How to Be a Successful and Motivating Teacher

By Dr. Stephen Jones One of the biggest challenges for any teacher is finding a way to engage and motivate students. It is tremendously important to start your class off with a good foundation for learning. Start your class with a motivational quote or an activity to raise the energy in your room. Students benefit when you are organized and have a plan for each instructional session. Also, it’s important to include every learning style in your classes. The learning styles include visual, auditory and tactile. Incorporating activities that coincide with the different learning styles increases in engagement in each classroom. To get the most out of each student be open to changing the way that you’ve always taught. You will need to be flexible. Here are a few additional tips: 1. Survey your students early to find out their interest and what you can incorporate in your lessons 2. Close the reading gap by offering books to students and by encouraging exchange of books. 3. Don’t procrastinate on your class environment review make changes 4. Be an empathetic to your students concerns. 5. Take your students on a trip outside the school location 6. Encourage your students to apply to after school 7. Arrange an international trip to another country. Get the staff and teachers involved. 8. Be a continuous learning by reading books, watching videos taking classes visiting Pinterest for information etc. The United States is in desperate need of good teachers who are adequately paid and empowered to work with children. At the same time, we need teachers who can are committed a positive expectations of what students can accomplish. When teachers are given the right support, they feel like they can conquer anything. In my own life, I remember the teachers that cared about my success, and I think they were the catalyst for how I serve students today. If you are a teacher and you are reading this, I encourage you to stay committed. You make someday produce a student who becomes a teacher or principal. The challenges that you have overcome will be worth it when you look back at how many students lives you changed for the better. Never stop growing and learning. Dr Stephen Jones is the author of several education workbooks and conducts webinars and seminars for students, parents and teachers at your school. To find out more visit http://www.DrJonesBooks.com.

10 Effective Ways to Inspire People Every Day

By Dr.Stephen Jones

The commitment to inspire people starts with an inner feeling of contentment. It is a willingness to share the joy and peace that is inside of you with others.  It is a desire to inspire others to dream big and to expect to accomplish great goals.  Inspirational people encourage people to believe that there is something greater within them.  Here are easy ways that you can raise inspiration level of others by 100 percent:

1. Be a joyous person and share encouraging words daily

2. Listen with focused attention on what the other person is saying

3. Don’t be moved by what you see

4. Other people don’t define what your attitude will be

5. Bring someone a gift that they were not expecting to receive

6. Tell people what you appreciate about them

7. Never, never give up on encouraging others

8. Try something new that you have not done before

9.  Go on a fitness walk at least three days a week to clear your mind

10. Listen to motivational videos

Someone is waiting for you to remind them that they are awesome and that they can accomplish great things.  You may be the first person that says something positive to them all week. You should be like the light that cast out the darkness of a challenging situation. Today is your day to inspire and uplift others. The best is on its way.

Dr. Stephen Jones is a speaker and education advocate.  He is the author of the Seven Secrets of How to Study, the Ultimate Scholarship Guide and the Ultimate Parent’s Guide at http://www.DrStephenJones.net.10 Effe

10 Back to School Study Tips

By Dr. Stephen Jones

The journey back to school is a time when students meet new friends and get adjusted to a new school environment.  The adjustment is not limited to K12 students there are changes for college bound students too.  Often after the first week students realize that they do not know how to study and they easily get behind on assignments. Going back to school becomes a burden when students realize how much work that they need to complete.  Students don’t realize that learning how to study is one of the best ways to succeed during the new school year.

For most students it is easy to discover how much they do not remember from the prior year. The first test score or quiz can reveal a lot.   It takes devotion to get back into the habit of studying.  Students who want the best grade realize that they need to hit the ground running.  They are ready for the challenge of a new school year and they are organized.  There are ten study tips that they have learned to use: (1) Manage your time with a written schedule, (2) get a tutor right away if you need one, (3) meet with your teacher/professor to get help (4). Start reading your chapters right away, (5) Read the chapter more than once when possible (6). Pick up other books at the library, (7)prepare for tests and quizzes five days before your test (8) research your course topics over the internet, (9) form a study group and (10) sit in the first two rows and ask questions.  Go into each school year prepared to learn.  The studying that you do prior to the beginning of school will help you to achieve better grades.  The best students focus on having a great awareness of all of the requirements for each course.

Take advantage of the technology that is all around you.  There are all types of gadgets that are essential for 21st century students.  Every student should have a laptop that connects to the internet and prints documents.  Some school systems are saving money by using laptop computers. They are reducing their paper consumption.  Consider purchasing an IPOD which can be used to download educational information.  There are programmable calculators that help with complex math problems.   There is also the new IPAD that stores books and provides access to the internet.  All of these technologies are converging to provide a wealth of knowledge for everyone.

The potential for independent learning opportunities is growing each year.  You can be successful when you go back to school by pursuing knowledge with other friends.  Make a commitment to forming a study group.  You can meet in person or over the telephone.  Hand out assignments by way of email.  Each person must answer the assignment questions.  Then set a time to meet in person or over the telephone.   A group that starts out with a strong effort by everyone will have a greater chance of lasting until the end of the course.

Students who want to have success on every test must be prepared.  Too many students who are in high school have a habit of waiting until the last minute to study.  Students need better organization and a time management schedule to plan study time for every test.     If you have a schedule you can study two or three days prior to your examination.  You can surprise your instructor when your grades jump from a “B” to an “A+.”    Improving your grades will give you greater confidence on other tests that you encounter.  It’s time to get ready for an inspiring school year full of outstanding accomplishments.

 Dr. Stephen Jones is an educator and national speaker who has written the Seven Secrets of How to Study, the Parent's Ultimate Education Guide and the Ultimate Scholarship Guide at http://www.DrStephenJones.net/books

Why the New FAFSA APP Revolutionizes Financial Aid

The US Department of Education officially has launched its FAFSA mobile app to help students to complete and send the Free Application for Federal Student Aid form by way of their cellphones. Federal officials believe the app, named myStudentAid, will help to increase the number of families who apply for student financial aid. The FAFSA App is significant since there are still many students who do not have access to a computer in their home. The FAFSA form can be complex for scores of parents, who must answer more than 75 questions to complete the form. One key to success and obtaining financial aid is completing the FAFSA form early. The hope is that the App will decrease the parent’s apprehension about completing the form.

Why should the parent complete the FAFSA form on the App as soon possible? There are times when a parent will need to make corrections to the FAFSA application. Completing the FAFSA application early will provide more time for corrections. If you are a parent don’t give up seeking help from your school counselor. They may have knowledge of a FAFSA representative in your region who can help you. Most colleges rely on the FAFSA information as a resource that helps them to determine a student’s overall financial aid package.

The new FAFSA App gives parents the ability to enter their income information for one or more children. The students have their own section in the FAFSA application. Each student will have a unique way to enter their own information too. This is important since a family with two children may enroll in two different colleges. A family could actually sit down and work on their own information at the same as their student. The goal of the app is to make it easier to apply and to get increased participation. Some additional benefits include:

1.  A much easier application to complete

2.  The ability to register on cell phone that you carry in your pocket every day

2.  The federal tax documentation is already completed when the new FAFSA app is available

3.  The ability to get immediate help from a counselor

4.  An earlier notification of college financial aid packages 

FAFSA wants greater participation of all students regardless of their income.  Students who are first generation or low income seem to have the most difficult challenges completing three FAFSA form. If you fall into one of the two categories that I mentioned don’t be afraid to ask for help. There are school counselors who are focused on getting students prepared to apply for colleges using the common application. Finishing your FAFSA form early is one way to send a message to colleges that you are serious about getting enrolled.

The FAFSA office has come up with an App that will benefit everyone.  If you area college bound student, know is the time to complete all of the requirements of the FAFSA form. Don’t be the last to get the financial aid package from colleges that you’ve selected. Dr. Stephen Jones is the author of the Ultimate Scholarship Guide and the Seven Secrets of How to study at 

http://www.DrStephenJones.net/books.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

Stay Focused on your Dream

When others tell you that you can't reach your goal stay focused because your answer is near. Don't give up after you've tried several times the solution may be in the attempts. The only limitation on your success is your own thoughts about what you are capable of doing. Quitters don't win focused people do.