Saturday, March 28, 2020

Why Reading Tutoring is So Important

Why Reading Tutoring is So ImportantWhen a child is home from school, there is often homework to be done, tutoring to be scheduled and parents to be consulted. However, some parents find that the best way to teach their children math and other reading skills at home is through reading tutoring. The goal of reading tutoring is to teach students how to read well and pay attention in class.As in many other areas of learning, reading is best when it is being taught by someone who has read all of the educational materials available. When children are homeschooled, this can be difficult, especially with the thousands of books and CDs that are available. However, the reading tools that are available at home to help children learn the basics and become better readers as they gain experience. Also, homeschooling allows children to develop in areas that may not be learned in public school.There are many reading tutors that are available for parents to choose from. There are those that are dedi cated to teaching students the fundamentals of reading. These include learning to read in a basic format, developing phonics skills, understanding the basics of English grammar and spelling, and finding out how to read a variety of books.Other readers focus on specific areas such as comprehension, the writing of articles, or even the rules of grammar. Many of these readers offer a hands-on approach, asking questions, listening to directions, and allowing children to read before they are given the book.A more advanced version of reading tutoring focuses on helping students read without any previous experience. This can be achieved through tutoring courses or reading plans, where students begin by reading books with their tutor. After a short time, they move on to reading stories, newspapers, magazines, or other informational sources. The learning in these programs can take up to a year or more, depending on the level of interest that the student has.Most parents find that they have t o choose between paying for private tutoring for their child or paying for their child to go to school. Both approaches have their merits and knowing that there are resources available to help children learn the basics and build their reading skills makes it easier to decide which route to take.With the many resources available for families to help their children learn the basics of reading, the options for families to help their children get better reading skills is endless. As students begin to catch up with their peers and catch up with their academics, having the knowledge that they are using can make a big difference in their success.

Friday, March 6, 2020

Mistakes Make the Student

Mistakes Make the Student Mistakes Make the Student Mistakes Indicate Future Success, Not Failure “Click!” You realize your mistake as soon as you hit send. The funny cat video you meant to forward to your friend was just emailed to the entire company, CEO and all. We’ve all made the “reply all”  mistake.   But chances are, you never did the same thing again. This is because making mistakes is a key part of the learning process. Huge blunders like emailing the entire company will stick in your mind for a long time. But even minor errors can have a big impact on how youâ€"and your childrenâ€"learn. Research Shows Mistakes Help, Don’t Hurt Educators used to believe that making mistakes hurt students’ learning. They thought  if a student learned to do something the wrong way, it would become fixed in their brain and they’d always make the same mistake. The opposite, in fact, was true. Several studies have shown that making errors during the learning process, and correcting those errors, leads to  better understanding and recall. In 1994, researchers conducted a landmark study comparing the US education system to Japan’s. The study found that American teachers praised students for correct answers and ignored incorrect responses. They would not discuss why the correct answer was right or the incorrect answer was wrong. Conversely, Japanese teachers would ask students to find an answer on their own. They would then discuss the different answers. Students would learn why an incorrect answer was wrong and a correct answer was right. This reflection and reinforcement would lead to much better recall. Letting students make mistakes and learn from them was found to be a key reason  Japanese students outperformed Americans on global math tests. The Power of a Growth Mindset The value of making mistakes is also clear when comparing students with growth mindsets to those with fixed mindsets. Stanford Professor Carol Dweck has done substantial research on the impact of growth mindsets. People with a growth mindset understand that intelligence is not set at birth, and they can work to improve. Those with a fixed mindset believe you’re either born smart or you’re not.  The theory is backed  by the science of neuroplasticity  and proven with significant research. Students with a growth mindset perform better throughout the course of their studies, even if they tested lower than their fixed mindset peers when they were younger. Students with growth mindsets view mistakes as learning opportunities.  A study comparing how kids with different mindsets play video games showed the difference. After making mistakes, students with a growth mindset performed better, with higher accuracy rates. Fixed-minded students did not show the same improvements. Classroom studies showed similar results. Instead of viewing mistakes as embarrassing, growth-minded students learn from them. Frame mistakes as  opportunities, and your children will see the benefits! Mistakes in Kumon Mistakes are an important part of the Kumon Program. In Kumon, students aren’t taught. Instead, they learn for themselves through carefully designed worksheets. Students follow directions and study examples to grasp new concepts. Errors come with the territory. Few kids can get long division or algebraic expressions  right on the first try! Instructors pay close attention to how students correct their mistakes. They then use that to lesson plan and assign work. Take Joey, for example. Joey sees subtraction for the first time in class. He gets every answer wrong on the first page. When he gets his worksheets back, he realizes he added instead of subtracted. He figures out his mistake and can correct it right away. It’s clear that Joey understood the concept and may not need much repetition to progress. While Kumon Students ultimately work towards mastery, the goal is not to receive a 100% on the first try. Learning from their mistakes is more important than perfection. In fact, it tells us a lot about the student and their motivation. Not every mistake is as traumatizing as the dreaded “reply all.” But every error is an opportunity to improve and learn. The next time your child makes a mistake, don’t get mad! Praise them for correcting and learning from it. You’ll be amazed at how impactful it can be! You might also be interested in: Motivating Children by Developing a Growth Mindset Neuro-what? Why Neuroplasticity Is the Key to Making Your Smart Kid Even Smarter. The SAT, Redesigned Defying Age Limits: How One Student Conquered the Stage and Academics Mistakes Make the Student Mistakes Make the Student Mistakes Indicate Future Success, Not Failure “Click!” You realize your mistake as soon as you hit send. The funny cat video you meant to forward to your friend was just emailed to the entire company, CEO and all. We’ve all made the “reply all”  mistake.   But chances are, you never did the same thing again. This is because making mistakes is a key part of the learning process. Huge blunders like emailing the entire company will stick in your mind for a long time. But even minor errors can have a big impact on how youâ€"and your childrenâ€"learn. Research Shows Mistakes Help, Don’t Hurt Educators used to believe that making mistakes hurt students’ learning. They thought  if a student learned to do something the wrong way, it would become fixed in their brain and they’d always make the same mistake. The opposite, in fact, was true. Several studies have shown that making errors during the learning process, and correcting those errors, leads to  better understanding and recall. In 1994, researchers conducted a landmark study comparing the US education system to Japan’s. The study found that American teachers praised students for correct answers and ignored incorrect responses. They would not discuss why the correct answer was right or the incorrect answer was wrong. Conversely, Japanese teachers would ask students to find an answer on their own. They would then discuss the different answers. Students would learn why an incorrect answer was wrong and a correct answer was right. This reflection and reinforcement would lead to much better recall. Letting students make mistakes and learn from them was found to be a key reason  Japanese students outperformed Americans on global math tests. The Power of a Growth Mindset The value of making mistakes is also clear when comparing students with growth mindsets to those with fixed mindsets. Stanford Professor Carol Dweck has done substantial research on the impact of growth mindsets. People with a growth mindset understand that intelligence is not set at birth, and they can work to improve. Those with a fixed mindset believe you’re either born smart or you’re not.  The theory is backed  by the science of neuroplasticity  and proven with significant research. Students with a growth mindset perform better throughout the course of their studies, even if they tested lower than their fixed mindset peers when they were younger. Students with growth mindsets view mistakes as learning opportunities.  A study comparing how kids with different mindsets play video games showed the difference. After making mistakes, students with a growth mindset performed better, with higher accuracy rates. Fixed-minded students did not show the same improvements. Classroom studies showed similar results. Instead of viewing mistakes as embarrassing, growth-minded students learn from them. Frame mistakes as  opportunities, and your children will see the benefits! Mistakes in Kumon Mistakes are an important part of the Kumon Program. In Kumon, students aren’t taught. Instead, they learn for themselves through carefully designed worksheets. Students follow directions and study examples to grasp new concepts. Errors come with the territory. Few kids can get long division or algebraic expressions  right on the first try! Instructors pay close attention to how students correct their mistakes. They then use that to lesson plan and assign work. Take Joey, for example. Joey sees subtraction for the first time in class. He gets every answer wrong on the first page. When he gets his worksheets back, he realizes he added instead of subtracted. He figures out his mistake and can correct it right away. It’s clear that Joey understood the concept and may not need much repetition to progress. While Kumon Students ultimately work towards mastery, the goal is not to receive a 100% on the first try. Learning from their mistakes is more important than perfection. In fact, it tells us a lot about the student and their motivation. Not every mistake is as traumatizing as the dreaded “reply all.” But every error is an opportunity to improve and learn. The next time your child makes a mistake, don’t get mad! Praise them for correcting and learning from it. You’ll be amazed at how impactful it can be! You might also be interested in: Motivating Children by Developing a Growth Mindset Neuro-what? Why Neuroplasticity Is the Key to Making Your Smart Kid Even Smarter. The SAT, Redesigned Defying Age Limits: How One Student Conquered the Stage and Academics

Why You Should Choose TutorNerds For Your Irvine Tutoring

Why You Should Choose TutorNerds For Your Irvine Tutoring Why You Should Choose TutorNerds For Your Irvine Tutoring Why You Should Choose TutorNerds For Your Irvine Tutoring As students get back in the swing of things at school, it’s time to consider hiring a private tutor. Too many students wait until their first report card or failed test to get help, but we recommend starting early with your tutoring. Tutors help boost confidence and improve study habits, two crucial factors in having a successful school year. So why choose TutorNerds? There are a lot of national tutoring chains, but none of them provide the level of quality and consistency that we do. TutorNerds is a company founded and operated right here in Southern California. In other words, we care about how our students do because we care about our community. We also offer affordable packages and group rates for those looking for long-term tutoring! Wait, it gets even better. You and a friend can score a FREE tutoring session with our referral program. Check out our comic to learn how the program works. There are many reasons to choose TutorNerds for your Irvine tutoring needs, here are four. Experience Our private Orange County tutors have experience. Further, our tutors have graduated from universities such as MIT, UCSD, USC, Columbia, Chicago University, and many other prestigious establishments. We only hire experienced and highly educated tutors, which means you’re getting help from someone who is an expert in the subject on which you are working to improve. Local We are proud to be a Southern California company. Further, we care about our community and work hard to make sure Orange County is always improving in academics and testing. Customize Based on Your Needs We approach tutoring a little differently than the corporate tutoring chains. Our services are customized based on your needs. For example, we start your program with a few questions to help us match you with the perfect Orange County tutor. After that, we work around your schedule and make sure our tutors can meet you in a place and at a time that is convenient. From there, our tutors will come up with a practical plan for moving forward based on your needs and learning habits. Results Our tutors’ main focus is on getting you results. From improved test scores to A’s on your next report card, we will work hard to make sure your efforts pay off. TutorNerds tutors have proven track records including a 97% success rate when it comes to college admissions consulting. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed If you aren’t happy with your private Orange County tutoring, you don’t pay. We make this promise because we are confident in our tutors and their ability to improve your grades and test scores. If you are not happy with your tutoring, then we will refund your unused sessions. To show how confident we are in our process, we don’t require any contracts to be signed. Make the right choice this school year and go with a local tutoring company that employs the best tutors in Irvine and the rest of Southern California. We can’t wait to help you meet your academic goals! 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.

Thursday, March 5, 2020

Fun Outdoor Learning Activities for Kids

Fun Outdoor Learning Activities for Kids Summers are meant to be a time to slow down and relax. But if you`re a parent, though, summer can be a busy time for you. Especially, if you want to keep your kids entertained, interested and supervised. I hope todays article will help you to spend some  quality time with your kids.  So, what you and your kids can do outside to learn something, de-stress, and get some fresh air? Here a list of simple outdoor learning activities for families: -Play texture scavenger hunt. Put nature objects with different textures into several lunch boxes. It could be sticks, pine cones, stones, etc. Have your kids close their eyes and touch each object. Then ask your kids to find a similar texture. -Nature hike. Encourage your kids to find certain types of leaves, bugs, rocks and flowers. Then you can make a nature art collage. -Check out the stars. Buy a telescope to get started. Watching how the night sky changes hour to hour and day to day can provide years of enjoyment. -Go on a bug hunt. All you need are just simple plastic boxes bug catchers with removable lids. They will be temporary homes for crawly critters. Kids can try to find moths, butterflies, potato bugs, flies, shiny black beetles, centipedes, grubs, caterpillars etc. -Become a citizen scientist. You can join a citizen scientist project such as Celebrate Urban Birds, or Project Bud Burst, where kids can look for data in nature and help real scientists with real research projects. -Play alphabet ball. Call out a letter, and your kid needs to respond with a word that begins with that letter. Then you kick the ball to him. Now he calls out a letter, and you need to find a word that begins with it. -Play water balloon math. Make simple images with numbers (targets). For instance, 5, 7, 8, 9, 17. Fill the balloons with water and write equations that equal the numbers on the targets such as 3+4 or 15-6. Then have your kids match them and throw the balloons on the targets. -Make simple science experiment for kids. For instance, what Melts in the Sun? Perfect activity for a hot day. Get a small notebook that your kids can use to draw or write about what he or she sees. And talk later about your time outdoors to reinforce what was learned. For more activity ideas, check out this article Educational Fun Activities to Keep Kids Brains Active in Summer. Also you can visit TutorZ.com to find a private tutor for your kids and get all benefits from summer tutoring! Fun Outdoor Learning Activities for Kids Summers are meant to be a time to slow down and relax. But if you`re a parent, though, summer can be a busy time for you. Especially, if you want to keep your kids entertained, interested and supervised. I hope todays article will help you to spend some  quality time with your kids.  So, what you and your kids can do outside to learn something, de-stress, and get some fresh air? Here a list of simple outdoor learning activities for families: -Play texture scavenger hunt. Put nature objects with different textures into several lunch boxes. It could be sticks, pine cones, stones, etc. Have your kids close their eyes and touch each object. Then ask your kids to find a similar texture. -Nature hike. Encourage your kids to find certain types of leaves, bugs, rocks and flowers. Then you can make a nature art collage. -Check out the stars. Buy a telescope to get started. Watching how the night sky changes hour to hour and day to day can provide years of enjoyment. -Go on a bug hunt. All you need are just simple plastic boxes bug catchers with removable lids. They will be temporary homes for crawly critters. Kids can try to find moths, butterflies, potato bugs, flies, shiny black beetles, centipedes, grubs, caterpillars etc. -Become a citizen scientist. You can join a citizen scientist project such as Celebrate Urban Birds, or Project Bud Burst, where kids can look for data in nature and help real scientists with real research projects. -Play alphabet ball. Call out a letter, and your kid needs to respond with a word that begins with that letter. Then you kick the ball to him. Now he calls out a letter, and you need to find a word that begins with it. -Play water balloon math. Make simple images with numbers (targets). For instance, 5, 7, 8, 9, 17. Fill the balloons with water and write equations that equal the numbers on the targets such as 3+4 or 15-6. Then have your kids match them and throw the balloons on the targets. -Make simple science experiment for kids. For instance, what Melts in the Sun? Perfect activity for a hot day. Get a small notebook that your kids can use to draw or write about what he or she sees. And talk later about your time outdoors to reinforce what was learned. For more activity ideas, check out this article Educational Fun Activities to Keep Kids Brains Active in Summer. Also you can visit TutorZ.com to find a private tutor for your kids and get all benefits from summer tutoring!

Debate of the week Degrees of separation

Debate of the week Degrees of separation Pupils and their parents should stop focusing on the traditional three-year undergraduate degree as the natural follow-on from secondary education, according to a speech given by Lord Mandelson this week. Lord Mandelson, the Universities Secretary, said that more students than ever would be rejected from higher education institutions this year - something that we at First Tutors have expressed our concern about in previous blog posts. Speaking at a conference in Nottingham, Lord Mandleson proposed that students who miss out on a university place this year should take up an apprenticeship or college place instead. He also dismissed concerns over funding cuts in higher education - something else that we have protested against - saying that funding places to accommodate every university hopeful is not the way forward, and the economy will benefit from more young people taking up vocational courses. How does this fit in with the Government's well-publicised target of sending 50% of school leavers to university? Is this the beginning of a huge U-turn in higher education policy? Work-related learning is fine, of course, but it is a very different proposition to, say, studying history at a redbrick university. If that is what a student wants to do, then they won't be happy on a vocational course. And vice-versa! Pupils should be able to study what they want to rather than being shunted from one type of educational programme to the other to suit the government. The likes of Lord Mandelson must stop using our children's futures as pawns in their transparent political machinations.

Tips to Pass a Chemistry Test

Tips to Pass a Chemistry TestIf you want to know how to pass a chemistry test, you will need to know some essential tips. In the event that you are interested in learning how to pass a chemistry test, you will have to first know the types of questions which can be posed to the student. These types of questions include the topic questions and the multiple choice questions. You should therefore take note of each one as they will certainly play a vital role in your study experience.The most common topic questions are those which involve the elements of metals and the study of chemical properties. For instance, when you hear the question 'will it melt'can it be damaged', this can be a very specific type of question. If you are not familiar with the element X and its chemical properties, you need to then answer the question before answering the other types of questions. It would also be helpful if you read up on the elements and know their chemical properties. This will help you in answer ing any of the test questions.Knowing the chemical properties of metals is one thing, but you need to learn other materials as well. You may learn about their oxidation and chemical equilibrium in the laboratory. Sometimes, these materials are categorized into metals that react well with one another.Chemical equilibrium is something which is necessary in some of the chemical compounds. When you see the question 'how long will the reaction last', this can be a very detailed type of question. The answer to this question will depend on whether the substance has been oxidized or if it has been reduced. If you are an individual who does not have much knowledge about chemical compounds, it would be a good idea to have a mentor.One type of question can be very important in the physical examination. This can include the reactions of water and acids. The burning substance is usually shown in the tube to indicate the reactions of water and acids. This is something which will help you learn ab out the properties of the element in the laboratory.When the test date arrives, you will need to prepare for it in detail. Remember that you will need to practice these materials before taking the test. The first thing you need to do is look up at a large wall map and get familiar with the whole area where you will be taking the test. Once you have done this, you can now prepare for the test properly.The next tip is to study up on the material before the test. Make sure that you do not think too much about what you will be facing on the test. Just study up on the contents of the questions and the content of the test.

The Legal Status of Using a Magical Mentor to Do Lawful Things

The Legal Status of Using a Magical Mentor to Do Lawful ThingsThis article discusses the legal status of using a Magical Mentor, or even a Sacred Messenger to lawfully do Lawful Things, which is a topic of many topics on the internet. The difference between lawful and unlawful is not really clear to most of us, simply because it is complex and many times difficult to define. Many say that all work of Legality is due to an Initiated Master; the question is really where to start from.There are a number of reasons why Mystical Mentors have developed into such a popular piece of spirituality, and although many people believe they are far from being 'real', I believe this isn't the case at all. In fact, most people who take the time to understand what a Mystical Mentor is and understand that a Medium may indeed be used to Effectuate necessary laws within the Universe, would agree that the benefits are many. The best part is that it is possible to do the Right Laws in accordance with the L aws of Nature, if you are adept in handling you Spirit Guide. It's easier than most people think, and most people will agree that it is very rewarding.This has been part of the USA since the late 1800's when spiritualists like Caboose Freeman first practiced Mysticism. The word 'Spirituality' comes from the Ancient Greek 'Spiritus'theos' which means, literally, God, or godlike Being. To find your Spiritual Path, you need to have found a guiding Spirit or being who has communicated to you and given you the instructions that you need to implement in the World. Once you know the answer to this question, you can use a Magical Mentor to assist you in your quest for understanding and enlightenment.You don't have to put up with the way others perceive you and your Spiritual Quest, because these are indeed the People who do not understand the mechanics of the Mysteries, but rather, think they do. These are the people who view 'real' relationships as broken by all this 'concern 'over your re lationships. No matter how much you 'shame' yourself about the other person and you do everything possible to make them 'like' you, you still have to pay for your behavior. If you always say things in an unkind and disrespectful manner, then you will be treated poorly no matter what you do, and if you never treat them the same way, then you will be in a position to gain respect.For any personal relationship to succeed, both parties must communicate in a positive and constructive manner. 'Means' is the fundamental law of society, and being in an abusive relationship requires a person to avoid communication and seek out more communication in order to remain harmonious. Only when you are able to create an environment conducive to this type of communication, do you find harmony in your relationships.Having a Mystical Mentor is extremely important in order to use that Guidance to your advantage, because they are always there to give you advice and they will never turn against you for thi nking for yourself. However, there are many opportunities for abuse if you do not take responsibility for yourself. When you learn to handle your Spirit Guides, they help you realize the importance of finding out the correct path to follow for yourself, and they guide you towards the steps that lead to Divine Justice.Another area of Magical Lawlessness is the Law of Attraction. How many times have you gone to a club or a party and there was a great opportunity for you to meet a very attractive woman? But when you finally did meet her, she broke your heart! The Law of Attraction says that things happen according to what you attract; so, if you meet a super hot girl that makes you want to jump on her immediately, then it's time to remember that you are not only interested in meeting a hot girl, but you want to become someone like her, which means she needs to be around you.

The Best Apps For Personal Training

The Best Apps For Personal Training Exercise Apps: Better than a Personal Trainer? ChaptersThe Benefits of Using a Health App to Keep FitHealth and Fitness Apps: A Great Way to Collect Data and Track Your ProgressHealth and Fitness: 3 iPhone and iPad Apps on App StoreOur 4 Best Android Apps to Keep FitCan Fitness Apps and Personal Trainers Ever Work Together?Will There Ever Be an App to Replace Personal Trainers and Coaches?The worldwide development of e-health and health apps has helped to develop a flourishing new market. This improved, connected patient-physician relationship is generating billions of dollars worldwide, and still growing! The fitness world has invaded the Internet and of course there are now countless apps that purport to help you train.What are the best iPhone apps on the market in the field of health and fitness? What about Android? Is it possible to simulate a real personal training session?It is possible! Your smartphone or tablet can gradually become your personal trainer at home with the right apps.It’s a health and fitness revolution th at’s developing further and further every month. But will it ever be able to replace traditional personal training?We all use apps on a daily basis, for all sorts of purposes, such as Whatsapp, photo editing apps, Tinder, Happn, games, Shazam, Spotify, Messenger, to name a few.If searching for personal trainer near me fills you with dread, why not use apps to monitor and develop your health and fitness too?  go to the App Store to download new free sports coaching applications online.Bing Health Fitness is among the best iPhone apps for fitness, cardio training and well-being. This app offers you features which are also quite similar to the two previous apps we’ve seen: calorie counting, sleep and heart rate monitoring, blood pressure checker, speed calculation, GPS, distance tracker and a pedometer.But where this app is unique is in its nutrition tracker â€" you can log everything that you eat and check how many calories and grams of fat are present in what you’re eating, h elping you to stay healthy and disciplined.These apps are great for getting your fitness levels up and tracking your progress. Photo on VisualhuntOur 4 Best Android Apps to Keep FitIf you check out Google Play Store with your Android phone, you'll find lots of health and fitness apps for all kinds of exercises, training and nutrition. Among the best Android apps available, here are our 4 favourites. Runtastic Pedometer: free pocket fitness coaching!Runtastic is one of the best running apps out there and a fantastic way to really connect with your exercise, and a favourite among budding runners and athletes. This Android app allows you to track your activity and progress every day, from small to big efforts.With the right motivation, Runtastic will get you back into shape, help you stop smoking, encourage you really push yourself, provide you with personal training, monitor your sleep and help you lose weight.The World Health Organization recommends that you do 10,000 steps a day, so the incredible accuracy of Runtastic Pedometer allows you to start counting yours and helps you reach this goal.What’s even more impressive is that this app also offers analysis and other statistics to show you in detail how well you’re progressing and how you can improve. 5 Minute Home Workouts: fitness and muscle building at home5 Minute Home Workout is aimed, as the name indicates, at all those people lacking time to fit sports and exercise into their busy schedules. When your days are busy and hectic, you might find that you only have a few minutes to fit in a bit of exercise, which this app makes possible.The app lets you to start your fitness training through 12 sessions and 42 exercises that you can choose between, tackling abs, torso and arms, glutes and legs, and general weight-loss. There are also some yoga and pilates options for a gentler, toning session. It’s like having a mini gym in your pocket! Runtastic Push-ups: pure bodybuildingRuntastic has done it again â €" and this one is definitely among the best training apps we’ve found. Runtastic Push-ups is a program of intense muscle toning and muscle building, turning your phone into a free pocket-sized personal trainer.The app sensors count your every rep and movement, with an onscreen coach to encourage you and challenge you, helping you reach your goals! It’s the ideal app to keep your focused and disciplined. Seven: your daily physical activity in 7 minutes!You’ll probably know this feeling as well as the next person: waking up at the crack of dawn, the chaotic journey to work, an exhausting day at the office, and then doing it all over again.It’s difficult, in fact nearly impossible to find the time to enjoy a bit of sport or fit in a gym session, and by the time you’ve found a spare moment you just want to relax and put your feet up!Seven will offer you:Videos showing how to perform each fitness exercise to avoid mistakesVaried fitness, strengthening and stretching exercises to choose fromChallenges to motivate you every day: you win or lose hearts and unlock new exercises according to your attendance â€" you can even win trophies for your effort!Calorie counter and statistic charts showing your results and progressThat’s why Seven could be just the solution for you â€" an app specifically designed for busy people who are always on the go, who only have a few minutes to squeeze in an effective workout.Can Fitness Apps and Personal Trainers Ever Work Together?Some personal trainers and sports coaches will certainly tell you that fitness app and real-life personal training are not compatible. But we don’t think that’s necessarily the case when you take a step back to look at these two trends and analyse the needs of consumers.Lots of people take up a personal trainer to find the drive and motivation they need to exercise, which can’t always be found in a regular work out alone. For this reason, personal training can be the most effective way to im prove fitness and the most efficient use of money.Personal trainers are often out of peoples' budgets, but can be a great source of encouragement. Photo on VisualHuntHaving a personal trainer with the right experience and qualifications can result in the best progress and help you reach your goals. With the Internet becoming ever-more present in our lives, even personal coaches have started offering online classes through Skype or YouTube tutorials.However, for many people, a personal trainer is financially just not an option, and even finding the time to fit one in can be difficult. This is exactly why fitness apps are a great alternative, allowing you to work out whenever and wherever you like, and still focus on your specific problem areas.Let's not forget that free or paid applications such as the ones mentioned above can actually work alongside a personal trainer. They are ideal for setting goals, doing physical preparation and upkeep around your training sessions, and controll ing weight and muscle mass.Apps can be used whenever you have the time, so you can fit this kind of training into a busy schedule â€" and still enjoy your favourite fitness classes such as Zumba, yoga, pilates, ab workouts, etc.Will There Ever Be an App to Replace Personal Trainers and Coaches?It would take a lot longer to ever develop an app that would replace real-life personal training entirely.However, at the rate things are going these days, it’s unfortunately looking possible for sports educators with professional certificates to have fewer job prospects. Year after year we are becoming more and more connected, from phones to computers, bracelets to watches and even glasses…so why not our PT as well?But we think that there will always be people who prefer the aspect of human contact and communication that comes with a qualified personal trainer, the exchange element of the trainer-trainee relationship.Because, after all, training isn’t just about mindless activity, it’ s about physical education, learning about and taking care of our bodies, and adapting activity to reach personal goals.

Singing Too Much Pro Tips To Stay Vocally Healthy

Singing Too Much Pro Tips To Stay Vocally Healthy Suzy S. Is there such a thing as singing too much? If youre working on a rigorous singing schedule, check out these tips to stay vocally healthy from voice teacher Elaina R Anyone who’s ever eaten too much at Thanksgiving dinner knows that there is definitely too much of a good thing. This applies to singing as well! Singing, in my opinion, is one of the most enjoyable activities in the world. But just like eating too much makes you feel sick, singing too much has very real physical repercussions that can prevent you from singing more   sometimes even permanently. As a full-time professional singer, I sing a lot. I recently had a day where I had to sing for six hours. Even so, I haven’t had any vocal health problems since I was an undergraduate. Here’s why I have to be careful and what I do to keep my cords healthy. The Dangers of Singing Too Much Since your vocal cords are a part of your body, singing too much has many of the same effects as overusing any other body part. Imagine that you’ve been clapping for hours. What would happen to your hands? They would likely be red and swollen. If you kept clapping despite the swelling, your hands would eventually become very painful and develop calluses and blisters. They might even start to bleed (ouch). This same thing can happen to your vocal cords. The first step is vocal cord swelling. If you continue to sing with swollen or strained vocal cords,  you can develop nodules (calluses), polyps (blisters), or hemorrhaging (bloody cords). Treatment for these issues includes vocal rest, vocal therapy, and, in severe cases, surgery. Any of these issues, if not treated, can permanently damage your singing and speaking voice. Vocal Health  as a Singer Strained vocal cords (and damaging your voice)  may sound scary, but it can be avoided. I’m able to sing all day, every day without injury because I am constantly thinking about my vocal health. Staying healthy as a singer is much like staying healthy as an athlete, and following these rules can be the difference between a happy voice and an incapacitated one. Stay Hydrated I chug a glass of water as soon as I get up in the morning, and I carry a water bottle around with me everywhere. Hydrated vocal cords are nice and plump (and thus less prone to injury). Get Enough Sleep You don’t need me to tell you that your body functions better when you get enough sleep. Fatigue affects your vocal cords just like it affects the rest of you. Exercise Good singers have to be very in touch with their bodies, and physical exercise helps you  develop kinesthetic awareness. Exercise also helps alleviate tension, especially tension associated with sitting at a desk for long periods of time. This modern tension often centers around the throat, and throat tension is terrible for singing. Shaking your body out of this rigid mode can work wonders for your singing. Address Allergies and Acid Reflux I have seasonal allergies, so I take medication and use nasal sprays to alleviate post-nasal drip. Post-nasal drip is when mucus drips onto your vocal cords, irritating them and sometimes  causing vocal issues. If you have allergies, you need to be aware of this and take appropriate precautions. I’m lucky enough not to suffer from acid reflux, but many singers do. Acid reflux bathes the vocal cords in stomach acid, which is as horrible for the voice as you would expect. Please see a doctor immediately if you think you have acid reflux. Warm Up Just like athletes stretch before vigorous exercise, singers must warm up before diving into difficult music. I warm up every morning while puttering around the house   it’s second nature now, and it means my voice is always ready to go. The Most Important Rule for Singers I saved the best for last here. If an athlete has poor  technique (an improper gait for a runner, a bad swing for a batter), they end up injuring themselves. Same goes for singing. If you don’t learn good vocal technique, you will probably end up in vocal therapy at some point. But if you work with your voice teacher to improve your technique, you will learn how to sing better  overall. Your stamina will build and you will be less likely to hurt yourself. Now doesn’t that sound good? Photo by  Eva Rinaldi Post Author:  Elaina R. Elaina R. teaches opera voice and singing in Ypsilanti, MI, as well as through online lessons. She received her Master of Music from  the University of Michigan, and she has a B.M. from the University of Southern California. Learn more about Elaina 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