10+ Amazing Virtual Field Trips Around Spain Beyond

10+ Amazing Virtual Field Trips Around Spain Beyond Sign up successful Google Maps is a great first stop for a virtual field trip. If you have a list of landmarks and well-known hot spots in the area, use that to start your  tour. In the screenshot above, for example, you can visit Spain and get an up-close look at  the Sagrada Família, a Roman Catholic church and  one of Barcelonas most popular tourist attractions. You can also use the Google maps engine to create your own maps and routes, and add resources at each destination. Try using this to create a fun lesson plan that takes your students all over the country! Finally, check out the Google Cultural Institute, which incorporates Google Maps and additional online resources to showcase various world wonders and historic moments, all easily searchable. 2. Connected  Classrooms Yet another option in the Google suite, Connected Classrooms uses Google Hangouts to connect  and empower educators. Here you can share resources, collaborate, and brainstorm ideas, including virtual field trips and other learning opportunities. Once you join the community, youll be able to  sign up for the upcoming field trips, which are broadcast via Hangouts on Air. 3. City Tourism  Websites Many cities have robust and interactive websites created by their tourism department, aimed at educating and inspiring readers! For Spanish classes, check out the  Barcelona Tourist Website. Theres ton to explore on the website, including details about each of Barcelonas districts (neighborhoods), tourist attractions, and interesting  historical facts.  The website also provides a newsletter in Spanish and connections to their  Twitter and Instagram accounts, for real-time updates on city life. 4. AirPano AirPano  showcases 360-degree views of various cities,  including Barcelona. The website also includes a brief bit of geographical and cultural information for each location. For example, did you know that according to one of the legends, the city was founded by Hercules, the legendary hero of Greek mythology?  Theres also some gorgeous 360-degree videos in the gallery. 5. Spain Virtual Field Trip Spain Virtual Field Trip  is another online visual view of Spanish cities, including Segovia and Madrid. Students  can navigate through the interactive map and click on buildings to learn more about what they are and how they are unique to Spain. 6. 360Cities This website is the largest 360 ° panorama sharing community, featuring thousands of extraordinary locations created by HD virtual reality photographers. Type in the city you want to explore, and check out all the gorgeous panorama photos, like the above photograph of the Plaza de España. 7. Reach the World Reach the World is an awesome  website that offers  students and teachers opportunities to connect and learn from world travelers who are documenting their experiences through  field notes, journal entries, and photographs. Students can explore the journals freely, while the  RTW Full Program includes traveler-to-classroom matching, video conferencing, on-site support from classroom interns, and teacher professional development. 8. Mexico: A Global Trek Activity via Scholastic Spanish-speakers should also be learning about Mexico, of course! Scholastic.com has excellent lesson  plans and resources  for exploring Mexicos history, cultures, and landmarks. Recommended for grades 3-8, students can read all about the country, take a virtual tour, and then write about it in their online  travel journal. Dont teach Spanish? Looking for other lesson plans and virtual field trips outside of Spain and Mexico? Here are some more ideas: Virtual Field Trips for Science Ecology Virtual Field Trip with NASA Electronic Field Trip to the Forest Climb Denali Virtual Field Trips for History Immigration: Stories of Yesterday and Today The Underground Railroad: Escape From Slavery Virtual Field Trips for Other Subjects Inside the White House Interactive Tour Tour St. Peters in Vatican City Google Art Project Readers, what other resources have you used? Let us know in the comments, and well add it to the list! Photo via AirPano 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

Are You Bragging or Self-Promoting - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / Are You Bragging or Self-Promoting - Introvert Whisperer Are You Bragging or Self-Promoting? Often times when we’re with a mindless bragger we think that because they are doing all of that boastful chatter that they must be perceived as a real winner.   Bragging really isn’t that effective.   Sure, some of it may do some good to help that person get ahead, but generally, most people don’t care to listen to that sort of thing very long. You can self-promote without coming across as a bragging jerk.   Also, people are attracted to others who are confident, which means asserting your personal brand by self-promotion a good thing to do.   Let’s detail out some of the things you can do to self-promote while avoiding being a bragger: Look for opportunities.  You can easily update your boss and peers in the hallway, staff meeting or even by writing status reports.   Look for ways to let people know what you’re up to. Stay modest.    One of the obvious characteristics of being a bragger is a sense of arrogance.   One of the biggest signs is using “I” way too much.   If you’re concerned you could be viewed as bragging, adopt a tactic of using “we” when you speak of accomplishments when at all possible. Stay balanced.    Part of the reason we dislike braggers is they drone on way too much about how wonderful they are or details about something they did.   Keep your comments brief and everyone will appreciate it.   You can be very impactful with just a couple of well thought out sentences. Use well-placed words.     All it takes sometimes is one word.   When you have a clear image of your personal branding, one well-placed word injected in what you’re saying will reinforce or extend your brand.   Here is an example: “I champion and recruit talent.”  Notice the word champion.   It completely enriches what you know about that person. Keep to the facts.    When what you are saying is simple, straightforward information, it isn’t bragging, nor will it be perceived that way. Communicate your accomplishments.   You are the only one who really knows.    When we think our work speaks for itself, what we are doing is hoping someone will notice.   Hoping isn’t a good strategy for career growth.   You are the only one who truly knows what you’ve done, which means it must be you who communicates the information about your accomplishments. Keep people in the loop.    It is good for you both.   Other people will benefit by knowing about what you’ve done or can do.   You are a resource and you can help people understand what you can do for them or with them. Let me emphasize that Self-Promotion doesn’t have to be obnoxious to be effective. But, if you don’t Self-Promote you, who will? If you ever want to get ahead, you have to learn how to Self-Promote. I want to help you accelerate your career by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my video that shows you simple, yet effective ways to Self-Promote. Start watching now: CLICK HERE Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleash your professional potential.

The Best Drum Books for Beginners

The Best Drum Books for Beginners Timeless Works to Help You Become a Drummer ChaptersCan You Learn to Drum with the Help of a Book?Basic Drumming VocabularyStick Control for the Snare Drummer by George Lawrence StoneTime Functioning Patterns by Gary ChaffeeMaster Studies by Joe MorelloThe Language of Drumming by Benny Greb4-Way Coordination: A Method Book for the Development of Complete Independence on the Drum Set by  Marvin Dahlgren and Elliot FineAfrican Rhythms and Independence for Drumset by Mokhtar SambaThe Best Books on Different Musical StylesDrumming Definitions“Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy.” - Ludwig van BeethovenNearly half of all internet users use a streaming service to listen to music.Could you use it to teach yourself how to play the drums?Maybe, but it’d be difficult. You'll need more resources than that!A lot of drummers are self-taught including John Bonham, Buddy Rich, and Keith Moon. In fact, Keith Moon was calling himself a drummer before he even had a drum kit!How did they learn?Buddy Rich learnt by l istening and used his sense of rhythm to help him along.  John Bonham and Keith Moon must have learnt some basic techniques.Learning to play the drums outside of a music school and without a music tutor isn’t for everyone.  In this article, we're going to look at a few books that every drummer should consider investing in in order to improve their playing.Future Sounds by David Garibaldi: This is great for rhythm and control.The Basics of Jazz DrummingJazz drumming isn’t for everyone, especially not beginners. However, if you want to give it a go, here are a few useful books that should definitely have a home on your bookshelf.Advanced Techniques for the Modern Drummer by Jim Chapin: This legendary book can help you become a jazz drummer. However, it is one of the most difficult books.The Art of Bop Drumming by John Riley: For learning modern jazz drumming.Modern Rudimental Swing Solos by Charley Wilcoxon: For learning swing rudiments.Learning Snare Drum TechniqueTo learn some s nare drum rudiments, Buddy Rich can help!Check out Buddy Rich’s Modern Interpretation of Snare Drum Rudiments by Buddy Rich and Henry Adler.After all, Buddy Rich is probably the greatest drummer of all time.Drumming DefinitionsWhether you're a beginner, intermediate, or expert drummer, when you learn to play drums, you’ll also need to learn the lingo.In a few of our articles on drumming, we've included a short glossary on drumming terms to help you on your way. If you want to become fluent in drumming, you're just going to have to read all our articles on the drums!Playing, anywhere and at any time, is the best way to improve. (Source: StockSnap)Tension RodThis is a metal part that attaches to the drum that helps hold the skin onto the drum.ForteForte means to play loudly. It’s the opposite of piano, which means quietly.

Online Community For Young Writers

Online Community For Young Writers Young people interested in writing have a new home, and its Figment.com. The site launched in early December, calling itself an online community for young writers to share work samples, receive feedback from other young writers, read and explore new, young fiction writers. Jacob Lewis, a former managing editor at the New Yorker, and Dana Goodyear, a staff writer at the New Yorker, created the site, originally envisioning it to be a similar to a social network site, like the young adults literary Facebook. However, the two noticed that young adults didnt want another Facebook. What they wanted, was to read and write and discover new content, but around the content itself, said Lewis, quoted in an article in the New York Times Figment is a free platform for young adults, encouraging them to write and read new fiction. The site also includes a mobile platform where aspiring writers can read and submit work, ranging from poems to short stories and novels. This idea came from Goodyear in 2008, when she wrote a 6,000-word article for the New Yorker about young Japanese women who were writing fiction on their cellular phones. Since then, the two have been promoting Figment at schools, literary organizations and libraries throughout the nation, recruiting several hundred students who would be willing to participate and post literary work. We wanted people to be able to write whatever they wanted in whatever form they wanted, Lewis told the New York Times. We give them a piece of paper and say, Go. He noted that people have posted work, including fantasy, science fiction, biographical work, and long serial novels. Theres a very earnest and exacting quality to what theyre doing. Many publishers will be paying close attention to Figment and the most popular work on it, trying to glean key insights into the literature young adults gravitate toward and introducing them to certain books and work. Lewis said that he hopes figment can at least capture a million users, serving as an opportunity for publishers to pluck young talent out of and promote their own authors by publishing novel excerpts. For publishers this is an amazing opportunity to not only reach your consumers but to find out really valuable information about how they are reading, Lewis told the New York Times. Figment has already signed on a few publishers, most notably Running Press Kids, a member of the Perseus Books Group. They will provide a novel excerpt from Purple Daze, a historical novel for young adults by Sherry Shahan.

How is the STAAR Scored

How is the STAAR Scored What is the STAAR? The STAAR is the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness. The STAAR replaced the TAKS in 2012. This exam tests students at multiple stages of their education in mathematics and reading (grades 3-8), writing (grades 4 and 7), science (grades 5 and 8), and social studies (grade 8). There is also an 'end of course' test (similar to the Regents Exams in New York) at the conclusion of Algebra I, Biology, English I and II, and U.S. History. These assessments compare student growth across the state with the desired and expected learning outcomes. They are now required for graduation. Here are some essentials for the new STAAR teststhat you may want to take look at. How is the STAAR scored? All scores fall within three categories: advanced, satisfactory, and unsatisfactory academic performance. Individuals must earn a satisfactory or advanced mark on end of course (EOC) exams in order to graduate from high school with a diploma. Students with special education or English language needs may receive modified assessments. Each tests rubric is available via thestate website. Raw Score versus Scaled Score Each STAAR report includes a raw and scaled score. The raw result consists of the number of questions that a student answers correctly, with one point awarded for each problem. The scaled score takes into account the difficulty of the test version. Note that the scaled score fluctuates with the levels of academic performance each year. 2012-2014 is within the first testing phase, and thus, the scale has slightly lower thresholds for satisfactory academic performance. Advanced academic performance remains consistent. The score report also includes an analysis of an individuals strengths and weaknesses within the test. Preparing for the STAAR Many strong students struggle with standardized testing, but they cannot graduate with unsatisfactory STAAR scores on their EOC exams. Though the state releases some test content, preparing for a strictly timed and high stakes exam involves more effort. Timed writing or reading drills will assist individuals in gaining control of testing situations and developing confidence. Reading and understanding the rubrics for each test is also an important technique. You may want to consider a STAAR tutorto help you prepare. As a whole, this assessment system is still new to the state of Texas and it has been heavily scrutinized, as all new exams typically are. However, as the tests are increasingly regulated, additional materials should become available to schools, students, and teachers.

5 Things You Must Do to Convey Your Personal Brand To Someone Who Doesnt Yet Know You - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / 5 Things You Must Do to Convey Your Personal Brand To Someone Who Doesn’t Yet Know You - Introvert Whisperer 5 Things You Must Do to Convey Your Personal Brand To Someone Who Doesn’t Yet Know You If you are a job seeker, you already know the challenges you face trying to get the attention of hiring managers for both your resume and you.  For the most part, we have to rely heavily on our resume or LinkedIn profile to bubble to the top and dazzle. No matter how you magically attract the hiring manager to you, the challenges is to quickly and powerfully distinguish yourself.  You need to convey your personal brand to stand out and be memorable. Use the Right Amount You want to think about your Personal Brand like the seasoning to a meal. (Tweet this!)  The seasoning is the thing that transforms an entrée from plain to Italian or Greek.  As with seasonings, you can’t be heavy-handed.  You don’t pile on an herb without dire consequences, nor do you add such a small pinch that you have accomplished nothing.  Look for opportunities to inject a word or phrase throughout your job search tools. Repetition Reinforces With items like your resume and LinkedIn profile, you want to add words and phrases in multiple forms, several times that reflect your Personal Brand.  Repetition is how we learn and the reader of your information is essentially learning about you. Word Usage Creativity The repetition you are going after is the Personal Branding concepts you want to convey but you must be cautious not to overuse any single word or phrase.  This becomes redundant and boring for the reader, who will quickly get lose interest and move on.  Let me give you an idea of how this might work. Let’s say you want to convey that you are dynamic.  Dynamic is the sort of word that isn’t overused in general but is unique enough it’s easily remembered.  If you repeated the use of that word a few times in your resume, the reader would start losing focus and quickly dump your resume.  If you check the dictionary, you find the following words associated with “Dynamic”: vigorous, energetic, aggressive, assertive and forceful.  Any or all of those words could be used to help reinforce the idea that you are a dynamic person.  You can use different words to keep it interesting to read and still portray your Personal Branding idea. You do frequently see a list of overused and meaningless words. (My personal pet peeve phrase is “people person”, seriously? What does that mean?)  I suggest that if you are working to strongly brand your job search materials, you find some of these lists so you can avoid the use of those words. Consistency Everywhere, All the Time Although your resume and LinkedIn profile is the main thing you need to stamp with your Personal Brand, you have other things you need to pay attention to in this process.  Everything that represents you must be consistent and in alignment with the picture you are portraying.  You never know what someone will look at to make a quick assessment about you.  Here are some of the additional things you need to pay attention to for portraying your Personal Branding: Business cards All social media Your elevator speech The items on this list don’t have enough space to allow you to portray much more than one Personal Branding idea.  That’s ok because you have to remember that the people that don’t know you will still learn a few things about your Personal Brand from one sentence. Your Job Interview We don’t always think about our job interview as a place to reinforce our Personal Brand, but what you say about yourself speaks volumes.  No one can guess what you bring to the party; you have to fold in your Personal Branding as you respond to various questions. The interview is more than just your qualifications; it’s about you as a person and future co-worker. If you repeat your Personal Branding concepts across all of the various platforms you use and are consistent with everything a hiring manager reviews, you will be more than a piece of paper or a job title.  You will be a person they want working for them. Go to top Personal Branding starts with how well you speak about YOU.   I want to help you accelerate your career by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my eBook â€" The Definitive Guide to Creating and Using an Elevator Speech.   In this guide, I give you simple to follow instructions for creating a “wardrobe” of ways to talk about you â€" to leave a lasting impression.   Get your copy now: CLICK HERE Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleash your professional potential. What are some areas of your Personal Brand that you’d like to work on? Share your thoughts in the comments! This post originally appeared at FlexJobs. Image Source

Helping Your Child Cope With Exam Stress

Helping Your Child Cope With Exam Stress Exam season can be a stressful experience for students, but parents may also find it difficult to help their child during this time. Here are some strategies for parents to help their child cope with exam stress written by Priory Group's Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist Dr Hayley van Zwanenberg. A parent’s guide to helping your child cope with exam stress By Dr Hayley van Zwanenberg Exam season can see stress levels rise in your children and household. We understand that this can be a challenging time for everyone and is probably the most pressured your child will have ever felt. There are ways you can help to manage exam stress and anxiety so that it doesn’t become overwhelming. While feeling some stress is normal as it can kick start the ‘fight or flight’ response and help your child to perform at their best, unrelenting stress can see their health and wellbeing deteriorate. Priory Group’s Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist Dr Hayley van Zwanenberg has provided some exam tips for parents that you can use to prevent their stress from escalating. By equipping them with stress-busting strategies, you will not only be helping your child during exams, but will also be giving them tools they can then use to deal with stresses they face later on in life. Make time to talk Start a conversation with your child when you are both free from distractions. Ask them how they feel. If they say they are angry, sad, worried or anxious, explain that it is normal to occasionally have such strong emotions, but that they shouldn’t have to deal with these feelings all the time.   Let them know that that they can always turn to you for support. If they feel that they are going to fail their exams or perform terribly, challenge these irrational thoughts and help them to recognise all the hard work they have put in so far. You can also help to problem solve their concerns. For example, if they are worried that they won’t get their expected grade, identify the options that are available following on from this so that they are aware that they have alternatives and a future. Help them recognise the symptoms of stress Explain to them what symptoms of stress they should look out for. Are they finding it difficult to sleep and do they constantly feel tired? Are they not feeling hungry or are they finding it difficult to finish their meals? Does their heart rate constantly feel high? Have they lost interest in hobbies that they once enjoyed? When your child is busy revising or preparing for exams, it is important that they check in with their body throughout the day to see if they are exhibiting any symptoms of stress. Get them to set an alarm on their phone, or to take time before meals to check. Has their leg been jiggling? Has their heart been beating faster than usual? Is their mind racing? Let them know that it is not okay to feel like this constantly and that there are ways that they can reduce their exam stress symptoms, which you can teach them. Show them strategies for dealing with exam stress When your child feels that their stress is escalating and becoming distracting, get them to visualise their worries. Then get them to build a metaphorical wall between themselves and these concerns. You can also teach them to put an expiration time on their stresses, where they can only worry for 10 minutes once or twice a day to prevent their anxiousness from becoming overwhelming. You can also get them to sit with you and think of a relaxing place. Ask them to tell you what they see, smell, hear and feel. Encourage them to go back to this place once or twice a day, so that they can practice removing themselves from moments when they begin to feel too stressed. Set times for revision breaks Make your child aware that revising when they are exhausted is not an effective or healthy way to prepare for exams. It is important for them to feel that they have tried their best, but there are ways to do this without it negatively influencing their health and wellbeing. Encourage them to take short, regular breaks. Suggest going for a walk or a drive together, book in time for daily exercise, and make sure they spend meal times away from their books to give them an opportunity to refresh and restart. By helping your child manage their exam stress, this can prevent their anxieties from snowballing into something that impacts their health and wellbeing. If you feel that their stress isn’t improving you may need to get help from your GP, who will be able to give you the right advice and support you need. Dr Hayley van Zwanenberg  is a Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist for The Priory Group. You may also be interested in:  The science behind exam stress  or  A top tutor's tips to help with exam stress. Photo by  Alexis Brown  on  Unsplash

Listening Exercise Debate or Debacle

Listening Exercise Debate or Debacle debate    noun  a discussion between people in which they express different opinions about something debacle  nouna great disaster or complete failure(Merriam-Webster Dictionary)U.S. presidential elections always get a little ugly.  Attacking the opponent often gets in the way of answering important questions and talking about real plans. This year, however, feels unlike any other.  Each week brings surprise, shock, and usually horror. It’s like seeing a car accident-you want to look away but you can’t. So, if you would like to practice your listening skills while having a good laugh, let’s take a look at some highlights from the second presidential debate.  By the way, if these clips are challenging to understand, don’t blame your English skills. The candidates rarely answer questions in a direct way, and spend time attacking each other instead of getting to the point. Don’t be discouraged if you are confused. Americans are too!  Now, let’s have some fun, shall we?O ne of the biggest problems problems for Hillary Clinton in this election is her irresponsible use of a private email while she was secretary of state. Many people believe this could be linked to attacks in Benghazi, Libya in 2012. If you’d like to know more about this issue, heres  a helpful article from the New York Times that explains the events in detail. The following clip is Hillary’s explanation.  After listening, write your answers and share your opinions in the comments section.Click here for the 1st videoThe FBI said that there were 110 classified emails that ____ ________, 8 of which were ___ ______, and that it was possible _______ actors did gain access to those emails.Why was Hillary “extremely careless with her emails?Obviously, if I ____ __ __ it over again, I would not (use a personal email account).  In number 3, Hillary used the 2nd conditional to express regret for her mistakes.  If you were Hillary, what would you say to Donald Trump?After a yearlong ___ __________, there is no evidence that anyone ______ the server I was using, and there is no evidence that anyone can point to at all (anyone who says otherwise has no basis) that any classified material ended up in the _____ _____.Can you summarize Donald Trump’s response?  What is his argument about the emails?Just like number 4, If you were Trump, what would you say to Clinton?At the end of the clip, why does Trump say the debate is “one on three”?Now, let’s take a look at Donald Trump’s position on a very important issue: immigration. Continue to answer the questions and share your opinions below.click here for the 2nd videoMr. Trump, in December you said this: “Donald J. Trump is calling for a total and complete ________ of Muslims ________ the United States until our country’s representatives can figure out what the hell is going on.”Trump says, “we have no choice.”  Do you agree or disagree with this statement?  How do you think countries should approach the refugee crisis?  The Muslim ban is something that, in some form, has _______ into a[n] _______ vetting.“People are coming into our country.  We have no idea who they are, where they are from, what their feelings about our country is, and she wants 550% more.”  Can you find Trump’s grammar mistake?Do you have a headache yet? Are you frustrated and/or confused? At times like these, it is important to find the humor in this debacle. We know Trump wants to get to know the immigrants and who they are. He proposed an ideology test to make sure immigrants share some of the same values of US citizens. Watch the video below to see if some of Trump’s supporters can pass the test.What political issues are most important to you?  Which candidate would you vote for and why?We’d love to hear your opinions in the comments section below!  If you would like to talk politics with one of our instructors, or if you’re sick of hearing about politics but want to improve your English , sign up for a class with LOI today!