A Guide to the Study Guide

A Guide to the Study Guide Everyone has their own method of studying, but the classic process of making a study guide is something you see quite often. But how can you make a truly great study material that will actually increase your chances of successfully retaining this information? Well, first off, it is vital that you understand the information rather than just memorizing it this may be something you heard your middle school teachers preach to you, but it really is good advice. Step #1: Identify all necessary information. Go through your notes, your textbooks, and every powerpoint slide that teacher presented and narrow down what is important to know for the upcoming test. Not only must you collect this key information, you must then proceed to break it down into terms that make sense to you. Studying facts that look foreign to you is not going to do any good, so rewriting each bit of knowledge in your own words is very important for your mindset to be able to take this on. Step #2: Categorize this information. Now that you have a bunch of statements that make sense to you, group them accordingly. This is where the actual creation of the study guide begins. Divide the material into sections, title each section with a clear and distinctive idea, and list bullet points of the coordinating facts under each one. This may seem very elementary, but unfortunately it gets easily looked over by students who are in a panic to simply get the information into their heads. Taking the time to create a logical way to do that often gets pushed aside. Step #3: Make flashcards if necessary. When it comes to remembering dates of wars or vocabulary definitions, staring at a well-organized packet of papers may not be the best way to go. Having flashcards handy will make studying practical and easy to do anywhere riding the bus, waiting in line at the cafeteria, and of course sitting at your desk the last few minutes before the actual exam begins. Flashcards are a spectacular way to test how you will immediately react to a question with no answer in sight. The plethora of answers staring back at you on a study guide can sometimes get too comforting and distract you from the importance of making sure you can remember them on your own, so use your best judgment to apply flashcards when needed. Step #4: Ensure your materials are aesthetically pleasing to the eye. Anyone will get bored reading chicken scratch from a ballpoint pen on notebook paper. Keep yourself engaged by highlighting significant points with bright colors, drawing stars next to items you have trouble with, underlining and circling topics that relate to each other, etc. What makes a study guide pretty will differ from student to student, so this one is up to you. But dont ignore it staying amused during this process is important. Step #5: This one is sort of a give-in but study, study, study! Bring this guide with you absolutely everywhere. You never know when youre going to have a free moment, so youll be happy when you can conveniently reach into your backpack and undergo a quick study session. More importantly, youll be happy you made this perfect guide to look at in the first place rather than having to scramble through old notes or get to a computer lab. Happy studying!

Composing Life Lessons from Music

Composing Life Lessons from Music Suzy S. The benefits of music are well-documented when it comes to instilling skills and confidence in young children here, TakeLessons instructor Bryan B. explains how music can translate into career success for adults as well! ____________________________________________ Recently, I went on a two week trip to sunny Northridge, California, where I got to work with amazing artists and teachers to help develop my craft. What is my craft you say? Singing more specifically, opera singing. The program I took part in, OperaWorks, provided me with much more insight than I initially expected. Living in an age of doubt, I immediately felt like it might not have been worth my money. But after two weeks I was pleased to see that there were noticeable changes not only in my music, but also in my life. Lets take a closer look at how my training in music affected my life and my world: Opera-ism #1: I am AWESOME. This was a technique I learned to help prepare myself for an audition. By giving myself a pep talk before walking through the door, I am able to walk in with confidence. So how does this apply to my life? Well, aside from teaching, I have a normal day-to-day job in sales. And as part of that job, I have to provide people with a service or product. This can be really nerve-wracking because I hate sales people myself. I recently went to buy a car and the worst part about the whole experience was the salesman. I already knew I was going to buy a car, I had already researched the car that I wanted and he just seemed to get in the way. Because of experiences like these, I try to steer myself away from being a “pushy” sales guy. When I applied my “I am AWESOME!” pep talk to my day-to-day job, I found that it was a lot easier for me to sell to people without being pushy or being pushed over. I was able to confidently talk about products, build relationships with my clients and actively listen and respond to their concerns. Essentially, being AWESOME allowed me to be myself when I was on the phone, and let my personality shine. What I learned from this is products dont sell people do. Opera-ism #2: Music is not whats written on the page, it is what the performers make of it. The intention of the composer was not that the performer sing the song exactly how it was written, in a robotic fashion, but to add expression and interpretation to it. This came to light for me when I sang an operatic aria (Love Sounds the Alarm from Acis and Galatea), which is a love song.   Rather than expressing lovey-dovey emotions, this aria became a war speech in OperaWorks. I was inspiring a nation to defend itself against its enemies. The whole meaning of the song changed, but it was really effective. The real life experience happened in learning my “pitch.”   You can always hear the sales pitch coming when youre on the phone with a salesman.   Well, I realized its not about the words, its about the meaning. Upon returning, having already memorized the pitch, I started to implement the meaning of the words, and tie them back to the desires of my customers. What Ive learned as a performer has more than affected my life it has changed me. I went into OperaWorks as an insecure performer and came out a confident man. The results speak for themselves. My performance at work has improved, and my personal life is much happier and free. This just goes to show that things shouldnt be taken at face value. What you learn in school might actually apply to real life. Who knew? Bryan B. TakeLessons Instructor

4 Steps to Help Beginner Piano Students

4 Steps to Help Beginner Piano Students To learn the piano follow these 4 steps! ChaptersBegin with proper postureEase your way into playingGradually improve your techniqueHow to play the piano with small handsRegardless of your level and objectives, today we’re asking the question: how does one play the piano?Ok, it’s a bit vast we know. So we’ll break it down into four pieces of advice. In order to play the piano well, you’ll need to have the proper posture, and know how to play slowly, but at the right tempo. Lastly, how can you play like Mozart if you have small hands? Read on to discover the answers to these questions and more! LouisPiano Teacher £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AlisonPiano Teacher £32/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ErenPiano Teacher 5.00 (6) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors BarbaraPiano Teacher £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Chi yuenPiano Teacher 5.00 (5) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors TomPiano Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ValtiePiano Teach er £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors DanielPiano Teacher 5.00 (5) £37/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsBegin with proper postureWhen you play the piano you’ll need to use your entire body. So it’s important to adopt (and memorize) the correct positions and posture when you start to learn how to play piano, so that it becomes like second nature.First, position yourself in the middle of the piano, comfortably seated on your chair or stool. Use the key of G in the middle of the keyboard as a benchmark. Remember that will alter slightly depending on what piece you're playing. To play piano songs that call for high notes, you’ll position yourself slightly towards the left side of the keyboard, and in the opposite side for music with a lot of low notes. Where is that middle C again?Learning proper posture is key to becoming a true pianist.Next, you’ll position your lower arms by adjusting the height of your seat. To be well placed,  your elbows should be at th e same height of the keyboard. Or slightly under the keyboard if you have short arms. The lower arms should not be perfectly perpendicular to the keyboard.This arm position will allow you to move your fingers on the keyboard faster and easier, for a maximum of flexibility in fingering. Generally speaking, pianists aim to have good body position in order to make piano playing more supple and fluid. These are all things that your piano teacher will instruct you on. Check out an online piano video to see how the professionals look.What type of seat is best for playing piano? A stool, bench, or chair?This really comes down to your personal choice. The renowned pianist  Glenn Gould played on chairs, which obviously served him well! The downside is that you can’t adjust their height. If you choose to sit on a chair, select one that corresponds to your body and the height of your piano keyboard.The benefit of the piano bench, in addition to the possibility of modifying its height, is tha t its width facilitates side movements of the piano player. This is why the bench is generally the most popular type of seating used by pianists.Standing up while playing is just something for the great Elton John, not for beginners!After your arms, the next thing to check as you learn to play piano is your back! The back’s position must be perfect so that you don’t cause any lumbar pains from playing. Above all else, piano playing should be a pleasure! If the piano is causing back pains, you’ve overlooked this goal.When you play the piano, the back should be straight but not too rigid. And this rule is not only applicable to the piano. In a seated position, the back should always be straight, and never hunched over the keyboard: this is the worst position for playing the piano.After you’ve mastered the position of the lower arms and back, you’ll need to think about your hands! Even if the entire body is in use when you play the piano, the hand plays the most important rol e.To play the notes perfectly and reach the keys, your fingers must be curved and arched. Your palm should be slightly higher than the fingers, so that they “dive” into the notes (except the thumb which should be almost completely flat). This position will allow you to reduce tenseness and gain in speed while playing piano. The power you’ll need to touch the keys should be stemming from the fingers and not the wrist or arms â€" easier said than done!This is also what allows for the curved position of the hand. And remember to keep your feet flat on the floor, to increase your stability and confidence. Playing on the tip of your feet is not a good idea, even when you are beginning your instruction and don’t yet know how to play piano.While we wholeheartedly stand by all of this advice, it’s important to note that every person has a unique physical makeup. With time, your positions might differ slightly from the accepted rules, as outlined above, and more in keeping with you r individual playing style and physique.Discover the best ways of playing your piano scales too…Ease your way into playingWhen you start to learn piano, it’s important begin by playing slowly. This will allow you to warm up your fingers before playing (in the context of a piano course for example). It will also be very helpful when you learn to play a scale, chord progression, or piano song.Certain pianists want to play faster than the music, or play the piece at the speed required by the sheet music notations without being at the level to do so correctly. These are not the right approaches!Increase your execution speed gradually but begin by playing slowly. You must succeed at playing the piece perfectly before being able to play fast. You can’t jump from Mary had a Little Lamb to the most complex arpeggio. Get a metronome to pace your playing!Begin by playing slowly!In general, playing the piano slowly will allow you to:Memorize what you're playing easier. Your brain must co ncentrate on every detail in the sheet music, to absorb and remember them all. Soon you’ll be able to identify and pass quickly from minor scales to major scales.To make technical progress quicker, because playing slowly allows you not only to memorize music easier but also to memorize finger movements that you’ll find in other songs.Be attentive to what you’re playing, to piano chords, tempo, rhythm, etc. As such  you’ll be assured that what you are playing is correct, and that you’re not making mistakes in rhythm or in reading music.Better understand the nuances of the piece and “feel” what you are playing.To anticipate the upcoming measures instead of running after the music that you’re playing. By playing slowly, your brain will work faster than your fingers.If you're looking for a piano tutor, you can stop searching the Internet for piano lessons London and head directly to Superprof!Gradually improve your techniqueIf you are playing the piano, chances are you w ant to get better. That’s the goal of most pianists, whether they are absolute beginners or more experienced musicians. But making progress in piano playing could mean different things.First, it’s the ability to read sheet music easily. By decoding the notes, you’ll acquire a knowledge of solfege and music theory. You’ll see, soon you’ll be reading more complex music and sight reading faster.Making piano playing progress also means becoming more flexible and faster.Your hand movements and fingering will become more and more supple. You’ll play chord progressions (with the left hand) and note progressions (right hand) faster, without creating tenseness and clenched fingers. And your playing will become better articulated and more expressive.In order to use your fullest artistic potential, you must reach a good technical level. Technique serves the artistic, creative and performance sides.Getting a piano instructor and taking piano lessons will help you advance must quicke r than if you are self-taught. Piano classes are especially useful if you are stumbling over a piece of music or blocked from learning in any way. There are so many benefits to a piano lesson! Studying piano tutorials and videos on the Internet will also be fun and helpful, but beware of free piano classes and certain online lessons advertised online.You’ll make great progress if you are disciplined and practice the piano regularly. Don’t force progress, because you risk skipping steps and making mistakes. There are phases in piano instruction that just can’t be rushed through.How to play the piano with small handsEven small fingers can reach the black keysSome people believe that the piano isn’t for them because of their small hands. Is it possible to play the piano with short fingers? Our answer is yes.In truth, there are many pianists who don’t have particularly big hands â€" “piano hands” as we say â€" who play those sharps and quarter notes with a lot of fluidity and ease.Sure, certain music composers are known for their large hands. But the hand length has no bearing on quality of playing and piano technique.This is notably the case with Liszt, who, according to legend, could play the eleventh interval with just one hand! Some small-handed people might have difficulty playing some music by Liszt, as it was conceived for those with Liszt-sized hands!Generally speaking, classical music from the Romantic Period (nineteenth century) used a lot of intervals and chords with sevenths and ninths. Therefore, much of the “Romantic” repertoire requires large hands. We can’t deny it, but perhaps with a bit of creative improvisation on your piano notes you can overcome it!But remember that 95% of piano music can be played with modestly sized and even small hands. What’s more, it’s even preferable to have small hands when playing songs that use chromatic movements. Just ask your music teacher!Each hand configuration has its benefits and disadva ntages, and hand size has a limited effect on piano instruction. If you have small hands and you want to learn to play the piano, go for it!Whether you play classical piano or jazz piano (or anything!), you now have everything you need to attack those black keys and play those tunes. Your beginner piano skills will fade away, and you’ll learn to play by ear and read music like Mozart!Are you the next Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart?

Heres the Secret to Finding Hidden Time for Your Hobbies

Here’s the Secret to Finding “Hidden” Time for Your Hobbies Suzy S. If you had an extra hour in your day, how  would you spend your time? Your answer to that question can tell you a lot about yourself, and its fun to think about. But the reality is: 24 hours is all you get. (Sorry!) You cant quit your job. You cant ignore family commitments and responsibilities. If you want to learn a new skill, improve your current talents, or work toward a big learning goal, its up to you to make that happen.  So how do you  balance that with a busy schedule? Its simple: learn to budget your time the same way you budget your money. Here are the steps you can take if you feel like youre too busy to learn or take up a new hobby, proven to work by some of our top students. 1. Decide you WANT  to learn. The first step to financial success is deciding to have a budget. And that budget is often dictated by  your short- and long-term goals. Maybe you want to pay off your student loans or  mortgage  within five years. Or maybe you just want that new jacket you saw at Nordstrom. Now lets translate that into learning: what are your goals there?  Do you want to be able to sing confidently in front of a group? Play guitar at a friends wedding? Speak Spanish fluently on an upcoming vacation? Write these down, and put them somewhere  you can see them every day. Excuses will always come up. And heck, life will sometimes get in the way. But if youre excited about improving your skills, thats the first step. 2. Be realistic. You wouldnt set a $300 budget for going out to eat  if you only had $50 discretionary cash per week. Similarly, be realistic  about the time you can commit to practicing and taking lessons. If youre juggling a busy schedule, a 30-minute lesson once per week may be all you can find time for. Or maybe you cant even commit to that fortunately, you can find teachers who are  more flexible week-to-week, and rescheduling is always an option if  something comes up. Once you have your lesson time penciled in, then its time to schedule your  practice time. But be realistic about that, too! You may not be able to practice for hours every day, and thats OK.  Even a short practice session will help you stay on track, if you make it efficient. 3. Find the right hacks. If youre a super-budgeter, you probably know all the tricks. You hold out for great deals, look for coupons and discount codes, and so on. Same goes for budgeting your time. If you break down your schedule, you may find you have extra time in your day for your hobbies. And yes, that may mean skipping  the Netflix marathons, or cutting back on the time you spend browsing social media. You were probably expecting that advice, right? But look: there are even more hacks you can try. Here are some ways TakeLessons students have  made time for their hobbies: Take online lessons. Ordering takeout for dinner is a great time saver. What if you could get music or language lessons delivered to the comfort of your home, too? Turn on your computer, pull up the TakeLessons Classroom, and you can meet with your teacher instantly   no travel time  required. Take advantage of  your workspace. If your company  allows it, consider taking your online lessons during  your lunch break. If you prefer in-person lessons, find a teacher close by your work, so its not a hassle to get to.  You can also use your time going to and from work. As a language learner, for example, you can practice listening to your  target language during your commute! Find  a flexible teacher. If you need to reschedule a lesson every now and then, dont stress. While  a designated  lesson time each week will help you stay accountable, we understand that things come up! If you have unique scheduling needs, feel free to use our  Ask a Question feature before booking your lessons, to find a teacher who can accommodate. Use your guilty pleasures to your advantage. Learning a new skill doesnt have to be all work, no play! Musicians: jamming with community groups or going to karaoke is a fun way to add music to your day. Language students, consider changing the language settings when youre watching TV, or pick a foreign movie with subtitles. 4. Adjust as needed. Budgets ebb and flow unplanned bills show up, salaries go up and down, and  cant-miss opportunities arise. The best financial advice is to stay flexible and adjust your budget often. Similarly, sometimes the time youve budgeted doesnt go as planned. We get it: life gets busy. So dont beat yourself up if you need  to reschedule a lesson or if you miss a practice session. Stay positive, and fit in what you can! Planning ahead can help, as well. Work with your teacher to create a 15-minute practice routine, if youre short on time one week. Or, make a list of ways to fit practice into your everyday life. Even the most successful people have off days. Get back on track when you can, review your  goals again, and envision where youd like your skills to be in one year. 5. Pay yourself first. One of the best money tips out there is to pay yourself first. What does that mean, exactly? In terms of finances, it means setting aside funds for your future self before  anything else. (Think: emergency funds, retirement accounts, and so on.) So, apply the same  strategy to how youre spending your free time. Want to stay sharp? Learning a musical instrument is linked to improved memory, concentration, and IQ. Want to get ahead in your career? In todays job market, learning a second language will make you a more valuable employee, and may even lead to a higher salary. Or maybe its a more personal goal. Many of the adult students we talk to mention they took music lessons as a kid, and wanted to bring that joy back into their lives. So the question is do  you want to invest in yourself? When you think of it that way, making time for your hobbies seems like a no-brainer. Readers, how do you make time for yourself? Have you ever felt like you were too busy to learn something new? Leave a comment below and share your experience!   Photo  by  Will Foster Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher

The Perfect Apps for Introverts Everywhere - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / The Perfect Apps for Introverts Everywhere - Introvert Whisperer The Perfect Apps for Introverts Everywhere Have you ever wanted to spend time with people physically, but do not know where to begin. Do you feel overwhelmed in crowds or front of a large audience? Would you rather spend time alone than go out with your friends during the weekends? If the answer is yes, then perhaps you have an introverted personality. Living as an Introvert As an introvert, it can be quite difficult for you to interact with someone in a normal setting. Most introverted individuals resort to using various apps to compensate for the lack of social skills and interaction that they deal with daily. Whether it be for dating or shopping, online applications can serve as a way for introverts to connect to the outside world without going through the hassle of meeting people face-to-face. Here are some examples of applications that introverts can use to simulate social interaction online. Dating Apps Dating applications such as Ok Cupid or Grinder can help you find someone to connect with without having to go through the awkward stage of physically traveling out and going to a restaurant for a date. You can easily swipe right or left if you like or dislike someone’s profile. These apps also will allow you to send instant messages that could help you start a conversation; something that you might not be able to do in the flesh. Social Media Platforms and Applications Social Media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram can afford introverts like you the opportunity to create a community online that allows you to share your thoughts and feelings without the added pressure and awkwardness of meeting in person. These applications will be able to connect to 24 hours a day without having to deal with the limitations of real life. Just send a message, and you will be able to start a conversation easily much like you would in a dating site. However, social media platforms are used primarily to connect with people that you already know personally. It would be best to keep this in mind when trying to get in touch with others on social media. VoIP Applications VoIP stands for Voice Over Internet Protocol. If you are fond of using programs like Skype or Viber and Facebook Messenger, then you are using Voice Over Internet Protocol technology. This particular type of application allows a person to communicate with another despite large distances. For introverts, this would be a great way to communicate because you will not have to be there to talk to another person. You can use it as a phone, or you could turn on the camera and see the person you’re talking to through the screen. Either way, it’s a great way to communicate for those people who want interaction in a much more limited and controlled environment. Through these applications, you will be able to send files and documents which can help facilitate conversation even further. You will not have to think about what you want to say, which can create a gap between you and your chat partner. Online Shopping Sites and Applications This portal is another way for you to communicate with other people who tend to have similar tastes in a musical instrument as well as other related products. My shopping online regularly, you will be able to connect with like-minded individuals who may have the same interests as you do. These sites will also remove the awkwardness of having to pay for exorbitant amounts of merchandise in person. If you love to shop and have no limits when it comes to spending, online shopping applications would be the best alternative for you. Why Use Online Applications? The main reasons why we recommended these particular applications for introverts is because it will help minimize the awkwardness that introverts might feel when meeting people. The main issue with introverts is that most of them are not equipped to handle large crowds. These specific personalities also tend to be socially inept. This ineptitude is why they resort to using online applications to make up for the lack of social interaction in their lives. Applications above will help them trained their mind into communicating much more eloquently through written words. We hope that they can further develop communication skills and use them in live interaction sooner rather than later. These online applications will expose them to humans in small doses at first, and then once they feel comfortable interacting with the person online, chances are they would be more open to meeting them in person eventually. It also helps introverts deal with rejection and a much more controlled environment. As we all know, online applications are open to everyone. Because of this, criticisms from other users, whether it be positive or negative, can reach the user quite freely without filter. The open communication line then allows the introverts to be exposed to both positive and negative criticism, which can train them to become more accepting of society as a whole. It can help the people around them teach the introverts that not everyone would be open to their way of seeing things. In turn, this will help them accept other people as they are and allow them to hopefully not judge others too harshly down the line. The Pitfalls of Using Online Applications Much like any other product out there, there also some disadvantages to using online applications too much. Because of the limited and controlled environment that an online application of Ford’s user, chances are he will not learn to develop social skills in a much more normal way. They ensure word might learn to rely on social media as a form of curing a quiche and wait for too much and forgets how it is to live with others as a normal human being. They should be a balance between online interactions through applications and real-life connections. Conclusion If you feel that your relationships with your family and friends are already suffering because of social media connections, then it would be best for you to take a break. Try to interact with one person at a time, and you will eventually be able to handle yourself in a much larger sighting for sure. Author Bio: Lydia Lee  is a fashion blogger. She works at a Tech company and writes as a freelancer for several fashion magazines both local and international. She has a pet terrier named Fugui.

How to Deal With Being Homesick at College

How to Deal With Being Homesick at College As exciting as it is to be living the highly anticipated college life, moving away from home certainly has its tough aspects. Although different students experience varying degrees of homesickness, it is only natural for that emotional feeling to come up at least every now and then. But for those who experience it more frequently, necessary forms of support and reassurance are extremely important to get through college in a healthy and happy way. If you do find yourself getting homesick more often than some of your peers, dont be concerned and dont worry that youre not enjoying the college experience as you should be. Youre allowed to miss your family and hometown friends and still be able to appreciate this new world youre in. However, if you dont know how to handle this homesickness just right, you do risk losing sight of the positive experiences of college. The key here is figuring out the best way for you personally to get through this emotional state in such a way that allows you to stay invested in your college career at the same time. Learning to acquire such a stable mindset isnt always easy, especially with so much pressure on you to do so. By identifying ways to feel comfortable with these emotions, consistently staying in touch with your distant loved ones, and recognizing all forms of support available to you, managing these unsettling sentiments can be much more feasible than youd think. Set up regular phone and Skype conversations: Its one thing to simply say youll catch up on the phone soon with an old friend, but incorporating weekly or monthly chats into your schedules can immensely help your ability to stay in close communication. There is something very comforting about the fact that you definitely have a time set up to talk, rather than just assuming and hoping it will happen. Moreover, making sure you are regularly conversing with those family members and friends that you miss so much is vital to staying secure with your relationships with them. If being apart from them is really hurting you, just talking on such a consistent basis will prove to be an effective way of maintaining that closeness. You may be apart physically, but your bonds can stay strong. Have your favorite photos nearby: This is a little thing that helps a ton. With all of our pictures so conveniently stored on Facebook and in our smart phones, we tend to get lazy when it comes to printing them out. Its certainly not unheard of to print out pictures and frankly is still pretty common but college students who have moved away are particularly encouraged to do it. Although you can scroll through your photos online at any time to re-live some old memories, having them posted on the wall right in front of you is a big comfort. When youre working on a killer assignment in your dorm and start randomly feeling lonesome and nostalgic, a nice photo of your family or prom pictures with your friends can really warm up your mood. Taping these pictures up at your desk or by your bed is a small gesture that can immediately make you feel at home in the midst of whatever events you are going through. Here is a great list of 8 things to bring to your dorm roomthat may help you feel more at home. Schedule the right amount of visits: Depending on how far away your school is from your home, this could be easy or it could very difficult. Either outcome, it is something that is worth looking into and executing rightfully. Similar to the routine phone/Skype conversations, scheduling visits ahead of time will make you feel relieved and reassured that you are seeing your family and friends. There is a thin line, though, between visiting too often and visiting just enough. While it is healthy and essential to make sure your visits are more than just rare occurrences, it is advisable to avoid making these visits too frequent. For instance, if you plan these trips both here and there every single weekend, youre ultimately going to have an even tougher time adjusting to living away from home since youll barely have the chance to actually be on your own. The more you see these people, the harder it will be to say goodbye each time. Certainly set aside a good amount of weekends to travel home and/or have your family and friends travel to you, but dont make the situation even harder on yourself than it needs to be by avoiding the reality you are trying to transition into. You may also want to check out this information on how to choose your first college roommateas they may have a large impact on how you adjust to your life away from home. Find things at school that remind you of home: Was there a really fun concert venue in your hometown? A coffee shop you loved going to? A school club you had a blast with? Odds are there are similar places and groups in your new college town. Take some of the things you miss most about home and try to find their equivalents on campus. If music or volunteering was an integral part of your high school career that brought you happiness, join a similar organization now. Specifically joining clubs in college is a terrific way to bond with a tight group of people very quickly, and the results are even better when the group is based on something you genuinely love doing. Find places as well that you just enjoy going to. Youre not going to find exact replicas of the hang-outs you enjoyed back home, but have an open mind and give these new places a chance. You may find something that complements you even better. Here are some great tips to help you choose extracurricular activitiesthat will b est suit you! If you establish such supportive tactics for yourself, youll be calling your campus your second home before you know it. The next time you go back home, you may ironically be feeling a little homesick for college. Always remember that its completely okay to feel this way about both places and that by staying strong with a mature attitude about it, the issue will minimize in no time.

Charlotte Today Highlights Heart Math Tutoring - Heart Math Tutoring

Charlotte Today Highlights Heart Math Tutoring - Heart Math Tutoring Charlotte Today Highlights Heart Math Tutoring Charlotte Today Highlights Heart Math Tutoring March 14, 2019 Heart Tutoring Executive Director Emily Gaffney on Charlotte Today discussing how our volunteers are tackling the achievement gap in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. Closing the elementary math achievement gap may not be easy, but it can be fun. Emily Gaffney, Executive Director of Heart Math Tutoring, shares how volunteer tutors support CMS elementary students who are behind in math with fun games and effective tutoring. “Helping somebody with math is a great way to help them with their life. Our volunteers are there to give high-fives and point students in the right direction,” says Gaffney. See the entire interview here.

How Children Succeed Part one

How Children Succeed Part one Improving Academic Performance This is the first of a three-part introduction to Paul Toughs insightful book,How Children Succeed: Grit,Curiosity, and the Hidden Power of Character. The ultra-concise executive summary and key takeaway is that children do notsucceed academicallybecause of their innate intelligence, as is commonly assumed. Instead, Tough shares reams of researchwhich suggests character traits like curiosity, grit, and the ability topersevere may be more important to long term academic success, and particularly success in college and life beyond college, than cognitiveskills like mathematics, logic, and reading comprehension. The rest of this three-part article willintroduce the author, explain the structure of the book, provide anoverview of the book's introductorychapter, and offer a brief analysis/review of the book. Let’s start by providing some details on the author. Tough is a journalist with a specific interest in education, child development, and poverty in America.He's written cover stories for the New York Times Magazine, and his writing has also appeared in Slate,GQ, and Esquire. It's interesting to note that you don't find out until the final chapter that Tough himself was admitted to Columbia University, but ultimately dropped out before earning a college degree. Inthat final chapter, Tough ponders whether he lacks some of the critical character traits he describes inthe book. Structure of the Book The book has five chapters, each of which is organized numerically around specific people or situationsthat help make the key points. These chapters are: A.How to Fail (and How Not To) â€" talks about the impact of family life on early academic successand foundationalexecutive functioningskills that enable a child to learn at school B.How to Build Characterâ€"defines different types of character traits and various strategies forbuilding them C.How to Thinkâ€"describes how thinking in one particular way is much more likely to lead toacademic and other types of success D.How to Succeedâ€"uses case studies to describe how people in various extremely difficult circumstances have found ways to succeed academically E.A Better Pathâ€"offers ideas for implementing some of the book's key ideas at a national policylevel to improve academic outcomes for society'smost at-risk children Summary of the Introduction The introductory chapter describes a scene at a unique early childhoodeducation center, as well asresearch being done by an economics professor at the University of Chicago, to reveal the book's maintheme: that academic success, and success in life in general, is influenced more byperformancecharacterskills like curiosity, grit, and determination than by IQ or cognitive skills like math, logic, andreading comprehension. The difference betweenperformanceandmoralcharacter attributes is defined in chapter 2. Tough starts by noting that he has a two-year old son named Elliot.He returns at various points in thebook to his son, and how he plans on implementing some of the book's ideas in his son's life. I found thisfeature of the narrative compelling. He describes a scene at a unique kindergarten that is trying out a new early education strategy calledTools of the Mind. Unlike most Kindergarten environments, which focus onpre-academiccognitiveskills like writing, reading, and counting, schools following the Tools of the Mind model focus onteaching a different set ofself-regulatoryskills related to controlling impulses, staying focused on thetask at hand, planning ahead, organizing your thoughts, and managing your emotions. Although the following point is not actually explicitly made in the book,once can reasonably infer the the creators ofTools of the Mind believe that for very young children, focusing first on building thenon-cognitiveskills necessary to fully engage and focus on learning academic skills will lead to stronger academic skillsin the long run because you will bebetter at learning. Tough does go into a bit of detail on the strategies, tips, andtricks that Tools of the Mind uses to help itsyoung students learn these self-regulatory skills. These include: private speech (i.e., talking to yourselfwhile you do a difficult task), writing out play plansto figure out in advance the fun things you aregoing to do today, anddramatic playwhich teaches kids to follow directions as they follow the rules ofthe game and regulate their impulses. The approach to early education, Tough notes, is fundamentallyunique in American today, because it doesn't embrace what Tough calls thecognitive hypothesis. The cognitive hypotheses states that success today depends primarily on cognitive skills (e.g., reading,writing, recognizing patterns, calculating, etc.) the type of intelligence that gets tested on IQ orstandardized tests, and that the best way to build these skills is to practice them as early and often aspossible. In part two of our summary ofHow Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity, and the Hidden Power ofCharacter we'll explore the cognitive hypothesis, one of the major themes of the book, in more detail.