TakeLessons Honors our March 2011 Teachers of the Week

TakeLessons Honors our March 2011 Teachers of the Week ksurmacewicz Each week we recognize a TakeLessons teacher on our Facebook page that has shown outstanding commitment and dedication to our program. If you missed any of our recent posts, take a minute to learn more about each one of the phenomenal teachers that we honored this month! ___________________________________________ Christina L. from Carrollton, TX Inspirational, professional and friendly are all words that have been used to describe Christina, who teaches piano voice lessons in the Dallas area. Christina has been teaching with us for just over a year and has worked with 24 students in that short amount of time!   She grew up studying music knows how to keep her students on track while also making their lessons productive and fun, which is why they love working with her! ___________________________________________ Mark H. from Osseo, MN Mark has been teaching music for over 20 years, and specializes in a variety of subjects including guitar, bass guitar, singing and acting.   He loves what he does and his passion and enthusiasm for his students and his music shines through in every conversation we have with him. In addition to teaching, he has done his fair share of performing and touring. He has even composed songs for many local bands and produced musical scores for local theatrical productions. ___________________________________________ Dorothea G. from Sherman Oaks, CA Dorothea has been teaching piano lessons with us for over a year. Her students love her because she is great at challenging them and encouraging them to keep setting goals.   In addition to teaching, Dorothea has experience composing and has even composed for movies! She is currently working with some of the other TakeLessons teachers in her area to create a TakeLessons recital down the road. If you get a chance, check out the amazing introduction video on her profile! ___________________________________________ Scott F. from Rutherford, NJ Scott has been teaching voice lessons with us since 2008 and comes with the highest recommendations from all of his students, who say he is patient, charming and talented. He helps them gain not only vocal skill, but self-confidence as well.   Heres a quote from one of his students: There is nothing worse than a teacher who’d rather show off the entire lesson than teach; thankfully Scott is nothing like that.   He is a very fun, energetic and uplifting teacher who, still after eight months, leaves me waiting for my next lesson with fervor.   What a gift! ___________________________________________ Congratulations to all of our outstanding Teachers of the Week for the month of March!

The Online Tutorials Guide

The Online Tutorials Guide Advice for Better Online Tutorials ChaptersThe Required Material for Online Private TutorialsWhat Online Tutorials Are LikeHow Can You Find Online Private Tutors?How Much Do Online Tutorials Cost?“The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.” - William Arthur WardThe private tutoring and academic support market have seen an increase in recent years.  Academic support, as the name suggests, is there to support students who are struggling in one or several academic subjects. Private tutors can teach either in person or via webcam. We’ll be looking at the latter today.In this article, we’ve got tips for online tutorials including how to find the right tutor, the cost, the equipment you’ll need, and how an online private tutorial should go. Here we go!you might want to check the condition of your computer and equipment. You'll need a computer, a good internet connection, a webcam, and a microphone. (Source: StockSnap)The first thing you’ll need is a computer as you can’t find a private tutor without it. Even though you can follow lessons on your smartphone or a tablet, you’ll be far more comfortable at a desk in front of your computer. Whether you’re using a desktop or a laptop or a PC or a Mac, it doesn’t matter as long as your computer is fairly quick and can support videoconferencing.Make sure you always turn your computer on 15 minutes before the start of your lesson as you don’t want an update or a slow startup to cause you to miss the start of your tutorial.You should also make sure your internet connection is working and quick enough. A video call uses a decent amount of bandwidth so make sure your internet connection can keep up. To ensure that the connection is smooth and doesn’t buffer, you’ll want at least a 30Mbit/s connection for a high-quality video call.Tip: use Speedt est to check your internet connection speed.You’ll also need to make sure that you have a microphone and webcam that work so that the tutor can see and hear you. Whether you’re doing catchup lessons, a foreign language tutorial, or maths, you’ll want to be able to hear your tutor without having to send messages via typing. You want your webcam to be of a high enough quality so that your tutor can read your work when you show him it.Test your microphone and webcam by calling a friend before your first tutorial. Speak, get them to listen to you, and show them some written work to see if they can read it. This is a great way to check if everything is working fine. Download a videoconferencing programme that both you and your tutor agree on. Generally, Skype is the most commonly used and it allows you to share your screen and send files during calls.After all, you'll never be able to achieve academic success if you struggle to communicate with your tutor online.Find out more about online tutorial resources.What Online Tutorials Are LikeJust because you’ve checked all your equipment before the lesson, it doesn’t mean everything will go well. You’ll need to check the quality of the connection once you start. This should only take around 30 seconds but it’s essential for ensuring that the tutorial will go well and not be full of technical problems. Unlike school, the tutor will be ensuring that the tutorials are engaging and tailored to the student. (Source: KokomoCole)Just like during your first face-to-face tutorial, during your first online tutorial, you’ll need to determine your objectives and what you want to learn.Your tutor will ask you questions to help you prepare for your next tutorials, your expectations, and your difficulties. You’ll need to tell them about your level, your short-term and long-term objectives, and you’re availability. You might want to book a few classes together so that your tutor can plan.After that, your lesson will be just like a traditional face-to-face tutorial:Covering the lessonExercises to check retentionCorrection and explanationsHomework for the next lessonOf course, the tutor will adapt the lessons to your needs. If you need help with your homework, let them know. Similarly, some lessons can be entirely dedicated to correcting errors, going over a class you missed, or past papers. It’s up to you.Even if you get supplemental instruction via webcam, you'll find there's a lot of similarities between home tutoring and online tutoring. The only real difference is that the person being tutored isn't in the same room as their tutor.Find out more about what online tutorials are like.How Can You Find Online Private Tutors?To make sure you find the right online tutor, you’ll need to ask yourself a few questions. Their answers will help you decide the criteria for any potential tutor. There are many places where you can find online tutorials. (Source: StartupStockPhotos)The subject you need help with: physics, chemistry, biology, maths, Spanish, French, etc.Your level: primary, secondary, GCSE, A Level, degree, etc.Your objectives: exam revision, preparation, learning a new language, improving your grades, etc.Your budget.Your availability: evenings, weekends, during the holidays, etc.Once you’ve worked out what you’re looking for, you can then start looking at online tutors via classified sites, academic support organisations, or online platforms for finding private tutors.Each has its advantages and disadvantages.Classifieds: the rates tend to be better but you’ve no guarantee of the tutor's experience or reputation.Academic support organisations: tutors are often required to have certain qualifications and experience. In some cases, they’ll be students but they’ll also have professional teachers in some cases. The rates tend to be quite high in compar ison to the other types we’ve seen. Of course, these tutoring companies don't tend to let anyone become a tutor, so you are guaranteed a higher level of tutor.Tutoring platforms and search engines like Superprof: you can see a tutor’s rating and reviews from former students to get a better idea of their quality. The rates are more competitive than tutoring organisations. The tutors’ profiles are checked and many of them even offer free tutoring for the first hour. While you don't need any formal qualifications when it comes to becoming a tutor on these types of platforms, you do need to assist students properly else you'll never build a reputation.With hundreds of thousands of tutors on Superprof, you’ll be spoilt for choice. Don’t hesitate to ask around and pay particular attention to the tutors who respond quickly (in less than 24 hours) and are active on the platform.Whether a student needs help with test prep, test-taking, writing skills, note-taking, study skills or o ther academic support services, you're bound to be able to find a tutor who can offer tuition in the academic skills they need.How Much Do Online Tutorials Cost?The cost of online tutorials will depend on various criteria.The subjectThe levelThe tutor’s qualificationsThe tutor’s experienceThe platform or service you use to find your private tutor A good online tutor will help students regain their self-confidence. (Source: StartupStockPhotos)However, online tutorials are generally more affordable than face-to-face tutorials since the tutors don’t have as many outgoings to worry about. With the tutor staying at their own home, they don’t have transport costs to worry about. Similarly, they can schedule more tutorial each week, increasing what they can potentially earn.You’ll have to consider your budget. It’s difficult to find a tutor who meets all your criteria so you’ll need to find one who meets most of them. Your budget will probably make the final decision for you.There are plenty of online tutoring services online. In addition to the one-on-one tutoring offered by tutors on Superprof, you can also find the best tutors from all over the world. If a student's academic performance is suffering and there are no local tutors or your need a more affordable way to help, many of the great tutors on the platform are tut oring online, too.No matter what you want to learn, there are three main types of tutorial available: the online tutorials we were discussing in this article, face-to-face tutorials, and group tutorials. Each has its advantages and disadvantages and it'll be up to you to choose which works for you, your learning objectives, and your budget.Group tutorials tend to be the cheapest per person per hour since the cost of the tutor's time is divided between all the students attending. However, this means that you won't have the tutor's undivided attention during the whole class.Face-to-face tutorials are just between you and your tutor. The courses are tailored to you and as a result, you'll pay a premium for all the time inside and outside of the class the tutors puts into planning and teaching the course. These tend to be the most cost-effective type of tutorials even if they're also usually the most costly.And as for online tutorials, you already know everything you need to know about them!

Ask an MBA Admissions Expert Chioma Isiadinso

Ask an MBA Admissions Expert Chioma Isiadinso Varsity Tutors brings you insider tips and advice straight from nationally recognized admissions experts. Chioma Isiadinso is a former HarvardBusiness School Admissions Board member as well as the former Director of Admissions at Carnegie Mellon University. She is the CEO of EXPARTUS, a worldwide MBA admissions consulting service, and has also written a book of insights on the MBA admissions process called The Best Business Schools Admissions Secrets. VT: How much time should be set aside to adequately prepare for and complete the application for an MBA program? Chioma: Ideally you want to start to seriously think of the MBA a couple of years before you actually apply. By having such a long lead time you can invest time identifying any weaknesses in your profile and can address them long before you apply. An early start in preparing for your MBA will enable you to be strategic in the types of projects you pursue and will allow you to cultivate the strong relationships with your superiors who will eventually write recommendation letters for you. When it comes to applying, you should budget about five months. Two months to prepare and take the GMAT or GRE and three months to work on the application. VT:What would you say is the single most important thing to focus on for this kind of application? Chioma: While each part of the application is important, not having a strong academic profile will ensure that the application will be rejected. For the highly selective MBA programs, candidates who have very low test scores will be eliminated early in the evaluation process. It is important to adequately prepare for the GMAT/GRE to ensure that you have a strong test score. While a strong test score alone does not guarantee admission to a top school, not having them will make it easy for the admissions board to deny you admission. VT: What do MBA admissions officers look for most in the essay questions? Chioma: They look for depth of character. The essays provide a canvass through which a candidate can showcase their strengths, accomplishments and motivations. They explain what is driving you and why you have made the choices you have made in your life. Because of the variations in MBA essay questions, they offer a chance for candidates to speak about their personal and professional lives and achievements. The essays, when written well, can be the main differentiator and can endear you to the admissions board. There are so many talented candidates applying and it is hard to separate strong candidates who have similar work profile, test scores etc. However, the essays can be the deal breaker when they are poorly written or the deal maker when they reveal really insightful things about you that makes you come alive to the admissions board. VT: What are the biggest mistakes one can make on this application? Chioma: The biggest mistake applicants make is to underestimate how much work is involved in putting together a successful application. This often leads them to submit application essays that are weak and riddled with errors. Another mistake that applicants make is selecting the wrong people to write recommendations for them. Recommendations are quite important in the evaluation of MBA applicants and it is critical to select recommenders who know you very well. Avoid choosing recommenders based on simply their seniority at your firm (eg. The CEO of your firm who barely knows your name); you are better off choosing a recommender with a less impressive title who knows your work very well and can provide detailed examples to support your candidacy. VT: What aspects of the MBA admissions process make it most different from undergraduate admissions process? Chioma: The main difference between college and MBA applications is that the latter group of applicants are older and have more years working in the real world. The average MBA candidate has worked for 3 or more years before applying to business school. Therefore, the quality of work experience and impact in a professional setting is weighed quite highly in the business school application assessment. Outside of the work experience difference there are a lot of similarities between the college and MBA admissions (both programs are looking for smart, accomplished individuals who will add to the diversity/richness of their schools). VT: Is there anything that automatically disqualifies an applicant from being considered for an MBA program (i.e. low GPA, lack of particular work experience, etc.)? Chioma: This varies from school to school and is important for applicants to understand the nuances of different MBA programs. For instance, while international experience is important to all top MBA programs, it is particularly of high importance for a MBA program like INSEAD. Failure to show international experience or exposure will relegate your INSEAD application to the reject pile. The same applies to language fluency: not having another language under the belt disqualifies a candidate from being admitted to a program like INSEAD. Work experience is valued at most top MBA programs. Yet there are some programs that are more open to candidates who are early in their career and have less work experience. A program such as Stanford GSB admits a few exceptional candidates with little to no work experience. Very low GPA or GMAT can undermine a candidates application as well. The further away your score is from the average score of admitted students, the more of an issue it will be. Academic infractions such as suspensions, plagiarism, as well as criminal records are sure ways of disqualifying a candidate. VT: What kind of work experiences should be highlighted in the MBA application? Chioma: One of the things candidates should do when showcasing their work experience is to cut out jargon from their CVs and focus on the impact and contributions they have had in each of their jobs. Since many programs like to see short CVs of not more than 2 pages (one page resumes for most of the US MBA programs), candidates have to think carefully about all the details of their responsibilities within each role and at each firm. Anything that doesnt help reinforce their brand (how they are positioning themselves) should be cut out allowing them to connect the dots of their experiences in their resume/CV. Internships that are in the industry you are looking to enter are worth including in your MBA application especially when you have limited work experience. VT: What advice do you have regarding GMAT test prep? Chioma: My advice on test prep is to make the investment upfront before taking the GMAT. So many applicants take the GMAT without fully being prepared resulting in mediocre scores. Ideally it is best to take the GMAT once. So before embarking on the exam there are some practical things to do to give you the best chance of success:-Take a practice test to see what your benchmark score is. If it is lower than 700 you will be better off doing additional preparation before taking the test. Practice tests can be found on www.MBA.com.-Identify where you are weak in (verbal versus quantitative) and focus your efforts in strengthening this area. This may involve self-study or a class. Some applicants can get away with a few sessions with a tutor instead of an entire class.-There are many test prep companies out there so you should do your homework before deciding on the best one. VT: Is it absolutely necessary to have work experience prior to starting an MBA degree? Chioma: It isnt absolutely necessary to have work experience and there are several accelerated MBA programs that allow college seniors to go directly from undergraduate study to the MBA. However, I recommend getting some experience prior to the MBA. You can better contribute to the classroom by drawing on real experiences instead of relying solely on theoretical lessons from a previous course. If you are choosing to do a Masters degree in Management, you dont need to have work experience. VT: What are the characteristics of a great MBA program? Chioma: One of the main characteristics of a great MBA program is that it attracts a truly diverse set of candidates across industries, sectors, countries, etc. This diversity creates a stimulating environment where students can grow and learn from one another. Secondly, a successful MBA program must have committed faculty who are invested in teaching and developing their students. It is also important that the faculty have expertise across a wide variety of business subjects (finance, marketing, operations, management, etc.) to give students a firm foundation in business education. Finally, on the career side, a great MBA program has to have a track record of success preparing students to attain employment when they graduate. It is vital to look at employment statistics as well as the industries and companies that recruit at the school to ensure that there is a fit between you and the schools you are interested in applying to. Visit EXPARTUS for more information or follow Chioma on Twitter @EXPARTUS.The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

How to Create an SAT Prep Plan

How to Create an SAT Prep Plan If youve recently signed up for the SAT, youre probably beginning to think about preparation. While students often allot different amounts of time for this process, it is important to have a plan in place thats right for you. For some students, this means a year of preparation; for others, a few months. No matter which category you find yourself in, it is important that you develop a plan that will maximize your time and your score. The first step of preparation is simply to know how youre going to approach your study sessions. Create an SAT prep plan with these tips: Establish a timeline Before you can effectively plan your study time, you need to know exactly how much of it is available. If youve got a year until the test, youll study differently than if youre taking the test in two months. Know your test date and time frame. Youll also need to know how long you can study per week, day, etc. Plan for study sessions of varying length, but be honest with yourself about the amount of time you can actually contribute to SAT studying when taking into account your other ongoing commitments, such as extracurriculars, homework, a part-time job, etc. During this timeframe, youll also want to set some personal goals for the SAT. If you plan to study as a group with others, establish some group goals as well. Explore the test Its hard to study for a test you arent familiar with, so take this opportunity to open up the test and explore. Figure out the logistics (time requirements, tools youre allowed to have, etc.) and learn how the test is portioned out. Also note new changes to the SATs format, such as the elimination of the guessing penalty. Next, youll want to look at the actual questions. Begin by taking a quick sample of questions from different areas can you answer them? Eventually, youll want to take a practice test to identify areas of weakness. Focus your efforts After youve taken a practice SAT, you should be able to identify areas of possible weakness. Youll be able to see where you score well too, which tells you where to focus less of your efforts. Take a practice test a few times to make sure your results are accurate and consistent then, start studying. By now, youll know where you need more work, so begin there. Plan to focus the majority of your time in areas where you scored lower so you can improve your results. However, dont forget about the areas you do well in! These high scores can help boost your overall results, and you dont want to be rusty come test time. Consider using a prep book to guide your study experience as well for instance, you could directly review lessons on the reading section if you want to refine your skills there, or take a look at some math tips to refresh your mind on that area. Review test questions After youve taken a practice test, it can be helpful to meet with an SAT tutor to review the questions you got wrong and areas you continue to struggle with. A tutor can help clarify why you may be answering these incorrectly and shed light on the spots that are tripping you up. After going through the questions that provided trouble, take more practice tests until youre confident you have a better understanding of them. If studying with a group, it can be helpful to show up with a few sample questions that youve come up with this will diversify the questions youre exploring and broaden your knowledge base. Compare your scores It will be important that you track your progress as you continue to prep for the SAT. A great way to do this is not only by taking the practice tests, but by monitoring your scores each time as well. Are you consistent in subject areas of strength and weakness? Are your scores getting better? Knowing this will allow you to make adjustments to your SAT prep plan as needed. If your scores arent improving, youll need to allot more time to a certain subject area or change the way youre approaching it. A change in routine can make a world of difference. Approach the test with confidence Confident students tend to do better on tests, and this is especially true for long exams like the SAT. If you approach the test with confidence, your score could show it! To build yourself up, come prepared. By following an SAT prep plan, youll approach the exam with the knowledge and skills necessary to get the score you hope for. You may also want to practice driving to the test site and even take a practice test there if youre able these small gestures can make you feel at ease when the actual day comes, resulting in a test score that reflects all of your hard work. Any topics you want to know more about? Let us know! The Varsity Tutors Blog editors love hearing your feedback and opinions. Feel free to email us at blog@varsitytutors.com.

The Best Sports Watches for Personal Training

The Best Sports Watches for Personal Training A Guide to The Best Running Watches to buy this Year ChaptersThe popularity of the Sports WatchTips for Choosing a Sports WatchTop 10 Sports Watches 2018Whether you're a professional sportsperson or an amateur who only just decided to take their fitness seriously, using the right tools can make a huge difference to the effectiveness of your exercise program. Fitness watches would quickly come into the picture, but do you really need them, and how do you select the one that's right for you? In this article, we will discuss your options.In 2016, 49.2 million connected watches were sold all over the world. Quite a small number, compared to over 1.5 billion smartphones sold worldwide in 2017.Nevertheless, smartwatches are all the rage right now, and more and more manufacturers are into a specific type of this digital device: sports watches.With more and more people desiring to stay healthy and fit, training watches are coming in very handy.In many ways, these watches complete the smartphone.You can install apps on them, they have GPS funct ion, as well as storage capacity - so you can listen to music while jogging - and have a whole suite of functions which both the newbie sportier and professional athletes will find very useful:PedometerGyrometerHeart rate monitorGPS receiver,Speed and distance indicatorAltimeter, compassBlood oxygen levels, etc.What sports watch will help you reach your fitness goals faster? (Photo Credit: visualhunt)There are so many watch brands out there, so how do you go about selecting the best training watch for your needs? This article has a mini guide on the top 10 sports watches out there.Tips for Choosing a Sports WatchRather than use  exercise machines, take advantage of technology...With the numerous features they come with, running watches serve as more than just connected wristbands, and are increasingly becoming an indispensable tool in sports.It can be a pretty tricky deciding which sports watch to use. Not to worry, Superprof is here to help (Photo Credit: visualhunt)A great fitness watch optimises your exercise training just like a personal trainer.It helps youLose weightBurn excess caloriesForge aheadCalculate the distance covered (using the GPS function),Measure your heart rateSome training watches designed for extreme sports have an altimeter, a compass, a barometer, as well as a thermometer.Most mobile phone manufacturers including Samsung, Sony, Huawei and Nokia - are in a race to become the most competitive in this market. Whether on iOS or Android, you should have in mind these three criteria when choosing a watch:Screen type: LCD screen? transflective screen? check. Pointers, Oled screens? Check.Compatibility with other smartphones: Apple Watch, Withings Activity and NévoWatch Névo for iPhone 5 and 6, Samsung Gear for Android,Activity tracking feature, synchronised with a smartphoneProcessing powerStorage capacityInbuilt sensors: oxygen level (VO2Max), pedometer, gyroscope, heart rate monitor, camera, GPS chipSports coach applicationsWireless connec tivityBattery charging: via micro USB port, by wireless contact,Autonomy: up to 3 days without charge? Check.Water resistance: some watches are waterproof up to 50 meters deep in waterLook and design: Just like jewellery, the design, thickness and colour are very important too.Does your training coach have to use exercise machines? Well, not if he has a smartwatch!Top 10 Sports Watches 2018There are just so many connected watch brands out there, we cannot mention them all. But here's a list of the ones we think are the best.Samsung Gear S3Probably the coolest thing about this watch is that when it's synced smartphone is too far away from the watch, the wi-fi comes on to maintain the connection.The built-in S Health app tracks the physical activity of the wearer and enables a complete activity tracking.Samsung Gear S3 is versatile and sleek. (Photo credit: Andri Koolme on Visual Hunt)The size of your stride and height of your step are automatically recorded, and you can start an exer cise session by choosing from fifteen different sports.Data is automatically calculated: from distance covered, to calories burned, to your heart rate during physical activity (the heart rate monitor functions nonstop anyways during training).This wristwatch is just right for high blood pressure patients, but costs quite a chunk, with its £399 price tag.The ProsGPSloudspeakeroptional LTE telephone servicepayment service anywhere in the world.Spotify for great music on the goWorks with most Android phones, and even iPhones to some extent.Attractive design and intuitive interface with a spinning bezel.The ConsThe iOS connection works but is not stable.Few applications use independent LTE services.The Tizen-based operating system supports fewer applications than Apple Watch or Android Wear.Bottom Line: the Samsung watch sits right on top of the pack, as one of the best options for Android users.Sony Smartwatch 3The Sony Smartwatch 3 comes with a GPS chip that records the physical acti vity of the wearer, even when it is not connected to its sister smartphone.The ProsSmooth performanceIn-built GPSGreat displayMicroUSB chargerThe ConsNot particularly sleekUnstable GPS performanceFiddly charging portNon-standard charging portThis watch has no application for monitoring the heart rateIt's ok, it's an entry-level product and you can get it for just £110.Sony wearable devices have some huge advantages compared to others. (Photo credit: pestoverde on Visualhunt.com)Withings Steel HRThis wearable device is compatible with iOS and Android and is urban, elegant, and sporty all in one go.At a price range of between £190 and £200, here are some of the features you get with this training watch:Heart rate monitor,  ideal for persons who have been living sedentary lifestyles for a long time,A sleep quality tracker, for persons with sleeping disorders (for example, persons suffering stress, anxiety, even depression),A chronometer  that enables you to measure the exact time an d distance covered during a running sessionThis watch has an impressive level of autonomy, being able to stay up to 25 days without charge at regular usage!Apple Watch Series 2The high points of this training watch are its pulse calculator as well as a stopwatch to measure your time in a race.The only difference between this and the first generation Apple Watch is an inbuilt GPS chip to enable you to measure the distance covered.Outdoor amateur sportspersons can calculate atmospheric pressure using the barometer pre-installed in this cardio GPS watch.It is perfect for swimming enthusiasts and even divers: the watch is water resistant even up to 50 feet underwater!The ProsExcellent follow-up on your fitnessThe GPS enables versatile usage of the watchLong-lasting battery lifeQuick performanceBright and magnificent screenThe ConsOnly compatible with iOSQuite expensive...with price ranging from £410  to £465!Huawei Watch 2This Chinese-made watch is made waterproof according to IP68 st andards; you can immerse it in water up to a depth of 1.5 metres for half an hour.The wristwatch is  just perfect  for sports, and comes with:GPS  chip,Heart rate monitor,Digital CompassGyroscope,Accelerometer,VO2max  (tracks blood oxygen levels),NFC connection, Bluetooth and 4G Wifi  (with SIM card)Whether you are going for a jogging session, a brisk walk, or training in the gym, you can listen to music and get sports coaching right from this watch!Real-time activity monitoring also enables you to keep track of your performance and make progress.You can get it for a price of between 280 and 330 euros.Find the best online personal trainer on Superprof.Suunto Ambit 2S Graphite HRThis multisport cardio GPS watch is very useful for track races, swimming, biking and all other outdoor sports.It is both stylish and has a comprehensive range of features.AltimeterCompassSystematic detection of movement typeRecording of data in historyHeart rate beltGPS receiverWater resistance up to 50 metr es of waterPower cell (for cycling)Detector for the type of swimmingVirtual sports coach functionYou can get it from £299; it's one of the most talked about on the webGarmin VivoActive HRThis is a high-sensitivity watch with a bracelet to track physical activity.Its features includeHeart rate monitorTracking of calories burntDistance calculatorAltimeterCompassWeather and Temperature appTraining pace calculatorSleep quality analyserWith this watch you can do different sports types like running and swimming; it can measure distance covered as the duration of your sessions, whether you are biking, playing golf, canoeing, or doing indoor sports...Garmin Fitness Watch (Photo Credit: evanscycles.com)Garmin's latest strategy sacrifices quality and brightness of the display in favour of longer battery life, which largely explains the average display of VivoActive.You can see graphs on the screen to get an idea of the changes in your physical condition over time.If you miss your training or get complacent, the watch reminds its owner it is time to move!You can get it for just £240, and it is one of the best products on the market.Polar V800 GPSThis GPS sports watch is ideal for running, cycling and swimming, and is perfect for triathlons.Athletes who desire to progress and improve their performances can't resist this running watch, which combines the latest technology with simple design.It has all you would want in a running watch:GPS functionAltimeterInclinometerBarometerSleep quality analyser:  deep sleep, light sleepIn addition, you can plan a complete exercise programme thanks to its 13 hours of autonomy and a super memory of 99 hours!Prices start at £360. Not particularly cheap, but hey, it has the full range of functions.TomTom Runner 3This watch comes with an mp3 player and a real-time itinerary tracker, all at a price of £249.What beats listening to your favourite song while jogging, doing abdominal exercises, or during a cycling session outdoors? The advan tage is that you can listen using the Bluetooth connection, without having to connect a cord from your wrist to your headphones.The activity tracker on the display makes it perfect for running, hiking or walking. You can download an itinerary and do your mountaineering, without getting lost again. Ever!Go mountaineering anywhere without fearing you'll get lost. Your adventure awaits! (Photo Credit: adventures365.in)Outlined below are some of the features of this watch:Activity trackerGPS chipHeart rate wristbandTracking of calories burnedWater resistance up to 30 meters deep in waterTraining plans availableSpeed indicator (km/h)Personal assistantMP3 playerMoto 360 2nd GenerationThis seems to be the best sports watch in the Android Wear Suite.For just £300, this Motorola sports watch has everything to satisfy any athlete.Compatible with Android and iOs, this uncomplicated training watch also allows you to automatically update the apps.It's quite an extension of your smartphone; it's a veritable sporting coach and comes in handy for everyday usage. This fitness watch is well adapted for both light and intense sporting activities.Features:A customizable  news feedTraining pace calculatorDistance calculatorTracking of calories burntActivity reminders,  to help you stay motivated towards reaching your fitness goalsHeart rate monitor,  available upon downloading the appYou can use this watch without a synced smartphone during a running session.So what are you waiting for? Go grab one of those and make the most of your training! Let your watch be your personal trainer!Check out the home fitness equipment you can buy here.See what other fitness equipment is out there to use in gyms.Discover these other sports gadgets for the keen sportsperson.

The Results are In Success at the Stretch Academy

The Results are In Success at the Stretch Academy We here at the Tutorfair Foundation and Stretch Academy have just received some outstanding news that had to be shared. A huge part of why the Tutorfair Foundation and Stretch Academy help bring high quality tuition to inner city schools is because it helps close the education gap between low and high income families. Wilbury Primary School is just one such example of this gap. Over the past 20 years only one student from Wilbury primary has progressed on to a selective school. As of today, four (four!) students from Stretch Academy's 2014  cohort were accepted to selective schools, with one winning a full scholarship to the local independent. The work done by Wilbury staff and Tutorfair volunteers really does make a huge difference. We can't thank you all enough for your incredible support. The Tutorfair Foundation promises that for every child who pays, we give free tutoring to a child who can't. To learn more, check out  our Foundation Programs  or  get involved  today!

Linking Knowledge

Linking Knowledge “Supertutor” Mark Maclaine is Tutorfair's Co-founder and Director of Learning.  Mark is currently working on his new book which is based on a series of real life clients and the experiences he has gained over his many years of tutoring. The second snippet of this series looks at how tutors can  link a student's pre-existing knowledge to the knowledge the already possess and gives some examples of how linking knowledge can help enhance their learning.   Linking knowledge The ranking systems of online search engines like Google are partly based on how many other websites link to a particular site. Similarly, memories that are linked to many others are more robust, and less likely to be forgotten, than those out on a limb. As a tutor, try and link what you’re teaching to as much pre-existing knowledge as possible, preferably deeply ingrained knowledge. One teacher I interviewed for this book, Alf Erevall, who’d been teaching for forty years, told me simply “your teaching is only as good as your analogies.” Analogies are not only fun, they contribute to the robustness of memories, because they require students to link ideas. Interestingly, they actually work because they are imperfect. As Malcolm Gladwell puts it, “You want the analogy to be a little bit odd because that's what attracts people's attention. And that's what makes them want to talk about it.” The link is analogical not logical, and as my Google example goes to show, needn’t be perfect! In general, the more links you help your student make, the better. This is especially true when you’re introducing a new topic. Ask yourself: are there ways I can link this to what they already know or things they find important? It can be useful when you connect these to topics you’ve previously covered together. Even small links can create connections in the brain that not only reinforce new learnings but also the old ones too. Here is an example: Top tips on how to link topics as a tutor   Here are some ideas for linking topics so they appear more relevant to a student’s life: Introduce topics in a way that has some relevance to their everyday lives. First find out what interests them. If they love horses, calculate how much a horse should be eating, or write a letter to mum to convince her to buy one. Teach topics using topics students find interesting: “if YouTube paid your favourite star £2 per 1000 views, let’s work out how much she made from her last ten videos.” Sometimes using topics that are a little gross, or funny, can peak interest: “You know how your dentist tells you to look after your dental health, now we’re going to see some pictures of what happens if you don’t.” Rewrite topic questions using names of the student’s friends or celebrities they admire Demonstrate maths topics, from addition to compound interest, using items they may indeed want to buy, like computer games. Or try calculating the number of points needed to win the league. If you don’t know much about a sport let them teach you! Have them write persuasive writing pieces on topics they genuinely care about, or by writing letters to people they admire. Get up and move: when demonstrating the relationship between angles in triangles, and their opposite sides, create models or stand up and demonstrate these with pieces of string. With a little creativity almost any topic can be linked to another.

Happy Thanksgiving from L.A.

Happy Thanksgiving from L.A. Once again Thanksgiving is upon us. A time for relatives and friends to gather together and enjoy a huge turkey and or Ham dinner with all the trimmings and express their love and thankfulness for the bounty that lies in front of them. Giving thanks for their fruitful and abundant lives. I can’t really find anything wrong with that, except maybe the conflicting histories of Thanksgivings foundation, if you will. Oh no, is he going to get into all that horrible we slaughtered the natives and invited the survivors to dinner stuff again.   Well no. OK maybe a little, but first let’s look at what we’re doing here. We get all the family members together in one place, even the ones who are not talking to each other right now. My parents’ generation would have mom in the kitchen cooking a huge turkey while all the side dishes are heating up on the stove. She would spend all day working on this yearly feast. Maybe Aunt Mary and little Audrey were in there helping out. The guys are all sitting around the living room or den, drinking beer, watching football and arguing about who’s the best running back of all time. I like what Jim Brown said when he was asked; “Would you say you were the best running back in history?” And he said, “Well if I said any one of the great running backs that have played this game were the best, then I would be insulting the rest of the very few men that can do what we do”. Only the best would say that! This year we’re doing things differently. Moms getting pretty old and half the family is so far away we don’t know when we’ll see everyone again. So my wife had an idea. Let’s call “Marie Calendars” and order their thanksgiving dinner premade. Well, I thought this was a little cheesy. I know my wife works very hard at the office and has little time for meal planning much less baking. So I said, OK let’s do it. Even though I knew we would be the only weird pathetic family ordering a takeout turkey dinner on Thanksgiving. So, two weeks before the holiday the wife calls in the order. “What do you mean sold out?” She said into the phone. Apparently we are not the only folks thinking, who has time to cook all day any more. It seems that my generation is not the Betty Crocker generation, especially in Los Angeles! I’m sure plenty of people still spend all day preparing Thanksgiving dinners, however I suspect there are much fewer than those that came before us. Lucky for us Wholefoods still had a few openings on holiday turkey dinners so we are saved. Now the only thing left to do is to discuss the history of Thanksgiving back in the 1600’s with the pilgrims and the Indians and all that. Nah, just kidding, maybe next year. But if you would like to really know there are plenty of history tutors at TutorZ.com! Happy Thanksgiving from L.A. Once again Thanksgiving is upon us. A time for relatives and friends to gather together and enjoy a huge turkey and or Ham dinner with all the trimmings and express their love and thankfulness for the bounty that lies in front of them. Giving thanks for their fruitful and abundant lives. I can’t really find anything wrong with that, except maybe the conflicting histories of Thanksgivings foundation, if you will. Oh no, is he going to get into all that horrible we slaughtered the natives and invited the survivors to dinner stuff again.   Well no. OK maybe a little, but first let’s look at what we’re doing here. We get all the family members together in one place, even the ones who are not talking to each other right now. My parents’ generation would have mom in the kitchen cooking a huge turkey while all the side dishes are heating up on the stove. She would spend all day working on this yearly feast. Maybe Aunt Mary and little Audrey were in there helping out. The guys are all sitting around the living room or den, drinking beer, watching football and arguing about who’s the best running back of all time. I like what Jim Brown said when he was asked; “Would you say you were the best running back in history?” And he said, “Well if I said any one of the great running backs that have played this game were the best, then I would be insulting the rest of the very few men that can do what we do”. Only the best would say that! This year we’re doing things differently. Moms getting pretty old and half the family is so far away we don’t know when we’ll see everyone again. So my wife had an idea. Let’s call “Marie Calendars” and order their thanksgiving dinner premade. Well, I thought this was a little cheesy. I know my wife works very hard at the office and has little time for meal planning much less baking. So I said, OK let’s do it. Even though I knew we would be the only weird pathetic family ordering a takeout turkey dinner on Thanksgiving. So, two weeks before the holiday the wife calls in the order. “What do you mean sold out?” She said into the phone. Apparently we are not the only folks thinking, who has time to cook all day any more. It seems that my generation is not the Betty Crocker generation, especially in Los Angeles! I’m sure plenty of people still spend all day preparing Thanksgiving dinners, however I suspect there are much fewer than those that came before us. Lucky for us Wholefoods still had a few openings on holiday turkey dinners so we are saved. Now the only thing left to do is to discuss the history of Thanksgiving back in the 1600’s with the pilgrims and the Indians and all that. Nah, just kidding, maybe next year. But if you would like to really know there are plenty of history tutors at TutorZ.com!