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3 Reasons Why Children Should Learn Spanish in Elementary School

Written by Reference Book on . Posted in Homeschool spanish curriculum, Preschool spanish, Spanish curriculum

Preschool spanish lessons
A young mind is like a sponge, thirsty for knowledge, insight, and experience. One of the best things to feed and cultivate a young mind with is a second language education. Numerous studies and research show that the effects of learning another language are extremely beneficial to children, increasing both their intellectual capabilities and their chances for broader opportunities in the future. Here are just three of a plethora of reasons that schools should have an elementary school Spanish curriculum:
  1. Prevalence of language While children can benefit from learning any language as their second language, Spanish is a particularly useful language to know. Across the globe, Spanish is an extremely prevalent language — in fact, there are 387 million native speakers, with that number only continuing to grow. In fact, more people on earth speak Spanish than English. A lot of this has to do with America’s close proximity to Mexico and other Southern Amerian countries. And with many hardworking Spanish immigrants moving to the United States, more and more people in the United States will speak Spanish as their primary language.
  2. Makes Language Learning Easier Starting with elementary Spanish curriculum makes it so children are exposed to the Spanish language at an extremely crucial time in their lives. Before children reach the age of 12, their minds are most susceptible to absorbing and integrating a second language into their regular store of information. Having a Spanish curriculum for elementary school will ensure that they learn the language more easily and retain it throughout their lives.
  3. Open Up Their World The world can seem a whole lot smaller when you only know one language. From reading Spanish story books to exploring Spanish-speaking countries, learning Spanish as a second language in elementary school will expose children to a world of culture that they normally would not be privy to.
Unfortunately, most schools wait until middle or high school to start teaching a foreign language, but when it comes down to it, incorporating an elementary school Spanish curriculum will be more beneficial in the long-run, and ultimately makes for a smarter and more globally aware child.

The Benefits of a Private School Education

Written by Reference Book on . Posted in Uncategorized

A private school education can be a great way to educate a child who is academically minded. If you are looking for a middle school, you can search through the business listings to find a complete list of the private schools in your area. If you are looking for an accredited private kindergarten near me, it can be best to have a kindergarten that also includes an elementary school so that your child won’t have to change schools.

A middle school in a private school should have a curriculum that is at least as challenging as the state’s curriculum, but private schools usually strive to have stronger academics. An accredited online private school should also have at least the curriculum of the state as well as slightly harder material that a public school might not have. One of the other great things about private schools is that they tend to hire highly trained teachers who are good at what they do. They don’t have unionized teachers, so they can fire any teachers who don’t do well. They tend to have more advanced classes and give the students the help they need to understand the material as well as possible.

The decision to send a child to a private or public school is a very personal one. There are good things about both public and private schools and each family and situation is unique. People who are considering sending their children to private schools do so for a wide variety of reasons. The parents of children in elementary school might be looking to see how to make sure their kids get to go to the best academy middle or high school, for instance.

Benefits to Sending a Child to Private School

  • The class size is smaller. This is true across the board. Private school classrooms have a much lower student to teacher ratio. That means each student gets more of the instructor’s time and attention. For students who need some extra help, there is more time to get that in a private school setting. Also, students who are struggling do not stand as much of a chance to be lost or to fall “through the cracks” as they might in a larger, public school classroom.
  • The schools are smaller. The size of the entire school is smaller in a private school than in a public one. Most of the private schools in the United States are much smaller than their public school counterparts. Almost 90% of all private schools across the country have less than 300 students in the entire school. On average, private high schools have half the number of students as public high schools.
  • Students in private school do better academically. Students in private schools perform better on standardized tests than those enrolled in public schools. The SAT scores for public school students were on average 497 reading, 489 for writing and 514 for math. Private school students scored an average of 541 for reading, 550 for writing and 579 for math. Many private schools have different sets of standards for their students than public schools and it is more difficult to advance from one grade to the next. Some students in public schools, by contrast are passed along to the next grade when they may not actually be ready. If you are concerned about preparing your kids for the best academy middle school, for example, sending them to a private elementary school might be a better option. Schools like the best academy middle school may offer the best program for your child.
  • Private schools are safer. In 2007, the Fraser Institute surveyed the parents of children in private schools. At least 72% of the parents said they felt their children were safe at school. This is not just a question of safety from crime from the outside, though that is a concern for too many parents today, but private schools tend to be more strict and discipline students more harshly. This prevents disruptive students from becoming a danger to other students as well as keeps the focus on the academics rather than on student antics.
  • Many private schools have the flexibility to focus on arts education. Students who are interested in art and performance programs may find more opportunities to study those disciplines at private schools than they would in public schools. This may be just the thing your child needs to help them discover and develop their artistic sides. Many experts now think that a strong background in the arts is one of the best ways to prepare a person for success later in life.
  • Private schools are better able to prepare students for college. Because they have tougher standards and make it harder to get the better grades, students who go to the best academy middle school and high school are better able to be accepted into colleges and then succeed in them once they are there. It is not always enough to make sure a student gets into college and many private schools understand this. They structure their curriculums to not just get students into the colleges they want to attend but help them excel once they get there.

Only you know what it the right decision for your kids and your family. Picking the best academy middle school or high school is something you need to talk to you family and children about.

family studies major

Do Welders Really Make More Than Philosophy Majors? The Real Value of a Diploma

Written by Reference Book on . Posted in College degree

family studies majorDuring the Fox Business News Republican Debate earlier this November, presidential contender Senator Marco Rubio made a now-famous remark. It was one of the top sound bytes of the night. Rubio said, “For the life of me I don’t know why we stigmatize vocational education. Welders make more money than philosophers. We need more welders than philosophers.” Although it was a powerful statement, some of the philosophy majors of the world have since taken issue with that statement — like, say, philosophy major Carly Fiorina! According to various fact checks (and with all due respect to welders) philosophy and religious studies majors in the U.S. earn an annual mean wage of $71,350 compared to $40,040 for welders. We certainly don’t want to stigmatize vocational school, or minimize the important work done by the welders of the world, but the facts still show that a college degree — yes, even a philosophy degree — increases graduates’ chances of reaching financial success. So let’s not stigmatize philosophers either. As of 2012, Pew Research found that the median annual earnings of Americans with a bachelor’s degree was $45,000; those with only some college earned $30,000; and workers with high school diplomas made $28,000. That trend has continued since 2012; millennials with higher education earn about 98% more per hour than other full-time workers. That’s why 21 million people enrolled in college last year. Step 1: Enrich Yourself, Step 2: Enrich the Family, and Step 3: Save the World While most college applicants are teenagers and other young people, we believe it’s never too late to start or finish your college career with adult education. But if like Senator Rubio you believe there’s nothing more important than family life — but you aren’t interested in philosophy — then consider a family studies major. Many schools have a combined program focusing on human development and family studies degrees, which focus on human and family life in all its stages, from the cradle to end of life. More specifically, URI family studies majors learn:

“At URI, Human Development and Family Studies (HDF) examines this amazing process of growth and development, emphasizing the impact of family and community on quality of life. Here you’ll gain the skills and tools to make a difference in people’s lives, working with them in early childhood or youth programs, at colleges and universities, through personal counseling or family therapy, or at senior centers and long-term care facilities.”
If helping people and families are your passion, then a family studies major might be right for you. Help infants who need a little extra TLC in their life, while also helping to care for aging Americans in geriatric care. No matter what you study, a college degree of any kind can drastically improve your chances of getting ahead in life. If you’ve been thinking about applying or returning to college, then it’s time to start planning for your future.

Outstanding Child Care is Priceless!

Written by Reference Book on . Posted in Enrolling for private kindergarten, Gems preschool, Preschool union city ga

Child care union city
Beginning in the 1960s, there has been a growing need for daycare, as well as after school care in the United States. Unlike the days of Leave it to Beaver, most families can no longer make ends meet by relying on the income of one working parent. In 2013, more than 50% of the kids in childcare are the children of working mothers. If it hasn’t already, it won’t be long before the concept of one parent support a middle-class family will be relegated to myth. This is especially true as mid-level professional positions continue to disappear, and are “replaced” by low-wage service jobs. Regardless of their careers, or how much money they earn, more American parents than ever depend on some type of childcare. Even if their children are already in school, parents of younger children still require after school care. Of course, there is also the question of preschool, kindergarten, and early childhood education. Although preschools have existed for decades, continued research into the positive impact of early education on child development has fostered a high demand for educational daycare programs. In fact, nearly half of American kindergarten teachers claim that most of their students enter kindergarten unprepared. The top preschool and day care programs now teach kids the basics in the four core academic areas of reading, writing, science, and math. Thus, parents are paying for much more than day time supervision, but are actually investing in professional child development services. While no parent enjoys having no choice but to place their children in the care of another person, research shows that children benefit socially from the experience. By choosing a leading daycare service, parents are actually doing what is best for their children. More can be found here.

Learning in the 21st Century

Written by Reference Book on . Posted in Homepage

Free kid learning websites
Technology is taking the world of education by storm. Statistics demonstrate that the internet has revolutionized collegiate academia. As much as 60% of college students have used digital textbooks which are expected to occupy 25% of the total textbook market over the next 10 years. About 20% of students use mobile apps to organize their coursework, and more than half say they would like to improve learning with their mobile devices. The phenomenon certainly isn’t limited to post-secondary education, however. Internet based learning has also extended to the early childhood level. Learning websites for children include educational games, and as many as 43% of teachers in the U.S. use them in the classroom. Though there is no shortage of preschool learning websites with kids free learning games, many parents are still skeptical. After all, if kids are playing, can they really be learning? Still Not Convinced? Preschool learning websites and fun games can’t replace teachers. That’s true. However, they can let students experiment with learning, motivate the unmotivated student, and help kids practice critical thinking and problem solving. Though they’re fun and engaging, the real selling points are much more involved.
  1. Kids learn best when they feel successful, and games allow them to watch their own progress. Games tend to break learning concepts down into small, manageable units, allowing players to feel successful as they continue mastering concepts and moving on.
  2. Instant feedback is critical to effective learning, but teachers are often unable to provide it all the time. Games let kids know what they need to work on and allow them to keep trying and practicing.
  3. Games provide engagement. Many students are what we call “kinesthetic” learners, meaning that they learn best when they’re allowed to physically interact with the subject matter. Games allow these types of learners to break up a day of verbal or auditory learning with a style that better fits them.
  4. Imaginative, make-believe experiences are important for kids, and games allow them to have those experiences in safe and structured ways. They can experiment, make decisions, and see the effects of their decisions, making the abstract much more tangible.
What Does A Quality Game Look Like? The best preschool learning websites know how to design games that are consistent with educational psychological principles. Look for games that do the following things in order to help your preschooler learn best:
  • Create competition. The desire to improve and win is a big motivator, and kids love to compete against friends, family, other students, or even the computer itself. The best games use timed races, high scores, and leaderboards to motivate and foster improvement.
  • Allow progress. Games that let kids level up, gain points or experience, add abilities, or earn currency get kids hooked and engaged, encouraging them to keep practicing and learning.
  • Foster creativity. Kids love customizing their characters and avatars, and it makes them feel more connected to their games. It’s much easier to convince a child to play a game if he or she has some level of control over the character’s appearance.
  • Reward success. Incentives for performance are very effective for keeping kids interested. Games that let players unlock new characters, levels, costumes, or even whole new games when they do well on educational content are well-loved and frequently played. The best games provide clear and achievable goals and then reward players when they achieve them.
Games are excellent for engaging students in the learning process. Involve yourself in your child’s learning by helping them find and play high-quality games on free early learning websites. They’ll have fun, practice concepts, and feel good about themselves. It’s a win all around!