Notepad Corner

One of the most important decisions we make as a parent is deciding which school for our child to enroll in. We want our children to study in a good school so we could lead them on a path toward lifelong learning heading for a future successful career. Sending a child to school is no joke as it entails a large sum of money added to the family’s budget, thus it will be wise to carefully assess and do your own rating in finding the right school for your child. photo credits: pixabay.com With so many schools offering the best education, it is still important to seriously consider your child’s needs as well as your own expectations and values before making a decision. Here are several factors to consider that may help you in choosing the right school for your child. Comprehensive Policies and Programs Look for a school that promotes comprehensive policies and programs which supports the student’s physical, social and emotional wellbeing, including an excellent curric

Going away to college is one of the most exciting times in a young person's life, but it can also be overwhelming and stressful. Don't let the nerves get to you early. Here are seven things you should know before starting your first semester. Get to Know the Campus You don't want to be late on your first day of class, so learn the layout of campus before school starts. If you're going to be walking around at night, find safe paths in well lit areas that will get you back to your dorm safely. If it is going to be a new town for you, get to know the local supermarkets and the nearest parks and libraries. If you know the hang-outs early on, you'll have a good idea of where to make friends. Budget Your Time After the structured world of high school, creating your own schedule might seem intimidating, so be sure to give yourself ample time to study and prepare assignments. You don't want to burn out either, so be sure to schedule in time for rela

Does your child really require a tutor? Does he always struggles with homework and experience difficulty in learning his Math or English even after you repeatedly help and aid him in his lessons? As parents, we do not want our child to fall way behind the class and never recover so the easiest way to solve this problem is by hiring a tutor. Hiring a tutor involves financial commitment, an added cost on the family budget. So it is important to find an experienced, caring and certified tutor who will best qualify to meet your child’s unique needs – his learning style and temperament. 

It's really no secret that many people are averse to mathematics. "Believe it or not, lots of people change their majors and abandon their dreams just to avoid a couple of math classes in college," says math writer and former Wonder Years star Danica McKellar. While the hands-off approach of college professors can be daunting, you needn't take such drastic measures to get on top of your math studies. Just follow these four college math tips! 1. Avoid Solution Manuals Image via Flickr by Tim Geers Many math students mistakenly believe learning the solution is the most important goal when faced with any math problem. However, it's much more important to learn the concept. While solution manuals can sometimes help math students understand their coursework, all too often, they become crutches. It's far easier to abandon a problem when you already know the answer. The best college math students persevere when faced with challenging problems. They r

Every student has a different method or strategy when it comes to studying their lessons. We parents always say to our children to study hard to do better in school in order to get good grades. Upon moving up to middle school, high school or college, most students practice on their own learning style which can make studying easier for them. However, more often than not they overlook the difference between studying hard and studying smart.  Here are smart studying tips which can take up less time yet producing better results. Inside the classroom Pay attention in class. Sit close to the teacher.

My youngest son is now grade 8 under the newly implemented K to 12 program of study. Their batch among the other nationwide grade 8 students will be the first graduates under the new education program. The new curriculum of the Philippine education aims to equip every student with different skills such as effective communication skills, information, media and technology skills, learning and innovation skills, life and career skills so they will be ready to go further into their next path, be it a continuing college education, entrepreneurship or employment. To further understand the grading system in the new K to 12 Curriculum, the school where my son studies conducted a seminar for parent orientation on how a student will be assessed under the new curriculum. 

There are many people who find themselves confused when it comes to planning and writing a dissertation. The key to success is following a simple guide that will elaborate all standard aspects that are required for dissertation writing. This article will provide guidelines on the generalized structure of a dissertation that is preferred by most academic institutions.  Dissertation title page The title page needs to provide a clear title of the dissertation, as well as the writer’s name, the name of the writer’s supervisor and the course title. The inclusion of the course in the word count is not standardized – some academics prefer to include the course, while others don’t accept that part in the word count. Abstract The Abstract should take a half to one third of the page, and it should provide a summary and overview of the dissertation. This part of the dissertation should be kept as brief as possible, but it needs to clear out the main points of the work and provi

Schooling is all about intellectual, emotional, moral, physical and social development. It is an all round holistic development of an individual in order to succeed in the future.   Most students abhor studying due to academic pressures that bring stress. Allowing your child to join and participate in their school’s extra curricular activities such as sports club, school programs or other forms of school student activities can bring balance to academic pressure. My youngest son- Yahmir, 2nd Placer, Cosplay Competition at Tanabata Festival in their school Extra curricular activities is generally accepted today as part of a school’s curriculum. According to studies, it is one of the effective ways to motivate students to develop increased interest in studying. Among the benefits of participation are:

Whether you enrol your children in a local school or a British international school in Tianjin , good study habits is very important.  It is a gift that you can impart to your kids and they will surely appreciate your intent by the time they reach university.  Education can be tough especially on children who do not have good study habits.  Acquiring knowledge and learning continuously is what studying is all about.  It helps students prepare and become proficient in each of their subjects.  The question is how do you encourage kids to develop good study habits?  Start before school age The basic foundation in developing study habits is when the student is willing to learn.  Thus, from the beginning when the child becomes conscious and active about the things around him or her, start the process of learning fun and exciting ways for them.  Develop their reading habits, encourage inquisitive minds, allow them to experiment and experience frustrations and disappointments, explai

Children find studying difficult and boring especially when they are not used to spend time studying on a study routine after school. Setting up a daily study schedule will help them establish the routine whether he has or has no homework to do. Our responsibility as parents is to create a system to motivate and help our children to improve concentration and make studying more interesting. Providing your child his own study table is a contributing tool to motivate him to enjoy studying. It is necessary for his study area to be free of distractions. Placing the study table in his room is a better option provided his computer is off when he studies. Provide him a comfortable chair to sit on as well as good lighting to be able to read and work properly. Make sure that his table is clean and equipped with the necessary school supplies and reference books like dictionaries that he would be needing to refrain wasting his study period looking around for the things he needed. Remember tha

How did your last parent-teacher conference go? Did you walk away from your 20-minute slot feeling like you actually learned something about your child’s behavior in the classroom? Or, did you feel like you got the same stock answer as everyone else: Johnny seems to be doing ___-ly in the classroom. While he is excelling in ____, it seems that he could spend a little more time on ____. I’m hoping that by doing _____, he’ll be brought up to speed with everyone else in the classroom! If you’ve heard that routine time and time again, then maybe you should start learning the effective questions that experienced parents know to ask! Here are a few of our favorite questions, which you can certainly use in your next parent-teacher conference….

I may not be a perfect mom but I am proud to say that I was able to raise my two sons modestly.   Parenting stubborn children is not easy yet I was able to inculcate moral values and build emotionally stable children. My eldest son, now 23 years old is focusing on his career enrichment while my youngest son, 13 years old has just finished grade 7 with an academic award that called for another family celebration. From grade 7 he will be promoted to grade 8 in the next school year. His achievement being a newcomer in his new school is really a big accomplishment for our family. To prepare him for his chosen college course, we decided to transfer him to a school which focuses more on academic and intellectual training. During the first grading period my son really did experienced a culture shock, he did a lot of adjustments to the mode of teaching which is really different from the past school he attended. Through guidance and encouragement, he was able to get along with the new

Internship is a pre-requisite and a part of the college curriculum.   Most students enter the on-the-job-training on their last year in college. Some schools provide company internships while for others they let their students search on their own and just provide recommendation letters for a possible placement. Career advisers say that is wise to choose the best internship as possible. It is recommended to first know your long-term career goals – what do you love to do and how do you see yourself doing in three or more years from now. It is recommended for students eyeing for a good job not to jump into OJT right away. Identify companies that offer workshop that will support your goals, better if you can enter a multi-national company wherein you can have the chances of being absorbed and hired after you graduate.

Human resources play a great role in the success of any business. The employees of a company are responsible for running the various activities in the organization. A company therefore needs skilled employees who are ready to work and to ensure the success of a company. A small business faces quite a number of challenges related to human resources. photo credits: freedigitalphotos.net One-Person HR Department As the name suggests a small business is a firm that is small in every aspect. A lot of times you will find that the HR department only has one employee who may not have a Masters in HR since the company may not be able to afford to pay someone with an advanced degree. This person will usually be in charge of all issues pertaining to Human resources. If such a person is not in the office, then some things come to a standstill. For instance, the payroll may not be completed on time since they are likely to be the ones in charge of preparing the payroll. The firm may also

These days has been said to be the era of the tablet PC and almost everyone has been trying to acquire one. Before the sleek gadget’s birth, E-book readers came in first for those who want to carry along their favorite books anywhere.  However, book enthusiasts still prefer the paperback and would continue to invest on it no matter what happens. This is just normal, as change doesn’t come in easy. Even the transition of printing press from the hand written books didn’t happen immediately.  Paperback book readers shared that filling up their library is much fulfilling that seeing their e-readers filled with e-books.   They also argued that reading from e-books can ruin their eyes faster compared to the real ones because these gadgets emit certain kind of radiation no matter how minimal it is. On the contrary, e-book buyers are just being practical. E-books are way cheaper compared to the paperbacks and the convenience that it gives is something to be noted. These days wit

One of the proudest and priceless moments in parenting is to have children who excel in their academic performance. Education is by far the most precious intangible heritage a parent can give to their children. Good education can bring good life as it help inculcate good virtues, proper reasoning, good judgment, as well as accumulated knowledge wherein one’s potential can be used to a maximum extent.   Education is one of the crucial factors which formulate the persona of a person. Giving rewards for academic achievements in my opinion is just one of the ways in showing appreciation to our kid’s hard work in achieving academic excellence. In my experience in parenting two academic achievers, giving gifts motivates them more to study harder. As I keep on telling them if they will continue to concentrate and give importance to their studies it will definitely benefit them in the future.

Thanks to process developments, technology, and educational courses, new business owners are able to develop their own skills in accountancy.  Going down this route opens up opportunities for management to carefully review expenditure and in some cases may mean expensive accountants becoming a thing of the past. Successful business owners understand that the secret to a long and lucrative career is to know everything about the business they are in.  That means knowing how each department operates on a daily basis, how every job affects the company’s productivity and bottom line, and how to balance their books.  Alongside working capital, accounting is the lifeblood of any company, and a solid accounting strategy is essential to running a sound business. For managers that are just starting out or who have recently opened a new company, learning about accounting and how to handle things like accounts payable, accounts receivable, cost analysis reports, and other financial analy

Looking to advance your career in the field of criminal justice?  The criminal justice field has become a popular avenue for individuals aspiring to work in various legal capacities.  Qualified applicants are steadily being pursued which is why it is essential now more than ever to possess the desired skill sets, education, and experience to succeed within this profession.  In this job market it requires much more to land the position you desire.  Therefore, more and more people are seeking new approaches that will allow them to stand out from the crowd.  As the competition increases, many more individuals have decided to pursue a masters degree in criminal justice to obtain a competitive edge to land a job in the criminal justice field.   A criminal justice degree prepares students to enter the various branches of the justice system to include:  law enforcement, judiciary, private security, and corrections.  Overall, the criminal justice field is both a challenging and a very

photo credits:  freedigitalphotos.net Living on a student budget can be stressful so it’s wise to do some financial planning prior to starting a college or university course, whether or not this will be undertaken close to home or abroad.  A financial plan does not have to be sophisticated but it does need to be honest about everyday expenditure, and it’s a good idea to build in a few ways in which income can be stretched a little more.  Here are some basic tips for watching your budget while studying. Creating a budget Begin with an honest analysis of typical monthly expenditure.  Track every single item on a spreadsheet, or in a notebook or smartphone app.  From the total available to spend, first set aside funds for the major bills – tuition fees, books, accommodation costs, meal tickets, etc.  If there are large amounts to be spent once or twice per year – for example, on travel if studying abroad – make sure to include these.  What money is left after these entries rep

After students graduate from college, they must decide what to do with their lives. There are often three options: find a job, take post graduate courses or travel abroad. Depending upon your budget, the economy and your stress levels, you may choose one of these three options as the next stage in life. Let’s take a look how these options can be incorporated and integrated into our lives as learning opportunities: Enrol in Postgraduate Courses Many college graduates want to immediately enrol into postgraduate courses. Some people may choose to get their Masters in Business Administration (MBA), Masters of Science (MS) or Masters of Education (MEd) immediately after finishing a bachelor’s degree. Going to school to be a doctor is another option. To enrol in these programs, college graduates must usually show their proficiency by taking a MCAT test to prove their ability to perform at a certain level. You can find MCAT practice tests online to help you study for this important