Happy Chinese New Year 新年快乐
Bumi Gemilang admin would like to wish all our Chinese friends Gong Xi Fa Cai!
May the new year of the dragon bring you prosperity, good fortune and much happiness.
祝大家新的一年里事事顺利，身体健康、平安幸福、合家欢乐！
SHELL Local Scholarship 2012
January 26th, 2012 
admin SHELL Local Scholarship 2012
INTRODUCTION
This is open to students who will be undertaking full time first degree courses at the preferred Malaysian and JPA approved international universities based in Malaysia.
Preferred Degree Discipline
- Any Technical Engineering or Geosciences Discipline
*Students with physical disabilities (Orang Kurang Upaya) are not restricted in their choice and may apply to do a degree in any discipline.
Eligibility
- Strong leadership skills and active participation in extracurricular activities such as societies and clubs, sports, etc.
- Not presently holding other scholarship/loans.
- Disabled Identification Card certified by Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat (where applicable)
- Consistently strong academic achievements as follows:For Undergraduate studies- Strong academic results in the STPM (minimum 3A+ or A- & 1B) or A-Levels (minimum 2A’s & 1B)
- Minimum of 3.5 CGPA at Matriculation / Diploma level
Applications
Applications may be submitted based on the latest semester results (for Matriculation, Diploma and ‘A’ Levels students) or trial examination results (for STPM students).
Shell Malaysia reserves the right to verify the information provided. Shell Malaysia aims to reflect the diversity of the communities it works in and will award the scholarships on this basis.
*Please refer to the list below for preferred Malaysian Public and Private Universities.
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Public Universities |
Private Universities |
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For more Information on the scholarship offered, please visit http://www.shell.com.my/home/content/mys/aboutshell/careers/students_and_graduates/scholarship/
Deadline : Please submit your application before February 12th, 2012. All applications are to be submitted online.
Contact :
Shell Malaysia Ltd.
Bangunan Shell Malaysia
Changkat Semantan, Damansara Heights
P.O. Box 11027, 50732 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-2095 9144
Tel: 1-800-88-3899 (Tollfree)
Fax: 03-2091 2957
Website: http://www.shell.com.my/
Email: scholarships@shell.com
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For other Scholarships information, please click :
http://www.bumigemilang.com/?cat=6
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SHELL Scholarship for Post-Graduate Studies 2012
January 26th, 2012 admin SHELL Scholarship for Post-Graduate Studies 2012
INTRODUCTION
Every year, we offer a number of scholarships to support students in achieving their personal goals and ambitions. Malaysian students planning to pursue full-time undergraduate studies (1st degree course) tenable at recognised universities in Malaysia or Overseas are eligible to apply.
Applications for the Shell Malaysia Scholarships 2012 are now open. Disabled students are encouraged to apply.
Shell Malaysia is offering two scholarships to students who wish to pursue post graduate studies at Universiti Teknologi Petronas in the following:
- MSc in Petroleum Engineering
- MSc in Geosciences
ELIGIBILITY
Open to all Malaysian students who wish to pursue post graduate studies at Universiti Teknologi Petronas in the above disciplines.
For more Information on the scholarship offered, please visit http://www.shell.com.my/home/content/mys/aboutshell/careers/students_and_graduates/scholarship/
Dateline : Please submit your application before February 12th, 2012. All applications are to be submitted online.
Contact :
Shell Malaysia Ltd.
Bangunan Shell Malaysia
Changkat Semantan, Damansara Heights
P.O. Box 11027, 50732 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-2095 9144
Tel: 1-800-88-3899 (Tollfree)
Fax: 03-2091 2957
Website: http://www.shell.com.my/
Email: scholarships@shell.com
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For other Scholarships information, please click :
http://www.bumigemilang.com/?cat=6
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SHELL Overseas Scholarship 2012
January 26th, 2012 admin SHELL Overseas Scholarship 2012
INTRODUCTION
Every year, we offer a number of scholarships to support students in achieving their personal goals and ambitions.Malaysian students planning to pursue full-time undergraduate studies (1st degree course) tenable at recognised universities in Malaysia or Overseas are eligible to apply. Applications for the Shell Malaysia Scholarships 2012 are now open.Disabled students are encouraged to apply.
This will be offered to students who plan to pursue their studies at the following universities and in these fields, in the United Kingdom or United States:
List of preferred overseas universities and degree disciplines:
- Imperial College London – Geosciences, Mechanical or Electrical Engineering
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology – Mechanical, Civil or Electrical Engineering
- exas A&M University – Petroleum Engineering only
- University of Bristol – Geosciences, Mechanical, Civil or Electrical Engineering
- University of Cambridge – Geosciences, Mechanical or Electrical Engineering
- University of Sheffield – Mechanical or Electrical Engineering
ELIGIBILITY
- Strong leadership skills qualities and active participation in extracurricular activities such as societies and clubs, sports, etc.
- Not presently holding other scholarship/loans.
- Disabled Identification Card certified by Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat (where applicable)
- Consistently strong academic achievements as follows:
For Undergraduate studies
- Strong academic results in the STPM Trial Examination (minimum 3A+ or A- & 1B) or A-Levels Forecast Results (minimum 2A’s & 1B)
- Minimum of 3.5 CGPA at Matriculation / Diploma level
For more Information on the scholarship offered, please visit http://www.shell.com.my/home/content/mys/aboutshell/careers/students_and_graduates/scholarship/
Deadline : Please submit your application before February 12th, 2012. All applications are to be submitted online.
Contact :
Shell Malaysia Ltd.
Bangunan Shell Malaysia
Changkat Semantan, Damansara Heights
P.O. Box 11027, 50732 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-2095 9144
Tel: 1-800-88-3899 (Tollfree)
Fax: 03-2091 2957
Website: http://www.shell.com.my/
Email: scholarships@shell.com
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For other Scholarships information, please click :
http://www.bumigemilang.com/?cat=6
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The Sun-MAPCU Higher Education Scholarship Fund 2012
January 26th, 2012 admin The Sun-MAPCU Higher Education Scholarship Fund 2012
The Malaysian Association of Private Colleges & Universities (MAPCU) in partnership with theSun will be awarding RM5.13 million worth of scholarships. The scholarships will cover tuition fee for courses at participating universities and colleges
Criteria
- Applicants must be Malaysian citizens.
- Applicants must posses good academic results in SPM/’O’ Level, UEC and/or STPM/’A’ Level examinations or equivalent.
- Applicants must qualify to gain admission to the participating institution for the relevant course.
- Applicants must be active in sports and/or co-curricular activities.
- Applicants must possess leadership qualities and be self-motivated.
- Applicants must financially deserving.
- Applicants must not already be in receipt of any scholarships, financial aid or award from other educational institutions or organizations.
- Applicants must abide by the terms and conditions of theSun-MAPCU Scholarship.
- Applicants must abide by other terms and conditions of the awarding institution, including any bond required.
Terms & Conditions
- The scholarship quantum shall be in the form of tuition fee waiver for the duration of the course as determined by MAPCU institutions.
- The scholarship is for students to pursue courses in Malaysia at participating institutions or those specified by MAPCU institutions.The scholarship specifically does not cover any fees etc. which may relate to studies overseas unless specified by MAPCU institutions.
- The scholarship shall be for the duration of the course as specified by each MAPCU institution . Students already enrolled at participating institutions may also apply. The students’ scholarship shall be for the remaining part of their course.
- theSun-MAPCU Higher Education Scholarship Fund holder shall not receive any scholarship offered by other educational institutions or organizations.
- On all matters pertaining to theSun-MAPCU Higher Education Scholarship Fund, the decision(s) of theSun-MAPCU Higher Education Scholarship Fund Awarding Committee (and relevant participating institution, as appropriate) shall be final and binding. No correspondences will be entertained.
- Applicants may apply for scholarships to a maximum of two MAPCU institutions, but are entitled to only one scholarship.
- Scholarship recipients are also subjected to other terms and conditions as may be decided by the participating MAPCU institutions.
- Terms and conditions of theSun-MAPCU Higher Education Scholarship Fund may be modified and amended from time to time as deemed appropriate by the theSun-MAPCU Higher Education Scholarship Fund Awarding Committee.
- Scholarship holders must pass all examinations and maintain good academic standing; participate in the institution’s sports, co-curricular and other activities in order to maintain their scholarship status.
How To Apply
This form needs to be written clearly and legibly. Applicants are liable to disqualification should any false particulars or deliberate suppression of information be submitted. All required documents must be submitted with application.
Applications received after the closing date will be disqualified.
Note: Proof of posting is not proof of receipt
List of Participating Colleges
Address:
The Manager,
theSun-MAPCU Higher Education Scholarship Fund,
c/o Sun Media Corporation Sdn. Bhd.,
P.O. Box 179, Pejabat Pos, Jalan Sultan,
46770 Petaling Jaya,
Selangor Darul Ehsan.
Deadline : 10 April 2012 (Tuesday)
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For other Scholarships information, please click :
http://www.bumigemilang.com/?cat=6
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The Star Education Fund 2012
January 26th, 2012 admin The Star Education Fund 2012
Applications are now open to Malaysians for scholarship awards offered by thefollowing educational institutions.
ELIGIBILITY
- Be Malaysian citizens of not more than 25 years of age as at 1st January 2012.
- have excelled in extra-curricular activities & active in sports.
- not be bonded to or in receipt of any financial aid or awards from other educational institutions or organizations.
- for Foundation / Diploma courses, applicants must possess reasonably good results in the SPM / UEC or equivalent.
- for the Higher and Advanced Diploma / Degree courses, applicants must possess reasonably good results in the STPM / A-Level / UEC or equivalent.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
For further details on individual university’s / college’s scholarship awards and to obtain an application form, please download the form here or submit a stamped (60 sen) self-addressed envelope (25cm x 30cm) to:
Manager
The Star Education Fund
c/o Star Publications (M) Bhd
Menara Star
15 Jalan 16/11 Section 16
46350 Petaling Jaya Selangor
Completed application forms with the required certified supporting documents listed in the application forms must be received by (2) two weeks after the release of SPM or STPM results. Late applications will not be accepted. Only short-listed applicants will be notified.
Students are encouraged to apply to the respective institutions for admissions separately.
Deadline : 2 two weeks after the release of SPM or STPM results
For more Information on the scholarship offered & to download Apllication form, please visit the link http://thestar.com.my/edufund/tier2/
Contact :
The STAR
Menara Star
15 Jalan 16/11
46350 Petaling Jaya
Selangor Darul Ehsan
Tel. (03) 7967 1388
Fax. (03) 7955 4039
Website: thestar.com.my
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For other Scholarships information, please click :
http://www.bumigemilang.com/?cat=6
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Maybank Undergraduate Scholarship Programme 2012
January 26th, 2012 admin Maybank Undergraduate Scholarship Programme 2012
SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMME
The Maybank Scholarship Programme aims to provide full sponsorship for high quality students in local and foreign premier universities. It is part of the Group’s human capital development strategy to ensure a pool of leaders who can help Maybank achieve its vision as a regional financial services leader.
Features
- Full sponsorship (tuition fees, accommodation, laptop and allowances)
- Employment with Maybank after studies.
*Maybank scholars are bonded
Requirements
- Not more than 23 years of age.
- Obtained admission to, or currently pursuing full-time Bachelor’s degree.
- Obtained minimum 2 As or its equivalent in STPM / Foundation / Pre-U or minimum CGPA of 3.00 in University.
- Leadership experience in at least 3 co-curricular activities (high school onwards).
- Individuals with high energy who seek a challenging and rewarding career upon graduation.
Applicants must not be a recipient of any other scholarship or award from other organisations or foundations.
INTAKES
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Intake |
Dates |
Application Form |
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Overseas |
June 2012 |
To be announced |
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Local |
6th January – 11th February 2012 |
6th January 2012 |
Maybank Scholarship Award is available in 2 categories:
- Overseas: Students who obtained admission to or currently pursuing full-time degree overseas
- Local: Students who obtained admission to or currently pursuing full-time degree in local public and private universities.
LIST OF SELECTED DEGREES
- Business
- Accounting
- Finance
- Economics
- Investment Studies
- Actuarial Science
- Syariah Studies & Islamic Banking
- Human Resource
- General Management
- Psychology
- Marketing
- Computer Science and Information Technology
- Risk Management
- Banking
- Management
- Law
- Engineering
HOW TO SUBMIT APPLICATION
Please Email us the application at scholarship@maybank.com.my
Only shortlisted candidates will be notified
*Terms and conditions apply
Deadline : 11th February 2012
CONTACT :
Website: www.maybank.com/scholarship
E-mail: scholarship@maybank.com.my
Facebook: www.facebook.com/maybank
Malayan Banking Berhad
14th Floor, Menara Maybank
100, Jalan Tun Perak
50050 Kuala Lumpur Malaysia
Tel: 603-2070 8833
E-mail: publicaffairs@maybank.com.my
Website: www.maybank.com
SWIFT: MBBEMYKL
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For other Scholarships information, please click :
http://www.bumigemilang.com/?cat=6
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Social Media Usage Trends Among Higher Education Faculty
January 26th, 2012 admin Social Media Usage Trends Among Higher Education Faculty
The popularity of social media and its rapid ascension into our daily lives in nothing short of astounding. Sites that weren’t even around 10 years ago are now visited every day. What’s more, 56 percent of the faculty survey said they expect their use of social media to increase this school year.
Do you friend your students on Facebook?
Do you tweet, or use Twitter in the classroom?
Do you network on LinkedIn, and participate in its groups?
Does your college or university have a social media policy?
For the past two years, Faculty Focus conducted a survey on Twitter usage in higher education. This year we expanded the survey to include Facebook and LinkedIn, while adding a number of new questions as well.
Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn all have their strengths and weaknesses, and each are better used for some things than others. But how are the three being used in higher education today? It’s our hope that these survey results provide at least some of the answers while lending new data to the discussion.
Here are just some of the findings from Social Media Usage Trends Among Higher Education Faculty, a 2011 Faculty Focus survey of nearly 900 higher education professionals:
- Facebook is the most popular social media site for the people who took this survey. Nearly 85 percent have a Facebook account, following by LinkedIn at approximately 67 percent and Twitter at around 50 percent.
- Thirty-two percent have “friended” an undergraduate student on Facebook; 55 percent said they wait until after the student graduates.
- Eighty-three percent allow students to use laptops in the classroom; 52 percent allow smart phones.
- Thirty percent said their institution doesn’t have a social media policy. About 40 percent weren’t sure.
- Sixty-eight percent have talked to their students about managing their online reputation.
Read more @ http://www.facultyfocus.com/free-reports/social-media-usage-trends-among-higher-education-faculty/
A 10-step Plan To Excellence
January 26th, 2012 admin A 10-step Plan To Excellence
Cutting the numbers, raising salaries of good employees and emphasis on efficiency are some of the keys to improve the civil service.
COMPARISONS with other countries indicate that we have too many civil servants for the population. Some 1.3 million civil servants, together with retirees, accounted for nearly two-fifths of the Federal Government’s operating expenditure last year of over RM150bil.
A bloated civil service not only sends the wrong message by keeping too many people unoccupied, it also leads to a considerable waste of government revenues and needlessly high expenditures which could have been better utilised elsewhere.
There are two sides to a large, inefficient civil service. As the numbers come down, you need to increase the rewards to retain the better people and improve the quality of entrants.
For illustration, if you cut the number of people in service by 50% and increase salaries by 50%, you actually save 25% in costs.
That may be too drastic a cut even for the civil service but a target to reduce it by a third over five years by natural attrition, getting rid of incompetent, lazy staff and very selective and prudent hiring is possible.
To encourage people to stay in the service and to recruit new, more able people, the salaries can potentially be raised by a third over five years.
Despite the salary increase, there will still be savings in costs of about 11% – if you don’t believe me, you can work it out yourself.
Remember too that the one-third salary increase need not be – indeed should not be – across the board.
It should be tweaked to give good ones better increases and bad ones smaller or no salary increases at all.
But this needs to be done under a clearly specified framework to prevent abuse.
As with many other institutions, the civil service has become highly politicised and some top civil servants have taken after the image of their political masters, demanding special treatment, special privileges and keeping their noses in the air.
They have come to consider themselves a law unto themselves and not only neglect the rakyat who they are supposed to serve but treat them with contempt, disdain and disrespect, leading to an outpouring of complaints against them, which they coolly ignore.
That attitude needs an about-turn.
It is therefore very timely that the Budget is now addressing some issues surrounding the civil service, including a mechanism to remove non-performers in the civil service. Hopefully, something will come out of that.
Meantime, here’s a list of 10 things which are imperative for change in the civil service and a move towards excellence.
1. Eliminate corruption and patronage. As has been pointed out, delays are in themselves a cause for corruption because people will seek to use nefarious means to avoid them, such as pay to put a file on top of the pile. While efficiency builds up, it is necessary to take a strong stand against any kind of corruption and patronage at all levels. The best way to do this is to issue a stern warning and take action against anyone found to be flouting the rules.
2. Recruit, reward and retain the best. You can’t have an excellent civil service without excellent people. You must recruit the best people, give them the right rewards and incentives and do your best to retain them by giving them more responsibilities, promoting them and giving them incentives.
3. Make service the aim. Considering the shabby treatment that many Malaysians receive at government departments, including the police, it is clear that the concept of service is alien to many civil servants. They exist for the public, not the other way around, and their assessment must include how well they satisfy the public in the performance of their service. This leads us naturally to our next point.
4. Encourage and act on public feedback. All counters which deal with the public must have ready feedback for public complaints. If a member of the public feels he has been badly treated, he must be given the immediate right to speak to a superior and make a complaint on the spot. Video cameras can be installed to help obtain the actual sequence of events. Superiors must act on public feedback and if a civil servant treats badly a member of the public, he must be punished.
5. Make it Malaysian. The statistics indicate that before 1970, the civil service was more Malaysian in that it better reflected the racial composition of the country compared to now when an estimated 80% or more of civil servants are bumiputras. This often leads to allegations of bias and a civil service that is not always sensitive to the needs of different races and cultures. Efforts should be made to recruit more non-bumiputras into all areas of the civil service. With an accompanying improvement in salary and benefits, it should not be a problem.
6. Use measurable standards. For performance appraisal, it is always good to use a measurable goal such as number of people seen in a day for a counter service, or number of projects approved. The goals will be different for different departments and for different levels within the same department but an effort should be made to quantify effort, even if work also has to be assessed qualitatively. The important thing is to keep any kind of bias out.
7. Reward good work. For any organisation to be vibrant and vital, it is important that good people are rewarded by offering them better increments, promotions and being put on the fast track for movement up the organisational ladder. That helps to ensure that as they progress, there will be increasingly better people at the top.
8. Punish poor work. The first part in dealing with poor work is to try and remedy the situation by pulling up the person, helping him, and giving him the means, the time and help necessary to do the job properly. If this does not get improvement, then it is necessary to reflect this in his benefits, clearly explaining what he will have to do to get back on the growth path. Sometimes even this fails, which leads us to the next point.
9. Get rid of deadwood and incompetence. If sufficient effort has been made to rehabilitate a worker and if that still fails, then the Government has no choice but to sack the worker. Clear procedures must be put in place so that there is no discrimination and that all inquiries are properly conducted before dismissal.
10. Keep political interference out. Sometimes, it is the politician who keeps the civil servant from performing his job. Politicians should set policy with input from the civil service and in the process they must have respect for the expertise developed within the service. Once policy is set, they must allow the civil service to implement it without hindrance, only interfering if the civil service baulks at implementing policy.
by P. Gunasegaram.
Read more @http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/10/12/focus/9676481&sec=focus
Why You Should Be Coaching Your Kids
January 26th, 2012 admin Why You Should Be Coaching Your Kids
Parents can nag their kids. They can even yell and scream at them. In the past, it might have worked and the children would have done what they wanted and learn a lesson from it, too.
This doesn’t work anymore. The children will rebel. What are you to do when your children are not living up to their potential, or if they are not achieving their goals?
Have you considered coaching them?
Life coach Sharmini Hensen believes that there are benefits to coaching your own children. She says all children can be coached from the time they can communicate and understand, and she believes that parents are the ones who should do the coaching.
It is a great way to empower your children to take ownership of their goals and training them to think creatively and develop problem-solving skills.
Change your mindset
Hensen, who has worked as a life coach with women, children and corporations for the past six years, says that all parents have the capability to coach their children, even if you think you lack the patience.
“It’s just a mindset. It’s about deciding and believing that you’re not here to tell your children what’s best for them, and instead, you are here to empower them to be the best that they can be so that they can make the best decisions for themselves. The old school of thought is that as the parent, I’ve got to tell you what to do, you’ve got to do as I say, when I say and how I say.
“With the current generation this won’t work. The only way to help them achieve their goals is to empower them. You have to trust that God created them as amazing beings and did not shortchange them with possibilities and resources within themselves. Our job as parents is to make sure that that perfection expands into their lives,” she says.
Be their coach
She admonishes parents who say they don’t have time or are too stressed to coach their own kids.
“It’s a cop out. Everyone blames everything on stress. You know what? If you can’t do it, then your kids can’t do it. It’s plain and simple. If you can’t manage a balanced lifestyle and you’re not achieving your goals at work, don’t expect your children to be outstanding and amazing achievers,” says Hensen.
She doesn’t encourage parents to outsource coaching.
“They’re our kids. We have to learn to be the kind of parents that we want our kids to have. That is our biggest and greatest effort. Our kids are our legacy; they are our assets.
“If we don’t invest in our legacy, there’s no point having all the material things in our life. They don’t mean anything.
“You can leave your children with other people for a short period of time as an interruption, maybe, but at the end of the day, they will come back to you because you are the nurturing one in their lives,” says Hensen.
How to go about coaching your child:
1) Sit down with your child to decide the goals he/she wants to set.
2) Ask your child how they intend to achieve these goals (for example, if their goal is to get 10 A’s, how they plan to work towards that; or if they want to be good at baking, how they plan to learn and improve their baking).
3) Ask your child to set a time frame – by when do they want to achieve this?
4) If your child is reluctant to set goals and decide on the time frame and plan of action, keep massaging the idea until they do. However, be careful not to nag and push them into doing what you want.
5) Periodically, monitor your child’s progress.
6) If they are on track, encourage them.
7) If they don’t seem to be on track, sit down with them and reassess. Could the goal be too unrealistic and unachievable? Could the time frame be too short? Could the method to achieve the goal be unsuitable for them?
The original goals, time frame and method are not set in stone; your child can change them as he/she goes along (with your guidance). This should not be confused with a child trying to shirk their commitment.
by Brigitte Rozario.
Read more @ http://parenthots.com/features/Why-you-should-be-coaching-your-kids.aspx
How to make a New Year resolution
January 26th, 2012 admin How to make a New Year resolution
Although many of us make a New Year resolution at the beginning of a New Year but we do it more out of a custom than with actual planning. Also, people don’t spare much thought in finding out what he/she will actually like to achieve in the year. Hence, the success rate with New Year resolution is actually poor. Some tips therefore can become handy in making your New Year resolution a success.
Fix your target: What is really important to you? What do you want to achieve in the coming days? Setting your priorities will help you set your New Year’s resolution better.
Make a realistic promise: When we promise, we promise big, without really considering the possibilities of achieving it at the end. This is one of the major causes of higher failure rate with New Year’s resolutions. Hence, make yourself a realistic promise.
Make an optimistic promise: Try and look at the positive side of the promise. Leave the negative ideas aside. Hence, instead of saying that ‘I’ll not be late at my appointments’ say ‘henceforth, I’ll reach everywhere in time’. The positive tone will help you improve your chances of success.
Break down big goals: If you have promised yourself a big thing set small targets at first. Instead of looking at the mammoth task on the whole, taking small steps towards achieving it will help you to reach the target easily.
Develop other habit: We all know that some habits are hard to change. Hence, the best way to change an old habit is by developing other engagement. If you have decided to quit smoking, find another engagement which will relax you and will take your mind away from smoking.
Read more @ http://www.123newyear.com/newyear-resolutions/
Good Eating Habits – Best Tip for Losing Weight
January 26th, 2012 admin Good Eating Habits – Best Tip for Losing Weight
Do you remember something about your mom telling you to eat the food slowly and do that sitting down? Mine told me that all the time. But sometimes I wasn’t listening to her and I stood up while eating my meal in a hurry.
Now, after some years have passed, I must admit my mother was right. She gave me one of the best weight loss advices in the world. Having good eating habits is a very important part of a healthy diet. It can be surprising but the rate at which you ingest the food has a lot to deal with gaining weight.
Recent studies have shown that overweight people eat much faster than the skinny ones. Also, overweight people take bigger bites than regular people do. There are many types of food that force you to ingest them slowly. By adding these types of food into your diet you will quickly develop the good habit of slowly eating the food and enjoying every bite.
These types of food are:
Foods that have really high fiber concentrations. By ingesting just a small quantity, these types of food make you feel full much faster and for a longer period of time.
Types of foods that have a high content of water. This way, you will feel much fuller. For example, try eating cucumbers or fruits. You can try out melons, apples, pears, berries and many other types of food. You can also cook some of the vegetables. Boiled vegetables absorb water and they will fill your stomach better. Eating slow and food that has a lot of water is the key.
Another recommendation is to eat food that requires a lot of chewing. Because you will be busy chewing, you will be forced to eat slowly. So try out some hard to chew foods and see what happens. You can taste some fibrous vegetables like broccoli, carrots or cabbage.
You can also try out food that requires a big of energy to consume. This way you will get tired eating them and you will not get to overeat. Try high fibers vegetables that have proteins. Also, do not forget about vegetables and fruits.
Also, when you are eating, you should avoid drinking liquids because they mess with your gastric flow and the gastric substances, lowering their intensity.
Based on all the studies I have read, and all the examples I have seen with my own eyes, I have also reached the conclusion that a good diet involves giving up on drinks that contain calories. From time to time you can have a protein shake but on regular occasions, if you can drink water or a light drink, choose that instead of sugary juices. This is what having a healthy diet is all about. You should also avoid coffee, sodas and fruit juices that contain sugar. You may not believe this but the liquid calories are one of the biggest sources of hidden calories.
by Cristian Stan.
Read more @ http://www.buzzle.com/articles/good-eating-habits-best-tip-for-losing-weight.html
Teaching Kids to Read
January 26th, 2012 admin Teaching Kids to Read
The process of teaching kids to read can be a fun; for some of them however, it could be one of the most arduous task to do. Simple procedures applied to teaching kids about basics of reading mentioned below, should be implemented to obtain better results and develop the reading habit.
Teaching Kids to Read
The basic methods employed to teach kids to read are described in the article below. One can even teach older kids to read properly with the techniques given below. To teach your child to read could test the patience. One can however, simplify the task by applying proper instructional techniques. Read more on teaching reading comprehension.
Teach Your Child to Read
The simple process to be followed in teaching pre-schoolers to read is putting more stress on vowels and the phonetics associated with them. The following instructions would help to teach your baby to read.
One should use completely different books which do not contain the regular (boring) format of letter and words. The books need to have letters printed in a bold and big font size. Teaching in unconventional ways always yields better results. Most importantly, kids are not under pressure of learning something they do not want to. One should first pick up three-lettered words and say every letter aloud, one-by-one. One should proceed to the next letter after the child has repeated it. At the end of this 3-step process, the child should be instructed to say the whole word by combining the components/letters. Some children might find it difficult to successfully complete the procedure. Saying the letters and words along with the kids boosts their confidence and thereby helping children read properly.
Phonics
The phonics method is another way of teaching kids how to read and is commonly used the world over. By this method, children are introduced to each and every letter/alphabet through the sound they make. After the completion of this basic learning process, children are taught to combine or blend the alphabets to form words. Teaching three-lettered words is the first step in the process. Children progress to four-letter words , five-letter words and so on after successfully completing the subsequent steps.
Teaching Older Kids to Read
In the United States, many fourth grade students suffer from problems regarding reading and they can’t recognize simple, easy-to-read words. Early intervention could have helped these children in developing the reading skills. However, teaching your kids to read at this age too is possible. You should, however, take out some time for teaching your child on a regular basis. The teaching session should include reading the text aloud. It is always easier to listen for a child who is reluctant to read and learn all by himself/herself. The practice of reading out aloud, familiarizes the child to new words. Most importantly, he listens to correct pronunciations and phonetic sounds. It clears doubts, if any, in the mind of the listener/child. Fiction, children’s poems or similar kind of literature (short stories) should be used to make the teaching sessions interesting. Teaching the child about idiomatic expressions and simultaneously increasing the vocabulary should be the right approach after teaching the basics. Discussions about the text/story that the child has listened to is useful from the point of developing interest and more importantly, allowing him to express his views. If everything goes according to the set procedure, it won’t be long before the child himself makes extra efforts in learning new words, new expressions and creative ways of using the language. Read more on:
Reading properly is the basic and most important thing for children to achieve in their early ages.
by Shashank Nakate.
Read more @ http://www.buzzle.com/articles/teaching-kids-to-read.html
Teaching Strategies for Reading
January 26th, 2012 admin Teaching Strategies for Reading
Every man who knows how to read has it in his power to magnify himself, to multiply the ways in which he exists, to make his life full, significant and interesting- Aldous Huxley
Reading simply means attainment of language, sharing of information, communicating and comprehending it the right way. Reading is an individual activity and has to be done on his own for better comprehension. Literacy, in the true sense, is the ability to read and absorb what is read, which forms the backbone of learning, and learning is the way of life. Such is the importance of reading in one’s life. With the invasion of technology in our lives, reading today is more of electronic display, such as computers, television, mobile phones or e-Readers. But thankfully, it prevails and technology has not completely discarded it. Reading is a habit that has to be imbibed in kids at a tender age for them to like and live by it. Now, if you find reading boring, difficult or simply tough to imbibe in your kids, here are a few teaching strategies to improve reading skills.
Effective Teaching Strategies for Reading
To start with, one must know the language relatively well. Phonics are very important as they help you connect with the sounds of every letter or group of letters, hence, clubbing them together to produce the correct pronunciation of the unknown words. The reading instruction begins with phonics, and kids learn to read simple text even before they complete the phonological knowledge. Composition of sentences, phrases, pronunciation of words, spelling and punctuation follows the phonological study. Prefixes, suffixes, compound words, and other parts of speech come in next. You need not master the language (if done nothing like it) but at least get the basic crux of the language to make reading interesting. The comprehending part is the most tough, because you cannot expect anyone to comprehend certain things in the way you comprehend them. Some people or kids for that matter, read for the heck of it, without proper comprehension. Now, at a very early age, if students are given instructions, understanding it becomes helpful for the students to monitor their comprehension. The last being summarizing, that is, remembering what is read and being able to connect to the main ideas and central plan. Listed below are a few reading strategies for struggling readers or for kids taking their first step towards reading.
Top-Down Strategy
A top down approach is essentially very basic and for the beginners. In this approach, you are supposed to break down the reading task into sections and sub-sections. These sections and sub-sections should then be given greater focus and concentration. This strategy aims at reducing the entire process to absolutely specific and basic elements. For example, a chapter is cut down into smaller chapters, may be a paragraph or so, and then these smaller chapters are read. A reader can then monitor his comprehension and is able to review content. It makes the reader know where lies the difficulty and when does he actually lose interest, hence making it easy to fix these problems. It also makes them think and search. Reading small portions and identifying with the main idea does not tax them, and many find it interesting and want to involve themselves more into this reading process, thus, encouraging reading.
Visual Representation Strategy
Kids are more fascinated with pictures in a book, therefore, a book with many pictures encourages reading. Most of us must have seen the movie “Baby’s Day Out”. I know you must be wondering how is it even relevant, but remember the baby identifies with every place he visits in the movie because of the book his nanny reads to him. Research shows that we remember things better in the pictorial form than data form. So, encourage beginners to read books with pictures to keep them interested and glued to a book. Books with Venn-diagrams, storyboards, chain of events or distinction tables, make reading interesting and easy. To begin with this strategy is good, and eventually one can resort to heavy data base books to improve vocabulary, fluency, and take up reading as a habit and not compulsion.
Keeping it Incomplete Strategy
This strategy comes in with a lot of personal experience. As a kid, my father read out umpteen number of books to me every night, but he did something which I absolutely hated. He read the story until the climax and put me to sleep not completing it all. Now, this increased my curiosity, so the next evening I completed the story reading it myself. He did it every single day, and the next day I read the end of the story. Unknowingly, I developed a liking for reading, and when I grew a little more older, I found myself reading the entire story all by myself and discussing it with my dad. Now, reading has become the way of life. Kids are very curious and visualize when you read things to them. When you end abruptly, they are not happy. They want to know it all, and therefore make an effort to find it all by themselves. So, all those mothers or teachers trying to teach kids to read, this strategy works, at least it worked for me.
by Divya Bichu.
Read more @http://www.buzzle.com/articles/teaching-strategies-for-reading.html
Importance of Technology in the Classroom
January 26th, 2012 admin Importance of Technology in the Classroom
Technology is either a boon or bane, depends how and for what purpose it’s being used. If technology is used to cure diseases in people, to help people communicate with each other across geographical boundaries, to reduce human effort by making things simple, easy and accessible, it indeed is a boon. However, if science and technology is used to prepare nuclear bombs or other weapons of war, it is harmful. As pros and cons of technology have always been debated, with some people arguing that its the best thing to have happened to human race and some totally against it, it is often wondered should the children, the future of mankind, be introduced to technology at a young age in schools? What is the importance of technology in classrooms? Let’s find out the answers…
Importance of Technology in the Classroom
Active Participation
When students are learning through technology, they are themselves looking for information on the Internet. They make their own decisions regarding the information i.e. whether it is relevant or irrelevant. They have control over how to use or present this information. Thus, one of the main benefits of using technology for classrooms is that unlike a teacher-led classroom, where students passively receive whatever information the teacher is providing, in tech savvy classrooms, students are active participants.
In-depth Knowledge
Jon Stewart once commented, “The Internet is just a world passing around notes in a classroom.” By using the Internet technology, obtaining information on all kinds of subjects has become very easy. A student sitting in his classroom can learn how people in a small village in Africa live life. Thus, Internet is a kind of library which is at the disposal of a student with just a click. A student can acquire in-depth knowledge on any subject using this vast resource.
Real-life Work Experience
The importance of technology in the classroom can be gauged from the fact that it offers an experience to students similar to the working environment that one sees in offices. In technology savvy classrooms, a teacher acts as a facilitator who sets project goals for the students and provides them with the necessary resources and guidelines to reach those goals. The student himself makes decisions with regards to the design choices, the information he wants to use and display, the resources that he will use. You may read more on the importance of science and technology. Moreover, these days, students themselves are very tech savvy and may sometimes even know more than the teacher himself. So, there is a constant exchange of information between the students and the teachers. Such an environment prepares a student to work in business organizations in the future.
Increased Motivation
Researches have shown that there is great importance of integrating technology in the classroom. When students are taught through slide shows or by showing films, it makes the lessons very easy and interesting for them. It helps in their learning, at the same time motivates them to attend school everyday. Thus, another importance of technology in schools is that it brings down the drop-out rates.
Technical Skills
Using computers on a daily basis, helps the students in developing an understanding of the various computer tools and softwares. This kind of education prepares the students and makes it easier for them to learn about the various software applications in future. You may read more on why is technology so important today. This very well defines the importance of computers in the classroom.
by Aastha Dogra.
Read more @ http://www.buzzle.com/articles/importance-of-technology-in-the-classroom.html
Tips for The Interview
January 26th, 2012 admin Tips for The Interview
It can be daunting for a job applicant when he faces a panel of people evaluating him for his skills, knowledge and views but the only way to overcome the stress and fear is to be prepared.
NOW that you have an interview, what do you do to maximise your chances of an offer? This article should help you do well at a panel interview, one where you are asked questions by a group of people.
However, let me point out that it does not cover formal (psychometric) ability and aptitude testing and should these be involved, then make sure you seek information through the Internet or through relevant books on the subject.
If you are about to attend an interview at a company on a specific date and time, you must call the company or write a brief note confirming your presence and saying how much you are looking forward to having the opportunity to demonstrate your enthusiasm at working for the organisation.
Next comes the preparation.
Check over that advertisement again. Carefully read any other information you have – perhaps a “full job specification” or an “essential skills” document that comes with the interview offer.
If there are no such documents, make it a point to telephone the individual who has signed off on the interview letter with any key questions you might have.
Write out the questions in advance. Try not to ask more than three or four questions, and make notes of the answers you get.
Be informed
Visit the company’s website. Download the annual report and accounts or any promotional literature or newsletter. Find out more information about the company and its market sector throught the Internet. Be informed.
Now check your CV (curriculum vitae) against the job specifications. Be aware of any gaps between what you can offer and what is expected. If there are some, don’t panic!
Interviewers are looking for three things from candidates — ability to do the job, general suitability (will you fit into their business culture), and motivation. So expect to have your skills, knowledge, experience, achievements and potential probed.
by Alex Communic8.
Read more @ http://thestar.com.my/education/story.asp?file=/2012/1/22/education/10279065&sec=education
Fighting The Job War With Education
January 26th, 2012 admin Fighting The Job War With Education
We must at all costs try to retain the many competent graduates for local employment as there is always the likelihood that we may lose them to other nations.
IN THE old days, university graduates were assured of a job, particularly in the rapidly expanding public service. When industrial attachment was introduced, many were recruited by companies. Some were even snapped up while still in the final year.
But not so now. Graduates, even those on scholarship, are not assured of a job any more. The economic climate is one factor and graduate employability skills another. We need to work on improving both so that joblessness does not become a major problem for young graduates.
It would appear that our pressing problem now is not rising healthcare costs, extremism and global terrorism, or environmental degradation but insufficient good jobs to go around.
In the book The Coming Jobs War by Jim Clifton, chairman and CEO of Gallup, a poll of what people are thinking, revealed that over the last 30 years, people have changed from desiring love, money, food, shelter, safety, peace and freedom to wanting a good job for themselves and their children.
The poll also revealed that three billion of the five billion people aged 15 and older, said they were working or want work. The problem is there are currently only 1.2 billion fulltime formal jobs in the world. Potential societal stress and instability lie with the 1.8 billion people who make up nearly one quarter of the world’s population. Joblessness is a driver of national hopelessness and despair. This in turn causes a decline in Gross National Wellbeing. Jobless people are dangerously unhappy and need more healthcare in general.
Jobs and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) are symbiotic. No GDP growth, no job growth. No job growth, no significant GDP growth. Job creation and quality GDP growth will be the leading forces of change for a better world.
The national transformation programme (NTP) to be achieved over the 10th and 11th Malaysian Plan period together with the new economic model, appear to be on the right track for job creation.
The vision of a high income nation is about boosting growth, creating high-paying jobs and attracting investments, where the ultimate outcome is a better quality of life for the people, where no one is left out and future generations are not compromised.
by Prof Tan Sri Dr Sharifah Hapsah Syed Hasan Shahabudin
Read more @http://thestar.com.my/education/story.asp?file=/2012/1/22/education/10279186&sec=education
Tips for Dining Out with Kids
January 26th, 2012 admin Tips for Dining Out with Kids
Just like your kid needs to be taught how to speak, walk and eat, he/she needs to be taught how to behave when dining out. Leaving them at home or waiting for them to grow up before you introduce them to the world of fine dining and restaurant dinners, may not be a very good idea. Going only to the kid-friendly restaurants is not much better either. More so, if the ‘kid-friendly’ restaurant offers only burgers and fries and you are trying to teach your children healthy eating habits. To make your family dinner outings more fun and less stressful, here are some tips you can follow.
10 Handy Tips to Dine Out with Kids
An important factor to keep in mind when you decide to go on a dinner outing with kids is that, kids are very apt at picking up signs of nervousness from their parents, no matter what the age. If you are restless and constantly nagging them, they are not going to enjoy themselves and you know what an unhappy kid entails better. So, relax even if things don’t work out the way you want them to. (The floor is not going to crack if your kid drops a fork.) Your kids are still learning and the things that are embarrassing now will amuse you later. Kids grow up and all you will have is memories. Do you really want to remember yourself as the anxious parent, ready to punch holes in the wall?
♨ 1. Table Manners at Home: If your kids follow acceptable behavior during dinner time at home, it will be easier to teach them restaurant etiquette before you leave home. Table manners begin at home, so start early. You can have a ‘pretend restaurant night’ once in a while. Set the mood by having everyone dressed up like they are going out, bring out the cutlery and show them how it is used. Ask them to tone down their voices and behave like ‘ladies and gentlemen’. It is not necessary that you cook an elaborate meal, but make something that will make the night special. If you are planning to expose your children to fine dinning, do it at home first (or at least as far as you can). Have everything ready but take your time in setting them out. Start with an appetizer – anything simple will be just fine. Then bring out the ‘main course’ followed by ‘dessert’. Make sure everyone is seated at the table (properly) for the entire meal. This will give them a feel of what will be acceptable behavior in a restaurant.
♨ 2. Choose the Right Restaurant: Deciding to take your kids out for dinner on the spur of the moment is never a wise decision, more so if it is your child’s first dining out experience. Plan the outing well in advance. Don’t restrict yourself to kid-friendly restaurants, but it is a good idea to take your children there initially (especially if your kids are fussy or cranky). Unless you expose your kids to different places, they are not going to learn how to handle themselves there. Call in advance and ask for things kids need for dinner outing (like a high chair, changing table) and if possible, make reservations. Though this rule cannot be generalized, in some places where high chairs are not provided, it is a sign that kids are not very welcome. Taking your kids out for fine dining can be a great experience, just avoid very upscale and uptight places (people go out to expensive restaurants on special occasions and you sure don’t want to spoil their mood even unintentionally).
♨ 3. Decide the Outing Time: As a parent, you know your children’s routine well, try not to interrupt it when you plan a dinner outing. If your children are better behaved during the day, take them out for a lunch. For a dinner outing with kids, reach the restaurant early. The ideal time to take kids out for dinner is 5 to 5:30 p.m. The reason is that it is before the rush hour at restaurants. This means there will be less crowd, you will be able to sit where you want, the service will be quicker and the restaurant staff will have a little free time, which means they will be more helpful. Besides, going out early will give you more time to linger on your food and will allow you to return home before your kid’s bedtime. For the same reason, you might have to avoid places that have very slow service and meals which take a very long time.
♨ 4. Make the Dinner Outing Special: Kids are more fun and easygoing when they are excited about something and if that ’something’ is an occasional treat, they become more pliant and willing to obey instructions. Just like you did for the ‘pretend restaurant night’, get them to wear special clothes. Make them realize that eating out is a privilege and that if they want a repeat, they need to behave themselves. That said, bring some quiet toys you can carry in your personalized restaurant kit to keep them engaged. But make sure that these toys will not create disputes or make too much noise. Make these games and toys ‘exclusive’ by using them only when you are eating out with kids. That way, they will not be bored very soon.
♨ 5. Pep Talk on Restaurant Etiquette for Kids: When you are on your way to the restaurant – not in the car though (kids will already be distracted by then) – take some time out to gently tell them what behavior is acceptable and what is not. Kids as small as 2 or 3 years old are capable of understanding instructions and following them, if done properly. You can promise them a reward for good behavior to reinforce your words. At the same time, don’t put them under pressure – a dinner outing is meant for enjoyment, not stress.
♨ 6. Sit Comfortably: If you have followed the tip of starting early, you will have many choices of seats to choose from, so choose wisely. Sitting in a booth or on a corner seat near an exit is recommended because, you or your kids will not get in the way of the hotel staff and other restaurant patrons while moving around or settling. Choose your seat near an exit so that you can easily take your child out if he/she has a meltdown or take him/her out for a short walk while waiting for the food to arrive. An added benefit of this arrangement is that, you will find it less embarrassing to make a quick exit if your kid refuses to be calmed down and you are forced to leave the dinner halfway through.
♨ 7. Keep Kids Engaged: In the beginning, your kids will be busy taking in the new atmosphere and will be quiet for some time. You can introduce them to the hotel staff to foster a kind of attachment between them. The staff will be more obliging to help your kids settle and enjoy. Once the kids have become acquainted with the surroundings, they will become fidgety. Give them a little freedom to look around, go to the patio or walk in the lobby, as long as it does not disturb others. After sometime, get them and bring out the ‘restaurant games’ you brought along. Make sure to keep the noise levels in check all the while and see that their behavior is not inappropriate for an outsider – NOT from your parental point of view (like jumping on the seats or questioning someone at the next table incessantly). The key here is to let them enjoy without making anyone (including the staff), seem like an unofficial babysitter or intruding on someone’s night out. Another thing to keep in mind is to include kids in a conversation. Use this time to strengthen your bonding and create lifetime memories.
♨ 8. Food Choices: Ordering from a ‘Kid’s Menu’ may seem hassle free, but those who have actually seen some, know that they have nothing much to offer. There are some exceptionally good ones, but majority of them will offer the American staple of cheese and fries. Instead, you can order from the main menu and share. This will broaden the culinary tastes of your kids and make the dinner all the more special. While you are placing an order, don’t order food for your kids before yours. If the kids finish their food before your food arrives, they will want to leave before you finish yours. Order an appetizer or two and split it up. One important point is to mention any food allergy or restrictions that your kid may have before ordering without presuming (different people use different recipes, a cook might use some ingredients that are normally never used in a dish). Discussing how and what all is required to make a particular dish is a nice way of giving an impromptu food education without evoking boredom. Encourage questions and opinions to keep the dinner table conversation on, and their interest alive. When the food arrives, taste everything that’s served before dishing it out to your kids. To reinstate good behavior, treat your kid to dessert or juice he/she likes (that is, if there is enough time before a breakdown).
♨ 9. Restaurant Rules for Parents: Use baby wipes to wipe a high chair before putting your kid in it – they may or may not have been cleaned after the last use. Place a small plastic cover under the chair of your small kid so that even if your kid spills anything, the carpet or the floor will not get stained. While leaving, clean up after your kid has done so, when things have been soiled more than what is normal in a restaurant. If there is any mistake on the part of the restaurant staff, try to keep your fuse in check. Most restaurants are more than willing to rectify their mistakes and an over-the-top reaction from you will embarrass your kids. Besides, the key to make your kids behave is by behaving yourself.
♨ 10. Tip Graciously: Even when your kids behave as adorable as angels, the restaurant staff will have to work more at your table than anywhere else. Chances are that he/she had to leave a table with less work and more tip, to wait on you and your kids. While it is enough to tip 15% when only adults are present, 20% of the bill is what you must tip if you are eating out with kids. If your kids have been fussy or the service was exceptional, give more if you want. You might even receive a happier welcome and better treatment the next time you visit that place.
by Christie J.
Read more @ http://www.buzzle.com/articles/tips-for-dining-out-with-kids.html
Semakan Gaji Secara Online bagi Kakitangan Awam (Kerajaan)
January 25th, 2012 admin Semakan Gaji Secara Online bagi Kakitangan Awam (Kerajaan)
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10 Cooking Tips for The Family
January 24th, 2012 admin 10 Cooking Tips for The Family
It’s the new year and we’re looking at ways to make it easier for you to cook for your family after a day at the office.
Heidi Shamsuddin and Annette Isaac, partners in the Dish Deli restaurant in Solaris Mont Kiara, Kuala Lumpur, share some tips for all parents.
Heidi, a mother of three, says she cooks every day for about half an hour.
“When you’re single and have no kids, it’s fine to spend more time preparing and cooking the food after work, but when you have kids, they’re hungry when they’re hungry and you’ve got to get food on the table as fast as you can,” she says.
Tip #1: Prepare the ingredients the night before.
“Most of the time is spent in preparing the food. If you’re quite organised and you do it on a daily basis, it becomes second nature. What I used to do is plan for the week what we’re going to eat and the night before, I just prepare the items. I also need to see what I’m doing that day. If I’m going to be busy in the afternoon, I would cook something in the morning or prepare it in the morning so that when I come home, I just have to put things together and cook,” says Heidi.
Tip #2: Always have important raw ingredients handy.
Heidi believes in always having the raw ingredients for the things she knows her kids like to eat, such as chicken, potatoes, carrots and tomatoes.
“As long as I have those items, I can probably put together a meal in half an hour. That doesn’t mean they’re eating the same thing every week. It has to be chopped and changed, of course,” she adds.
Tip #3: Prepare a sauce and freeze it.
Heidi recommends making a sauce and freezing it. As long as there’s no dairy or santan (coconut milk) in it, it can actually keep for about three months.
Tip #4: Frozen dinners.
Both Heidi and Isaac say that parents should read the labels carefully if they intend to buy frozen dinners from supermarkets. You need to read the labels carefully for the ingredients, amount of fat, how the food is produced and what preservatives are used.
Tip #5: Buy curry pastes and rubs.
Isaac recommends making your own curry paste and rubs as you will know what goes into it. On the other hand, you could also buy the prepared curry pastes and rubs from suppliers who genuinely have 100% natural ingredients.
Tip #6: One-tray cooking.
This is where you apply a rub to your meat (chicken, fish, etc) and stick it on a tray. Add some potatoes, tomatoes and/or carrots and herbs to the dish, then sprinkle oil as needed. Then stick it in the oven.
Tip #7: Slow cooker.
This is where you cut everything the night before or in the morning, throw everything into a slow cooker, add your spices and water and then switch it on. The food will be cooked by the next morning (if you switch it on at night) or by the time you get home (if you do it in the morning).
Tip #8: Keep it simple, sweetheart!
Isaac says the trick is to make cooking simple. She recommends parents looking up recipes with just three to seven ingredients.
Tip #9: Cook for the week.
According to Isaac, for the highly-disciplined, there is the option of cooking the main dishes on the weekend for the whole week and then sticking everything in the freezer. Then each weekday, just take whichever dish you want and warm it up.
Tip #10: One roast for several meals.
Heidi recommends something she herself does – roast a chicken on the weekend. Then on the weekdays, use parts of the chicken for different dishes – pasta, sandwiches, salad, or even pizza.
by Brigitte Rozario.
Read more @ http://parenthots.com/features/10-Cooking-tips-for-the-family.aspx
Importance of Breakfast for Students
January 24th, 2012 admin Importance of Breakfast for Students
Almost everyone of us must have heard the saying, breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Still, not many have taken it seriously and made breakfast a part of their daily diet. Just like adults, skipping breakfast has also become a practice among school going children and as parents and caregivers, it is our responsibility to provide them with a healthy breakfast. Many students refuse to eat breakfast before going to school for several reasons, like, lack of time, not feeling hungry, etc. However, they do not realize that not eating breakfast actually hampers their health and can cause various learning problems. To avoid such problems, it is necessary that students develop the habit of eating breakfast daily. Rather than forcing children to eat breakfast, it is better if we make them understand the importance of breakfast for students and the ways it will benefit them.
Importance of Breakfast for Students
The exact meaning and importance of breakfast lies in the word itself. By eating breakfast, we are actually breaking the fast or long gap after dinner, the previous night. By the time we wake up in the morning, all our energy is used up and hence we need new energy to go through our daily routine. Students who do not eat or skip breakfast on a regular basis are at a high risk of developing gastroenteritis and several other health problems. Not only that, students have to face a lot of challenges in school and an empty stomach may come in the way of their progress. It has been observed that children who do not have their breakfast before going to school have problems, like, headache, sleepiness, stomach pain, muscle fatigue, etc. Indecisiveness, anger, anxiety, irritability, unhappiness, nervousness, lethargy, hostility, etc. are some other problems that can be seen in students who skip their breakfast. Such physical and psychological problems have the ability to hinder the learning process of students.
Importance of Breakfast Facts for Students
The first point that comes to my mind while thinking about importance of breakfast for kids is that breakfast helps in their overall learning process. Students have a busy time in school where they not only learn different subjects but also indulge in extracurricular activities. For doing these activities, they need energy which comes from glucose that breakfast provides. Moreover, eating breakfast regularly also helps in weight management which can reduce the risk of child obesity which has become a common problem in recent times due to unhealthy eating habits.
Students who have the habit of eating breakfast have been reported to have better concentration during lessons than those who do not. Breakfast is also beneficial for the memory of the students as they are able to remember and retrieve already learned information quickly as well as accurately. Even their problem solving ability is enhanced by eating breakfast on a regular basis.
Studies have shown that there is a direct correlation between eating breakfast and test scores. It is seen that students who have their breakfast regularly score better in their tests than those who avoid eating breakfast. As a healthy breakfast offers ¼ of the nutrition that the body requires, there are less chances that children will indulge in binge eating foods, like, fast foods which are not good for their health. Rather, they are likely to choose foods that are healthier as well as nutritious, later in the day.
What Makes a Healthy Breakfast
Now that we know the importance of breakfast for children, the next step is to find out what exactly should be eaten for breakfast. Though carbohydrates that provide energy to the body is one of the most important part of breakfast, it is necessary to make sure that the breakfast is not just an only carb meal. A complete breakfast should include all the necessary nutrients, including proteins, calcium, vitamin B6, vitamin A, zinc and iron. Also, make sure that it contains very less sodium, salt and sugar. A basic breakfast should be nothing less than cereal, milk and fruits. There also plenty of healthy and easy breakfast recipes to make delicious dishes that children will surely love. Some of the healthy breakfast ideas that parents can make for their children are-
- Fruits should be made part of the daily diet of children. Fresh fruits, like, oranges, grapes, mangoes, berries, apples, kiwis, etc. are good choices to be eaten for breakfast. Fruits can be served with a cup of yogurt and cereal too.
- While choosing cereals, it is best to choose those that contain high fiber which are available in a hot cereal like oatmeal, rather than in cold cereal. However, even cold cereals containing less sugar and more fiber is acceptable. These cereals can be eaten by adding nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon and allspice to them.
- Making a smoothie for breakfast will also be loved by children. Even a veg omelet served with bran muffin and low fat milk or orange juice can be a good idea for breakfast. Kids may also enjoy whole grain waffles served with ricotta cheese, peanut butter and fruits for breakfast.
- Other than these traditional breakfast recipes, even leftover food, like, rice or sandwich can be served as healthy breakfast. Making a breakfast shake for kids is also a nutritious idea for breakfast.
I hope you succeed in the mission of making your child understand the importance of breakfast for students. Remember that inculcating the habit of eating breakfast in children will not only aid them in their life as a student, but also in their future life as adults.
By Deepa Kartha.
Read more @ http://www.buzzle.com/articles/importance-of-breakfast-for-students.html
Study Tips and Techniques
January 24th, 2012 admin Study Tips and Techniques
When it comes to studying or learning, every student prefers his/her distinct pattern that suits his speed, grasping capacity and other academic abilities. However there are certain studying techniques that can aid the learning process to a great extent. Taking notes in the class, reviewing the notes, rewriting the study material can seem too intimidating at times, here is a step by step guide that you might find helpful if you are in the process of chalking out your own study plan. First of all you need to acquire some useful study habits to follow a good study plan. Here are the study habits that can help you:
Attending Classes
Classroom knowledge is interactive, as well as important. The amount of knowledge that one can grasp in a classroom is extremely valuable for students. Make it a point to attend the classes regularly so that you don’t miss out on the important points and topics mentioned in the class. Often teachers mention important topics and subjects that might come in handy while cracking the class tests and exams. Attending classes will help you to understand and remember each and every concept clearly and clear out any doubt that you have regarding the subject. No amount of reading or self-study can match up to the level of interactive study that is a distinct feature of classroom sessions.
Maintaining Organized and Comprehensive Notes
Yes maintaining your notes is another essential element of studying. One simple process to have comprehensive notes is to include the following steps:
- Take Notes in the Class
- While reviewing the notes during self-study, make your own additions to sum up your understanding of the topic
- Research further to include additional data to your notes.
A well organized set of comprehensive notes is the key to right studying. Also make sure the notes are clean in terms of writing and presentation; avoid scribbles in your final notes. It is always preferable that you type your notes and maintain them online or take prints. Having a soft copy of your notes always works well since you can take prints if and when required and in addition to that you never have to worry about losing your notes. However don’t worry if you do not own a computer or if you prefer writing you notes on paper, you can maintain files or notebooks as well.
Self-Study and Research
It is a common misconception that self-study can begin only after a particular topic or chapter is taught in class. You should start preparing for the class in advance when you After attending the classes, it is of utmost importance that you have time to review the notes that you have taken during the class as well as try and read more about the subject on your own. Be it reference books, or e-books, try and hunt for more information about your subject so that you have a comprehensive view of the topics taught under your syllabus. Often while reading and self-studying, it happens that you come across doubts or questions that did not occur to you in the classroom. Try and answer these questions yourself with the help of books or the Internet, however in case you fail to fins and answer jot down these questions so that you remember to clarify the questions in your next class.
Group Discussions Debates and Conversations
Yes, one of the important habits that one must acquire to enhance the studying process is indulge in-group discussions, debates or simple conversations about the subjects that you are studying. Group discussions can be a great way to broaden your perspective over important issues since group discussions give every group member a chance to voice their understanding, which might not necessarily be alike. Group discussions are thus a healthy and a rather informal way of exchanging information and discussing issues. Many teachers encourage the group discussion technique in their classroom as well.
Regular Planning
No matter how much people frown upon the planning process and the timetables, it is a known fact that having a clear and detailed plan makes it easier for a person to reach the goal. According to your convenience, make a daily/weekly/monthly planner for your studies. Although the monthly planning process might seem convenient it is always better to have a weekly or a daily plan, so that abrupt changes in class schedules or any other changes can be taken into consideration accordingly.
Balanced Study
Yes, there exist some species of students who burn the midnight oil, and slog it out every single day. The studying process should be such that it leaves enough room for a student to indulge in recreational activities and relaxation. Always chalk out a schedule that will not hamper your sleep, your health, your sports/recreational activities and other routine tasks. Also studying a single subject at a stretch (like an entire week or so), can get boring, hence plan a schedule that helps you switch from one subject to another in sufficient time.
Build the Right Attitude
Normally students get too caught up with the grades, the percentage and the entire marking system. Always remember that if you study with the aim of acquiring knowledge, the grades will be brighter by default. However if you just aim for the high grades, there is a chance you might get the grades, but you will miss out on acquiring comprehensive knowledge on a particular subject. Always study with the right attitude, and you will never have to worry about your grades. Knowledge is way beyond the grades and percentile marking.
Classroom Study Tips: Efficient Note- taking Techniques
While you are in the classroom, it is very important to pay attention to your lecturer and attempt to grasp every single thing that is being said or discussed. Since students cannot solely rely on their memory to retain all the information, note making is an essential part of classroom studying. Here are some note-making techniques that can make the process of note-making much more convenient and hassle free.
The Cornell Method
This is one of the best methods for writing your notes. It is precise, comprehensive and most importantly it does not include too much re-writing and can still be clean and organized. While using the Cornell method, all you have to do is, rule your paper with a 2 ½ inch margin on the left which leaves a six-inch area on the right. While in a classroom, take down your notes in the six-inch area. For every significant bit of information, write a cue in the left margin (the 2 ½ inch area). When the lecturer/teacher moves to a new point, skip a few lines after the earlier notes. Once the class is over what you will have is succinct notes with cues in the left margin and space below every point where you can expand the point and jot down the subject in your own words. While reviewing the notes make use of a card to hide the notes, leaving the cues exposed. Now, say the cue out loud, and then reproduce as much as you can of the material underneath the card, and move the card to see if what you said matches the written content. Rest assured that if you can say it, you know it pretty well.
The Outlining Method
The outlining method involves listening and then writing important points in an organized pattern that is based on space indention. The major points will be written farthest to the left, whereas more specific points will be written following the main point but will be right aligned. The distance from the major point will indicate the degree of importance of a specific point. The indentions can be labeled with Roman numerals, or even decimals. Although this system is well organized, requires minimum editing and is easy for reviewing notes it does have some disadvantages. Disadvantages of this system are that it requires strong concentration level in the class to achieve accurate organization and hence may not be easy to use in a speedy lecture.
The Mapping Method
The Mapping method is a rather graphic method to jot down your notes and hence helps you to visually track your lecture. This system can be easily used in speedy lectures as well since it requires minimum thinking. The mapping method also makes it easier to edit your notes by adding numbers and color-coding. Also, while reviewing your notes, the mapping method will require you to restructure the thought processes which will in turn mean that you will re-check the understanding as well.
Self-Study Tips: While Studying on Your Own
- Make sure the place where you will be studying is free from all sorts of distractions. Ideally it is always better if you study in a quiet environment, however for people who prefer studying with some music playing in the background, it is better to keep the volume very low.
- Do prepare for your classes in advance which will help you understand the things taught in the class better.
- Attend the classes regularly so you have an idea of what is being taught in the class.
- Reading the borrowed notes, or textbooks will not match the classroom learning.
- Make it a point to research the subject further after the class is over. Do not limit yourself to the syllabus; always focus on obtaining comprehensive knowledge of a subject. Shallow understanding can get you good grades by chance but comprehensive knowledge will enrich you in the true sense.
by Uttara Manohar.
Read More @ http://www.buzzle.com/articles/study-tips-and-techniques.html
Are You Left or Right Brain?
January 24th, 2012 admin 
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Tarikh : 1 Februari – 30 April 2012
Bagi pelajar berusia 7 – 15 tahun
Sila Klik : http://www.moe.gov.my/?id=13&aid=2384
Pendaftaran :
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January 22nd, 2012 admin 
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