The Study Schedule Guide

Thanks to wonderful books like Harry Potter and the Twilight sagas, reading is back in fashion. If your student is still not reading as much as you would like, there are several ways to encourage them to read more. Instilling reading as a lifelong habit is a great gift to pass on.

So why should we read?
Reading for fun helps students to improve their comprehension skills. This will stand them in good stead when they are in high school and college and have large volumes of material to cover. There are so many benefits to reading:
• Reduced stress
• Higher GPA’s, higher intelligence and better general knowledge
• Better vocabulary and communication skills
• Improved memory and writing skills
• Improved analytical thinking

How do I encourage reading?
Reading must be seen as a fun activity rather than a chore. You can help to perpetuate this perception by participating in reading activities. Read to you students as often as possible; they are never too old or too young. Make sure to read something that they enjoy and let them pick out the books themselves.
Take field trips to the library and let your students select their own reading material. They are more likely to read books that they find interesting. Let them get their own library cards. Help them to find authors that they enjoy so that reading one book leads to the next. Books in series like Harry Potter are great for getting students to read more.

Let your student recommend books to you and then read them so you are able to discuss the novels, characters and story lines. Remember to set a good example. Students who see their parents reading are more likely to read themselves.
Books may be too daunting for some students. Let them pick a magazine subscription instead. Newspapers, magazines and comic books are all acceptable reading materials. Getting them reading and enjoying the experience is key.
Get your student to read recipes or instructions to you. This will increase their confidence and help you to gauge their progress. Reading aloud is also an excellent way to improve reading skills.
Have a large selection of books on a variety of subjects at home for your children to read. If they are trying to figure something out or ask questions, get them to look up the answer in a book, rather than on the Internet.
Strongly encourage reading during the holidays. 77% of students return to school after the summer with the same reading level (or below) as they had when they went on vacation.
Have a comfortable, dedicated area for reading. Make sure it is well lit and quiet. Leave students who are reading undisturbed for as long as possible.
Instilling a love of reading and books will be a great gift to give your student. They will be smarter, more eloquent and more likely to cope with the pressures of high school and college. 

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is the inability of a child to focus, sit still or pay attention for more than a couple of minutes. 8 - 10% of children of school-going age have ADHD. Boys are three times more likely to have ADHD than girls, although we are yet to understand why. Of course all children get excited and younger children have trouble concentrating for long periods of time, but ADHD is a permanent state which affects a child's ability to cope socially, academically and at home. Early detection can help everyone, from teachers to parents to family members, to understand and cope with the symptoms of ADHD.
ADHD can be divided into three subcategories, each with their own symptoms which are listed below:

Inattentive
• Inability to pay attention to details. They make lots of errors with schoolwork or other activities
• They cannot pay attention for more than a few minutes
• Apparent listening problems
• They find it difficult to follow simple instructions
• They are disorganized
• They avoid taxing mental tasks
• They lose things
• Easily distracted
• Forgetful

Hyperactive-impulsive
• Constant fidgeting - they can't sit still
• They have trouble sitting down
• Excessively active
• Can't play quietly
• Excessively talkative
• They have trouble waiting for their turn
• They like to blurt out answers without listening to the whole question
• They are always interrupting

The third category consists of a combination of the symptoms above. The child must consistently display the same behavior regardless of circumstances to show that they are not just excited or upset. The symptoms must also be present before the child is seven years old.

Luckily, there are many coping mechanisms that help the ADHD child to cope with school, social and family situations. There are a number of medications that help with the symptoms of ADHD. For those parents who wish to avoid medication, there are behavioral therapies, diets and alternative therapies that can be used to help curb symptoms.

Diagnosis is a complex process. If you suspect your child may have ADHD, you should consult a doctor immediately. After a physical examination, the doctor will recommend that your child be referred to a psychologist or neurologist to ascertain the cause of the symptoms. Children may act out when they are depressed or to hide learning disorders. Every child is different and you want your child to be correctly diagnosed.
Once your child has been diagnosed, discuss treatment options with your medical team, family and friends to find one that works for you and your child. It's essential that you work with your child's teachers to ensure that there is proper supervision in the classroom. The teacher can help by minimizing distractions e.g. seating your child near the front of the classroom rather than near the window.
It's important to remember that ADHD is treatable and early detection can make all the difference. Children who suffer from ADHD are not 'bad' or acting out; they are simply unable to contain their energy. If you suspect that your child may have ADHD, seek medical advice as soon as possible.

Prom is almost here and this will be your first social engagement as an adult. Learning good prom etiquette will serve you well in your professional and social life. Learning good event etiquette will mean that you have the skills to navigate cocktail parties, weddings, business dinners and other events of social import.

Costs
Traditionally, men would be responsible for the costs of expensive events, but as society progresses, costs are usually shared by both people attending the event. To avoid awkward moments, decide beforehand how the costs will be split and who will be paying for what. That way you're not both reaching for your wallets or waiting for the other to pay.

Choosing your date
This is the most crucial part of the evening and there are many things to consider. Do not go to important events with strangers. You don't want to wait until you are with your friends and family to find out that the person you are with dresses like your grandmother, or sounds like a hyena when they laugh. If you are considering asking someone who is new to your circle of friends, take them on a date first to make sure you are a good match.
Choose someone who is compatible with you and that you enjoy having a good conversation with. Remember, you have to spend the whole evening with your date so make sure that they are entertaining. If you like dancing, make sure that your date likes dancing too.
Ask your date well in advance of the event so that they have enough time to get a tuxedo or the perfect prom dress. Co-ordinate outfits so that you don't clash when together and girls should wear shoes that help to establish a good height ratio between the couple for pictures and dancing.

Flowers
Corsages and boutonnieres should be ordered a week prior to the dance. Make sure that the colors match your date's outfit and that they are not allergic to the flowers in the posy. Ask you date if she wants a wrist corsage or a pin-on. Pick up the flowers in the afternoon before prom and keep them in the fridge. Slip wrist corsages onto the girls left wrist (right if she is left handed) or hand her the pin-on so she can do it herself. Girls can pin boutonnieres to the lapel of their dates. Pick up the lapel and secure the pin to the back of the lapel. Buying your date's mom a little posy of flowers will definitely get you in the good books!

The big night
If you are picking up your date, make sure your car is clean. Don't honk outside the house, park the car and ring the doorbell. Don't be late. If you rent a limo, the girl gets in first. When you arrive at the destination, the boy gets out first and helps the girl. Remember to tip the driver.
Have fun! This is a night you will always remember so be yourself and enjoy.

Every parent wants to provide their children with all the tutoring help they need. For many Canadian parents, providing extra-mural activities for their children's development has not been possible due to financial constraints. Now parents are getting a welcome reprieve from the costs of tutoring and other developmental activities thanks to two tax credits offered by the Canadian Economic Action Plan. The Children's Fitness Credit and the Children's Art Credit refunds parents a portion of the money they use to pay for tutoring and other activities.

Children's Art Credit

If your student is enrolled in an activity such as fine arts, performing arts, outdoor wilderness training, learning a language, studying a culture, music or tutoring, you can get a tax refund from the government come tax time. The credit is a non-refundable 15 percent up to $500. Through the tax credit, the government hopes to increase participation in activities that help to develop the creative skills of children in artistic or cultural activities, encourage greater natural and wilderness awareness and improve intellectual skills by funding tutoring vital to the academic development of students. This funding of academic development incorporates one-on-one tutoring companies like Tutor Doctor. If your child is struggling, has learning problems or wants to excel at their studies, one-on-one tutoring is an excellent way to help them succeed. If your teen is preparing for the SAT or ACT exams, then one-on-one tutoring give them the personal attention they need to get the best colelge entrance scores. For a comprehensive look at the Children's Art Credit, watch the video here.

Children's Fitness Credit

Effective since January 1, 2007, the Children's Fitness Credit focuses on promoting the health and development of children. While tutoring, sports and cultural activities contribute positively to children's development, parents are often not able to afford these extra-mural programs. Now help is at hand; the Canadian Government has instituted the Children's Fitness Credit to help alleviate the financial burden and encourage parents to enroll their children in programs that contribute to their academic and cultural development as well as their health and wellbeing. Like the Arts Credit, parents get a 15% non-refundable credit for children's activities up to $500.

An example of how the Arts and Fitness credits works from the Canadian Economic Action Plan website:

Rick and Andrea have two young children, Adam and Chloe. Every year, Adam plays in a minor hockey league and attends a week-long music camp in the summer, while Chloe plays competitive soccer and takes art lessons. With the introduction of the Children’s Arts Tax Credit, Rick and Andrea may claim between them up to $500 for Adam’s music camp and up to $500 for Chloe’s art lessons—this is in addition to eligible expenses of up to $500 they may claim for Adam’s hockey and up to $500 for Chloe’s soccer under the Children’s Fitness Tax Credit. As a result, in 2011, Rick and Andrea may claim a credit on up to $2,000 in expenses for their children’s activities.