Maths Teacher Salary UK

Maths Teacher Salary UK How Much Do Maths Teachers Earn in the UK? ChaptersDisparity in Teachers Pay ScaleTeacher Salary based on Seniority and TenureHow Seniority in Primary and Secondary Education affects Teachers PayExperience is (not Necessarily) what Matters Most with Teachers Pay ScaleThe Significance of STEMWhat about Maths Teacher Salary?If you've ever had occasion to talk with a maths teacher, during a parent-teacher conference or during a spontaneous consultation on your child's progress, you might have sensed a feeling of malcontent underlying his/her assertions.Frustration over heavy workload has pushed more educators to become a maths tutor  recently. Teaching geared to ensure students pass mandatory exams instead of delving deeper into curriculum, aspects that would guarantee true learning, is another great source of ire.Impossibly high standards to reach which, by the way, determine a master's earning potential.Is teacher pay really scaled on a pupil reaching learning milestones?How is pay determined for maths teachers in the UK?These permanent posts were few and far between; highly coveted and stingily awarded.Soon, such appointments will be a thing of the past. As the last of the Positioned Professors retire or withdraw from academic life, their posts will be filled by teachers on contract with no possibility of gaining tenure at their institution.The Education Reform Act of 1988 changed the nature of post-secondary schools from mere institutes of higher learning into businesses. That in turn altered the relationship of Professors with their domains.No longer would schools vie for especially talented teachers; nor would genius be particularly cultivated.Everyone signs a contract: permanent, indefinite or school year to school year.This move was meant to narrow the gap between academic institutions and polytechnic schools. Public school teachers at Polytechnic universities have always worked under contract, and such houses of learning have always been 'for profit'.1992 saw a further narrowing of the gap between the two types of schools: all polytechnic colleges became Universities.From then on, any illusion that academic professorship conveyed gravitas was irrevocably destroyed. healthcare to education has adopted it, to one extent or the other.Pay for Performance, ExplainedLet's imagine a particular school district that, for whatever reason, consistently under-performs: the rate of school leavers is fantastically high, test scores are abysmally low and teacher turnover rates are appalling.In spite of regular teacher evaluation and a salary schedule commensurate with other schools in the area, the school administrator has little recourse in improving the educational statistics his facility seems to constantly churn out.Naturally, there is the matter of accountability: are all of the good teachers leaving because the teachers who could benefit from more guidance and development simply aren't getting it?Are the students' education statistics due to the education system failing in their recr uitment of qualified, experienced teachers?Oh, well! Time to sort out the bonuses, now! Let's see... Sir John has been here the longest so he will get the largest cheque, followed by Mrs. ...Therein lies most of that school district's problems.Disbursing loyalty bonuses rather than merit bonuses tends to make employees loyal to the bonus rather than to their employment.Just after the turn of the century, corporations and administrative bodies alike, including our country's Department of Education adopted a supplemental compensation scheme that places the onus on teachers' self-improvement that would lead to better classroom performance rather than to automatic and incremental increases in teachers salary.Here we note that, although teachers do not receive a cost of living allowance, the average teacher salary does increase to reflect the cost of living, year to year.This system of merit pay compels teachers to focus more directly on student achievement and incentivises them to take on extracurricular duties, such as working with SEN students, as mentioned above.However, it makes no allowance for STEM education - instructional programs in science, technology, engineering and maths that is currently THE hot topic in education today.A topic that, till now, haws received no more school funding than any other academic subject.Too few students in our schools see the melding of maths, engineering and technology Source: Pixabay Credit: GeraltThe Significance of STEMEvery aspect of our daily lives is impacted and influenced by STEM. We won't belabour the obvious by citing online shopping statistics or the prevalence of social media - two aspects of modern society wholly dependent on technology. Instead, we point to the road you take to work, the conveyance you arrive in, be it your own car or the tube...Did you listen to music or perhaps an audiobook on the way?Without the study of science and engineering, none of those conveniences would exist for us to enjoy, and wit hout maths, technology and engineering would, dare we say, not exist?Just last weekend, at a forum held in Dubai, the Global Education and Skills forum discussed, among other topics, the need for more and better teachers, who could make the subject material come alive for their students.What's the point of studying maths and science? - a common student complaint.The point is that the the science, engineering and manufacturing sectors estimate a shortfall of 80,000 qualified workers in the next two years - a terrifying statistic!What are we, in Great Britain, doing to head off those potentially disastrous circumstances?  Outreach projects to attract more female students to STEM have not been wholly successful. Still, organisations such as STEM Learning work hard to promote interest and awareness of STEM in schools across the country.They work directly with students but their main function is to support STEM teachers, through continuing education, by helping develop teaching strategie s and by disseminating new information as soon as it becomes available.So, with the spotlight currently on STEM subjects and those teachers doing everything they can to impart their subject matter in the most engaging ways possible...    What about Maths Teacher Salary?Till now, the UK school system makes no distinction between a teacher of Maths and of any other subject, when it comes to pay.Teachers of all subjects are compensated according to their experience and performance, and all fall within the salary range for their level.According to Elizabeth Truss, such unremarkable treatment of maths teachers and cavalier attitude toward maths in general, will certainly lead to Britain falling behind other countries national education systems. In China and South Korea for example, where pupils excel at not only maths but science, biology, literacy and more.She faced great criticism for her position on boosting pay and incentives to attract quality maths instructors and recommending that qualifications for maths teachers be more stringent.Until now, nothing has been done to especially recognize or compensate maths teachers beyond what teachers of other subjects earn.We sure hope that will change.  Discover Maths background and the link to tutoring over the centuries with our guide.Seeking  tutoring jobs  and teaching jobs? Find out to become a maths tutor on Superprof. Whether you want to teach at home or start online tutoring jobs, we can help.

5 Guitarists You Should Be Listening To Right Now

5 Guitarists You Should Be Listening To Right Now Sign up successful St. Vincent Indie darling Annie Clark performs under the name St. Vincent, combining angular guitars and synths with her angelic vocals. Her raw, noisy shredding style attracted the attention of Talking Heads frontman David Byrne, who she collaborated with on the album Love This Giant in 2012. Clarks solo work is also quite stunning, and her live shows are not to be missed! Benjamin Booker Born in Tampa and raised in New Orleans, Benjamin Booker is here to show that good old fashioned rock and roll is alive and well. Inject Chuck Berry with a healthy dose of punk rock, add in smoky vocals, and you get Booker. In the past, Booker has toured with artists like Jack White and Courtney Barnett. His first album is due out in August 2014, and based on what weve seen from him so far, we can expect great things to come from this young, soon-to-be-famous guitarist. Sam Bean Sam Bean releases his tender acoustic compositions under the name Iron and Wine, sometimes playing solo and at other times with the accompaniment of a full band. Bean has drawn comparisons to artists ranging from Paul Simon and Nick Drake to Elliot Smith. You might remember hearing his music before in the movie Garden State, or on TV shows like Friday Night Lights and House. Chelsea Wolfe Chelsea Wolfe is an eclectic musician, and in recent years she has released music that ranges from droning metal to delicate folk. No matter what genre she works in, Wolfe brings an interesting ear for composition and an unforgettable voice. She recently collaborated on a song with proggy-metal trio Russian Circles and joined them on tour. If you love experimental music, Chelsea Wolfe is an artist to watch. Is there anyone we missed? Tell us about your favorite famous guitarists in the comments below! Ready to improve your own skills on the guitar? Find a guitar teacher near you!   Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher

Blues Guitar Basics How to Play a Blues Shuffle

Blues Guitar Basics How to Play a Blues Shuffle Sign up successful Step 1 The blues shuffle is made up of eighth notes alternating between a long and short note. The long note falls on the beat. The shorter note is in between and comes in on the upbeat. You are playing an eighth note triplet but leaving out the middle note. Simple as that. The easiest way to get a feel for the rhythm is to play along to a recording or with your guitar teacher. Mute your strings at first so youre not worried about playing specific notes while you get the rhythm down. Listening is important. After a few attempts at playing it slowly by yourself you can speed it up and play with confidence. Then you have it locked in. Like riding a bicycle, over time the rhythm will become automatic for you. Step 2 Most Blues songs are 12 bars long. Try playing through this example in A Major using the IV chord, V chord, and the I chord which are: D, E, and A respectively. Step 3 Now that youve got the rhythm, you will start to notice it and identify it in songs you have heard for years in jazz, blues, and rock.  Blues guitar inspired songs to check out include: “ Texas Flood” by Stevie Ray Vaughn and Double Trouble, “Rockin’ Me” by The Steve Miller Band, “You Shook Me” by Led Zeppelin, and “Something To Talk About” by Bonnie Raitt. Now that you know how to play a blues shuffle, youll be able to learn these tunes in a snap! If you want to take it to the next level and solo over a blues shuffle, its easiest to work off the pentatonic scale for the key you are playing in.  You can’t hit any wrong notes with pentatonic scale shapes. You can also use your ear to throw in blue notes using a blues guitar scale shape.  To find the key of the song look for the key signature on the sheet music or use your ear. While sight-reading music is a handy skill to have, I prefer to use my ears, as it is quicker for me. Find what works best for you and enjoy playing the guitar! For more tips on mastering the guitar, why not sign up for lessons with a private guitar instructor? Your guitar instructor will be able to give you the personal attention you need to reach your musical goals. Search for a guitar teacher now! James W. teaches guitar, singing, and acting  lessons in Jacksonville, FL. He specializes in teaching pop, rock, and modern country styles. James has been teaching for 10 years and joined the TakeLessons Team in 2010.  Learn more about James  here! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher Photo by Kristina Servant

What are the Benefits of Circuit Training

What are the Benefits of Circuit Training Circuit Training: A Fun and Dynamic Workout ChaptersCircuit Training: A Total Body WorkoutLosing Weight and Gaining EnduranceToning Your Body and MetabolismCircuit Training: Sessions that are Always DifferentCircuit training - if you’re not an avid gym goer or athlete, this type of body workout probably doesn’t ring a bell. Relatively new and very efficient, this method combines the best of strength training and resistance training in order to deliver results such as lowering bodyweight, body fat and reinforcing all muscle groups.Between weight lifting and cardio workouts, it can be hard to determine what kind of workout routine will help you reach your personal goals either at home or at the gym. While there are many other methods you can try, circuit training can leave you feeling toned in your whole body through a high intensity, dynamic program.Superrpof invites you to discover what it’s like to train in a “circuit,” a method that can be great for those looking to toss out repetitive and boring training methods a s well as those looking for a total body workout. Not only does circuit training allow you to increase your muscular endurance on the long term, but also to help you achieve the body of your dreams!Get yourself a personal trainer near me now. Circuit training plans take your general fitness goals into mind CalumDrama School Entrance Teacher 5.00 (15) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ToriSpanish Teacher 5.00 (1) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors OliviaSchool support Teacher 5.00 (2) £21/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarkESOL (English) Teacher 4.76 (17) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YuweiChinese Teacher 4.33 (6) £19/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JenniferMusic reading Teacher 5.00 (1) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LouiseAutoCAD Teacher 5.00 (3) £60/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RickyPercussion Teacher 5.00 (7) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NicolasGuitar Teacher 5.00 (2) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MyriamOrganic chemistry Teacher 5.00 (13) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JonathanEconomics Teacher 5.00 (9) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Oluwakemi imoleMaths Teach er 5.00 (1) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AlexPhysics Teacher 5.00 (1) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AdamSinging Teacher 5.00 (14) £48/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ValentiniMusic reading Teacher 5.00 (2) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MilenaMaths Teacher 5.00 (5) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RashmiEconomics Teacher 5.00 (1) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsCircuit Training: A Total Body WorkoutAt this point you may be wondering, what exactly is circuit training? Chances are, if you’re doing research into the best methods for fat loss or to burn calories, you’ve probably come across HIIT, or high intensity interval training. A HIIT workout is similar to circuit training, except for the fact that the exercise moves done in circuit training are completed without a rest break in between each move but, rather, a longer rest break at the end of each circuit.The objective of circuit training is similar to all types of interval training, which is using both your lower body and upper body to exert a large amount of force in short, intense intervals. Generally, each exercise move is completed one after the other where each move should be completed at about 30 seconds without rest time.Comparing circuit training to traditional types of weight training or bodyweight exercises, you can see it has many advantages including:A fitness program that is accessible to all levelsGetting a full body workout in about 30 minutesTraining exercises that improve your general healthTraining workouts that are always varied and funLittle to no gym equipment needed (like kettlebell, dumbbell, medicine ball, etc)Great for combining with other sports activities (swimming, rock climbing, etc)One rule you should always stick to, not just when you do a circuit workout, is to make sure to adapt the weight, cardio and strength exercises to your level. Also, keep in mind that circuit training will giv e you the best results when you define an objective for your own personal fitness goals beforehand.What are you waiting for? Now that you’ve seen the workouts that circuit training has to offer and whether you’re doing aerobic exercises, squats or push ups - try some out today!Losing Weight and Gaining EnduranceCircuit training is a workout method that works for three principal aspects of the body: to lose fat, gain muscular endurance and for weight loss. While circuit training helps to burn fat, losing weight through this method can also mean gaining flexibility and improving your cardiovascular health.Weight is often something that people pinpoint when they start their fitness journey, whether that be through starting sports with a community team or through an exercise program with a personal trainer near me. Losing weight, however, should be associated with building muscle and improving cardiovascular fitness instead of just with beauty standards.Circuit training allows you t o lose weight because each session allows you to burn calories through cardio and weight exercises. This is the reason why many people turn to circuit training as a way to lose weight and, simultaneously, get fit. Achieving these fitness goals cannot, of course, be possible without also making sure you eat a balanced diet that is low in fat. While an intense workout, circuit routines are also highly adjustable to each personAnother advantage of participating in a circuit training program is that, in losing weight, you will also be able to increase your endurance - something that you use on the daily. Increasing your endurance in a cardiovascular exercise-based program doesn’t simply look like one that involves running. A cardio workout is anything that gets your heart pumping, which can mean exercises like lunges, pushups, biceps or bicep curls, and burpees.Each session in circuit training will put your respiratory system to the challenge by working for your major muscle groups through a fat-burning, cardio exercise. Completing these body weight exercises in short, intense bursts with no recovery time in between them will help your heart get stronger.Finally, the last benefit you can expect to gain through circuit training is toning your body by gaining muscle. Whether you use lifting weights, a barbell or just the wei ght of your own body, completing anaerobic and aerobic exercise moves in this interval style will lead to a gain in muscle mass as well as endurance.Whether you’re working on your glutes, triceps or whole body, circuit training will allow you to become more athletic, have a better heartbeat and make your body feel like its functioning at its best. If you’re looking to be in great physical health in the long run, don’t hesitate to start trying circuit training!Toning Your Body and MetabolismEngaging in a fitness program like circuit training will give you benefits that might lead you to believe that it’s only great for short term goals like getting your summer body ready or helping you lose weight quickly. However, this method is meant to be implemented to help your health on the long term.In fact, because the workout involves repeating exercise moves in an explosive manner, it is a great way to train your muscles and ligaments. Contracting and expanding them rapidly can help you build up your endurance in everything from your shoulders to your hamstrings.If you’re already the type of person that completes body workouts for weight loss or muscle gain, you can also integrate circuit training if this method interests you. This is a great way to add some variety into your normal workout routine and work more areas of your body.If you’re at the beginner level, meaning that you have been leading a mostly sedentary life, here’s an idea of what a circuit can look like in a circuit training session:Knee ups (or jogging in place)Butt kicksPushupsJump ropeCrunchesYou can complete these exercises five times, repeating each move for 30 seconds straight and having a 45 second to 1-minute break at the end of each circuit. If you’re interested in introducing some other moves, you can try exercises like: plank, jumping jacks, burpees, lunges with weights.If you’re at a more advanced skill level and you’re wanting to focus on gaining muscle, here's an idea o f what a circuit can look like:Bench pressSquats with weightsDeadliftShoulder shrugDumbbells shoulder pressRowingAgain, you should complete 5 circuits in total by repeating each exercise for about 45 seconds straight, one after the other. Your rest break should be anywhere between 45 seconds to a minute, depending on your body. If you’d like to add some other moves to your workout, you can try rolling crunches, elastic pull-ups or standing push-ups.There are many things you can do to make sure you get the most out of circuit training. One example is to make sure that you feel comfortable in your environment, completing your workouts either with friends or alone depending on your individual preferences. Another example is to find your motivation, in other words, what will get you moving each day.One of the most important things you can make sure to do, besides practising good form and performing a cool down after each session, is to take up your exercise program at a regular and co nstant rate. Combined with eating right, working out at the right pace will help you feel better both inside and out. Vigorous workouts should always be followed with rest and plenty of water!Circuit Training: Sessions that are Always DifferentNow that you’ve learned everything there is to know about circuit training, the only thing left for you to do is choose which type you prefer. If you’re objective is to lose weight, the kinds of exercises in your circuit will be more simple but efficient in burning a lot of calories. Boxing moves, cardio, squats and pushups, the outcome will most likely be the same: to sweat!No matter who you are, all sides of the gender spectrum seek to tone their body with the help of sports activities. In-circuit training, you can be sure to accomplish this through exercises like triceps dips, squats and more. The great thing about circuit training is that, while giving you muscle gain and increased endurance, you’ll always be able to vary the exercises in your circuit - adapting them not just to your individual goals but also how you feel day to day!

What are the new features on the Virtual Writing Tutor

What are the new features on the Virtual Writing Tutor Hooray! The BRAND NEW version of the (now) award-winning Virtual Writing Tutor is finally here. It has taken almost a year to add new features and update the code, but it is finally ready. It is a whole lot faster, and there are some very cool new features, too. So, what’s new? Self-scoring IELTS Academic Writing Tasks 1. Try each of the 5 self-scoring academic writing test tasks. The VWT automatically scores your essay on the IELTS 9-band scale. It’s experimental, but it represents a breakthrough in the provision of formative feedback and the use of artificial intelligence for the VWT. It employs what I call Latent Essay Feature Analysis (LEFA) and Model Essay Proximity Scoring (MEPS). Simply put, it uses high-scoring model essays to evaluate a students essay. How? First we extract and measure a range of latent features from a model essay,: the organization, cohesion devices, vocabulary choice, and writing quality. Those measurements are stored in the database as a series of targets. When a student submits an essay on the same topic, it measures those same features and generates a proximity score. How close is the submitted essay to the ideal essay? The feedback and band scores tell you how close you are to the ideal. Self-Scoring Pen Pal Exchange 2. You can set up a pen pal exchange so that students can get meaningful practice developing their basic interpersonal communication skills (BICS) while communicating with pen pals in the same class, in the next class, in another college, or at a university on the other side of the planet. Tasks are self-scoring, and it’s 100% secure because the teacher decides who can join the exchange. Learn how to set up your own pen pal exchange. Hypertext Narrative Creator 3. The Hypertext Narrative Creator has been completely updated with Node.js. It is super-fast now! Students can create a Choose Your Own Adventure interactive story and export it to a blog using HTML, JQuery, or an iFrame. Students who create a hypertext narrative for their ESL course benefit from the automatic summary of field-related vocabulary use, target structure use, error count, and count of the number of sections and images in the HTN. Teachers can use the automatically generated feedback to inform their evaluation of students hypertext narratives. Essay Outliner 4. The VWT Essay Outliner guides students through the essay outlining process of opinion, argument, and prioritized list essays. By answering questions and filling the blanks, the student can learn to outline as a skill. The system generates and stores essay outlines for the student to print or modify. The Virtual Writing Tutor Blog 5. Visit the blog for free stuff and ideas. I announce new features, discuss research that interests me, and give away English Second Language learning materials that I have created, share glossaries, and IELTS and TOEFL resources. Check out the free board games and card games. Essay Exchange Forum 6. Post essays to the forum to get feedback from the community. When I have time, I give feedback on the essays posted there. Active community members also give feedback. Feedback and Texts 7. Review your feedback and links and recover the texts you checked in the past. When logged-in members check their writing for errors, the system keeps a copy of their text and their feedback from the grammar checker. Error Correction Games 8. Play a correction game with errors from your own essays. The ultimate review activity! When you check your text, the system isolates and saves sentences with errors to your profile. Then, you can practice correcting your sentences at random. In fact, there is a second error correction game you can play with over 1000 random sentences I have collected. Word Counter 9. Count your words. It is not complicated. The system counts your words, sentences and paragraphs. You can get encouraging messages from Voot, our friendly little robot, too. Just turn up your volume and click on him. Grammar Check 10. Check your grammar. I keep adding rules to detect common errors that I find in my students writing and in forum posts. People seem to like what it can do. Check out these grammar checker testimonials. Check Sentence 11. Check your sentence length, variability, and the strength of your claims. Varying sentence length makes writing seem more dynamic. Punctuation Checker 12. Check only your punctuation. Sometimes, you just want to know if your commas are in the right place, if you have avoided run-on sentences, and if you have a comma splice that needs fixing, right? Use the punctuation checker for that. Essay Checker 13. Essays need to be checked carefully for a range of potential essay writing problems. There is a lot to learn about good essay writing. Here is some step-by-step essay writing advice if your are interested. In the meantime, the system will check your essay for the following: · Sophistication Vocabulary profileAcademic vocabulary profileLexical density · Writing skill CohesionSentence length and varianceEmotional engagementArgument strength · Tone check Cliché checkConversational vocabulary checkExclamation check · Grammar check Grammar, spelling and punctuation checkError analysis · Length Paragraph count250-word minimum350-word minimum450-word minimum700-word minimum · Task success IELTS Academic Writing Task-2 Rubric TOEFL Independent Writing Rubric 14. Check your writing for the following: · Vocabulary profile · Cohesion · Sentence length and variability · Grammatical errors Essay Scoring Rubrics 15. Use rubrics to score and a voice recorder to score and comment on a student’s or a peer’s essay. The system allows you to coach instead of just correct. Vocabulary Checker 16. Check the sophistication of your general vocabulary and academic vocabulary. Paraphrase Checker 17. Avoid plagiarism by checking your paraphrase against the original. The system scores your paraphrase and lets you know if you need to paraphrase some more. Target Structure Checker 18. Check a text to see if it contains a list of target structures. Three settings allow for case-sensitive, case-insensitive, and lemmatized target structure checks (which means any conjugated or derivations of base forms). Cohesion Check 19. Check your text for cohesion words: coordinators, subordinators, and transition words. Checking for these words will help to determine how cohesive the text is. Transition words are organized into functional categories. Bar graphs show which transitions you are using the most and which you have neglected to use. Dictionary 20. Look up words in the Cambridge dictionary. Samples 21. Test the system with a sample of a first-person text. 22. Test the system with a sample academic opinion essay text. Spell Checker 23. Check your spelling. Speech Recognition 24. Use speech recognition instead of typing. Text to Speech 25. Hear the text-to-speech pronunciation of your text. This useful when preparing for orals, especially when your oral has words with silent letters in them. There is no reason for students to mispronounce a word again. Text-to-Speech MP3 Download 26. Download an MP3 of the text-to-speech pronunciation of your text. Use it to rehearse for an oral. Download the DOC file 27. Download your text as an MS Word document. Please follow and like us:

Tips From an Irvine SAT and ACT Tutor - TutorNerds

Tips From an Irvine SAT and ACT Tutor - TutorNerds The SAT and ACT Study Plan: What to Use and Who to Trust The SAT and ACT Study Plan: What to Use and Who to Trust Standardized testing has evolved to become a significant factor in determining students’ options for their educations after high school. The SAT and ACT are at the forefront of these tests that can have an impact on what schools a student gets accepted into and what scholarships they may receive for their education book your private Irvine SAT tutor today. Since the SAT and ACT have become so important, many companies have developed books, classes, guides, and other forms of study material to help you get a better score on the tests. With many options available to you at varying levels of cost and commitment, what are your best options? This study plan will briefly discuss what the focus should be on when preparing for these tests to help you optimize your time, avoid being taken advantage of by greedy companies, and (most importantly) maximize your score. Study with practice tests First, let’s discuss the best way to begin preparing: practice tests. This cannot be stressed enough. If you are going to be taking a standardized test, you need to familiarize yourself with the exam: the layout, the time limits, the question types, the directions, etc. The first test that students take is almost always their worst because they ran out of time, went to fast, didn’t understand some sections, or got overwhelmed or burnt out by the length of the test. Do not make your first test an official one. Make it a practice one and give yourself time to get used to the test. Use official resources first That leads us to who you should trust. You now know that you need to prioritize practice tests to study, but whose practice tests should you use? You’ll find a dozen different practice tests and practice books in the test prep section of the library or bookstore. Some are better than others, and some are outright trying to deceive you. So, who should you use? The official materials. This cannot be stressed enough. This is a mistake that most students make when they’re preparing for these exams. If you had a test coming up in your science class, would you instead use the textbook your teacher gave you to study or a different one that you found at the store? If your teacher gives you a study guide, do you ignore it and find a different teacher’s study guide from a different class? The people who make the test know and understand what is on the test, and they provide the best resources to study. The College Board administers the SAT. They offer several printable practice tests for free on their website collegeboard.org in the SAT section. They also offer online tests and prep partnered with Khan Academy, an app for daily practice, and a yearly study book with more practice tests. The practice tests also have answer keys, explanations, and can be scored. For the SAT, use the College Board before going to any third parties. ACT Inc administers the ACT. They offer free practice multiple choice and writing tests. You can find their website at act.org and specifically their prep material at act.org/the-act/testprep . They also offer an official prep guide, ACT Academy, and online prep. Again, you can find explanations, answers, and scores with the official ACT material. For the ACT, use ACT Inc before going to any third parties. Third party test prep companies cannot always be trusted. Over the years, I have tutored many students who have come to me with books they have already purchased asking for help. Every time I have done this, I have found questions or material that would never be on an actual SAT/ACT. Someone experienced with the tests should be able to spot these poorly chosen questions quickly, but a confused student would just be wasting their time studying them. These companies crank out huge numbers of new questions and practice tests every year, but they are not the official test makers. They are not held to the same standard as the College Board or ACT Inc, and they always have some percentage of faulty or unrealistic questions. Finally, a common tactic these companies employ is to make the material too hard. They make diagnostic tests, sample questions, or the first practice tests harder than they should be (or they score them more harshly than they should). This way, you get a lower score than you expected, and you feel the need to use their material to get better. Then, when you take the real test, you get a higher score than you did on their overly difficult material. Your score went up, so the test prep must have worked, right? Never trust a score from a third party’s test unless you have also taken an official practice test and received similar results. Just last year I had a student hire me for tutoring the day after he took an SAT practice test and received a score of around 1000. I had him take an official practice test and he “miraculously” scored in the 1200s. I was able to help him improve more from there, but it was not my work that gave him that substantial initial bump. The first score was a lie. Trust experienced tutors If you are seeking outside help for your test preparation, you can have great results with someone experienced with the tests and helping students prepare for them book your private Irvine ACT tutor today. An experienced tutor should have a studying system that is based around a core of taking practice tests regularly (official practice tests ideally) and is tailored to suit your individual needs. There should be an evaluation period where they find your specific problem areas and help you focus on what can be improved. Every student is unique and no secret strategy will be optimal for every student. Having someone who knows the tests inside and out can accelerate your studying and help you achieve the highest score you’re capable of. Michael C. is currently a private math, science, and standardized test tutor with TutorNerds in Irvine and Anaheim. All blog entries, with the exception of guest bloggers, are written by Tutor Nerds. Are you an education professional? If so, email us at pr@tutornerds.com for guest blogging and collaborations. We want to make this the best free education resource in SoCal, so feel free to suggest what you would like to see us write.

Al-Forsan International School

Al-Forsan International School Al-Forsan International School Al-Forsan is an International school for children aged 3 18. The school is dedicated to international education, while ensuring that students remain firmly rooted in their own language and culture. The language of instruction is English and the school follows the American curriculum based on Common Core State Standards (CCSS). Al-Forsan International School opened in September 2013 with Grades Pre-K to Grade2. The following year the schools witnessed the opening for grades 3 to 6 in both campuses (Boys and Girls). Grade 7 and 8 started this year and High School will follow as the students move up the school. Our vision Al-Forsan International Schools are leaders in international education preserving the local culture and identity to develop globally responsible citizens. Our Mission INSPIRES, CHALLENGES, EMPOWERS Al-Forsan International Schools inspire, challenge and empower students to realize their unique potential: academically, intellectually, socially, ethically, and internatio nally. Al-Forsan International Schools is an international school currently searching for approximately 25 Homeroom Teachers and Subject teacher Main Duties Include: Planning, preparing, and delivering lessons in line with CCSS curriculum Grading and report writing Assessing and reporting on student performance on a weekly basis Developing supplementary materials for core syllabi Attending staff meetings and/or workshops arranged by senior staff communicating well with parents/guardians and establish good school-family relationships The successful candidate must meet the following requirements Native English speakers Hold a BA in Education, BA in related subject or MA in Education Hold a PGCE or State Teaching License Have two years of relevant experience (preferable) Package: Salary starting from $30,000 based on experience and qualifications Furnished accommodation provided Free flights to home country, Iqama visa provided and visa cost reimbursed Medical insurance Transportation to and from work Holidays as per the Saudi Ministry of Education academic year and school calendar