Learning@HOME Educational Guide http://www.growaseed.com GROW A SEED - a child a future Wed, 30 Jun 2010 02:14:56 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 en Wholesome education is much needed http://www.growaseed.com/wholesome-education-is-much-needed/ http://www.growaseed.com/wholesome-education-is-much-needed/#comments Sun, 20 Jun 2010 08:23:55 +0000 admin http://www.growaseed.com/?p=819 These days towards the end of 1st term schooling year, many schools had their students assessment result known. I received a phone-call from a friend who told me that his 6yo son in kindergarten scored 100% marks in most of the papers tested. I was speechless as to whether I should congratulate or praise him over the ‘hi-scores’ he could achieved. She called maybe because one of my son is in the same age as hers and wants me to say that his child is an excellent performer.

Thus, it is pertinent that we reassess the values our society places on examinations and marks in this 21st century of living. We must recognized that examinations are not the sole and only instruments for competition and comparison. The marks or grades a student obtains just tell him how much of the knowledge areas tested he has mastered. His marks and grades have nothing to do with the marks and grades of his classmates. There is no need to compare, much less to compete.

Well schooled and well educated are 2 different things. What is important is that each child should be encouraged to work hard and exploit his potential to the fullest from the very beginning. Parents can play a role in providing them proper guidance and coach in bringing out their potentials.

Children should be relieved of the pressure to perform exceptionally well in all and many other subjects. If the society as a whole known and taught the true purpose of examinations and education from the very beginning,  we will be surprised at how easy and fun the learning could be in their schooling years.

As the saying goes: “What we have known is just the palm size, there are still ocean big of knowledge we have yet to explore”.  A child’s schooling and education should help to prepare him on a wholesome basis. The moment he leaves school and enters the work place, he will be evaluated on everything else.

]]> http://www.growaseed.com/wholesome-education-is-much-needed/feed/ Breakfast - A healthy head start http://www.growaseed.com/breakfast-a-healthy-head-start/ http://www.growaseed.com/breakfast-a-healthy-head-start/#comments Sun, 06 Jun 2010 10:32:30 +0000 admin http://www.growaseed.com/?p=817 Can kids concentrate in learning if they are left to school with empty stomach? Well, it is known that they can’t. It is crucial to give the children the best during the formative years from ages one to six, as your child begins to develop physically, emotionally, socially and mentally. A Chinese proverb says, “What you eat is shown on your face; what you wear is shown on your body.” Thus, we could imagine how important it is of what we eat.

We had frequently heard this saying: “Want to be more competent in class or score higher on a test - eat breakfast.”  What to change and adopt a more healthier family lifestyle, simply “breaks” the overnight “fast” and have the morning meal together with your spouse and children. Eating breakfast kick-starts your body into action and help your brain work best.

Suggestion: Make an egg sandwich with 1 scrambled egg on 2 slices of wholemeal bread spread with butter. It makes a fast and healthy breakfast choice.

]]> http://www.growaseed.com/breakfast-a-healthy-head-start/feed/ LIVING SKILLS How to acquire http://www.growaseed.com/living-skills-how-to-acquire/ http://www.growaseed.com/living-skills-how-to-acquire/#comments Sat, 14 Nov 2009 11:49:36 +0000 admin http://www.growaseed.com/?p=792 Why do we educate ourselves? Why do parents spend so much money giving their children and education? Why is there so much emphasis on the acquisition of a degree? The only answer you get is “to get a good job so that you earn lots of money”. But is this happening? Are our kids getting the right kind of education, one which will give them a great job and an even greater career path?

Looking at the present environment, I shudder when I think about the job opportunities being few and far between for young graduates who possess the qualifications. Graduates are educated but do not get the jobs because they lack the most important ingredients for the job market - living skills for the corporate environment.

Our educators have only now caught on that what is taught in university and what is needed in the corporate world have little correlation. The only graduates who have some hope of securing jobs are those who are professionally trained.

What are the living skills that everyone is talking about? These skills are basically elements of social and business etiquette and good manners that are required for the conduct of one in society in the social and business worlds. And how do you learn these skills? It begins at home, from early as a year old, right through school, university and later on in the organisation that employs. This is also called corporate culture.

Briefly, here’s what everyone should know in order to be selected for a job, be it his first or the top job.


The  way you present yourself is your personal advertisement to the outside world and these include:

  • Physical characteristics
  • Clothes
  • Grooming

First impressions are made by the way you dress, by your tone of voice and by your mannerisms. When you wear jeans and a T-shirt to an interview, you are telling the organisation that you cannot be bothered about their corporate dress code and you did not even take the trouble to dress appropriately for the occasion. But how do you know all this if you are not prepared for it during your three or more years in university?

This is the non-verbal skill that is so vital. We never realise that our customers get irritated or offended with our facial expressions. You can easily show your displeasure or even discrimination by your body language even without realising it. And you wonder where you went wrong. The elements of body language are:

  • Mannerisms
  • Posture
  • Gesture
  • Personal Space

Every country has their own interpretation of gestures and mannerisms. If you are a travelling executive, you should be aware of these gestures so that you do not offend. International protocol has often been breached because of someone’s insensitivity. With globalisation, this information is vital for our survival in the business world.

This is the element that distinguishes the leaders from the followers. Do you have what it takes to influence your team to achieve success? Are you a visionary? When you walk into a room, does conversation cease? These are what you must have to have presence:

  • Charisma
  • Confidence
  • Self-esteem

A charismatic person has personal charm as well as the power of influence or the ability to inspire people. They have developed confidence along the way and have very positive feelings about their ability to do things and to achieve success in whatever they do. They are disciplined, focused and know what they want to achieve.

This is the most vital ingredients for a success executive. It is what they do not teach you to do properly in schools or even in university. You must know:

  • Speaking style
  • Writing style
  • Listening style
  • Thinking style
  • Presentation style

Communication is undeniably the most powerful tool in a person’s repertoire of skills. It is wise to remember that the words you use often determine the success and failure of your interactions. This is a learned art. The language you choose to use must be understood by both parties; the choice of words, organisation of thought and message you convey must be received correctly.

This is what you earn when you are able to impress people with your skills and talents which include:

  • Visibility
  • Track record
  • Experience
  • Qualifications

Visibility is not a bad word. When you are the first to say hello, when you are the first to raise your hand to volunteer to do a job or a task, when you are able to complete projects given the deadline, when you do jobs error-free, when you learn new things and do them well, all these add up to a reputable track record, great experience and an awesome reputation. You can earn this reputation even as early as in primary school, not just at university.

Why do you think corporate organisations ask you for “extra-curricular” activities when they want to hire someone? They are not interested in “bookworms”, people who only knew how to pass exams. That is not what life is all about. You must have interacted with people, learned interpersonal skills and understand what it is to be sensitive to other people’s beliefs and cultures.

In many organisations, employees who are proactive get a lot of flak from their colleagues. They are jealous of their skills and try to put them down. It takes a very positively motivated person to withstand the abrasive remarks and peer pressure. It certainly takes guts to be smart and to learn new things every day and to create a style that suits you as an individual. It takes courage to be a leader.

The ultimate responsibility of education is to facilitate the development of young, not just academic, but living skills as well. And the responsibility of the business world is to give young people the opportunity to put into practice the skills learnt. And if you look at the list of elements required for personal development, academic qualifications are at the bottom of the list!


]]> http://www.growaseed.com/living-skills-how-to-acquire/feed/ Shyness in adult and how to overcome http://www.growaseed.com/shyness-in-adult-and-how-to-overcome/ http://www.growaseed.com/shyness-in-adult-and-how-to-overcome/#comments Sat, 31 Oct 2009 10:05:28 +0000 admin http://www.growaseed.com/?p=769 Many people falter due to their apprehensions. Some hang their heads low because they are simply too afraid to approach their desired romantic prospects or their chosen social circles. Others crumble at the face of an audience, especially when delivering speeches. Some people also see themselves fit in a particular job but are simply too shy to pass their CVs and apply. Clearly, shyness keeps people from getting what they want and hinders them from unleashing their full potential.

Shyness comes in various forms. At first glance, some people may appear confident but they may suddenly succumb to shyness when placed in a particular situation such as seeing their crush, talking in front of a large crowd, or stating their opinions in front of their peers.

If you wish to banish your shyness away, here methods that you can apply to overcome this simple problem and take charge of your life’s master plan.

On Romance

So, you’re hopelessly in love with someone but you can’t do anything but admire him or her from a safe distance? Here are some tips that can help you break the ice.

  • The Research Method – Knowledge is power! Decades ago, gathering info about a person can be a problem but not with today’s modern technology. You can check out her profile in any social networking website to get to know her better. Take note of her interests, hobbies, dislikes, among others. If you find yourself too shy to make the first move, you can be casual with your approach by starting with a simple greeting and a smile. The ensuing conversations will come easier since you can focus on her interests and hobbies, while giving negative opinions about her dislikes.
  • The Fishing Scheme – No man or woman for that matter, is an island. With this in mind, you can ask your friend to fish some information about your prospect. For sure your friend will know someone who’s conceted to your prospect. It’s a small world after all!
  • Hitch on Hitchens – If you are at a loss for confidence and ideas for good strategies, you can rely on some movies to act as your ultimate dating guides. A good example is the movie “Hitch.” In this hit flick, Will Smith’s title character gives good advice on overcoming shyness and some of the best tips on dating your romantic prospects. You can apply many of Hitch’s teachings en route to successfully bagging your desired lovers. Other good movie references are “High Fidelity”, “Alfie”, and “50 First Dates.” Just make sure that you do not use the exact lines dropped by the characters in those dating movies. There is a good chance that your prospect has seen those chick flicks as well.

In Front of an Audience

In most cases, people get stage fright for all the wrong reasons. They can exclaim that the audience will ridicule or laugh at them even if they have prepared a good performance. Unfortunately, the thin line between ridicule and success is the veil of shyness that they cast on themselves.

  • Speech Classes – These give you the confidence to effectively deliver a speech in front of a large audience. Sometimes, you can even hide a bad speech through an exceptional delivery. You will probably shiver on stage during your initial sessions. As the speech class progresses, you will gradually get accustomed to speaking in front of people. Soon, delivering speeches or performing on stage will be as simple as any normal activity.
  • The Friendly Practice – A good form of training is expressing your tales and thoughts in front of an audience who you are comfortable with. You can control the conversations with your groups of friends. Set up the topics for conversation and introduce experimental things like jokes or snide one-liners. From that point on, you will know how to properly converse with your social circles by judging their reactions on the topics that you randomly open. You will gradually gain confidence through each conversation. Soon, you can deliver good speeches or stage performances as you treat your audience as your circle of friends.
  • An Encouraging Chant – On the average, the human mind retains a certain a particular piece of information after being repeated 23 times. You can take advantage of this detail by chanting “I can do this. I am good enough.” 23 times before going up on stage. You will then realize that you are actually a good performer as long as you are not controlled by your shyness on stage.

On Career Opportunities

Here are some methods to disempower shy excuses:

  • Reality Check – One good way to counteract shyness is to have a simple reality check. Devote some time for solitary moments then pinpoint where you currently are with your goals. When you get a firm grasp on the hindrances to your goals, work on each of them because you will be rewarded greatly in the end. A high salary is just a bonus as you reap some man’s greatest rewards — satisfaction and peace of mind. Noticeably, shyness is not a part of that process.
  • No Regrets – Regrets are known to haunt people for a good part of their lives until they get some sort of closure on the things that they regret about. You can use fear productively by programming yourself to fear regrets. Focus on how a single regret can paralyze you even worse than your shyness as you fail to move across some of the important phases in your life. You will then realize that life offers more than what you expected once you hurdle your shyness.

Shyness is normal especially when dealing with activities that you are unfamiliar with. You then have two options: to let your dreams and aspirations remain as mere thoughts or to brush your shyness aside and engage in the things that you long for. The right choice is pretty obvious.

Article picked from Howtogetridofstuff

]]> http://www.growaseed.com/shyness-in-adult-and-how-to-overcome/feed/ Language Tips http://www.growaseed.com/language-tips/ http://www.growaseed.com/language-tips/#comments Wed, 09 Sep 2009 10:28:57 +0000 admin http://www.growaseed.com/?p=754 6 Foreign expressions you should know

Whether you like it or not, foreign expressions represent an integral part of the English language (and of many other languages, too). Knowing the meaning and usage of the most used ones is very important.

First of all because it will enable you to understand pieces of text that include them. Secondly, because you might also need to use those expressions in particular situations (avoid using them just to sound smart, though).

Here are foreign expressions commonly used in English:

1. De facto - A Latin expression that means “actual” (if used as an adjective) or “in practice” (if used as an adverb). De facto (by practice) is the opposite of de jure (by law).

2. Vis-a-Vis - The literal meaning of this French expressions is “face to face” (used as an adverb). It is used more widely as a preposition, though, meaning “compared with” or “in relation to”.

3. Status quo - This famous Latin expression means “the current or existing state of affairs”. If something changes the status quo, it is changing the way things presently are.

4. Cul-de-sac - This expressions was originated in England by French-speaking aristocrats. Literally, it means “bottom of a sack”, but generally it refers to a dead-end street. “Cul-de-sac” can also be used metaphorically to express an action that leads to nowhere or an impasse. Example: “A cul-de-sac of poverty” (The Economist)

5. Per-se - A Latin expressions that means “by itself” or “intrinsically”.

6. Ad hoc - “Ad hoc”, borrowed from the Latin, can be used both as an adjective, where it means “formed or created with a specific purpose”, and as an adverb, where it means “for the specific purpose or situation”.

- from Daily Writing Tips

]]> http://www.growaseed.com/language-tips/feed/ TV-watching guidelines http://www.growaseed.com/tv-watching-guidelines/ http://www.growaseed.com/tv-watching-guidelines/#comments Mon, 03 Aug 2009 14:38:36 +0000 admin http://www.growaseed.com/?p=744 Monitoring your child’s TV Viewing

• Limit the amount of TV your child watches. More than two hours a day is too much. To make it seem to your child that he’s watching more — and to keep his little brain from going on autopilot as he watches — break up viewing into ten- to 15-minute increments. You should also keep the television out of your child’s bedroom and turned off during mealtimes.

• Avoid setting a firm TV time “allowance” for your child. This seems counterintuitive, but it’s surprisingly effective. You may want to let your child come to you when he wants to watch and keep to yourself what the absolute maximum is. That way, you’ll avoid tacitly sending the message that there’s a certain amount he “should” be watching.

• Make television physically inconvenient. Too often, television is a backdrop to family life: It blares away in the den or great room while the kids are playing, Mom’s cooking, or the family is eating. Consider putting the TV in a small, out-of-the-way room in the house (on the second floor, if you have one). Another way to keep the TV from being front and center: Keep it in a cabinet that remains closed when the TV is off.

Choosing what to watch

• Go with calm, quiet programs. Slower-paced viewing gives your child time to think and absorb. Lots of random activity, like the kind in action/adventure cartoons, confuses children. Also, some research suggests that children who watch violence on TV are more likely to display aggressive behavior. Stay away from scary show too. Choose simple programs that emphasize interactivity, such as Blue’s Clues. Ideal are shows that inspire your child to makes sounds, say words, sing, and dance.

• Watch programs, not television. Rather than allowing your child to sit down and watch whatever is on, use the TV listings to select carefully what he is going to watch. Turn off the set when that program is over.

Your role

Watch TV with your children whenever possible. Try not to use the set as a babysitter. A recent study looked at three groups: children with unlimited access to television, children with moderate access who watched without a parent, and children with moderate access who watched with a parent. The last group scored significantly higher academically than did the other groups. That aside, just being there says to your child, “What you do is important to me.”

Help your child become a critical viewer. Even young children can learn to watch television without “tuning out.” Explain what’s going on in the show and in the commercials (and clarify the difference between the two). Encourage your child to ask questions and relate what’s happening in the show to his own life. If you have a DVR, consider recording programs. Then you can watch when you choose, and you can pause to discuss what’s going on.

Make yourself a role model. Children are most affected by the example parents set, so don’t channel surf or keep the TV on as background noise. If your kids see you eagerly sitting down every so often to watch a specific show and concentrating on what you’re seeing, they’ll recognize the potential for enjoyment TV actually promises.

Article picked from Baby Center

]]> http://www.growaseed.com/tv-watching-guidelines/feed/ Computer Literacy A Must For All http://www.growaseed.com/computer-literacy-a-must-for-all/ http://www.growaseed.com/computer-literacy-a-must-for-all/#comments Sun, 03 May 2009 04:53:26 +0000 admin http://www.growaseed.com/?p=732 Computer literacy has become essential in helping people of all ages go further in their education and career. SEGI University College vice-chancellor Prof Dr Muhamad Awang said being computer-literate had become unavoidable with people being increasingly dependent on technology in every aspect of life.

“Not so long ago, for a student to possess basic computer skills was considered a significant asset. However, with the growing use of personal computers and technology in the home, classroom and workplace, it is assumed that such skills are instilled at a young age,” he said.

“It was most beneficial for future generations to begin their information technology (IT) education at an early age so that they could become comfortable and confident with its uses and applications,” he added.

Thus, we strive to provide quality English learning courses at all levels - English Language For Children, English Language For Young Adults and English Language For Professionals, be it at home or in the classroom.

Moreover, we are well-aware of the importance of instilling the youths of tomorrow with the appropriate knowledge of English language and its importance. With this in mind, we feel that Cambridge English language courses delivered with the use of ICT (Information Communication Technology) indeed are an advantageous investment in a student’s future.

]]> http://www.growaseed.com/computer-literacy-a-must-for-all/feed/ Pros and Cons of Home Schooling http://www.growaseed.com/pros-and-cons-of-home-schooling/ http://www.growaseed.com/pros-and-cons-of-home-schooling/#comments Wed, 08 Apr 2009 04:46:51 +0000 admin http://www.growaseed.com/?p=716 Is home schooling such a great ideas as when you first thought about it? There are many things to consider before taking this decision especially because it is about your child and his future.

One of the good things about home schooling is that the child receives the attention he needs. It is a well know fact that pupils are not equal n terns of understanding the material they are being taught. Ina class of twenty children it is much more difficult for the teacher to stop and explain everything from the beginning to a single child that is falling behind while at home this is absolutely possible. Moreover the child that needs additional attention will not feel bad about asking for another explanation of the lesson in front the whole class.

Speaking of attention to one child only it is worth to mention that home schooling gives the freedom to have a lesson as long as appropriate. Some children cannot stay focused for a long time. In any school the lessons are with fixed duration so the child will have to stay until the end although there is no point in this. At home the teacher can estimate if the child is capable of listening and remembering the lesson and adjust the lesson duration in accordance. Moreover subjects that are interesting for the child can be extended and this way the child will actually learn something extra.

Another significant advantage of home schooling is that there is much more additional recourses for your child when it comes to learning a specific thing. For example it is easier for you to take your child to the museum when teaching history as it is for the teacher in school. The same applies t any other subject – as long as you want you can buy much more tools and have your home school equipped much better than a school.

Finally the safety issue – your child is much safer in your home than going and being at school.

Of course hiring a home schooling professor has disadvantages as well. The main disadvantage is the lack of socialization. Still your child can meet his friends and play with them but the impact is not the same as the social influence he will have in school. The team spirit of child that studies at home cannot develop as well. To overcome thing you will need to find another way of socializing your kid – you can arrange him to attend dance or sport classes or anything else that will bring him into contact with kids of his age.

Another disadvantage specific to parents who are the teachers is that in theory a teacher is much more prepared for the subjects taught and that he has specialized education to help him handle kids. There will be many times when your child will have to overcome hard subjects and it is during these periods when a parent should be very patient and strong. Of course hiring a home schooling professor will fix this immediately but it is also much costlier than teaching your child alone.

Well, in Asian country where home-schooling are not as common as in States or Europe, parents usually send their children to additional tuition after school. Thus, it is wise to choose a lesson or class that could provide additional learning opportunities to our kids that could enhance their skills and interest.

Article from ezinearticles.com

]]> http://www.growaseed.com/pros-and-cons-of-home-schooling/feed/ Embrace Our Children For Future http://www.growaseed.com/embrace-our-children-for-their-future/ http://www.growaseed.com/embrace-our-children-for-their-future/#comments Wed, 08 Apr 2009 04:42:05 +0000 admin http://www.growaseed.com/?p=714 With the boom of computer & miniature electronic devices, the aptitude for mental computational skills are in decline.

Recent studies show that the skills of pupils are getting worse and worse. In one of the study, tested 106 Final year students of primary school? in mental addition and subtraction (within the limits of 20), multiplication and division (within the limits of 100). Standard tables including 64 elementary operations on addition, subtraction, multiplication and division were used for determination of the level of the skills.

The results turned out worrying: 52% of the sample has failed in addition and subtraction; 75% of the sample has failed in multiplication and division. In comparison with the data which had been obtained five years ago there is considerable deterioration (25 - 30 %). The investigations show that all of these pupils have no chances to understand and master more complicated topics. If the trend will not change, very soon school math will turn into “knowledge for minions of fortune” and will become a sort of magic for other pupils.

This scenario has been aggravated by present education system as well as incompetent teachers. The learning activities put more emphasis towards better grades, and so students try to minimize their chances of error. At the same time teachers lack innovative ideas towards teaching subjects like mathematics, which are still taught in a very rudimentary ways.

Things have started improving as more and more educationists are realizing the importance of improvement of education. The jobs in the future are going to be more temporary, more technologically based, and more sustainable rather than based on the old system of quick profits, and easy credit. Educating our children towards this new reality, could start at home, as traditional Schools will take longer to adjust to the New Economy.

Teaching the old, rather than the new could educate Graduates that are ill-equipped, and ignorant of the future, and could be heading for the unemployment queues of the future.

Therefore Home schooling programs that embrace the future, can be better than a State Education system that primarily justifies the past, rather than looks to the future.

What are the main areas you need to teach your Children to face the future?

1. Independence of Thought
2. Continual adjustment to New Technologies, and Ideas
3. Self- Management
4. Self- study through research on the Web
5. An ability to interact with differing Cultures
6. Exposure to differing languages
7. Innovative and Critical Thinking
8. Money Management Skills

These are tough challenges our children face, especially as a new generation to truly face the future with confidence.

Reference source ezinearticles.com

]]> http://www.growaseed.com/embrace-our-children-for-their-future/feed/ Up to parents to bring up well-mannered kids http://www.growaseed.com/up-to-parents-to-bring-up-well-mannered-kids/ http://www.growaseed.com/up-to-parents-to-bring-up-well-mannered-kids/#comments Thu, 19 Mar 2009 11:30:20 +0000 admin http://www.growaseed.com/?p=655 Raising a child with discipline, love, good manners and respect is always the parents’ role.

Moreover, it is also the parents’ responsibility to spend a bit of quality time with a child before he grows up and has a life of his own.

Unfortunately, it is very sad to see many parents in this day and age say they have no time to spare for their children all because of work. In addition, some parents think teachers and housemaids are perfect substitutes to help raise their children.

Some even buy materials such as toys and the latest gadgets as a way to show their love towards their children. It is wrong to think that way. They should understand that they bring a child into this world to be raised and nurtured with responsibility.

The kind of parents I am referring to are not just those workaholic or money-chasing kind but also those irresponsible, hedonistic sort who choose to party, shop and enjoy themselves with their friends daily without stopping for a moment to think about how the child is doing at school or at home.

Do they not understand that the role of a school teacher is to educate a child in the classroom while a housemaid is only there to help keep the house clean and tidy?

Do they not know that their main role as parents is to inculcate good manners, responsibility and principles which teach a child the difference between right and wrong?

We cannot help but sometimes feel that irresponsible parents do not deserve to be parents at all. Why bring a child into the world when you choose to care more about wealth, fun and friends than responsibility, quality time, and love to properly raise a child? What is worse is when a child gets out of control, and the parents put the blame on housemaids and teachers.

God holds parents accountable for the upbringing of a child. It doesn’t take a scientist to tell us that responsible and concerned parents always beget well-mannered children. To bring a child into a world is no child’s play. It requires not just unconditional love but also plenty of sacrifice and dedication.

To parents who choose to shirk their responsibilities and leave everything to housemaids and teachers, you don’t just reap what you sow but also be prepared for “buckets of regrets”.

As for those who are dedicated enough to spare more quality time and love for their little ones, I salute you for being dedicated and responsible parents. - speak out / Steffie Yin, Auckland, New Zealand.

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