13 Super Effective Ways to Motivate Your Child to Practice Music

13 Super Effective Ways to Motivate Your Child to Practice Music Sign up successful Treat Music Like a Different Subject Think back to when you were in school. You had your academic classes and your after-school activities. You knew your daily routine: Math, English, Science, etc. Then after school: piles of endless homework! With so many different subjects, its no wonder adding time to practice music can seem like a burden to a kid. Thats where you come in you can help shift your childs mindset! Whats the bottom line? Its up to you to help your child see music in a different light! Rather than treating music like any other subject, create a distinction so your child sees music as something he or she wants to do. The best way to shift your childs mindset is to let him or her play an instrument theyre  actually interested in. If you want your child to be motivated to play an instrument, music needs to be different than other educational subjects, says Bobby K. from Guitar Chalk. Your child shouldn’t see music as a forced discipline, like Math or Geography. This ultimately comes down to choosing the right instrument, which is going to be the one the child is excited about and wants to play on his or her own. For me, that was the guitar, which had me practicing (voluntarily) three to four hours a day at 11 years old. That couldnt have happened with piano  because piano wasnt my instrument. It was just another subject. But guitar was different in that it felt like play, not school work. Getting your child into a similar situation, where their instrument doesnt feel like just another school subject, is absolutely critical. If its not happening, that might be a signal that its time to switch instruments. This also means you may need to be flexible. While it can be expensive to allow a child to start and stop several different activities, try to work with him or her to find one he or she enjoys and is intrinsically motivated to practice. Like this tip? Click here to tweet it.   Put Your Child in Control Its no secret that when were told to do something, we dont always want to do it. During the course of a day, there are several different people (parents, teachers, older siblings, coaches) telling kids what to do. Add music to that list and its no wonder motivation seems to dwindle! Combat this problem by putting your child in control. Let him or her determine the practice schedule, that way theyre more likely to stick to it. Kids hear adults tell them what to do all the time; to catch their attention, let them plan their own practice schedule,  says Nicole Weiss, LCSW Psychotherapist and Coach. Start with the end in mind. Basically, you want to get your child to make the decision that he or she needs to practice  so that he or she can play the way he or she wants to play. After the decision is made, the parent can help the child research and figure out how often a good musician practices. The child then sets a schedule based on the reality that, to be good, one must practice. Not only will this allow your child to feel a sense of control, it will also help him or her to learn the value of practice. The child makes the schedule, then the parent reinforces it, Weiss says. Im sure many parents reading this would sayyeah but will they do that day to day? Thats where you come in but you have more weight in your reminder. It was the childs desire to make the goal. Additionally, the reward should be for accomplishing little goals. For example: practice every night this week and we can download that song you want. Reward the work. More: Motivate Your Child to Practice With a Reward System Help Your Child Understand the Gift of Music Show your child that playing a musical instrument  is a special privilege  and an opportunity that isnt necessarily available to everyone. Teach your child to appreciate music and all it has to offer. Help them discover that music can enhance their life. I believe that were here in this world to do great things with the gift of our lives, and were here to serve others, says Heather F. from Music for Young Violinists. Learning to play [the violin] helps us in both of these areas were drawn up into a level of greatness through the discipline required to study this art form, and in this process, we cultivate a gift that we can share with others. This also includes helping your child develop a love for music. Take them to concerts or shows, play music at home, and help them discover what they like. Many adults wish they had stuck with a hobby or endeavor they started as a child, like playing a musical instrument. While this can be a difficult concept for young kids to grasp, teaching them to appreciate music can help them understand why practice is important. According to this article from MusicTeachersHelper on motivating students to practice, I can’t count how many times I’ve heard adults say to me, I quit taking piano when I was young and it was such a mistake. I wish I could go back and take lessons again. Parents can help children know the value that musical talent brings to society. Dont Make  Practice an Obligation This one may seem a bit counterintuitive, right? After all, youve invested the money in an instrument and lessons, and you want your child to make the most of it. Plus, if your son or daughter wants to be good, he or she needs to practice! The key here is to not make practice seem like an obligation, as compared to other fun activities. For example, if your son or daughter loves to play video games or play outside, dont allow him or her to do this until after completing practice. Using a fun activity as a reward will create the mindset that practice is the obligation that stands in the way of the fun activity, and this could create resentment or dread for practice. As  Why We Teach Piano  suggests, Dont set an arbitrary amount of practice time, without specific goals, and then reward them with playtime or video games afterwards. This just reinforces the notion that playing piano is not fun and video games are fun. Plan Performances When it comes to any sport, hobby, or endeavor, its important to keep your eye on the prize. The same thing applies when it comes to your child learning an instrument; your son or daughter has to have a goal in sight, otherwise, he or she may question  the need to practice. If you want to keep students engaged and excited about their music education, make sure theyre performing consistently throughout the year, says Anthony M.  founder and author of The Music Parents Guide. There are other profound effects on more scheduled performances for all school programs, as well. We, as parents and teachers, need to foster a growing curiosity and even an excitement about music in our childrens lives. Consistent performances are the best way to do this and continue to motivate our children. It gets better: Not only do performances help to increase excitement, they also work to hold children accountable. Ask any music teacher even the most unmotivated student will be more likely to practice if it means avoiding embarrassment at a recital! Let Your Child Choose Just because you loved playing piano as a kid doesnt mean your child will love playing just as much. Your child may have other interests, and its important to allow him or her to explore different endeavors. First of all, I think it’s critical that the child choose the instrument they’re going to learn, says Matt T. from Unlock the Guitar. I’m a guitarist, and I’d love nothing more than my son to be interested in learning guitar, but he’s undeniably drawn to the piano. Plus, if an instrument is thrust upon them, practicing it will also be thrust upon them. Letting the child choose the instrument turns this on its head, and into your favor, even if they didn’t choose the instrument you would have liked them to play. Be Their Cheerleader Let your child know youre his or her biggest fan, especially early on when your child may feel  frustrated or discouraged. Eighty-eight notes school of music suggests  listening to your child at home as often as you can and making encouraging remarks about their progress. Also, make sure to ask them how their lessons went. Take a genuine interest in your childs musical journey. Your son or daughter will be excited to play for you and show off new skills! Help Them Engage With Music Your child is more likely to practice music if he or she feels connected to the process. Help your son or daughter develop an interest and curiosity for music. To help your child stay engaged, become a part of the process. Whatever you can do to get involved is likely to increase their interest and motivation. Motivating your child by reward or punishment will stop working very quickly; instead, help your child get curious about music and develop an inner desire to engage with music, says Jonas G., the founder of flowkey.Let your child play around with different instruments. Listen to music and sing together. Your child will naturally want to imitate you, so a big motivation for children to practice is seeing their parents engage with music themselves. Create Challenges Rather than telling your child to practice, help him or her set specific goals and challenges. This will help them progress faster because theyll work on accomplishing specific tasks or mastering particular skills. This idea can be applied to any instrument. Practiceopedia author and practice expert, Philip J., has a completely different take: Dont ask your kids to practice they wont know what to do. Instead, give them bite-sized, clear challenges to complete: (1) Work out a fingering for measures 24-35 (2) Gradually speed up section B to 85bpm. (3) Be able to play the left hand of the coda from memory. Having trouble coming up with the right challenge? Check out Phillips website, thebootcampedition.com, for a huge collection. Celebrate ALL Accomplishments Learning to play an instrument is a long journey full of peaks, valleys, and plateaus. While youll definitely be proud when you watch your child perform, its important to celebrate the little victories along the way. While verbal praise is important, you may also want to create another way to celebrate achievements;  familyshare  recommends keeping a journal of your childs accomplishments. When you put it in writing, youre less likely to forget. If journaling isnt your thing, you can keep a white board on the fridge, or make a chart that you can display in the house! Celebrating the little victories will help your child keep a positive attitude when theyre struggling or having difficulty tackling a new concept or song. Let Them Play Music They Like While there are always certain signature songs and classics for various instruments, your child will lose interest if he or she doesnt like the music theyre playing. Work with your childs teacher to make sure your child is  playing some music they truly enjoy. According to the Academy of Music and Dance, As children  get to be around 10 years old, sometimes younger, they start to develop preferences for musical style, largely influenced by radio, TV, and whatever they’re most exposed to at home. They will also typically gravitate to whatever their friends are listening to, especially for boys at around age 13 and girls around age 11. Use this as a motivational strategy; allow your son or daughter to play at least one familiar song as part of their weekly routine. Make Practice Fun This should come as no surprise no one wants to practice when its boring!  Incorporate fun games, activities, and challenges, and your child will look forward to practice! According to PianoDiscoveries, appropriate goals and positive reinforcement will make practicing fun and rewarding. Very few children are self-motivated in their practice. Most need incentives and reminders to keep them focused and moving forward. Ask your childs music teacher for some creative ways to make practice more fun! Find the Right Teacher This brings us to our last strategy and one of the most important: find the right teacher! Although practice is done outside of lessons, if your child connects with his or her teacher, theyre  much more likely to practice on their  own time. According to Music Central,finding the right teacher will make or break the whole experience. Don’t be afraid to try a new teacher if your child isn’t connecting. The best teachers are usually the ones who not only teach, but know how to be a good friend and mentor to your child. Find a teacher who understands your childs learning style, and a person whos able to teach concepts in a way that keeps your child interested. When your son or daughter  likes his or her teacher, theyll be more willing to take direction and practice consistently. Share this Image On Your Site pstrongPlease include attribution to TakeLessons.com with this graphic./strong/pbr /br /br /br / pa href=/blog/motivate-your-child-to-practice-music-z15img src=/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/13-Super-Effective-Ways-to-Motivate-Your-Child-to-Practice-Music_720x4919.jpg alt=13 Super Effective Ways to Motivate Your Child to Practice width=720px border=0 //a/pbr /br /br /br / p Which of these strategies have been successful for you? Do you have other methods that you use to motivate your child? Let us know in the comments below! 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

Are Sewing Classes for Women Only

Are Sewing Classes for Women Only It's Not Just Women who Know How to Sew! Sewing Lessons are for Everyone ChaptersSewing Basics: the Ancient Bond of Women and SewingThe Rejuvenation of Hand Sewing and Machine SewingThese Men Will Keep You in StitchesSewing Notions for your Sewing ClassHistorically and culturally: it has been up to women to thread the needle and darn the socks.Even if the women in question have no particular affinity for, or even a love to sew.Today, all of that is changing.There has never been a greater interest in needle arts: you can take sewing lessons, embroidery lessons; and the cross stitch bins at the fabric stores are populated by men and women in equal parts.Calling all DIYers: these days, anyone with an interest to can design and sew his/her own wardrobe!Indeed, if we look at the fashion industry, most designers â€" at least, up to the last century, were men.You could say sewing is a bit like cooking: traditionally the purview of women in the home, but in professional kitchens, the most famous chefs, even to this day, are men.However, we are living in an era wh en these so-called domestic arts are becoming more democratic: more women are taking over professional kitchens; more men are buying notions.Let us take a look at how males have influenced the art of sewing over time, so that men need not feel compelled to conceal their sewing kits.At the very least, their larger fingers are the primary reason the industry is making bigger thimbles.Isn't that a reason to feel the impact of male influence on every sewing pattern you bring to fruition and all of the sewing blogs you read?Learn how to sew through sewing tutorials...  should he appear frayed or unraveled, his  woman would be found lacking.Today, mercifully, all of that is untrue. At least in some parts of the world.Back then, in those not-so-long  ago bygone days, girls were generally denied any higher education, learning domestic arts from their mothers: cooking, cleaning, mending, and sewing.Embroidery to make decorations â€" should the household be wealthy enough for such; knitting w inter garments and baby clothes, crocheting...Meanwhile, their brothers learned maths and reading, as much as their socio-economic position allowed.Born into money, boys could pursue higher education; born working class, they would soon be apprenticed. Or, they worked the land, alongside their fathers.Either way: they had no time for sewing needles, whipstitches and bias tape.Discover how sewing with a serger makes bias tape obsolete!Along came Elisa Lemonnier, a woman so moved by the misery of the poor (women) in Paris that she opened a work room,  meant to provide those supplicants a modicum of financial relief.It only lasted a couple of months.Realising that these  ladies were utterly unskilled, she founded the first vocational school for women.So successful was this venture that, soon, she opened another facility, in another district  of Paris.After her death, her friend Caroline expanded on the concept, preparing young ladies for college entrance â€" a notion unheard of at that time.Bear in mind that the philosophy of the day was that boys should be active and girls, passive.Dividing gender roles along those lines, it was easy to determine that sewing projects, or sitting at a sewing machine should be a feminine activity.These days, we know that, for good mental and physical health, females as well as males must be active!Another indicator of the deep divide in industrial and commercial sewing is terminology.A woman who sews is called a seamstress. A man who sews is called a tailor.Tailor: from French â€" tailleur, meaning cutter: of stone or other material, including cloth.Seamstress: a person whose work is sewing â€" usually female, as indicated by the feminine suffix.The professional titles indicate that males are qualified to measure and cut cloth, while women seem only capable of plying needle and thread!Discover the complex history of sewing...Sewing is no longer reserved for the elderly or for women! Source: Pixabay Credit: yclnlThe Rejuvenation of Hand Sewing and Machine SewingAnywhere in the UK, from Edinburgh to sewing courses London  there are classes  on basic sewing and learning to sew on a machine.They are not stealthily attended by people in high collars  wearing sunglasses, wishing to hide their identity.To the contrary: they are heavily populated and eagerly anticipated, by students of any gender.How is that for a testimony on this skill's resurgence in popularity?In fact, you could learn to sew with Simon Henry, the author of The Little Black Dress.He is further proof that males excel in the sewing room!Still, if you look at the profiles of sewing teachers at My Sewing Classes you will find that most of the tutors are of the female persuasion.Why men still resist the allure of this activity is a mystery!Maybe they fear ridicule â€" echoes of Billy Elliot. Maybe, in these days of everyone the same, some males wish to stand out by not following popular trends.Maybe they're afraid of needles... ALL types of needles, e ven those sticking out of a pincushion!Wouldn't that be a crazy reason to avoid such a relaxing, potentially lucrative opportunity to learn sewing techniques?Some of the biggest names of clothing, male names â€" as we will discuss in a moment, didn't learn to thread needles at their grandmothers' knees.They learned their technique through sewing tutorials and, while some have never taken more than one sewing class, they are still giants of the garment industry.Another trend that points to a revival of learning how to sew: sales of Singer, Brother and Bernina sewing machines.At the turn of the century, consumers buying sewing tools and sewing supplies tended to be golden-agers (and female).Today, we see middle-agers, people in their thirties and forties, of all genders, haunting the sewing notion counter, buying fabric and patterns for their beginner sewing projects.Even adolescents are looking for free sewing patterns, claiming their status as beginners in the world of home sewing.E ager as they are to get started, they still look for sewing tips â€" even online, before they start on their project.Back to the topic of the sewing machine, now...A quality appliance today is:portableefficientmulti-functionalaffordableLong gone are the days of freestanding implements with treadles and long belts!Machines that operate on either alternating or direct current, or are driven by constant flexing and stretching of your foot - giving a whole new meaning to pressing and presser foot!Appliances that require the purchase of an additional accessory to buttonhole, and couldn't do much besides bob its needle up and down, into the bobbin case.The machine of today can embroider, baste... execute all manner of stitching!Whip stitch and slip stitch, straight stitch and back stitch: they are nothing to create when interfacing with even a basic sewing machine.Thanks to lower cost, and perhaps because the best sewing machine available today is computerized, youths, so adept with techn ology, are sewing seams like never before!Do you know what an overcast stitch is? Or how to sew a dart? Have you ever used a seam ripper?This legend of the fashion industry opened the door for so many other designers! Photo by Badder Manaouch Source: UnsplashThese Men Will Keep You in StitchesSewing stitches, that is.We're talking about the world of skirt, dress and purse design.Lamentable but true: some of the greatest names in women's fashion are male.Women are catching up, though. Soon, it will be a level playing field. Or, should we say cutting table?There are no labels in fashion design. At least, no gender labels.Here are just a few of the top â€" male â€" names who have made their mark, not as seamstresses, but in dressmaking.Their vision and creativity have revitalised the meaning of fashion.Valentino Garavani played himself in the movie  The Devil Wears Prada.This Italian designer learned everything from beginner sewing and how to thread any type of needle, to embellishment and the effective placement of appliqué while still in school.Beyond the age when most of us would consider retirement, he is busy crafting his spring lineup.Karl Lagerfeld is one of the busiest men in fashion!Besides being artistic director for Chanel, he designs for his own brand, and the Italian label Fendi.This tireless worker, busy as he is at no fewer than three fashion houses, still takes time to edit sewing books and supervise photoshoots.Tom Ford has no ties to the Ford Modeling AgencyFormerly artistic designer for both Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent, this enterprising American started his own label, dressing such famous persons as Beyonce and Johnny Depp.His suits featured in all three of Daniel Craig's Bond movies, too!You can now enjoy this versatile artist's films: he has branched out into the movie industry as a screenwriter and film director.Giorgio Armani is primarily known for his menswear, but increasingly, has branched out scents and sportswear.He is one of the mo st innovative designers in the field of fashion!Not only has he dressed Lady Gaga for her Monster Ball tour, but he was the first to ban skinny models and broadcast his collection live online (Spring 2007).He is best known for his clean, tailored lines and elegant finishing.Discover how you can learn sewing from the big names in fashion!You can cultivate your love of sewing with a starter sewing kit Source: Upsplash Credit: Kris AtomicSewing Notions for your Sewing ClassAfter reading this article, you must have come to the conclusion that needlework and pattern making are endemic to all genders.More and more, people are turning to individual creation â€" the running stitch on the edge of our social media lives.In fact, sewing underpins civilisation: through sewing bees and quilting bees, sewing aficionados share everything from the basics to tricks for piping and other easy projects.If you find yourself lingering at the fabric store, or wondering what a rotary cutter is, be not abas hed!It is easy to become a sewer.All you need  are scissors, a sewing needle and sewing thread. Or you could  purchase a whole sewing kit!Invest in patterns for pants, skirts, dresses, and soon, you will find yourself embroiled in creative sewing, expressing your sense of style in all that you wear.Learn all of the terminology pertaining to sewing...Find out more about French seams.Discover everything about couture clothing.

Internship vs. Co-op Know the Difference Between These Two Programs

Internship vs. Co-op Know the Difference Between These Two Programs In most career fields, a strong college GPA is only one aspect of nabbing an entry-level job. Employers are more likely to interviewand ultimately hirejob candidates with relevant work experience. There are two main ways students can gain job experience while in college: through either internships or cooperative education programs, also known as co-ops. While both are similar programs with the same end goal, its important to know the difference between an internship and a co-op. What is an internship? Colleges and universities often strongly encourage students to complete an internship. Internships can be paid or unpaid, and they typically last the duration of one semester. Students are tasked with completing any outside coursework and personal commitments while logging the required number of internship hours. Internship duties vary widely by company and field. You might be asked to complete entry-level tasks, for instance. While these might not always be particularly exciting, its important to remain open to the tasks presented in an effort to show your flexibility and willingness to expand your skill set. [RELATED: Why You Should Pursue an Internship in College] What is a co-op? A variety of schools offer co-op programs. While participating in a co-op, students may stop taking classes in order to work full-time. Co-ops are usually paid, and often require students to work full-time for several months. Sometimes, a students co-op experience is divided into two-to-three scheduled work periods throughout the school year or throughout multiple years. Co-ops allow students to gain a good deal of work experience prior to completion of their degree. Is a co-op or internship right for you? The benefits Completing an internship or a co-op adds experience to students resumes, and can help them land a future job by providing a plethora of networking opportunities. Whats more, these programs can show you what you like and dont like about a given career. You may begin a program in a field you thought you were interested in, only to realize that its not the right fit for you. The time and money investment Its key to examine your time in order to decide which program is best for you. Internships typically last the length of a semester, but theres a chance they will be unpaid. Co-ops, however, can last a bit longer, may require you to stop taking classes, and are generally paid. When considering whether to pursue an internship or co-op, you should review your financial needs. If the promise of a steady paycheck alleviates a lot of your stress when it comes to paying for college, you might want to choose a co-op. If money is not a major consideration and youd rather finish your college career in a shorter time frame, an internship might be for you. How each program will affect your university experience Working as part of a co-op is a very different type of college experience compared to attending classes full-time or doing an internship part-time. During your co-op semesters, youre likely to spend less time on campus with your classmates, professors, and friends. While some students get used to moving between their workplace and college, others might feel uncomfortable. Its important to think about how you might feel having your time split like this, and whether or not youd enjoy this kind of college experience. [RELATED: How to Get Real-World Experience in Your College Major] Both internships and co-ops offer a unique opportunity for you to expand your skill set, network with professionals in your field, and set yourself up for post-graduate success. Its key to examine the pros and cons of each option, and to deduce which is the right fit for you and your ultimate career goals. [RELATED: 4 Tactics for Landing Your Dream Job] Any topics you want to know more about? Let us know! The Varsity Tutors Blog editors love hearing your feedback and opinions. Feel free to email us at blog@varsitytutors.com.

Your Personal Brand The Little Things Matter - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / Your Personal Brand The Little Things Matter - Introvert Whisperer Your Personal Brand: The Little Things Matter Your personal brand is the value and experience others have of you based on your consistent behavior.   That personal brand can be a favorable one or negative one, depending on what your behavior is.   Your personal brand shapes your success both professionally as well as personally so it’s important to give it some thought. Your behavior includes even small things like whether or not you’re timely in returning texts, voicemails, and emails.   It can include whether or not you are usually late showing up to things and if you seem to perpetually have a whirling caldron of chaos surrounding you.   It’s not just about how well you execute things at a technical level or your sweet personality. Your ability to adequately manage life’s daily “administrivia” is one of those things that if you do well, are kind of a neutral background thing.   No one notices it and your other assets shine through.   That’s how you want to be experienced.   However, when you habitually fail in those personal management tasks, it will overshadow all of the positive assets you possess. It’s the little things that eat away at any trust people may have placed in you because you’ve demonstrated you can’t handle the little things; you probably can’t handle the big ones.   Even if you have an amazing personality and do things that people love, those same people will eventually give up on you if you are flaky.   It’s just not worth making the effort. Can you imagine not being worth other people’s effort to maintain a relationship or to support?   Harsh but it happens every day. So, if you know or suspect that you might have some of those behaviors, you have to change that today.   You won’t get traction anywhere in life or at work if you don’t. The little things matter. Go to top Personal Branding starts with how well you speak about YOU.  I want to help you accelerate your career by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my eBook â€" The Definitive Guide to Creating and Using an Elevator Speech.  In this guide, I give you simple to follow instructions for creating a “wardrobe” of ways to talk about you â€" to leave a lasting impression. Get your copy now! Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleashing your professional potential. Introvert Whisperer

Tips for High School Students to Start the New Year

Tips for High School Students to Start the New Year The school year is beginning and it can be easy to get overwhelmed with everything you have to doidentifying where your classes are located, organizing your folders and notebooks, and especially for juniors and seniors, thinking seriously about college. Here are some quick tips for high school students to start the new year off on the right foot. Set goals Having aspirations for the future is important attending college, having a future career, etc. However, it is also crucial to set realistic goals specifically for this school year. Do you need a certain grade point average to gain acceptance into your dream university, or perhaps need to take certain AP classes? You can also set goals for extracurricular activities, such as discovering an impressive internship or a volunteering opportunity. Write your goals down, be as specific as possible, and post them where you know you will see them every day. Determine the most effective way for you to take notes Note-taking is a valuable skill in both high school and college. As it turns out, there is more to taking class notes than you might think! Take the time to look for different note-taking strategies, such as using bullet points, writing in multiple colors, highlighting particular areas, using smartphone apps, etc. If you have not done so already, it would be highly encouraged to install Microsoft Office or another type of word processing software and see how it can enhance your notes. Here are three note-taking formats every student should try. Assess your study habits Everyone studies differently. Some students can easily focus on lengthy tasks in a solitary setting, while others flourish when working in groups. A new school year is the perfect time to evaluate and improve your study methods. If you found yourself distracted last year while studying, find a new study spot or eliminate the distractions around you. If you found yourself cramming the night before tests last year, make a point to set reminders for yourself to study earlier rather than later.Consider using a planner or calendar to organize important deadlines, as well as to manage large projects and assignments. These are some great tips onhow toavoid study distractions. Conquer procrastination If you are somebody who frequently reschedules tasks for later, you are not alone unfortunately, procrastination is a problem that plagues many students, but you can overcome it. There are several concrete methods to help ensure you do not procrastinate, so why not try out a few of them to start the new year? When facing a large and complicated task, like a term paper or college application essay, break it down into smaller and more manageable pieces, and use a to-do list to conquer them. If you find yourself procrastinating when faced with a minor task, ask yourself, why? Why exactly am I not doing this right now? Reward yourself when you finish work, rather than doing so before or in between the process. This can serve as excellent motivation. Here are a few of the best study habitsyou should have! As you prepare to start the new year in the most productive way possible, think about what particular grade you are entering and how that affects your goals. Freshmen and sophomores, for example, should typically be more focused on adjusting to the new aspects of high school classes and attaining high grades. Juniors and seniors, on the other hand, will likely be more focused on paving their way to college; this should include visiting campuses, navigating applications, and taking the SAT or ACT. While the path is different each year for high school students, the way theywalk it is similar. If you are able to get organized, move past procrastination, and develop strong study habits, the sky or rather, your dream college is the limit. Best of luck in school as you start the new year!

Surface Area of a Pyramid Tutors

Surface Area of a Pyramid Tutors A pyramid is a 3-dimensional geometric figure which has 4 triangles joining towards a single point known as the apex or the vertex of the pyramid. There are different types of pyramids depending on the type of base a pyramid has. For instance, a pyramid with a square base is known as square pyramid, a pyramid with a rectangular base is known as a rectangular pyramid etc. Total surface area of a pyramid can be calculated by adding all the areas of every face of the pyramid. Example 1: What is the surface area of a square pyramid which has a base length of 3m and a slant height of 5m? Given: base length, b= 3m Slant height of the pyramid, s = 5m Since it is a square pyramid, the base of the pyramid is a square. Surface area of a square pyramid = b2 + 2* b* s This gives: Surface area of the square pyramid, SA= (3)2 + (2 * 3 * 5) = 9+ 30= 39m2 Therefore, the surface area of the given square pyramid is 39m2 Example 2: What is the surface area of a rectangular pyramid which has a base length of 6m, base width of 4m and a slant height of 8m? Given: base length, l= 6m, base width, w = 4m Slant height of the pyramid, s = 8m Since it is a rectangular pyramid, the base of the pyramid is a rectangle. Surface area of the rectangular pyramid = (l* w) + (l* s) + (w* s) This gives: Surface area of the rectangular pyramid, SA= (6* 4) + (6* 8) + (4* 8) = 104m2 Therefore, the surface area of the given rectangular pyramid is 104m2

11 Simple Ways to Improve Your Written English - English Skills

11 Simple Ways to Improve Your Written English - English Skills Today, I want to talk to you about ways to improve your written English and improve your confidence in writing. In previous lesson I shared with you my 10 Real Tips for Improving Englishand one of those (there were 10 tips) and one of those tips was to improve your your written English.So thats what I want to focus on today. Obviously, written English is really important because there are two key ways in which we communicate with other people. How we speak and then also how we write. 11 Simple Ways to Improve Your Written English And when we are writing English, it can be in many many different formats. So if you think now how you  write in the last couple of days or what you write in the next few days, it could  be something as simple as just a text on your phone. It could be a whatsapp  message. It could be an email replying to a business colleague or some customer. It  could be a much more detailed report for your boss for new business proposals. Or, indeed, it could be that all important letter for that new job application, that job that you you really want.So in all of those aspects we have to really think about the type of English that  were writing and why we are writing it.For example, if its your friends birthday and youre sending them a  birthday card you might not think too long and hard about the birthday wishes.  Particularly if youve seen your friend quite recently.It might just be a very  quick:Hi happy birthday, wish you the best lots of love.Something as simple as that.Or if you havent seen t he person for a long  time you can say:Oh Im really sorry, I havent been in touch but I never forget your  birthday. Id like to wish you all the best on this really special day.So you might put in a little bit of extra thought into that so it depends on the circumstances.But if youre writing that all-important letter for a job interview, youre going to really want tothink about it.What are they looking for? How do you want to put yourself forward? How does your CV look?And therefore you want to write a letter thats going  to attract attention and hopefully get  you onto that original list. Or indeed onto the shortlist for the the job  application.So its really really important when you write that you consider who is your audience.Yes, who are you writing to, whos going to read it. And why are you writing that particular document.Is it to impress the boss so therefore you want to maybe put the language a little bit more sexy or little jazz it up a little bit.Or you want to write the job interview letter and you really want to let them know that youre the best person that they can possibly hire.Or indeed it was just an email to your friend and you want to be a little funny and you want to put in a little joke.  Well, then obviously the content will differ.  Okay.  So as I said, there are two really important things you have to look out for:who is going to read your document, your letter, your emailwhy are you writing itAnd if Im writing a report, a business report I want to imagine its the most important person in that organisation thats going to read it.My chief executive, the director, the head of sales, whoever it might be, it has to be the most important person.Youll focus a lot more on that. And then if Im looking at why am I writing it, never stray away from the reason. Dont fill your document to your  boss full of bullshit. Theyll see it through that.You want to make it concise and accurate and to the point. So be very very careful about who is going to r ead it. Ways to Improve Your Written English If youre writing an English exam, for example, if youre doing an IELTS, the examiners dont really care what your comments are, what your points of view are. What they are examining is how you use English. Okay.So whether you agree or disagree with the point is not so relevant, its not so important but what is important is the structure and the use of English.So youve got to pay an awful lot of attention there to your grammar.You have to make sure that:the use of the articles a the and an is accurateyou use the right prepositionsHowever, if you are writing a letter for the job interview or youre writing the business report as we mentioned, then it really is important to what you say.So if youre writing the letter for the job application, stick to the point.What is the job? What are they looking for? How do you fit in to that particular job description?And dont waffle because that might lose you some sort of a attraction and therefore might not make you to the shortlist after all.Of co urse, in any particular type of English, its really important that our grammar is checked. Make sure that grammar is used well.  I cringe when I get documents that are written badly.  So you can imagine that other people who have to read lots and lots of documents every day, lots and lots of CVS and lots and lots of letters for jobs they get a little bit browned off and annoyed if there are a lot of mistakes.So Im not just talking about simple typos. We all make those. Even I make those occasionally if I rush an email a little bit. And when I look at it later on Oh god, Ive got a typo in there.Thats not really so bad because it can be an excuse of your typing. If its like me with two fingers. But if you make bad English mistakes thats a lot lot different. Thats not just a typo, thats bad grammar. So be really really careful with that.So a tip if youre preparing a document, particularly an important document thats going to go to somebody very important and very senior, make sure you get someone to proof it or someone to check it. So if youre not a proficient English speaker or writer, get somebody who is. Its worth spending a bit of money or a bit of time to get them to read it and a fresh pair of eyes makes a huge difference.  One thing of course that will really help you to improve your written English is to see what other people do. So look to the experts.Look up documents and good business magazines. If its a business article you want to write, look up good authors of written English that you can look at sentence construction. You can follow and copy what people do.Theres no end to the number of books you can find. And you can find very good English construction. You can look at how people make simple and complex sentences and you can copy that sort of style and get used to it. So its really really good practice.So there are so many articles out there. Everything is available over the internet so you shouldnt have any excuse and not being able to find  some thing that will help you. And its a really good part of your own personal training. I did it and I still do it. I like to read other peoples styles to  see how they construct sentences, how they use words and everything connected with that. Okay.So make sure that you practice and practise and practise. Here are some simple exercises that I carry out with with my students when Im getting them to do written exercises. If theyre trying to understand lets say phrasal verbs.Everybody asks me about Oh how can I learn phrasal verbs? I see that everybody gets examined on these. I dont know how to use them and not comfortable with them.Well, one of the simple exercises that I use with my students, I get them to keep a diary of events that happen over a couple of days. A weekend is a good example. Saturday and Sunday. Okay.And I ask them to write in the diary what they did but use as many phrasal verbs as they can.For example, on Saturday morning I got up, I jumped into the shower, I jumped out of the shower, I ran down the stairs, I put on the coffee, I took out the eggs from the the fridge and I put them on the stove. Okay.So we go on and on like that and if you play this back youll see that Ive used six, seven, eight phrasal verbs in a few small sentences.So its a really really good pract ice and it goes on throughout the morning, the afternoon and the evening to see where you can fit in a phrasal verb.And the reverse is also a good exercise.Where I get somebody to write something a little bit more formal without any phrasal verbs. So here what were looking for a much more formal verb. So every phrasal verb has a formalverb. Okay.So you can practise your formal writing and you can practise your informal writing in two very easy exercises.Another example that I use is to get somebody to write something really really short, just a couple of sentences, 20 or 25 words. How to sell the car or how to sell the house.This is really getting you to use descriptive English with very very few words. You want to get as few words as possible to be as descript as possible. So that you can get somebody to buy the article that you want to sell.If you want to sell you a car, want to low mileage, beautiful car, well-maintained, one careful, yours for twenty thousand euro. Okay.So descr iptive. Not another load of waffle but just very very few words, so its a good way to practice descriptive English. Okay.And you can do that in terms of selling the car, selling your home, a visit to a hotel, visit to the zoo, whatever activities that you have get people to be really really descriptive.One of the the real problems with people who have or consider themselves to have poor written English skills is that they repeat the same word over and over again. And that can be apart from annoying, it shows in an examination that they have a poor vocabulary, they dont have an expansive vocabulary. And this is something else that we have to work on and improve with doing some written exercises.You take a word and you try and find two or three other synonyms that have the same meaning that you can use. So you try and find other verbs the same meaning of the nouns or the adjectives and so on. Okay.Every word has some sort of synonym. Even the word zebra. Okay.So what is another word f or a zebra?Well, not exactly a word but you could call it a horse with black and white stripes. Or a black horse with white stripes. Or a white horse with black stripes. Okay.So different ways you can describe your words and those sort of exercises will help you a lot. Try to get your vocabulary expanded so that youre not repeating the same words time and time again.Particularly if youre doing an exam where youre limited to maybe a hundred and eighty to 230 or 250 words repetition is a problem.We want to see a wider vocabulary, more words used and not the keywords repeated over and over again. Okay.So when youre writing, its a really important to have structure. Any document whether its a letter or a report is going to have a  beginning and an end. It depends what type of document as to what type of beginning, what type of middle and what type of end you have.You have to look up there. But they call the register of the English youre writing. Is it formal or informal. That will dicta te the type  of opening the type of the middle and the type of ending that youre going to have. If you follow those careful points your documents  wont be too bad. And again youre going to go on and practise and practise those to make them as good as you possibly can.A couple of last points just to give you.Always remember that simple accurate English is better than complicated inaccurate English.When your simple English becomes good, then move up to more complex English.Also remember when you speak its not often remembered unless somebody is recording what you say. But when you write something, itll be recorded forever. Particularly in the modern world with the technology that we have. So always be really really careful about what you write. Read it time and time again to get rid of typos or mistakes.I hope youve enjoyed what Ive had to tell you today and remember as always to subscribe to my channel and join me on www.englishlessonviaskype.comWere going to have a really important announcement very soon which I think will be interesting for you.And if you look down below youll get the link to our online English courses.Lots of wonderful English grammar courses at really reasonable prices.So join me again very soon and thanks for listening.

Stress and Standardized Tests Coping Strategies

Stress and Standardized Tests Coping Strategies ACT SAT Prep and College Admissions Blog Stress is something that everyone experiences; however, the triggers and manifestations of stress differ for everybody. As illustrated in the Yerkes-Dodson Human Performance Curve, a little stress can be good; it keeps us focused and motivated, and can positively impact performance. However, too much stress can be physically debilitating and can decrease productivity, performance, and cognitive function--a particular issue when engaged in a high cognitive activity, such as standardized tests. While effective time management, productive study habits, and strong organizational skills can help combat stress, there are also coping mechanisms that you can utilize to help mitigate stress. Here are nine coping mechanisms that you can take advantage of to help deal with ‘Test Stress’. Coping Mechanisms: Reduce your consumption of caffeinated beverages. Caffeine is a stimulant and will increase your level of stress rather than allay it. Try to reduce or avoid caffeinated beverages. Get the right amount of sleep. A lack of sleep can exacerbate stress levels. Make sure to get between 7-9 hours of sleep each night leading up to your test date. Get organized. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when you have a long list of items on your ‘To Do’ list. Prioritize your tasks and break them into smaller, manageable tasks. Relax. Stress is the body’s reaction to a stimulus that disturbs your mental or physical equilibrium. Try deep breathing exercises to help relax your body or short meditative exercises to help clear your mind. Stretching is also good for relieving muscle tension. Exercise. Often times, stress manifests itself as physical agitation. Going for a run or doing a few calisthenic exercises can help mitigate your stress levels and restore your body and mind to a more relaxed state. Distinguish between good and bad stress. Good stress can increase productivity and performance, while bad stress can slow you down and decrease productivity. Try utilizing some relaxation practices when your stress levels shift from manageable levels to overwhelming levels. Don’t stress about stress. Accept that stress is a normal feeling and that a little stress can be a good thing. Use it as a tool to focus on the task at hand. Create a checklist prior to exam day. Create a list of items you need to complete or bring with you to the exam ahead of time. Doing this prior to exam day allows you to organize yourself and prepare things, and prevents you from feeling scatterbrained the day of your exam. Keep a stress journal. Documenting your own stress patterns will help you become aware of situations and stimuli that trigger your stress levels. Being aware of what triggers your stress level can help you to develop better coping mechanisms. Other ‘Test Stress’ coping mechanisms I like to utilize include maintaining a healthy diet, avoiding cramming before a test, wearing comfortable clothing during an exam, and practicing visualization exercises wherein I imagine that I have aced the exam. Such strategies help me feel physically and emotionally prepared for an exam. I invite you to try out some of these coping mechanisms, and play around with them until you find one that works for you.