Will a No Child Left Behind Tutoring Grant Help Your Child?

Will a No Child Left Behind Tutoring Grant Help Your Child?The No Child Left Behind Act was signed into law by President Bush in 2020 and it became a reality for some of our students who are receiving and attending school through federal funds. While all states are now required to implement the standards and follow the curriculum, there are many that have not yet done so. To help ensure that all children receive a quality education, more students are receiving and enrolling in private schools and those who are studying to become teachers.The federal government provides financial assistance to all of the public school districts in the United States. In other words, students that receive federal funds and attend public schools can receive scholarship or grant money from the government in order to cover their tuition costs.Parents who want to see their children go to a private school need to meet certain criteria and meet certain requirements that will be required of them. These require ments include having an income at or below a certain level, being at least sixteen years old, taking the SAT or ACT tests, living in the United States or qualifying to be considered a national or state minority, and meeting the requirement that they be a member of an organization of student in the United States.Private schools that are planning to accept students must also be approved by the Department of Education. This approval will allow the school to receive grant money from the U.S. Department of Education and for the private school to apply for the money that is allocated by the government to individual students. The criteria is slightly different in each state and even in the same school district.Some private schools do not provide scholarships and the Federal Government will only fund a particular program. Every year the government allocates money based on the need of each child and the type of education that they are receiving. While you will not necessarily receive the sam e amount of money for your child, if your child meets the qualifications they will likely receive money to cover their tuition costs.Even though many private schools are still choosing not to apply for funding, there are still parents who are hoping to see their children go to private schools, regardless of whether they qualify for scholarships or grants. If you have the financial ability to send your child to private school, then this is the best way to ensure that they will receive a quality education.Whether you choose to enroll your child in a private school or a public school, you will find that they both offer the same types of educational benefits. It's important that you keep that in mind as you compare and contrast the benefits between private and public schools.

Learn How to Read Cantonese.

Learn How to Read Cantonese. Learning Cantonese? Here’s Some Useful Info on Reading Cantonese Characters. ChaptersIs Learning Cantonese Really Worth the Effort?Do We Need to Learn the Script?Cantonese and Mandarin: Same Script?Cantonese Written and Cantonese Spoken.Romanization: Yale and JyutpingCharacters and Components.Welsh and Norwegian, say, seem to pale in comparison. It makes Spanish and French seem like a complete doddle. Even languages like Russian and Greek, with their completely different alphabets, seem much more manageable.At least they have alphabets. With this, you can almost start to make sense of the words, the phrases, spotting patterns between symbols across different texts. Oh, if everything were this easy!Cantonese â€" and Chinese languages in general â€" are a completely different ball game. At first, they seem like they are a collection of completely random lines and shapes. They appear totally incomprehensible, as you search for a rule to the meaning, to the pronunciation.This very fact seems to put most people off attempting to learn Chinese at all. Or, if they d o, they limit themselves to learning how to speak, rather than having to delve into the great challenge of learning Chinese characters.And this, in a sense, is understandable. Yet, it is such a shame. With language learning comes challenge â€" and with challenge comes an awful lot of rewards.If you’re committed to learning Cantonese, you’ll need to make peace with learning the traditional Chinese characters. And, you’ll find, it’s not as difficult as you might have thought. Learn to read Cantonese! NingChinese Teacher 5.00 (10) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LorraineChinese Teacher £10/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YuweiChinese Teacher 4.33 (6) £19/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JoyceChinese Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NicoleChinese Teacher £60/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors KatyChinese Teacher £16/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YangChinese Teacher £18/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ChengChinese Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsIs Learning Cantonese Really Worth the Effort?Let’s say that, yes, learning Cantonese as a new language is hard. Let’s say that it is particularly hard for those who do not already know Mandarin Chinese or another Chinese language. Let’s admit both of these things.Even if we do accept them, however, learning a language will be the best thing you will ever do. And learning a language like Cantonese will be a n even bigger achievement. With over sixty million people speaking Cantonese â€" in both mainland China and in the southern Guangdong province, Hong Kong and Macau â€" you will be opening up a world of opportunities by learning Cantonese. That’s a world of friends, romances, career paths, and travel possibilities too.You’ll have a much greater insight into Hong Kong and Chinese culture â€" and you’ll be developing your own abilities. Learning a second language does not merely permit you to speak a new language: it changes the way you think, relate to people, and act in the world too.So, yes, learning Cantonese sure is worth the effort â€" the little extra effort of having to manage the task of reading and writing Chinese script. Let’s make an effort.Find out how to learn Cantonese!Do We Need to Learn the Script?One of the most common questions that tutors of Cantonese receive from students might be more of a cry of desperation rather than an actual, legitimate question: do w e really have to learn the Chinese script? Even if that’s true, the question itself deserves an honest answer.And that answer depends, really, on what you want to learn Cantonese for. If you want to go to Hong Kong to make friends and have a laugh, you’ll get a different answer to if you want to study Cantonese academically, or if you want to read Cantonese literature.Honestly, if you are aiming for just a conversational ability in Cantonese with native speakers, then no: learning the script is absolutely not a priority. Rather, you should be practising your Chinese pronunciation and your verbal fluency, you should be focusing on the process of how to learn to speak.Because speaking is where language primarily happens. Where we use the majority of our language is through our mouths, rather than through the nib of a pen or through the pages of a book.However, if you are moving to Hong Kong or Macau, you’ll notice that text is everywhere. Just as in the streets of the west (wher e we probably take it for granted), the walls of the streets are plastered in words â€" or rather, at this point, symbols that you don’t understand.The short answer, really then, is learn to speak before you learn to read and write. And that’s regardless of what you are learning the language for.Find out how to write Cantonese! Find new vocabulary from your reading. NingChinese Teacher 5.00 (10) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LorraineChinese Teacher £10/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YuweiChinese Teacher 4.33 (6) £19/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JoyceChinese Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NicoleChinese Teacher £60/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors KatyChinese Teacher £16/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YangChinese Teacher £18/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ChengChinese Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsCantonese and Mandarin: Same Script?Before you learn to read Cantonese, however, it is worth knowing a bit about the writing system that they use. Because ‘Chinese script’ or a ‘Chinese character’ is not a monolithic thing.Learning Mandarin script and learning that of Cantonese is a very similar process. However, we need to stress that these are simply not the same at all. They use a lot of the same characters, but the pronunciation is different â€" so different that the languages are mutually unintelligible. And given that the grammar of the two languages also differs, it is not even likely that a Mandarin speaker would be able to follow a Cantonese text.Whilst simplified Chinese text is primarily used by those who speak Mandarin, this is where Mandarin and Cantonese differ. Cantonese, on the other hand, uses the traditional characters.What these are is something fairly self-explanatory. The traditional script â€" used in Cantonese and Taiwan â€" is the original script that has developed over centuries, millennia even. The simplified Chinese of mainland China, Singapore and Malaysia, however, has â€" surprise, surprise, been simplified. Yes, this means that it is easier to read.As you are facing Cantonese, you’ve got a bigger challenge. Yet, this challenge is much greater when you are writing than when you are simply reading. Reading is merely a game of searching fo r patterns and deriving meaning from them (see below!). But producing those characters is a lot harder than just recognising them.The trouble is that Cantonese has another difficulty.Cantonese Written and Cantonese Spoken.When reading Cantonese, you’ll notice a further difference. This is the difference between what is generally called ‘written’ Cantonese and ‘spoken’ Cantonese. The trouble is that ‘spoken’ Cantonese, in this context, is a written form in itself. Imagine very formal English, the sort of thing that you would find in broadsheet newspapers, academic textbooks, and government copy. But then imagine the sort of language that most English speakers would text to their mates or the sort of language that is spoken down the pub.In English, we use the same alphabet for both forms. In the former, the sentences might be longer, more grammatically correct, and with more official language. You wouldn’t start an email to an employer with ‘hey dude’, just as you wouldn’t say goodbye to a friend with ‘yours sincerely’.In Cantonese, the difference is that completely different characters are used for the two registers of speech, with completely different words. Whilst written Cantonese is the standard Chinese that is common to mainland China and all other countries speaking Chinese, spoken Cantonese is limited to those who speak Cantonese.Spoken language in Cantonese is the way you will be texting your friends. But you should really know standard, written Chinese if you are intending to get a job in Hong Kong, say.Find out how to learn Cantonese vocabulary! Build your Cantonese dictionaryRomanization: Yale and JyutpingWhen you start learning Cantonese, it is worth noting, you will be primarily be learning with a Romanized system, that being a system that transforms the Cantonese phonemes (or sounds) into the alphabet that we use in the western world.This is to help anyone who is not a native speaker to navigate the complexities of the Chinese written system.There are plenty of Romanization systems in Cantonese â€" developed by different people trying to work with the characters in their native language. The most common that you will probably come across are Cantonese pinyin, Yale romanisation, and Jyutping, the system developed by the Linguistic Society of Hong Kong.These are generally quite similar. Between Yale and Jyutping, nearly all the consonants are identical. However, there are differences in the tones and in some particular sounds. As we said, however, the differences are small.Romanisation will be what will help you take your first steps in Cantonese. However, when you are reading long texts, the system soon becomes exhausting. As there are no spaces between words in Cantonese, the system doesn’t always appear clear in distinguishing where one word finishes and another begins.Characters and Components.At a certain point, then, you will have to move on to the characters themselves. And as, according to some estimates, there are over fifty thousand different characters, this can be a little intimidating.Don’t worry, however. Because, as with all languages, the vast majority of them are very rarely used; only a couple of thousand of these are in everyday use. And, a lot of Cantonese speakers also forget how to write certain characters themselves. So, let that be a load off your mind.RadicalsWhat should be really reassuring, however, is that each of these fifty thousand characters is actually the product of only 214 smaller components. These are called either components or radicals. These are the semanti c and phonetic building blocks of Cantonese. And once you can recognise these, you will be able to spot them in every different word.As we said, reading is all about spotting patterns. And once you are familiar with the code â€" the radicals â€" the patterns will slowly but surely become clear. So, now read our full guide to learning Cantonese!

5 Powerful Ways Music Can Improve Your Memory

5 Powerful Ways Music Can Improve Your Memory Mac Dont you wish you could remember everything you want?  Although its just about  impossible to do that, the good news is you can get very close!  In this article, youll learn about the effect of music on memory and how to use it to your advantage We like to think that memory is a  key indicator  of our intellectual abilities. After all, that’s what makes us such a capable species. Without memory, we wouldn’t be able to pass down information from generation to generation, which is how we evolve. Therefore, we like to believe that memory is linked only to  reason and intellect. However, recent studies have revealed  that other factors â€"  such as emotions, stress, food, and hormones â€" can have a huge impact on the way we remember information. This is why we aim to further understand  the effect of music on memory; music is one of the few elements we can actually manipulate in order to create more robust memories. Before we recommend how you can use memory-boosting music in your studies, lets first look at the scientific reasoning behind the effect of music on memory. The  Science Behind Memory-Boosting Music In order to truly understand the science, let’s start with an example: You’ll be taking a test tomorrow and you’re reading the same old notes, but you can’t seem to remember anything. And it’s surprising, because  we know that concentrating long and hard enough on something  makes us remember it. Whats the reasoning behind that? Well, pieces of information that we focus on are transformed into electrical impulses that travel between the brains neurons through synapses. That means if we repeat something often, we’ll strengthen the bond between neurons and create a memory. But why can’t you seem to remember something you really want to, especially when youre  trying hard to focus  with all of your attention? Long-term memories are stored by the hippocampus, a region in the brain  which is also influenced by proper maintenance of the working memory. The working memory itself is influenced by attention. However, attention in this case isn’t equivalent to concentration, but to a more meditative state, affected by the production of alpha and theta waves by the brain. The alpha waves allow deep concentration, while the theta waves bring calmness and relaxation. The Reason We Cant Remember Things So heres the answer: Many times stress is what disconcerts our brain, making it harder for us to learn new things. To counteract the negative effects that stress has on our memory, we must create the same calmness for ourselves. With that said, scientists found that music induces a state of meditation and relaxes the brain. Thus, the effect of music on memory is that it allows our brains to become more disengaged, or more free of “debris” which impede their proper functions. If you want your test scores to be as high as possible, consider listening to music while studying. What About Long-Term Memory? Apart from momentary stress (or acute stress) caused by nervousness-inducing tasks, chronic stress is another disruptor for the formation of long-term memories. Chronic stress is worse than acute stress because it causes actual health problems, like high blood pressure and heart disease. By messing with our hormones, chronic stress can cause loss of brain matter, affecting already-formed synapses (i.e. long-term memories). The same consequence is triggered by depression, an affliction  correlated with low levels of dopamine and serotonin  (these are called neurotransmitters). More to the point, both neurotransmitters play an important part in memory formation and they can both be influenced by music. Therefore, if you listen to adequate memory-boosting music while studying, chances are you’ll exceed your own expectations. The Mozart  Effect A number of neurological studies have been conducted on this subject, but some of them present rather contradictory results. Regarding the well-known Mozart Effect, some scientists found that listening to Mozart before performing a certain task improves the subject’s ability to solve it correctly. Meanwhile, others found that the Mozart Effect doesn’t affect test scores at all. Leaving that aside, they all agree that our cognitive abilities are enhanced when listening to Mozart and listening to  classical music in general. The problem is that we don’t know by exactly how much. The Vivaldi Effect Another interesting article from the same research area shows that there is also a Vivaldi Effect. According to the studies, listening to Vivaldi’s “Spring” can boost both attention and memory. Participants in this study listened to all of Vivaldis  â€œFour Seasons” concerts, but the first portion from “Spring” proved to be the most successful with regards to its memory-boosting properties. The Results All of these studies show that classical music has a definite impact on memory and attention, even though actual improvements in test scores are individual and can’t be predicted accurately. But other scientists argue that the effect of music on memory exists only if you enjoy it. Ambient music and classical music with no lyrics prove to be the best in this respect because they don’t have distracting lyrics. Instead, they improve your mood and relax your mind. On the other hand, pop music appears to decrease errors in spell-checking by 14%! 5 Good Reasons to Listen to Memory-Boosting Music Now that you know theres scientific evidence for music  improving  your memory, lets take a look at five wonderful benefits youll get from this practice. Memory-boosting music will: 1) Minimize your stress. Stress can cause an unbearable amount of negative thoughts to barrage and cloud your brain. It can also be the reason you feel unmotivated to work or study. Give your brain some rest by using music as a distraction from your stress. 2) Improve your mood. Listening to happy instrumental music will brighten your heart and mind. Give your ears some nice melodies and dont be afraid to sing along! Singing  is a great way to exercise your mind and body. 3) Allow you to think more clearly. Let your thoughts follow the organized musical patterns and rhythms for you to focus better. Studies show that our brains operate by  rhythms.  By listening to  the rhythms found in memory-boosting songs, youll be able to study in a clear and calculated  manner. 4) Keep your eyes on the goal. Listening to more alert musical pieces motivates you more and thus enhances your attention. You can essentially be pumped-up by a song and use that energy to accomplish the task at hand. 5) Allow yourself quick breaks. Taking a few moments to hum along with your favorite piece gives you some time to ruminate new information, while also allowing you to reward yourself. The music can be a good reminder that youve been studying too long and need a break. Memory-Boosting Songs The following songs are meant to improve your concentration while you work or study. Some are more calming than others, and some are more boisterous than others. Play around with the different selections and see which ones enhance your thinking, motivation, or anything memory-related. 1) Eine kleine Nachtmusik by Mozart Eine Kleine Nachtmusik has a vivacious tempo which will make you feel more energized.  Itll also enhance your dopamine levels! That in turn will help you remember new information better. 2) Moonlight Sonata by Beethoven Moonlight Sonata inspires peace and tranquility, adjusting your serotonin production. The more engaging parts bring back your focus if you start  slacking. 3) Four Seasons by Vivaldi Four Seasons offers you a mix of emotions thatll keep you on your toes. It’s better to listen to this piece if youre doing a routine task, or even if youre taking a break. 4) Bassoon Concerto by Mozart Bassoon Concerto provides you with a light-hearted rhythm to guide your thoughts along a natural, cursive path of reason and emotion. 5) Espiritual by Marcus Viana e Transfônica Orkestra Espiritual will give you some ambient music to enjoy and increase your productivity. The instruments play in a mellow fashion thatll assist with your concentration. 6) Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen Bohemian Rhapsody  instills a motivating rhythm, but also helps create a relaxed atmosphere. Not to mention the satisfaction your brain must feel when listening to this true work of art, with varying melodic lines and exciting tempo changes. 7) Fidelio’s Overture by Beethoven Fidelios Overture is an energetic piece that won’t let you slip into the dream-world while studying. Itll motivate you enough on the more intense bits, but itll also allow you some sense of calmness during the other parts. 8) No Ordinary Love by Sade No Ordinary Love has a very structured rhythm (like a lot of usual love songs). It has lyrics, but the singers voice is really suave and  you won’t lose your focus. However, humming along here and there may actually help new information stick better. 9) Soldier of Fortune by Deep Purple Soldier of Fortune is a great song to listen  to when trying to study. It’s quite repetitive, so you won’t feel compelled to pay much attention to changes in rhythm and intensity. 10) Thus Spoke Zarathustra by  Richard Strauss Thus Spoke Zarathustra  is an inspiring piece thats not  distracting at all. Itll  help you get into a consistent pace with your studying. Conclusion Did you memorize everything you just read? Just kidding! We hope that you enjoyed learning more about  the effect of music on memory. To learn more awesome facts about music, or for more invaluable study tips, schedule a lesson with a private teacher. 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

Line Graph Worksheet - Maths Online Tutoring

Line Graph Worksheet - Maths Online Tutoring A line graph may be a variety of charts that displays information such as a series of knowledge points connected by line segments. Its a basic variety of chart common in several fields. It is like a scatter plot except that the measuring points area unit ordered (typically by their coordinate axis value) and joined by line segments. A line chart is commonly accustomed to visualize a trend in knowledge over intervals of time a statistic so the road is commonly drawn chronologically. Using the Line chart answer the given questions 1) How much did Braiden read over all 5 days? 2) Which day (or days) did Braidens amount read increase? 3) What is the difference in the amount Emalie read on Day 3 and the amount she read on Day 4? 4) Did Braiden and Emalie have any days that they read the same? Solution:1) On Day 1 he read 25 books + Day 2 he read 30 books +Day 3 he read 35 books +Day 4 he read 40 + Day 5 he read 20 books = Braiden read 150 books in 5 days. 2) On Day 2, Day 3 and Day 4 Braidens amount read increased. 3) Emalie read 40 on Day 4 and Emalie read 25 on Day 3 so the difference is 15. 4) On Day 4 Braiden and Emalie read the same amount i.e. 40 books. Example2:Draw a line graph to record the following temperature.

Managing Your Personal Development

Managing Your Personal Development From Personal to Professional Development: How to Organize Your Progress ChaptersWhat are Personal Development Skills?Personal Development Plans Made EasyResources to Help You Reach Your Personal Development GoalsHow to Practice Development EverydayLearning management skills on top of learning to improve yourself is not an easy task. While you work to achieve your goals in aspects like emotional intelligence, communication skills or time management â€" not managing the development process correctly can often lead to a delay in your progress.Covering everything from how to learn new management skills to where to find personal development materials, start by getting to know yourself and what exactly a personal development plan will entail with this guide.If you're a highly sensitive person, check out personal development through meditation TraceyPersonal development Teacher 4.92 (9) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NatashaPersonal development Teacher 5.00 (7) £55/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AntonellaPersonal development Teacher 5.00 (1) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors IsamPersonal development Teacher 5.00 (3) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AndriyPersonal development Teacher £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MichelePersonal development Teacher 4.73 (7) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors FlloydPersonal development Teacher 5.00 (11) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors OliverPersonal development Teacher 4.33 (4) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsWhat are Personal Development Skills?When striving to manage your own self-improvement, it’s always helpful to start by understanding what should and shouldn’t be categorized under your development goals. Whether you’re looking to improve your non-verbal communication skills or simply want to break bad habits, here are some tips on how to categorize you’re the personal goals and skills in your development plan.In order to start managing your new skills and goals, begin with understand ing the traditional definitions of self-development before starting to build your own. Without going into an extensive definition of how personal development started, the movement can be understood through psychologist Abraham Maslow and his hierarchy of needs. This pyramid, with it’s final version containing five levels, visualizes self-improvement as a series of needs that must be fulfilled. In order to attain the self-knowledge, personal growth and development represented by the highest level of the pyramid, basic needs and life skills must be mastered first. These have to do with safety, respect from others, food, shelter and more â€" all categorized under self-esteem, safety, love and belongingness needs.In other words, when conducting your self-assessment on what areas to improve in your life, it is vital that you have your basic needs met first. In order to focus on building transferable skills or hard skills, you need to have a supportive community, shelter and feel safe.U sing this definition as a starting point, you can begin to focus on your personal development goals by building your own definition of personal development. Start by targeting the area you would like to work on â€" whether that be your professional career or home life â€" and build a list of the various achievable goals and skills you can work towards.Here are some examples:Build a better rapport with your family membersEnhance your presentation skills, or other professional skillsIncrease your fitness both physically and mentallyWhile personal development can be implemented in various different ways, it’s defined by goal setting and devising a plan to achieve those goals. Whether you choose to follow a mentor through development courses, or take development through self-teaching, sticking to this basic definition can facilitate the start of your journey.Find a confidence course London.If you like teamwork, search for group opportunities for personal growthPersonal Development Pla ns Made EasyDeveloping a plan for your personal growth is not an easy task. With the proliferation of development programs that promise everything from helping to improve your job skills to getting rid of bad habits â€" picking a starting point can be nearly impossible. Before getting overwhelmed   with concepts like career exploration and human potential, here is some advice on how to formulate a development plan tailored to your life goals.Develop a GoalNothing leads to procrastination more than depending on intangible ideas such as inspiration. While having epiphanies about your life can definitely help motivate you to start on your journey towards personal development, it most likely won’t help you sustain long-term growth and development.What is a great driving force: routine and goal setting! Yes, it is definitely not as sexy of a concept as inspiration and will definitely not score you any points as cocktail-conversation. However, in works by professors Gary Latham and Edwa rd Locke dating all the way from the 1960s to the present, goal setting has been found to be one of the most productive tools towards realizing everything from projects to improving management.What became established as goal setting theory, and later brought about motivation theory, comes down to one basic fact. In their study, Locke and Latham discovered that not only is setting goals effective, but that people actually work harder and longer when those goals are difficult to attain. While this seems counter intuitive to what we’ve been taught growing up, setting up difficult goals can actually help you persist in making them come true.There is one catch, however. A study conducted in 2004 found that while this habit can reinforce people’s development, it can also lead to “unethical behavior” when people don’t quite reach the goals they’ve set out for themselves. Think: every movie ever made about sabotage and sports competition or every misleading advert you’ve seen  on Instagram.Here are some ideas of goals you can set for yourself, having in mind the general rule to stick to legal activities in trying to accomplish them:Increasing persuasion and assertiveness skills by joining a debate teamRelieve stress in your life by becoming a yoga teacherAttain a positive attitude by joining an improv groupBecome your own boss by starting a small businessPlan Your DevelopmentWhether you’re simply looking to increase your employability, want to work on your interpersonal skills, or just want to progress in your career development, here are some steps you can follow to draft your personal development plan.Step 1: Pick a GoalIf you haven’t already read the above about the importance of goal setting, now would be a good time to do so. Picking a goal you may think is too difficult is a perfect starting point.Step 2: PrioritizeOnce you your goal, think about the size and breadth of your goal in terms of time. Have an estimate of how long you’d like to ta ke to accomplish it by drawing up all the tasks you think will be necessary to complete it. Once you have this, you’ll be able to prioritize your goals into categories like time, the level of importance to you now and later on.Step 3: What or Who Will Help You?In laying out how you’re going to get from one task to another, make a list of the materials you’ll need to get there. For example, whether you’ll need extra skills training, conflict resolution courses, painting tools, access to the internet, etc. While it can seem callous to include people in your list of materials, some of your goals will never be accomplished without the expertise or support of those around you.Starting the ProcessNow that you’ve got a plan, don’t let yourself be convinced to keep putting it off. Keep in constant touch with the plan you’ve made, make sure you’re working towards your goal with the frequency it requires and look out for tips that might help the process. Whereas you might need daily practice to learn a new language, building a website might be something you’d like to work on once every week.If you're doing an internship search, self development can help you find your career focusResources to Help You Reach Your Personal Development GoalsGaining an interest in personal growth is, naturally, linked to an increased desire to learn more about effective communication, solving problems and skills development. While this list is not meant to be a definitive guide on al the various self-development materials you can explore, it does provide some direction as to where to find them.Personal SkillsWhile all development can be seen as personal development, this category deals more with enhancing your skill set that deals with mental and physical health. Some areas you may seek to improve are:Improve your people skills through personality developmentPractice verbal communication skills to improve your rapport with family members or colleaguesBe healthier by followi ng an exercise and nutrition planFitness related development courses can often be most effective when found online, where you can search for programs that are more tailored towards your specific health goals. Community programs, such as group yoga classes, are a great way to build a support network for both exercise and mental health concerns.Technical SkillsThe best way to find technical skills materials is by listening to podcasts or taking part in courses. For example, if you think perfecting a language will aid in building your career, finding a weekly program can be a perfect starting point. Here are some other examples what technical skills you can improve upon:Boosting employability skills like job interview tacticsPractice career planning and career explorationIncrease your hard skills list by practicing programming, business intelligence and other transferable skillsLeadership SkillsImproving your management skills can best be done through taking lessons through podcasts an d reading materials. Some classic books about personal development have remained best sellers throughout the years because of the invaluable wisdom they provide. Some examples of areas of interest you can research in this field are:Developing a positivity work ethicEnhancing conflict management skillsWorking on adaptabilityHow to Practice Development EverydayNow that you’ve set goals, developed a personal development plan and are on your way to achieving your personal targets â€" what is there left to do? Practicing personal development everyday can be essential but doesn’t have to be limited to your various development plans. Here are some ways you can incorporate a little growth into your daily routine.Practice stress management by journaling every dayEnhance your self-awareness through mindfulness and breathing techniques

European Geopolitics

European Geopolitics Defining Europe’s Geopolitical Landscape ChaptersThe Geopolitical Background of EuropeWestern versus Eastern EuropeEurope: A Geopolitical PowerhouseRough Seas Ahead for Europe’s Most Powerful NationsIn many ways, Europe is quite remarkable. It claims only about 2% of the world’s landmass but her people have been influential in shaping world politics for millennia.Not just politics, either! Europe, in particular western and southern Europe, has led the world in scientific discovery and literary achievement, military power and global economic security.Another extraordinary attribute of Europe is, for so comparatively small a region, she has a wide range of climates and terrain that permits culturing a dazzling array of consumables.Although Europe is defined as a continent in her own right, this grouping of nations actually lies on the Eurasian plate; a tectonic plate that reaches from China to far beyond our seemingly independent island.Several geographical barriers mark Europe’s separation from what we commonly refer t o as Asia; among them are included mountain ranges and rivers.Culture, ethnicity, language and belief systems further mark the sharp contrast between the people of Eurasia.So what, exactly, do we mean when we say Europe?  In broaching this topic, we take into consideration most of the sovereign states of Europe.According to the Montevideo Convention, a sovereign state is recognised in international law as:a country that has a defined populationa nation with its own governmenta defined territory marked by bordersa government that can engage in relations with another nation-state.From the emerging powers in Eastern Europe to the political heavies leading western European nations, your Superprof now uncovers the geopolitical environment of the region called Europe.claim territory in the name of their country’s crown.Yes, there were crowns aplenty, in Europe!Apparently not satisfied with a mere kingdom, many European heads of state set about building an empire for themselves.A fine ex ample of this is in how Spain’s sovereignty still impacts geopolitics in Latin America.Portugal, a relatively small portion of land on the Iberian peninsula, was the first to form a vast empire consisting of lands in South America, East Asia and along both coasts of Sub-Saharan Africa.Once the fleets set sail, there was no stopping them. Soon, the prominent monarchies of Western Europe had pretty much carved the world up amongst themselves, ours included.At one time, our British Empire laid claim to nearly a quarter of the earth’s total landmass.Those that resisted the western push, such as China and Japan, nevertheless eventually surrendered a bit of territory to these great world powers.China and Japan feature heavily in East Asia’s geopolitics.Considering the centuries-long push for acquisition and leadership, especially among Western European nations, it should come as no surprise that they would lead the world, economically and politically, still today.Find out what kind of impact European colonialism had in Africa...Looking at this map, it is easy to see Europe's east-west line of demarcation Image by Mabel Amber, still incognito... from PixabayWestern versus Eastern EuropeThe events of the early 20th Century brought Europe’s global hegemonic ambitions to a screeching halt.More specifically, the ‘shot heard ‘round the world’ that precipitated the First World War narrowed western European countries’ focus to the battles encroaching on their immediate territory.The subsequent economic depression substantially lowered their standard of living which, in turn, gave rise to the capitalist economic model.Germany was the only western European country to weather the Great Depression relatively well, in part because its economy was stimulated by arms production.And then, just as individual citizens were discovering the path to riches, the Second World War broke out, plunging Europe once again into bloodshed, political and economic distress.Shortly after the cessation of hostilities, tensions led to Russia blockading Eastern European nations and claiming all of those lands as satellite states, forming what is known as the East Bloc â€" a communist-socialist regime.Meanwhile, Western Europe, having largely benefitted from political and strategic alliances during these difficult times, embraced liberalism and unity as a way of staving off the type of nationalism that had twice brought them to war.The respective sides’ alliances and the radical differences in their political and economic ideals led to a figurative Iron Curtain being drawn between the two regions, marking the start of the Cold War.For the next 44 years, there were two Europes: west and east. One developing and one hidden away.As you might have noticed, we do not discuss Russian geopolitics in this article. For its sheer magnitude, that topic is broached in a separate article.Europe: A Geopolitical PowerhouseMany of western Europe’s geographical features such a s rivers and coastlines provide natural shipping lanes, allowing for extensive trade... and those powers made ample use of them.The resulting trade agreements led to Northern Europe being one of the most developed and wealthiest regions in the world.That wealth and their reputation for economic stability, if not prosperity, made European countries the desired destination of migrants from Africa and the Middle East.One important point concerning Europe’s economy is that the northern countries are far better off than Southern Europe: Italy, Greece and, to a lesser extent, Spain are all struggling to manage on a less-than-stellar GDP.Although economics is not considered a factor in geopolitical evaluations, economic concerns do play a part in how a country’s resources are marshalled for everything from energy security to trade deals.Following the Cold War, the emerging markets of Eastern Europe sought to find the best fit for their unique cultures and political aspirations.Poland a nd Hungary both became NATO members rather quickly and they both admire some of the principles espoused by the European Union... but not all of them: both countries have conservative governments that bristle at the EU’s more liberal leanings.Nevertheless, they do benefit from their proximity to Western Europe, especially where trade and infrastructure development are concerned.On the other hand, the Baltic States and Romania, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Bulgaria are all for the European Union, both for their pro-western stance and for the economic benefits and the protections they derive.By no means does all of that imply that all is well and the European Union is going strong.In the European Union’s cumulative 74 years, no member-state has actually left the Union. Great Britain was the first to formally signal an intent to withdraw pending an acceptable trade agreement.Western Europe's waves of liberalism are crashing on the rocks of populism Image by Dimitris Vetsikas fro m PixabayRough Seas Ahead for Europe’s Most Powerful NationsTrade is only one aspect of the negotiations for our leaving the European Union.What we currently accept as Union rules and laws will become a matter of foreign policy after we leave. Everything from going on holiday to Spain to protecting our borders will become a matter of international relations.We are by far not the only country flirting with disbanding the Union.A global trend toward nationalism is doing far more to threaten the unity that, in some respects, has been the envy of other bodies of government elsewhere in the world.Furthermore, populist sentiment is gaining traction across Western Europe.In spite of the comparatively long list of social benefits that European citizens enjoy, many resent having to pay high taxes only to see those monies distributed... away from their collections of concerns and desires.They also resent the opportunities given to foreign investors to draw ever more business, and thus more capital into the Union’s coffers while individuals in their respective nations can hardly stay ahead of their bills â€" let alone dream of their own startup.Other governments, especially in southern Europe, rail against their currency being centrally controlled and balanced against wealthier nations such as Norway and Luxembourg, giving them no chance to adjust for inflation or manage its value.It’s not for nothing that many consider Conte’s cabinet, formed just last year, to be the first populist government in Western Europe!To be sure, disenchanted citizens is not a novel concept; throughout history, citizens rising up against their governments have changed virtually every country’s political path.What turned the tide of liberalism so abundant in Western Europe was the surge of immigrants from Syria â€" ironically enough, a country that had been colonised by France and only recently returned to indigenous control.As desperate people flooded into Central Europe, simmering r esentments boiled over.Now, not only did John/Jane Public have to see their tax euros spent on things that did not directly benefit them, they had to witness people who did not speak their language or share their culture reap the rewards of their labour!Geopolitically, it is quite likely that Europe will remain a global leader; she had too many resources and is too well-situated to lose that crown.Whether that leadership continues with countries and people united is, just now, seriously in question.Europe and the Union are not suffering greatly from external pressure.It is the internal quakes and jolts â€" including our country’s desire to divorce ourselves from them, that are making it difficult to find a clear path to progress.Whether they will in today’s global geopolitical climate remains to be seen.Now learn about geopolitics in every major region in the world...

Standard deviation Normal Distribution

Standard deviation Normal Distribution Definition: - Standard deviation is the square root of the variance. The standard deviation is the popular measure of variability. It is used both as a separate entity and as a part of other analyses, such as computing confidence intervals and in hypothesis testing. The population standard deviation is denoted by and Sample standard deviation is denoted by s. =(x-)^2 / N s= (x- x?)^2/ (n-1) Standard deviation= variance. Example: Find the standard deviation of the sample when variance of sample is 25. Solution: - Since Standard deviation= variance. S = 25= 5 Therefore standard deviation of sample is 5. Another example: - Find the standard deviation of population when variance of the population is 100. Solution: - Standard deviation= variance. S = 100 =10 Therefore standard deviation of population is 10. Normal distribution is the most widely used of all distribution. It fits many individual characteristics, such as heights, lengths, speed, IQ and year of life expectancy, among others. Like their human counterparts living things in environment, such as trees, animals, insects, have many characteristics that are normally distributed. Some examples of variables that could create normally distributed measurements include the yearly cost of household insurance, the cost per square foot of renting warehouse space, and managers satisfaction with support from ownership on a five- point scale. In addition, we can say most items are produced or filled by machines are normally distributed.

Equity in Education

'Equity' in Education Improving Academic Performance The word ‘equity’ often carries a loaded meaning, and in no realm is the debate more polarizing than in the field of education. When it comes to education, equity appears to be a noble goal â€" an end in and of itself to which society should aspire. . A recent article in The Atlantic highlights some of the most relevant issues in the debate by contrasting the American system to the Finnish system. Click here to read the Atlantic ArticleIndeed, the lessons gleaned from the comparison are quite striking â€"Finland’s move to a national system focused on school equality hasbeen linked to a massive increase in student performance while theincreasing inequities apparent in the American system have paralleleda considerable decline. However, with regards to equity of educationin the United States, the debate often reduces itself to a small setof practical realities, some of which go far beyond schools, teachers,and students. If equity is indeed the ideal goal, what hurdles mustbe overcome for us to get there? More importantly, what practicalsolutions are there for students caught in a system where the gapbetween the “haves” and “have nots” continues to grow?The American school system is in urgent need of reform â€" it’ssomething that every politician and American can (should) get behind.However, one philosophical and one practical question divide mix anddivide the public:1 ) How should we define “equality” with regards to education?2) What is the most equitable way to fund schools?With regards to the first question, many will argue that equality ofeducation means identical educational programs and facilities acrossall grade levels (this is essentially the Finnish model). Othersopine that equality means equal access to a public school which meetscertain minimum standards set by the Federal/State/Local government(this is the American model today). Still others will argue thatequality of education is purely about equal outcomes for studentpopulations.1) Equality of programs (current Finland)2) Equality of access (current US system)3) Equality of outcomes (objective of NCLB?)No matter which goal one believes our society should strive for, it isclear that the underlying practicality of how whether/how to equitablyfund schools stands in the way. This issue is deeply rooted in thefabric of America. The American Federal system checks the power ofthe federal government by empowering state and local governments tocontrol many government functions (e.g., police, fire). The eleganceof the system, in theory, is that people will vote with their feet ifthey disagree with state policies, and thus the best policies will winout in the long run. The control of education funding is left tostate and local school boards and comes primarily from local propertytaxes. Only national/interstate matters fall under the control of theFederal government. It is this system which is responsible for themassive disparity in funding between the best and worst schools inthis country â€" and this level of funding can be directly linked tooutcomes (I cite no literature here, but challenge the reader toreader to find either empirical and experiential evidence to thecontrary).In fact, the question about equity in education really comes down toeconomics â€" who will control funding, and how will those decisions bemade. The reality of this debate in the United States is that localfunding will continue to hold sway unless the greater good ANDindividual good is demonstrated to be better with State control.Thus, for all the rhetoric that national politicians put on the stateabout national education reform, the real power rests with the stateand county tax authorities. It is the beauty of the American Federalsystem which perhaps brings change closer than one might imagine.Populists rejoice!