Classroom Arrangement

By Debbie Cluff
Introduction

The set up of a classroom is very important to how a classroom is being managed. The teacher needs to make sure his/her classroom is arranged for the students to be productive. The teacher also needs to make sure their classroom has a positive environment for the students as they enter the classroom. Another key fact a teacher needs to consider is that their classroom needs to be ready for learning everyday. This is because in order to manage a classroom with proper discipline, a product and active classroom set-up is important. The students need to be placed in an arrangement that will keep them focused on the lesson and not deter them from learning. In this paper, we will discuss and provide ways for a lower elementary classroom to be set up.

Classroom Arrangement

Our map shows the classroom is arranged in centers. The students will sit in groups of six in four different groups. The reasoning behind the groups is that the students will be able to learn how to work with others. The students will also be able to motivate each other to do their work. The desks are arranged in the middle of the classroom so it will allow the teacher to walk around the room freely. Plus the teacher will be able to control the students in a more compact area. The setting of the desk will also help students to stay on task.

Reading Corner

In the corner of the classroom is a “cozy” reading nook which will contain the classroom library. This area will provide a “home” feeling and help the students to feel relax when they are in this area. The reading nook will also be a place for students to go to when they have completed their work and want to read a book in a cozy are. If a child is able to feel at home in the reading nook this can cut down on behavior problems for the teacher. In the reading nook, this area is a quite place. The reading nook is not located in the same area as everything else in the classroom. By having the reading nook in the corner of the classroom, it will help to promote reading in the classroom.

Centers

The listening center and computer station will be placed on the outside of the classroom. The centers will be facing the walls because the students will be rotating to the varies centers within the classroom. Plus, while students are at their centers they will need to be able to concentrate on their work. Also, located on the outside of the classroom are the storage areas for Science, Math, Art and Writing materials. This storage area allows the students to have a centrally located area to receive and place materials for Science, Math, Art and Writing. Plus, this area will help the teacher to keep his/her classroom organized.

The student’s desk will also serve as centers. During center time students will be able to move around the whole room to gain information. At each group their will be a different theme for students to learn about. By having the centers on both the inside and the outside of the classroom will enable the teacher to focus the students’ attention to their center activity instead of just rotating around the room. This will keep the flow of the classroom and will not give the students time to mess around maintaining classroom structure and discipline.

Teacher’s Desk Location

The teacher’s desk is located in the back of the classroom. The reason of this arrangement is that this will help the teacher to promote a student – centered classroom. By having the desk located in the back of the classroom the teacher will have full sight of his/her entire classroom at all times. Plus, the teacher will only use the desk for paper work. The rest of the time the teacher will be in the same area as the students.

Print Rich Environment

Not only is the arrangement of the desk important to the classroom but the motivation the classroom has to offer the students. To have a print-rich-environment, the teacher needs to have posters and signs that help to promote literature in the classroom. By having posters and signs on the classroom walls and bulletin boards will help the students gain a great deal of experiences with the different types of literature. Plus the students can do a read around the room, while sitting in the reading nook. By providing a print-rich environment, the students will be placed in a positive learning atmosphere that promotes learning thus preventing classroom misconduct.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the arrangement of the classroom is a very key part of how well the students will learn and interact with their classmates and their teacher. If a classroom is disorganized and clustered, then it will be kind of hard for a child to work and learn new skills. Plus, the teacher needs to take time to make sure his/her room is set up for learning because no matter how well your lesson plans are completed and ready to be presented. If the students do not feel comfortable in the room then the lesson plan will be presented in a way the teacher wanted it to.

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Homeschool Teacher Qualifications

Beyond the statistics, when someone talks about homeschooling, usually two points come up. The first is whether the parent is qualified to teach their child, and the second and possibly biggest question to homeschoolers everywhere is about socialization.
Qualification is a big concern because opponents of homeschooling believe that parents do not have the ability to teach children like a certified teacher does. I do agree that teachers have accreditation beyond what typical homeschooling parents do, but I also believe that parents have the ability to teach a child any class that they would need, especially in the elementary years.

Children have an ability in homeschool that is not available to them in a traditional classroom. If a student has a question in class, it might not be the appropriate time to ask the question, or the teacher might be too busy to answer; however, in homeschool if a child has a question, time can be taken to answer the question or look up the answer if it is unknown. I do not believe that everyone knows all of the answers, not even teachers; after all they are human as well. Dave Arnold of the National Education Association (NEA) stated, “You would think that they might leave this—the shaping of their children’s minds, careers, and futures—to trained professionals” (Arnold, 2008, p. 1). Why would it make more sense to leave these important factors in a child’s life to a person who the child will only be under for a year, who does not have time to develop the child’s strengths and weaknesses and provide one-on-one time with the child? After all even Albert Einstein homeschooled.

However, parents who aren’t confident about teaching higher level classes now have resources to supplement them such as online or correspondence courses, co-ops, and community college classes (Fagan, 2007, p. 1). With these classes—usually utilized in math or science but available in all subjects—students have the benefit of a teacher knowledgeable in the subject, tutoring and usually access to the teacher for specific help. This closely resembles the online courses being offered at community colleges.

While I do disagree with the statement that parents are not qualified to teach their children, I believe that there should be end of year testing. This requirement is on a state to state guideline, and I believe that it should be made mandatory so that a parent can prove that homeschooling is effective for the child. If public school children are required to take these tests, then so should homeschoolers. Virginia law states that all families must register [with their local school district] on a per yearly basis and submit results of professional standardized testing scores (similar to SOL) although there is an option of “religious exemption” that does not require any end of year testing (Fagan, 2007, p. 3). The study “Strengths of Their Own: Home Schoolers Across America” also found that students ranged in the 86th percentile “regardless of state regulation,” whether a state had no regulations or a large amount of regulations (Klicka, 2006, p. 2). These statistics show that state regulations on testing, on what degree of certification a parent has (which can range from no high school diploma to certified teacher to holder of a non-relational bachelors degree), compulsory attendance laws, etc., all have no significance in regards to scores achieved on tests.

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HOW TO COMPETE WITH A COMPUTER IN ECONOMIC ANALYSIS

It is rather hard to compete with the computer when doing economic analysis. This is because computers are quite good at doing math once they are programmed, and although economics isn’t an exact science, those who study it, do the research, and use the tools certainly see it as such. Meaning they will use these equations to guestimate the future trends. Nevertheless, just as one can be a technical analyst in the stock market, there is something to be said for the fundamentals, and the black Swan events which change the stock chart trends. Okay so let’s talk about all this for second shall we?
How can a human being compete with a computer that analyzes data in this way when predicting economic trends and doing economic analysis? Well, I would submit to you that one third of the performance of the economy has to do with perception. Perception can come in many forms, and it can also change like the wind. That does not always show up in the data, for instance consumers are fickle, and many of the decisions made by CEOs have to do with government intervention on trade, regulations, and taxation policies.

The data does not always show when a politician is going to come up with a new law which inhibits business, or helps pick winners and losers in the market, or changes the entire dynamics of an industry which has a cascading effect on the rest of the economy. Then there are severe disruption such as natural disasters, wars, and civil unrest. And let’s not forget the increasingly pervasive black swan catastrophic economic events. Bubbles that get blown too big, burst too soon, or hit you like a ton of bricks out of the blue. The data doesn’t always show that, are you beginning to see my point?

That doesn’t mean that the technical analyst studying the economy either on a macro or micro level doesn’t have the advantage, and generally they will be right most of the time, along with the AI computers they use doing the leg-work. If such a system is completely automated with artificially intelligent software, and that computer also works with probability, it may be right even more of the time. But it won’t be right all of the time.
That’s where human beings might still have the advantage. Sometimes there are anomalies which are not seen readily in the data, or not recognized for some unforeseen reason. Therefore, in this year, 2012 humans are still needed for economic analysis, perhaps after years of artificial intelligence and learning machines on the job such a fact may not be true anymore, but today it is. Please consider all this and think on it.

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WHEN SHOULD KIDS START SPORTS?

It's not easy to determine how early to start children in organized sports. Children of the same age vary considerably in their physical and psychological maturation, and there is no practical method of measuring maturity. Assuming the child has shown interest, five or six is the generally accepted earliest starting age for organized team sports. At the early ages participation should be limited to sports that involve a lot of physical activity and encourage the development of major motor muscles.

Children in grades 1 - 4 can benefit most from games that are modified to meet their needs and abilities. Play and fun are more important to this age group than highly structured sports that emphasize the outcome rather than the process. Parents and coaches are usually the ones concerned about winning and losing. When helping your child select a sport, keep balance in mind. Encourage your children to try many sports and activities when young and not to think of specializing or playing competitively until they reach middle school. Make sure a balance also occurs between adult organized activities and free playtime. Children need time to just be kids and to play with other kids without a set of rules or adult involvement.

The most important decisions to make, are which youth sports organizations and which coaches are best for your child. Make sure that you take the time to find out about the league, its leaders and coaches. Better yet, get involved and volunteer to coach. Participating in sports is a healthy way, both physically and socially, for your children to channel their youthful energy in a positive direction. Make sure your children's first experience encourages them to begin a lifelong interest in physical activities and good health.

There are many other options besides team sports available to a child who wants to participate in sports. Parents should also encourage their children to become involved in individual and lifetime sports such as bowling, golf, swimming, tennis, gymnastics and martial arts. You can find information about these sports by visiting the facilities or through the yellow pages of the phone book.

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Types Diets to Relieve the Different Types of Stress

 

Some foods are believed to cope with stress due to pressure of work or whatever problem caused it. Including the stress that comes after holidays, because you start counting the amount of money spent during the holidays, plus the change in activity back to normal with the routine work. Whatever the source of stress, you should identify the type of stress that you experience to choose the right foods as an antidote.

Recognizing the type of stress can also help you lose weight. Because, feelings of anxiety and fatigue make the body requires energy, which eventually filled with high-calorie foods and carbohydrates. As a result, your diet program a mess because of stress associated with food.

"Everyone reacts to stress differently. But there is some evidence that shows adverse effects of chronic stress on the ability to lose weight. How your body cope with stress can be a reference that helps you become more calm also more slender," explains therapist and expert nutrition Charlotte Watts, author of The De-stress diet.

Therefore, not surprising that many people fail in dieting because of stress. According Watss, changing diet and lifestyle can help you cope with stress. So, identify the type of stress you and follow some advice given to overcome them, so this 2012 you become leaner, more relaxed, and certainly more healthy.

Stress and digestive problems
If you often troubled by stomach, plus if you're stressed you feel more sick stomach, and also often have a headache, this sign you stress caused digestive problems. Source of the problem not only in digestion but also because of lack of good bacteria in the body.

Increase your intake of prebiotic to help the growth of good bacteria. The trick, asup vegetables and fruits such as garlic, onion, garlic bombat, bananas, or take supplements. Drinking is also a cure for digestive enzymes before meals, to help the body destroy the food.

How to eat you also need attention. Chew slowly and give a one hour break to eat fruit after a meal of protein. Limit intake of sugar, alcohol, caffeine can reduce levels of good bacteria in the body and can also trigger gas, lowered immunity and enhance the growth of fungi.

Stress and feelings of not calm
Often feel anxious, being reactive to stressful situations, difficulty to relax, often feel depressed when given some responsibility and prone to mood swings, these are some common symptoms of stress experienced by many people. Stress of this type of long-term impact as it pertains to physical and mental factors. The impact on the body, people who have experienced the advantages of this type of stress the adrenal glands that controls the amount of stress hormones. As a result, your appetite is increasing and has a tendency to snack.

To fix this, fill each day with a nutritional diet balanced. Make sure the protein intake is met, either from eggs, meat, fish. Asup should multiply the good fats and vegetables. You can also mengasup supplements containing zinc, iron, vitamin C, B, iodine and magnesium, because these nutrients tend to disappear when you experience stress.

Take care not to fatigue the body condition. Try to relax, take a deep breath, before going to bed at night or when I wake up in the morning. Reduce the intensity of your exercise, do not push yourself. Avoid too many things that are so competitive that can trigger stress.

Stress and body limp
You often feel cold when others feel warm, hair loss, difficulty concentrating, often feel tired, hoarse voice, every time I wake up, you feel weak, here's some stress symptoms caused by disorders of the thyroid gland. These signs indicate the body's metabolism does not work optimally. Body's ability to store energy also fell. If you have this, the desire to lose weight more difficult to realize.

Overcome by making sure blood sugar levels in your body stay in balance so that energy is maintained. The trick reduce sugar and carbohydrate intake, and consumption of more protein. Avoid coffee and alcohol. Was more diligent exercise. Try yoga with your head under which help blood circulation and distribution of oxygen and nutrients to the thyroid gland. Let's not mengasup cabbage and broccoli. You should eat foods that are warm like the chili, ginger, green tea, turmeric, wasabi too.

Stress and illness
Are you suffering from numerous diseases such as asthma, throat infections, nose, ears, and fever, headache, except that you also have a tendency to suffer from osteoporosis, heart disease and other diseases? It's your body's immune system markers problematic.

To overcome this problem, limit your intake of sugar. Increase intake of foods rich in vitamin C, E, berakaroten found in fresh fruits and vegetables are brightly colored. Food and beverages such as chocolate, garlic, tea, red wine and green tea good for you. Make sure your intake of omega 3 are met, because of the lack of omega 3 can exacerbate the illness that you suffered earlier. When exercising, avoid cardio workout and you should select the model of light exercise such as jogging or walking.

Stress and hormonal problems
Hormonal problems such as PMS or other problem as a result of the use of contraceptives that are often experienced by women is also stressful. Stress hormones interact with the hormone estrogen, progesterone and testosterone. As a result of hormones in the body off balance, and weight problems experienced by many women by targeting the hip and thigh area.

To overcome this limit alcohol consumption may increase estrogen levels and aggravate PMS. A sup soy-based foods to help balance hormones. In addition to fiber intake also multiply. Exercising every day can help balance hormone because it increases circulation and detoxification.

Stress and fatigue
You often easily upset when I wake up, feeling tired, difficulty sleeping, this is a symptom of stress continuation of the previous type of stress. People with this stress should increase the intake of red meat, fish, eggs, spinach, salad water, milk, tofu, mushrooms and a variety of iron-rich foods. Increase intake of fruits and vegetables, balance is also a sport that can reduce stress hormone levels. Patients with this type of stress may mengasup coffee, alcohol, multivitamins and minerals that increase iron, magnesium, vitamins B and C.

Stress and lost the spirit 
You tend to have difficulty sleeping and depression so often feel the loss of morale and motivation. Stress that you are experiencing this eliminates the hormones serotonin and dopamine which gives a sense of happiness. Feeling unhappy and lost spirit like this that cause you to have a tendency to eat junk food.

You need supplements contain omega-3, increase the intake of protein in the brain to increase energy and improve mood. Perform a healthful habits, such as exercising in open space, is more frequent laugh, listen to music, socializing, and for married couples, have sex regularly.

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Negative Effects of Coffee

Coffee, a beverage which is liked by many is consumed by most of us on a daily basis. Though, drinking coffee makes you feel fresh and energetic, there are a few side effects associated with it. The negative effects of coffee are mainly due to the presence of caffeine and tannic acid in it. These effects start appearing slowly but, once they affect the body, they are most of the time permanent and it is difficult to reverse the situation.






Effects of Coffee Consumption

• It heightens the energy levels for a short-term. But, after you get used to it, even that cup of coffee will not show the results which it used to show previously. Hence, you will tend to drink more coffee which will develop an addiction for it. This will also lead to adrenal exhaustion.
• A person on medication should avoid coffee as it interferes with the medicines and hence, the effective result of it on the body. This can cause serious problems as it blocks the medicines from working according to their desired way.
• The caffeine present in it interferes with a brain chemical named adenosine which helps in providing the calming effect.
• Coffee might also give rise to constriction of blood vessels. This condition occurs due to the increase in the cortisol levels.
• Young children should not be given coffee as it is difficult for them to digest it. Their liver cannot metabolize caffeine and hence, it remains in the body for 4 to 5 days. This can lead to sleeplessness and irritability.
• Pregnant females should avoid it as it might lead to birth defects, miscarriage, premature birth and low birth weight.
• Another negative effect of drinking coffee is, it can lead to sluggish sperms and also inability to conceive.
• Coffee can damage the teeth which can cause yellowing of the teeth and also caries.
• It even increases the blood sugar level. Hence, people with diabetes should avoid it. According to a research made, it causes deprivation of sleep among those who consume it in excess level.
• Coffee is known to alter blood pressure and heart rate as well. It even leads to frequent urination. It is known to disturb the absorption of essential minerals and nutrients which are required for the functioning of the body. This can cause adverse effect on the body and can lead to diseases which are caused due to the lack of these minerals. Vitamin A, B and C are the ones which are most affected. Along with this, the absorption of minerals like iron, zinc and calcium are also affected due to its consumption.

If taken in moderate amount, coffee will not cause an adverse effect on the body. The side effects are observed only if it is consumed in excess amount. I guess, now after knowing the negative effects, you will think twice before consuming it. It's fine to consume it occasionally on moderate basis but too much consumption should be strictly avoided.
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How to Stabilize the Body's Insulin Levels

Insulin is a hormone your body produces that controls how cells absorb nutrients, especially sugar, from the blood. Insulin is released when sugar and other nutrient concentrations rise, normally following a meal. After your body has replenished its nutrient stores, your cells stop responding to insulin. If blood sugar is still elevated, your body continues to produce insulin. Eventually, cells in your pancreas stop producing insulin and you develop type 2 diabetes. Making smart food choices, eating a well-controlled diet and being physically active can restore balance to your insulin levels.

Step 1
Learn the glycemic index and glycemic load of foods. The glycemic index is the measure of how fast your blood sugar rises after eating a food. The glycemic load is a measure of the total amount of carbs your body absorbs from a food, regardless of timing.

Step 2
Avoid foods with a high glycemic index, especially if they have a high glycemic load. These foods cause a sudden surge in blood sugar, accompanied by a very high elevation in insulin as you body tried to adapt. Foods made from refined carbohydrates, such as white bread, and sugary foods have a high glycemic index. Most fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and seeds have a low glycemic index, although some of these foods including dates, raisins and white potatoes also have a high glycemic index. Consult a glycemic index chart if you are unsure about a particular food.

Step 3
Eat regular meals and avoid constant snacking throughout the day. Your body is used to a period of plenty, where insulin levels rise as you use nutrients from food for energy, alternating with a period of scarcity, where insulin levels fall and your body uses fat and stores as fuel. Insulin prevents your body from burning body fat; if you are eating constantly, your body will continue to produce high levels of insulin, storing rather than using body fat.

Step 4
Exercise or partake in physically active regularly. Having your body use stored energy depletes nutrients your cells have stored. Following exercise, your cells become more responsive to insulin as they restore expended nutrien
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