Make Learning English for Kids Fun

Make Learning English for Kids Fun How to Make English Lessons for Kids Enjoyable ChaptersFocus on the Fun of Learning EnglishEnglish Cartoons for KidsEnglish Songs for KidsEnglish Stories for KidsSpeaking English to KidsOnline English Activities for KidsGroup English Lessons for KidsPrivate English Lessons for KidsYou can’t teach children the English language the same way you would adults. When it comes to a younger learner, language learning has to be fun otherwise they'll lose interest and just give up altogether.Here’s some advice for how to teach children English. JulianESOL (English) Teacher 4.00 (1) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EugeneESOL (English) Teacher 4.90 (58) £22/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HelenESOL (English) Teacher 5.00 (20) £32/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SuzanneESOL (English) Teacher 5.00 (2) £45/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NatashaESOL (English) Teacher 5.00 (8) £55/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SamuelESOL (English) Teacher 4.83 (41) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover a ll our tutors JoanneESOL (English) Teacher 5.00 (43) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarkESOL (English) Teacher 4.76 (17) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsFocus on the Fun of Learning EnglishChildren learn very quickly, especially when it comes to languages and vocabulary. However, children also lose interest in things very quickly. This is your first hurdle.As you know, children that start to learn a foreign language at a young age are far more likely to master the language in a few years and become fairly fluent.  Therefore, if you're considering teaching English to a child, you should do so as early as possible.Teaching children a foreign language early on will help a lot further down the line when it comes to their personal life (interacting with other people, when they're on holiday, etc.) and their professional life as they'll have the necessary language skills and know how to speak English fluently with a native English speaker.You have to use the right methods for them to learn quickly. However, the right approach is more important than any particular teaching method because if you get the approach all wrong, they won't want to learn at all!Fun has to be at the centre of learning. (Source: CAST Professional Learning)An approach that can be summarised as making fun the focus. This is a general approach for all types of learning since children learn much better when they’re having fun with it. There aren't many people who love studying English grammar, spelling, or vocabulary. However, if you learn English while having fun, you won't care whether you have to practise listening skills, are conjugating different verbs, or are just working on your English pronunciation.This can require a lot of effort but stick with it! If you start taking things far too seriously, you run the risk of your teaching becoming completely ineffective. Children can quickly lose motivation and dig in their heels.At this point it’s very difficult to change their minds. In order to teach children English, you have to know how to carefully mix work and play. In short: you have to adapt your teaching to the child.In this article, we've got a few examples of what we've found to be effective and fun activities for teaching children English.We were all children once. Even as we mature, we retain part of our childhood. Learning while having fun also works for adults.If you’re wondering about when your child should start learning English, have a look at our article on the best time to start learning English.English Cartoons for KidsChildren love cartoons. A great way to teach very young children English is with the help of cartoons in English as it can often be a great way to get very young children used to hearing English. They’ll pick up words and phrases as a result. Thanks to digital television and the internet, there are now so many educational cartoons for children to learn English online while having fun.Learn English (and Spanish) with Dora. (Source: Imagui)While Dora the Explorer is one of the most popular, it’s not the only one. However, remember that Dora isn’t a purely English cartoon as she also speaks Spanish. However, if your child speaks Spanish, there's no problem!There are also cartoons that are fully in English. Experience has shown that young children are very receptive to English cartoons and spoken English. This also can work with adults when it comes to watching films in English. You should also know that for children it doesn’t matter if they don’t understand everything.English Songs for KidsTeaching English as a second language with songs and nursery rhymes in English is also a great way to get very young children familiar with the language and on their way towards fluency. Children love music.It’s very easy to find nursery rhymes and songs in English in shops and on English learning websites. You can also use YouTube. The advantage is that your children can also see the ly rics at the same time and can memorise them more easily. This obviously only works with children who can already read, though.You don’t have to just listen to nursery rhymes. Children can also sing along to any song just like an English speaker would. Most songs and nursery rhymes are very repetitive and designed for people to sing along with them. They can also help children to improve their pronunciation. Children will eventually learn the songs off by heart because listening and singing songs engages their memory. By teaching them English and music at the same time, you’re killing two birds with one stone. JulianESOL (English) Teacher 4.00 (1) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EugeneESOL (English) Teacher 4.90 (58) £22/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HelenESOL (English) Teacher 5.00 (20) £32/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SuzanneESOL (English) Teacher 5.00 (2) £45/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NatashaESOL (English) Teacher 5.0 0 (8) £55/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SamuelESOL (English) Teacher 4.83 (41) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JoanneESOL (English) Teacher 5.00 (43) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarkESOL (English) Teacher 4.76 (17) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsEnglish Stories for KidsThere are plenty of enjoyable and beautifully-illustrated books which can help very young children learn English. Some also come with audio tracks to make them more interactive.  This means there are three different types of media for your children to learn: words, pictures, and audio.Useful English vocabulary for children. (Source: Amazon)If they’re old enough and familiar with English, you can read them these stories in English. If you’re learning English, you can also use it to teach yourself a bit, too. Again, two birds with one stone. (Those poor birds...)Remember that you can improve your own English too since books for children are still written u sing English.Speaking English to KidsNot being able to speak English can be a disadvantage. If you can speak the language well, you have to teach your children English.How do you do this when your English isn’t great? Don't worry! It doesn't need to be your native language!As a non native speaker, as long as you know a few English words, tenses, and your pronunciation isn't terrible, very young children will be able to gain a good level of proficiency and comprehension thanks to the efforts you put in when they were young.Question and answer sessions could work. Don't forget that for a child to improve their speaking skills,they have to find the exercises fun. If they don’t know they’re studying, they’ll make much more progress.Remember that it isn’t necessary to have a high level of English to interact with children in the language. This means everyone can do it.However, you do need to show your child that speaking English is a positive thing. Your child will want to spea k English if they know their parents do, too. It might be something they stick with their whole life.Online English Activities for KidsThere are tonnes of educational sites for learning English and young children love the colourful and interactive games.Don't forget about mobile apps, either, as they can be great at keeping a child's attention long enough to learn important vocabulary and grammar.  Obviously, you’ll need a tablet or a mobile for your child to benefit from this. Children can learn very quickly how to use mobiles and tablets.Apps tend to be as effective as websites when it comes to education. You can find these apps on Google Play or the App Store. Some are free while others you’ll have to pay for.Group English Lessons for KidsWe’ve generally been talking about teaching your own children.However, don’t forget that there are also opportunities to learn English outside the family. Group language tutorials are a very good option for children learning English. You can find music awakening and music theory tutorials, too.The idea is the same: teaching children to speak English to one another is more fun than on their own.Copying the other members of the group can encourage them to learn. This can also help very young children to develop social skills. Group tutorials are a chance for young children to integrate into English-speaking society and it can also pique their interest in these cultures.Private English Lessons for KidsEnglish tutorials are also a good idea as private English tutorials don’t usually take the same approach as typical English courses in school.Make sure you choose the right English teacher, though. An effective English tutor has to take the right approach, offer fun English tutorials, listen, and be patient.The less they resemble classes at school, the better, and the child has to be motivated and enjoy learning, too.The success of private tutorials hinges on this. If you think you’ve made the wrong choice of tutor, don’t hesitate to change them as soon as possible. English lessons or esol courses can be costly, you don't want to waste your money on ones that aren't working.Private tutorials are more effective for enthusiastic learners and group tutorials are an ideal solution for children under three.  It’s best to wait until they reach 4 or 5 years old before considering a one-on-one private tutorial. Don't forget that private tutorials can also take place at your home or at the tutor’s home, too, depending on what's most convenient for you.As you can see, there are plenty of ways for children to learn English and countless benefits to knowing English.  Nowadays it’s easier to learn English than it’s ever been. Make the most of it! Learn where to find the best English resources online.If you’d like to learn about teaching dyslexic children English, read our article on the subject!

How to Get Gigs Life as a Guitarist for Hire

How to Get Gigs Life as a Guitarist for Hire Sign up successful They had worldwide smash hits in the 70s, such as “When Will I See You Again,” and “Dirty ol’ Man.” They formed out of the Philadelphia music scene in the 1960s and were on the same label as famous  artists such as Patti Labelle and Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes. As a group, theyve been together for a long time and know exactly how their music should sound. Therefore, its my job as a hired gun to deliver exactly what they want, but at the same time, try to add some of my own flair and style into the mix. Where to Find  Guitar Gigs The first step in landing your next big gig is knowing where to look. You can find guitarist wanted ads in your local classifieds or on Craigslist, or on websites like Gigsalad  and GigMasters. How to Get Gigs for Guitarists When you respond to that musicians wanted ad, be sure to put your best foot forward. If youre sending an email, include video of yourself performing live as well as a resume listing your past gigs and other musical accomplishments. You should also ask the band which songs they would like you to learn for your audition, and then really learn them! This shows that youre a team player with the dedication and commitment a gig like this requires. Playing With a Group You may play a musical passage  exactly as youve heard it on record, but until you start playing with the group, you don’t know if thats exactly what they want. For example, I was playing a guitar riff  and the band members told me they wanted it to be “less choppy,” meaning that they wanted it smoother and with less complicated rhythms. As a hired musician, its your job to make sure you interpret the artists  requests accurately and come up with a suitable alternative part. Therefore, creativity is an important and essential element when being used as a hired gun. Its never your place to question their authority, simply because its not  your band. Therefore, you must do as they request and do a good job of it. Letting go of your ego is essential when playing for someone. If you don’t like authority, or someone telling you what to play, then this guitar gig  is probably not for you. If you approach things with the right attitude, its one of the most fun and rewarding experiences youll ever have. Musical Terminology for Hired Guns Understanding musical terminology is an essential part of being a hired musician. Here are some terms that are frequently used: Push Anticipated syncopated rhythm. Stab A rhythmical accent played together as a band. Repeat markers The markers that indicate the start and end section of a loop. 1st and 2nd time ending Inside the repeated section, there are subsections that vary depending on whether you are playing the 1st time round or the 2nd. Soli Musical phrase played in unison as a band. Coda The last section of a song indicated on the sheet music by a coda sign. Reprise When the music comes back in after being  finished. Understanding these terms makes it easier for the musicians to communicate with each other and be on the same wavelength. A lack of understanding will slow down the whole band. Its impractical to do this, so  learning the lingo is really an essential part of being a good gigging musician. Learning the Music A certain amount of detective work may be necessary when learning the songs. When I toured with The Three Degrees, I ended up learning 3 versions of every song. I was sent the original MP3s  of the songs, along with  live versions that are often in different keys than the originals and may even have a different feel or different guitar parts. I had to learn an approximation of both of these versions so that Id be well-equipped during rehearsals to play whatever they requested of me. However, a certain amount of personal taste may be required in determining the appropriate parts. During our first rehearsal (and there was only one), things were changed around. Ultimately, the final version may turn out to be different from both the live and studio versions always be prepared for change. How to Choose a Guitar Your  choice of guitar is also more important than you may think. It wouldnt be a good idea to show up to a gig with The Three Degrees with an Ibanez Jem, for example. For this gig, I chose more traditional guitars that I love   my Stratocaster and Telecaster. These guitars not only fit appropriately in terms of sound, but also in terms of look. If youre going to get into the professional realm, its good to have some classic guitars that can fit into many different genres. The Strat, for example, can be used in funk, pop, rock, soul, blues, country, and even jazz.  It isn’t totally necessary to have tons of guitars, but its nice to have some of the main classic guitar types. I always take more than one guitar with me on tour in case a string snaps on stage. That way I can quickly change guitars without having to spend time changing strings on stage, which is too time consuming in a live situation. Its also good to carry extras of everything in your guitar gig bag. Being On Time The last piece of advice I can give is extremely important always be on time! Remember, if youre not early, youre late. Make sure you get to the sound check early to set up any amps or pedals and to also get your guitar in tune. If  theres something wrong with your amp, youll have time to get it fixed before the singers get there. Selecting  the right amp initially will reduce any errors you may encounter later. I always say that its better to be two hours early than two hours late! Also, dress well, polish your shoes, and iron your shirt â€" oh, and don’t forget to shower! With all of this in mind, you should be all set for a glittering music career. Post Author:  Nick K. Nick K.  teaches guitar, acoustic guitar, and music theory in Pasadena, CA. Hes been playing guitar for over 20 years and has taught at some of the topmost music schools in London and New York City. Learn more about Nick here! Photo by Gary Knight Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher

Linear Equations Solver Online Tutoring

Linear Equations Solver Online Tutoring Linear equations are equations which consist of variables and constants; however the highest exponent of the variable is only 1. A linear equation can consist of more than one variable as well, and to find the value of the variables there are different methods. To solve a linear equation with a single variable, we carry out inverse operations to get the variable all by itself, and then we calculate its value. Linear equations are simple and easy, and with the right method they can solved very quickly. Example 1: Solve the given linear equation, x + 2 = 6 to find the value of x. Given linear equation: x + 2 = 6 In order to find the value of x, we first have to get rid of 2 on its side. This implies, subtract 2 on both sides of the equation. This gives: x + 2 2 = 6 2. So, x = 6 2 == x = 4. Therefore the value of the variable x in the given equation is 4. Example 2: Solve the given linear equation, x 5 = 12 to find the value of x. Given linear equation: x 5 = 12 In order to find the value of x, we first have to get rid of 5 on its side. This implies, add 5 on both sides of the equation. This gives: x 5 + 5 = 12 + 5. So, x = 17 == x = 17. Therefore the value of the variable x in the given equation is 17.

Get The Best Out of Online Math Tutoring

Get The Best Out of Online Math Tutoring 0SHARESShare Math tutoring has become an inseparable element of learning process for the benefits it brings upon students. A solid foundation in Math is inevitable to garner the maximum scores not only in Math but in related subjects as well. What to do to get the best out of online Math tutoring? Tutoring Math online services help you Review your previous year Math skills as a brush up and get ready for the current year Math. For example, reviewing your Algebraic skills for good Calculus doing is essential to avoid any set back. Online Calculus tutoring offers you ways and means to brush up your Algebraic skills to do Calculus well. Same way, you can concentrate on Online PreCalculus tutoring to ground your fundamentals of Calculus   in a solid manner Instant Math help through Math tutor online chat helps you gain the subject knowledge you desire in any particular aspect of Math. The help is instant and you understand your mistake on   the spot and gather information about rectification measures as well Scheduled Math tutoring sessions are highly viable for inculcating good learning habits in Math  and to develop study skills in a  systematic manner thereby to  avoid mental troubles and physical tiredness Tutor Pace. Com is one of the leading sites that offer unlimited scope for improving student skills in learning Math. [starbox id=admin]

Congratulations Heart Students and Tutors! 98% Meet Growth Goals - Heart Math Tutoring

Congratulations Heart Students and Tutors! 98% Meet Growth Goals - Heart Math Tutoring Congratulations Heart Students and Tutors! 98% Meet Growth Goals Congratulations Heart Students and Tutors! 98% Meet Growth Goals June 29, 2018 As summer begins, we celebrate what was accomplished in the 2017/18 school year by hundreds of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) students who were part of Heart Math Tutoring. 98% of 893 Heart students met program growth goals in math, growing in two or more building block concept areas. On average, students doubled the goal â€" growing in 4.9 concept areas. The goals were set with guidance from math specialists at Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and UNC Charlotte. Students grew from mastering 26% to 59% of the skills needed based on grade-level standards, cutting the skills gap in half. 89% of surveyed teachers believe students showed increased confidence/enthusiasm in math as a result of Heart. 90% of surveyed teachers observed growth in foundational math skills for students enrolled in Heart, and 81% believed Heart had a positive effect on classwork, class tests, or standardized tests. 62% of surveyed teachers said students became more confident and enthusiastic in subjects other than math as a result of the program. 100% of 599 surveyed Heart volunteers rated their experience as positive, and 98% would recommend the program to friends or colleagues. “We are extremely proud of our students for building skills and confidence they need to be successful,” says Emily Elliott, Executive Director of Heart Math Tutoring. “We are thankful for the commitment of Heart donors, volunteers, school partners, and supporters for making these results possible. The skills that students gain through Heart are proven to be critical building blocks for success in math, helping students progress into higher levels of math, meet graduation requirements, and access post-secondary and career opportunities.”

How to Leverage Psychology and the Science of Skill Acquisition to Improve Your GRE Score

How to Leverage Psychology and the Science of Skill Acquisition to Improve Your GRE Score GRE/MAT Graduate School Blog There is certainly a lot of content you must master to earn a high score on the GRE. Your mathematics, verbal reasoning, reading comprehension, and writing skills will be tested and obviously are key to earning a 90thpercentile GRE score (or better). That said, while many GRE tutors offer useful guidance around learning key concepts, they “miss the forest for the trees” so to speak when offering advice about how to prepare for the GRE. The importance of psychology and the science of learning when it comes to standardized test prep can’t easily be overstated. Simply thinking about your potential to score well and how best to study in the right way is the foundation to getting a great score. Three specific things to keep in mind are: a) the right mindset is critical b) lengthy, monotonous study sessions can be counterproductive and c) eventually, you’ll need to build mental stamina to perform at your best on the day you take the GRE. The right mindset is critical for success on the GRE (and it’s called a growth mindset) Your overall mindset and approach to the testing process is critically important. Avoid assuming you have a natural talent around some topics covered but will have a really hard time with others (although perhaps on some level that’s partially true, it’s almost certainly an overblown, unhelpful, and limiting perspective) because from day one, you are already admitting defeat on some level with certain topics. The idea that some people are naturally talented in this or that area, and that this natural talent is what in large part allows them to succeed or fail in that area, is called a fixed mindset. Conversely, the idea that hard work and practice build intelligence and skills is called a growth mindset. These terms and the theory behind them were developed by a Stanford Psychology Professor, Dr. Carol Dweck. In other words, there really aren’t “math people” or “writing people.” In general, skills are built through practice over time. The skills and knowledge required to earn a 320, 330 or higher on the GRE don’t go too far beyond what is learned in U.S. high schools. Even if you are starting from a somewhat deficient point, your mindset should be that, through practice, you’ll be able to build the right skills. I have not been able to find any scientific studies specifically focused on the impact of a growth mindset on GRE scores, but many studies have measured the positive impact of a growth mindset on academic performance more generally. This article on the growth mindset by Education Weekdiscusses how a growth mindset helped students living in poverty perform as well on a standardized test as students whose families had an annual income that was 13X higher. This is a remarkable statistic given the typically powerful impact of wealth on academic achievement. When learning new, difficult things, shorter, more intense sessions are generally more productive. Also, cover more than one topic in each session. Finally, test yourself frequently. One critical mistake many students studying for the GRE make is setting aside one day to study each week. It’s a temping strategy, because particularly if you are a working professional, you don’t have much time to study and you want to ensure you put the proper focus into the process. It seems logical to head to the library at 9AM on Sunday and leave six hours later. But that is just not the most efficient way to study. As this research-backed article by the American Psychological Associationmakes clear, spacing out your study sessions improves your ability to retain information. The process of stopping and starting helps the brain build new neural connections and better implant a concept or fact in your mind. So, if you need to study for 12 hours, consider 6 two-hour sessions instead of 2 six-hour sessions. You would also be well served to cover more than one topic in each study session. This is called interleaving, which TestPrepChampions defines as “incorporating multiple topics into your study sessions and then alternating between them as opposed to blocking out a longer period of time to work on just one topic.” Lots of science suggests that incorporating multiple topics into a single study session is more conducive to learning than plugging away at one topic for multiple hours. And I think this is intuitive. At some point, if you are doing 50 practice problems on the same topic, it might seem like you’ve retained the information, but your knowledge may be superficial. You don’t understand the concept on a deep level, you are just mechanically repeating the process. And of course, although, for example, GRE quantitative problems all come in one section of the exam, quantitative topics will appear randomly. All the algebra problems don’t come in a row. You’ll see algebra, and then geometry, and then probability, etc. Finally, there is lots of science around the effectiveness of active learning relative to passive learning. Passive learning would be, for example, reading about how to do a math problem. Active learning would involve frequently creating “mini tests” for yourself that force you to work through problems. I was exposed to the power of frequent “mini tests” when I took an online Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) called Learning how to Learn, taught by Barbara Oakley. Once you’ve mastered key academic skills, focus on building your mental endurance and ability to concentrate to perform well on test day. Brett Ethridge from Dominate the GRE posted a really interesting video on this page about how having mental endurance is a required skillfor performing well on the GRE. His advice is, the GRE is a grueling, four-hour test. Having the mental endurance and stamina to focus and concentrate for 4 hours is a skill, and as such, students need to practice building that skill. On some level, this advice conflicts with the advice offered in the previous section. That section implied that you shouldn’t study for too long at one time. And when you are trying to learn new concepts, this is certainly true. But as your test day nears, you need to begin to think about how best to maximize your performance on that day. And I agree with Brett that your study sessions should increase in length as test day nears. On the day you take the GRE, you’ll need to focus for 4 hours. So as your next date gets closer, 6, 5, 4, 3 or 2 weeks away, you should begin taking more full length practice tests and get more comfortable concentrating for 4 hours in a row. Summary Although without a doubt, studying concepts and facts is critical to success on the GRE, if you ignore higher level psychological and “learning theory” considerations, you’ll be at a disadvantage. Addressing these foundational factors will allow you to get far more out of each hour you spend building algebra or verbal reasoning skills. About the Author Mark Skoskiewicz is the founder of MyGuru. You can learn more about our GRE tutoring and professional GRE tutorshere.

What You Need To Know About The Cambridge Analytica Controversy

What You Need To Know About The Cambridge Analytica Controversy via Pixabay Facebook maintains that they had no idea this was going on and that Cambridge paid them to collect data for academic purposes. However, what Cambridge Analytica did was analyze peoples’ Facebook pages to see what they liked in order to identify personality traits that were then combined with algorithms created to predict peoples’ political views. For example, if you liked something posted by Kim Kardashian West, researchers used that information to identify your personality traits, such as how extroverted you are, how conscientious and how open-minded you are. That data combined with information about other interests indicated on Facebook can be plugged into their algorithm in order to predict your political views so campaigns can target you with advertisements more effectively. Cambridge Analytica adapted this approach of personality modeling from studies done by researchers at Stanford University and the Psychometrics Center at the University of Cambridge. The studies relied on data collected by a Facebook app called myPersonality which was a quiz developed to assess a person’s openness, conscientiousness, extroversion, agreeableness and neuroticism. When respondents took the quiz, they authorized researchers to gain access to their profile data and information about their friend network. Researchers were then able to cross-reference the results of the quiz with the users’ likes on Facebook and build a model from the correlations. Once patterns were found, researchers could make accurate guesses about users personalities without the help of the quiz. How does this tie in with President Trump? President Trump recently named John Bolton as his third national security adviser. John Bolton has been heavily involved in politics throughout his career and ran a super PAC during the 2016 election. Super PACs are independent committees that raise money for political campaigns. They can raise unlimited amounts and are virtually unregulated since they are not directly affiliated with a party or person. According to Cambridge Analyticas company documents and employees, Boltons super PAC was one of their first customers. Cambridge Analytica was hired by Bolton to specifically develop psychological profiles of voters from data collected off of Facebook. While this was also going on, Robert Mercer was financially supporting Boltons super PAC and donated $5 million between April 2014 and September 2016. Why should you care? Whether you support President Trump or not, its important to be aware that his campaign hired a foreign firm to collect private information from Americans Facebook accounts. Cambridge Analytica was not authorized by Facebook or its users to collect the information it took and use it the way it was used. Legal investigations are going on currently in England as well as the United States to see if laws have been broken. It was reported that Cambridge Analytica board members did receive warnings from lawyers that it is illegal to employ foreigners in political campaigns. However, there might be a loophole since Cambridge Analytica does have ties with the Mercer family and Robert Mercers daughter, Rebekah is a board member. Whether it is determined if laws have been violated or not, what Trumps campaign and Cambridge Analytica did was unethical and unfair.

Money Management 5 Things Students Should Know

Money Management 5 Things Students Should Know Money Management: 5 Things Students Should Know Money Management: 5 Things Students Should Know 18-year-olds generally arrive on a college campus with little to no knowledge of how much things cost, what’s important to spend money on, and how to avoid being in debt. The majority of students will likely not have taken a finance and money management class in high school â€" although they probably should be required to â€" and are left to their own devices or, in some cases, a budget their parents set for them. Many students find out far too late how to manage their money properly and graduate with massive debt (READ: 5 Things to do Before You Go Away to College). 1. Create a budget For the most part, students don’t have a self-imposed budget at all, but those who do have a ‘general fund’ budget, meaning they spend only a certain amount per week total. For example, if a student has $100 per week, they will consider that to be their money for everything rather than breaking down the budget. A more organized way to budget is for students to look at percentages. For instance, if a student determines they need 50% of their weekly money for food and personal items, and they need 40% for a savings account, they then have 10% (or $10 in this case) to spend on pocket money. Most college students will not be happy with $10 of entertainment money per week and will either have to accept life on a strict budget or supplement with a part-time job. 2. Understand finances prior to leaving for college Students transitioning from high school to college will have way too much on their mind to also focus on managing finances. It’s important for students to understand how to manage their money prior to leaving for college, in an environment that can be monitored by mom and dad. For instance, students may earn $300 a week at their part-time job after school and decide they want to spend all of it on entertainment; leaving them nothing left to save for college. If their parents sit down with them and talk about having a percentage budget, one where only 10% of their income is for entertainment, they will learn how to manage money and how to earn money more efficiently (READ: Guest Post: Summertime Tools to Keep Your Mind in Shape). 3. Understand what’s essential and what’s not Many students report that they don’t have enough money for important things such as health insurance or college textbooks. For some students, the truth is they simply don’t make essentials a priority. Too many college students are living without important things, such as healthcare, but purchase things they dont need, such as new clothes and convenience foods. Its important for students to learn what‘s essential and what’s not before they can properly manage a budget. 4. Learn to balance work and study Being a full-time student and working part time is no easy feat. However, it’s mandatory for the majority of today’s college students. It’s important for students to learn about a work-study balance very early on so they can manage their education while still earning money. For instance, some students thrive in an on-campus work-study program where they attend classes in the morning, transition to work, and transition back to more classes in the evening. However, other students may need to separate their work and study lives. It may be a good idea for students to attend classes Mon/Wed/Fri and work Tues/Thurs or attend classes in the morning and work after lunch. If possible, this is a skill best learned in high school when consequences are less severe. 5. The credit card trap Many students attempt to solve their problems by putting things on a credit card. However, this can be financially dangerous and lead to thousands of dollars of debt in under four years. It’s especially difficult for students to have credit card debt to pay down in addition to student loans. Credit cards are meant to be for an emergency, for example if a student experiences a medical emergency or needs to have their car fixed to get to campus. Unfortunately, most students use credit cards as if they are liquid cash and often forget to or don’t have money to pay back the card at the end of the month. Students who struggle to pay off credit cards on time are encouraged to get a credit card with a small limit, perhaps $500, allowing them to pay for something in an emergency but preventing them from building up a couple thousand dollars of unneeded expenses in a month’s time. Students who have a history of miss using a credit card are encouraged to get a prepaid credit card where t hey can put a certain amount of money on it each month with no fear of running over their limit or building bad credit. In Short Although high school students are often not taught how to properly budget once they become adults, they will be responsible for their own finances. Although learning how to create a budget while adjusting to a new phase of life is extremely difficult, it’s an important skill to learn in order to avoid stress and excessive debt a few years down the road. Get more great college tips by signing up for one of our amazing private Irvine College tutors. Call us today for more information. All blog entries, with the exception of guest bloggers, are written by Tutor Nerds. Are you an education professional? If so, email us at pr@tutornerds.com for guest blogging and collaborations. 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