All about Books and Education Stuff

Your child sits down at the dining room table and with a sigh, opens an English textbook. Pulling out a grammar exercise, she throws a sidewise glance your way before whining, “I don’t know how to do this.”

What should you do? Drop everything and run to her aid? Calmly tell her to do the work herself? Call a tutor?

A parent can play a healthy role in helping kids to successfully complete their homework assignments. But parents must draw clear boundaries that protect them from offering too much help and their kids from expecting it.

Encourage your child to do as much as possible alone:

“Try the first set of verbs. See what you can do.”

“Read the directions again.”

But if your son or daughter persists in claiming they are unable to understand or complete the assignment, you may need to step in:

“What specific problem are you having?”

“Read it aloud to me, slowly.”

Kids may not appreciate this type of response, preferring, instead, a hands-on approach from Mom or Dad. But it is more helpful when parents gently insist that kids apply critical thinking skills to solve problems themselves.

However, if it becomes apparent that the child truly is lost and doesn’t understand the homework concept, the parent may be able to help. Suggest that your child re-read the section that was assigned for homework practice. After he or she has done that, ask if there are any questions. Answer them to the best of your ability. Those you cannot answer, suggest your child write them on paper for the teacher.

Then ask your child to read the first problem aloud, breaking it into parts if necessary. When you get a quizzical look afterward, calmly nudge the problem back to your child:

“What do you think that means?”

“How does the problem relate to what you just read?”

Little by little, help your child deconstruct the overwhelming assignment by looking at each part individually before responding to the whole unit.

Sometimes, though, a homework question is poorly worded or the parent doesn’t know the answer. Suggest that your child skip to the next question or even the next subject. It’s important that he or she continue on a productive path in completing as much homework as possible rather than giving up on one topic and neglecting the rest.

Parents should avoid taking a hands-on approach. A bit of advice or a probing questions can be helpful instead. Obviously, a parent should never do the work for the child. That would be cheating, as would recommending plagiarism or unethical shortcuts of any kind.

Parents have a great opportunity to model problem-solving skills when their kids struggle with homework uncertainties. But when it becomes clear that a child is feeling overwhelmed by an assignment, the parent should make an appointment to talk with the teacher and clarify the situation. No child can master a skill that he or she cannot comprehend, so be sure that learning takes place first, followed by practice later.

Here are some useful, relevant  information and tips for you..

What kind of job you are really looking for and will it suit you perfectly? The job you may opt to do should be such that you will love to do it and derive utmost satisfaction out of it. It is also to be based on your strengths and weaknesses. For this constantly look for some good openings. It should provide enough opportunities to show of your strengths and ample scope for your progress.

Sources of Information:

Gather information regarding job openings from news papers, magazines web sites etc. Even your friends and relatives may be a source of information. Register your name in Employment Exchange. You may contact private consultants and recruiting agencies also. Get counseling from those people who have already achieved the goals which you too have set for yourself. Once you have some ideas about a possible career, identify the sort of role and type of organization to go for. It is worth spending some time to plan your strategy. Find out what is required for these jobs. If needed, try to get some extra work experience or qualifications. Investing in acquiring them will definitely bring fruits in the long run.

Your Bio-data / Resume

Due attention must be given in either filling the standard application form received from the respective organization or the format in which you may try to present your bio-data. Your bio-data is a very important document and keep in mind that its sole purpose is to get you an invitation for an interview. Hence attach utmost importance in the preparation and presentation of the same. It is not just what you say, but how you say it too. Try to understand clearly from the advertisement that what the employer is looking for and present them in the best way to show that you have all these qualities. While furnishing your personal details be clear, concise and relevant to the job. Stress the positive aspects which drew your attention for applying to this position. With regards to your education and work experience (if any), mention about the most recent things first. Always type the letter, unless otherwise it is specified as handwritten.. Prepare a rough draft first. Read it thoroughly to make sure that you have presented everything precisely, correctly and in the way it is expected. Type or write on one side of the unlined A4 sized white paper. Use black color ink only. Mention the full date, your full address contact, telephone number and e-mail address. Write/ type your full name underneath your signature. Invitation for attending an interview is not a passport for an employment.

Preparation for attending an interview:

For attending an interview you need to prepare, so that you can convince the concerned people that you’re the right person for the job. Try  to collect as much information as possible about the company like the  company’s ethos and culture, services or products of the company, number of employees working there, the reputation of the company, company’s financial position, turn over , profitability , their future expansion projects,  about their competitors and their performance etc., Make sure that you know the correct location of the interview avenue and how to reach there well in time. Even you can have a glimpse of the premises of the company to get some idea of the scale of the company. Also keep ready all the relevant things which you are supposed to take for the interview. You should try to anticipate the general questions which they will ask and also prepare some questions to ask them.  The interview gives you the opportunity to prove yourself. It is for you to impress and convince the interviewer that you are suitable in all respects for the particular post.

Gestures & Postures:

Your manners and your dress sense certainly say a lot about you, but your gestures and postures may let you down. Your overall impression and personality is bound to appear more impressive, if you are able to control and make the desired modification in your body language. Your body

language clearly depicts your mental attitude. An experienced interviewer would be able to read your mind very clearly through your gestures and postures and the decision is likely to be influenced by it. Hence,  Be open and honest, in mind and body while you are interviewed At the time of entering the interview venue , walk with a straight head, erect shoulders, fast steps and straight posture. That will give an impression that you are a confident and warm person.  Remember that hand shake too conveys a lot about the personality of your attitude towards the other person. A well gripped strong and vertical handshake creates a positive impression and tells upon your ardour, friendliness and enthusiasm. The way you sit itself conveys a lot of subtle information to the people who are going to interview you. Hence, sit erect on the chair offered to you with hands resting in lap or on the arms of the chair. Relax and make yourself comfortable.. But, relaxing does not mean that you will sit in a way in which you sit on the sofa in the home. Let your knees point at the interviewer. It shows you are focused right in on them. If you are unable to sit still then channel it into hand gestures that back up what you are saying. It shows a certain confidence in the matter you’re saying. Folding your arms across your chest will convey that you are nervous and negative. Slapping of the head indicates forgetfulness. Touching the nose brushing the cheek, looking somewhere else may invite suspicion on the part of your interviewer. Avoid covering too much of space on the interviewer’s table with your arms, papers, folder etc. Eyes speak more than the words. Maintain your eyes contact true and steady, but remember to blink. Make sure that your gaze doesn’t drop below eye level. Shutting eyes for a brief period or blinking it more than the normal pace, rapid glancing to and fro, and making short eye contacts may indicate your shortcomings and weakness. In general avoid all unpleasant activities during the interview. At the interview be bold and positive. But ,do not bluff.

Probable questions that may be asked during an interview:

Give a brief sketch of your family background. What do you know about this company and its products/services? How long have you been looking for a job? What qualities do you think will be required for this job? Anything special which you would like to mention about you and your achievement? Are you a member of any professional institutions or social organizations? Are you self-motivated or need any outside stimulation? How many hours are you prepared to work? What are your career goals? Are you willing to travel? What interests do you have apart from studies/work? What will your referees say about you?

Questions which you may ask when you are given a chance:

Where will I be based? Where will I fit into the overall organizational structure? To whom will I report to? What will be my responsibilities? Whether any frequent traveling is involved in the job? Is there any chance of relocation now or at a later date? What will be the salary and other perks? What training will be I undergoing? What opportunities are there within the company? When will I hear the results of the interview?

Lastly thank the company or organization for having given you an opportunity.

Motivation is a great thing, IF you have it. Motivation that is lacking can be a huge downfall to an otherwise bright student. Parents ‘can’ improve their child’s motivation in ways that will encourage them without distracting them from their original goals.

A Happy Child

Not all the motivation in the universe will help a student who is otherwise not happy in their daily surroundings. This is not a directive to give your child anything and everything they ask for…actually, quite the opposite. Children treated with respect and love, usually give respect and love in return. Children raised with values and given guidance on a daily basis, again, learn to use their values wisely. A spoiled child, one who is given ‘things’ without any reason other than they asked for it, or more likely, demanded it, do not gain any common sense of how life works; people work for rewards. Making clear here, rewards do not necessarily mean ‘things’! Ask your child what they consider a good outcome of different situations, so you, as the parent, can define in your mind, what your child considers motivational to completing tasks, including homework assignments, special projects, etc. You may be surprised to learn that your child has no clear definition of why they should put effort into their studies.

Example

For instance, many parents’ associate ‘motivation’ with money, if their child passes a test, they will hand over cash as motivation for the next test. What the child learns in reality, is that if they ‘pass’ they are instantly given gratification. Sounds like a workable motivational tool, right. What is wrong with this scenario is simple. That is not how life works. There will not always be someone there throughout your child’s life to hand over cash every time ‘they’ get it right.

Defining Rewards

Children need to understand that when grownups talk about rewards, they are not necessarily talking about the newest video game or a trip to an amusement park. Reward can simply be the satisfaction of completing a task. If a child has been motivated through physical rewards all through his school life and even before, they need to learn that this is not how life works. You can change how you give motivation, and how your child receives it, it just takes some ‘motivation’ and sensibility on your part! Teaching a child that gratification comes from the result of the task done ‘is’ the best motivational tool you can use.

Discussion

As stated earlier, talking to your children to understand how they view rewards as motivation will give you a clear picture of where to start your discussion with them on how you can help them become more motivated in their studies. Talk with them on how an ‘A’ that is achievable through study, is motivational by itself over a ‘C’ that can simply be achieved from what the student has learned in class. Discuss what they are hoping to become when they reach adulthood. This may sound like common sense, but you may be surprised at how many parents never ask their children this most basic of questions. Once you have asked them this, ask them it again in a few months time. There answer may or may not have changed, but you will be showing your child that you not only are interested, but by asking them this simple question, you are stimulating their thoughts, to keep their goals in mind.

The Reward Breaker

Physical rewards ‘can’ be used as motivation, but use them sparingly. If a child has struggled, but has clearly shown effort, a physical ‘unsuspected’ reward can be given with positive results. A surprise dinner out to show your child that you appreciate all the hard work they put into passing a class they truly struggled in will show them that you noticed. This works in two ways; a physical reward is given, but it also demonstrates the best motivation any child can receive, their parent’s approval.

Taking a test is stressful even if you have adequately studied and reviewed. The idea that a grade depends on a specific test can be so stress-inducing that even though we have studied for hours and adequately prepared ourselves, we can freeze when the professor tells us to turn the tests over and begin the examination. Will we be able to finish the exam within the time allotted? Sure you will, if you keep these tips in mind.

Come Prepared

Since you will only have a certain amount of time for the exam, you must come prepared. You will need a watch to keep track of the time. If this is an exam that will require calculations, bring an adequate amount of scratch paper. You don’t want to be searching through your backpack in the middle of an exam for some extra paper to write on. Bring several sharp pencils. You don’t want to have to get up and sharpen your pencil and lose precious time. You will not want to use a pen, especially during an essay exam, since it will be much more difficult to scratch out part of an answer than it will be to simply erase it.

Peruse the Exam

Before you actually begin taking the examination, take two minutes to peruse the entire exam. Most exams are a combination of short essay, multiple choice, true and false and long essay questions. In your mind, plot out the exam into different sections, allotting a chunk of time to each section. For example, if you have one hour to complete the exam, allot 15 minutes for the multiple choice questions, 10 minutes for the true and false questions and 35 minutes for the essay questions. Keep track of the time on your watch. If you are not finished with the multiple choice questions or true and false questions in the allotted time, you can come back to them later.

Answer Easy Questions First

We look at one of the first questions that reads, “If Train X is moving towards the center of town at 65 miles per hour and Train Y…” and, suddenly, it looks as if the question is written in another language. What does it mean? If you look at a question and it looks difficult, skip it. Move on to an easier question. This will not only build your confidence, but it will let you get all of the easy questions out of the way and let you move on to the harder questions. If you let yourself get stuck on the hard questions at the beginning, you may lose time and not get to answer some of those easier questions (thus gaining some easy points) before the exam ends.

Be Careful With Essay Questions

When you reach essay questions, carefully read the question and immediately write down whatever thoughts pop into your mind. Sometimes you will think of something brilliant and moments later, forget what it was you had in mind. After brainstorming some quick notes, jot out a short outline of what you wish to write before you actually begin writing. As ideas pop into your head, jot them down immediately. This will eliminate any time you might spend erasing and revising later on.

While you will want to finish the exam within the time limits and answer each question to the best of your knowledge, you will also not want to finish an exam before time is up. If you find that you have sped quickly through an exam, use that extra time to proofread your answers and go over some of those more difficult questions.