Some Health Care Degrees Online Are Perfect Fit For A Variety Of Students

Millions of people every year look at health care degrees
online and wonder if the healthcare field would be right for
them. Thousands of these people decide against pursuing a
healthcare career because they decide they wouldn't be able to
handle the rigors of healthcare work because they fear they
aren't mobile enough or strong enough to perform the arduous
duties of healthcare, including long hours on their feet, moving
and lifting patients and working odd schedules. It's a shame,
because there are actually healthcare careers that feature
regular hours, minimal patient contact and a relatively easy
physical stress level. These types of management or
office-oriented careers give you the best of both worlds. You
would have a satisfying healthcare career and the opportunity to
hold a desk job.

Online Healthcare Degrees Can Boost Your Career Options

One of the best health care degrees available online is in
Health Services Management. This bachelor's degree program is
an outstanding way to move into management while still working
within the healthcare field. If you are currently a licensed
practical nurse, physician's assistant or work in some other way
on the floor of a hospital or in a clinic, you may feel that
it's time to move up the career ladder. Perhaps you would like
more pay, more structured hours or you simply feel that it's
time for a desk job to get you off of your feet for a change.

Health Services Management is the perfect solution. Most of
the work is directly related to healthcare while focusing on
management of personnel and services. Rather than providing
these health services yourself, you will be overseeing a staff
of healthcare providers, organizing and managing the process and
structure of the clinic, physician's office or hospital
department where you work.

A Well-Rounded Education

A bachelor's degree in Health Services Management broadens your
knowledge base beyond patient care and anatomy. You will also
learn about the legal and accounting aspects of successful
healthcare facilities, human resources skills, staff management
and medical ethics. If this sounds like a great way to improve
your marketability, you'd be right. Many individuals with
Health Services Management degrees find opportunities to use
their education in other careers as well. For instance, the
insurance industry, law firms specializing in medical cases,
home health care services and medical staffing firms all seek
out professionals who have pursued health care degrees online
and achieved a bachelor's degree that's broad in scope.

The demand for healthcare workers is increasingly on the rise
and with an aging population, the demand will continue.
Hand-in-hand with the need for more healthcare workers is the
need for more talented, trained individuals to manage the
healthcare staff at all types of facilities. If you are
considering getting a healthcare degree online, be sure to take
into consideration the vital role management plays in the
success of any healthcare facility. If you have the people
skills and are interested in working in a professional office
environment, a Health Services Management career may be perfect
for you.

About The Author: Andy West is a freelance writer for Virginia
College. Virginia College Online offers an accredited Health
Care Degree Online program. Please visit Virginia College
Online at http://www.vconline.edu/site/program.cfm?Program_ID=6
to select the program that is right for you.

Finding Student Loans To Fund Your College Education

A student who is awarded one of the direct student loans needs to be attending a school that participates in the Direct Loan Program.

That student must first complete a FAFSA, and then he or she must sign a master promissory note (MPN). If the loan recipient then needs to talk with a counselor about the loan, those services can be obtained at the Direct Loan Servicing Site.

Services Available to Holders of the Direct Student Loans

At the Direct Servicing site, the holder of a direct loan can set-up an account. Using that account the holder of a direct student loan can view the record of his or her payments.

That site also contains records on the balance owing for each of the many student loans.

Anyone who has been awarded one of the direct student loans can use the Service Center to request use of electronic correspondence for the sending of bills and other information. Loan payments can be made free of charge from the Service Site.

Payments for any of the student loans can be scheduled as much as 6 months ahead of time.

The Various Types of Direct Student Loans

Some students with a direct loan have a subsidized Stafford Loan. The subsidized loan has an interest subsidy. All students awarded those direct loans can count on the government to cover their interest payments while they are still in school..

Not all Stafford Loans are student loans, and not all direct student loans are subsidized. Where students do not show tremendous need, the government might award an unsubsidized Stafford Loan.

Such unsubsidized loans do not come with an interest subsidy.

PLUS Loans represent a third type of direct student loan. PLUS loans are low interest loans for graduate students and parents. As with the other student loans, the application for the PLUS Loans entails submission of a FAFSA and a MPN.

Factors That Determine the Size of the Direct Student Loans

Not every student who receives one of the direct student loans gets the same amount of money. The amount of money awarded to the recipient of a student loan depends on three different factors.

The school costs will dictate to a large extent the size of the student loan. The government will also adjust its loan amount to account for any other aid that a student might expect to receive.

Finally, the distribution of funds for the direct student loans depends on the expected contributions from each student's family.

After the Department of Education has examined those three factors, then it will provide a needy student with funds that should adequately cover his or her tuition costs.

Most students can get-by with loans of $8,000; they then obtain added money from additional on and off-campus sources.

(c) 2007 Best Student Loan Guide. Products, services and step-by-step guidance to help you make the best decisions you can. Checkout Martin Haworth's website for all you need at http://www.Best-Student-Loan-Guide.com

Take Steps So The New School Season Doesnt Bring Unwanted Cold/Flu

To most, fall is a beautiful time of year with its new colors,
brisk morning air, and the change of the season. But these
changes are usually accompanied by cold and flu bugs that
usually survive throughout the wintertime months. But don't
worry, if you start preparing now and begin fortifying your
immune system, your body will be able to adequately defend
itself against these unwanted invaders. There is a small list of
things you can do to improve your defenses against those
sneezes, coughs, and fevers that you fear so much.

The first of these suggestions is to eat a diet that is high in
whole foods. Our bodies require that we have a large variety of
nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, enzymes, amino acids,
proteins, etc., so that they are able operate on a basic level.
But in order to operate at an optimal level, we must have an
adequate amount of these nutrients. The best way to do this is
by eating a diet that is rich in vegetables, fruits, grains,
nuts, seeds, fish, and other whole foods. A large amount of
evidence supporting this type of diet can be found; where as the
typical American diet does not receive much support from
scientists. By eating the best possible, we better our chances
at avoiding cold and flu bugs.

Take food supplements because even the person who strives to
eat the most complete diet still faces factors that does not
allow him to receive the perfect levels of nutrients that his
body needs. Food supplements can solve this problem. A
high-quality multivitamin taken every day is recommended, along
with an occasional trace mineral supplement which is often the
nutrient most absent in today's diet. Additionally, look for
supplements that can encourage cleansing which will let your
body focus on building the immune system rather than spending
its resources to get rid of the undesirable toxic buildup.

Make sure to exercise. Exercise is vital a long with a good
diet to maintain overall good health. When you are trying to
promote good immune function, physical activity is an important
part of the process. Even if the physical activity is just a
walk around the neighborhood, the important thing is to just
make sure you area doing something.

Sometimes, despite our best efforts to fortify ourselves
against viruses and bacteria, we sometimes become a victim of
their advances, but there are some herbs that can help us to win
the battle against these bacteria and viruses. Goldenseal, which
has been used for centuries as a natural antibiotic, stops
infections and heals mucous membranes. Rose hips, on the other
hand, are rich in vitamin C and stimulate the immune system
while helping with inflammation. Lobelia fights many respiratory
problems such as colds, coughs, and asthma. Echinacea, a
wonderful herb that strengthens the immune system, not only
prevents colds, flu, and other infections, but treats them as
well. Lastly, olive leaf extract has many studies backing its
great powers to help with the battle against cold and flu.

About The Author: More information is available at
http://vitanetonline.com/ where a large selection of cold and
flu supplements can be found.

Please use the HTML version of this article at:
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How To Homeschool Your Son Or Daughter

Now that you have concluded that homeschooling is the way to
broaden the mind of your children, you must get ready for the
thrill and the anguish - the highroad ahead is a bit uneven,
nonetheless the awards are deeper than the struggles before you.
Creating a well-adjusted and well-rounded individual is by no
means a small victory.

It is imperative to check out your state laws on distance
learning in your home sweet home. Some states need an assertion
filed with the State's intellectual acquirement department.
There are in essence 3 sections for homeschooling bills. These
are: private classroom codes, distance learning course of study
laws and equivalency laws. Find your state laws. You may in
addition need to maintain a certificate that gives a history of
the kid's academic accomplishment. It is noteworthy to be
watchful into the legal demands in advance of your commencement
of homeschooling. Some states further set conditions surrounding
the certification and training the parent or teacher must
acquire.

Seek for a support group. If you live in a welcoming or snoopy
region, well-meaning acquaintances will try to discourage you.
At the very least, they may put a lot of disturbed questions in
your mind. A care group that is composed of cherish-minded
public will seclude you from the adverse criticism, pressures
and burdens of sustained kindergarten-goers. These groups will
also be helpful when you want to plan fun events and take
pleasure in visits to the zoo, museum, tours to the ice cream
shops etc. Furthermore, if your youth befriend other
home-schoolers they will be able to strengthen continuing ties
that do not decline when their friends change as so many do who
are in the public school system. These groups offer an
imperative path for companionship.

The next noteworthy thing to do is to pick out a general
education course of study. Depending upon the manner of
homeschooling, you may adopt assorted tools that facilitate you
in this process. The World Wide Web is also a rich means for
homeschooling. Do some legwork and hunt for the material that is
obtainable.

Homeschooling requires greatly of your self-discipline and hard
work as well as your children's. Here is a thorough write up of
the things you will need:

1) Excitement to broaden the mind
2) Hard work and determination
3) Self-discipline
4) Time and determination
5) Adjustability
6) Enthusiasm

Look at why you made the choice to opt for homeschooling. Your
aspirations and your reasons are critical pillars on which the
whole edifice of your kid's lessons depends. Furthermore,
consult with your little kids.Ask them what they feel about
homeschooling.

Designate a general education or custom-model of general
studies that easiest suits your kids. Book keeping is an
imperative part of homeschooling.It helps you and your children
to be disciplined when you have a plan. Initiate a plan and
review it with your children. Your child does not like to cram
the mind 6-7 hours a day. Make allowance for him or her to
dictate a portion of the time. Adjustability and fun are the
cornerstones of homeschooling. Do not stuff too many skills into
a single term or minute. Let the adolescent learn the skills
that he is ready for.

Gentle parenting is the secret to successful homeschooling.
Kids will make immense advances in comprehending and show larger
excitement. They moreover turn out to be surprisingly well
balanced and well informed when they are educated at home sweet
home.

About The Author: Carol is active in distance learning, home
schooling, and has books on home school guides.
http://www.homeschooljewel.com

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What Is Abeka Home Schooling

When thinking about home schooling, its easy to begin to be
overwhelmed with the right place to begin. Since homeschooling
has received more popularity in the 20th century than in the
past, there are a lot more resources that you could have found
20 years ago. The downside of this is that there's almost too
much information from everyone coming out of the woodwork with
his or her ideas, views, and preferred styles regarding
homeschooling. For instance, you could spend a whole day just
trying to figure out all of your state laws that pertain to
homeschooling! You've probably heard A Beka mentioned quite a
bit if you are investigating homeschooling. Although there are
many types of homeschooling, such as Classical, Montessori,
Eclectic, A Beka is not a type of homeschooling, its actually a
curriculum package for homeschooled parents to use to teach
their children.

A Beka is actually a curriculum that supports one of the
methods of homeschooling: The Christian Method. Actually, A Beka
is one of the most popular Christian homeschooling learning
curriculum. It's a curriculum guide that is published in Florida
by Pensacola Christian College in Pensacola, Florida.

A Beka is a complete learning system for your child that has
all of the bells and whistle's, such as, teacher's guides,
templates for testing, suggested lesson plans, and well written
text books. It is well knows that A Beka is a challenging
curriculum and is usually one grade ahead of normal public
schools. For example, second grade A Beka learning curriculum is
equivalent to first grade public school lesson plans.

Its good to note, that A Beka is one of the more expensive
Christian curriculums on the market, but is well worth checking
it out. You can always look for used books, guides, and lessons
plans online or in your Christian book stores if the new
curriculum is out of your spending comfort zone. Its also good
to check with some of your local homeschooling groups or
internet review sites to read up on A Beka curriculum.

About The Author: Carol Currie is the author of many home
school e-books. She is involved in many groups surrounding home
schools and distance learning techniques.
http://www.homeschooljewel.com

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Virginia Schools Introduce Kids To Award-Winning Author

Middle school students attending two Virginia Schools have had
the opportunity to meet an award-winning author. Sharon Flake
has written a work of fiction about a 13-year-old African
American girl who struggles to fit in with her peers. The book,
Skin I'm In, has universal appeal to students as well as adults.
Kids like those attending Virginia Schools have a great novel to
read that conveys an even greater message – to be happy with who
you are; and Virginia Schools students may gain some insight
into how others feel along the way.

Remember those awkward days of junior high or middle school?
You felt an intense desire to be like everyone else; to stand
out was the last thing on earth that you wanted. To stand out
from the crowd meant that you were different, and would probably
be teased, ridiculed, or even bullied because of it. Flake's
book helps students come to grips with this issue.

The message that the Virginia Public Schools want to send, in
addition to this important life lesson, is to get kids more
excited about becoming literate. They see the book as a way to
inspire reluctant readers in the Virginia Schools to pick up
this book, or any other book, and read. Being able to read
fluently and with complete understanding is a necessity of life.
We must be able to read in order to function in society. You
have to read street signs, packages at grocery stores,
instructions for assembling household products (like your kid's
bike), and bills. Ours is a print-saturated world, and there's
no getting around reading. For those who can't read, it's is a
life that is sorely lacking in the wonderful world of words. The
leaders of the Virginia Schools want to help their students
become more and more literate, and to love doing it. While you
can't force a kid to love to read, you can keep trying, until
you find a book or genre that they're interested in. That's
usually the key that unlocks the joy of reading for kids who are
initially resistant.

Another benefit of the author coming out to the Virginia
Schools is that kids can see that authors are real people. Maybe
some of them dream of becoming an author themselves one day;
meeting and talking with a published author can bring that dream
one step closer to reality. Knowing that others have succeeded
is a great motivation to work hard yourself. Hopefully, the
students in the Virginia Schools who've had this opportunity
will be inspired by it; whether to read more or to become
writers themselves who have attended Virginia Schools.

Virginia Schools recognize the importance of not only helping
students become more literate and excited about it, but to
provide those same Virginia Schools students with real-life
examples of what it means to be a writer. After all, to be a
great writer, you need to be a great reader. To be a great
reader means that you'll be an even greater writer. In this
writer's humble opinion, that's definitely something worth
working for. Go Virginia Schools!

About The Author: Patricia Hawke is a staff writer for Schools
K-12, providing free, in-depth reports on all U.S. public and
private K-12 schools. For more information please visit
http://www.schoolsk-12.com/Virginia/index.html

Please use the HTML version of this article at:
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Texas Schools Set An Example

Happy Days in Texas Schools

Texas school districts are enjoying a revival, and how! In
recent years, the state's schools are finding increased success
meeting all the measures of a school's success- motivated well
performing students, and schools and teachers who set the bar
higher for themselves. More tellingly, these high achievement
levels of Texas schools cover students across all racial and
linguistic divides, a happy state of affairs in a system where
educational proficiency differences between ethnic groups are
still marked. It's not perfect, but look at the results so far.

Enhanced Student Performance at Texas Schools

According to 2005 education statistics, nine out of ten
children in Texas schools passed the Texas Assessment of
Knowledge and Skills Test. This challenging test aims at
gauging proficiency levels before graduation. This increased
proficiency has long term benefits in other areas as well. Many
students in Texas schools are now opting for AP (Advanced
Placement) courses, and many of them are enjoying successful
results in these exams. In fact in 2004-05, nearly 99,429
students taking the AP tests were graded at 3 or higher on a
scale of 1 to 5. Compare this to the 28,331 students who placed
at the same grade in 1996.

Increasing Program Options at Texas Schools

Yet another measure of a school's functioning is the kind of
opportunities that it can offer its students, and it appears
Texas schools are doing just that. In many Texas schools,
foreign language studies are required to be undertaken for a
minimum of two years in order to be eligible for graduation.
Hiring qualified foreign language teachers has proven to be a
problem in the past, but the Texas schools have found a way of
circumventing this problem by making use of distance learning
techniques and video conferencing equipment. This approach
coupled with innovative teaching methodologies has proven to be
a great success. In fact, it's been so popular that the program
is now being expanded to include courses in other languages,
economics, and psychology.

Challenges of Distance Learning in Texas Schools

The success of this distance learning mechanism in some Texas
schools has prompted the expansion of this program to many other
schools in the state. The system, although successful, isn't
without its challenges. Often teachers provide distance
instruction in more than one school, and that creates problems
when it comes to adjusting dates. School days and breaks may
differ between districts, and this creates challenges for
teachers who have to resort to some really expert juggling to
reach all the Texas schools they serve. However, these are
relatively minor issues, and nothing that can't be aided by
using some good old fashioned determination. And new-fashioned
technology. By using cutting edge equipment to smooth out the
distance learning mechanism these districts are showing the way
to other schools around the country.

About The Author: Patricia Hawke is a staff writer for Schools
K-12, providing free, in-depth reports on all U.S. public and
private K-12 schools. For more information please visit
http://www.schoolsk-12.com/Texas/index.html

Please use the HTML version of this article at:
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Impoverished Florida Schools Get Tech Makeover

High Poverty Florida Schools have Negligible Tech Equipment

Florida schools have long struggled with the wide disparities
between schools in affluent neighborhoods, and those that serve
the state's weaker sections in high poverty pockets of the
state. Low economic status of the students has been proven to be
detrimental to a student's learning ability. Along with other
factors like the student's intellectual capacity and economic
status of the schools he or she attends, its not anything that
Florida schools can do much about. It's not surprising that most
Florida schools in the state's poorest belts rank so low on
standardized tests.

As a result of these poor performances, many Florida schools
that cater to the poor are denied precious funding that would
otherwise help them introduce new programs, renovate structures,
or upgrade existing tech equipment in their schools. Of all
these possible uses for funding, the most important from the
point of view of preparing students for life in the real world
is undoubtedly access to state of the art computers and
technology. With a knowledge driven global economy in which only
those with at least minimal computer skills will make the cut,
schools that aren't able to offer access to the latest equipment
are in danger of failing their students. Many Florida schools
lag dismally in this regard with many students forced to use
aging equipment or share computers with other students.

Big Business Backs Florida Schools

Now there appears to be some good news for impoverished Florida
schools. Microsoft Corporation's anti-trust settlement reached
with several states, including Florida, means the software giant
will shell out funding to each state which will be used by the
state's education department. In Florida's case, this funding
will be in the form of vouchers valued at over $80 million. The
technology vouchers will go towards purchasing new computers and
software, and will directly impact those Florida schools that
would otherwise have no access to the funding for these
upgrades.

Benefits to Florida Schools

The schools expected to benefit are those that have at least
half the student population on reduced price or free lunches.
According to Florida education authorities, at least 1,790
schools with student populations of a total of 1.1 million will
be eligible for these technology vouchers. Half the vouchers
will be utilized for upgrading existing software and purchasing
new ones, while the remainder will be used for hardware. A chunk
of the money will also go towards programs that include
curriculum development, and training of Florida schools
administrators. With this windfall, computer labs at Florida
schools will get a much needed shot in the arm. The main
beneficiaries will be the students in these Florida schools who
will receive much needed access to current technology.

About The Author: Patricia Hawke is a staff writer for Schools
K-12, providing free, in-depth reports on all U.S. public and
private K-12 schools. For more information please visit
http://www.schoolsk-12.com/Florida/index.html

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Arizona Schools - Did They Overreact?

In the news recently, a middle school student – a 14 year old
boy, to be precise – was suspended from Arizona Schools because
of a drawing he made while sitting in class. No teacher wants to
find his or her student doodling, but must admit that not all
students will be as enamored of their subject as the teacher is.


The Arizona Schools district the boy attends has a zero
tolerance policy concerning weapons; this includes drawing them,
or even writing about them. In response to the Columbine
massacre in 1999, most Arizona Schools have some version of such
a policy in place. (Approximately 96% of all Arizona Schools
have a zero-tolerance policy.)

Understandably, schools need to send the message that it is not
okay to bring weapons to school. Nobody wants to see another
Columbine. We must do all in our power to stop the violence, and
this must include educating students about the harm an
atmosphere of fear can do. Students who go to school every day
afraid for their lives because they don't know if they'll be
attacked or not are not learning, which is the principle purpose
for attending school in the first place. Arizona Schools
understand this, and have sent the message that they will
tolerate no weapons, in any form, even on paper.

Supporters of zero-tolerance policies in place in Arizona
Public Schools (and across the nation) say that this sends the
message that the schools are concerned about the safety of their
students, and are pro-active in the education and prevention of
violence in the schools. They believe that such a policy, and
the punishments, should be on view for the world to see. They
feel that this will frighten the students into behaving
themselves.

In fact, this message conflicts with the reasons zero-tolerance
policies are in place in such systems as the ones in Arizona
Schools. Supporters believe that the fear of being punished will
"scare them straight.

Detractors to zero-tolerance policies in Arizona Schools and
elsewhere have many concerns. They worry that the policies are
unfair, rigid, create fear for students, and infringe upon a
person's right to express themselves. While it's important to
have a safe and secure learning environment, it's easy to see
that individual consideration should be given to some situations
like the one involving the student from Arizona Schools. Those
opposed to zero-tolerance policies like the one in place for
Arizona Schools object because of the probability of punishing
students who may have made mistakes, as opposed to those
planning to commit a criminal act. A 14-year-old boy (or girl)
is an enigma; peer pressure, work load at school, and wildly
fluctuating hormones are all new challenges that these young
teens have to deal with. These kids aren't known for their
excellent decision making skills; the case of the Arizona
Schools student is an example of this.

The Arizona Schools should reconsider this boy's "infraction"
and determine if he's really and truly a threat. That would send
a message that the Arizona Schools system is sensitive to the
diversity of its students.

About The Author: Patricia Hawke is a staff writer for Schools
K-12, providing free, in-depth reports on all U.S. public and
private K-12 schools. For more information please visit
http://www.schoolsk-12.com/Arizona/index.html

Please use the HTML version of this article at:
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Unschooling vs. Homeschooling: What's the Difference?

You've done it! You've made the choice to homeschool your children. But now what? There are different methods of homeschooling: school-at-home, Charlotte Mason, classical, and unschooling, to name a few. If you unschool are you really homeschooling, or is it something else entirely?

Unschooling, as it's often called, is one alternative to public school and even homeschooling. Also known as natural learning, independent learning, or child-led learning, unschooling is an approach that flies in the face of traditional thought when it comes to educating your child. So what exactly is unschooling, and how does it differ from homeschooling?

The biggest difference between unschooling and homeschooling is in the mindset. Where homeschooling is basically concerned with your child learning what it normally taught in public schools, unschoolers have a completely different way of looking at their children and at life. Unschooling is based on mutual trust between parent and child and in finding what works best for them.

Homeschoolers might choose to use a specific curriculum as a base for their teaching. Unschoolers, however, may not even use a pre-planned curriculum at all. Unschoolers believe that children learn at all times, and that what they need to learn doesn't necessarily have to come out of a set curriculum.

Another term for unschooling is delight-driven. It's not that a child is given complete freedom from learning; it means that the child is allowed to learn the things that interest them instead of what an institution says they should know. Most often those who unschool learn those things that they will be using in life rather than just what is in a book.

It may seem to an outsider looking in that an unschooler isn't actually doing school work at all. In fact, unschoolers believe that living life is the best education a child can get, so they aren't quite as concerned about what others think. Of course, if you live in a state that has more requirements for homeschoolers, it might seem a little daunting to prove that actual learning is taking place.

Since homeschooling can take on so many faces, it seems that unschooling fits right in after all. All homeschooling parents want the opportunity for their children to learn in an environment where they are encouraged to grow, develop, and flourish. What better way than to allow your child to learn the things that interest them? In doing so, they'll pick up the things that traditional education believes they need to know.

Jane Saeman runs an In-Home Tutoring Service called Aim High Tutors. Find out how to help your student reach their full potential at http://www.aimhightutors.com and http://www.aimhightutors.com/blog

The More Things Change The More They Stay The Same With High School Fashion Styles

Value is hot! Most of us will look for deals like shopping at J.C. Penny, Kohl's and department stores that have value And name brands. We all "grow up" during high school (well most of us). High school fashions today declare who we are while we are. We are honing our socialization skills and finding what fashions reflect who we are. This is why there are various looks that high school students have. We've included just a few:

Most of us think by merely donning the varsity team jacket will somehow transform our look into "jock mode". However this does not hide our poor fashion sense or lack there of and neither do large letters and colors of the high school. The ultimate way to key into the Jock Look is by going out for a school sport and making the team and earning the right to wear that jacket. And by sport and team I am not referring to the varsity chess team.

We all remember the geeks and nerds don't we, and some of them were actually us. Usually none by their "un-cool" clothing these prodigies are usually so engulfed with numerous projects that they could care less about what they wear. As with all changes in fashion trends, actually having geeky clothing isn't necessarily a bad thing. Let's face it, geeks and nerds are thriving because of the fact that everyone has a computer. Do you recall when role playing gamers were known to be Satan worshippers? Well today some of them are none as world class cyber athletes. This high school fashion can be scored by being preoccupied with solving the problems of the universe and by wearing a shirt with a witty saying or technological jargon a face it.

While this high school fashion is popular among fans of rock bands making a statement is a definite plus with those we call, "rockers". These are usually shirts that make statements or shirts featuring their favorite band. This fashion usually includes a ton of trinkets and studded bracelets or a tribal necklace. With this high school fashion you need to take on the appropriate attitude to go with it. Being passionate about music is of course essential and having an IPOD or headphones will cinch the look. For the guarantee of turning girls heads a pair of drumsticks or a guitar case will do the trick as well.

Most of us think of BLACK when referring to the Goth fashion of high school clothing. Whether fortunately or not this is not just a high school fashion it is used by numerous people who wish to make statements of sorrow. The accessories are the key really; such as, black eyeliner and lipstick. Don't be swain by thinking these Goths are dressing as such to show their individuality; more or less this form of dress is more commonly done to be included in a group and sort of blend in with people who want to show that they belong.

The toughest fashion look to maintain as you must always stay atop the latest high fashions racing from store to store to obtain the first best outfit ever. Well you also have to know what is "cool" and what is definitely "not cool". And as a true fashionista, you must launch the highest standard of high school fashion.

This is just a few of the high school fashions a foot at your local high school so get out there and look around your local high school and catch one today or create a new one.

Gregg Hall is an author living with his beautiful wife and family in Navarre Beach Florida. Find more about style as well as high school fashion at http://www.styleandentertainment.com

The 3 Biggest Back To School Mistakes That Can Lower Your Child's Grades

My niece was visiting last week, and when we played a board game, I noticed she was making lots of mistakes that virtually proved she had a vision problem.

I knew, if they did not get it fixed right away, it could hurt her grades or even have her labeled as ADD/ADHD.

She was going back to school the following week, so I asked her lots of questions and quickly discovered she could barely see the calendar on the wall 10 feet away, and held her book right up to her nose when she read.

Since your child, along with millions of others, is going back to school soon, you'll want to pay attention to these 3 things, or you can unintentionally create lower grades and lower self-esteem, and low test scores.

1. You Do Not Know How The World Looks Through Your Child's Eyes

The ability to read is key to learning. Your child's vision changes when reading increases, so if you don't know how the world looks through your child's eyes, your child may become an at risk student, simply because he may think everybody else sees things the same distorted way.

The Solution: Eye doctors say to make sure your child has a thorough eye exam before school starts every year.

That one size fits all school vision distance eye chart has nothing to do with reading a book.

Two former U.S. Presidents had kids or grandkids with vision problems that went unnoticed until serious problems showed up.

Follow their lead with an eye exam that's related to learning as well as being able to see clearly.

2. You Don't Know Whether There Is A Mis-Match Between Your Child's Learning Style And The School's Written Testing Style

Kids learn in many ways, but schools test in only one.

If your child happens to be a visual learner, who thinks in pictures, they are likely to get the highest grades, because it fits how they are tested.

Kids who learn more by hearing or kinesthetically, through movement, are often labeled with ADD or ADHD, and need to know how to add some visual learning strategies so they can learn faster and be at, or even above grade level.

The Solution: Find a personal learning styles inventory that you can take online for free and it will tell you how you and your child learns best.

3. You Can't Tell Whether Your Child Knows The Memory Strategies Needed To Get High Grades and Test Scores.

Teachers are overworked and don't have time to give your child the one on one attention she needs to learn the memory strategies that A+ students already know.

Practice time tested memory techniques with your child so he or she is ready to remember everything on any test.

Pat Wyman is the best selling author of Learning vs Testing, speaker, founder of "http://www.HowToLearn.com" and known as America's Most Trusted Learning Expert. Answers for the 3 biggest back to school mistakes are at http://www.howtolearn.com/blog/howtolearn_blog.html

Heading Back To School After A Summer Of Fun

Some kids have become accustomed to heading back to school after a summer of fun. They feel very relaxed because they have had enough time off from studying and might even feel like they have missed reading and writing thoughts out about various people. They found most of the things that they studied last year to be very interesting and see no reason why this year should be any different.

Most kids know that they must head back to school because it is the law. They do not feel that going to school is a topic that is open to discussion because all kids must do it. Some things that happen at school might be open to discussion with their parents, but going back to school is just an expected thing that is no big deal for students.

Some students do not mind returning to school because they want to learn and become educated enough so that they can change the way that their life is. Some of these students might look forward to a warm meal at lunch time at school because their parents never seem to have enough money to feed the children heated meals twice a day. The best they can look forward to at lunch is a sandwich and a fruit drink.

Some students come from low income homes that are supported by the federal government school lunch programs. These children know that each meal at school is paid for and they make the most of each one. Sometimes the students will take fruit home to give to younger brothers and sisters because they want to make sure they have fruit in their diet. They feel that they are helping out in some small way and use the opportunity to go back to school to take care of their family.

The idea of going back to school and learning how to grow up strong and healthy is very important to some students. They might be very studious and want to learn all about doctoring because that is one of their dreams and one day perhaps, they will be able to care for others in a large hospital. There are many opportunities to learn when people go back to school and some students make it a point to learn about every opportunity that is available to them.

Students go back to school to follow dreams and learn how to further their studies by applying for grants and scholarships. Some might come from poor families and feel that good grades will get them a competitive edge to get selected for special programs where they might be able to travel aboard and study at Oxford or some other university. After a summer of fun, kids have plenty of energy to spend on many activities that will make a difference in their life.

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A Homeschooling Background and College

There are a lot of homeschooling programs out there, but very few attempt to approach to education similar to the way traditional colleges do. In some cases, state and even private colleges and universities have the same problems with education as public schools do. However, there are also many very fine ones.

Homeschooled students almost without exception excel in college, both in the subject matter they're taking and in their eagerness to learn. Oftentimes, they are ready to college by the time they're in their mid to late teens. However, college application can be difficult for homeschooled students, because of the nontraditional setting.

The first obstacle is the absence of transcripts. However, many thousands or perhaps millions of homeschooled students have overcome this. Most universities, even those that are the most prestigious, accept students that have been homeschooled. Here, homeschooled students often excel.

One win over, the problem with the absence of transcripts is one that needs to be taken care of, as the child gets older. Many homeschooled programs have also implemented a structure that makes it easier to keep records and assign grades, such as is done in public schools. Because school records are taken seriously by most colleges, parents who homeschool should start keeping transcripts early and should also began looking for colleges early, in order to target those the homeschooled student might want to be admitted to.

To start, select a half a dozen colleges or universities that you are interested in and then ask the admissions department what they want in transcripts. More universities are becoming used to that question from homeschooled students and their parents. Roughly two million children per year are now homeschooled, and many still choose to go to a traditional four-year college.

Oftentimes, admissions officials look for other ways besides transcripts to judge whether a student is suitable for admission. The first level of admission is decided on purely on the basis of standardized test scores such as the ACT and SAT. Homeschooled students are free to take these just as their public and private school peers are. Oftentimes, homeschooled students do much better than their peers do on these tests. This gives them an advantage during the admissions process.

Beyond this first level, when objective data like test scores are gathered, many colleges then incorporate their own admissions tests. Among these, college applications may require students to write an essay as part of the process. This especially allows homeschooled students to shine by expressing their opinions and their own views of the world. This also gives admissions officers insight into students' abilities and tastes.

These essays often showcase students' personal interests, aptitude and other attributes that make them unique and noteworthy. This is something homeschoolers can excel in especially, because they have had such a nontraditional education.

Next, advanced placement courses often allow students who have been homeschooled to take classes in an independent study mode. This does not require traditional attendance at a class and can help provide necessary "transcript" data to admissions officers. Many can be taken as part of an accelerated learning program. In this case, the student studies material that is more advanced than that studied by his or her peers at their particular grade level.

These are ways in which school officials can see that homeschooled students are as prepared and perhaps more prepared than their traditionally schooled peers to attend their institution. There is still a prejudice that homeschooled students do not receive as rigorous an education as their public and private school peers do; these methods can help assuage that thinking and not only show that their skills are as adequate as their public school peers' are, but that they are often more advanced. This will show officials that homeschooled students are more than ready to tackle the challenges that college will bring them.

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Tips For Cutting Back To School Costs

It's time to gather up the kids and hit the shopping scene once again- back-to-school is here. With back-to-school, kids see time to hang out with friends again and piles of homework to do instead of watching TV or going to the pool. Parents, on the other hand, see something very different: their money flying out of their pockets. Parents will spend nearly $500 sending each of their children back to school this Fall.

In August of last year, families spent $7.1 billion dollars on back-to-school clothing alone. Only during the holiday shopping season was more spent on clothing. However, clothing is just the beginning. Bookstores earned $2.1 billion in revenue in August 2006 as well. It was estimated last year that each family with school- age children would spend approximately $483. $219 went for clothing, $90 for shoes, $73 for supplies and $101 on electronics and computer equipment.

School systems throughout the United States also footed the bill in 2005 with an average of $8,701 spent on each student enrolled in public elementary schools that year. New York spent the most with $14,119 and Utah the least with $5,257, but it still adds up to a lot when calculated that 75.8 million people over the age of three were enrolled in school that year.

With the cost of back-to-school seeming a bit daunting, it may be helpful to try a few tips to keep costs down. Gathering a budget for back-to-school costs can soften the blow. Simply look up figures for the average cost per child, then divide by twelve (months in a year) and multiple by the number of children. Once you have a figure, plan on saving that much each month during the year. This way, once back-to-school shopping comes around, there will be no shock to the wallet.

If taking children along for the shopping trip, make sure the kids are aware of the allotted amount to be spent. In most cases, kids will whine for the latest fashion or the coolest looking school supplies. Although it may be alright to go for a cool, new thing or two, make sure the child knows you are staying within a budget.

Before shopping, be sure to take out of the budget "must haves" that cannot be found at the store. These include such things as enrollment fees and book costs or band instruments and athletic fees. Also, think about food costs and whether or not it would be more economical for your children to buy or bring lunch. Transportation costs may also be a factor, so check out local busing or car-pooling options.

Examine last year's markers and gluesticks before purchasing brand-new sets. Also, make sure to buy only what is required on the school supply list. Buying extra items can add up; especially, with more than one child.

When shopping for clothes, don't go for brand-new items unless necessary. Look for shops offering gently-used items; especially, for children who will be growing rapidly in the coming year. When buying the clothing, try to stick with cash, so as not to overspend on the allotted amount. It can be tempting with kids trying to convince you otherwise, but by having only the set amount in cash there will be no choice but to stick to the budget.

One of the best ways to save money on back-to-school clothing is to shop off-season to save up to seventy-five percent.

If multiple children in a family are going back to school, consider buying school supplies in bulk. Warehouse clubs offer larger amounts of supplies at much lower prices. As much as fifteen percent can be saved by bulk buying; cutting a few back-to-school dollars.

Charlotte Buelow is a contributing business writer for Goliath. Goliath is one of the Internet's largest collections of business research, news and information. Learn more about Goliath at http://goliath.ecnext.com.

Aching For An Acupuncture Career - Find The Best Accredited Acupuncture Schools

Acupuncture has been practiced in China for at least 2,000 years or so and some say it is more possibly like 3,000 years or so. You may be thinking about a career in acupuncture. When just starting out, one needs to learn how and where you can earn a certificate or degree in acupuncture and what it's like to work in the field of acupuncture.

It's important to get a complete picture of all the treatments offered by the acupuncture school to acquire the skills needed to be well-rounded and well-versed for your patients. Smaller classes tend to encourage greater discussion between students and teachers, and can foster improved learning. Acupuncture school education and training requirements can total from between 2500 to 4000 credit hours.

For naturopathy schools that offer acupuncture programs see the: List of Accredited Natural Medicine Colleges in North America. Keep in mind that depending on the school, students may be required to study herbal medicine or may be offered herbal courses as electives. Acupuncture schools that offer courses in traditional Chinese medicine often include other aspects of traditional medicine, like anatomy, body therapy, massage therapy, and sciences.

Choose an acupuncture school that offers consultation services for its graduates; these schools allow graduates to consult with their instructors regarding care of their patients. Choose an acupuncture school that offers an extensive library of materials focused on traditional Chinese medicine. You want to opt for a school whose program emphasizes courses in traditional Chinese medicine; acupuncture is just one part of traditional Chinese medicine.

Acupuncture scholarships may be available; check this out as soon as you make the decision to enroll in a program - don't wait. Talk to the financial aid counselors at the acupuncture school or college you are considering and see if they have any suggestions for scholarships, grants or loans. Before you commit to learning about any alternative medical technique, be aware that many of them have not been scientifically evaluated; do your homework.

Economic burden may be lessened with financial aid in the form of federal student loans. If you have a naturopathic school in your area, give them a call; they will undoubtedly know the licensing requirements. If you visit an acupuncture practitioner to learn more before you commit to acupuncture as a career, make sure to choose a practitioner who is licensed by a recognized national acupuncture organization.

Before you commit to any acupuncture school or to any acupuncture training you can purchase "Fundamentals of Chinese Acupuncture" by Andrew Ellis, Nigel Wiseman, and Ken Bosson. 484pp, illustrated, Harcourt, 1991, paperback; this text book is used in many acupuncture schools and acupuncture programs and will give you an idea if you want to pursue acupuncture as a career. You may not need a license to practice acupuncture in your state; get the facts first on which states require licensing. Consider contacting local organizations and health organizations to see if they know of any scholarships available.

Acupuncturists can expect to make about $45,000 per year starting out and can usually double that amount after a few years experience. Make sure to learn all you can about your state's licensing requirements for acupuncturists before you do anything else. Our advanced medicine has proven the effectiveness of many treatments that have been practiced in other countries for many centuries; as a result, more and more insurance companies are covering alternative treatments like acupuncture.

For more information on choosing the best acupuncture schools and finding the best acupuncture school financing go to http://www.AcupunctureSchoolsTips.com a nurse's website specializing in acupuncture schools tips, help, facts, free resources, including information on acupuncture schools list

Learn About Accredited Home Schools Before Making A Decision

There are many instances where children can't attend regular schools. Or their parents will choose to have the children educated in a different manner. Home schooling is the answer that many parents and children have discovered. These home schools can give your child the same teaching as if they were in a regular school. Accredited home schools make this task even easier.

Home schooling has it's advantages and disadvantages that every parent and family should consider before jumping into it. Discovering and understanding your needs for your child is paramount. When this is done your family can move to the phase of evaluating home schooling curriculum.

These accredited home schools have the same type of program as ones that are found in convention schools. Unlike normal schools the students learn the syllabus according to their own pace. They also have telephone access to their teachers and receive the help that they need. However, depending on the subject of study will dictate the help that is granted. Each subject often times falls under it's own rules.

The home schooling program is gaining popularity with parents. These parents have no desire to expose their children to some of the vices that are found in schools today. Besides using home schooling as a way of keeping your youngster safe, letting your kid learn from accredited home schools will be of great help.

Some of the advantages to home schooling are:

* Safety from accidental injury

* Curtailing serious illness

* Regulating children's studies

To date there are over a million children who are receiving home schooling. The accredited home schools have the ability to keep track of their students. They will have a record of the students and their progress. This progression is updated and recorded for the future. This allows students to be admitted to university with a minimum of difficulty.

There is another reward of having your child enrolled in an accredited home school program. You will have help close at hand to deal with a known childhood school time virus.

This virus is known as the procrastination virus. Since the assorted courses that you will find in the accredited home schools are designed to trigger the interest of the students, you will find this procrastination virus can be alleviated.

Although, home schooling has some desirable advantages, some of the disadvantages you need to consider are:

* Your time as a parent

* Lack of interaction with others

* Lack of organized sports and extra curricular activities

Home schooling is becoming more widely accepted throughout the country today. When looking into this type of program for your child take into consideration the above advantages and disadvantages. Learn all you can about the various offering and what the accredited home schools can do for you.

Make sure you look, study and understand the curriculum of your chosen home schooling. By looking into the curriculum and other details you can be assured and feel comfortable of choosing a curriculum that is right for your family. Reliable accredited home schools are tomorrow's answer for today's educational needs.

Get free Home School information below. Bowe Packer is an accomplished online information provider, providing informative articles to over 50 websites. Visit his Home School site and learn: http://homeschool.infosupplier.net. What you need to know about home schooling for free.

Opportunity Awaits Those In Nursing School

Becoming a nurse is an exciting experience. The hard work and
training in school results in a rewarding career. The nursing
profession is in great need in all areas. Graduates are
satisfied about the options granted to them after their nursing
education.

Nurses apply direct care and those with medical education apply
knowledge in other non-patient areas. Nurses and medical
professionals work in many settings like hospitals, private
offices, schools, resorts, etc. With extra schooling, nurses
become managers, supervisors, and consultants to various
industries.

Those pondering a nursing career, also wonder about post
graduation. The following article educates on some of the
opportunities awaiting a nursing school graduate.

Opportunities

Medical assistants work closely with doctors to supplement
their care. Services include administering medication, updating
medical history, and taking vital signs. Medical assistants work
in hospitals, private practices, or other facilities warranting
frequent patient care.

The field needs medical coders. Medical coders know medical
terminology and how to read patient's charts. They invest time
updating records regularly. Opportunities for advancement exist
in the field. The position provides the worker with continuous
exposure to medical information.

Many become medical office administrators after schooling.
These professionals answer phones, coordinate with hospitals,
and check patients in/out.

There is a strong demand for information technology
professionals. IT specialists utilize databases to store
patient's medical and billing records. Hospitals are very
dependent on data administrators and Web programmers.

Medical billing and administration is an integral part of
healthcare operations. Facilities fill positions in billing,
collections, and administrative support. Candidates need courses
and experience in medical terminology and billing.

The field expects a boom in home healthcare in the near future.
Millions of patients are treated at home for various reasons and
need constant to intermittent care.

Conclusion

The shortage of healthcare workers creates opportunities for
those already engaged and entering school. Many career options
are available for those who want to devote energy to various
positions. The demand inspires excellent starting salaries,
benefits, and signing bonuses.

About The Author: Western Schools
(http://www.westernschools.com)is the leader in Continuing
Education for Nurses. We have developed this site to be a
Nursing Resource center. Browse our extensive catalog of
continuing education courses for Nurses.

Please use the HTML version of this article at:
http://www.isnare.com/html.php?aid=160003

Can An Online High School Diploma Help You?

A high school diploma is considered to be the minimum prerequisite for even the entry-level jobs. Earning a school diploma can increase your pay packet to a significant amount. It proves to be a wonderful opportunity for people who could not complete their school, due to financial problems. These online classes are available at students convenience, which they can avail any time of the day. Depending upon your self-made goals, completing your school diploma allows you to take your career to a new level.

With online high school diplomas, students can take classes from any location across the world that has access to a computer and an Internet connection. These courses have broadened horizons in all directions for people from almost all walks of life. The most significant benefit of an online school diploma is that students can avail of one at their desired pace. It suggests that they can accelerate or slower down the pace whenever they wish to. This convenience has made online classes as one of the most popular ways to obtain a school diploma.

Students who are highly motivated can get the diploma early. It does not bind them with others learning skills and is completely an individual effort. There are many institutions that offer great options to people of all educational backgrounds. Many accredited schools offer online high school diplomas, permitting working individuals to continue their education without giving up their employment. It improves the employment outlook of a person. Statistics suggests that a high school graduate earns around $5,000 per annum more than a non-graduate at an entry level.

With experience, it is likely to add some $170,000 or more to their present earning. It not only adds to the present income, but also enables them to apply to the college of their choice and specialize in any field of interest. With an online high school diploma, students can apply to any field ranging from business to Arts to Computers.

Basically an online high school diploma benefits students under the following category:

. Left School Early: Online high school diploma works well for students who had to leave their education half way due to some financial crises. A school diploma is required to make an entry to the military or to get into a college. Completing your school diploma helps to overcome the hurdle of not being eligible to many lucrative careers or higher education.

. Graduation at an early age: Many people want to complete their graduation as early as possible. They can opt for online high school diploma, as it will help them fulfill the graduation requirements on time.

. You can accelerate the speed of your education by one to two years earlier. Many home school districts can even offer free online classes that enable you to graduate as early as possible. However, if you plan to enter college after your graduation, online education will enable you to explore college classes, while you pursue your high school classes. It allows you to take online classes from an accredited university.

High School Diploma program at Citizens' High School is fully accredited by the DETC. So if you are interested in a Homeschooling program you better do your homework and check out their website: http://www.citizenshighschool.com.

Choosing Materials For Home Schooling Your Child

Choosing your teaching materials can be an overwhelming decision because there are so many excellent resources and products available and each one claims to be superior to all others. Many veteran homeschoolers would suggest that you stick to a "prepackaged" or traditional curriculum for the first year or so, just until you get the hang of it.

Other parents will encourage new homeschoolers to consider correspondence schools to start with. I don't necessarily agree with these recommendations, because for many it seems to encourage the idea of viewing home schooling as being "school at home" instead of an exciting and enriching lifestyle of learning.

Here are some rules for choosing your teaching materials:

Rule #1: First, you need to consider your situation and budget when it comes to choosing your teaching materials. You can make the most of the real life learning opportunities that are available to you.

Rule #2: Choose the teaching materials that complement both you as the teacher and your child as the learner.

Rule #3: If you don't like the material that you have chosen, you will end up resisting using it no matter how good it is. All teaching materials have a bias in them, not just in the subject matter, but also in the way the subject matter is presented. Every teaching parent, whether he recognizes it or not, has an educational philosophy of their own or some set of values and beliefs about what and how children should be taught. You should be true to those beliefs.

Rule #4: Avoid programs that require a great deal of teacher preparation. Unless you are a researcher-type or high-energy person, you will be extremely irritated by programs that are filled with detailed teacher's manuals that you need to wade through, supplemental books or seminars that are necessary to fully utilize the program, or lots of activities to prepare beforehand.

Rule #5: It is like the old saying goes, "Don't judge a book by its cover". Expensive does not necessarily mean better. There are $250 reading programs that are loaded with praise and there are those reading programs that cost a mere $25 that are far better. Any dedicated teacher with a good phonics program can teach a child to read and spell well.

Rule #6: You need to be aware that there are various schools of thought when it comes to the teaching of any subject. In math there are programs that are primarily problem solving with manipulatives and there are programs that are primarily problem solving on paper.

Rule #7: you need to realize that people's needs change. What worked one year may not necessarily work the next. Your family's needs and interests will always change and you need to learn to go with the flow. Buy materials that meet your present needs and mold the curriculum to the child's abilities, not the child to the curriculum.

Rule #8: God gave you your children because there is something in YOU that it wants imparted to them. Teaching materials are only meant to be used as tools to help you impart yourself to your children. Your instincts count when it comes to homeschooling.

Rule #9: You will want to remember that teaching materials are often the least important elements of your home school situation. Books are easy to get rid of if they don't work for you, but attitudes and destructive family dynamics are not.

The five major reasons families fail at home education are:

They lack the conviction to continue on through the difficult times;
It is a single parent household or both parents are not in agreement
the children are undisciplined and resist parental instruction;
the parents are undisciplined and cannot handle the added responsibilities
The family has unrealistic expectations or goals that are too high.

As you can see, choosing your learning materials do require thought on your part, but it doesn't have to be harder than it needs to. If you come to realize that your own instincts and abilities are your best assets, you will then know that you need no more than where they lead you.

You Don't Have To Be A PHD To Benefit From Home Schooling!

Click Here For A Free Online E-Book:

http://benefitofhomeschooling.com

Choosing A College: Guidance For The High School Grad

As the high school year comes to a close, many students may be turning their thoughts to summer jobs and vacations, but others look beyond such short term endeavors and on to the long term: college. One of most difficult decisions a student will face-Which college best suits me?

Some teens may be lucky enough to reap advice from current college students or recent college grads. However many college-bound kids are left guidance-less. How does a student begin the choosing process?

Students should consider a list of factors. Would a two- or a four-year college suit the student best? How far from home are they willing to move?

The community and surroundings of the college (urban, rural or suburban) and its religious affiliation may also be important factors. Students should also consider college accreditation, but should be wary of focusing on only ivy league schools.

Students should also be conscious of what types of clubs and sports they wish their college to offer. Looking back on in which high school activities the student was involved can help identify which activities are important to be offered by the college.

Also, the student should think about whether or not it is important to attend a school with some form of division I sports team or the chance to participate in intramural sports.

It is important that the student also think about the academic options within the college. Student has a specific major in mind should only keep in mind colleges that offer that major.

Other factors that play into college selection are the requirements for entry into that college. Average test scores, GPA and class rank should be reviewed to ensure the standards of the school are not too low but can by met by the student. Special application requirements such as participation in extracurricular activities should be looked at as well.

After finding a small list of colleges that meet the student's needs and preferences, the student and parents should look into how to pay for the college. The estimated cost of the school should be taken into consideration, including the cost of tuition, room, board and travel.

Besides relying on funds from parents, the student should also look into the financial aid opportunities offered by the school and for what reasons (need, academic, athletic) such financial aid opportunities are offered.

If a student is still finding it difficult to find a college that meets his or her needs, college search sites can be helpful in narrowing down the choices. Many sites have college search calculators that take into account the many factors listed above. From such searches a student can compile a list of colleges that meet requirements, look through the list, and pick a few colleges that are well-suited for him or her.

Besides online searches, students should also pay attention to college mail they receive and respond to the colleges that spark their interests. If a college of interest does not send the student information then the student should contact the college and request information. Such contact information can be found on a college's website.

Another great way to become more familiar with a college is to virtually visit the college through the college's website. Most sites provide areas for prospective students to attend virtual tours of campus. There may also be opportunities for the students to hear from students who attend the college.

Students should also talk to friends and family members about their college experiences and keep in mind what made a different in each college graduate's college education.

After a list of between three and ten colleges has been compiled, the student should immediately begin applying or requesting information from the colleges depending on how soon the student will be attending college. It is important for the student to have at least three college choices, one being a "back up" college to which the student is sure they will be accepted. Once applications are sent, the student has only to wait, relax and enjoy the summer!

Charlotte Beulow is a contributing business writer for Access My Library. Best known for its reference content as well as its organization of full-text magazine and newspaper articles, AML creates and maintains more than 600 databases. Visit http://www.accessmylibrary.com to learn more.

Houston Schools Deal With Diversity And Drop-outs

At the end of June 2007 the Supreme Court made a split 5-4
ruling that limits the ability of schools to use race as a
factor in determining student participation in academic
programs like magnet schools. Around that same time, the
Alliance for Excellence in Education released a study out of
Princeton University that reports the cost of high school
drop-outs to the country over the next decade will be about $3
trillion.

Houston Schools will have to make some decisions in years to
come based on both of these results. The Supreme Court decision
has been brewing for decades. While Houston Schools do not use
race as admission to magnets, the specialized schools were
started for the purpose of desegregation. And the current
battle over the issue of achieving racially balanced schools by
using race as a factor is a tense one. Houston Schools won't
have to make changes to its magnets, as other schools in the
country will. But – the Houston Schools will still need to
focus on ways to address the huge racial achievement gap.

The Princeton study, conducted by Cecelia Rouse, a professor of
economics and public affairs, released some disturbing
statistics for both Houston Schools and the entire state of
Texas. Individually, every high school drop-out costs the
United States $260,000. In Texas, only 66.8% of high schoolers
make it to graduation. And a 2006 USA Today article reported
that less than 50% of Houston Schools students graduate on
time. In that same year the Princeton Study reported that
drop-outs cost the state of Texas over $31 billion.

What explains these numbers? Educators in Houston Schools
aren't surprised by the numbers. They have know for years facts
that the study cites from numerous sources; that high school
graduates in the Houston Schools (and the nation) are less
likely to become teen parents than drop-outs; they raise
healthier and better educated children; commit less crimes; and
use less public services (welfare, food stamps) and less
government healthcare. It's the cumulative cost of these
factors that make the drop-out rate so costly for Houston
Schools.

How is that affected by the recent Supreme Court Ruling? The
question is race. Houston Schools face a significant gap in
graduation rates between white and non-white students. In 2006
the racial breakdown of the percentage of students who
graduated on time from Texas Schools looked like this: Asians
83%, Whites 75%, African-Americans 60% and Hispanics 25%.
Houston Schools follow these numbers closely.

Although Houston Schools magnet programs aren't currently
affected by the new ruling, expect to see more changes on the
horizon. The ruling only prohibits schools from using race as
the single determining factor for admission to magnet programs.
It still leaves room for questions about- using it as one of
many factors, the role of charter schools, and the multitude of
ways schools try to achieve racial balance. The parents of
Houston Schools students are torn. Some are ready to scrap any
evidence of racial profiling for use in academics. Others fear
that the elimination of attempts to balance racial mix will
result in a return to largely segregated schools where minority
and low income students suffer in the worst areas, in crumbling
buildings, and with the least qualified teachers. The future of
Houston Schools' success at closing the achievement gap is still
murky. But the vision of further initiatives, court rulings, and
studies on the role of race in education is certain.

About The Author: Patricia Hawke is a staff writer for Schools
K-12, providing free, in-depth reports on all U.S. public and
private K-12 schools. For more information please visit
http://www.schoolsk-12.com/Texas/Houston/index.html

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What To Know Before Choosing An Acupuncture School

As acupuncture has become more popular over the years, governments have recognized it as a valuable form of medicine and seek to regulate it. Once you become informed about acupuncture schools you'll be able to find the right program or school for you and start down the path to a rewarding career as an acupuncturist. Starting out, one needs to learn how and where you can earn a certificate or degree in acupuncture and what it's like to work in the field of acupuncture.

Acupuncture school education and training requirements can total from 2500 to 4000 credit hours. You want to opt for a school whose program emphasizes courses in traditional Chinese medicine; acupuncture is just one part of traditional Chinese medicine. You can call each school you're considering and ask to speak to a recruiting counselor to find out the student-to-teacher ratio so you can get smaller classes.

States like California have many acupuncture schools to choose from, while Wisconsin, for example, has only one school; some states have none at all. Choose an acupuncture school that offers an extensive library of materials focused on traditional Chinese medicine. There are just a few acupuncture schools that teach practitioners the five-element Oriental medicine approach to acupuncture, which is often used in conjunction with traditional Western medical practices.

Keep in mind that depending on the school, students may be required to study herbal medicine or may be offered herbal courses as electives. Check with your school - it's important that you have a wide selection of study resources available to you so you can have all the literature that is essential for a broad learning experience. For naturopathy schools that offer acupuncture programs see online the list of accredited Natural Medicine Colleges in North America.

One good textbook to review in advance of your decision is: "The Foundations of Chinese Medicine" a comprehensive text for acupuncturists and herbalists. Maciocia, 528pp., 96 Illustrated, Harcourt, 1989. Internships in acupuncture take place in acupuncture clinics or clinical settings, usually in the third year. Acupuncture benefits are particularly effective at relieving or treating chronic muscle pain, stress, and PMS just to name a few symptoms.

Talk to the financial aid counselors at the acupuncture school or college you are considering and see if they have any suggestions for scholarships, grants or loans. Acupuncture scholarships may be available; check this out as soon as you make the decision to enroll in a program - don't wait. Economic burden may be lessened with financial aid in the form of federal student loans.

If you visit an acupuncture practitioner to learn more before you commit to acupuncture as a career, make sure to choose a practitioner who is licensed by a recognized national acupuncture organization. Consider contacting your local organizations and health organizations to see if they know of any scholarships available. Note that each state and each discipline has its own strict rules about how alternative medicine practitioners can be professionally licensed.

And once you're licensed or practicing acupuncture as a student in training, never attempt to use acupuncture to treat potentially life-threatening symptoms such as extreme shortness of breath or chest pain; refer these patients to their doctor. Make sure to learn about your state's licensing requirements for acupuncturists and necessity of acupuncture schools before you do anything else. Our advanced medicine today has proven the effectiveness of many treatments that have been practiced in other countries for many centuries; as a result, more and more insurance companies are covering alternative treatments like acupuncture.

For more information on choosing the best acupuncture schools and finding the best acupuncture school financing go to http://www.AcupunctureSchoolsTips.com a nurse's website specializing in acupuncture schools tips, help, facts, free resources, including information on acupuncture schools list

Italy Cooking School Tours: How To Choose The Right One For You

Cooking school tours in Italy and around the world have multiplied like zucchinis in a summer garden.

This article tells you how to sift through the overwhelming choice of Italian cooking tours and find the right one for you, so you experience a feast for your senses, heart, mind and soul, a trip of a lifetime and avoid disappointments.

A cooking holiday in Italy can add up to a big investment of time and money.

Maybe you've been dreaming for years about a cooking school tour in Italy. Maybe it's a special trip to celebrate a 40th, 50, 60th birthday or a big anniversary with family and friends you love.

How to choose an Italian cooking school tour that gives you the joy and value you expect? How to protect your investment in your trip?

Ask yourself these 10 questions.

1. What is important to me in my Italian cooking tour?

List what's important to you in your cooking tour. Read tour itineraries critically with the mind of a detective. If an itinerary seems vague, ask the tour operator detailed questions.

Here are some examples of what may be important to you and what to look for in tour itineraries.

A. Lots of cooking lessons? How many lessons are in the itinerary?

B. Lots of wine visits? How many winery visits and wine tastings are in the itinerary? Where do they take place? In wineries with the producer? In wine shops with a knowledgeable staff member?

C. Lots of stimulating food visits? What kind? Cheese and olive oil producers? Truffle hunting? Make sure the itinerary has visits that make YOUR mouth water.

D. Immersing yourself in Italian life? How many different local people do you meet and how many different towns or locations do you visit?

What kind of Italian cultural experiences delight you? Meeting an artist in his ceramic studio? Cooking in a family's home and dining with the family? Are these events in your tour?

2. What is my budget?

Prices for a six day Italian cooking tour package vary from about $2000 to 5100 Cdn or $1900 to $4800 U.S. Four day tours go from about $1200 to 3400 Cdn or $1100 to $3200 U.S. at current exchange rates.

3. What kind of accommodation is best for me?

Some people are happy in simple, clean rooms in B & Bs with minimal decor because they're hardly ever in the room. They prefer to put their money towards special food and wine experiences. Is this you?

Others want beautiful, four star hotels or country properties with magnificent views and rooms oozing with historical charm and designer decor. Is this you?

4. What kind of excursions do I want?

Is this your first time in this particular region so you prefer sightseeing? Are you a foodie hungering for gastronomic adventures or a wine lover thirsting for winery tours? If you'd like a bit of it all, how much sightseeing and how many food and wine visits do you want?

Often cheaper tours offer mostly sightseeing where you explore and shop in medieval towns and admire beautiful country panoramas.

More expensive tours give you exclusive gastronomic visits where you watch artisan producers making cheese or tour wineries with owners who tell you all you ever wanted to know about their wines and give you special tastings.

5. When do I want to travel in Italy?

Are you keen on the wine harvest? Food lovers swarm to Italy for the wine harvest in September and October when you have a large number of cooking tour choices so reserve early.

Is warm weather important? Generally in most parts of Italy, mid May to mid October are warm to hot. July and August in some parts of Italy may be too hot for you.

Would you like a quieter time when chefs and winery owners can give you more personal attention? You'll find a good choice of cooking tours in May and June.

In steaming mid August most Italian businesses shut for annual summer holidays. Cities empty out. Masses flock to the mountains or beaches, leaving cities like Florence to the tourists. You'll find less cooking school choice in August.

6. How many people in my cooking class?

Six or eight? You'll get to prepare the whole lunch or dinner menu.

Ten or more? You'll join the "eggplant" or "tiramisu" team and not learn how to make the other dishes. But the more the merrier! A larger class also may give you demonstration style, not hands-on lessons. Which do you prefer?

7. What level of cooking teacher and class do I need?

You can savour once in a lifetime experiences with great home cooks on their farms. If you're a gourmet cook, you may prefer more professional level cooking lessons with restaurant chefs. Check cooking teachers' qualifications.

Ask about class level. Most classes are geared to food loving tourists, ranging from gourmet cooks to rank beginners. If the thought of cooking with people who can't separate eggs gives you nightmares, gather your own group of good cooks together for a private cooking tour or classes.

8. What kind of cooking lessons do I like?

Hands-on lessons where you put your hands in the flour, or demonstration style classes where you watch the chef's expert moves and ask lots of questions?

Many demonstration classes tend to be large from 10 to even 20 people. Julia Childs reportedly had 40 disciples watching her in classes at the five star Hotel Cipriani in Venice and following her in a long line through the Rialto market.

9. Where do I eat on my cooking tour?

Do you want to eat in a variety of local restaurants, so you get a real flavour of different cooking styles and towns and countryside in Italy?

Or do you prefer quieter meals at your country villa or estate, where the chef feels like an Italian family member?

Less expensive cooking tours feature most meals at home, while more expensive ones take you to more restaurants.

10. What is included and not included in the price of my cooking tour?

Some tour itineraries don't make it crystal clear what's included. Some say "optional" excursions or lunch "on your own" which mean you pay extra. Some say "evening at leisure" which means free time and dining on your own.

11. Ask for references

If you want to feel reassured you've chosen the right Italian cooking tour, ask the tour operator for names of past tour clients and their e-mails. Contact them to find out first hand if the itinerary delivers on what you want to experience.

For many food and wine lovers, taking a cooking tour in Italy means a long time dream is coming true and represents a big investment of time and money.

Make sure your dream becomes a fabulous real experience. When you have a short list of tours that appeal to you, read the itineraries critically and ask yourself these 10 questions.

Buon viaggio! Buon appetito!

Margaret Cowan wrote "Your Guide to 133 Decadent Cooking Holidays in Italy", owns Mama Margaret Italian Cooking Holidays company, has run cooking tours since 1995 & has traveled to Italy for 30 years.

For more questions to ask, click "Free Report" at http://www.italycookingschools.com

Applying The Moore Formula For Home Schooling

Dr. Raymond Moore and his better half Dorothy Moore are referred to as the Grandparents of the modern home schooling association. They are experts in this field of education for more than 50 years. In addition, for the past 30 years they have distributed their research and their Formulae for successful home schooling. This home schooling plan is inexpensive, lesser strenuous and still results in great accomplishments.

The Moore family believes in a stable advance towards education, which takes account of learning, efforts as well as service. They in addition recommend making use of the student awareness as the main point for education. For doing this they have developed an approach called a unit study approach. They stress on work and service assignments equally distributed and believe that this is as essential as the time spent in studies. But these two regions are time and again ignored.

The most fundamental element of the Moore Formula is their solid principle. A principle that parents should hold on until their child reaches the 8 to10 age group. This advice is based on the efforts they have put in to carry out a research on readiness and child development. They have put down all their research in a book titled Better Late Than Early. This signifies that there should be no lessons until the specified age and it does not matter if the child can or cannot read. However, in its place, the child could be taught good behavior and compliance.

The child could also do plenty of reading and simultaneously, the parents could monitor the childs efforts in tasks given at home, the church as well as in society. Dr. Moore and his wife have observed that parents who hold on until their child has attained what is known as the Integrated Maturity Level have the maximum success and the slightest risk of school burn out afterwards. This happens when the child reaches a stage of identifiable sentimental, religious, psychological and physical intensity of development.

All this does not indicate that the child is left all by himself to do as he wishes. A day-by-day timetable of actions within a set time is affixed. This timetable is made use of to arrange the childs day; awakening and bedtime, mealtime, family commitments etc. The child contributes by assisting and being concerned for the family, helping together with his parents and siblings as they work as a family in the house. In addition, the approach could possibly assist in managing a family business and in the society carrying out assignments that are service-oriented. The parents respond to all the childs queries with affectionate receptiveness and represent positive community proficiency and honest ethical personality.

In the course of this period of casual education and carrying on into proper lessons, the unit study approach is brought into play as a principal education device. For instance if the child is interested in cars, this subject matter is utilized as the main point for learning science, literature and history. Units of learning are constructed in the region of his interests; adding in substance topics and proficiency issues as much as possible. Beyond the unit lessons, a little time day after day is spent on mastering the fundamental ability.

Important must read information for anyone wanting to complete their High School Diploma. Free information package from a DETC accredited institution on Homeschooling Online available from http://www.citizenschool.com/homeschooling.htm.

School Fund Raising Idea - Custom Gift Wrap

Some of the best fund raising ideas for schools are those which
involve the pupils in some kind of creative activity. I'll bet
if you asked most young children what they enjoy most at school
the answers would include drawing or painting. Combining the
talents of our children with parents and grandparents
willingness to spend money is a winning combination.

And how do you get all that creativity on to something that
displays our children's artistic skills to as wide an audience
as possible? You print it on gift wrapping paper. Possibilities
for themes are endless, but parent's pockets aren't, so selling
the gift wrap at a couple of events a year should be just
right. The most obvious are the Summer Fete or Fair and at
Christmas.

Get the children to create their works of art on A4 paper
sheets. They can be on white paper, or for an interesting
effect spread a few different coloured papers among the pupils.
A standard sheet of Gift Wrap is 500mm x 700mm or similar. When
the children's illustrations are reduced down in size, you can
fit any number from about 72 up to 288 images on to a sheet. It
depends on the effect you want to achieve. The white background
tends to work better with the lower numbers and the
multi-coloured papers with higher numbers. Duplicate images as
desired or necessary to make up the numbers.

The children's images are scanned and montaged using design
software and printing should be carried out by a printing
company. How much of the work of creating the gift wrap is
carried out by the school will depend on the school's own
capabilities. However, it is recommended that the assembly of
images and final printing is carried out by professionals. The
minimum quantity for printing gift wrap of this kind is 1000
sheets. The profit on this amount should be at least 100% after
printing costs are taken out. For larger quantities, the amount
raised by the school would be even higher.

At Christmas time, an additional fund raiser is to have
greetings cards printed with images from the gift wrap. The
advantage with these fund raising projects is that they can be
repeated annually with different sets of children taking part.
As well as the money raised, the expressions on the children's
faces when they see their work in print is priceless.

About The Author: Richard Leeds is the founder of PrintJuggler,
and provides a personal service for customers with custom
printing and gift wrap packaging requirements. For more details
visit http://www.printjuggler.com

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How to Select the Right Photography School

If you are like many, you have an interest in developing the background and skills necessary to enter the field of photography as career. And what a great career it can be. There is nothing more gratifying than creating a powerful image with your camera and a keen eye. Of course, in order to achieve your goal it is important that you get the right photographic education along with effective coaching and mentoring. With the right education, lots of hard work, and many hours of practice you will soon have the title of professional photographer.

Just like any school you will need to do your research to make sure that the photography school you select will best meet your individual needs. This article is intended to provide you several of the key areas that you should take into consideration as you begin to research good photography schools. After all it is your time and money so you owe it to yourself to make a well educated selection.

In choosing a photography school you should start by looking at the big picture. The selection of a photography school must be aligned with your specific career goals. As with any business field photography presents many opportunities in a wide range of categories. For example, you may have an interest in portrait photography, product advertising, or sports photography. At this point you may be focused more on the general aspects of photography and if so that is okay. But, if you have an area of interest it is worth your investment in time to determine the areas of specialization your short list of photography schools may have to offer. It would also be beneficial if your school of choice provides courses in general business in addition to the photography classes. This will aid you as you move from student to professional status.

I am sure you already know this but I will say it any way. Professional photography is more than point-and-shoot method for making a living. It requires an attention to detail and a wide range of skills including mathematics, business management, marketing and more. So make sure that the photography school you select can provide you the knowledge you need in the area of general business education too. Since many photographers eventually go into business on their own you will find these to be extremely valuable survival skills that will lend to your success.

It is always wise to inquire about the size of the class as well as the ratio of students to teacher. To many people in photography class can really be a hindrance toward proper learning. And it will also prohibit the instructor from providing effective hands-on supervision to each of the students.

Another skill area that should be considered is in the area of computers and you should determine if the photography school of choice provides learning in this area as well. A good photography school needs to have courses on basic computer use as well as more advance courses for those who have an interest in expanding their knowledge of digital photography as well as specialty software used for creating a digital darkroom. Since the field of photography is a very competitive it is imperative that you gain education and knowledge in this area as well.

Lastly, keep in mind that any education will have a price tag associated with it. So unless you just happen to have all of your photography education funding in hand it is worth while to determine if the schools provide scholarships or other forms of financial assistance for their students. Also keep in mind that you will more than likely need to invest in some of your own photography equipment. So I would recommend that you ask for a listing of equipment that the photography school offers to their students as well as a listing of equipment that you need to buy. This will aid you in determining the total cost of your education.

Hopefully, these recommendations will help you build your list of investigation questions so that you can make a wise and well educated decision. Choosing the right school is just as important as having a good view of where you want to go. And the right school is the best way to help you get there.

To Your Success as a Professional Photographer!

Did you know that you can continue learning about Photography for Free? Find out exactly how easy it is to improve your skills and knowledge and continue your
photographic education at: http://Photography.Your-Portal.info