Students | The Whole Kitten Kaboodle

How Google Docs Can Help Students

Students often have to write essays on a variety of subjects throughout their classroom careers. The best word processor for students may be the free, cloud-based Google Docs.

First of all, Google Docs will be helpful in your careers just because it can open a multitude of file types. This is helpful if your teacher or classmates use a different word processing program than you do. Microsoft Word may be the most popular word processing program in academia but some people may still use Microsoft Works and there are a handful of other programs that can crop up once in a while. Google Docs can open almost any text file from a program that is in widespread use, so you’ll never have to go searching for a converter online again.

You can even create free online forms through Google Docs which is both easy to start creating and can be used for real-time collaboration. If you need to do a poll or survey for class, just create an online form within minutes and have responses automatically saved for you. This saves time in both pushing out the poll and collecting and collating reponses since you can copy and paste directly into another program.

Finally, Google Docs is saved onto the cloud – i.e., an outside server – instead of your home computer. This means if your computer ever crashes, you’ve got a backup copy available at any computer that has Internet access. Similarly, if you realize you need to make last-minute changes right before class, just open up the document on any computer and make the changes you need.

Filed Under: General, Students Tagged With: Google Docs, Students

The Choice of Living Off Campus or On Campus

For most students college is a time of new-found freedom and intellectual exploration. It’s the first time students have to make decision and rely on their own judgment to help them get the most out of their college experience. One of the first big decisions college students must make, is whether to live in on-campus or off-campus housing.

There are many pros and cons to both and students must be aware of them to make an informed decision. First, on campus housing means you are close to everything and everyone in school. You can walk to most of your classes and you can make use of all the facilities students are entitled use. Some cons to on-campus housing is that usually they are quite small, cramped and you may have to share, not only your living space, but also your room. Some specific items you may wish to have if you choose to live on campus is space saving items. While it might make you laugh to be talking about Martha Stewart organization. The truth is that most dorm rooms are the size of large closets and consolidating space and not wasting it is critical to be able to live comfortably. A small fridge also comes in handy to keep your own food secure.

If you choose off-campus housing you will more than likely have the benefit of having your own room and a nicer living space. The drawbacks are that you could be farther away from school and might have to either drive or take some form of public transportation to school, which adds time to your schedule. Unless it comes furnished, you would need items typical for an apartment such as a mattress, desk and bedding. It would be wise to check into moving quotes if you wish to bring some of your personal possessions to make the transition to college life more smooth.

Filed Under: Higher Education, Students Tagged With: Campus, Dormitory, Student

The Importance of Reading Together

Learning to read is an important part of a child’s education. It is the foundation that a child must have underneath himself in order to learn other subjects. Getting an early start on reading is so beneficial to young children. In fact, the best way to make that happen is also one of the easiest. Start reading with your child early. Babies as young as six weeks old have been shown to become more calm when being held and read a story. At that age, it doesn’t matter what a parent reads as long as they use a happy, soothing voice for the child.

As your child grows, reading brightly colored and interesting books will gain their attention. Your interest in books will add to their interest in books, causing them to want to learn to read sooner. Children as young as two can open a book that they have heard often and tell the story from the pictures. After that they make the connection that the story comes from the words on the page as well. When the children learn their alphabet, they begin picking letters out of the same stories and matching the letters to sounds.

It may seem like a long process, but kids grow up so quickly. If you start young you will be surprised at how quickly they pick up on what you are trying to tell them. Reading is fun! Give them a little push now and in no time at all they will be reading to you.

The benefits do not stop at kindergarten. Studies show that students who were read to on a regular basis as babies are more likely to have a higher grade point average in high school and more likely to go to college after high school graduation. Good readers often do much better in school that those who struggle with reading.

Who would have ever imagined that you could give your child a better education and a chance at a better life just by reading with him or her every day?

Filed Under: Education, Students Tagged With: Education, Learning to read

Building Good Habits is Key to Responsibility

Elementary school is the time when children learn the very foundations of everything they will learn for the rest of their lives. They learn to read, they learn to count, they learn about the country they live in, and how to get along with their friends and neighbors. They also learn about responsibility.

Remembering to bring back books, supplies, and homework on a daily basis is one of hardest lessons that children in elementary school have to learn. The best way to help your child be a successful student is to help them learn to take responsibility for these things on their own.

If a child begins to have trouble finishing their homework or returning their items to school each day, you may need to step in an keep a closer eye on their habits. Building a daily routine is one great way to help your child develop the responsibility he or she needs to become a great student.

While different days of the week may have slightly differing schedules for a family, a student can have a rule that he or she sits down the moment they enter the house after school. “The house” could also be the baby-sitter’s, the daycare center’s, or even Grandma’s. If they complete their homework immediately and put everything back in their backpack before they get up from the table, there will be no lost items the next morning at school.

Another way to help older students form better habits, is to ask their homeroom teacher to help. Some teachers will be willing to email the student a list of assignments every day and send a carbon copy to the student’s parents. Amazingly enough, even the most forgetful student always remembers their email password.

Filed Under: Elementary, Students Tagged With: Elementary school, Homework

Complete College Quick With Online Courses

To some people, college is a social scene–an extension of high school, a place to meet and greet with classmates and another group of social cliques to join or ridicule as they please. Such people slack by in their classes, find camaraderie in complaining about the high prices of their textbooks, are the life of the party, and quite frequently flunk their classes because learning wasn’t what they came to college for in the first place.

If you are one of the people who attends college to learn rather than goof off, likely you’re also the type who is irritated when such jokers slow down your classes by asking inane questions and making you wait to hear something you already know. If that sounds like you and if college in general feels too slow-paced, you should consider attending your courses online. Web sites such as earnmydegree.com have all-online versions of dozens of complete study courses to get all the same kinds of college degrees that you can get by attending school in person. Minus the hooligans.

Online college is not a social scene. It has no parties in dorm rooms, no social groups forming in the corners because they dress the same or enjoy the same sport, and they’re by far not the best place to pick up a date for Friday night. They are, however, an excellent place to learn the things your degrees agree to teach you, uninterrupted and often at a much faster pace than in-person colleges can. Many degrees that can take two years or more to acquire in traditional college take only 6 months to complete in an online classroom.

Online courses are made up of weekly packets; you simply do your work each week before the deadline and turn it in, and you’re a good student. No kissing up to the teacher required.

Filed Under: High School, Students Tagged With: Distance education, Education, eLearning

How parents can help their kids start and finish school

A parent has a lot of responsibility for their child’s education. Preparing their child for school and making sure they’re staying on track is one of those responsibilities. It’s up to the parent to make sure the know know what kids need to start and finish school.
Before a student goes to kindergarten, in most states, shots are needed and also proof of birth, like a birth certificate must be presented. Besides these requirements, it’s a good idea for parents to go a step beyond and start working with their child academically before they even start kindergarten.
Kids succeed and do better the earlier they start learning. Kids can be taught at home to read and write and say the alphabet. All of these help a kid when they go to school, and is part of what kids need to start and finish school. By giving them a great start, a child is more likely to finish school.
Through out the child’s education, a parent needs to stay involved in their child’s education. Parent involvement is a big part of what kids need to start and finish school. Parents should ask their child every night if they have any homework. A parent also needs to stay in touch with the child’s teacher to check up on the child’s progress.
Kids also need a healthy diet and lots of sleep to start and finish well. A well-rested child that eats a balanced diet will do better in school and is more likely to finish school. Kids should eat breakfast every morning before going to school to make sure they’re on track.
Having proper supplies is also part of what kids need to start and finish school. A parent should carefully look over the supplies list each school year to make sure their child has everything on this list.
Knowing what kids need to start and finish school helps a parent guide their child through the educational process.

Filed Under: High School, Parents, Students Tagged With: Academic term, Child, Education, Kindergarten

College, Jobs and Paydayone.com

College is thought to be one of the most important, influential, and fun times in a person’s life. It is usually the first time young adults are on their own, the first time they are responsible for their life path, and it may very well be that the decisions and friendships made during those years are those that will and should last a lifetime.

One of the most significant developments to college life in recent years is the astronomical rise in tuition rates. Many students have found themselves to be in a bind and had to rely on lifesaving companies such as PayDayOne.com to get by from time to time. This cash crunch has led many students to not only try to receive grants and secure loans but also to secure jobs, sometime even full-time, while they are going to school. There are many resources on a college campus which could help you land a job. First of all, look among your friends. Do any of them work where you could pick up some extra cash on a regular basis? If so, don’t be too shy to ask. Even if it is a friend of a friend or just an acquaintance you never know where the conversation might lead and it is a great way to practice the networking skills you will need in the future.

Another option is to visit your schools career resource center. Many universities and colleges have these set up in place not only to land you a job after graduating but also to help you land a job during your time in school. Most career services have hundreds of college appropriate jobs listed for students. Whether it be in research or waiting tables, each of these jobs will more likely to be flexible with their schedules since they are targeting college students for their workforce.

Filed Under: Students

What Your Child Should Know Before Starting Kindergarten

Kindergarten can be an exciting time for you and your child. It can also be a confusing time. Many parents have questions about what their children should know before the first day of school arrives. Because school, including kindergarten, is much more about learning than playing, there are some things you may want to make sure your child is familiar with before his or her first day of kindergarten.

The Alphabet: One of the most important things your child should know before stepping foot in a classroom is the alphabet. Your child should, at the very least, be able to recognize and recite all of the letters. Being able to write the letters, as well as spell his or her own name is also helpful, too.

Math: In kindergarten, your child will learn basic shapes. In most classrooms, he or she will be counting these shapes. Your child should know numbers 1-10, and be able to recognize them, if possible. Addition and subtraction of small numbers is also recommended.

Colors & Days of the Week: Children should know about the world we live in. This includes basic colors (such as the colors in a rainbow), days of the week, the four seasons, and holidays. These things will be talked about a lot throughout the kindergarten school year, so the more familiar your child is with them, the better.

This may seem like a lot of information for your child to know, but it’s really just the basics. As such, you shouldn’t work yourself into a frenzy if he or she doesn’t know everything mentioned above. Teaching them is easy. Simply asking your child about colors and asking him or her to count is enough. Reading educational books is a good idea. Get creative. The more you make learning fun, the more receptive your child will be to learning, and you’ll be able to rest easy knowing he or she is ready for kindergarten.

Filed Under: Education, Elementary, Students Tagged With: Child, Kindergarten

Simple Ways To Help Your Child Succeed In School

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In regards to a child’s education, parents play an essential role in helping their child succeed throughout the entire experience. Many parents may become nervous at this prospect and mistakenly believe that they themselves must be highly educated in order to help their child embrace school. However, there are many tips and advice for parents that do not require parents to possess a specific level of education. In reality, it is far more important for parents to consistently demonstrate an overall positive attitude about school. This simple, yet crucial action will give your child the extra encouragement they need to succeed in school, even when things become difficult.

Parents can help their children start to think creatively about career aspirations and educational goals by sparking discussions about potential careers that are of interest to the child. At this point in a child’s development, it is important to foster the idea that anything is possible through hard work and a complete education.

Other tips and advice for parents include the fact that children are very impressionable. Therefore, parents must be careful not to let any of their personal negative impressions of school rub off onto their children. Instead, think back on the positive points of your educational memories, and use your successes to help your children in their own right.

Also, embrace the value of setting goals. These can be related to the simple act of turning in a project on time, or reaching the next level of the school spelling bee. Although it is important to keep your child motivated throughout the learning process, try not to let them get too competitive, so that the learning value of the goal is diminished.

Finally, talk to your children about school, even if it is something as simple as asking them about any exciting events that occurred during the school day. An effort to stay involved in the educational process will help your children follow your lead.

Filed Under: High School, Higher Education, Students Tagged With: Child, Education, Family, Learning, Parent

Narrowing the College Search

Narrowing down your child’s list of potential college choices can be a stressful undertaking, especially if the list is a long one. There are many things to take into consideration when helping your child choose the next step in his or her education. Below is a list of items to consider that will make the narrowing and selection process a little easier.

• Number of degrees offered (broad range or smaller number)
• Majors/minors offered
• Distance from home/family (a few hours’ drive or across the country)
• Size of the student population (as small as 1,000 students or as large as 35,000+ students)
• State college vs. private college (cost is also a consideration here)
• Cost (including, but not limited to, tuition)
• Financial aid (including work study opportunities)
• Campus resources (labs, libraries, computer/internet access, etc.)
• Graduation/retention rate (for advanced degrees)
• Class sizing (small versus large)
• Safety (on campus and in the surrounding community)
• Social life (fraternities/sororities, sports (including club teams), hobby groups, etc.)
• Housing options (dormitories, on/off-campus apartments, living with parents)

This list is a typical one that includes many of the factors that you will want to and should consider as you assist your child in choose a school that is best for him or her. The items you consider will depend on what you want for your child and what your child wants out of the colleges that are being considered.

The best way to get much of the information that will help narrow the list of colleges is to visit the campuses of those schools. Whether taking an individual tour or a group one, your tour guide will be happy to answer any questions you might have. A campus visit is also the best opportunity to have questions answered that are departmentally specific (such as financial aid inquiries).

However you go about it, rest assured that the more answers you have, the easier it will be to help your child choose a school that is fitting for him or her.

Filed Under: Education, Higher Education, Students Tagged With: College, Higher Education