I have always said that the most important aspect of a quality education is to have good reading skills. Reading is definitely one of the foundations of education, because it permeates every other aspect of learning. In other words, in order to be able to understand a difficult equation in math or to prove a really complicated scientific theorem, one has to have the ability to read. In order to learn about the history of the world and appreciate the arts and culture of various societies, one has to have solid reading skills.

Then there is math. Math is involved in practically every aspect of our lives and for that reason, it is one of the foundations of education that should be taught well. It does not matter if we are at the grocery store, if we are balancing our check books, or if we are trying to keep a score card at a ball game; math is necessary, and that is always what has struck me the most. We use math at work, in our leisure activities and in practically every other facet of our lives on a regular basis.

Of all of the foundations of education, writing is my probably my favorite. I have been writing since the age of 15 and it is something very near and dear to my heart. Writing, along with speaking, is how we communicate with others. I have found as I have continued to work that the ability to communicate with good writing skills is one of the keys to success. Strong writing skills should be cultivated early and nourished with frequent activities that include writing. If one can communicate effectively through the written word, the sky is the limit.

The foundations of education may be different for different people, but to me, the most important components are reading, math and writing. I truly believe that there is a reason that these have always been emphasized before anything else, and they are critical to a well-rounded education. While other subjects at school are certainly important, these three serve as the basis for everything else in school.

Of course, it’s only an introductory course for higher learning. You’ll need a bachelor’s degree just to get in; you will earn 3 credits doing the course that you can apply to a graduate degree (should you be accepted) afterwards. They don’t guarantee that you’ll get into the graduate degree program afterwards – the admissions process will determine that. You’re just guaranteed those three credits (if you pass) on the cheap that you can use elsewhere.
Does this seem like a good deal? Well, for those who do wish to get into a graduate degree program in teaching, they certainly will find this makes a lot of sense. If it weren’t for this deal, you would have to pay full price on it. You can get into the course at a big discount, try to see if you really like it and then take the decision you feel comfortable with.

This is actually a great way for things to head in the future. If Groupon really gets into college savings, it could do for higher education was it’s been doing for massages and restaurant meals so far. All that remains to be seen is whether the general public will really be comfortable buying their education at a discount like this. Certainly, the daily deal websites won’t offer these deals on every kind of college.

To accept a deal like this, students will have to be willing to set aside their personal preferences for where to go to college and go where the college savings are. More and more, Groupon and the other daily deal websites seem interested in getting into making big-ticket sales. They’ve even done a daily deal with a home sale.

It’ll take time to see if people will really respond to this kind of thing. But if anything, this may be the time to get such a scheme off the ground. People have never been as interested in saving money as they are today.

I have recommended online doctorate degrees to numerous clients, and many have followed through on my advice. From their feedback, I’ve gathered that the main obstacle to starting a program is selecting a school. That’s because the options are virtually limitless, as students don’t have to pick up and move halfway across the country in order to attend the college or university of their choice. Thanks to these Internet-based classes, students can enroll in any educational institution without regard to location, which gives them greater flexibility when evaluating different online doctorate degrees.In order to find out what’s available, it’s important to check out all the leading Ph.D. programs from top universities. You should definitely compare degree requirements, tuition fees, research opportunities, and financial aid availability before selecting a specific school. Obviously, not all online doctorate degrees are the same in terms of how rigorous the curriculum is or how much the tuition costs. You can end up saving thousands of dollars on your degree by comparing programs, applying for grants or financial aid, and enrolling in a program that requires fewer credits for completion. If money is a concern, then this type of comparison shopping is a must.

While you’re researching top doctoral programs, another thing to check for is whether or not the school is accredited. By now, distance education has become so widespread that most people already know that without accreditation, any degree you get won’t be worth the paper it’s printed on. But it’s worth repeating here. Only accredited online doctorate degrees deserve your time, effort, and money. If a school is not accredited, then you’re basically buying a sham credential that won’t do you or your career any good in the long run.

Now is as good a time as any to pursue your degree via the Internet. Getting more education is never a bad idea, and can lead to higher job satisfaction, career advancement, salary increases, respect from your peers, and greater self-esteem. Whether you want to specialize in Clinical Psychology, Public Policy, Social Work, Education, or any other field, there are online doctorate degrees for you. Check out a program you like and get started today!

There are numerous accredited universities online and the numbers are growing. Accredited universities online offer many advantages you might not get from a traditional junior or community college or even a four year university. The flexibility you get from accredited universities online is right at the top of that list. You can now complete your coursework from the comfort of your home, whether it’s during the evenings, weekends or over the summer.

A degree from any of the accredited universities online have the same value and worth as a degree from traditional schools. How is that? Well, accredited universities online go through a process of accreditation, just like regular schools. Reaching this accreditation is an impartial validation that the school in question is providing as quality of an education as other accredited universities, online or otherwise.

Accredited universities online aren’t just distance learning programs anymore. Many traditional schools and accredited universities are online as well, using their own distance learning extension programs. Those accredited universities online are the fancy private and state schools also!And while you might have trouble affording the tuition, accredited universities online offer lower tuition costs. How? They simply do not have the same level of expenditures that traditional “brick and mortar” schools do. They don’t have to pay for the real estate. They don’t have to pay to maintain the real estate. These lower costs mean lower tuitions. And remember, many accredited universities online offer financial aid and scholarships. Furthermore, many lenders offer student loans that apply to accredited universities online – and you’ll be hard pressed to find a better interest rate than from a student loan.

When considering accredited universities online, you want to find the best class quality, the usabilities of their web site and learning tools and the reputation that the degrees have. Not all accredited universities online are created equal just like campus schools, so make sure you look at plenty before making writing any tuition checks.

Whether you’re looking to jump into that new career of your dreams or enhance your potential in the career you’re already in, accredited universities online are the key you need to get the job you have always wanted. It’s the best investment you can make.

The appeal for online education among working people extends beyond the conveniences that it offers. Any accredited online university will offer a degree of your choice if you have life experience in the field of study. This has enabled many to earn what are called life experience degrees. These degrees also have the advantage of being general. This means that one pursuing a life experience degree from an accredited online university has endless opportunities to specialize in their field of interest or in line with that the current market needs demand. Even at this point, you likely see that online education offers more opportunities for growth, advancement and fulfillment. Many of those who pursue online degree programs find it to be more fulfilling and less stressful as opposed to traditional degree programs.When choosing an online degree program, consider the market trends. Many today who are taking an online course from an accredited online university recognize that the market sometimes will demand more than what they currently. Hence the need to advance. Business Administration degrees seem to be favored by many and many accredited online universities offer an Associate Degree or a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. If you have life experience in administration or organization, most institutions will reduce the time it takes to finish your Bachelor’s in B.A. Thus, you not only get to continue working as you learn, but you also do it in a relatively short period of time, sometimes in 2 years or less.

Online degrees are cheaper, will be more recognized in the future over traditional degrees and are quicker to earn. By taking an online degree from an accredited online university now, you will be better placed in your career path.

Accredited online universities are any number of schools online that offer a variety of degree and certification programs. The difference between accredited online universities and “regular” universities are slight and shrinking everyday. There was once a time where accredited online universities were stigmatized and not a relevant option for anyone. However, with the emergence of online technologies and developments, accredited online universities are now a perfectly viable option for the adult student. In fact, many so-called “brick and mortar” schools are aggressively expanding their extension programs and distance learning. Why? Because accredited online universities have many advantages that other schools don’t have.

First of all, accredited online universities, as their name implies, go through accreditation processes just like other schools. This insures that the education you receive is worth the tuition that you pay for them. Secondly, the amount of expenditures that accredited online universities need to exist is drastically lower because simply they don’t have any real estate to pay off, maintain or staff. This savings is passed on to you with lower tuitions and a variety of scholarships and financial aid.And yes, while many of us are struggling to pay the bills, the idea of adding another bill to one of the accredited online universities seems just like further punishment. However, consider that tuition for accredited online universities are very reasonable. Also, most people are unaware that many student loans are applicable to accredited online universities. Student loans are, of course, one of the most generous loans in terms of interest rates meaning that a degree from any of the accredited online universities is probably the best and safest investment you can make.

So whether you have hit a ceiling in your current career and are looking for expanding and enhancing your skill set to earn you a promotion (and many money!) or are looking to place yourself in a new career that you’ve always dreamed of, consider accredited online universities. Pursuing a degree or certification from an accredited online university could very well be the best decision you can make!

I was very excited about creative writing classes, and the course didn’t disappoint me. I had had some opportunity to write creatively in high school, of course, and I spent a lot of time on my own writing poetry and short stories. Nonetheless, that creative writing class was beyond anything I had ever done. Being able to work with a more experienced, established writer one on one to refine my writing techniques was just an incredible thrill for me. The other students were very talented, so it was also nice to be able to work in such great company.

From the very first day, the teacher was careful to tailor the creative writing workshop to our needs. She worked individually with every student to find out our expectations, then met with us as a class. We each got to talk about the things that we liked to write, what we wanted to learn, and how we anticipated getting there.  She shared her own background as a writer with us, and even shared some of her own writing.I wrote dozens of poems in my creative writing class, and workshopped most of them. It was really nice to be able to painstakingly perfect each poem. At first, it was a little bit scary. I had never been asked to edit my poems carefully before, and the experience was tough. Nonetheless, everyone was very supportive. Being in a creative writing class means being surrounded by people who know what it is like to put yourself out there for the judgments of other people. There were always positive comments, and plenty of encouragement along the way.

By the time the creative writing class was done, I knew that I wanted to spend my career as a writer. As soon as I graduated high school, I enrolled in the creative writing program At the big state college. Although I wasn’t able to take a creative writing class my first semester, I did get some fascinating literature courses from the very beginning. Pretty soon, I was taking poetry workshops, fiction writing courses and many other fascinating classes in composition.  It seemed like every creative writing class was better than the last. I have to say that studying to be a writer was probably one of the most fascinating and rewarding chapters of my life so far.

I never really liked the keyboard even when I was playing it, but once I started to learn music theory I get really excited about it. I had always had a pretty good intuitive ear for music, but learning theory brought it to another level. The structures that I had observed for so many years suddenly had names. I could point to my favorite devices in music and identify them, understanding how they worked and why they sounded like they did.  I even started to write my own songs, although I wasn’t very good at it at first.After about a year or so of piano lessons, my mom relented and let me learn some guitar. I decided to learn music theory for guitar as well. The interesting thing about keyboard is that whatever you learn on it you can take with you to other instruments. Although guitar theory doesn’t necessarily translate to keyboards, for example, keyboard theory does translate to guitars. A keyboard is basically a row of all the notes laid out in a logical order, so you really get to see how the theory of music works. You can then take that knowledge to a more arbitrary instrument like the guitar, flute, clarinet, or anything else.

Still, learning music theory on an instrument I really enjoyed for me to a whole other level. Suddenly, I was coming up with songs that I liked and making progress in my instrument. When I was learning the piano, it was always very slow going. I would learn music theory and pick up some playing techniques, but I didn’t show any particular skill or promise at it. With guitar, however, I was really starting to move. I soon had a good intuitive understanding of the way it worked, and could play many of my favorite songs. I had managed to learn music theory to such an advanced level that I could pretty much analyze any song I heard on the radio and understand what was going on in it. I wasn’t great at guitar or anything, but being grounded in the basics of music gave me enough background to start playing my own songs.

How to Play Popular Piano in 10 Easy Lessons by Norman Monath is a fine example of a user-friendly book. Step by step instruction takes the novice through the basic chords and scales and explains the concept of harmony and melody. Soon, the budding pianist will be able to play simple tunes and there is information on how to play in a specific style. Keyboard diagrams make everything understandable. There’s also a section on improvisation. The instruction is suitable for playing by ear or from following sheet music.

How to Play the Piano Despite Years of Lessons: What Music Is and How to Make It at Home is written by Ward Cannel. The author understands that some people have struggled with beginner piano lessons in the past and he sets out to demystify music. The book’s ten sections chart the pupil’s progression with notations and keyboard diagrams. Scale exercises are avoided, to the delight of all those people still having nightmares about doing their scales as a child!

The Dummies series of books is very popular and Piano for Dummies, written by Blake Neely, is a welcome addition to the series. It’s an ideal format for teaching the fundamentals of music theory and it doesn’t require the novice to read music. There is a play along CD to accompany the book with favorites from childhood, blues and classical tunes. Chapters also include advice on buying a piano, maintaining a piano, a history of piano styles, and a Top 10 List of Pianists. This book is also suitable for anyone who has played piano in the past but needs a refresher course.It’s Never Too Late to Play Piano by Pam Wedgwood is a tutor book with a CD. The book explains playing technique and music theory, a history of piano music, fact files, technical information and a recommended listening list. Pupils learn how to play familiar classics, pop songs, show tunes and the author’s own jazz tinged compositions.  The CD contains more than 90 backing tracks and there are interactive activities. This beginner piano lesson book has been revised and updated.

It shouldn’t be a chore for anyone to learn piano and children can be encouraged by making lessons fun. Lisa Child’s Piano 1 is the first in a series of four books, designed to be used on its own or with the help of a teacher. The book is respected by piano teachers and the series is often used in schools. Usborne is a popular publisher of children’s material and the First Book of the Piano, by Eileen O’Brien is in a fun cartoon presentation, suitable for any age. The book comes with a CD.

As a parent, you can prevent this adverse development by bestowing your own awards to applaud your child’s achievements, in the form of a certificate of achievement. If your kids are quick to learn, giving them a certificate of achievement is still a great idea, because you’re nurturing continued enthusiasm for their efforts.

Maybe you remember the first time you were faced with learning your ABC’s. The letters didn’t make much sense, right? It’s confusing to kids, trying to understand what the symbols mean and why they need to know them. Sure, they’ve seen them in books, but even the concept of reading can be difficult to connect to how these letters fit into the whole scheme of things. It’s only through much repetition that the kids finally accomplish this milestone. Awarding your child a certificate of achievement, with the date, their name and what they learned, with a shiny gold foil star in the corner, gives them a sense of pride that makes all the work worthwhile.

You can use a three ring binder to hold their certificates. Especially during the early school years, these certificates of achievement can add up quickly. Think of the many occasions you can mark with such rewards. Kids enjoy having tangible evidence of what they’ve accomplished. Whenever your child feels frustrated with his schoolwork, take that binder off the shelf and leaf through each certificate of achievement, noting the dates as well. “Remember how hard it was to get through the ABC’s? But you did it!” He will remember and this serves to encourage him, knowing he surely can do this current work too.Learning how to tell time is difficult for most kids, probably because it’s conceptual in nature, coupled with the idea of there being 24 hours in a day, with only 12 markers on the clock. Another difficulty is that they have trouble discerning the big hand from the little. When your child does learn to tell time, this is certainly an occasion for a certificate of achievement!

Reading, printing, learning script writing and all the steps of arithmetic – addition, subtraction, multiplication and division – are all great accomplishments. You can also give them certificates for non-academic achievements, such as sports, good deeds and developmental achievements, like learning to share, cleaning their room every week or controlling their temper in a difficult situation.

By the time your child reaches sixth grade, he’ll have quite a collection of certificates of achievement and a good sense of how persistence in learning pays!