Pros of using technology in the classroom

Computers and the internet have made it easier for students to access academic material at any given moment of the day.

Nowadays students spend more time surfing and doing research online than they watch television.

Websites like Wikipedia and Google have made internet research straightforward and cheap, or practically free.

access (v) 使用、访问（计算机文件）
given (adj) 特定的
straightforward (adj) 简单明了的

What is IQ？

A person's IQ, on the other hand, measures concepts like logical reasoning, word comprehension, and math skills rather than creative potential or emotional abilities.

People with a high IQ may be able to learn certain subjects very quickly and make connections between ideas that others miss. They often have great academic success, although they may struggle to find classes that challenge them.

The ability to acquire knowledge does not necessarily mean people can recognize and manage their own emotional states, however.

IQ = Intelligence Quotient
measure (v) 衡量
logical reasoning 逻辑推理
comprehension (n) 理解

What is EQ?

According to some theories of brain function, a high EQ means someone is self-confident, self-aware, and able to handle difficult emotional experiences.

It is often tied directly to the degree of success a person may have in the workplace and in personal relationships.

People with high EQ can often better recognize and control their own emotions, and recognize emotional states in others to adjust their behavior accordingly.

EQ=Emotional intelligence or Emotional Quotient
self-aware (adj) 自知之明
tie (v) 联系
accordingly (adv) 相应地

Eating in a restaurant: carefree

The biggest advantage of eating out is being able to sit at the table and enjoy without worries about attending to all the details of a meal.

You do not worry about everything that goes into preparing a family meal: the time of preparation, serving the right amount for all the diners and find a moment to stop, and taste the food yourself.

This can be exhausting, especially if it is a meal prepared for a large group of people.

carefree (adj) 无忧无虑的
attend (v) 照料
go into… （钱、时间、精力等等 ）被用在。。。

Cooking at Home: Healthier Ingredients

When you cook at home, you control what you put into your food.

There is that old adage that "You are what you eat," but, for many people, your food is what you put into it.

When you get food from a restaurant, you have no idea what sort of junk they put into it. How much oil is in there? How much sugar? How much heavy cream?

ingredient (n) （做菜的）原料
adage (n) 谚语、格言
heavy cream 高脂浓奶油

Balanced life

The way that our generation differs from our parents is that we have grown up in this society that leads us to believe we should pursue happiness as opposed to a hefty salary,

even if that means leading a different lifestyle than the one our parents provided us with.

Our generation is much more focused on enjoying ourselves and having experiences as opposed to making the big bucks.

opposed to…而不是。。。
hefty (adj)（钱的数额）很大的
big bucks 一大笔钱

Education is more important in our generation

Our generation has much more of an emphasis on education than our parents' did.

Practically everyone you know is attending or applying to an institution of higher education after graduating from high school because, in today’s world, it’s the social norm.

Not everyone is meant to pursue a college education, but if you choose not to, you are almost looked down upon by certain people in society.

emphasis (n) 重视
practically (adv) 几乎
social norm 社会准则、常态

Arts boost Confidence.

While mastering a subject certainly builds a student’s confidence, there is something special about participating in the arts.

Getting up on a stage and singing gives kids a chance to step outside their comfort zone.

As they improve and see their own progress, their self-confidence will continue to grow.

participate (v) 参与
comfort zone 舒适区

Arts and Creativity.

This may seem like a no-brainer, but the arts allow kids to express themselves better than math or science.

As the Washington Post says: In an arts program, your child will be asked to recite a monologue in six different ways, create a painting that represents a memory, or compose a new rhythm to enhance a piece of music.

If children have practiced thinking creatively, it will come naturally to them now and in their future career.

no-brainer (n) 无需用脑的事
monologue (n) 独白
compose (v) 作曲

Parental influence

Self-esteem is a major key to success in life.

A positive parent-child relationship provides the framework and support for a child to develop a healthy respect and regard for self and for others.

Children crave time with parents. It makes them feel special.

Parents are encouraged to find time to spend playing with their kids on a regular basis. This should include one to one with each child and group time with all of the adults and kids in the home.

self-esteem (n)自尊
framework (n)准则、体系
crave (v)渴望