Is Tutoring a Qualified Expense?

Is Tutoring a Qualified Expense?Are tutoring a qualified expense or a benefit? It's a question that many parents ask and one that they have a difficult time answering. The answer to this question is actually a complicated one, because while the case for teaching younger children in the home is real, it also has an equal, if not greater, amount of negatives to it.There are many benefits to being a private tutor. There is a high demand for tutors in all types of classes. Families are seeking to hire a tutor, and they are finding private tutors just as easily as they find public ones. The problem is that many of these families aren't fully aware of the many pitfalls of hiring a tutor and how that can be detrimental to their child's education.As parents we have to understand that there are many things that we can't control when we are hiring a tutor. We can only control what we do. When we hire a tutor, we have to be fully aware of their history, their reputation, and the goals that they are set on achieving.A successful tutor will be a very conscientious and dedicated individual. They must have a strong desire to see that their students are taught well. They will always take time to make sure that their lesson plan is perfect.What happens when a tutor does not adhere to the plan, though? What happens when the tutor teaches a lesson that does not meet the student's needs? The end result is that your child will be learning bad habits and patterns that can be difficult to break. You need to be extremely vigilant in regards to your own child's learning progress and to their parent's progress, because you have to make sure that you are watching your child.Parents have to realize that wecannot control everything. This doesn't mean that we should sit back and allow our children to be forced to learn bad lessons. We are all responsible for ourselves and for our children, so we need to do our part in order to see that they are making progress. The best way to do this is to hire a tutor and allow them to teach your child at their own pace.This is another reason why it is wise to hire a tutor and allow them to teach your child at their own pace, instead of seeking out the most qualified one in the first place. This allows you to be more patient with your child, allowing them to continue to do their own thing and allow them to learn at their own pace.

Do I need to speak Mandarin to teach English in China

Do I need to speak Mandarin to teach English in China It can seem like a daunting experience to travel overseas to work in a country where you don't know the native language. But don't let the fear of not being able to speak Mandarin keep you from teaching English in China. Do I need to learn Chinese to teach English in China? The short answer is - nope! It’s not necessary to speak any Mandarin (or Cantonese) to be hired to teach in China. In fact, it’s actually preferred that you don’t speak anything aside from English to your students. Most, if not almost all, overseas English teachers working in China don’t speak more than a few words of Mandarin. Elibility requirements for English teaching jobs in China, like Teach Away’s very own Explore program, are usually English fluency, a bachelor’s degree, a TEFL certification and not a whole lot else. If you’re looking at teaching in an ESL or language center pretty much anywhere in China, not speaking the native language will be seen as an advantage by your hiring school. Schools will want their students to be fully immersed in the English language when they are in the classroom. (As you probably know, this is the most effective way to learn a new language.) Yep, you heard that right - not speaking Mandarin is an asset when it comes to applying for English teaching jobs in China. As the teacher with native English language skills, you’re expected to communicate to your students fully in English, although you may have a local teaching assistant there in case of an acute language barrier. More often than not, your students will know at least some English, so you will likely not be starting from scratch anyway. Recommended reading: Requirements to teach English in China (Video) Can I teach English abroad without knowing the local language (or being bilingual)? You can teach English in China without a degree (and 3 other myths people think are true) How to cope with language barriers while teaching English in China So you’ve got communicating with your students in the classroom covered, but what about getting around outside school hours on your own? With locals that may not speak a word of English? Does the thought strike fear into your heart? We get it, Mandarin isn’t necessarily the easiest language to pick up. But just as your students will find it easier to learn English by being forced to listen and communicate in the language, you’ll be surprised how easy it is to learn the basic Mandarin phrases you need to get by! Before you go, take time to memorize some basic phrases and their pronunciation. If you can show that you have a basic grasp of the language, locals will be much more open to helping you out if you need it! You’re bound to end up in a situation with a communication error, but take these experiences in your stride and learn from them. Sign up to Teach Away today for access to the latest teaching jobs around the world. Cheatsheet: Essential Chinese phrases for English teachers English phrase Chinese translation Phonetic pronunciation Yes Shì Sheh No Bù shì Bu-sheh Hello Nihao Nee how Good morning Zao Zhow Goodnight Wan'an One-un Thank you Xièxiè Shieh-shieh My name is Wo jiào Wuh jeow How much? Duo shao? Dwuh shauw? Where is the bathroom? Xishoujian zài nali? See-sow-jian zai na-lee? Check, please Mai dan My dahn A few other things to put your mind at ease when it comes to your less-than-stellar Mandarin skills: Banks will usually have someone who can speak English to help you out. In fact, many ATMs in China have an English language option. Restaurants will typically provide a picture menu to make ordering easier. There are plenty of language apps that can help you communicate on the go. We’re big fans of WayGo for that purpose.

SmartMoney features Tutorz.com

SmartMoney features Tutorz.com In its October 12 issue, SmartMoney magazine features Tutorz.com in its article Behind Americas Tutor Boom How a cottage industry became a $100-an-hour juggernaut. by Missy Sullivan. We at Tutorz.com are thrilled to be recognized by SmartMoney as one of the tutoring companies that shape the American education industry. Specifically, Sulllivan says about Tutorz.com: leading siteTutorz.com, a California start-up, offer(s) an eBay-like marketplace where tens of thousands of tutors are treated as independent contractors;. She goes on by saying Tutorz.com CEO Dirk Wagner says his company used to call references for each tutor who wanted to list on the site but that the method isnt cost-effective; now the firm monitors early e-mail interactions between tutors and students for keywords that indicate trustworthiness and professionalism, using algorithms to score the tutors accordingly. We find our statistical methods are almost as good as manual screening, says Wagner. If the details interest you read the full article on  Americas Tutor Boom. SmartMoney features Tutorz.com In its October 12 issue, SmartMoney magazine features Tutorz.com in its article Behind Americas Tutor Boom How a cottage industry became a $100-an-hour juggernaut. by Missy Sullivan. We at Tutorz.com are thrilled to be recognized by SmartMoney as one of the tutoring companies that shape the American education industry. Specifically, Sulllivan says about Tutorz.com: leading siteTutorz.com, a California start-up, offer(s) an eBay-like marketplace where tens of thousands of tutors are treated as independent contractors;. She goes on by saying Tutorz.com CEO Dirk Wagner says his company used to call references for each tutor who wanted to list on the site but that the method isnt cost-effective; now the firm monitors early e-mail interactions between tutors and students for keywords that indicate trustworthiness and professionalism, using algorithms to score the tutors accordingly. We find our statistical methods are almost as good as manual screening, says Wagner. If the details interest you read the full article on  Americas Tutor Boom.

Irvine Science Tutor 4 Awesome Summer Science Activities

Irvine Science Tutor 4 Awesome Summer Science Activities Private Irvine Science Tutoring: 4 Awesome Summer Science Activities Summertime and the great outdoors can offer students ample opportunity to hone their scientific abilities. Its important that kids get a chance just to relax and soak in some sunshine while school is out of session but there are plenty of educational activities they can do without the four walls of the classroom environment. Summer science activities can be social and interactive and encourage students to develop a love of science without the pressure of due dates or exams. There are several activities parents can do with their children that make the summer more fun and productive simultaneously. 1. Field research Although it sounds pretty intense, field research just means studying outside of the home or classroom. Depending on a students grade level, there are tons of things they can look for out in nature. Students can observe the types of plants that grow in and around their neighborhood and even take a photo or draw a picture. They can observe the difference between various types of soil in a park or on a nature walk and learn about the different elements required to make plants grow, such as water and sunlight. Students can even choose some seeds at the supermarket or garden center and plant flowers or vegetables in a backyard garden and then measure the plants as they grow. Summer field research is about kids learning that theres a lot more to science than what is found in a textbook (READ: 5 Reasons to Play Sports Over the Summer). 2. Socialization During the school year, many kids dont get as much social time as they might need. Summer science projects are a great way for kids to work on social skills such as sharing and working as a team without the pressure of a grade at the end of the project. For instance, a few kids in the neighborhood could get together and create a safe and age-appropriate science experiment under the supervision of a parent and learn how to share the various responsibilities of the project while still having fun. Students can get the same type of socialization in an organized setting at an outdoor summer science camp. 3. The Earth A simple yet effective way of learning about the Earth is for students to study what they see outside. For example, is the Earth made up of dry soil and a mountainous ridgeline or marshy wetlands home to fish and birds? Since summer time allows students to slow down and live in the present, they can spend some time learning what makes up the Earth by simply being outside. Kids who live in an urban setting can compare the differences between the city and a local park or nature preserve. Some examples for students living in Southern California include: The San Joaquin Marsh in Irvine The San Diego Botanic Gardens in Encinitas 4. Climate studies and ocean tides During the summer, students can also think about some things that are put right in front of them but that they might not otherwise think of when theyre busy with academic activities. For instance, students living in Southern California will be relatively close to the Pacific Ocean. They can learn about ocean tides in person rather than in a textbook. Parents can look up low and high tide with their kids on some free apps and visit the ocean at different times of the day to compare. They can then do some at-home research and see how the moon affects the local tide. Additionally, kids can study their local microclimate by looking at the night and daytime temperature or taking a trip from the beach to the desert to see different flora and fauna that grow in different temperatures. In addition to learning about science and nature, students can have some quality time with their family. Summer is the perfect time for students to catch up and get ahead in their science studies. Book your Irvine summer science tutor from TutorNerds today! All blog entries, with the exception of guest bloggers, are written by Tutor Nerds. Are you an education professional? If so, email us at pr@tutornerds.com for guest blogging and collaborations. We want to make this the best free education resource in SoCal, so feel free to suggest what you would like to see us write.

5 VoIP clients reviewed

5 VoIP clients reviewed Following our announcement that we are now listing private tutors who offer their services over the Internet, we thought it would be an appropriate time to focus upon the best ways you can use Voice Over IP (VoIP) to make free calls to other users with the same technology anywhere in the world. If you're considering online tuition, you may find our review of these five prominent VoIP clients helpful ... 1) Tesco It seems you can buy everything at Tesco's nowadays - even a VoIP phone service! Offering free calls to other users, and cheap international and mobile calls, you can use your email and other Internet services whilst online. 2) Betamax A word of warning when looking for a VoIP solution for online tuition - Betamax is a German VoIP specialist that owns a host of websites, all promising users free calls. These include VoIP Cheap, VoIP Stunt and VoIP Buster. Although run by the same company, the cost of calls differs on each website. Cheap calls are certainly the order of the day, but they do have a habit of changing their tariffs fairly regularly. Having said that, all of the Betamax products are run on a 'pay as you go' basis, with no other charges, allowing you to swap between websites depending on which tariff is the least expensive. 3) JaJah JaJah is a VoIP website allowing you to make free calls from one landline to another. As this is a web-activated technology, you don't need to download any software to use it, and you can still use your existing phone. A fair use policy exists, but the cost of calls is heavily discounted compared with other providers. 4) Skype Skype is the world's most popular Internet phone package. Skype's biggest selling point is the free calls on offer to other users of the program and the ability to share documents between users. Similar to other instant message applications, you're able to make PC-to-PC calls as often and for as long as you want. It is also a great idea to use it for long-distance calls to friends in other countries, either as a discounted package or completely free if they have an Internet connection. 5) Vonage One of Skype's biggest competitors, Vonage does away all together with the need to go through your computer to make calls, rather connecting you via an adaptor. It offers you unlimited 'free' calls to anywhere in the UK and Ireland, but this isn't actually the great deal it initially seems. You need to pay a line connection fee (not forgetting a disconnection fee if you leave the service within the first 12 months) and then sign up to a paid monthly package. Line quality isn't perfect, but this is a common problem with VoIP in general. Unlike other competitors such as Skype, you have to spend a bit of money before you can get started, and it doesn't offer the same file-sharing capabilities as its rival.

How to Find a Chemistry Tutor Indiana State University in Bloomington, IN

How to Find a Chemistry Tutor Indiana State University in Bloomington, INFinding a Chemistry Tutor Indiana State University in Bloomington, IN can be quite a challenge. The campus is located across the street from one of the most popular travel destinations in the world: the Indianapolis International Airport. Being a major airport with an airport located right on campus makes it one of the most convenient places to visit.Chemistry is the science of matter, which deals with the study of atomic and molecular structure. In order to be able to do this job, you will need to have completed a Bachelor's degree in chemistry. Aside from the normal courses in chemistry, you will also have to take advanced and comprehensive classes in it.You will find that many different courses are offered at various levels from Bachelor's degrees to Master's degree, even in order to specialize in specific areas of the field. Taking all of these courses are important for any person who wants to be a Chemist. The additional courses to complete will make it easier for you to become a great Chemist and be able to do the job you desire.Some of the colleges that offer Chemistry classes include Purdue University, Indiana University Health. These institutions have different departments that specialize in different areas. It is always a good idea to check out the listing on the internet in order to determine which college to choose, or which program is suitable for you.The Indiana State University Chemistry Tutor program is an accredited one. That means that the curriculum is set up to offer you the best opportunities to learn and apply the knowledge you have acquired through your previous studies. The courses offered at Indiana State University are considered to be academically rigorous.They also offer a Teacher Certification program, which is similar to the Master's Degree and above in terms of grades and education background. It is also very easy to get a Teaching Certification from the Univ ersity. If you would like to start a career in teaching, you can take your certificate and submit it to your state licensing board to become a licensed teacher.If you are thinking about going back to school, you may want to think about getting a Bachelor's degree. After all, a Bachelor's degree will give you the best options to get a better job and be recognized as a better Chemist.

Extrapolation Definition Chemistry

Extrapolation Definition ChemistryExtrapolation Definition Chemistry is a set of learning objectives to be attained by individuals interested in studying chemistry as a science, and for students interested in pursuing a career in chemistry. The objectives are based on six main categories and consist of four general branches of study, and several sub branches. The objective is to learn the basics of all aspects of the study of chemical elements and compounds.Definitions of the various scientific and technical terms used in a course of study must be mastered before starting a course. This means that students should be well versed with both the key and alternative spellings of the words used in the course material. It should also be clear what the meaning of the word is intended to convey.All terms that will be mentioned in a course should be given definition and the definition of the term as used in each section. In order to ensure that a student is familiar with the terms in the cours e material, these should be stated in clear, simple and concise language.Basic Principles of Chemistry is one of the biggest aspects of this program, and it includes explanations of the essential aspects of the basics of chemistry. It is important that students understand and follow these explanations. It is also good to have an understanding of what the various concepts are and how they work. They should also be well familiar with the general properties of all elements that form compounds.Specific Chemistry and Computational Chemistry are an area that a student must master before starting a course. In this subject, the student will be introduced to the principles of computational chemistry, which is the scientific and numerical analysis of molecules and their properties. The equations that these simulations use will also be explained in detail. As the student progresses through this subject, he or she will learn to develop models of compounds, and will be able to analyze the proper ties of various elements to which they are to be compared.Courses in Properties of Matter is another important part of this course. This consists of the analysis of the properties of matter and how it can be studied. The materials will also be examined in a theoretical manner, so that students will be able to gain an understanding of the laws governing the properties of matter.Degrees in Extrapolation Definition Chemistry must be completed in order to be certified. Students who do not complete these degrees will not be eligible to pursue a PhD, nor will they be permitted to teach other students in the subject. These degrees are similar to those that can be earned in certain other areas of study and are obtained through special courses within a specific study program.

Of Tubes and Tones The Only Guitar Tone Guide Youll Ever Need

Of Tubes and Tones The Only Guitar Tone Guide Youll Ever Need Sign up successful Guitar Tone Terms to Know Pitch:  Any note you pluck on the guitar is heard as a pitch, defined as the fundamental cycle-per-second sound vibration produced (typically  measured in units called Hertz or Hz). Say you played an A note on the 5th string open. The whole string vibrates at 110 cycles per second to produce the fundamental note its lowest vibration speed for the note that youre playing. That is the pitch of A that you hear. Overtone:  Your A string is also vibrating in halves, creating a sound thats called an overtone. This doubling of vibration speed produces the first overtone, heard at the same time one octave higher. Your A string vibrates in thirds as well three equal pieces, producing the second overtone. Even higher divisions of string vibration occur at the same time you pluck, and as the number of divisions goes higher, the less audible the sound of that overtone is. As a side note, understanding vibration speed explains why the first guitar string is called high E, even though its located lower (physically speaking) than the other strings. It is also why moving up the guitar neck is a sideways and downward movement. Timbre/Tone: Play that A string again, this time stop only that strings vibration. You will discover that the D string is also vibrating a little bit, because of the overtones contained in that fundamental A noted you plucked.  Youll hear it as A1, or the same note sounded as if the D string were plucked at the 19th fret. The human ear hears only the fundamental A as the defined pitch, but it hears those overtones as what is called  timbre or tone.  That allows us to hear which instrument or voice has sounded the fundamental note. Your ear takes in the sound of the fundamental note, plus all the overtones, then your brain recombines this information into a perception of tone. Bass:  A fundamental note contains energy that moves with a specific frequency, categorized into ranges, or bands, known as bass, middle and treble. Frequencies ranging from 20 Hz to 300 Hz receive their regulation from your amplifiers bass control knob. Pluck your low E string, and adjust your bass knob from zero to 10. Then, perform the same experiment with your high E string, noticing that low E changes considerably, while the high E string doesnt. Thats because your high E string is tuned to a standard 329.63 Hz above the range for bass frequencies. Middle: The best frequency range for human hearing is the midrange: 300 to 4000 Hz. Most human vocal sounds are produced in this range, which explains why our hearing tunes in to sounds in this band of frequencies. This fact reveals one cool way you can help create sonic space for your bands singer, by omitting notes in your guitar chords that would crowd his or her midrange-frequency space. Note that most of our guitars fundamental range falls within the midrange, and we can set that control higher than our bass and treble. Treble: Finally, treble  encompasses sounds from 4000 Hz to 20,000 Hz. Remember our definition of tone? Sound vibrations known as overtones are generated by a string moving in halves, thirds and continuously smaller divisions, with audibility diminishing and disappearing after the seventh division. So, high-string riffs from above the 12th fret can have a consistent and dynamic level, great tone and well-balanced audibility, provided you keep the treble or presence knob on your amp from venturing far beyond the midpoint. The pain from hearing too much treble will let you know when to back off. Guitar Tone and Gear In order for you to gain confident knowledge of the guitar sound you want, its important to know the following descriptions of  tone controls, amplifiers, pickups and effects pedals. As you experiment with these sounds, be sure to listen to guitarists who have used these effects in their music. How Guitar Amps Effect Tone An amplifiers true tone needs to be measured at power inputs of at least 30% volume, and then measured again at 50% and beyond. The tone descriptions below follow those standards of measurement, and differences in tone between tube amps and solid state amps emerge only within those categories. Tube Amps:  Transformers on a tube amplifier provide a natural, high-frequency gate that keeps a guitarists high-note overtones in check, which is a desirable quality. When the amp warms up, and the transformer reaches a point of core saturation, tube amplifiers deliver a level of compression to the tone, evening out the dynamics of the guitar sound during performance. This reduces the chance of a note sounding like it was plucked too hard, too softly, or with an abrupt attack. It provides a more sustained dynamic level of loudness, another desirable quality for guitar tone. Fourth overtone harmonics are produced by tube amps, and the interval produced by this tone delivers more sustain to the fundamental note. For examples of tube amp sounds, listen to Deep Purples Smoke on the Water intro. You can also check out Stevie Ray Vaughan recordings, such as  Crossfire, Voodoo Child, and Pride and Joy.  Want to hear more? Try Steve Vai or Angus Youngs recordings. Solid State Amps:  The sharper sound wave generated by these amps provides for a more sudden attack portion of your tone. The overtone primarily produced by these amps, the 3rd harmonic, provides for a quicker decay of the sound. These characteristics lend themselves very well to a precise attack of each note an instant response. Listen to B.B. Kings King of the Blues solo for an example of a solid state amp sound. Or, check out guitar recordings from Andy Summers of The Police, such as  Every Breath You Take. Stack Amps:  Since the guitar tone effects from amplifiers present their most desirable qualities with the volume turned up to a certain amount, guitarists require these amps only for performances in very large venues. Smaller amplifiers provide better tone conditions for recording and practicing, and restaurant, bar or club performances. My experience performing up and down the New York City andNew Jersey coastline started with a solid state Polytone Amplifier. I needed more volume for every venue where the band performed, so I got rid of it and bought a used Roland Jazz Chorus 120, which sounded great at low and high volumes. Ive performed with it for decades and never spent another cent maintaining the Roland. How Guitar Pickups Effect Tone Guitar pickups  effect tone to the extent that some effects pedals now feature settings with a design for each type. Every pickup takes physical variations in acoustic sound energy and converts them to electric sound energy. The materials used and the way that theyre used makes the difference in tone. A  pickup affects guitar tone in many ways, such as the strength of its magnetic field, size of its magnetic field, diameter of the wire wrapped around the magnet, its location on the guitar body, and how the guitarist is playing. When choosing a pickup, keep in mind the range of frequencies youd like to emphasize in your tone, the abruptness or subtlety youd prefer in a sounds attack, and the dynamic curve in your sounds sustain and decay. Discover these points by experimenting with this information and listening to examples of guitarists playing different types of pickups. Piezo Pickups:  Piezo pickups use quartz crystals to receive and transmit sound energy. Theyre mounted in the saddle bridge of guitars that use them. The very accurate dynamic response to a guitarists string displacement (how hard you pluck) surprises people upon first trying Piezo pickups. Thats why everyone who uses them also uses a compression effect to even out the dynamics. On a related note, string displacement affects tone, too! A downward displacement of 45 degrees toward the soundboard or body is the goal I always recommend to students. Compare that tone to a sideways pluck and also an upward pluck (away from the soundboard or body). In each case, we take note of how all of these parameters affect the presentation of our overtones, our notes attack, sustain and decay. These are the important factors in determining the guitar tone we want. Listen to Jesse Cook perform Mario Takes a Walk and also Stings recording of Fragile to hear good examples of the Piezo pickup tone. Single Coil Pickups: Your plucked guitar string sends sound vibration into the magnetic field, emanating from copper wire coiled around a magnet, which makes up the single coil pickup. This results in the vibration of the magnetic field, as well. When the magnetic field is in flux from this vibration, an electrical signal is generated and amplified though your amp. The field of magnetism produced by the single coil pickup covers a smaller area than the field of magnetism from Humbucker pickups. A smaller range of harmonics (overtones) are captured from a smaller field of magnetism, providing for less low and midrange-frequency overtones. This results in the single coil pickups generating a tone that occupies a tonal space in the higher midrange; giving the tone a clearly audible presence for the listener. Check out Yngwie Malmsteen and Eric Clapton to hear single coil pickup recordings. Humbucker Pickups:  Humbucker pickups are  designed to provided the answer for the single coils tendency to pick up surrounding electromagnetic fields and accompany the guitars tone with an annoying hum sound. Two magnets were used in Humbuckers to cancel out extraneous electromagnetic hum noise. Since a larger field of magnetism captures a greater range of middle and low-frequency overtones, Humbuckers put out more of the lower midrange of tonal space. This sound is very desirable, especially for riffs or chords using the lower strings. Listen to Jimmy Page and Led Zeppelin perform Rock and Roll. Effects Pedals and Your Guitar Tone There are many different types of effects pedals on the market, and all of them are designed to alter the tone of your guitar. Heres a great guide to the main types of effects pedals from ScaleTrainer.com: The order of adding effects and using effects pedals generates from common sense and practical experience. Place the wah pedal before your compressor to obtain a more abrupt attack to your sound, or after the compressor to provide a more subtle attack and a lower and middle-frequency boost. To even out your dynamics before adding effects, you can place the compressor at the beginning of the effects chain. A distortion pedal adds overtones, so place it before the equalizer so that you can control those added tones. Phasers and flangers add  a slightly delayed or out-of-phase sine wave  to your original sound, which is something you wouldnt want to add a lot of overtones from your distortion pedal to. Put these types of effects after the distortion and EQ.   Look at the descriptions of your reverb/delay sounds. You will see words like large hall, small hall, dome, tunnel, and studio. What would my tone sound like if I were playing guitar in one of these locations? Thats why we want our total tone package in place before adding these effects. Using the science, recorded examples and your own experimentation, keep on improving your guitar tone. We can achieve a lot more than we ever thought possible with great improvements in sound quality! Looking for more tips on improving your guitar tone? Check out this  awesome guide from Guitar Chalk. An experienced guitar teacher can help you perfect your tone, technique, and repertoire on the guitar. Find your guitar teacher now! Noel S. teaches guitar, piano, and music theory lessons in Beachwood, OH. He holds a Masters degree in music from Dusquesne University and he has been teaching since 2001. Learn more about Noel.   Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher Photo by  Stew Dean

How to Evaluate a School for Your Child

How to Evaluate a School for Your Child The following piece was written by Liz Perelstein. Liz has been featured in ourAdmissions Expert seriesand is the Founder of School Choice International. As we anticipate the spring, you may be evaluating your child's progress during the past year and deciding what kind of school would serve your child best in the coming years. The options can be overwhelming: Public Schools Local public schools Specialized public schools Private Schools Independent schools Parochial schools Boarding schools Distance learning schools Specialized private schools (which may include: international schools, special education schools, and schools for profoundly gifted children) As you peruse this list, I imagine you are surprised by the number of alternatives you have when considering your child's education. Hopefully, this will alleviate some of the tension parents often feel as you begin this journey. In order to direct your search, begin with a thoughtful evaluation of your child. Has s/he had a good year or one in which s/he struggled, either academically, socially or emotionally? Did his or her school experience bring out the best in her, and contribute to his spirit to explore and consume knowledge? Has he developed social skills that will allow him to make friends and navigate social groupings in a new school? Would she benefit from an opportunity to reinvent herself in a new school? Pay attention to factors that make your child's schooling experience what it is. Are classes large or small? Is the classroom structured or do the children learn by doing? Is the school coeducational or single sexed? Is it close to home or does it require transit? Does it emphasize athletics or the arts? Based on her personality, interests, and emerging skills, which characteristics are important for your child's education? I would imagine, by now, this list has automatically been narrowed down; some options simply don't fit. If your child exhibits separation anxiety, for example, boarding school simply isn't an option. But for an independent child whose homework is a nightly contest, boarding school can change the entire home dynamic. Your school list probably should include options in various categories public and private, day and boarding for you and your child to compare and contrast. Don't automatically assume cost is prohibitive. Private schools offer need based, and sometimes merit based, financial aid. The most important way to assess a school is to visit. Make appointments for school tours and go to open houses. Talk to other parents and students you meet in the cafeteria, but keep in mind that every child is different, and what works for their child may not be the best choice for yours. In public schools, parent advocates are incredibly helpful sources of information. If you don't know any parents whose children attend a particular school, request a list of parents you may call. Ask questions beyond test scores and admissions difficulties. Questions should be based on your childs profile. Ask questions that will help you decide whether your child will thrive or struggle based on his or her unique characteristics. Finally, encourage your child to reach for schools that may be selective both in the public and private sectors. You won't know until you try. If your child isn't accepted, this can be a great learning moment be sure to be a positive role model and handle wait lists or rejection with compassion and a problem solving attitude. On the other hand, never put all your eggs in one basket. If you limit your search to a few schools, be sure that you and your child would be content to remain at his or her current school or the local public school. VisitSchool Choice Internationalfor more information. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.