Distance Education

Distance education is changing the way that many Americans are going to school. It allows those in areas without educational institutions to gain knowledge without leaving home. They can conveniently stay in their current area, with their family and present employment. This makes education more affordable and offers opportunities for students to pursue their learning objectives when that possibility may not have otherwise existed.

Distance education has been made possible by the computer and the internet. Assignments are being turned in via email and even live lectures can be viewed online. Students are able to sit in local classrooms and participate in lectures via satellite, that are broadcasted thousands of miles away. Plus, many of them are able to participate in local internships, such as those for technical jobs in a near bye hospital while attending a distance learning program that wouldn’t allow enough room otherwise. Distance education opens opportunities for millions of people to learn, while being affordable and convenient.

Financial aid exists for students of distance education programs, just the same as it does for those who physically attend a university on campus. Most distance programs will earn a student the same accreditation as if they had been there in an actual classroom everyday. In a lot of cases, more is expected of distance learning students and it is though of as a more difficult way to gain an education. For this reason, some individuals suggest that it enforces stronger learning skills than traditional education.

Before you think it is not possible to pursue your educational dreams, consider some of the hundreds of distance education programs that are available either online or within your community. However, be aware that some online colleges do not deliver everything that is promised and might not earn you an accredited or recognized degree. Research your options carefully and make sure you know what will be expected of you before you begin. Although distance learning promises the element of convenience, the coursework will likely be just as challenging and time consuming as if you were to take it on a physical campus. Make sure you can commit to being self motivated and disciplined, before signing up for a program.

 

High School Safety

In today’s society, high school safety is a growing issue.  With incidents like the shootings at Columbine High School and the thousands of violence related injuries that are reported each year, it is understandable that both parents and students have some safety concerns.  Alarmingly, an estimated 57% of high school students do not believe their school does enough to make them feel safe.  In addition to bullying and violence, both prescription medications and illicit drugs are passed around in the halls of a high school, putting some teens at risk for destroying their lives.  It is important to know what to do to help your child be safe while getting an education. 

According to a nationwide survey, 17% of students reported carrying a weapon to school at least once in the in the past 30 days.  33% reported being is a physical fight one or more times in the 12 months preceding the survey.  When a student does not feel safe at school, it’s not likely that they will be able to focus on their studies.  Plus, there is a growing concern about kids being seriously injured or murdered by their peers.  Some inner city schools are requiring students to undergo a security screening that consists of metal detectors and pat downs before entering the building.  Other schools now require students to use a clear plastic back-pack, so that weapons and drugs are less likely to be carried. 

With today’s technology of text messaging and internet, teen bullying has reached a whole new level.  Teens should not be permitted to use a cell phone at school and should be discouraged from visiting online social networking sites such as Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter.  These applications make it easy for teens to stir up emotions in one another by posting hurtful or threatening things they may not have otherwise said in person. 

Another serious safety issue is drug use.  A growing trend among high school students is to abuse prescription pain medications.  Pills are being passed around in high schools like candy, due to the fact that they are easy to obtain and to conceal.  Plus, illicit drug use appears to be on the rise again.  It used to be that teens would take drugs for recreational or experimental purposes.  Now, however, more and more teens say the reason they are using drugs is to cope.  Often schools have either a full time drug dog or random visits from one.  Plus, they employ a school counselor who is able to talk to students who are in crisis.  However, the drug problem still exists. 

Talk to your teen about bullying, school violence and drugs. Make sure they are in compliance with the school’s safety rules that were created for their protection.  Encourage them to avoid negative attention, seek good friends, and defuse their anger appropriately.  Communicate with them about the dangers of drugs and seek professional help if you think they may be at risk.  Any activity that is associated with threatening violence or drug use should be reported to the school authorities immediately.

 

Middle School Safety

Middle School can be a trying time for kids.  It involves a difficult age group in which children are struggling to find themselves and make friends.  During this time, many kids haven’t developed effective coping skills and may result to bullying or violence as a way to resolve a problem.  Also, middle school kids are often exposed to alcohol and drugs for the first time and need to be prepared to avoid those dangers.  There are a number of safety issues that may affect middle school kids.  Therefore,  it is important to be familiar with the schools safety policies and encourage your child to practice safe behavior. 

According to the Department of Education and the Department of Justice, younger students, ages 12 through 14, were more likely than older students, ages 15-18, to be victims of crime at school.  Alarmingly, 21% of middle school students reported seeing a fight or attack that involved a weapon.  More than 1 in 5 students reported being threatened with a beating.  Also, bullying peaks in middle school where almost no one feels safe.  In fact, one study showed that more than 43% of middle school kids avoid using school bathrooms for fear of being harassed or assaulted.  Plus, with today’s technology, children are getting verbally assaulted and threatened more frequently, because of text messaging. 

In addition to violence, many kids lives are threatened with the introduction of drugs during the middle school years. Many middle school student will be offered drugs at some point.  One study shows that 30.1% of kids have tried an illicit substance by the 8th grade.  Within the walls of a middle school, there might be more safety issues than almost anywhere else. 

Many concerned parents want to know what they can do to make their children more safe.  Every school has safety policies and rules that you should be familiar with.  They prohibit the use of cell phones in the classroom, outline a dress code against wearing bagging clothing in which a weapon could be concealed, and disallow for any type of drug to be brought into the classroom.  If it is a prescription medication, you must make arrangements for them to take it in the schools nurse’s office, away from the other students.  Show your child that you support the school’s rules for safety and encourage them to do the same.  Talk to your kids about violence and drugs and let them know that it is okay to report such activity when they see it.  If your child is in danger of violence or has been offered drugs, contact school authority immediately.

 

Elementary School Safety

Elementary school is often a child’s first extended experience outside of the home.  Even though school is one of the safest places for a kid, many parents still worry about everything from the bus ride, to the bullies, to outsiders coming in and threatening harm.  However, there are many regulations for safety within your child’s elementary school.  It is important to be aware of the common safety practices in your child’s school that are established for students, parents, and faculty.  Plus, parents need to know what to do when there are safety issues that need to be addressed.  Safety should be the number one priority of your child’s school, but it is important for the parents to make sure that their child is in compliance. 

Some common safety practices you need to address with your child include transportation safety, health safety, and violence safety.  Make sure your child know the traffic rules.  They should wait for the bus driver to tell them when to cross the street and watch for cars.  If your child walks to school, it is important to discuss the danger of strangers and how to react if they are approached by one. 

In addition, children need to be aware about the danger of bacteria and spreading disease.  They touch hand rails, door knobs, other children, and almost anything else that you can imagine.  Encourage them to wash their hands frequently at school and use hand sanitizer when they are unable to. 

Be aware of the personal conduct rules at your child’s school that are in place for elementary school safety.  Make sure your child knows how to follow directions, keep their hands and objects to themselves, stay in the areas they are assigned to, and report any violations of school rules that may result in danger. 

All elementary schools should require parents or other outside visitors to check in at the office and receive an identification sticker or badge that tells others they are a visitor who has been accounted for.  Many child safety risks stem from family issues at home that may need to be addressed with the school’s faculty.  If there is a restraining order or custody arrangement that restricts contact with certain people, be sure your school’s office and your child’s teacher are aware of the situation.  Also, talk to your children about who it is safe to trust and who is allowed to pick them up from school.    In addition, if your child is in any immediate danger by the threat of another student, make sure they know it is okay to tell a teacher.  See your child’s school safety manual for additional information.

 

Continuing Education

Many professions require more education than just a college degree.  They demand up to date knowledge of world’s most current information.  Plus, there is always a need to refresh the memory and reinforce things that have previously been learned.  Good professional skills and knowledge should start with a degree and continue to progress over time.  For this reason, many professions require that  employees receive continuing education in order to maintain your license. 

Continuing education is required of many different types of professions including, health care occupations,administrative positions, dentistry, fitness training, and more.  After all, you wouldn’t want to see a doctor who hadn’t cracked a book in the last decade or go to a dentist who wasn’t up to date on the latest technology.  Continuing education usually occurs after the first bachelor’s degree or follows a graduate program.

When a profession requires continuing education, it is usually offered in variety of forms.  There are work shops, seminars, conferences, and more.  Sometimes it can be a simple as researching an article for information and answering a few questions.  Many of the options for receiving continuing education  are employer sponsored.  Other options are often offered through associations that pertain to the industry.  Usually, you receive some kind of certificate for completing a continuing education course and are issued continuing education credits, or a number that signifies the amount of training that has been obtained.   

It is said that as humans, we never stop learning.  Continuing education is a way to maintain and increase professional credentials.  Certification from all continuing education credits should be properly recorded and stored in preparation for a possible audit from your profession’s organization.  There is usually a required number of credits that must be competed over a set time period, usually about 1-2 years.  Make sure that continuing education credits are reported to your companies or licensing organization as they are completed.  Failure to receive credits and report them in a timely manner may result in a suspended or revoked license and termination of your employment.

 

Become a Teacher

There is a growing shortage in our nation’s number of good teachers.  Our education system needs exemplary men and women to not only educate the children , but also act as a leader, mentor, and role model to them.  A teaching profession is one that can change lives in a way that truly makes a difference.  However, no one says that it is an easy job.  It is one where your abilities will be put to their maximum use on a daily basis.  After you have weighed the pros and cons and still believe that you were born to be a teacher, it is important to research the criteria and options for becoming qualified.

The requirements to become a teacher vary by state.  A good place to start is by researching what it takes to acquire your state’s certification.  The necessary credentials may vary depending on which age levels and subjects you are planning to teach.  Prior to gaining licensure, you will have to pass a state exam to prove your competency level.  Either the state will have their own test or issue the widely used PRAXIS to the teaching applicants. 

A broad undergraduate education will assist you on your mission to become a teacher.  In fact, it is required by all states that you receive your bachelor’s degree.  Some states even require a master’s degree.  Earning a bachelor’s degree usually takes about four years.  Upon completion, you will need to complete an accredited teacher education program.  This may be obtained in the form of a master’s degree or another type of post baccalaureate program, depending on your state’s requirements.  Due to the fact that there is more than one route available for becoming a teacher, completion time may vary.  There are many varying factors in determining a teachers pay, but a higher level of education always helps. Contact your state’s department of public instruction before getting started.

 

Interjections

According to Merriam Webster, an interjection can be defined as an ejaculatory utterance usually lacking grammatical connection. Interjections are words that are put in a sentence to convey an emotional state. For this reason, they are usually followed by an exclamation mark. It is uncommon to see an interjection in formal writing, unless it is in a direct quotation. Interjections are often found at the beginning of a sentence, however, there is no rule that says they have to be. They can also be used to signal that something should be obvious or to express excitement, surprise, or dismay.

The word “Duh!” is an interjection used to suggest that something should be obvious.

“Duh! You have to take it out of the package before you can use it.”

When expressing excitement or surprise, the following interjections can be used as demonstrated.

“Hey! How are you?”
“Oh! That is not good.”
“Oops! Didn’t mean for that to happen.”
“Yay! That is the best news I have heard all day.”

Interjections can also demonstrate surprise in the form of a question.

“What? Are you serious?”
“Huh? Is that what she said?”

In other cases, interjections are set off with a comma.

“Well, there is extra sugar in the cabinet.”
“Now, let’s see how we can fix this problem.”
“Here, let me get the door for you.”

In addition, interjections can occur in the middle of a sentence

“It’s so easy that anyone can use it–well, almost anyone.”

Used in informal writing, interjections can add spice to the message that you are trying to convey. However, their expressions can be very powerful, so try not to over use them. Too many can make your writing appear immature and too casual.

 

Common Proverbs

A Proverb can be described as a short statement or an expression that illustrates a basic truth or moral lesson. They have been iterated and reiterated for centuries, deriving from prophets, philosophers, presidents, and anyone else who has desired to share a practical precept. Proverbs come from all parts of the world as a part of every spoken language.

Common American English Proverbs:

Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
Actions speak louder than words.
Bad news travels fast.
Birds of a feather flock together
Curiosity killed the cat.
Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth
Leave well enough alone.
Old habits die hard.
The road to hell is paved with good intentions.
Two heads are better than one.
Variety is the spice of life.
When there’s smoke, there’s fire.
You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink.
You reap what you sew.

Common Proverbs of Other Origin:

A book is like a garden carried in the pocket. – Arab
A bad cause requires many words. – German
A drowning man is not troubled by rain. – Persian
A drink precedes a story. – Irish
A penny saved is a penny gained. -Scottish
A rumor goes in one ear and out many mouths. – Chinese
Better to light a candle than to curse the darkness. – Chinese
Deal with faults of others as gently as would your own. – Chinese
A lie travels around the world, while truth is putting her boots on. – French

Familiarity with common proverbs is an important part of understanding the English language. They are used in conversation, story telling, media, and more. Along with being able to recognize when a proverb is being used, you should be able to interpret their meaning to understand the relevance of the message being portrayed.

 

Free and Reduced School Lunch

Balanced nutrition is particularly important to school aged children who are actively developing their bodies and minds. The thought of a child going without food is disheartening. However, millions of families in the United States struggle to pay for school lunches. The National School Lunch Program provides per meal cash reimbursements to schools as an entitlement to provide nutrition meals to children. Eligibility for this benefit is determined by the household income of the student who is in need of assistance. Students may qualify for free meals of reduced lunch at a maximum price of 40 cents per meal.

Both public and non-profit schools can participate in the National School Lunch program. Children at participating schools can qualify by completing an application. If the household falls below 130% of the federal poverty level, they qualify for a free lunch program. If they are between 130% and 185%, they are eligible for a reduced lunch program. Also, households who receive food stamps, TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) or participate in the food distribution program on an Indian reservations are also eligible for free meals. Categorically eligible children do not need to complete an application and should automatically be provided with free lunches. This includes children who are homeless, migrant, or run aways.

The National School Lunch Program operated in over 94,000 schools across the United States. More than 29 million children benefit from this government funded program. A social security number is not required to receive assistance, allowing benefits for children whose families are not U.S. Citizens. There is no discrimination, so all children can be provided with 1/3 of their daily nutritional needs. In addition, the federal government operates a school breakfast program that supplies funding to the states to provide eligible children with a nutritional and balanced breakfast.

 

Similes

According to Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary, a simile can be defined as a figure of speech comparing two unlike things that often introduced by the words like or as. 

Examples:

 As blind as a bat
 As brave as a lion
 As bright as the sun
 As big as a bus
 As bald as a badger
 As busy as a beaver
 As clear as crystal
 As cute as a bug

 He ran like greased lightning.
 He smokes like a chimney.
 They fight like cats and dogs.
 He eats like  pig.
 She drinks like a fish.
 She sings like an angel.
 He sleeps like a log.
 
Similes have been widely used in speech and writing because of their expressiveness.  They are a figure of speech that describes a person or thing by comparing it to another person or thing.  Often similes are stereotypes that pervade a given language or culture. 

Examples of similes that are stereotypes:

 As precise as a surgeon
 As regular as a clock
 As quiet as a mouse
 As strong as an ox
 As bumpy as a gravel road
 As cunning as a fox

Other similes portray irony and play against expectations.  This incongruity is often used to create a humorous effect, but the audience must understand the concepts involved to appreciate the irony. 

Examples of ironic similes:

 As cuddly as a cactus
 As charming as a eel
 As pretty as a car crash
 As bulletproof as a sponge cake
 As smooth as sandpaper

A popular mnemonic for understanding similes is that “a simile is similar or alike.”