Motivating your Child to Care about School

Wouldn't we all love to hear an enthusiastic "Great!" when you child is asked how school is going?  Instead you might get an apathetic "It's ok" response.  Or you may even get "it sucks!"  How do you motivate you child to care about school?
The fact is your child may never love school.  For some, academics come naturally, while others struggle throughout.  You can't force the love of school, but you can encourage your child to care about his education.
I always knew growing up that I had to go to college.  It wasn't an option in my family – I had to at least show up for the first day of college.  My parents said that they had an obligation to ensure I had a good education and I had an obligation to get good grades. 
When we'd see adult fast food workers or someone busting their hiney behind a deli counter, my parents would remind me the importance of career options.  I learned that while there was nothing wrong with working in a cashier position, some people didn't have other options because they didn't have a college education. 
I knew early on that I didn't want to spend my adult life flipping burgers.  For me, that was motivation to care about school. For others, that motivation may not work.  Some people are motivated by money.
Show your child different salaries of various careers.  If she has aspirations of a six figure salary, she'll need to start laying the ground work now.   Some children may not respond to any future aspirations.  They are only concerned about the present.
You may not be able to get your child to love school, but perhaps you can help him not hate school.  You know your child better than anyone.  You know his likes and dislikes (if you don't, I strongly suggest you stop reading this article immediately and go hang out with your child!).
What is your child interested in?  Good grades?  Being able to participate in extra-curricular activities? Money? Future earnings? Find what makes your child tick and you'll have a head start.
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Club Z! wants you to increase your General Knowledge! (PART 3)

101 How many legs do butterflies have? 6 Legs & 2 Pair of Wings 102 Who invented the Nintendo Wii? Kashi Kabushiki 103 What year does the Nintendo Wii come out? Late 2006 104 Who invented the Light Bulb? Humphry Davy 105 Who invented the washing machine? James King 106 Who invented the first electric washing machine? Alva Fisher 107 Who invented the safety pin? Walter Hunt 108 Who invented the Vacuum Cleaner? Hubert Booth 109 Who won the Football World Cup in 2006? Italy 110 Which country hosted the Football World Cup in 2006? Germany 110 Who is the new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom? David Cameron 111 Who won Men's Singles title in French Open 2010? Rafael Nadal (Spain) 112 Who won Women's Singles title in French Open 2010? Francesca Schiavone (Italy) 113 Who won Men's Doubles title in French Open 2010? Daniel Nestor (Canada) & Nenad Zimonjic (Serbia) 114 Who won Women's Doubles title in French Open 2010? Serena & Venus Williams (USA) 115 What is the longest word in English in which each letter is used at least two times? Unprosperousness 116 What is the most popular breed of dog? Retrievers 117 Who is the CEO of search company Google? Eric Schmidt 118 Who is Miss USA 2010? Rima Fakih 119 Which country won the Thomas Cup title for Badminton in 2010? China 120 Who was the first Indian to join the Indian Civil Services? Satyendranath Tagore 121 Who was the first woman Governor of India? Sarojini Naidu 122 Which two countries have signed the Nuclear Swap deal with Iran? Brazil and Turkey 123 Who won the Madrid Masters men's tournament in 2010? Rafael Nadal 124 Who is CEO of Yahoo? Carol Bartz 125 Who is the first man to climb Mount Everest without oxygen? Phu Dorji 126 How many words can you make from a five letter word by shuffling the places of each alphabet? 120 127 Speed of computer mouse is measured in which unit? Mickey 128 Who topped Forbes list of 'Billionaire Universities' in 2010? Harvard University 129 Barack Obama's birthday is on which date? August 4, 1961 130 Which bird is the international symbol of happiness? Bluebird 131 What is the pirate's flag with the skull and cross-bones called? Jolly Roger 132 What is the common name for ascorbic acid? Vitamin C 133 Which useful household item is made from naphthalene? Mothballs VISIT OUR WEBISTE: www.clubztutoring.com/GTA

Get To Know Your Kid's Teachers

By definition, a teacher is one who teaches.  Ya .. so?  Let's look at what it means to teach.   The dictionary defines the verb teach as:

• To impart, provide or instruct knowledge or skill
• To condition to a certain action or frame of mind
• To cause to learn by example or experience
• To advocate or preach
• To carry on instruction on a regular basis in

That last one, to carry on instruction on a regular basis, is a biggie…on a regular basis. On average teachers will spend 30 hours a week with your elementary age child. In contrast, let's look at the amount of time you will spend, with your child during an average school week.   Between getting up, dressed, fed and teeth brushed, on average, a parent will spend 10 minutes actually with the child.
Then there's after school - it's probably at least 5:00 pm before you really spend time with your child; either due to your schedule or your child's. (Note:  Seeing your child and spending time with – are not synonymous).   Then maybe you spend some time together preparing and eating dinner.   After school and after work you may have taken junior to practice or the store, or there was more homework.
If your child is like most, a bath or shower is probably needed. After that, perhaps a bedtime snack, a little TV and then it's time to start the bedtime routine.  It's safe to say, on average, parents will spend less than eight (8) hours a week interacting with their elementary age child.  Now do you see why it is vital to get to know your kid's teachers?
Most schools have an Open House prior to the first day of school.  This gives the parent and child a chance to meet the teacher and vice versa.  Make every effort to attend this Open House.  If you have a schedule conflict you cannot rearrange, make an appointment before or after school to meet your child's teacher.  It may only take a quick 10 minute visit initially, but don't you want to know who will be imparting, providing and instructing knowledge and skills to your child?
Teachers will almost always provide phone numbers and emails where they can be reached.  Nearly all of them will give you their home number.  Use this contact information!  Many parents think, "Oh I don't want to bother the teacher by calling him/her."  Bother?  Staying informed about what is happening with your child thirty hours each week should by no means be considered, "bothering the teacher."  Parents have a duty to know what is going on!
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Food Allergies: What to Do when Your Child is the One Who Could Get Sick?

Eight hours later, she woke from her coma.  She was in Emergency Room with her parents sitting by her side.  She was dazed and confused.  Earlier that day she was having an asthma attack, so one of her cabin-mates at camp shared some of her own medication to help her breathe.  What no one knew was that the capsule was coated with egg whites.  That is common in some medications to help make them more slippery and easy to swallow.  The camper was highly allergic to eggs; and consequently went into anaphylactic shock. Camp counselors couldn't revive her, so they called an ambulance.  That is a true story.
Unless you or a loved one has food allergies, it's impossible to convey how consuming avoidance can be.  It is a little more in depth than "don't eat the peanuts".  Severe allergic reactions can occur merely by smelling or touching the forbidden food.
Now that it's back to school time, what can you do so that you child isn't the one who gets sick?
The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology issued a statement on Anaphylaxis in Schools and Other Childcare Settings.  The statement outline requirements that school staff, childcare providers, and food service personnel must take.  But please don't rely solely on staff adherence to these requirements.  Take matters into your own hands.
Here are some proactive steps you can take to preclude allergic reactions in your child:

1. Inform the staff specifically what is needed to ensure no problems at school.  Let them know that you want to work with them to keep your child healthy and not cause classroom disruptions. Get familiar with the school building, lunch facilities and policies regarding snacks.
2. Don't make assumptions about the staff's knowledge.  Give them information and resources.  Help them understand how to administer medications or to use an epi-pen.  Remind them that since they are required by federal law to assist your child and to include her in normal school activities, you'd like to help make that happen smoothly.
3. Empower your child.  Reinforce the importance of knowing potential food allergy triggers and identifying them to her teacher. Med-Alert bracelets are helpful, too.

Sure it may take some adjusting on everyone's part, but by working with the school and with your child, you should be able to have a safe, happy and healthy school year! 

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Bedtime Routine to Give your Kids a Chance to Tell you About their School Day

"Ok, it's time to start getting ready for bed.  After your bath, brush your teeth and get your pajamas on.  It's getting late."

If you have a bedtime routine, pat yourself on the back.  Bedtime routines are so vital, especially for young children.  Consider adding one more step to your bedtime routine.  Give your kids a chance to tell you about their school day.

Remember that if your child is in school all day, your teacher is with your son or daughter for an average of 30 hours a week.  That's almost the equivalent of a full work week.  You've missed quite a bit of time with your child. 

Make an effort to keep the communication free flowing.  If you set good habits while your child is young, it'll be easier to talk about just anything as the years pass. For starters, don't ask yes or no answers.  You don't want to establish a nightly Q & A, but rather two-way communication.

Sometimes "tell me about your day" doesn't generate much conversation.  You could begin with, "tell me five things that happened today; recess and lunch don't count."  That is usually a great ice breaker.   Kids learn real quickly that if you don't ask, they're not telling.

In addition to asking what was for lunch, ask who your child sat next to.  Who did they play with at recess?  What did that play during recess?  Was anyone sick today?  Did anything funny or embarrassing happen to anyone in school today?

Sometime it is difficult to keep track of the specials.  By specials I mean: gym, music, art, computer lab, etc.; the extra classes that usually take place with a different teacher outside of the main classroom.  Keep a cheat sheet if you need to; ask what activity they did in gym. 

If you can get your child to tell you about someone who may have had a hard time (in gym, with math, with reading aloud, etc.) it is a great segue for a life lesson in difficulties and hurt feelings.

It really doesn't matter what you talk about; it's more important that you talk.  Make talking about your kid's day a regular part of the bedtime routine, you'll be surprised what you learn!

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A Stress Free Morning Routine for Back to School

Let's go! Let's go! Come on … you're going to miss the bus! I don't know where your favorite jeans are; it's not my responsibility. What do you mean you still have homework? Did you brush your teeth yet? Let's go! I'm leaving… NOW!

Oh I hope your mornings don't sound like that above. If it does, it's not too late to turn that ship around. The key to having a stress free morning routine is to have a smooth bedtime routine. Remember, a routine is something that is followed regularly, standard procedures. Without the consistency you will have an uphill battle.

Here are some tips to a stress free morning routine:

• No yelling. Raising your voice, albeit frustrated, is only going to escalate matters.

• Early to bed, early to rise. That one is simple.

• Showers and baths should be taken at night. You think you'll have time in the morning, but you rarely do.

• Look over all homework for completeness before bed; don't assume it's finished.

• Before bed ensure lunches are made, backpack is packed and there are no surprise "Oh I need xxx today!"

• Give singular instructions. Don't say, "I want you to finish your homework, eat breakfast, get dressed, comb your hair, brush your teeth and be in the car by 8:15." To a child, that sounds like "blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah." One instruction at a time works wonders.

• Provide instructions once. If you're doing this, stop: "Johnny, it's time to get dressed." Two minutes later, "Johnny, we're going to be late if you don't get dressed now." Two more minutes later, "Johnny, honey, I told you to get dressed." "Johnny, Mommy is going to be late, now go get dressed." To a child that sounds like "Oh mom is good for asking about five more times before she really goes ballistic!" Repeated requests only send the message that junior doesn't really have to do it now.

• Set consequences and stick to your guns. If you tell your child the car is leaving at 8:15 sharp, make it happen. Clearly you can't leave your child behind, so leaving without her isn't an option. Tell her you will be leaving whether she is ready or not. Sending a 10 year old to school with uncombed hair, pajamas and an empty belly might be just the catalyst for change.

You are the parent; you set the tone for the morning routine. You need to be actively involved in the morning routine. Follow the steps above and I guarantee 'joy will come in the morning!'

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What if you swallow a bug?

Did a bug ever fly in your mouth? Usually, the story ends there. You spit it out. Goodbye, bug. But sometimes — gulp! — you might swallow it so it ends up in your stomach. Less often, someone might inhale a bug into the lungs.

You have probably heard that old children's song "I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly." Most people don't swallow flies. But we know of someone who's sure she swallowed a tiny gnat. Another boy had a close call when a yellowjacket flew out of his can of soda and into his mouth while he was taking a sip. (He spit it out before getting stung.) And would you believe that someone said she inhaled a lightning bug and could feel it in her lungs?

There are two paths a swallowed bug might take:

1. down the esophagus (food tube) into the stomach
2. down the trachea (windpipe) into the lungs

If the bug ends up in your stomach, it will get mashed up and digested just like any other food. And whatever's left of it will "come out the other end" when you go to the bathroom. It's gross, but unlikely to cause you any more trouble.

If you feel like you inhaled the bug and you think it could be in your lungs, tell a parent or another adult. Usually this will make you cough and feel a little uncomfortable. Your mom or dad will want to check with your doctor. Unlike your stomach, your lungs won't digest the bug.

In your lungs, the bug will get trapped in a layer of slimy mucus. Maybe you're thinking "Gross, there's slime in my lungs!" But it's good to know the mucus is there for a reason. It protects your lungs and airways from situations just like this one. The mucus helps your lungs stay clear so that you can breathe properly. In other words, no bugs allowed!

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How to make back to school transition easy ending up in studying successfully

• Plan ahead

Students should not wait for September to start getting ready for school. Always plan ahead so that you are ready when that first day comes by preparing yourself early. The transition for students will be easy if they don’t wait till last minute.

• Revision

Students can forget the last year work if they don’t review all what they learned last year. Always look over your notes, old tests and assignments and try to solve all those problems you had last year.

• Study ahead

Students usually feel burdened with studies when new school year start and it happens because they have not study ahead in their holidays. They must find out what they will be reading in new school year and should read ahead. To study ahead always ask the senior grade students that what should be studied to get ahead in any subject

• Get a tutor and workbooks to get ready for next grade

Parents should get a tutor for a child if they feel child is not ready for the next grade. Student can also get workbooks of all difficult subjects that cover your past grade and your new grade so that you can get ready for the coming year and can review the last year course also.

• Plan schedule in advance

Students should do their scheduling in advance, so that you can plan in advance when to get up, when to leave for school and when to study. Practice to get up early a few weeks before school begins, so that you get used to the schedule change.

And you should know how to successfully study when your school will start. The thing that least matters is whether you are writing an English literature paper, reviewing algebra problems, or finishing up a chemistry lab report.

Following are a few key elements that every successful student needs to include in a study plan.

• Time-Management :

Effective time management is not about how much time a student spend in front of books , it’s about how much he learn in that specific time period. If a student is earning “C grade “after studying 40 hours, than it’s not worth it and its just wastage of time. For effective time management student should develop a proper plan.

• Motivation :

Motivation is the key to success so if a student wills not motivation to study then he will not be able to get “A grade” or even pass the exam. Student should schedule the rite time in a day to study when he will feel motivated enough to study with full focus.

·         Concentration – You need to develop the skill to concentrate as this is a very important ability.  It is not necessary that you always get the amount of silence or time you require spending in a project. You should know and learn how to overcome all these distractions and CONCENTRATE on your studies only.

• When in doubt, ask – you should not be shy when you are not sure about a particular topic. Whoever is near; your instructor, family member or friend, ask for their help. The sooner you address your problem area, the lesser time you will be spending to catch up on your work

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August 10 is National Smores Day

August 10 is National S’mores Day. You know s’mores … melty marshmallows and chocolate sandwiched between graham crackers. Mmmmmm.

A S’more is a traditional nighttime campfire treat made popular in North America.

If you’ve never had them before, they are so easy to make! And, we’re giving you some.

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Club Z! wants you to increase your General Knowledge! (PART 2)

General Knowledge Questions and Answers No. General Knowledge Question Answer 51 The national flower of China is Narcissus 52 The permanent secretariat of the SAARC is located at Kathmandu 53 The gateway to the Gulf of Iran is Strait of Hormuz 54 The first Industrial Revolution took place in England 55 World Environment Day is observed on 5th June 56 The first Republican President of America was Abraham Lincoln 57 The country famous for Samba dance is Brazil 58 The name of Alexander's horse was Beucephalus 59 Singapore was founded by Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles 60 The famous British one-eyed Admiral was Nelson 61 The earlier name of Sri Lanka was Ceylon 62 The UNO was formed in the year 1945 63 UNO stands for United Nations Organization 64 The independence day of South Korea is celebrated on 15th August 65 'Last Judgement' was the first painting of an Italian painter named Michelangelo 66 Paradise Regained was written by John Milton 67 The first President of Egypt was Mohammed Nequib 68 The first man to reach North Pole was Rear Admiral Robert E. Peary 69 The most famous painting of Pablo Picasso was Guermica 70 The primary producer of newsprint in the world is Canada 71 The first explorer to reach the South Pole was Cap. Ronald Amundson 72 The person who is called the father of modern Italy is G.Garibaldi 73 World literacy day is celebrated on 8th September 74 The founder of modern Germany is Bismarck 75 The country known as the land of the midnight sun is Norway 76 The place known as the Roof of the world is Tibet 77 The founder of the Chinese Republic was San Yat Sen 78 The first Pakistani to receive the Nobel Prize was Abdul Salam 79 The first woman Prime Minister of Britain was Margaret Thatcher 80 The first Secretary General of the UNO was Trygve Lie 81 The sculptor of the statue of Liberty was Frederick Auguste Bartholdi 82 The port of Baku is situated in Azerbaijan 83 John F Kennedy was assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald 84 The largest river in France is Loire 85 The Queen of England who married her brother-in-law was Catherine of Aragon 86 The first black person to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize was Ralph Johnson Bunche 87 The first British University to admit women for degree courses was London University 88 The principal export of Jamaica is Sugar 89 New York is popularly known as the city of Skyscrapers 90 Madagascar is popularly known as the Island of Cloves 91 The country known as the Land of White Elephant is Thailand 92 The country known as the Land of Morning Calm is Korea 93 The country known as the Land of Thunderbolts is Bhutan 94 The highest waterfalls in the world is the Salto Angel Falls, Venezuela 95 The largest library in the world is the United States Library of Congress, Washington DC 96 The author of Harry Potter Books is JK Rowling 97 Nickname of New York city is Big Apple 98 What do you call a group of sheep? A Flock of Sheep 99 In which sport do players take long and short corners? Hockey 100 Who was the youngest President of the USA? Theodore Roosevelt VISIT OUR WEBISTE: www.clubztutoring.com/GTA

ACT or SAT? Which one should a student take?

This article addresses a question I am often asked by students and their parents.  The answer (“both”) is simple, but deceptively so.  Underlining the answer are several layers of complication that must be considered on a case basis.

Each SAT or ACT taken by a student costs her roughly $50 and half of a day of her life — a small price when compared to the potential benefits of admission into college.  Now, consider this: one of the best ways to prepare for taking the SAT(or ACT) is, well, taking the SAT (or ACT).  So, take both — as often as one can stand the effort and expense.  But that could mean taking twelve tests a year!  Surely that is too much.  So what else should one consider?

Consider the history and purpose of each test.  The SATs were created in the 1920s by and for several elite eastern colleges (i.e., the Ivy League) to supplement high school grades in the colleges’ evaluation of prospective candidates for admission.  The tests have changed over the years, but the basic testing philosophy has not.  The tests are designed primarily to measure the skills a student needs for success in college.  Despite some controversy (regarding diversity fairness and “trick” questions), the tests correlate well with students’ success as freshmen in college. Today the SATs are taken nationwide, but are most popular among colleges (and their prospective students) located in states on or near the coasts.

The ACTs were created in the late 1950s by and for midwestern colleges unhappy with some aspects of the SATs.  The ACTs are designed primarily to measure what a student has learned in high school.  They also correlate with student success in college, but less so than the SATs (according to some experts).  Today the ACTs are taken nationwide, but are most popular among colleges (and their prospective students) located in the broad middle of the country.  Many students feel more comfortable with the ACT (thinking they did better on it than on the SAT), but they are often surprised to find that their percentile rankings on the ACT are no better than those achieved on the SAT.

Nearly all college admissions officers accept either test.  I help prepare students for either or both.  If time and money are not major concerns, I say “go for both.”  If there is a limit, either test will do.  Personally, I lean toward the SAT because of its emphasis on the skills needed for success at the college level.  Getting into a college is only the beginning.  A student must be prepared to succeed in the college learning environment – which is vastly different from that in high school.

In high school, the teacher covers the material in class.  If she is conscientious, she will then assign reading and exercises.  A student, even one weak in critical reading and problem solving, should then be able to do the assignment because the material was covered in class.  In college, the professor does not cover the material.  The student is expected to come to class having already done the necessary reading and exercises.  The professor then “uncovers some of the material” and conducts a seminar with the (informed) students.

In high school a student is tested often.  Most high school quizzes and tests do not emphasize writing or the solving of problems a student has not seen before.  Most college courses test only three times: a midterm exam, a final, and a term paper.  Depending on the course, each test will demand writing, problem solving, or both.

The skills required of college students are precisely the ones tested by the SAT.  Preparing for the SAT thus helps a student develop the skills needed not only to get into college, but to stay there.  So, for most students, my answer is to take both the ACT and the SAT, but to concentrate primarily on the SAT

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Club Z! finds SAT Quick Tips on Math Section!

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Happy Civic Day!

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