miércoles, 29 de julio de 2015

The habit of Reading

Reasons to start READING NOW!
 
    It is the complaint of many mothers the fact that their children do not want or like reading. Like me, it is the desire of all parents to have our children cultivating their imagination and developing their intelligence. Searching the web, many reasons why reading benefits people came up to be the arguments for convincing our youngest generations to start reading straightaway. If you have ever been immersed within the imaginary world of a book, you will share many of the ideas that will be presented here. And if you are in search of a strategy to persuade your child or teenage, over here you will find the precise arguments that surely will make them acquire the habit of reading.
Well-known as it may be, books are useful and enjoyable. But many scientific studies have demonstrated it is not just that simple. Among several reasons, there are five that I have personally experienced, and they have demonstrated to be feasible for many other people.   

    First, it has been proved that reading regularly increases intelligence and  expands the vocabulary. Dr. Seuss said: "The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go." According the University of California, Berkeley, books for children expose kids to 50 percent more words than TV, or even a conversation between college graduates. What is more, this study also states that the exposure to new vocabulary leads to higher scores on general tests of intelligence. In this way, by reading regularly a person not only acquires new information and expands their knowledge, but they also maximize their opportunities to be successful at school and even at university.


 
    Second, the habit of reading boosts a person's brain power. A research published in Neurology states that by reading regularly a person improves memory function by giving the brain a good work out. Like any other muscle of our body, exercising the brain improves its functioning. With age also comes a decline in memory and brain function and the reading habit may serve as a solution to this problem by keeping minds sharper longer, according to this research. By reading a book, among other types of brain exercises, serious illnesses such as Alzheimer can be prevented and the brain keeps fit and healthy. 

    Third, another research suggests that reading may help people relax and reduce their stress levels. A cognitive neuropsychologist, David Lewis, told the magazine the Telegraph that: "It really doesn't matter what book you read, by losing yourself in a thoroughly engrossing book you can escape from the worries and stresses of everyday world and spend a while exploring the domain of the author's imagination". In this way Lewis states that reading books leads people to left the concerns of life aside for a while, and to enjoy an activity that is advantageous in many aspects. Should you ever have the opportunity to read a book, you'll be immersed in the most captivating of the alternative reality.

    Fourth, the habit of reading develops the analytical thinking skills. Some studies suggest that by analyzing a novel, for example, a person evaluates the plot, if the work is well-written, whether the characters were properly developed, if the story line ran smoothly, among other aspects. In this way, this person cultivates and improves his/her analytical ability and capacity and therefore, in case of being involved in a discussion or debate in relation to a piece of writing, s/he will be able to state a solid position and communicate opinions clearly taking into account all the aspects involved.

Last but not least, reading is a great source for taking an insight into different cultures that are unknown as well as for opening the mind up to new ways of thinking, perceiving and doing things, according to some web sites. Exploring new cultures offers the opportunity to get different perspectives of how people live, think and act. As a consequence, a person may find solutions to problems they mayn't have thought of. In this way, the mind is opened to acquire different points of view about situations that can become later alternatives to everyday problems. 

    Whenever the talk about reading comes up at lunch time, in the car, or even during family meetings, give those who haven't explore the wonderful world books these five reasons to start reading right now! It increases intelligence, keeps the brain active, reduces stress, develops analytical skills and opens up the mind to new perspectives. Five suitable and trustworthy arguments that may convince anyone about the real benefits of reading books.     








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martes, 28 de julio de 2015

The Story behind BARS AND MELODY

 
The story behind BARS AND MELODY
    I would like to start this blog entry with a quote related to the healing power of music: "Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life" Berthold Auerbach. This may have been what moved teenager Leondre Devries to put into words and music the painful experiences he had gone through. Like many kids and teenagers from all over the world, he is a bullying victim. And the following is his story.
 
    Leondre Devries is a 13-year-old teenager who presented to participate in a TV show named Britain's Got Talent. This reality show is aimed at discovering new artists in the music field. Together with a friend, Charlie Lenehan, a 15-year-old boy, they formed a duet and took part of the show. They introduced themselves to the judges and Leondre narrated his torments from the past.
  
 
    In Devries own words: "I used t get jumped on by a group of boys who would wait for me, then trip me up and punch and kick me", he said in relation to the series of events he was a victim of. For over two years, he suffered from this scourge that affects thousand of kids, especially within schools. His parents did not realize about the problem their son was facing since Leondre tried to hide what was embarrassing for him by that time.  
    The phenomenon of bullying has been spread through children and teenagers inside schools. A definition of bullying says that it is "unwanted, aggressive behavior among school aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated or has the potential to be repeated, over time." Among many others, types of bullying may be:
  • Verbal: this type of bullying includes saying or writing mean things about someone.
  • Social: it involves hurting someone's reputation or relationships by leaving  him/her out on purpose, spreading rumors, etc.
  • Physical: it involves hurting a person's body or possessions by hitting, kicking, breaking someone's things, etc.
    Little did Leondre Devries and Charlie Lenehan imagine that their participation would generate such an impact on the audience. "We really want to help people with our music and show the positive as well as the negative" Devries remarked. It is important to highlight the possible solutions to this problem. Parents, teachers and all the community should know that an effective communication is the key to help any teenager or kid who is going through this disturbing situation. According to a web site, some tips to help them are:
  • Kids and teenagers have to understand bullying. Adults should talk about what bullying is and how to stand up to it safely. Bullying is unacceptable and students should not feel fear or embarrass.
  • Parents should be attentive to their children and have a trustworthy relationship with them. They should listen to their children, know their friends, ask about school, and understand their concerns.
  • Parents should also encourage their children to talk about their problems, so as to find possible solutions to them.
    All in all,  Leondre Devries' testimony came up to help those who suffered from bullying and to encourage them overcoming the situation. And my message for those who are bullied is to always remember that BULLYING IS UNACCEPTABLE. Do not allow anyone to hurt you or to let you down. Be brave, defend yourself and be FREE FROM BULLYING! Just like Leondre...


 
 
 
 
 
 
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