How to Keep Your Kids Engaged in Music Lessons

How to Keep Your Kids Engaged in Music Lessons Suzy S. When booking new students for music lessons, we often hear, How long will it take to see results?   We tell our customers that it really depends on each students ability to learn and how much dedication and effort they choose to put into it. Meaning, if a student is enrolled in weekly lessons but fails to show up for lessons and/or practice regularly, they probably wont see a drastic improvement. However, if they attend their scheduled lessons while continuing to practice and push themselves, they will be amazed at what they can accomplish. When we explain this to parents, another concern usually arises How can I help encourage my child to practice and stay engaged in lessons? The good news is that there are many ways parents can help keep their children excited about their lessons. We asked some of our talented TakeLessons music teachers to share how they encourage parents to get involved and got some really great feedback.   Check out this piece written by one of our Dallas guitar teachers, Jerry W. Jerry lists some interesting ideas for parents to make the musical learning process more enjoyable for their kids. Once the kids are engaged and practicing regularly, they are more likely to see their results faster! Jerry writes: Tips for Music Teachers: Young Guitar Students, Parents Practice Each year, I am approached by parents who request that I teach guitar lessons to their children.   I am always flattered that they would choose me to teach their child.   The child is usually enthusiastic as they begin their musical journey.   After about a month, the student’s attitude begins to shift from enthusiasm to the realization that they have undertaken a lifelong journey of learning.   Based on my experience, I have observed a number of ways parents can help keep their kids engaged in the process. 1. Stay informed about the lessons.   Parental involvement in the learning process is essential.   Students, oftentimes, get caught up in the details of the lesson that they are learning.   In this situation, they tend to lose sight of the long term goals.   Parents can lend a “big picture” perspective to the child.   Parental involvement can be anything from visiting with the teacher after each lesson to view the material that has been assigned to actually taking lessons with the student.   Taking lessons together is a great way for parent and child to foster a common interest.   Oftentimes, the parent can actually assist the student at home and can even practice together. 2.   The importance of the teacher’s attitude toward each student, and their progress, cannot be overstated.   The teacher must communicate with the parents each little “victory” in the learning process.   Honest communication to the parents of the areas which are going well, as well as areas which need improvement is very helpful in keeping the student engaged in the process. 3.   Parents, just like teachers, can develop creative ways to keep students practicing.   These strategies can include:   seeing that the student use play-a-long Cds, recording practice time, practicing with the student, and taking the student to performances of great artists.   Parental involvement in this way can be very effective in helping the student achieve both short term and long term goals. Learning is, quite simply, not a “one size fits all” process.   A Harvard education professor once stated that “you cannot make some learn something.   You can only create circumstances under which they want to learn the subject.”   Therein lies the great challenge for any teacher.   Common sense parental involvement can go a long way toward creating such an environment. -Jerry W.

Choosing When to Visit Rio

Choosing When to Visit Rio When Should You Visit Rio de Janeiro? ChaptersWhat Is Rio de Janeiro’s Climate Like?When Is the Best Time to Visit Rio de Janeiro?What Events Can You Enjoy in Rio?How Long Does it Take to Visit Rio?“Brazil offers big adventures for travelers with budgets large and small. There's horseback riding and wildlife-watching in the Pantanal, kayaking flooded forests in the Amazon, ascending rocky cliff tops to panoramic views, whale-watching off the coast, surfing stellar breaks off palm-fringed beaches and snorkeling crystal-clear rivers or coastal reefs â€" all are part of the great Brazilian experience.” - Lonely Planet43 °C in the shade was Rio de Janeiro’s hottest recorded temperature in 2015.  It’s not always that hot, though. The climate is quite nice and it’s never too hot nor too cold with a nice breeze coming off the ocean.However, certain times of the year are better than others, especially if you want to see the beaches at Copacabana and Ipanema.In this article, we’re going to look at the climate in Rio de Janeiro and the best time to visit it. IrineuPortuguese Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors GabrielaPortuguese Teacher 5.00 (2) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JoanaPortuguese Teacher 5.00 (1) £12/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LouisePortuguese Teacher 5.00 (2) £27/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RodrigoPortuguese Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors BlancaPortuguese Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors CarolinaPortuguese Teacher 5.00 (5) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AdamPortuguese Teacher 5.00 (6) £11/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsWhat Is Rio de Janeiro’s Climate Like?Rio de Janeiro is located between the Equator and the Tropic of Capricorn and enjoys a warm and humid tropical climate. Like many countries in South America, there are only two seasons: the dry season from May to October and the rainy season from December to March. April and November are transi tional months. The Amazon rainforest is a huge part of the country but has a very different climate. (Source: nile)The city is located by Guanabara Bay and surrounded by mountains covered by the Atlantic Forest, which results in milder temperatures during the warm periods but also humidity.Chris the Redeemer stands 710m above sea level on the Corcovado, where it’s usually 4 degrees cooler than at the foot of the mountain. On Sugarloaf Mountain, 400m up, the weather’s quite similar.Average Temperatures at RioIt’s never too cold in Brazil’s second city during the day. At night, temperatures can drop to under 10 °C but rarely any lower thanks to the surrounding mountains.If you decide to go to Rio de Janeiro in December, you can spend the holidays paddling in the ocean with a caipirinha in hand as you listen to samba music.Rain in Rio de JaneiroThere’s quite a lot of rain in Rio; 1300mm per year. London only has 584mm per year.  This makes sense since Brazil has a tropical climate which drie s in the summer following the rainy season. Most of the rain comes between December and March during storms.Have you ever experienced such a rainy season?Asia has similar seasons. The water can rise quickly.Unlike the UK, this is because it’s raining when it’s hot rather than cold.  For example, there’s an average 655mm of rainfall in Newcastle, which is still half of that in Rio!Sunshine in Rio de JaneiroSunshine is good and you’ll get an average of 7 hours of the stuff during the day. Rio is also regularly sunny throughout the whole year, even during the winter. During the summer, the days aren’t as long as they are during the British summer (due to how far north the UK is) so think twice before you start complaining about the early nights creeping in!Water Temperature in RioThe temperature of the water in the Atlantic Ocean is quite important in a city like Rio.From November to April: 24-26 °CIn May and June: 23-24 °C.From July to October: 22 °C.What more could you ask for?However, you should be careful as the waves and currents can be quite strong and tourists sometimes need to be saved by helicopter because they can’t swim back to the shore.Find out more about visiting Rio.When Is the Best Time to Visit Rio de Janeiro?If you want to visit the Ilha Grande, the Amazon rainforest, or the botanical gardens, different times of the year have their pros and cons. Before you get your flights, you might want to check the average temperatures in Rio de Janeiro. (Source: Skitterphoto)Brazil’s second-largest city is in the southern hemisphere. So when it’s summer in the UK, it’s winter in Brazil and also the dry period. When it’s winter in the UK, it’s summer in Brazil; the wet period.Find out more about accommodation in Rio.Visiting Rio during the Rainy PeriodThe rainy season is between December and March. Temperatures can rise to 35 °C and the humidity makes it feel even hotter. The tropical storms can be quite violent. Rio is sunny most of the year. (Source: tuli67)If you can deal with humidity and heat, then it’s a great time to go because everyone’s getting ready for the Rio Carnaval.Find out more about the cost of visiting Rio.Travelling to Brazil During the Dry SeasonThe dry season is between May and October. The temperatures oscillate between 15 °C and 25 °C but the evenings are quite mild. The sunsets are quite early, too, at around 17:30.  Don’t misunderstand the term “dry season”. The city is very humid and it can still rain, just less than during the rainy season.The Best Season to Head to Rio de JaneiroIn terms of weather, you’ll want to go during October, November, or the beginning of December when the days are warm and everyone’s getting ready for the carnival. March, April, and May are also nice but they’re not as festive because it’s after the carnival’s finished.The high season for tourists occurs during the carnival period and the low season is in the months afte rwards (June, July, August, September).Discover the different parts of Rio.What Events Can You Enjoy in Rio?While the city is most famous for its carnival, there are plenty of other events throughout the year you can attend if you can’t head there during February or March:6th January is the Festa dos Reis. While this is very popular in Recife, it’s celebrated throughout the country.February-March: The week-long carnival festivities take place.Semana Santa: Easter week in Brazil is a big deal and there are big processions organised in Rio. June: The Rio marathon is good for sporty tourists if you can deal with the heat.24 June for São João (Saint John): This is one of the biggest holidays of the year with bonfires and fireworks displays.June and July for the Festas Juninas: There are parades organised from the favelas to the historic centre starting in mid-June and through the whole month of July.2 December: Samba Day.31 December for New Year’s Eve. Every year, the locals hea d to the beaches dressed in a white and throw rose petals into the see and launch fireworks. Around 2 million people attend the festivities. This, along with carnival, is the city’s biggest celebration. Before you go to Rio, you should check what's going on. (Source: nuno_lopes )How Long Does it Take to Visit Rio?You can visit the city in around 4 days if you’re in a rush and need to head elsewhere in Brazil like Salvador de Bahia, São Paulo, or Iguaçu Falls (or Iguazú Falls) in the south of Brazil. If Rio’s just a stopover on a longer trip to Colombia or Venezuela (a country you might want to avoid at the moment), here’s how you could organise your trip:Day 1: Ipanema and LeblonDay 2: Flamengo, Santa Teresa, and LapaDay 3: Barra da Tijuca, Copacabana, and Leme.Day 4: Centro, Cinelândia, Botafogo, Urca, and Lagoa.If you’d rather relax on the beach, you’ll need to stay at least a week. You’ll have more time to discover the city without having to rush around. If you’re heading during carnival, you’ll need at least two weeks, a week to visit the city and a week to enjoy the festivities.So when will you head to Rio de Janeiro?While Spanish is spoken in almost every o ther South American countries including Bolivia, Paraguay, and Argentina, Brazil's official language is Portuguese.Before you head to the largest country in South America, you should consider getting help with your Portuguese from a private tutor on Superprof. If you want to learn more about Brazilian culture and the language.There are three types of tutorial available, each with its advantages and disadvantages: group tutorials, online tutorials, and face-to-face tutorials.Group tutorials are great for those on a budget as you can share the cost of the tutor's time with the other students in attendance. It could be useful if you're going to Porto with a group of friends, though. Of course, you won't enjoy as much of a personalised touch as you would with the other types of private tutorial.Similarly, online tutorials are good if you're on a budget as the tutor doesn't have to travel and can, therefore, charge less per hour. Your tutor might even be from Brazil.Finally, face-to-face tutorials are between you and the tutor. This is the most costly type of tutorial but it's also the most cost-effective.

The First World War

The First World War How the First World War Shook the World ChaptersThe Lead-up to World War IThe Shot Heard Round the WorldEveryone Gets InvolvedWorld War I and the Rest of the WorldAnalysis of WWIThe dawn of the 20th Century was a time of unprecedented progress and innovation: the possibility of humans taking flight became a probability with the Zepplin (1900), the Wright brothers’ aeroplane (1903) and the helicopter (1907).Bakelite, a virtually indestructible petroleum-based product opened new markets and sharp minds; every plastic implement in the world today originates from Leo Baekeland’s formula (1907).Everything from a favourite teddy bear (1902) to the artificial illumination (1902) we give little thought to was discovered/invented/created around the turn of the century.Even the teabags for your fav cuppa were invented in 1904!Hoovers, tractors and neon lights... the early 20th century saw the world treated to such a veritable explosion of genius incrementally making human life better and easier.Who could have known the war to en d all wars was just a few years away?Your Superprof now goes back in time to examine the simmering socio-political unrest and chronicles the events leading up to when that turmoil seethed to a boil, to survey the destruction and tally the losses.We’ll get to that event soon enough. For now, let’s continue drawing our map...Nobody liked the French so, to keep France from becoming any type of power to be reckoned with, Germany’s chancellor brokered the League of Emperors; an alliance between Europe’s three major thrones.Otto von Bismark is today credited brokering that deal. Sharply intuitive and cunningly astute, he seemed to have had the right touch for just about any negotiation. By all accounts, he wasn’t really a nice guy, though.Still, concerns over Russia’s commitment to the League led Prussia and Austria-Hungary to form a Dual Alliance, leaving the Tsar’s interests (and military strength) out of further negotiations. Later, Italy joined, making it a Triple Allian ce.America, reveling in its pre-Depression prosperity, was busy making great strides in industry that would later impact the outcome of the war.What about the British Empire?Until just after the turn of the century, we were enjoying our splendid isolation â€" avoiding any long-term alliances and relying only on our vast colonial resources for military strength as well as our economy.While there was relative peace in Europe during this time, there were skirmishes: the Boer wars, for one, that clearly illustrated Britain’s vulnerability in spite of the Empire’s might.For that reason, we entered into an Entente Cordiale, a series of agreements that greatly improved Anglo-French relations. Later, we signed into the Anglo-Russian Convention, meaning that, if either France or Russia needed our help in wartime, we would join in.Meanwhile, France and Russia had brokered their own agreements.Coming into 1914, there was Germany-Prussia, Austria-Hungary and Italy â€" the Triple Alliance, s andwiched by Great Britain-France-Russia’s Triple Entente.Now that our battle lines are drawn, let’s get on with the fighting!Discovering their country's annexation to Austria-Hungary left many Serbians angry Source: WikipediaThe Shot Heard Round the WorldArchduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir to the Austrian throne, was touring Sarajevo, Bosnia being a territory that the Austria-Hungary empire had annexed from the waning Ottoman Empire.Among the crowds lining the motorcade route were six members of Young Bosnia, a body of political dissidents particularly active in schools. They intended to assassinate the Archduke in order to force the relinquishment of the south Slav provinces.The grenade lobbed at the passing car missed its mark, injuring several bystanders. Remarkably, that was the only attempt made on the dignitary’s life while in procession.Purely by chance, as he was returning from the hospital, having visited those wounded by the blast, a wrong turn brought him in the sig hts of one of the assassins, who was armed with a pistol.Two shots, one for the Archduke and one for his wife, fired by a youth just shy of his 20th birthday caused Europe to descend into chaos.Although the winds of war hardly ruffled Viennese society, the political effect was deep.From anti-Serb riots in Sarajevo encouraged by Austro-Hungarian leaders to imprisonment and extradition of prominent Serbs, all of which led to the July Ultimatum: intentionally unacceptable demands placed on the Serbian government with the deliberate intention of provoking war.Such demands have a way of causing earth-shattering events; just think about how such demands gave rise to Nazi Germany!world war; there was fighting on virtually every continent and on the open seas to boot!AsiaGermany held large swaths of territory â€" in China and what was then called German Samoa. New Zealand and Australia got in on the action by liberating that Samoan territory as well as the island that later came to be known as New Britain.Meanwhile, Japan got busy in Micronesia and then proceeded to capture Qingdao, in China’s northwestern province. Both were German territories.AfricaMuch of the continent had been colonised by European powers; now was the time those colonies rose up in arms against one another.The French and British united themselves against the Germans, taking over their Togoland and Kamerun protectorates.The Germans positioned in Southwest Africa attacked South Africa, where British forces were encamped. Fighting there continued for the duration of the war.IndiaIn spite of Germany’s best efforts to incite uprisings, India remained staunchly loyal to the Crown. Men enlisted in record numbers; more than a million Indian soldiers served in Africa, Europe and the Middle East.We note that their efforts were an attempt to gain their independence from Britain. They were sorely disappointed when, after cessation of hostilities, it was not given them.The Americas joined in the fighting r ather late.The United States had adopted a stance of non-intervention until 1915 when a German submarine sank  the Lusitania. The 128 Americans on board that perished caused President Woodrow Wilson to demand that Germany not target civilian ships.Germany agreed but, as the war ground on â€" now in its third year, they resumed unrestricted submarine warfare with full awareness that the U.S. would fight back.The German foreign minister sent a telegram inviting Mexico to ally themselves with Germany to fight the Americans but British forces intercepted the missive, which was presented to the American president via the U.S. embassy in London.That and the sinking of six American merchant ships were all the incentive President Wilson needed: on the 6th of April 1917, the United States joined the Allied Powers in fighting Germany.South American countries and Caribbean nations were not excluded: in that last year of the war, just about every nation declared war on Germany, with Panama and Nicaragua also declaring war on Austria.For its sheer scale, WWI ranks among the world's most famous historical events.Trench warfare killed by explosion and disease Source: Wikipedia Credit: John Warwick BrookeAnalysis of WWIAustria suffered heavy casualties in the early days of the conflict. In fact, Serbian forces defeating the Austro-Hungarian forces is considered one of modern history’s greatest upsets.With more than 35 million casualties, WWI is regarded as one of the bloodiest wars in all of humanity.A lot of deaths likely came from the fact that the war started with a lot of troops using 19th century weaponry and battlefield tactics but, as the war progressed, the same explosion of innovation that advanced civilisation also made fighting much more deadly:The British Ladyship tanks premiered on September 1916; France’s and Germany’s soon followedArtillery and aircraft brought new threats from the skyradios, telephones and wireless communication permitted communication b etween the front lines and the decision makers who remained far removed from the fighting.Trench warfare, made possible by the development and improvement of the grenade, took lives indiscriminately â€" by disease or by explosion.The might of the British Navy could not overcome the stealth of German submarines.Things might have kept on indefinitely were it not for the Russian revolution, whose conclusion culminated in the signing of a treaty with Germany.One by one, all of Germany’s allies capitulated. Left alone to face enemies around the globe, Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicated on November 9th, leaving the remaining politicians to sign the armistice.It was truly a war to end all wars... until World War II came along.

Guitar Fingerpicking Patterns for Beginners [Video Tutorial]

Guitar Fingerpicking Patterns for Beginners [Video Tutorial] Maile Proctor Whether you just started guitar lessons or youve been playing for a while, guitar fingerpicking patterns can spice up your playing! Here, Denver, CO teacher Kirk R. teaches you three guitar fingerpicking patterns  to add to your guitar-playing toolbox If you’ve mastered all of the left-hand chord shapes, adding some right-hand flair will help you keep things interesting. If you’re still working on your first couple of chords, or maybe haven’t gotten that far yet, using some guitar fingerpicking patterns is a great way to impress your friends. Theres an almost unlimited number of ways to pick a chord with your right hand, so covering all the possibilities would take forever! Lets keep things simple and go over a few of the basic guitar fingerpicking patterns. Boom-Chick Guitar Fingerpicking Let’s start with what I call a boom-chick pattern. You may also see it called boom-chuck, or something else entirely, and you may also see slightly different right-hand techniques with the same name. The pattern starts with a bass note that you play with your thumb, followed by a group of higher notes. Most of the time, this will be a group of three notes, and you will use your index finger, middle finger, and ring finger. This pattern can also vary and have fewer notes, or you can add a fourth note with your thumb,  but this makes the pattern a bit more difficult. This sort of pattern is especially useful in songs with a waltz-like feel, or any other songs in ¾ time. In those cases, the pattern works best with your thumb playing on the first beat of each measure, followed by two chords on the second and third beats. The easiest version of this pattern in 4/4 or another duple meter, is a thumb note on beats one and three while the fingers play the chord on beats two and four. As an exercise to develop this pattern, start by using your thumb on the open E bass string, and your index, middle, and ring fingers on the G, B, and E strings, respectively. You can use this open picking pattern anywhere that calls for an E minor chord, and give your left hand a break to turn a page, scratch your head, or whatever else it’s been too busy playing chords to do. Check out the basic patterns here, as well as some of the possible variations. Travis Picking Travis picking is one of the most popular categories of guitar fingerpicking. It’s named after the great country guitar player Merle Travis. If you’re not a country fan, dont let that throw you off; if you dont know who he is, make sure you check this guy out. Despite being named after Merle Travis, the term Travis picking has a slightly more narrow definition than the patterns that Merle used in his playing. In general, Merle only used his thumb and the index finger of his right hand, which is the easiest way to approach Travis Picking. Start by playing with your thumb and index finger at the same time, with at least two strings between the ones that you’re playing (i.e. play the fourth and first strings). After that, play your thumb on a higher string, and then your index finger on the next string. After that, move back to the outer strings and play with your thumb, followed by your index finger, and finally,  another thumb note before repeating the pattern. - 22 2- -2-2 00 - It may look a little confusing written down, but once you start to feel it under your hand, it makes a lot more sense. When I play patterns like this, I try to remind myself that I wasn’t blessed with athletic hands  like Merle Travis. While I can play the whole pattern with just my thumb and index finger, using my middle finger on the highest note makes it more comfortable to play for an extended time. It also opens up a few more options, which I’ve demonstrated in the video below. Arpeggio Guitar Fingerpicking Arpeggio means playing the notes of a chord, one after another, moving in the same direction. For that reason, I will call these types of guitar fingerpicking patterns the arpeggio patterns. To start, set your hand up the same way you would for the boom-chick pattern, and start playing with just your thumb. Next, rather than playing the three fingers together, as we did before, we’ll play them in ascending order: index first, followed by the middle, and finally the ring finger. This basic pattern is really useful in the right type of song, and it’s easy to expand to fit different chords or time signatures. In fact, back in 1812, a famous guitarist published a list of 120 different versions of this type of pattern, all using only C and G7. The easiest ways to switch it up is to simply do it backward, starting with the highest note, or start with the thumb, and then play only the fingers in reverse order. Playing the original pattern, followed by the middle and then index fingers also make for a pleasant sound. Try changing the rhythm up in the middle of the arpeggio. Here’s a few options that you can try out yourself: The easiest way to switch it up is to simply do it backward, starting with the highest note, or start with your thumb, and then play only your fingers in reverse order. Playing the original pattern, followed by the middle and then index fingers also makes for a pleasant sound. Try changing the rhythm up in the middle of the arpeggio. Here’s a few options that you can try out yourself: As you can tell from the videos,  once you’re comfortable with a few of the patterns, its easy to do impressive improvisations without having to think about scales, mode, or anything besides basic chord progressions. These guitar fingerpicking patterns are great if youre ready to get more variety out of the chords youve been using. Try Add some spice to your songs by trying these patterns with songs you already know. If you have questions, ask your teacher or let us know in the comments below! Have fun, and get those right-hand fingers moving! Post Author:  Kirk R. Kirk is a classical, bass, and acoustic guitar instructor in Denver, CO. He earned a  bachelors of music in Guitar performance at The College-Conservatory of Music in Cincinnati and he is currently pursuing a masters degree in performance.   Learn more about Kirk  here! Image courtesy Kmeron Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher

A Guide to Cooperative Learning

A Guide to Cooperative Learning Your Guide to Cooperative Learning ChaptersWhat is Cooperative Learning and Why is it a Buzzword in Education? How to Group Students for Cooperative Learning ProjectsTutoring Individual Students Toward Cooperative Learning ProjectsHow Private Tutoring Should Evolve to Include Cooperative Learning InitiativesStandardized education, in general, has long been under fire for several reasons; perhaps the main one being the unrealistic expectation that every student will absorb, retain and be capable of using the information presented to them in the traditional teaching model.The standard model of teaching â€" teacher talks, students listen has suffered its share of critics too: not everyone learns in the same way! So it is that a revolution in education comes about. No longer should education be an individualized, competitive affair; social learning must go hand in hand with intellectual growth.What was so wrong with individual students competing for the best marks? You really only need to look at today’s businesses to f igure out that the best effort and the most work is done in collaboration; by employees cooperating to complete projects.If you think about it, don’t we teach our children, from infancy on, to share and to cooperate? That being the case, doesn’t it make sense to carry out that philosophy through children’s earliest foray into society â€" school, so that they will be better prepared for their working life?  Cooperative learning consists of equal parts of social learning and academic learning.Far more than the think pair share teaching strategy, cooperative learning draws on students’ processing of information in a group setting rather than the teacher leading the instruction.    Mind you, there are plenty of pitfalls and concerns regarding cooperative learning initiatives. We’ll talk about the good, touch on the bad and help you find ways to make cooperative learning work,  in the classroom and in one to one tutoring. Cooperative learning could be described as a delicate balancing act between teachers’ authority and students’ autonomy. By ‘authority’ we don’t mean discipline, and by ‘autonomy’ we don’t mean liberty. In the cooperative learning model, imparting knowledge takes second place to students’ learning process. The principle of cooperative learning transforms the role of the teacher to one of a facilitator, enabling groups to work and learn together, from each other.  We should make the distinction between cooperative and collaborative learning clear: not every collaboration is born of cooperative learning, and not every cooperative learning assignment results in collaboration. Students who collaborate may choose to do so of their own volition, independent of teachers’ instruction, outside of the classroom and perhaps even outside of school. This diagram might help clarify the two conceptsCooperative learning activities call on students’ critical thinking skills, with the teacher guiding the group to form conclusions a nd tasking them to explain their reasons for arriving at them. What Does Cooperative Learning Involve? A teacher may choose between three styles of cooperative learning: Informal, more of a spur of the moment discussion of the topic at hand, done in learning groups, after which one student may present the group’s conclusions. Formal, in which the teacher organizes the students into groups and possibly assigns each group member a role.  One student may research notes and texts while another records observations. One student could be a timekeeper â€" making sure everyone stays on task, and another represents the group, come time to divulge the findings.Base: the students are organized into groups for the entire semester or school year. The students’ roles may change within the group â€" the recorder may become the researcher, and so on so that everyone has the opportunity to fulfill every role in the group dynamic.How to Group Students for Cooperative Learning ProjectsBesides gr ouping students formally or informally, a teacher should be well aware of his/her students’ learning styles, and which students work well in groups â€" as opposed to those who work best alone. Ideally, you should create a blend of personalities in each group. While putting all of your extroverts together would make for a lively and engaged group, you would have to wonder: how much work would get done?The talking necessary for effective group work is one of the bigger concerns of cooperative learning: how much extraneous chatter should be allowed before the teacher has to step in? Although cooperative learning is supposed to be social learning, not every student enjoys being social. That is why it is important to signal that everyone maintains their individuality. One way to do so is through the role they play in the group.    Perhaps a more introverted student could research, while another acts as timekeeper. Meanwhile, prepare your verbal group member to present, while the kines thetics perhaps write on the board.  If you are looking for some  jobs in education  check here.You must remember that cooperative learning is not a teacher-centered model. In this educational model, you become a facilitator, meaning you arrange the groups to permit the maximum flow of information between group members. Trouble is, that all works well in a classroom environment, but how is a tutor supposed to work with individual students who work in a base learning group at school? Tutoring Individual Students Toward Cooperative Learning ProjectsAs schools turn away from standard teaching yet maintain the same curriculum, that would imply that students would still need academic support and homework help, right?Such a postulate might encourage tutors to believe that nothing has changed as far as their duties are concerned when, in fact, there must be a coinciding revolution in private tutoring to match the one going on in schools all over the world. Now more than ever, tutors need strategies to promote active learning in their students, rather than the reinforcement of learned material. Active learning is a teaching method that strives to involve students in the learning process. The key question to accomplishing that is knowing how your students learn.If you are an experienced teacher who also tutors, you must know all about learning styles and, most likely, can discern your tutee’s learning style within the first hour of working with him/her.On the other hand, if you are a college student earning extra money by tutoring, you may have to educate yourself on the subject. Once you’ve ascertained that your pupil is either aural, verbal, kinesthetic or any of the others, it is time to devise your strategy. It should consist, at least in part, of toning students’ natural inclinations to better fit into a group dynamic.If your student requies more assistance, naturally you must take special pains to help build the skills â€" both academic and social, that wo uld help him/her better assimilate into the group. We’re glad to provide you with helpful tips and suggestions on the matter.     Changing Your TitleTutors of yesteryear may recall the good ole days, when you showed up, were offered a beverage, led into the dining room and had unfettered access to your student for an hour or so. After the icebreaker and review of last week’s material, s/he bent over her notebook while you waited... for a question, or to check the work. Tutors of today are called on to do so much more!One might say that tutors must become academic coaches, focusing more on helping their students build the skills needed to function in the classrooms of today. How Private Tutoring Should Evolve to Include Cooperative Learning InitiativesBecause such a great part of cooperative learning is social learning, tutors must incorporate activities and conversation that would promote social skills and encourage participation in class. Role-playing games work well with all age groups. You might try posing a few ‘what if’ questions to your older students, just to engage their higher order thinking skills and perhaps even debate with them. “What if nobody ever studied history?” or “What if E did not equal MC2?”The takeaway here is that these days, school is all about the learning experience, and less about cramming knowledge into (unwilling) heads. Anything you can do to help your charges develop effective learning strategies and anything you can do to promote their capacity for social interaction and their ability to function in-group is all to the good. Interdependence is another key factor in cooperative learning, and this is where a tutor an academic coach will shine!Tutors have traditionally been their pupils’ ally, a grown-up who actively listens and empathizes.  You may encourage deeper student engagement to foster interdependence, but cautiously!At no time should your student become overly dependent on you; your mutual goal should be to ensure that s/he has the skills to function well in group activities â€" not to withdraw in class in favor of working with you. Every instructor â€" be s/he a tutor or classroom educator, has the same goal: for students to succeed. That is why tutors must keep on top of the instructional strategies that schools systems implement, and why teachers must undergo professional development. There is a danger of implementing this teaching and learning philosophy incorrectly so that it benefits neither student nor teacher. Hopefully, every learner you work together with will enjoy only the upside of cooperative learning strategies, and you too will find them challenging yet engaging.

How to Find the Right French Teacher

How to Find the Right French Teacher Find the Right French Tutor for Your Learning Needs ChaptersReasons to Learn FrenchWhat Qualities does a Good Teacher Embody?Points to Ponder in Seeking a TutorYou might have scoffed at the title of this article: is there such a thing as the right teacher? Isn't anyone who can speak French  a right teacher?For many reasons, the answer to that question is a resounding negative.Think about your formal schooling experience: did you like every teacher? Did you start every learning session with keen anticipation?Have you worked with teachers who are always responsive to your needs, attentive to your preferred method of learning; who are supportive and encouraging?Have you ever had a single educator who makes subject matter come alive for you?That is the type of teacher we mean when broaching the subject of the right teacher to learn French with.We certainly don't mean this type of teacher, in Houston, who starts every class with Bonjour, and then teaches French in English!Let us now embark on a journey to discover how to find the perfect F rench instructor for you.Did your school French teacher make you feel this way this little girl does? Source: Pixabay Credit: Adolf StrausHowever maligned that teacher is, he may possess qualities that every teacher should have:patienceconfidencecompassionunderstandingsupport for every student; no favouritism or deeming any student a lost causea passion for learning and for lifethe ability to see things from alternate perspectives, and explain subject matter in a different wayAs far as the Houston teacher is concerned, that last may well be his primary qualifier!Another essential quality a teacher must have is a firm grasp on his/her subject matter.That is why a non French speaker teaching the language caused such a sensation.French language instruction, like just about every other subject, can be an exercise in frustration.Imagine you are leading a classroom full of students, but only a few have any aptitude or desire to learn what you have been tasked to teach.And, mid-semester, y ou will be judged on your ability to impart knowledge, based on your students' test scores.That is why patience tops the list of desired attributes for teachers!While such scenarios may be common in secondary school French class, nothing says that the teachers leading French courses all over the country, on the Internet and perhaps even in your home would operate under similar conditions.One criterion to look for in a good French teacher is temperament.If you are looking for beginner French classes London, relying on feedback from that instructor's former students is one way to gauge his/her patience, understanding and support.The website Rate my Teachers makes it easy to get an overview of the quality of instruction you would be treated to by any given teacher on that list.But... these are all school teachers! How are you, an adult hoping for extracurricular lessons in advanced French, supposed to benefit from those reviews?Many school teachers supplement their income â€" or feed t heir passion for teaching by tutoring evening and weekends.Are you looking for a tutor for French lessons online?Points to Ponder in Seeking a TutorThere is a bit of a difference between a French teacher for your child who is still in school, and one for yourself, who are looking to gain some language skills â€" for whatever reason.Your child might need a French language teacher who knows about the demands of the National Curriculum, and will work at an age appropriate level.S/he should be able to base instruction on mandated French textbooks, and not vary too widely from what your child expects from a language learning experience.To be sure, the teacher can and should introduce new expressions and vocabulary, but should tailor French lessons to the age of student.For example, it would be inappropriate to discuss concerts and other aspects of French culture with a 7 year old.On the other hand, should you wish to master the art of  French conversation before your next holiday, discus sions of cultural activities would be most suitable.A bilingual teacher offers language learners many advantages Source: Pixabay Credit: Free-PhotosNative Speaker or Bilingual?We have a tendency to want the best for our money, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.However, when it comes to learning French, there is some debate on whether engaging a teacher whose native language is French is the best idea.Here is why:While certainly adept at speaking and understanding French, a native speaker might not have all the answers.Because people learn their native language as a matter of course, French grammar rules might be especially tricky for someone native to France to impart, no matter how educated s/he is.Also, s/he may suffer tunnel vision. Spoken French has certain aspects that are difficult for non French speakers to master, such as the guttural R, or the different sounds that accents give certain vowelsFinally: that tutor's English language skills might not be sufficient to communicate the finer points of pronunciation and grammar.How about a bilingual teacher, then? Someone who learned French as a second language?French teachers in the UK must go through rigorous training, to include proving their proficiency in French and obtaining at least a bachelor's degree.An additional requirement for potential teachers is to undergo licensure; a test in which the candidate must demonstrate his/her ability to teach effectively.All of that work and training may increase the price of your linguistic quest for fluency!A French tutor, on the other hand, is not required to seek licensing or undergo any special training before giving a French lesson.The rule of thumb for hiring a tutor is that s/he should be at minimum one level higher than yours.If you can speak basic French, for example, your tutor should be at intermediate level.In seeking out a tutor to learn the French language from, you would have to rely on the veracity of testimonials left by francophones who have benefited from his/her language courses.You can find such French course recommendations at Gumtree, Freeads and other online French learning websites.Or, you could drop in on Superprof.If you want to study French, to earn a diploma or just improve your listening comprehension, Superprof has a tutor for you.Should your concern be verb conjugation or using the right tense; whether you are looking for French immersion, Superprof tutors will guide you to becoming the francophone you always knew you could be.All you need is a Skype connection and a willingness to learn.Are you worried that your French tutor won't be the right fit?Most Superprof tutors give their first hour of lessons free, for exactly that purpose.What are you waiting for? Allons-y!Learn more about the cost of French tuition.

Sure-Fire Strategies to Play in Tune

Sure-Fire Strategies to Play in Tune Suzy S. Guitar players, did you check out yesterdays video tutorial about how to tune your guitar?   Once you have that skill mastered, you can progress to learning songs and great techniques as you move on to bigger and better things. For the guitar, the strategy behind tuning the instrument is pretty simple once you have the hang of it.   But what about other musicians?   For brass and woodwind players, for example, other factors like your breath support and embouchure come into play. And no matter how good your technique is, playing out of tune can get in the way of all of your hard work. Read on for some great tips for playing in tune from Brass Musician magazine: Embouchure Playing on a steady embouchure is basic for proper tuning across the board. If you are not properly warmed up, your tuning may be thrown off as your lips find each note. As you warm up, your tuning will also change, so be sure to play through that point before a gig or rehearsal. An overtired embouchure will go flat, or start on point and tail off at the ends of notes. There is no quick cure for this, simply work on stamina during practice and take breaks when you can.   You can also try exercises that deliberately change your embouchure, such as bending notes down and up again this trains your lips to find the pitch first with your embouchure, rather than adjusting the instrument to find proper tuning. Breath Support Effective breathing can fix many playing problems before they start. Well-supported notes are necessary before tuning your instrument can even begin. Notes without proper breath support will affect your embouchure, and will bring down the pitch of notes you play. Dynamics While tuning, try playing notes at all volumes, and take note of how the pitch is affected by the dynamic changes. These changes are tied closely with breath support players often confuse playing quietly with weak breath support. Use Your Ears Lastly, and most importantly, any musician must learn to hear the notes they are playing to assess their tuning. Every instrument and every player is different; the only thing that must be consistent is your hearing!   Ear-training is essential for mastering this skill. What tips have you learned to help you play in tune?   Share with the TakeLessons community by leaving a comment below, or joining the conversation on Facebook! Need help finding your perfect tone?   Sign up for trumpet lessons, trombone lessons, flute lessons, clarinet lessons and more with TakeLessons music teachers near you! Like these posts?   Sign up to receive daily updates right to your inbox!   Click here to subscribe. Photo by PeterTea.

The Birth of an American Band in the 60s Listening Exercise

The Birth of an American Band in the 60s Listening Exercise p class=p1I recently  found an animated blog of undiscovered interviews with famous people. After wasting too much time on the site, I finally had to choose one of the interviews, and decided to share this interview with Jerry Garcia about the Grateful Dead. They are one of my favorite bands, and I especially like to listen to them in the summer. Try out the exercise and writing assignment.. If you want to practice your English a href=http://blankonblank.org/check out the site/a. They have tons of great interviews./p iframe src=//www.youtube.com/embed/gyC0oEjfhH8 width=560 height=315 frameborder=0 allowfullscreen=allowfullscreen/iframe p class=p11. What was their first band name and why did they change?/p p class=p12. How did they decide on their new name?/p p class=p13. That was about the time we ___ __ with the acid tests./p p class=p14. What kinds of bars were they playing in? How long did they play these types of gigs?/p p class=p15. Why were they able to go to one of Keseys part ies?/p p class=p16. How was their equipment different from the normal musical instruments that they played at the parties?/p p class=p17. What was their goal with the band?/p p class=p18. How long did the acid tests last?/p p class=p1Tell me about your favorite band and music. Do you think music is getting better or worse? Do you think good music is still being produced?/p