The Whole Language Approach To Learning

The Whole Language Approach To Learning There are a lot of specific methods and approaches to teaching. There is no one particular method affirmed by all the teachers, therefore the vast majority of ideas exists. The differences in perception of the ways for teaching lead to the presence of various methods to learning.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Whole Language Approach To Learning specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The Whole Language ideology is a particular method for teaching which deserves attention due to its peculiarity. The main purpose of this discussion is to consider the problem of the Whole Language in detail, referring to the system of reading as the particular method for helping students understand the nature of language as a whole. Considering the approach under discussion, it may be stated that it is based on the idea that the language is a whole and it should be taught as a whole. Traditional system of teaching presupposes division of the learning procedure into several segments which are given to children separately. The peculiarity of the Whole Language approach is that students are offered knowledge into one specific approach which combines necessary items that help students obtain necessary knowledge (Çekià § 223). The whole language approach is based on a number of particular principles which help many students learn languages as a system of knowledge. Thus, the main principles of the whole language instructions are as follows, (1) the lessons are run from the whole to the pieces, (2) lessons are learner-oriented, (3) the lessons are meaningful and purposeful for students, (4) students are involved into social interaction, (5) simultaneous development of receptive and generative competencies is observed, (6) in case a foreign language is taught, native language should be used for instruction, and (7) â€Å"teachers should help second language learners decrease their affective filters† (Adunyarit tigun n.p.). Much research has been conducted in the sphere of whole language study system and the results are rather impressive. Those who were offered this particular system made remarkable process in their education. Therefore, Ahmed is sure that writing skills are developed better if this complex system is used. Many scholars point at the fact that students express interest in studying foreign languages if this particular approach is implemented. One of the main problems in learning a foreign language is the inability to use this language.Advertising Looking for essay on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Students are to study different aspects of language and after these boring exercises students may be able to talk. The whole language approach states that students will have an opportunity to become interested in language earlier before they will be able to talk (Schwarzer and Luke 87). Theme studies, pr ocess writing and literature-based breading combine the whole language approach. It means that performing a particular task students are involved several processes which help them learn information faster and better (Lamme and Beckett n.p.). Having considered the main idea of the whole language approach to the education, it is possible to point at the advantages and disadvantages of this system. As it has already been mentioned, the difference between the traditional education and teaching children with the help of the whole language may perfectly underline the pros and cons for using the whole languages. First of all, it should be stated that while writing students just see the graphical correspondence of the letters, while reading aloud they do not involve thinking and creativity and while thinking and answering the question students are unable to apply their writing skills. The whole language approach is the only educational instruction which is ready to combine all of these comp etences. This is one of the main values of the system and the reasons why it is better from the traditional one (LeDoux n.p.). One of the main disadvantages of the whole language approach is the absence of the sufficient explicit phonics instruction. Being apparently new system which is not involved largely, many teachers do not want to be bothered with the innovation. However, referring to Schwarzer and Luke’s point of view in the relation to the whole language systems implementation, the following principles should be considered.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Whole Language Approach To Learning specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Language arts should be integrated, â€Å"language is not an end in itself, but a means to an end† (Schwarzer and Luke 95), students should take part in literacy events and be circled with authentic print, students learn new information by doing a complex of activities an d they are personally responsible for the knowledge they will obtain. Assessment is an inevitable part of the whole language system (Schwarzer and Luke 95). Additionally, traditional system of education is based on teaching students literacy and language. The Whole Language approach is much broader in this concept as depending on the books accepted for reading, students are taught social justice and other particular notions. Using the whole language approach, students are taught â€Å"a range of social and cultural practices which assist students to question the truth of texts, to ask different questions about texts, and indeed to seek out conflicting texts† (Taylor and Otinsky 71). Ethical and moral issues should be met while implementing the whole language approach (Taylor 106). Therefore, it may be concluded that the choice of the books for reading should be appropriate. To help teachers understand what kind of books should be used, this list of the books for reading for t he sixth grade should be checked. The selection of the books for reading is based on the principles of the whole language learning approach and the peculiarity of teaching students. It is important to remember that the support of speech, language and communication are the central goals for teaching students at the sixth grade and the use of the whole language approach may be an ideal method (Leyden, Stackhouse and Szczerbinski 207; Jones n.p.).Advertising Looking for essay on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The following list of books is provided with the purpose to inform teachers which books should be covered in the program. The choice of the books is based on their usefulness in the whole language approach. Therefore, the following sources should be considered: The Golden Dream of Carlo Chuchio by Lloyd Alexander, No Castles Here by A. C. E. Bauer, Getting to first base with Danalda Chase by Matt Beam, My name is Henry Bibb: a story of slavery and freedom by Afua Cooper, The Million Dollar Putt by Dan Gutman, A Taste for Red by Lewis Harris, The Genie Scheme by Kimberly K. Jones, Lost Time by Susan Maupin Schmid Its Only Temporary by Sally Warne Closed for the Season by Mary Downing Hahn. These books should be read by the sixth grade students as the part of their whole language approach as there is much to discuss in these novels and stories. Adunyarittigun, Dumrong. Whole language: A whole new world for ESL programs. (1993): ERIC. Web. Ahmed, Abdelhamid Mohamed Abdelhamid. The E ffect of using the whole language approach on developing some composition writing skills in English for experimental secondary students In Egypt. Online Submission (2006): ERIC. Web. Çekià §, Ahmet. The basis and applications of the whole language approach to ELT. Educational Sciences Series 62.1A (2010): 223-229. Print. Jones, Jeffrey M. Learning to read and whole language ideology. Web. Lamme, Linda Leonard and Cecilia Beckett. (1992). â€Å"Whole language in an elementary school library media center.† ERIC Digest. Web. LeDoux, Amanda. Investigating the implementation of whole language: Strengths and weaknesses. Online Submission (2007). ERIC. Web. Leyden, Jenny, Stackhouse, Joy and Marcin Szczerbinski. Implementing a whole school approach to support speech, language and communication: Perceptions of key staff. Child Language Teaching and Therapy 27.2 (2011): 203-222. Schwarzer, David and Chris Luke. Inquiry cycles in a whole language foreign language class: some theor etical and practical insights. Texas Papers In Foreign Language Education 6.1 (2001): 83-99. Taylor, Monica, and Gennifer Otinsky. Becoming whole language teachers and social justice agents: Pre-service teachers inquire with sixth graders. International Journal of Progressive Education 3.2 (2007): 68-82. Taylor, Monica. Whole language teaching, whole-hearted practice: looking back, looking forward. New York: Peter Lang, 2007.

The Best Part Time Jobs for Every Education Level

The Best Part Time Jobs for Every Education Level No matter what field you’re in or what your educational background, sometimes a part-time job will be a necessity. Maybe you need a second job to make ends meet, or you need flexible hours. Whatever the case may be, we’ve got five of the top options for you to consider, based on whether you have a high school diploma, a four-year degree, or a master’s degree or higher. High-School DiplomaIf you’ve got a high-school diploma, you can score a great, high-paying part time job even without a degree.Customer Service RepresentativeIf you’ve ever spent an hour on hold while trying to straighten out some kind of product or service issue, you know how essential it is to have someone good and helpful on the other end of that phone line. Customer service reps can make between $10 and $18 an hour, according to PayScale.What you’ll need: A high school diploma or GED, plus on-the-job training. Strong customer service skills are a must.Yoga InstructorBreathe in, reach toward the sky, and hold it†¦if you can help other people find their zen while maintaining perfect posture, teaching yoga can be a very flexible (okay, pun intended) part-time career path. Depending on experience, yoga instructors can make between $25 and $50 an hour.What you’ll need: Certification as an instructor (typically a course plus about 200 hours of teaching experience)Nanny/Childcare WorkerIf you love kids, being a nanny for a particular family or working in a childcare facility can be a great part-time job. Part teacher, part parent, part entertainer- these caregivers are major multitaskers.What you’ll need: Rock-solid references, and certification in First Aid is helpful as well. Oh, and patience- you’ll need lots of that.Catering Professional  Catering can be a great gig because it can often be done on nights and weekends, on a part-time schedule. And once you have a foot in that door, it can be a lucrative side gig with many more opportunities coming along. Catering workers can often make more than $20 an hour, potentially more depending on the event and tips.What you’ll need: Service skills (including customer management), on-the-job-training.BartenderLike catering, bartending is a real bang-for-your-buck part time gig, because you can basically set your own hours and have the potential to make a lot of money during that time. Whether you’re slinging suds or crafting artisanal cocktails with ingredients most of us have never even heard of, it’s a job with great potential for tips. Bartenders can command anywhere between $10 and $75 per hour, depending on tips.What you’ll need: State certification, depending on your state- check the requirements where you are.Four-Year DegreeIf you’ve already got a bachelor’s degree under your belt, you may want look for part time jobs more specialized to your education and experience.App/Software DeveloperDespite what stereotypes we may have about tech startups, app and software developers work as lone wolves on a part-time, project basis while they have other tech jobs. Developers can earn anywhere from $30-$60 per hour.What you’ll need: A degree in computer science or software engineering, plus excellent coding skills, and knowledge about UI design, programming languages, basic computer backend knowledge.TutorThose who can, do. Those who can, and want to earn money by showing others how to do, teach. Tutors can earn anywhere from $15 to $200 per hour helping students with homework, or teaching supplemental concepts. Tutors may also help with standardized test prep.What you’ll need: Expertise and strong communication/teaching skills. Experience in the field is helpful, especially when it comes to test prep tutoring (for example, being a high scorer yourself will raise your rates).Translator/InterpreterPeople with global skills will continue to be in hot demand. Many companies (especially those w ith international offices) may employ translators directly, or use a third-party agency that matches qualified translators with particular jobs. Translators can earn up to $50 an hour, depending on the complexity of the translations.What you’ll need: fluency in at least one language other than English, with very strong grammar and syntax skills.Grant AnalystIf you have a background in business, accounting, or public administration and are knowledgeable about grants, financial documents, and budgets, this is an area where you can go freelance, and command around $30 per hour.What you’ll need: A strong finance background, as well as education in business administration, accounting, or a similar fieldFreelance EditorIf you live for finding tiny mistakes in written materials, or rewording for style or accuracy, then freelance editing is a strong choice for a part-time gig.What you’ll need: A degree in English, communications or similar, plus superior attention to de tail and written communication skillsMaster’s Degree or HigherIf you have a master’s degree (or higher), there are many highly specialized part time jobs that might be a great option for you.Adjunct ProfessorIf you have a lot of great subject matter experience and expertise, teaching could be a solid part time choice for you. Adjunct professors are basically part-time faculty at a college or university. And with online courses becoming more popular than ever, this is becoming a highly flexible choice for part time teaching.What you’ll need: An advanced degree in your field, or extensive experience working in it. You’ll also need strong communication and teaching skills, as you’ll be working with students of varying abilities.Business ConsultantBusiness consulting is excellent for the MBA who wants a flexible schedule, and the ability to work with many different clients. Consultants with specific expertise can work on a project basis, or may have an ongoing relationship with a particular company. Top consultants can make $150-$300 per hour, depending on qualifications and experience.What you’ll need: An advanced degree in business (typically an MBA or similar), and/or extensive expertise and experience in the field where you want to consult. Self-marketing skills are also key, as you’ll need to find and maintain a client base.Information Technology ConsultantLike with business consulting, IT consulting is a way to channel superb tech skills and a strong education/experience background into a flexible job. IT consultants often work on a project basis, either with a single company or with a range of clients. Highly qualified IT consultants can make $100 an hour, depending on experience and projects.What you’ll need: An advanced degree in computer science or engineering, and/or extensive expertise and experience in the specific IT area of expertise where you want to consult. Self-marketing skills are also key , as you’ll need to find and maintain a client base.TherapistBecause therapists typically work on an appointment basis, it can be a very flexible option for part time work. Therapists can set their own schedule, working with clients for anywhere from $45 to $150 an hour, depending on the client and the specialty (family therapy, life coaching, etc.).What you’ll need: An advanced degree in psychology, as well as a strong patient/customer focus.Physical TherapistPhysical therapists, like other kinds of therapists, typically work on an appointment basis, which makes it a strong part time job candidate alongside other jobs. Physical therapists work with patients to recover from illness or injury, as well as work on basic mobility and daily physical tasks.What you’ll need: A master’s degree in physical therapy, as well as state certification (check your state’s requirements)No matter what your education level, there are lots of great part time opportuni ties out there for you. With a combination of that education, your skills, and your experience, you can find a flexible job that’s right for you.

Values, Beliefs, Norms, and Behavior in the Context of Human Culture Essay

Values, Beliefs, Norms, and Behavior in the Context of Human Culture - Essay Example Culture consists of the foods that we cook and eat, our living arrangements, communication with society, and our behavior. The author makes this point very well. He suggests that human nature and culture are different things but there is a lot of interplay between them. But culture itself can be broken down in smaller parts too. In order to get a full picture of a culture in a general sense, we should look at four important aspects: Values, beliefs, norms, and behavior. What are values? Everyone decides for themselves what they believe to be right and wrong, but they are often powerfully influenced by the people and traditions around them. Some people have been colonized by other dominant countries and therefore have a slight inferiority complex. Others belong to ethnic and linguistic minorities—facts which influence the way they see the world. Some countries have religions that encourage them to have large families. All this must be taken into account when entering another country with the intention to practice business there. Beliefs can be summed up as ideas that are held by a large number of people—perhaps not always based on empirical facts. They might be a religion held in common, for example, or an idea of history, which perhaps does not perfectly accord with the facts. These are often powerful motivating factors in a culture. Norms are very similar to values, but they are broader. Norms are what the society at large tends to believe are the correct values or morals to live by. In most societies, the idea that lying is wrong is considered a norm. Norms might change, but usually, they change very slowly. Especially in cultures that are religious and conservative.  

Owens Precision Machinery Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 6000 words

Owens Precision Machinery - Essay Example The company is a machine shop that has felt a recent surge of demand as the trend of insourcing has felt an increase after the recent recession. While the company is keeping up with the increasing demand, the company is also faces issues of dwindling cash reserves. In order to stay ahead of the competition, the company has to keep inventory in stock because of the longer lead time that suppliers require. For this, the company has to rely on outside investment which makes the President and owner consider whether he should sell off his company. The aim of this paper is to analyze the future move of the company. Owen has two options: he could either sell the company or ask his friend and investor for another loan. In order to decide which option to pursue, Owen would have to analyze his company as well as the industry in which he operates. He needs to find out if the issue of capital shortage can be corrected in the near future and what steps should he take in order to solve the problem . If he feels that the company has no future, then the best course of action would be to sell off the company. In order to recommend the best course of action for Owen Precision Machining, the first part studied business models that would help in analyzing the situation at hand. The models that have been used in the paper are: SWOT Analysis, Risk Reward Analysis, Just in Time Strategy, Vendor Managed Inventory, and Business Process Reengineering. SWOT helped in understanding the current standing of the company both internally as well as externally. The Risk Reward Analysis helped in evaluating the potential rewards in comparison with the risks for the options available for Christopher Owen. Since the company was facing the biggest hurdle in managing its inventory, two strategies that were discussed are Just in Time Strategy and Vendor Managed Inventory. Lastly Business Process Reengineering was used to help guide the organization on how to attain the required changes. SWOT Analysis of the company showed that the company is in a favorable position both internally as well as externally. However, the company has to work on its threats in order to bring the company into a more favorable position. The risk reward analysis revealed that the company is in the growing stages where the risks and rewards are both high. In this position, the company has to manage its operations in such a manner that it should be able to minimize the risk and thus entire the mature stage. Also the best option for OPM under the risk reward analysis is to retain the company but at the same time revise its operational strategy. The biggest issue that OPM is facing in this regard is managing its inventory so that cash is available for the company. For this, the analysis suggests using a combination of Just in Time Strategy and Vendor Managed Inventory. In order to bring about the necessary changes, the Business Process Reengineering model will be followed. Once the company was analyzed throug h the above mentioned models, a set of recommendations were developed for the company. It was recommended that Owen not sell the company but rather retain ownership of the company. The company should ask Benson for a bigger loan in order to implement VMI and JIT Strategy. Chapter One Owen’s Precision Machining is a small machine shop that operates with a total of 15 employees and under the leadership of the President and second generation owner, Christopher Owen. The company develops machine parts for robot prototypes and laboratory automation equipment. Before the economic crisis that hit the world in 2007, more and more companies were outsourcing their manufacturing to emerging countries around the world and chief among them was China. This trend of outsourcing had resulted in a decline

A Tiger came to tea Essay Example for Free

A Tiger came to tea Essay Ive never seen so many children so excited about having a snack, It was like when animals are at a zoo, waiting to be fed, when they can see the zookeeper coming towards them. And the hustle and loud noises from the children was like the anticipation of crowds waiting for their favourite singers to come on stage. As soon as the children scoffed their snacks and gulped down their drink, we made our way to where the bouncy castle was outside. Every child was having a great time whether it was running around on the grass, bouncing on the castle or eating its picnic; it looked like the wonderful picture if a stranger was to come in to see what a playgroup did on the days of the summer. A perfect picture of summer with children having fun and enjoying themselves, the sun shining and everyone with huge smiles on their faces.  As I was sitting reading A Tiger came to tea to one little girl, Charlotte, all of a sudden a heard this all mighty cry, I jumped up so quickly that my heart all most stopped. The parents also looked stunned to see what an earth had gone on. I hurried to where the noise was coming from. Some children had even stopped bouncing on the castle, to see what had happened and to get them to stop bouncing on some thing they loved must have been something of a terrible shock. I came to the brightly coloured bouncy castle that had a tiger on the front the noise that usually was quite loud from the air at the back. This noise had somewhat been drowned out completely but the amount of commotion from worried parents and intrigued children. This enjoyable, blissful afternoon had turned into a worrying afternoon of turmoil.  My heart racing, I didnt know what to expect. I could feel my hands and forehead getting more and more sweaty, just like my first day starting. It wasnt a very nice feeling at all.  Still having this little girl sitting comfortably in my lap, I decided that I would go and look to see what the entire disturbance was and if I could do anything to help. I lifted Charlotte off my knees, placed the book down and slowly started to make my way over to the bouncy castle. The weather had turned from sunshine and clear skies, into black clouds and wind, making the atmosphere even more chilling. Approaching the giant inflatable I was feeling tremendously nervous and anxious.  Behind it was a little boy, Nathan, lying there crying and screaming like he had been punched hard in the stomach. The sight of his poor defenceless body made me just want to go and hug him. So that he wouldnt feel alone, that he could find comfort in my arms.  Had he stopped breathing? What if he would never be the same clever, ecstatic little boy that he was?  Blood was pouring from one of his legs and his arm was in an awkward position as if he had fallen on it funny. At that point I knew he had had a nasty plunge. I dint know what to think, I had never experienced anything like this before, especially on such a ting delicate boy. I was shaking, all that was going on inside my head were negative things and this point in time I couldnt think of positive.  Call an Ambulance, shouted Marion who looked very disturbed. Its Nathan, hes hurt  Nathans mum came running to the scene, her face had turned as white as snow, obviously from the shock.  Its on its way shouted one of the other leaders who had gone to call the ambulance. The ambulance turned up within a few minutes and Nathan was rushed off in it, the blue lights flashing, the siren going off, at this point all the children were just amazed at the ambulance. You could hear,  Look, lookambulance or Nee noor. Nee noor from the children.  I looked on in disbelief thinking how could that have happened within the half an hour of everyone enjoying themselves, then this terrible accident that Nathan had encountered. I just wished that he would be ok, that the broken arm and cut leg was the only thing that he had done.

Importance Of Priority In Todays Society :: essays research papers

Importance of Priority in Today's Society In today's society it is of the ultimate importance to keep self- discipline as a major priority. Right now we may not realize it, but we are not living in a perfect society on this planet. But perfect is not the answer for our world, as it seems implausible. Rather, we are trying to work out into the opposite direction and not suffer chaos. Think of what would happen, if we all took the responsibility to keep our self disciplined and utterly focused in trying to do the best we could. Our world would not suffer the many consequences we suffer now. For example, if we decided to peaceful with other nations, and kept respect and peace with everyone. The prevention of mayhem, chaos and anarchy will not just come one day like an invisible shield trying to prevent this situation from happening. What needs to happen is, every person on this earth out of the many billions that there are, needs to take responsibility of his/her actions. Chaos, mayhem, disturbance, turmoil, pandemonium, uproar. Is this what we want in our world today? Although people are afraid to say it, it is obvious that if we all do not think before we do things, these events that I described could occur in the near future. Many people are in belief that chaos, mayhem, and even anarchy will not occur in their lifetimes. And most possibly what they think is true, but they don't show helpfulness towards they younger generations. By making a large pothole, it may be very difficult to fill it. By ruining the world today, it seems as if we are striving to mayhem. In our society we are not working to help other people and just help ourselves. If we all worked together, and not thought so much about ourselves we would therefore show that we can work as a large family or community, thus helping us realize what drastic situation we are in. Michael Jackson states in one of his songs " Heel the world, make it a better place, for you and for me and the entire human race." The only way we could actually fulfill this statement is to be self-disciplined in what we do. Prevention of all three aspects, mayhem, chaos and anarchy, is a must and a necessity in our developing world. Also self responsibility ties into this matter. By being aware of your actions and not doing anything that could effect yourself or anyone else, we are one step closer to a better world, not only for us but the for other generations

Making it in America Essay

In the article Making it in America Adam Davidson takes time to interview different employees at Standard Motor Products to determine how it is treating them and how factories are changing in time. Adam is receiving a tour of the plant by manager Tony Scalzitti where he sees many factory workers in blue lab coats, hair nets, and protective eyewear. This is where Adam first runs into Madelyn Parlier. Madelyn Parlier was a 22-year-old woman working in the assembly line at the factory. Her occupation was seemed to be an unskilled job and didn’t require much education or experience. It was all about quickness and effectiveness for Madelyn and that was something she was great at. Madelyn grew up in Greenville, SC and was attending high school and planning on going to college when she got pregnant her senior year. Because of this she couldn’t go to college so like most people there she got a job working at the local Standard factory. Madelyn’s job was to run the laser-wielding machine. aAll she did was place the parts in the machine and press a button for them to be wielded and if correct a green light appears and she passes the part to the next line in process. With this being such an unskilled job there is always that chance of Madelyn being replaced by a robotic arm or machinery that can do this job for her and in turn create less wages for the company to pay for. Over the last 30 years employment of people in factories have gone down 1/3 because of machinery and computers taking their places in line. They are more productive and less cost effective than a worker. Then Adam meets up with a new skilled employee Luke Hutchins who operates the machinery on the weekends. Luke’s job is considered a skilled job because he had to attend 6 semesters of college to learn the computers language to be able to work the machinery. Luke operates a few machines at a time constantly checking the fuel injectors to make sure the machines are cutting the parts just perfect. His job is secure and can’t be replaced by a computer for the time being. Adam tracks down the owners of Standard and finds out they are based out of Long Island City, Queens. There Adam discovers the history of the company and how a man named Elias Fife a Jewish immigrant first set up the company. Through time other similar competitors had to sell or close and Standard stuck out through the times and had to sell its main building in NY to other locations to cut on costs. The company almost went bankrupt in the 1990s but managed to stay afloat and is now one of the biggest aftermarket manufacturing companies in the world. Adam sits in a meeting with two engineers from the company John Gasiewski and Marty Doelger. They where going over a new crankshaft sensor and figuring out if it would be a benefit for the company to start to produce them. They in turn said it was very cost effective to start to produce them because they weren’t as finely shaped as the fuel injectors and could be produced at on of the offshore factories. Although this benefits the company it also takes jobs away from America and moves them offshore. Overall Adam discovered how much job opportunities in factories have been declining over the last couple of years. Whether it be to new machinery coming in to do someone’s job or bringing the work offshore so Americans don’t have the opportunity to work. Something is going to have to change or at some point it will all be machinery running the factories.

Beneath †Original writing Essay

Psychoanalysis begins. Monday morning, it was a big rush. I had to pack the kids’ lunches and watch after them as they left for school. It was Kelly’s first day at junior school, and Michelle’s at secondary school. I don’t know why, but as I shut the front door I had flash backs of my first day at secondary school. I got worried. Michelle is a lot like me when I was her age. To my children, I am a normal nice mother, ordinary like everyone else’s mother. That is how they see me. They know nothing about my past†¦ It was an excruciatingly hot and sunny day – July 30th 1993. I dreaded the moment the sunrise began. I felt a huge lump at the back of my throat, my head was pounding, and droplets of cold sweat trickled down my forehead. I used to be a normal, quiet, and well behaved person but, all that changed when I met Camryn Barnes. After the first three times, I promised myself I would never do it again. Yet here I was with the hammer in my hand smashing the new lock on the school gate. It fell to the ground making a loud sudden noise, which made me jump even though it was expected. I ran towards the school building, but the school doors were all locked up. After approximately an hour of struggling through one of the technology department windows, I managed to squeeze in. I ran to Dr Daniel’s office, pushing the door open. There, looking up at me with his beady black eyes was Cuddles – Dr Daniel’s hamster. I had my equipment ready and then I opened the cage door picking up the small rodent with my trembling hands. I whispered to him in the darkness, â€Å"Don’t worry, it’ll only take a second. † I reached into the back of my threadbare jeans pockets and pulled out the razor sharp penknife. Tears poured down my face. One, Two, Three. I did it. My hand was drenched in fresh, warm blood. I dropped Cuddles on the floor and retreated back to the technology department. I can still remember the cold beady eyed stare Cuddles had given me as I pulled the pocket knife out of him. I recollect a similar expression from the past victims. I got back to Camryn a lot quicker this time. Camryn was pacing outside and when she saw me she signalled to me to hurry up. I half jogged and half ran. When I reached her, she caught hold of my wrist and pulled me along with her. I glanced at her beautiful tanned face and saw the contented smile displayed along her lips. I could almost hear her heartbeat, and taste her idea of sweet satisfaction. When we reached her house, she dragged me to her bedroom then leapt onto her red crumpled bed and kicked off her scuffed trainers. â€Å"Did you do it? Did you ‘top the pint sized rat? † she asked with enthusiasm. There was a malicious gleam in her green eyes. I nodded staring at my sweaty bloodstained hands. There was a huge lump in the back of my throat, my stomach churned. I couldn’t take it any more, â€Å"You said we’d never do it again! Wasn’t killing Jackie’s budgie, Peter’s cat and Ellie’s turtle enough? Why Dr Daniel’s hamster? Why? † Camryn stood up with a frown creasing up near her finely plucked eyebrows. â€Å"What’s wrong with you? Dr Daniels failed me in English! I worked so hard for him! He got what he deserved! † A sudden anger flushed through my body, â€Å"Like the others got what they deserved?! † Looking at Camryn, and seeing her satisfied realization from her manipulation, I had to leave. I walked home, showered and then lay in bed. I remember glancing at my digital clock†¦ it read 6:16am. I tried so hard, but failed to fall asleep. It was only a few hours, but seemed like days passing by. Eventually my mother came into my room to see why I was not ready for school. â€Å"I don’t feel well,† I murmured. Mother carelessly shook her head and left me alone. A month ago I used to be really close to my mother, but now I just seem to want to push her away and out of my life. It was almost as if I surrendered everything I loved for Camryn. My mother, my old friends and, my self respect. Eventually I fell asleep. Beneath my closed eyes, my thoughts swivelled in front of my eyes. All I saw was beautiful, cold water, ripples glistening. That was where I wanted to be. I woke up and changed into my favourite clothes. I knew what I was doing. I felt dizzy but ignored the queasy feeling. I sat on the floor and scribbled a note for my mother. I used to write little poems to my mother ages ago. I knew that was what I had to do now. I still remember what I wrote in the poem, word for word. â€Å"June year 1993, on the 25th day, The day I changed, stopped to pray, I made promises, made to break, But it’ll be over, whilst I lie in this lake, I feel like I’m, spiralling into a deep dark hole, Hopefully this depth, can contain my soul, What I’m trying to say, dear mother, I’m Sorry, For pretending to be so upbeat and jolly, Sorry mum, I didn’t mean to, I’ll be thinking of you through and through. â€Å"

Advanced Management Accounting Colombo Frozen Yogurt Essays

Advanced Management Accounting Colombo Frozen Yogurt Essays Advanced Management Accounting Colombo Frozen Yogurt Paper Advanced Management Accounting Colombo Frozen Yogurt Paper Essay Topic: Marketing Colombo Frozen Yogurt was acquired by General Mills Incorporated (GMI) in 1994 so GMI could strengthen its product line-up with a small addition to marketing costs. General Mills is a large food service corporation, worth $11.5 billion in net sales, that prides itself on innovation beyond the kitchen (GMI Website, 2003). In Australia, some of GMIs branded products that are merchandised in local supermarkets and shops, are Betty Crocker, Old El Paso Mexican Foods, Fruit Roll-ups and Wheaties Breakfast Cereal. $2.9 Billion of net sales are in the cold perishables section of the food market which includes brands that are known in Australia such as Yopliat, Go-Gurt and the subject of this report, Colombo frozen yoghurts. Colombo entered the ice cream market with an innovative frozen yogurt product, which was considered a healthier alternative to ice-cream. Competitive Environment Shop Locations Originally Colombo chose to market mainly to independent shop owners (Jane Suly, 2000. pg. 67). Profit-maximisation was achieved through the new and repeat guests of the shops and therefore profits were calculated on a per-square-foot basis. Colombo also relied on customer referrals, whereby the total experience of the product brought them back again and advocated to others that the product was of exceptional quality. To compete with other shops, Colombo introduced differentiated products, such as; smoothies, boosters and granitas. Impulse Locations The ice-cream market experienced a change in the early 90s where soft-serve yoghurt, was added to food service operators such as; cafeterias, colleges, and buffets. As the industry expanded, in the late 90s two-thirds of the soft-serve markets were a result of impulse locations. However, impulse locations core business is made up on the sales of many other items, and frozen soft-serve yoghurt is only considered an additional product line. This meant that independent impulse locations relied on purchasing quality products at a reasonable price. Therefore, buyers were sensitive at the cost per serving, and also had difficulty understanding profits that they had made from the frozen yoghurts. Colombo Marketing Plan The Colombo marketing plan used a diverse range of strategies to make the acquisition of General Mills a successful one. Before the purchase of Colombo yoghurt, the GMI Foodservice Division, was already marketing a wide-range of products, Colombo was added to the list. GMIs sales force covered both shop and impulse locations (Jane Suly, 2000, pg. 68). Sales Force The Colombo sales force was integrated into the Foodservice sales force to become one. The reaction from the sales assistants whose responsibility it was to market and sell the frozen yoghurt was mixed. Shops were considered reasonably easy to sell to, however, some felt that time was lost assisting impulse customers how to use the machinery. Merchandising Promotions The use of neon signs, and other forms of advertising, and the costs incurred to display these forms of advertising, was charged to shops. These signs were used as a tool to encourage potential customers to enter the shop and purchase the frozen yoghurt. Previously, General Mills provided the advertising to shops at no cost, however, they then stopped charging for it. Sales people were well aware that many impulse locations did not even display the advertising, which ultimately did not have an effect on profits, as impulse locations accounted for two-thirds of the soft-serve market. Pricing Promotions The most reliable marketing tool to that of Colombo was the use of promotional events. Although the deals were generally within the vicinity of $3-5, General Mills used these promotions as an opportunity to take advantage to sell products that might otherwise be featured. Price was not considered a factor to shops, however, the shops were always well aware that promotions were to take place, and ultimately, took advantage of the situation. ABC at Colombo Activity Base Costing (ABC) allocates overhead costs to a product or service, based on the costs of activities that are needed to make a product or conduct a service (Ingram, Albright, Hill, 2001, pg. 177). The information gathered on the costs of a product or service are supposed to be much more accurate than any other forms of traditional costing. This is because a particular product or service that may require more value addition than compared to another product or service. With traditional methods of costing, other products that are made by that company may carry 1 product burden and therefore that 1 product may not be as profitable as once thought. Hence ABC provides management more accurate costs so they can make strategic decisions such as to stay with a particular customer, to stay in a particular market or to stay with a particular product. The list of strategic decisions can be endless. With GMIs acquisition of Colombo, the cost structure for Colombos frozen yoghurt was also affected. Under a traditional method of costing, Table 1 shows Colombos individual product costs. With a model in place for ABC and cost pools defined, the Table 3 shows what the new costs and profit were calculated using the ABC system and compared to the traditional costs and profits. As it can be seen from table 3, the profitability changes from 1 segment to another rather drastically. With allocation of overheads directed to cost drivers in the cost pools, the costs associated with selling to shops is far less than the costs to impulse locations. The impulse segment is almost unprofitable, only at 3%, whereas the margin for the shops is around 29%, which could be very high if compared to an industry benchmark. Table 4 shows the final profitability statement. With ABC, the total amount of costs does not change, but the costs are only allocated differently, so therefore both the traditional costing statement and ABC statement should match in total cost. The statement in Table 4 does not match because of the additional costs that were attributed to SGA from the study conducted by 10% of the sales people. The costs of SGA had risen from an original amount of $1,185,000 to $3,900,000. (The original profitability statement is in Appendix A) Table.4: Profitability Statement Recommendations From the results of ABC it is evident that there are problems with the pricing of the products in the impulse and shop market. With this new costing data, GMI management can decide on what strategies that they would choose to pursue to ensure the sustainability and profitability of Colombo frozen yoghurt. The following are recommendations that can be useful to meet this goal. Re-pricing GMI can choose to re-price itself in both the Impulse segment and shop segment to try to remain cost competitive. With the costs being significantly lower for shops, GMI could drop the price for shops and increase its price for impulse locations. This could improve sales of frozen yoghurt in shops, which lately have been falling at considerable rates. A reason for the sales falls could be linked to a high price that shop owners charge and discourage purchases from the public. A rate of return for GMI between 10% 20% would be reasonable. Also impulse market is very competitive and saturated with ice cream products that frozen yoghurt has to compete with. The sales history shows that in the impulse segment sales have a plateau. Therefore any further price-cutting could mean an increase in sales but as a consequence have a minute or negative margin. With the expensive cost structure for the impulse market, there is very little room for movement. Market/Customer Exit Based on the cost structure of the impulse market, GMI could choose to exit their customers in the impulse market. Some advantages of this option is that they may cut their loses early because the threat of competition entry to the frozen yoghurt and ice cream market is high. Future sales have the potential to decline by competitors dropping prices and entering the market with new products. The costs associated with spending time selling to the impulse market were a whopping statistic at 99% of sales representatives time. Also, costs have increased with the selling activity. With the exit of this segment, the sales people could be utilised in other areas of the business. The down side of the exit strategy is that GMI can lose market penetration, hence losing further sales by limiting the locations of where frozen yoghurt is sold and losing sales by terminating their customers. If this exit option were followed, GMI would have to ensure that the process is managed and marketed carefully to make this work for the long term. Value Engineering Lastly, GMI could attempt to cut their own costs that are driven by the value chains activities. These activities are in the form of manufacturing the frozen yoghurt, shipping, merchandising and SGA. To conduct a value engineering analysis would mean to look at eliminating wastage in the value chain and therefore reduce the costs associated with frozen yoghurt. Value engineering is widely used in the automotive industry as a cost reduction activity. If GMI used this tool in the shipping link of the value chain, it could focus on solutions to lower the cost of shipping per case of $2.25 in the impulse market. Perhaps an agreement could be reached with a freight forwarder that cases are picked up from GMI on pallets and then the forwarded individually to impulse locations. For example, costs could potentially be dropped to $1.50. For merchandising, maybe the cost of kits can be reduced by either re-sourcing to another supplier for the manufacture of the kits or even change the medium in what merchandising is conducted in. The problems with the escalating SGA costs may be attributed to GMIs own process. GMI could look at changing their processes to make it easier and therefore cheaper to sell products to the impulse market by sales representatives. Maybe even selling can be handled more efficiently, or even GMI could conduct training courses to improve the skills set for the sellers.

The Greek God Poseidon, Lord of the Sea, Neptune

The Greek God Poseidon, Lord of the Sea, Neptune The mighty Earthshaker, Poseidon ruled the waves that the ancient seafaring Greeks depended upon. Fisherman and sea captains swore fealty to him and avoided his wrath; the sea gods persecution of the hero Odysseus was well known, and few wished to wander so far and so long before finding their home port. In addition to his influence over the seas, Poseidon was responsible for earthquakes, striking the ground with his trident, a three-pronged spear, to awesomely devastating effect. Birth of Poseidon Poseidon was the son of the titan Cronos and brother to the Olympian gods Zeus and Hades. Cronos, fearful of a son who would overthrow him as he vanquished his own father Ouranos, swallowed each of his children as they were born. Like his brother Hades, he grew up inside the bowels of Cronos, until the day when Zeus tricked the titan into vomiting up his siblings. Emerging victorious after the ensuing battle, Poseidon, Zeus and Hades drew lots to divide up the world they had gained. Poseidon won dominion over the waters and all its creatures. Alternate Greek myths suggest that Poseidons mother, Rhea, transformed him into a stallion to stymie Cronos appetite. It was in the form of a stallion that Poseidon pursued Demeter, and fathered a foal, the horse Areion. Poseidon and the Horse Oddly for the god of the sea, Poseidon is deeply associated with horses. He created the first horse, introduced riding and chariot racing to mankind, and rides above the waves in a chariot drawn by horses with golden hooves. In addition, some of his many children are horses: the immortal Areion and the winged horse Pegasus, which was the son of Poseidon and the gorgon Medusa. Myths of Poseidon The brother of Zeus and Greek god of the sea figures in many myths. Perhaps the most notable are those related by Homer in the Iliad and Odyssey, where Poseidon emerges as a foe of the Trojans, champion of the Greeks and dire enemy of the hero Odysseus. The Greek gods antipathy toward the wily Odysseus stems is kindled by the mortal wound that the hero deals to Polyphemus the Cyclops, a son of Poseidon. Again and again, the sea god conjures winds that keep Odysseus away from his home in Ithaca. A second notable story involves the contest between Athena and Poseidon for the patronage of Athens. The goddess of wisdom made a more compelling case to the Athenians, giving them the gift of the olive tree while Poseidon created the horse. Finally, Poseidon figures prominently in the story of the Minotaur. Poseidon gave to King Minos of Crete a fantastic bull, intended for sacrifice. The king couldnt part with the beast, and in anger, Poseidon caused the princess Pasiphae to fall in love with the bull, and to birth the legendary half-bull, half-man called the Minotaur. Poseidon Fact File Occupation: God of the Sea Attributes of Poseidon: The symbol for which Poseidon is best known is the trident. Poseidon is often shown alongside his wife Amphitrite in a sea chariot drawn by sea creatures. The Inferiority of Poseidon:Poseidon asserts equality with Zeus in the Iliad, but then defers to Zeus as king. By some accounts Poseidon is older than Zeus and the one sibling Zeus didnt have to rescue from his father (the power leverage Zeus usually used with his siblings). Even with Odysseus, who had ruined his son Polyphemus life, Poseidon behaved in a less fearsome manner than might be expected of an enraged Sturm und Drang kind of god. In the challenge for patronage of the polis of Athens, Poseidon lost to his niece Athena, but then worked cooperatively with her as in the Trojan War where they try to thwart Zeus with Heras help. Poseidon and Zeus:Poseidon may have had an equal claim to the title of King of the Gods, but Zeus is the one who took it. When the Titans made the thunderbolt for Zeus, they made the trident for Poseidon.

Stem Cell Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Stem Cell - Essay Example For millions of others, the time has come to overcome the unfounded religious and political obstacles that have log-jammed this river of hope and proceed with stem cell research and development. The application of stem cell research is an ethical endeavor that could result in the saving of millions of lives, untold misery, and offer hope to millions that suffer from disease and disability. Stem cell research is science. It is no less science than in-vitro fertilization, organ transplants, and blood transfusions. Our scientific tradition compels us to explore new uses for science and craft ways to put it to work to alleviate suffering and premature death. Blocking science for political purposes is unconscionable and as Kinsley reminds us, "Imagine being paralyzed by a spinal cord injury in your teens, watching for decades as medical treatment progresses but not quite fast enough, and knowing that it could have been faster." This concern is also shared by an overwhelming number of Americans. While most Americans favor moving ahead with stem cell research, those that oppose it most often cite religious objections as their reason (Americans Speak Out). Strict conservative Christians have blocked federal funding for increased research as they have mistakenly related it to the abortion issue.

Money and Banking Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Money and Banking - Assignment Example Money supply as defined by Fed does not include bank reserves. It only includes such money that may be used for exchanging goods and services. On the other hand, demand deposits and all other cash which can be used for transactions are included in the money supply.  The money supply in the form of loans is in the form of cash. so, money supply in cash is equal to the number of loans.   STRONG DOLLAR: strong dollar happens when U.S. dollar increases to a level with respect to any other currency which has a high rate of exchange for other currency which is relative to the dollar. WEAK DOLLAR: Weak dollar occurs when U.S. dollar falls to a level with respect to another currency that possesses high exchange rates for other currency that is relative to the dollar. INTEREST RATE POLICY AND DOLLAR STRENGTH: The interest rate policy affects the strength and weakness of the dollar to a great extent. An increase in interest rate will increase the demand for the dollar so that more investments can be made in U.S. assets. Thus the value of the dollar will also increase. Increase in value means strong dollar. Thus, the dollar will get stronger with higher interest rates. On the other hand, the lower the interest rates, the weaker will be the dollar due to the same reason. DOLLAR EXCHANGE RATE:   If we analyze the exchange rate of Dollar with respect to major countries Broad Index, we see that in January 2009, the dollar exchange rate was 89.5039 which reduced to 80.3001 by the end of September 2011. The decrease was gradual and consistent. However, the exchange rate rises initially till March 2009 after which it started falling. It was 77.83 by the end of July 2011. However, it rises in August and September and reaches to 80.3001 in September 2011. EFFECT OF DOLLAR STRENGTH/ WEAKNESS ON CONSUMERS, BUSINESS AND ECONOMY: The exchange rate analysis of dollar for the past two years reveals that the dollar is continually weakening. This weakness will affect all the consumers and businesses and will also have impacts on the economy of the country. The economists are of the view that weak dollar will affect every aspect of the economy. The prices of consumers clothing, electronic, the rates of mortgages and job markets will all be affected by the dollar value. The weakness in dollar value also asserts an increase in oil prices. This increase will definitely affect the producers. Their production costs will rise. Consequently, the producers will increase the prices of consumer goods. This will affect consumers and thus, the whole economy would be affected. the weakness of dollar will also affect some other currencies. This is due to the reason that as the dollar got weaker and weaker; the investors will tend to search for some other currencies to which are relatively stable as compared to Dollar. This will increase the demand for other currencies and decrease in the demand for the dollar. Consequently, the interest rate will tend to decrease. This will affect the deposits of individuals and businesses in the banks. Finally, this will again have an impact on the whole economy.