What Makes an Essay Reflective?

Everybody knows that writing a reflective essay means something to all of us, especially our instructors. In our past few years in secondary education, our teacher obliges us to write assignments and create projects like essay writing, reporting, educational games and so much more. Sometimes, writing essay is very difficult when they want you to explain something in your own words and try to feel something about it. A reflective essay is an article which the students or any writer expressed their feelings towards a particular object, opinion or issue. This is very common in quizzes and examinations, as they are tested on what the students expressed themselves for the essay question. For most cases, we are given a set of subjects that we're able to provide any reaction through writing on a piece of paper.

Reflective essays are also being used in college. Sometimes, this technique is used in writing a college application essay. What's important for reflective essays is that you may be able to present your own thoughts in a given idea. The evaluators can interpret your character and personality so easily when it's in effect. It's like that you imagine yourself that you're present in that situation, you may reflect something what will happen to that event, issue, object or opinion. The toughest part of writing your own essay is on your final college level, which includes dissertation writing. Dissertation or thesis writing is a very tough subject to pass, which you may work hard from at least three to four months in a semester. The worst part is, you have two thesis subjects being taken on the same semester if your status is irregular. You have lots of things to research, canvass, compare and study which is truly required on the subject. When we're on this level, they require us to apply what we have learned from our freshman year until the current year.

When we are finished with your write-ups, no matter how much money spent for the thesis, we still have to study hard in order for the panelists to give us a good grade. During the oral defense, reflective essay is already part of it and they like us to explain everything in our own words and feelings. If a student cannot answer that question in a reflective way, the panelists may find it doubtful for them to pass the subject, unless they can prove something to them. Through writing reflective essays, it develops the student's mind to imagine what he or she can say about anything that reflects them. Oral essays are also tested in other subjects like English, which they need to develop it also aside from just writing it. There's a possibility that when you write a very long essay, they might give you a higher chance to get a good grade. However, if you made it simple but right, there's a good chance for them to pass. But if those essays were not meaningful and not answered to the question, they expect to give you a low grade. A reflective essay is not only just writing, but also feel it on your own.

Educational Kids Games Are Fun

Are you looking to sharpen your child's mental skills? Education does not have to be boring in order to learn. There is a vast array of educational kids' games on today's market that will help sharpen your child's skills whether it is math, English, science or geography. Here are a few games that your child is sure to enjoy:

1. Hot Spot: The game pieces in Hot Spot are built like robots, and the game suggests that robots move only in straight lines. The goal of the game is to make sure the red robot gets to the 'hot spot' located on one corner of the playing board. The child has to think of the most economical way to get to that red spot on the board.

2. Pete's Pike is another educational kid's game in which Pete has to find his way to the top of a mountain peak covered with snow. There are five mountain goats which help Pete along the way. If Pete makes a mistake, he will fall off the edge of the mountain. The child must use his or her thinking skills in order to help Pete reach the mountaintop.

3. In this educational kid's game called Cover Your Tracks, different terrains are given to your child in order to test his or her thinking skills. Some of the terrains are sand, cement, mud and snow.

4. As the name suggests, Treasure Quest lets you go on a treasure hunt. When the child finds it, he or she has to escape with it through ancient Aztec ruins. There are many dangerous pathway and dead-ends which will try to confuse your child.

The game of 'War' can get a new mathematical twist and be turned into Math War. In this version of the game, have each person lay down two cards, and let the child with the highest sum win. This game can be easily adaptable to whatever math skill your child happens to be working on.

Some of the most familiar board games can be educational kids' games without you even realizing it. The following games can be great for reinforcing concepts that are hard to grasp:

Battleship - this can help your child find coordinates on maps and graphs

Candyland - this game is useful for identifying colors

Scrabble - this game reinforces spelling and vocabulary skills

Monopoly - this game reinforces the concept of money(have your child be the banker)

Yahtzee - this game will help reinforce addition and counting skills

Clue - this fun game can help the child grasp the concept of story problems

You can also be on the lookout for educational kids' games that focus on special skills that your child may be struggling with. These include:

'WH' Bingo - this game stresses the concepts of who, when, what, where and why

Moneywise Kids - this game reinforces the concept of saving money and making change

Smath - this educational kid's game is the math version of Scrabble

There are a multitude of educational kids' games available at reasonable prices. Just do a Google search and you will find plenty of variety to choose from.

Jewish Holidays - An Assorted Group

The Jewish people's lives are action-packed; we celebrate Bar Mitzvahs, circumcising babies and more. So, we Jews are always up to something, whether is it physical like having a major meal on the Shabbat, or spiritual, like performing the havdalah ceremony every Saturday night. And, of course, there are the Jewish holidays. Every holiday revolves around a different theme; some Jewish holidays are about celebrating triumphs, while others are about celebrating joyous occasions like the receiving of the Holy Torah. They are so diverse that one needs quite a bit of thorough learning to truly wrap their head around the various customs and laws pertaining to each one.

Indeed, the holidays are such an assorted group that it is hard not to wonder who and why decided things should be the way they are. For example, take the month of Tishrei, which means "Head of the year" and is the first month of the civil year on the Jewish calendar. On the first of this month, meaning the first day of the civil year, we celebrate Rosh Hashana. Rosh Hashana marks the day Man was first created, and our Sages of blessed memory taught us that Rosh Hashana is an essential time, because on this holiday we stand before God like sheep and accept his judgment. This is the optimal time for us to reflect on our bad deeds and how we can improve as human beings and go on His path.

A few days after Rosh Hashana, on the tenth of Tishrei, we celebrate the second Jewish holiday: Yom Kippur, Hebrew for "Day of Atonement." The time-period between the first and second holidays gives us an additional time to repent for our sins. Then, on Yom Kippur, we take a break from our daily life and try to behave more like angels: for instance, we fast and pray extensively. While The Jewish holidays include more fast days, Yom Kippur is, by and large, the most well-known and celebrated even by non-observers.

Then, you also have Sukkot, which is the third Jewish holiday. Sukkot is very dissimilar to Yom Kippur, which took place less than a week prior. During Sukkot we eat in the Sukkah, a type of hut, to commemorate our ancestors' journey in the desert and the temporary dwellings in which they had to reside for forty years. People who truly observe the holiday also sleep in the Sukkah. For children, out of all the holidays, Sukkot often marks the happiest time of year. This holiday enables them to actually partake in building and decorating their family's Sukkah. The decorating of Sukkah, for many children over the world, makes Sukkot the most magical Jewish holiday of them all.

The fact that some Jewish holidays are so different in their nature and motivations yet are celebrated within days from each other, may strike an outsider as odd. However, one needs to remember that everything in Judaism has an exact reason.

What Makes a Computer Music Game Educational?

This is a very important point for teachers and parents. At what point is a computer game educational, and at what point is it just entertainment? What are the critical aspects that make a game educational, and something that would make us as teachers and parents spend our dollars, time and energy on it?

In my area of music there are all sorts of computer games: Some of the music game guitar controllers which are available today are nothing more than an evolution of the toy guitar that you'd give a toddler to play with. There are a few that are far more advanced, and are almost close to playing a real instrument. There are a few music theory and aural training games that are very serious, and definitely are an excellent training tool to help musicians and music teachers with aural and theory skills.

Where do we draw the line? Music teachers are definitely split on this issue. Most I know still teach the same way they always have, and probably won't be spending money on too many games. However there is real educational value in some aspects of the game. The question that we need to ask ourselves when thinking about any game activity is: "What is this teaching me (or them, if thinking about your children or your students) that I didn't know before?"

Learning something is the process of taking something which is unknown and making it known. When you learn to play a computer game, are you making anything known that was not known before? If you are simply playing one level of one game over and over again nothing will happen except that you'll be good at that one thing. You'll really know that one thing, but nothing else! If however when playing a music game you are constantly introducing new songs, and you use the music game as a vehicle to move forward with skills, then you'll find this to be a well worthwhile educational experience.

Music game developers should consult instrument specialists when building games about specific instruments, so that playing the game does not negatively impact students technique when playing the real thing. Most do, but as usual when there is a big market there will always be cheap imitations who cut down the price and also cut down the educational value by not investing in this quality researched advice.

So always ask that question - What is this activity teaching me that I didn't know before? Then you'll find that time spent on games will always help... besides being great fun!

Wholesale Educational Toys

Every parent wants his or her child to learn fast and grow up to become efficient and smart. Educational toys offer the best ways to help a child learn and have fun simultaneously. Parents who purchase educational toys for their children can save a lot of money by buying them at wholesale prices.

A wholesaler buys toys in large quantities from the manufacturers or importers. He sells smaller quantities to retailers, who in turn sell them to customers. Typically, wholesale rates are offered only to retailers who purchase the toys in bulk. However, there are times when a wholesaler sells these toys directly to the end user, namely the parent or teacher. There are a number of educational toys available at wholesale prices throughout the year. They are generally old stock that the wholesaler would like to dispose of quickly to make room for new models. Consequently, the wholesaler is inclined to sell them at cheaper rates.

The sale of educational toys at wholesale prices also happens during summer breaks or during festivals. When parents or teachers buy educational toys in large quantities, cheaper rates are offered to them.

There are many companies offering educational toys on the Internet at wholesale rates. People can easily access the websites that offer brand name toys or locally made toys at reasonable rates.

The most popular educational toys now offered at wholesale rates on the Internet are kid's laptops. These laptops are a good buy, because they make little kids computer savvy at a young age. Children really enjoy having their own laptops just like their parents, and have fun gaining lots of useful knowledge through their laptops

There are also other electronic learning toys for kids of all ages that provide a complete learning experience. In the past, many parents were hesitant to buy educational toys for their kids because the prices were really exorbitant. The availability at wholesale prices has proved to be an incentive for parents to buy educational toys.

Educational Toys and Games - Do They Really Influence Your Child's Development?

Are you concerned the toys you are giving your child aren't helping them in their development? It is only natural that you would want the best for your child, and as a parent I understand this. It is the reason I started to research into how educational toys and games, as well as educational play can benefit children.

And it's amazing what I discovered!

I found that through educational play your child will learn to think, to make decisions, to be creative, to develop their communication skills, and build their self confidence. They will also learn skills like hand-eye coordination, memory retention, reading skills and motor skills. And these are just a few skills, there is so much more they will learn.

The secret is to choose the right educational toys that will assist in your child's development. Did you know research has found that playing with educational toys and games as a young child can considerably influence your child's intelligence? In fact they found that children who do had an IQ that was 32-50 points higher than children who did not.

So to ensure your child has the greatest opportunity to develop you need to play with them using educational toys and games. Your involvement with your child from an early age will have a huge impact on them for their whole life! But, what are the right educational toys and games? When choosing educational toys and games for your child you should consider selecting ones that are --

Appropriate For Your Child's Age. This is one of the most important factors in selecting a learning toy for your child. Use the recommended age labelling as a guide. There is no point in attempting to give your child a toy that even Einstein would have trouble figuring out.
Fun. Children learn the best when they are having fun. And who do they have the most fun with? You of course! Just remember that their toy needs to be fun for both parents and child, and not just the parents.
Engaging for Both You and Your Child. The key to your child's successful development is your engagement with them.
Fosters Imagination and Creativity. Look for developmental toys that will stimulate your child thoughts patterns and problem solving abilities.
Toy Safety. One of the things that is usually overlooked when parents are purchasing toys for their children. Make sure you inspect toys for sharp points or edges and projectiles, look for small parts of larger toys are secure and carefully read all safety messages on toy packaging.

In the end the choice of whether to teach your child utilizing educational toys and games is yours. If you at least take the step to engage and play with your child you will have already taken a huge step towards increasing their ability to learn and have fun. But why not give your child that extra edge and try using educational toys and games. After all, your child's educational and developmental future is in your hands!

Garden Party Games Outdoors with the Flowers

If you are thinking of having a garden party with garden party games, then you definitely are planning a really pleasant time with your kids, neighbors and friends. There can be a wide range of garden party games that you can select from. Below we are going to describe two games that are going to make the fun spin through the party.

Guess The Foods

First of all, select the individuals by playing Simon Sez to play Guess The Foods. You can stop playing Simon Sez by selecting 5 participants at the end of it. Now blindfold the participants one by one and get them taste the different garden foods. The participants are going to taste the different foods and ask a guest to write the answers on a sheet of paper with the name of the participant on it. Then at the end, the one who guessed the most right answers is the champion of Guess The Foods game. This is an excellent choice for the garden party games.

Play The Limbo

For this garden party game, to make it very competitive, you need to select the individuals of almost similar height. If there are people of different heights, see if you can make a different category for them because this game truly depends on the flexibility of the body. Place two stands about four feet apart and then place a pole, which is placed horizontally between the two bars. The individuals are now asked to go below the pole and as everyone is able to go beneath the pole, just lower it down every time till you have one person in the end, who is going to be the King or Queen of Play The Limbo.

There can be so many other choices of garden party games that you can select from or can develop your own creative garden party game. Just remember that in different games, everyone must have an opportunity to participate so that everyone can enjoy it to the max.

Free Educational Websites For Preschool - Starfall

This is the second in a series of articles that I am writing about free educational websites. Starfall is a website that also provides educational fun through games, videos, crafts and storytelling while teaching basic computer skills. This site is exceptional at teaching and developing reading comprehension and phonics skills. Though it is designed for first grade, Starfall is a great website for Pre-K through second grade. Starfall.com is set up in sections for four stages of reading development, games and activities areas. It features:

o ABCs - In this section, there is an alphabet chart from which kids can click on each letter to find out the sound it makes and to hear it used in a word. There is also a row of vowels that, when clicked, teach kids the vowels and short and long vowel sounds. A sign language section teaches kids to sign the ABCs.

o Learn to Read - In this section, there are fun animated music videos teaching the letters of the alphabets and sounds that each one makes. Stories that follow the music videos repeatedly use words containing the letters. The approach to teaching pronunciation is very creative. The "chunk that word" video is really cute and fun as it teaches how to break words up and pronounce each chunk in order to learn to pronounce the entire word.

o It's Fun to Read - This section uses Art, Magic, Music, Poetry, Tongue twisters and riddles to show how fun it is to read. There is even an activity that lets the child create a story about his or her self.

o I'm Reading - This section has plays, comics, and various types of stories to include folk tales, fiction, nonfiction, Greek myths and Chinese fables for your child's enjoyment.

o Games and Activities include making a calendar, holiday activities, word hunt, find a clover and earth day recycling games. There are also more opportunities for creating stories.

o There is an online store for purchasing educational materials.

o Starfall printed material and online printouts are available in the download area.

o A number of pages throughout the site have suggestions for parent or teacher use of the materials on the page.

o Kindergarten curriculum is a new offering of Starfall. This is a Kindergarten reading and language arts program available for purchase.

Starfall.com is an excellent tool for parents, teachers and home schooling for developing reading skills and its fun for children. Don't miss this website.

Fire and Axe Boardgame

Product Details

This is a game that spans the time of the Viking Sagas. The epic journeys that led Norsemen to raid, trade and settle over the known and unknown territories of the northern hemisphere. You command your warriors and map out your strategy - only the strongest, most courageous and luckiest will triumph.

• A total make-over of Viking Fury by the Ragnar brothers
• Trade, plunder and colonize the world of the early middle ages!
• Sail the oceans to the borders of the world.
• Each journey begins in Scandinavia
• Appropriate for ages 12 and up

Parenting Lessons From the Movie Blind Side

The movie Blind Side is inspirational and amazing. Sandra Bullock portrays Leah Anne the matriarch of the affluent Memphis family who attempted Michael Oher an offensive tackle for the American football team the Baltimore Ravens. Michael was held back two years in elementary school and had a spotty educational record with a 0.6 GPA in high school. Michael was born to a family of 12 children and spent most of his life a ward of the state of Tennessee.

His biological mother described Michael as a runner, that when in foster care that when he was placed with families he would runaway trying to find his way back to his mother. In the movie Blind Side Michael is taken in by Leah Anne and her family. They provide him with love, nurturing and the opportunity to be successful. And he was successful. He was able through the help of a tutor to bring up his GPA from 0.6 to 2.56 and with continue support through tutoring he received a college degree before becoming a professional football player. While the movie hinted at the importance of religion was to Leigh Anne the extent of the importance of her faith was not entirely evident.

Leigh Anne and her husband started a church in Memphis. This fact not mention in the movie, but is hinted of the importance of faith for Leigh Anne leads me to believe that Michael was exposed to a religious community and was involved in attending church and church activities with the family. I mention this because I want to emphasize the importance of involvement for families for their children's development. Religious organizations provide enormous benefits to family for involvement, support, and growth. Studies reporting on substance use of tobacco, alcohol, and drugs have shown that children that have attended religious services were less likely to have experiment with substances. The studies have also shown that the more services attended by the child the lower the possibility of experimentation with substances. In addition to religion being a positive in reducing drug use, religious organization provided opportunities for children to develop social skills to improve peer relationships. They also provide a sense of belonging for the child and the family. Religious communities also provide opportunities to understand, celebrate, and grieve life events.

In one scene of the movie Michael and PJ were at the football field getting ready to work out. Michael wanted to go home and play video games. PJ informed Michael that it was expected that Michael not only play football, but that he strive for excellence. That everyone in the family has played sports or participated in an activity, the father played basketball, the sister ran track and played volleyball, the mother had been a cheerleader, and that he (PJ) played all sports. While every child may not grow up to be a Michael Oher sports and other social activities are fundamental to child development. I think that another lesson to be learned from the Blind Side is the fact that the family did not just encourage Michael to play sports, they supported him. The family supported him during practice and was at the games to support him.

Children need to have their efforts recognized and validated, not just the Michael Oher's of the world, but the children who spend the game on the side lines, need to know that their family care enough to show up. There are other social activities that are beneficial to children include, boy scouts, girl scouts, and explorer scouts to name a few. What is important is that you involve your child in activities using community social groups; community sports organizations, or sports and social groups through the child's school. The more involved you are as a parent the better, it sends a message to the child that you support the child and that they are important.

The movie Blind Side teaches us the lesson to be involved in the child's school is important. There are several scenes where Leigh Anne is talking to school staff and teachers about Michael. This is what we call the home school link. Research has found that the greater the home school link the better the child's performance in school. This includes school attendance. There are schools that have programs that allow the parents to come to school and have lunch with their child if your child's school has a program take advantage and have lunch with your child. Don't wait until your child brings home their report card to find out how your child is doing, call or go by and talk to her teacher. Leigh Anne did just that in one scene, she talked to Michaels English teacher and she asked him what Michael had to do to be able to pass his class and the teacher told her what Michael needed to do. Michael did exactly what the teacher told Leigh Anne that he needed to do, and he passed the class.

In the movie Blind Side Michael had a private tutor to help him with his school work not only in high school, but also through college. While we all cannot afford to hire private tutors for our children, we can sit down and help our children with their homework. If we find that we cannot help our children with their homework, we can ask for help at the school. There are schools that have peer tutoring, some schools have after school tutoring programs, there may be a tutoring program at a local church, community college, or university that have students going to school to be teachers that can provide tutoring. There are community organizations that provide tutoring, like the Boys and Girls Club. If you have trouble finding resources or opportunities for your child most likely other parents are having the same problem. Network. Set up your own tutoring group with the help of your parents of your child's peers. Start a learning group of 3 or 4 children and get help from the teacher to help you with study material. The parents can even split up the subjects and each one take responsibility for a subject and lead their child's study group. Be creative.

As in all things in life, the more positive time and energy you invest in your child the greater the reward. Engage your child in social, community, and school activities, participate with your child and be supportive and available. Take an active interest in your child's school work; find out what resources are available to help your child learn. Talk to your child's teacher on a regular basis, not just parent teacher conferences. Help your child with her homework. Show your children that their homework and activities are important and are a priority. Do not use sports, community activities, or religious activities as a reward or consequences for behaviors. Participation in activities are growth opportunities and the more involved your child is in these activities, the less likely your child will be tempted to experiment with drugs, tobacco, and alcohol or engage in delinquent behaviors. These are the parenting lessons that are learned from the movie the Blind Side.

Video Games Are Too Expensive

I'm honestly glad when I'm addicted to the latest MMO fad, really. Sure, MMOs cost you more than the latest Wii or Xbox game at first what with the monthly fees, but after the sunk cost of the game and whatever expansions, my spending stays in check because I stay up until dawn every night getting the +14 Sword of Ultimate Smiting and am just too darn BUSY to do a silly thing like play a different video game. Unfortunately, this isn't very good for my social life. Girls just really aren't in to listen to you revel about your latest adventures as Far'lakthar the Elvaan Orcsmasher conquering the great deeps of the Kar'la'for'i'tan Underwater Labrynth (nor are most guys, really... I've had some of my friends go on and on...) for the 23rd time. Maybe some are, and they are a rare and beautiful jewel to be treasured forever, but for the most part, girls (and/or guys, whomever you want to attract) just aren't really into chillin' with you while you dig through the deepest dungeon in Elfland.

You know what chicks (and dudes) REALLY dig, though? Mario. Mario, and Samus, and Master Chief and Sonic and Jax and Daxter and all those other bleeding edge video games. Thanks to the Wii especially, even the girliest of girls or the "too manly for that" men want to play the latest video games when you have them over. And for those other times, well, Super Mario 3 is a great game but you know the whole time you really wish you were playing the latest adventure in the Mario series, don't you? Yeah, I thought so. But life has a lot of demands on time and money, and shelling out $50-60 a pop for the latest blockbusters we want to play just really isn't an option isn't it?

However I have found the secret. A couple of new games a month are going to run you $100 a month, at least. That's a lot of money, you could go on a nice date or pay the payment on car just nicer than the one you have with that kind of scratch! And be honest with yourself, how often do you put those games back in to play? Rarely if ever, yup. As such I have found the perfect solution is online game rental services. Some of the promos offer plans for as little as $10 a month to have a game out as long as you want, and only a few bucks more to get a second or third. Whether you rent the latest Madden game or your favorite classic, it's the same price.

8 Steps To A Brighter Child And A Happier Home

It maybe child's play, but you'd be amazed at what children can learn through games. Watch children playing board games with each other, running a three legged race or playing football - they're not only having fun but also learning cooperation, teamwork, role clarity, strategy and tactics.

Not only is there is a wealth of supporting research, but there are also a growing number of educational advocates who emphasise that the most productive way of learning is through fun and hands-on experience and that game playing provides the perfect tool.

Here is a just a sample of the prestigious support behind the educational benefits of games playing:

According to the head of Ofsted, children who play traditional board games at home do better at school. He said the games help children to think for themselves, to wait their turn and to hold a conversation with adults. And he expressed a concern that computer games and television can discourage children from activities that better stimulate their imagination.

Stephen Twigg, Education minister, said that play is vitally important to education.

The National Union of Teachers conference produced a statement saying that children, in particular, learn through play and they want everyone to spend more time playing, as a "crucial" lifelong learning tool.

The National Foundation for Educational Research concluded that children should have more access to "play-based" learning.

John Dewey, the founder of modern educational theories, wrote in Democracy and Education " experience has shown that when children have a chance at physical activities which bring their natural impulses into play, going to school is a joy, management is less of a burden and learning is easier"

Even the venerable Plato said "Not by force shall the youth learn, but through play."

Learning through play is the idea behind MindLab, an after school education programme that teaches children thinking and social skills through playing board games from around the world. The positive impact of MindLab on children's development is supported by prestigious research which shows that children who follow a MindLab curriculum demonstrate a substantial and lasting improvement in strategic reasoning and problem solving skills as well as standardised maths and verbal reasoning tests.

Assuming you are now convinced of the educational benefits of game playing, you may next be asking, what do I do to reap the benefits of game playing with my own children?

Here are 8 steps to help you bring the many benefits of game playing to your own family to produce brighter children and a happier home life.

1. Buy or dust off some games that are old favourites. Games like draughts, dominoes, connect four and card games, are not only terrific fun but they are also stimulating, challenging and involve concentration and strategy.

2. Chose an convenient slot in your weekly family pattern that is an ideal time for your family to sit down together and play a few games, such as a Friday evening or a Sunday afternoon, for example.

3. Add some elements to help "game time" become a family tradition: add favourite foods (bowls of popcorn or hot chocolate perhaps?) a comfy warm setting (in front of a roaring fire?), invite grandparents etc.

4. Start with games that a suited to the youngest age group present, or have a few games going at the same time that fit the various age ranges. Make sure everyone understands the rules and aims of the game being played and give everyone the benefit of examples of good moves and strategies by illustrating them on the game board before beginning the "real" game".

5. Explain that to enjoy playing games we all have to play by the rules, respect our partners and respect the outcome of the game. Regardless if we win or lose, to have fun playing games together we can't gloat when we win, and can't get upset when we lose. If we play lots of games together, there will be lots of chances for each of us to win sometimes, and lose sometimes. Either way we will have had a fun time playing together.

6. Show your own interest and enthusiasm for the game, give it concentration and effort, both for your own enjoyment, and also as a role model for your children. Rather than play ineffectively to ensure your child wins, instead, help your child learn from your game playing skills. Discuss out loud the moves you are making and why, to help your child understand the strategies you are using. If your child makes a move that is to their disadvantage, encourage them to look again and guide them to see a better move by asking them open questions such as "what are all the different options you have?" "What would happen if you take that move?" "What might be a better move that you can take?" I can see a way that you can win, can you see it?"

7. Whether your child wins or loses, at the end of the game summarise what you learnt from the game and then ask your child "what did you learn from that game?" "What might you do differently next time we play?"

8. Keep the "game time" fresh by bringing in new games. Surprise everyone by giving the family a new game "present" every few weeks. Games that can be played within an hour and involve thinking, memory, strategy or calculation are recommended such as: Othello, Guess Who, Mancala, Nine Man Morris, Scrabble, Chinese Chequers or Rush Hour.

Driver Education Software For the New Generation

The United States and Canada are experiencing an increased young driver population after years of a decreased population due to the baby boom echo. Simultaneously, enrollment in Driver's Education courses has declined. With our technological advancements as a society, we should be able to offer a high tech, more comprehensive training system for our young drivers.

Studies show that for effective and lasting crash prevention techniques to be taught both skill and motivational aspects must be addressed effectively. Therefore, educational training and behavioral change intervention is needed to produce a decrease in the amount of traffic crashes in young drivers. New drivers need to learn to handle a vehicle as well as interact with other road users. It takes several years for a driver to reach mature risk levels as the only way to reach this level is by gaining experience.

The linking of parents and community influences as well as personal involvement and incentives would likely have positive results. These results would likely be produced within each individual community through its own efforts. Interactive media could be used to enhance perceptual and decision skills. Studies show that video games can increase attentional capacity. Therefore, the integration of interactive gaming type activities could help improve these skills. Integrating this curriculum to areas of personal and social values, risk taking, self esteem, peer pressure, health protection etc. could foster an ingrained understanding of the subject matter. Pairing a deep understanding of the responsibility to other drivers with the skill needed to operate a vehicle safely is an optimal situation.

Driver's Education definitely needs to be updated. It will benefit us as a society to have skilled, confident and prepared drivers on the road. Small advancements have been made. Many states are allowing a student to take an approved CD ROM based or online course. There is also a downloadable Drivers Ed PC Game. Prospective drivers can practice driving online and complete practice tests with this interactive game. However, the posted reviews of this game indicate that partakers found this game non-engaging and boring. This may not be a representative sample as people who enjoy the game may be too busy playing to fill out the review!

Offering an option of time in a driving simulator would be a great motivator to get new drivers to attend Driver's Ed. Interactive computer software games [http://www.thesoftwarespot.com/default.asp?SID=x3MURYEYNJ4GU7XJE3XUKH&S=500&A=F&SearchText=&CategoryID=1695949&NID=7198939] that propose different situations and scores according to the drivers handling of the situation is a less expensive suggestion. Take into consideration the video gaming phenomenon and then show me a teenager that refuses to practice his video game! Video gaming can accomplish both the educational training and the behavioral change intervention.

Post baby boom echo has found an increased young driver population for the United States and Canada. This increase in new drivers is accompanied by a decline in enrollment in Driver's Education courses. We should be able to offer a high tech, more comprehensive training system for our young drivers. Driving simulators and driving video games are two promising avenues for revamping Driver's Education!

10 Days In The Usa Game

Product Details

Get Packing!You have 10 Days in the USA -- touring by plane, car, and on foot. Chart your course from start to finish using destination and transportation tiles. With a little luck and clever planning, you just might outwit your fellow travelers.The first traveler to make connections for a ten day journey wins the game.Let the Journey begin!

• The game that will have you traveling through the USA
• Great for friends, families and classrooms
• Easy to learn and engaging fun for 2 to 4 players
• Contains a game board map of the USA, fifty destination tiles representing the states, sixteen transportation tiles and four 10-day card holders
• National Parenting Seal of Approval, Parents Choice Gold Award, Major Fun Award, Doctor Toy- Smart Play Smart Toy, Mensa Select Award

Mis Quince Party Games

These two Mis Quince Party Games will be a delight for the guests who have come to the special 15th birthday party of your daughter. Make sure to have lots of prizes and room to have fun in.

The first game is called, 'Emotional Mime'. It works best at Mis Quince parties where everyone knows each other fairly well. Before the party, take the time to write down the names of all the guests coming to the party on pieces of paper. Then during the Mis Quince party have everyone stand in a circle or sit in a group and just have people take turns standing up. Each person is to draw a name from the slips you've created before the party. Then you tell the group that each player will mime the emotion that they feel dominates the person whose name they've drawn. So if Uncle Sal is always a bit grumpy then the player miming him at the Mis Quince would have to show him being grumpy. Then the rest of the players try and guess who is being imitated.

The next game is called 'Dear Advice Columnist'. This works well as a pre- or post- Mis Quince party game, especially if you plan on having a bit of a sleepover for the girls at the party. Give each of the players a slip of white paper and a piece of colored paper. On the slip of paper each guest is to write the type of question someone would send into an advice columnist. Then have everyone put their questions into a hat or bag. Mix up the slips of paper and have everyone draw a different slip. The players must respond to the question as if they were an advice columnist by writing the answer on the colored paper. When everyone is finished, have the players put their pieces of colored paper into a different hat or bag and their question slips back in the original hat or bag. Mix up both again and have each player draw one piece of colored paper and one question slip.

Each person at the Mis Quince party game is to read aloud the mixed up questions and pieces of advice for a fun laugh. It helps if you tell the players to keep their questions and answers as outrageous as possible.

Driver Education Games

Driver education games are fun and informative and a good practice ground for students. While playing games, students are able to test their driving skill and knowledge and also find out where their weak points are. The games are useful because the students learn proper driving methods and techniques without actually putting themselves in harms way.

There are two types of games that can be played - one is the simple quiz game that test driving knowledge. Students can choose from a series of quizzes on various topics. This is a challenging way to test what students have learned in the driver education program, and it also prepare them for their driver tests.

Each question comes with multiple choices, and students will be given their score along with the correct answers at the end of the game. There are plenty of website where students can register for these quizzes and get results instantly.

Video games and simulation is another driver's education activity. These games put students behind the wheel. By using certain controls, they can drive the car and progress to different levels. Scoring a certain amount of points allows the student to move on to the next level until the highest level is reached. At the same time, students can easily lose the game if they make mistakes. The graphics are very realistic and the games can be quite challenging. Video games are so much fun that parents play with their kids and see how well their children have grasped the concepts of driving. These games include stopping at signals, changing lanes, making turns, recognizing road signs, parallel parking, merging with traffic, parking and backing out of a parking space and so on.

In virtual driving simulation games students can practice driving in a virtual environment. Sitting behind the wheel, players must make their way through busy streets, highways and intersections and make real decisions. This is an excellent way for students to practice and prepare for their driver's test.

Chrononauts

Product Details

So you want to be a Time Traveler, eh?Well messing with Time has its consequences. For starters, your world no longer exists.Then there are the Paradoxes - holes in the Space-Time Continuum that threaten to destroy the entire Universe.Can't find your way back to your original reality? Then maybe you can win by collecting the right combination of amazing artifacts that only a chrononaut could acquire. So shuffle up this time-machine-in-a-box and start changing history.

• Parents' Choice Award, Silver Honor Recipient
• Origins Award, Best Traditional Card Game - 2000
• Games Magazine GAMES 100, Family Cards Honoree - 2002
• Ages 11 and up; 1-6 players; 20 to 45 minutes

EDUCATIONAL GAMES Trailblazer

Product Details

Face the challenges of the early explorers and pioneers, as you blaze across the country by canoe, train, or automobile. Answer questions about our diverse history from the pre-Colonial to the present, collect Treasure Cards and risk your fortunes in a variety of adventures! The winner is the one who has accumulated the most points by the time one of the players has reached the end of their trail! No matter how much or how little you know about American history you'll learn something new - though you'll be having too much fun to notice!Ages 8 and Up - 2 to 6 Players

ADDATTACK

Product Details

Add Attack can be played using the inverse processes of addition and subtraction to gain fluency in both addition and subtraction facts. In Add Attack players use a spinner to generate addends and place colored markers on the sums found on the game board grid. In Sub Attack they spin for a target number then decompose numbers into subtrahends and minuends (or addends). The first player to gain 25 Add Attack points, or fill the Sub Attack Chart, is the winner. Covers sums to 18. Two players or teams.

• high quality
• Special outlet purchase.
• Classic design.

Digital Design and Animation Degrees Online

Society is filled with images, movies, games, and more that are created to get people to want the items they see. Men and women who make up the professions of digital design and animation design everything visual. The profession is wide spread leaving a multitude of degree options for prospective students to enroll in. Many accredited online colleges and universities offer degree distinctions in these areas for the interested student.

The degree options online allow students to gain an education in all different kinds of digital design and animation. These degree options can be broken down into separate categories or combined to provide students with an in depth study of how to become successful in the competitive industry. Lets look at each option to gain a better understanding of what a degree program and professional career would have students doing. Digital design is centered on creating different types of visual works that will be used in a variety of settings. Education will center on working with print advertisements, electronic advertisements, web sites, and more. Animation is focused on using computer technology to generate images for a variety of settings. These settings can include movies, video games, graphics, and more. Education in this field teaches students how to use computer programs that aid in the animation process.

Prospective students can earn an education from an associate's degree to a master's degree. Further graduate study is optional in some areas of the industry and the degree programs are usually highly focused. In a combined degree program students will learn various techniques and programs all centered on the creation of digital works and animation. With the continual advancements in technology, the industry is honing in on technology as a counterpart to the creative and imaginative personality that comes with dedicated students in this area of study. Education is well rounded in all the areas that make up digital design and animation making degree programs highly beneficial for individuals interested in this profession.

Students will on average spend three to four years in a bachelor's degree program. Programs at this level of study will require students to complete approximately 120 credit hours if not more. Courses in a program of digital design and animation will center on figure drawing, flash animation, digital photography, animation graphics, digital video, and more. A degree program at this level will prepare students properly to design digital and animated photos, graphics, movies, and more. Students will learn how to create complex graphics, animations, 2D and 3D images, learn how to create lifelike qualities in animated characters, and more. Along with the critical knowledge of how to use technology and computer programs to aid in the creating process students will also learn about creating a movie or game in regards to the whole project. Courses will teach students about directing, cinematography, editing, creating storyboards, and mapping out key scenes with characters. Upon completion students will be prepared to enter the in demand field.

Use your passion for drawing and animation to build a strong foundation for a future career. Search out accredited online colleges that offer a degree distinction in digital design and animation. Enter a fulfilling career today by not letting your interests and passions go to waste.

DISCLAIMER: Above is a GENERIC OUTLINE and may or may not depict precise methods, courses and/or focuses related to ANY ONE specific school(s) that may or may not be advertised at PETAP.org.

Copyright 2010 - All rights reserved by PETAP.org.

Things to Consider While Going For an Outdoor Camp

If you are planning to go camping, then you will face innumerable choices. You may find it very difficult to choose among the endless list of camping areas. Apart from this, you will also face a large number of options on various activities that you can enjoy when you go for camping. This article will tell you about the various kinds of outdoor camps and the factors that you need to consider before making your final call.

Leadership camps are those camps which require you to spend at least 4-5 days on camping. They are more suited for adults or teenagers, as it requires more physical labor. These are best for self-governing people. For kids there are outdoor classroom camps. They simply love it and enjoy it to the fullest. These camps are used for recreational activities and also for education. Outdoor classroom camps usually focuses on just one activity that is soccer, water sports and horse riding.

Before you opt for any kind of camp, cost is always a big factor. On an average these camp costs $40 onwards. The specialty camps are usually much more expensive than the regular ones as they involve professionals, who give training. It is also important to choose a camp which offers you relaxation. Besides, you should be able to gel easily with other people who are in the camp. The camps should also have access to nutritional food and also medical facilities. Thus, do pay heed to these factors if you want to enjoy your outdoor camping.

Camping may involves some risk, but when you go for camping, you will surely enjoy a nice time with your friends or family. Just carry some basic stuff and acquire information about the benefits and you are all set to go.

Free Kids Online Games - Make Learning Enjoyable for Your Little One With These Fun Kid Websites

Internet is full of free kids online games but finding the right one can be a task which can take hours. Some simply fall short on the quality of graphics and visuals whereas some may not be age appropriate for your young one.

But there are some very good sites on the internet which are worth the effort and time.There are some really good sites where you will find some very good games and activities, songs, stories, rhymes, recipes for kids, jigsaws and puzzles and plenty of other activities which for little kids which kids will absolutely love. These sites make learning so much fun for kids as its their favourite movie or cartoon characters which help them with their learning.

Here are the top 3 fun kid websites which easily fall in the category of some of the best free kids online games sites available on the internet for little kids -

1. Sesame Street

This is one of the fun kid websites which easily falls in the top bracket with its fantastic collection of educational games it has to offer to little kids which makes learning enjoyable for children.

The selection of games is very good. You will find games for alphabet learning, numbers,shapes and colours, match and sort games, colouring pages, stories and plenty of other fun games and activities to choose from .

Playing with characters like Elmo or Big bird at sesame street website is an enjoyable educational journey kids are bound to love.

2. British Council Site

This is another fun site which features a good collection of free kids online games, plenty of fun songs and funnier animation to go with the songs. Find songs for teaching kids their numbers, letters. You will find some popular and traditional songs and some very fun new songs for kids at this site.

There are plenty of activities on this site to help kids with their English learning.

3. Cbeebies

The collection of activities and games for little kids is absolutely huge on this site. Plenty of good games, stories, colouring pages, recipes, almost anything you can think of for young children can be found on this site.

And its not just games, but playing these free kids online games with their favourite characters is what kids will love the most about this site. Long list of popular characters like Bob the builder, Teletubbies, Tweenies all can be found here.

If it is free kids online games that you are looking for you will find a fantastic selection of fun kid websites at best-preschool-games.com

The HoneyMooners VCR Game. A word & memory game from TV's Golden Age! "Scenes from the Lost Episodes!"

Product Details

VINTAGE 1986 THE HONEYMOONERS VCR GAME. A WORD AND MEMORY GAME FROM TV'S GOLDEN AGE. "SCENES FROM THE LOST EPISODES"BY MATTEL

Kids Educational Games

When your kids want to play games online, you might be annoyed that they are not doing something more constructive with their time. But fear not there are free fun kids educational games that your child will not only find fun but more importantly will learn whilst playing.

Research has shown that learning through play, fun and games has proven to build children's' creativity and imagination, hand eye coordination and problem solving skills. In addition online games can also improve there IT and computer abilities too which is essential with the academic world being so technology reliant in this day and age.

Children's educational games cover a large cross-section of skills and skill levels. Some of the games are even adaptable to the skill set, and age of your child. Some like "Number" and "Word" games can be adapted to target specific areas like addition, or multiplication, or choose different groups of words for spellings, and build word familiarity.

Some game titles you may recognize like Adders, similar to the classic snake game where not only must the snake not crash but you have the added challenge of hitting the right numbers.

It's not just numbers and letters though, the "World Capital" game as well as being fun tests Geography knowledge. A top game to help your child out with their History knowledge is the "Famous People" game. As it tells you a little bit about each of the people and what they did in History.

A game that will help your child pick up the skills to be a DJ, although it looks like its just fun the game can potentially help your child realize how music comes together by mixing the different musical elements together and building something that sounds good.

Co-ordination games are essential too; these include "Simon Says", where you have to repeat the musical and color pattern in this fun game. "Building Blocks" as well as helping your child match numbers also helps them build their strategy, by trying to predict which numbers will come next.

As well as being great games for kids, these games can be fun for adults as well, so when your child next wants to play games online allow them but point them in the direction of an educational game that will be beneficial.

Trademark Poker Felt Blackjack Table Layout - 36x72"

Product Details

This New Blackjack felt has a layout for the popular casino game, BLACKJACK or "21".

The layout is 36"by 72". It can easily be stapled to a homemade table and beused as a folding blackjack table for parties. The layout comeswith game instructions.

• This New Blackjack felt has a layout for the popular casino game,

Double Shutter

Product Details

This game will always stay open with its challenging game play and attractive colorful design. Roll two dice, add the dots and find the best combination of numbers to shut two rows of nine tiles. Very few can shut all the tiles and close the super box. Even less can stop playing this addicting game, so always remember to play in moderation!

1 to 6 Players
Play Time: 10 to 20 minutes

Contents:
- 1 Double Shutter Box
- 2 Dice
- Illustrated Rules

• Combines luck and tactical choices
• Easy to play and addictive
• For 1 to 6 players
• Shut the box type game
• Blue Orange plants two trees for every tree used to produce their games

Logistic Regression Analysis - Introducing the Logit Function and Odds-Ratios

Researchers are often interested in setting up a model to analyze the relationship between some predictors (i.e., independent variables) and a response (i.e., dependent variable). Linear regression is commonly used when the response variable is continuous.  One assumption of linear models is that the residual errors follow a normal distribution. This assumption fails when the response variable is categorical, so an ordinary linear model is not appropriate. This article presents a regression model for a response variable that is dichotomous having two categories.  Examples are common: whether a plant lives or dies, whether a survey respondent agrees or disagrees with a statement, or whether an at-risk child graduates or drops out from high school.   

In ordinary linear regression, the response variable (Y) is a linear function of the coefficients (B0, B1, etc.) that correspond to the predictor variables (X1, X2, etc.). A typical model would look like:   

Y = B0 + B1*X1 + B2*X2 + B3*X3 + ... + E   

For a dichotomous response variable, we could set up a similar linear model to predict individuals' category memberships if numerical values are used to represent the two categories. Arbitrary values of 1 and 0 are chosen for mathematical convenience. Using the first example, we would assign Y = 1 if a plant lives and Y = 0 if a plant dies.   

This linear model does not work well for a few reasons. First, the response values, 0 and 1, are arbitrary, so modeling the actual values of Y is not exactly of interest. Second, it is really the probability that each individual in the population responds with 0 or 1 that we are interested in modeling. For example, we may find that plants with a high level of a fungal infection (X1) fall into the category "the plant lives" (Y) less often than those plants with low level of infection. Thus, as the level of infection rises, the probability of a plant living decreases.   

Thus, we might consider modeling P, the probability, as the response variable. Again, there are problems. Although the general decrease in probability is accompanied by a general increase in infection level, we know that P, like all probabilities, can only fall within the boundaries of 0 and 1. Consequently, it is better to assume that the relationship between X1 and P is sigmoidal (S-shaped), rather than a straight line.   

It is possible, however, to find a linear relationship between X1 and a function of P. Although a number of functions work, one of the most useful is the logit function. It is the natural log of the odds that Y is equal to 1, which is simply the ratio of the probability that Y is 1 divided by the probability that Y is 0. The relationship between the logit of P and P itself is sigmoidal in shape. The regression equation that results is:   

ln[P/(1-P)] = B0 + B1*X1 + B2*X2 + ...   

Although the left side of this equation looks intimidating, this way of expressing the probability results in the right side of the equation being linear and looking familiar to us. This helps us understand the meaning of the regression coefficients. The coefficients can easily be transformed so that their interpretation makes sense.   

The logistic regression equation can be extended beyond the case of a dichotomous response variable to the of ordered categories and polytymous categories (more than two categories).

Educational Classroom Games - Wheel of Fortune

GREAT GAME

Wheel of fortune

A useful tool to have for playing educational games in the classroom is a Sticky Ball. A Sticky Ball is a small plastic ball that is covered with miniature suction cups. These balls are ideal for playing target games on your classroom boards.

Wheel of Fortune is just one of the many fun games a teacher can play with their students to review concepts taught in class.

1) Divide the class into two teams.

2) Draw a giant wheel on the board and divide it up into 6-8 pie slices.

3) Make half the pie slices worth points (i.e. 1, 2, 3, 4)

4) The other sections are what add fun to the game. How you label them is up to you. However, here are some of the fan favourites.

- Bankrupt (Team loses all their points)

- Switch (Teams switch point totals)

- Cha-cha (Team must do the Cha-cha dance)

- Bow (Team must bow to their opponents)

- Kiss the Pig (Team must blow a kiss to a pig drawn on the board)

5) Begin play by choosing a player from each team and asking them a question from the lesson.

6) Once students have answered their question they go to the toss line and toss the Sticky Ball toward the target.

7) The game continues as long as you want and the team with the most point at the end of the last round is victorious.

If you want to make the game more competitive and move along more quickly only ask one question to the pair of students and allow the student who answers first to toss from a closer toss line.

Educational Games for Babies 6 to 12 Months

By six months of age your baby may be sitting unassisted, her coordination skills are growing in leaps and bounds, and she will soon be crawling, standing, and then walking. Six to twelve months is a fun time for parents and babies. Play a variety of games with your little one and watch her quickly master new skills, like language skills and fine and gross motor development.

Between 6 and 9 months your baby will love to experiment with simple cause and effect relationships like pressing a button to play a song. Little ones also love to explore sounds by banging spoons and toys together or on the table at this age. Give your baby an assortment of pots, coffee cans, and containers along with wooden spoons and metal spoons. Encourage her to play the drums as you sing along. The Fisher Price Laugh & Learn Toy Bench is a great toy to satisfy those banging urges. It also offers a number of educational benefits, like color and letter recognition, and provides opportunities for your baby to explore cause and effect.

Games with balls are a lot of fun at this age. Use soft, squishy balls to roll back and forth across the floor with your baby. Try dropping beanbags into a wide, open container. Your little one will love taking them out just as much as watching you toss them in. Once your baby starts to crawl, set up an obstacle course for her to crawl over. Pillows, large stuffed animals, and piles of soft cloth scraps make perfect climbing obstacles to boost her crawling skills and strengthen the muscles she will soon use to walk.

Sometime between 9 months old and the first birthday, most babies will begin to walk, some earlier and some later. During this age, your baby will be developing a number of new large muscles as well as her fine motor skills. She will know how to hold her toys and can probably throw them. These soon-to-be toddlers also love to imitate and copy the things they see.

Play sound games with your baby. Make a sound or unusual noise and encourage your baby to copy it. Try this with funny faces and movements for even more fun. Stacking and arranging blocks, cups, or other toys is also a fun game to enhance fine motor development. Give your baby an assortment of toys and a big box and watch her meticulously put them in and then dump them again all over the floor.

Sing lots of silly songs with your child and read everyday. Language skills are becoming quite strong during this stage and her vocabulary of understood words is growing rapidly. Repetition of her favorite story books, nursery rhymes, and songs can give her an even better understanding of the common patterns of spoken language. Songs with movements, like the Itsy Bitsy Spider, are favorites at this age.

As your baby begins to cruise around the house, typically using furniture to aid her balance, play walking games. Hold her teddy bear or another cherished toy a few steps away and encourage your little one to walk to you to get it. Remember to praise her efforts and not to make too big of a deal when she stumbles or falls. Once your baby becomes a confident toddler, there are tons of new games to enjoy together!

Language Detective

Product Details

Grades 4 & up. This excellent proofreading game helps students look for mistakes in spelling, word usage, capitalization, and punctuation. With an easy-to-follow scoring system, this self-correcting game is vital to all language development programs. 2-6 players.

• Grades 4 & up
• An excellent language development board game!
• 2-6 players