We all have our most hated subjects at school. Mathematics may have been your pet peeve; for others, History or Physics might have been their nightmare. Most of the time, the main reason why students despise attending some courses has something to do with their “teacher”. What exactly is the problem with teachers?
Based on researches, these are some teachers’ errors that often drive students crazy:
• Taking very long time to return and grade students’ work. There are students who have missed their sleep to finish assignments. By the time, no feedback! Plenty of studies show that feedback afford students motivation and perseverance. Therefore, an assignment can lose relevancy if it is graded weeks after it has been submitted.
• No patience with questions. Questioning means deep thinking, communicating and social interaction. It is important to show patience and empathy to all students while they are looking for responses.
• Testing on topic they did not teach. How to call up knowledge about something you have never learned? Instead, students expect from their teachers to use the backwards design method – deciding what is needed to know and could be done before concepting the lesson – to make sure such issue does not happen in the classroom.
• Punishing the whole class. Most students will find it unfair to bear the consequences of someone else’s acts. When teachers punish the class for inappropriate actions of a few students, the others often end up resenting them, and most likely lose their trust.
• No autonomy in choice. For many students, studying at school is not so far from being imprisoned! This is the case when they are unable to choose their own group, which assignment to do first, topics which may interest them – in other words, when everything is so rigid and boring.
So, what makes a good teacher? A lot of surveys have been conducted and converge toward some common major points. Apart from seeing their friends, teachers’ character holds a big part in students’ motivation as well. Thus, showing appropriate methods cannot go alone to better student’s performance, teachers’ friendly personality will help meet the goal.
If teachers manage to motivate, to state forward topics and objectives, and to explain how the lessons they are about to teach will affect their students’ long-term success, teachers will triumph.
In a variety of potential, all students are not equal! They all come to class motivated in gaining new know-how. Then, both brainy and dull students need to believe themselves in what they are achieving. Besides, teachers sometimes need to take more individual approaches, by understanding what is going on in a particular student’s life and by showing empathy.
Good teachers are good communicators: when it comes to effective teaching, strong communication skills, including listening and speaking, are a must. Being able to provide humor in class makes students engaged and supplies creative lessons. A strong classroom animation is an important part of what makes someone a good teacher.
Sources: Center for Teaching Quality (CTQ), Southern New Hampshire University
Despite the fact that it takes their sweat and tears to take care of their elderly parents, many Malagasy people choose to keep their aging people at home. You may wonder why?
It still remains somehow unacceptable for many Malagasy people to leave their elderly at nursing homes due to the value of “valim-babena” —parents’ reward from their children for the care they have provided. Thus, putting retired parents in others ‘responsibility may represent children’s failure in their duty.
From the outside view, it may appear that aged people who suffer from Alzheimer’s are the most affected by this illness. However, “caretakers are more vulnerable to die before the Alzheimer’s victims whom they take care of”— according to Madagascar Alzheimer Masoandro Mody, a Malagasy organization aiming at helping Alzheimer’s victims and their caregivers.
Let us keep in mind that everyday, most Malagasy families who keep their parents—with cognitive impairment— at home, face multiple challenges such as stress, frustration, confusion, anxiety and especially depression. So how to deal with those feelings? Obviously, children, grandchildren or any family keeper may act with agitation and furor toward their aging loved one.
We all know that these days, life becomes challenging: many deadlines to meet, plenty of homework to submit, various responsibilities to handle. Adding to the struggles in taking care of aggressive Alzheimer’s victim, staying at home turns to burden for many care-providers. And there comes the feeling of loneliness!
What kind of help do they need?
According to Madagascar Alzheimer Masoandro Mody, the most valuable support caregivers ever need is making them feel they are not alone! Feeling alone is an issue that most Malagasy caregivers often face to some degree during their journey as a caregiver. Therefore, caregivers need to be supported in avoiding the shame of finding support.
Most of the time caretakers’ friends, spouses or even children seem to not understand what they are going through. Joining associations or small groups of people in a similar situation offers a feeling of community in the midst of loneliness. Local support groups can also afford them some tips to cope with the hard care recipient.
The Alzheimer's local association and groups provide information, help line, and support services to people with Alzheimer's and especially to their caregivers, including many pieces of advice with Alzheimer's disease stages. Calling or going online is the easiest way to reach out for such support.
Another benefit of being involved in this kind of group is that caregivers are given the chance to help others who are new to caregiving by sharing tips on what has and hasn’t worked well for them. In fact, caregivers often derive personal satisfaction by helping others while helping themselves.
Source: Madagascar Alzheimer Masoandro Mody
Climate change crisis could be called the children’s right crisis. the number of young people, who make their voice heard and strike for their future, is increasing. Why such uprising?
Worldwide many children and teenagers are getting tired of inactions on climate change. Groups of students across America realize that adults and older generations are asleep at the wheel. As those young activists claim, world leaders have failed to proceed climate action. They stopped believing that the political and social institutions will be able to solve the world’s greatest problems.
Driven by the concept that the action leaders take—or do not take— will determine the survival and livelihood for generations to come, millions of these teenagers would set up, build a youth climate movement and strike from their schools, their businesses and their communities saying, “We want action now, and we are not going to stop until we get it!”.
In 2018, Swedish 15-year-old Greta Thunberg has become an icon of climate activism and has inspired countless other children, teenagers, and young activists around the world. For a long time, Greta has sparked alone a global movement which claimed for greater action from government to get over climate change. Then, millions of young people are marching to join and support her in that fight.
And then, what is “#FridaysForFuture” about and how to ensure it would pass?
#FridaysForFuture is a movement that started in August 2018, after Greta Thunberg and other young activists sat in front of the Swedish parliament every school day for three weeks, to oppose the lack of action on the climate crisis. Now every month, worldwide students go down the streets to demand that politicians achieve more to acknowledge and act upon the reality and severity of climate change. These regular marches have interested more than one million young people in more than 100 countries. As Greta says: “Everybody is welcome. Everybody is needed”.
The United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) supports and advocates youth to their governments for their national contexts. As stated in the Convention on the Rights of the Child, everyone under the age of 18 has the right to make decisions on processes that impact them, including the public forum to express their views, and support they need to achieve it. Additionally, from time to time, the UNICEF showcases youth initiatives on climate change on their social media channels, followed by more than 20 million people. This is the case of Alexandria Villaseñor, a 14-year-old activist based in New York who is part of #FridaysForFuture.
Sources: United Nations Environment Program, the Washington Post, UNICEF, Earthday
Yellowstone National Park stretches across the secluded north-west corner of Wyoming, reaching into Idaho and Montana. Founded in 1872, Yellowstone was the world’s first national park and now hosts over four million adventurers each year.
A 12-hour drive from Seattle or a five-hour from Salt Lake City, there is no doubt that it is an expedition to get there, but the moment you step foot in this vast park, you will realize it is worth every mile. With interminable green prairies, breathtaking mountain ranges, and abundant wildlife, Yellowstone is the very best of North American wilderness, wrapped up into a 2-million-acre gift for nature lovers.
Yellowstone is a geothermal extravaganza that sits atop a slumbering super volcano, which has violently erupted over 60,000 years ago. Geologists have long debated the caldera’s origins, and theories abound as to when the next big eruption is due. Anyway, do not let the merchants of doom put you off! The seismic activity is closely controlled to keep visitors out of danger.
One of the best places to witness the geothermal activity bubbling beneath Yellowstone is at Grand Prismatic Spring, just under 25 miles from the park’s west entrance. The vivid pool from afar is admirable but forget the idea of jumping in! These steaming waters can reach temperatures near boiling. In the south, we can see Old Faithful, one of the most visited geysers in the world. Old Faithful punctually spews boiling water and steam into the sky every 60 to 90 minutes.
Yellowstone is not only an impressive display of geothermal activities; it is also laced with lush forests, rivers, and lakes. Yellowstone Lake is the tranquil heart of the park, and outdoor enthusiasts come together here for all sorts of recreational activities. Visitors can cast a line in the icy and high-altitude waters; venture out in a kayak; or explore the lapping shores on foot.
The park is not only rich with legends and precious views; it is also teeming with wildlife. Yellowstone has long been a natural habitat for America’s native animals, and the park’s greatest success story is the establishment of the mighty bison. Today, Yellowstone hosts the largest remaining wild herd in the world. In Hayden Valley, a close encounter with the robust beast is likely to happen. So, keep your eyes open!
One of the most dramatic sights in the park is the Yellowstone River. Flowing from Yellowstone Lake, the river heads north before plunging 300 feet off Lower Falls and into the Yellowstone Grand Canyon. Leave your worries behind and embark on the short hike to the Artists' Park – one of the best places to sit and marvel at the immensity of this natural wonder!
Still in the park’s north, dense trees open out into rolling prairies in Lamar Valley. Its lush fields are watered by babbling brooks and framed by a backdrop of snowcapped peaks. Bringing binoculars is recommended to catch a closer glimpse of more wild bison, along with the Yellowstone’s other native animals.
When evening sets in, each visitor is offered a chance to set up a tent at one of the many campsites or to head out of the park’s north entrance to Gardiner. This gateway town is the perfect haven for weary travelers. To make your visit unforgettable, you can warm yourself with a hearty meal at one of the many saloons before continuing you epic Yellowstone adventure.
Sources: Britannica, Yellowstone National Park
After a tiring day, who does not want to satisfy their taste buds with a yummy snack? The “godrogodro”, a typical Malagasy cake, is one of the most appreciated bakeries in Madagascar. You might wonder why so? The answer is simple: according to many Malagasy cooks, a godrogodro is very easy and quick to prepare.
So, these are the ingredients you would need to get delicious godrogodro:
Here is the secret of the delight!
To start with, mix 200g of sugar with 100ml of water. Caramelize by putting the mixture on the heat until it boils and forms the golden color of the caramel. Meanwhile, prepare a larger pan to melt the coconut milk. Pour the caramel into it over a low heat. Do not let the mixture boil.
Afterwards, we can add the famous spices to make the “godrogodro” succulent: nutmeg, vanilla extract, and cinnamon. Now it is time to stream the four tablespoons of oil along with some coconut powder for a slightly grainy texture inside the mouth. What a veritable pleasure for coconut lovers!
Next step, we will spill the 400g rice-flour into the mix and stir. Then, add 900ml of water and continue stirring! Alongside, butter the mold and pour the dough into it once the texture becomes very compact.
When it is cooked enough, turn off the flame and gently rush the paste into the buttered mold. While the dough is well spread with a pastille, prepare some caramel and heat the oven to 180°C. Once all is ready, pour the caramel into the dough which was well spread out and lastly add some butter. At the end, bake the mixture in the oven for 30 minutes.
After the 30 minutes of baking, the godrogodro is ready! It is advisable to wait until the cake turns out cooler before demolding and eating it in order to discover the genuine delicacy.
Long time ago, Malagasy ancestors did not possess oven. Instead, they used charcoal cooker and the famous Malagasy “cocotte” kettle to cook the godrogodro. That is the real traditional one! Anyway, the modern way of cooking has nothing to envy to the old way; the taste does not change much. To obtain a golden top, Malagasy people just put charcoal fire on the top of the kettle until it is finally baked.
After noticing many students plugging in their headphones and learning at the same time, we often wonder: is it okay to listen to music while studying? Based on the study done by Florida National University, music produces several positive effects on the human’s body and brain. Listening to music improves our memory and optimizes our focus. So, YES! It is okay to listen to music while studying.
College students spend countless hours in studying whether at home, in the library or at school. Apart from the stress-free environment, listening to some music does offer students comfort as well.
Adding some tracks helps reduce anxiety! It has been estimated by some researchers that hearing our favorite tunes while studying affects more than receiving consoling message during each study session, throughout college years. To stay relaxed and at ease chapter after chapter, going through our favorite melody can breathe a smart idea!
Music can be also advantageous to improve student’s performance. In a study conducted at Stanford University, the effects of classical music on brain activities were investigated. The study found that while listening to a classical song, our brain begins to predict instinctively the patterns and frets of the music. That will boost students’ concentration by activating the different parts of the brain which transform students from coal to diamonds step by step.
But there is more to it than that! Listening to music can even cure pain and keep us in a good mood. Engaged in a hard love story, involved in problems with close friends or even bearing parents early death; any bad situations can take up students’ mind which often lower their motivation to study. According to USA Today, music owns a powerful ability to ease the pain. Music does not only motivate students; but it can also promote good mood which generally improves learning outcomes.
“It would be fantastic if you memorized all your chapters like you used to with your tunes’ lyrics!”- parents often say. Music, memory, and emotions are strongly linked. Human brain looks for patterns to better understand, recall and process information. It refers to the similar reason why music producers always put a hook in their song since that is commonly known.
Despite all benefits music can bring to students, the result varies from person to person. The characteristic features on the mental state and taste of the person determines his or her type of good music to listen while studying.
Sources: USA Today, Florida National University, Stanford University
After getting a glympse at the picture above, you may wonder yourself where you can see this wonderful place, and perhaps why you have never heard about it before. Steady on! That is normal since the National Park of “Baie de Baly”—or the bay of Baly National Park—still remains less popular, yet it ranks among the most beautiful Malagasy protected areas. It combines six different types of ecosystem, including the terrestrial and marine ecosystems, on a more than 57,000-acres land.
This site is found in 150 kilometers from the northwest coast of the Big Island. This park features a dense dry forest, rivers, dunes and a beautiful coral reef where dolphins and dugongs swim. Apart from that, the bay of Baly shelters the famous giant turtles, the rarest of which is named the “Angonoka” or the Astrochelys yniphora.
For nature lovers, this protected area provides also a pleasant place to enjoy an excursion and to discover some species of lemurs and endemic birds of the Island, such as the famous Ankoay and the White Crab Heron. All this exceptional fauna grows in the middle of a rich and generous flora. In total, there are 129 plant species. Another distinctive feature that makes this bay unique relates to its proximity to the Namoroka National Park. One more good reason to extend your adventure in this inspiring protected area!
Beyond its natural attractions, it could also interest visitors who are not really addicted to wildlife. Characterized by tsingy—limestone forest—and caves, the bay of Baly affords them a seaside destination, with idyllic beaches and a sea protected by beautiful coral reefs.
Better to know!
In its vast area, the “Baie de Baly” National Park has various circuits based on the discovery of its nature. For a successful excursion, it is highly recommended to bring insect lotion to protect yourself from mosquito bites. Camping equipment is also necessary for those who plan to stay there for a longer period of time. Besides, avoid eating or coming up with peanut or pork! Since that belongs to the National Park’s don’ts.
As two flagship species of the bay, a couple of tours are dedicated to the Angonoky and Ankoay's discovery. The Angonoky circuit will give satisfaction to the hiking passionate tourists: the three-hour trekking is part of the program!
Regarding the Ankoay’s one, it is primarily meant for the adventurers as the excursion lasts an average of two days. Once arrived, all birdwatchers are allowed to take a multitude of pictures, but you have to be careful! photos remain unpublished. Other circuits are also proposed, like Ihazoara’s one, a four-kilometer circuit during which you will cross canyons and meet lemurs.
Certainly, this site promotes interesting activites, but how to get there?
In order to reach this place, both travelling by boat and by 4X4 car from Mahajanga are feasible. Also, it is strongly advised to visit this park only between April and October to escape cyclones and bad weather seasons.
Source: Madagascar Treasure Island Mahajanga
Who does not appreciate the healing nature of forgiveness in our family, our relationships, and our community? Similarly, in today’s corporate world, it makes good business sense to practice the art of forgiveness.
Forgiving—or giving up on blame and faultfinding— gives us a way to use the mistakes, failures, flaws and breakdowns as opportunities to revive greater wisdom, compassion and capability between coworkers. In fact, practicing forgiveness improves organizational cultures where people feel free to undergo tricky decisions, to stop withholding their creativity and to demonstrate personal enthusiastic contribution. Internal harmony and healing are constructed then.
Great leaders know when to forgive.
Beyond acting firm and fostering accountability, leaders are also intended to let go of the wrong and broken past. Certainly, forgiving is never easy, but it proves leaders’ determination. One of the most courageous acts leaders can do is to abandon the idea of taking revenge on previous conflicts.
But how to forgive? Nelson Mandela— who famously forgave his oppressors— was a good model. After the end of apartheid, which had fostered racial separation and kept blacks impoverished, Mandela became South Africa’s first democratically elected president. Some of his peers in his political party clamored for payback against members of the previous regime or even all privileged white people. Instead, to avoid violence, Mandela stabilized and united the nation, which had a great impact on the economy of the country, including investments. This merciful leader established then the peace and truth that would permit moving forward.
Instead of settling scores, great leaders demonstrate desire for reconciliation which can heal wounds and enhance business. By doing so, turnarounds are encouraged and rebellions are avoided.
A betterment for each different level of business!
Based on the individual framework, letting grudges go generates happiness, presence, innovation, vibrant health, autonomy, personal responsibility, peace of mind, authenticity, freedom to self-express, choice, self-assurance, focused and openness. But that is not all! The genuine clemency between dyad allows for a greater partnership, collaboration, trust, communication, support, acknowledgement, appreciation, gratitude, ownership, interconnection, respect, growth, and compassion.
Formerly, the transformation continues within the team structure. By excusing one another, teammates begin to support mutually, which brings pride to the organization. What is more, this practice imports feeling of community, sense of belonging, share in learning and playfulness in the team collaboration.
What does the art of mercy award to the company itself? Empowerment, flexibility of work force, values and pride, employee retention and especially respect in the community are the free gifts offered to companies which promote forgiveness in their business.
“You will achieve more in this world through acts of mercy than you will through acts of retribution.”—Nelson Mandela.
Sources: Harvard Business Review, Industrial and Commercial Training _ Emerald Insight, The Borgen Project
“There was one of two things I had right to: liberty or death. If I could not have one, I would have the other for no man should take me alive” – Harriet Tubman. Known as a “conductor” of the Underground Railroad, Harriet Tubman was enslaved, but she escaped and helped others gain their freedom.
Born enslaved in 1822, Harriet’s parents Ben and Rit Ross named her Araminta or “Minty” for short. She would be enslaved for the next 30 years. Minty Ross spent her childhood around Bucktown, enslaved by a farmer named Edward Brodess. One day at the Bucktown store, when Minty reached the age of 12, an overseer ordered her to stop an enslaved young man from escaping, but she refused. The overseer threw an iron weight that accidentally hit her head instead. That almost killed Minty. She suffered from painful headaches and epileptic seizures which created visions and voices in her head.
In 1844, the 22-year-old Minty married John Tubman. She took his name and began calling herself Harriet to honor her mother. John was a free man, like half the African Americans in Dorchester County at that time. However, John’s freedom could not be shared to his wife. She remained owned.
One night, in the fall of 1849, she ran away from Poplar Neck Plantation in Caroline County and started her race for freedom by herself. From station to station on the Underground Railroad, Harriet was helped by free blacks and sheltered by white Americans who stood against slavery. When she crossed the border to Pennsylvania – where slavery was illegal — she was finally free. But could she stay free?
The soldier of freedom brings her people to a brand-new home.
Harriet could run to Canada and stay safe, but she would not, not yet! Until she had shared her freedom with her peers. Known as the “Moses of her people”, she risked her life over and over again to free her beloved friends and family. Over the next 11 years, Tubman returned to the Eastern Shore 13 times and rescued about 70 people for each exploit. Although fear and desperation were her constant companions, this heroic woman never lost one fugitive! Harriet always found ways to hide herself in plain sight and gave detailed instructions.
“I never ran my train off the track and I never lost a passenger”—she said.
The Civil War was fought over slavery. Harriet Tubman became the first woman to lead a civil war expedition, a raid that freed some 750 enslaved people. She would continue her battle for freedom by joining the United States Army in South Carolina where she cared for the sick, buried the died and fed the living. Harriet witnessed war in all its forms. Additionally, this small and brilliant warrior led a network of eight spies crossing enemy lines to uncover information on rebel troop movements.
Monuments were built to honor Harriet Tubman.
Harriet Tubman’s life and her missions have really inspired hundreds millions of people. Besides, sculptures, monuments and parks were created to remind American people of her deeds and struggles to make ends meet. These include Auburn National park in New York, Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park in Dorchester County, and nine-foot Harriet Tubman statue in New Jersey.
Sources: Britannica, National Women’s History Museum, American Battlefield Trust, Maryland Department Resources.
After many drafts of a new post, and OOPS! you still end up seeing error notifications. Here below are some illustrations of Facebook and Twitter rules that we should respect to avoid such issues.
About Twitter, the most important point is that message is to serve and continue the social conversation. The rule seeks to guarantee that everyone can freely and safely participate in the public conversation:
o Twitter prohibits the threat to inflict violence against a person or group of people, as well as the threat to promote terrorism or violent extremism. The Twitter policies also prohibit advocacy of force on the basis of race, ethnicity, nationality, caste, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, religious affiliation, age, disability, or serious illness.
o Twitter considers that self-destructive behaviors are major social and public health challenges that require collaboration among all stakeholders —public, private, and civil society. To develop this policy, many experts were interviewed, by the Twitter team, and proved that people involved in self-harm or suicidal thoughts could share their personal experiences that may promote or encourage suicide, whether intentionally or unintentionally.
o Users are not allowed to publish or post photos, videos, or private information of others —such as personal addresses and phone numbers — on Twitter, unless they obtain permission and express consent. Twitter also forbids threatening or inciting others to reveal private information.
o Civic integrity cannot be used in Twitter services in order to manipulate or interfere with elections or other civic processes. This includes posting or sharing content that may restrict voter participation or deceive people as to how, when, or where they can participate in a civic process.
Content sharing is now part of everybody’s daily life. On Facebook as elsewhere on the web, it allows users to publish a video, an image, an article, or a song with a single click.
o Yet Facebook intends to uphold the law on the protection of the rights of others found in its "Declaration of Rights and Responsibilities”. Therefore, it will not permit any illegal – without the author's agreement – publication especially on video content.
o Facebook ads that promote the marketing of tobacco products, electronic cigarettes, vaporizers or any other product simulating tobacco consumption are not permitted. Advertisements of illegal prescription and recreational drugs shall not be advertised as well.
o Publicity that relates to the sale or use of weapons, ammunition or explosives are prohibited. This includes advertisements for weapons modification accessories.
o Commercials on Facebook must not endorse the adult products or services deal, except for advertisements for family planning and contraception. Adverts for contraception must focus on the product's contraceptive features, not on sexual pleasure or enhancement of sexual performance, and must target persons 18 years of age or older.
o Users are not allowed to include insults or errors in grammar and punctuation. Symbols, numbers and letters must be used correctly, and never be used to subvert Facebook advertising review process or other enforcement systems.
In short, the rules on social networks such as Facebook and Twitter are subject to change at any time. It' is up to us to make updates. keep us in mind that a rule violation can ultimately result in the suspension of a user’s account.
Sources: Facebook Website, Twitter Website
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