Category: Education

Education counseling often proves to be imperative in shaping a child’s personality and future. But how do you know if your child has the right help?  Most countries mandate the presence of counselors to address students of different grades. However, a significant percentage of them are yet to realize the role of counseling in schools.

If your child doesn’t have access to the right education counseling at school, a private counselor can fill the void.

Why Is Education Counseling Important?

Education in schools has evolved to the point where it isn’t only about the curriculum. A significant aspect of educational school systems across the globe is counseling, done by qualified counselors. And you’d be wrong to think that this is just to help them choose a career.

The fundamental purpose of counseling is to make children more effective at learning in school. It also guides them on the right career path, but that’s not all. Counselors in schools also help address special needs like emotions, social skills, and personality development.

Children of the 21st century enjoy technology and convenient access to the Internet from a young age. And soon, it leads to something known as “internet overdose,” which is worse than it sounds.

An NIH study  shows that increased use of the internet can induce problems related to diet, sleep, physical activity, and more in children. For adolescents, serious complications such as depression, anxiety, cyberbullying, and other psychological issues show up.

Even with restrictions on internet use, there may be a communication gap between parents and children. These and other factors can result in children not getting the right attention. This is the time for a professional counselor to step in.

Qualities To Look For In An Education Counselor

Counseling students is not the same as providing psychotherapy. An efficient counselor must possess the following qualities:

Qualified in Academics

It’s not just experience that makes a counselor suitable for your child, but also their educational qualifications. Thankfully, those employed in your child’s school would have completed bachelor’s and master’s in school counseling. There are more qualified individuals who may have completed Ph.D. on the subject.

If you are hiring someone that practices independently, however, it is best to check their background first. It won’t matter if they graduated with sociology or psychology before practicing, as long as they have valid training and license.

Communicative and Empathetic

There are plenty of qualities that one expects from counselors in schools or outside it. However, being highly communicative and empathetic towards children already places them in a better position.

Counseling mostly revolves around communication. And empathy aids the individual in understanding a child’s situation and communicating better.

Patient and Organized

Dealing with children requires patience. That’s a given. And someone you entrust with building your child’s counseling must be exceptionally patient, especially when discussing sensitive topics. If you find a counselor dealing with your child patiently and calmly without looking at the clock, they may be a right fit.

And when you go and meet them (unless you’ve hired an online counselor), note how tidy they are. The more organized the person, the better it is.

Skilled At Assessment

Things are happening at school or elsewhere that your child may not be able to talk to you about, which is the very reason why counseling students is necessary. If the counselor you’re considering can understand the situation and connect the dots even when the child is not being expressive, it is a green flag.

Friendly Yet Authoritative

For a child to open up to a counselor, he/she has to be friendly so that the child is comfortable communicating. Although, there will be times when the counselor must exercise authority and follow through with their actions.

While this may not be noticeable on first impressions, you’ll soon realize if the counselor handles both sides effortlessly enough. And based on this, you’ll know whether you’ve trusted the right person.

Collaborative With Other Authorities

Counselors in schools and independent practitioners must exercise a certain degree of authority. But their advice should be collaborative with the other educators in the child’s life.

This would mean that their efforts are streamlined, thus ensuring further effective results.

Education Counselors Can Play a Crucial Role in Shaping Children

However, they cannot substitute parental guidance. Children spend significant time with their parents, and it is their behavior and actions that influence them the most.

It is the parent’s responsibility to behave right with their children, all the while teaching them discipline. Only through effective guidance, both at home and school, can one hope for a desirable future for their child.

For a child, reading is a fundamental skill that significantly helps them further their receptive skills as they develop. Reading instills empathy and cognitive abilities, thus stimulating a child’s cognitive development. Early exposure to reading picture books and playing with a tablet can help them build language skills.

Karen Wohlwend, a literacy professor, suggests that educational apps can develop six dimensions of participatory literacies in children: multiplayer, productive, multimodal, multilinear, pleasurable, and connected. Moreover, educational apps are rich with interactive visualization, which can also be instrumental in assisting children with reading disabilities.

Finding a suitable reading app for your child is time-consuming and couldn’t be more complicated due to the many available options on the app store. We have rigorously tested over ten reading apps on our devices, and after careful consideration, we have shortlisted five exceptional apps for you.

The below-highlighted apps are available in free and paid versions and offer various features, from intuitive wordplay to engaging storytelling. It’s our hope these apps will encourage kids to enjoy reading so that they will also attracted to reading books.

1. Epic!

Price: $7.99/month,  30-day trial

Why We Recommend: Epic! is an interactive reading platform for kids with a comprehensive library of over 40,000 books, audiobooks, and videos. Epic is carefully curated for children under 12 with an ever-expanding book library and graphic novels.

It features a personalized recommendation system that suggests books/novels based on a child’s reading interests and engages reluctant readers to total bookworms.

Parents can also track their child’s progress and reading activity. With tools like vocabulary builder and dictionary Lookup, your child could boost their reading and critical thinking skills while playing word games and quizzes.

Ages/Grades: 2-12 years old

Features: Personalized suggestions, tracking tools, offline reading mode, and the option to read in Spanish and French.

Pros: Expansive range of books, engaging interface, build vocabulary and reading skills .

Cons: Monthly subscription fee, limited access to some books due to licensing restrictions.

2  Reading Eggs

Price: $9.99/month, Free trial

Reading Eggs makes reading exciting and engaging for kids. Your child can build the necessary sensory skills with highly engaging reading programs in the app. It features reading lessons like building comprehension, spelling, and grammar skills which help them become confident lifelong readers.

Why We Recommend: This is one of our favorite educational apps that teach children to learn and read through gamifying interactive activities. It features an extensive library of fictional and non-fictional books tailored to a child’s reading level. We also loved that parents could access regular reports to track their child’s progress. Children between the ages of 5⁠–⁠10 can improve their reading skills with systematic and synthetic phonics exercises in the app.

Ages/Grades: 2-13 years old

Features: Personalized reading lessons, interactive activities and lessons, progress reports, and printable worksheets.

Pros: Engaging interface, educational activities, and regular progress reports.

Cons: Monthly subscription fee.

3 Vooks

Price: $4.99/month or or $49.99/year, Free trial

Why We Recommend: Beautiful animation, professional narration, and various library features make this app a must-have reading app for kids. Kids love interactive and immersive play; this video-based app can benefit any parent struggling to teach their little one new perspectives and build knowledge without distractions.

It features a curated selection of high-quality children’s books with titles related to STEM and Emotional Learning. The diverse collection of books with educational Comprehension and learning makes Vooks an excellent option for children learning to read.

Ages/Grades: 2-8 years old

Features: Animated books, read-aloud narration, interactive quizzes, Offline Reading.

Pros: Engaging animations, STEM Titles, and many high-quality, family-friendly books.

Cons: Limited selection of books compared to other reading apps.

4. ABCmouse

Price: $12.95/month, Free trial

Why We Recommend: ABCmouse features an exhaustive list of learning activities for children ages 2 to 8. The curriculum includes 850 Lessons across 10 Levels and comprises reading, math, science, and art programs.

Every curated curriculum contains fun and interactive comprehensions and activities that teach a specific educational concept. This app provides a step-by-step path to learning sentence structure and punctuation for preschool to second-grade students.

We have also checked the wide range of fiction and non-fiction books available under the reading section tailored to a child’s reading level. The puzzle section teaches the children problem-solving and critical-thinking skills and lets kids solve fiction stories puzzles.

Ages/Grades: 2-8 years old

Features: Comprehensive curriculum, personalized learning, progress reports, and the option to learn to read in Spanish.

Pros: Comprehensive curriculum, engaging interface, and regular progress reports.

Cons: Monthly subscription, Restricted access to books.

5.  Hooked on Phonics

Price: First Month for just $1, then $15.99/Month

Why We Recommend: Phonetics is the basis of reading which helps kids produce and perceive sounds and associate a particular sound with its corresponding letter. For growing kids who are learning new words and distinctive vocabulary every day, Hooked on Phonics is essential.

With read-through interactive games and activities, Hooked on Phonics familiarizes children with vowel and consonant sounds. The app includes practice packs and workbooks that cover lessons and start with simple sound introductions.

Every time your child completes a comprehension, a new fun activity is added with the newly learned words. The lessons and practice comprehension provides a step-by-step pathway to solidify the learning that molds a child into a successful reader. Hooked on Phonics features a comprehensive curriculum including phonics, sight words, and reading comprehension.

Ages/Grades: 3-8 years old

Features: Videos with catchy songs, games, activities, comprehensive curriculum, hands-on writing practice, and progress reports.

Pros: Engaging puzzles, physical storybooks, and funny characters.

Cons: Monthly subscription fee.

Conclusion

In conclusion, reading apps are helpful for occupied parents and offer a more efficient way to engage kids. The interactive reading experience with a comprehensive curriculum accomplishes the parenting goal of engaging their children in a meaningful activity.

Within a brief portion of time and a little effort from parents, these reading apps can help children develop and stimulate their learning skills. Reading apps are an engaging tool to improve literacy, from phonics and Vocabulary to Sight word recognition and critical thinking.

The five apps highlighted in this article are Epic, Reading Eggs, ABCmouse, Vooks, and Hooked on Phonics. All these apps offer a range of features and prices. You can choose any of these apps according to your needs and budget.

Author Name and Bio:
Parvinder Singh is a seasoned IT developer and network engineer with over 5 years of experience. He is also a skilled tech columnist, offering insights on the latest trends and developments in the tech industry.

William Shakespeare is widely regarded as one of the most influential writers in history. His works, which include plays, sonnets, and poems, have been studied, analyzed, and performed for over four centuries. Despite the passage of time, Shakespeare’s literary legacy remains as relevant and inspiring today as it was during his lifetime.

This article explores how Shakespeare’s writing has influenced and continues to inspire modern authors.

1. Shakespeare’s Themes and Characters

Shakespeare’s themes and characters have had a lasting impact on literature and continue to inspire modern authors. From the themes of love, jealousy, and betrayal to the characters of Hamlet, Romeo, and Macbeth, the literature has a universal appeal that transcends time and place.

As a result, the authors have drawn inspiration from Shakespeare’s works to create new stories, characters, and themes that resonate with contemporary audiences.

Shakespearean literature has an enduring influence in incorporating his themes and characters into contemporary form. For instance, Maryville University’s online Bachelor of Arts in English includes a study titled “Shakespeare’s Influence on Contemporary Literature,” which explores the works of Shakespeare and his contemporaries and their influence on modern literature.

Through this program at Maryville University, students can better understand Shakespeare’s themes and characters and how they have impacted the literary landscape.

Furthermore, Shakespeare’s themes and characters have been adapted and reimagined in countless ways. One common trend is retelling his plays in a modern context, such as West Side Story, a retelling of Romeo and Juliet set in 1950’s New York City. These adaptations allow audiences to connect with Shakespeare’s timeless themes and characters in a contemporary setting.

2. Shakespeare’s Use of Language

One of the most remarkable aspects of Shakespeare’s writing is his use of language. According to Statista, Shakespeare wrote all 37 plays between 1589 and 1613, or in less than a quarter of a century. In his plays, his mastery of the English language is evident in his rich vocabulary, poetic techniques such as meter and rhyme, and ability to create unforgettable phrases and images.

Shakespeare’s language has profoundly impacted the English language, and many of his expressions have become part of our everyday vocabulary. Phrases like “to be or not to be,” “all the world’s a stage,” and “fair play” are just a few examples of how his words have entered the common lexicon.

Shakespeare’s language inspires present-day authors, who have drawn on his techniques and style to create their works. For example, in his novel The English Patient, Michael Ondaatje uses poetic language to create vivid images of war-torn Italy, much like Shakespeare did in his plays.

3. Shakespeare’s Narrative Techniques

In addition to his language and characters, Shakespeare’s narrative techniques have significantly impacted literature. Shakespeare was a master of plot, pacing, and suspense; his plays are known for their complex and intricate storylines.

One of Shakespeare’s most notable narrative techniques is his use of dramatic irony. It occurs when the audience knows something the characters on stage do not, creating tension and anticipation as the events unfold. This technique can be seen in plays like Romeo and Juliet, where the audience knows that Juliet is not dead, but Romeo does not, leading to his tragic end.

Another technique that Shakespeare used was the art of foreshadowing. He would plant hints and clues throughout his plays that hinted at future events, building suspense, and keeping the audience engaged.

4. Shakespeare’s Exploration of Human Nature

One of Shakespeare’s greatest achievements as a writer was his ability to explore the complexities of human nature. His characters are multifaceted, often embodying conflicting desires and motivations that make them deeply relatable to audiences across time and space.

Shakespeare’s exploration of human nature is evident in his plays. Also, according to Poetry Foundation, Shakespeare’s sonnets, which were written in or around 1592–1593, explore topics like love, jealousy, power, and the human condition.

In Othello, Shakespeare examines the destructive power of jealousy, showing how it can drive a man to madness and ultimately lead to tragedy. In Hamlet, he explores the nature of revenge, asking whether it is justified and showing how it can consume a person’s soul.

Today, writers continue to draw inspiration from Shakespeare’s exploration of human nature, using his themes and characters to explore timeless questions about the human experience. In his novel Americanah, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie examines issues of race, identity, and belonging, much like Shakespeare did in his plays.

5. Shakespeare’s Adaptability

Shakespeare’s writing is often described as timeless, partly due to his remarkable adaptability. His plays and sonnets have been adapted and reimagined countless times over the centuries in various contexts and mediums.

One reason for Shakespeare’s adaptability is his universal themes and characters, which continue to resonate with audiences across time and place. In addition, his study of human character and temperament, his use of language, and his mastery of narrative techniques make his works endlessly adaptable and relevant.

Shakespeare’s adaptability is evident in the many adaptations and retellings of his works. His works have also been adapted into operas, ballets, and even video games, showing how his writing can be inspire writers for centuries and be interpreted in countless ways.

6. Shakespeare’s Impact on Genre

Shakespeare’s impact on literary genres is significant, as his works have been credited with shaping and defining several literary genres that are still widely respected today.

One genre that Shakespeare is often associated with is tragedy. His plays like Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, and Hamlet are considered some of the greatest tragedies in English literature. His exploration of themes like fate, revenge, and the nature of humanity has shaped the genre for centuries. Many modern tragedies still draw inspiration from Shakespeare’s works in their themes and narrative techniques.

Shakespeare is also credited with shaping the romantic comedy genre. His plays like A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Twelfth Night feature elements like mistaken identity, love triangles, and romantic entanglements. These have become staples of the romantic comedy genre.

Shakespeare Left a Significant, Lasting, and Inspirational Literary Impact

According to Agecroft Hall & Gardens, Shakespeare ended his playwriting career in 1613, but his legacy remains and is forever vast and enduring. It continues to inspire and influence writers across time and place. His human nature exploration, use of language, mastery of narrative techniques, adaptability, and impact on literary genres make him one of the greatest writers in the English language.

Shakespeare’s themes and characters are timeless, and his works have been adapted and reimagined countless times over the centuries, showing their enduring relevance and influence. As long as there are writers and readers, Shakespeare’s legacy will continue to inspire and shape the literary world.

High school is a whole different ball game, and the changes in academics and social interactions can seem daunting to some students. Before they leave middle school, you’re still their teacher. Therefore, you should do your best to make the last days of middle school memorable and a time they’ll always remember fondly.

Personal Scrapbook

Pictures make the best memories. At the end of the year, students will leave with a school yearbook, but each student’s book is identical. They need their own personal book filled with pictures and memories.

To make the end of middle school special for your students, start a personal scrapbook project. Every student will create their own scrapbook filled with their favorite memories of middle school. Encourage them to dig deep and go all the way back to sixth grade. Some pictures and memories may come from previous teachers, and others may come from home. Each student’s scrapbook should be a representation of their years.

Superhero Day

High school is a new environment. While it’s exciting, your students will face many changes. You won’t know what all their fears are, but they do. Encourage them to come dressed up as their favorite superheroes or icons.

The goal is to find people they admire to help them feel brave. Whenever they’re faced with difficulty, they’ll try to emulate their heroes. Consider giving a report to their parents telling them what you think their child’s fears are. You might even provide them with creative ways to help their kids with future education.

Class Project

The school year needs to end with a bang. A big class project is fun for everyone—especially a project that ends in a blast. Ask your class what they might enjoy most and share some ideas of your own. There are some year-end rocket projects you might want them to try out.

The end of the year is not here yet, so you have plenty of time to tie a final project into one of your lesson plans. Plus, it will give them something to look forward to—high school promises some exciting and advanced experiments as well.

Memory Jar

A memory jar is the perfect way to make the last few days of middle school memorable. Spend a day sharing memories around the classroom. Have your students write down their favorite memories on a scrap of paper.

Collect the memories in a jar and start reading them the next day. Some will make you laugh, and some will make you cry. Either way, emotion is good. Encourage it because it’s a sure way to guarantee they will always associate the last few days with whatever emotion the memory jar evoked.

When you use these suggestions, your students will always remember you as the middle school teacher who prepared them for high school. They’ll remember you fondly for making the last days of middle school memorable.