In 1994, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization designated October 5^th as World Teachers’ Day. It is a day that we use to celebrate the millions of educators around the world who strive to help their students meet their potential.

It wasn’t until I became one myself that I truly realized the amount of hard work, satisfaction, and dedication a good teacher must invest in order to glean successful outcomes. For every hour a teacher spends teaching, they have put at least half an hour into planning. They must constantly revise and edit their lesson plans to suit the diverse set of learners in their classrooms. A teacher spends a lot more time working than just the six hours that comprise the regular school day.

Furthermore, teachers must often play several roles in their student’s lives. Sometimes students who are experiencing social and personal problems often turn to their teacher for advice. These teachers act as mentors. A teacher must be someone who a student can trust, confide in, feel cared for and inspired by.

At Grade Learning, we take great care to ensure that our students are taught by qualified, professional educators to provide the best for the students we value so much. The students, both teens and adults, are the main focus of our teachers. We always have your best interests in mind and will do whatever it takes to help you meet your goal.

Happy World Teachers’ Day!

Debika Thiruchelvam is the online biology and English teacher at Grade Learning. She has a passion for science and literature and hopes to instill an appreciation for both in her students through the emphasis of inquiry and creativity in her teaching.

Many people were stunned to hear that famed football star Tim Tebow recently signed a contract to play professional baseball. After so many years of making headlines as a quarterback, it’ll take some adjustment to start thinking of the one-time Heisman Trophy winner as a player for the New York Mets. It is a major career change, after all.

Several students often start off high school thinking they want to pursue one field, and may end up changing their minds once they get to the college or university level. Since most grade 9 and 10 students are taking the same courses (with the exception of a couple of arts credits), they all seem streamlined in one pathway. Once grade 11 hits, students have more freedom to select courses that will destine them for science, business, humanities and other very distinct fields.

Students who are aiming to pursue a career in medicine or engineering will undoubtedly elect to take physics, chemistry, and biology. Grade 12 level prerequisites in these fields are required for entry into university programs majoring in these subjects. The leap between high school and university is so steep; however, that many first year students come to the realization that they no longer have the same drive and passion for these subjects as they did before. This often results in a switching of majors.

This isn’t as uncommon or as drastic of a change as some of you may think. It is estimated that more than 50% of students will change their majors at least once during their undergraduate education. Making such a change is not as difficult as it seems.

The main challenge is first ensuring that one is eligible to switch into their desired program in the first place. For example, a student who is a biology major most likely took mostly science based courses in high school. If this student wants to transition to accounting, he or she must have an accounting credit that was completed in secondary school. What are the chances that a student who was bound for science has already completed a credit in accounting?

Students in this situation need not worry. They can complete the required prerequisite courses during the summer before they are poised to begin their new program. At Grade Learning, we offer a variety of high school level courses for credit that students can complete to set them on their new path. In person, students can elect to take courses one on one or in small groups (of up to a maximum of 5) students. Alternatively, students may choose to take courses online, so that they can complete the assigned work at their own pace without having to set aside time to attend class. With such convenient options that place students at the center of their own learning, they can easily achieve their desired goal and master the subject material at a level that corresponds with what is expected of them at the postsecondary level.

If you, like Tebow, are thinking that perhaps you are satisfied with your progress in your current field so far and would like a change of scenery, do not hesitate to venture out. There are always options feasible and available to those willing to step out on a limb.

Debika Thiruchelvam is the online biology and English teacher at Grade Learning. She has a passion for science and literature and hopes to instill an appreciation for both in her students through the emphasis of inquiry and creativity in her teaching.

These weeks, social media has been abuzz with the news of Apple releasing its newest products, including the iPhone 7. While digital devices are sometimes viewed as a necessary evil in today’s increasingly interconnected world, there are many uses for them that often go unrealized. The younger generation is clearly the most enamoured by the newest advances, but do they always use these devices to their fullest?

Several schools in Ontario now implement a “Bring Your Own Device” policy that allows students to use their phones, MP3 players and tablets in a classroom to enhance their educational experience. Most schools have a limited supply of computers that must be shared by the entire student body. Allowing students to use their own devices decreases the demand placed on these limited resources.

Parents may immediately be skeptical and assume that more devices in the classroom would cause a proportional increase in student distraction. Several studies have been conducted on the efficacy of the use of technology in the classroom. While technology most certainly can become a distraction to less motivated students, there are numerous benefits and advantages to maintaining its use in the classroom.

Students can conduct their own research and inquiry when using a mobile device capable of accessing wireless Internet. Instead of addressing seemingly insignificant questions to their teacher in the middle of a lesson, they can research the answer themselves. By sharing their new-found knowledge, the teacher can initiate a class discussion on the topic.

Furthermore, students who have Individual Education Plans (IEP’s), or who face difficulty with writing legibly, can use their devices to take notes.  This allows students to stay on track and at the same pace as their classmates while the teacher is explaining. Submitting digital files for evaluation can also reduce the chance of a teacher misplacing students’ work. Teacher can also use this as a time-stamp to verify assignments were submitted on time.

The use of tablets in particular serves many practical purposes. Instead of having to print hard copies of worksheets, teachers can upload files to a class website and students can access the file on their device, thereby saving paper (and no longer letting “my printer ran out of ink!” fly as an excuse). The expense of purchasing graphing and scientific calculators can be circumvented in this manner, as well.

Even MP3 players can be beneficial. Students can record podcasts in lieu of oral presentations. If the teacher permits, auditory learners could perhaps record the lesson to playback later at home. Some students can concentrate during independent work time better by tuning out the chatter around them and listening to familiar music instead.

There still may be some who remain firm in their belief that technology poses far greater harm than good, especially in regards to distractions from texting and messaging other students. It can be argued that students who don’t want to pay attention will always find a way to shirk learning. After all, before cellphones, didn’t students pass notes back and forth while ignoring their teacher?

All in all, technology poses many benefits in the classroom, to both pupil and instructor. In fact, some students prefer to use technology itself as a classroom. Grade Learning offers several high school credits in an online learning environment. These are perfect for students who want to upgrade a mark, fit in an extra course into their schedule, or learn at their own pace. For more information about these courses, please visit us at Grade Learning Online High School Credits.

So, next time you go out to buy a new phone, tablet, or other digital device (many of you are probably anxious to get your hands on an iPhone 7), consider the educational applications of your purchase.

Debika Thiruchelvam is the online biology and English teacher at Grade Learning. She has a passion for science and literature and hopes to instill an appreciation for both in her students through the emphasis of inquiry and creativity in her teaching.

With hash tags like ‘#worldsoceanday’ and ‘ #waveforchange’ trending on twitter it didn’t take me long to figure out that yesterday was World Oceans Day – a global observation to honor the largest water bodies and take time to appreciate the role oceans play in maintaining the ecological balance. The day also celebrates the products that the oceans provide us and raises awareness about the impact of human activities like overconsumption and pollution on these massive water bodies.

Background

World Oceans Day was first proposed by the Government of Canada at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. In December 2008, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution to officially recognize June 8^th of each year as the World Oceans Day.

Why celebrate World Oceans Day?

As per the UN Facts and Figures, Oceans cover three quarters of the Earth’s surface and contain 97 percent of the Earth’s water. They are home to millions of species and absorb 30% of the carbon dioxide produced by humans, thus decreasing global warming. Marine fisheries employ about 200 million people and over three billion people depend on marine and coastal biodiversity for their livelihoods.

Additionally, oceans generate most of the oxygen we breathe, feed us, provide a route for transportation and even regulate the climate. They truly are a lifeline for humanity and need careful management in order continue sustenance of life on earth.

How to contribute?

There are various ways that you can make small contributions most of which revolve around spreading the word.

1) Raise awareness through word of mouth. Talk to your peers about the importance of oceans and the role they play in making earth habitable.

2) Participate in school events related to preserving the large water bodies. You can also find public events organized by various organizations.

3) Saving water and following proper waste disposal methods are other minor ways that contribute to the overall picture.

It is that time of the year when social media is buzzing with photos of graduation hats, flashing diplomas, proud parents, convocation halls, university campuses and goodbye’s to a big phase of the student life. It’s graduation time!

Although the thrill of the accomplishments is the talk of the day, many students are nervous about setting foot into the adult life. It is pretty normal to feel a mix of emotions and I believe many students go through the entire process of planning life after graduation. Some wish to launch their career while others go for vacations and take time off to travel.  Relocation and continuing studies are some other items on the menu. There is no right or wrong direction to take. It is more about what you want from life and how will you transition to your ultimate goal.

Generations have been through this phase and everyone has diverse experiences to talk about. There is not much to generalize, however there are some things that you need to bear in mind. The article, “Twenty Lessons For The Recently Graduated”, published in the Communication Activist provides valuable advice. Here are some other words of advice.

1) Breathe! You will be fine. No matter what you are facing; the student loan, the tough job market, the expenses, you will work your way through it. Strategize and see what works best for you given your current situation.

2) Be an active participant in the community. The more people you know the better are your chances of finding opportunities, be it work or just volunteer jobs that satisfy your soul. You never know how your network could connect you to a potential job that has not been advertised.

3) Spend your savings wisely. Do not plan a vacation unless you have the money to do so. Getting peer pressured to spend money of grad trips may not work best in your case. Unless you win a lottery or save from your salary don’t make a reckless decision.

4) People are a great source of advice. Talk to your parents, professors and peers. They are a great resource for advice and you may end up gathering information that will give you a direction.

5) Find what you love. It is very important to discover what you are passionate about. Talk to people in your ideal profession, job shadow, go for informational interviews etc. All of these are some ways to know how your future career will look like.

6) Have faith in yourself. Things may not work right away and it might make you doubt your capabilities. Don’t overthink! Focus and be consistent. Nothing can defeat you.

7) Be optimistic! Roosevelt rightly said, “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams”. Embrace that thought. Dream big and put in all your hardwork to make it your reality.

Areej Shah is the Marketing Coordinator at Grade Learning. She shares her passion for communication and writing through informative social media posts and blogs. She is a strong advocate of freedom of expression and often likes to inspire people through words such that they make small differences to the ever-evolving social setup.

How many times have you told yourself that next summer I will plan for that dream vacation ?
How many times have you promised yourself that next week you will start exercising?
How many times have you said, “I have a unique idea that I can shape into a very good story, but I will do it later.”

We always keep telling ourselves that we’ll do this or do that, but we’re just waiting for the ‘PERFECT TIME’.

Time passes, and you never take that dream vacation. You never start working out. You never put that unique idea into a story because the PERFECT TIME never comes. The PERFECT TIME is just a myth.
But what is time. Time is those hours, minutes, and seconds make up your life. Time is your life. When you waste it, when you don’t invest in every moment to reach your goals, to make yourself happy, to be a better you; you are wasting your life.

Here is what it is when you keep saying, “Tomorrow, next week, next year, later…” Do you realize what you are doing? You are dawdling! You are delaying the procedure of living your life. In other words, you are putting your life on hold.

But why? Why do we tend to postpone?

Is it because we sometimes think we’re not good enough? I have a cousin who is a very talented writer. He even won a local writing award. He was writing that wonderful story, and whenever he was done with a part of it, he sent me it to read and comment. I loved the story, and it was really exciting. I was waiting to read the ending, but he suddenly stopped sending anything, and when I asked, “How about your story?” He said, “You know I think I’d rather wait until I turn thirty.” “What? Why?”, I asked. He said, “I’d be mentally more mature and more experienced.” It was but a couple of months for him to turn “thirty”. I argued that he had all the talent and experience he needed to write the story and he could always write another one when he turned thirty.Instead, he insisted to wait, and I am still waiting for the ending.

As Anna Levine once said, “The perfect time is when you turn the present into what you want it to be.”
“There is no time like the present,” as a friend of mine always says. The present is the only moment you can seize. The only moment over which you have control. It’s that unique moment in which you can decide to change your life forever.

Could another reason we procrastinate be that we are so sure about the future? We always tell ourselves I will do this first thing when I wake up tomorrow. It never crosses our minds that tomorrow might never come. It never crosses our minds that we might never have time .We take life for granted pretty much as we take everything for granted. The Canadian Egyptian self-development legend Ibrahim Al Fiki once said, “Live every day as if it is the last day in your life.” When you realize this, you will always keep your priorities in mind. You will always be connected with what matters to you.

What I want you to do now is to sit down, get a paper and pen, think, and write down things you want to do in life. Who are the people you’d like to spend more time with? What are achievements or things you want to be remembered for? Are you going to spend this time praying, or with your family, or meditating and contemplating nature? Are you going to do some work of charity, finish that book, or express your feelings to people you love? What you will write on this paper are things that really matter to you. So, stop lingering and prepare your daily schedule accordingly.

Another reason related to the one mentioned previously is lacking motivation. We take the way things are and take ourselves for granted, we lack motivation. I mean why do it now when I can still do it tomorrow? Oh, that feeling of indolence is so good, right? You feel secure in your safety zone. As Shakespeare once said, “All is well that ends well.” Therefore, you’d need to take action. The more you stick to your safety zone, the less you will achieve, the less happy you will be, the less you will live life. Ask yourself now? What impact do you have on life? What difference have you made? As Eleanor Roosevelt said,” When you cease to make a contribution, you begin to die.” You want to leave something to be remembered with, you want to add value to life, and you want to leave a legacy. You cannot do this when you stick to your safety zone. You cannot achieve this when you keep saying “tomorrow”. The safety zone is not too safe, eh? Don’t deprive yourself of living life. Don’t end up leaving no unique imprint of yours because if you do it is as if you have never existed.

Do it when you can, have a sharp motivation to life, and never put your life on hold!

Are you ready?

Are you ready to take control?

With the dawn of the New Year upon us it is about time to prepare our list. A lot of people would think of it as a wish list, but that is not the list referred to here.

Most of us perceive a New Year as a new beginning, but have we measured our achievements and successes through the past year? Did we stop with ourselves for a moment to evaluate what we learned through the previous year? Have we asked ourselves if we achieved the goals we set for ourselves at the beginning of the former year?

Albert Einstein once said, “If you want to live a happy life, tie it to a goal not to people or things.” How miserable are you if you tie your life to things or to people? Unfortunately, they don’t define who you are, but your goals do. Your goals are your thoughts; they are as unique as you are. When you have goals you have reasons to live, and challenges to pursue.. Your goals belong only to you and define your identity.

I remember the first time I watched “Forrest Gump”, one of Tom Hank’s best movies; the first scene took viewers in a journey with a feather. The feather was carried away by the wind to heights up above and knocked down. I recall telling my friends, “This feather is Forrest Gump himself. ” When we have no goals, we become feathers carried by the wind with no control over our destiny.

Do you want to be a feather? I believe that the answer is ‘NO’. None of us wants to be a feather. None of us wants to leave our lives at the mercy of the wind to raise it up and stumble it down.  So, have some goals and take control of your life.

As Benjamin Mays once said, “The tragedy of life doesn’t lie in not reaching your goals. The tragedy lies in having no goals to reach.” Having goals gives your life a meaning. You develop a more positive outlook towards life. Goals will be the path that will lead you to become ‘the best version of yourself’.

In ‘The Alchemist’ by Paulo Coehlo, the author shows his belief in what he calls ‘personal legend’. I myself call it ‘personal mission’. It’s simply why you were brought to this world. You were brought here for a reason. You have something unique to offer to the universe, and it’s only you who can offer this thing. Having goals will help you in your journey to achieve your ‘personal mission.’  They will help you make a difference.

So, are you ready with the bucket list for the New Year or not yet? Are you ready to take control of your life or are you going to leave everything for chances? The choice is always yours.

Doaa Aly is a talented teacher with over 10 years of experience in teaching English. She has advanced communication skills which she acquired over the years of working in a multicultural environment. Doaa has positive attitude towards education. She shares her passion for writing by communicating her ideas through informative blogs.

Ever been in a conversation where you heard or said the following?

Perplexed, confused, uncertain are words running through my head…

I really don’t know what to do…

It seems like I have hit a wall and there’s nowhere to go…

Sounds familiar, right? The situations may have varied, but our immediate response was the same. Why me, why now, what next were some questions that continually resonated in the head.

You make decisions every moment of the day – some matter while others are insignificant. You plan things ahead of time. You have a perfect picture of how life should be. Doesn’t necessarily mean things will work out the way you want! After all, as Abraham Lincoln said, “The best thing about the future is that it comes one day at a time.”  Life is full of the unexpected and as humans we have a strong defense mechanism we inherited from our ancestors to deal with this – Adaptation: the ability to adjust to changing circumstances.

Oftentimes we face situations that hinder our progress towards the end goal. Difficulties arise leading to enormous re-routing, timeline changes and if all this wasn’t enough, we even ecounter additional setbacks that change the ultimate goal. All these changes end up making individuals both vulnerable and defenseless. However, this period makes us who we are. Such incidents mark the beginning of self discovery and the time to redefine ourselves. The hour calls for a famous drill; scramble our strength, fight back and take control of our life. Michael Hyatt, the former chairman and CEO of Thomas Nelson Publishers enlightens us about the 5 Characteristics of a Strong Mind. He emphasizes the importance of a strong mind in recovering through turbulent times and pens down confidence, courage, commitment, control and purpose to be the secret ingredients of a hero. Surprisingly, we all possess these qualities so it totally makes sense to unlearn the damsel in distress mode of our personality and rescue ourselves by being own our hero.

People vary in the methods they use to deal with unforeseen circumstances. Linda Durnell, the author of Life’s Crossroads: How To Thrive in Times of Change in Huffington Post provides us a insight on how to deal with life’s crossroads. The author suggests that we trust our inner feelings for guidance, never settle for less or resist the change that happens. She believes that our reaction to a change is a deliberate choice we make.

Malcolm Gladwell in his book the Tipping Point explains how little things can make a big difference so I believe it is time for me to share my personal words of wisdom.1) Breathe and power up your body with those extra molecules of oxygen. It helps your body relax and reduces stress. 2) Before you start tackling the situation head on just understand that you have survived changes prior to this and if you did it then, you can do it now. Have faith in yourself! 3) Look into the alternatives and note them down. There are always options and the final decision is all yours. 4) Do a pro-con analysis of your options. 5) Ask advice from your mentors, family and friends. They may have experience and can come up with solutions you cannot comprehend. 6) Understand the impact of decision and embrace the consequence. You are a strong individual and you have power over the situation. 7) Choose the best possible alternative that fits the situation. You are not a victim of the torment. You have an invisible cape and you are bound to fly. 8 ) Have faith and optimism that everything will work out to its best. 9) Take your lesson and never look back. 10) Lastly, remember you conquered your fear so be proud. You deserve a pat on the back, go for it right now!

“It’s a hard life… but if I could, I would do it all again”. Natalia Makarova

Areej Shah is the Marketing Coordinator at Grade Learning. She shares her passion for communication and writing through informative social media posts and blogs. She is a strong advocate of freedom of expression and often likes to inspire people through words such that they make small differences to the ever-evolving social setup.

Back from the break and thinking how to re-adjust into the routine… it’s not just you, all of us are in the same boat.

It is quite common to experience withdrawal symptoms after the holiday season. Christmas and New Years often just change our surroundings, thus adding a unique flavor of festivities and new beginnings. We are so engaged in our daily activities that sometimes we don’t notice how the season is playing a seemingly natural role to elevate our spirits.

Most of us are so excited that we have our break planned out even before it begins. Family time, treats, gift shopping, catching up with friends and making New Year resolutions are some of the highlights of what’s on the cards. It sure keeps the credit card bills coming! The month flies by fast as we juggle work, school and indulge in the holiday verve.

As we look forward to summer and shenanigans, here are three very simple things that we can put into action to maintain the happiness and energy in our lives: 1) Get your sleep: Most of us come back with a changed sleep pattern. Late night movies and waking up mid-day is no longer affordable. In fact to function well in the 8 hour work shift and the school routine, it is always preferred to get a minimum of 6 hours of sleep. American Psychological Association talks about sleep benefits and how it makes us happier, healthier and safer. 2) Eat healthy: It is time to enforce the widely acknowledged quote, “A healthy body is a healthy mind.” It is about time to say no to fast food, heavy dinners and carbonated sugary drinks. Cheat time is over and now green leafy vegetables, home cooked meals and plenty of water is the way to go. BBC’s Good Food magazine’s Nutritionist, Kerry Torrens suggests food to keep away the winter blues in the article, “What to eat to stay healthy and happy”.3) Work out: One of the most commonly made resolution is to exercise and stay fit. Plan to accomplish the goal this year. Set up that gym routine and take time out of your schedule, go for long walks. Don’t be a couch potato and burn those calories. The benefits of exercising are innumerous, common ones being improved metabolism, protection from diseases and living longer healthier lives. For more details on the merits of physical activity you can read, The Benefits of Physical Activity by Harvard School of Public Health.

So what are we waiting for – You only live once (Living healthy and happy)

Areej Shah has been working as the Marketing Coordinator at Grade Learning. She shares her passion for communication and writing through informative social media posts and blogs. She wishes to establish a career in digital marketing prior to fulfilling her dream of exploring the world.

Every morning right when I open my eyes I start debating whether to eat breakfast or get those five extra minutes of sleep. Yes, like most of you I go through it every day and unfortunately sleep wins in my case.

Teenagers and in some cases adults often tend to skip the most important meal of the day – breakfast. The reasons vary in each case. While some blame it on sleep, others are too busy preparing for the day ahead of them. Few opt for junk drive thru food as a substitute- the coffee donut mornings. What are we missing on- here’s an insight.

According to an article in Mail Online, ‘Breakfast is the most important meal of the day: How skipping it increases your chances of a heart attack’, data from a study  on older men revealed that skipping breakfast increases the chances of a heart attack by 27 percent. Harvard School of Public Health however over-ruled any long term risk pertaining to the same. The explanation beyond the high risk of heart attack was related to eating routines that followed after skipping breakfast. Most people tend to eat heavier meals with high calories during the day because they are hungrier. This often requires the body to digest at a faster pace i.e. higher metabolism which may not be a characteristic of all individuals as metabolic rates vary. This leads to health conditions like clogged arteries, spikes in blood sugar level, obesity etc.

While most people would advocate for a healthier breakfast some say that it is okay to replace it with a lighter meal later on in the day and that it does not cause any harm to the body. For the most part it has been considered more important to eat a healthier diet whenever you eat it. However, you have to choose for yourself and considering the benefits of a healthy breakfast by Huffington Post you might want to think about it. Here are some of them: 1) According to a study by American Journal of Epidemiology in 2003 breakfast eaters are leaner, 4.5 less obese than those who skip it. 2) It was concluded in the American Heart Association’s annual conference (2003) that people who eat breakfast regularly are healthier, have regulated blood sugar levels and get less hungry during the day. 3) A study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition diagnosed breakfast-skippers with bad cholesterol levels and insulin sensitivity.4) The Journal of Adolescent Health concluded that healthy breakfast boost short term memory. 5) A study in 2011 journal of Nutrition Research and Practice suggested that people who skip breakfast consume more fat and less nutrients. For more information read Health Benefits Of Breakfast: 7 Reasons Not To Skip Your Morning Meal.

Areej Shah is a graduate from the BBA program, University of Toronto. She currently works as the Marketing Coordinator at Grade Learning and shares her passion for communication and writing through informative social media posts and blogs.