Using Technology To Engage Students

Using Technology To Engage Students Falling asleep in class, theres the hooded sweatshirt pulled over the head, hide your eyes as you rest your head on your hand or the-Im-just-going-to-hope-teacher-doesnt-see-me approach, is something that just happens at times, despite actual effort or interest. However, teachers are wising up and using new ploys to catch and wake up students, ploys more effective than the if-you-sleep-or-daydream-I-will-catch-you ploy. Teachers, in attempts to keep students awake, paying attention and engaged in their classes, are now armed with technology. Professors and teachers are now giving their students small hand-held devices called clickers that resemble TV remotes to monitor their students attention spans and quiz them, according to an article in The New York Times. Each clicker has a series of numbered buttons on it, and every 15 minutes or so a professor will give short quizzes that correlate with the current lecture, requiring students to first be paying attention and second push one of the buttons to correctly answer the quiz question. Heres how it works: John Jacobs Jr. is sitting in his 8 am Economics 101 class. Mr. Jacobs Jr. had a late night last night, staying up studying for other tests. Mr. Jacobs Jr. is growing increasingly more tired as Professor Dr. Preston Hulcuth is lecturing on supply and demand correlations and how they relate to the world of micro economics. Mr. Jacobs begins to nod off in the back row of class as Dr. Hulcuth periodically quizzes his students using the clickers. Dr. Hulcuth, stuck on supply and demand curves, announces a sudden quiz that will count toward each students grade. He asks, True or false, generally speaking, price and demand are inversely related meaning as one increases the other decreases and vice versa. Press the button labeled one for true and button two for false. Then students who are awake and paying attention would press button number one, correctly answering the question as true. However, John Jacobs Jr., and other students who are not paying attention, will incorrectly answer the question or sleep through it, getting points off their final grades. Professors can also ask multiple choice questions with the clickers and take attendance. Students can push a button on their clickers to inform the professor that they are confused about something in the lecture or provide other information. Northwestern, Harvard, Ohio State and other universities have already implemented these clickers into classes, asking students to answer quiz questions and provide feedback every 15 minutes, keeping them paying attention and engaged in classes. Administrators also hope that these devices will keep students off their cell phones and other gadgets during classes. Early studies at Harvard and Ohio State suggested that using these devices or other gadgets (making iPads and BlackBerrys, etc into class-ready clickers) increases students learning of new material. Professors can then display students responses to questions and the feedback they give on overhead monitors at the front of classrooms. Some students feel that these products unnecessarily monitor students in a big-brother fashion; however, others enjoy the increased interactions with professors.

7 Tips On Creating Workplace Motivation - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / 7 Tips On Creating Workplace Motivation - Introvert Whisperer 7 Tips On Creating Workplace Motivation Motivation is one of those interesting things.  We think it should just drop out of the sky like magic but it never really does.  We also don’t really think about how to create motivation for ourselves but we really can with the right tools. First, let’s get on the same page about what motivation is.  Motivation is what causes you to take action.  Clearly, you’re at work so you do have some motivation because your action is going to work and performing your job.  What we are talking about is feeling engaged and inspired about the actions you do take.  Let’s look at some of the tools you can use to get fully engaged and motivated in the workplace: Change â€" Nothing like changing things to really get the juices going.  You don’t want to change things just for the sake of changing; however, you want to change things that don’t work well.  With that, you must have a vision of what the right outcome would be and then you apply your steps to create the action for change. Goals â€" Many times the lack of motivation is due to a lack of direction or goals.  Sit down and figure out what would really get you up in the morning and make that your goal.  Having a goal isn’t enough, it has to be a goal that you yearn for or have some emotions about.  Once established, put together a plan for how you will achieve your goals. Keep in mind SMART for goals = Specific, Measurable, Actionable, Resonate, Time-bounded if you really are going to shot for something worth having Be accountable â€" The vast majority of us want to do things but we’re really lazy about doing them.  It’s often easier to diet or workout with someone because we have a person that is looking for us to perform. Find someone to hold you accountable to yourself and be willing to trade off the favor. Clean up your own internal litter â€" We all have baggage but sometimes we have so much of it cluttering up our life that it bogs us down and we fail to see what’s possible.   Surround yourself with the right people â€" Yes, your mother was right…it is important to hang out with the right people.  In this case, hang out with people who are inspired and motivated as it will be contagious. Research the issue â€"  Find out from others what motivates them.  In the process, you may hear something that would really be great for you.  Don’t be afraid to copy what works. Cop an attitude  â€"  Motivation creates more motivation.  Look for it and it will be there.  We often get hung up about our ability to control things in the workplace.  The one thing we can control is our attitude and approach to various workplace challenges. These tools for workplace motivation are simple to do which means there is nothing but you holding you up from trying them. Go to top Do you know what your next career step is?   Many people don’t. I want to help you accelerate your career by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my eBook on how to construct your Career SMART Goals â€" that will help you put together your actions and keep you accountable.   Get your copy now and start your action plan today: CLICK HERE Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleash your professional potential.

Why I Volunteer - Jodies Story

Why I Volunteer - Jodie's Story Jodie is one of our new recruits through our partner TeachFirst. As she studied History at university, Jodie will start her teacher training next year in hopes to become a History teacher. She will be teaching high school students, but chose to take part in Tutorfair’s “Stretch Academy” volunteer programme teaching at primary level, as a way of easing her way into the education system. Jodie has so far given 12 hours of her time to Wilbury Primary School students, teaching a small group in year 5, helping them with their numeracy and literacy - focusing on verbal and nonverbal reasoning. How has your experience been so far? It's been such a good experience so far, as I truly feel that I am making a difference to these children's lives. How did you find working with the students? I've really enjoyed working with children in such small groups as it's allowed me to really get to know them all individually. It also means that when a child is struggling, I can go through the topic as slowly as he/she needs and therefore no child is left behind.  All of the children are highly motivated and are so keen to learn, which makes it so enjoyable to teach them. What will you gain from the experience? Teaching such young children has made me aware that educational difficulties begin from the start of children's education and how important it is to tackle these problems from an early age. This will ensure that no child is left behind and that children from all backgrounds have the same start to life. It has also given me confidence and drive for when I start Teach First later this year. Tutorfair and Stretch Academy Over 50 kids piled into the gymnasium at Wilbury Primary School to receive free tutoring run by the Stretch Academy with Tutorfair volunteer tutors. Stretch Academy founder,  Alex Lee  takes us behind the scenes of this truly inspirational programme. If you're a tutor, teacher or an aspiring educator looking to make a difference, please come find out more Find out more about Tutorfair's work with the Stretch Academy

Medical School 5 Moves that Will Get You On the Right Track

Medical School 5 Moves that Will Get You On the Right Track MCAT Medical School Admissions If you are thinking about going to med school, congratulations. You are to be admired for aiming so high and taking on a challenging field with many rewards. You'll need to be completely committed and driven to achieve your goals. Certainly, scoring in the75thpercentile or higher on theMCATwill be critical. However, there are a variety of others things you can and should start doing today to prepare. Start out by taking 5 moves that will get you on the right track today. 1. Hit the Books You need to be serious when it comes to making the grade. Your high school and undergraduate performance need to be beyond the normal level of expectations. You must excel in all of your courses. Beef up on math and science courses, proving that you can handle the intense load that lies ahead. When it comes to medical school, you can't just decide one day that you want to go and expect to get in. Whether you realize it or not, your past grades and performance with have a huge effect on your ability to get into the medical school you are hoping to attend. However, if your past performance in school hasn't been the best and you are still determined to go to medical school, you can start to work to bring your GPA up and get serious about school. 2. Get Some Experiences in the Medical Field To have an edge over other prospective students, demonstrate your devotion by gaining some experience in the field. Go above and beyond by volunteering to job shadow at the hospital or local clinic. Assist in efforts with the Red Cross. Apply to be an office assistant during the summer in a busy medical office or for amedical supplycompany. Look for opportunities and make yourself available. Whatever experience or practice you can get before applying to medical school will really give you a leg up on the other students you are competing against. You need to be willing to do internships and other jobs that might not pay a lot (or might not pay at all) in order to gain this experience. In many cases, the experience you gain before medical school can be priceless, so be willing to put in the time and work necessary to gain it. 3. Do Your Homework (Research) Become a part of research. Contact universities and hospitals that are performing clinical trials and ask to be a part of a research team. You might be the gopher, but you'll acquire valuable information and show initiative. This is another activity that looks great on your application. You can learn a lot from being a part of a research team, and it is a great way to gain experience. Oftentimes, you can get class credit for participating in research either as a patient or as a part of the research team, so make sure to look into options like that so your time will be well spent. 4. Give to Your Community If you are going to be a doctor, you need to demonstrate that you have compassion and a willingness to help others. Find opportunities to give the gift of your time in your community. Contrary to popular belief, your volunteer work doesn't necessarily have to be directly related to the medical field. Volunteering proves that you have the capacity for generosity, and it always looks good on your application. If you can find a volunteer opportunity that relates to the medical field, that could earn you bonus points, but it will be hard to find a volunteer position where you are actually doing medical work since most of those jobs need to be done by a professional. 5. Don't Put All of Your Eggs in One Basket Even though you may have a medical school of choice, keep your options open. Apply to a host of schools and treat each one as an opportunity to open the door to your future. As you are invited for interviews, make sure that you can clearly express your expectations and why you have chosen to enter this admirable field. While you are in the preparation stages, keep an open mind about other schools, and do research or make visits to the school. Focusing on one school could lead you to be devastated if you don't get in, and only applying to one school is foolish. Yes, applying to medical school can be expensive, but find a couple of other schools you would consider going to in case your first choice is not an option. Competition is fierce for med school and getting in won't be easy. Each school is looking for the cream of the crop. Do everything possible to make yourself stand out when you walk in the door. Keep your eye on the prize and continue to work diligently toward your goal., but if you haven't started yetâ€"get going today! hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(215486, '6baac2ae-05a3-4610-9d1f-265c8cbd809f', {});

Which Second Language to Learn to Change Your Life

Which Second Language to Learn to Change Your Life Which Second Language to Learn to Change Your Life Its 1:00 on a Friday afternoon.Youre in 7th grade sitting in one of those stiff school desks.Both of the kids beside you are sniffling. One of them has a cold and the other allergies.The kid behind you has his foot on the metal book holder attached to the bottom of your desk and wont stop jiggling it around.The bell rings and the teacher takes to the front of the class with a stack of papers that he explains are the forms to be filled out for next years classes. Whats one of the choices youll be making? Which foreign language will be your first. (Well, for those of us who didnt  grow up bilingual.)Obviously this is  hardly a great decision-making environment. And even if it had been, our minds were not so very sophisticated at that age.But now were adults! We can choose what we learn and how we learn. We can make good life decisions you know,  after weve spent the first three-quarters of the day binging on Game of Thrones  and a Pizza Hut Hot Dog Pizza.And whats the first problem mos t of us come up against in this adult world? Making choices. There are just too many options!Just think about all the different languages you could learn:  Arabic, Spanish, Lingala (spoken in central Africa), Thai, Esperanto (the most widely spoken artificial language), Japanese, and on it goes. Its estimated that there are around 7,000 languages.So how do you pick just one?Thankfully, learning any one language tends to go a pretty long way, so theres no need to stress out. All you have to do is think clearly about your priorities, about what you hope to gain out of learning a new language. Lets take a look at some of the most common motivations for learning a second language and the criteria you can use to make your decision. Which Second Language to Learn to Change Your LifeFor explorationA lot of us get the idea of learning a second language in our head because we want to explore. And I mean  really explore, not be led around by the hand by some dull witted tour guide. We want to talk to the people of the country, to hear them speak in their own language about their loves and hardships, their fears and hopes.There are a couple of different criteria that you might use if the desire to explore is what drives you. One good metric is the sheer number of countries that speak a certain language and the diversity of those countries. For instance, thanks to the extensiveness of the former French empire there are more countries that use French than any other language besides English. Plus those countries are all scattered across the globe, from the Americas to Asia, making French a prime target.But perhaps youre a connoisseur of quality rather than quantity. When someone says the world exploration to you, it conjures up images of traveling by foot or pack animal into the areas of the world whose cultures are rarely conveyed to the world at large. In this case,  your criteria for a language need simply be whether or not its connected to a culture that is outside th e purview of the English media. In this case, good options include:Nahuatl, spoken in Central MexicoQuechua, spoken in the Andes region of South AmericaJavanese, spoken in parts of the Indonesian island JavaThough if you really want a challenge, try Pirahãâ€"a language with no numbers, spoken by a small group in the jungles of northwest Brazil.For knowledgeAre you a scholar? An independent researcher? A future Ph.D. student with a burning desire to draw all the worlds knowledge into yourself? Why not take a shot at those  languages which have the highest book publishing rates? Looking at things this way highlights the disproportionate amount of publishing by some countries, such as Japan publishing nearly as many books as all of India.By knowing just one of these  widely used languages, you could have access to hundreds of thousands more books every year. Or if papers not your thing you could just as easily take a look at which languages have the most online use. Chinese, Spanish   and Arabic are all good options for an Internet language.But just as with the desire for exploration, there is both an quantitative and qualitative way to measure the merits and demerits of each language in terms of access to knowledge. You might choose a language based on how  different the information in that language is from your own. While its harder to measure this statistically, some choices are far from difficult to make. If politics tickles your fancy you might learn Chinese or Russian,  languages attached to sovereign states with agendas often sharply at odds with those of English speaking countries. If cultural dealings are more your sort of tea, then pretty much any language connected to a non-European population will do, such as Nahuatl or Quechua as described above.Dig into the literature of a second language just a little bit and you might be surprised at just how little you knew about the world beforehand.For influenceDo you like the idea of people always talking abou t you? Do you like to see your name on things? While Trump-level name recognition may be forever out of your reach, some languages provide greater opportunities than others to see your name stamped on a foreign language edition of a book or article.In case this is the sort of multilingualism that satisfies your deepest yearnings, MIT has produced a wealth of data for you to pick over.  Their research reveals that the languages which  we might tend to think would be influentialâ€"such as Chinese and Arabic, which have huge volumes of speakersâ€"tend not  to be quite so influential as their size suggests when it comes to book translations, Wikipedia articles and Twitter usage. Instead, languages like French, German  and Russian serve as major hubs, along with English of course. And other languages like  Dutch  have a disproportionately large level influence compared to their population of native speakers.Of course, the relationship between the desire to influence someone and the desir e for knowledge is a bit like two people walking down the same street in opposite directions. One of these desires is receptive and the other is active. Naturally, then, the metrics we use for one can easily be applied to the other. You might, for instance, look at the book publishing rate for each language and decide Chinese is a good bet after all.  Translations to other languages may be few, but there is perhaps a better chance of your getting published with such a large publishing industry. Of course some languages, like Russian, make a good showing by both measures.For wealthTurning  in an analysis of racial issues in modern America with South Park episodes making up the bulk of your sources probably wouldnt  turn out very well, would  it? Primary sources are important, even if theyre a pain to comb over. After all, how often do most of us personally check the sources of  something we read?But learning another language allows you to do just this. Youll be able to read about wha ts happening in a country through the people living there, giving you a much better idea of what business conditions might actually be like in that countryâ€"a complete  leg up on everyone else whos reading news filtered through a foreign media outlet.As for which specific language to choose, GDP and GDP growth rate together provide a nice measuring stick for where money is going to be pouring out of in the near future. The languages of China, India and Indonesia all stand to be sure winners with home countries that have precipitous GDP growth and that are already included in the G-20 group for major economies.Of course, you dont need to be a businessman to make your foreign language skills turn a profit. There are always the age-old professions of translation (the written word) and interpreting (the spoken word). The key to success here is finding a language high in demand, but with few skilled translators or interpreters. China may have a robust economy, but think of all the Chine se immigrants in the US who can speak flawless English and who will fight you for that translation job. Instead, one might try a language like  Japanese  where few speakers  also speak English at a high level. Arabic  wouldnt  be a bad choice either and, with Brazils rising economy, Portuguese is becoming a good option too.For enjoymentThis is perhaps the easiest method by which to choose a language. Its irrational and arbitrary, but will support your language learning expedition in a way that little else ever could.Did you grow up watching Korean dramas and listening to K-pop? Or perhaps you stuffed your face with French Nutella when all the other kids were eating Snickers bars. Whatever it may be, its often those little things in life that give us some emotional attachment to a culture and a language that we would otherwise have no connection to.If you havent made a deep connection to any language yet, just look around your room. Where do the things you like come from? Who writes the books on your shelf? Who produces your beloved stereo system? Establishing an emotional connection like this is probably the most rewarding way one could set out to choose a language, as ridiculous as it may sometimes seem. Nothing like learning Japanese  just because you wanted to be able to read the credits on an old Atari game.For saving faceIf a sense of intrinsic reward doesnt do it for you, then maybe social shaming will. Although theres some debate about how bilingual the average world citizen truly is, a comparison between Europe and America isnt favorable to the States.According to a 2001 Gallup Poll only 25% of Americans could hold a conversation in another language while another 2006 poll by the European Commission showed Europeans being able to accomplish this task at a rate of 56%.And Europe is hardly the most multilingual part of the globe. Southern Africa, Indonesia and India are some of the most linguistically diverse regions in the world, more than twice as dive rse as parts of Europe, and naturally this helps increase the likelihood of multilingualism.So perhaps you just want to learn a language, any language, to  show that the English speakers of the world arent so closed minded as theyre sometimes made out to be. In this case, one might simply select a language by how quickly one can learn it.  Spanish is the classic easy language for English speakers, but other languages to consider include Norwegian, Dutch and Afrikaans, the South African descendant of Dutch.Truly, there are as many ways to choose a language as there are people, but for most of us there are simple criteria we can apply to make our choices easier. With a little digging youll be able to find a language that suits your innermost pursuits, including everything from exploring the world to making money. And One More ThingOnce youve chosen a language to learn, youll want to get down to the business of actually learning it, and for that, youll love using FluentU. FluentU mak es it possible to learn languages  from music videos, commercials, news and inspiring talks.With FluentU, you learn real languagesâ€"the same way that natives  speak them. FluentU has a wide variety of videos like movie trailers, funny commercials and web series, as you can see here:FluentU App Browse Screen.FluentU has interactive captions that let you tap on any word to see an image, definition, audio and useful examples. Now native language content is within reach with interactive transcripts.Didnt catch something? Go back and listen again. Missed a word? Hover your mouse over the subtitles to instantly view definitions.Interactive transcript for Carlos Baute song.You can learn all the vocabulary in any video with FluentUs learn mode. Swipe left or right to see  more examples for the word you’re learning.FluentU Has Quizzes for Every VideoAnd FluentU always keeps track of vocabulary that you’re learning. It uses that vocab to give you a 100% personalized experience by recomme nding videos and examples.Start using FluentU on the website with your computer or tablet  or, better yet,  download the FluentU app from  the iTunes store  or Google Play store.

This Reading Program Completer Gained Confidence from Kumon

This Reading Program Completer Gained Confidence from Kumon This Reading Program Completer Gained Confidence from Kumon Ankit, 11-years-old, Math Level L Reading Program Completer Considered to be one of the most influential scientists of the 20th Century, Albert Einstein’s work paved the way for future groundbreaking discoveries and continues to inspire young scientists to make an impact on the world we live in today. He said, “Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning.” 11-year-old Kumon Student Ankit not only looks to Einstein for inspiration, but he also embodies his natural sense of wonder, and never stops questioning the unknown. For Ankit, his learning doesn’t stop when the school bell rings at the end of the day. His curiosity leads him to dive into books to try to understand the way the universe works. With a dream of becoming a physicist, Ankit credits Kumon for giving him the confidence and ability to learn independently. “In Kumon, I’ve become more independent and this applies out of the classroom as well,” said Ankit. “I’ve also learned that my success relies on me, and no one else. To be successful and to help you move forward, you have to truly understand the formulas behind things and how they work. Kumon has given me the ability to think that way.” Ever since Ankit enrolled in Kumon when he was just five years old, he has been focused on the goals that lie ahead. Before entering middle school, Ankit successfully completed the Kumon Reading Program. His love for reading was fueled by Kumon, and he can now say he has already analyzed high school level literature. Determined to also complete the Kumon Math Program, Ankit is impressively working with logarithmic equations and developing skills to solve derivatives. Ankit has taken his knowledge to the competitive level. He was selected to represent his school at the 2018-2019 North Carolina Science Fair and was awarded Honorable Mention for his work. When he is not coming up with a new scientific discovery, Ankit enjoys writing and maintaining a blog comprised of poems, short stories, and even has a book in the works! “I want to be a physicist when I grow up because I want to find out the secrets and the workings of the universe,” said Ankit. “I also want to be a writer because I want to create worlds like the ones in the sci-fi books I read.” What do you enjoy most about Kumon? I enjoy the independence that Kumon has given me. It gives me the ability to learn concepts on my own. It doesn’t outright give me the answer. Instead, it drops little hints that lead me to the main goal and leave the rest for me. If you ask for help, the Instructor will lead you, not tell you. How has Kumon helped you academically? Kumon has helped me study several grades’ worth of material in less than a year, and as a result, helps me learn material years before I even see it in school. Combine that with the independence I’ve gained and focus skills, other subjects like social studies or science also benefit. What’s the most beneficial thing you’ve learned in Kumon? I feel that the most helpful thing I’ve learned (and am still learning) is how important it is to not get distracted from your work. It’s important to concentrate as hard as your mind can, and not allow yourself to be distracted from the background noise. If you could sum up your Kumon experience in one word, what would it be? Kumon has helped me find a world where Shakespearean plays are a daily indulgence, and numbers don’t always represent values. Before I started, I imagined I had a molehill in front of me. Now, the mist has cleared, and I can see a mountain. I’ve realized that if I could go up to the end of high school mathematics while I am only ending elementary school, there’s so much more potential that lies ahead of me. My one word would be: “Insightful.” Who is your biggest inspiration and why? One of my main inspirations is Albert Einstein. Most people would think that I’m inspired by him because he persisted even while his teachers told him that he couldn’t do anything. He sought to find a new way of thinking about the universe and physics, even when there were barely any studies about space before him. He inspires me because he was able to find something new â€" an original idea. What’s your favorite book and why? I have 200+ books in my bedroom, so you can probably guess why it’s hard for me to find one favorite. After carefully picking, I chose Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials by James Dashner. There are a lot of reasons why I call this book one of my favorites. First, I like it because it isn’t a fairy tale. In fact, the main characters even get captured in the end. Overall it is a great read and I highly recommend it! How did you feel when you found out you were selected to attend the 2019 Kumon Student Conference?   I felt elated! It was satisfying to see how hard work pays off in the end. What was your experience like at the 2019 Kumon Student Conference, and what was your favorite part? At the Student Conference, I felt a sense of belonging to be with other so similar, yet different, Kumon Students and high achievers. I was inspired by the stories of former Kumon Students and their success. My favorite part was the Mummy Game, in which we had to work as a group to solve clues and puzzles to find an “exit.” What advice would you give to kids just starting Kumon? It might seem boring or hard, but if you pursue the work at your own pace and set goals for yourself, you will find yourself yearning for progress and learning. Discover even more student success stories. You might also be interested in: Meet Arianne, A Reading Program Completer Who Gained Confidence in her English Abilities through Kumon This Young Reading Program Completer Developed a Love for Literature in Kumon This Young Artist Gained Her Confidence With Kumon Kumon Reading Program Completer Motivated by Other Students This Reading Program Completer Gained Confidence from Kumon This Reading Program Completer Gained Confidence from Kumon Ankit, 11-years-old, Math Level L Reading Program Completer Considered to be one of the most influential scientists of the 20th Century, Albert Einstein’s work paved the way for future groundbreaking discoveries and continues to inspire young scientists to make an impact on the world we live in today. He said, “Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning.” 11-year-old Kumon Student Ankit not only looks to Einstein for inspiration, but he also embodies his natural sense of wonder, and never stops questioning the unknown. For Ankit, his learning doesn’t stop when the school bell rings at the end of the day. His curiosity leads him to dive into books to try to understand the way the universe works. With a dream of becoming a physicist, Ankit credits Kumon for giving him the confidence and ability to learn independently. “In Kumon, I’ve become more independent and this applies out of the classroom as well,” said Ankit. “I’ve also learned that my success relies on me, and no one else. To be successful and to help you move forward, you have to truly understand the formulas behind things and how they work. Kumon has given me the ability to think that way.” Ever since Ankit enrolled in Kumon when he was just five years old, he has been focused on the goals that lie ahead. Before entering middle school, Ankit successfully completed the Kumon Reading Program. His love for reading was fueled by Kumon, and he can now say he has already analyzed high school level literature. Determined to also complete the Kumon Math Program, Ankit is impressively working with logarithmic equations and developing skills to solve derivatives. Ankit has taken his knowledge to the competitive level. He was selected to represent his school at the 2018-2019 North Carolina Science Fair and was awarded Honorable Mention for his work. When he is not coming up with a new scientific discovery, Ankit enjoys writing and maintaining a blog comprised of poems, short stories, and even has a book in the works! “I want to be a physicist when I grow up because I want to find out the secrets and the workings of the universe,” said Ankit. “I also want to be a writer because I want to create worlds like the ones in the sci-fi books I read.” What do you enjoy most about Kumon? I enjoy the independence that Kumon has given me. It gives me the ability to learn concepts on my own. It doesn’t outright give me the answer. Instead, it drops little hints that lead me to the main goal and leave the rest for me. If you ask for help, the Instructor will lead you, not tell you. How has Kumon helped you academically? Kumon has helped me study several grades’ worth of material in less than a year, and as a result, helps me learn material years before I even see it in school. Combine that with the independence I’ve gained and focus skills, other subjects like social studies or science also benefit. What’s the most beneficial thing you’ve learned in Kumon? I feel that the most helpful thing I’ve learned (and am still learning) is how important it is to not get distracted from your work. It’s important to concentrate as hard as your mind can, and not allow yourself to be distracted from the background noise. If you could sum up your Kumon experience in one word, what would it be? Kumon has helped me find a world where Shakespearean plays are a daily indulgence, and numbers don’t always represent values. Before I started, I imagined I had a molehill in front of me. Now, the mist has cleared, and I can see a mountain. I’ve realized that if I could go up to the end of high school mathematics while I am only ending elementary school, there’s so much more potential that lies ahead of me. My one word would be: “Insightful.” Who is your biggest inspiration and why? One of my main inspirations is Albert Einstein. Most people would think that I’m inspired by him because he persisted even while his teachers told him that he couldn’t do anything. He sought to find a new way of thinking about the universe and physics, even when there were barely any studies about space before him. He inspires me because he was able to find something new â€" an original idea. What’s your favorite book and why? I have 200+ books in my bedroom, so you can probably guess why it’s hard for me to find one favorite. After carefully picking, I chose Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials by James Dashner. There are a lot of reasons why I call this book one of my favorites. First, I like it because it isn’t a fairy tale. In fact, the main characters even get captured in the end. Overall it is a great read and I highly recommend it! How did you feel when you found out you were selected to attend the 2019 Kumon Student Conference?   I felt elated! It was satisfying to see how hard work pays off in the end. What was your experience like at the 2019 Kumon Student Conference, and what was your favorite part? At the Student Conference, I felt a sense of belonging to be with other so similar, yet different, Kumon Students and high achievers. I was inspired by the stories of former Kumon Students and their success. My favorite part was the Mummy Game, in which we had to work as a group to solve clues and puzzles to find an “exit.” What advice would you give to kids just starting Kumon? It might seem boring or hard, but if you pursue the work at your own pace and set goals for yourself, you will find yourself yearning for progress and learning. Discover even more student success stories. You might also be interested in: Meet Arianne, A Reading Program Completer Who Gained Confidence in her English Abilities through Kumon This Young Reading Program Completer Developed a Love for Literature in Kumon This Young Artist Gained Her Confidence With Kumon Kumon Reading Program Completer Motivated by Other Students

Diet Not Working Try These 5 Tips!

Diet Not Working Try These 5 Tips! pexels.com 1. “Counting calories, but not eating real food” Many individuals (especially younger individuals, i.e. college students) tend to think that so long as you’re under a certain amount of calories every day, you’re eating healthy. This is not the case. You can count calories all you want, but if you aren’t eating what your body needs, and if you’re still filling it with junk, your diet is not going to work. In other words, processed foods aren’t going to cut it. You need fiber, healthy fats, protein, fruits, and veggies, etc. If you’re eating refined carbs and sugar, you’re not going to see the results that you want. Think the healthier you eat, the better you’ll look. 2. “Starting the day with carbohydrates” It sounds counterproductive, but it isn’t. That morning bowl of cereal isn’t actually helping you (especially if you’re eating Cookie Crisp or other unhealthy options) and neither are the orange juice or jelly covered toast. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and, for the most part, we waste it on unhealthy foods that are defeating our health streak before we can even begin. Basically, you should be targeting 15 grams of protein in the morning. So what would this mean in terms of breakfast foods? You should be eating yogurt and granola, protein shakes, eggs, etc. Anything that you can classify as healthy and that has that protein that you need to kick-start your day. 3. “Not getting enough sleep” This is probably going to be our biggest battle if you aren’t sleeping well, your body isn’t doing well. So stop with the all-nighters or the late night parties every weekday because this is going to make you more susceptible when the flu runs around your campus and it’s going to completely diminish your health productivity as well. You need sleep, your diet needs sleep, and your health needs sleep. If you aren’t sleeping well (or just refuse to go to bed), you’re more likely to overeat. You’re also more likely to gain weight. So what is a healthy sleeping routine? 8 hours minimum. That doesn’t mean skip your 9 a.m. class, that means go to bed before 1 a.m. Adjust your schedule to accommodate and you will feel and look better, guaranteed! 4. “Eating when not hungry” We’re all far too guilty of it, and we know that we’re doing it as it happens, but it’s an unconscious habit that’s hard to kick. Basically, when you’re feeling bored, or stressed, or tired, or thirsty, or you’re sitting there doing nothing, your body will believe that it’s hungry. Stop feeding it! If you’re finding yourself snacking for no reason throughout the day, you need to make some changes. There are, luckily, a few ways to correct this. For one thing, utilize a hunger scale, ranked 1-10 (1 being starving and 10 being overly full). If you are below a 4 on the hunger scale, you can eat. If you are above a 4, don’t. If that’s too difficult to master, you can make note of the times you’re watching TV and feeling hungry, determine if you’re just bored or if you’re actually ready to eat, and do something to keep yourself busy if you aren’t actually hungry. Basically, you can use your hunger as a bored-ometer if you’re hungry but you shouldn’t be, you’re probably bored and trying to fill some time. So do something more productive and come back to the TV a little later! 5. “Hanging with the wrong crowd” Most often, this is going to be your friends and family that aren’t supportive of your weight-loss efforts. In these circumstances, individuals are more likely to regain the weight or to stop their diets altogether. A new study also revealed that individuals are the most likely to cheat on their diets when they’re out with friends and family, as it’s very easy to be manipulated into having a “cheat day,” etc. Basically, don’t accept where you are. If you want to continue to eat healthy, don’t let others talk you out of it. Stick to your diet, and if you’re worried about cheating when you go out, don’t eat out. Invite friends over for some healthy snacks or for a home-cooked meal. Don’t let them manipulate your diet you’re in charge. Start implementing these diet tips into your everyday routine and you’ll be back in that swimsuit and ready for summer in no time!