When you get an advanced degree, Uncle Sam benefits just as much as you do. That's why he'll help you finance your degree. Here are ten ways the Federal government will help pay for part or all of your postsecondary education.
1. Federal Pell Grant Grant. The Pell Grant is available almost exclusively to undergraduate students and does not have to be repaid; the award range is $400 to $4,731.
2. Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG). This grant if for undergraduates with exceptional financial need and doesn't have to be repaid; the award range is $100 to $4,000.
3. Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG). This grant is for Pell-eligible students enrolled at least half-time in their first or second year of study or in a certificate program of at least one year at a degree-granting school and doesn't have to be repaid; Up to $750 in the first year and $1,300 in the second.
4. National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant (National SMART Grant). This grant is for Pell-eligible students enrolled at least half-time in third, fourth year or fifth year majoring in certain subject areas with at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA; award amounts equal up to $4,000 a year.
5. Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant. This is a grant for undergraduate, post baccalaureate, and graduate students who will be taking course work necessary to become an elementary or secondary teacher and does not have to be repaid; awards up to $4,000 a year.
6. Federal Work-Study. This is money earned while you're attending school, and it does not have to be repaid. Available for both undergraduate and graduate students, jobs can be on or off campus. Students are paid at least federal minimum wage, and there are no annual minimum or maximum amounts.
7. Federal Perkins Loan. A federal needs-based loan for undergraduate and graduate students that must be repaid; loans made up to $5,500 for undergrads and up to $8,000 for graduate and professional students.
8. Subsidized Direct or FFEL Stafford Loan. These are needs-based loans for students attending at least half-time and must be repaid. The U.S. Department of Education pays interest while the borrower is in school and during grace and deferment periods. Loans come in the amount of $3,500 to $8,500, depending on grade level.
9. Unsubsidized Direct or FFEL Stafford Loan. This is a needs-based loan for half-time students that must be repaid. The borrower is responsible for all interest, and loans range from $5,500 to $20,500 depending on grade level and dependency status.
10. Direct or FFEL PLUS Loan. These loans are for parents of dependent undergraduate students and for graduate and professional students enrolled at least half-time. There's no financial need required, but the borrower must not have adverse credit history. These loans are unsubsidized, so the borrower is responsible for all interest.
Take advantage of as many of these options as you can. An education can be the key to getting what you want out of your life, and it's a great step towards a brighter future.
Friday, 31 December 2010
Special Needs Teaching
Teaching special needs students can be a challenging undertaking. There are many types of learning disabilities, including problems with reading, writing, studying and concentrating. Dealing with these types of students takes much patience and teachers must learn instructional strategies specifically designed to help.
There are many assumptions that need to be avoided when interacting with special needs students. First, you cannot think that the students are not listening to you just because they are not maintaining eye contact. Secondly, you should not overly explain everything to students with learning disabilities, because most can certainly interpret what you are saying. Although it may be at a slower speed compared with other students, they still comprehend what they are being taught. If they have questions, they will ask. It is also important to meet with administration and get a detailed report of the specific nature of each student’s learning disability. This will be beneficial when it comes to deciding on a teaching method catered to each student specifically.
If you have an interest in working with special needs students, it will be helpful to take an online graduate credit course in the field. The chosen course will start off by teaching you the history and definitions of each learning disability that you may come to experience during your career path. Next, you will be taught how to assess each student and determine to what degree the severity of the disability is. From there, you will learn how to work with the student and curriculum through teaching methods and strategies. Lastly, you will be exposed to how important it is to develop a strong relationship with the student’s families to make sure that the school-home balance remains stable.
An important part of teaching is to test the students on what they have absorbed and processed. You will learn that once it comes time to give an exam, there are specific approaches that you should take in the structure and outline of the test itself. Exams designed for special needs students have to avoid complicated wording and theoretical thinking. The print size may also need to be adjusted, as some students find large print to help their processing ability. Take into consideration what specific disability each student has. For example, if the student has a reading problem, it is probably a good idea to have an aide read the questions to the student. If the student has a writing problem, it may be a good idea to have a scribe to translate the student’s answers from mouth to paper.
In order to learn the methodology behind these strategies and others like them, it would be a good opportunity to enroll in online graduate credit courses to become specialized in this area. This choice will be worth it, due to the fact that special education teachers generally earn a higher salary and receive benefit packages that other teachers do not. Teaching special needs students also proves to be more rewarding because of the one-on-one time spent with the students and the satisfaction received when they succeed.
There are many assumptions that need to be avoided when interacting with special needs students. First, you cannot think that the students are not listening to you just because they are not maintaining eye contact. Secondly, you should not overly explain everything to students with learning disabilities, because most can certainly interpret what you are saying. Although it may be at a slower speed compared with other students, they still comprehend what they are being taught. If they have questions, they will ask. It is also important to meet with administration and get a detailed report of the specific nature of each student’s learning disability. This will be beneficial when it comes to deciding on a teaching method catered to each student specifically.
If you have an interest in working with special needs students, it will be helpful to take an online graduate credit course in the field. The chosen course will start off by teaching you the history and definitions of each learning disability that you may come to experience during your career path. Next, you will be taught how to assess each student and determine to what degree the severity of the disability is. From there, you will learn how to work with the student and curriculum through teaching methods and strategies. Lastly, you will be exposed to how important it is to develop a strong relationship with the student’s families to make sure that the school-home balance remains stable.
An important part of teaching is to test the students on what they have absorbed and processed. You will learn that once it comes time to give an exam, there are specific approaches that you should take in the structure and outline of the test itself. Exams designed for special needs students have to avoid complicated wording and theoretical thinking. The print size may also need to be adjusted, as some students find large print to help their processing ability. Take into consideration what specific disability each student has. For example, if the student has a reading problem, it is probably a good idea to have an aide read the questions to the student. If the student has a writing problem, it may be a good idea to have a scribe to translate the student’s answers from mouth to paper.
In order to learn the methodology behind these strategies and others like them, it would be a good opportunity to enroll in online graduate credit courses to become specialized in this area. This choice will be worth it, due to the fact that special education teachers generally earn a higher salary and receive benefit packages that other teachers do not. Teaching special needs students also proves to be more rewarding because of the one-on-one time spent with the students and the satisfaction received when they succeed.
Tips For Getting Ready For College
Going to college means something different for everyone. For some, it is the chance to break out and become a new person. For others, it is about getting away from parents and becoming an adult. For others it is about getting that degree to pursue cna jobs. Maybe some just go because they are supposed to, or because that’s what seems normal. Everyone does it for a different reason, but many people do it. There are not a lot of jobs in cna you can get without college, so it is one of the things many people find necessary to do in life. There are a lot of aspects to going to college however, from choosing it, to getting there, to getting through it.
When choosing a college, it should be something that is totally and completely in your power. You should not let other people force you to go somewhere or influence your decision too much. It is a place where you will have to learn and live for multiple years; it needs to feel like your home. If you make a choice and try to please someone else you will only end up be unhappy yourself. Look for a college that fits you and your personality.
You need to go on college visits, talk to counselors, and current students. Going on college visits is the best way to get a good feel of the campus. You can see class rooms, dorm rooms and watch other students interact. When visiting a college, make sure to go see the things that interest you most. If you like to exercise make sure to check out their gym. If you like to swim, look into the pool. If you enjoy being in clubs and student activities, look into what sort of environment they have for that there. You need to really take the opportunity to find everything you can out about the college.
Also, the process of getting ready for college can be tough to. From choosing to apply to enrolling, it seems to be a never-ending process. The best thing you can do is to stay calm about it and not get stressed out. Manage your time and effectively plan for getting everything done by the appropriate date. When applying for college, do not be afraid to ask your parents and your guidance counselor for help. They have gone through this process before and will be the best people to help you with it. Applications are the most stressful part of the process. It is the time in which you will really feel the need to get a lot done in not a lot of time. Many people tend to get overwhelmed with the idea that these make or break your future. It is true that they are very important, but do not let them get you too freaked out. If you are too stressed out, you will probably not write as good of an essay or do it as well.
When choosing a college, it should be something that is totally and completely in your power. You should not let other people force you to go somewhere or influence your decision too much. It is a place where you will have to learn and live for multiple years; it needs to feel like your home. If you make a choice and try to please someone else you will only end up be unhappy yourself. Look for a college that fits you and your personality.
You need to go on college visits, talk to counselors, and current students. Going on college visits is the best way to get a good feel of the campus. You can see class rooms, dorm rooms and watch other students interact. When visiting a college, make sure to go see the things that interest you most. If you like to exercise make sure to check out their gym. If you like to swim, look into the pool. If you enjoy being in clubs and student activities, look into what sort of environment they have for that there. You need to really take the opportunity to find everything you can out about the college.
Also, the process of getting ready for college can be tough to. From choosing to apply to enrolling, it seems to be a never-ending process. The best thing you can do is to stay calm about it and not get stressed out. Manage your time and effectively plan for getting everything done by the appropriate date. When applying for college, do not be afraid to ask your parents and your guidance counselor for help. They have gone through this process before and will be the best people to help you with it. Applications are the most stressful part of the process. It is the time in which you will really feel the need to get a lot done in not a lot of time. Many people tend to get overwhelmed with the idea that these make or break your future. It is true that they are very important, but do not let them get you too freaked out. If you are too stressed out, you will probably not write as good of an essay or do it as well.
Finding a Good Preschool Or Daycare
Once you have your first child, and after you have looked into their eyes and experienced that “what now?” moment, you automatically begin thinking about how you are going to provide certain things for them, and one of the more pressing matters that will be on top of you before you know it is the matter of where they will begin attending school, through daycare or preschool centers.
Like any business, daycare and preschool have their good ones and bad ones, and of course being a good parent you want to place your child in the best possible place, somewhere you know that they will be looked after, cared for, taught well, and fed nutritiously. That said, it is time to determine where your child will be going to school.
There is an old “Baby Blues” comic strip where the parents are trying to enroll their child in preschool. The headmaster asks when she will be born, to which the father replies “I smell ‘waiting list’”. Sometimes, though, that might be exactly the case, so beginning the search when your child is born might be a good idea.
Identify what’s important to you. Do you need a preschool that is convenient to your work? Or home? What does the curriculum involve?
Write down everything you’re looking for a preschool to offer and see who measures up.
Do your homework. Ask around. Talk to other parents and see where their kids went and what the experience was like. Don’t hesitate to contact professional resources such as The Childcare Aware Hotline (800-424-2246) which can put you in touch with a referral agency in your area. In addition, finding schools accredited by The National Association For The Education Of Young Children (NAEYC) is a good sign of quality and excellence in early childhood education. To be sure, accreditation and licensing do not guarantee competence, but they do inspire a measure of confidence.
Interview. Nothing beats a personal inspection of the school. Call and ask a few of your preliminary questions; if the answers sound positive, then move to the next step and arrange a sit down meeting and tour of the facilities. You should find out about class schedules, teacher-student ratios, etc, as well as a good understanding of the vacation schedules and fees.
Observe. Many schools will allow you to actually spend some time in the classroom, watching the teacher and their interaction with the students. Personal observation can go a long way towards helping you to determine if this is a solid choice for your child.
Orientation periods. These are designed to ease the stress on the child (and parent!) of coming into a new environment. Orientation durations vary, but sometimes may include less than a full day’s attendance for the first few days, a well as allowing the parents to come along for part of the process.
Ultimately, it comes down to what your gut tells you. If something about the school seems wrong, then thank them politely for their time and pursue the idea no further. All three of our children attended preschool and kindergarten at our church, because we were familiar with the quality of care, were impressed by the curriculum, and knew that with kindergarten offered, we would be able to go one more year before turning our kids over to a secular educational system that may not always jibe with our personal and religious beliefs.
So check out your local offerings, and find the preschool best suited for your child’s needs.
Like any business, daycare and preschool have their good ones and bad ones, and of course being a good parent you want to place your child in the best possible place, somewhere you know that they will be looked after, cared for, taught well, and fed nutritiously. That said, it is time to determine where your child will be going to school.
There is an old “Baby Blues” comic strip where the parents are trying to enroll their child in preschool. The headmaster asks when she will be born, to which the father replies “I smell ‘waiting list’”. Sometimes, though, that might be exactly the case, so beginning the search when your child is born might be a good idea.
Identify what’s important to you. Do you need a preschool that is convenient to your work? Or home? What does the curriculum involve?
Write down everything you’re looking for a preschool to offer and see who measures up.
Do your homework. Ask around. Talk to other parents and see where their kids went and what the experience was like. Don’t hesitate to contact professional resources such as The Childcare Aware Hotline (800-424-2246) which can put you in touch with a referral agency in your area. In addition, finding schools accredited by The National Association For The Education Of Young Children (NAEYC) is a good sign of quality and excellence in early childhood education. To be sure, accreditation and licensing do not guarantee competence, but they do inspire a measure of confidence.
Interview. Nothing beats a personal inspection of the school. Call and ask a few of your preliminary questions; if the answers sound positive, then move to the next step and arrange a sit down meeting and tour of the facilities. You should find out about class schedules, teacher-student ratios, etc, as well as a good understanding of the vacation schedules and fees.
Observe. Many schools will allow you to actually spend some time in the classroom, watching the teacher and their interaction with the students. Personal observation can go a long way towards helping you to determine if this is a solid choice for your child.
Orientation periods. These are designed to ease the stress on the child (and parent!) of coming into a new environment. Orientation durations vary, but sometimes may include less than a full day’s attendance for the first few days, a well as allowing the parents to come along for part of the process.
Ultimately, it comes down to what your gut tells you. If something about the school seems wrong, then thank them politely for their time and pursue the idea no further. All three of our children attended preschool and kindergarten at our church, because we were familiar with the quality of care, were impressed by the curriculum, and knew that with kindergarten offered, we would be able to go one more year before turning our kids over to a secular educational system that may not always jibe with our personal and religious beliefs.
So check out your local offerings, and find the preschool best suited for your child’s needs.
Figuring Out How to Tutor a Child in Math
Kids all learn at various levels and in different ways. With so many kids using their own learning methods, it can make tutoring that more complex. When someone wants to know how to tutor a child in math, they will first need to assess the person's learning ability and style. When it becomes clear how the student figures out their math, then a program can be designed for them in mind.
When an adult or older child first sits down with a student, they may ask them to do some simple math questions. If a child is in a certain grade level, then asking them to do some work from a previous grade could help to give a great starting point. When a child struggles with the previous year's work then continue going back until it begins to make sense for the them. Finding a base line to start with may assist a teacher with their lesson planning.
If a person struggles with subtracting double digits for example, the teacher may wonder if they can subtract single digits. If the person cannot, then it may be determined how they are going about finding their answers. The methods that are currently being used may not be effective for that particular child.
In some cases what works for one student may not work for another. Everyone sees ideas differently and some people get ideas quickly and others do not. There are many ways that students can learn various math points. A teacher can simple pick one idea first to see if it helps. For subtraction help, the teacher could start with a touch math program. If that idea seems to hard to grasp, the adult could choose another math aid to help.
There are a few teaching aids that are used for adding and subtraction. Finding the one that is the most useful may be helpful in the child's learning. When the student figures out how to use the aid that works for them, it may help them to figure out how to get the homework done.
As a child begins to get one aspect of math, it could be a good idea to phase out the aid over time. Eventually the homework needs to get done without special aids, and knowing when to take them away is essential in their learning achievements.
Most sessions between an adult and student are an hour. Time can either pass by quickly or slowly depending on the student and the amount of homework that needs to get done. Careful planning and time management can be used to help pass the time. A session could contain some easy math games to start using concepts that are already known. Then there may be some one on one time, followed by another concept game. The games may help to break up the time while still teaching important lessons.
When how to tutor a child in math is the center of an idea, there are many concepts to use. Finding ways to fill the time slot are essential. Learning about the child and how they learn the best will also increase the level of their skill learning. All kids learn differently and assessing those issues and needs may be helpful.
When an adult or older child first sits down with a student, they may ask them to do some simple math questions. If a child is in a certain grade level, then asking them to do some work from a previous grade could help to give a great starting point. When a child struggles with the previous year's work then continue going back until it begins to make sense for the them. Finding a base line to start with may assist a teacher with their lesson planning.
If a person struggles with subtracting double digits for example, the teacher may wonder if they can subtract single digits. If the person cannot, then it may be determined how they are going about finding their answers. The methods that are currently being used may not be effective for that particular child.
In some cases what works for one student may not work for another. Everyone sees ideas differently and some people get ideas quickly and others do not. There are many ways that students can learn various math points. A teacher can simple pick one idea first to see if it helps. For subtraction help, the teacher could start with a touch math program. If that idea seems to hard to grasp, the adult could choose another math aid to help.
There are a few teaching aids that are used for adding and subtraction. Finding the one that is the most useful may be helpful in the child's learning. When the student figures out how to use the aid that works for them, it may help them to figure out how to get the homework done.
As a child begins to get one aspect of math, it could be a good idea to phase out the aid over time. Eventually the homework needs to get done without special aids, and knowing when to take them away is essential in their learning achievements.
Most sessions between an adult and student are an hour. Time can either pass by quickly or slowly depending on the student and the amount of homework that needs to get done. Careful planning and time management can be used to help pass the time. A session could contain some easy math games to start using concepts that are already known. Then there may be some one on one time, followed by another concept game. The games may help to break up the time while still teaching important lessons.
When how to tutor a child in math is the center of an idea, there are many concepts to use. Finding ways to fill the time slot are essential. Learning about the child and how they learn the best will also increase the level of their skill learning. All kids learn differently and assessing those issues and needs may be helpful.
Arguing For Private School Vs Public School is Not a Black and White Issue
Education is an important part of raising children to be good adults and many parents assume that the public education available to their child is good enough. Some times this is true, but there are districts that are simply not up to standards because of a number of different factors. There is an ongoing debate between private school vs public school and which one is better. The truth is the answer is not a matter of black and white; there are subtle differences between both kinds that can perhaps serve your child better.
Just the mention of private school will fill your head with vision of uniforms and better teachers, all costing a lot of money. Cost is really the biggest difference between both kinds of school. Whereas public schools are free to attend, these schools generate their own funds and this is through donations and tuitions.
So public schools are free, but there is a cost to this. The financing for these institutions come from the federal government and can, as such, be unduly influenced by politicians and held to certain standards that may make teaching effectively somewhat difficult.
If you choose to go private you will be forced to be more involved with the education that your children receive. Being independent, however, makes the curriculum able to be free of any kind of restrictions. Your child can get a more in depth or specialized education.
This specialization is especially important for kids who have shown certain aptitudes for particular subjects. If you go this route, and you can with scholarship support, they may be able to indulge their skills and talents which will give them a leg up as they go forward towards higher education.
No longer, however, is this true only of private schools! Many larger metropolitan areas have charter or magnet schools that cater to specializations like the arts or sciences and require nothing more than your child to apply.
Getting in on their own talents while getting a free education is a great benefit of finding good public options. Sometimes, through, the number of applicants can be too much and your child will not have a great chance of getting into the school of their choice and private may seem to be a good alternative, but their selection process is even pickier and they have no obligation to accept your child.
Another difference can be found between teachers. Within the public system all teachers are state certified, as well as possessing any other certifications required by law. Private teachers don't necessarily have any state certifications. This doesn't mean they aren't educated. On the contrary, many of them have undergraduate or graduate degrees within their area of expertise, or are general experts in the field.
In the end there is no clear winner between these institutions and if you want the best education for your child, you will have to go and visit schools. Visiting both kinds of places will tell you what each has offer and what your kids can get out of it.
Just the mention of private school will fill your head with vision of uniforms and better teachers, all costing a lot of money. Cost is really the biggest difference between both kinds of school. Whereas public schools are free to attend, these schools generate their own funds and this is through donations and tuitions.
So public schools are free, but there is a cost to this. The financing for these institutions come from the federal government and can, as such, be unduly influenced by politicians and held to certain standards that may make teaching effectively somewhat difficult.
If you choose to go private you will be forced to be more involved with the education that your children receive. Being independent, however, makes the curriculum able to be free of any kind of restrictions. Your child can get a more in depth or specialized education.
This specialization is especially important for kids who have shown certain aptitudes for particular subjects. If you go this route, and you can with scholarship support, they may be able to indulge their skills and talents which will give them a leg up as they go forward towards higher education.
No longer, however, is this true only of private schools! Many larger metropolitan areas have charter or magnet schools that cater to specializations like the arts or sciences and require nothing more than your child to apply.
Getting in on their own talents while getting a free education is a great benefit of finding good public options. Sometimes, through, the number of applicants can be too much and your child will not have a great chance of getting into the school of their choice and private may seem to be a good alternative, but their selection process is even pickier and they have no obligation to accept your child.
Another difference can be found between teachers. Within the public system all teachers are state certified, as well as possessing any other certifications required by law. Private teachers don't necessarily have any state certifications. This doesn't mean they aren't educated. On the contrary, many of them have undergraduate or graduate degrees within their area of expertise, or are general experts in the field.
In the end there is no clear winner between these institutions and if you want the best education for your child, you will have to go and visit schools. Visiting both kinds of places will tell you what each has offer and what your kids can get out of it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)