Education

High Achieving Schools Believe All Students Can Succeed

There are certain criteria that separate a high achieving school from those that aren’t. These schools offer an inviting environment for student engagement. Expectations are high for students and teachers alike, and respect is mutual. The work ethic is strong and the morale is high. The goals and focus of the school is agreed upon by the principal, teachers, and staff. With the main focus being on the instructional programs used and the achievement of the students. There is an emphasis on and special instruction provided for English and math skills. State standards are used to design the curriculum and assess the progress of the students and teachers.
Teachers in a high achieving school are committed to their students and believe they all can achieve. They appreciate each child for who he is and they exhibit an infectious love of learning. Students in high-achieving high schools graduate on time and have plans for secondary education.
Since it is assumed that every child will succeed, students must master all their work before they are promoted to the next level. If a student has difficulties the teacher will diagnosis the problem and help the child overcome them. This dedication forms the basis for relationships that last and continue from one year to the next, giving the student a community of caring adults who believe in their ability to succeed. If your child’s school doesn’t meet these criteria there are steps you can take to bring about change. You and your child have the right to expect academic excellence from the school he attends. Voice your concerns at parent-teachers conferences and school board meetings. Check your state’s education website to see how your school rates on the “School Report Card”. Partner with other concerned parents to effect positive change in school policy and academic excellence.
Graduates from high performing schools, are often better prepared to secure good employment or pursue higher education, because of their advanced skills in English and math. Many of the schools expect their students to continue on to college and actively seek out scholarship opportunities.

Filed Under: Education, School Board Tagged With: Education, High school, Student

A Globalized Curriculum: The International Baccalaureate Program

Based in Switzerland and the UK, the International Baccalaureate is an educational curriculum for children ages 3-19 that provides rigorous learning programs with an international focus. The curriculum is divided into three parts: the Primary Program for children ages 3-12, the Middle Years Program for children ages 11-16, and the Diploma Program for students ages 17-19. The IB programs encourage students to consider multiple perspectives, use critical thinking skills, and approach learning from global perspectives. The International Baccalaureate programs are taught in several countries around the world, giving higher learning for primary and secondary students a more international focus that is important in this era of globalization.

Schools can incorporate all three programs, or just one or two. A high school that wants to provide its students with the opportunity for advanced studies in certain subject areas can incorporate the Diploma Program for its junior and senior high school students. Teachers can use the IB curriculum and testing measures, as well as attend IB teacher trainings. The IB Diploma program has the advantage of being widely recognized as a rigorous learning program by universities around the world, and coursework can also be transferred to another school with the IB Diploma program. IB Diploma candidates are required to take foreign language classes, to undergo intense research projects, and to take a cumulative test at the end of their studies.

Students pay a fee to take the IB tests, and schools pay fees to be recognized as an IB World School and to use the IB curriculum. But the payoff is well worth it. IB programs have reached nearly a million students worldwide, and the program seems to only increase in popularity.

Filed Under: Administration, Education Tagged With: IB Diploma Programme, International Baccalaureate, Student

Leaving Behind the No Child Left Behind Act

The No Child Left Behind Act was enacted in 2001 to introduce and enforce educational standards in public education. The act was initiated by President George W. Bush early in his presidency. The act requires public schools to have their students meet certain educational standards in order to receive federal funding. For teachers, this act means that they have to teach their students to perform well on these tests. If any school’s performance on standardized tests are sub-par, that school will have to enact remedial programs, tutoring options, and other ways to raise student test scores. Although there have been significant positive results within public education since the No Child Left Behind Act was passed by Congress, there are also significant criticisms of the act, which has prompted President Barak Obama to put public educational standards under review.

One problem with the No Child Left Behind Act is that it enforces federal standards across states with distinct teaching programs. Although all public schools receive federal funding, states require their teachers to be certified by state. Critics to the act argue that federal standards should be state standards, or at least state-specific. Another criticism is that the act requires schools to show AYP, or significant improvement in student test scores from year to year. These criticisms make it difficult for schools to meet educational standards, and can lead to other problems like a tendency to cheat the system or the shuffling of low-performing students to low-performing schools.

President Obama stated in his 2009 State of the Union Address that the new educational reform act, the Race to the Top, was performing much better than the No Child Left Behind Act. Instead of funding schools that meet basic, general performance standards, the act encourages schools to create educational reform and performance standards at the state level, and those that perform the best are rewarded with additional funding.

Filed Under: Education Tagged With: No Child Left Behind Act, Race to the Top, Standardized test

How to Visit A College Campus – Part II

When narrowing down the list of possible college campuses, here are some more tips on how to conduct a successful campus visit.

Make sure you visit the cafeteria and try the food. You’ll be eating it for at least a year, most likely. Ask if there are dietary options, if you need options. Also ask about meal plans – some colleges require you to eat all meals on campus for your first year, but are more flexible afterwards or if you move off campus.

It’s also important that you visit a class or two in the subject that interests you. Afterwards, ask the professor some questions. Questions that are fair game include what other classes he or she teaches, how long she has been teaching, what other books the class is reading, and what books the teacher recommends that you read in order to prepare for the class. You could also ask for a copy of the syllabus to see what the course workload looks like.

Another good insider tip is to pick up a copy of the undergraduate student newspaper. Almost every campus has their own newspaper, published by journalism students. The paper includes valuable insights into college campus news, opinions, sports, and sometimes current events. This can be a great way to get to know what kind of students is attracted to the campus, and what kind of events and news interests the students.

Lastly, don’t forget to ask questions about finances. Tuition costs and financial aid are often the deciding factor for students and their families. You may want to bring your parents along to help you through the process of understanding the costs that will apply towards your undergraduate education.

Filed Under: Education Tagged With: Campus, Student, Undergraduate education

College Textbooks, An Unfortunate Neccessity

Along with the rising costs of tuition, college students need to worry about the high cost of textbooks, which cost them hundres of dollars each year. The costs may seem excessive, but unfortunately, books are required by most professors.
Though it may seem that the bookstore is the one making all the money, in reality, most of the money goes to the publisher, who makes around 65% . This leaves the author receiving about 12% and the bookstore with 4%.
Professors choose which books for their classes, and are fully aware of the burden expensive textbooks place on their students. Most of them will try and pick textbooks that are the most cost effective.
The pricing is based on several factors. Books for popular subjects are generally less expensive. Required texts for specialized fields, will cost more. Textbooks that require a lot of research are going to cost more as well. Adding to the price tag, are quizzes, photos, charts, and graphs.
Knowing ahead of time, which books you are going to need, can save a lot of money. Ordering textbooks online, will save money. If you don’t have time to shop around for a good price, the next best thing is to get to the bookstore early and buy your textbooks used. Buying used will save you a fair amount of money and they are usually in very good shape.
When the term is over, you can return your books to the bookstore. You won’t get anywhere near what you paid for them, but you’ll get a little something. You may do better by selling you books to other students. Doing this will benefit both you and the person you sell them to. If you bought your books online, you can resell them online as well. You can’t avoid buying books, but with a little effort, you can save money.

Filed Under: Education, Requirements Tagged With: Book, Textbook

Save Time and Money With An Online Education

If you don’t have the time or resources to attend a university and earn a bachelor’s degree, but still would like to have some type of education for job advancement, an associate’s degree may be a good option. Earning a two-year degree online, will solve the time problem as well as the financial barriers of a four-year degree program.
Earning a degree online is just as valid as earning one at a community college. Often the college you could have attended in your home town, will offer an online alternative. Online education allows you to study at your own pace and you can fit it into your schedule while continuing to work. Once you’ve earned your associate’s degree you can always decide to go on to complete your bachelor’s degree. Depending on your field, you may also decide to pursue an occupational degree which will teach you specific vocational skills that you can apply to your current job or use to move on to a new career.
Your particular needs will determine the type of associate’s degree you pursue; vocational, business related, or something you can use as a stepping stone to a bachelor’s degree. You will have to determine whether it will help you in your career or be applicable to your work situation.
Though often less expensive then traditional learning, online education is still costly and the institution should be fully researched. You want to make sure that the school is accredited by a legitimate and trustworthy agency. There are many institutions that will mislead prospective students into believing they are fully accredited, but in fact are not. Accreditation is important to insure the classes you pay your hard earned money on, are accepted and recognize by legitimate institutions. This becomes even more important if you decide to go on to a four year program.
Taking the time to research the school and plan for the proper plan of action, will save you time and money and insure you get the most of a continuing education.

Filed Under: Education, Requirements Tagged With: E-learning, Education

Gently Prepare Your Child For Kindergarten

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In the past kindergarten was designed to introduce children to the social skills they would need before starting their first year of school. This was done in a fun and relaxed atmosphere of exploration and listening to stories. The atmosphere has changed, and more and more, parents are feeling the pressure to prepare their children for the higher expectations placed on their children. Preschools are stepping in and taking on the role of making sure these expectations are met. It is more important than ever for parents to find a preschool program that best suits the learning style of their child. The best schools will find the balance of preparing the child without putting too much pressure on him.
Young children learn best with hands-on activities that involve their senses. Their fine motor skills are often not developed enough for pencil and paper type learning. They will have years of this type of learning ahead of them. Preschool should be the time for fun activities and multi-sensory learning.
Preschool aged children are not wired to sit still. Their learning experience should allow for lots of movement, singing, dancing, and lots of wiggle time. If they are asked to sit still for more than 15 or 20 minutes, they will get bored and lose interest in the lesson being taught. Too much pressure and learning tactics designed for older children will lead to frustration and could lead to a negative response to learning that may stay with him throughout his educational life. Age appropriate, engaging teaching methods will excite him about the learning process, and encourage him to want to learn more.
If your child is having trouble at his school and is unhappy, bored, or pressured, go to class with him and observe the teaching methods used. They may not be suitable to your child’s needs. Preschool is the time for him to have fun and become engaged in the learning process. While you want him to be prepared for Kindergarten, you don’t want him to become disillusioned with school before he even starts.

Filed Under: Education, School Board Tagged With: Child, Preschool education

Take Care of Your Student Loans To Avoid Default

Most students will find it necessary to take out student loans in order to earn their degree. Once you have graduated you will be faced with the reality of paying your loans back. In order to protect your credit, keep your payments affordable, and avoid unnecessary fees, you need to stay on top of your student loans.
The first step in loan repayment is to know who your lender is, how much you owe, and what the repayment status is of the loan. Often students will have loans from more than one source, so it is important that you are taking care of all you loans. If you have trouble finding your loan information, you can check with your school’s financial aid office for contact information. The grace period on most federal loans is 6 months after leaving school, but it may be different on private loans, so again you need to check with the lender.
Once your grace period is up, your federal loan payments will be automatically calculated on a 20-year repayment plan. This may not fit all budgets, especially if you don’t find work right away. There are other options available for those who can’t make the standard payment set up by the lender. There are deferments, which will suspend your payments, and alternative repayment plans which will lower your monthly payment, but will extend payback period and add more interest to the loan. Newly available is an income based repayment program. This bases your payments on a percentage of your income and will forgive any remaining loan after 25 years providing you have established and maintained a good payment record.
Maintain communication with your lender. Notify them of any changes in your contact information. Read all correspondence you get from them and talk with them if you run into financial problems that may stop you from making your payments. They will work with you and give you options to avoid going into default with your loan.

Filed Under: Education, School Board Tagged With: Income Based Repayment, Loan

Importance of Charter Schools

The implementation of charter schools in certain communities has certainly prevented a number of unwanted effects. The value of charter schools has been seen to help communities prevent urban sprawl and keep a diverse population in regards to the educational atmosphere. In these and interrelated elements, the importance of charter schools may be seen.

A charter school is simply an independent school, operating freely from the district. Many are approved by the state in which it resides, which gives the school its funding source. A number of charter schools focus on a certain area, such as art, the sciences, or technology.

Attracting a variety of students gives charter schools a major advantage, as it relates to the community. Preventing urban sprawl and maintaining a diverse, non-segregated educational community are a couple of results of charter schools. Due to the attraction of charter schools, it is not uncommon for a waiting list and lottery to be employed for admission to the school.

Property management businesses can also play a role in these positive community elements. In planning and creating these non-segregated and effective school zones, property management companies can positively influence this with effective planning. Long Beach property management businesses can make the process much easier, from its conceptual birth to the day-to-day functions that make a charter school – or other business – successful.

As all of these elements come together, the immediate community and area can reap the benefits of charter schools and property management companies. These forces within the community can help reduce urban sprawl and segregated populations, creating diverse school populations. It is important to see the positive benefits of charter schools, which remain an effective and major part of any successful community. The choice, autonomy, and overall individualized effects of charter schools account for their popularity and success in the community.

Filed Under: Education, Public v. Private Tagged With: Business, Charter school, Education

Social and Emotional Learning Programs Can Lead To Academic Achievement

According to a report published in the journal Child Development, students improve their grades and score higher on standardized tests, when they participate in social and emotional learning programs. The difference between students who participate and those who don’t is significant, and is equal to a student who previously ranked academically in the middle or his class, progressing to the top 40%.
The improvement was noted in other areas as well. Students showed positive behaviors such as helping other students and cooperating in the classroom. They also demonstrated better attitudes, had less emotional stress, fewer problems with conduct, and were socially more adept than their peers.
Social and emotional learning can be accomplished in many ways, from after school programs, school activities, and incorporating it into the standard curriculum. The training is meant to provide a foundation to traditional academic learning, giving students training in self-awareness, time management, decision making, and getting along with their peers.
Studies done on social and emotional learning programs have shown that the most effective methods follow, what they called, the SAFE model. This is broken down as Sequenced, or step-by-step instruction; Active learning using such things as role playing; providing enough time to Focus on the lessons provided; and being Explicit in defining what the learning goals are. An effective program will implement all four of the learning methods.
When students are more self-aware, calm, and cooperative, they are better suited to achieve the academic goals set before them. It also makes for more efficient teaching when behavior problems in the classroom are minimized or eliminated altogether and the students time on task is increased.
Focusing on social and emotional learning, can prevent some of the small problems, like disrespect for fellow students and authority figures, that can lead to bigger ones, such as bullying. Students who are emotionally secure will feel better about themselves and will be more conducive to achieving academic goals.

Filed Under: Education, School Board Tagged With: Child Development, Emotion, Student