The Freedom Of Online Education

As the information age rolls on we are finding more and more universities that are willing to invest in the education of students who may not necessarily be in a position to attend classes at that particular university. The offerings are still somewhat limited but there are opportunities to earn associates, bachelors, and even master's degrees strictly though online course work. This is something that was virtually unheard of even a few years ago.

Today's students truly do have more options available to them than ever before if they are willing to invest the time and effort into their studies, there are few limits to the level of education you can receive, even if it has been years since you last attended a university or community college. Even those colleges and universities that do not offer full fledged degree programs exclusively through online learning mediums are beginning to offer many courses online for students with busy schedules and lifestyles. This means that you now have the opportunity to combine distance or online learning with a few night or weekend courses in order to complete your degree even if you have a full time day job and family that needs to see you at home on occasion.

Even if a degree is not something you are necessarily seeking you might be amazed at the wide array of courses that are available for those interested in increasing their depth of knowledge on different issues from the comfort of their own homes. I know that the idea of self-directed online learning opportunities appeal to me on many levels. These opportunities however, are not necessarily a good idea for everyone. We all learn in different manners and some of us learn best by actually being in the classroom and hearing what has to be said or from hands on experience. This type of learning is not necessarily possible when it comes to distance learning in an email or bulletin board type of environment, which is how many Internet classrooms operate.

Online learning is also not a good idea for those who aren't perfectly willing, able, and capable of holding themselves responsible for their learning. Face it, for some of us it is much easier to get up and go to a classroom than it is to force ourselves to log on and pay attention at home. We all have areas in which our discipline is well in hand and others where we seem to have no discipline whatsoever. If you can't hold yourself on task or have difficulties not being distracted by the many other novel things there are to do online you might be best served through an actual classroom experience rather than a distance learning environment like those of online classes.

This is not meant to discourage you from distance learning or online classrooms. In fact, I think these are by far the best option for many working professionals who are seeking to advance their careers, knowledge, and/or earning potential. You will not need to feel as though you are choosing between the future needs of yourself and your family and the limited time you have with your family already. You can schedule around your family time and make the sacrifice when it comes to sleep.

With online classes it doesn't matter if you are in your pajamas or in a suit and tie you can still do the work you need to do online and no one will be the wiser. You also might find that you can squeeze your education into your lunch hour, particularly if you can type and chew at the same time. The truth is that online classes offer superior flexibility to those hoping to further their education. Whether you are hoping to earn a degree or simply wish to broaden your horizons by taking a few online classes, you just might find that the possibilities are limitless once you begin taking these courses from home.

The Truth Of A Two Year College Education

Higher education in this country is rapidly becoming a necessity in the business community rather than a luxury. There was a time when those who had a high school education still had the opportunity to build a better world for themselves and their families. Those days are rapidly becoming another dieing ember of the past. If you hope to have significant earning potential during your lifetime you are almost completely limited by your learning potential and the level of education you have received.

The good news is that you do not have to have an all or nothing approach when it comes to education. You can begin by taking baby steps when it comes to higher education. If you have a community college in your area, this is one of the greatest resources for beginning your college education at any stage in your life. Most community colleges offer classes at various times during the day and evening, even some on Saturday in order to accommodate students of different ages and backgrounds.

Community colleges also offer an excellent opportunity to begin your learning quest in a manner that is much more easily affordable to the average citizen than a full-blown university. These colleges are largely commuter colleges though there are several that allow students the experience of living on a college campus at a much lower price than most major universities charge for the same or very similar privileges.

Community colleges also allow you to explore your options if you aren't really sure what direction you wish for your education to take without paying such a high price for the process. If you know the career path you wish to take you might find a two-year degree program that can have you out of school and in a career much sooner than a four-year program will allow. If that isn't good enough news for you, many of the two-year programs of study that are offered at the community college level may very well transfer quite easily into bachelor degree programs at the university level.

Community colleges offer an excellent start for many people who are seeking higher education whether to further their careers or just to find fulfillment on a personal level in life. There are many wonderful programs in vocational fields as well as academic fields that can be explored and studies on the community college level.

For graduating high school students community colleges help students ease into the adjustment from high school to college without going through the culture shock that some universities can put students through. You will find that there are often many opportunities to meet educational as well as social needs on the community college level for students that are interested in pursuing a community college education.

You should also discover that community colleges are much easier to budget when it comes to setting aside funds and savings for either your personal college education or the educational expenses of your children. Having them attend a community college for two years then transferring to a University can save a great deal of money and provide you a little piece of mind that your children are still receiving an excellent level of education.

Seriously, if you are looking for an excellent value when it comes to education you would be doing yourself or your children a disservice if you do not check out the community college options in your area before taking the plunge and diving into the university lifestyle. You will find that community colleges often offer an equal level of education for the introductory classes that first and second year college students often take, they are a much better value for the money, and they are an outstanding values for those who are trying to juggle their education with family and work responsibilities.

Man Men Principles Can Build School Culture

You really have to be excited about possibility to work in education. You really have to be excited about possibility to work in marketing and branding. That's not a misprint. There's not an echo. Contrary to what business and education once thought, these two systems have a lot in common. It's really exciting to think about that in today's new economy. Can Mad Men PRINCIPLES of marketing and branding inform school PRINCIPALS, the men and women who are the CEO's of school culture and Identity?

It's not the sixities anymore, but "admen madmen" are flexing their practiced Madison Avenue muscle in 21st century schools, and not just through a popular TV show. And their stylized tenets can become power tools in the hands of school leaders who want to create powerful conversations about the branding and selling of the brand to school customers: kids, teachers, administrators, school board members, parents and the community.

Whether we like it or not, teachers, students, parents and community members are all subject to the influences of BRANDING in modern society, and making use of these subtle but powerful forces can positively impact school culture. Contrary to what educators once imagined, good business and good education can and should mix. What works in business can make for better education, and skillful use of the Madmen principles can create or strengthen a school wide identity, and can make all the stakeholders in your school more willing participants in a common cause. Branding is not new in business, but it has now, in the current vernacular, "gone viral." And why? BRANDING is "the implied promise of quality"... And quality is what school customers naturally seek. A quality education, after all, is what promises access to the American Dream, and more so today, than ever before. So here's an ESSENTIAL QUESTION to ask yourself if you are an educational leader: Can a "Madman" Principal or Central Office Leader bring new energy, language and thinking to a district culture through using BRANDING principles? If you want to be a Madman Principal ask yourself... Do I care how my school/district is perceived by parents, school board, teachers, students, businesses and community at large? Do I want new ways to communicate core messages, especially for budgeting and referendums?

Understanding the need to bring BRANDING conversations to the school organization may be new thinking for public school educators. Its time has come. Universities and private schools have gotten on the branding train, knowing that BRANDING is "the sum of all user experiences with a product/service, building both reputation and future expectations of benefit" according to brand expert, Jason Miletsky. Logos and taglines only scratch the surface of developing an emotional connection to consumers.

Step One in the Conversation is the Understanding of what branding is and its value to building school identity. It's time for schools who are part of a global society of social media --and who educate students in navigating life through building educational skills...building a personal brand--to think about how Madison Ave Mad Men strategies can help schools. Mad Man Principles for Principals?...you'd be crazy not to begin the conversation.

Caution! Public Schools Are Teaching & Breeding Failure

With all due respect to those educational administrators that are trying desperately to make a difference, I believe that if we are not teaching success in our schools, we are teaching failure through negligence. On the bright side, educational philosophy has always been about teaching our children math, science, reading, writing, social studies, history, and so on. We all know the basic subjects taught in our public schools, and we generally agree on the importance of these matters. More "specialized" curriculum - like "life skills" - are typically elective classes, and instruct children on the basics of financial management, and the like (life skills that deal in the linear, the exact, the non-abstract are generally regarded as teachable on an elective basis).

On the negative side, however, we do not teach our children lifelong accomplishment - to succeed - and how to create abundance in all areas of living. We do not instruct kids on the commonly accepted elements of success, and therefore what it means to be a contented, productive, accomplished, or happy person, if you will. Any adult of reasonable intelligence and caring should be interested in why we do not teach such skills to our children, and indeed what those "hard skills" of success, achievement, and abundance would be/could be. I would argue that the core components of success have not changed (and are in fact readily teachable), but it is the terms of measurement - or what constitutes the actual acquisition of success - that is relative, inconsistent, and ever changing. If teaching these success elements were compulsory, we might repair many homes, create better professionals, reduce crime rates, and simply spread more hope.

The prevalent educational philosophy is that success skills are left to the parent(s) in the home (or arguably 'the streets', or the child's peers); it is not the responsibility of our educational system to teach abundance and success. The skills needed to enjoy a successful life deal in the realm of the inexact, the intangible, and the arbitrary or capricious, as opposed to the realm of letters, numbers, empirical data, scientific hypothesis, and events in history. We can readily teach "uniform subjects" that are widely accepted as truths, proven, de facto empirical, but teaching essential emotional management skills, effective and realistic goal setting, and across the board abundance acquisition is messy, highly subjective, relative, and inconsistent. It appears that to our educators and those who determine proper educational curriculum, our school agenda and teachers cannot be adequately "equipped" to teach such controversial and "inconsistent" (non-uniform) subject matter. They cannot conceive of a universally acceptable curriculum to teach lifelong success skills. And beyond the educational philosophical matter, perhaps, is the political aspect. To enter into the responsibility of teaching "success" is intrinsically perceived as politically impossible; we cannot all "universally" agree on exactly what those skills to be taught would be - or what would be overwhelmingly acceptable - and conceivably it borders on the spiritual, or perchance the individual belief system, and therefore laissez faire.

Let's take a peek at the murky waters of the subject of success (and why it is not taught in school). So much has been written about success. So many success programs, books, CDs, and other media exist on the subject. A Google search (conducted on 10/21/2009) on the keyword "success" returns over 312-million results. The term is like one tiny star in the cosmos. I think it's safe to say that 'success' is/has been an over-used word throughout our human world and throughout (recorded) history. It's also fair to say that success means something different for each and every person, and yet most would agree that a simple and accurate definition might be: to obtain a desired result (or results).

Perhaps Dr. Norman Vincent Peale (1898-1993) was among the first of the modern-day success gurus with his "Power of Positive Thinking" work (circa 1956). And today we have success consultants, coaches, lecturers, and millions more people who make their living in one fashion or another from/on the subject of success (I wonder if there would be fewer of these private instructors if success were a scholastic subject?). In just my amazing lifespan (I'm 47), the technology boom has contributed (information) so overwhelmingly that it has made our world smaller in many senses, and yet so much more confusing because of all the voices that are now heard, increasing sensory overload. But success has not changed, in and of itself; as mentioned, only the "terms of measurement" are ever changing.

I remember thinking as a teenager in school: why is there no 'owner's manual' for living a successful life? I would ponder being alone in a cold world; born unto inadequate role models, cloned teachers, and empty influencers, and realizing that ultimately we must invent our own 'success manual' for living. An extension of much of my early thoughts was to be in awe of the humility of life; the more I learned, the more I realized how little I truly knew. As time progressed I studied the success gurus and motivational experts. It was then that a 'success manual' did emerge from my thoughts, and I committed it to book format; the content would easily serve as course curriculum.

As I've noted, the body of work on the subject of success is nearly limitless. Therefore it must be hubris to suggest that I have something of value to add to the issue of human success, right? No, I do not believe that to be true. I believe that I have conceived something of extreme value. At the risk of being perceived as turning this article into a promotional piece, what I have developed and refined is a six-step system that virtually guarantees success and abundance in all areas of life, and the ability to maintain success over a lifetime. It is only recently that I understand how effortlessly these materials could be hugely useful in our schools. In brevity, the six steps are these: 1) Motives/Motivation, 2) Preparation (emotional/mental/physical), 3) Goal Setting (workshops), 4) Research and Development (of a plan or vehicle for attaining goals), 5) Consistent Action, and 6) Flexibility (in order to account for the human element).

Every once in a while something special and unexpected comes along. True, not very often does something new appear on the scene, but it certainly happens. Yes, even though it might seem that success is an exhausted, and exalted subject - and thus far academically or scholastically taboo - I have assembled in detail the exact six steps that are necessary to achieve lifelong success.

The book is entitled: "Lifetime Success in 6 Simple Steps". It is my sincere promise - as the result of decades of study - that this is a brand new approach, encompassing the very best of what is known about the components of success, and combining that knowledge into teachable, logical, and progressive steps that ensure sustained, lifelong success. I invite you to check it out for yourself. If this work helps a pondering teen, makes our educational system take notice, or helps any of the millions of unemployed to a new, successful life then I am thrilled! Here is the link for the book: http://success-dude.com/lifelong-success/. Let's teach our children to be a success!

The Truth Of A Two Year College Education

Higher education in this country is rapidly becoming a necessity in the business community rather than a luxury. There was a time when those who had a high school education still had the opportunity to build a better world for themselves and their families. Those days are rapidly becoming another dieing ember of the past. If you hope to have significant earning potential during your lifetime you are almost completely limited by your learning potential and the level of education you have received.

The good news is that you do not have to have an all or nothing approach when it comes to education. You can begin by taking baby steps when it comes to higher education. If you have a community college in your area, this is one of the greatest resources for beginning your college education at any stage in your life. Most community colleges offer classes at various times during the day and evening, even some on Saturday in order to accommodate students of different ages and backgrounds.

Community colleges also offer an excellent opportunity to begin your learning quest in a manner that is much more easily affordable to the average citizen than a full-blown university. These colleges are largely commuter colleges though there are several that allow students the experience of living on a college campus at a much lower price than most major universities charge for the same or very similar privileges.

Community colleges also allow you to explore your options if you aren't really sure what direction you wish for your education to take without paying such a high price for the process. If you know the career path you wish to take you might find a two-year degree program that can have you out of school and in a career much sooner than a four-year program will allow. If that isn't good enough news for you, many of the two-year programs of study that are offered at the community college level may very well transfer quite easily into bachelor degree programs at the university level.

Community colleges offer an excellent start for many people who are seeking higher education whether to further their careers or just to find fulfillment on a personal level in life. There are many wonderful programs in vocational fields as well as academic fields that can be explored and studies on the community college level.
For graduating high school students community colleges help students ease into the adjustment from high school to college without going through the culture shock that some universities can put students through. You will find that there are often many opportunities to meet educational as well as social needs on the community college level for students that are interested in pursuing a community college education.
You should also discover that community colleges are much easier to budget when it comes to setting aside funds and savings for either your personal college education or the educational expenses of your children. Having them attend a community college for two years then transferring to a University can save a great deal of money and provide you a little piece of mind that your children are still receiving an excellent level of education.
Seriously, if you are looking for an excellent value when it comes to education you would be doing yourself or your children a disservice if you do not check out the community college options in your area before taking the plunge and diving into the university lifestyle. You will find that community colleges often offer an equal level of education for the introductory classes that first and second year college students often take, they are a much better value for the money, and they are an outstanding values for those who are trying to juggle their education with family and work responsibilities.

The Disadvantages Of Attending A University

We have discussed some of the wonderful advantages that university life and educations present. However, we must in turn discuss some of the other disadvantages that are associated with university learning as well. While we discuss these you should keep in mind that they do not by any means indicate that you should give up on your higher education goals, only that you should view your educational process with realistic expectations.

When compared with the community college system the very first and most distinctive disadvantage that comes to mind is the high cost of upper education on the university level. Community colleges are simply more cost effective all around than universities. The costs go well beyond that money that would be spent on room and board making the tuition alone cost prohibitive in many cases. While there are many types of financial aid available to students the vast majority of college students in this country make ends meet through the use of student loans, which must be repaid at quite a hefty interest rate, in order to cover the costs associated with university educations.

Beyond the one obvious disadvantage there are a few other disadvantages that bear mentioning in this particular circumstance. First of all, universities do not have the small intimate classroom settings that literally set community colleges apart. In fact, for lower level course, most universities offer large auditorium classes that are taught by graduate students rather than professors and more often than not the students never get to know those who are charged with their education on more than a nod and smile while passing in the halls basis. This method for learning is considered by many to be exceptionally inferior and the statistics prove that students who go straight into a four-year college environment rather than going through a community college first are far less likely to complete their degrees.

If that isn't enough of a disadvantage, many people find that the impersonal atmosphere of most universities is quite limiting when it comes to interaction with other students. The smaller classroom environments of community colleges invite interaction between the students in the class. An open line of communication within the classroom is greatly preferred to having so many students that no one gets a voice or the ability to voice their opinions or personal experiences when it comes to certain topics.

Another disadvantage to university life is the sheer size of university campuses. Community colleges tend to be much more compact. This means that students have a fairly decent chance of making it to all classes on time and without the worry of walking 2 miles in ten minutes. While this is great for physical fitness, missing the first ten minutes of class each week can limit the educational process that your university experience should be providing. It seems like such a small thing on one hand but when you are hauling around a day's worth of textbooks and a laptop--that hike can be the thing that marines seem dubious about accomplishing.

While there are a few distinctive disadvantages to university life, the fact remains that graduation from a university is the single biggest way to increase your earning potential over the course of your lifetime. The amounts are by no means insignificant. I highly recommend whenever possibly that you attend community college for the first two years of your college education. Beyond that, I strongly urge you to consider the value that completing your education and getting a four-year degree can provide.

If you wish to build self-confidence, earning potential, and job security, there is no way of doing so that is superior to getting a four-year degree. It doesn't matter where you are in life or your career; it is never too late to begin getting your education. There are so many things in the world that a good education will open your eyes to in addition to the doors of opportunity a four-year degree will open.

Finding The Best Atlas Of The World

Every home needs a good world atlas. While MapQuest, Yahoo Maps and Google Maps may have edged out traditional street maps for our directional needs, there will always be a place for a nice hard-cover, full-colored atlas. You can read at-a-glance profiles of different countries or cities, gain travel tips, reference information, teach the kids about other places and cultures or simply explore the world right from your sofa.

But which one of the world reigns supreme? This question is a difficult one to answer, but here are some classic selections, as well as some new options to unearth.
One of the most frequently used atlases is Goode's World Atlas, edited by Edward B. Espenshade, Jr. This pocket-sized book contains a number of high-quality maps from a cache of professional geographers.

Another great selection is the National Geographic Road Atlas of the United States, Canada and Mexico, which features, hands-down, the best street maps of North America. The 10th Edition Times map of the World boasts 125 color maps and a quarter of a million place names.
The DK World Atlas is full of entertaining facts, while also providing geographic information about every country in the world. You will also want to add the DK Atlas of World History, which includes maps, timelines, photographs and historical notes, and the DK World Reference Atlas, which has 1 to 6 pages about each country, discussing politics, climate, world affairs, economics, crime, health, media, education and communications.

Sometimes you can find a map the world that reveals the current state of our planet. The State of the World Atlas does just that, displaying the most current statistics, profiles and realities about world politics, economics, food supplies, military power, energy resources, pollution levels and biodiversity.

In a nutshell, what a hardcopy atlas of the world delivers, which online mapping lacks, is that historical, worldview of mapmakers and cartographers who take the great time and effort to color code our world and combine data with maps in a sensible way, thus painting the larger picture.

If you are looking for an atlas of American history to inspire the kids, then consider Elspeth Leacock and Susan Buckley's "Places in Time: A New Atlas of American History" (for 7-14 year olds), which teaches kids about fascinating stories behind 20 little-known American places using oral narratives, old maps, drawings and contemporary accounts. Don't forget to get Lynn Kuntz's "Celebrate the USA: Hands-On History Activities for Kids" (for 8-10 year olds), which will have you playing musical inventions like Ben Franklin or creating liberty wind socks from oatmeal boxes, glues, yarn and paper.

Reasons You Need A University Education

The world in which we live is constantly evolving. We are demanding more and more from our citizens than ever before and in order to live up to the demands of the world we need a solid education upon which to base our skills and knowledge. There are many alternatives available for receiving an education these days, which is good news for those who have not yet managed to obtain a four-year college degree. Truthfully, that degree is the difference in literally hundreds of thousands of dollars over the course of a lifetime than not having a degree.

Four Reasons for a Four-Year Education
Money. The first reason that you should consider a university degree is the fact that it will substantially increase your earning potential. If nothing else appeals to you, this is typically the one reason that most people return to school after years in the work place. If you are in high school and haven't really had to deal with the bills and burdens that many adults face it's difficult to explain how important any edge when it comes to earning ability truly is. However, you should be aware that you need to choose your major wisely if money is your sole motivation. Not all careers pay equally when compare to the education required to enter them.

Insurance. This may seem like a strange term to use when discussing why you should get a university education but this is perhaps the best insurance you can find as far as employability goes. Having a university degree gives you a competitive edge over those who do not. In many cases you will find that education is beginning to trump experience as employers are seeking workers with more rounded skills rather than those with very specific skills. The modern university typically requires a brief exposure to all kinds of information and coursework that isn't necessarily related to your major. This provides graduates with a broader understanding of the world (at least that is the assumption).

Employability. Believe it or not, those with degrees are much more employable than those that do not have them. There was a time when the trend was to employ those who had experience over those who had education. That trend is rapidly evaporating as companies want employees that can fill multiple roles more and more often. The limited exposure to certain ideas or ideals and principles that most people receive as part of their university education makes you a more employable candidate because you should be able to adapt and adjust, as this was required during your educational process.

Confidence. There is nothing quite like believing in yourself. Getting a four-year education is one way to build confidence not only on a personal level but also on a professional level. Whether or not you realize it, this is often the best reason for pursuing a university degree. This reason, as a matter of fact, will actually affect all of the other things I mentioned above. If you have more confidence in your ability you will be more willing to go out there and get the job done. As a result, you will earn more money and you will insure that you are an asset to your company by proving yourself to be just that.

Regardless of your personal reason for pursuing a university degree there are very few wrong reasons to get your degree. Good luck in your educational pursuits. I know they will serve you well.

What is Optimal Method to Use in Teaching Your Child to Learn to Read?

Some reading experts claim that there are only four methods that viable for teaching reading today. These methods are phonics, look and say, the language experience approach, and the context support method. However, a newer method, syllabics, seems to be gaining ground as a new, even preferred, alternative method for teaching children to learn to read. Each method deserves a close look.

Teaching Reading with Phonics
Without a doublt, phonics is perhaps the most widely used and most easily recognized method for teaching today. Instructing children to read using this method begins with the alphabet and the sound associated with each letter. Reading begins with one- and two-letter words and blends which are easy to "sound out". After they master two-letter words, children progress to three-letter words, then four-letter words, and longer words.

The principal issue with teaching reading using phonics--and it is a serious issue, indeed-- is that the method gives children the introduction they need to pronounce sounds so that they can manage words that can be read phonetically, but it does not prepare them for words that are not phonetically regular (such as vowels). Phonics also requires that children be provided with sufficient phonetic reading material. Creative teaching formats also have to be used to keep children from getting bored with the method.

Look and Say Reading
The look and say reading method is also known as look-see or the whole-word approach. With this approach, rather than learning a word as a series of letters or words, a student learns the whole word at once. To teach whole words, the teacher often uses pictures or flashcards (or both) to represent the word. The teacher might sound out the word for the child and ask the child to repeat the word rather than sound it out for himself/herself.

Look and say reading has been criticized as not giving children the tools they need to sound out words for themselves. Essentially, the child must memorize every word rather than really learning how the letters and sounds come together to form words. Some educators maintain, however, that the combination of phonics with look and say reading can help children to tackle more challenging words.

The Language Experience Approach to Reading
The language experience approach to reading uses the child's own life experiences to teach words and reading. For instance, if a child draws a picture of his or her family, a teacher might ask the child to identify person is in the drawing. As the child says such words as "mom", "dad", "my brother Rob", the teacher writes those words under each person's image in the picture. If a child draws a picture of a cat in a tree, the teacher writes the words "a cat in a tree" under the drawing.

When the student gains a better comprehension of words, teachers can talk about and write more complicated sentences such as "This is my family. I have a mother, a father, and a brother named Rob".

Some educators recommend making a little book out of the child's drawings. This personalized book could then be filled with pages that the child can automatically "read" if only because that child is the author of the book. Teachers can also encourage students to trace over the words they've written to begin early writing experiences.

Many educators use this method as a means to introduce children to reading even before they begin teaching reading using phonics, the look and say, or any other reading method. This is a useful technique to help children appreciate the connection between the images and words that appear on the pages of a book and to aid them as they begin recognizing simple words. Unfortunately, the method seems to be limited to teaching children only how to read concrete nouns—-those that represent physical objects that can be drawn or photographed. Verbs, adjectives, adverbs, articles, prepositions and nouns that don't have a common physical representation cannot be accommodated by the language experience approach for learning to read.

The Context Support Method
As with the language experience approach to reading, the context support method uses the associative connection between pictures and words to attract and hold the attention of the student. Although this is a position that is not widely accepted, some educators nevertheless believe that holding a child's attention may be the single most important factor in learning to read. A disinterested child is less likely to pay attention long enough to learn the material. Obviously, an interested child is likely to be more interested in learning.

Parents sometimes can be heard complaining that there is little material available for their children to read, especially once their boys move past the early reading stage. Toddler boys and girls are often presented with reading material geared toward their particular interests, such as boats and robots for boys and dolls for girls. However, some professionals note that the relative disinterest that many boys eventually develop in reading could be attributed to the relative paucity of reading materials that interest them. Therefore, after the initial boost that boys get in the early reading stages, there might not be nearly enough context support for them to continue to read for pleasure.

Using Syllabics to Teach Vowel Sounds
One of the major criticisms of using phonetics to teach reading is that the method addresses consonant sounds far better than it does vowel sounds. For instance, the letter "b" is pronounced the same way, whether the word it is used in is "bite" or "bit". However, using those same two words, the letter "i" can be either "short" or "long". This discrepancy in sound "rules" makes it especially difficult for early readers to understand how they should handle the pronunciation of vowels.

Syllabics teaches both consonant sounds and vowel sounds in a way that enables children to master them both properly. Syllabics teaches children the consonant sounds and the main consonant blends, and then teaches them how to tackle the sounds made by vowels. Rather than rely on rote-memorization, syllabics uses "rules" or "letter codes" to teach children how to read just about any word except those that does not follow general English conventions.

At the end of the day,no one method is yet viewed as being the cure-all, be-all for teaching reading to every student. Educators today typically use a combination of methods geared toward the specific needs of the individual child. Choosing the program that is best for each child requires an understanding of the strength and weaknesses of the methods available as well as a deep appreciation of what works best for the child.

Restoring the Historical Roots of American Education

Two hundred years after the American Revolution, America is still governed by its first Constitution. We are now the longest-running constitutional republic in the history of the world. To give some perspective, France has had eight constitutions in the same 200 years. Italy has had 54 constitutions in 200 years. Why have we survived so long? It is because our founding fathers built our Constitution according to a set of ideals that are unparalleled in the history of the world.

Abraham Lincoln said, "The philosophy of the school room in one generation will be the philosophy of government in the next." If our founding fathers had a successful philosophy of government, which obviously they did, then it is very fair that we look back to the classroom to see what they taught.

Harvard: Harvard is the oldest ongoing university in the United States. Harvard produced a number of our founding fathers, including John Quincy Adams, John Hancock, John Adams, and Samuel Adams.

Harvard's original stated purpose for its students was: "To be plainly instructed and consider well that the main end of your life and studies is to know God and Jesus Christ...." One requirement of students was that "Everyone shall so exercise himself in reading the Scriptures twice a day that he shall be able to give an account of his proficiency therein."

Yale: Yale also produced many founding fathers, men like Noah Webster, William Samuel Johnson, Abraham Baldwin. One of Yale's requirements for its students read as follows: "Seeing that God is the giver of all wisdom, every student, besides his private and secret prayer, will be present morning and evening for public prayer."

Princeton: Princeton, founded in 1746, produced people like James Madison, Benjamin Rush and John Witherspoon. John Witherspoon became an ordained minister and was president of Princeton University (1768-1776) until New Jersey sent him to Congress. During those years at Princeton, the average graduating class was between 17 and 28 students per year. In the nine years that Witherspoon taught at Princeton, the school graduated one President, one Vice President, three Supreme Court Justices, ten Cabinet members, twelve Governors, twenty-one U.S. Senators, and thirty-nine U.S. Congressmen, plus many who held state offices. A full one-third of the founding fathers were trained at Princeton University.

What was the philosophy of an institution that produced so many national leaders? Princeton's founding statement was, "Cursed is all learning that is contrary to the cross of Christ." It has been many years since we have seen this kind of vision of godly leadership within society set before us.

The Foundational Documents: There are four documents which are considered the organic laws of the United States (i.e., the laws upon which all other laws are built): The Articles of Confederation, the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution and The Northwest Ordinance.

The Northwest Ordinance tells a territory specifically what it has to do in order to become a state in the United States. Article Three requires that no territory could become a state unless the schools in that territory were teaching religion and morality as well as knowledge. As a result, many state constitutions contain the following: "Forever in the schools of this state, religion and morality will be taught as well as knowledge." You may want to check your state constitution.

Look at Fisher Ames' philosophy of education: (He was the author of the First Amendment of the Constitution, which today is mis-interpreted to mean we must separate God and government.)
"Why, then, if these new books for children must be retained, as they will be, why should not the Bible regain the place it held as a school book? Its morals are pure. Its examples are captivating and noble. And the reverence for the sacred book that is thus early impressed lasts long and probably, if not impressed in infancy, never takes firm hold of the mind."

However, today under our interpretation of Fisher Ames' amendment, the Bible is not allowed to be studied in schools. We have drifted far from the days when our country was founded. As can been seen in the founding documents of our most prestigious universities, education in America was founded not on the pursuit of knowledge for the sake of knowledge, but rather on the pursuit of knowledge to glorify Christ. That happened and happens primarily through the study of the Word of God.

The freshman project of each of the founding universities in America was that the student be given a copy of the Greek New Testament and from it make a handwritten translation into English! Blessed are the schools that still teach from the Bible and keep the Bible as the central source of education.

The Australian education system

The schools in Australia are broadly divided into two categories, government schools and non-government schools (private schools). Non-government schools are classified as either Catholic schools or independent schools. Most independent schools have a religious affiliation, but some are non-denominational. All government schools are non-denominational.

Schools in Australia are also classified on the basis of whether they are single gender or co-educational. Although the majority of the school are co-educational, some Catholic and independent schools are single gender, generally at the secondary level.

Australian kids start preparatory school at an age of four or five in order to start primary school by age six. This is followed by secondary school (often called high school). Students generally spend 13 years at school in Australia (including prep school). Further studies can be continued at Universities or TAFE (Technical and Further Education).

Choosing the right school is very important and if you are new at it you will need some professional advice. Regent Consulting specialises in advising parents about school choice. Their unique, independent service will provide peace of mind, save you time and money and make sense of all the marketing material that you have collected. They will demystify the whole process and provide you with the ability to make an informed decision.

They help a wide range of individuals and families, ranging from Melbourne based families requiring guidance, to those newly arrived from overseas and interstate and have been able to successfully help many families clarify exactly what they want in a school and point them in the right direction. Apart from helping parents choose the right school, Regent consulting also conducts culture audits for organisations as well as health and wellbeing assessments.

Branding Lessons: Build School Culture and Identity with A BRAND

You're an educator and you are starting to think about branding. Of course, you can't help but do this. When I am asked in business settings about my ability to work within the business community, since my perspective is informed by education, I simply smile and say..."I've been in the business sales all my life. I've sold "education" to a diverse marketplace: students, teachers, parents, administrators, school board members and the community."

So today, with my sales perspective, I'm traveling the country speaking to educators about the common ground of educators and business people. The ground of selling and living a BRAND for ROI in education.

Let's capture one Branding definition to work with. Branding is a total experience for the user that is based on relationship. It's more than a logo or a tagline.

If we lead with that principle, then as educators, we should feel a good fit. Education is about building relationships. Educators work hard to do honor that, and have their own tools that make this harmony of relationship building happen everyday in schools. SO with that in mind, can a school culture be created through strategic understanding and a champaign to advance a brand? Can this result in brand loyalty among students, teachers, parents, administrators, board members and the community?

To define what education is today is as challenging as defining what a brand is. There are many ways people try to define both, and branding is in essence solid and changing at the same time. That is true for education as well.

The way to make connections right off the bat is through CULTURE. Branding tenets that are from Madison Avenue's hallowed halls are perfect tools to develop language and attitude for building CULTURE across the diverse market for education. The beginning of the work lies in the understanding that branding is based in an implied promise. In schools, the promise is achievement. Savvy principals today can be Madmen...or women leaders by applying Madison Avenue tools to include branding, some marketing and a dash of social media to create culture that feeds a loyalty to the organization. Madman Principles? They work. And you'd be crazy not to try.

Become A Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician

voteMicrosoft has a lot of computer certifications that apply to a lot different expert computer repair technicians to operating system superstars though they also offer certifications in organization as well as engineering. Microsoft Certified Professionals are a level above in the profession of IT since Microsoft certification is broadly acknowledged and recognized by both the service as well as the support industry. Microsoft syllabus features the practical data that just an state of the art established organization can to offer.

MCDST is one of the most wanted after Microsoft certifications on our market today. Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician is a title that involves much admiration for employers that desire a very qualified tech to work as a helpdesk expert and give desktop support via phone and also by providing service the individual station. Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician (MCDST) with Microsoft Windows XP is a certification which ascertains the fundamental and higher credentials needed to enter the Information Technology profession as a support desk expert.

Due to the recognition that Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician (MCDST) gets a lot of web-based and conventional Information Technology facilities are offering some free tutoring. You'll discover complimentary information technology Microsoft PC training on the internet almost as numerous as you will discover pay certificate courses. There's a long list of electronic schools which offer free study guides, various free electronic instruction as well as complimentary practice exam questions in order to ready you for your certificate.

MCDST certification demonstrates priceless troubleshooting expertise pertaining to the Windows Desktop Operating System to executives and buyers. It gives a regiment for getting the abilities that support technicians require. Being a desktop support technician, you will utilize excellent customer service abilities, teach users, and solve computer hardware or software function and application issues on the desktop. You'll vet irreplaceable skills and good practices related with networks and file sharing and maintaining DHCP communications devices and DNS for Internet applications to translate names into internet protocol addresses.

MCST certification acknowledges the basic qualifications needed to go into the Information Technology field as a support professional. It communicates the technical abilities of the individual to customers and employers and differentiates career potentials from their colleagues. MCDST certification enhances job enjoyment via enhanced technical proficiency as you expand your proficiency and abilities. MCDST certification helps advance support technician livelihood through providing a structured framework for learning abilities, and features a knowledge basis for additional Microsoft certificates, like the MCSA and the MCSE.

Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician Certification Requirements on Windows XP involve passing two core exams that provide a valid and dependable gauge of technical proficiency. The tests are created on the help of professionals in the industry and reflect how Microsoft applications are utilized in businesses throughout the world. The two essential exams are: Exam 70-271: Supporting Users and Troubleshooting a Microsoft Windows XP Operating System amounting to around sixty questions and Exam 70-272: Supporting Users and Troubleshooting Desktop Applications on a Microsoft Windows XP Operating System being of about 50 questions.

A aspirant for MCDST requires study for a certification. There are non-profit Microsoft classes accessible on the web including costless Microsoft example exam questions, free study guides and free MCDST training tomake your preparation less complicated. Free will only take you so far, you will need to purchase some Microsoft certification training so you'll be ready for your exam. Your education isn't the objective but earning your Microsoft certification is so learn methods to pass your information technology certification exam and because there are good resources accessible, all you require is some exploring.

Educational Leaders in Public Schools

Public schools are well known for careful stratification and segregation of age groups. Public schools are so poorly run (take DPS for example) that all of those kids run across the county line to attend any school that will accept them. These kids are so far behind academically because of the crap that DPS taught or didn't teach, that they will never be academically successful. Public schools are not required to answer to parents, but they do need to heed the words of politicians and school boards-all of whom have their own political agendas. It would not be an exaggeration to say that these agendas are weakening the entire system.

Public schools are operated at the state level through departments of education, and locally by school districts and publicly elected or appointed school boards. Approximately 15,000 different school districts operate in the United States, and most are run by counties.

Educational leaders have focused in recent years on providing safe and disciplined school environments for students and teachers. Many schools have increased expulsions of violent students by adopting "zero tolerance policies" toward serious offenders. Education outcomes become irrelevant. Educators and parents can post a "viewpoint" page on the site that acts as an online profile, and they can participate in discussion forums, share links and resources, and review teaching materials.

Education reformers and policymakers who consider higher academic standards a centerpiece of their movement should not count on teachers to be a driving force, added Wadsworth. It may be that the academic energies of even the most motivated teachers are sapped by what they consider to be the stressful day-to-day demands of the classroom. Education costs have been rising faster than inflation. Many parents want, but cannot afford, these private alternatives. Educating for citizenship, work and the public good has been replaced with models of schooling in which students, especially poor minority youth, are viewed narrowly either as a threat or as perpetrators of violence. When not viewed as potential criminals, they are positioned as infantilized potential victims of crime (on the Internet, at school and in other youth spheres) who must endure modes of governing that are demeaning and repressive.

Educators must recover their higher motivation, a spirituality that comes from faith not in religion but in civilization, humanity's sanctuary from the cruel vortex of nature. Educational alternatives would be unlimited. It would be the source of enormous progress, and a model for the nation.

The US Clean Air Act Requires Accurate Tracking of Refrigerant Gases

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency oversees the U.S. Clean Air Act. Numerous issues are covered under the regulation, among them air pollution prevention and control; ozone protection; air quality and emission limits; requirements to prevent substantial deterioration of air quality; and stratospheric ozone protection.

The U.S. The act as originally created in 1963 by the U.S. Congress. Prior to its passage, there were numerous other measures pertaining to the improvement of the nation's air quality. They included the Air Pollution Control Act of 1955, the Air Quality Act of 1967, the Clean Air Act Extension of 1970 and the Amendments of 1977. Since its establishment in 1963, the U.S. Clean Air Act required several amendments and extensions to address new developments linked to air pollution and to assist states in complying with the law.

Overseeing the U.S. Clean Air Act is the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Among the issues the federal law addresses are air pollution prevention and control, ozone protection, air quality and carbon emission limits (future additions), requirements to prevent substantial deterioration of air quality, and protection of the stratospheric ozone layer.

The U.S. Clean Air Act, while passed in 1963, was amended in 1990 with enhancements to the law. The changes and enhancements to the legislation included; acid rain controls, new auto gasoline reformulation regulations, implementation of a leak detection and repair program for AC/HVAC systems, new controls aimed at reducing interstate air pollution, establishment of a national permits program for HVAC-R equipment, requirements for attaining and maintaining national ambient air quality standards, stratospheric ozone and global climate protection, and provisions for enforcement of all regulations via fines executed against non-compliant organizations.

The U.S. Clean Air Act enforces air quality standards through the requirement of permits and certain monitoring and reporting methods. It also provides funding to U.S. states to implement clean air programs to monitor such things as air conditioning and systems containing refrigerant gases. Since implementation of the act requirements are conducted on the state level, the federal government supports each state with scientific research, studies and engineering design.

Through the U.S. Section 608, the place of the US government working with regulators in the EPA and U.S. states is clearly defined when addressing air quality measures. Specific measures to address interstate air pollution, as well as leak detection and repair for HVAC-R systems, are spelled out in the regulation.

Although the U.S. The U.S. Clean Air Act (section 608) details the requirements for proper air quality management. It is a nationwide law that often has state level amendments to tighten controls according to local priorities. A good example of this state by state implementation is the California Air Resources Board (CARB). They are working on requirements related to the increased control over refrigeration equipment in order to better manager, monitor, and report harmful refrigerant gases.

U.S. states are responsible for conducting permit application hearings submitted by a power or chemical plant, as well as administering fines on any company that violates air pollution controls. U.S. each US state is mandated to create enforcement plans to track how they will enforce and report violations to the law.

With the U.S. Clean Air Act, the air quality in the United States will vastly improve as smog and air pollution is significantly reduced. There are also emerging standards on carbon emissions management as it relates to our collective Global Warming challenges.

These measures contained in the U.S. Clean Air Act, in turn, will lead to better health for all who live on planet Earth and better control over our emissions of greenhouse and refrigerant gases. The act also brings to light problem areas and usage to assist environmental experts in developing measures to keep our planet healthy.

What Can I Do To Help My Child Learn to Read At An Earlier Age?

Reading readiness is defined as the point at which a child is truly ready to learn how to read. Even though learning oral language comes naturally to humans, learning to read does not. We must go through a formal process of instruction before we can read.

Keep in mind that every child is different. Reading readiness varies greatly from one person to the next, and one teaching method may not work for every child. What worked for Steve may not work for Johnny, and what works for Johnny may not work for Amy.

There is no set age at which all children are ready, either. Do not worry if your child seems to be a bit of a late bloomer. Just support him as much as you can and try to nurture his reading readiness.

How Do I Know If My Child Is Ready To Read?
Of course, since the stages of reading readiness can progress at such different rates among individuals, there are no rules written in stone. However, there are some standard questions you can keep in mind when you are watching your child for signs of readiness :

• Does he know what letters look like?


• Can she detect a pattern within a story? Try this. Tell her, "My favorite color is pink.

My favorite fruit is an apple. My favorite drink is apple juice." If she responds, "My favorite show is Spongebob," then she understood there was a pattern, but if she responds, "The dog is silly," then she was unable to notice the pattern.

• 
  
  Does he speak in complete sentences?


• 
  
  Does she seem interested in being able to read? For example, does she point to road signs and ask you what they say?


• 
  
  "Can he differentiate between pictures and printed words?


• 
  
  Does she have the ability to pick up a book and open it the right way on her own?


• 
  
  Does he have a clear memory? For example, can he later remember what he saw yesterday?

How about last week?
How Can I Help My Child To Reach Reading Readiness?
You can begin helping your child to learn to read as early as you would like. When your child is just an infant, talk and sing to him as often as possible. Make sure you encourage his vocal noises as he tries to learn how to talk. Also make sure your baby has a lot of board books and cloth books. Allowing your infant to try to "read" his books by himself can help encourage important motor skills associated with the physical aspects of reading, like flipping through the pages and focusing on the images on each page.

Once your child has grown into a toddler, the possibilities for encouraging reading readiness are endless. It is absolutely crucial that you read to your child as often as you can keep her attention, and make it fun for her! Use a different silly voice for each of the characters. Get her involved in the story by asking her questions, like inquiring if she can point out certain pictures on the page.

Make reading into a fun game, and your children will absolutely love it. Here are just a few entertaining ideas that will teach your children to have a lifelong love of learning and knowledge:
"Put three or four toys that begin with the same letter on the desk or the floor. Add another toy—but this time it should be one that doesn't begin with that letter. Ask your child to name each toy, as well as pick out the one that doesn't belong.

"Consider drawing charts with pictures of items that begin with each letter of the alphabet, and ask your children to help you. Encourage your children to help you gather items for a scrapbook with images of objects that begin with all the letters. Make it into a long treasure hunt, and allow your children to feel a sense of accomplishment as they begin to pick out the right items.

Introduce your children to the world of poetry by reading books with nursery rhymes.

Explain to them how each line rhymes with the next. Once they begin to understand the concept, start saying a word to your child and asking him to come up with a rhyming word.

By playing fun and educational games like these, you can help your child achieve reading readiness at the youngest age possible. This means that you can give your child the greatest gift she will ever receive: she will learn to enjoy learning itself, and she will embark upon the journey of life with an unquenchable thirst for knowledge.

The Advantages Of Attending Community College

If you happen to be fortunate enough to live in a community that has a community college you should really make the time in your schedule to check and see what kind of classes they can offer that can help you advance your education and your career. You might be amazed at the different types of courses you can take even on the community college level. I know that I have found some of the courses that are offered and the degree of learning that takes place to be quite impressive. I think that many people who have in the past disregarded the important role that community colleges play in providing an affordable venue for learning will be quite amazed as well.

Community colleges have an undeserved reputation for inferiority when this could not be further from the truth. A good many of the nations nurses are products of community college educations. In many states, the associates degree nursing programs are quite rigorous and provide more clinical experience than most bachelor's degree nursing programs. This means that students graduating nursing school with an associates degree in nursing are often better prepared to deal with patient care than those who have the 'superior degree'. This by no means is meant to disparage B. S. Nursing students at all. In fact, most hospitals will not even consider you a candidate for an administrative nursing position unless you have the Bachelor's degree. This is only meant to point out that associates degree programs can be quite competitive and inclusive despite common misconceptions.

Of course there are other benefits to learning on the community college level, at least for the first two years of your education. One of those benefits that speaks volumes to me is the fact that teachers in community colleges are dedicated to teaching. They are not working on their own research or books. They are there for the purpose of helping you achieve your goals, which means you aren't an interruption in their pursuit of their own goals.

Community colleges also offer an excellent buffer for students who may not have been on top of their game academically in high school or those who are returning to college after a long absence from academia. You won't find the large auditorium classes on the community college level that major universities are famous for offering. You also won't find that teachers do not have time for their students. There is a lower teacher to student ratio in community colleges so that professors will have time to address the needs of students.

Another benefit is that even if you do not go on to get your four year degree after completing your community college education you will find that your earning potential is significantly improved over those who do not have at least a two-year college education. Research also indicates that students who complete a two-year degree program at a community college are more likely to finish and get a four-year degree than those students who begin their educational experience at a four-year university.

There are a few problems that can be associated with a community college education and you should take note of these so that they do not become a problem for you. First of all, some universities do not accept many of the courses that are offered on the community college level as transfer credits. Make sure that you know what courses are required for the university that you are planning to transfer to in order to avoid this. You also may find that you are limited on the courses you can take and the times in which they will be available. Make sure that you have all the limited courses well ahead of time so that you aren't taking another year of classes in order to graduate.

All in all, a community college education can be just as enlightening as a university education if you enter into the process with an open mind and a willingness to learn. I hope you take advantage of this much less expensive option before moving on to university courses if possible.

College: Its Not Always Where You Planned

All I knew about college was that I wanted to go out of state. I wanted to be on my own away from home, away from all things high school and start with new friends in a new city. I'd been to France, England, and Germany all on my own; and moved regularly while growing up. So, I expect it was no surprise to my parents when I told them I wanted to go to college out of state. At that time, I honestly didn't know much more about what I wanted out of my college experience or even what I wanted to become. The next four years would bring me the most unexpected and valuable learning experiences of my life.

My Dad and I had decided on Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee by the end of my junior year in High School. I liked the college very much. It had all the qualities I was looking for. Classroom sizes were small (the college itself wasn't more than 4,000 students), it seemed friendly, and I loved the look and feel of the Old English Architecture. It felt like it had been uprooted from 16th century England and plopped in the middle of Memphis. So, I applied for early admission and had gotten accepted. My grades were only slightly above average, but I had drive, many extracurricular activities that I had excelled in, and a killer essay. So I was packing my bags, leaving high school gladly behind, and heading to Memphis.

It's weird how most things in life don't turn out quite like you expect them to. This was no exception. At the beginning, I was glad to be at Rhodes College. When my parents dropped me off and left back home I was giddy and celebrating my new found freedom. I liked my roommate Anne, from New York and I quickly made other friends. I also plunged myself into extracurricular activities such as Student Round Table. No problem, right? Well, after a few months I really started to get more of a feel for the college and I wasn't sure it really was right for me after all. Rhodes College was great academically and I did make good friends, but the social scene revolved mainly around Greek life and Greek parties. And, without a car, there wasn't much I could do about that except not have much of a social life. So, I went to a few parties and on a couple of dates, but I didn't drink and I was never planning on joining a sorority. I found myself oddly enough unhappy and debating transferring to a different college with a better fit. I decided that I needed a college where the social scene was not centered around Greek life and where there were more people with my same beliefs and values that I could connect better with. So I applied to Rick's College in Rexburg, Idaho.

It's now called BYU-Idaho, but back then it was Rick's College. Nevertheless, I arrived as a sophomore transfer and loved it right away. I loved the beautiful campus, the good classes, and I definitely like the social scene a lot more. This was a religious-based college and I knew most everyone had the same values as I did. That made me feel a lot more comfortable while I searched for who I really was and what I really wanted to do in life. I soon discovered I love to write. I mean, I already knew I loved to write as I was the editor-in-chief of my high school literary magazine. But I discovered I really, really thought this was the right career path. I was enjoying being a part of the school paper and I really liked my advisors. However, at the time, Rick's College was only a two year school and that meant I needed to transfer, again.

So, in looking for a new college in which to continue my journalism major and graduate from, I started to look at what I had liked and not liked about my previous colleges. I loved the diversity of Rhodes college student body, but not the Greek life. I loved the strong values of Rick's College, but they seemed a little too strict for me. So I started to look for a new school that had a strong diversity of students, had the values I was looking for, but didn't have a million rules and had a good journalism department.

I decided on Utah State University. Although my Father was convinced I should go to BYU, I knew better. So, when I didn't get into BYU I was actually relieved. And what do you know, I got into USU. I had never even been to the campus before the day I arrived for my junior year, but my gut told me this was definitely the place for me.

Over the next couple of years I went on to get a scholarship from the journalism department, got on the honor roll, met life-long friends, and fell in love with the beautiful area. That same junior year I also met the man of my dreams, and got married the following summer. I graduated on time and continued to support my husband as he pursued his doctorate.

Now, six years after graduating from USU, I look back at all the colleges I went through and the long journey it took to get here. Choosing a college isn't always cut and dry, but neither are our desires in life. What we may think in high school rarely carries through our entire life, and the experiences of college only remotely center on the classroom. My experience was varied and unexpected, but all I can say is - I wouldn't change a thing.

The Cost Of A Two Year Education

When it comes to college, you are considering an expensive proposition any way you look at it. There are however, ways in which you can greatly reduce your overall expenses when it comes to getting your college degree. The first method, which in many cases is the most preferred, is by attending a community college for the first two years of your college educational experience. Believe it or not you can literally save thousands of dollars over the course of spending two years on the community college level.

You will hear all kinds of arguments on why it is better to attend all four years at a university. The universities almost always make these arguments. Unfortunately, their opinions are a little bit biased in these matters. Most universities offer equivalent courses with community colleges meaning that the first two years of study should transfer with no problems or snags along the rocky road to your degree.

The universities make money each semester you begin class as a student. It is in their best interest financially to have you from the beginning rather than as a transfer. In fact, many universities offer lower level classes as auditorium classes. They pack more students into classes and have fewer professors or graduate students teaching the courses and maximize their money off the first and second year students rather than those in upper level courses. Yet another reason to consider a community college for the first two years of you education.

Getting back to the expenses of a community college, most community colleges are largely commuter campuses. This means you won't face the high housing costs that are associated with universities, particularly if you are attending college close to home. Community colleges also offer far less distractions that cost additional money than most major universities. This doesn't mean that there aren't ample social opportunities; it simply means that there are fewer of them. This also leaves fewer distractions than universities present when it comes to studying.

Community colleges simply cost less all around. While it would be nice if you could receive a full four year education at this level, they are able, for the most part, to keep expenses down by not requiring the level of qualification that universities require of their professors for upper level courses. You will have excellent, if not superior quality of education at lower levels than you would have on the university level, but you will also eventually need to move on to the university level in order to complete your education.

For this reason, you would do well to save half of your savings over university costs for each of the two years you are attending community college and apply it to your university education. This will ease the burden of the additional costs of the university and feel as though you are paying the same amount for tuition throughout your education regardless of the fact that you are literally saving thousands of dollars on your educational expenses.

Some states have educational savings plans that allow parents to save for tuition at current costs by enrolling. These plans cover two years of community college education and two years of university education. By locking in today's prices you are eliminating the inflation. When you consider the fact that college tuition is increasing at an alarming rate this is by far an excellent way to go. You should check with your state and see if they offer a similar plan to parents of younger children and what the requirements are in order to enroll your child today.

If you are looking for a real value in education whether or not you only go for your two year degree of move on to a university in order to finish your four-year degree you should find that a community college education offers a significant value for the money. Most people find that every penny they spent in a community college was a penny well spent.

Necessity To Attend Classes To Learn Chinese Language

According to the statistics one in five persons speak Chinese through out the world. No field is there in which Chinese people or people of Chinese origin have not made a name for themselves.

This genuine respect has come to them from their sincerity and hardworking nature.

China is becoming a popular destination for tourists and business men alike. Tourists visit China to see among other things, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, The Great Wall of China.

Majority of them attend Chinese language and writing classes with the intention to speak and understand the Chinese language. It is now possible to leaning Chinese for free through the Chinese language lessons being offered on the web.

The Global Services Delivery centers of many international corporations are being moved to China because of the necessity of Chinese language translation. There is necessity for help by them to communicate with local businessmen and also the Government of China . Interaction with China and the Chinese people is necessitated by China's growing stature in the global economy . Chinese people feel respected when you speak in Chinese to the people of China when you visit China. Seeing the growing popularity of China, there are many organizations offering free Chinese Language translation for people who deal with China for doing business .

Chinese is being learnt by some people out of sheer love for the language. In order to have an idea about China's marvelous history and its attempts to get over the ills of the gone times, the literature of China which is rich should be read .

In America, Chinese language translator jobs are available for people who have studied the language. For its citizens, America has identified Chinese as one of the four major languages that is important. This is also one of the reasons for the growing popularity of the Chinese language. There has been an increase in the number of people learning Chinese because of the number of opportunities available online. With the help of Chinese language free workbook Chinese can be learnt which will aid you to understand what you have learnt.

It is with the intention of finding attractive tourist spots that many people from China are visiting different countries across the world. The people who know the Standard Chinese language are needed by the countries that are visited to speak to their guests from China. A demand has sprung up for Chinese lessons. There are organizations offering people how to speak Chinese lessons for free.

There is an interest renewed in parts of the world for history and civilization of Chinese. Leaning to speak Chinese is needed for the people who want desire to learn about China's past. There are chances available to learn Chinese for free and one should take it to the fullest.

There are Chinese Language Conferences also being held frequently as it is spoken all over the world. This proves the importance of the language.

Thanks to the chances available in career for Chinese translators and also in China, learning Chinese has become so famous too. If you need to learn a foreign language, try Chinese.

Building An Educational Saving Account

When it comes to getting a college education, financing is one of the most important considerations that you will need to make. Unfortunately for far too many it is one the last considerations that is made when it comes to the educations of our children. If you are a parent you owe it your child and yourself to plan ahead and plan carefully in order to cover the cost of your child's education. There are fortunately, a few great ways in which you can do this.

The most common is to begin by opening up an educational savings account for your child (under the age of 18). When you open up an educational savings account for your child, you can contribute up to $2,000 per year per child. This is a combined total contribution however and includes the contributions of grandparents, friends, and family in addition to your own personal contributions. The money from these funds can be withdrawn tax-free as long as they are used for educational purposes.

Educational expenses in this case include books, tuition, fees, supplies, and college room and board provided that your child is at least a part-time student. If you do not use all the funds for your child there are options as far as what to do with the remaining funds in the account. The first option would be to leave the funds in the account and allow the account beneficiary to withdraw them up until the age of 30. There is a penalty involved and the beneficiary will be required to pay income tax on those funds. You could also elect to roll those funds over to the next child under the age of 18 who will have educational expenses in the future.

The money you set aside in these accounts to cover the cost of the education of your child or children is not tax-deductible however, it is a great way to begin saving money and investing in the future of your child. If you begin investing the maximum amount $2,000 per year upon birth your child should have a nice nest egg to help cover educational expenses. If your child is fortunate enough to qualify for scholarships and other sources of financial aid you can turn the funds over as a graduation gift or save it for the next college student in your family that comes along. Either way you've saved yourself a good part of the worry that goes along with providing for your family by having this fund set up for your children.

You can sign up for programs like Upromise in order to subsidize your contributions with donations from corporate sponsors as their way of thanking you for buying their products or using their services on any credit cards that you, your friends, and your family members have registered to go into your child's account. Every edge you give yourself when it comes to investing in the education of your children is an edge worth having. College tuition rates are rising at an alarming rate while corporate expectations of college degrees are rising at the same near lightening speed. This means that a college degree is more critical for our children than in any past generations.

Take the time now to check into securing the future of your children by establishing an educational savings account. Let friends and family know that any gifts they are planning to give your children that involve money would be appreciated if they instead invested in the future of your children rather than the now. You can also ask your friends and family to sign up their credit cards with Upromise in order to provide a little bump in donations to your child's college savings account. These little steps add up to significant savings over the course of 18 years. You just might find that the investment you are making is adequate to cover the costs of your child's tuition in full.

The Climate Registry, The EPA, and Your Carbon Emission Reporting Requirements

Because different U.S. states, countries, and Canadian provinces have their own mandatory regulations for reducing greenhouse gas (GHGs) emissions, The Climate Registry provides a standard measure for how carbon emissions are calculated and a streamlined approach for those who are required to report their carbon emissions output.

The Climate Registry was published in draft form as early as May, 2007. It documents and outlines the requirements for carbon (CO2) emissions reporting. Businesses of all sizes, across the entire economy are pondering and trying to understand the carbon emissions requirements. Many still wonder why CO2 reporting is so important. Its impact to your organization is the question continuing to be asked even today. It is an important part of carbon emission protocols established in the United States and internationally to combat air pollution and Global Warming.

The Climate Registry is an agreement regarding emissions reporting protocols or a collaboration between 39 U.S. states (and growing), all Canadian provinces and territories, 6 states in Mexico and three native sovereign nations aimed at recording and tracking greenhouse gas emissions from businesses, municipalities, organizations, and other facilities.

There are key components to The Climate Registry that all companies need to be aware of or they could face substantial disadvantages as it relates to the future carbon credit and trading schemes.

What are objectives The Climate Registry wished to fulfill? Because different U.S. some regulatory bodies across North America are documenting their own carbon emissions reporting protocols and goals to eliminate greenhouse gases. The Climate Registry documents a common framework and set of reporting requirements to help organizations manage, calculate, and report carbon emissions. This makes the approach common for all who must document their CO2 output.

The C02 data submitted by businesses, municipalities, and other organizations can be added to web-based, carbon management information system to support various initiatives aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions across an organization's single facility or down to an individual asset level. As the World continues to collect more and more accurate carbon data, organizations will start to take part (either by choice or by regulations) in cap and trade programs that target the reduction of greenhouse gases (GHGs).

What are the registry's goals?
The Climate Registry is using the single reporting protocol to streamline efforts to reduce emissions that harm the environment and ensure consistent reporting of emissions across different organizations and industries. Through the registry's requirements protocol, the risks of greenhouse gases can be easily identified and opportunities for programs and initiatives to address greenhouse gas emissions can be developed.

This set of carbon emissions reporting requirements makes it politically and geographically easier for countries to come together to achieve positive effects on climate change. By using a common framework or set of reporting protocols, current and future carbon emissions management programs, perhaps adopted at a national level through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), can work together and be supported at a reduced cost across the economy.

What is the registry expecting from businesses?
The Climate Registry expects businesses to calculate, record, verify, and submit report the amount of greenhouse gases (GHGs) or their carbon equivalent on a yearly basis. Generally, a baseline carbon emissions report is generated from data collected across an organization for a representative year, such as emissions levels in your organization as of 1990.
What is being required of businesses?

Often refrigeration and air-conditioning (RAC) systems or heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC-R) systems, are include in carbon emissions requirements due to their high global warming potential. Organizations operating these systems must adhere to The Climate Registry requirements. Direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions need to be reported, which include hydrofluorocarbons, carbon dioxide, perfluorocarbons, methane, sulfur hexafluoride and nitrous oxide.

This emissions protocol allows for consistency, streamlines program requirements and ensures integrity in accounting and reporting of carbon emissions across any reporting entity.
What might the registry look for from my business?

Simply, this protocol or set of requirements defines how to track and report greenhouse gas emissions. While it may take additional effort on your part to do this, there are management programs to ease the process and the burden of paperwork and to ensure accurate tracking and reporting of refrigerant use. Carbon information management systems help organization remain in compliance as it related to greenhouse gas reporting rules and regulations. These systems take the form of web-based applications that help collect, track, and report CO2 gases emitted from corporate assets.

The Climate Registry is already having an impact on your organization or business, whether you know it or not. At it's core these regulations are addressing climate change and are being adopted by more and more regulatory bodies everyday.

Positive impacts and improvements to our climate change issues will only start improving when carbon emissions across the Globe are reduced. And that is something that The Climate Registry is aiming to help us all do.