What is Traditional Japanese Food

What is Traditional Japanese Food How to Recognise Traditional Japanese Food ChaptersJapanese Cuisine: Going Way Back in TimeHonzen-ryori: Ancient Japanese Foods Served in StyleKaiseki-ryori: Authentic Japanese CuisineWashoku versus YoshokuContrary to recent claims that multiculturalism is passé, perhaps more so than any other country’s, Japanese food is influenced by other cultures’ preferences. A perfect instance of such is the much-beloved tonkatsu, a deep-fried, panko-breaded pork cutlet that is usually served with rice and cabbage salad.This dish epitomises what the Japanese call yoshoku â€" western-influenced cuisine.Essentially, yoshoku represents European dishes with a Japanese spin; indeed, the aforementioned pork cutlet dish is reminiscent of the Germanic schnitzel... and for good reason!It was the Dutch who introduced the dish during the Meiji Restoration period, when the emperor concluded that Europeans were physically bigger than Japanese because of the food they ate.Now that that fact has been disclosed, we have no choice but to delve into the history of Japanese cuisine.Let’s find out which dishes are native to the Japanese culture, which ‘outsiders’ are so popular they’ve been adopted as an integral part of the cuisine, and which foods are still considered outsiders.Pour yourself a cup of Japanese tea â€" or sake if that’s your preference, and find out where all these yummy concoctions really came from.Spiritualism played a part in shaping the food culture of those early days, too.During the Yamato Period, from 300 to 538 CE Buddhism was introduced; another Chinese influence, albeit routed through Korea. So great was Chinese influence in every aspect of Japanese life at that time that the tail started wagging the dog â€" meaning that the Japanese started knowingly and actively imitating Chinese food and culture.Mapu tofu â€" a popular dish in Japan today originated in China’s Sichuan Province, giving ample evidence of the Japanese mirroring of China. China’s and Buddhism’s influence had lasting and, some say dire consequences on the diet of the Japanese.In 675 CE, that belief system led to meat eating banned; especially consuming the flesh of domesticated mammals, for five months out of the year. Prior to Emperor Tenmu’s declaration, it was not unusual to eat meat, even horses, dogs and chickens, year-round.After that decree, wild game remained in the stewpots as it was considered essential to the Japanese diet in remote regions. Chickens became pets and monkeys were only eaten as a part of ceremonies.Further restrictions on meat consumption: Empress Koken declared a ban on fishing in 752 CE but, to compensate the fishermen for their loss of livelihood, she promised them extra rice.The Heian Period (794-1195) saw further banning of meat from dinner bowls.Perhaps the oddest decree of that period â€" perhaps of all time was: should any government official, imperial household member or person of nobility eat meat, they would be considered unclean for three days and barred from p articipation in any religious ritual.Get some of the best cooking classes London on Superprof.From this brief history, we see that the Chinese had a massive influence on early Japanese culture, especially their food: what it contained and how it was prepared, served and eaten.The end of the Chinese Tang dynasty signalled the end of that culture’s influence over Japan, but they did make one more remarkable contribution to the Japanese food culture: chopsticks.Granted, they too came to Japan via Korea and it is true that only nobility used them at first; ‘commoners’ still ate with their hands.Nevertheless, from the 9th century on, Japan set out to find its individuality, both in cuisine and in culture. What happened next could be considered a complete denouncing of lavish Chinese foods and eating habits.No longer would there be elaborate preparations; offerings were simplistic but substantial â€" peasant fare by another name.Fish and seafood made its way back into their diet but meat was still vilified: anyone who slaughtered an animal and consumed its flesh was considered ‘burakamin’, worthy of discrimination and ostracisation.In the meantime, said peasants did get their bit of nobility: the chopstick made its way into the countryside. Soon, eating with one’s hands was considered crass, even in the poorest households.Also explore the diversity of regional Japanese cuisine...Honzen-ryori: Ancient Japanese Foods Served in StyleAs expansive as traditional dining in Japan sounds, each dish presentation is only a couple of bites! Image by Robert-Owen-Wahl from PixabayThis cuisine is what emerged from the Shogun influence of the 14th century. That is when eating became highly ritualised and stylised. Prior to that time, all of the food had been placed on the table at once, as it is still done in China today.In this updated eating etiquette, food would be served on legged trays to individual diners, arranged in a prescribed manner and following a strict li st of permissible dishes.Find the best cooking courses in the country thanks to Superprof.Those dishes included:Sakizuke: an appetizer, generally served with sakeNimono: a simmered dish involving dashi and fish, tofu and/or seasonal vegetablesMukozuke: a sashimi dishHassun: basically, whatever is in season â€" be it fruit, veg or meat ( meat is also seasonal!)Yakimono: a grilled dish of fish or meatSokuji â€" a rice dish.This feast would be preceded by an aperitif and rounded out with a sweet, perhaps mochi cakes. Invariably, a tea ceremony would follow.Unfortunately, it is no longer common to find such an extravaganza.Some elements of such a meal feature in traditional Japanese weddings and some Japanese restaurants might serve such a feast... but the entire experience will likely run into the thousands of yen!If that’s more than the cash outlay you were anticipating, you may find elements of this style of cuisine in kaiseki-ryori, a much more common presentation. Discover other Japanese food specialities... Kaiseki-ryori: Authentic Japanese CuisineThis dining experience centres on harmony between appearance, taste, texture and colour of the foods.Originally, this meal started with a bowl of miso soup complemented by three other dishes; today, that is what the Japanese people consider a ‘set meal’.In other words, it is a standard dinner in the average Japanese home or restaurant.Today, in the finer Japanese restaurants, you are more likely to be treated to much the same outlay of dishes as with the traditional Honzen meal, but with a slightly more reasonable price tag.Typically, chefs will start your dining experience with an appetizer and follow it with seasonal fare; generally a type of sushi and several side dishes.You would then linger over sashimi, ahead of a simmered dish that may consist of vegetables, meat, fish or tofu, each stewed separately so that they will keep their own flavour. You would then cleanse your palate with a soup.Now you’re o n for some grilled fare, typically fish, followed by an acidic palate cleanser such as pickled cabbage or radish.And then, you get into some serious eating: a hot pot. The reigning favourite is Sukiyaki:a pot of broth with assorted raw ingredients that you scald in the broth prior to eating.Finally, you encounter the Japanese staple dish, rice, mixed with ingredients fresh in season.  You may end the meal with a dessert: seasonal fruit, some confection or cake.This meal sounds substantial until you consider that each serving is only a few mouthfuls... but rest assured you won’t leave the restaurant hungry! What is on your top ten list of Japanese foods?Although rice is a diet staple, soba noodles are also quite popular in Japan Image by ?? ? from PixabayWashoku versus YoshokuThe two styles of cuisine covered so far are considered Washoku: traditional Japanese cuisine.The more modern style of cooking is called Yoshoku and it incorporates elements of European cooking arts, as we men tioned in this article’s introduction.At one time in Japan’s history, outsider influence was deemed harmful and the country entered a period of isolationism: nobody was allowed in or out for about 220 years.Besides limited commerce with China, the lone exception was trading with the Dutch, through which trickled medical, scientific and technical advances.Naturally, early assays into meat-based cooking were replications of Dutch foods but soon, others followed, each getting their own ‘spin’ and being served in Japanese style.What most westerners and many Japanese consider an authentic Japanese food feature, tempura, actually made its way to the islands from Portugal in the 1500s.So ingrained is tempura in the food culture there that it is considered ‘washoku’.The easiest way to tell whether you are eating traditional or ‘updated’ Japanese dishes is by how they are served.Traditional dishes will be served in individual bowls; it is considered poor taste to mix flavours together. Also, these meals will invariably be eaten with chopsticks, save for the soup.By contrast, ‘updated’ fare may be mixed; you might be served a plate of teriyaki chicken on a bed of rice, for example. For this type of dining, western-type spoons are acceptable utensils.Another dead giveaway that you’re in for some ‘real’ Japanese food: the Japanese restaurant menu will list those dishes in katakana, a syllabic means of writing foreign-sounding words... but that line is getting blurred.Some yoshoku dishes are so popular in Japan that they are now served as part of the washoku lineup, like that cutlet dish we mentioned at the start of the article.These days, it may be served with Japanese sauces like daikon or ponzu and, more tellingly, it features on menus as a native Japanese word rather than its syllable-spelling.There is no doubt what traditional Japanese food is: elegant, tasteful, appealing to the senses â€" including that mysterious fifth taste, umami.Were we to designate foods that are traditional... that would be a bit harder, seeing as that notion is in flux.But then, Japanese cuisine has long been about so much more than food for sustenance.Now learn how Japanese food is adapted to suit tastes around the world...

Why online tutors have an edge over Absolute Value Calculator and 2 Step Equation Calculator

Why online tutors have an edge over Absolute Value Calculator and 2 Step Equation Calculator 0SHARESShare No doubt Absolute Value Calculator and 2 Step Equation Calculator works faster than the human brain as it provides you with the auto generated result. Still learning the different methods of mathematics and solving various equations makes one engaged like a play. Involve yourself into this enthusiastic play and fetch the help of online tutors to play and win. The Mathematics â€" Absolute Value and 2 Step Equations It is a mode of learning at a prior stage and slowly you will be inclined towards it. Brainstorming and practising it makes mind calculative and smarter. Finding the absolute values and Calculating 2 step equations creates a great zeal into learning. Students need to comprehend the method and get started. The Human Brain The human brain is the principal calculator. These calculators are basically a branch of enormous inventions primed by human brain. Thus solving the equations with accuracy and rapid speed is possible. This ultimately makes the human brain more sharp, crisp and competitive than before. Absolute Value Calculator and 2 Step Equation Calculator               The calculators provide with the auto-generated result. Hence no learning involved. Students set back in the area of expertise of mathematics. Online tutors Online tutors guide different methods and procedures to solve the mathematical equations. Learning the techniques involves students with a great zeal. Students start solving the equations in an accurate manner. Thus their brains become sharper and competitive through proper learning and brainstorming. Learning maths is no more troublesome. You just need to grab the guidance of online tutors. [starbox id=admin]

How to Choose Your First Semester of College Courses

How to Choose Your First Semester of College Courses As soon as you begin college, you will discover a new sense of freedom. For the first time, you can chooseyour classes as well as when you take them. However, this freedom can also negatively impact your graduation schedule if you do not choose wisely. Here are several tips to keep in mind as your freshman year approaches and you choose your first semester of college courses. Understand course restrictions Items like prerequisites are often clearly described in your course guide or on your registration website. You may also have a minimum and/or maximum number of credit hours you can enroll in. Note these restrictions as you plan your first semester of college courses. Here are some great tips you may find useful on how to prepare for college classes. Select an academic strategy Certain students prefer to immediately register for classes in their major, while others prefer to finish their general requirements first. Regardless of major, you must complete courses in subjects like economics, English, foreign language, history, math, and science. However, you may have flexibility in when you choose to do so. Consider first taking classes in your major With this strategy, you can quickly determine if you truly enjoy the subject. You are also free to begin meeting professors and students in your major, as well as to become involved in clubs and professional organizations immediately. This may help you earn internships and real-world experience more quickly. This is some great information on picking a major early in college. Or consider first completing your general requirements Certain students prefer to finish their general requirement courses as soon as possible. If you opt for this route, you will be eligible for most higher-level classes sooner. This can allow you to think about your major without wasting time taking courses you will not need (if you change your major). If you are 100% certain about your major, it may be best to enroll in those classes right away. You can then start working toward your first internship and job. But if you are still deciding, start with your general requirements, and join as many clubs as you can. With clubs, you can learn about different career paths without taking full courses. Understand class schedules Most general requirements are offered each semester or quarter. However, some higher-level classes are only available during certain semestersand only if you pass specific requirements first. It is very important to flag the courses you will need for your major and to have a general idea of when you will complete them. Many students do not graduate on time simply because they thought they could take their final class during the spring semester, only to realize that it is exclusively offered in the fall. Keep your evenings free It may be tempting to sleep late every day by schedulingyour first semester of college courses for the afternoons. However, some students prefer to keep their evenings free to join clubs and professional organizations. Clubs can be one of the most critical aspects of your college education, as you can explore real-world work and network with professionals in your field. It is very easy to become involved with clubs, and you may even meet new friends. These are are few popular campus jobs that can help you explore college majors. Work with your academic advisor Your advisor will be able to answer your questions and help you determine your curriculum each year. He or she may also be able to recommend professors, extracurricular activities, or even tutorsif you need extra academic assistance with a particular course.

4 Financial Aid Tips for Students

4 Financial Aid Tips for Students Navigating financial aid options can be one of the most daunting parts of applying to college. Yet, its often a necessary part of the application process, whether or not you need help paying for college through financial aid. Some financial aid tips for students include understanding how you apply for aid and identifying what kinds of loans are offered, as well as making sure you are educated on all financial aid opportunities available to you. The various financial aid options for students include: Loans - money that must be paid back Scholarships - money that must be earned through some kind of qualifying factor Work-study - access to part-time, on-campus work opportunities Grants - money gifted to you that does not need to be paid back Read on for more detailed financial aid tips for students applying to college: Financial Aid Tip #1: Get all the appropriate information and paperwork Its necessary to complete some paperwork in order to receive financial aid of any type. If you do not complete any financial aid forms, you will not learn whether or not you qualify for aid. Every type of aid has its own qualifying factors, which can include your parents income level, your high school grades, and your standardized test scores. So, even if youre not sure whether you will qualify for financial aid, its important to apply and find out. Financial Aid Tip #2: Look into FAFSA as soon as you can Some of the most well-known and widely available form of financial aid is federal assistance provided by the U.S. government. Students apply for this kind of aid using FAFSA, or the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, which is available online and should be completed with the help of a parent or legal guardian. Completing this form will help determine whether or not you qualify for loans, scholarships, grants, and work-study opportunities. [RELATED: 3 Questions to Ask Your College About Financial Aid] You can start working on and filing your FAFSA, for free, as soon as October 1st each year. Prior to 2016, the initial FAFSA filing date had been January 1st. Take advantage of this new early date and begin filling out your FAFSA as soon as possible. This helps free up your time as the application process progresses, and it helps you determine what kind of aid you qualify for earlyand you can use that information to help shape your college decision. Financial Aid Tip #3: Know the difference between direct subsidized and unsubsidized student loans If you complete a FAFSA, chances are you will qualify for one or two types of federal loans. It is important to know the differences between direct subsidized and unsubsidized loans. Subsidized loans are loans where the government pays the interest, while they do not pay the interest on unsubsidized loans. In short, taking a subsidized loan means you will only have to pay back the government the exact balance of the loan you took. On the other hand, if you take an unsubsidized loan, you will have to pay back the exact balance of the loan you took as well as any accumulated interest. The longer you take to pay back your unsubsidized loans, the greater your accumulated interest will be. This difference is important to understand before you accept or decline any aid. Financial Aid Tip #4: Talk with your guidance counselor about financial aid opportunities One of the best places to learn more about your financial aid options is through your high schools guidance office. Schedule an appointment to sit down with your counselor and discuss your financial situation and college options with him or her. Your counselor can recommend scholarship opportunities you may wish to check out, as well as scholarships offered by the colleges youre interested in. He or she may also be able to recommend colleges with work-study programs that can make paying for college easier. 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.

3 Ways to Immerse Yourself in Music

3 Ways to Immerse Yourself in Music Suzy S. Taking private music lessons is a great way to work on your technique, learn a specific song, and start learning the language of music. But if you want to improve as a musician overall, we recommend adding in some extra time and effort outside of the lessons. Your talents can take you far, but the best musicians also immerse themselves in all aspects of music, in every way they can. Here are a few ideas 1. Attend concerts, shows, and festivals. This may be something you do anyway, but there are certain things you can be doing at live shows that will make you an even better musician over time: really listen. Recognize the emotions you feel, and connect them to what’s going on in the music. Did the instrument sounds change? Did the tempo, rhythm, or volume change? Is the performer connecting with the audience? Can you hear a conversation between the instruments? As you begin to recognize these minute details, your musical ear will become stronger. 2. Perform. Don’t just be a spectatorâ€"perform! The more experience you have performing, the more in tune you’ll be with your instrument and your personal style, and it’s also a great confidence-builder. Look through event guides in your area for open mic nights, grab a few of your buddies for an impromptu jam session, or play for your family at the next holiday get-together. Whatever gets you up and in front of people will help! 3. Open your ears to everything. Great musicians don’t limit themselves to one genre or style. You don’t have to like it, but by having an open mind and at least appreciating all kinds, you can compare it to your own sound, and even learn different techniques to incorporate into your playing. You can learn something from every genre, even if it’s simply discovering how to express yourself and perform better. Who knowsâ€"you might find that spark of inspiration that you needed to compose or refine your own tune. As you train your ears, you might even begin to hear the music in everyday lifeâ€"that is, the music of voices, the city, and the movement around you. Keep your ears open, and you may be surprised! It’s a great skill to hone, and one that will stay with you for your entire life. Suzy S., TakeLessons staff member and blogger You might also like 5 Reasons Why Live Music Matters Video: 10 Things to   to Bring to a Music Festival Is Writing Songs the Key to Finding Yourself? Photo by Eva Rinaldi Celebrity and Live Music Photographer

The Best Ways to Learn Hindi

The Best Ways to Learn Hindi Learn to Speak Hindi Without a Hindi Teacher ChaptersHow to Learn Hindi Vocabulary in Your Spare TimeHow to Learn Written HindiHindi Lessons in Oral UnderstandingLearn to Speak HindiLearning a new language is never easy. It’s one thing to study in Hindi language courses and learn the vocabulary your teacher sets, but if you really want to improve you will need to immerse yourself in the language.This is not something you can do in a classroom. Mastering a foreign language on your own is hard, but once you learn to incorporate some simple tricks for practising into your daily routine, nothing will stand in your way.So here are some tips on how to learn Hindi in your spare time and acquire fluency.Hindi Lessons in Oral UnderstandingSeeing a word written on a page is not the same as hearing someone speak in a foreign language. The accent, the rhythm of the language, is often slightly different than what you hear in your head when you learn Hindi. To be able to understand a native speaker, listening to the Hindi language being sp oken is the best way.Listen to Hindi podcastsYou can learn Hindi online! Find a YouTube channel with podcasts in Hindi. Look for those that teach the Hindi language and culture, or else look for vloggers reporting on your interests. Some of them might be captioned in English, but most won’t, so you’ll really need to work on your listening skills!Watch Hindi televisionHindi news sites such as Aajtak or Khabar will often have clips and videos.Some Hindi TV channels are available via satellite, such as DD International, the worldwide version of DD India (which also has programmes in other languages of India such as Punjabi and Tamil). You can watch Hindi news and series in the original language and learn vocabulary through Hindi dialogue spoken by actors with Hindi as a first language.Watch movies to learn HindiWatching movies is a wonderful way to learn a new language. You can first watch it in English, then in the original language, or put on English or Hindi subtitles depending on your fluency. It’s a good way to learn words in context and hear proper pronunciation.Bollywood movies are a great way to learn Hindi. Photo credit: classic_film on VisualHuntBe careful, though: not all Bollywood films are in Hindi! Some are in other Indian languages such as Marathi, Bengali or Kannada.Learn to Speak HindiOnce you can reliably understand the Hindi tongue, you will need to practice your spoken Hindi. Not just your pronunciation, but your conversation skills. There are several ways you can gain proficiency in Hindi phrases and common words and pronunciation.Find a Hindi language partnerA wonderful way to practice speaking Hindi is to find a language partner - someone for whom Hindi is a mother tongue, with whom you can regularly have a conversation in Hindi.Language partners often operate on the mutual help principle - you will help them learn English while they improve your conversational Hindi. There are a number of websites and apps that can help you find one - such as my language exchange, italki  or conversation exchange.Get a private Hindi teacherWhen you think of private tutors, you mostly think of a teacher at home who makes you recite the declension of verbs and has you writing out sentence structure exercises.But a private tutor can also help you with your conversational Hindi. Instead of teaching grammatical rules, a Hindi language coach can talk with you in Hindi about current events, or you could discuss a book you just read. Unlike language partners, private tutors are paid a set rate.Go to India to learn the Hindi languageLanguage immersion is the best way to learn a language, and nothing is more immersive than living in the country where it is spoken. There, you will be forced to read and communicate in the language, will hear it constantly and learn ten times faster than when pouring over books.Going to India is the best way to learn Hindi. Photo on VisualHunt.comBut careful when booking your trip to India: make sure you ar e staying in an area that speaks primarily Hindi, or you might come home speaking Gujarati instead!Find some lessons Hindi on Superprof!

A New Perspective on Academic Success

A New Perspective on Academic Success Improving Academic Performance The average person probably believes that a critical key to success in life, particularly one’s academic life, is intrinsic intelligence as measured by IQ. Yes, most of would say, hard work matters a lot too, but at least in many academic situations, no amount of hard work can really make up for a lower level of raw intelligence or aptitude for certain types of academic or cognitive skills. Some of us are “math people” and some of us just aren’t, right? Not really. A large body of academic research has been developed over the past two decades which suggests that the above sentiment is fundamentally misguided; it’s much closer to wrong than right. And as Mark Twain once said, it’s not what we don’t know that gets us into trouble, “it’s what we know for sure that just ain’t so.” In this “Ted Talk,” the popular author Malcom Gladwell explains how the story of David and Goliath, where David, a small, unarmed underdog carrying a few rocks, slays Goliah, a giant-like, fully armed warrior, is one gargantuan misconception and mischaracterization of the facts. For literally thousands of years, people have used the David vs. Goliath analogy to describe situations where a smaller, weaker, opponent with very low odds of success somehow miraculously pulls off a victory. If you watch the video, it turns out David may have been a sharp shooting, battle trained member of the artillery, firing rocks out of a sling with the force of a modern day revolver. Goliath, on the other hand, may have been a giant with a medical disorder that made him move slowly and suffer from double vision. In other words, David was the favorite. He was more likely to win. But consider this. When people misuse the “David vs. Goliath” analogy, it doesn’t actually matter that the original story might not be true. There certainly are many cases of “underdogs” who are underestimated and thus able to pull off a victory, so the analogy is still useful in helping people understand and frame situations the encounter in their lives. But, when parents and students believe that success in general, or even in certain classes or areas, is in large part pre-determined by IQ or natural aptitude, that can be a huge, debilitating problem that prevents students from realizing their potential. It leads to lower levels of effort, higher stress, and poor academic outcomes that the student believes were pre-determined, but which actually were not. Academic success is actually a very complicated process to understand, and much more in every student’s control than many parents and student seem to believe. In fact, your raw intelligence is somewhat “malleable” â€" it can improve over time. Most cognitive or “pure” academic skills (i.e., mathematic, reading comprehension, etc.), like those tested on the ACT, SAT, GRE, GMAT, and LSAT, which seem to correlate with IQ, can clearly be developed with practice. Even performance on IQ tests themselves can change over time (i.e., there is evidence that simply having more education seems to lead to improved IQ scores). And in any case, non-cognitive skills unrelated to IQ, like the ability to pay attention, be curious, plan ahead, and persevere through initial failure and adversity, may be what really lead to success in high school, college, and beyond, anyway. The academic research that supports the above points is generally very strong. But, our society’s general understanding of why some people succeed in school while others don’t has not kept up. The emphasis is still on IQ and aptitude, when it should be on practice and perseverance. There have been a variety of entertaining, insightful, and award winning books based on this research with titles like “The Talent Code” and “Brain Rules” and “Mindset: The New Psychology of Success.” We feature some of these books on our virtual bookshelf. Each of these books, in its own way, tells part of the “story of academic success.” A parent or student, after reading one of these books, walks away with a few new insights and more tools to increase the odds of success in school, at work, and in life in general. There is a problem, however. The problem is that success is not easy to understand. The true story of academic success is a complex one. Even though it may not be true, it’s easy to understand the idea that your IQ in large part determines how well you perform in your math class. In fact, it’s even an excuse, or at least an explanation, for any given student’s average or worse performance. In that sense, it’s a belief that some may want to hold on to on some level. Particularly when you are starting from the above point of view, the idea that how well you perform is actually a function of your mindset about intelligence in general, your ability to pay attention, how you approach homework, how well you plan ahead, and how you deal with obstacles, etc. just seems hard to digest. Based on my understanding of the current research, I’d like to introduce a framework for understanding what leads to academic success. In future blog articles, we’ll explore each element of this framework. From my perspective, academic success is a function of: Recognizing that cognitive (math, reading comprehension) and non-cognitive (grit, work ethic, etc.) skills are equally important and complementary PLUS Developing the right mindset about intelligence and cognitive skills PLUS Practicing deliberately to build your cognitive skills PLUS Building non-cognitive character skills, like curiosity, determination, and perseverance PLUS Developing non-cognitive executive functioning skills, like the ability to focus, plan ahead, and self-monitor PLUS Bringing it all together through longer term, strategic educational planning To learn more about these topics, you can continue to read future articles on this blog, check out our virtual bookshelf, or sign up for our book summary distribution list, where we’ll systematically and concisely summarize some of the most important recent research on what really explains academic success. hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(215486, 'bf23a065-a3c9-4ac9-bab1-42400c7da48e', {});

Motivation Tips for Students in the New Year

Motivation Tips for Students in the New Year Ready to get your students into school mode after holiday break? Here are five tips to start things off on the right foot in 2019: Plan activities. Ease your students into school work with some post-holiday classroom activities. Those might include writing prompts, games to refresh students knowledge on units from first semester and hands-on activities. Revisit those goals. If you had your students set goals in the beginning of the year, pull them out again. Encourage students to assess how theyre progressing toward their goals and have them write a few more for this month and the rest of the school year. Develop a game plan. Dont just set goals. Have your students lay out the steps to attain them. Talk about creating goals that are SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and timely). Together, come up with an accountability system wherein your students track their progress along the way. Get (re)organized. Give your students a quick refresher on planner use and keeping track of projects and test dates as well as some reminders on how to keep the backpack, binders, locker and desk in order. Talk about character. The New Year is one of the best times to commit to changing ourselves for the better. Spend time these first weeks back to school cultivating a classroom environment that is supportive and inspiring and encourages students to reflect on their strengths and weaknesses and what they want to be known for. The New Year is an opportunity for all students to start fresh and take ownership of their school experience. Incorporate these ideas into your classroom and make the rest of the school year awesome! See how Huntington can help your students succeed.