Positive and zero exponents

Positive and zero exponents The exponent is the number or value to which a variable or number is raised. The exponent usually written as am. Here a is the base value and m is the exponent. The exponent can be a positive, negative or equal to zero. The exponent tell the number or times the base number needs to be multiplied. If m is a positive number: am = a x a x a x a..a (m times). If m is equal to zero: a0 = 1. (Any value to the power zero is equal to 1.) Example 1: Evaluate the value of the expression: (0.3)4? Solution: Here the exponent expression given is (0.3)4. The base number is 0.3 and the power to which the number is raised is 4. The base number needs to ne multiplied 4 times. This gives (0.3)4 = 0.3 x 0.3 x 0.3 x 0.3 Here there is a decimal number in 0.3 so multiplying four times has the final answer will consist of four decimal number. Therefore, 0.3 x 0.3 x 0.3 x 0.3 = 0.0027 Hence the answer is 0.0027. Question: Multiple choice question (Pick the correct option.) Evaluate the exponent expression 60? a) 1/6 b) 1 c) 6 d) None of these. Correct answer: option b. Here the base number is 6 and the power to which the number is raised is 0. The rule for any number with the power zero is: a0 = 1. This further simplifies the exponent expression 60 = 1.

5 Fantastic and Free Spanish-Learning Websites for Kids

5 Fantastic and Free Spanish-Learning Websites for Kids Suzy S. Looking for resources on learning Spanish for kids? There are so many strategies for teaching Spanish to kids  that its  easy to feel  overwhelmed with all the options. To help you in your search, weve compiled some of the best, top-rated websites to learn Spanish for kids below. These are websites that your child can visit daily and expect to discover something new and exciting each time. All five of these Spanish websites for kids include activities that are fun, and best of all free! 5 Free Websites to Learn Spanish for Kids 1. OnlineFreeSpanish OnlineFreeSpanish  is one of our personal favorites for learning Spanish for kids. Based on your child’s familiarity with Spanish, you can adjust the difficulty level from beginner to intermediate or  advanced.  The site includes 19  lessons that are precursors to several activities and fun games. Parents can even  print out coloring pages related to each of the lessons! Your young scholar will quickly learn Spanish vocabulary relating to farm animals, the seasons,  emotions, schools supplies,  and more. 2. ABCYA ABCYA teaches  elementary school students a multitude of subjects. On their  Spanish  page,  you will find two exciting carnival-like games to enhance your child’s skills. Spanish Word Bingo has 11  categories to choose from, which feature more than  200  vocabulary words and phrases. Spanish Word Toss also has 11  categories to choose from, including animals, months of the year, and transportation. We recommend these games for Spanish learners in first grade and up. 3. Digital Dialects Digital Dialects  is great for older,  middle school aged kids. Learning Spanish for kids is different than learning it as an adult, and perhaps more fun with engaging websites like this one! On Digital Dialects, students can practice greetings, verb conjugations,  units of time, and more with fun and interactive games. 4. PBS PBS is well known for its learning programs, and this is no exception! The  â€œOh Noah!” videos are sure to build your child’s Spanish vocabulary. Learners will discover the Spanish language through activities, games, and videos along with the relatable star  character, Noah,  who lives with his grandmother in a Spanish-speaking neighborhood. Each activity and game uses a variety of useful Spanish  vocabulary. Your kids will learn how to use adjectives like colors, how to discuss chores, and more. 5. Rocklingua When it comes to learning Spanish for kids, this site is a must-have. Rocklingua is a multi-faceted learning site run by teachers, musicians, animators, and computer programmers. Through songs, games, worksheets, videos, and a picture dictionary, your child will build his or her  foundation in the Spanish language. The free songs and games are clearly labeled, and other learning opportunities on the site are available for purchase. BONUS: Check out Spanish Playgrounds YouTube Channel for more fun songs and videos for teaching Spanish to kids! Keep in mind that all of these websites, though great resources, are not the same as Spanish lessons for kids. In order for your child to be truly  invested in learning the Spanish language, he or she will need a Spanish teacher. These websites work best when used as supplemental tools to help your child practice the material taught by his or her Spanish tutor. A tutor may also have additional recommendations, such as Spanish learning apps, for making practice fun and engaging. Post Author:  Breeana D. Breeana D. teaches Spanish lessons in Abington, PA. Specializing in Early Childhood, Elementary, and Special Education, she is currently enrolled in Temple Universitys Elementary Education program.  Learn more about Breeana here! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher Photo by  Donnie Ray Jones

4 Tips for Team-Based Learning

4 Tips for Team-Based Learning If youre a believer in having students work together to practice what they learn, you definitely need to explore team-based learning. As described by the Team-Based Learning Collaborative (TBLC), this instructional strategy divides classes into three steps: preparation, in-class readiness assurance testing, and application-focused exercises. Here are a few tips from Huntington to help you get started incorporating team-based learning into your classroom: Assign pre-reading. These might include textbook chapters, articles, audio or video lectures, or other materials that help students get up to speed on the work you will cover in class the following day (or a week ahead of time). Follow a readiness assurance process. A critical part of team-based learning is making sure students are prepared to learn. The pre-class preparation is important, as is the individual and team readiness assurance testing, which holds them accountable for acquiring foundational knowledge that kicks off the learning process (more about this on TBLCs website). Form teams based on important criteria. Your goal should be to group students (four to six students is the ideal group size) so that there is a fairly even distribution of skill. These teams should stay together throughout each unit so they can grow together. Develop activities that allow students to apply what they learn. Working in teams, students should solve problems that let them demonstrate what they did in the readiness assurance process. These activities should encourage students to defend, challenge, and discuss each others thinking and problem-solving processes. For more guidance on team-based learning, read TBLCs Introduction to Team-Based Learning.

The Popes Visit to the United States

The Popes Visit to the United States The pope got a lot of attention when he visited the United States recently. He has been a big story in our media, partially due to his reputation for being humble. For instance he chose a simple and inexpensive Fiat as his car for his U.S. visit. According to news reports, he does not choose the exact car, but only asks that his car be simple and modest. Has the Pope visited your country? If so was it an important event? Do you think the Pope visiting the U.S. is important? Why or Why not?Answer the questions below in comments and we will respond. 1. What cities will the Pope visit in the United States? 2. Was the atmosphere glum when the pope arrived? 3. What type of car did he take once he arrived? 4. Does the Pope feel that he is less critical of communism than capitalism? 5. Was the Popes meeting with Fidel Castro formal or informal? 6. What two things do Fidel Castro and the Pope have in common? 7. Will he speak about the US embargo on Cuba during his address to the congress?You can listen to the popes speech below. His English is slow but with few mistakes.

Your guide to teaching jobs in Taiwan

Your guide to teaching jobs in Taiwan We recently posted a number of teaching jobs in Taiwan with HESS starting in August, so we’ve gathered some helpful information for teachers who are looking into teaching in Taiwan. Whether you’re thinking of applying for one of our upcoming positions or want to keep your eye on teaching jobs in Taiwan for the future, we hope you find this blog useful. Types of teaching jobs in Taiwan Taiwan, and in particular the capital city of Taipei, has long been a hotspot for English teachers abroad. Many teachers choose Taiwan when teaching abroad due to its low cost of living, high salaries and the increasing demand for teachers. English is commonly taught in public and private schools in Taiwan, where most of the teaching opportunities in Taiwan are. Public school teaching jobs in Taiwan With English a compulsory subject from the elementary school level and up, there’s no shortage of teaching jobs in Taiwan's public school system. Teachers working in public schools in Taiwan can expect to make around $2,000 - 2,400 USD a month. Contracts usually last from six months to a year and a performance bonus on completion of a contract is also common. Other benefits include a housing allowance, airfare, health insurance and at least two week's vacation. Candidates applying for teaching jobs in Taiwan public schools must be certified teachers, with at least one year of relevant teaching experience. Sign up to Teach Away today for access to the latest teaching jobs around the world. Private school teaching jobs in Taiwan There are a wealth of job opportunities for English teachers looking to teach in private schools in Taiwan available right now. For teachers in private schools in Taiwan, salaries are usually in the region of $1,400 - 2,100 USD a month. There’s ample opportunity for travel in your free time, as most private school teachers get around 20 days off over the course of the school year. Benefits include airfare, health insurance and - in some cases - a housing allowance. Overtime is also an option for private school teachers in Taiwan, which can help boost your earning potential. Candidates applying for teaching jobs in Taiwan public schools must be TEFL or TESL certified. Past teaching experience is an advantage, but it is not necessary. Right now, Teach Away is hiring certified teachers for high-paying teaching jobs in Taiwan in private or public elementary and high schools throughout the country. Make sure you get your application in soon for your chance to teach in Taiwan this fall!

What you need to know about teaching English abroad with student loans

What you need to know about teaching English abroad with student loans Graduation is an equally exciting and intimidating time in your young adult life. As the colossal build-up to your graduation ceremony rolls around, you’re constantly faced with the tough question: “So, what are you planning on doing with your life after you graduate?” Trust us - you’ll hear this a million and one times! Some graduates, of course, have a job lined up or are planning to attend graduate school soon. If you want to start working, but you don’t want to say goodbye to your youth just yet, we have a solution here at Teach Away. Why not teach English abroad? All you need is your degree and rad English skills (plus a TEFL certificate to demonstrate your English teaching know-how). Teaching English abroad can be an amazing experience. International work experience also looks pretty darn good on your resume (no matter what career path you decide to do after) and it’s super easy to get started. Recommended Reading: College grads: The best job you’ve (probably) never thought of Why you should teach abroad as a college grad Why teaching abroad after graduation is a great career move Why teaching English abroad after graduation was the best decision of my life How experience teaching English abroad can benefit EVERY career What qualifications do I need to teach English abroad? But there’s no denying that moving abroad to teach English as a freshly-minted (and broke) grad also presents its own challenges - especially when it comes to those pesky student loan repayments. For many recent grads around the globe, student loans are considered a necessary evil. College debt in the US hovers in or around $37,000 USD per person, while UK graduates are on the hook for around £50,000 GBP. The average Canadian university grad accrues more than $26,000 CAD in student debt. Student loan debt might be causing you more sleepless nights than those final exams did. Just remember, all that expensive education is a worthy investment in your future. It helps you achieve the means to repay the loans later on in the working world, so it’s not all doom and gloom. If you graduated with student loans, you might feel like living and traveling in another country for an extended period of time is out of reach. But don’t worry, you can absolutely teach English abroad and still stay up to date on your student loan repayments. Read on to find out how! What to do with your student loans while teaching abroad Before you pack your bags, you need to have a plan in place regarding your student loans. As long as you’re prepared, your debt doesn’t have to stand in the way of your travel dreams or cause you any financial trouble. In fact, teaching English abroad can actually help you make your debt go away faster than you anticipated! One of the first things to do as a new grad facing student loan payments is to get organized. Figure out exactly what student loans you have and who is servicing them. This is all stuff you may have buried your head in the sand about during your college years, and that’s totally understandable. But now’s the time to make sure you know what your balance, interest rates and monthly payments are, as well as when your grace period ends. Here are your two main options when teaching abroad with student loans: Pay off your student loans with your killer salary Defer your student loan repayments Option 1: Apply for a forbearance or deferral before heading abroad to teach Student loan deferral for teachers abroad: This basically means putting your student loan aside and not making any payments on it for a specified period of time agreed upon between you and your lender, without accruing interest. If your loan is unsubsidized, you can still postpone payments, but just know that interest will accrue during the deferment period. It may be helpful to pay this interest off during the deferment period, to keep you from having this extra debt added to your overall debt - although this isn't strictly necessary! If you qualify, student loan deferral is a good option if you feel more comfortable without lartge repayments hanging over your head while you’re living abroad. As well, deferring your student loan will not affect your credit rating or negatively impact your chances of getting other loans in the future. This option is more likely to be approved by your lender if you’re teaching abroad with a volunteer organization, such as the Peace Corps. Because you’re not technically earning a salary while volunteer teaching, you could even be eligible for a deferment on your loan for up to three years. Student loan forbearance for teachers abroad: Forbearance is another option if your loan provider isn't able to grant you a deferral. With a student loan forbearance, you can stop or reduce the monthly payments on your loan for up to 12 months. You will, however, still accrue interest, regardless of whether your loan is subsidized or unsubsidized. Of course, it’s best to check with your loan provider to see if you qualify for a deferral or forbearance and to go over finer details of each option to see which works best for you. These options exist for a reason - there’s nothing to stress about as long as you have a plan in place for when you do start up your repayments. Sign up to Teach Away today for access to the latest teaching jobs around the world. Option 2: Paying off your student loans while teaching abroad With some basic financial planning and budgeting, it's possible to put a decent percentage of your salary towards your debt while teaching English abroad. Researching the right teaching destination is vital, though. If paying off your loan is a priority, we recommend focusing your job search on the countries with the best saving potential while teaching abroad. Focus your ESL job search on regions where you can save tons of money. Rather than focusing on your ESL teaching salary in isolation, it’s important to review your pay and benefits in the context of the overall cost of living wherever you’ll be teaching. Countries in Asia, especially Japan, China and South Korea are all perennially popular choices for new grads looking to teach English abroad. These countries offer heaps of well-paying English teaching jobs and relatively low daily living expenses, making it easy to save several hundred dollars a month to put towards your student loan repayment. All the way up to 60% of your take-home pay, in fact. Many language schools in China will also cover your housing costs, making it easier to put more money into savings each month, rather than frittering it away on rent. English teaching jobs at international schools in the Middle East are also some of the most lucrative in the world when it comes to salary and benefits. You can earn over $4,000 a month (often tax-free) and take advantage of incredible perks, like free accommodation, paid vacation and medical coverage. One slight caveat is that countries in this region often come with a significantly higher cost of living. Requirements to teach English abroad in the Middle East are also a lot stricter and employers usually prefer to hire licensed, experienced educators. Read this: Top countries to make the most money teaching abroad in 2018 A word of advice: Not all ESL teaching locations are created equal. While the demand for English teachers is high in regions like Europe and Central and South America, and you can earn enough there to live a decent lifestyle and travel on the side, you probably won’t have a whole lot left over to put towards your student loan repayments. If you decide to go with this option, be sure to do the following things: Step 1. Set up autopay on your student loans. That way, you can be sure you never miss a payment while abroad. You also don’t have to worry about remembering to send checks home on a monthly basis, either! Step 2. Set up an international bank account and connect it to your home bank account. Because you’re earning money overseas, you’ll probably want to set up an international bank account. At this point, you can link your domestic bank account with your new international bank account. That way, your student loan provider can withdraw funds from your home account - all you have to do is set up auto transfers once a month to cover your student loan repayment. Bonus: By setting up and international bank account, you’ll also avoid having to pay hefty foreign transaction fees during your time teaching English abroad! If you’re from the US, there’s another key benefit to teaching English abroad with students loans. You won’t have to pay taxes on income earned back in the old US of A, so long as you don’t make more than $101,300 in a year. While you will still have to pay local taxes on your teaching salary, these are usually much lower than comparable tax rates in the US (as low as 3% in South Korea). This means that paying off your student loan could be far easier as an English teacher abroad, as opposed to your average entry-level job back home. Read this: Tax timeout: tax responsibilities for teachers heading overseas to teach Teaching English abroad: A great way to pay off student debt! It’s easy to get caught up in the stress of having student loans hover over you when you want to work and travel abroad. But it’s important to keep a clear mind and remember that lots of new grads just like you make their travel dreams a reality every year by teaching English abroad! Pro tip: If you’re concerned about how you’re going to save up the additional $1,000 for your TEFL certificate with that impending student loan looming over you, you can always hit your TEFL course savings goal AND get some real-world teaching experience for your ESL resume by teaching English online for as little as a few hours a week. Remember, you’re in your early 20s with little-to-no responsibilities, no one relying on you and no one to answer to. You’re also probably still living at home with your parents so you have no rental agreement to break or mortgage to pay off. In short, no one really cares what you do (we mean this in the nicest way possible). Right now is the only time in your life you can drop everything and build a whole new life for yourself abroad. Adulthood will come one day, but it doesn’t have to be now. And regardless of whether you go abroad or not, your student loans will still be there. Use this as an experience to learn to manage your own finances and discover more about yourself and the world by teaching abroad. For more student loan advice from the experts, check out the following resources: StudentLoans.gov Student Loan Hero The National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) American Student Assistance (ASA)

How to Graduate From an Internship to a Full-Time Job

How to Graduate From an Internship to a Full-Time Job Image via pixabay.com Attend events Many universities still offer networking events and job fairs to their graduates. After spending thousands of dollars each year, you should be entitled to a few free professional events each year. These events can range from professional presentations on how you can improve your resumes to seminars teaching you how to use a specific software. However, a lot of these events will focus on actual networking between alumni and special professional guests. Even if a particular event isn’t designed for your desired career, you can still benefit from networking with other professionals. After all, it will help you practice those networking skills. Who knows, maybe an engineering firm needs a public relations manager? If you are planning on moving away from your college town after graduation, you can also search the closest metropolis for career-driven events. Larger cities host job fairs and networking opportunities every now and then. In addition to networking events, you can also join industry-specific associations. If you have a marketing degree, or you’re a marketing student, there’s an American Marketing Association. If you’re looking to get a job in scientific illustration, there’s also the Association of Medical Illustrators. Regardless of your industry, there are several professional organizations you can join. It is important to note that some associations do have specific requirements before you can become a member, and often they charge an annual fee to join. However, the industry knowledge you can gain from a professional organization is well worth the money. Even if you cannot attend the organization’s events, these groups often post exclusive job openings on their job boards. Customize your resume Let’s face it, we’re all guilty of submitting the exact same resume to dozens even hundreds of job openings. While sending the same generic resume to every relevant job opening on LinkedIn can help streamline the application process, it can hinder your chances of getting the job. Hiring managers can detect a template resume anywhere. After all, they encounter hundreds of them in just one hiring cycle. Spruce up your online presence Although you likely have a LinkedIn profile, a LinkedIn account alone won’t get you noticed by employers. It’s important to make yourself stand out from other applicants by creating a website with your professional portfolio. While it might not be appropriate for everyone to create a professional website, you can also supplemental your LinkedIn profile with a blog. WordPress is an inexpensive and easy way to create your own industry-specific blog. Regardless if you choose to construct a website, a blog, or both, you could focus on the quality of the content that you publish online. Only display your best work examples and blog posts. Letters of reference Obtaining your first full-time job is all about credibility. While you could have a long list of incredible internships, hiring managers want to know if you are a dedicated and skilled worker. Although most applications require you to list three to five professional contacts, you can enhance your application with one or two letters of recommendation from past employers. It can become annoying if you ask your past employer for a letter of recommendation for a dozen different positions, so instead, you can ask for a  general letter of recommendation in a specific career industry. While it might seem contradictive to have a vague letter of recommendation when your resume and cover letter is supposed to be very specific, the purpose of the letter is to highlight your capabilities as an employee and validate your trustworthiness. Given the purpose of the letter of recommendation, it isn’t vital for it to be specific for every job application. Unless, of course, you are applying to very reputable companies like Huffington Post or Google. Use your contacts Asking around is a great method to find job openings, especially those that aren’t advertised online. You can ask your family, friends, past employers, and professors. Granted, you will likely have more productive results if you ask someone who is working in the same or similar industry as you. Even if you don’t have any former employers or professors that you feel comfortable enough to ask for professional leads, you can always contact your university’s career services office. Create a plan Granted, you shouldn’t create a dream board, because your entry-level job likely won’t be your dream job; however, it will help you acquire your dream job. Plus, your first adult job will be very enriching regardless. Nevertheless, it is important to create a schedule to ensure that you are actively applying to job openings. In your schedule, you should also remind yourself of application deadlines and set aside time to research each company  so you can tailor your application materials appropriately. Focus your job search Though you may have many skills that you want to showcase to a hiring manager, it’s important that you specify only skills and experience relevant to the jobs that you are applying to. You should plan to search for jobs in two or three career paths. These jobs should fit your experience and skills. While you could want to go into writing, it’s important to know that writing (along with essentially every career) is a very diverse field. Therefore, narrowing your searches between editorial assistant/staff writer positions and associate copywriter positions will make it easier for you to mold your respective resumes to fit these jobs. Granted, you will edit your resume even further for each job opening. Refining your job search will also allow you to think of more specific examples to discuss in your cover letter. Rather than writing about your overall love of everything writing, you can elaborate on your experience writing branded content or curating content for a style blog. While most employers would love to hear about your side blogging business during your interview, it is best to leave any unnecessary fluff out of your application material for a specific job, because it can deter hiring managers from hiring you. After all, irrelevant experience in your application material, even if you have limited working experience, can make it seem like you aren’t focused on any specific career path. Hiring managers might think that you are still figuring out what you want to do with your career. If you present yourself as not being certain about your career path, your chances with a company will be slim, as the interviewer won’t believe you have longevity with their organization. To them, you could change your mind and switch career paths at any moment. Let’s face it, most companies want to invest in employees who also want to invest their time and skill into their company.