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How to Combine Work and Homeschool

Last Updated: 2011/10/07

It is said to be a myth that home schooling is easier and simpler than traditional schooling. Compared to traditional schooling, home schooling requires more attention and hard work from the student as well as the parent. The child needs to be under fairly constant surveillance and vigilance to ensure that the studies are not being neglected. Working individuals have a tough time juggling home and work. Hence, many quit jobs and concentrate wholly on the childs home schooling, while others divide their work and the care of their kids between themselves and their spouse. For instance, both husband and wife can take up jobs so that each can be at home to be with their child at different times of the day, or week. In order to find time for both schooling and work, one needs to schedule and manage time.

The following are some suggestions you could follow to simplify work and homeschooling requirements

Organize work

If you are working on a part time job or have an independent business you can organize the day according to the study timings of the child. Since you have opted for home schooling, it is your duty to pay ample attention towards your childs education. Allocate time for classes according to scheduled timings, which you can work out with your child. If you are working on an independent basis or work from home, avoid taking up work during class timings. Keep your phones on voice mail informing callers that you are busy with the childs studies. If the child feels ignored and neglected because of constant intervention from your work, he or she may lose interest in studies.

Schedule school timings

Schedule the timings for the studies according to the subjects. Things like reading aloud and poetry reading can be done during the evening or even be shifted to bedtime. This way the teaching can be done on a casual level, without being too stressful, and with the children bonding with the parents.

Manage Expenses

Set aside a certain amount for the schooling expenses. Even if you dont have to spend on the uniforms, commuting, and educational fees, there are still other expenses like the books and stationary, learning aids etc, which have to be bought from time to time.

Recreation- outdoor trips

Working individuals have to make sure that home schooling is not limited to theoretical studies. The students need to get practical knowledge about certain subjects. Like in the case of learning about animals and birds, one could organize a field trip to a zoo. This will not only prove to be an educational outing but will also be a fun trip. Stressing too much on study can make it boring and discouraging to the student.

Lastly, if there is also a toddler at home, parents should hire a baby sitter so that the toddlers needs do not encroach during the class time of the older child. The baby sitter can also be handy when you have to rush for an important meeting and there is no one to look after the kids. Children above 10 years of age need to be given special attention as what they learn has an impact on their education in the long run.

All said and done, if the parents are not able to manage both work and home, it is always advisable to choose what is best for the child. Getting your priorities right simplifies the process, and the child is not deprived of its essential education.

Read more: How to Combine Work and Homeschool

How to Avoid Mindless Unit Studies in Homeschooling

Last Updated: 2011/10/07

If you feel that educational organizations do not fulfill the purpose of imparting education and knowledge satisfactorily and that you are capable of doing a better job, then homeschool is the perfect solution for you. Homeschools not only instill personal values but also protect your children from the negative influence of peers.

There are various educational theories and tools that can be used to implement homeschooling successfully. Some very popular methods adopted by parents of homeschoolers are: Classical education, Charlotte Mason education, Waldorf education and Maria Montessori. They may be used singularly or in combination, depending on a parents needs and preferences. The materials and tools specifically designed to serve the purpose of education are readily and easily available. Public libraries, books of religious institutions, distance-learning programs are a few popular educational resources utilized by parents while homeschooling their kids. Workbooks and guides are commonly used to complement the teaching. However, parents need to take care that they do not end up wracking their brains on units, which have no direct connection with the main subject.

While homeschooling children, many parents must certainly have encountered units with absurd topics that have no relevance or bearing with the main subject being taught. Instead of flowing naturally, they appear to be contrived.

If a unit contains a particular subject, then the topics included in it should complement the theme. Otherwise, including unrelated reading material makes it too nebulous. If a unit is based on the history of the world, then books like the Mein Kampf makes meaningful reading. Instead of concentrating on the topic at hand, if the unit tries to incorporate information on other subjects like science or math, along with history, it will not only become pointless but also confusing as well.

A well-constructed unit should contain topics that are interconnected and incorporate activities that complement the subject. The entire unit should be structured in such way that it helps the pupil to acquire comprehensive knowledge of the chosen topic. The activities should revolve around the central theme of the unit and should be carefully merged into it to facilitate better and easier understanding of the subject. Just like a fabric, activities also need to be woven diligently and patiently into a unit so that students can obtain maximum benefit from learning from them.

Sometimes, attempts are made to integrate a wide variety of diverse subjects into one unit. This usually proves very frustrating for parents as well as perplexing for the student. A unit on a scientific topic should not try to fit in unrelated topics on arts just for the sake of trying to cover two subjects at one time. Rather than wasting time on unrelated activities, units should be constructed in such a way that they advocate and reinforce the theme covered in the unit. While some units are based on scientific topics, others cover topics related to literature or music. Hence, while tutoring, you can maintain the natural flow of teaching.

Units should be fabricated in such a way as to improve understanding and enhance your childs thirst for knowledge. They should help the child to gain an insight into the subject and develop skills that will help him or her in the future.

Read more: How to Avoid Mindless Unit Studies in Homeschooling

Why Would You Buy An Audio Book on CD?

Last Updated: 2011/10/07

Buying an audio book on CD is a good idea for a multitude of reasons. Although many people expect that the visually impaired gain the most use out of audio books on CD, just about anyone can benefit from the enjoyment provided. An audio book on CD can provide entertainment for a group of people and can especially benefit a family with a number of members that may fight over who gets to read a new book first. Sitting together and listening to an audio book on CD means that the whole family spends some time together and more importantly that nobody gets to enjoy the story without involving the others.

Most bookshops now supply audio books on CD, although many libraries also offer audio books as part of their book selection. It may be a better idea for someone to rent out an audio book for the first time before actually buying one just in case they do not enjoy it. Audio books on CD are really popular these days, especially when the voice is provided by someone famous. Because they are on CD, people can listen to these books on the go, whether they are walking to work, traveling on the bus or even when they are in bed and waiting to fall asleep.

Comparing Audio Books on CD to Regular Books

It is hard to compare audio books on CD to a normal piece of literature that requires reading because inevitably it is down to personal preference. A lot of people prefer to put in the effort reading the words themselves and imagining the story in their minds while others are quite content to simply listen to the words, tones and inflections of another person to get genuine enjoyment out of a story. Families can all gather around together to listen to an audio book on CD while they can only read a book one person at a time.

Price is usually roughly the same although some audio books can be a lot more expensive than actual paperbacks and so this may be a deciding factor for a frugal person. If a person cannot concentrate on reading a book due to background noise from their family or neighborhood then listening to an audio book on CD using a set of headphones could be the best option as that will not disturb anyone either. As long as the CD-Player has batteries, then audio books can still be of use even during a blackout, while reading a book is dependant on a decent light source. People who are having trouble with their sight may definitely be interested in audio books on CD rather than trying to read as normal and aggravating their eyesight problems.

Read more: Why Would You Buy An Audio Book on CD?

The Pros and Cons of Homeschooling Online

Last Updated: 2011/10/07

In olden times schooling was more of a household affair. The parents or family members schooled children at home. The times have changed now, but certain customs are still being followed. Even though there have been changes in the learning and teaching methods, people still prefer to homeschool their children

There are many advantages and disadvantages of homeschooling. This could mainly be because of the learning ability of the child and the syllabus followed. Moreover the teaching method also plays a major role in homeschooling.

Since the advent of the Internet, it has given rise to numerous learning and teaching options. Besides this, there are now more resources available to aid both teachers and students alike. However, some still feel that the traditional homeschooling method is comparatively better than online homeschooling.

If you happen to be one of those who would opt for the unconventional way of learning and teaching, here are some pros and cons of online homeschooling.

Pros of online schooling

Save time on traveling – Irrespective of whether you live in the remotest of towns or on the highest building in the city, you can always be punctual about your lessons. It also saves time on dressing up and commuting to school. Your home and school are the same with online home schooling.

Attending to home needs: For people who have to juggle between managing the home and school, homeschooling is the best option. One can prioritize household chores and lessons according to ones convenience, without having to be time bound to any fixed schedules.

No disturbance or undue distraction: When you opt for homeschooling it is evident that there will not be any kind of disturbance from other students. You study in the peace and isolation of your room in your home. This results in better concentration, and better results.

Cons of online home schooling

Job Competence- Crosscheck the authenticity of the online school. Make sure the online school is competent enough so that you can be assured of a job after completion of the course.

Personal competence – Not everyone has the ability to grasp whatever is taught, for which a teacher is needed to explain complex concepts. Online homeschooling entails individual effort, and no teacher is present to give personal attention. While some students do very well without a teacher, others cannot.

Learning Environment -The environment has a major impact on the students concentration. If there are other kids at home it would be difficult to study. Moreover, if the students residence is in a noisy area the distraction could hamper studies.

Of course, it is all up to each individual. If you think online homeschooling is what suits you, go ahead and enroll into a program. However, it is important to carry out some background research of all the choices available, and choose the one that suits you the best.

If you are a parent looking to homeschool your child online, it is important to guide them adequately. You could consult other homeschoolers who have opted for online homeschooling. Some schools are not recognized and it will be a waste of time, money and energy in opting for the courses offered by them.

Online homeschooling can be both rewarding and challenging. Before you set up the homeschool, ensure that the curriculum is according to the ability of the student. Regular monitoring is important to keep track of the progress of the student.

Read more: The Pros and Cons of Homeschooling Online

Convenience of Online Shopping

Last Updated: 2011/10/06

As the holiday season gets into full swing, online shopping really picks up. It is a delightful way to find presents you would not find so easily close to home and you get to avoid the crowds.

Shopping online has many advantages, especially if you are shopping for family and friends who are far away. If you are going to have to ship the presents anyhow, shopping online can save you a trip to a crowded post office and the wait in line. That alone can make shopping online worth it.

The challenge can be deciding where to shop. There are all the big names, of course, such as Amazon, but when you want to stand out there are many more great options out there

Comparison shopping is also easier online. You do not have to go all over town to see who has the best price. You can search various sites and figure it out for yourself. No car, no gas, no crowds. You just have to appreciate that.

Shop when it is convenient for you. Online stores are open 24/7/365. It does not matter what time is convenient to you, the websites are there waiting for you. If you have to shop for your own children it can be much easier to do the shopping online than to try and sneak presents past them.

There are, of course, some disadvantages to online shopping too. You need to be certain that the merchant uses your credit card and personal information appropriately.

Before you buy anywhere, check the privacy policy and make sure the merchant is using a secure connection for taking your information. You will also want to check return policies. Returns should be fairly easy.

Here is a list of tips you should consult when shopping online:

1.Trust your instincts:

If you do not feel comfortable buying or bidding on an item over the web, or if you feel pressured to place your order immediately, maybe you should not.

2.Be knowledgeable about web-based auctions:

Take special care to familiarize yourself not only with the rules and policies of the auction site itself but with the legal terms (warranties, refund policy, etc.) of the seller’s items that you wish to bid on.

3.Double check pricing:

Be suspicious of prices that are too good to be true. Also consider carefully whether you may be paying too much for an item, particularly if you are bidding through an auction site.

You may want to comparison shop, online or offline, before you buy. Make sure there are not extra shipping or handling costs.

4.Find and read the privacy policy:

Read the privacy policy carefully to find out what information the seller is gathering from you, how the information will be used, and how you can stop the process

5.Review the return, refund, and shipping and handling policies as well as the other legal terms:

If you can not find them, ask the seller through an e-mail or telephone call to indicate where they are on the site or to provide them to you in writing. See Legal Terms.

6.Make sure the Internet connection is secure:

Before you give your payment information, check for indicators that security software is in place. See Security.

7.Use the safest way to pay on the Internet:

Pay for your order using a credit card. See Payment.

8.Print the terms:

You should print out and date a copy of terms, conditions, warranties, item description, company information, even confirming e-mails, and save them with your records of your purchase. See Recordkeeping.

9.Insure the safe delivery of your item:

If you are concerned you may not be home when your package is delivered and that someone may take it if it is left on the doorstep, ask whether you can specify that the shipper must receive a signature before leaving the package.

Or, it may be safer to have the package delivered to your office. See Delivery.

10.Inspect your purchase:

Look at your purchase carefully as soon as you receive it. Contact the seller as soon as possible if you discover a problem with it. Tell the seller in writing about any problems you have, ask for a repair or refund, and keep a copy of your correspondence. See Legal Terms.

11.Do you know to whom to complain or contact if you are not satisfied or have a question?

Check the site for a customer service page, contact us link, e-mail address, or phone number to get your complaint addressed or questions answered.

If you have a complaint, ask for what you think is fair even if it is more than the legal terms stated. A merchant is not forbidden from doing more than required to make the customer happy.

Online shopping can be a real delight when everything goes smoothly. However, it is not for everyone and it may not always be all that easy.

Read more: Convenience of Online Shopping

Audio Textbooks For Teaching: Eight Powerful Benefits!

Last Updated: 2011/10/06

Experts in the educational sector have agreed that audio textbooks in the classroom go a long way to help students more than normal books, especially those students who are just beginning to read or those who have difficulty in reading.

In fact, since their introduction, no less than 8 specific benefits have been identified for students using audio textbooks:

1. Audio books provide students with an alternative dynamic or alive source of information apart from the teacher, as opposed to the static dead book, giving the students more variety in the classroom and making the learning process more interesting.

2. Some audio textbooks are specifically prepared with children in mind, such that they are not just informative, but also entertaining. These types of audio books bring fun, and thus, another dimension and a greater quality to the learning process.

3. By playing an audio book, the teacher is freed to do something else, thus allowing teachers to be more productive at school.

4. For those children who have difficulty reading, audio textbooks make it easier to follow the material, making sure they do not miss anything. By just listening to the audio book while reading the printed material can significantly improve comprehension and thus, enhance learning.

5. Audio textbooks are cost effective. One audio book can replace the need to buy 30 odd hard copies.

And better yet, there are now audio book rental services available via the Internet that allows teachers to hire audio textbooks as and when required. Of course, hiring is cheaper than buying audio books, and significantly cheaper than buying just one hard copy, let alone 30.

6. Many audio books are of interesting stories written to entertain children. This is particularly helpful when the children have become too tired to apply their minds to processing static words from a page.

7. Children tend to prefer to listen to an audio book than read a book. Understanding language from audible stimuli is a skill learned from birth and reading is a skill that is much less developed in the school-age child. Accordingly, listening is easier than reading and affords greater comprehension.

8. Audio textbooks aid with the pronunciation of certain words. Due to the relatively less-developed skill of reading in school-age (as compared to hearing), children often have trouble pronouncing words they merely read. Hearing someone say a word clearly while seeing it printed at the same time is developing a stronger association in the students minds, making it quicker to learn.

People in general, but especially children, find it easier and more fun listening to an audio lesson than reading it. It is simply easier to process audible stimuli than it is processing written words. This explains why more children choose to watch the film rather than read the book, and it is the same with adults.

This is why more and more schools are using audio textbooks in the classroom as teaching aids. Additionally, with audio textbook downloads now available online, it is more cost effective than ever to add the audio to the visual word.

Copyright: Helen Wall

Read more: Audio Textbooks For Teaching: Eight Powerful Benefits!

The Navy Reserve Rifle And Pistol Quails

Last Updated: 2011/10/06

Spoken by a soldier in the navy: “I know in the Marine Corps, all Marines both Active and Reserve must qualify for small arms. How about the Navy Reserve? If it is not required can any Navy Reservist get it if you’re rating or job doesn’t require it? Not required, in general, for the Navy Reserve.”

“It may be required in some units. If your job does not require it, yes, you can still qualify. The trick to this is to get the opportunity to go to the range. Usually what I have seen in the past is that a large group from a particular command can swing a trip the range just to get the quails. More or less, just a moral sort of thing when you get the extra ribbon.”

“YES, it is required for many units in the Reserves. Join an NECC type unit or Law Enforcement, and you’re sure to get rifle and gun quails once or twice a year. The units you describe do not constitute the majority or even close to “many” of the types of units in the Reserves. No wonder you are having so much trouble finishing college. Reservists are now being pistol qualified in boot. Intel units require qualifications as well. That wasn’t called for. Also, I can tell you that all shipboard personnel are getting quelled on small arms, unlike in the past where many didn’t.”

“Most of the units, not many types of units but most of them now you have to qualify to shoot a gun. There are literally hundreds of units that are required to qualify annually, if not more often, on at least one type of weapon. I would call that many. I also read the previous post and there was nothing about not being able to finish college, maybe you should read it again before getting personal.”

“The easiest way to get quelled is to hook up with the local Seabee Det. Whenever I set the range time I always order plenty of ammo and invite other units from the NOSC. Obviously not all at the same time. It works well for the sailors that normally wouldn’t get the opportunity.”

“Here are just some of the units that need pistol and rifles in the Navy Reserve: ESD units, NCW units, IBU types, NMCB types, CBMU attachments, CR attachments, EOD units, CHB units, Naval Customs Battalions (ALL of them).”

“YES, even shipboard types are getting more training time to carry arms more often: SEAL TEAM Reserve types, FMF Sailors, MA types, IA Sailors, VP Pilots and AC, VFA Pilots and flight, HSL Pilots and crew, and HCS Pilots and crew. Yep, those w/ NCWG-1 Fwd all quail’s on the M-16, M-9 and shotgun, and for those requiring it, the M-2, M-60 and M-240. The Coasties had to fire both the Navy course and the CG pistol and rifle courses. (Darned if I can recall the differences offhand, but for me the Navy course of fire was much easier.)”

“It’s obvious you still have memories of when you were in. In almost every post, you talk about the way things were. It’s a slow process but agree with the SKC about how things are changing and training has becoming more often. My HQ in JAX is getting an indoor range to fire the Beamhit. Some Sailors might still get stuck in units that are not as pro-active due to leadership, that’s not my beef, I can’t do anything there; unless I was part of that unit, I could try and do something and go up the CoC. But it’s not rare to see units heading to a weapons field now these days.”

“We just hit the rifle and pistol ranges for the second time this year. We were not the only unit there as well. Couple of Drill weekends ago, our nosc set up a Beamhit and had Sailors train, one by one since ammo for 1000 something personnel isn’t cheap. As many as 10,000 est. Sailors are now on duty as we speak on deck or already on mission. About 60% of those are USN (RC) Sailors. That’s roughly 6,000 Sailors that had weapons, tactics and quails either in Fort Riley, Camp Shelby, and Fort Jackson. So now I am making a case that’s a pretty good sum of U.S Sailors getting quails.”

Read more: The Navy Reserve Rifle And Pistol Quails

What Is The Soldiers’ Favorite Rifle And Side Arm?

Last Updated: 2011/10/06

Here are the opinion of various soldiers about rifles and side arms: “Well, now… although I have a real love affair going with AK-47′s – and own a half dozen in various flavors – my all time favorite rifle most certainly must be the FAL. Give 7.62×51, anytime! I’ll go with a 1911 .45 any day, having owned and enjoyed one for some time. As for a rifle, it all depends on what you’re looking for. For me the Bushmaster M4 223 knock off is rather nice, if a bit pricey.”

“America’s most powerful handgun. The 50 cal. 500 Magnums. The 500 Smith & Wesson Magnum cartridge produces nearly three times the muzzle energy of the .44 Magnum round and the cartridge has about twice the muzzle energy of most rounds for common semi-automatic assault weapons used in the US, such as the military style AR-15. This gun has an 8 inch barrel. They do make a 10″ version, but I think its muzzle heavy. My .50 is 15″ overall and with the heavy frame is pretty well balanced.”

“The gun is very controllable, especially with the 275 grain loads. Even the 440 grain hard cast loads, while producing much more power, were not painful to shoot. The ported compensator and soft rubber grips do their jobs well. I hear -”Why would you want a gun this big? The 50-caliber Magnum revolver is more gun than anyone needs.” I say – Why Not? Every hand gunner should own a Magnum, why not a .500 magnum it’s good to own one. And No, it’s not concealable. That would make you walk funny.”

“Some of you guys have some pretty nice collections. If you want to check out some serious rifles go onto any web site of look up the guns in the liberty so that way you have an easier time to find out what kind of gun you would like to add to your little collections. The setup costs a lot of money, but if you learn how to shoot it you will never miss. I graduate from college in less than a year and plan on building a rifle around a Remington 700, .308 or 7mm, maybe even a 300 magnum. Ill figures it out when I have some money.”

“There are many rifles which are surprising accurate, after the barrels are properly broken in (perhaps a topic for another thread?). Most Remington 700′s will fire sub 1moa, as delivered. One of my favorite rifles which I have built (refined) in the past decade was a Ruger .338. Spent a lot of time polishing and lapping parts in that receiver. The Timmy trigger worked to perfection, after installation. And that bolt locked down like a safe vault.”

“You can get great accuracy out of a standard profile barrel. The bull barrels? Work much better to hold accuracy, with successive rounds. I had the pleasure of reworking a Russian AK-47 trigger group (quality of steel was enough to get wood) into a PSL. Now, the PSL’s are a relatively light rifle, long barrel, based on the Kalashnikov design, but firing the Russian 7.62×54 rimmed cartridge. As long as that long skinny barrel on the PSL was cool? It has tremendous accuracy, but, after it heated up? The groups got big, very quickly.”

“However, the first couple of shots – even at 600m – were dead nuts on. I have seen Mossberg’s and Savage’s that shot sub 1moa groups, repeatedly. I have a preference for Remington’s, but, there are many other moderately priced rifles which can deliver GREAT accuracy, unless you have it in your head to venture into the bench rest world.”

Read more: What Is The Soldiers’ Favorite Rifle And Side Arm?

The Lenovo Thinkpad X60 Tablet – Who Says It’s Not a Beauty?

Last Updated: 2011/10/06

It was passion at best
view. I was sitting at my customary board at my customary chocolate browse a
pair of weeks backwards when my friend pulled away his original infant. It was
slick, it was tiny, it was distinct and I just stared. “It” was the
just-released Lenovo Thinkpad X60 Tablet PC that he had picked upward that
afternoon. He noticed me staring, and being the tasty, sharing character of guy
that he is instantly offered to let me offer his original infant a swirl. Love
at best view may be an understatement.

The Lenovo Thinkpad X60
Tablet is the latest upgrade to Lenovo’s X series. Just 1. 1 inches dense, it’s
about the size of a spiral bounce notebook, but does then often much. And I’m
not the simply one to believe then. The X60 Tablet has garnered some amazing
reviews since it debuted in November. PC Magazine awarded it 4. 5 of 5 stars
and calls it “the eventual pill experience.
Independent reviewers at GottaBeMobile. com tell it “sets the measure
for redeemable pill PCs. And Laptop Magazine claims, “…it just may be the
better redeemable still. ” All I know is that it has just about everything I’d
seek in a redeemable pill PC, and so some. Here’s a peek at some of the
most-wanted features that the Lenovo X60 Tablet offers.

Small
Footprint

At 10. 8” x 9. 6” x 1.
1-1. 3” (the extra. 2 inches comes into drama if you select the 8 cubicle
battery instead of the 4 cubicle battery. It too adds a wee piece to the weight),
the X60 Tablet is just about the size of a basic spiral notebook.

Multiple Screen
Options

You go a selection of
three cover options – 12. 1″ XGA, 12. 1″ SXGA+, or
MultiView/MultiTouch 12. 1″ XGA screens, all with Super Wide Viewing Angle
engineering and Anti-Reflective/Anti-Glare coatings. The Multi-View cover is a
lovely matter. Even in complete sunshine, the cover is legible and crispy,
unlike most new displays that I’ve used. Since I do my happiest writing sitting
away in the backyard or poolside, the complete sunshine screening means that I
wear’t get to deform myself into a pretzel in decree to have some darkness on
the cover so I can view it. The MultiTouch cover gives you a selection of using
the digitizer stylus or your finger for simple navigation.

Another leading plus –
the Active Rotate senses the cover preference and automatically adjusts the
exhibit to equip. That means no demand to manually shift between portrayal and
landscape preference. Coordinating with that, the NavDial keys which go you up
and down on the cover too automatically feel which instruction is upward then
you wear’t get to adapt the manner you take them when you shift
orientations.

Connectivity
Plus!

The Lenovo X60 Tablet
can manage just about any sort of connectivity that exists. You have a
selection of just Bluetooth, a/b/g WiFi, cellular WWAN, 802. 11n MiMo for
wireless, as easily as a modem jack and a basic LAN jack. One manner or
another, you WILL link. And the Lenovo care to less details shows here, overly
– a button on the exterior of the lawsuit allows you to move wireless on or off
still when the lawsuit is closed to maintain battery living.

Real Feel Digitizer
Pen

The digitizer pen feels
_correct_ in your hand. It’s another one of those less details that makes then
more disagreement. The digitizer has the size, configuration and weight of a
genuine pen so that it just feels correct in your hand. You can take it as a
cursor, or take it to cartoon and go notes. The acknowledgement software is
top-notch. I’m an utter artwork oddball, so the best matter I did with Jeff’s
Lenovo Thinkpad X60 Tablet was flip into an artwork plan and begin drawing. I
won’t tell it was JUST like sketching with a pencil or charcoal, but nothing
else still comes good. Laying downward the bones for a present took seconds and
was nearly as simple as sketching it away on newspaper. Oh! And did I cite the
cushioned finger grasp and eraser? Yes,
the digitizer pen has an eraser on the opposite conclusion of the hint where it
belongs and it truly works. And following that ‘less details’ thinking, Lenovo
has a warehousing bay for your digitizer and offers optional tethers to hold
your pen connected and forbid losing it.

Long Long Battery
Life

The Lenovo Thinkpad
Tablet offers you a selection of batteries. Go with the 8 cubicle, which will
offer you 8+ hours of battery procedure. Even the 4 cubicle battery
out-performs most others though. And you have a choice of ability savers that
will assist maintain battery accusation for the significant tasks.

Duo Processor

The large design in the
X60 Thinkpad Tablet is the Intel Low Voltage Core Duo mainframe. This is what
everyone has been waiting for, and they eventually did it. The Core Duo
mainframe supports upward to 4 GB RAM and a 120 GB HDD, runs tight and chill,
and gives you the ability of a desktop in a pill.

The Cons The unmarried
biggest con is that the X60 Tablet doesn’t include a built in optical effort.
Lenovo decided to get with the high living battery mob instead, then if you
need CD/DVD capacity, you’ll get to put in a distinct effort or in the ThinkPad
X6 Tablet UltraBase, which is tiny enough to transport anywhere, and gives you
an entire reality of enlargement options

• Ultrabay Slim with
accessible optical effort.

• 4 USB 2. 0 Ports;
parallel and sequential ports.

• VGA output.

• Microphone input
& earphone production.

• Stereo
speakers.

• Ethernet and modem
pass-through.

• Cable
lock slot and important lock.

The Wrap-up

The Lenovo Thinkpad X60
Tablet is the redeemable pill PC that everyone has been waiting for. It’s not
ideal – it could be a little more chic and racy, and it would be nice to get an
optical effort built in – but it does include just about everything you’d need
in a portable ultra-solution for just about everything you do.

Read more: The Lenovo Thinkpad X60 Tablet – Who Says It’s Not a Beauty?

Reduce Online Dating Dangers

Last Updated: 2011/10/05

Are you still seeking your soul mate?

Or are you just looking for friends with the same interests?

Well, online dating is definitely a great way to widen your circle of friends. It is really fun to meet many interesting people and sometimes addictive for many people. Some have even met their soul mate by meeting their perfect lifetime match through an online dating portal! It is just amazing the convenience and the benefits that online dating brings to the busy people.

If you are new to online dating, there maybe risks which you may put yourself in even without you knowing. Good thing you are reading this! Here are some dangers of online dating that you might face and what you can do to reduce such risks :

1. The very first danger of online dating is when you become a scam victim. Not everyone in the online dating scene is a good guy or girl. Many scam artists masked their real identity in order to cheat someone not only of their money but emotions, feelings as well. Sad but true – many women “catch” men and ask them for money by giving empty promises. Then after the money comes to them, they disappear. There are even cases when men sexually assault the women when meet up for a date after they “meet” on an online dating site.

So, do not be over-credulous. The person who you are communicating with can write anything in his or her profile and he or she may not be whoever they tell you. In fact, you cannot be completely sure if it is a she or a he. In case you decide to meet your dating partner – do some background checks. Moreover, to be safe, your first date should be during daytime in a busy public place. Better still, get a friend to come along.

2. Another possible danger of online dating is to give out your real address and personal information. Well, the person who is asking for your address might seem completely normal and harmless, you may even “know” him online for quite time. In any case, you should never give your home or work address as you don’t really know who you are dealing with.

Thus, remember – never give out your personal information. No real phone number or address. Some people do not even share their real name (as you can find the address and even the phone number using it), but use nicknames instead. If things get serious and if enough time has passed you may consider sharing such information with your dating partner.

3. Another danger of online dating is to get lots of unsolicited email messages. There will be many people asking for your email address in order to continue your relationship off the online dating site and only in a few hours, you will discover that you have become a spammer victim with your email box flooded with spams.

So, if you can stick by those general guidelines, online dating can be a great and safe experience. When in doubt, do not hestitate to consult your friends or families on what to do. Most importantly, never meet someone you met online in person alone without informing anyone else.

Happy Dating!

One final tip : trust your gut feeling and never take chances. If your feel a person is right and genuine go ahead,you might have found the love of your life. However, it is better to be very careful and do not rush things. Take one-step at a time and think over it many times before you actually do it.

Read more: Reduce Online Dating Dangers

The Mortality Rate Of Aviation Systems Techs

Last Updated: 2011/10/05

I have interviewed a soldier in the Coast Guard: “Well despite their arguments to the contrary, all ASTs do eventually die. But usually it is of old age. How many of them die each year is a mystery as nobody keeps track once they retire. Now if you mean how many ASTs currently on active duty die annually conducting operations, that number has been zero for many years (I believe since inception, ASTs help me out) and I hope it will remain so for many years to come.”

“Yes, there have been ASTs that have died in crashes, and each one of the deaths was tragic. However, as I was pointing out, and you apparently missed was I doing not recall any that have died conducting AST operations. In other words where the crew comes home with one crew member lost to the sea a la the final scenes of the Guardian. Which is what the original question seemed too be asking. I was also pointing out that despite the extreme dangers of the job most still live a long and fruitful life.”

“The original question is not a bad question it is a simple question of a how dangerous a job is and how competitive it may be. You may have noticed a thread on point-counter point that argues the pass/fail rate as being a factor for people not signing up for AST School. If I was actually planning to go to that training one of the things I would ask would be how many people die doing this job. That would be a much bigger concern to me. Call me crazy. That is a good question to ask. Perhaps there would be less suicide bombers if more asked the question before taking the job. Nothing wrong with asking the question.”

“I answered the question the way I did because the original question “Does anyone know what the annual mortality rates of USCG AST’s are?” put no parameters on how the rates were measured i.e. operationally, on duty, off duty, after retiring etc. It was too broad of a question.”

“My comment was meant to refine the parameters using a bit of humor to whittle down the parameters to what I believed the poster really wanted to know and to alleviate his concerns a bit simultaneously. It in no way degraded or devalued the lives of ASTs. We all die ASTs are no different. The mortality rate for the human population, no matter who you are is 100%. If you believe otherwise that is a problem.”

“So before you call either me or the original poster idiots again or before accusing either of us holding no value to our lives or lives of others perhaps you should take a deep breath and read it for what it is. Working a buoy deck is actually more dangerous than being an AST. A good question to ask would be how many cases a year, on average, does an AST get into a “dangerous” situation. The answers will probably less than ten and at that the definition of “dangerous” may be narrowly defined. A good review is to sign up for the Coast Guard’s weekly PR list. Read the cases and you’ll see they aren’t that exciting.”

“Look at it the reason we got into this job is to help others. There is no self righteousness in that. I am in no means mourning those who were lost for the rest of my life but has some tact. If you are going to ask how dangerous the job is, then ask with some respect for those who may have paid the ultimate price. Don’t ask if someone dies do you just hire a new one.”

Read more: The Mortality Rate Of Aviation Systems Techs

Cats And Ring Worm

Last Updated: 2011/10/05

Ringworm is a very common form of skin disease that is found in both dogs and cats. Although its name makes you think otherwise, this skin disease isn’t caused by any type of worm. It’s actually caused by fungi known as Dermatophytes that feed on dead tissues found in the surface of the skin, spreading them around the skin of the animal.

With cats, there is a certain type of fungi known as M Canis that is found with nearly 95% of all ringworm cases. Normally, cats will get the ringworm disease from contaminated objects like bedding, clippers, or another animal that already has the disease. If there are animals in your home or around your house that have the ringworm disease, your cat could very easily contract it this way.

If you have kittens or cats that are under a year old in your home, you should always use precaution, as they are more susceptible to ringworm. Kittens can easily contract the disease, especially if you allow them to go outside. They can easily come in contact with a contaminated object or another cat that has the disease. Kittens take a long time to build their immune system up, and in the meantime they are more apt to get common disease such as ringworm.

The most common symptoms of ringworm in cats are rough or broken hairs, or hair loss around the head or the paws. Ringworm can easily be identified by a patch of scaly skin on the body that appears itchy and inflamed. There will also be broken hairs around the patch of scaly skin. This area is very sensitive, and you should never try to touch it, as it will hurt your cat.

If you notice any of the above symptoms with your pet, you should immediately schedule an appointment with your vet. If the vet diagnosis your cat with ringworm, he may prescribe ointment or tablets. What he describes however, will determine on how serious the ringworm is. If he prescribes tablets to your cat, you should give them with meals. Ointment on the other hand, is normally spread into the coat, topically. You should always use what your vet prescribes on a daily basis, to ensure that your cat heals. The healing process will take time, normally around six weeks or more.

Cats that have ringworm should be labeled as infectious. If you have children in the house, you should keep them away from your pet. Whenever you handle your cat, you should always use gloves. Ringworms are contagious, and you should always use caution. Even though it’s a mild disease, ringworm can result in serious problems due to the slow recovery time and fact that it’s contagious.

Read more: Cats And Ring Worm

Which Gun Is Better, The Mark 23 Or .50 Desert Eagle?

Last Updated: 2011/10/05

I have interviewed soldiers regarding their opinion about the MK.23 gun and .50 Desert Eagle gun: “The .50 Desert Eagle gun (DE) is generally considered too unwieldy for combat but not hunting. The Mk23 is considering an offensive combat pistol. Personally I would go with the Mk. 23. It’s not too big, but not too small. The Desert Eagle gun is so… I don’t know what word I’m looking for… over rated, you know like everyone thinks it’s amazing. Who makes it? And I thought they were illegal without a class 3. I’ll take the mark 23 any day, also heavy, but anything is better than a Desert Eagle gun. They also make them in a .45, called an AE.”

“I wouldn’t see the problem with .50 Desert Eagle gun in combat. I mean, the Israelis have been using them in urbanized combat, why not us? Just pulling out a Desert Eagle is clearly going to make the other guy wish that he had one too. Me personally, I tend to only like the .45 round in the M1911. Israeli forces do not use them, they only make them. IDF uses what is colorfully called the “baby eagle”, the Jericho in 9mm and the Glock in 9mm. Not yet adopted, is the “Barak” in 9mm. If your military is not going to use it why make a .50 cal pistol do their snipers use it or something?”

“Don’t get me wrong, but I thought that the Israelis were using the damn weapon! But I did know that they were making them. Israeli Military Industries. I believe that is what the name of the company is that manufactures Desert Eagles. The Desert Eagle comes bored in several different sizes including the .50AE NOT DE I don’t even know if there is such a thing as a .50DE size of bullet. Have you ever seen one in real life? It’s huge! That’s one of the reasons that SOCOM wants to replace it!”

“Trials were run with it, but the conclusion was that a magnum pistol of that size is just not good for combat. It’s largely used as a sporting pistol today. That true, the size of the Desert Eagle would be a pain, but that firepower would be nice as hell in the middle of a firefight! You’re right, I figured it was about 5 inches long, but it is really about 10 inches. Have you ever fired a high powered handgun? They are fine, if you need to take one shot. If you need a very quick second shot, you’re screwed. Too much recoil.”

“So, given that, they would suck in a firefight. That’s why the FBI dropped the 10mm, and the 50 Desert Eagle is much more powerful and HUGE. For combat, a pistol of adequate stopping power that the firer can quickly fire a second shot or quickly transition to a second target is ideal. Not some hand cannon. Next you’ll be touting the S&W 460 or 500 Magnums. You know, what you see in video games doesn’t translate to the real world. Also, the MK 23 holds 12 rounds and the Desert Eagle .50 holds 7. I’d take the MK 23 if I had a choice.”

Read more: Which Gun Is Better, The Mark 23 Or .50 Desert Eagle?

The Convenience Of The Digital Audio Book

Last Updated: 2011/10/04

Most of us enjoy reading a good book to relax and escape in a different world however; most of our life styles don’t allow us to even read the newspaper anymore unless it is requirement at work. It is not that we don’t want to read anymore; it is fact that we have become extremely busy and simply cannot fit the pleasure of reading a book into that schedule. Changing life styles and improved technology has its benefits too and one of them is that you can find today audio books in order to listen to them instead of reading.

When we engage in reading a book or anything else for that matter you need the undivided attention of your eyes as well as your brain in order to follow the story line and not have to read the same page couple of times, which implies that you cannot do anything else besides reading. Audio books allow you to engage in other activities as well while listening to the book for example, cooking, commuting from school or work, cleaning the house, walking, shopping or even exercising.

What Makes Digital Audio Books Better

Usually audio books come on CDs and you will require a CD player in order to play them however, digital audio books can be downloaded on your ipod or MP3 player, which takes even lesser space than a CD player and can hold the whole book without you having to change the CDs when they are over to the next one. Digital audio books are the latest and best creation for the busy bodies of today who still want to hold on to their favorite authors and books.

Online is probably the best place to shop for digital audio book because you will be able to download them straight to your ipod or MP3 player; there are many audio book stores to be found online that sell both audio books on CDs and also digital audio books for those interested.

Don’t Go A Day Without Listening To A Book

Even though the advanced technology and the fast paced world has made us busier it has also provided us with some of the best devices to multitask and use all our senses in order to be able to enjoy the simple pleasure such as reading/listening to a book. Audio books are not only great for those who are busy and don’t have time for books but also for those who cannot read because they are blind or any other medical condition.

Read more: The Convenience Of The Digital Audio Book

Video Conferencing – An Introduction

Last Updated: 2011/10/04

With videoconferencing people can interact as if they were talking face to face with both images and sound relayed in real time. This article is designed to guide you through the various options to arrive at the system type best suited to your purpose.

There are various types of videoconferencing which is suitable for your application will depend upon the IT structure available and what it is that you actually want to achieve.
Video conferencing has in the past been relatively expensive, but prices are coming down and it is possible for anyone with a fast enough internet connection to operate a video conference.

Systems are available for hire, lease or sale.

Systems may be installed at all or any of the following: -

  1. on the desktop PC
  2. a dedicated videoconference suite
  3. mobile – for use when and where the need arises.

Each has various advantages and limitations which may be critical to your purpose.

Paradoxically it is far more critical that audio connections are maintained than the video. You may loose a video signal or it may be intermittent but the conference will still proceed – if you lose audio, nothing can be achieved (unless both parties are versed in sign language!)

Video speed for equipment is often shown as frames per second abbreviated as FPS.

In the UK video from most sources runs under the PAL standard which 25 frames per second – e.g. domestic VHS players. In the USA the system is NTSC which runs at 30 frames per second. Videoconference equipment commonly is specified as 15 fps or 30 fps. In layman’s terms – 15 fps will be jerky, it shows every other frame, 30 fps is full motion video.

The higher the frame rate the greater the data load, so the faster the connection required.

A minimum requirement for full motion video and audio between two points is 768 Kbps.

This made up of:- an encoding rate of 384 Kbps (typically used) is selected. This is broken down into two parts –

  • 64Kbps is for the audio
  • 320 Kbps is for the video.

The resulting 384 Kbps stream is compressed and sent (from you – the source) to the remote point (the destination). Similarly a 384 Kbps stream is received from the remote point to you. Thus twice 384 Kbps in bandwidth is required.

If there is a lot of motion in the video, very little compression is achieved. If there is little or no motion in the video, the savings can approach 50%. It would, however, be foolish to design a system which relied on the participants being forced to remain static.

There are two types of video conferencing, each has sub-types.

  1. Point to point – a live video / audio communication between any two locations.
  2. Multipoint – links between a three or more locations

Point to Point (P2P)

Point to point – a live video and audio communication link between any two locations.

P2P – Application

Where the need is to communicate between two points only at any one time: -

  • Two offices of the same company
  • Yourself and a business partner company, e.g. Yourselves and a major supplier
  • Senior management/ teams from two divisions – e.g. research and manufacture.

P2P – Use

  • Virtual meetings on a one to one basis
  • Project workgroup co-ordination of effort, live adjustment of data, drawings, documents or prototypes
  • Virtual board meeting between two groups of people in specific locations – say 5 in one and 4 in another

P2P – Limitations

  • Bandwidth required increases in proportion to the amount of data being exchanged.
  • Audit trail of actions taken by whom with a timeline sequence often required.
  • Extra equipment is necessary to show physical objects, using a visulaiser for say engineering parts

Point-to-Point Videoconferencing

Consider two videoconference terminals (vct) that are connected to the Internet.

The vct and its associated peripherals allow the user to make a call to another client, send the local audio/video stream to the remote client, and hear/view the received audio/video stream on a local speaker/monitor that is connected to the vct.
Assume one user (the local user) uses a vct to call a user at a remote vct by entering the IP address of the remote vct. The clients setup a call between the stations following the specifications of the H.323 protocol. Once the call is setup, the clients exchange audio/video streams over the Internet. The point-to-point videoconference continues until one of the users “hangs up” the call.

IP numbers are difficult to remember some users have dynamically assigned (DHCP) IP numbers that can change every time they boot their system and problems in using IP addressing when different vendor systems are used.

The Gatekeeper

To alleviate the problem of IP dialing, the H.323 standard defines the use of a gatekeeper.

The gatekeeper is a system that connects to the Internet just like the client terminals. The IP address of the gatekeeper is configured into the client terminals and when the clients “power up”, they communicate with the gatekeeper and transfer certain information to the gatekeeper that describes the vct.

When the clients register with the gatekeeper, they pass their IP numbers, H.323 alias, and H.323 extension to the gatekeeper where it is stored. This allows a local user to dial a remote user by entering the remote users H.323 extension in effect their video telephone number.

The local vct communicates the H.323 extension to the gatekeeper. The gatekeeper then checks to see if the remote client is registered with the gatekeeper, then sets up the call between the two clients.

Once the call has been setup, the audio/video streams flow directly between the clients over the Internet.

Multipoint

Live video and audio links between a three or more locations.
To handle this situation, the H.323 standard introduces the concept of a Multipoint Control Unit (MCU). The MCU can be thought of as a “video bridge”. The MCU connects to the Internet and registers with the gatekeeper.

A MCU, depending on its design capacity, can handle a certain number of simultaneous videoconferences each with each videoconference being logically separate from the others and with each having a specified number of users.

When users want to join a particular videoconferencing session, they dial the service number/password combination. The gatekeeper checks to see if that service has been registered by a MCU. The gatekeeper completes the call by connecting the client to the specified videoconference on the MCU.

Once the call has been connected, the client’s audio/video stream is then sent over the Internet from the client to the MCU. Similarly, other clients connect to the session and send their audio/video streams to the MCU. The MCU selects one of the audio/video streams on the videoconference and returns that audio/video stream to all of the clients (that is all except the client whose stream was selected).

There are several methods for selecting an audio/video stream. Audio switching and chairman control are two alternatives. Typically, the method that is chosen is audio switching where the MCU selects the stream that currently has active audio (someone is talking or is talking the loudest).

As the user(s) at one site stop talking and the user(s) at another site start to talk, they capture the MCU. The process is repeated with the video from the newly selected site now being sent to all the other sites.

Streaming

To participate in a H.323 videoconference, users must have appropriate videoconferencing client terminals and have Internet connectivity with sufficient bandwidth to support the videoconference.

Some users may not have these capabilities but would still like to be able to participate even if that meant that they could only see and hear conference participants but not be able to interact with them. (Watch and Listen)

Users can receive the stream using a browser on a computer. They enter the URL of the server, and the server starts the encoded audio/video stream over the Internet to the computer.
Plug-Ins for the browser exist that are capable of decoding both RealVideo and Windows media streams. The user can thus see and hear the participants in the streamed videoconference in near real-time.

Alternatively, a user can connect to the server at a latter date and view the archived version of the videoconference.

James Hunter works for Edric Audio Visual, one of the premier suppliers of video conferencing in the UK.

Read more: Video Conferencing – An Introduction

Rising Popularity Of Harry Potter Audio Books

Last Updated: 2011/10/04

People all around the world have now heard of the Harry Potter (HP) series of books and there are huge numbers of fans, children and adults alike populating the earth. The latest book has only been named and does not have a date for publish, yet it is already on some online sites top seller lists as huge amounts of people have pre-ordered both the books and audio book versions of the story.

Each and every one of the Harry Potter books has been a bestseller and the audio book versions do not seem to be an exception. The Harry Potter audio books are incredibly valuable in homes that consist of more than one fan and as most parents do not wish to buy the same expensive book twice in order to save their children from arguing about who gets to read it first, they are now turning to the HPr audio books so that the whole family can enjoy the stories at the same time.

The books tend to be long and many parents do not have the time to read the books in entirety to their children which is another reason why parents are buying the books in audio format.

Pros and Cons of Purchasing the Harry Potter Audio Books

A lot of children are demanding the Harry Potter audio books in addition to the regular books as they simply want as much of Harry’s merchandise as possible. After reading the long books for the first time, they may then be content to listen to the tale being told by another person and if their parents do not have the time to spend reading aloud then the HP audio books can be a worthwhile solution. However, some children are only interested in the Harry Potter audio books to the detriment of actual reading books. This can be a drawback as some of them are less likely to get into the habit of reading paper books and so stick to listening to someone else read the books instead.

One of the best things about the original Harry Potter series is that it does encourage children to want to read and can get them started into a good lifetime habit of reading. However, the audio book versionss can sometimes take this good point away by making it easy for the children to become slightly lazy about reading and get used to listening instead of attempting to read the book for themselves.

On the other hand, listening to a Harry Potter audio book is most definitely better than sitting around watching television and many young children like to fall asleep listening to the audio versions of their favorite books.

Read more: Rising Popularity Of Harry Potter Audio Books

The Problems of Russian Emigrants in Canada

Last Updated: 2011/10/04

These were peasants and farmers who dreamed of new beginnings and greater things for the future over the seas. So, millions set out on the seas to the United States and Canada. Later on through the years, the emigrants also were running from civil wars which were breaking out throughout Russia in fear of their family’s safety.

Once the Russian emigrants made a safe voyage to Canada and the United States, they would join together and form communities small in nature and would take any kind of work wherever and whenever it could be found to support their family or themselves. Many emigrants found themselves working in the industries which were flourishing at the time, sweat shops, mines and mills.

Some of the Russian emigrants only wanted too stay until they had saved enough money for their families and go back to their home of Russia.

Who are the Russian emigrants? Defectors from Russia in the 1970′s included Joseph Brodsky, the poet who won a Nobel Prize, Mikhail Baryshnikov, talented well known dancer and Alexander Solzhenitsyn, who endured years of being a political Soviet prisoner, he was a critical, tell it like it is novelist.

Why do the Russian emigrants go to Canada? It all started after World War 1, communities of small Russian emigrants settled and started developing in Timmins, Victoria, Vancouver, Winnipeg, Montreal, Sydney, Windsor and Toronto Canada. These emigrants were mostly of the peasant farmers who had emigrated from Russia, because they strongly opposed the regime of the Czarists. In Canada, they found many jobs and bright opportunities available to them here in this industrial growing sector.

What juridical and psychological problems do Russian emigrants face in Canada? Russian emigrants face the same problems almost every other emigrant has. The red tape of trying to become a citizen of another Country, learning the foreign language of their new home lands, getting used to our customs as they differ from what they are used too, the Russian citizenship provisions are in the Citizenship Act of the 28th November, 1990 which was amended on 17th June, 1993 and on 6th February, 1995.

The Russian emigrants have many difficulties upon their emigration into Canada or the United States. Sometimes they become singled out by their new neighbors into a minority because they speak and look differently than those around them. They struggle to maintain positions of equality in this new place. Younger Russian emigrants have an easier time blending in and learning the new language and customs a lot better than the older Russian emigrants do. Some people look at them as aliens to their Country or intruders, when all they are trying to do is make a better life for themselves and their family.

Canada has seen an increase in Russian emigrants making this their new home in the past years. No matter where your neighbors are from, remember to greet them warmly and genuinely welcome them into their new home town. You probably have no idea of the hardships they went through just to get to this better future for them and their children.

Read more: The Problems of Russian Emigrants in Canada

Practical Homeschooling Methods

Last Updated: 2011/10/04

There are various methods of teaching that are employed the world over. Usually, both private and public schools concentrate on textual content. As the guardian or parent, you have the right to choose the teaching method based on your philosophy or religious belief. According to various studies conducted on this issue, a single method may not be applicable for all. The teaching style, belief systems, and the learning and grasping ability of the child plays a major role in their learning and development.

Tutors or parents should check out the current syllabus followed in schools and other homeschooling institutions. Support groups, which have homeschoolers as members, usually provide assistance to new homeschoolers.

After you decide upon homeschooling your children, the next question that arises is what method you should choose to teach. The following are certain guidelines you can use to ensure you make the right decision.

. Read everything possible on homeschooling. It will not only give you a general idea about the present homeschooling scenario, but also inform you about the teaching methods you could opt for.

. Join a support group to get a better understanding of the minute details you may have missed in your background research. Support groups also give out study material according to the syllabus of the student. These support groups can be on the neighborhood level or state level, depending on the geographical and educational rules.

Practical Homeschooling

Children are by nature very curious about many things. It is their tendency to ask questions and say things out of turn. Usually, parents tend to discourage this, which stifles the childs natural curiosity and urge to learn. Although a childs questions may seem irrelevant, or make no sense, if parents continue to be discouraging, it may hamper a childs educational and intellectual growth.

Parents are sometimes overzealous about their child. They often force their children to focus on certain subjects, because those are what they consider important, or have an interest in. Parents should not forget that it is the childs education, and it is their interest that should be determined and followed up upon.

Home schooling is a broad term, and there are many techniques that fit under the term. There are many different styles of homeschooling that you can choose from. Or, you could devise your own using the broad principles of several methods.

The following are some of the common methods of homeschooling:

Scheduled and Structured- According to this, the parent devises a subject wise schedule, like a regular school, which is complied with through the day.

Interest- This is based on the events occurring at each moment. For example, if it is the winter, you could devise the curriculum around the season, or if a friend drops by from abroad, the days curriculum could be a geography lesson. These can be either structured or unstructured, according to your requirement.

Learning- This is based on the learning style of the child.

Philosophical- Implementing educational philosophies and studies to create a curriculum is the basis of this method.

Accommodating- Families with special needs use this approach.

Community- Using outside groups and learning areas as teaching methods.

By utilizing available resources and learning material, the tutor and student should work as a team for the latter to excel in education. This can create deep bonds, and keep the environment at a friendly and open level.

Read more: Practical Homeschooling Methods

Homeschooling and Rote Learning

Last Updated: 2011/10/04

Today academicians look down on rote learning or learning by repetition, for they believe that this type of learning prevents understanding the subject. However, they forget that rote learning is required to memorize the alphabets and numbers. If you go by the definition of rote learning that appeared in the 1850 edition of Noah Websters dictionary, To fix in memory by means of frequent repetition, you will discover that rote learning is in fact a very vital element of education, including homeschooling.

Rote learning, these days, is often disparaged, terming it as blind learning, or learning like a parrot. However, most complex subjects can only be mastered by first memorizing the basics. For example, if a child is not made to memorize the alphabets, how in the world will he/she read a verse from Shakespeare? Rote learning helps in creating an automaticity that helps children to solve advanced problems on the basis of the basic learning that is etched in their mind.

Memorizing something by repetition is one of the easiest ways of learning. Math, as a subject, is especially done best by rote learning. Everyone knows that there is no substitute for the four basic functions of math: addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. Some people can argue that a calculator can aid the students to perform these functions, but can a calculator help the students to verify the answers? Knowledge of numbers and the principles by which any function is done is very important to decide whether the math answer calculated by the calculator is correct or not. Rote learning gives the student the power to perform all these mathematical functions in his/her head, and even verify the answers on the calculators.

Rote learning is especially useful for learning to read, because along with memorizing the alphabets and mastering the method of writing, it is important to develop a phonetic reflex as well. Phonetics is the sound that an alphabet or a word makes when it is pronounced. These phonetic sounds, which a young child learns by memorizing with frequent repetition, remain a part of his/her memory for life. And when the same child reaches the high school level of curriculum, and starts reading prose and passages from textbooks, the same memorization helps him to read and understand with ease.

Many people will even maintain that while they accept rote learning on an elementary level, it is irrelevant at higher schooling levels because the topics get complex and have to be understood thoroughly to be mastered. However, rote learning is still the only way in which a student can perform advanced mathematical calculations. A student wont be able to solve an algebraic problem with confidence, if he/she does not remember the formulas. The same applies to other subjects as well. For example, to be able to perform experiments in chemistry, a student has to memorize the periodic table to learn about the properties of chemical elements along with their scientific names and other related matter.

It is imperative for a child who is going to give an exam that he/she retains what has been taught to be able to transfer it on the answer sheet. To be able to pass in any examination a child will have to repetitively learn all the topics in most subjects. A student may have understood all the complexities of the topic, but if he/she cannot write them to the examiners satisfaction, the understanding will be fruitless, as far as passing an exam is concerned. Rote learning is, therefore, very much a part of homeschooling, and if done properly, i.e. first understanding the topic thoroughly and then memorizing it by frequent repetition, will make the topic stay permanently in an individuals knowledge bank. This permanent memory can be of great use in future, and a person can always rely on it, to draw upon it whenever required.

Read more: Homeschooling and Rote Learning

Gearing Up For a High Tech Homeschool

Last Updated: 2011/10/04

Homeschools are capable of delivering impressive results and are better than public schools. In the sense that while educational organizations spend huge amounts on expensive computer networks and get stuck with outdated and obsolete PCs, homeschoolers can easily acquire the latest in computer technology. In order to stay abreast with the latest developments and educational programs, parents of homeshoolers can also take advantage of the versions designed specifically to suit the needs of homeschooling by the same companies that also market their products to schools. These educational programs are not only easy to use but are also affordable, and definitely yield equally effective results as the ones used in school classrooms.

As more and more educational organizations are resorting to online resources and adopting electronic mediums like CD-ROMs to impart knowledge and education. It has become all the more simpler for homeschools not only to keep pace with the syllabus, but also surpass the teaching standards of schools. With the advent of computers and advances in technology, it has become easier for homeschools to duplicate the school classroom experience for effective tutoring. While generally schools waste their time on irrelevant and pointless projects, homeschools usually concentrate on dedicating their time and energy to developing and streamlining innovative methods and tools of education. Homeschools are increasingly focusing on effective and efficient educational programs so that their wards deliver outstanding performance in life, while schools appear to be diverting away from their main purpose.

Unlike educational organizations, which cater to a wide range of disparate children, parents that homeschool their children concentrate on infusing values along with the curriculum. Parents diligently make the effort to maximize the utilization of the educational tools and resources. Since parents are usually more committed than teachers, rather than just adapting to what seems appealing. They make it a point to first research and then verify how a particular educational theory or philosophy works.

Parents of homeschooling children can always take advantage of the online resources and specialists in homeschooling. They provide vast information and knowledge about the methods and tools that can be implemented, to execute homeschooling successfully. This way, parents can benefit from the educational programs that suit their needs and preferences, and avoid wasting time surfing on the Internet for related issues. Instead, they can utilize this time for mentoring their children.

Homeschools can prove to be more competent than schools, and efficacious in improving the personal as well as academic performance of children. In order to implement homeschooling satisfactorily, you need to merely follow a few simple guidelines. Although technology is meant to improve our lives, do not totally depend on homeschooling aids like the Internet and videos to educate your child. Modern technology is designed to supplement our teaching abilities and knowledge. Undoubtedly, computer technology and educational programs available on the Internet serve the purpose of education satisfactorily, yet they cannot replace parents as mentors. Unlike teachers in a school, who merely tutor their pupils, parents act as mentors and role models for their children.

In order to make the task of homeschooling easier, parents can conduct a detailed research on the numerous websites that feature articles and content on educational programs. Also various tried-and-tested homeschooling methods embraced by homeschools. However, remember that one does not achieve successful homeschooling by merely utilizing these modern and sophisticated electronic tools. Active participation of the parents is what determines effective homeschooling and yields desired results.

Read more: Gearing Up For a High Tech Homeschool

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