did you ever ask your parents difficult questions? How did you or your parents respond? Ilka 1. Cockroach is the insect we love to hate. 2. Can you use the above expression in your own sentence? Cockroach is an insect we really hate. 3. What is blushing? To get shy. 4. Have you ever thought you couldn’t ??? for with having a child? 5. What is a phrasal verb synonym for the word that goes in the gap above? 6. Being friendly comes easily to Amy. 7. ‘Comes easily’ Can you use this expression in a sentence of your own? It comes easily for that boy to make new friends, because he is outgoing. 8. I had to learn to think out of th e box. 9. What does the above phrase mean? That the mother hat to learn to think differently from what is usual.Writing exercise answers to at least four of Joshuas questions:1) From a scale of one to ten do you think your life would be different without that animals? Yes, all animals are important in nature.2) Have you ever felt like life is hopeless? No, not sad that much.3)Do you have any mortal enemies? No, I dont think so;4) Have you ever lied to me? Its not good to lie, but sometimes its necessary, like in some occasions when children get sick;5) Did I turn out to be the son you wanted when I was born? I still dont have children, but surely when they come, they will exceed my expectations.Its important to be honest when talking to children, but its also important to have in mind that they dont see the world the way we do, in order not to hurt them or to take their dreams away. I dont live nor work with children, so I still dont have experiences with these kind of questions L OIEnglish IlkaGood. The answer to question #4 is COPE. The answer to question #5 is: deal with. Thanks for answering! albatain Cockroach is the insect we love to hate.Getting Dirty as a child is one of these things we love to hate.being ashamed!Have you ever thought you couldnt cope with having a child?overcome!Being friendly comes easily to Amy.When you practice English everyday, speaking English comes easily to you to sound naturally.I had to learn to think out of the box.thinking in different way, being creative,,,I think we should be honest with a child especially, when we have a specific topic to talk about.But I believe also you should be able to protect your child from something which could hurt him or his feeling even though you would lie to him.I dont have a children, so no !!!Yeah, sometimes as a kid I had some these strange queries about live, ghosts etc,,, and I was curious to know everything around meto be honest, most likely I think they just lied to me ?? LOIEnglis h Albatain,Good work. Your answers are all correct. You have some grammar mistakes in some of the answers.Question #5: a phrasal verb is two words so: deal with, is a better answer.Your answer to Question #7: When you practice English everyday, speaking comes easily to you AND you sound NATURAL.thinking in A different way, being creativeI dont have ANY children. (we never use articles (a, the, an) with a plural word. Children is an irregular plural.Yeah, sometimes as a kid I had some strange queries about LIFE, ghosts, etc and I was curious ABOUT everything around me.Life is the noun. Live is the verb.I love life.I live in a small town.Im sure every parent lies a little to their children. As a parent I keep in mind the rule to only answer the questions they ask and to answer as simply and honestly as I can. Currently, my little one is in the why phase. She asks, why for everything.I hope this helps! Thanks for answering! Anna 1.Cockroach is the insect we love to hate. 2. There are more snakes and lizards in the nature that we love to hate. 3. to feel embarrassed 4. Have you ever thought you couldnt cope with having a child? 5. deal with 6 .being friendly comes easily to Amy. 7. Being healty comes easily if you eat only naturall food. 8. I had to learn to think out of the box. 9. After this car accident ive started to think out of the box. Writing exercise: My little son is so noisy, activitty boy. Sometimes I have some troubles with him in the school, but I always know that I can deal with it. Who is if not I am?! When my children were born Ive been very surprised because they were just the same as Ill imagine. And they both have meet my expectation absolutely. Sometimes my son asks my some difficult questions and Im afraid hes too small to receive the truthful answere. When I was a child and asked my mum difficult question she didnt answere me and said: You will know when you will grow up. My parents and I get allong well, but with my children I try to be m ore carefull. Anna 1. Cockroach is the insect we love to hate. 2. There are many snakes and lizards in the world that we love to hate. 3. It happen when people feel embarrassed, for example. 4. Have you ever thought you couldn’t cope with having a child? 5. deal with 6. being friendly comes easily to Amy. 7. It comes easily to be healthy if you use only naturally food. 8. I had to learn to think out of the box. 9. It means the Joshua’s mum have especially child and she had to think different and more creative than usually people.Writing exercise: My old son was a very noisy and restless boy. I had some troubles with him in the kindergarten and primary school. The teachers complained of his bad behavior. But I’ve been known I could cope with it. When my children were born I was so amazing because they were just as remarkable as I was imaging. Both my children have met my expectation absolutely. My son asks me some difficult question sometimes. Then I can’t answer to him bec ause he’s too small. For example he asked me recently: Why people are getting the fool when they drink a lot alcohol? When I was child my mother said me often: You’ll know it when you’ll grow up. This happens to me too. I get along well with my parents, but I try to be more carefully and honesty with my children. LOIEnglish AnnaGood listening, you have a few grammar mistakes in the answers. Ill point them out here:Question #3: It happenSQuestion #7: Being healthy comes easily when you choose only natural foods.Question #9: It means THAT Joshuas mum HAD a SPECIAL chld and she had to think differentLY and more creatively than NORMAL.I had some troubles with him in Kindergarten. (no THE, because it is a formal noun).The teachers complained ABOUT his bad behavior. (complain is always with ABOUT)But Ive always known I could cope with it. (no need for been in the sentence.)When my children were born I was so amazED because they were just as remarkable as I HAD imagined. (adjective s when we feel them end in ED, when we produce the feelings end in ING; watch this video: http://www.skypeenglishclasses.com/skype-english-blog/videos/english-adjectives-with-ed-and-ing-video-and-exercise/) (We use the past perfect in this sentence because there are 2 things that happened in the past, children were born, I had imagined) Here is a video about this problem: http://www.skypeenglishclasses.com/skype-english-blog/past-simple-past-perfect-and-past-continuous-video/I cant answer HIM because hes too small. (no need for TO with answer, answer is just with object) I answer the questions truthfully.Hahaha! That is a hard question to answer: Why DO people ACT LIKE FOOLS when they drink alcohol?When I was a child my mother OFTEN said: Youll UNDERSTAND when YOU ARE OLDER.I try to be more careful and honest with my children. (carefully is the adverb; He drives carefully through the mountains. Honesty is the noun. Honesty is an important quality in a husband.)Thanks for answering! Anna Thanks for your comment. Its very usfull for me. luca lattarini 1-Cockroach is the insect we love to hate. 2-Cockroach is an insect we really hate. 3-asking a unconfortable question to another people 4-cope 5-deal with 6-Being friendly comes easily to Amy. 7- it comes easily for me 8-I had to learn to think out of the box with you 9-the mother had to learn different way to look after her baby1-I think that its very important to take care of own baby through the right word. I appreciate the mother.2-I still havent children even if one day it will happen i hope to look for the right word 3-No- i should have to make it 4- I do not know LOIEnglish Luca, first thank you for answering. A quick look at some of your answers:Question #3: asking AN uncomfortable question to another PERSON. (We use an because uncomfortable begins with a vowel sound u. We use PERSON because it is singular and ANOTHER always is paired with singular nouns NEVER with plurals.)Question #9: The mother had t o learn A different way to look after her baby. (Remember to always introduce a noun with an article: A, An, or The)Im not sure what you mean in your writing when you use word.I think it is very important to take care of YOUR own baby with the correct EXPLANATIONS. (perhaps this is better?)I still havent HAD any children. If one day it happenS, I hope to have the right EXPLANATIONS. (havent had-this is present perfect tense)I hope this helps!