The Importance of Test Preparation for the ISEE and SSAT Exams for Private and Independent School Admission

When preparing students for the ISEE or SSAT exams, there is more pressure than ever. Most private and independent schools require that students take one of these exams, which are similar to college entrance exams in that they play a key role in admission and are highly challenging.

 Admissions officers say that they prefer students not to prepare for these tests, because they want students to accurately portray their skill set when they apply to schools. But since the schools are getting more and more competitive, in order to gain admission, parents feel like they have no other choice. Moreover, the same admissions officers who say that they do not want students to prep admit that there is a test score cut-off required for admission. As such, preparing students for these private school admission tests is incredibly important and should not be put off.

 I recommend starting test prep as early as possible, because there is so much material to cover and so many test-taking strategies to acquire. For one, there are thousands of vocabulary words that the student ought to learn, because the verbal section of the tests is incredibly demanding. Without advanced vocabulary, students typically receive scores only within the 10th to 25th percentile. There are prefixes and roots to learn as well, and this takes time. When students cram last-minute, they are not able to acquire very much new vocabulary at all, and it's hard to see much score improvement.

 Besides vocabulary, the math is incredibly challenging. When I work with young students in fifth and sixth grade, this is the place where they struggle the most, because they are being asked to learn completely new content in order to perform well on this test. I've had to introduce, from scratch, the concepts of algebra, statistics, probability, and high-level problems on percentages, ratios, and geometry. The content on this test is not the content that students are used to learning in school. It is often many grades above their current level, and it takes time to acquire so much new material.

 

Fortunately, my students learn so many new skills that they often end up far ahead of their math class in school, and a lot of students have ended up being moved into advanced levels because they are so far ahead now. I always tell them that they don't have to worry about learning algebra again many years later, because they are already experts.

 

Most importantly, it takes time to learn the test-taking strategies. The ISEE does not take off points for wrong answers, so you never want to leave a problem blank. However, you don't want to actually spend time focusing your energy on every single problem, because unlike tests at school, this test is not designed so that you can actually finish it in time. You are expected to perform the best you can, knowing that you have less than one minute to answer each question.

 

Test preparation allows students to learn which problems they should focus the most energy on and which ones to just glance at, because it's not possible to actually attempt to solve every problem on the test.

The SSAT does take a quarter of a point off for every wrong answer, so the strategy in this case is to know which problems to leave blank, so that you don't lose many points by attempting problems you shouldn't. This also gives you more time to focus on the problems that you should be solving. I always say that is much better to answer less problems, and get all those problems correct, than rushing through and trying to answer every single problem, making careless mistakes along the way and inevitably getting a much lower score as a result.

 

In my experience, students are able to perform very well on this test once they have enough preparation. They can learn vocabulary, prefixes and roots, reading comprehension skills, essay writing skills, and a massive amount of new mathematical knowledge. They can acquire test-taking strategies that will give them the confidence to plow through the test with focus. It all takes time, and work, but in the end, not only does it gain you entrance to the top private and independent schools, but it teaches you skills and knowledge that you will be able to use for the rest of your education.

Guest Blog by: Alexandra

Teaching Multiplication through Skip-Counting to a Student with Special Needs

I have a student with a rare condition: Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum (a complete or partial absence of the corpus callosum, the band connecting the two hemispheres in the brain). He struggles with mental math and memorizing facts, and benefits from a more visual and tactile approach. I don't specifically use Touch Math with him, but I do incorporate those concepts. Multiplication through memorization tends to be the main way that students are taught nowadays. They are given drill after drill, hoping that rote memorization will be enough to keep the facts grounded into their heads. But what if they don't understand why they're multiplying, and what multiplication really means?

It is very important to me that my students understand why a math concept works. I introduced multiplication to this student by expanding on what he knew about addition. If we have two of something, and then we have two groups of those, then we have 2×2. He adapted to the concept of multiplication very quickly, but it's another thing to then be able to multiply larger products.

We practiced with skip counting, the concept of 'counting-by,' such as counting by twos (2, 4, 6, 8). If we had one 2, and then we had another 2, we would have two 2s. If we added another 2, we would have three 2s. This looks like 2×2, 2×3, etc. We connected each sum to the concept of multiplication, until he grasped that counting by 2s would give him the multiples of two.

We then worked on 5s, because it's just easy for kids to count by five, and they've been practicing since kindergarten. Then he knew the multiples of five. Next came three, but that was harder for him. He's getting used to the multiples of three enough to memorize them somewhat, but what he tends to do is start at one number, count up three to the next number, and so on, using his fingers to guide him along the way. So he started with six, with his thumb pointed up, then counted up three until he got to nine on his pointer finger, counted up three until he got to 12 on his middle finger, and so on.

With fours, I introduced the idea of actually skip counting as he counted by twos. So this way he would count two, four, six, eight, and omit every other number. We practiced this by verbally counting by twos and whispering every other number while saying louder every other number (say 2 out loud, whisper 4, say 6 out loud, etc.). We also did this visually by writing out 2, 4, 6, 8 and then crossing out every other number. Once he has a better handle on his threes, we will be doing the same thing in order to master sixes (skip counting every other multiple).

When he gets to a multiplication problem, we have a strategy for when one of the two numbers is five or below (if both numbers are above five he has to draw it out--for 6×6 he draws six dots six times--not the most efficient strategy but we’re working our way up). He underlines the smaller number, knowing he's going to skip count by that number the amount of times indicated by the other number. So if it's 2×4, he would underline the two, and count by twos four times (2, 4, 6, 8).

Over time, he is memorizing more and more of the products, and the multiplication drills that he's doing at school will certainly benefit this as well. But it's so important that he understands why he's multiplying and has additional strategies for when memorization fails him. I'm sure all adults have gotten to a mental block at some point where we just can't remember a multiple of seven, or eight. Teaching multiplication through memorization should be a backdrop to a greater understanding of what the student is really doing.

Guest Blog by: Alexandra

Writing Prompts--Using Dynamic Images to Stimulate Creativity in Writing

When tutoring a student week after week to improve writing skills, it can be challenging to come up with ways to make the content engaging. With a third grade student I've been working with for years, some of our current goals are to encourage fluency, vocabulary use, story development, and structure. These are all large-reaching concepts that can be approached in a number of ways.

In order to start us off, I went on Google images and printed out an illustration of a giant crab attacking a city. It's not violent, but it is a very visually stimulating, and for a male student, he needs action in his writing or he's not going to stay interested.

I told him our story was going to have a beginning, middle, and end. Three paragraphs. The first would be about how the crab got to be so giant. The second would be, what was it doing in this city and how did it get there. And the third would be about how the story would end: what would become of the crab, and the city underneath it?

The student got to generate an idea for the genesis of this giant crab, and came up with a story about how it broke into a supermarket and climbed into some magic tomato sauce, which made him giant. When working with students, I always promote as much creativity as possible, and ask lots of questions along the way, such as, "What happened to the jar once the crab got giant? Did it break?" Logic within a fantasy world is still important for writers to consider, even if the logic only makes sense in that one world.

As we wrote each paragraph, I focused on using dynamic verbs and sensory adjectives, asking him how he thought things looked, smelled, felt, etc. I asked him question after question to promote development of ideas and logical sequencing, because what's next? And why did that happen after the previous event? are necessary inquiries not just for writing development but for reading comprehension as well. The two skills go hand in hand, and by actively discussing sequencing while writing we can promote comprehension as well.

Another day, I chose three images and asked the student to put them in order. A picture of a boy looking into the woods, a picture of a bear, and a picture of a gingerbread house. I imagined that he would start with the boy, looking at the house, and then encountering a bear. Instead the bear ate the house while the boy watched. Of course, I was happy with any outcome, and each step of the way we discussed logical sequencing in order to develop our story. I believe that images stimulate our senses and our imagination in a way that questions like ‘What would you do if...’ are not able to. And then you just have to see where it takes you.

Guest Blog by: Alexandra

What Strategies Do You Use with Dealing with Unhappy Learners in Tutoring Sessions?

Tutoring is not all fun and games for everyone. Sometimes, students may feel too pressured because of the individual attention given to them. At times, they may feel lax because of the given freedom and isolation they receive because of the one-on-one tutoring situation that happens in most cases. These different scenarios illustrate how tutoring can end up with unhappy learners.

When students are not satisfied with the tutoring, they cannot grasp the subject material easily and a tutor faces much difficulty in the tutoring process, because extra attention will have to be given in order to motivate the student. If you're having difficulty dealing with unhappy learners, always keep these important strategies in mind.

Direct: Consultation

Sometimes, getting straight to the point and not “beating around the bush” in identifying the problem can settle things for both students and tutors. Be the first to initiate concern so that your student knows that you do care about his or her welfare. Ask if there is something wrong with your methods, the atmosphere, the pacing, or the content itself. These questions will allow your student to explain the root cause of the unhappy attitude and you can solve it together to allow smooth sailing in the future. Most students are just too shy to raise the attention of a problem, so do them a favor and start it off: this eases everything by a whole lot. You could also get this information in a student session survey.

Indirect: Talking to Close Friends or Family

Another approach is to indirectly analyze the situation and understand the behavior of your student by talking to family or even close friends. Naturally, get the written permission of the parents before you talk to other friends. They can provide you insight on attitude issues or perhaps more about your student's preferences so that you can work with him or her more effectively during the next tutoring session. Students seldom reveal exact reasons, but close acquaintances tend to be very knowledgeable of their behaviors and attitudes.

Subliminal: Positive Reinforcement

Alternatively, unhappy learners may not be contented because of personal reservations or setbacks. This approach does not involve you asking what the problem is but with you providing the atmosphere of learning through a positive attitude. Commending your student for any achievement or even praising him or her for an idea can build up the confidence needed for the student to overcome any inhibitions he or she has. This is very useful for students who seldom talk much and would like to keep their problems to themselves.

Unhappy learners can never grasp the tutoring material at all because everything involves having that proper mindset in tackling obstacles. This is very true when dealing with the personal interaction involved in the tutoring process. You should understand the three approaches that respectively tackle different perspectives of working with unhappy learners. The overall bottom line is to be an important mechanism in aiding the student's development, so do what you can to help out.

What are your strategies for positive reinforcement?

 

 

Five Best Strategies to Tutor College Students

College students have a different level of maturity compared to that of high school or elementary students, making them either easier or harder to tutor. Of course, it all depends on the person, but you should learn how to deal with college students in general. College students tend to focus on what they want to do more than what they should. That is, if they enjoy spending the day doing nothing, it becomes pretty difficult to convince them to do otherwise. Moreover, college students constantly feel pressure and stress, which may hamper effective learning.

What you need are methods in order to stimulate college student thinking and motivate them to study. Here are five best strategies so that you can instill the lessons you want to impart to college students with relative ease.

Interactive Teaching – College students want to visualize what they are learning, especially since they have enough reading material that they are aching to get over with. Be dynamic in tutoring so that they can grasp the concept without much difficulty.

Short, but Frequent Sessions - College students may lack the time to sit down for a whole two to three hours of tutoring. Tweak your tutoring sessions to little chunks that can aid college students in those moments when they lack time. Try an hour-30-minute plan where you spend an hour tutoring them and 30 minutes of consultation so they can ask questions.

Comfortable Environment – Always think about how college students are under constant pressure if they have study material surrounding them at all times. The best solution is to isolate them from libraries or dorm rooms and tutor them in public areas where they can take a breath of fresh air while you lecture them.

In-Depth Tutoring – College students learn differently compared to high school and elementary students because they want to grasp the totality of something rather than the bits and pieces that make it work. Knowing your material well enough will help you here and when you captivate a college student with lucrative information, he or she will easily tune into and absorb your lecture.

Critical Thinking Motivation – College students have this tendency to wonder why things are, how things are done, and what makes things work. Tap into this potential and allow them to engage in critical thinking by motivating them to do so. They will understand the subject material more readily if they argue an idea surrounding it and proving so through analysis and critical thinking.

Tutoring college students can be tough if you aren’t used to dealing with them. They take things differently than high school or elementary students, so be prepared to deal with individuals constantly under stress and pressure. Be a motivating tutor so that they can overcome these obstacles by utilizing the strategies for effective tutoring.

Have you had success with interactive tutoring sessions? Please share with us!

How to Organize Yourself in an On-Line Course (Weekly Ideas)

In the previous post I suggested some ideas how to get organized in an on-line course and emphasized the point about week study plan. I would like to continue and mention some ideas that saved me and did not make my life a disaster or too overloaded.

• You need to access the course at least one time day even for 5-10 minutes in order not to miss anything important.

• On Sunday look through the weekly assignment and plan how to divide it into 7 days. Some things may be postponed for next week or later time.

• Think about free time that you have and how much you of your studying you can fit there. Note them down in your calendar.

• Don’t forget to write down all questions that appear while you are reading. It will be easier to post them on the discussion board and will save a lot of time.

• In case you have long-term projects, divide the work into the whole course schedule because it’s easier to complete it in small chunks than in one time.

• Attend seminars and answer all interesting posts on the discussion board (this is a piece of enjoyment!:) )

 

I’m sure that good organization can help not only successfully finish the course but also enjoy it fully!

How to Organize Yourself in an On-Line Course

Nowadays a lot of educators strive to on-line courses as it’s the most convenient way for them to get additional education of just “fresh” information. I also registered for some courses and very soon understood how difficult this course can be without proper time management and self-organization.  Here is what I use in order to maintain among my on-line education, work and my little son.

• When you register for a particular course, pay close attention to its requirements, assignments and deadlines (all of them are in the syllabus). If you think you cannot manage, just postpone for a better time and take another one! Remember, education is for pleasure, not for torture!

• Keeping any type of a calendar is very helpful. No need to remember information which can be easily accessed.

• Plan your work for the whole week and try to do your best to meet your personal deadlines!

• Stay in touch with course mates and the instructor. They can help you in certain situations when you cannot manage something. One head is good but two is better!

 Guest Blog by: Alla

 

How to Teach On-Line Effectively

Teaching on-line has become a very popular method for teachers to share their knowledge with students and earn some money as well. Some educators denied this way of sharing knowledge and still stick to “traditional” face-to-face tutoring or group teaching. In just a few years this method became a recognized alternative to traditional learning not only for some separate subjects but as degree programs in universities. That’s a huge progress but a lot of educators who decided to join the team of on-line teachers have a question: “How to teach?” I faced the same problem some years ago when I started to teach on-line myself.  I would like to share some ideas how to escape this feeling of being ill-prepared for an on-line lesson.

• Explain about the course in detail: attendance requirements, contact methods, course objectives, late work policies, the schedule, and ways of assessment. Ask students if they want to use a camera.
• Support any discussion attempt, especially at the beginning of the course.
• TREAT EACH STUDENT AS AN INDIVIDUAL ( I think this rule is the most important one!)
• Use different signs to express your emotions (For example different types of smiles)
• React quickly to any type of questions or requests.

I really hope these recommendations which came from my personal experience can help.

Guest Blog by: Alla

Message from Alise--ATP Conference in Atlanta, Georgia!

Happy Friday!

I want to remind you that I will be presenting at the Association of the Tutoring Profession (ATP) 9th Annual Conference in Atlanta, Georgia on March 25-27, 2013 about tutoring in the classroom. Here's the conference schedule so that you can see the many great presentations that will be hosted during this time and my presentation is #39.

For many years while I was in the classroom, I used this method. Back in 2010 (my last time teaching mathematics and science at the middle school level), my students were able to grow personally, but I am also very proud of how they grew academically. That specific year, I had 100 percent of my students pass their state assessment, which was a first for me. In the past, it was always in the range of 88 percent to 95 percent for the class passing rate. Let me just say, my teaching assignments were extremely diverse, but I was dedicated to the challenge.

In any event, if you happen to be in the Atlanta area during this time, please consider attending my conference. If not, you can definitely learn more about the In-Class Tutoring Method in one of my tutoring books--specifically, Becoming a Better Tutor: A Data-Driven Approach to Tutoring. I also train others on this method to use in their very own classrooms.

Hope to see you there and have a blessed week,

Alise

Here's more information about my conference presentation:


Presenter: Dr. Alicia Holland-Johnson

Session Title: The In-Class Tutoring Method: Taking Tutoring Inside the Everyday Classroom

Session Description: Are you looking to provide tutoring during the learning day? Are you looking for a tutoring strategy that does not require you to stay after-school? This session is for you! Learn how to strategically help your students increase their academic achievement right in the classroom during class time.

Intended Audience: K-12 Tutors, Classroom K-12 Teachers

Summary: Please see below:

The purpose of this presentation is to share an innovative approach to tutoring in the classroom. The In-Class Tutoring Method is the process that I describe in my first tutoring book, Becoming a Better Tutor: A Data-Driven Approach to Tutoring. The specific plans to engage the audience is to actually take them through the In-Class Tutoring Method by identifying what this method is and how it looks in the classroom. In addition, participants will have a chance to interact with some mock data to help plan in-class tutoring sessions for their own learners. This will help them determine how to use the In-Class Tutoring Method in their own professional setting.

The significance of this presentation to the field of tutoring is trifold (a) tutors and classroom teachers are able to learn an innovative approach to providing data-driven tutoring to help their learners; (b) learners are working towards becoming self-regulated learners; and (c) tutors and classroom teachers are able to identify and utilize specific steps that must be followed to ensure that the In-Class Tutoring Method is a positive learning experience for all learners.

As a 21st century tutor, it is very important to understand the impact of providing data-driven tutoring services whether it be inside or outside of the classroom environment. Therefore, this presentation will also emphasize the importance of planning effective instruction, learning how to be flexible, and being highly organized as the In-Class Tutoring Method is best categorized as an Advanced Topic.

Eight Ways to Help Students Improve Test Scores

Nothing saddens students than seeing a red "F" on their test paper or a huge "0" during a quiz. This can hurt the student's self-esteem and this can cause them to become lax in later classes. When students develop the lack of interest in academic, their performance starts to fail and this can end up with them having difficulty later on, especially in dealing with critical thinking problems and other important principles they will apply later on in the actual setting. In order to motivate these students, here are eight ways to help them out to lift up their scores.

1. Offer Consultation

Naturally, students will feel down when they receive a bad score, so the first course of action is to talk to them about it. Let them share their feelings so that they can come a closure with their emotions. It is important for them to realize that it isn't the end and they can still lift up their grades with a little more focus and a little less sorrow.

2. Provide Positive Reinforcement

If students get low scores, it is no use to deepen the scar by scolding them or pointing out their mistakes and how they could have tackled them. What you can do however is to offer a reward if they can get a better score next time. This will give them that drive to work hard so that they can reach the goal and grab the prize they seek.

3. Suggest Effective Study Habits

The probable reason why he or she got a low score was due to his or her study habits. Suggest effective ones that are not stressful to maintain but very productive. This can help the student retain knowledge more readily because of the frequent hours spent going over the material.

4. Teach the Lesson in a Fun Way

Retention increases the more entertaining a certain lesson is, so make sure that you tap into this aspect if you want to help a student increase his or her test scores. Introducing math with a game is so much better than just equations and continuous solving.

5. Offer the Student a Break

You never know it, he or she might be too pressured, resulting in his or her poor performance on the test. Once in a while, students need a break so let him or her spend the day enjoying it instead of worrying about the score. You never know, the next quiz might be aced because of the boost in confidence and the relaxation he or she gets by taking a day off the books.

6. Teach Strategies

This means to get down to serious business in answering the quiz. The student may have been dumbfounded by the questions to realize how easy they were. Make sure that they are receptive to this approach because you wouldn't want to deal with a burdened student. He or she won't get the information as readily as an eager student would. These strategies involve test-taking tips and analytical processes to use while under pressure, especially during the test.

7. Teach Time Management Options

Students need to balance their time, not only between study and play, but also between tests 1 and 3! Teach students how to manage their time properly during the tedious test hour so that they may come out of the room proud and without a worry. The panic because of lack of time is actually a major cause of low scores.

8. Focus on the Areas that Need Improvement

Students who lack the strong foundation to master a subject area will have difficulty, especially since they will not only be dealing with trying to recall the subject matter itself, but also they will be dealing with time and the pressure that occurs during the test. Strengthen these weak points so that the next time he or she takes the quiz, he or she need not bother much because of the strong foundation he or she has already developed.

These eight tips are geared toward to realizing the potential of the student, most especially during tests. Having low scores can be rectified quite easily by these tips, so make sure to use the one that applies to your student the most for the best results.

Have you ever had a student struggle with grades?  What were some ways you were able to help restructure their performance?

 

10 Ways to Keep Cost Down as an Online Tutor

Tutoring is indeed a very lucrative business option, but you won’t see it unless you learn how to be cost-effective. It embodies different ways to help students out in what they need. Well, one of the growing venues of tutoring is the effectiveness of online tutoring. As in any medium, tutoring may require expenses to be paid and this can be quite tough to manage if not properly budgeted. If you want to seek to optimize your involvement in the internet world as an online tutor, here are ten ways to keep the cost down.

1.      Communicate through Free Messaging Programs

Using free messaging programs like Windows Live Messenger or Yahoo Instant Messenger allows you to chat with your clients and carry on effective tutoring. These are free to download so you can save yourself a couple of bucks and still carry out your online tutoring.

2.     Use Skype for Video-based Tutoring

For those more interactive tutorial sessions, video-based tutoring is definitely a major selling point in your online tutoring program. Use Skype, a free downloadable program, to help you out in your video tutoring endeavor. This will definitely keep you on top of your game and at a price of zilch while you’re at it.

3.      Use Internet Connections Frequently

Never go on and off with your tutoring business because payments tend to fluctuate, especially regarding internet use. Stay connected and you’ll get a great internet connection plan to really help you out in the business array.

4.     Have a Personal Computer Ready

Computer costs can get so expensive, especially if you’re just renting out one. Investing on your own personal computer is definitely a lucrative option because of the one-time payment but extensive use of the computer.

5.     Use Forums Effectively

Another great way to tutor through cheap cost is through the use of forums. You can interact with clients and share ideas that will cultivate and develop their thinking process.

6.     Assign Your Clients Activities via Email

Assigning activities can get costly if you provide hard copies of the materials and send them out through mail. Make use of email technology to do things digitally and you will enjoy the convenience of low cost tutoring services.

7.      Use free webhosts to market Your Tutoring

Marketing your tutoring service is all about creating a name for your business. Free Webhosts are just a google search away where you can take advantage of and utilize effective development potential to enhance your tutoring career as an online tutor.

8.     Use Social Media to Communicate

Another effective and low-cost medium of online tutoring is the use of social media in the enhancement of client interaction and activity management. Social media is very much frequented by your students so you won’t have any problems communicating with them. The best thing is, these are usually free.

9.     Invest in a webhosting plan

Other than a free webhost for marketing strategies, you should invest on a webhosting plan to really get down to business. Commercialize your tutoring business and enhance your tutoring service interface with a proper webhosting plan.

10. Consider expanding your business objective

Finally, expand your business objective by considering alternative options like digitizing your content so that your clients have access to them for a fee. This way, you limit costs down and you gain a new profitable avenue. In fact, the best way to keep cost down is to kick revenue up.

 

Online tutoring is a great way to revolutionize your tutoring business pattern. Through these ten ways to keep your cost down and controlled, you will definitely enjoy the ease of giving clients what they deserve: quality tutoring.

What are programs you have used for successful online tutoring?  What would you recommend?  Share with us!

Five Most Sought-Out Type of Tutors

Tutors vary through the instructional techniques they administer for their clients. If you want to be an effective tutor, here are five of the most sought-out type of tutors that you can become or integrate in your tutoring in order to enhance retention and effectiveness.

Interactive Tutors

Based on the Montessori Method, tutoring here involves interactive approaches to handling the instruction. This implements creative approaches to the material to be discussed, which can enlighten a child’s level of understanding.

Challenging Tutors

Another type of tutor is the one that challenges his or her student. This involves critical concepts pushing the student to his or her limits. This can be very helpful because the adrenaline rush and supposed staged panic can widen a person’s scope of understanding. You should be careful in implementing this approach because people may take it the wrong way and everything becomes pointless.

Visual Aid Oriented Tutors

This tutoring type involves visual aid implementation which can help with student retention. For subjects that require a lot of memorization, visual aid oriented tutors may make the memorization process a whole lot easier with the visual aids which induce effective retention.

Modular Tutors

Modular tutoring is a material intensive tutoring type that allows you to give assignments for the student in order to do in-between tutoring sessions. This provides your student the opportunity to develop understanding of the subject long term.

Integrative Tutors

Integrated tutoring involves bringing the whole tutorial session out of the ordinary conditions. This means that you take the student to the subject matter instead of the other way around. In tutoring history, the better option of an integrated tutor is to bring him or her to a museum.

These five tutor types are sought out by many clients because of their effectiveness in handling tutoring. As a result, it is important to adopt these types and approaches in becoming an effective tutor. Most importantly, each of these tutor types can be used in any academic tutoring session.

What is your tutoring style?  Or what tutoring style do you prefer for your students?