Tutoring Services

Tutoring ServicesScottsdale Az Tutoring is the name of a private tutoring service. This is the first time that a private tutoring service has been established in Arizona. The purpose of this tutoring service is to provide quality tutoring for parents, students and individuals who need the services of a tutor. The staff at Scottsdale Az Tutoring consists of many people, including tutors, instructional designers, teachers, art instructors, professionals in business and academics.Scottsdale Az Tutoring offers its tutors with various teaching qualifications and educational backgrounds. Tutors are carefully selected from among the team. From the list of candidates, the tutors are selected after a thorough screening process.There are three levels to the tutors. The first level includes the tutors who are members of the board of trustees of the tutoring company. The second level consists of the tutors who are not members of the board of trustees of the tutoring company but are hired by the tutoring company.Tutors on the third level also belong to the board of trustees of the tutoring company. The teachers are mostly from the professional courses and who are working in education-related fields.In the US, tutoring companies are the most prominent schools where tutors can be found. Therefore, it would be better to look for tutoring services at the tutoring centers.Scottsdale Az Tutoring is not the only one to offer tutoring services. You can find several other tutoring centers and agencies that offer tutoring services. It is very important to choose a suitable tutoring agency for yourself.Tutoring is a challenging and creative profession. If you are interested in this profession then you should make sure that you choose a good tutoring agency to provide your personal and educational needs.

AJ Tutoring has a new office in Los Gatos

AJ Tutoring has a new office in Los Gatos Were excited to announce the opening of AJ Tutorings second office in Los Gatos! Our new office is located at 16275 Los Gatos Boulevard, near the intersection of Los Gatos Boulevard and Blossom Hill Road.AJ Tutorings new Los Gatos location is a full-service office, offering one-on-one test prep and academic tutoring. Having just wrapped up the 2014 PSAT season, our tutors are now getting students ready for the December ACT and starting to look toward the busy spring 2015 testing cycle.A number of fantastic academic tutors are also available at Los Gatos to help your student succeed in a tough class. We offer academic tutoring in all subjects, from math and science to history and English. Finals are coming up next month, but theres still time to work on this semesters grades!AJ Tutoring Los Gatos will also offer small group SAT classes, beginning in January for the March 2015 SAT. Our SAT classes are limited to fewer than 10 students and are taught by experienced SAT instructors. SAT classes at the Los Gatos office will be taught by John McNulty. For a complete SAT class schedule, please consult our website.If youd like to connect your student with a tutor at our Los Gatos office or would like more information, please reach out to us anytime! You can give us a call at (408) 345-5200 or email info@ajtutoring.com, and one of our directors will be in touch with you shortly.And if youre in the neighborhood, feel free to stop by 16275 Los Gatos Boulevard and check out the new office. Wed love to talk with you!

Why teachers shouldnt be a last-minute hire

Why teachers shouldn’t be a last-minute hire It’s like anything really, leave it to the last minute and you’ll end up in a long queue with everyone else, waiting for whatever's left over by the time you get to the cake counter. (Yes, this metaphor will continue to revolve around baked goods ). Maybe you really want a Victoria Sponge, but you left it late, got stuck in traffic, and well, by the time you get to the bakery, it feels like everyone else has had the exact same idea. You stand in the queue, dread building, as you watch all the lovely sponge cakes walk off the shelf. Their smug owners are disappearing out the door and into the horizon. The lady at the till chimes “next,” so you take a deep breath, face the counter and try not to cry. There’s nothing left but a sad eclair. You probably haven’t been asked this question before. In fact, I’m 90% sure you haven’t… Do you want your teachers to be the Victoria sponge cakes of this world or, well, the sad eclairs? You might ask what’s so complicated about hiring a teacher? And I counter with this: what is so hard about buying a cake? It’s life. It’s tricky. There are often unforeseen obstacles. Maybe you spent your morning looking for the car keys while taming a toddler. Perhaps there was a traffic accident. There are so many things that can get in the way of buying a bit of sponge cake; a seemingly innocuous item on a to-do list. Those complications are only multiplied when it comes to hiring great teachers. Complications new teachers face that take time: Obtaining visas is no joke. You are going to want plenty of time for candidates to get their paperwork in, sort themselves out and sail past this hurdle. With a job offer, there’s unlikely to be any issues aside from actually having the time to go through the process. Booking flights can be pricey. This takes time, especially if candidates are footing the cost. Hiring far enough out that they can take advantage of cheaper flights will be a massive bonus for some. Nobody wants the stress of putting last-minute flights on their credit card right before they move to a new country. Finding and researching accommodation. You might have a fair idea of where teachers will end up living. But they don’t! So this will be a big concern. They will want some idea about availability, costs and if you offer a stipend. Other concerns will be proximity to the school and basic facilities, how the average kitchen is equipped, what it might look like. You don’t need hard-and-fast answers, but painting an honest picture of what teachers can expect in your country is something you need to have thought about. Because these are questions teachers will have. Packing up entire lives. Whether it’s forwarding their post, giving notice on apartments, finding suitcases, saying goodbye to family and friends, trying to get their lives under the weight limit of 50 kg… all of this is a headache and a half. Teachers need time to sort it all. You don’t want teachers arriving half-organized and stressed out of their minds, they need time to adjust to what is a significant life change. Giving notice in their current roles.Many great teachers are already teaching, which is wonderful - they have experience, they know what the job takes. Too often I see schools hiring teachers out of work, even though they may not be the best candidate. Great teachers often find their next role before handing in their notice, or start looking before renewals. That means you need to be on the lookout for teachers now, and not just when you need them. Researching your school. Some people will just go where the wind takes them, with little concern for logistics, school culture and all the rest. But most people want as much information as possible. They will need some time to google you, read online reviews and get a feel for the school and surrounding area. People can spend hours and hours researching a two-week holiday, imagine how long they can spend researching a place they’re planning to set their lives up in. Reaching out to other teachers at your school. This is one of the best ways to transition a teacher into your school. Set them up with a communicative, like-minded teacher who was either in their shoes or has enough empathy to understand what moving across the world is like. The new teacher is likely going to want to ask them a truckload of questions about the school, and well, questions take time… This might sound like an awful lot of hand-holding to you. But taking the time to consider where these teachers are coming from and the time it will take for them to make a balanced and informed decision is pivotal. You don’t want them to agree in a hurry and then jilt your school at the last minute. If they’ve had time to consider and become properly informed, they’re going to be a lot happier and better prepared in the classroom. Rushing it reduces the quality of teacher at your school I was recently chatting with a school that is struggling to recruit teachers in Moscow. They’ve got a strategy in place that they assured me “always worked before.” I bet you’re wondering what that strategy is? Well so was I! Naturally, I didn’t want to jump to any conclusions or make any suggestions without getting a feel for what was really going on, maybe something about their school was broken? It couldn’t possibly be as simple as a defunct strategy, maybe their website was down, or they were cutting spending on recruitment. After a few minutes it became clear what the problems were: Their recruitment strategy was too basic. It left too many rocks unturned and far too many teachers unaware of their presence. They left recruitment too late, so ended up hiring teachers by waiting for staff in other international schools in their area to jump ship. Yup, they were recruiting their competitors’ castoffs I’m all about reduce, reuse, recycle in the broader sense - but when it comes to teachers, I’m not so sure. If they just happen to be hanging about, and you happen to be hiring, how much of a choice are they making? Isn’t it better to hire teachers who have decided wholeheartedly to work for you? Who are excited to make a home there and see what you have to offer? Will a quick hire be the best possible teacher you could imagine working at your school? Just because they happen to be in your city…is a convenient hire, the best hire? Clearly they, or the school, were unhappy - and you have to wonder if they’re going to be able to stick it out at your school. Are you hiring quitters? Your strategy is SO 2000 and late...FIX IT! ? ….as the heading implies, trends do not last forever, and you need to stay ahead of them. Just when you get comfortable with your strategy, it is likely that there will be a new innovation or development that can enhance your recruitment. Finding a recruitment partner (like Teach Away..ahem! ) is imperative when it comes to keeping your school moving forward. Think about it this way… Why do parents choose to send their brood to your school and not your competitor? If your STEM teaching staff are made up of your competitors ‘castoffs’ and not the finest educators you can source, are you really going to remain the top choice? Do you personally rush into choosing a new role the second you have let your school know your intentions to leave? Or do you research schools and roles for months in advance, carefully constructing a hit list of desired locations and target schools? I’m guessing the latter. It’s only fair that you give your future teachers the same time and consideration you expect. That means - using recruitment solutions, social media, your website, better job postings and making your school as visible and transparent as possible. Don'tlet poor timing be the enemy of your school’s excellence. In case I haven’t hammered the point home already, all of this takes time. And it’s my job to help you find that time and make sure you get the best quality teachers teaching in your classrooms. If you’re curious about how to make recruitment easier, tweaking your strategy, or just having a general chat about whatever ails your school...feel free to contact me! I’d love to hear your thoughts.

E-Teachers Conference on Virtual Classrooms

E-Teachers Conference on Virtual Classrooms This morning (China time), we had the opportunity to attend the E-Teachers Academy Conference on Virtual Classrooms, hosted by Kirsten Winkler.  It was one of the most interesting conferences weve seen on the future of the virtual classroom, and the panel was made up of some of the most forward-thinking companies and teachers in this evolving space (view list of panel speakers). We were definitely impressed with the potential in virtual classrooms, and were sure that as the technologies mature, well begin to see more of these classrooms gain wider acceptance.  There are many important features which are not presently integrated or handled well by standard communication tools like Skype,  such as whiteboards, direct document viewing, shared screenshot viewing, and group / class management.  One thing that is clear from the conference is that virtual classrooms are being designed with significant input from teachers. If youre interested in following this debate, you can follow Kirsten on twitter (@KirstenWinkler) as well as the ETCon twitter itself @ETConference.  Were definitely looking forward to the next conference. Kevin and the italki team E-Teachers Conference on Virtual Classrooms This morning (China time), we had the opportunity to attend the E-Teachers Academy Conference on Virtual Classrooms, hosted by Kirsten Winkler.  It was one of the most interesting conferences weve seen on the future of the virtual classroom, and the panel was made up of some of the most forward-thinking companies and teachers in this evolving space (view list of panel speakers). We were definitely impressed with the potential in virtual classrooms, and were sure that as the technologies mature, well begin to see more of these classrooms gain wider acceptance.  There are many important features which are not presently integrated or handled well by standard communication tools like Skype,  such as whiteboards, direct document viewing, shared screenshot viewing, and group / class management.  One thing that is clear from the conference is that virtual classrooms are being designed with significant input from teachers. If youre interested in following this debate, you can follow Kirsten on twitter (@KirstenWinkler) as well as the ETCon twitter itself @ETConference.  Were definitely looking forward to the next conference. Kevin and the italki team

What is Tuition Insurance and How Does it Work

What is Tuition Insurance and How Does it Work Infographic by Lorena Roberts How does tuition insurance work?   Tuition insurance is often provided by the university, but if not, or if you simply decide to go in another direction, it can be purchased through a third-party company as well. You  must  purchase tuition insurance before the first day of school, so don’t try to be sneaky and get a policy after school starts â€" it w’t work. Your tuition insurance  policy will vary depending on what coverage you’ve chosen, but typically tuition insurance policies will reimburse students and their families for tuition, room, board, and other various fees the family has paid. Oftentimes, families see tuition insurance policies as a “backup plan” for their college student. Should you have to withdraw from school, a tuition insurance policy will see to it that your family isn’t out of the money they spent hoping to educate you.   And with the  average  cost of tuition for an in-state, public university sitting at over $25,000 per year, tuition insurance policies are sure to see an increase in demand. How do I find the right tuition insurance policy?   Research, research, research! You should begin by looking into the policies that might be offered by the university you’re going to be attending. The Office of Financial Aid should be able to help you and your family out with finding a policy that really works for you and your family. Talk with your parents (or whoever is helping fund your education) to decide how much coverage you think you’ll need, and how much money you’re willing to pay up front on a policy for school. After doing some research and discussing your options with professionals, there’s a chance you won’t be happy with what your university provides. Should this happen, it might be time to start looking into third-party options. Some popular tuition insurance options are available through companies like  A.W.G. Dewar, GradGuard Allianz Global Assistance. When you’re looking at different types of policies, be sure to scrutinize how much coverage they really provide. While some policies will reimburse 100% of expenses, others will only refund 50-90%. You should be  sure  you understand exactly what your policy covers. What are the advantages of taking out a tuition insurance policy through my school?   All Universities are bound to offer some kind of tuition refund should a student withdraw from the University within days after school begins. However, this timeline approaches quickly, and the percentage of tuition and fees the school is willing to refund declines drastically within a small period of time. Taking out an actual tuition insurance policy through the school will allow you to get that refund/reimbursement regardless of how many weeks of classes have gone by. Typically, students with medical complications benefit from tuition insurance, but a policy is also a good thing to have should you be severely injured on a spring break trip or suffer injuries from a bad car accident. Tuition insurance is a big part of giving you and your family peace of mind while you’re in school. Who should get tuition insurance? This type of insurance is usually  recommended  for students who have a prior medical history, or if you’re paying for an extremely expensive college/university and you’re looking for a little peace of mind. It’s completely up to you as to whether you decide to take out an insurance policy. Imagine a situation where a middle-class family has to give up everything to fund their student’s undergraduate education. Resources like scholarships and federal grants are wonderful things, but not everyone who doesn’t qualify for these resources has an incredible savings account waiting for them to get into college. For a family who doesn’t qualify for many resources, their expected contribution might be higher than what’s reasonable; $20K per year in college tuition isn’t something everyone just has lying around the house. It’s a bit more than just pocket-change. So should their student have to withdraw due to unforeseen reasons, it’s a true blessing to have a tuition insurance policy that will cover things like room and board, tuition, and other academic-related expenses. via CollegeRefund.com How much do tuition insurance policies cost?   As you can see above, the cost of tuition insurance for Stanford University through Dewar’s tuition insurance program is an annual cost of just over $400. This is if you’d like tuition, room, and board covered in your policy. If you or your child is living off-campus, and you only need your policy to cover tuition, you’ll save about $100. At Lehigh University in Pennsylvania, tuition insurance costs a bit more, at just over $600 for on-campus policies, and right under $500 for off-campus: via CollegeRefund.com Because Dewar isn’t the only option out there for tuition insurance, you should research some other companies who also have options. GradGuard appears to be the largest source of tuition insurance programs and claims to have protected more than 600,000 students.   Apparently for good reason as their policies start at $29.95 for $2,500 of coverage.  Additional coverage may be purchased up to the total cost of attendance.  The GradGuard school search function also makes it easy to find a tuition insurance for virtually any school. How will we receive reimbursement, should we have to follow through with our insurance policy?   Like any other kind of insurance, there’s paperwork and documentation to be taken care of should you need to follow up on the tuition insurance policy you have. If you’re withdrawing because of medical reasons, you will need to submit a doctor’s recommendation that withdrawing is best. Mental health reasons, however, are a bit trickier. Unlike a substantially severe injury, mental health claims require a little bit more documentation. You’ll likely have to provide proof that you were hospitalized for 24-48 hours because of your mental health condition. Do the experts recommend tuition insurance? Is it really worth it?   Like all insurance it depends upon your situation and what you can afford to lose and pay not to lose the funds you have saved for college. Many experts suggest securing at least some form of tuition protection. When we think of “insurance,” we usually envision auto and renters insurance. It’s for the drastic events â€" like your house burning down or your car getting totaled. These types of insurance policies are very popular with American families, as it is  illegal  in all 50 states to drive without car insurance. But tuition insurance is a bit of a different ball-game. It is  not  a requirement of today’s college students to have a policy that will refund their family the amount of money they spend on tuition, room, and board. Instead, only families who decide it’s a good financial investment will look into taking out a policy. Most universities provide some kind of “grace period” to get your tuition money back. This is usually capped after the first few days of classes. But by taking out a tuition insurance policy, you could be covered when it comes to medical conditions, mental health crises, or even severe financial changes. Depending on the broadness of your policy, a variety of circumstances are covered. Are there any alternatives to having a tuition insurance policy? Absolutely. Without having to take out a policy through a third-party company, your university likely has some kind of rules for refunding tuition. If you withdraw within a certain period of time, you’ll receive some of your money back. If you think you could really benefit from having insurance, but you’re disappointed in what’s covered by a tuition insurance policy, look into life insurance. This type of insurance is best if you and your family are worried about a life-threatening medical condition that you have. It will ensure your family is taken care of should the worst of the worst happen. All in all… When it comes to paying for college, many families have to sacrifice. Your younger sibling might not get the car they’ve been hoping for… your parents are probably trying to eat out less and less… and you’re monetarily restricted to the money you make at your part-time job because your parents just don’t have a lot of extra “dough” sitting around. Because it’s such a big investment to send a child to school, making sure you’re covered should something happen is one of the greatest things your family can do for itself, especially if your tuition is costing more than the mortgage! Regardless of whether a  tuition insurance  policy is a “backup plan” for your family, your parents are taking out a policy to give them a little piece of mind, or you’re positive you’re going to need this type of plan, the fact that tuition insurance is even available is a huge benefit to our country’s college students. So if there’s even a possibility that you’re going to need to withdraw from school, at least check into the tuition insurance policies that are available. That way, if you do end up needing to leave school for any reason, there’s a chance your younger sibling will get the car they’ve been wanting and all the money your parents invested in trying to educate you won’t go to complete waste. Spending some time at least researching policies could really help your family out.

4 Healthy Homemade Snacks

4 Healthy Homemade Snacks Image via rd.com For some reason, snack time tends to be the meal that we are most likely to indulge in something not so healthy (a.k.a whatever is closest at hand or easiest to find). This is why you have to prepare yourself and prevent your hungry alter ego from reaching for that bag of chips that you found hiding under your car seat. The easiest way to curb hanger pains is to have healthy snacks on hand and ready to go whenever necessary. So instead of justifying your pit stop to the vending machine, just take some Tupperware full of healthy treats with you as you go about with your daily routine. This is especially helpful for folks who work full-time desk jobs and need to stave off office doughnuts. Simply stock your bottom drawer with some healthy snacks and you’ll be setting yourself up for success! Zucchini Pizza Bites Image via damndelicious.net There is definitely a nostalgic sentiment when thinking about consuming pizza bites after a long day of middle school. Well, you can revert to those happy childhood days (sanz preservatives and calories) by whipping up these delicious and low carb zucchini pizza bites! They are super portable and yummy and almost taste just like mini pizzas with an added dose of veggie goodness. Try the recipe for yourself from  damndelicious.net. Ingredients: -1 Tbsp olive oil -3 zucchini, cut into  1/4-inch thick rounds -Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste -1/3 cup marinara sauce -1/2 cup finely grated mozzarella -1/4 cup pepperoni minis -1 Tbsp Italian seasoning Instructions: •Preheat oven to broil. •Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. •Working in batches, add zucchini and cook, flipping once, until golden, about 1-2 minutes on each side; season with salt and pepper, to taste. •Place zucchini rounds onto a large baking sheet. Top each zucchini round with marinara, mozzarella and pepperoni minis. •Place into oven and cook until the cheese has melted, about 1-2 minutes. •Serve immediately, sprinkled with Italian seasoning, if desired. Cauliflower Poppers So I am kind of a cauliflower addict, known for using this versatile veggie in every form from pizza and even in breakfast dishes (that’s a recipe for another article). But these cauliflower poppers are about as simple as it gets in terms of preparation, and they are a delicious and guilt free snack (they contain literally zero weight-watcher points) that you can easily have on hand if prepared ahead of time. Not to mention that these poppers are about as easy to make as they are to eat. Check out the recipe from itallstartedwithpaint.com. Ingredients: -1 spray(s) cooking spray -1 head(s) (medium) uncooked cauliflower -1/2 tsp ground cumin -1/2 tsp  chili powder, or more to taste -1/2 tsp  table salt -1/2 tsp  black pepper Instructions: •Preheat oven to 400 °F. Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray. •Cut cauliflower florets into bite-sized pieces (there should be about 4 cups). Place cauliflower in a medium bowl and add cumin, chili powder, salt and pepper; toss well to coat. •Spread cauliflower on prepared baking sheet and bake until cauliflower is tender, but not mushy, stirring halfway through, about 10 minutes. Yields about 1/2 cup per serving. Strawberry and Granola Yogurt Bark Image via sixsisterstuff.com Beat out ice cream cravings with these simple four-ingredient yogurt bark bars. If you are not a fan of the strawberry granola combo you can switch it up for any pairing of fruit and nuts or seeds that you prefer. This is a super simple and healthy way to conquer that 3 p.m. desire for a sweet treat. Take a look at the recipe from sixsistersstuff.com. Ingredients: -24 oz container of greek yogurt of your choice (plain is the best option) -2 teaspoons of honey -1 cup of strawberries, sliced -1 cup of granola Instructions: •In a small bowl (or even in the yogurt container), mix together honey and yogurt. •Spread the mixture into the bottom of a 913 pan that has been covered in aluminum foil. •Sprinkle the strawberries and the granola over the top of the yogurt, slightly pressing it into the yogurt with your hands. •Freeze for about 1 hour, or until completely frozen. •Remove from freezer, and cut into about 12 slices (I used a pizza cutter). •Serve immediately, or keep in freezer in a freezer-safe bag or container for up to 30 days. Baked Kale Chips Sometimes, we just crave a little something crispy and salty, and no this is not reason to reach for a bag of potato chips! Rather, you can purchase a huge bag of kale at your local grocer and turn it into a delicious batch of baked kale chips! Dense in vitamins A, C, and K, fiber, and calcium, kale is one of the healthiest foods you can eat, and it makes truly delicious chips with only two ingredients. Find the recipe from marthastewart.com. Ingredients: -1 bunch torn kale leaves (stems removed) -2 Tbsp olive oil -Seasoning of choice Instructions: •Heat oven to 350 degrees. •Arrange kale on two rimmed baking sheets. Drizzle evenly with olive oil and toss. Season with salt. •Bake, rotating trays once, until crisp, 12 to 15 minutes. Toss with lemon zest.

Where to Find a Summer Private Tutoring Program

Where to Find a Summer Private Tutoring ProgramSummer private tutoring is widely available in the United States. It provides an opportunity for individuals to spend time with a professional that can help them improve their academic skills and that has knowledge about teaching certain subjects. There are many schools that are found to offer summer private tutoring services, but there are other schools that can provide you the same service, for a fraction of the cost.The majority of students find that such services provide more than they expect. Because there are so many students who would benefit from such services, it is sometimes hard to find one. Summer private tutoring can provide assistance with academics, so there is no reason not to avail of it. It is the most cost effective method of tuition payment, since the fees for tuition are only required during the school year.Summer private tutoring can be found almost anywhere. You can go online to visit the websites of individual sch ools and find out if any school offers such services. If you prefer a more personal approach, you can contact the office of the tutoring center that you have selected. This is the fastest and easiest way to get in touch with a professional who can help you.The first step in this process is to make a list of the subjects or programs that you want to study. If you don't have an idea of what you want to study, you can visit the website of the tutoring center and visit their online catalog. You can then compare the programs that are offered and decide on which one to sign up for. Don't worry about what to choose; there are also many options to select from.If you go to the summer program at the center, you will find a staff member who will help you out. This person will give you an outline of what you will need to do for your program. She will also assist you in understanding how to use the course materials and how to study. After this, you will receive a counselor who will meet with you once a week, or as much as you prefer.The tutor will teach you everything that he knows. He will make sure that you stay focused on your program and follow the curriculum. He will also teach you how to make your own schedule for study. He will coach you to decide on what kind of homework that you will be able to finish, how to study, how much homework you will have to do, and how to study for each subject. This will be his main concern.Although tutoring is best to a certain extent, if you don't have the time to participate in such lessons, you can always find a group of friends or an online community to whom you can talk. Summer private tutoring can be very beneficial, especially if you are having trouble with your studies. You can take it very seriously, as you are part of a bigger community, and you get the support of several people. This is one of the best ways to learn and improve your grades.