#Math Classes Brisbane

[sipabacusau]

Abacus & Math Classes Online for Kids | Tuition in Brisbane - SIP Abacus

In today’s fast-paced educational landscape, equipping children with exceptional cognitive skills is more vital than ever. SIP Abacus, a globally recognized tutoring brand, offers expert Abacus classes online, math classes online, and tuition classes in Brisbane—combining traditional wisdom with modern teaching methods.

1. What Makes SIP Abacus Unique

 Whole‑Brain Learning Through Abacus

SIP’s curriculum emphasizes whole‑brain development by engaging both hemispheres. Moving beads on an abacus activates tactile and visual centers, reinforcing memory, concentration, and calculation speed—essential building blocks of logical and numerical aptitude.

Three Integrated Boost Tools

The program isn’t just about abacus. It uses a proven trifecta:

Abacus: Foundation for mental arithmetic

Brain Gym: Boosts focus, creativity, and coordination

Speed Writing: Sharpens expressive skills and cognitive agility.

Structured Curriculum with Levels

SIP Abacus delivers a systematic learning journey tailored to each age group:

Junior (6–9 yrs / Grades 1–3): Building confidence with basic arithmetic and motor skills

Foundation (Grades 4+): Introducing complex operations and visual number mapping

Advanced & Grand‑Master: From 3–4 digit calculation to linear equations, decimals, roots—preparing for Olympiads & competitive exams.

Small-Sized, Expert-Led Classes

With just 6–15 students per batch, children get attention, flexibility, and personalized pacing—whether online or offline.

2. Why Abacus Still Matters

Despite living in a calculator‑driven world, abacus education offers timeless benefits:

Rapid Mental Math: Kids can add and subtract swiftly, even outperforming calculators in simple scenarios.

Enhanced Concentration & Memory: Focused practice on the abacus sharpens attention spans and working memory.

Problem‑Solving Skills: Visualization of problems fosters strategic thinking, breaking tasks into steps and applying logic—skills that translate across academic subjects.

Boosted Confidence: Children who master mental math feel empowered, carry that assurance into schoolwork and beyond.

3. Online Advantage: Math and Abacus from Anywhere

Flexibility for Brisbane Families

Whether living in inner-city Brisbane or regional Queensland, SIP’s online abacus and math classes offer the same rich learning model without the commute. Classes are interactive and tutor-led, ensuring engagement and real-time feedback.

Integrated Math Prep with Local Curriculum

These tuition classes support school concepts—math, fractions, decimals—while reinforcing core skills developed in abacus training. The result? Sharper mental calculation and better performance in homework and exams.

4. Program Levels Explained

Here's an in-depth look at each stage of the SIP Abacus journey:

🔹 Junior Module (6–9 yrs / Grades 1–3)

Learn bead‑based addition/subtraction

Tables 2–9, motor‑brain coordination

Builds number confidence and attention span

🔹 Foundation Module (Grades 4+)

Visualize beads to perform + – × ÷

Replaces reliance on physical tool with mental representation

Sharpens accuracy and focus

🔹 Advanced Module

Master 3‑4 digit operations and long multiplication/division

Boosts computational reasoning, speed, and mental agility

🔹 Grand Master Module

Tackle decimals, linear equations, cube/square roots

Prepares students for Olympiads, competitive exams, and higher math

Another parent‑turned-student shared:

“When I reached 10th grade, I was pretty good at mind calculations… It helped a lot while attending JEE and KEAM… I try not to use calculator for most part.”

6. Why SIP Abacus Online in Brisbane Is Ideal

FeatureBenefit for Brisbane FamiliesOnline live classesConvenient, location‑independentQualified instructorsGlobally trained and updatedSmall batch sizesPersonalized attention in sessionsFlexible scheduleFits around school & extracurricularsInteractive formatMaintains engagement akin to in-class learningAcademic alignmentSupplements Brisbane's math curriculum

7. Enrolling Your Child

Enrollment is straightforward:

Visit the SIP Abacus Australia website.

Schedule a free trial class��available online or at the Brisbane centre 

Attend the trial to assess fit and teaching style.

Choose preferred schedule (1–2 sessions/week).

Complete registration and get materials. Classes begin shortly!

8. Tips to Maximize the Experience

Start early (ages 6–8): younger learners often absorb faster.

Keep it fun, not forced: avoid turning it into homework stress.

Make practice a routine: even 10 min/day can make a big difference.

Celebrate milestones: mastering tables, finishing a module, doing a first mental calculation—each win boosts motivation.

9. Final Thoughts

SIP Abacus offers a powerful blend: abacus, Brain Gym, Speed Writing, and math tuition, all wrapped in online accessibility for Brisbane families. Whether your child struggles with math or is looking to exceed expectations, SIP delivers:

Enhanced mental math ability

Stronger focus and memory

Increased confidence academically and socially

A foundation for competitive exams

While no program is a magic bullet, SIP’s structured curriculum and flexible delivery make it a smart long-term investment. Many Brisbane parents are already reporting faster calculation speed, improved school results, and a newfound love of math—and you can unlock the same for your child.

[edge-oftheworld]

seeing all these luke interviews has really got me thinking about how sometimes there is good to be found in formative experiences also acknowledged to have been traumatising and how important it can be to really make sense of both. and I know this isn’t possible for everyone and some things are plain awful, but especially if you’ve been a ‘gifted’ unrecognised neurodivergent kid pushed past your limit (and then got rightfully angry and stood up to the people who pushed you into burnout) there’s cases where it’s important to acknowledge that too. finding beauty in hard things is often as rebellious as saying the things we’re told to chase aren’t satisfying and choosing self care instead.

before I speculate into something I really can’t speak to I’m gonna say how I��ve seen the need for that myself and I’m ready to celebrate and be grateful on my own terms. It’s always easy to hear stories of the band’s origins and think ‘what was I doing then’ because I moved away from sydney like a week or something after the band formed (and then didn’t hear about them til they opened for one direction, sometimes I wonder if I’d stayed local would that be different).

but even before then I had some really magical friendships who’ve survived the test of time, I’d abseiled down waterfalls and had adventures in the park-scattered suburbs and experienced the strange juxtaposition of haves and have-nots and contentment and gratitude but also fear and sheltering that you don’t really get in the same way anywhere but the suburban and peri-urban working class strip of Sydney’s west and south. and then I moved and soon learned to build anything I wanted to use for fun reasons or practical reasons. I learned how to basically run a farm and I learned how to gauge when it’s a good day to do laundry and I learned to be responsible for the lives of some of the beautiful animals we share this world with, helped renovate the house and dug clay out of the ground and made it into toy tea sets. saw a different set of haves and have nots, a different culture, a different way of approaching faith that isn’t too distinguishable until I needed something different and realised the way I grew up in those earlier years—that was different. I had an excellent education not only academically (though it was. still wild to think about—I had ideas and could go with them and that made something hard bearable. we used to write and record entire songs in high school music. messed around but also learned how to use patterns in maths and write entire short stories in upper primary. designed entire houses in high school graphics, learned how to solve global issues in geography, and proved how to get enough iron as a vegan in science, graduated with a dream to use all this to design places that look after people and the environment) but also from a perspective of being confident to be myself when that’s not always what capitalism would want. I got a weird mix of the western sydney work ethic meets suburban Brisbane satellite community tells zillennial children to dream big. got to learn all about the planet and how to care for it in uni. what kinds of study don’t work for my brain, and then later in postgrad ways that do. realising urban design is going to be the art form I give back with and I never lost my passion for it though I grew older and learned how to be more realistic but optimistic despite it—how it’s like I’m made for it and that’s so, so validating. played the xylophone in school when I lived in sydney and picked up the viola in brisbane, but it was my mum who taught me piano and music theory while my dad taught me woodwork and how to safely use ropes. I also learned how to care for people with the backing of community and religious groups, and how not to preserve myself in that, how sometimes I need to question power and theology to do better in it next time. and yeah I did get burnt out. really burnt out. made my brain sick and my whole body too is dealing with the fallout of that, it’s hard to function, it’s hard to take care of myself, when it’s been years of weathering experiences that were too hard, harder than I could keep up with, too many responsibilities at a young age, stacking up and each diminishing my ability to tackle the next. I did pick up some really bad self destructive habits. there’s been a lot that I’ve never been quite sure that I could survive when I always needed things individualistic society is unable to give and require a delicate balance of things beyond my control in order for my motivation not to drive me into the ground but also to not be frozen in fear and overwhelm so that I don’t meet any of my physical needs. things I’ve narrowly made it through, sometimes dangerously, when I have no idea to even explain the parameters around help I need and so end up going without, relying on chance and luck instead. but there was good among it too. skills I pick up in hindsight when I finally process something and realise, this is important to me, I think I can still do it, how can I prioritise working back up to it in a way that honours my limits?

and I guess I’m saying this because I’m not a global pop star or anything and my life has been a lot more normal and probably relatable for the average tumblr user. but some things remain the same and remain relatable and when I’m living my life advocating for preventing things like burnout and giving words to people to understand themselves and the kids of things they need—I’ll also advocate for having people believe in you, adults who seem naive, but teach them how to apply this to those who don’t fit some specific idea of talent and also to be validating of hard things while they do. for being out in the community and learning empathy and learning to get by with not much but also going for opportunities simply because you want to, and how as a community we can together take down the barriers that prevent it. and maybe it seems obvious or something but I’ve never been grateful for my youth before. It’s been too hard, too much what I was told to be by people who seemed almost wilfully ignorant of how much it cost me

[sintes-plant]

Natural changes in climate | Middle school Earth and space science | Khan Academy

Natural changes in climate | Middle school Earth and space science | Khan Academy by Khan Academy Courses on Khan Academy are always 100% free. Start practicing—and saving your progress—now! Earth’s climate has changed over time due to natural events and processes. Volcanic eruptions, meteorite impacts, ocean currents, and greenhouse gases have all driven changes in climate—sometimes suddenly, sometimes slowly. Scientists use ice cores, tree rings, and other natural records to uncover how these forces shaped Earth’s past climate across centuries and millennia. 00:00 Intro 00:30 Climate vs weather 01:23 How volcanoes can disrupt climate 02:15 How a meteor can disrupt climate 03:44 Global ocean conveyer belt 04:29 Greenhouse gases 05:29 How do scientists study changes in climate 06:24 Summary Khan Academy is a nonprofit organization with the mission of providing a free, world-class education for anyone, anywhere. We offer quizzes, questions, instructional videos, and articles on a range of academic subjects, including math, biology, chemistry, physics, history, economics, finance, grammar, preschool learning, and more. We provide teachers with tools and data so they can help their students develop the skills, habits, and mindsets for success in school and beyond. Khan Academy has been translated into dozens of languages, and 15 million people around the globe learn on Khan Academy every month. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, we would love your help! Donate or volunteer today! Donate here: https://ift.tt/zcU0MNG Volunteer here: https://ift.tt/UeY3rfI Credits: “Alternate version of the greenhouse effect” by A loose necktie, licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY-SA 4.0): https://ift.tt/K4WoSEy “Mount Pinatubo eruption of 12 June 1991” by Dave Harlow, USGS, public domain: https://ift.tt/HXvpbKS “An ice core” by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/Ludovic Brucker, public domain: https://ift.tt/fq8bZRE “Ice core driller” by Jennifer Heldman, National Science Foundation (NSF), public domain: https://ift.tt/fq8bZRE “Thermohaline circulation” by Brisbane, licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY-SA 3.0): https://ift.tt/TKvIkrH

[immigrationbuddy]

Why Move to Brisbane/Melbourne/Perth? State Nomination Programs Compared

If you're planning to migrate to Australia as a skilled worker, you may have already come across the concept of State Nomination — a powerful way to boost your visa chances under the Skilled Migration Program. But with multiple states offering their own nomination streams, it can be challenging to decide where to settle. migration agents australia - Immigration Buddy

In this article, we compare the State Nomination Programs in Queensland (Brisbane), Victoria (Melbourne), and Western Australia (Perth) — focusing on their unique advantages, eligibility criteria, and lifestyle perks.

🌆 Why State Nomination Matters

State nomination allows you to apply for:

Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) – permanent residency

Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) – a 5-year visa with a pathway to PR

Getting nominated by a state or territory adds crucial points to your expression of interest (EOI), and in some cases, allows you to be selected even with lower points.

🏙️ Brisbane – Queensland State Nomination (Migration Queensland)

Key Advantages:

Strong demand for regional, construction, health, and engineering occupations

Welcomes migrants into regional areas outside Brisbane via the 491 visa

Popular among international graduates from Queensland universities

Eligibility Highlights:

Must have an occupation on Queensland Skilled Occupation List

Work experience required (varies by visa type and occupation)

Must commit to living and working in Queensland

Small business owners in regional QLD can also apply under a special stream

Lifestyle:

Brisbane offers warm weather, a lower cost of living compared to southern cities, and proximity to the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast. Ideal for families and those seeking a laid-back lifestyle.

🏙️ Melbourne – Victoria State Nomination (Live in Melbourne Program)

Key Advantages:

Focus on highly skilled professionals in STEM (science, tech, engineering, maths), healthcare, and education

Doesn’t require a job offer in many streams

Open to offshore and onshore applicants in priority sectors

Eligibility Highlights:

Must have an occupation aligned with Victoria’s target sectors

Higher competition and points required compared to other states

No requirement to be living in Victoria at the time of application (for some streams)

Lifestyle:

Melbourne is known for its arts, culture, and education. It's a global city with a strong public transport system, world-class universities, and a cosmopolitan feel — ideal for professionals and international families.

🏙️ Perth – Western Australia State Nomination (Migration WA)

Key Advantages:

Wide occupation lists, especially in health, trades, and construction

Offers two streams: General and Graduate

Lower points threshold and easier access for regional migrants

Eligibility Highlights:

Must be on the Western Australia Skilled Migration Occupation List (WASMOL) or Graduate Occupation List

Must demonstrate commitment to live and work in WA for at least two years

Graduate stream available for those who studied in WA for at least two years

Lifestyle:

Perth offers beautiful beaches, sunny weather, and relaxed living. It’s also well connected to Southeast Asia, making it attractive to international migrants looking for a balance between work and lifestyle.

🗂️ Quick Comparison Table

FeatureBrisbane (QLD)Melbourne (VIC)Perth (WA)Visa Types190 & 491190 & 491190 & 491Focus SectorsHealth, trades, regional jobsSTEM, health, educationHealth, construction, tradesOffshore Applicants AllowedSome streamsYes (select sectors)YesGraduate PathwayYes (QLD study required)Yes (no study location requirement)Yes (WA study required)Cost of LivingModerateHighLower than eastern statesClimateWarm, subtropicalCool-temperateWarm and dryLifestyleRelaxed, family-friendlyUrban, cultural, fast-pacedOutdoor-oriented, nature-focused

🧭 Final Thoughts: Which State Should You Choose?

Choose Brisbane (QLD) if you prefer a warmer climate, regional lifestyle, or are in trades/engineering.

Go with Melbourne (VIC) if you're in tech, science, or healthcare and want a dynamic city experience.

Consider Perth (WA) for an easier path to nomination, especially if you’re a trade worker or studied in WA.

Ultimately, your choice should depend on your occupation, lifestyle goals, and migration timeline. Always check the latest eligibility criteria on each state’s official website or speak with a registered migration agent to guide you through the process.

[kiya4328nn]

https://kiyalearning.com/abacus-classes-in-brisbane/

Looking for Abacus classes in Brisbane? Kiya Learning offers expert-led programs to enhance your child's mathematical skills using the ancient Abacus technique. Our interactive sessions foster concentration, memory, and speed, making learning fun and effective. Join Kiya Learning in Brisbane today to give your child a solid foundation in mental math and boost their confidence!

[edge-oftheworld]

okay buckle up!! i've written entire posts about this in reference to some songs (ydgtp, efyts, maybe blender) so i'll try and post links to them either edited onto these words (if they're underlined i succeeded) or in the comments. if i find these posts that is.

anyway, most of it i'm going to include under a cut because it would require trigger warnings, and i still don't know which ones to use. so, proceed at your own discretion, and if you're reading this and are unsure please ask me in the comments, just so we can be safe and all look after each other. hopefully by the end of writing this I'll know which trigger warnings to use. but this has been my life for several years now, and it is confusing.

I'll start with a bit of background: I went to a Christian school in my high school years, so age 12-17 or so for anyone unfamiliar with Australian schooling. It was like some wannabe American school meets Norwest. I was a gifted kid, not like child prodigy outstanding but enough that people were like, work hard academically, you might go somewhere with it. I also did a bunch of sport and music stuff, it was very 'glorify God by doing your best' and I was a Christian, this seemed legit, I tried to put in a sustainable effort. Meanwhile I'm going to church and youth group and also discovering I really love people and social justice, and there we were hearing a lot about how Jesus does these things, how God always cares about people, he cares about us, I'm like, I can see so much hurt in the world (I'd recently moved to a middle class area in Brisbane from a poorer area in Sydney), I wanna show people a bit of God's love. and damn if I'm meant to work hard academically I better do this a hundred times more because people are so much more important than notions of success (this was near the core of my beliefs then, honestly still is now). I'm young and energetic and the kind of neurodivergent that gets energised by connecting with people, seeing different perspectives, and solving novel challenges (the latter of which unfortunately meant I was quite good at high school maths).

I'm an extrovert and I'm good at making people feel included and welcomed--friendly and outgoing and empathetic and also I've been on the outside hoping people like me enough times to know how to spot someone who's feeling uncomfortable. And I've spent my life looking for the kind of connection that's fulfilling (not realising until my 20s that I need such a safe feeling of autonomy in it). I kind of started to associate what worked the most for me with church? so of course I'm going to work so hard to make that community functional. so that more people can experience that. I'm not great with executive function so having a routine where I know I will see my social circle (I'd graduated school by this point, and so I didn't have the ready made routine school brought) meant it would actually happen and in theory, I'd get my social needs met. so i'd do my bit, hope I get my needs met in return, pray in the times I don't, at first it's nice having to rely on God 24/7. then when in multiple circles my needs are going unmet for long times, the ecosystems I invest in aren't bearing the fruit that I can see and feel as others have their needs met too. what else could I do but try harder? it's all I know how to do. and then the people I love working with, I lose them in different ways--some don't stick around to be overworked, and I support that. some retreat into themselves behind the tasks, and we're a bunch of ex-friends separated by what we're doing together. it seems like they don't care. I didn't realise how much of my effort was me chasing connection. but it's such a normal human thing to do. why does no one else seem to need it?

you don't go to parties hit me pretty early on when 5sos5 was released with its catchy tunes and it's easy to relate to the connection I was missing when I went out to serve in community (maybe not quite a party. but not too different. parties are only as good as the people and chats you have there) and came home too drained to do anything but collapse and cry. and then i had words for it. i could start processing--literally that same week it came out i left probably the last major ministry I was still in (there were many. through the ages of 17-21. i was also studying my undergrad, working, trying to play sport, and had responsibilities on the family property). it'd been a long process of deciding what to do over several years during which at multiple points my mental health was so bad I had to give myself the ultanium of 'it's gonna kill me if I stay, and if I want to have impact for more than a couple more years, I have to do what is gonna keep me alive'. easy for you to say helped me realise how much I was forgetting the life I had in sydney before my family moved (and I still have friends from my primary school days I keep in touch with regularly now, and can in many occasions be a lot more honest than with many people in Brisbane, who I've known through a time where I was trying to be more than I am) and how trapped I felt and how it was messing with my mental health. BLENDER uniquely expresses something a lot like sensory overload, but more emotional/intuitive, and I've experienced that for years but never seen anyone else talk about it. heck, even me myself & i (possibly my least favourite on the album) reminds me of my own stupidity committing to all these things (and I did always have the choice not to, people asking me if I was definitely okay doing things. I just wanted that community so bad I thought the benefit was worth the effort even though it never was for more than the first month or so)--but also how my unknown at the time neurodivergence meant I didn't really have the resources to do any better.

I could write similar things about every song on the album pretty much. the breakup arc and the hope in bleach to start over--how much it reminds me of trying to find my own feet apart from this community I'd gotten myself addicted to working to better care for people in. when I'm overwhelmed by the need in the world or my nervous system is just fried from a big day (always the late nights for church events. I never did learn to sleep in, nor could I ever wind down quickly). when I'm taking out all that frustration on myself. I lost whatever motivation I'm supposed to have for the whole heaven thing for me personally, or maybe I never had it. but I appreciate the salvation of humanity in general. and I keep going a day at a time and I remind myself that I'm human and I can make my life which has been a stressful performance for so long, liveable. TEARS! emotions, red line, CAROUSEL. caramel, when my need for authenticity and connection didn't end up coming from where I'd invested in in the hopes of unselfish interdependence, ignoring all the red flags. bad omens. for the friends who ended up being real throughout it all and the way I probably don't understand heaven in the way I always thought I was 'supposed' to. COMPLETE MESS. you get the picture. I'd listened to 5sos for years, but i never felt so seen as in 5sos5, and it's still incredible to think, it's so hard to find anyone, friend to connect with or creator of art I consume, who i can connect with on a 'we kind of long for the same things' level but here are four of them. and one day I'll have a network of irl people but I'm not there yet.

and so I can look at my adolescent years without the heavily rose coloured glasses of 'being a Christian means to LOVE EVERYONE and I don't have time to feel anything else' that they were when I lived them, when I listen to sgfg. I can unpack my motivations and the ways I do get hurt by connection that goes wrong but there's so much beauty in it when I listen to superbloom. the burnout and the depersonalisation and derealisation that especially did kick in during the aftermath, during which time I somehow finished undergrad, listening to wfttwtaf. I can see these threads all through youngblood and calm and self titled and the non-album singles too--2011 is special for me as well because I left sydney in 2011. and i'm hopefully moving back properly this year!! it's all just exactly what I needed at every time. and I do see God looking after me. I'm finally doing what I wanted to do all along (urban design) and I have a vision and a dream on how to create community in a much more functional way, which reflects much of Christianity. I can put words to my story a bit more every day (and there is so much more to it, like I know this is a long post but it's really the short version) and I'll gradually share it to people I trust who didn't know how to look after me back then, to educate and call out what is unhelpful where necessary--it may not change everything but I'll at least have done my part. so i'm still optimistic in the end. more so for feeling it all. and wouldn't you know of a couple of albums that reflect really well this difficult to capture sentiment--

you mentioned being very active in your church in the past, would you like to hear about how 5sos5 got me through ministry burnout?

Well, why not? I'm not in the church anymore but I still have Christian friends and am always interested Christian lives. Xx

[idiot-riker]

as someone who literally leaves tomorrow to go to university in iowa.... yeah if you don't live in the midwest, even americans barely care about iowa (except during caucus season cause our voting laws are terrible). my friend is coming from the east coast and all their friends are like "why the hell are you going to college in IOWA?" it's mostly soybean and corn farms with like three large towns, two of which are only large cause they host universities and the third's literally half an hour away from one of them so it just takes overflow.

YEAH i've been doing the math to put like, the size and population of iowa into perspective by comparing it to australia and my findings are as follows: the place with the most comparable number of people to iowa is the greater brisbane area (iowa has about half a million more people though), spread out across an area that's about nine times as big. This actually makes Iowa seem harder to ignore though, so to figure out how so many people can live there and how it can be so big, compared how much of the australian population lives in brisbane (19%) to how much of the american population lives in Iowa (0.97%) and those percentages really do make it like "o h that's how there are Whole States You Just Don't Hear About, america has a shitton of people in it." That being said, in high school I was in a math class for people so bad at math that we only did math for half a lesson and spent the rest of the lesson solving riddles so my faith in these numbers being correct is shaky at best lol.

[yessoupy]

the @imetyouonljpodcast episode this week gave me lots of thoughts and feelings about star wars. more like, reminded me of all my thoughts and feelings around my first fandom. thus, I decided to write my own journey into and throughout star wars fandom, and what it means to me. buckle up, this story spans decades.

my very first memory of anything star wars-related is a yoda puppet that my grandmother had. it had to be from the original run of the movies, because I was maybe 4 in my first memory of it, and i was born in '86. my sisters and I loved it, and one of our cousins was deathly scared of it so we'd chase him around the house with it.

my second memory of star wars was going to the movie store with my dad and sisters and seeing our favorite yoda on the cover of a VHS. "yoda yoda yoda! daddy, it's yoda!!! can we get it?" we were holding up the display cover for return of the jedi. dad said no, we couldn't get that one yet because we had to watch them in order. so we rented a new hope and all I remember was falling asleep while artoo and threepio were trundling across the tatooine desert sands. at five I guess I was too young.

in early 1997 the special editions of the original trilogy were aired in theaters and I was in 4th grade. dad took us to see one of them (I think empire, at some point we'd finally finished a new hope). at school that grading period I sat next to a boy named mark and he noticed I was drawing little x-wing silhouettes on my paper. "you like star wars too?" he asked. when I said yes, he declared that because of my name, he was going to call me skywalker. that's the name on the back of my high school letter jacket.

in fall of 1998 I started the 6th grade and I came home from school one day to a hardbound book my mom had checked out for me from the library. heir to the empire by timothy zahn. mom pointed out where it said on the cover it was a trilogy, and I could get the other books when I finished this one. she hadn't found the young jedi knights series for me. she'd checked out a GROWN-UP star wars book.

in spring of 1999 the phantom menace came out and my parents' friend took me to see it on opening day because neither of them were free and I HAD to go that day. later on that year she took me to a star wars exhibit at the museum of fine arts. that was also the first time I saw a monet and a renoir. the exhibit had costumes (real costumes!!!) from the original trilogy and the newest prequel. I bought a book about the myth of star wars in the museum gift shop.

I read every expanded universe book our local library had, which was a lot. I had a lot to catch up on, too, since heir to the empire had been published in 1992. you never saw me at school without a star wars book. I read while walking in the hallways, even. in 6th grade I read during lunch, since I was in varsity orchestra with 7th and 8th graders and was terribly shy. they'd tell me I should socialize at lunch, not read my books, but... I wanted to read. I had a lot to learn. I have a lot to know.

I was in 7th grade when I read vector prime, the first in the new series. my first class of the day was science, and the boy I had a crush on was in that class. we had DEAR time at the beginning of that class - drop everything and read. not a hardship for me. that day, I read the part of the book where chewbacca was killed. I looked up, astonished. heartbroken. I locked eyes with the boy I liked. he nodded at the book and I showed him the cover. he nodded sympathetically. "they killed chewie," I whispered. he said "I know."

I wrote original characters in star wars fan fiction when I was about 13. I had an internet friend named rachel who lived in brisbane. then there was dave and 'roswell' who gave me ideas for my story. I loved being able to talk about the wide world of star wars with other people. we used aol instant messenger and email. my username in those days had 'skywalker' in it. I am pretty sure we met in an aol chatroom. I didn't find much of use on the official star wars site and I have probably visited it fewer than 10 times since 1999.

I read those books all through middle and high school. they were my christmas presents and my birthday presents. I moved into our family beach house after college. it sounds really nice but I didn't have running water because it was the summer after Ike hit. I would go to the used book store on 23rd street and buy a stack of star wars books and read them while I waiting for calls to interview for a teaching position. weekends I'd go into town to stay at a friend's house and help her with wedding stuff. I'd shower there, too. that's where my new stash of star wars books started, with me catching up on the legacy of the force series I hadn't read in college and then finishing up through the fate of the jedi as those came out. I felt that I had grown up with these characters. I remembered when kyp was just an orphan han rescued, when jacen and jaina were five years old, when corran horn had no wife, no kids, and was just finding out who his family was. I had capital o opinions about what color lightsaber i would have and why (silver; bc corran), I knew the geography of the galaxy and where everyone was from and my favorite planet was dathomir because women ruled it. I knew all of these characters' histories and motivations and the difficult decisions they'd made and had to live with. I loved them.

i never ventured into the online fandom space for star wars, even after I'd found other online fandom spaces, because I didn't feel like there was anything anyone could add to it for me. I was satisfied with all I'd gotten. sure, favorite characters had been killed (after chewie, the one who stung most was Mara, luke's wife), but people die. and in such a long-running series spanning so many years and trillions of miles of space... you come to expect it.

people would ask me ALL THE TIME when the sequels were coming out and I said never. then, disney bought star wars. initially I was excited (tears of joy happy) to have sequels confirmed. my mind raced, imagining a trilogy centered on the events surrounding jacen's descent to the dark side. the original actors would be the right age for that. who could play jacen?

then, the announcement came that the canon was now 'legends' and they wouldn't be taking any of it into account when writing the sequels BUT that didn't mean we wouldn't see old canon favorites. they announced adam driver as the villain and I thought "jacen." I held onto the idea that this knowledge I had, these years of knowing these stories, would still be worth something. that I'd be able to add new information to my mental bookshelves and maps. that my universe would expand further.

the force awakens was a bitter disappointment. I was upset from the crawl, leia's title making it clear to me that she wasn't chief of state, she wasn't the mother to three children, han wasn't her husband, and all of her history I'd grown to love really was gone. what I saw was the older version of a woman I'd met when she was 18 and hadn't seen her since her early twenties. I didn't know her.

I didn't know the galaxy, either. starting with the new jedi order series, a map of the galaxy was included in the front of each book with the planets named so you knew where everything was happening. the new galaxy was bare. it was small and knowable. while the hosnian prime system was destroyed in the movie, I'd never known it, and all the planets I DID know were similarly blasted out of memory. where was dathomir and its fierce warrior witches? if their planets were gone so were their people.

as the movie trudged on, a retelling of a new hope, I kept thinking, "at least let his name be jacen." I hung my hopes on this sith character being han and leia's son and sharing that name of the boy I'd known and the man who'd grown up to turn to the dark side. at that first shout of 'BEN!' I was angry. Ben?? that was the name of LUKE'S son! that was MARA'S child! Ben??? with three letters jacen solo and ben skywalker were also dead to the galaxy.

I know, I know. I should get over it. I AM thankful for poe dameron. the x-wing books were always my favorite. poe was familiar to me the way other new characters weren't. he was part of the new republic navy. I knew what that was. he flew an x-wing. I knew what that was.l and what company manufactured them. he was from yavin IV, I knew where that was and what it looked like. finn was a stormtrooper, yes, but the empire had not stolen children to be raised as stormtroopers. they were recruited like any other position. his story wasn't real to me, it wasn't something I could easily accept. and the idea that the new republic just LET the first order rise? leia's new republic would NEVER. but leia wasn't chief of state in this universe. leia hadn't had that power.

I read a lot of articles about the force awakens and the reactions to it, and never saw myself in any of them. the star wars fanboys whom I'd never known were painted as being angry because their fan knowledge was useless and "boo-hoo poor widdle fanboys" they would be mocked, rightfully. but that's why I was angry, ultimately. everyone I knew and loved was dead. worse, they'd never existed. "what do you think will happen?" some unsuspecting coworker would ask. I'd shrug, but inside I was yelling "who the fuck knows! my favorite characters don't exist anymore. nothing I know as this person you know as SKYWALKER means anything anymore."

it only got worse from there. One day I spent four hours figuring out how far the casino planet was from the drifting ships in the last jedi and doing math to figure out how long it would REALLY take to get there, using old canon star wars physics. I couldn't suspend my disbelief during that movie. everything was wrong. (the other space physics quibble I had was from TFA when poe is using comms while in hyperspace, and dropping out on a command and not... when nav told him to?? you'd fly right through a star!! were they HOVERING in hyperspace? none of it made sense.) I knew too much and too little to enjoy it.

TROS was a narrative mess already retconning new canon and I decided that I would only keep what I liked about the new canon (poe and his family) and pretend the old canon is all there is. one day I'll write the story of poe being part of the storied rogue squadron being sent by leia's new republic to put down the fascist upstarts at the edge of the unknown regions. one day.

one more quick story -- i met my college friend’s three kids for the first time when the oldest was 6. i’d sent a toy lightsaber as a gift when he was born, because i believe every child should get their first lightsaber from a skywalker, and his father had shown him the movies when he turned 4. when i walked into the house i said hello and he said, “i have some questions about star wars.”

we sat on the couch with the tfa visual dictionary, a book he’d gotten out of the library. every question he had was an excellent question, and i couldn’t answer any of them. “why does his lightsaber look like that? and why does he have the extra blades?” 

“well, kiddo, let’s see what it says here about how lightsabers are made. i used to know all about it, but they changed everything on me.”

---

what i love about star wars since disney bought it:

poe dameron, cassian andor (and all of rogue one, i got over the fact that the movie wouldn’t be about rogue squadron it was PERFECT), solo (a fucking DELIGHT), the mandalorian, and i’m sure the cassian andor live action will be amazing and i’ll love it. 

[theprice7]

It seems like kids grow up in leaps sometimes. Today was Cael’s first day at his internship at Overwatch in town. He also got his first US college acceptance today from Western Washington.

Today Sorin went to his physics teacher and asked for harder work. This resulted in him being transferred to honors chemistry. Kudos to him being proactive in his education. I think boredom was a motivator but I can deal with that.

Esmé also switched to a harder math class a couple of weeks ago, done entirely by herself.

Our conclusion was that Brisbane State High School was quite competitive academically and the transition back here will take a little finessing. I love how they are so independent.

[hellothetutorshelp-blog]

[squeezyrooms]

LESS THAN AN A ONCE IN THEIR LIFE, AND IT WAS A C. THEY REFUSED TO DO THE WORK IN CIVICS BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT IT WAS RACIST, BUT THEIR TEACHER LIKED THEM SO THEY DIDN’T FAIL THEM.

THE VOICEOVER ENDS AS MC AND LI ENTER A HOUSE. IT’S MUCH NICER LOOKING THAN ADAMS, WITH PROPER WALLS AND UNBROKEN WINDOWS. INSTEAD, WE’RE NOW LOOKING AT THE TWO SITTING IN A BEDROOM. LI IS CHILLING ON A BED, DROWNING IN PILLOWS AND BIG FLUFFY BLANKETS. MC IS LEANING AGAINST A WALL, NEXT TO THE OPEN DOOR.

MC: ONE TIME MY MATH TEACHER FAILED ME BECAUSE SHE DIDN’T THINK I WAS CAPABLE OF GETTING A C, EVEN THOUGH THAT’S WHAT MY GRADE WAS. I KICKED HIM.

LI STARTS LAUGHING. SOFTLY AT FIRST, TRYING TO HOLD IT BACK. BUT THEN IT’S HARD AND BREATHLESS, BECAUSE THE IDEA IS JUST SO FUNNY TO THEM.

MC STARTS CHUCKLING SLIGHTLY AS WELL, AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS TO QUESTION THE OTHER. IT’S A LOT SMALLER THAN LI’S BOISTEROUS LAUGHTER, BUT A SMALL, HESITANT GIGGLE.

[SCENE CHANGE]

MC AND LI BROWSE THROUGH AN OUTDOOR MARKET, LOOKING THROUGH A SERIES OF CRYSTALS, BAGS, CLOTHES AND FOOD. AS THEY DO SO, THEY LAUGH AND JOKE. ITS LOVING AND WARM AND BEAUTIFUL.

MC (VOICEOVER): LI AND I ARE NOTHING ALIKE. THEY’RE A STRAIGHT-A STUDENT. I CAN BARELY SHOW UP TO CLASS. THEY NEVER HAVE AND NEVER PLAN TO DO DRUGS. I’VE DONE MORE THAN A 16-YEAR-OLD HOOKER. NOT THAT I’M MUCH DIFFERENT FROM ONE. LI PLANS TO GO TO UNIVERSITY IN A BIG CITY, LIKE BRISBANE OR MELBOURNE. I PLAN TO DIE SOMETIME IN THE NEXT YEAR. DESPITE ALL THAT, WITHIN A WEEK I DECIDED NEVER TO LEAVE THEIR SIDE. AND I HOPE THEY DECIDED THE SAME.

[SCENE CHANGE]

A MONTAGE OF LI AND MC THROUGHOUT THE WEEKS PLAYS ON-SCREEN. THEM SITTING TOGETHER IN CLASS, SUBTLE GLANCES AND TEASING SMILES. THEM SWINGING TOGETHER ON THE PLAYGROUND. SOFTLY CALLOUSED HANDS HOLDING RUGGED, SCRATCHED ONES. THEM AT THE BEACH TOGETHER, SITTING ON THE SAME CLIFF FACE WE WATCHED MC TEAR THROUGH WITH SO MUCH PAIN. BUT THIS TIME, THERE WASN’T EVEN A HINT OF PAIN. ONLY PURE JOY AND CONTENTMENT.

SLOWLY, OVER TIME, THROUGHOUT THE SCENES PLAYING IN FRONT OF US, THE TWO GET CLOSER AND CLOSER. EMOTIONALLY AND PHYCIALLY. EACH CUT BETWEEN CLIPS LESSENS THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THEIR BODIES AND MIND, ALLOWING ONE ANOTHER INTO THEIR OWN SPACES. LETTING EACHOTHER SEEP THROUGH THE CRACKS IN THE MENTAL WALLS THEY’VE BUILT FOR THEMSELVES.

[SCENE CHANGE] THE CAMERA IS ZOOMED INTO THE BACK OF A BUSTLING CLASSROOM. WE’RE REPEATING A SCENE FROM EARLIER IN THE SHOW. WE HEAR KIDS WALK AROUND AND

[kiya4328nn]

Vedic Math Classes in Brisbane

Rooted in ancient Indian mathematics, Kiya Learning Vedic math offers alternative techniques for solving mathematical problems with speed and precision. Vedic math classes introduce students to these time-tested methods, enhancing their mathematical proficiency.

[privateblogst]

Various Types of Tutoring Programs Are Available

For the working parents, it is possible to take advantage of the services of a tutor Brisbane and learn English. This is the ideal way for the school-going students to study English in comfort with their family at home. Most of the tutors in Brisbane offer private tuition for families who are willing to put in some extra effort to ensure that their children learn the basics effectively and without any hassles. One does not have to give up on studying or leave home for a long weekend to get maths tutoring Brisbane. This can be done online and on a flexible schedule as per your convenience.

Some of the leading tutors in Brisbane offer private tuition and are also proficient English language coaches. Hence, they can easily locate a child that is interested in learning English and can benefit from the tuition. Most of the tutors in Brisbane offer private tuition on a full-time basis and may vary in terms of the number of hours per week that you may have to pay. If you prefer a weekly package, you can inquire about it at the time of applying. Private tutoring Brisbane is usually suitable for children below the age of 16 years.

When you opt for an online-based tutor Brisbane, you can be assured that your kids will learn English fast and proficiently. Unlike home tutoring, online-based tutors are native English speakers who understand your child's difficulties in spelling and grammar. You can expect your child to have faster results because of their knowledge of the English language and the practical approach of tutoring Brisbane. This type of tutoring is ideal for those who want to improve their English conversational skills, read more, write better, and remember more. You can expect your child to get grades that are higher than what you would have gotten if he or she had attended a regular school.

In addition to teaching your child academic subjects, some tutors in Brisbane provide specialized services like helping students prepare for college. Online tutoring Brisbane is recommended for students who need help with subjects like composition, biology, physics, and chemistry. It is important for students to seek out online tutors with strong credentials so that they can rest assured that the tutor is experienced in the particular subject that they need help with. For example, you would not want to take advice on calculus from someone who knows nothing about it. You can also ask for sample tests or papers that you can read from the tutor's website so that you can see how your tutor presents the material.

There are many advantages to choosing online tutoring over private tutoring. First, you will not have to waste time looking for a good teacher in the area. Second, when you take lessons online, you will save money because you will not have to pay for gas or lessons. Online tuition is more convenient, particularly for students who are living in other countries and who cannot commute to take classes at traditional institutions. Third, online tutoring provides flexibility to the student so that he or she can pick the time that is best for them to study. Many online tutors also encourage self-directed learning, which is a great opportunity for students to learn on their own.

As a final thought, it is important for your child to find a tuition provider who has a good reputation. If possible, you should check whether your preferred tutor has received accreditation. Accreditation is a third-party evaluation of a school's performance, which reveals whether the school meets stated educational standards and learns and teaches its students according to the standards set by the National Association for the Legal Support of Alternative Schools & Colleges (NALAC). Online tutoring providers who receive accreditation are recognized as reliable sources of high quality education and legal instruction. This will ensure that your children learn on time and achieve excellent results.

[dude-study]

hi everyone! after much procrastinating i’ve finally decided to start my study blog properly this time. my first university classes start on monday and from that monday (2 days from now) i will attempt a “semester of productivity” which is like 100 days but ends at the end of semester (which is around mid-June).

before I attempt to revive this blog however, let me begin with a long-overdue introduction post.

i am:

matt/hew. i also go by mini-matt (which was my high school nickname for some reason :)) 16 and from the east coast of australia in a city called brisbane in queensland.

school stuff:

i am currently studying an engineering/computer science dual degree at the university of queensland in sunny brisbane, australia. formally it’s called the Bachelors of Engineering(Hons)/Bachelor of Computer Science. ideally i would like to major in electrical, mechatronic or computer engineering and programming languages or machine learning. i am a first year/fresher (let’s see how long that motivation will last ^^)

long-term goals include maintaining at least a GPA of 6.5 for first year (the best i can get is 7). a 6 by the end of my degree would be good also. and my major goal is just to finish my degree without changing anything/dropping any part of my degree.

of course, after that i would like to work as a software developer or hardware/embedded systems dev in a ‘big-N’ company (a term that some people on reddit use to refer to google, facebook, amazon etc.) alternatively, robots are pretty cool.

my first semester classes are introduction to programming, introduction to databases, pre-university maths and an engineering project introduction.

now for some personal stuff. outside of tech i’m really into:

japan, especially the japanese language and japanese music and the TRAINS. not so much the anime and manga stuff but maybe when i’ve gone deeper into this hole i’ll get sucked in. aiming to get JLPT (japanese language proficiency test) N4 or at least some japanese proficiency by the end of this year. you might see peeks into this in this studyblog too!

graphic design, specifically typography. 

train maps. this is a bit of a niche one but i love subway/train maps because of the amount of work that goes into their design.

the eurovision song contest. may is the best month of the year for this reason.

in my studyblog expect:

nice notes hopefully.

consistent daily posts hopefully.

notes on comp sci, electrical engineering, physics, math and everything related

probably some japanese study too

and my favourite blogs/inspirations are:

@studyign @studyquill @physicsundergrad @the-prudent-student there’s plenty more but i don’t know where to start

i hope i can contribute to the studyblr/studyblog community in the future with some good posts! see you on monday with my first “semester of productivity” post.

edited 25 feb, added and cut some things.

[chatswoodearlylearning]

Why Do You Need an Early Learning Center?

A visit to the Chatswood learnig centre will give you a good idea as to the type of child development facilities they provide. Located on Brisbane's south east suburbs, this is one of the most sought after public schools in the area. It is renowned for its high standards and the different ways that it teaches children. The school is run on the old and traditional method of teaching, and many parents are envious of this approach. If you are looking for a good school for your child, it would be worthwhile to check out Chatswood.

This school has four branches which are Early Learning Center Chatswood Development, Primary School, Secondary School, and College Learning. Each of these branches offers different specializations. It is known for its focus on science, technology, and the environment, and is home to some of the best early childhood education students in the state. It is also home to the National Curriculum Standards and offers a full service early childhood learning centre. There are also a number of other learning options available here.

The Early Childhood Development unit offers a number of classes including art and music. They also have an intensive music programme. Pre-school classes include the Learning Undergraduates programme which helps students with skills such as reading, writing, maths, science and more. Those wishing to continue on to college can go on to join the College Learning program. Those who are still in high school can choose to continue on to university or college.

If you are looking for a unique experience, the school has the National Curriculum School. This school offers courses that will help students from nursery schools to college. The curriculum is designed to prepare young children for school, and to prepare them for the future. It is imperative that early child development is covered in order to ensure the future success of the child. This is an essential element to all state education systems.

The Learning Zone is one of the Early Childhood Centers that focuses on promoting and supporting learning. All classes offered here are based on international standards for early childhood development. The school also offers classes for preschool, kindergarten, and primary school. In the primary school, the students learn about physical, social and mental aspects of learning. Students then progress to the elementary school where they learn more about the cognitive aspects of learning. The school also offers special education programs to provide a tailored learning experience to every student.

There are a number of international Early Learning Centers, which operates in the US. These centers provide a variety of educational services to families. The facilities which they offer range from a single room to a group of classrooms. Many centers offer intensive English lessons for parents and their children. Some also offer foreign language instruction.

The Pre-School Learning Center in Philadelphia is another centre that offers a variety of activities for children from birth to three years old. They work towards building confidence and self-esteem of the kids. Special needs for infants and toddlers are cared for here. Special needs children are given individual attention by trained staff members. In this way the entire family gets indulged into the learning process together.

All these learning centers aim at providing an environment that is child-centric, experiential and fun. Parents who want to bring up their children in an innovative and creative way, find it difficult to do so. But with early learning centers, the whole family gets involved in the learning process. This makes the whole experience much more exciting for them and helps them to take good care of their child.c

[sktchy]

‘Play with art every day and experiment’

Meet Saint Bec, an artist on Sktchy. In this Q&A she gives some creative wisdom and a peek at her Sktchy profile.

What’s your background?

I live in Brisbane, Australia, and work as a psychologist with young people in a school, but in my spare time nowadays I draw and paint as much as I can. Bizarrely I never do art therapy with kids. 

I always loved art as a kid, particularly drawing faces, and still have some of my old sketchbooks. I don’t know why I stopped drawing, but I guess going to university changed my focus – it may have become more about my social life than anything else! I got into art college but was scared I would fail and did psychology and economics instead (what was I thinking??!) I got into making clothes for a while in the early ‘90s – kind of psychedelic, retro stuff – I called my label “kissability” after a Sonic Youth song. Later I became a mum and got into crafting and making toys while she was little (She’s 9 now). 

I found Sktchy in June last year after doing a month of watercolours every day for Worldwide WaterColour Month. Someone mentioned Sktchy, I checked it out and haven’t looked back since. I’ve done over 400 sketches since then, must be close to one a day (maths is not my thing).

When you’re looking for inspiration on Sktchy, what jumps out at you?

I checked out my muses and it turns out I go for serious expressions, or mysterious smiles, or sometimes the humour and tend to go for an indie vibe. I like good clear pictures with closeups and avoid figures – something I think I need to challenge myself on at some point. I get attracted to the colours in a photo too. I find the muses very inspirational, and can’t imagine getting tired of faces. Mostly I like drawing women, but seems I like drawing dudes with beards too – go figure…

What’s your medium of choice when you’re creating art?

Definitely pen and watercolour. When I started I was using acrylic and then I bought a cheap watercolour set – the first time I used it I fell in love with the way it reacted to water and the beautiful rich colours. But I am fickle too – I have added stamps, glitter, washi tape, soft pastels, ink, and more recently markers to my art supplies and I’m particularly enjoying copic markers at the moment – I find you get a similar effect to watercolours in the translucency and layering. I have also made my own gelli-plate to do some printing on – must get back to that – it’s going mouldy in the fridge…

What’s one quirk in your creative process?

I’ll often put off art for the whole day and then when the sun goes down and I have the tv on and a glass of wine in my hand, inspiration will hit me…. Why do I waste the whole day and then draw and paint in front of a tv show I never see and only hear??? Also it makes a major mess of the couch.

Any words of advice for fellow artists?

Ignore the inner critic – the one that says ‘this just plain sucks’ or ‘this is nowhere near as good as so and so’s art’ or ‘people will think I’m a joke” - the pieces I’ve disliked the most have sometimes been the one’s others like the most. Play with art every day and experiment.

Look at lots of art and join a community/art class where you can share and learn like Sktchy – it’s done wonders for me and become a major part of my life. I have met a fellow Sktchy friend from Brisbane which was great and I hope to someday do something in ‘real’ life with other artists. Without the support, knowledge and encouragement of others, I doubt I would have persevered.

What are three tips you’d like to share with your fellow Sktchy artists?

Don’t be afraid to ask questions – I’ve learnt so much by asking a question generally on Sktchy or directly of an artist I admire – people are really generous with their knowledge.

Do something daily – even if it is a small warm up.

And the most valuable advice I’ve gotten was that an art piece always goes through an ugly stage. Just keep going!!

Get the Sktchy iPhone app to join Saint Bec on Sktchy. Featured art:

1) https://sktchy.com/TsspHC 2) https://sktchy.com/LGytXC 3) https://sktchy.com/QfhNgc 4) https://sktchy.com/NCMRwc 5) https://sktchy.com/FHKyhC 6) https://sktchy.com/8N4pec