Meet Cansu Olce, Mathematician and Tutor

Cansu Olce is a mathematician who has been tutoring for seven years. She is preparing a mathematics competition for high school students in Brisbane, Australia in April of 2016. The profit will be donated to Australian cancer research foundation. Learn more by visiting her website at www.astarmaths.com.au.

1. How did you first come to feel a strong interest in mathematics?

I was always attracted to the challenge of thinking and the process of logic since primary school. I enjoy mathematics a lot. It can be used to define the symmetry in nature or manage global companies. I feel that the elegance and logic of the subject is the reason for my desire to study it at a more advanced level.

2. What techniques would you use to be sure that a student understands?

Every parent wants to learn the answer of this question. I ask students if they understand. If so, I give them a practice question and give them some time to attempt it. If they can do it, I move on to slightly more advanced questions. If they cannot solve the question, I do it together with them, and explain again along the way.

3. Would you tell us more about the mathematics competition you're organizing for April of 2016?

The mathematics competition will be for high school students in Brisbane. There are two categories, junior and senior. There are 25 multiple choice questions in the booklets. The top three students in each category will be awarded with cups. A participation certificate will be given to every student in the competition. This is an opportunity for students to discover their talents in maths and also to help cancer patients. All the profit will be donated to Cancer Council Australia.

4. How did you decide on the charity to receive the profits from the competition?

My dad is fighting colon cancer. I know how hard to deal with this illness. Every donation makes a vital difference to researchers' ability to speed up discoveries in cancer prevention, diagnosis, and cure.

5. What is your best advice for students of all ages who are struggling with math?

We are only human, and we can make mistakes. Don't be ashamed! When you are feeling unsure about a problem, ask questions. In mathematics you need a lot of practice. Practice makes perfect. You can't improve your maths skills without practicing. Take advantage of the resources around you. Stay positive. You can't get high marks with a negative attitude.

Thanks, Cansu!

Meet Christine Mapondera-Talley, Author of Makanaka's World

Christine Mapondera-Talley is the author of Makanaka's World, a children's book series designed to teach your child about the globe, cultures, and languages in a fun and engaging way. Learn more by visiting www.MakanakasWorld.com, and follow Makanaka's World on Facebook.

1. What gave you the idea for Makanaka's World?

Makanaka's World was inspired by my daughter Jillian Makanaka. The idea was to create stories in my native language and include animation that would be appealing and fun for her to read. I'm originally from Zimbabwe and come from a Shona speaking family; therefore, not having them close by limits the amount of language my daughter gets to hear as I'm the only source.

2. In setting out to write a series of books rather than just one stand-alone title, how did you plan out your project?

I initially was focused on just handful of stories, so an actual series was not really part of the plan. However, as the character developed, I realized there was an opportunity to do more with it, and more ideas just started coming without even searching really hard.

3. What are some examples of things that kids will learn in reading your books?

Kids are going to learn about the globe, different languages, and also cultures. Time and again I hear from educators that geography is an area that a lot of students don't do well in, from first grade all the way to high school. I want my daughter to embrace what it means to be a global citizen, and I'm sure there are many parents out there that feel the same way. The key is finding material that will really keep a child engaged, and I believe Makanaka's World is just a start.

4. In writing the books, what has been most enjoyable to you about the process?

As I'm writing, I'm also researching, which is just as fun. I'm either using the internet, borrowing books from the library, or connecting with parents who are natives of a particular country. Connecting with a native person is the biggest treat as I get a very authentic and current perspective of the lifestyle, customs, and traditions.

5. What feedback have you received from parents and kids who have seen the books so far?

I've only recently started sharing the series, and the reactions and feedback I receive get me excited all over again. At least three parents have told me they felt chills of excitement after learning about Makanaka, and another said it reminded her of all the global travels she has experienced with her daughter over the years. Some are just simply amazed at how this all came together. It's all so humbling to see people react the way they do--you can't pay anyone enough money to give you that kind of response.

Thanks, Christine!

Meet Mike Reid, Creator of STUDTEGERY, an Educational Board Game

When Mike Reid is not working his theatre manager job, or TV/screenwriting (Pastor Greg - sitcom, Super Simple Science - TV science show, His Kids - kids talk show, BB's Bedtimes Stories with Monty - children's TV series), he is selling his educational board game STUDTEGERY. Learn more at http://www.studtegery.com, or check out STUDTEGERY on Teachers Pay Teachers.

1. How did you come up with the idea for STUDTEGERY?

During my time in college in the mid to late 80s, seldom did I go anywhere without a set of index cards with facts on them so I could study for my next test at a moment's notice. Also during that time, Trivial Pursuit became the most popular board game to sweep college campuses. When I started brainstorming the type of game I wanted to create, these two life experiences played a major contribution to the creation of STUDTEGERY.

2. What is the significance of the name of your game?

I wanted a name that represented what this board game does, which is to combine studying with strategy and makes studying fun. I remembered that Saturday Night Live skit where Will Ferrell's George W. Bush character used the made up word STRATEGERY and thought, "What if used the 'TEGERY' suffix in my game's name?" and the name STUDTEGERY was born. Furthermore, while the name still has most of "STUDYING" and a little bit of "STRATEGY" in it, well, most of the letters in "STRATEGY," it is fun to say. Go ahead and say it, STUDTEGERY.

3. Why do students--and teachers and parents!--like the game?

• Students like STUDTEGERY because it makes studying fun.
• Teachers like STUDTEGERY because it helps the struggling students review for tests more effectively than the ask and answer test review which the struggling students avoid partaking in for fear of being embarrassed if they answer incorrectly in front of their peers.
• Parents like STUDTEGERY because it is a fun way for them to be involved with their children's studies.

4. How can individual students adapt the game to suit what they need to study at a particular time?

The great thing about STUDTEGERY is from 3rd grade to graduate school, it works all subjects, classes, and courses as long as the student is studying for a multiple choice type test. While STUDTEGERY has no clue what you need to study, you and/or your teacher do. You and/or your teacher create the multiple choice test preparation questions/answers from your class lectures, notes, handouts, text books, etc, and you use those questions/answers for game play.

5. What was your process like in creating the game--from designing it to having it manufactured, and then marketing it?

The thought process with my design was to replicate a multiple choice test. Just like most multiple choice tests, I went with only black and white colors. The players' pieces and answer sticks were the letters "A," "B," "C," and "D."

As for getting STUDTEGERY manufactured, I went with a company called 521 Promo. I found their manufacturing prices to be very fair. I sent them the prototype I made from an old Trivial Pursuit game, and from there, we worked together on getting the graphics just right, then got the games manufactured and safety tested.

As for marketing STUDTEGERY, I am still riding the learning curve as I just launched the game. I first set up a website (www.studetegery.com) from which to sell STUDTEGERY. I have also made STUDTEGERY available for sale on Amazon.com and TeachersPayTeachers.com. Since my budget is extremely limited and school just started back, I am focusing on teachers, schools, PTA/PTOs, and homeschools in September and October, then onto parents and students for the Christmas season. Of course, I am working hard on getting distribution into brick and mortar retail stores.

Thanks, Mike!

Meet Victoria, Creator of Money Munchkids

Money Munchkids' goal is to teach children grades K-3rd about basic financial terms and principles in order to provide a sound foundation for their lives as adults and the financial responsibilities that await them. Money Munchkids does this through their completely original after-school course, activity books, and other retail material. Learn more about their activity books and other financial literacy products by clicking here.

1. What made you realize that kids today could really use some help in developing money management skills?

Being an older sister and having experience in child care, I have a passion for kids. During a shopping trip with a family, I was doing some child care for one of the children, who was pretending to buy the whole store with their fake credit card. I watched as the child used the credit card reader exactly as an adult would. It was frightening. I think that's the moment that I finally decided to put my idea into action.

2. Growing up, did your parents influence your own ideas about money?

Definitely, my dad is an entrepreneur, and my mom is an accountant. They both taught me to use money as a tool to succeed and accomplish my goals.

3. What are some of the key lessons that kids will learn with your activity book?

Kids can learn about counting change, ways to make money, and managing a bank book, with puzzles about important terms and more. Make It, Count It, Keep It is the beginners' activity book. It brushes over a lot of the topic we cover in our class. It's important to note that the activity books are and will continue to be separate from the courses, so kids don't need to be in the class to use the activity books.

4. Where (in what geographical area) do you offer your after school courses, and what do students learn in those courses?

Thus far we've only got courses based only in Los Angeles. We'll be approaching schools in the Santa Monica, Marina Del Rey, and Venice areas over the next few weeks about starting courses. If anyone, in those or other areas, would like us to bring our course to a school they can Request A Course.

5. If you could suggest just three financial lessons/ideas for parents to share with their kids, what would you say>

There are so many great tips to share but a few would be:

• Start your kids' financial education early because they learn young and fast!
• Teach them that things cost money and how the cost of some things compare to the cost of others.
• Encourage them to keep track of their own money.

We also have resources for adults on helping to teach their kids about money.

Thanks, Victoria!

Excerpt from How to Say

How to Say is a website with information geared toward people who are interested in learning different languages. It features vocabulary sets for over 10,000 words and phrases in ten different languages. It also includes posts about languages, travel, and related topics.

The following is a guest post reprinted with permission from How to Say.

Improve Your English Pronunciation

Let us be honest with ourselves. Reading about pronunciation is not going to take you anywhere. You have to speak English to master the pronunciations, and it doesn't matter if you go wrong. You fall down; you learn to get up.

Every English speaking country has its own form of English. There is the American English, British English, Australian English, etc. And then we have our own Indian English. Pronunciations are different in each country's English. Learning them all would be inane. Start with clarifying and neutralizing your own regional English accent and then move on to learning the accents and slang of other countries.

Learn the phonetics

There are phonetic symbols which indicate whether a word should be pronounced as "cat" or as "cut." These symbols are often found in dictionary. It is advisable to have a dictionary by your side all the time for quick meaning and pronunciation references.

Watch movies, and listen to songs and radio

The best way to improve pronunciation is not through reading grammar books, but by watching native English programs and movies with subtitles, and listening to English songs with the lyrics in front of you. Listening to the radio is another excellent way. You have less distraction visually and your entire concentration is on what is being said.

Understanding stress

Words that can be split into two or more syllables will have distinct stress. The shift in stress changes the pronunciations and in some cases their meaning. Stress markings can be referred to in a good dictionary.

Miscellaneous tips

If you have to communicate in English with another person and you are not sure about your pronunciation, it doesn't matter. Just give them a background of what you are going to talk about so that they can tune in.

For example, it will be a good idea to ask, "Can you help me? I need directions to this address," rather than jumping directly to the address.

Write down the words that trouble you often. There are plenty of websites where you can listen to pronunciations.

Just a word to conclude: "Practice makes perfect." Speak good English taking cues from the above-mentioned tips, and make your way up the ladder of mastering English.

Introducing X-Bandz, A Math Teaching Aid

When I was a kid, I remember learning about some tips for creating a good invention. One of the tips was to take an existing item, but to give it a unique twist. X-Bandz do just that. They take the idea of the colorful bracelets that kids love, but with the twist that the bracelets have math equations printed on them.

X-Bandz are a teaching aid designed to enable your child to master the multiplication and division facts quickly and easily. Educators have called X-Bandz for multiplication "a fun and unique learning method for young students." Instead of using old-fashioned flash cards, kids can play with these bracelets to learn multiplication facts.

One of the cool things about X-Bandz is that they are fun and can be used like rewards/gifts, which helps kids build more self-esteem, which in turn can help their performance in math.

This is an affordable educational product at just $5.99 for a pack of 12 bands. Really I think these would be a cool stocking stuffer. My parents always threw in a little something educational with my holiday gifts, and I think I would have gotten a kick out of these myself.

They can be purchased on Amazon or at www.xbandz.com.

Meet Francesca, ESL Teacher and Creator of MAYI Learn English

Francesca is an ESL teacher with seven years of experience. She's based in Beijing, China. Since she began working with kindergarteners in China in 2009, she's developed some of her own methods for teaching English which are also adaptable for students with ADHD, Autism, and other learning challenges. Francesca has launched an IndieGogo campaign to develop her MAYI Learn English method of teaching.

1. What gave you the idea to create the MAYI Learn English method of learning ESL?

I created MAYI Learn English five years ago when I started to teach English in Beijing, China. I worked for many kindergarten classes and private training centers as well. But I had some difficulties when I got special kids in my classes. And none of classic ESL methods were suitable for them. And I refused to let these little cuties sit in the corner because they weren't capable to follow a classic curriculum.

2. It sounds like there are a lot of parts to your project, including curriculum/learning materials, software, and the magic pen. Could you tell us a little bit about the main parts of your project and how they connect with each other?

Well, in classic ESL methods, you have a student's book and a workbook and a CD. But this is not enough for special children, because the exercises are not enough or are inappropriate.

So my method includes of course my version of these traditional things, but I also created a phonics book which matches with the Magic Pen (electronic pen) and software. There's a unique interaction between them. The App will help students to learn about the sound of the letters. Phonics are very important to know how to read.

The teacher's guide will explain why this exercise is important and how many minutes you have to do it. And how to do it step by step. I also made flash cards but with new genres. Because this isn't patented yet, I can't explain too much. It's bigger than the regular version on the market and more visual.

3. How do you use aspects of MAYI Learn English in your own work as a teacher?

I still use it in my day job. It took me so long to make it because every time I used the school method, I always found something that wasn't functional.

For example: one day at school, one of my students struggled with the letter N. In the books, they had just one page for the calligraphy and one page with three different pictures of words starting with letter N. No CD or DVD was included with this method. And this child was Autistic. I had no idea what to do with him. I was completely lost. And my Chinese assistant told me, "It doesn't matter if he can't do or follow the lesson. Don't waste your time with him." I was choked and angry. And I said "No way, I will never let him alone in the corner." So I used plastic jigsaw puzzles to create a huge letter N. And I passed my hand over it, and he did the same.

I thought at this moment: that's the key. Make it bigger and think out of the box. And I was right. And after that, he wrote the letter N in his book.

4. What do you see as some of the main challenges in teaching ESL, and how does your project help address these challenges?

The most challenging part for me as a teacher is to change people's minds. It's not true that if your child has fun during the class, then he or she will learn nothing. Education must have real innovation and not just for classic students but also for gifted "babies." And I also want to continue to improve my method for English speakers in the future.

5. Why did you decide to utilize IndieGogo to help fund your project, and what will supporters of your crowdfunding campaign receive in return for their support?

I decided to use the IndieGogo crowdfunding website because every school where I worked before wanted to use my method, but their management was unacceptable for me. Then I decided to launch my campaign.

My backers will get my method + T-shirt + electronic pen or CD/ DVD. And they will have their names and pictures into the books + credit in the App and DVD.

The magic pen is a pen that I handcrafted by myself for my ADHD students (it's a prototype). I made this pen to let my ADHD students have a stronger focus. If they hold the pen for a long enough time, then the pen will change color and the ink as well.

If I receive enough pledges to open my own training center, then the backers' names will be on the glass wall. I said IF. And it will be like this for each center that I will open in the future. This is my dream!

Thanks, Francesca!

Meet Xenia, Entrepreneur and Speaker

Xenia is an entrepreneur, international speaker, author, and Life Expansion Consultant. She is a strong advocate on creating wealth through expanding your life to reach the unlimited personal power she believes resides in each individual.

Xenia has developed many successful businesses including an award-winning real estate agency, ALEXA Real Estate, the Life Expansion Institute, and several others. She believes that the key to financial success lies in generating multiple streams of income and creating your own global economy independent of governments, systems and market trends. Learn more about Xenia by visiting http://www.leadersandvisionaries.com.

1. How did you first get started as an entrepreneur?

My professional career began as a medical research scientist. After three years of research during my PhD years and a further three year research placement as a post doctoral research fellow in Canada specializing in the area of recombinant vaccine design, I began to explore more liberal options for my life where there was no predefined government standard to the amount of money that I could make.

Although I loved science and research and was a very successful and sought after scientist, I quickly realized that the entrepreneurs running the pharmaceutical companies who funded the research made infinitely more money than the scientists working on the research. There was no cap on the amounts of money that landed in their bank accounts, and they were in full control. Scientists, like other employees, not only had a capped income, but were at the effect of decisions made by research funding companies and relied heavily on funding resources that they had no control and no influence over. This was not the game I wanted to play in my life, I needed a bigger playing field and I needed to be at full cause in my own life.

Having started investing at around 19 years old, I already had millions in property assets in my early thirties, but after six years in a medical research laboratory, it was time for this rat to escape and create an income outside the box.

It is said that if you do not have a goal or a vision for your life, you will always work for someone who has. The way to financial independence is to get clear on what you want for your own life and to create your own vision.

For me the vision was to create an income that would not only replace my scientist income but also support some of my property assets and growth of my property portfolio. I had a break away from the research laboratory once my son was born, and while I was home and away from coordinating multiple research projects and events, I was able to focus my energy not only on my newborn son (who was less challenging then because he couldn't talk) but also towards developing business ideas that later evolved to my first business--an Adelaide based real estate agency. The agency was a natural progression using my skills and experience as a property investor, and I was able to carve out a niche market aimed at the needs of property investors and their portfolios.

The agency was developed on my laptop in the first couple of years before finally being launched as a real business. The challenge for me was that although I knew the service well and was comfortable in what I was offering, my background expertise was in medical research and not business. I had no idea how to sell my services and how to attract clients and grow my business. I booked into a government-funded small business course to learn some much-needed business skills. I quickly discovered, however, that these courses are designed to teach people how to be an employee and manage a business that was owned by someone else. They were not designed to teach someone how to be completely independent financially. That is because you cannot really teach entrepreneurship--it's an awakening and a mindset not a learnable skill.

One thing I did find more useful than a small business course was joining a network marketing or multi-level marketing company (MLM), and that was my first introduction to being an entrepreneur. Many MLM companies are independent and run by entrepreneurs with a huge vision; their sales and business growth strategies are applicable directly to the business which they apply and therefore can teach you some exceptional skills not available anywhere else. It's on the job training. I am part of an MLM team right now; however, I did not join the first MLM team for the sake of growing that business--I needed to learn the sales and marketing skills that had helped me to transition between being an academic to being an entrepreneur and business owner. I used those skills to help develop and grow my real estate agency.

2. Why are multiple streams of income so important--and what do you suggest to someone who has been relying on a single stream of income for many years and wants to start branching out?

Once upon a time, the world was slow. If our grandparents or great grandparents were business owners, they would spend 20 years developing one single business and the next 20 years running it before the kids would take over and run it. If they were not business owners, it was normal to spend 30 to 40 years working for a company with no personal or professional growth and then retire and be content with very little like a laboratory dog who has been conditioned to receiving painful electric shocks and has learned to be helpless because nothing he does can escape the pain anyway. Humans were heavy and burdened with so much unconsciousness that they were slow and emotionally damaged enough to expect low life spans and lower intelligence.

In modern times children are born at a higher consciousness than ever before; they are intelligent enough to challenge the electric shocks and the systems and fast enough to become independent without relying on it, and although we are only at the beginning of a more conscious race of people, the world definitely is faster.

A business today needs to be designed, developed and running within a year to be viable. The 40 year model is obsolete. The marketplace is a constant evolution and extinction of products and services that are transient and adapted to certain market trends, and the new entrepreneurs need to be fast enough and intelligent enough to adapt or face extinction.

Depending on one stream of income in a constantly evolving and fast economy is suicide. Even if that stream of income is reliable for now, all it takes is a small variation in the economic environment to render that stream unfit for the market conditions and push it towards extinction.

It is therefore important to have multiple streams of income and for entrepreneurs to fine tune and adapt multiple businesses or services to the market. The streams of income need to be complementary to each other so that they enhance your business and not take time away from each other. An example is adding a sales division to a property management company or offering financial services or another complimentary product to your existing clients.

For people who are employed, I would not ever recommend giving up a paid position unless you have no time to be employed because you are too busy making money somewhere else.

Success is created in your spare time.

Instead, give up watching television at night, reading newspapers and magazines, gossip sessions with friends, or going out and getting drunk. Use that time to develop yourself and start your own business in a niche area that you know a lot about. If you do not have a niche area yet, try a network marketing company; choose one with a great upline support and good sales and marketing training and get good at growing it. The skills will be transferable to any other business if you want later on, or the network marketing company can explode beyond your paid income in a very short time. Take the time to learn new skills and apply them directly to your new business and completely within your own spare time. Develop the habit of starting, and start now: this will be the beginning of adding multiple income streams.

3. What do you mean when you say that people need to create their own global economies?

Creating your own global economy means that you focus your time, energy, and resources on creating wealth within your circle of influence. Your time, energy, and resources are also directed at growing and expanding your circle of influence and your own personal and professional skills.

Most people, in contrast, focus their time and energy on things they are unable to influence or control: the government, their employer, or any other system they currently have no control over. They therefore waste time and energy blaming, criticizing, reacting, and making a fuss over something they dislike but do not have the skills to change. Most people are therefore unsuccessful in their own lives, and the more they stay unsuccessful, the less they are able to influence and change the things they don't like, and the more they spend time complaining about those things. Its a self-fulfilling prophesy.

Any endeavor to change the government has always resulted in frustration and wasted effort. Putting blame and focus on anything outside of yourself is not only taking away from your own personal power, it is also in many ways an excuse to hold onto being a victim.

Creating your own economy means focusing instead on bringing people to you and selling or enrolling people into your idea, product, or service. The internet and social media tools now allow us to have a huge global influence and surround ourselves with like-minded people that support what we are doing and what we have to offer.

Wealth is proportional to the value you can create for others. The more you focus on creating a greater and greater value and the more people you can create that value for, the greater will be your wealth. This combined with multiple streams of income, and you have your own mini global economy that grows as you grow and expand professionally and personally.

4. What is the Leaders and Visionaries conference?

The Leaders and Visionaries Conference is a full-day personal and professional training conference designed for business owners and entrepreneurs. Leaders are people who inspire others to be leaders, and visionaries are the two percent of the population who are consciously aware.

When a person is undergoing personal evolution, it's important to be surrounded by people that will validate and support your awareness and avoid the unconscious masses who can bring you down to their level to justify their own lower existence. The leaders and visionaries conference shows entrepreneurs how to live life through their higher self and not their conditioning, how to stay on track and not be derailed by the masses, and how to use their skills and personal gifts to become the flame that lights up the light of others. Inspired people go forth and help other people to become not only financially free, but leaders and visionaries in their own lives.

The Leaders and Visionaries conference is a free event, and we have an Australian tour coming up in May/June this year (2014) where I will be sharing my own visions for a more conscious existence. Free tickets are available at www.leadersandvisionaries.com.

5. Can readers see a sample of the material they'll find at your conference?

The video below is a three-hour recording from a previous Leaders and Visionaries conference.

Thanks, Xenia!