Category: Elementary

Author extraordinaire J.K. Rowling completed the beloved “Harry Potter” series when she was 42 years old, proving that it’s never too late to go after your dreams. On the other end of the spectrum, Mary Shelley, released her most famous work, “Frankenstein,” by her 20^th birthday, proving that it’s never too early to get a head start on a masterpiece.

Whether you’re thinking of getting into writing as a career or a hobby, improving your writing is a vital skill as it teaches you to express yourself and maintain a clear line of communication with others, something that’s useful no matter which educational or career path you take. To kick you off to a good start, here are tips to keep in mind to enhance your writing abilities:

Learn the basics.

Refreshing yourself on basic grammar and spelling rules is a good first step. Of course, this doesn’t mean you have to be a grammar stickler through and through, but being aware of basic guidelines can lead you to the right track. You’ll find great sources online like Grammar Girl and Purdue Online Writing Lab to provide you with the grammar and spelling rubrics. If you prefer books, “The Elements of Style” by Strunk and White is something you can’t go wrong with as well.

Practice, practice, practice!

Some people have the misconception that since writing isn’t a physical skill, it doesn’t require practice—that it comes naturally. While it will be an awesome thing to wake up one morning and realize that you’re blessed with superb writing skills, it isn’t realistic. As with physical skills like ice skating or swimming, devoting time and effort and instilling self-discipline to write on a daily basis can greatly help take your writing skills up a notch.

Join a writing group.

No man is an island, and that goes for writing too. It’s always to your advantage if you’re able to share your work with like-minded individuals. Find out if your school offers writing groups. If not, designate a schoolmate or classmate to be your writing partner. This way, you can get feedback for your work, and even edits.

Read, read, read.

The most respected filmmakers of today like Quentin Tarantino and Guillermo del Toro grew up devouring films. It only follows that if you would like to get more actively involved in writing, you would have to devour books as much as you can. You’d have to expose yourself to the works of other writers and derive motivation from them. Best-selling author Emma Donoghue, who’s famous for her work “Room,” shared that she looked into fellow author’s Cormac McCarthy’s work “The Road” to draw inspiration.

Get inspiration.

Writers all have their own quirks. If being an ardent book lover is not your cup of tea, you probably just require a different method to inspire your creativity. Colson Whitehead, author of The Underground Railroad, for example, turns to movies to rouse him into writing. On the other hand, Melanie Banjamin, author of “Alice I Have Been,” revealed that art exhibits are her catalysts for writing.

Now that you’ve gone through these tips, are you ready to put the pen and paper to work? Time to get going!

SOURCES:

https://www.wordstream.com/blog/ws/2014/08/07/improve-writing-skills

http://mentalfloss.com/article/12334/23-writers-who-were-famous-age-23

10 Good Grammar Resources

 

How 50 Famous Authors Find Writing Inspiration

Learning is both a lifelong journey and challenge. We open up many opportunities when we gain new skills and knowledge, but it can be difficult to find the best ways to learn. Teachers play the important role of helping students on that path. In this job, you can work with everyone from toddlers, to adults, to the elderly. Teachers are especially important for kindergarteners, who are at an age where they are gaining fundamental skills and beginning a lifelong adventure. The career of a kindergarten teacher comes with great pressure and challenges, but is also very engaging and rewarding.

Kindergarten teachers are responsible for classrooms of children four to six years of age. These instructors are helping students prepare for elementary school and beyond. At this age, kids are learning basic skills and knowledge, as well as important social lessons related to sharing, working together, and how to behave. Teachers at this level have to handle the stress of working with a group of children who are at a very critical stage of learning and will not always be at their best behaviour. The job requires you to be focused and to have the energy to teach and engage with young minds. It also involves many fun classroom activities and gives you the pride in getting to shape those growing minds.

In Canada, kindergarten teachers make around $44,100 per year. This can range from about $29,500 to over $85,000, depending on experience and location. Median hourly wages range from $34.19 in Manitoba and $50.68 in the Northwest Territories. The median wage for all of Canada is $36.95. Being an experienced teacher can increase your salary by 38% over the average.

Finding a job as a kindergarten teacher should not be overly difficult between now and 2026. There will be about 98,900 positions for kindergarten and elementary school teachers, and 101,800 people looking for those jobs. A lot of job opportunities will happen as older teachers retire, and because there will be an increase in the number of students entering kindergarten. Most people who immigrate to Canada from other countries are unlikely to work as kindergarten teachers, as the career requires certification from the province you live in.

You have to complete a bachelor’s in education in order to become a teacher. Each province has an organization that gives people certificates that allow them to teach. You have to complete the required education in order to become a member of that organization. After some years of experience, kindergarten teachers can try to find higher-paying jobs in different locations. It is also possible to advance into administrative roles, such as principal.

We are all learning every single day. This allows us to grow as people and live better lives. Kindergarten teachers are extremely important for young children who are starting that journey. The things kids learn in kindergarten impact how they grow and develop, and play a big part in the adult they will become. Think back to your own memories of kindergarten, even if they are fuzzy. Remember how exciting and scary the world was, and how good it felt to learn more about it. This is why kindergarten teachers are so important, and why the role makes a wonderful career choice.

Sources:

Job Bank. “Kindergarten Teacher in Canada.” https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/marketreport/wages-occupation/2205/ca

PayScale. “Average Kindergarten Teacher (but not Special Education) Salary.” https://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Job=Kindergarten_Teacher_(but_not_Special_Education)/Salary

Canada is a huge country, but even the even all of the land in the world is small compared with the oceans. About 70% of the Earth is covered by oceans. Pollution and global warming are threatening the oceans, but people can help to save them.

If you walk around in your neighbourhood, you will probably see a few birds and maybe a squirrel or a rabbit. Land areas have many animals and plants, but the world’s oceans, lakes, and rivers have even more. About 94% of life on Earth comes from the water, and much of that is in the oceans. So far, people have explored only a small part of the oceans, but they have already discovered some amazing things.

The biggest ocean in the world is the Pacific Ocean, between North and South America and Asia. The Pacific makes up about 30% of the Earth’s surface, and it has about 25,000 islands. Most of the world’s volcanoes are in an area called the Pacific Ring of Fire, which goes around the edge of the Pacific in a horseshoe shape.

After the Pacific, next two biggest oceans are the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. Canada borders on the Atlantic in the east, the Pacific in the West, and the Arctic Ocean in the North. The Arctic Ocean freezes over in winter, but some of the others never completely freeze. The Pacific is a fairly calm ocean, which is how it got its name, but the Atlantic can have huge storms.

Oceans are very important for the health of the planet. They give people fish to eat and also produce more than half of the oxygen that we breathe. They also help to keep temperatures regular and they make life better in many other ways.

People have discovered many interesting facts about the ocean. For example, the longest mountain range in the world is the Mid-Oceanic Ridge, which is about 56,000 kilometres long. The deepest point in the world is the Mariana Trench, which goes down eleven kilometres. The longest living structure in the world is the Great Barrier Reef, which is 2600 kilometres long and is near Australia.

Learning about the oceans is not just a fun activity; it could change the world. Oceans are essential for the planet, but they are in trouble. The planet has been warming up, and this has been killing a lot of life in the ocean. Melting sea ice has also raised the levels of oceans and flooded towns and villages on the edge of the water. Many people depend on fishing and other water-based activities for their living. Any major changes in water levels could be a disaster for these people.

Pollution has also been a major problem. Sometimes, fish eat plastic and then people eat the fish and get sick. Whales and dolphins can get caught in fishing nets and drown, which reduces the health of the oceans. The Great Barrier Reef and other coral areas are dying. Erosion and storm damage are killing parts of the oceans, and the world might soon lose these very important areas. What will you do to help preserve the oceans?

Bibliography:

Dreamer, Kacey. “Sea Science: 7 Bizarre Facts about the Ocean.” https://www.livescience.com/55015-amazing-ocean-facts.html.

National Geographic Kids. “Ocean Facts!” https://www.natgeokids.com/uk/discover/geography/general-geography/ocean-facts/.

Science Kids. “Fun Ocean Facts.” http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/sciencefacts/earth/oceans.html.

World Wildlife Fund. “Oceans.” http://www.wwf.ca/conservation/oceans/.

Popeye the Sailor Man may just be a cartoon fictional character, but he was on the right track when he relied on a can of spinach to defeat his archenemy Brutus. Spinach has a lot to offer in brain-protective antioxidants along with vitamin K, folate, and lutein and is just one of the foods that offer us great advantages to increase our physical strength and boost our brainpower.

In this article, we’ll take a look at the wealth of other brain-boosting foods you can get a bite or two of when you’re studying for an exam or completing a school project—or when you’re simply in need of a snack in between meals. Let’s get started!

Walnuts

This isn’t hard to crack: any type of nut is a much healthier alternative than chips or any munchies, but walnuts are really the best choice if you need help in enhancing your brain muscles. Walnuts are rich in various nutrients that support brain health including vitamin E, omega-3 fats, copper, manganese, and also offer fiber for brain supportive gut bacteria. If walnuts are hard to find, almonds are a great substitute.

Avocado

Avocado has a reputation of being a helpful aid to maintain healthy skin and hair—just ask your older sister or cousin–but it’s also valuable when you’ve got your eye on an A for a school paper! It’s high in monounsaturated fats that protect brain cells. In addition, avocado oil can help maintain healthy blood pressure levels so you remain calm even in the midst of difficult or complex questions in your quiz.

Blueberries

Blueberries are not just good to put on top of cheesecakes, mind you! They also provide a long list of health benefits including for brain power! Blueberries contain anthocyanins, a group of plant compounds with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects that accumulate in the brain and aids in improving communication between brain cells and enhance memory.

Dark Chocolate

If you’ve got a sweet tooth, you’ll be glad to know that dark chocolate – although a bit bitter than regular milk chocolate — is brimming with brain-boosting compounds that can help you in your studies. The flavonoids in dark chocolate accumulate in the areas of the brain that focus on learning and memory, so eat away on that dark chocolate bar!

Eggs

You’ve probably learned that eggs are a good source of protein that helps keep your bones and muscles in good condition. But do you also know that they also contain several nutrients that are linked to brain health? Eggs are rich in vitamins B6 and B12, folate and choline, which in particular helps regulate memory.

Celery

You wouldn’t think that vegetables would be excluded in this list, right? After all, vegetables are almost synonymous with physical and mental nourishment. A good example is celery which is one of the richest sources of luteolin, a plant compound that is said to be a memory enhancer. A fun way to enjoy munching celery is to have your fave dip on hand.

Beets

Another unpopular veggie that you can’t ignore. Sure, they don’t look appetizing, but looks can be deceiving! Beet roots contain impressive concentrations of nitrates, which help open blood vessels in the body, increasing blood flow and oxygen to the brain, which helps boost its function. Next time you want to score a 100 on your quiz, give beets a try.

SOURCES:

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/11-brain-foods

https://www.forbes.com/sites/jennifercohen/2015/02/05/12-best-foods-to-boost-brain-power/

https://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-21756/20-foods-to-naturally-increase-your-brain-power.html

Let’s say your parents have decided to take you and your siblings out for the weekend, and you’re given a choice to go to an amusement park and a museum, which would you end up choosing? Chances are, you’ll go for the amusement park, of course, because you prefer to have fun and play and be active—not merely look at stuff that you’re not even allowed to touch and feel or watch an informative movie one after another.

However, a number of museums are now in tune with the modern times. They have made significant efforts to ensure they offer educational benefits, as well as amusement benefits for kids. Let’s take a look at the noteworthy ones in Canada:

Science World at TELUS World of Science

1455 Quebec Street, Vancouver, BC V6A 3Z7

Science and fun are two words that normally don’t go together, but here, they are perfectly in harmony. Science World has a wealth of interactive exhibits that teach kids about science where they can enjoy themselves at the same time. This museum’s Eureka gallery allows kids to experiment with water, light, sound, and motion by launching a parachute and moving themselves with a giant propeller. On the other hand, at Ken Spencer Science Park, you can play a role in creating a healthier community and world by engaging in the sustainability choices on transportation, energy, water, food, waste and housing.

The H.R. MacMillan Space Centre

Vanier Park, 1100 Chestnut Street, Vancouver, BC V6J 3J9

If you have a soft spot for astronomy, the H. MacMillan Space Centre is a must-visit for you. It offers innovative programming, exhibits and activities to further cultivate your interest in the fields of Earth science, space science and astronomy. At the Planetarium Star Theatre, you’ll gain insight on planets, galaxies, nebulas, and other astronomical spectacles, even black holes! If you’re aspiring to be an astronaut, the Dizzying Heights: Your Body in Orbit is a perfect exhibit for you to check out. It will give you a good idea of the techniques astronauts use to adjust their bodies when they’re in space. You might even get a chance to be a volunteer for the demo!

The Manitoba Museum

90 Rupert Ave, Winnipeg, MB R3B 0N2

Having the distinction of being the largest museum in Winnipeg, Manitoba is no small feat, and the Manitoba Museum doesn’t disappoint. With its multiple galleries and levels, every kid will find something enjoyable here. Drop by Science Gallery for absolute delight. You can go to the Brickyard and build anything you want with Lego bricks—maybe even recreate “The Lego Movie” set and characters complete with Batman and his famous Batmobile! While at Engineered for Speed, you can design your own race car like Vanellope in “Wreck It Ralph” and get a chance to try out a real race car. If you’re more into experiments, head to Kidscience Experiments where you’ll learn how to do a Deep Freeze Experiment or make a Fossil Cast.

Montreal Science Centre

2 rue de la Commune Ouest, Montréal, QC H2Y 4B2

The Montreal Science Centre offers plenty of exciting limited exhibitions, like the Dinosaurs Unearthed 2 back in 2016, which was a hit for kids and adults alike. They also have permanent exhibitions like the Fabrik – Creativity Factory where you can learn about tools used for invention. At the Windmills of Imagination exhibit, you’ll gain insight about the world’s first electricity-to-water transformer (PTEEM) and the world’s first water-to-wind transformer (PTEVM) were created for the inauguration of the Montreal Science Centre in May 2000.

Ontario Science Centre

770 Don Mills Rd, North York, ON M3C 1T3

Since opening in 1969, the Ontario Science Centre has welcomed more than 52 million visitors since it opened in 1969. It has the honour of being one of the first to launch an interactive approach to its exhibits, something which was eventually adapted by science centres around the world. Whatever branch of science you’re into, you’ll surely find an exhibit that’s suited for you. One of the most popular ones are the paper-making demo where you’ll get an opportunity to make paper from scratch—even choose your own colours and designs! At the Science Arcade, you can try to navigate a distorted room and discover a shadow tunnel, bike generator, and a tricky light stick.

Now that you know you can learn and have fun at the same time at these fantastic museums, where do you want to go?

SOURCES

https://www.ontariosciencecentre.ca

https://www.montrealsciencecentre.com/

https://manitobamuseum.ca/main/

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You may have heard the saying “Everything is math”, and the reason why it’s a popular saying is because it’s true! If you excel in math and accounting skills, the world is your oyster. There are many great career opportunities where having a knack for numbers is essential. One of these potential careers is that of a brokerage clerk. A brokerage clerk is a finance and data expert that oversees the sales of bonds (a sort of loan to a government or city that you will receive back with interest), commodities (a raw material used in business that people can invest in), securities (a certificate with an implied monetary value that can be exchanged for funds), and stocks (an investment into a company). Brokerage clerks also help out regular brokers in filling out paperwork and maintaining all of the proper trading documentation, reaching out to customers and clients, and helping to take orders.

The more you learn about economics and how it makes the world spin, the more you may find yourself interested in this career. Generally, you will need a finance or business degree in college to gain employment in this field. Here is how math skills can get you a good career as a brokerage clerk:

What are the perks of the job?

First and foremost, the greatest perk of the job is being able to flex those math and finance skills that you have developed. You also work closely with the stock markets and the financial district, giving you your edge if you plan on investing within the market. There was also a reported high job satisfaction with the line of work as it tends to be a non-physical job.

What are some of the setbacks?

The largest setback of being a brokerage clerk is the below-average median salary, which tends to stand around $43,129 annually in North America according to PayScale. It can also be a somewhat stressful career if the workload gets heavy and the clerks find themselves having to process a high volume of paperwork.

How can I grow with this career?

Being a brokerage clerk is an entry-level job that can open many doors within the financial field. Clerks can take on more responsibilities at a higher pay grade or they can receive additional training and education to become a qualified broker.

That’s all great, but could I be hired for other careers?

Because brokerage clerks tend to be knowledgeable in business and financial fields, they can take on many business-related or accounting related positions. A few of these roles include jobs in bookkeeping, being an auditing clerk (reviewing the financial statements of customers), accounting clerk (clerks that review financial and transactional statements of companies), a secretary or an administrative assistant. There any many possibilities when you hold a career as a brokerage clerk.

Reference:

Payscale, “Brokerage Clerk Average Salary”:

https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Brokerage_Clerk/Hourly_Rate

StateUniversity.com, “Brokerage Clerk Job Description, Career as a Brokerage Clerk, Salary, Employment – Definition and Nature of the Work, Education and Training Requirements, Getting the Job”:

http://careers.stateuniversity.com/pages/155/Brokerage-Clerk.html

Study.com, “Brokerage Clerks: Job Description & Career Information”:

https://study.com/articles/Brokerage_Clerks_Job_Description_and_Information_About_Becoming_a_Brokerage_Clerk.html

Robots have many uses in our world.  Does your family have a small robot that cleans the floors of your house or that does other tasks? Robots are becoming part of everyday life, and a career in robotics could be a good choice.

Most machines are complicated, and robots can be difficult to understand. People who work in robotics need to know mathematics, physics, and similar subjects. Also, they need to be very good with small details. You can already start learning to work with numbers and try to make your own machines to practice for your future career.

Being able to deal with problems is also very important since many different things can go wrong with robots. Patience can be very helpful, since you might need to work on an issue for a very long time before you can solve it. Creativity is another part of working with robots. People often have to invent new machines or find new ways of dealing with old problems. Being a fast learner is important, since the field of robotics changes quickly.

The field of robotics has three types of jobs, although many other jobs can include work related to it. Robotics engineers study at a university to learn how to design robots for all kinds of purposes. Usually, at least a Bachelor’s degree is necessary, and sometimes a Master’s degree. This means that engineers could spend five or six years in university. When they are finished, they can earn between $35,000 and $89,000 per year.

Robotics technicians assemble, repair and maintain robots. They might have a degree in robotics from a university or a diploma or certificate from a community or technical college, or they might just be very good with machines. Salaries in this job begin at over $35,000 and can rise to about $63,000.

Software developers are also an important part of robotics work. They invent the computer programs that the technicians and engineers use to invent and run the robots. The amount that they earn can vary a lot, depending on where they work and how many software programs they write, but they can sometimes do as well as the engineers.

Depending on the job, work in robotics might be very quiet and physically easy or noisy and physically tiring. Technicians tend to work with welding and other possibly noisy and dangerous tools, but engineers and software developers normally work in offices where they might be alone or work with a few other people.

That can change, depending on the size of office and the types of robotics being developed. In some workplaces, only one or two people might have to do all of the jobs of engineer, software developer, and technician. In larger companies, there might be enough people to allow each one to specialize.

People working in robotics will probably never have to worry about not being able to find work. They might have to move to a different city if they live in a place with few opportunities.

Bibliography:

Grad School Hub. “What Types of Jobs Are in Robotics.” https://www.gradschoolhub.com/faqs/what-types-of-jobs-are-in-robotics/.

Neuvoo. “Robotics Engineer Salary in Canada.” https://neuvoo.ca/salary/?job=robotics+engineer.

Payscale Canada. “Average Robotics Technician Hourly Pay.” https://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Job=Robotics_Technician/Hourly_Rate.

Study.com. “Robotics Career Options, Job Duties and Employment Outlook.” https://study.com/articles/Robotics_Engineer_Job_Outlook_and_Required_Education.html.

Even though achieving academic excellence in school is important, students also yearn for ways to acquire abilities and nurture their talents beyond what books can offer them. They also are interested in developing skills and establishing strengths outside the classroom. The best way to do this is by getting involved in extracurricular activities that are focused on sports, arts, music, theatre, and others.

However, while there are advantages to participating in extracurricular activities, there are drawbacks as well.

Pros

It looks impressive on college applications.

Sure, it might be too early to think about college or university now, but you would like to get off to a good start as early as possible. Having a stellar academic record is naturally always an advantage, but admissions to higher learning institutions have become more competitive than ever. Also, keep in mind that if you are aiming to win a scholarship, it’s not always about the grades anymore. It pays to stand out from the crowd, and the best way to do that is through extracurricular activities.

It fosters responsibility and a sense of commitment.

Students having a wide open schedule often leads to leniency or procrastination. On the other hand, students who have a full plate of academic- and non-academic-related activities inspire them to be more responsible with their time. They will be motivated to make every activity count because they don’t have a lot of time to spare. In addition, they learn to develop a sense of commitment to meet their obligations with their respective groups, whether it’s a study group or a field hockey team.

It teaches a great deal about organization and time management.

Ask anyone older and they attest that organizational and time management skills are a must in any work environment, something for you to think about for the future. Balancing academics with extra activities train you to be organized and manage your time efficiently. At the same time, you become more punctual because you know you keep to a schedule and once you miss out on something, the other items on the schedule will fall like dominos.

Cons

It can lead to exhaustion.

Juggling too many balls is not always ideal—there’s a tendency to drop them all and you’re left with nothing. This means that if students become too engrossed with band practice or soccer runs, they end up not having enough time or being too exhausted to study for their academic subjects and eventually face the threat of low grades.

It can lead to mental stress.

Physical stress at a young age is one thing, but mental stress is a whole different ballgame. The pressure to keep up to a schedule can mean anxiety to some students that they tend to lose their drive to do better in both academics and their after-school activities. Some may even turn into a worrywart because they keep thinking they will be a disappointment if they don’t meet their commitments, something that will greatly upset them.

It can lead to decreased social life.

When students have far too many activities, it’s likely they will sacrifice spending time with their family and friends, eventually defeating the purpose of the school and life balance. Losing movie nights, dinner night-outs, and video game time to cheerleading practice may not seem like a big deal, but these activities with family and friends are helpful to relieve stress. As such, when they lose these privileges, there’s a likelihood the students will feel more anxious and strain.

Being active in after-school activities is valuable in growing up, but overdoing it can lead to more detriments if not handled properly- balance is the key!

SOURCES:

https://globalnews.ca/news/3706356/kids-activities-anxiety-back-to-school-2017/

http://www.babysittingjobs.com/blog/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-keeping-your-teens-super-busy/

https://greengarageblog.org/6-pros-and-cons-of-extracurricular-activities

https://classroom.synonym.com/advantages-disadvantages-extracurricular-activities-4932.html