Shanes Notebook

Much of my career has been, on a part-time basis, in the actual or virtual classroom. I progressed from instructor to professor while teaching engineering subjects. In the process, I saw short term results such as the students who did well in my classes. Later, I began teaching continuing education courses, first on-site and then as webinars. Again, I observed some positive impacts.

However, the “proof is in the pudding” and the “pudding” is the impact of one’s teaching on the lives and careers of former students. Accordingly, I wish I could assess and grade my former students’ success and significance as easily as I graded their homework, reports, and examinations.

Every now and then I will hear from a former student. For example, as a result of presenting a webinar, I recently crossed paths with a student who was in one of my university classes three decades ago. In an email to me, he said “I was an excellent fluid mechanics professor.” His comments were gratifying. Occasionally, webinar participants thank me for my efforts.

And, on reflection, I recognize and appreciate the impact of some of my teachers. In elementary school, Ms. Blaha introduced me to geography, geology, and history as we studied our state. To this day, I enjoy these topics and, as a graduate student, I minored in geology and have used it in my work.

While I was an undergraduate student, a professor led me to the water resources field and encouraged me to earn graduate degrees. As a result of his encouragement and with those graduate degrees, I enjoyed over two decades of work in the water resources field.

If you are a committed and competent teacher, regardless of the level, and occasionally or worse yet, frequently, get discouraged, please persist. Have faith. Although you are likely to hear from very few of your former students, many will benefit from your efforts.

All of us are former students. Please consider this suggestion: Reflect on your teachers and identify the several that had the greatest impact. Contact them and indicate your appreciation for their efforts. You will make their day. clep study guides : Free study guides for your CLEP exams as well as reviews of the most popular paid CLEP study guides.

By the way, many of us are in effect teachers as we seek continuous improvement of ourselves and others in our various roles such as colleague, project manager, supervisor, department head, and mentor. Your teaching work is very important and will extend further than you imagine. “A teacher affects eternity,” according to education writer Henry Adams, “he can never tell where his influence stops.” Ultrasound Technician Schools | Buy Textbooks

SPED otherwise known as Special Education is the term for schools or any education system that offers education for students with learning problems due to mental health issues, behavior problems, speech and language problems, visual impairments, autism, deafness, trauma and other health impairments. At the beginning we can say that SPED students are not capable of attending normal school, SPED teachers teach them on specialized schools, home, hospitals and other institutions. But soon after years of specialized education offers a transition program for SPED students that will allow them to attend normal school just like anyone does.

To become a Special Education teacher, is to become an unsung hero. SPED teachers are always patient and understanding of their students. They must be passionate about their profession and set a good inspiration for their students. Motivate his or her students to learn the basics of life and education.

Indeed being a SPED teacher is a good Samaritan act, but not everyone can be a teacher specialized on this type of education since it requires some standardized education in order to become a SPED teacher – Technically you can’t but you still can help through simple ways.

You can be a volunteer on schools where you can assist the teachers to lighten up their load on handling special people. You can donate some stuff like notebooks, pens, writing boards and other stuffs. Donation is a good way to provide support on SPED institutions.

Education should have no limits. Everyone has the right to be educated including those special people, those people that has god given gift to be special. They have the right to normal lives and no one can take it away from them. For people concerned, we should keep their hopes alive.

You can also support charitable causes meant to help specific special education institution. Cars4Causes, Americas most trusted donate car charity program supports many causes that benefits SPED. Your car donation could improve the lives of the children they support. Change people’s lives today!

For speakers studying Mandarin, learning the tones can be quite the challenge. Mandarin has 4 tones, and one neutral tone; This means that one word can have a variety of meanings based on the way you say it. The Mandarin word “ma” for example can mean mom, hemp, horse, scold or indicate a question depending on what tone is used! Being such a foreign concept, how can you learn tones without hours of meaningless repetition?

The first answer is simple, you need to understand that even in English we use tones all the time! We may not realize it, but by putting a different intonation on the exact same word we can have a variety of meanings!

Take the word “yeah” for example. Our tones on it are very similar to the Chinese tones!

1. A Mandarin first tone is a high level and neutral pitch. Try saying “yeah” just a little higher than your normal voice, and also keep it the same pitch. What did that sound like? If you were to say that in a conversation what would you be expressing? In English a high level neutral pitched “yeah” indicates doubt. Its like saying “I see what you are saying, but I’m not sure.” And we get all of that out of just saying “yeah!”

2. A Mandarin second tone is rising tone – you start your voice low and it comes higher. Say “yeah” with a voice lower than your normal voice level, then immediately rise it just a bit above your normal voice level. When you do this with “yeah” you usually are saying either “really? That’s interesting.”

3. A Mandarin third tone is a falling first, then rising tone. Say “yeah” starting high, then bring it down, then bring it back up. What does this mean in English? In a conversation most of the time it would mean “you are right, but what’s your point?”

4. The Mandarin fourth tone is a falling tone. Imagine you are upset at someone and they just asked you a question you thought was a dumb question so you answer “yeah.” Start a bit high then drop fast. In this case Yeah simply means yes, but with it you are also indicating that the person should have known better then to ask that question.

The reality is that Chinese is not that much different from our own language. Tones are a little foreign, but understanding we use them in some cases as well can further your understanding. The major difference is that their tones are assigned to EVERY word, whereas we use them selectively.

One more thing to point out, you can’t simply not worry about tones and assume people with understand you. As your language ability increases so do the importance of tones. One of the best things you can do to hear and understand tones is get practice with a native speaker or advanced level student of Chinese.