Mommy’s 24-Hour Mini-Vacation

 

Raising children is not an easy task. In the morning, you get up before everybody else to make sure everybody’s ready for the day. You prepare a healthy and filling breakfast, do a last-minute check on your children’s homework, and kiss your hubby goodbye. In the evening, you take a quick tour of the house to make sure everything’s in order, tuck the kids to bed, and spend some alone time with hubby. Your tasks are never-ending, but always very fulfilling.

Today, however, is Mother’s Day, and you very much deserve a mini-vacation—even for just 24 hours. Here’s how to make the most of those 24 hours.

7 a.m. Your alarm clock just went off. Normally, you’d jump straight out of bed, but hey, it’s Mother’s Day! Go back to sleep!

9 a.m. You wake up to the smell of bacon and eggs lovingly prepared by your kids and hubby. You have your breakfast in bed, exactly the way a queen is supposed to.

10 a.m. You take your sweet time in the bathroom. For once, none of the kids are knocking on your door; your hubby has advised them to stay away and give you some peace. Sprinkle your some bath salts in the tub, turn on the tap, and enjoy yourself.

11:30 a.m. Catch up on your girlfriends either by giving them a quick call or sending them a message through Facebook. Post Mother’s Day greetings on their wall; they’ll appreciate it.

12:30 p.m. Hubby has made lunch reservations to your favorite restaurant, yum!

2:00 p.m. Your hubby knows how important it is for you to spend some time alone, so he’s babysitting the kids for the day. You promptly go to the salon to get a body scrub, massage, the works!

4:00 p.m. Now, it’s time to get your nails done.

6:00 p.m. At home, you find yourself alone—at last! And so you curl up on the sofa and read a book.

7:30 p.m. Your hubby and kids are still at the water park, so you order some pasta from your favorite Italian restaurant.

8:00 p.m. Dinner arrives!

9:30 p.m. The kids get home to you dancing to rock and roll music.

10:30 p.m. You and hubby tuck the kids to bed, and finally, the two of you are alone to spend the rest of evening as you please!

Happy Mother’s Day!

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Learning Never Stops

At AHEAD Tutorial & Review Center, learning never stops and it has lined up fun and fulfilling summer advancement programs that will not only make your summer meaningful but your entire student life fruitful as well.

Preschool and elementary students can enjoy summer programs in reading, math, and language. High school students will be trained to face their fears in physics,chemistry, basic accounting, geometry, trigonometry, and algebra. The best thing about taking these subjects during the summer break is that students would be able to focus on the classes without unnecessary distractions. It also helps that the review center provides a pleasant environment conducive to learning. Sessions can be taken thrice or twice a week for one month.

For students who wish to step up their game a level higher, they can enroll for the Singapore Math Enrichment Program, the in-depth mathematics training course from Singapore that equips students to be at par with their global contemporaries. How does it differ from other math classes? Singapore Math is more skill-focused rather than content-heavy, which means that students are taught the best practices and thinking tools to come up with the right answer. Hourly sessions are conducted thrice a week for one month.

AHEAD also has something in store for college students. They can enroll for one-on-one review sessions in math, chemistry, biology, and economics.

Sign up for classes according to your schedule. Choose between individual and group sessions. Three to 10 students of the same level are allowed for the group sessions, which are exclusive only to elementary and high school students.

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Reviewing with Computers and Gadgets Around

 

The computer is the grade schoolers’ best friend, thanks to the Internet and the wealth of information they can get from kid-friendly Web sites. However, using the Internet can get out of hand especially if children are exposed to addictive games, even if they are educational.

Needless to say, parents have watch the amount of time their children spend in front of the computer. It also helps to know that the Internet can also be accessed through gadgets like smart phones and tablet PCs. While helpful for studying, these may also become sources of distraction especially when it is time to review for an exam.

For review habits to be effective, AHEAD Tutorial & Review Center tutors share a few tips for kids and parents to exercise:

Turn them all off: If the review can be done without the help of computers or any other gadgets, then turn them off. It’s easy to be distracted by games once the computer or any other gadget has been opened. It will also help to turn off the TV in case a favorite cartoon show comes on.

Have parent intervention: If the Internet is needed for the review, at least one parent should be present to manage and supervise its use. This is to avoid the child from being tempted into opening a game, whether online or offline. Having an adult around will also help the reviewing student make the research faster and more focused. This way, the student can go back to the review and finish earlier.

Pick a review corner: To make the first two tips easier, choose an area in the house that can be used when reviewing. It should be far away from computers, TV, stereo, and all electronic gadgets. It should be quiet, clean, and with very little furniture or unnecessary stuff lying around. The less distracting elements, the better.

Make it fun: Review time should not be considered a task. The student must remember that he is only going back to what has already been taught by the teacher. As such, he can be flexible enough to make reviewing a fun activity. If the subject involves memorization, doing it in a sing-song way makes memorizing easy. Drawing pictures associated with the topics can also help. The student and the parents can come up with more creative ways to make reviewing fun for as long as it doesn’t turn into a distraction.

Get enough sleep: Sleep is not only good for the body, but also for the brain. Having enough sleep helps keep one’s mind alert and working like a high-speed Internet connection. If the mind is well rested, the brain keeps information easily and remembers more. It also helps keep the student focus more during exam time.

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Walking the Moon

 

As 38-year-old Neil Armstrong took his first step on the moon last July 20, 1969, he said, “That’s one small step for man; one giant leap for mankind.”

Apart from that famous phrase, here are six fun facts about Armstrong and his trip to outer space.

“Good luck, Mr. Grosky.” These were the very words Neil Armstrong uttered before he left the Moon to go back to Earth. Many are puzzled by this statement until the astronaut explained it a few years later. It seems that when he was a kid, Mr. and Mrs. Grosky were his neighbors. He heard them fighting one day, and heard Mrs. Grosky say, “You want to sleep with me? You’ll get that when the kid next door (referring to Armstrong) walks on the moon!”

Godspeed. After Armstrong had said “Good luck, Mr. Grosky”, the mission control towered willfully said, “Good luck” and “Godspeed”. Mike Leinbach in the mission control tower said, “The weather is beautiful. America is ready to return the shuttle to flight. Good luck and Godspeed, Discovery.”

Not Amelia Earhart. Contrary to reports, it was not Amelia Earhart who influenced Neil Armstrong to take up flight. It was actually the Wright Brothers, among others, because he had always wanted to meet them; having read so many things about their discoveries.

Teaching in college. After Armstrong came back from space, he accepted a teaching position at the University of Cincinnati in the Department of Aerospace Engineering. Traveling to the Moon under Apollo 11 was his first and last voyage.

Two hours. Armstrong and his fellow astronauts Michael Collins and Buzz Aldrin were at the moon for just over two hours. They collected samples of some of the ground powder, and then put them in a plastic bag. They also put up an American flag on the moon and then talked with former President Richard Nixon.

First ride on a plane. Armstrong was only six years old when he took his first plane ride; the name of the plane was Tin Goose. Armstrong, born on August 5, 1930 in Ohio, was only 16 years old when he got his student pilot’s license. He quickly got a job so he can take up flying lessons. Today, a crater on the moon bears his name.

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Traveling with Children

 

Your kids have been bugging you for a weekend at the beach. You’ve asked your family and friends for the best resort to go to, did your research online, and made reservations for your family’s accommodations. With a roadmap handy and your car in tiptop shape, you are ready to get on the road with your excited brood.

Not too fast! Be sure you’ve packed the following travel essentials to make your holiday a safe and memorable one:

  • A first aid kid. Frisky children could stumble and fall. Be sure you have bandage to cover scraped knees and elbows. The proper medication for cough, colds, fever, and allergies should be included too.
  • Hygiene must-haves. A face towel, baby wipes, bottles of sanitizers, and alcohol can keep hands and face clean. Keep in mind that cloth napkins are more environmentally friendly than toilet paper.
  • A trash bag will keep everyone from littering and train children to keep their surroundings clean.
  • Quench your children’s thirst with a supply of fruit juices and water. Bring a cooler along for refreshing breaks.
  • Protect your children’s skin from the harsh rays of the sun with sunblock. Don’t forget to reapply every few hours or so. A pair of dark shades, meanwhile, will shield your eyes from the glares of the sun.
  • A small flashlight or night light can make kids feel safe and sleep soundly at night.
  • Keep boredom away by bringing art materials, sturdy toys that don’t easily break during travel, cards, board games, books, and clay dough.
  • Make the road trip seem shorter by playing games. Sing your children’s favorite songs. Crack jokes. Exchange stories. Count the houses, animals, and churches that whizz past you.
  • Take photos of people and places you and your child meet along the way (e.g. gas attendant, hotel manager, lifeguard, etc.), then create an album together. You and your child can upload the photos on Facebook for friends and family to see.
  • Bring pool or beach safety devices like floaters and other inflatables.
  • Goggles, beach balls, rubber duckies, plastic fins, pails, little shovels, and binoculars add to the fun.

Here’s to a safe and happy summer!

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AHEAD Goes Beyond Tutorial and Review!

Since 1995, AHEAD has been giving students of all ages the opportunity to excel in various areas of learning. We have helped thousands of students get higher grades, successfully compete in academic contests, gain admission to their universities of choice, and eventually lead rewarding careers. We pride ourselves for keeping abreast of the latest teaching methods and trends in education and make sure that our students benefit from the most up-to-date and relevant approaches.

While academic tutorials and college entrance test reviews remain our major services, we also offer ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS. These are available all year-round to help students advance in critical areas such as Math, Science, Reading Comprehension, and English Grammar. Through such programs, learners acquire the skills to master their subjects in school and gain competitive advantage over their classmates. They become more confident in their abilities. This translates to increased participation in class discussions and overall scholastic improvement.

With AHEAD’s Enrichment Programs, learners realize their full potentials and definitely stay ahead!

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All the world’s a stage: An Introduction to Shakespeare

William Shakespeare, an English poet and playwright who is considered as one of the greatest writers in the English language, was born in 1564 at Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England. He was the third child of John Shakespeare and Mary Arden. At age 18, he married Anne Hathaway, a woman eight years his senior. They had three children: Susanna, born 1583, and twins Hamnet and Judith, born 1585.

He started getting noticed in the London theatre scene in 1592, and became well-known during his active years in the theater. Most of his plays were written during this time, between 1589 and 1613. His most popular plays include Romeo and Juliet (1595), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1595), and Henry VIII (1613). Shakespeare was both playwright and actor, and he acted in some of his and others plays. He also wrote numerous poems and sonnets.

He divided his time between his family in Warwickshire and his job in the theater in London. He “retired” from theater when he was 49 years old. Shakespeare died in Stratford-upon-Avon on April 23, 1616, at age 52.

Shakespeare’s plays

Throughout most of his lifetime, Shakespeare wrote numerous plays. The plays are published in quartos printed on a sheet of paper that is folded in four. His 30-plus plays are divided into three categories: comedies, histories, and tragedies. Some of his works include:

Romeo and Juliet (1595): Perhaps Shakespeare’s most famous play, it depicts the tragedy of star-crossed lovers Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet, who belonged to rival families. In the end, their death ended the feud between the two families.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1595): One of Shakespeare’s most popular plays, it is a comedy about the adventure of four youngsters from Athens and a group of amateur actors who were manipulated by fairies.

Julius Caesar (1599): A tragedy about the conspiracy against and the assassination of Julius Caesar, a dictator in Ancient Rome. The famous line Et tu, Brute (You too, Brutus) is from this play.

Much Ado About Nothing (1598/1599): A comedy about two couples, Benedick and Beatrice, and Claudio and Hero. The former were tricked into thinking they loved one another, only they weren’t admitting it, and the latter were deceived into thinking that one has committed infidelity. In the end, the trickery and deception were discovered, and the two couples both get their happy endings.

Hamlet (1600): A tragedy set in the Kingdom of Denmark. It is the story of Prince Hamlet, who exacts revenge on his uncle Claudius for killing his father, King Hamlet. He then ended up marrying his own mother. The famous line “to be or not to be” comes from this play.

Henry VIII (1613: A history play about the life of the Tudor King Henry VIII. The play begins with the influential Cardinal Wosley arresting the Duke of Buckingham on treason charges and ends with the birth of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn’s daughter, Princess Elizabeth (who would later on become Queen Elizabeth I).

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Prepare Your Child For Preschool

In a few months, school year 2012 to 2013 will start. For incoming new students, they have probably chosen which school they want to go to. Parents of aspiring preschoolers, on the other hand, are most likely going through a totally different experience. The question: is your child ready to take the entrance exam?

In most cases, it’s the parents who feel the jitters more rather than their children who are about to go to preschool. This is especially true for young parents who will go through the experience for the first time with their kids. The anxiety stems from the fact that the child will now spend time away from home for at least more than an hour.

Anxieties are normal for parents, but these can also be tempered with a good preparatory review for the preschool aspirant. AHEAD Tutorial & Review Center prepares children for preschool by giving them review classes on their way to taking their entrance test. These classes focus on specific topics that preschools in the Philippines give to incoming preschool students. Getting the child familiar with the topics will eventually ease them of stress when the actual exam comes.

Parents are assured of competitive review methods at AHEAD. Teachers are carefully picked from the country’s best schools, specializing in children’s education. They are also equipped with updated knowledge on the latest methods and systems of preschool education in the country. They are highly qualified to provide preschool aspirants with proper testing skills especially since this would be their first time to go through something like this.

Aside from giving the preschool aspirant a feel of his first exam, AHEAD’s review classes will also give the student a preview of school life. This is important for assessing the child’s readiness for school, and therefore a big help to alleviate concerns of the parents.

Helping the preschool aspirant prepare for school through AHEAD’s entrance review program is a very important step that parents can take today.

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Researching on the Internet

Most students do their research over the Internet. Instead of going to the library and poring over volumes of books, they just let their mouse do the searching. This is definitely the easiest way to do your research, but it is not exactly the safest. Here are some factors that you should consider when you’re researching on the Internet:

  • Check its origins. Click on the “About“ menu. This tells you what the web site is all about, who the authors are, and what their objectives are. Go further by researching on the authors. Try looking up the domain name through http://www.whois.sc/ to identify its owner. Be careful about referring to anonymous web sites, even if their content seems impressive enough. If you have to use them as one of your sources, check other information that might lead you to their credibility, such as links.
  • Check its pedigree. Analyze the domain name. A domain name that ends with an .edu is an educational institution. A .com is a commercial or business entity. A .gov is a government website, and a .org is a non-profit organization.
  • Check its relationships. Reliable web sites show links to trustworthy web sites. Likewise, it shows track backs or other entities citing the content of the web site you’re on. This could only mean that more people or groups have proven the reliability of this site, and is therefore worthy of quoting.
  • Check its sources. Most blogs, especially of individuals, are based on personal opinions and experience. However, there are responsible bloggers who site their sources and links to those sources, if any, to prove the credibility of their claims. The same goes for non-blog sites, which acknowledge their sources on the index page of their sites.
  • Check its timeline. Browse through its pages to see how often it uploads information. A reliable web site should always indicate when its content was last updated. It would be an advantage if the web site has an archive page.
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CHECKLIST FOR A GOOD REVIEW CENTER FOR COLLEGE ENTRANCE TESTS

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