President’s Message
Over the
years we have had requests from parents and students for inst Dictionary,
dictionary! e-Tutor has installed a dictionary specifically for
the Vocabulary section in each of the online lesson modules. It
is offered on the e-Tutor website for all users, as well. We think it
will be useful for learners everywhere, our students and others.
As time goes by we are planning important addition You can now view the goals and objectives of the e-Tutor program directly from the front page of the website. Parents, educators and organizations often want to know on what the curriculum is based. The curriculum is original and created exclusively for Internet-based learning. Goals and objectives are aligned to state and national goals for learning. Thanks to all of you who have provided feedback to us about the things you would most like to see on the e-Tutor website and in the learning program. While much of what we do is behind the scenes, there is much planned and we will be keep you informed of our progress. Our goal is to continually improve on what we are doing. We have been at this for many years now; we have learned much and there is certainly much more to learn. It is an exciting time for us, for our students and to all who believe that online education is a viable option to a traditional approach to learning. This month you will notice a new addition to our newsletter 'The Book Case." Each month we will feature one of our favorite books. We would be pleased to have you make suggestions, as well. What
a difference from one part of the country to another. The last
few weeks have
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It
is five
months into this exciting year and so much has happened. We
remain extremely busy creating new additions and upgrading others to
bring you the best in online education. I am constantly amazed
at how exciting this work remains for me and those who work with
me. Those of you who have taken the big leap into online
education, deserve a big boost of applause for your constant
stimulation and support of this relatively new and exciting way to
learn. 
ruction
in a particular area of the curriculum. This month we have been
able to achieve that goal. e-Tutor is now offering courses by
subject area, English-Language Arts, Math, Science or Social
Studies. 
s to the dictionary
which will make it an important component of any learning
program. e-Tutor students will access the dictionary free of any
advertisement. Advertising for the rest of us will help
defray costs. 
been damp and cold in our part of the world, while heat
and rain have inundated others. My garden is alive with green
and new flowers are beginning to show their buds. While every
season is beautiful, Spring is always a delight and full of surprises
for me. I hope you find this month delightful and full of
surprises as well. 
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You can now choose between the curricular areas
above. Please call if you would like to focus on one
or two areas over the summer. 877-687-7200. |
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 Learning with e-Tutor: Studying the e-Tutor Way
Students should not skip this important section of each Lesson Module. Learning new vocabulary is essential to learning. Seven new lessons were added to e-Tutor this month. Join the e-Tutor world of learning today to view the Lesson Library. |
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Every
part of the e-Tutor Lesson Module is important. Sometimes
students and parents are not sure of how to use the Vocabulary words
presented in each Lesson Module. The Vocabulary section helps students far beyond the particular lesson
they are working on. 
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Personal responsibility may be defined to mean that you and you alone are responsible for what you are and what you do. It is an unusual quality. Mediocrity and failure can often be traced to a lack of personal responsibility. George
goes fishing on week-ends, mumbles and grumbles and doesn't communicate
around the house because the little flower he married has gained 30
pounds, wonders why he isn't getting ahead, gives him the silent
treatment when he shows up late, and sleeps in the morning instead of
getting his breakfast. "She has made me what I am,"
George claims. And Blanche yells at the kids, nags her husband and can't keep the house clean because her father was too strict, her mother was lazy, her husband doesn't appreciate her, she needs a new stove and she's going to get a real good nervous breakdown if people don't start understanding her. Rationalizations, cop-outs, excuses, justifications, defenses, negative affirmations. "I am not responsible for what I am and the way I act," these people are saying. "Other people are making me act this way." What
a wonderful quality when you find an individual who is
different....one who has total personal responsibility. One who
says, "I and I alone am responsible for what I am and what I
do. I shall not blame you for my weaknesses or failures. The
challenge to make my life a successful, meaningful experience is not
yours. It is mine." One of the most inspiring articles
ever to appear Written in 1890 by Elbert Hubbard, publisher of a small magazine called The Philistine, its impact on individuals throughout the world was astounding. The short article relates the story of a young lieutenant who was asked to carry a message to the leaders of the insurgency during a war between the U.S. and Spain. Adapted from The Public School Administrator |
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It is that time of year when students are winding down in their educational programs. Many students are preparing for college. It is important to remember not to go to college until YOU are good and ready. You will never do well unless you really want to be there. Here are some ideas of what it will take to get those higher grades:
Excerpts from Next Step Magazine The food served in schools is getting a lot of press lately. This story gave me a chuckle. One day instead of serving the usual hot meal, the school cafeteria handed out peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. After lunch, a satisfied first grader marching out the door complimented the cafeteria manager: "Finally, you gave us a home cooked meal!" |
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When helping others to learn we can make common mistakes. We might:
Adapted from Communication Briefings
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Almost all problems in listening can be overcome by having the right attitudes. Remember, there is no such thing as disinteresting people....only disinterested listeners. This is especially important for those of us who are parents. We are so very busy, we often listen to our children while doing something else. Think....would you respond in such a way to a friend, a boss, an instructor?
Adapted from Public School Administrator |
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To be granted some kind of usable talent and to be able to use it the fullest extent of which you are capable....this, to me, is a kind of joy that is almost unequaled. I have found it in music; my father in farming. I know others who have found it in practicing medicine, or running a bakery, or driving a truck....in running a bakery that makes the best kind of bread, or in driving a truck better than anyone else. That's the kind of achievement that makes a person happy. Lawrence Welk |
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Journal writing encourages better writing skills and helps students clarify their thoughts about what they are learning, doing, seeing and hearing. Adapted from School Public Relations Service |
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What your child does after school in relation to homework and preparation for learning activities may benefit from your assistance. Establishing a routine for homework and study will aid in overcoming the many distractions and attractive options that may prevent involvement in learning. By setting aside a specific amount of time every day to be used for studying, the child can more easily adjust his or her goals to fit this schedule. This makes beginning the learning activity more fluent because other expectations or needs are always considered relative to, rather than in competition with, studying. It is also helpful
to know that if the necessary amount of homework is Adapted: Carolyn Nilson, How to Manage Training |
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What Children Need And Parents Can Provide No matter what they have, where they come from, how much schooling they have, how much money they make....all parents can build their children's self-esteem according to author Joanne Koch in Families in Touch. She defines self-esteem as "feeling good about yourself, believing you can do things, believing you can make choices." Children
who have high self-esteem are more likely to do well in school, make
friends, make healthy choices, feel they control their lives, feel
good about their work and their relationships, share their thoughts
and feelings and refuse to engage in delinquent activities.
"Children who have high self-esteem will ma
Adapted from Illinois Association of School Boards |
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Most likely, you can think of many additional ways in which you influence your child's values. But the message is clear; Children watch what you do more than they listen to what you say. They do what you do. American Association of School Administrators |
Building Stone of the U.S. : The
NIST Test Wall: What stones do we use to build? Which
stones weather best? Some of these questions can be answered at
this website, which examines a test wall of building materials
constructed in 1948. A great feature allows students to look at
stones from different states or countries (many of the stone samples
were collected in 1880) and examine the differences between the
materials stored inside and those built into the wall and exposed to
the elements. Online Anthropology Exhibits: At this site the "History of Eating Utensils'" has simple explanations of how knives, forks, spoons and chopsticks came to be used commonly for the consumption of food. Look a little farther and you will find online exhibits that can supplements many areas of the curriculum, such as "The Pacific Voyages of Rollo Beck," Native Alaskan Graphic Arts," and "Ceramics of the Persian Empire." http://www.calacademy.org/research/anthropology/Exhibits/index.htm The Shape of Life: This site is a compelling eight-hour series with accompanying educational materials that tell the story of the great diversity of animal life on Earth. Throughout the website are incredible video clips of sea life. Evolutionary modifications are featured prominently. http://www.pbs.org/kcet/shapeoflife/index.html The Magpie Sings the Great
Depression: This website presents almost 200 poems, articles
and short stories and many graphics and photographs from the Magpie,
literary magazine of Dewitt Clinton High School, encompassing the
years 1929 to 1942. Students can catch a glimpse of student life in
New York City during the years of the Great Depression and the power
of literacy magazines. Silk Road Seattle: This is an educational project using the "Silk Road" theme to explore cultural interaction across Eurasia from the beginning of the Common Era (A.D.) to the Sixteenth Century. Translations of primary texts are available. http://depts.washington.edu/uwch/silkroad/index.html Teaching Time: A software
developer in the UK created this site to support teaching time using
analog and digital clocks. Initial teaching can be done using
the whole class clock. Worksheets are available for individual
or group work and when students are more proficient there are
interactive games, all with clocks. Virtual Ocean: Part of the website "An Introduction to Microscopy," these pages show what sea creatures can look like in the larval form, as well as microscopic algae, sea squirts and other smaller, often overlooked sea dwellers. Included on the main page is a link to the "Smallest Page on the Web," which highlights microscopic life in fresh water. http://www.euronet.nl/users/janpar/virtual/ocean.html
Have a Beautiful Month 6713 No. Oliphant Ave. Copyright © 2006 Knowledge HQ, Inc. All Rights Reserved. |
Accepting Responsibility
in the English language aligns itself with these
qualities of initiative, personal responsibility and
self-reliance. 
How to Earn Straight A's
Avoid These Common
Mistakes
lace so that
you can see that point of view. 
A daughter of a friend recently took a
notebook with her on the family vacation. While her sisters were
playing she took the time to record the vacation in her notebook,
including pictures. Lately, I have once again been recommending
this activity to parents. It is an excellent way for the student
to prepare himself for learning and a great activity for the
summer. The National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE)
suggest the following guidelines:
ften
concern a particular subject or topic. 
eeds and abilities
of the student. 
satisfactorily completed, other options can be started immediately Thus the
child can feel rewarded for efficient learning. The place of
study is usually as important as time; a private area, free from
distraction,
will help the student work more productively.
ke mistakes, but they
are more likely to learn from their mistakes," Koch says.
Children need certain things to develop high self-esteem....even from
busy parents.
All
parents teach values, whether directly or indirectly. By their
behavior, parents convey their personal values every day.
Children learn more from example than they do form any other source,
including lectures. Here are some values that we teach our children,
whether we realize it or not:
