5 Qualities of Outstanding High School Leaders

5 Qualities of Outstanding High School Leaders Cultivating your leadership skills in high school can help you find long-term success not only in college, but also beyond as you develop your career. The same qualities that make an outstanding high school leader are the ones that make a great real-world leader. Shaping yourself as an expert listener, a critical thinker, and a good decision-makereven under pressurecan help you step into leadership roles on sports teams, in clubs, and in student government. If you want to make your mark as a great high school leader, check out these qualities of outstanding high school leaders below: [RELATED: Why Extracurriculars Boost College Success] 1. Solid decision-making skills A good leader is able to see the whole field, listen to different perspectives, make decisions, and then stick by his or her choice. Leaders do not make decisions based solely upon their gut feelings or emotions associated with a given circumstance, but rather by hearing multiple viewpoints and giving careful consideration of what is truly best for the groupnot just themselves. Good leaders are able to separate their own individual interests from the overall interests of the group and seek to make decisions by which the entire group can grow and succeed. 2. Excellent listening skills In any group, it is unlikely that everyone will agree on every issue. Instead of ignoring others input, a good leader will listen to other perspectives carefully and will respect differing opinions. A good leader knows that truly hearing the opinions of all those who he or she represents and acknowledging their roles as important within the group can help lead to group cohesion and mutual respect among members. 3. Ability to keep cool under pressure Leaders are often expected to make uncomfortable decisions and to abide by tight deadlines. Being able to adapt to pressure and to think clearly and critically when under pressure is crucial to being an outstanding leader. Good high school leaders avoid making rash, heat-of-the-moment decisions, instead opting to make decisions from a calm, objective standpoint even in the toughest of times. 4. Great analytical skills Outstanding high school leaders are often also outstanding students who are able to reason through problems logically. Think about solving a difficult math problem that spans a few different disciplines; you may have to combine knowledge of algebra, geometry, and even elements of calculus to find the right answer. Real-world problem solving is often similar, requiring leaders to apply their understanding of, for example, the social and financial aspects of a situation to arrive at a solution. Superior problem-solving skills are crucial to outstanding leadership. 5. Strong communication skills Outstanding high school leaders are those who are transparent in their actions and decisions. Good leaders will communicate with the group throughout their decision-making processes, developing trust between them and those who they represent. Moreover, ensuring the communication is clear and effective is what makes a truly successful leader. [RELATED: Tips to Develop Leadership Skills in College] Developing yourself as a high school leader and learning to take on added responsibility for a group can help better prepare you for college, graduate school, and your eventual career. Challenge yourself now to step into new experiences and roles within your schools clubs and teams, and keep these qualities in mind as you navigate your way as an outstanding high school leader.

LSAT Test Dates for 2017-2018

LSAT Test Dates for 2017-2018 Taking a standardized exam like the LSAT entails a great deal of planning. When you begin to look into taking the LSAT, its important to create a list of the testing dates that will work well for you. Since the exam is only offered on select dates during the 2017-2018 academic year, youll want to be on top of registration deadlines. Reasons to finalize your testing schedule now include (as previously mentioned) staying current on registration deadlines, understanding which style of LSAT exam date best fits you, and allowing adequate prep time before the test. Are you ready to begin creating your LSAT prep plan? Keep reading to learn about the 17-18 LSAT test dates and registration deadlines. And remember to utilize Varsity Tutors one-on-one LSAT tutoring to help you prepare. LSAT test dates Below is a list of LSAT test dates released by the Law School Admission Council for the 2017-2018 school year. Click here to register for a specific exam date. The LSAT also offered tests on June 12, September 16, and September 18, 2017. More information on registration policies, including additional fees for late registration, can be found here. LSAT test dates for Saturday Sabbath observers The LSAT is typically administered on Saturdays. However, if you observe the Saturday Sabbath, the Law School Admission Council (or LSAC) offers several exams on different days of the week. You can request this type of testing date through your online LSAC account, but you must also submit an official letter from your minister or rabbi regarding your religious affiliation. More information on LSAT exam dates for Saturday Sabbath observers can be found here. Nondisclosed LSAT test dates The February 10, 2018 LSAT exam is a bit different from other testing dates, in that it is nondisclosed. This means that the LSAC does not release scored sections after the exam. For test-takers, this also means that you cannot see which questions you answered correctly or incorrectly. Before deciding on this LSAT exam date, ensure you fully understand how a nondisclosed testing session will affect you. Adequate LSAT prep time Allow yourself ample prep time before whichever LSAT test date you ultimately choose. Take LSAT practice tests, and evaluate your progress throughout your LSAT review. Be honest with yourself about your target score, as well as how much prep time you will need to reach said score. Remember, too, that LSAT tutoring may help you reach the goals you set for yourself. Best of luck! 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.

Best Boxing Equipment for Different Disciplines

Best Boxing Equipment for Different Disciplines Boxing Accessories: The Ultimate Guide to Boxing Gear ChaptersFrench Kickboxing: Accessories to Get Your Hands on!Standard Boxing: How to Choose your Boxing KitAmerican Boxing: Essential Boxing Accessories!Thai Boxing: Best Boxing Gear!'You don’t have to be in a boxing ring to be a great fighter. As long as you are true to yourself, you will succeed in your fight for that in which you believe.'?  Muhammad AliAs any boxing enthusiast will know, selecting boxing equipment according to the type of combat sport or martial arts that you are about to undertake is like covering oneself in an emergency foil blanket after an accident. Choosing boxing training gloves, inner gloves, a boxing helmet and boxing accessories (a mouthguard, shin guards, elbow guards and ankle supports) are all ultimately a way of encasing oneself in a protective layer pre-match.According to scientific research carried out by Sahlgrenska Academy of the University Göteborg in Sweden, so-termed ‘English boxing’ (standard boxing with no kicking involved as opposed t o American or Thai kickboxing) undertaken by boxing professionals can cause cerebral lesions that are similar in nature to lesions in those with Alzheimer’s.Are you looking to do some amateur boxing or basic boxing fitness training? Even beginner level boxing enthusiasts require basic boxing gear and will need to compare the prices of different boxing training sports items.This is our mini guide to sports equipment for boxers. wrist strap  and inner gloves/boxing mitts are a great combo), padded  headgear, a protective cup, a mouthguard and a pair of standard boxing shoes.  Obligatory in combat, boxing gloves are just as important for boxing training as they are for proper boxing matches and fights. During training, they can be used for hitting punchbags, boxing mitts and boxing shields. Boxing gloves are selected according to the weight and height of the boxer, which is calculated in ounces (one ounce =  28.3495g) from 6 to 18 ounces.To preserve your pair of boxing gloves and ens ure they remain durable, you should also cover your hands in boxing wrap. Boxing wrist wraps and hand wraps are multifunctional and apart from guaranteeing the durability of your boxing gloves, will also let air circulate when sweating and protect your phalanx (middle finger) and metacarpal bones.Face punches can be quite aggressive during fights and hitting your head on boxing ring mats does not cushion the blow as much as you would think, therefore you should also choose durable and reliable headgear.   The choice of headgear depends mainly on your head size, the amount of inner padding that is used, the tightness of the chin piece and the visibility it offers.Next, you will need to grab a mouthpiece to prevent your teeth banging together or biting/perforating your tongue when your opponent aims uppercut and hook punches at your jaw. Shock Doctor is a good affordable brand to go for if you want to save your teeth and some money!Finally, as boxing is a sport where you will be const antly bouncing on the balls of your feet and hopping from one foot to the other, a good pair of boxing shoes with soft soles and strong ankle support are required.In order to choose your boxing kit for standard boxing, it is always best to first ask yourself the following questions:What is my budget?What  level of boxer am I?What is my aim (to try out the sport, do some intensive boxing training or compete in boxing matches)?How often do I plan to go to the gym to box?What extra protection will this or that product offer me?Which item best suits my needs and taste?You should budget for approximately £50 to £150 for your initial set of beginner’s boxing equipment, then £250 to £300 for better quality boxing gear suited more to intermediate level boxers and finally, about £400 to £500 for a complete high-quality boxing kit once you have reached a more advanced level of boxing.And yes, those bargain boxing accessories by  Domyos  available for £30 or so definitely won’t offe r the same quality and finish as  Venum, Fairtex or  Everlast  with their range of very professional products!American Boxing: Essential Boxing Accessories!'In boxing, it is about the obsession of getting the most from yourself: wanting to dominate the world like a hungry young lion.'  â€"  Anthony JoshuaAmerican boxing â€" otherwise known as full contact boxing or kickboxing â€" is a type of boxing that involves leg kicks without hitting the opponent’s legs.It is probably fair to say that American boxing is a fusion of standard boxing and Savate.Kickboxing â€" a violent sport? Not if you are well protected! (Source: Visual Hunt)Like standard boxing and martial arts, punches can reach the opponent’s head or chest, which is why kickboxing necessitates good full-contact boxing gear to prevent injury,Boxing gloves, protective headgear, a mouthguard, chest protector, shin-pads and boxing trainers should be top of your shopping list when considering what kind of boxing kit would be best to fill your gym bag with.Even if there is not really a lot of physical contact between boxers during training, protective boxing equipment is there to prevent possible accidents, such as bruises, contusions or fractures. What you might think was a gentle blow could be perceived as quite a powerful and violent strike by your boxing opponentI mean, who would really want to box with bare hands as if hitting a brick wall and risk breaking bones?  Boxing gloves (brands like Title,  Venum, Montana, Fairtex, Twin and, Adidas boxing) increase the power of punches all whilst spreading the impact across a larger surface area of skin â€" the thicker and heavier the padding, the more the impact is spread.The price of full contact boxing gloves ranges from £7.99 (trust old Decathlon, of course!) to £169 (Title).To know what size to pick, apart from one’s weight, you should think about what kind of an impact you want to have. Make a preference for heavier gloves (10 to 12 ounces) if yo u want to do some light sparring matches with your sparring partner. Prioritise thinner gloves if you are looking to harden your hands as part of a fight or boxing match practice where you need to be pulling punches at great speed, for example, when training with a punch bag or punching ball.As you are allowed to use your feet in kickboxing, you will also need to wear a boxing cup or groin protector ( £9.99 to £49.75) to cover your genitals. You want to protect them at all costs, as everyone knows they are one of the most sensitive areas of the human body and a kick in the balls is not something to which you readily want to expose yourself!It is worth noting that while standard boxing requires only a pair of boxing shorts (usually made of nylon), full-contact kickboxers should wear kickboxing trousers similar to the tracksuit bottoms worn in Savate. Boxing trousers are more modestly priced and ( £10 to £30 approx.) and the flexible fabric used allows for large, loose and roomy mov ements. Nylon and polyester sportswear is great for kickboxing as it is lightweight and durable.To equip yourself with a complete boxing kit, you should budget for approximately £200 for basic boxing accessories and around £350- £450 for more sophisticated high-quality equipment.    The price-tag is not that pretty, but remind yourself that good quality boxing accessories only needs to be replaced every five to ten yearsTo know what’s what when making a purchase, here is a comparative table of prices and brands for the different boxing accessories available on the net that are needed for American. Superprof dons its hat as a rational economic man!Find out more about American boxing equipment.Thai Boxing: Best Boxing Gear!Are you dreaming of becoming a pro in Thai boxing?This impressive unrestrained sport is a cross between military training and martial arts, moulding the physical skills of a Muay Thai boxer that are really rather athletic.What a game of legs! Thai boxing is the most ferocious of all kickboxing. (Source: Wikimedia)A military sport formerly imposed by the ancient kings of Thailand, Muay Thai is kept alive today by the more than 200,000 people in the Land of Smiles who practice it today. What’s more, this type of boxing is such an all-around sport and workout that it is also practised by thousands of people outside of Thailand.If you want to learn self-defence, there is no better physical preparation than Thai boxing.Muay Thai training equipment also includes a handful of indispensable boxing accessories that no Thai boxer can do without.First things first â€" Thai boxing gloves  Kickboxing gloves to a Thai boxer are  like a bandsaw to a carpenterWhilst people have been boxing with bare hands since the dawn of time, boxing gloves became an obligatory part of Thai boxing in 1920. The law was introduced to limit the risk of injury during sporting events. Thus, Thailand followed in suit of Savate and boxing in terms of boxing rules and regula tions.Next, somewhat of a technical novelty for kickboxing, Thai boxing requires a breastplate, elbow pads and ankle supports.Don’t forget that in Muay Thai, kicks, punches and blows to the knee and elbow are all permitted. As the saying goes, anything goes in Thai boxing (almost); very few blows are prohibited. This is why it is one of the most dangerous forms of boxing.The bones around the knees and elbows protrude away from the body and are particularly fragile and prone to injury during boxing matches, which is why it is necessary to wrap them in padded material that has been adjusted to one’s size. It’s important to wear protective sportswear even if your competitors don’t!What type of equipment do you need forkickboxing? You could find out by signing up for  kickboxing classes London or any big UK city!To choose your equipment (boxing gloves, mouthguard, protective boxing headgear, groin protector, breastplate, Thai boxing shorts, elbow pads, knee pads, shin pads) you should bear in mind a number of factors: What price am I prepared to pay?What material will help best to soften any blows (synthetic polyester, leather, plastic, etc.)?Which boxing accessories will be most comfortable?For how long do I plan on keeping my boxing training equipment?Fight outlet, Ringside Boxing, Sports Direct and Adidas boxing are going to be your new favourite places to shop!Here's a comparison of fight gearType of Boxing AccessorySeller of Boxing Equipment (UK)Boxing Equipment BrandPrice RangeBoxing GlovesBlitz, Fitness Superstore, Selfridges, Active Instict UK, Yokkao, Made 4 FightersAdidas, Lamyland, Everlast, Blitz, Fairtex, Harlton, Twins, Ringside £14.99 to £1,995Mouth GuardBlitz, Made 4 Fighters, Valour Strike, Newitts, SelfridgesBlitz, Shock Doctor, Under Armour, Valour Strike, Lamyland £3.49 to £19.99Protective Boxing HeadgearDecathlon UK, Fruugo, Amazon, RDX Sports, Flight Equipment UK, Olympia Fightwear, Made 4 FightersDomymos, Adidas, Rival Boxing, RDX Sports, Fairtex, Pro-Box, Lonsdale, £14.99 to £149.00Elbow PadsBlitz, Just Keepers, Tredz Bikes, Fruugo,Blitz, Nike, Fairtex, Ion, Title, Adidas Boxing £6.99 to £47.99Thai Boxing Breast PlateMartial Arts Kit, Bytomic Martial Arts and Fitness, Boxfit UKTokaido, Bytomic, Cimac £14.99 to £42.99Boxing ShortsAdidas, Blitz, Reebok, eBayAdidas Boxing, Blitz, Reebok, Fairtrex £19.99 to £35.95Knee PadsAmazon UK, RDX Sports, Fruugo,Venum, RDX Sports, Fairtex, Cliff Keen £7.99 to £29.99Shin PadsFruugo, RDX SportsUFC, Twins, Fairtex, RDX Sports £8.99 to £78.99

The Best Places to Learn Guitar Online

The Best Places to Learn Guitar Online The Best Websites for Learning How to Play the Guitar ChaptersWebsites for Learning to Play the Guitar: Tabs4acousticShredAcademyArtistWorks Guitar CampusUltimate-GuitarJammitJustin GuitarMusicRadariMusicSchoolOnline Private Guitar TutorialsAdvice for Learning an Instrument OnlinePrivate Guitar Tutorials“Music is the strongest form of magic.” - Marilyn MansonIn recent years, electric guitar sales have dropped. However, people are still interested in playing the guitar. Perhaps people are choosing to play the acoustic guitar, folk guitar, or jazz guitar instead.Whatever the reason may be, learning to play the guitar takes time, patience, and perseverance, especially when going it alone, without guitar tutorials, music theory, or a teacher to encourage us.Fortunately, the internet is here to save the day! There are plenty of free guitar lessons available online as well as resources that you'll have to pay for. The advantage is that you can work on your guitar scales at any time of the day.In this article, we're going to take a look at some of the websites you should definitely visit whether you've just started playing the guitar, are looking to learn new techniques, or an advanced player looking for something new. PeterGuitar Teacher £12/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EdgarGuitar Teacher 5.00 (8) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PaulGuitar Teacher 5.00 (12) £18/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors DanielGuitar Teacher 5.00 (3) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ToddGuitar Teacher 4.75 (4) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SamueleGuitar Teacher 5.00 (5) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors KurtGuitar Teacher 5.00 (3) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RyanGuitar Teacher £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsWebsites for Learning to Play the Guitar: Tabs4acousticTabs4acoustic is for classical guitarists.  The site has 30 video courses, 10 hours of professional videos for each level, from beginners to experts. You’ll find theory work and technical activities as well as lessons dedicated to different topics like reading music, playing chords, reading guitar tablature, blues music for beginners, slide guitar, and an introduction to guitar scales.Your laptop might be your best resource when it comes to learning to play the guitar. (Source: Free-Photos)There are video lessons with a written part to help you better understand certain aspects. There are exercises to work on to help you improve.There’s also tablature available in another tab. The 5 most popular tabs are:Hotel CaliforniaNothing Else MattersZombieHallelujahRedemption SongPerhaps you could start with these?Tabs4acoustic also includes FAQs, a forum, a riff library (for finding nice riffs), backing tracks (for improvising), and challenges.  You’ve got everything you want and it’s free!Take your guitar learning on the go with these best guitar apps!ShredAcademyEvery guitarist should add this website to their favourites. If you want to play guitar, this is one of the first websites you should start with.There are over 100 online guitar lessons for beginner guitar techniques like strumming and picking.  Once you've worked out how to play guitar, you learn to play their licks of the week, which are great for improving as a musician both in terms of technique and music theory.Whether you're playing guitar for fun, a professional musician, playing blues guitar or rock guitar, make sure you regularly pick up your instrument and head over to ShredAcademy.ArtistWorks Guitar CampusWe'll start with the bad news first, you have to pay for this site. However, you will get your money's worth for it.Unlike some of the other sites we mentioned where you consume the content and learn guitar on your own., with this website, you get an instructor who will provide you with online guitar lessons. The money you pay is for actual guitar instruction, rather than access to videos and articles like on some other sites.Don't forget that you can also access websites and apps on your smartphone! (Source: stevepb)You can spend a lot of time on some sites looking over a guitar lesson and not actually becoming a better guitar player. This isn't the case here as you'll have someone helping you and providing you with guidance and feedback. This will ensure that you don't pick up any bad habits, which often happens with self-taught musicians.Read some of the best guitar blogs, written by guitar players!Ultimate-GuitarIf you can't read sheet music, this site needs to be put into your favourites bar now.Ultimate-Guitar is arguably the best website for tablature. Since guitar tabs are user-submitted, there are often several versions of each one. However, users also rate the tabs so you can quickly find the best tab according to other users votes.Learning guitar is much easier when you get to play your favourite songs and you'll probably find the tabs or the chord progressions for them on this site. To be fair, if you can't find it on Ulti mate-Guitar, it probably doesn't exist!  Every time I want to learn a new song on the guitar, Ultimate-Guitar is the first place I visit.There are also lessons and an accompanying app for mobile devices and tablets so that you can take Ultimate-Guitar with you anywhere.JammitJammit is a website and also an app for iOS, Mac, and PC. If there's a certain song you're trying to learn on the guitar, this is probably the place to go. You can find a song you like, slow it down, loop a tricky section, and jam along until your fingers are dancing on the strings just like your favourite artists. If you're struggling with a certain solo, open up the tabs on Ultimate-Guitar and jam along with Jammit! PeterGuitar Teacher £12/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EdgarGuitar Teacher 5.00 (8) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PaulGuitar Teacher 5.00 (12) £18/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors DanielGuitar Teacher 5.00 (3) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Todd Guitar Teacher 4.75 (4) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SamueleGuitar Teacher 5.00 (5) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors KurtGuitar Teacher 5.00 (3) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RyanGuitar Teacher £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsJustin GuitarThis website is all about learning how to play the guitar. There are tonnes of great lessons and resources to get you practising regularly. If you want to learn how to play guitar, this site is worth your time.Practice makes perfect! (Source: guvo59)If you aren't attending a guitar course, you should definitely be spending a lot of time on this website. Fortunately, you won't have to pay a penny to access the site and start enjoying all the lessons available.Additionally, the website is regularly updated so it's still worth visiting once you've got the hang of the guitar as you can still learn different techniques and more about the underlying theory.With recommendations from Mark Knopfl er and Steve Vai, you don't need to take my word on just how good this website is.MusicRadarAfter being taught on a proper music course or by the best guitar tutors, YouTube is the next best thing. MusicRadar has beginner guitar lessons. Be it a pentatonic scale, a chord progression, strumming patterns, power chords, or ear training, you can learn more with the free guitar lessons on MusicRadar.As we said, though, make sure that you don't pick up any bad habits as there's nobody there to correct you when making a mistake. While free guitar lessons can be really useful, it's always a good idea to have an actual guitar instructor or an experienced musician come in and check you're doing it right.iMusicSchoolThere are beginners, intermediate, and advanced, and theory classes on iMusicSchool. 100,000 students have already taken classes. There are 60 artists and specialists offering their expertise on the site.You can also choose which guitar teacher you’d like video lessons from. You can also try the course and ask the teacher questions before paying for it. You can gain unlimited access to the courses.You can subscribe for a year or just a week in order to try it out. This is a site you could use for a very long time.Online Private Guitar TutorialsWhile we've mentioned websites you should visit, you can also use the internet to interact with real people. For example, on Superprof, you can find private guitar tutors who offer tutorials via webcam. This is great if you happen to have an awkward schedule or other commitments stopping you from attending guitar lessons or getting a private tutor.If you want to become a rock star, you're going to have to use every resource available to you! (Source: Free-Photos)The advantage of online private tutors over websites is that they can correct you when you make mistakes, adapt their lessons to your learning style, and tailor their course to exactly what you want to learn and how you want to learn it.While all these website s are fantastic resources, they can't replace having a real person in charge of your musical education. Even though online private guitar tutorials aren't free, they tend to be cheaper than hiring a private tutor as they don't have to travel to you and they can work whenever.I'd recommend starting with some of these websites, seeing how you get along.Advice for Learning an Instrument OnlineResearch into online tuitionA recent  report into online tuition  by The Tutor Pages has demonstrated that music teachers tend to be quite sceptical about the prospect of teaching a musical instrument or singing online. Apart from the obvious auditory, visual and kinaesthetic limitations of teaching via the internet, survey participants expressed concern over other less quantifiable elements such as presence, motivation, rapport and support.Having said that, music teachers were also quick to recognize that there were significant advantages too, such as not having to travel, being able to access a wider student base, and having more flexibility in scheduling (by being able to teach pupils abroad during the day, for example).Only 16% of musicians in the survey had taught online before. So, what is it like, and can it work?Teaching the cello over the internetWhen people find out I have a Skype pupil, the same questions tend to come up: why doesn’t she go to a local teacher? How did they find you? What about the time difference? How does it  work?I first met the family at a two-day course I was teaching on in London. They were visiting from Germany, and were very keen on the Suzuki method for learning the cello, having started with it several months earlier at a summer course in Dorset. They asked if I might consider teaching Lena over Skype and I agreed. Neither of us was quite sure how it was going to work out, but since there were no Suzuki teachers within travelling distance from where they lived in Germany, this was really their only option.More recently the family moved to India, and one of the great things about our situation was that a move of thousands of miles to a different continent made no difference to us. We have had to overcome poor internet connections, dying microphones and overly curious house pets, but somehow it works.We generally try to have a lesson once a week, but the day and time varies according to both our schedules, so sometimes that can mean an 8.15am lesson at my end to accommodate the time difference.The role of touch in teachingThere has been some debate over the past few years about the role touch should play in instrumental lessons, but it’s clear to me from my own experience that not being able to adjust posture during a lesson slows the process of learning considerably. Lena’s mother is a cellist herself, so she is able to be my hands â€" and sometimes even my ears.  Without her pre-existing knowledge and expertise, I honestly don’t think the set up would have worked.The family are extremely committed and they try to visit the UK at least once a year, so I am also able to give a series of lessons to Lena in person. These periods are vital times to catch up, both technique-wise, and also relationship-wise. You might call this a ‘hybrid’ model of online/face-to-face tuition, which is an approach mentioned by a number of teachers in the report.Finding a real connectionNot everyone will agree with me, but I feel that something is lost in the human connection between people if you only interact via video link. The subtleties of communication are missed, which can be difficult. I can’t always tell when Lena is tired or unfocussed, and so fail to adjust my lesson style appropriately. In ‘real’ life, this would not be a problem â€" it’s much more obvious! So when we actually meet (often on a summer course) it’s a chance for me to get to know Lena properly again, and for her to do the same with me.Skype is an amazing tool, but I think it will be a long time before distance learning c an truly rival face-to-face lessons for instrumental teaching. Having said this, as my experience with Lena shows, online tuition can give students learning opportunities that would otherwise be closed to them.Private Guitar TutorialsIf you want to take your learning offline, private guitar tutorials are definitely the best way to learn. They come with all the advantages of online private tutorials, with the exception that your tutor is actually there in front of you and can physically show you techniques.That said, a private tutor will probably still recommend some of these websites for you to browse at your leisure between their lessons to make sure that you're not rusty the next time you see them!If you're looking for guitar tutors, you can search for both online and offline tutors, browse their profiles, and get in touch via Superprof!So are you ready to start learning to play the guitar?  Then you might enjoy our top picks for the best websites to learn guitar...

New Season of Serial Podcast

New Season of Serial Podcast If youre looking for a great podcast to improve your English listening skills, look no further, Serial has released their second season. This is a well produced, high-quality podcast that does a single, very in-depth story each season.Last season the covered the story of a man who said he was wrongly accused of murder. I discovered the episodes about two weeks before the last one was released, and binged on them until I caught up. For a few days, I seemed to have my earbuds glued to my ears.This seasons story is about Bowe Bergdahl, an American soldier who left his base in Afghanistan in June of 2009, and spent 5 years as a prisoner of the Taliban. The Bergdahl story has been somewhat controversial and mysterious, and got political when the Obama administration traded him for 5 Taliban prisoners that had been held in Guantanamo Bay. If its anything like last season, once you start listening, you wont be able to stop.To listen to these, youll probably want to have at least upper-inter mediate level English. Were going to create a lesson series to go with the episodes. If youre interested in taking these lessons, let your teacher know (or register for classes).Heres a quick listening exercise based on the first 5 minutes of episode one. Listen and see if you can answer the questions below.Click here to listen to the audio.Answer the questions below in comments, and well respond.He was the U.S. soldier who was captured by the Taliban and held captive for ___ ___ __ 5 years.What does the phrase above mean?What does the narrator say Bergdahl  looks like? What do you picture from her description?One or two of the guys ___ __ to where Bergdahl is sitting.What does she say its like when the 2 sides meet and shake hands?What do you learn about the controversy surrounding Bergdahl from the audio clips?We hope you enjoyed the rest of the podcast! Let us know if youre interested in lessons that follow this story.

Homework A Getting Things Done® Approach for Teens with ADHD

Homework A Getting Things Done ® Approach for Teens with ADHD For 15 years, Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity, by David Allen, has influenced the way millions of business executives manage their time, keep track of everything they need to accomplish in a day, and maintain their productivity despite constant interruptions. Teens with ADHD arent busy executives, but they do have hectic lives that often leave them feeling overwhelmed, struggling to manage information overload, and juggling an ever-changing number of assignments, tasks, and commitments. These are the very challenges that an organizing system, like Getting Things Done, is designed to target, whether youre an executive at a Fortune 500 company, or a busy teen managing school, extracurricular activities, and a social life. All teens struggle to keep up sometimes, but most teens intuitively adopt strategies that help them manage their day-to-day lives relatively effectively. Teens with ADHD, on the other hand, typically feel like they simply cant keep up, and lack the required executive functioning skills that are needed to intuitively manage their daily influx of assignments and responsibilities. As a result, teens with ADHD become anxious and avoidant when they think about tackling their growing to-do list, and they continue to fall behind. To overcome their executive functioning challenges, and break out of an anxiety and avoidance cycle, teens with ADHD need to learn specific strategies and systems for recording assignments, ideas, and tasks, and seeing them through to completion. Getting Things Done is a system designed to turn the ideas and tasks floating around in our heads (and causing anxiety) into actionable items that can be completed efficiently. In fact, the Getting Things Done slogan is, Your mind is for having ideas, not holding them. Getting Things Done is based on 5 key steps that can easily be adapted to meet the needs of almost any teen with ADHD, especially when it comes to getting homework done! The Five Key Steps to Getting Homework Done: Capture Record everything that you need to get done. Every teen with ADHD has hundreds of thoughts, ideas, and to do items bouncing around in his or her head. It is simply not possible to rely on memory alone without forgetting items or missing due dates. Its essential that every single assignment, upcoming test, or task (like getting a permission slip signed, or bringing supplies to school) be written down. In addition, each of these items needs to be recorded in the same place. Too often some assignments are captured as reminders in text messages or emails (sent to yourself), while others are noted in a Word document, or in the schools online homework system (like Blackboard), or on random sheets of paper in notebooks or stuffed in the bottom of a bag. Pick one location and stick with it whether its a Word or Evernote document, a paper notebook, or a notes section of the schools homework assignment system. If its not captured in writing, its probably not going to be done well and on time. Clarify Turn assignments into action items and next steps. Simply recording your assignments in one place is an accomplishment when you have ADHD! Mastering this first step is essential, and will help you stay in control of your assignment list. But, to finish your assignments quickly and on time, there are a few more steps youll consistently need to take. Clarifying exactly what you need to do in order to complete each assignment is the next essential step. Creating a checklist of assignment action items provides you with a roadmap for your work and breaks bigger projects down into smaller manageable chunks. For some assignments, the checklist list will be short. For example, Complete Math Worksheet may have only two items on the checklist, (1) complete worksheet, (2) doublecheck for errors. More complex assignments, like Write Spanish Essay will require longer action item checklists: (1) develop topic, (2) create outline, (3) write thesis statement, (4) write the body, (5) write the introduction, (6) write the conclusion, (7) revise, (8) p roof read. Organize and Prioritize Group your action items together into meaningful categories. Using a homework whiteboard, a Word or Evernote document, or an online project management tool, like Trello, organize and prioritize your action items. Getting Things Done recommends using only three categories: Now Tomorrow and Later. For assignments with a Later due date, make sure you enter a reminder into your calendar. Then, look at the action items for the project, and see if there are any steps you should be starting today or tomorrow, and add them to the appropriate list. Review and Reflect Do a weekly review of your lists to clean-up, update, and clear your mind. With your assignments displayed visually, you are now able to easily scan your categories and see if there is anything that needs to be moved from Later into Now or Tomorrow. I recommend scanning this list once a day to make sure youre not missing anything, and so that you have a very clear sense of how much youll have on your plate in the coming days and weeks. Engage Simply Do. Use your system to take appropriate actions with confidence. Now that you have very clear action items on your list, and a knowledge of what needs to be done when, you can dive in and get started. For many of the kids and teens that I have worked with, simply completing the first step of a project (no matter how small that step is) makes it much easier to overcome procrastination as the project due date approaches. The project feels less overwhelming because its already been started! For smaller assignments, like completing a math worksheet, the act of quickly completing the task and crossing it off your list will give you a great sense of accomplishment and will help you feel motivated to tackle the next action item. Incorporating a structured system like Getting Things Done into a homework plan will help all teens with ADHD get assignments completed efficiently and on time. This is a huge benefit, but just as importantly, it can help teens with ADHD develop a sense of competence and control over their academic life. Anxiety will decrease, and time with friends and family becomes more relaxed and fun! To learn more about Getting Things Done, visit David Allens website at https://gettingthingsdone.com. ABOUT DR. MARY ROONEY Mary Rooney, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California San Francisco. Dr Rooney is a researcher and clinician specializing in the evaluation and treatment of ADHD and co-occurring behavioral, anxiety, and mood disorders. A strong advocate for those with attention and behavior problems, Dr. Rooney is committed to developing and providing comprehensive, cutting edge treatments tailored to meet the unique needs of each child and adolescent. Dr. Rooney's clinical interventions and research avenues emphasize working closely with parents and teachers to create supportive, structured home and school environments that enable children and adolescents to reach their full potential. In addition, Dr. Rooney serves as a consultant and ADHD expert to Huntington Learning Centers. ABOUT HUNTINGTON Huntington Learning Center is the tutoring and test prep leader. Its certified tutors provide individualized instruction in reading, phonics, writing, study skills, elementary and middle school math, Algebra through Calculus, Chemistry, and other sciences. It preps for the SAT and ACT, as well as state and standardized exams. Huntington programs develop the skills, confidence, and motivation to help students of all levels succeed and meet the needs of Common Core State Standards. Founded in 1977, Huntington's mission is to give every student the best education possible. Call us today at 1.800.CAN LEARN to discuss how Huntington can help your child. For franchise opportunities please visit www.huntingtonfranchise.com. This website does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The material on this site is provided for educational purposes only.

Music Changing the Brain and Improving Livelihoods

Music Changing the Brain and Improving Livelihoods Pexels Personally, I am not that much of a rap fan fanatic, from the performer unvarying his or her vocal range to the difficulty in dancing to the song; certainly, there is the classic jumping up and down and mouthing some of the words to make it appear as if we understand what the artist is singing. In retrospect, though, is it easier to memorize a song, say by Chance the Rapper, or one performed by Maroon 5 or Bruno Mars? While it is more common to sing “Sugar” in its entirety, Chance the Rapper’s “No Problem” is also scientifically proven to involve a little more time as the lyrics are spoken quicker, with a lower chance of interpreting his message and storing it as long-term memory. However, despite the extra time in memorizing the work and the genre being lower on the totem pole for me (along with country music), I acknowledge it as an undeniable method to express emotions. Throughout Chance’s songs, he elucidates his battle against drug abuse in an attempt for an upward climb and totality of mental health stability. Thinking back to last semester especially, I can honestly describe music as a mental-health stabilizing agent on a different level, though, from Chance the Rapper. While I am not depressed, anxious, or affected by a drug addiction, it was difficult for me question my major (whether it be that of sticking with engineering or switching in its entirety). Add on the imbalance with coverage of math and science, and little of the fine arts within the curriculum, and I started craving a different media, a different release than that of strictly pen to paper calculations. I started playing piano in first grade through freshman year of high school and revisited it my sophomore year of college when I was substantially stressed. After trying to get back into it, I desired it more and would play for sometimes two to three hours a night in a fine arts hall, while listening to Elton John, Journey, and Goo Goo Dolls on my own time or while studying. Though not often portrayed as the classified term of “neuro-rhythm music therapy,” playing an instrument and listening to music encompasses positive mental health benefits, ranging from it activating the pleasure-reward system of the brain, priming it, and managing effects of post-operative pain. Simply put, music is good for us, but how do we determine what is pleasurable for each of us specifically, whether it encompasses rock, punk, and metal, or rap and country? Per the journal, Science, patterns in brain activity indicate whether we like what we are listening to. A researcher at Rotman Research Institute in Toronto and former Levitin student Valorie Salimpoor conducted a study in which participants “listened to 60 excerpts of music they had never heard before while in a functional magnetic resonance imaging machine.” After asking the 19 participants how much money they would spend on a given song while listening to the excerpts, researchers analyzed the subjects’ brain patterns, specifically honing in on the nucleus accumbens and superior temporal gyrus. While the latter structure is involved in the experience of music, its connection to the nucleus accumbens is pertinent as genres of music in which a person listens to over a lifetime impact how the superior temporal gyrus is formed. The superior temporal gyrus is not linked with predicting whether a person will enjoy a given piece of music; rather, it involves storing templates from what has been heard before. (A person who has frequently listened to rap will appreciate its genre to an elevated degree than an individual who has less experience listening to the genre.) In the words of Salimpoor, “The brain kind of works like a music recommendation system.” The brain indicates what is considered valuable for one’s survival music is strongly associated with its reward system. While it doesn’t fit the “food, water, sex” existence continuum, professor of neurology and neurosurgery at Montreal Neurological Institute Robert Zatorre indicated that the striatum releases the chemical dopamine in response to pleasure-related stimuli. When the music is transmitted to someone’s brain and registers, it triggers the release of dopamine specifically the ventral striatum releases dopamine when a person is experiencing peak pleasure. According to CNN, what is interesting, however, is that dopamine is released from a differing area of the brain, the dorsal striatum, “about 10 to 15 seconds before the moment of peak pleasure.” Zatorre explains that while one is anticipating a moment of pleasure, he or she “is making predictions about what is [being heard] and what [one] is about to hear. Part of the pleasure we derive from it is being able to make predictions.” With this strong dopamine rush from music, it could be comparable to that of methamphetamines. In babies, the “Mozart Effect” has been a booming term among first-time parents as they read Women’s Health, Parenting, or the Working Mother magazine publications, hinting that playing classical music while pregnant can seemingly make the son or daughter “smarter.” However, there are few studies which support this claim; rather, music primes the brain’s various mindsets. According to University of Georgia’s Associate Professor and Extension Human Development Specialist Dr. Diane Bales in her article “The Role of Music,” people who listen to music perform certain special tasks quickly, such as fitting a puzzle together. How does this occur, though? As reported by Bales, “The classical music pathways in our brain are similar to the pathways we use for spatial reasoning.” When we listen to classical music, these spatial pathways are flipped on and ready to be utilized. Our improved spatial skills fade within about an hour after listening to music, but learning to play an instrument has been proven to exhibit longer-lasting effects on dimensional reasoning. The critical period of a baby is pivotal as he or she is developing new connections with other neurons to prepare for solidification of the brain. Playing music, singing to the child, and even starting him or her out in lessons can enhance this creativity and spatial awareness which is more often than not bypassed. Extend the immediate immersion of music in children into long-term ramifications: that of reduced stress and anxiety, decreased pain, and improved immune functioning. As written by Jill Suttie in the Huffington Post’s article “5 Ways Music Improves Our Health,” she brings to light a study in which researchers discovered that patients receiving surgery for hernia repair and who listened to music after surgery “experienced decreased plasma cortisol levels and required significantly less morphine to manage their pain.” A similar surgery expounded upon this stress and pain reduction correlation as stress-reducing effects of music were more powerful than that of orally-administered anxiolytic drugs for surgery patients. Test after test was performed as Suttie clarifies that 60 people diagnosed with anything from fibromyalgia to undergoing spinal surgery experienced significant reductions in their pain and fewer depressive symptoms hardly a placebo effect as a 2014 randomized control trial was conducted which involved healthy subjects exposed to painful stimuli. The result: a failed linkage between expectation and music’s effects on pain. This leads me to my final point: music as preventing disease. You’re probably thinking ‘If I have the flu, listening to music will not magically make me well.’ You are certainly correct regarding this standpoint. However, Wilkes University researchers conducted a study involving the levels of IgA, an important antibody for our immune system’s first line of defense against disease. After undergraduate students had their salivary IgA levels tested preceding and following a half-hour exposure to either a tone click, radio broadcast, tape of soothing music, or silence, those who listened to the music exhibited predominately increased levels of IgA than their counterparts. A similar study from Massachusetts General Hospital found that patients had lower stress hormone levels when listening to Mozart’s piano sonatas as a relaxation mechanism. An instrument of self-expression or rather a release from reality, embracing music in its entirety has salvaged people from silence. I often note that when I am not feeling like myself or had a rough day, listening to my favorite band, or sneaking into the piano room at SLU for hours on end enables me to express what I could not put into words on paper or to another person maybe I could not formulate the verbiage, or maybe there were simply no words to be said, but just emotions building which could not be paired with the correct form of verbal expression. I could care less if you have a different taste in music than me; I previously mentioned I did not enjoy listening to rap, but if you find comfort in its genre, I encourage you to cling to it. No one will ever be able to take your own expression away from you.

Get Involved A Guide for Election Day

Get Involved A Guide for Election Day https://pixabay.com Work as an Election Worker While not everyone can do this especially if you work a Monday to Friday job, or have classes on Tuesday it is a worthwhile opportunity if you are able to do so. The job is relatively easy, and you do get job training either the week before or hours before. You normally help check voters in, hand out ballots, help with curbside voting and generally make sure that the voting process runs smoothly. And even though it is often seen as a volunteer opportunity, it IS a job! You do get paid some for your time and commitment, depending on the election jurisdiction normally around $100 for the day. You do have to stay the entire day, normally from 5 a.m. until the polls close around 7 p.m. On occasion, there is food available for workers, but again it does depend on the election jurisdiction. For more information on how to become an Election worker, go to  https://www.eac.gov/voters/become-a-poll-worker/ https://unsplash.com Shuttle Voters from and to Polling Places Not everyone can reliably and easily get to the polls. This is where you can come in! Many campaign offices both local and national and senior communities look for volunteers to help volunteers get to and from the polls. All it takes is a call to the local campaign offices and senior communities to see what you can do, as well as seeing if your family members or neighbors need a ride as well. Every citizen has the right to vote, so making sure that they can get to the polls can help them exercise their right. And on the topic of campaign offices…. https://pixabay.com Volunteer with a Campaign They are hard to find in some places, but they ARE there. There are offices for both parties democratic and republican who are always looking for volunteers. Campaigns normally start around June and end in November. Duties normally include making phone calls and going door to door. Contact whichever candidate or campaign you feel strongly about now if you do have free time to dedicate your time. Otherwise, contact them to, at the very least, help get out the vote on Election Day. At the very least, they will very much appreciate a donation of water bottles or any type of food from now until Election Day! (Especially water bottles in the summer heat). These offices run on donations, so if you are unable to dedicate your time, the next time that you are in the store, pick up an extra water to drop off. Or drop off some home cooked food or snack foods. While you’re there, make sure to pick up some bumper stickers and signs as well. They will greatly appreciate it! Do remember that although the national elections in November are heard about more frequently, there are elections on the local and state level! They do need poll workers for ALL elections, not just the major ones. Voters want to get the polls for ALL elections, not just the ones that “matter.” And while there may not be as many election campaign offices during smaller elections, do make sure to find out what offices are out there for the local elections. You never know how you may be able to help.