Why Students Struggle With History Classes

Why Students Struggle With History Classes Who was North Koreas ally in the Korean War against American troops? No googling please. See, history isnt that easy after all. If you said China, without googling, pat yourself on the back and grumble about how uninformed your fellow Americans are. But the fact of the matter is very few high school seniors were able to correctly answer that question, and most fourth graders cannot identify why Abraham Lincoln is an important historical figure. American students are simply less proficient in their nations history than any other subject, according to an article in the New York Times. Nationally, 12 percent of high school seniors, 17 percent of eight graders and 20 percent of fourth graders scored proficient on the National Assessment of Educational Progress exam, which measures students proficiency in various academic subjects. These scores, surprisingly enough, actually marked a small increase for eighth graders since 2006, pleasing federal officials. However, fewer than a third of all eighth graders could correctly identify an important advantage American forces had over the British during the Revolution. Some history teachers and educators were appalled by these results, as the list of seemingly simple questions that students failed to answer goes on. Another: only two percent of 12th graders correctly answered what was important in the Brown vs. Board of Education case, arguably one of the most important United States Supreme Court cases in the past seven decades. Students were given the following passage, We conclude that in the field of public education, separate but equal has no place, separate educational facilities are inherently unequal. Then they were asked what social problem the 1954 ruling was supposed to correct, and only two percent of them could. The answer was right in front of them, Diane Ravitch, an education historian who was invited by the national assessments governing board to review the results told the New York Times. This is alarming. In this famous case, the Supreme Court ruled that separate but equal schools for white and African American students is unconstitutional in case you didnt know. The National Assessment of Education Progress tests were given in the spring of 2010 to a representative sample of 7,000 fourth graders, 11,800 eight graders and 12,400 12th graders nationwide. The test covers eight subjects: history, math, reading, science, writing, civics, geography and economics. Many refer to the test as the Nations Report Card. The federal board established three levels of achievement for each test. Basic represents partial mastery of the subject; proficient represents solid academic performance and a demonstration of competency over challenging subject matter, and advanced means superior performance. Economics is American students best subject as 42 percent of students scored proficient in economics on the 2006 test.

4 Things to Do in Your Last Semester of Business School

4 Things to Do in Your Last Semester of Business School Its almost overhow did two years of business school fly by so quickly? Youve got just a few months left and a ton of things you want to get to in that short period of time. Here are four important things to check off your to-do list in your last semester of business school: 1. Find your job The economy is tough in some areas and looking up in others. If youre not one of the lucky MBAs who has already received and accepted an offer, or if youre not keeping the job that you may have entered school with, youre probably still in job search mode. Stay confident and organized; learn how to master an interview before you have one. Let everyone know what kind of position you are looking for, and why. Start with your classmates, professors, administrators, and alumni. Then move onto your family, former colleagues, and possibly MBA associates from other schools. Be specific when discussing what you want to do, and be open to new ideas and opportunities that may present themselves during your search. 2. Figure out where youre living nextand get excited! There is life outside your business school. Whether its the same town or a new city, state, or country, get connected to your community. If someone from your class is moving to the same area after graduation, stay in touch with them. Join the alumni clubs in your region; they are eager to meet new members like you. Also, find out who the people are in your neighborhood, the ones who dont necessarily share your alma mater but who do share a supporting wall or a laundry room with you. Learn about the local foods, customs, and landmarks that put your town on the map. Create connections in your locale so that its not just the place you work; its the home where you live. 3. Get your ducks in a row Its time to get your finances in order, including your student loans. Contact your lenders to determine your repayment schedule, and create a monthly budget. Also, clean up your social media profiles to ensure your future supervisors and colleagues will see you in a positive light. Let your Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and other profiles reflect the professional brand you would like to portray to your new workplace. 4. Celebrate your last semester of business school! Most people in your class are likely going to different companies and locations. You may not see some of these people for awhile, at least not until any potential reunion. Say thank you to the friends who have helped you along the way. Remember the good times that made you laugh, and make some more good memories before you leave. Most of all, have fun while you acclimate to the real world again. Its okay if you dont feel completely readythere are many ways to ease the transition from business school to the business world! Use this period of change to learn more about yourself. Its all part of the educational experience you signed up for when you turned in your application to business school.

Five Trusted Exam Prep Tips for All Students

Five Trusted Exam Prep Tips for All Students Few students love studying for tests but knowing how to do so effectively can transform their academic career. Eileen Huntington of Huntington Learning Center says that there are certain practices that make exam prep of all types more productive and successful. Some students freeze up when it comes to test preparation, even if they actually understand a subject, says Huntington. There are several things students can do when studying to consistently improve their performance on exams and prove their knowledge. She offers these exam prep tips taught by Huntington: Its essential that students make a plan to study smart by allocating their study time appropriately. Reviewing areas that they know well and ignoring those they dont is likely to result in a grade thats lower than it could have been. The best approach is to use any review sheet or overview of what will appear on the test as a starting point. Create a study schedule. The single-most important exam preparation tip from Huntington: be consistent with study time. The best way to do this is to create a detailed schedule leading up to an exam date. This deters procrastination, spaces out studying, and keeps students focused on material that will be covered on their test. A study schedule helps students maximize study time and minimizes stress. Prepare the space and the mind. To study effectively, students must get into the right mindset and prepare their space for studying. This means removing any distractions, getting comfortable and flipping that switch to study mode. Students should print out the study schedule and gather any needed supplies (e.g. highlighters and sticky notes) while setting goals for each study session on what to cover. Use practice exams whenever possible. Taking practice tests is one of the best ways for students to get familiar with question types, test length, and material. If available for practiceas in an SAT or ACT exam prep course, for examplestudents should take advantage. Dont shortchange the sleep. Busy students often forgo sleep for studying when theyve got a big test coming up, but sleep deprivation can lead to worse academic performance. Late-night/all-night cram sessions make it hard for students to focus well and recall information. Huntington explains that preparing for tests and quizzes does not come naturally to all students. We see often that even bright students struggle with exam prep because of the inherent pressure that it brings, she says. Its important to correct those poor test preparation habits early so that by the time students get to college, theyre better equipped for success. To learn more about how Huntington helps students of all ages adopt essential study skills, including effective exam preparation, call Huntington at 1-800 CAN LEARN

GCSE Spanish tips for the speaking exam

GCSE Spanish tips for the speaking exam GCSE Spanish tips for the speaking exam by Max W As the GCSE speaking exams are fast approaching, we have got one of our top Spanish tutors to offer his top tips for how to prepare for the dreaded Spanish oral test… Get comfortable with the language! The amount of people who have language degrees but can’t really speak the language is staggering. A great way to manage the language and learn to listen is to try to convert everything you do into Spanish. Start with the TV, switch it off and instead go online to this link.  Select the news show or any Spanish programme that sounds interesting to you and spend a few minutes each day listening in on the world and improving your Spanish at the same time! Get comfortable saying the words. Reading out loud is a great way to start recognizing the sounds and get your tongue used to pronouncing words that can be a real struggle. Also try talking to yourself in Spanish. This will help you use the language in a natural manner. Get comfortable expressing your thoughts. Here, you are trying to train your brain to pluck words from your memory with the same fluidity that you manage with English. In Spanish, there is not just one way to say something. The English language has one of the largest vocabularies in the world because we have single words that describe a single situation, feeling, sensation or thought. In Spanish things are more fluid, more relaxed and more emotive. Try not to confine yourself to learning Spanish in a scientific manner:   have fun, play around with the words and enjoy talking! Practice, Practice, Practice!  The more you practice speaking Spanish, the more natural it will come to you. Make sure you understand the format of your Spanish speaking exam and practice every element of it, whether that be a presentation, answers to questions on different conversational topics, role-plays, or anything else. Try and get someone to speak with rather than just speaking to yourself because this will allow you to really understand the language and develop a conversation, which is what you want to replicate in the exam. Finally, you must try to relax! The last few minutes before your oral exam can be almost painful. Keep calm and remember that all you are doing is going into a room and having a conversation with someone. Breathe deeply, drink some water and remember that the examiner is not trying to catch you out. He or she wants you to be comfortable enough to answer their questions in a natural manner. Good luck! Fancy booking a lesson with Max? Click here to see his profile page. Or you can search Tutorfair using your postcode to find fantastic Spanish tutors in your area. Illustration from  www.clickmediaagency.com   CC-by

Best free apps for learning a new language

Best free apps for learning a new language When teaching abroad, although it's not usually necessary to speak or understand the language, having a basic grasp of key phrases will certainly make your day-to-day life much easier, more enjoyable and will definitely win you friends!  For teachers interested in picking up the local language, there are some great free apps available for tablets and smartphones. Apps are a convenient, flexible way to get a taste of speaking another language and make it easy to regularly practice your skills. Here are our picks of the most user-friendly:DuolingoOne of the most popular, free, language learning apps available, Duolingo is a fun, game-based encourages users to learn new words and practice phrases every day with frequent, motivational reminders. It also incorporates website translation to allow for practical learning experience.Google TranslateMany of us have ordered food in a restaurant abroad but have no real idea about what the waiter will actually be serving us. Not only does Google Translate allow you to make simple translations and hear the correct pronounciation of phrases in hundreds of world languages, but it's highlight feature is a 'photo translator.' Take a snap of a menu in a restaurant or a sign you just can't understand and let the app do the hard work for you.BykiThis flashcard style app is well suited to learners who have a fast memory and prefer rote-style learning. Working through words and phrases at speed encourages users to absorb what they've seen and heard at a quicker pace.BusuuDuring the first stages, Busuu focuses learning around a basic flashcard and task methods. Once learners prove they have grasped all the basic principals, they can move on to community-based learning, through which they can connect with other learners and native speakers who are able to share feedback and advice.

American School of Durango

American School of Durango American School of Durango The American School of Durango (ASD) is a private, non-profit, K-12 school located in Durango, Mexico. Established in 1954, since its inception, ASD has been accredited by the Secretary of Public Education (SEP) and obtained additional accreditationfrom AdvanceED, a division of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (from 1997 to present) and the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) (from 1998 to present), therefore upon graduation, our students receive a double diploma.ASD has 500+ students, of which approximately 60% are enrolled in early childhood and elementary, and 40% enrolled in middle and high school college preparatory programs. Over 95% of our students are latinos. Facilities inlcude a science lab, a computer laboratory, and a library/media center in every area. The average class size is 20. The teaching faculty at ASD includes teachers from the United States, Australia, Canada, Dominica, Grenada, Taiwan, UK and Mexico. ASD is focused on providing a rigorous learning environment that encourages high expectations of all, with an eye towards preparing our students to study successfully around the world. ASD strivesto provide ethical, life-long learning leaders with the tools they need to overcome challenges in an ever-changing, globalized world. ASD attracts students from families representing a large variety of Mexican professionals who seek bilingual English-Spanish education for their children. Many of our current families have been part of ASD since its beginning. As a result, the school has a proud sense of tradition, commitment, and ownership.

Hujiang EdTech

Hujiang EdTech Hujiang EdTech Hujiang, Chinas leading e-learning platform with over 110 million registered users, is hiring ESL teachers instructors globally! Hujiang is a professional e-learning platform that provides users with products and services of convenience and excellence. Hujiang has evolved into a leading service system which consists of four parts: news and platform, online community, online tools, and online courses. Since its inception, Hujiang has enthusiastically supported other online education startup companies by building an online education ecosystem with a winning formula. We also work with traditional schools to narrow the gap between rich and poor and promote education equality, bringing high-quality educational resources to every corner of the world through the internet. Hujiang cooperates with over 500 schools and institutions including Coursera, Khan Academy, McGraw-Hill Education, Cambridge University Press, Oxford University Press, MOOC,etc. We have produced over 20,000 public courses and lectures.