4th of July Fun Facts

4th of July Fun Facts Americans have celebrated Independence Day on July 4th with fireworks and speeches since 1777but in some ways, the day is more of a symbol than an anniversary. Brush up on your history and learn a little more about your favorite summer holiday with these 4th of July fun facts! We actually declared independence on July 2nd, 1776 The legal separation of the colonies from Great Britain happened two days earlier, when the Second Continental Congress voted to declare independence after King George III ignored the first Congress petition. The vote was unanimous, except for New York, which abstained. John Adams wrote to his wife Abigail that he expected this date to go down in history: The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival.[]It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more. (The Book of Abigail and John: Selected Letters of the Adams Family, 1762-1784,Harvard University Press, 1975, 142). July 4, 1776 was the day the Declaration of Independence was approved by the Continental Congress Very few of the members of Congress signed the Declaration of Independence on that date, and the vote to declare independence had taken place two days earlier. But because citizens learned about the vote from copies of the Declaration of Independence that were delivered and read aloud, they celebrated the date on that document: July 4th, 1776. Most delegates didnt sign the Declaration of Independence until August 2nd, 1776 John Hancock was famously the first to sign with letters much larger than other signatories, but historical documents show that some of the men who signed the Declaration werent present in Congress on July 4th. They were present at a different meeting on August 2nd, and historians agree many of the signatures happened then. The first public reading of the Declaration of Independence occurred on July 8th, 1776 in Philadelphia Col. John Nixon read the Declaration aloud at the State House, and readings of the Declaration have taken place every Fourth of July since then. While bells throughout the city were rung to announce the reading, historians arent sure if the Liberty Bell, then called the State House Bell, was one of them. [RELATED: Flag Day Fun Facts] Many colonies and cities had already written declarations of independence that heavily influenced Jeffersons draft Fighting against British troops had begun well before 1776, but many still held out hope for a reconciliation. As fighting grew more heated, the colonies slowly recognized their desire for independence and began to create documents outlining their reasons and philosophies. The wording of these documents appeared frequently in Congress Declaration of Independence. One particularly influential document was the Virginia Declaration of Rights by George Mason. Both Adams and Jefferson died on the 4th of July, 50 years later Though the two stopped corresponding during Jeffersons presidency, they were close lifelong friends, and they both passed away on Independence Day, 1826. Two other U.S. presidents had important claims on the date: James Monroe died on July 4, 1831, and Calvin Coolidge was born on July 4, 1872. There is something written on the back of the Declaration of Independence But its not a map! Upside down on the bottom of the reverse side, two lines appear: Original Declaration of Independence dated 4th July 1776 Current thought is that the document was rolled up and the label was added to the outside of the scroll. See it for yourself on the archives website. The 4th of July commemorates many events and ideologies that led to the creation of our country. While youre watching the fireworks this year, take pride in the long tradition of celebration youre joining, and remember the stories behind the symbols. Happy 4th of July! Any topics you want to know more about? Let us know! The Varsity Tutors Blog editors love hearing your feedback and opinions. Feel free to email us at blog@varsitytutors.com.

Are you Being Ignored Professionally - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / Are you Being Ignored Professionally - Introvert Whisperer Are you Being Ignored Professionally? Does the boss go to someone else besides you for (__fill in the blank___)?   Is other, less qualified co-workers, getting promotions, praise or acknowledgement? Every wonder why? One of the worst things in our life and career is not to be hated but to be ignored.   Disinterest or disregard means that others simply give you no thought.   It’s almost like you aren’t there.   At least when someone hates you, they are paying attention. If your intention is to grow professionally, being ignored is the kiss-of-death. You can turn this around and it will require your ongoing attention or you risk slipping back into invisibility.   This issue is about your Personal Brand, or the lack of a compelling one. Here are things you can do: Establish your expertise.   While it’s great to be good a many things, make sure you are well known for a couple of very specific things.   If you naturally gravitate to something, go deep and then offer to help people using your specialty. Volunteer to use your expertise.   Don’t wait for someone to ask you to help, step up and volunteer.   When you do you can subtly reinforce your expertise by saying something like “I could help with that project because I have established relationships with those vendors.”   If it’s true, it’s true and now everyone else knows it. Have opinions.   One of the things about us introverts is we think and process, which can make us quiet and easy to ignore.   Deliberately inject your opinion of things in meetings and conversations.   You may also want to add your reasoning to help reinforce your opinion.   Also, when you do this, be pleasant.   Sometimes opinionated people can come across as vehement and someone you don’t want to cross.   Having an opinion makes you more compelling as long as you are nice. Deliberately communicate.   If you are forthcoming with information, you are more apt to be sought out for information.   Funny how that works.   If you’re unclear on what to communicate about, think about the work you do and give status on that work to the boss and others that might want to know.   If you have observations about business or process, share those insights.   You can’t assume others know what you know. Develop relationships.   When you have a warm, friendly relationship with the boss and co-workers you will be sought out.   Having relationships with people at work mean they have gotten to know you as a person and the type of work you.   It’s part of the Know-Like-Trust formula that’s vital to your career. We do best in intimate, one-on-one situations, which makes this task right up your strong suit.   It’s hard to develop any relationships in a group setting.   You don’t have to turn into a suck-up you need to genuinely get to know the other person.   Professional relationships will pay big rewards in many ways. Watch your body language.   You might want to read and study this topic.   If you take up the least amount of space in a meeting or have “closed” body language it signals you aren’t open to interaction.   Your body language can be doing you a disservice.   Watch how other people use their arms and hold their body as a way of learning what you can do. Observe the sweethearts.   Every group has one or two people that are the favorite child and all attention goes to them.   While you don’t have to aim for that same level of attention you can observe and learn some of the things that set them apart.   Convert what you learn to actions you can take to garner more attention by the masses. Don’t think that being ignored has to be your life.   You can establish a strong and well-regarded personal brand that will have the boss and others knocking on your door. 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 NOW! Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleash your professional potential.

Should I Go To Princeton University

Should I Go To Princeton University The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. Sanjiv is a graduate of Princeton University with a Bachelors degree in Electrical Engineering. He is an Austin tutor specializing in SAT prep tutoring, Calculus tutoring, Geometry tutoring, and more. Check out his review of his alma mater: VT: Describe the campus setting and transportation options.How urban or safe is the campus?Are there buses or do you need a car/bike? Sanjiv: Princeton is located in the quaint little town of Princeton, NJ. The campus itself is beautiful, with trees lining the sidewalks and gothic architecture overlooking everything. The campus is very safe, and Public Safety can always be seen patrolling the campus spaces. There are very convenient bus lines to take you to nearby malls, and most restaurants are right at the edge of campus, so I knew very few students who had cars or needed one. We have a train station right at the end of campus as well, to travel 90 minutes to NYC. VT: How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Sanjiv: Professors and advisors are very available, as the student-teacher ratio is very small. There are usually about 6,000 undergrads at Princeton each year, and class sizes are usually small, around 20-30 students, so you get a lot of attention even before going to office hours. Anytime you want to meet with a professor or TA, they are more than happy to meet with you, and you will often learn as much from an office hour session than the class session itself! VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Sanjiv: It is actually mandatory for students to live on campus for all four years, so you dont need to think too much about housing options! This enables students at Princeton to really get to know each other in their undergrad years. Housing is divided into five to six different colleges (Butler, Forbes, Rocky, etc.), in the same way that Harry Potters Hogwarts is divided into several schools of witchcraft! Each college has its own set of dorms and dining halls, each with its own personality and points of pride. The dorms themselves are very clean and top-notch, and dining options are often tasty. This kind of dorm life is amazing, and your freshman year, you will be absolutely certain to make tons of friends in your dorms. VT: Which majors/programs are best represented and supported?What did you study and why? Did the university do a good job supporting your particular area of study? Sanjiv: Princeton is often categorized as a liberal arts school, so its no surprise that its top majors include English, History, and Biology. However, Princeton is very much an undergraduate institution, and does not have many graduate programs; for this reason, you can be absolutely certain that every department is top-notch (for example, the Physics and Math departments are world-famous). I studied Electrical Engineering, because of my interest in robotics. The Electrical Engineering department is great, and is top-10 in the country. Like many departments, it is small (less than 100 students per year), so I was able to get a lot of attention, and have my pick of thesis topics in my senior year. VT: How easy or difficult was it for you to meet people and make friends as a freshman? Does Greek life play a significant role in the campus social life? Sanjiv: As a freshman, it is extremely easy to make friends, partly because of the mandatory on-campus housing rule. Everyone is friendly and you soon figure out that the admissions office has brought together people of entirely different and amazing backgrounds, so everyone wants to find out each others story! I highly recommend becoming involved in clubs/organizations/sports as a freshman because you will meet many awesome friends for those four years. There is not much Greek life on campus because fraternities/sororities are not recognized by the university; in place of that are institutions called eating clubs, which are not technically Greek, but serve the same functions (hosting parties, charity events, etc.). VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Sanjiv: The Career Center is helpful in your junior and senior years for preparing for internships and job interviews. However, I would highly recommend the following instead: find an upperclassman or professor who is studying/working in the field you want to work in, and ask their advice on how to get where they are. The Career Center can you give you general advice, but a person in your field of study can give you specific advice on how to pursue that career. Very reputable companies come to recruit on campus in the fall and spring, especially to recruit for internships. Its not uncommon to be recruited for internships as early as your freshman year. Examples include Google, D.E. Shaw, investment banks, etc. VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Sanjiv: The study areas are almost always easily available and spacious. Right before exams, many students will be spending the night at certain study lounges in the student union, so its not advisable to wait until the night before to stake out a space! The dorm lounges are a great place to study, as some serve food even late into the night. VT: Describe the surrounding town. What kinds of outside establishments / things to do are there that make it fun, boring, or somewhere in between?To what extent do students go to the downtown area of the city versus staying near campus? Sanjiv: The surrounding town of Princeton, NJ itself has many restaurants and clothing shops (J. Crew etc.), but as far as theatres or nightclubs, there are very few. The Princeton social life exists 1) on campus, and 2) in New York City. While there are always lots of fun events to attend on campus, many times, students will head to NYC for the weekend. In your freshman year, the dorms will sponsor group trips and very discounted tickets to see plays on Broadway. VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Sanjiv: The student body is quite small, about 6,000 undergraduates, and perhaps a few thousand graduate students. Class sizes were always relatively small, about 20-30 per class, so I could always get help and get my questions answered when needed. One important thing to consider, however, is that because the student body is so small, it can take some time to find your social niche. So, in one respect, bigger schools have that advantage over Princeton. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Sanjiv: Once, in a math class, during a lecture on game theory, the professor mentioned the contributions of John Nash, the protagonist of the film, A Beautiful Mind. A few hours after the class was over, my friend and I were standing in the elevator when Professor John Nash himself walked in. We froze, as we wanted to ask him something, but didnt know what to ask him that would be worth his time. He seemed very engrossed in a paper he was reading, so we didnt ask for his autograph. There will be many times when you dont know whether to treat someone like a professor or a celebrity! Check out Sanjivs tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

General Tips to Help Your Child With Homework

General Tips to Help Your Child With Homework 0SHARESShare No matter how much time you spend personally with your child doing homework, it matters a lot if you could give them encouraging environment that motivates them to spend more time in study room doing their work. Give good study space Identify your child habits to do their work in better way and give comfortable study space. Slowly and gradually as they grow, form a habit of doing their work in study room. Help your child to be focused Give your child quite place to do their homework. Put off your cell phones and TV set when your child is studying nearby. Keep school supplies close at hand Keep basic school supplies (pen, pencil, eraser, sharper, etc.) close at your child’s hand so that they can access it on their own. Set regular time for homework Set a fix time for your child to do their homework. Keep it either early in the morning or after school hours, but it should be fixed time on regular basis. Like breakfast, lunch or bed time, let your child form habit of homework time and stick to that routine. Spend quality time with your child Try to accompany them while doing homework. Give English help making them understand instructions, QA or problem statement. For theory subjects, offer Social studies and Science help by making them understand question and facilitate to prepare answer. Do not help them directly giving them answers. Review your child work Ensure that your child complete work regularly. Review their homework regularly, correct them in case of mistakes and motivate when they perform well. Build up your child confidence with little care and know how much you take care of them. [starbox id=admin]

Throw Out - Phrasal Verb of the Day

Throw Out - Phrasal Verb of the Day Todays phrasal verb of the day is: Throw OutInfinitive form: Throw OutPresent Tense: Throw Out/ Throws Outing form: Throwing OutPast tense: Threw OutPast Participle: Thrown OutThrow Out is a separable English phrasal verb. It can be used in two different ways:When you get rid of something by putting it in a trash can, bin, etc1. Instead of throwing stuff out, why not sell or donate them to the needy?2. When Sandra found out about her husbands cheating, she threw his clothes out the door.When you forcefully order people to leave a party, building, house, etc. The term Kick Out can be used interchangeably in this context1. Jim needs a place to stay. He was thrown out of his apartment last night for almost torching the place last night.2. The angry host was throwing a heavily drunken guest out of his party just as soon as we arrived.iframe width=560 height=315 src=//www.youtube.com/embed/BV42_Cwtzg8?rel=0 frameborder=0 allowfullscreen/iframeExercises: Write your answers in comments and we will correct them.Fill in the gaps from the video above:You cant ____ him ____, I want him!Complete the sentences below with the correct form of Throw Out.1. I cant believe the landlady ____ me ___ for ____ a candy wrapper ____ the window!2.  Alex doesnt really need to ____ ___ stuff just to get more space in his room; He can just rearrange the furniture.3. One mans trash is another mans treasure and this exactly why Harry doesnt ____ his things ___easily  and instead organized a garage sale.4. When the fire broke out, my uncle were frantically _____ his shoes ___ the door.5. Have you heard about the celebrity who was ____ ___ of the car by his own wife? Man, what a sight! He must have done something really bad to get her wife that way.Change the example sentences above to negative sentences (or positive, if the sentence is already negative). Then change them to questions.

Anna Gs experience of volunteering for Tutorfair

Anna G's experience of volunteering for Tutorfair Anna G recently completed her volunteer placement at Pimlico Academy read on to find out what volunteering for Tutorfair  can do for you....... As a Tutorfair volunteer I was offered a great experience at the Pimlico Academy as a Teaching Assistant in French (Year 10) and Spanish (Year 7) over a  5 month period. It gave me the opportunity to get classroom experience and I would recommend this experience for anybody looking for a change of career in Education; it gives the opportunity to assess very efficiently if one belongs to a classroom or not. I was involved very quickly with students and could help them from day one. This experience gave me the opportunity to create a great relationship with the students as I was not their teacher but was there to help them and they totally get it from the beginning. I think most of them are very open from the start and although it took more time for some others to accept my help, I found that after a few weeks they were much easier to approach; this was very good life experience too! The Tutorfair volunteering programme gave    me an insight on how the school is organised and specifically, in my case, the Modern Foreign Language department. I told them I would like to be more active in the department and they were happy to offer different missions on top of Teaching Assistant, such as one-to-one tuition with GCSE students to prepare a specific exam or extra-support to a group of students during lunchtime etc. During the last month I was even teaching French to a group of six students on my own every week.   It helped me to make the most of my experience there. Overall I really think TutorFair offers a “win win situation” and has got a great concept which benefits the students, the schools and the volunteers. The school and students get extra help and the volunteers valuable teaching experience. Best Wishes, Anna x

A Complete Guide to Renters Insurance

A Complete Guide to Renters Insurance pexels.com What is renters insurance? Costing about $10 to $20 a month, renters insurance protects renters against possible loss or damage to their personal property. It also insures renters in the case that someone else is injured while on their property. What does renters insurance cover? Renters insurance covers a wide variety of potentially disastrous things that could happen to your rental property and/or your belongings. According to Insure.com, a super helpful site explaining the basics of renters insurance, there are 16 different perils covered by a policy called the HO-4. Some of these perils include fire or lightning, explosions, windstorm or hail, damage caused by vehicles, smoke, falling objects, vandalism, and theft, just to name a few. For the complete list, visit Insure.com if you want to check all 16 conditions that are covered by renters insurance. What does it not cover? While renters insurance certainly covers many different perils that could befall your rental property, there are unfortunately some conditions that are not covered. For example, your insurance won’t cover such natural disasters as earthquakes, mudslides, and landslides. Further, events such as natural floods, war, nuclear hazards, government seizure of your property, intentional destruction of property, and failure to save your property either during or after the time of loss, are not covered by renters insurance. To get coverage for such events as earthquakes or floods, you may need to purchase a separate insurance policy. Also, be aware that even your pets can become a liability. For example, if you have a dog and it bites or injures someone  who is on your property, the harm caused will not be covered by your renters insurance policy. As a result, if you do happen to have a dog (or any other pets that could potentially cause harm to others), you might want to consider purchasing a separate policy that will cover animal bites. Infographic by Kailey Walters What are the benefits of having renters insurance? Have you ever heard of the saying, “Better safe than sorry”? Well, that saying definitely applies to your decision to get renters insurance. Some people might hold themselves back from buying renters insurance because they think it’s not worth it â€" perhaps they don’t feel like shelling out extra money each month, or they think their personal belongings aren’t valuable enough to warrant protection. However, at about only $10 to $20 a month, renters insurance is certainly affordable and a worthy investment to make to protect your property. In fact, the  National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC)  reported that the average cost of a renters insurance policy was $187 annually in 2011 â€" not a bad price for protecting your most prized personal possessions, especially when considering how much more expensive it could potentially be to replace any lost or damaged items out of pocket. Ultimately, the actual cost of your policy depends on a number of other factors as well, such as where you live and the type of coverage you choose. Especially if you intend to rent the same property for an extended period of time, making sure that your property and personal belongings are protected against any possible damage is certainly a smart idea. In the event of a disaster or something unfortunate that happens unexpectedly, you will have peace of mind knowing that your belongings are insured. Particularly if you think you cannot afford to replace any lost or damaged belongings, having renters insurance is a safety net to cover replacement costs. Further, if someone happens to be injured while on your property, they could potentially bring up liability issues by suing you. Having renters insurance can consequently save you a lot of headache in terms of dealing with paperwork and a whole slew of unnecessary legal issues. Another advantage of having renters insurance is that it may possibly  cover additional living expenses. For example, if something happens to your rental property (i.e. one of the 16 perils mentioned previously) and you can no longer live there, your insurance may cover the costs of temporarily living elsewhere, which includes your food, and other expenses. Especially when you think about how much it would cost to temporarily stay in a hotel for even a few nights, or how anxiety-inducing it is to find a place to stay on such short notice, you’ll be glad that you have a renters insurance policy. To make sure of the details, check with your specific policy. Can you rely on the landlord to protect your possessions? Unfortunately, no. A common misconception held among renters is that their landlord’s insurance will cover their rental property and their belongings, which is why many renters ultimately choose not to purchase an insurance policy. However, the landlord does not have you covered in this situation. While your landlord’s insurance covers damage to the building and the grounds, it does not cover your personal possessions or any damage you may have caused to your property, such as a fire in your own kitchen. With that being said, it is definitely smart to stay informed about what your landlord can and can’t do for you, and to know exactly what you are responsible for protecting. As a result, having your own renters insurance can be quite useful in protecting your property and in allowing you to know what to expect, so that you arent hit with any nasty legal surprises. In fact, some landlords might even require you to have your own renters insurance policy. If you are not sure about this or need assistance finding coverage, ask your landlord for some guidance. He or she should be willing to help you out and clear up any questions. What are the different ways that your belongings can be covered? There are two ways your belongings can be covered generally: actual cost value (ACV) or replacement cost coverage. ACV coverage will only pay for what your property was worth at the time of loss or damage, minus the deductible. This means, for example, that if you bought an electronic device for a certain amount of money ten years ago, ACV coverage will only pay for what it was worth back then â€" even though today, that electronic device would most likely be worth less. The other option, replacement cost coverage, will reimburse you for what the item costs according to current market prices, minus the deductible. While this option costs a bit more than ACV coverage up front, it may be more worthwhile in the long run, especially for more expensive items that you own. So, when it comes to how you want your belongings to be covered, you have a couple of options to choose from.  Again, definitely check with your specific policy to make sure of the details. What kinds of coverage are involved in renters insurance policies? There are three basic kinds of coverage to consider when you start shopping for a renters insurance policy: personal property, liability, and additional riders. Personal property coverage is fairly self-explanatory â€" it covers your personal possessions, such as clothing, furniture, etc., which is usually a minimum of $2,500 worth of coverage. Liability insurance protects you against liability claims, such as lawsuits for bodily injury, while additional riders provide coverage for belongings that are of higher value, such as jewelry and electronics. Where should you get renters insurance from? According to Value Penguin, some of the best renters insurance companies of 2018 include State Farm, Erie, Allstate, Lemonade, and USAA. So, if you want to get the most bang for your buck and rest assured that you are being covered by an effective policy, take a look at these companies. What’s more, Uloop is certainly a great resource to turn to for your renters insurance needs while still in college. Under the “Renters Insurance” section of Uloop, you will find a form that you can fill out to get a quote for renters insurance. You will also find information on the GradGuard College Renters Insurance Plan, which provides a number of useful features â€" such as theft and fire protection, or liability protection â€" that can be of great help in protecting your personal belongings and your property on campus. pexels.com What else should you do to be smart about renters insurance? Definitely one thing you should do is to take a complete inventory of all of your valuable personal belongings. Doing so will help you keep track of everything valuable you own and ensure that you are properly compensated for anything that is lost or damaged. Create a list of all your belongings and their monetary value, and make sure to keep the list in a safe place.  (It’s up to you whether you keep an electronic or a physical version do whatever works best for you!) It’s also a smart idea to keep receipts for everything, as well as to take pictures of your belongings and keep them as your own photographic records. Leave no stone unturned â€" after all, when it comes to your belongings, you want to do everything you can to make sure your stuff stays protected. Even if youre not a particularly organized person, there are a number of resources out there to help you stay on track with cataloging your stuff. One resource is the myHOME Scr.APP.book set up by the NAIC, which allows you to photograph images, barcodes, and serial numbers that you can then store electronically. Another good resource is the Allstate Digital Locker app, which also allows you to take and store photos of your belongings. Also, while this may seem a bit tedious, it’s a good idea to go through your policy with a fine-tooth comb to check for any limitations or specific items that are not covered. For example, many policies may not fully reimburse you for particularly expensive items such as jewelry and electronics. In those cases, say if you have a favorite piece of costly jewelry or a flat screen TV that you cant stand the thought of losing, you may want to consider getting further coverage beyond what the standard policy can offer, just to be safe. How can you save money on renters insurance? Although renters insurance is already fairly affordable, there are still ways you can get discounts on your insurance policies. If you have another policy (e.g. car insurance) with a certain insurance company, they might offer you a discount on your renters insurance. According to the Insurance Information Institute, you might also be eligible for a discount if you have a security system, use smoke detectors, use deadbolt locks, have good credit, stay with the same insurer, or are over 55 years old. Ultimately, if you rent property, it’s definitely a good idea to take the necessary steps to insure yourself against possible damage or loss of your personal belongings. When it comes to your possessions, you’ll want to make the most responsible decisions to ensure that everything you own and your property remain safe and sound!

?? How To Make Your First Tuition Lesson A Success

?? How To Make Your First Tuition Lesson A Success How To Make Your First Tuition Lesson A Success So you’ve finally found the perfect tutor for your child, and arranged your first lesson. That’s great! But it’s only the start of your child’s learning journey.If you want that first lesson to go as well as possible, then you need to prepare for it.Here’s how to make your first tuition lesson a success...A few days before…The days leading up to the first lesson provide your child with a great opportunity to prepare themselves for what’s to come.Consult your child’s teacherIt’s helpful to consult your child’s teacher before their first lesson. This does two things.Firstly, it means the teacher is aware of the extra support your child is receiving, and so they can adjust their own teaching accordingly.Secondly, it means they can possibly provide you with useful materials, such as the curriculum or past exam papers, which the tutor can use to personalise your child’s lessons.Remember, your child’s teacher isn’t going to mind that you’re hiring a tutor. It’ s far better for them to know as soon as possible.List your child’s weaknesses Before your child has their first lesson, consider noting down a list of topic areas that they struggle with.You’ll probably already have a pretty good idea of which topic areas your child struggles with, but writing them down in a list will help you cover all of them.More importantly, you can present your tutor with this list so they know where to focus their efforts.If you send this over to them ahead of your child’s first lesson, then your tutor can already start coming up with a plan of action.Ask about initial readingYour tutor will likely have an idea of which topics your child will be studying with them, especially if you followed the advice above and sent a list of your child’s weaknesses.It may be worth asking the tutor for any resources or reading that your child can work through ahead of the first lesson.This helps prepare your child for their lesson, and ensures they get a head start for their learning. Your tutor may even be able to set some work to do before the f irst lesson, which they can then use to ascertain your child’s knowledge levels.Brief your childIf your child has never had a tutor before, then it’s likely that they’ll be nervous about their first lesson.A good way of alleviating some of these nerves is to brief your child ahead of time. This can be as simple as explaining how their tutor is going to help them, and what they can expect from the lesson.It’s also a good opportunity to answer any questions and address any concerns that your child may have.If you don’t know the answer to any of these, reach out to your tutor. They’ll have heard them all before and will be able to answer on your behalf.On the day…The day of the lesson is really important. You need to make sure your child is in the right frame of mind for learning.Eat and drink Staying fed and hydrated is really important when you’re learning. The right diet can increase concentration, aid critical thinking, and improve memory.Some of the best brain foods for kids include fish, eggs, fruit, and nuts. You can find a more comprehensive list here. Essentially, you want to avoid junk foods and stuff that’s high in sugar.You should also make sure your child drinks plenty of water on the day of their lesson. Water offers a wide range of health benefits, and numerous studies have found links between water consumption and brain power.If, like most kids, your child hates the idea of drinking plain water, then even diluted squash or flavoured water will provide that brain boost they need.Keep your child relaxedOn the day of their first lesson, your child will quite rightly be a little stressed out. After all, they’re going to be spending an hour or so with a complete stranger, possibly even in the stranger’s house.A stressed child is not a child who’s going to learn effectively. So you need to make sure they keep calm.You could spend some time with them doing something they enjoy, like playing a video game, before the lesson. This will help take their mind off it.Another great way of calming your child is to ensure they get lots of fresh air. Fresh air can provide you with a lot of health benefits, one of which is reducing stress and anxiety.After the lesson…The teaching doesn’t end when the first lesson is over. That post-lesson period is a good chance to consolidate your child’s learning, and set them up for success.Ask about homework A lot of tutors will give your child some homework to do before the next lesson. If your child is anything like I was growing up, they’ll probably try to mislead you about how much they’ve been given.Despite how much kids hate it, homework helps your child to more effectively learn the content they were taught during the lesson. It’s important, therefore, that your child actually does it.Be sure to ask the tutor about the homework so that you can keep track of whether your child has completed it.If it’s a subject area that you understand relatively well, you can even ask the tutor about how you can help your child with their homework.Debrief your childMuch like the brief you gave your child prior to their lesson, a good debrief can ensure that your child is happy to continue learning, and allows you to address any issues that they have.Now that your child has experienced tutoring, they’ll be in a better position to identify any parts they don’t like. It’s important to l isten to their feedback.Perhaps they don’t understand what the tutor is telling them. Maybe they didn’t find the work challenging enough. It’s even possible that they simply didn’t ‘click’ with the tutor.You should take note of any issues and either address them yourself, or pass them on to the tutor. This will ensure better learning going forward.We can help!We want every child to have the best possible tutoring experience for them. That’s why we carefully match you with the best tutors for your needs. If you haven’t yet found a tutor, then you can use the form below. We’ll get back to you with the top 3 tutors in your area.It couldn’t be easier!All the best with your tutoring!