A Guide To Helping Modern-Day Students Succeed

If you work in the world of higher education then you know that your job role extends beyond simply teaching a syllabus. You have a duty to help young people (or older people, in the case of mature students) to gain the necessary skills to succeed in life. Essentially, you’re helping young people to enter the “real” world and make something of themselves. That’s no easy task, despite what some people say about teaching being straightforward. And if you want to make sure that you do your best as an educator in the modern world then this guide should give you some pointers.

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Teach them to think outside the box.

These days, going to university isn’t quite as extraordinary as it used to be. Increasing numbers of young people make the decision to pursue university education after sixth form. People are no longer going to stand out in the job market simply by having a degree. The best way to make sure your students separate themselves from the crowd is for them to… well, separate themselves from the crowd. University is an opportunity to think outside the box. It’s an opportunity to try new things and gain new skills that’ll prove useful in the stages that come after graduation. You need to teach them to expect more of themselves.

Obviously, you can’t do everything for every single student. The whole point of university is that it’s a learning curve. Your students have to learn to do things independently, but you have to guide them to that realisation. Give the minimum reading requirements, but suggest that they read beyond your requirements. Encourage them to come up with their own talking points in essays (if at all possible in the type of subject you teach). And you could start thinking outside the box too. Maybe you could look into trips for college students. Travelling is an opportunity to teach your classes in a more vibrant and engaging manner than is possible in a classroom. You need to help your students to expand their minds. Get them to do more than the bare minimum. They need to learn to think independently if they want to be successful in the world that comes after university.

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Be a better teacher.

There’s always more you could be doing to learn and grow in your profession. If you want to help students succeed in the modern day then you have to be a modern teacher. In other words, you need to keep learning to make sure that your knowledge is up to date. The world moves forward, so your lessons need to move at the same pace. Otherwise, you’ll be giving your students knowledge that isn’t going to help them in the real world. After all, if you’re teaching them things that are already old then they’ll be even further behind when they graduate in a few years. If you want to be a better teacher then keep learning. Make sure you’re giving every single student the tools they need to succeed. Beyond that, it’s up to them.

5 Life Lessons and Values to Teach Your Child

When it comes to parenting advice, one of the most popular topics is values you can teach your child in their early years to help them in later life. Here, we break down five of the most relevant and easily-delivered life lessons you can give to your child.

How to manage money

It may sound harsh, but it's never too early to start teaching a child how to manage their finances. Many people find themselves in financial difficulties when they reach college or graduate age, simply because they've never had to deal with being responsible for their own money before.

By teaching your child early about how to balance their pocket money with how much they want to spend, you'll also be teaching them how to deal with bills, bank accounts and savings when the time comes.

Make healthy food choices

Just like their finances, many young people struggle to eat healthily when they move out of the family home. And just like teaching them how to manage money, if you can give your child some good sound principles about nutrition and the importance of a good diet, they'll go on to form good habits that will last a (longer) lifetime.

The joy of learning

Instilling a love of learning in your child is, arguably, the most important lesson a parent can teach a child. Think about it: for most of the first two decades of their life, your child will be in education in one form or another. With that in mind, it's never a bad thing to encourage them to enjoy it.

Studies have shown that children who grow up actively encouraged to enjoy learning are more likely to avoid struggling in school, underperforming in exams and facing hardship in the job market when they grow up. Anything you, as a parent, can do to help your child cope with the pressure of education later in life is a precious and easy gift for you to pass on.

The courage to speak up

It's very important that when you're encouraging your child to enjoy learning - whether that's through reading with you, seeking out information on their own, and testing themselves - you don't accidentally teach them to simply agree with all the information they're given.

This is a hard lesson to teach, but having the courage to disagree is a vital part of growing up to be a well-rounded and confident individual. We don't mean encouraging them to challenge authority at every step, but teaching a child that there are times when it's appropriate to speak up can bring big rewards in the future.

Resolve disagreements peacefully

With the courage to disagree comes the responsibility to resolve those disagreements without causing further problems. This is something that kids can pick up with practice, and it all starts from their earliest days; children who are able to settle arguments with calm, logical explanations, referring to facts and pointing out obvious contradictions, are more likely to be listened to than those who simply shout until they feel they've gotten their way. The takeaway should be that it's fine to disagree when you feel someone is wrong, but never to fight about it.

Card Games Everyone Should Learn To Play

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Card games have been around for hundreds of years and they used to be the basis of entertainment for many people all over the world. In fact, they still are. Not only can you use marked cards to play cards tricks and amuse people with them, but there is an infinite number of card games you can play which are incredibly fun, take time to learn and can even improve your intelligence. Here are just some of the card games you and your family should learn this year for fun!

1. Crazy Eights

Crazy eights is a super simple game to learns and it is the perfect card game to teach your children to get them introduced to the idea of playing cards from a younger age. The aim of this game is super simple, be the first person to get rid of your cards! It is a fun game and can be a perfect one to play on your family night in.

2. Snip, Snap, Snorem

If you love the name then you will probably love the game too! Snip, snap, snorem is a hugely fun and energetic game which is the perfect one to play at your next party and games afternoon! It’s perfect for everyone in the family and it is pretty loud too at times!

3. Go Fish

Go fish is a game which many of us have grown up with from a young age, and it is usually one of the first card games we learn as a child. It is a simple concept and the whole idea is to get pairs of cards and be the first person to get rid of all of your cards. If you want to let the kids win a few times when starting out this will give them a huge sense of pride and achievement.

4. Rummy

Rummy is one of the most popular card games out there and it has a super simple premise: be the first one to get rid of all of your cards. You will start off with 7 cards each, and you will have a special float which can be added to pairs and flushes to substitute for a different card. During play, you will go from the King being the float and work your way down to the Ace. The idea is to make sets of at least three, and you must have a card you can throw away at the end in order to win.

5. Pig

Pig is a fun card game which has a similar premise to Rummy, however rather than looking for sets of three cards, you will be looking for a four of a kind. This can be a little more challenging than collecting three cards however if you play it right and be tactical when playing you should have no issues with winning this fast-paced game.

6. Beggar My Neighbor

Where most card games are all about getting rid of your cards, this game has the opposite aim. When playing beggar my neighbor you have to collect as many cards from your opponents as possible. It is a fun game and it is one you can play in a small group to increase the sense of danger.

7. War

War is a simple game and it is one which absolutely anyone can be the master of. You will both start off with a few cards and you aim will be to win the deck by playing a higher card than your opponent. There are of course certain rules that you will need to follow, and it can be a fun and exciting game to play during the evenings.

8. Rolling Stone

This card game is all about the suits of your hand, and it is a game which you will find fun but a little frustrating at the same time, everyone starts out with eight cards, and one card is turned over in the center of the table. You have to place a card of the same suit on top of the card. If you run out of the particular suit, you have to pick up the pile and start the game play over again with a new suit. This is a game which can go on for a long time, but when you do win you will feel amazing.

9.   Snap

Everyone knows how to play snap, and it is the easiest game in the entire world. Make sure when you do okay this that you are in a place where you don’t mind shouting and that you can handle a slap from the other players! It is a fast-paced and fun game which everyone loves to play.

10. Cheat

If you are a master at a poker face, this is the perfect game for you to play. The idea behind this game to is to be brilliant at bluffing and to trick your opponent into not knowing what you have in your hand. If you are able to trick them effectively, you will have a good chance of winning the pile from your opponent.

11. Spit

If you are looking for a game which is an ultimate challenge, spit, also known as Speed, is the game for you. You will start off with a few piles of cards lying face down on the table. You will have one pile with one card, one with two, one with three, one with four and one with five. The top card of each pile will be faced up. You only have one hand to play within this game and you have to be Quaker than your opponent. With half of the deck, you will pick up cards and match them to the pile by having the next card in the sequence. For example, if you had a 3 on the pile, you would need to pick up a 2 or a 4. The first person to empty their piles is the winner.

12. Old Maid

The old maid is a game which involves pairs, having fun, and an old maid. With traditional playing cards, you can bring a joker into the mix to act as the old maid, and the loser of the game is whoever has the old maid at the end. You will play into each other's hands during the game by picking one of their cards, and this is how the old maid can be passed from person to person. The idea is to get rid of all of your pairs without picking up the old maid.

13. Blackjack

Blackjack is a popular game to play and is often also known as 21. It is a card game which can be played online with this bitcoin blackjack guide or simply on the table. Each player will start the game with 2 cards, the aim is to get as close to 21 without going over and going bust. For example, if you had a king and an ace you would have the equivalent of a 10 and 11, which would mean that you win automatically. You can swap cards during the game to come closer to 21, but if you go over, you have to exit the game. It is a game which anyone can play and it can be really fun for holidays.

14. Poker

Poker comes in many many different forms, and it is a game which you either know back to front or don’t know at all. The beauty of poker is that it can become a great hobby for you for a long time to come. It is a game which you will carry on learning about throughout your years and you will always be able to improve on your knowledge and techniques. It is a game which you can teach to your kids and one which you can use to make some money for yourself too.

15. Solitaire

Solitaire is one of those old classics which almost everyone knows how to play because it was always on Windows XP. The aim of the game is to play out all of your cards and build each suit to complete your set. To start off the game you will have eight piles. The first pile will have one card, the second will have two, and so on until you reach the last pile. You will then place the rest of the deck above and turn one card out. Take the top card from each pile and face it upwards. The aim of the game is to match numbers in a sequence from the king to ace, alternating color as you go. For example, if you started with a red king, you would add a black queen on top and so on. When you pick up an ace you will want to place it above the piles and then start to add the 2,3,4,5… over it until the suit is complete. It’s the perfect game to play on your own if you have some time to kill and you want a simple way to relax. It can be great for training your brain too.