Education

Phonics - Teaching Vowel Sounds To Children Leaning to Read

2011-09-08T13:13:00.000-07:00

When teaching children how to read using a phonic teaching programme there are various elements which need to be clearly understood. This article focuses on how to teach children the various different vowel sounds.

Rather fortunately, children are not faced with learning every permutation of every vowel all at once. Much like with consonants, if the vowel is presented correctly then the child will soon understand that this single letter can serve as a building block to make other words and sounds.

It is highly effective to teach the sound a letter makes in conjunction with a drawing of illustration of a thing or object starting with that same word. So for example to teach "a" you can associate the letter with a drawing of an apple and emphasis the sound this letter makes at the beginning of this word. As the child's pregress advances you can begin to incorporate the letter within a word, so for example the word "bat", focusing on the "aa" sound in the middle of this word.

The vowels can be split into two categories for ease. These categories reflect the way the vowel sounds when used in a word, namely as a short or long vowel.

Examples of long and short vowels:

Short Vowels

"a" as in "bat", "cat" and "hat"

"e" as in "pen", "hen" and "egg"

"i" as in "mit", "hit" and "kick"

"o" as in "sock", "block" and "on"

"u" as in "tub", "up" and "rub"

Long Vowels

"ay" as in "game", "frame" and "pain"

"ee" as in "feet", keep" and "wheel"

"iy" as in "slide" and "fire"

"ow" as in "rose", "bowl" and "hold"

"uu" as in "ruler"

Remember when teaching letters at an early stage that lower case letters are preferable. When the child has mastered lower case letters sufficiently then upper case letters should be introduced. Classrooms should look to have wall charts showing both lower and upper case letters so the child can gain familiarity over time.

Vowel charts are available in a number of stores. Schools would buy them directly from their educational materials providers, but they can also be bought for home use from specialist phonics outlets, particularly online. Children love to be creative, so why not try creating your own vowel chart with your child which will include the letter and an illustration. They will then enjoy colouring this chart in and displaying on their bedroom wall.

A Vocational Program In Graphic Arts

2011-09-01T13:16:00.000-07:00

If you are thinking about attending Miami Dade College in sunny South Florida, you have a variety of majors and vocations available to you. One such vocational program that will appeal to the artistically inclined is Graphic Arts, where students will take skill-building classes to become graphic designers. During the program, you will enjoy courses such as Principles of Typography that will provide you with the knowledge and training you need to perfect your craft.

Miami Dade College is a state school with over 161,000 students on eight campuses throughout the county. The main campus, called the Wolfson campus, is located in downtown Miami. This school is the largest institution of higher education in the state of Florida and has the largest student body of any college in the United States.

As a prospective graphic designer taking courses such as Principles of Typography at Miami Dade, you will be concentrating on learning the skills needed for your vocation. This means your classes will be skill-set specific. For students who are interested in focusing on their career ambitions rather than pursuing a more time-consuming degree program, an intensive course of vocational study is a good choice. Creative students will especially excel in the Graphic Arts.

Principles of Typography will be one of the most important classes you'll take as you learn to navigate the Graphic Arts. Many students may not realize the impact of typography in our lives. If you stop to think about it, you'll see how familiar fonts and logos are a part of our everyday experiences. We recognize distinctive typography as having artistic and cultural impact.

During Principles of Typography, students will learn the fascinating history of typography development. Did you ever wonder what went into the creation of the fonts you use on a regular basis? Students will learn about typesetting, letter-press, and other technical aspects of typography both past and present.

Students will also develop practical skills in typography, completing projects that demonstrate their understanding of ways in which type can be used for effect. Most graphic design projects during your education and in your career will require the skillful use of type. The hands-on projects that you complete will allow you to exercise your creativity as well as your knowledge of design concepts concerning typography. You will learn how to use desktop publishing software common to the graphic design industry to achieve desired results.

Classes such as Principles of Typography in the Graphic Arts program at Miami Dade, require a clear aesthetic sensibility and some degree of artistic skill. You will not only have to recognize design concepts and principles, but you will also have to demonstrate them in your own work. Drawing and artistic composition skills are required for success in related classes.

HVAC Technician Guide - How to Become a Qualified HVAC Technician

2011-08-26T13:16:00.000-07:00

Americans will willingly invest on their air conditioning units. They need air conditioning units for comfort but they also need those units to be energy-efficient. But even purchasing units can bring some problems and only a professional can fix them. HVAC (heating, ventilating, and air conditioning) units are needed especially in those countries which are experiencing different seasons each year and an HVAC technician can be a rewarding job with great salary and greater chances of working anywhere in the world. This article will briefly discuss on the HVAC technician guide to give an idea on how the job can be a great field to work with.

As an HVAC technician, you will be dealing with the management of heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems in the homes or offices, providing people comfort that can also be beneficial to the environment. People who earn HVAC certification equip themselves with knowledge when it comes to dealing with the advancement of the HVAC technologies. If you have completed the training courses to earn the certificate, you will have a higher chance of getting employed than those who have not completed a course. Qualified HVAC technicians are people with impressive technical and problem-solving skills, and good leadership qualities, and if you wish to become one, you could be one.

An HVAC Technician guide can be available in the internet and mostly they will tell you that HVAC certification matters if you need a job at this point where the present economy is experiencing a problem. HVAC training is important because the training can provide latest techniques on how to repair HVAC systems. A person with extensive HVAC training is highly qualified and will be an asset to a certain company. HVAC training classes are available either online, community college or through a trade school. One must undergo an apprenticeship which could last from 3-5 years. Sometimes, licensing may be required but that just depends on the laws of the area you are living in. As for the salary, an average HVAC technician can earn up to $40,000 per year and in other states, it could increase more up to $50,000-$60,000 per year.

An HVAC technician will not only have to study everything about the system. Acing the test won't even make someone a great employee. The certificate though, is proof that a person is a well-trained technician, because certificates are only awarded to those people who have undergone and completed a series of training to successfully work with HVAC systems.

Completing An Associate's Degree To Become A Dental Hygienist

2011-08-15T13:15:00.000-07:00

A Career as a Dental Hygienist

Dental hygienists are people who have earned an Associate's degree from an accredited dental hygiene program. As a dental hygienist, you get to perform a variety of duties while on the job, from working at the desk to assisting patients in the back and helping out a dentist. Responsibility for keeping track of and making patient appointments, keeping records, and greeting patients are just a few examples of the tasks that belong to a dental hygienist.

Associate's Degree in Dental Hygiene

An Associate's degree is the standard of education for a dental hygienist and can be completed in two years. Students participating in a dental hygiene program are required to learn how to assist the dentist and handle office duties, so the program covers a variety of areas. Dental hygienists must be able to relay important information about oral hygiene to patients, and the successful completion of this two-year program will give dental hygienists the confidence necessary to educate patients.

While participating in an Associate's program, aspiring hygienists will learn the proper methods for brushing, flossing, and overall oral care. Students will learn how to conduct examinations of gums, mouth, and teeth. Part of this job is to clean teeth after a dentist has put in a filling, and a two-year degree will help students learn how to properly do this as well as scrape any excess cement from the teeth.

During your Associate's degree program, you will become comfortable with the tools you will be using. The tools you use range from an x-ray machine to the small tools used for working in a patient's mouth. People entering this field must be able to make controlled and intricate movements with their hands because working in a patient's mouth requires this type of movement.

Salary and Career Information for a Dental Hygienist

While it is most common for a dental hygienist to be employed in a dentist's office, one can also find work educating people about dental health or even using his or her background to sell dental equipment. In addition to having an Associate's degree in this field, one must also become licensed.

These professionals must enjoy working with people. Every day, many different people walk into a dentist's office, and a hygienist must be personable with every patient while performing his or her duties. Guiding patient's towards healthy oral choices is one of the main goals of working in this field.

Math Tutoring Is a Rewarding Career

2011-07-12T13:14:00.000-07:00

Are you considering a career as a tutor? If you are, then you should think math. Math is the way to go. Considering mathematics is the most used subject in every person's everyday life, it is surprising how many people have trouble with even the simplest calculations. From counting the candles on your first birthday cake to calculating your social security deductions, math is something every single person will use every day for life.

The more complicated your math skills, the more clients you will get, meaning the more money you can make. Most people can add two plus two, but very few can create complicated formulas. That is one of the main reasons computers were invented. Scientists have to concentrate on more important things than worrying about advanced trigonometry or how many light years there are from here to the moon; computers calculate that.

True, scientists are advanced mathematicians, that is how they were able to invent computers to do calculations quickly and more efficiently, but when it comes to creating complicated formulas day in and day out, they just do not have the time.

How to Become a Math Tutor

The best way to become a tutor is to spend a few years at teachers college. This will give you credibility as a teacher. You should also take several advanced math courses so that you have a good, solid foundation in all mathematical applications. No one expects you to know everything about everything, but when a student asks you what Pi is, you should not have to look it up.

Students have to look up to their teachers. If your students do not respect you, they will tell their parents to find someone else. Developing a good reputation takes years of hard work, but destroying that reputation takes minutes.

Why Math Tutoring

Math tutoring is a rewarding career that is in very high demand. Children as young as ten and as old as twenty are always looking for help with their math problems. When parents are not equipped to help their child, they hire a tutor.

If a child wants to become a scientist or industrial engineer, very few parents have the knowledge to help that child with the advanced math needed to make it into a good college. A good math tutor is a life saver for these parents. Getting their child the help he needs to fulfill his dreams is one of the greatest gifts a parent can give.

Private Tutoring - How To Acquire It

2011-06-12T13:13:00.000-07:00

When your child struggles in school, private tutoring is a great way to get him up to where he should be. The personal attention boosts confidence and without the distraction of other students, your child will be able to absorb much more information. You can provide tutoring yourself, or if you do not feel confident enough in your own abilities, tutors can be hired.

You can find qualified tutors in the phone book, on the internet or at local schools. Depending on the age of your child, a high school student can be an ideal, inexpensive tutor. Just ask the principal to recommend a suitable pupil or post your needs on the school's job board.

Students are always interested in earning a few bucks. If your child is older, your local college is a good place to find a tutor. We all know college students will do just about anything to supplement their incomes and reduce the amount of student loans they have to borrow.

Before you a hire student hold interviews with several potential tutors. Not every person is qualified to teach others. Some students are too immature to effectively deal with a small child or teenager. And remember, you get what you pay for.

A professional tutor is usually a retired teacher, or a student that has spent many years earning college money by teaching others. A professional will cost more, but comes with years of experience. There are also many tutors that have made this their career of choice. They are people with teaching degrees, but have decided on a tutoring career rather than a traditional teaching job. These are the people usually employed by child actors or rich families living in remote locations. Any students unable to attend a regular school might hire a full time private tutor.

Tutoring Schools

In recent years many private tutoring schools have popped up. These schools do not offer a regular school curriculum; they specialize in offering one-on-one help for students. The hours are very flexible to meet your needs. There are a variety of courses available. You only enroll your child the specific area he is having difficulty.

For example, if your child is a whiz at math, but has trouble with sentence structure, you would only enroll him in a grammar program. Private tutoring schools offer after school and weekend classes, so you and your child can decide which times are best for you.