Tag: Associated Press

  • How to travel with your family and have fun?

     

     

    Ah, the vacation!

    A time for relaxation, spontaneous activities and an opportunity to unplug from the demands of career and modern life. As the saying goes, a vacation is “your chance to get away from it all.”

    Unless you have children, that is. In that case, a vacation can be anything but carefree. As every parent or caregiver for children knows, kids need activities and a schedule. After putting in 40 or 50 hours a week at your job, week in, week out, month after month, lying on the beach and absorbing the rays for a few days may be your definition of heaven – but an eight-year-old or even a teenager will likely need a whole lot more to keep them occupied and entertained.

    The tendency among those vacationing with children is to overschedule, keeping the kids busy from dawn until bedtime, making sure they are never bored and their attention never wanes. Maybe hit the beach in the morning, a museum in the afternoon and some event at night. It may be surprising to learn, but many young people do not like pressure-filled, over-scheduled vacations any more than you do.

    So let’s look at five fun and family-friendly activities that do not involve a hectic pace or even a lot of money, yet are a great way for a family to enjoy each other’s company while soaking up local customs and traditions.

    1. Games & Puzzles

    A vacation is a fine time for a family to bond. Without the pressure of jobs and schools, a family can, at last, enjoy uninterrupted time together. So why not grab some games or puzzles and spend some quality time on the beach or on that great hotel room balcony with the spectacular view?

    Games can run the gamut from old-standbys like checkers, chess, and the ever-challenging Monopoly, to exciting, more exotic jigsaw puzzles from places like Plaza Japan that give family members of all ages an opportunity to team up and learn together while having fun.

    1. Eat

    Racing from a museum to some famed historical site can be educational and even fun. But one of the best ways to really soak up and enjoy a new or foreign culture is through their cuisine. And what child does not love food?

    So don’t treat food as an afterthought. Consider it the main event of your trip! Unlike the United States, most cultures—from Europe to the Middle East to Asia—have a reverence for food and can spend hours eating a single meal. Find a restaurant that specialises in serving meals bathed in local customs. This is a great way for your family to spend some relaxing time together while learning about the culture and people you’re visiting.

    1. Full-Day excursions

    Don’t tether children to the hotel and some nearby beach. It’s a shame how many families simply plant themselves at some resort as if that’s all a country has to offer. Trips within trips can be fun and exciting.

    Plan a full-day excursion, maybe on a boat or in a car, and really get out to the surrounding areas. This way your children can see actual locals at work and play and take in as many historical sites as possible. The key here is not to over plan. Simply make the effort to be a little adventurous on your vacation. Your kids will thank you for it.

    1. Local entertainment

    Whether it’s a concert for a band you’ve never heard of, a children’s puppet show or street dancing, let your children discover local forms of entertainment. Too many young people go overseas nowadays and sit around watching “Game of Thrones” or “The Flash” on their iPads—just as they do back home.

    Attending a dance or music festival with people their age is a terrific way for children to mingle, make friends—and even learn. It will create some unforgettable memories.

    1. Explore local markets and outdoor bazaars

    All over the world, from Paris to Athens to Istanbul to Buenos Aires, from capital cities to small towns, locals shop, dine and just stroll among myriad outdoor markets and bazaars. Loud, colourful and a true emblem of the local culture, these markets will prove a delight to children, who will love diving into stalls filled with fabrics, food, toys and trinkets.

    Especially for American youngsters used to sterile, homogenous shopping malls back home, watching Parisien’s tasting cheeses or Moroccans fiercely negotiating the price for a bolt of fabric, outdoor markets will prove to be an eye-popping and exciting adventure.

    Author:
    Carolyn Clarke has been writing about family, travel, and travelling with family for nearly 10 years. A native of Southern California, Carolyn enjoys hiking, mountain biking, and the occasional beach run when she’s not typing away at her keyboard.

     

  • What are Governments of the World doing to increase literacy?

     

     

    Depending on where you live, you may take your ability to read for granted. In the United States, 14 percent of adults cannot read at a basic level. This includes 19 percent of high school graduates. It seems like a small percentage until you realize this means there are 32 million illiterate adults in the United States. Worldwide, there are 775 million people who are illiterate. For a variety of reasons, 66 percent of them are women. The literacy rates are lower in poorer countries with smaller governments. South Sudan has the worst illiteracy rate at 73 percent. However, many of these countries are taking steps to increase their literacy rates. Most countries and governments realize how essential literacy is to economic and social success in an increasingly globalized world. Here are just some of the ways countries are attempting to combat adult illiteracy and encourage more reading in the world today.

    Increased access to elementary education

    In many nations around the world, young children do not have access to elementary education. It is either not provided by the state, or the student is not able to take advantage of it due to the necessity to work. It is also possible that they lack transportation. Many different countries have launched programs to ensure better access to elementary education and transportation among their poor and rural populations. The benefits to this are obvious, since the best way to ensure an adult is not illiterate is to teach literacy while they are a child. This means that funds and infrastructure must be improved in order to remove roadblocks to this kind of early education.

    Local reading initiatives

    Ras al-Khaimah is one of the seven emirates in the United Arab Emirates. Recently, Sheik Saud bin Saqr al Qasimi launched a reading initiative sponsored by the police and local government. The goal of the initiative is to encourage reading and cultural advancement across the entire community with the encouragement of the police department. People were encouraged to read books about other cultures and peoples. This not only encourages literacy, but also encourages people to broaden their education and minds. These types of initiatives are becoming more common in many countries.

    Joining international efforts

    UNESCO’s Dakar location supports the Education for All Acceleration Initiative. This initiative is a group joined by several African nations to combat adult illiteracy. The national governments in Niger and Senegal have submitted plans to eradicate illiteracy by 2023. Africa is the only continent where more than half of adults cannot help their children with their homework due to illiteracy. Non-formal education is the key to improving literacy among adults who in many cases are not able to attend full time education. There are now several other nations that have joined the initiative. The initiative and UNESCO provide guidelines and support to assist these nations in developing education infrastructure and using finances effectively. The nations are encouraged to make a big push to educate as many of their adults as possible by setting goals for various years.

    Working with non-profits

    The India Literacy Project is a volunteer-based non-profit organization that works with the Indian government. Their goal is no less than a 100 percent literacy rate in the world’s most populous country. The current adult literacy rate in India is 74 percent. The Indian Literacy Project works in over 1,200 villages and has benefited over 300,000 people. They are certainly not the only group working on literacy, but are a good example of how a volunteer organization can make a difference alongside of the national government.

    Each of these methods contributes to an overall strategy of combatting illiteracy and improving the lives of the people in their nations. In future it will be interesting to see how these statistics change on a global scale.

    Author:

    Eileen O’Shanassy is a freelance writer and blogger based out of Flagstaff, AZ. She writes on a variety of topics and loves to research and write. She enjoys baking, biking, and kayaking. Check out her Twitter @eileenoshanassy.

  • What to expect when you are studying overseas?

    Traveling overseas to obtain an education is a bold move that requires careful research and understanding on your part as a student.

     

    Take time to plan and get to know your new home. Expect to experience culture shock, difficulty getting items that are familiar to you, and a different manner of thinking to your own country. Here are some other things to expect during every phase of your overseas education.

    Upon entering the country

    When you first arrive, you’re likely going to be optimistic about your new school and surroundings. Since everything will be new to you, it’s an exciting time, and people generally have a feeling of exhilaration during the first few weeks. At first, you may marvel at some of the conveniences your own country may lack, and the differences you never expected. The best advice is to enjoy the honeymoon phase and get to know as many of your schoolmates as possible.

    Settling in 

    Once the honeymoon phase is over, you will start to notice things about the new country you won’t like. No place is perfect, and you’ll likely go back and forth between enjoying your new home, and reminiscing about home. During this time, it’s helpful to realize these emotions are normal and are not a reason to leave your program. Stay focused on your schoolwork and engage in extra-curricular activities to help maintain a high level of motivation.

    Adjusting to daily life

    As you begin to get into a routine and adjust to daily life, it’s important to realize there are resources available at every school to help you. Many campuses offer free legal advice for dealing with landlords, and ensuring your rights aren’t violated. Learn where the international services building is located, and take advantage of anything available to you as a student or newcomer.

    Preparing to graduate

    In your last year, you should begin to look at potential employment options. As an international student, you have to plan carefully. When you graduate, your student visa won’t allow you to stay in the country for an extended period of time. The last year is the time for you to decide if you want to stay in the country, or go back to your own and look for work. If you receive an offer of employment before graduating, you can get a working visa to stay in the country. Talk to an immigration lawyer in Los Angeles like Joshua L. Goldstein for advice on how to immigrate and change your visa.

    Going to a new country for your education is an exciting and rewarding time for any student. Use the resources available to you to get to know your new home and how you can better adjust to it.

    Author: Brooke Chaplan

     

  • 5 Wonderful ways of getting online education

    This era is rightly known as the era of advancement and modernization, therefore, as a result, the trends and approaches of contemporary education has been changed . Considering this scenario, there are different types of education developed, all in order to fulfil and accomplish the requirements or demands of modern education.

    Online education is one of the most enhanced and improved types of education in which student are allowed to study and become a part of classroom from anywhere all around the globe. This aspect should be taken into consideration that online education is being obtained by different students without any cost or in simple words online education are assumed as one of the most cost-effective methods of attaining education.

    Therefore, the importance of online education is increasing in different developing countries of the world. Consequently, there are 5 amazing ways of attaining online education discussed, so that more and more people could avail benefits of online education in the desired manner. These wonderful ways are described as follows:

    Academic Earth

    When it comes to getting free online education from any part of the world then academic earth could be perceived as the right place. This is because of the reason that various from more than 50 universities of the world could be easily comprehended and studied by means of using academic earth in the right manner. In this concern, students are allowed to select any course through the help of finding the name of course or the source. Those students who want to improve their awareness regarding different fields are strongly recommended to use this resource.

    Open Learning Initiative
    As the name suggest, this online resource is all about providing facilities that are related with open learning phenomenon. Through the help of this online tool, students are able to learn the course according to their own understanding process and at the same time they can attain help and support from self-guided assignments.

    Open Education Database
    By means of using open education database website, students could attain meaningful information and awareness about 10,000 courses that are being taught at different universities of the world. During the application of this tool, students could identify or explore various topics by the help of identifying different detailed courses on the topics. Therefore, it is better to use this tool if students really want to enhance their learning to a great level.

    99U
    In reality this resources provides information and awareness regarding different topics and subjects through the help of videos in simplest manner. There are different sorts of educational videos provided through which students are given opportunities so that they could enhance their understanding and knowledge regarding different topics in an easy and attractive way. This resource does help students in the domains of creativity, innovative thinking, as well as business management. Therefore, students need to learn about this tool as much as possible.

    Ignite
    As far as the importance of ignite in modern education is concerned, students could improve their extent of creativity and innovation by the help of using this amazing resource. At the same time, this tool provide opportunities to all people from different parts of the world to share their amazing talents and innovative thinking with others in an appealing way. In this way, students could get awareness and perception about different creative ideas in timely manner.

    These all amazing, yet effective ways should be applied in order to attain online education free of cost. Therefore, there is need of understanding the importance of online education in the modern scenario, because this is one of the most effective ways of providing education to people from all around the world. With the passage of time, the significance of online education has been increased as this field has provided different sorts of benefits to stakeholders of education in an appropriate way.

    Author:
    Jessica Michael is an educator, who shares her valuable suggestion on various online interactive media. She has been teaching for a number of year various subjects to students of different schools. She is very fond of writing, as her articles and blogs at The essay help are much appreciated by professionals, as well as students.

  • Australian scholarship for international students

     

    Australia is one of the most preferred destinations for international students to complete their scholarship education. In the developed world, Australia is the 3rd largest country that attracts a considerable number of students from around the world after the United Kingdom and the United States.

    In fact, study in an Australian university can make a real difference to your educational and professional career. There are many employment opportunities for graduates from this country in a number of different fields, such as business, sciences, arts, etc.

    Acquiring a higher degree from an Australian university will definitely make your resume brilliant. This country is indeed a perfect study place for international students who can explore its highly recognised education system through various international scholarships. It has been found that over $200m annual funds are granted by the Australian Government for international scholarships for higher degree courses including undergraduate, masters and PhD programs.

    In Australia, both private and missionary organisations are playing a pivotal role by equally providing international students with international scholarship opportunities and all offer partly or fully financially supported scholarships.

    Besides this, studying in any Australian university has numerous advantages and splendid features, it assists students in developing their analytical, creative and independent thinking skills. One of the most vital aspects is that when you will complete your graduation you will be highly preferred by both the international employers.

    In the following paragraphs, I will talk about work while studying as the splendid feature of study in Australia, and then I will discuss living cost in the country:

    WORK WHILE STUDYING

    Work while studying is one of the most prominent features. International students are free to do a job in Australia to easily and conveniently meet out their education and other expenses. To do a job in the country, you will have to get the permission along with your visa grant. After getting the working permission from the concerned authority, you can acquire a job for about 20 hours per week, while continuing your studying. Besides this, you will also get visa label in your passport so that you are able to show your legitimacy to work in front of the workplace where you will work.

    As far as the earning is concerned, you as the international student can earn up to 16 per hour. In Australia, finding a work opportunity is easy for international students as there are many business sectors in the country, such as retail in mega shopping malls, hospitality in hotels and restaurants, and administration in hospitals, schools, etc. Besides these options, you can also go with the tutoring option.

    LIVING COST

    In Australia, migration rules and regulations are for international people including international students and they are legally bound to prove that their financial strength is strong to extent that they can bear out their living and other expenses. Living costs are accommodation, food, clothing, travel, and leisure expense. On average, A$ 15,000 to A$ 18,000 annually can be spent by an international student in Australia.

    Finding a reasonable accommodation within your pocket budget is one of the very difficult tasks for students. The best option is to try to find temporary safe haven instead of looking for permanent setting. Keep in your mind accommodation in hotels are very costly because you’ll have to spend around $ 150 for just one night. Besides a temporary shelter, you have the option to contact property agents for getting accommodation. As far as the Australian weather conditions are concerned, both cold and hot are its condition throughout the year. The coldest months are June, July and August and the hottest are December, January and February. So you’ll have to arrange your clothing accordingly.

    Author’s Bio:
    John Kelly is a professional and skilled article writer as well as education counselor. He is connected partially with an online education consultancy firm, Assignment Helper UK to provide guidance and assistance.

  • 5 Alternative teaching approaches

    There are so many schools today, and all of them use the same approaches when it comes to some important aspects of teaching. Some schools opt for alternative approaches which bring fantastic results. Here are 5 interesting teaching approaches private schools might want to switch to.

    Harkness

    Harkness is a teaching method which is not based on a specific curriculum, but rather on a large oval table. This approach was developed by Edward Harkness, an oil magnate and a philanthropist. What makes this approach special is that all of the students sit at the table together with their teacher and discuss a variety of topics. Every students can give his opinion on topic and then his opinion is discussed. Harkness approach offers an alternative to a traditional classroom setup where a teacher lectures in front of a blackboard while all the students are seated at their desks.

    Sudbury

    Sudbury approach gets its name from the Sudbury Valley School in Framingham, Massachusetts. This is a school that operates under tenets of democracy and individuality. Both of these principles have not appeared in other in other approaches. Sudbury approach encourages students to design a curriculum, as well as to choose whether they are going to be evaluated. Students get a vote in any important matters, such as how should the school invest money and whether hew staff should be hired. All other students and staff members get a vote which counts equally.

    Reggio Emilia

    Loris Malaguzzi developed this approach soon after World War 2 and named it after his hometown in Italy. It is an approach developed specifically for the children between the ages of 3 and 6. The approach is based on children being surrounded by self-guided learning environment. Malaguzzi claimed that we do not have to give children ready-made answers, but only guide them towards the right ones. In this approach, there is no curriculum and classrooms are designed to look and feel more like home. Art teachers also play an important role in Reggio Emilia approach as art is one of the things this approach focuses on.

    Steiner/Waldorf

    Austrian philosopher and scientist Rudolf Steiner developed this approach influenced by Goethe and Jean Piaget. The approach is based on the thesis that teaching should be focused on the “whole child”, meaning that teaching should concentrate on students’ body, soul, and spirit. His first Waldorf School was founded in 1919 in Stuttgart. The curriculum lasted 12 years and was aimed at preparing children for life. According to this approach, children should not be taught academic material until the age of 7. Before they reach this age, they should only be encouraged to interact with environment and socialize. In the last 20 years, the approach remained unchanged and is still being used.

    Montessori

    In the approach developed by Dr. Maria Montessori, teaching is based on the philosophy that children should be encouraged to learn in their own ways. Montessori approach encourages individuality and independence, meaning that teachers design the curriculum according to the students’ progress and previous knowledge. Classrooms in the schools that use this approach are “child-centric”. They are full of hands-on material that can help children to acquire new information. Students are encouraged to interact with each other and to use their own pace when learning. More and more schools opt for the Montessori approach and they have been reporting positive results.

    All of these programs offer some alternative ways to pass knowledge to the children. It is up to schools to choose the one that will suit them best. Parents are advised to learn which approach is being used before signing their children up in a school and do some research on it.

     

    Author:

    Diana Smith

     

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