Staying On Top of the Game…

We have all heard the phrase, “the hard part is over” but one look at the Bagrut schedule and we can see that we are not quite finished yet. The good news is that for most students some of the more difficult subjects such as math and chemistry are in the past. Students is these and other subjects can now breathe a sigh of relief. We must however remember that there are still several exams coming over the next few weeks. Lashon, Tanakh, and physics just to name a few are rapidly approaching.

So, how can we make sure that our students finish the year off strong? In professional sports, there are often teams that jump off to fast starts but lose stamina along the way. Most cynics would probably tell you that the Orioles will not finish the year in first place. Time will tell with MLB, but the concept also applies to academics. There have been several challenging tasks, but we have a bit more to go before we can kick back and relax.

Here are some tips for staying on the top of your game for the second half:

Don’t get too confident:

It is easy to become over confident and not spend as much time preparing for the second half exams. In fact, statistics show that Bagrut scores from the second half of the summer are generally lower than the first half. Yes, chemistry is done, but math biology is coming quick. Even the best students need to spend some serious prep time when it comes to the Bagrut. So, while preparation is important, remember that we are not finished yet.

It’s OK to Ask for Help:

Often, students do not seek help until it is too late. While asking for assistance is always a good idea, it will be a lot more useful if you ask earlier. Tomorrow’s Genius teachers have received several requests from students the night before a Bagrut. These requests usually begin with, “I don’t know anything. Help me!” While we are happy to provide any help that we can, the reality is that waiting until the last minute just does not work. Studying for the upcoming exams may involve some regularly scheduled help with a tutor, or just occasional help from a knowledgeable teacher. There is no shame in seeking help! Tomorrow’s Genius and other providers offer several options for Bagrut prep. Take advantage and maximize your prep time.

The Web Is Not Just for Shopping…

This tip may seem obvious, but it is amazing how many times, Tomorrow’s Genius has received requests for help from students, who just didn’t know what was already available. Ask any teen and he or she can tell you where to find movie time, sales, music/video downloads, sports scores, etc. Ask any teen to show you where you can find useful Bagrut resources and study aids and the results will be very different. The Internet contains so many resources for studying and preparing for all of the Bagruyot. Take advantage of these resources, which by the way are almost all free. Tomorrow’s Genius has created an online “Bagrut Central” guide which features all sorts of useful links for Bagrut prep.

Summer is almost here, but there is still some more work to be done. Finish strong and get the most out of your available resources. In most cases the answers are available, but it may take some work to find them.

Back Seat Teaching

The best part about learning with Tomorrow’s Genius is that you are connected with some of the world’s most amazing teachers. Our programs happen in real time which enables students to interact with their teachers, as they would in a traditional classroom setting.

For our teachers, this real-time concept can sometimes prove to be a challenge, as many of our educators have busy careers and other educational commitments. Thanks to technology however, Tomorrow’s Genius lessons can happen any time from virtually any place. Since Tomorrow’s Genius began offering online courses, we have delivered classes from some unique locations. Here is a look at how combining fantastic educators with cutting edge technology can make anything possible…

Two Places at the Same Time…

Thanks to technology we can now really be in two places at once. About a month ago, Aryeh Eisenberg, TG’s director and an online teacher realized he had a problem. He was set to teach his Monday morning English class at the same time he had to be traveling to meet with Israel’s Ministry of Education. Aryeh did not want to postpone the meeting as it had taken a long time to schedule. Of course, he did not want to miss a session with his students. So, what could he do? Using his I-Phone as an Internet source, Aryeh delivered his class from the back seat of his moving car, as someone else drove to the meeting. Because the TG platform does not require high bandwidth, Aryeh was able to meet the students with video and all, as usual. The students did not know where Aryeh was until the end of the class, when Aryeh pointed his webcam at the cars behind him.

Yes Sir!…

In Israel, some of TG’s teachers are active army reservists, and are required to participate in reserve duty during different times of the year. Shlomi Cohen, who teaches Tankah and Hebrew for Tomorrow’s Genius did not want to miss two weeks of class time because of his reserve duty. So, Shlomi brought his Motorolla Xoom Tablet with him to his posting and was actually able to deliver his classes from his post. Not only was it an amazing learning experience for the students, as Shlomi was fully clad in his army gear, but it was also a great example about how distance learning can really happen anywhere.

Do You Want Fries With That?

If you walk down the streets of Tel-Aviv or Jerusalem, you will notice all of the signs for “free Internet.” There are no signs however, offering quiet places to work. Rabbi Yisroel Porath who teaches history and Tanakh for Tomorrow’s Genius was not worried when he had a meeting in Jerusalem. His class was not until 1:00PM and his meeting was at 9:30AM. There was plenty of time to get back to the office to teach his online class. As luck would have it, the meeting ran late, and there was a problem with the buses. It was 12:45PM and Yisroel was still stuck in Jerusalem. So, he decided to try and make the best of the situation and find a nice quiet place to teach his class. Well, if you have ever been on Ben-Yehuda at lunch time, you know that there aren’t too many quiet places. With only a few minutes to spare, Yisroel found a restaurant with Wi-Fi that agreed to let him teach his class from the restaurant’s basement. With his IPAD ready to go, Yisroel had an amazing class and even got a free side salad with his lunch.

I Now Pronounce You Man and Math….

Rena Lev, a math and science teacher for Tomorrow’s Genius came to us with a unique challenge. Her students were only days away from a major exam and really needed some extra review time. The only problem was that Rena was getting married on the day that the students had asked for an extra online session. We could have arranged for another teacher to conduct the review, but Rena felt strongly about being there for her students. So, in the middle of make-up, photos, and the other pre-wedding tasks, Rena taught her session from the dressing room at her wedding hall. The students commented afterwards that it actually made them feel like part of the celebration. Most teachers do not come to class in formal wedding attire, but thanks to a laptop and the wedding hall’s WI-Fi, the class went on without a hitch. Luckily, the same was not the case for Rena and her new husband.

So, why do we share these crazy stories with you, our readers? Tomorrow’s Genius works with the most dedicated educational staff out there. Our teachers take their commitments to their students very seriously, and they give their all to every online session. By enabling our amazing teachers to work with the amazing technology, our possibilities become virtually unlimited.

Bagrut Crunch Time – Linking Your Way to Success

Here at Tomorrow’s Genius we follow the 5-P rule: “Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance”.  As our students are entering the Bagrut season the 5-P rule takes on a whole new meaning, for it’s not only Bagrut season it’s actually  Bagrut crunch time and the tight schedule doesn’t always enable us to prepare the way we would like to. That’s why we at TG feel that it’s important that students and parents become familiar with some of the best academic resources that are only a few clicks away.

The following article will focus on three main resources – links to helpful websites, pre-recorded classes and TG’s online classes option:

To begin, please check out our FAQ page for the Bagrut system. This will help you to better navigate and understand the options:

http://tomorrowsgenius.wordpress.com/2011/05/15/faq-on-navigating-the-bagrut-system/

Did you just make Aliyah? What is an “Oleh Vatik”?  Nefesh B’Nefeh’s info page on Bagrut leniencies for student Olim:

http://tomorrowsgenius.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/bagrut-matriculation-exam-leniencies-for-olim.pdf

TG Bagrut Central

Students are always looking for resources to help them study and absorb complex materials. The educational staff at TG has created “Bagrut Central” which offers students a one stop shop in finding the relevant resources in various subjects. For example -

 

Math

http://tomorrowsgenius.wordpress.com/tips-from-the-educators-3/math-bagrut-resources-center/

Biology

http://tomorrowsgenius.wordpress.com/tips-from-the-educators-3/299-2/

Lashon

http://tomorrowsgenius.wordpress.com/tips-from-the-educators-3/lashon-bagrut-resources-center/

Tanach

http://tomorrowsgenius.wordpress.com/tips-from-the-educators-3/tanakh-bagrut-resources-center/

 Expanding Your Knowledge – The Pre-Recorded Experience

The world of pre-recorded classes is sweeping the web these days and students may find some excellent resources in almost any given subject:

“YouTube for Education”

http://www.youtube.com/education

 Khan Academy – “Learn almost anything for free”

http://www.khanacademy.org/

 “WatchKnowLearn”

http://www.watchknowlearn.org/default.aspx

TeacherTube

http://www.teachertube.com/

Get the Help You Need!

The following is a sample of some of the questions we’ve been receiving from parents and students over the last few weeks:

“My daughter is in 10^th grade and needs immediate help with geometry for the Bagrut”

“My son’s Bagrut in Lashon is approaching and he has falling behind his class – is there any way you can help me?”

“We’re a group of students and we’re looking for help with 5 yechidot in Physics – do you have anyone on staff who can teach this?”

As the Bagrut season is already here, many students will need that extra push to meet the tight deadlines of the Bagrut exams. Tomorrow’s Genius has become a primary academic resource in preparing students for their Bagruyot. Students enjoy the flexibility of the class scheduling and through the virtual classroom the student and teacher are able to engage in an interactive learning session to receive the necessary tools for their academic success.

Click here to find out more about Tomorrow’s Genius online class options and bagrut course offerings.

Making the Most of the Time Off

It has been a long school year, and most students have been working hard to meet the pressures that school brings. Between mid-terms, bagruyot, tests, projects, homework, and other academic demands, there is not a lot of down time.

Pesach break is a perfect time for students to take a deep breath and enjoy a bit of relaxation before the end of the year. Even with some much needed vacation, students and parents can still make this time off from school into a productive experience. After Pesach ends, the final months of the school year include final exams, bagruyot, and other challenging assessments. Here, students have a three week break where they can focus on just one or two subjects.

So, how can students make the most of this time off? First, decide how you want to spend your time off. How much time are you willing to dedicate to academics during a vacation? The answer will be different for each student. Choose a reasonable goal for your time. Hey, it is vacation after all, but maybe on Hol-Hamoed you would be willing to spend 40 minutes studying or working on a project.

Next, decide how you are going to use your limited time. The average high school student is taking at least 8 subjects in school. Vacation is not the time to try and address all of the little problems in each class. This time would be better utilized focusing on one or two major projects or tests. Maybe there is reading that you just have not had a chance to do. Or, maybe there is an upcoming Bagrut on which you need to spend some time focusing. If you are willing to spend 30-40 minutes per vacation day doing some actual work, you won’t get everything done. Think about how this limited time can base used most effectively.

Finally, set some reachable goals. If you have decided to use some vacation time to study for the Math Bagrut, give yourself something to work towards. The mikudim for the Bagruyot were released last week. You may not make it through the entire list, but maybe you can make it through the first 3 or 4 areas.

Most importantly, even though it would be great to use this time productively, remember that students need some time off too. Parents, this is not the time to assign 8 hours of work per day. Have some fun during the vacation so that when school does begin again, students are rested and re-energized for a busy final semester.

Tomorrow’s Genius is also here to help during the Pesach vacation. If you would like to set up some online live sessions with a qualified teacher during the time off, click here for more information. We work according to your needs and your schedule.

Have a great Pesach vacation!

 

The Summer Slide and the Summer Aliyah

By, Rabbi Yisroel Porath – Customer Services Coordinator – Tomorrow’s Genius

In Summer Slide Part I, we discussed solutions to the summer slide challenge. In this post I would like to address the dual challenges of both the summer slide and making Aliyah.  I will focus on early educational intervention for children and teens that are coming to or are already in Israel

My family made Aliya when I was entering 6^th grade.  That year was one giant blur for me. I was either daydreaming in class or wandering aimlessly around the school getting into trouble. Eventually at some point between 8^th and 9^th grade I was able to find my “place” in the system. A large portion of student Olim experience a regression when joining the new educational system. Some struggle academically, others struggle socially and many struggle in both ways.  Whatever the challenges may be, the adjustment period differs from student to student.  Today, there is an increased awareness of students who have not found their place in the formal Israeli system and we’re witnessing a growth of alternative high school programs geared towards those specific student populations like GMAX or YTA.  All in all I’m a big believer in the words of King Solomon “teach a youngster according to his path”.

Thankfully, the Israeli educational system has taken some major leaps in the integration of Olim in the educational system. The general awareness and sensitivity of schools today is far more accommodating than it was 20 years ago, thanks to organizations like Nefesh B’nefesh, Telfed, and the many Olim who got involved and have brought about the necessary changes.

Time to Take Action:

The better we prepare our children/students the more successful their/our Aliyah will be. One of the methods of properly preparing children for this major move is to identify the educational issues that may surface upon making Aliyah and the years to follow.

Before I begin my list of tips it’s important to remember that when making Aliyah you may have to re-adjust expectations.  Reality tends to seem one way when you’re 6,000 miles away and dramatically different when you arrive, for better and worse.

Here are 5 easy tips that can be implemented in the home (or anywhere…)

1. Creating a Culture of Hebrew

There are many ways to create a culture of Hebrew as a process of early intervention. For example:

• Participate in a local Hebrew/Ulpan class.
• Create a culture of Hebrew around you – label items in your home with Hebrew, talk in Hebrew with your kids, point things out in Hebrew.
• Learn key words, phrases (especially for the store and bus and other day to day routine activities).
• Learn the difference between male/female words in Hebrew

2. Gather Information

Gather as much information as possible about where you will be living, where your kids will go to school, the nature of the community, and the various social networks. Be sure to gather both positive and negative elements and discuss them with your children. Engage them in the process and hear from them what their concerns and expectations are.

• http://4olim.com/

• http://www.anglo-list.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=frontpage&Itemid=1

• http://www.nbn.org.il/index.php

3. Build Social Networks Off and Online

Once you know where you will be living, begin to establish off and online relationships with people. Let the gates of social networking open up so that when you come off the plane you and your kids will be at least one step ahead socially.

Jacob Richman has excellent resources on almost everything you can possibly imagine. |Here are some helpful lists for finding social networks:

• http://www.jr.co.il/hotsites/j-mail.htm

• http://www.jr.co.il/hotsites/facebook-israel-cities.htm

• http://www.jr.co.il/hotsites/facebook-israel-aliyah.htm

4. Get to Know the Schools

If possible, visit the school prior to the beginning of the year and have your child become familiar with the facility and its surroundings. Try to set up meetings with the teachers ahead of time so that everyone will be on the same page before the year begins.  Learn the system and educate yourself. If your child is in first grade learn about the structure of their day, and if your child is in high school learn about the Bagrut system so you can better relate to their educational challenges.

Nefesh B’Nefesh has an excellent resource  guide:

http://www.nbn.org.il/aliyahpedia/schools-a-higher-education/education-childteen.html

The Education Ministry Site (their English site isn’t as developed as the Hebrew site):

http://cms.education.gov.il/EducationCMS/Units/Owl/Hebrew

A Hebrew site with contact lists of many schools all over the country :

http://www.beitseffer.co.il/

5. Social Frameworks

Get to know the various social frameworks such as youth groups or whatever social frameworks exist in your area. Check out youth groups, sports leagues and after school “chugim” and you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the wide range of options that are available for your children.

Sports

• http://afi.dosportseasy.com/

• http://www.ifl.co.il/league.aspx

• http://www.israelsoftball.org/Eng/

Non Political Youth Groups

• http://www.zofim.org.il/about_tnua_english.asp

• http://www.bneiakiva.org.il/

• http://www.mtz.org.il/

• http://www.aharai.org.il/p-35/

• http://www.tzameret.mz.he.wzo.org.il/home/P100.jsp

We at Tomorrow’s Genius are here to help make your Aliyah process successful. We aim to assist with your family’s integration into the Israeli educational system by offering a wide variety of helpful services. Our professional and experienced educational team can help you and your family with all aspects of Israeli education including:

• Individualized learning options.
• Advocacy within your school.
• Choosing the right learning programs.
• Working with your child’s school so they better understand the needs and challenges.

This summer we are also offering special programs for Olim students in Hebrew and Math, the two most basic courses that every Oleh student needs to know.  Through our specially designed courses, students can start from the beginning and build up his or her familiarity with the language and the necessary math skills so that thy will have a head start before entering the Israeli system. Many Tomorrow’s Genius staff members have been through the Aliyah process as either children or parents. We are actively looking for the most effective and experiential methods combined with cutting edge technology to help your children successfully integrate into the new educational system.

For more information or to register for our summer program, click here.

To learn more about Tomorrow’s Genius or to speak with a member of our educational team, email us at support@tomorrowsgenius.com or call us at 076-540-3021.

Please share with us your aliyah educational success story -