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The top pre-med major options that you can take in America

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Image source: berry.edu Each year, thousands of American high school seniors apply for various colleges and universities, which Victor Restis likes to refer to as one of the most important stages of their lives. Some of these kids aspire to be doctors, which certainly affects their efforts in choosing a school and a major. This blog shares the top pre-med major options that you can take in America. 1. Biological Sciences Based on the statistics from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), over half of medical school applicants major in the biological sciences. Truly, among all the courses that are available, nothing is more similar to medicine than biology-oriented studies. You can surely take your pick from a diversity of science majors such as neuroscience, physiology, medical science, microbiology, zoology, and biotechnology, adds Victor Restis. 2. Physical Sciences If you enter the physical sciences, you may see less of the parallels in medicine that you w...

Choosing a course in college: How to do it right

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Image source: npr.org According to Victor Restis , many students encounter challenges in choosing the school they would like to earn their bachelor's degree in. Those who search for academic pursuits are naturally at risk of making some crucial mistakes, which can truly be lessened or avoided altogether by doing several things right. The most important thing to ask yourself when you are faced with an option or a potential course to study is if you really like it. Of course, this may be a bit of a challenge proven by the thousands of students who say that they don't know which course to take, shares Victor Restis. If you don't know what course to take, you need to read up on various types of literature. Many students are simply unaware of what the outside world has to offer, which can possibly be causing confusion or a lack of initiative on your part. In any case, you can always seek the help of the guidance office to help you choose the kind of course that suits y...

The state of mental health of US students in the pandemic era

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Image source: googleusercontent.com College health professionals are monitoring students in America. Their state of mental health have dipped significantly as an effect of the covid-19 health crisis. This is a worrisome trend, says freelance writer Victor Restis , who is also an expert on US education. This article attempts to uncover this other health crisis among the youth that could have serious consequences if not mediated. In a research of undergraduate students in New Jersey, a result of its findings cited issues such as “ability to focus on academic work” (73.5%) and “difficulties with online learning” (58.6%) among others. Difficulties with everyday life include “obtaining hygiene supplies and medications” (59.3%), and “losing job/work hours/reduced wages” (56.8%). “Difficulties in getting food” (22.2%) among a number of students were also cited, as well as (66.7%) participants greatly concerned about Covid-19. Victor Restis adds that study participants even reported ex...

A look at Jolly Phonics as a way to learn speech

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 Education is an interesting topic, especially when examined in terms of how it has evolved throughout the decades. Victor Restis follows this closely as it shapes America. Today, he shares about one of the more interesting developments that many American students are learning with, Jolly Phonics. Image source: youtube.com In general, phonics is understood as a method of teaching people how to read and write an alphabetic language. What sets it apart is its unique way of demonstrating the relationship between the sounds of language (phonemes) and the letters or groups of letters (graphemes) or the syllables of the written language. Exposing oneself to different sounds as a basis to build on speech development, and later, language itself, is a very sensible learning framework, shares Victor Restis. However, phonics was criticized for being relatively lackluster, and many students reported losing interest in their learning of the subject matter. Image source: indoindians.com Joll...

The value of appreciation in learning and teaching

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Image source: understood.org   Anyone who has ever felt forgotten or unvalued knows the struggle of having to keep moving on an empty tank. Regardless of a person’s status, the desire to be appreciated is always present. In learning, being appreciated by one’s teacher motivates them to dig deeper into the skill or knowledge. When teachers are appreciated by their students and colleagues, they are encouraged to do more. Appreciating a student lets them know of their value in the class and the impact they make in a teacher’s life, says Victor Restis . Appreciation acknowledges the efforts of students and encourages them to improve and become more inquisitive. For some, getting into teaching means diving into a thankless job. Teachers produce the leaders of tomorrow; showing appreciation to educators reassures them of the good they do for the society. Image source: gettingsmart.com In both learning and teaching, bad days are inevitable. During times when it’s difficult to...

Online learning: Three tips that will boost a student's focus

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Unsplash.com  Not all students are prepared for online learning. With technical challenges and other important matters at home, sometimes it can be tough to stay interested on studying. Education professional Victor Restis shares some tips that will help boost a student's focus in this new normal set-up. Designate a space Even if it's just a corner in a room, a student must have a designated space at home where they can do their schoolwork without distractions. As much as possible, Victor Restis suggests avoiding the bed to avoid associating a place of rest with work and study. A corner with a desk, chair, good lighting, and proper ventilation is always a safe choice for a study area. Take notes during the lecture Many teachers provide notes for their students after their online session. They also provide copies of the required reading beforehand to allow students to prepare for their lesson. To boost focus, taking notes can help. Instead of just watching the lecture, writi...

How teachers can overcome classroom stage fright

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Image source: nea.org  If you had a classmate who had difficulty talking in front of the class, note that they grew up to become adults with full-time jobs. Some of those shy kids could even turn up to class one day but as an educator. However, it's not unheard of to have a first-time teacher having stage fright in front of a small class. According to Victor Restis, stage fright among first-time teachers happens a lot, especially for substitute teachers who are just filling in for a day or two. But if you are planning to be a teacher but have fears talking in front of a class, here are some tips to help you overcome classroom stage fright. Prepare your body beforehand If you feel like your body is stiff, take a quick bathroom break to make yourself looser and comfortable. Jump a few times, shake your limbs, force yourself to laugh, and get your blood circulating. This can help eject any nervous tension you might have. Stop yourself from freezing Freezing while in the middle of ...