How to Cultivate Self-Esteem to Always be the Best Version of You - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / How to Cultivate Self-Esteem to Always be the Best Version of You - Introvert Whisperer How to Cultivate Self-Esteem to Always be the Best Version of You Being the best versions of ourselves can seem like an overwhelming, anxiety-inducing feat that is full of “should have’s” and “have to’s.” In reality, learning to love yourself, listen to your heart, and cultivate your self-esteem should be an excellent opportunity to get to know yourself better and experience a fantastic journey. One of the hardest things to do is to learn to listen to your instincts. Your instincts are who you are at your core; they are what will make you happy and listening to them will lead you down a path of self-discovery where you will find out just how far you can go. Finding self-worth and having it even in the lowest of times is a hard act to follow through with. The idea that we have been given, for the last eighty years (at least), is that material possession can be the way to happiness. Unfortunately, that only provides us with instant gratitude that fades away quickly, especially when we see the next thing, which is usually right around the corner. Take a moment to reflect and listen to the small voice inside your head, heart, or gut, which will give you an idea of what you want. Gathering the initiative to chase after it is a different story but is intertwined. Taking action is where you will begin to make strides toward cultivating your self-esteem. And even when the strides feel small, taking them is an essential step on your path to becoming the best version of yourself. So, what are a few steps to take? How do you move into action? What do you do first? Start small. Permit yourself to start small. Having one small goal for a few weeks and being able to complete it will give you some clarity on how goals work instead of setting the lofty goals when the habit of cultivating hasn’t been set yet. Take your time. How many times have you set yourself up to experience something fantastic in an unrealistic timeline? Working at a dream job, finishing up school, learning about yourselfâ€"these all take time. When you rush to finish something, you miss the journey. And you can also get burned out quickly. When we burn out, chances are we will get stuck in the cycle of “we can’t do it.” Instead of realizing that we can do it, but the timeline we created for ourselves was unrealistic. Learning how to run a marathon and come in first doesn’t happen in a few weeks. First, you have to build up the stamina and endurance to go the distance. Then, you build up your speed. Use Positive Affirmations. Having daily, positive affirmations to say to yourself is a great way to start small. The problem is that if you think you are going to feel comfortable doing it at the beginning, you’re wrong. It takes time to learn to say nice things to yourself, and also, in the beginning, it feels bizarre to say these things (even when writing a note). The reason it feels so weird is that our brains are hard-wired to tell us the bad things about ourselves before realizing the best in ourselves. A good trick to implement is to catch yourself in the act of saying something negative. In other words, if you wouldn’t say it to your friend, don’t say it to yourself. Again, make sure that your affirmations are something attainable and real. “I’m going to love myself today” is a great starting point, for example. Find What Your Passions Are and Take Action. Nothing is harder than taking action. Doing something that you want to do when you want to do it is one of the hardest steps a person must take, and it is one of the fewest roads taken. So many people get stuck in the idea of “can’t” that they never realize that they can. Just because something seems hard doesn’t mean that it is hard. The practice of taking action, even if it is a small step, is one more step toward your goal. You want to go to school for music but are afraid to put all your eggs in that basket? Take a fall-back major and begin by taking a few music credits to get your feet wet. Then figure out how to incorporate it into the fall-back course and marry that career together. You can be a musician, but figuring out how to make it work for you is the key. Something to remember is that there will always be people telling you that you “can’t.” These are the people that are telling themselves that they can’t as well. The word “can’t” is fear-based. Fear is something that screams in our head, but when you challenge it, you’ll see how small it really is. Remember that you can if you truly want to. Everyone can. Find Self Compassion. Another hard thing to do, besides take action, is to be nice to yourself. Giving yourself daily and realistic affirmations, learning that “failure” is not a bad word, and realizing that success will come to you if you keep going are tough habits to get into. When you fail, you learn. Learning is how we find out new things about ourselves and how we figure out how to do things right. Failing is not a bad thing, but being kind to ourselves when we do fail is tough. Being kind to yourself when you are down, have failed, or are learning something new is one of the best things you can do for yourself, your esteem, and the people around you. When you get into the practice of saying kind phrases to yourself like “It’s okay,” “I’ll get it soon,” or “This is what I learned” when you fall is a great way to start accepting who you are. Conclusion Finding the best version of you takes years of training yourself to start small, be patient, act kindly, and take action. It isn’t something that will come to you overnight. Realizing the negative thoughts and fears that come with being human are only thoughts and concerns is something that needs to be erased with positive affirmations and kindness. Going for your goals and listening to your instincts is a great place to start. The most wonderful thing is, once you get on the ball, fall of the ball, and get on the ball again, you will be able to pass along the knowledge you learned to others. And that will be the greatest gift you can give to yourself. ~ ~ ~ BIO: Kara is a professional writer, editor, and graphic/web designer. She spends her days working from home with her husband, two children, a dog, her cat, and her hedgehog Chester Copperpot. Nothing makes her happier than when she can burrow under the covers at an insanely early time of day to read a book. Resources: Psych Central, TED Talks Go to top Personal Branding starts with how well you speak about YOU.   I want to help you accelerate your career by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my eBook â€" The Definitive Guide to Creating and Using an Elevator Speech.   In this guide, I give you simple to follow instructions for creating a “wardrobe” of ways to talk about you â€" to leave a lasting impression. Get your copy now! Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleashing your professional potential. Introvert Whisperer

My Experience at New York University

My Experience at New York University The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. Rebecca is a Los Angeles tutor specializing in AP English tutoring, Essay Editing tutoring, Reading tutoring, and more. She graduated from New York University in 2010 with a Bachelors degree in Dramatic Literature. See what she had to say about her alma mater: VT: Describe the campus setting and transportation options. How urban or safe is the campus? Are there buses or do you need a car/bike? Rebecca: If you go to New York University (NYU), you are choosing a completely urban lifestyle smack dab in the middle of Greenwich Village in New York City.This is exactly what I was looking for in a school, so it was like heaven.All city buses are available, but I took the subway everywhere.Its so easy to get around and to feel extremely safe, which I know was a big relief for my parents.Instead of a sleepy nighttime college campus, you can walk around in the middle of the night and everyone seems to be awake right along with you. VT: How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Rebecca: I had incredible, intelligent, and diverse professors and teaching assistants (TAs).Everyone was available for meetings or for email questions.Even though NYU is a big university, it really feels manageable and personable as even the biggest lecture classes are broken down into smaller discussion groups. VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Rebecca: I lived in a dorm briefly, but overall I chose to live off-campus. Many students do the same.The dorms are a great start a nice home base to meet friends initially and have easy access to dining but creating your own home in New York (or Williamsburg, Brooklyn for me) was one of the best parts of the experience there. VT: Which majors/programs are best represented and supported? What did you study and why? Did the university do a good job supporting your particular area of study? Rebecca: I studied Dramatic Literature, which is the English side of theatre and film.I had initially thought I wanted to be an actress, but I realized that I wanted to base my education on understanding what makes a play or film truly excellent (and then pursue acting and directing later on).Though I was not part of the Tisch program, I could take film and playwriting classes with other Tisch students, so I never felt left out of that experience.It was so great to have professors who were working in the field I was studying, who could tell us firsthand stories of what it was like to be a working playwright or screenwriter, for example. VT: How easy or difficult was it for you to meet people and make friends as a freshman? Does Greek life play a significant role in the campus social life? Rebecca: I actually transferred to NYU, and the way I met other students quickly was through theatre.I acted in several plays and met really wonderful actors and directors.It opened me up to a whole new world outside of my regular classmates. I never met anyone who was in a sorority or fraternity!Its really not a big part of the lifestyle.The best thing to do at NYU is to get out and get involvedthere are so many interesting people who are seeking adventure just like you. VT: How are the various study areas such as libraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Rebecca: I loved Bobst a real city library.Just floor after floor of stacks where you could tuck away and work for hours.It definitely would get crowded come finals time, but there was always room for more.I have good memories working there.I also really loved hanging out in Washington Square Park, which is right across the street from the library.Its not part of NYU campus, but it sure felt like it was. VT: Describe the surrounding town. What kinds of outside establishments / things to do are there that make it fun, boring, or somewhere in between? To what extent do students go to the downtown area of the city versus staying near campus? Rebecca: Well, you have no choiceyoure in the city!Its fantastic. Thousands of restaurantsand cheap options too, which is great for students.The farmers market in Union Square was one of my favorite parts.I would also spend hours sitting in different cafes all over the city. There were also a lot of pretty affordable theatre shows, which is absolutely essential if youre studying playwriting or acting. VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Rebecca: I cant believe itI actually had to Wikipedia this.Apparently, the undergraduate student body is about 19,000.I can say it truly did not feel like that.While I had the occasional large lecture class, there were always smaller discussion groups that met later in the week.I would say almost all my other classes were less than 20 studentswith the writing classes no more than 15.This was ideal as I got a lot of extra help with my writing and also learned a lot from my classmates work. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one you regret the most. Rebecca: I feel like this epitomizes how amazing NYU isI love the playwright Annie Baker, and I havent been quite the same since I sawCircle Mirror Transformationat Playwrights Horizons.Well, she came to one of my classes and we got to interview her!She couldnt have been nicer.That was the best seeing someone in person who I so greatly admired whose work was being shown in the exact city where I was getting my education.Amazing.And she probably just hopped on the subway to get there like everyone else!I will remember that forever. Check out Rebeccas tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

All About The Linkedin Professional Network

All About The Linkedin Professional Network  The Best Professional Network Online ChaptersHow To Register With LinkedinHow Can You Find A Job With Linkedin?Top Tips For Professional Social NetworkingHow To Post A Job On LinkedIn Job BoardsLinkedIn gives you the chance to show yourself off professionally to the world. Not only in your best light but also to express yourself, establish yourself as a leader in your industry and add some personality to your profile.Linked In allows you to network with like-minded individuals, you can use it to:do Job search for Vacancies,find jobs with full time or part time contracts,to be headhunted,to use your recruiting services to help the job seeker,to share and engage with industry professionals,to find highly exclusive jobs,to engage customers and clients,to read industry informationnot to mention getting your foot in the door at some of the top companies in the world with the use of your network.The LinkedIn corporation can be your ally as you build your professional career, your knowledge and experience. Let's take a look at how to get started on Linkedin and how you can use the social platform.Do Job search for Vacancies. Photo Source: UnsplashDownload your free LinkedIn QR code and share it everywhere. You can also do the same with your profile link. Try adding it to your email signature, printing it onto your CV, add to business cards or websites etc.Tell people that you are looking for work and what kind of work you are looking for.Publish a piece of content every week and share a piece of relevant content every weekJoin industry groups and care about others by answering questions, offer help and support.Get recommendations and endorsements from people who know youTop Tips For Professional Social NetworkingWhen you meet with someone face to face it is much easier to build rapport because you can see the person. Small physical clues tell you how the meeting is going. If they laugh, you know that they are enjoying the conversation if they frown perhaps they are not enjoying it.However, when networkin g online, it can be very challenging to read the verbal clues from the people that you are communicating with. This becomes even more critical when you consider that the people that you are talking with could be your clients, recruiters, employers or even customers.Whenever you communicate you give small clues as to what you are comfortable with or how you feel. Body language which is your facial expressions, the way you move your body, and how you speak them. While body language is useless to help you with online networking. The words that people use can serve as clues to help you build positive rapport.Online Etiquette For Professional NetworkingSo how can you use online etiquette to give you a head start and become a strong and engaging communicator? Let's take a lookMatch the way that you write with the other person. Always begin more formally to avoid offending the person or appearing unprofessional. For example, if you receive an email with ‘Dear John’, you should reply us ing their first name in your reply. However, if they use a more formal ‘Dear Mr Smith’, then you should respond in the same manner.We often feel like we have a rapport with people who are like us or think like us. In this case, you should read something that the person that you are contacting has written and purposefully use language that is in line with theirs. Also, you can quote them or agree with a point that they have made. This is equivalent to a professional complement and will help the recruiter feel like you are attentive and focused on the communication.Share exciting news or content with the person you are talking to in bite-sized pieces and see what they connect to and talk about most.Having proper online etiquette and the ability to build rapport with people is the key to making connections with people who might be able to support you in achieving your goals.Remember the people that you are talking with could be your clients, recruiters, employers or even customers. Photo Source: UnsplashHow To Post A Job On LinkedIn Job BoardsIf already have your dream job but need a workforce of qualified staff to help with the continued success of your company. LinkedIn has an unlimited supply of talented individuals just waiting to meet you. Here is one way that you can find them using LinkedIn:Set up your personal profile.Create the company page, This will be the page candidates visit to learn about your company.To create a job, you will click the briefcase icon. Following the prompts, LinkedIn will give you’re a rough idea of how many people could be interested in the role base on the job title you have entered.Next, you need to take the time to create a job description. It's worth taking your time with this and adding as much information as possible about the job.The last step is to decide how job applicants will apply to the job listing, set the budget and checkout.Whether you are looking for job opportunities, to offer recruitment services to the ap plicant or a company, searching for new customers or just building your network.LinkedIn for business or for your career is one of the best places for you to focus your energy.With the right strategies in place, LinkedIn can be a gold mine for your career and business. Not to mention that while you are using the social media platform, you are also building up a strong network and establishing yourself as a knowledgeable person in your field. So put down your boring paper CV and sign up for a powerful digital one. Good Luck!

Prasannas Volunteer Drama Workshop!

Prasanna's Volunteer Drama Workshop! Prasanna P is an experienced actor starring in major stage productions, TV shows and film. Recently Prasanna has taken a few hours a week from his busy schedule to volunteer for The Tutorfair Foundation, helping the 6th Formers at Pimlico Academy develop their Drama skills. Prasanna easily built rapport with the students, providing advice that they were able to act upon immediately. Lisa D - Drama Teacher at Pimlico Academy said, “Prasanna is just one of life’s nice guys. The advice he is giving is something the students can really relate to. He thinks about it on their level, which is great.”  The students were all working on various pieces for their GCSE drama, requiring a differentiated approach to the tutoring. Prasanna delivered quality support to each student and group, depending on the requirements of the piece. Lanta and Amy said “He helped us with our scene, which has improved a lot since he’s started helping! He gave the scene a better style making it much more believable” Being able to strike a chord with the students has certainly helped Prasanna ga in their respect. Lisa added, “The students aren’t struck particularly [by the fact he’s currently on TV] but they are very receptive to good advice, which is what he gives” You can tell by the  way the way the students listen and respond that they value Prasnana’s input. Tashan and Daniela made the following remarks; “He helped us with creative techniques and we have definitely gained in confidence” and “he accepts what we have to say. He sticks to our ideas allowing us to develop them, rather than giving us his own.” It really is an inspiring sight to see so many students engaged and clearly benefitting from the help of a volunteer. When asked about the experience Prasanna has this to say: “The students were hard-working and imaginative in their scenes and improvisations. They responded brilliantly to new possibilities in their work and they were a pleasure to teach.”

One Step Forward, Two Steps Back Avoid Backsliding This Summer

One Step Forward, Two Steps Back Avoid Backsliding This Summer Did you know that most kids lose two months of grade level equivalency in math and at least one month in reading over the summer? Whats worse is that the loss compounds over the years. So, for example, if a child doesnt read books regularly during the summer throughout all of elementary school, he or she will lose as much as two years worth of achievement by the time he or she reaches middle school! Decades of research on learning loss over the summer is very convincing. So, while it can be very tempting to back off from academics completely, all kids need to engage in some educational activities during the summer. Kids with ADHD and learning differences need summer academic support the most. By the end of the school year, most kids with ADHD are already at least a few months behind their peers in academic skills - usually because they have struggled to stay focused and complete work at the same pace as their classmates. Create a summer educational plan for your child now, before summer begins. This way youll be ready to start as soon as the school year ends. Taking even a short break from academics when summer starts will make it harder for your child to get back into academic gear. So, as tempting as it may be to take a break, make things easier on yourself and your child by starting your childs summer education plan right away. Include one or two hours of academic activities in your childs daily schedule. Summer provides an opportunity for kids to develop all kinds of skills social, athletic, creative, and academic. So, dont overload them with academics. But do consistently carve out one or two hours every weekday for educational skills. Work with a learning center. If it is at all feasible, I highly recommend working with a learning center to get your child the academic support that he or she needs. Reputable learning centers, like Huntington Learning Centers, will conduct an academic assessment with your child at the start of their tailored academic program. This is essential, because it allows your child to work on the areas where he or she needs help the most. Avoid control battles. If homework time has been a struggle all year long, then you may dread having this same battle around summer academics. Minimize control battles by setting clear expectations, empathizing with your child about how hard academics can be, and rewarding your child for his or her hard work. Schedule family reading time. Over the summer your child should be reading every day. Make this a habit for your whole family by scheduling 30-minutes of family reading time every day. Turn off the electronics and minimize distractions. Your child will be much more receptive to reading when everyone is doing it together. If it doesnt seem feasible for parents and kids to read at the same time, then block out 30-minutes each day when all of your kids read together. Make reading fun. Many kids with ADHD would rather eat a giant bowl of broccoli than read a book. Take extra steps to make reading fun. Go to the library and let your child pick out his or her own books. If your child prefers to read books that are below his or her grade level, then compromise. Allow your child to read the easier book on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Make Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays the challenging book days. Creating an educational plan for your child will not only help avoid backsliding over the summer. It will allow your child to strengthen his or her academic skills and start the new school year off with confidence. ABOUT DR. MARY ROONEY Mary Rooney, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California San Francisco. Dr Rooney is a researcher and clinician specializing in the evaluation and treatment of ADHD and co-occurring behavioral, anxiety, and mood disorders. A strong advocate for those with attention and behavior problems, Dr. Rooney is committed to developing and providing comprehensive, cutting edge treatments tailored to meet the unique needs of each child and adolescent. Dr. Rooney's clinical interventions and research avenues emphasize working closely with parents and teachers to create supportive, structured home and school environments that enable children and adolescents to reach their full potential. In addition, Dr. Rooney serves as a consultant and ADHD expert to Huntington Learning Centers. ABOUT HUNTINGTON Huntington Learning Center is the tutoring and test prep leader. Its certified tutors provide individualized instruction in reading, phonics, writing, study skills, elementary and middle school math, Algebra through Calculus, Chemistry, and other sciences. It preps for the SAT and ACT, as well as state and standardized exams. Huntington programs develop the skills, confidence, and motivation to help students of all levels succeed and meet the needs of Common Core State Standards. Founded in 1977, Huntington's mission is to give every student the best education possible. Call us today at 1.800.CAN LEARN to discuss how Huntington can help your child. For franchise opportunities please visit www.huntingtonfranchise.com. This website does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The material on this site is provided for educational purposes only.

Kindergarten Readiness - ALOHA Mind Math

Kindergarten Readiness Kindergarten is the first real step for young children towards the outside world. At Kindergarten, children meet new people, learn new rules and discipline, spend considerable amount of time away from their comfort zone, viz. home. Children learn most things through playing, exploring and just by being with parents. Therefore, no age can be considered as too early for children to make them ready for kindergarten. The process can ideally start about a year ago, while the child is in Preschool. Starting early makes the transition smoother. The parents should consider a child’s strengths and weaknesses, special talents and social skills before getting them into kindergarten. Their interaction with others, seeking help and assistance when required and information about their personal self etc. are important. Parents should spend a lot of time with their children to learn about their progression. Parents and educationists can also use the kindergarten readiness checklist, developed by several states. Children may not have all the skills specified in the checklist but, that is not a deterrent. The list of skills just gives an idea on what should be taught to children to prepare them for kindergarten. There are three important aspects covering the child’s physical and emotional skills and personal health, hygiene and safety. Children require physical skills such as running, jumping, climbing, drawing (basic shapes), cutting (using scissors) etc. Crayons, markers, pencils, scissors, paper, puzzles, building blocks etc. are some of the tools that can develop the motor skills of children. The emotional skills are, their socialization with other children, interacting with elders and teachers and not getting upset in schools with parents not around. Personal health and hygiene and refers to the oral health, vision, immunization shots and boosters given etc. The ability to fulfill their personal needs such as using the bathroom, brushing teeth, blowing nose with a napkin, putting on their own dress, shoes and socks are important. As far as safety is concerned, the child should know his own name and that of the parents. They should also know their address, telephone number etc. which should be taught to them before schooling. The other safety aspects include, looking at both sides before crossing the road, following safety rules and being aware of strangers. As per the Department of Early Learning, kindergarten readiness is not just about children getting ready for schools, but also people around; the schools, parents, families and the community as a whole.

This Student Learned the Power of a Routine with Kumon

This Student Learned the Power of a Routine with Kumon This Student Learned the Power of a Routine with Kumon Soccer practice at 3p.m., violin lessons at 4:30p.m., Spanish class at 6p.m. Does this schedule seem familiar? Children today have a reputation for being overbooked, with some parents even facing criticism for putting their kids in too many activities. Is there a point when extracurricular activities become too much? Kailaash thought that point came when his parents enrolled him in Kumon at 12 years old. His friends had done well in the program so Kailaash’s parents hoped it would help him in school. Kailaash thought it would have the opposite effect.  He was already booked solid with sports and other activities. When would he have time to complete his homework if he had to do extra work after school? Kailaash was so concerned about the extra work that he figured out a way to avoid it without his Kumon Instructor or parents realizing. He would hide his worksheets in a cupboard at home and tell his Instructor he forgot to bring his work to class. He could only fool the adults for a few classes, however, and eventually his Instructor called his parents to ask why he never brought his homework in. His mom was astounded to find a cupboard filled with Kumon Worksheets, and Kailaash knew the jig was up. After the cupboard incident, Kailaash’s mom sat him down and helped him create a schedule to complete all of his activities. First on the list was Kumon. Once he started getting his Kumon done before anything else, he realized it wasn’t so difficult to complete after all. Creating a routine made it easy to get the work done, and he steadily started seeing improvements in school in addition to Kumon. Kailaash noticed another change once his Kumon routine became second nature; his homework didn’t take nearly as much time. Since math and reading became easier, he could breeze through those subjects, and even his other classes started to make more sense. Kailaash originally dreaded Kumon because he thought it would take him too much time. In the end, it freed up all the extra time he was spending on his homework and gave him more time to pursue his favorite sport, basketball. Kailaash found many similarities between basketball and Kumon. Just as long division became easier the more he practiced, so did free throws. When practicing a new skill in basketball, he’d break it down into parts, as he had learned to do with math problems. With a lot of hard work and practice, he was able to make his school’s team and play the sport competitively. Kumon taught Kailaash that with a little perseverance, anything is possibleâ€"even finding more time in the day. Establishing a routine can have powerful results. In Kailaash’s case, Kumon was the key to balancing school and extracurriculars, and improving in both. You might also be interested in: How One Student Learned to Love the Kumon Program How this Aspiring Hockey Pro Applies What He Learned from Kumon THIS KUMON STUDENT HAS A BLACK BELT IN TAEKWONDO AND APPLIES SELF-LEARNING IN HER EVERY DAY ROUTINE This Young Kumon Student Learned To Love New Challenges in Math This Student Learned the Power of a Routine with Kumon This Student Learned the Power of a Routine with Kumon Soccer practice at 3p.m., violin lessons at 4:30p.m., Spanish class at 6p.m. Does this schedule seem familiar? Children today have a reputation for being overbooked, with some parents even facing criticism for putting their kids in too many activities. Is there a point when extracurricular activities become too much? Kailaash thought that point came when his parents enrolled him in Kumon at 12 years old. His friends had done well in the program so Kailaash’s parents hoped it would help him in school. Kailaash thought it would have the opposite effect.  He was already booked solid with sports and other activities. When would he have time to complete his homework if he had to do extra work after school? Kailaash was so concerned about the extra work that he figured out a way to avoid it without his Kumon Instructor or parents realizing. He would hide his worksheets in a cupboard at home and tell his Instructor he forgot to bring his work to class. He could only fool the adults for a few classes, however, and eventually his Instructor called his parents to ask why he never brought his homework in. His mom was astounded to find a cupboard filled with Kumon Worksheets, and Kailaash knew the jig was up. After the cupboard incident, Kailaash’s mom sat him down and helped him create a schedule to complete all of his activities. First on the list was Kumon. Once he started getting his Kumon done before anything else, he realized it wasn’t so difficult to complete after all. Creating a routine made it easy to get the work done, and he steadily started seeing improvements in school in addition to Kumon. Kailaash noticed another change once his Kumon routine became second nature; his homework didn’t take nearly as much time. Since math and reading became easier, he could breeze through those subjects, and even his other classes started to make more sense. Kailaash originally dreaded Kumon because he thought it would take him too much time. In the end, it freed up all the extra time he was spending on his homework and gave him more time to pursue his favorite sport, basketball. Kailaash found many similarities between basketball and Kumon. Just as long division became easier the more he practiced, so did free throws. When practicing a new skill in basketball, he’d break it down into parts, as he had learned to do with math problems. With a lot of hard work and practice, he was able to make his school’s team and play the sport competitively. Kumon taught Kailaash that with a little perseverance, anything is possibleâ€"even finding more time in the day. Establishing a routine can have powerful results. In Kailaash’s case, Kumon was the key to balancing school and extracurriculars, and improving in both. You might also be interested in: How One Student Learned to Love the Kumon Program How this Aspiring Hockey Pro Applies What He Learned from Kumon THIS KUMON STUDENT HAS A BLACK BELT IN TAEKWONDO AND APPLIES SELF-LEARNING IN HER EVERY DAY ROUTINE This Young Kumon Student Learned To Love New Challenges in Math

Prepare Your Kid for Kindergarten With These Tips - TutorNerds

Prepare Your Kid for Kindergarten With These Tips - TutorNerds Tips from a private San Diego Tutor: 5 Ways to Prepare Your Kid for Kindergarten this Fall Many preschoolers are enjoying summer, sunshine, and time with family before they start their very first year of kindergarten this fall. Its a major step for kids to go to a full day educational program and being prepared can make the transition a lot easier for both student and parent. There are lots of things parents can do to help their young learner get ready for all that awaits them once they start kindergarten at the end of August. 1.   Get used to the idea of a classroom Many kids will have attended a preschool program for a year or two before they even go to kindergarten and may already be familiar with the classroom environment. On the other hand, lots of kids dont attend preschool or dont attend a traditional preschool program, and the idea of listening to a teacher, getting along with classmates, and sitting at a desk chair might be completely new. Its a good idea for young kids to get used to the idea of being in this environment so the adjustment is easier overall and they can cope with following directions and working on academics for an entire school day. 2.   Work on sharing Once the kids start kindergarten, they’ll need to share with several other students. At home, crayons, books, toys, etc… all belong to one kid and may be shared with siblings or friends, but it’s not quite the same as sharing every material used in a classroom. Kids who get used to the idea of sharing such items ahead of time have a better chance of getting along with their new classmates once they start school in the fall (READ: 5 Benefits of Developing Great Teamwork Skills). 3.   Visit the campus Some kids might be on the same campus as they were for preschool, but most students will have to make a change when they start kindergarten. Going to a new classroom in a new building at a new campus can be pretty scary for a kid who is just about to turn five. Visiting campus is a great way for kids to feel less anxious about their new environment. Most schools offer a back-to-school night where new students can visit their classroom, meet their teacher, see where their new desk will be, and even start to make some new friends. This takes a lot of stress out of this very important adjustment. 4.   Look at kindergarten benchmarks Educational benchmarks change from year to year and throughout different generations so its a really good idea for parents to take a look at the current kindergarten benchmarks and see if theres anything they might need to go over with their kid before they start school. There are lots of different professional opinions about what benchmarks are appropriate at what age but knowing the current information ahead of time will help students adjust to their new academic environment and get up to speed with the academic tasks they may or may not have mastered yet. 5.   Focus on exploration Starting school for the very first time is an excellent opportunity to explore all of the new information that’s out there in the world. Instilling curiosity in a young student can help them enjoy learning in general, ask pertinent questions during lessons or projects, and find creative ways of doing new things. Students who are encouraged by both parent and teacher to explore and discover are more likely to be excited about going to school each morning and view education as a positive thing. All blog entries, with the exception of guest bloggers, are written by Tutor Nerds. Are you an education professional? If so, email us at pr@tutornerds.com for guest blogging and collaborations. We want to make this the best free education resource in SoCal, so feel free to suggest what you would like to see us write.