Minimize The Need To Network 5 Ways Maintain the Relationships You Have - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / Minimize The Need To Network 5 Ways Maintain the Relationships You Have - Introvert Whisperer Minimize The Need To Network: 5 Ways Maintain the Relationships You Have Suppose you’re the kind of person that hates to network.   Then, suppose you’re also smart enough to realize that job opportunities and other career milestones will only occur with and through people you know.   Just to make this story realistic, you’re a bit lazy. (Not being insulting just reflecting reality for most people) The first law of networking is that its dynamic and constantly changing as people come into and out of your life.   It requires “replenishment” just to keep it somewhat the same size.   Maintaining the same size may also not be your best strategy at the moment, you may need to be expanding it.   Those things happen especially if you can foresee a day when you will be looking for a job. What could you possibly do to reduce the need for so much networking? Answer: Maintain the relationships you have now and rekindle the ones you’ve made in the past. Let’s look at some of the things you could be doing to maximize your time playing games and minimize networking: Dig up long lost people â€" The best place to do that is on Linked In. It allows you to search for people by name and also but employer past or present.   You’d be surprised at the people you can dig up from previous employers and colleagues.   It’s fun to find these people and they always appreciate being found.   Catching up after you connect is the next step and when you do, you’ll discover how quickly that person is back in your orbit. Make a schedule â€" It’s too easy to let life and work sweep you into the next year without lifting a finger to stay in touch. You don’t have to spend an hour on the phone with each person you’ve ever met.   With a bit of planning, you can email or text most people every 4-5 months which takes just minutes to do.   Put an hour each week in your busy schedule to do your “maintenance” with your network.   If a full hour feels like too much, break it up into 2 half hours chunks, at a time where you will feel like you can do it without stressing. Make calls to the “upper tier” â€" We all have people that fall into the category of spending more quality time. It doesn’t matter what the reason is.   With these people, you need a more personal touch like a phone call.   Use some of your weekly scheduled time to generate 1 or 2 calls to this group. Coffee, lunch or dinner â€" In the “upper tier” of your network are those people where you want to take the personal touch a bit further with some face time. Because these are events that require scheduling, travel time and time together, you won’t do too many of these but a couple per month should be what you shoot for. When you travel â€" If you have the occasion to travel for business or play, check who in your network is in the area where you will be going. Anyone you know will be flattered that you went out of your way to meet up with them when you are in town.   This is especially good when traveling alone on business.   You are often left to dine alone and this can boost dinner for both of you. Over the years, I have found most people are fairly poor at holding up their end of maintaining a relationship.   It’s not because they aren’t interested.   It’s because it’s just too easy to let life intervene.   Those same people will love and appreciate the effort you make to stay in touch. Bonus Tip: Adapting is key to your career survival, growth, and advancement.   Get Free Instant Access to Video series The 5 Most Common Ways Introverts Commit Career Self-Sabotage and How to Avoid Them.   Click here now: www.introvertwhisperer.com/careergoals   Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran, Introvert Whisperer, dedicated to unleashing your career potential. www.introvertwhisperer.com Bottom-line â€" I want to help you accelerate your career â€" to achieve what you want by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my 4 Building Blocks to Relationships eBookâ€" the backbone to your Networking success and fantastic work relationships.   Grab yours by visiting: CLICK HERE Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleash your professional potential.

Online Resources to Help You Develop Leadership Skills

Online Resources to Help You Develop Leadership Skills Where Can You Find Leadership Skills Development Materials Online? ChaptersGood Leadership Skills: Understanding Leadership TheoryCommunication Skills for LeadershipGood Leadership Skills Include Critical ThinkingGeneral Resources to Foster Good Leadership SkillsThere has always been lots of press about leaders; a veritable serpent of column inches that detail their famous â€" and sometimes infamous exploits.Think about it: Richard Branson is a household name because he does not keep a low profile like less-renowned Rakesh Kapoor, the CEO of Reckitt Benckiser Group, the corporation behind such brand names as Dettol and Airborne.Even so, Mr Kapoor also appears in print because he is consistently ranked as one of the business world’s top CEOs. He even has his own Wikipedia page!Great leaders in business â€" Tim Cook, Elon Musk and Jack Ma, founder of China’s Alibaba have plenty to teach us about becoming a great leader... but what if you’re not interested in filling a managerial role?What if you simply want to develop your leadership qualities a nd the soft skills that all great leaders are said to have mastered only for your personal growth â€" not with a desire to someday be rich, powerful and renown?If that is the case, we commend you. Personal development is far more worthwhile a goal than a quest for power and money. At least, it will bring more satisfaction than all of the headaches you might be saddled with running a company or even being a team leader.How does one get started, learning leadership skills? More importantly: does learning leadership competencies cost a lot of money? Not if you know where to look.Your Superprof has taken matters to hand. We’ve combed every corner of the Internet to bring you the best online resources to guide you on your discovery of self-awareness, emotional intelligence and the path to effective leadership.Put on your thinking cap; here we go! TraceyPersonal development Teacher 4.92 (9) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NatashaPersonal development Teacher 5.00 (7) £55 /h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AntonellaPersonal development Teacher 5.00 (1) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors IsamPersonal development Teacher 5.00 (3) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AndriyPersonal development Teacher £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MichelePersonal development Teacher 4.73 (7) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors FlloydPersonal development Teacher 5.00 (11) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors OliverPersonal development Teacher 4.33 (4) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsGood Leadership Skills: Understanding Leadership Theory There are as many styles of leadership to learn as there are ways to practise them Image by Gerd Altmann from PixabayTo be a good leader, you have to know the theories and philosophies that leadership styles have shaped.Since the end of the Industrial Revolution, several ideas about leadership have taken centre-stage, the first one being The Great Man theory, which averred that great men are born to rise up and take a leadership position when a situation demands it.Mahatma Gandhi is a prime example of such a leader.That theory now takes a back seat to these four, more prominent core theories:Power and Influence theories: closely related to the Great Man theory, it emphasises three types of power â€" coercive, reward and legitimate, along with personal power to get things done.Trait theories: helps identify traits and qualities that add depth to leadershipsuch qualities include, empathy, integrity, honesty and self-confidenceBehavioural theories detail how leaders behave. Behaviours f all on a spectrum from laissez-faire â€" a hands-off manager to autocratic: a leader who makes all of the decisions.Transformational leadership focuses on inspiring and motivating subordinates while transactional leadership functions on a quid-pro-quo basis. These leaderships styles are influenced by specific behavioursContingency theories: how does a leader function in any given situation? These theories are predicated on the fact that one’s management style must adapt to every situation.Of course, this is a nutshell version; the actual theories are expansive and often incorporate elements of other leadership theories.In this table, we’ve listed some of the best pages to gain an understanding of the theories that define a leadership role.Learn About Leadership Theories:Page NameWeb AddressWhat You Can LearnMind Toolswww.mindtools.comExplanations on the four core theory groupsLeadership Centralwww.leadership-central.comLearn about individual theories and their premiseVery Well M indwww.verywellmind.comSearch for 'leadership theories' to access articlesGo on a life-changing adventure by learning how to develop strong leadership skills... Good leaders are excellent communicators Image by Dean Moriarty from PixabayCommunication Skills for LeadershipIt goes without saying that an effective leader is an excellent communicator.S/he doesn’t just have an extensive vocabulary and, should s/he be in a particular field such as finance or marketing, know all of the jargon.Those in leadership roles have learned a particular skill set that enables them to pick up on subtle clues such as body language and tone to correctly interpret what people are actually saying.According to Forbes magazine, interpreting body language is a key communication skill that every leader must have!Listening is often overlooked as a part of communication because it is generally considered a passive activity, meaning you don’t have to do anything special; just let the waves of sound come to you.Leaders take the act of listening a step further by practising what is called active listening: taking in visual clues as well as focusing on the words being said and the tone they are spoken in. A person adept at this skill will often paraphrase what they have just heard to demonstrate that they understand the issue at hand.As your aim is personal development rather than a career in leadership and management, you may work on other types of listening, such as empathetic listening or reflective listening â€" a part of active listening.Naturally, the flip side of listening is speaking; leaders are generally also good public speakers.You don’t need to anticipate mounting a podium and addressing a crowd to develop this skill; you can practise speaking with a video camera, to an empty room or to your reflection, if need be.The goal of speaking clearly is being as concise as possible without omitting any necessary details of the issue you are trying to convey, all while projecting body language suitable to your message.For instance, if your job entails conflict resolution, you would adopt a non-threatening posture, a kind tone and lots of ey e contact; maybe even a sympathetic hand on your listener’s arm.On the other hand, if you’re conducting a team-building exercise, your body should convey the impression of energy (not mania!) and your voice should sound excited.We found some excellent guides for learning and practising effective communication on these web sites.Learn Effective Communication Skills:Domain NameWeb AddressWhat you'll findLeadership Geekswww.leadershipgeeks.comA trove of articles and exercises to prepare you for leadershipLegaceewww.legacee.comLots of skills-based learning!The Training Industryhttps://trainingindustry.comA host of articles on communicationEntrepreneurwww.entrepreneur.comSearch 'communication' for a list of articlesVirtual Speechhttps://virtualspeech.comLook under the 'courses' tab to find information on communicationRemember that a large part of being a leader means delegating, whether you are running a company or a household. Mastering communication skills will make it so much easi er to delegate chores!The ability to communicate well is important is only a part of a leadership skills set...Good Leadership Skills Include Critical ThinkingCogito, ergo sum â€" DecartesThat French philosopher and mathematician was attempting to prove his existence by implying his thinking substantiated his being. At that time, there was little thought given to different types of thinking.Today, much is made of thinking skills: critical thinking, strategic thinking and situational thinking among them.There is a push in academia to help students in their earliest years to develop such thinking skills; skills that leaders of all stripes have long been using to think their way out of anything from conflict management to improving team performance.In this table, we highlight particularly useful pages to practise your thinking skills.Critical Thinking Activities PagesAgency NameWeb AddressWhat You Can FindWabisabihttps://wabisabistore.comLots of thinking and team building exercisesTeac h-Nologywww.teach-nology.comFree teaching resources, including critical thinking worksheetsThe Balance Careerswww.thebalancecareers.coma search for 'thinking skills' will yield many articles and activities to strengthen thinking skillsEd-Helperwww.edhelper.comUse their 'search' function to find the best thinking resourcesHead Scratcherswww.headscratchers.comCourses and resources to develop thinking skillsThe Critical Thinking Companywww.criticalthinking.comToward the bottom of the page you will find free exercises to test and train your thinkingYou’ll note that most of those pages are targeted to young learners; as we mentioned earlier, much is being made of thinking skills training for children. That doesn’t mean you can’t benefit from them as well!Your input matters! Tell us why you feel it is important for people to develop leadership skills... You can build leadership skills by reading accounts of great leaders Image by rawpixel from PixabayGeneral Resources to Foster Good Leadership SkillsLeadership development is much more than the sum of its parts. It takes more than sterling qualities, the ability to think a way through any situation and becoming a master communicator.One might say that knowing how to lead is a way of life.That is why many management and leadership training courses address the whole person; they don’t consist of only academic exercises designed meant to hone basic skills of humankind such as speaking and listening.What can you expect to find in leadership skills training courses?Let’s say a CEO is planning to move its operation overseas because labour and legislation have simply gotten too expensive and onerous.While overall such a move would probably benefit the company’s bottom line in the long run, aspects of such a decision require deep thought, such as:job loss in one’s own country and wha t such a move would do to the local economyTransportation costs of finished goods and the environmental impact thereofwould the materials to produce the good be sustainably sourced?would the goods be legitimately produced (as opposed to being made in a sweatshop)Business ethics pervade every aspect of leadership, from major decisions such as the one to move production offshore to recognising and correcting the dysfunctions of a team.If you’re looking to improve leadership skills or even just determine your leadership style so you can be prepared to tackle weighty issues in your life, there are many online resources for you to do so and quite a few of them charge you little or nothing.Materials for Developing Leadership SkillsDomain NameWeb AddressWhat to Look forAlisonhttps://alison.comFree training in a variety of disciplines including leadershipOpen Learnwww.open.edu/openlearn/An entire course list relating to Business and Finance, arranged by level of difficultyCourserawww.cour sera.orgSeveral entry-level leadership courses and many specialised onesMasterclass Managementwww.masterclassmanagement.comA site specifically targeted to aspiring managersEdXwww.edx.orgSeveral courses available in leadership and entrepreneurshipLindahttps://learning.linkedin.comCourses in leadership and management, soft skills development and moreSloan School of Businesshttps://ocw.mit.edu/courses/sloan-school-of-management/A long list of graduate level courses on the many aspects of business and leadershipSkill Sharewww.skillshare.comBrowse their leadership an management course catalogueWhile you’re exploring these online resources, don’t forget to also conduct a search for leadership podcasts and look for books about developing leadership. You may also consider reading biographies of great leaders.What could be more inspiring than reading how a person overcame adversity to rise up and become a titan of industry!Don’t laugh; in such tomes, you may find nuggets of wisdom that resonate with you, that you wouldn’t find or hear anywhere else.The trick about leadership is once you’ve put on the mantle, it never comes off. You will function as a leader in all of your dealings â€" from arranging your holidays to arranging your life.Isn’t it a good thing that there are so many resources for you to learn effective leadership skills from?Now discover other ways you can develop your leadership skills...

What is it Like to Attend Emerson College

What is it Like to Attend Emerson College Sarah is a current senior at Emerson College. She is majoring in media production, and specializes in creative writing tutoring, AP US Government tutoring, and a number of other subjects. Below, she shares her experience at Emerson College: Describe the campus setting and transportation options. Sarah: Emerson College is located in the heart of Boston, across from the Boston Common. Theres no real campus; the city is our campus! In such an urban setting, its a little more important to be aware of your surroundings, but Ive always found it very safe. Theres also an amazing public transportation network available to students, with three subway stops very nearby and plenty of public buses. How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Sarah:Professors are guaranteed to have office hours, and most are incredibly willing to meet with students outside of class. Advisers also have open office hours, and you can schedule meetings with them ahead of time as well. Theyre a great resource. Ive personally found my adviser and professors incredibly available. How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Sarah:Emerson has four different dorms, each with their own unique offerings. Most are fairly new, and have cozy suite-style living spaces. Freshmen and sophomores are guaranteed housing on campus, while juniors and seniors usually live in off-campus apartments. There are a variety of different dining options on campus. The food is standard college fare, meaning that its nothing fancy or incredibly delicious, but there is something for everyone. Which majors/programs are best represented and supported? Sarah:Emerson has a very small range of majors, as its a school dedicated exclusively to communications and the arts. The programs that they do have, though, are very strong. I am in the visual and media arts department, with a concentration in writing for film and television, and I think its a great program. The faculty are very talented and knowledgeable, with lots of impressive experience in the industry. Theres plenty of first-rate technology available to student filmmakers at the college. How easy or difficult was it for you to meet people and make friends as a freshman? Does Greek life play a significant role in the campus social life? Sarah:I found that it was pretty easy to meet people at Emerson after I got involved on campus. Most people here are incredibly invested in their extracurriculars, so if you participate in organizations that involve things youre passionate about, youll meet a lot of talented people with the same interests as you. Greek life is also pretty popular at Emerson, but not in the traditional sense; most fraternities and sororities are professional, not social, organizations. If youre interested in Greek life, its still a great way to meet like-minded people and gain professional skills and connections. How helpful are the Career Centerand other student support services? Sarah:The Emerson career center is super helpful. Theyre a great connection to jobs and internships, both for students and alumni, and theyre always willing to meet with students to look over resumes or help with career planning. In addition, many top companies, both in Boston and on Emersons Los Angeles campus, look specifically to recruit Emerson students, especially at the multiple job and internship fairs that Emerson holds every year. How are the various study areas such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Sarah:There are definitely enough study areas at the school for every student to find a spot, with plenty of labs and student lounges. The campus library is small in size, however, and closes at 11:00 p.m. or earlier most nights. The Boston Public Library is also only a short walk away and is an amazing facility that lots of Emerson students take advantage of as a study spot. Describe the surrounding town. Sarah:Boston is a fun college city, and its where most Emerson students spend their free time. There are plenty of awesome places to shop and eat, and the local music scene is great as well. Another good thing about Boston is the number of other colleges nearbythere are always new college students to meet and new places to go. How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Sarah:My largest class so far only had about forty students, and most of my classes have had ten to twenty students. Ive gotten to know many of my professors and classmates really well, and even though my department is the largest in the school, I still feel that its very close-knit. Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Sarah:Emerson is a liberal arts school with a strong oratorical tradition. As a result, all students are required to take a class in Speech Communication. At first, I was not excited about taking this class at all. I didnt feel it really pertained to my major, and I was pretty confident in my public speaking skills already. However, the class was so small and close-knit, that I ended up making many close friends, and I found that my speaking skills actually improved dramatically. Check out Sarahs tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

A Guide to Commonly-Confusing Punctuation Part 2

A Guide to Commonly-Confusing Punctuation Part 2 Do dashes depress you? Are you boggled by brackets? Never fear! Part oneof this guide to commonly confusing punctuation explored three of the most commonly-confusing punctuation marks, and clarified why and how they are used. Now its time to studyup on the em dash, the en dash, the hyphen, and the bracket. Read on for part two of this guide to commonly-confusing punctuation: 1. Em dash The em dash is a long dash () that can be used to separate a thought from a sentence. Consider this example: After spending two hours delivering papersall 25 of themhe went home for lunch. In this sentence, the em dash is used in place of parentheses to include optional information in a sentence that would have been clear without it. The em dash can also stand alone, like this: It took two hours to deliver the papersall 25 of them. 2. En dash The en dash () is another commonly-confusing punctuation mark. It looks very much like an em dash, except that it is slightly shorter. The en dash is used to indicate time spans or date ranges, such as the 20112012 school year. It can also be used to show a connection, such as a New YorkLos Angeles flight. 3. Hyphen Unlike the previous two dashes, the hyphen has one specific use, which is to create compound words or terms. For example, you would use a hyphen to form words or terms like check-in or to-do. In some cases, hyphens are used to compound several words, like mid-to-late. This arrangement indicates that these three words go together and are referring to a single thing, like mid-to-late century. Improving your understanding of punctuation and your writing skills won't happen overnight, but this list of simple ways to improve your writing skillswill help you get on the right track. 4. Brackets Like the hyphen, brackets or [ ] tend to have one specific use, which is to indicate additional or added information. For example, if you needed to shorten a quotation, you might use brackets to add a certain word so the quotation still makes sense, like this: As a student, Addams revealed other traits [which] seemed to result from her considerable intellect. In this example, the ellipsis () indicates that a portion of the original text has been removed, and the brackets indicate that a word was added in order for the statement to flow properly. Another common use of brackets is in quotations where the term sic is placed within the brackets. The term sic is used to indicate that the preceding word or phrase is spelled incorrectly, contains an improper use of grammar, or is otherwise used unusually, and it is placed in brackets to indicate that it has been added to the quotation by an editor or someone other than the original writer. Brackets can also be used to add information inside a set of parentheses. This avoids having parentheses within parentheses, which can be confusing to the reader. There are many more complex and case-specific uses of the above commonly-confusing punctuation marks, but these basic rulesshould help you with your writing. You may also find these 7 tips to improve your grammar skillshelpful as well. It is important to note that, especially in the case of the dashes, some of these marks are not used in traditional ways when utilized online. Website coding and font may keep a writer from using an em dash, so do not be surprised if you see several hyphens or an en dash with spaces around it. Awriting tutor can help you master these concepts and provide guidance in other areas on your writing as well.

8 Showstopping Songs to Sing for a Talent Show

8 Showstopping Songs to Sing for a Talent Show Megan L. Looking for good songs to sing at a talent show? Talent shows are a great opportunity not just to show off your vocal abilities, but also to express yourself. Check out the list below for some of the best talent show songs that span across genres and skill levels! The Top 8 Talent Show Songs “Firework” â€" Katy Perry This song is great for showing off a strong middle range without going too low or high. It’s a popular enough hit that commercial karaoke tracks should be easy to find, and piano sheet music is available if you have an accompanist. This song has a spunky, pulsing dance beat, along with a motivating message, making it perfect for young audiences. For more good talent show songs for mid-range female vocals, check out artists like Taylor Swift and Adele. “Big Yellow Taxi” â€" Joni Mitchell You might know it from the Counting Crows cover, but the song “Big Yellow Taxi” and its heartfelt environmental statement go back a long way! This song can work for any vocalist, and can be sung in a fairly narrow range, making it pretty easy to perform. And if you play guitar, this song is great for playing and singing at the same time! Reach back in time to some retro music by listening to Joni, along with other artists from the Woodstock era, and you’ll find plenty of ways to make this message heard in your talent show. “Take Me Home, Country Roads” â€" John Denver Folk rock songs are generally pretty well-liked by audiences. Theyre a good choice for male and female singers alike, and most are relatively easy to play. “Take Me Home, Country Roads” is another good one for playing guitar and singing at the same time. It’s versatile enough to perform with friends, or even add harmony with multiple singers. You might also like some of Cat Stevens songs, or Simon Garfunkel (check out “The Sound of Silence,” or their rendition of “Scarborough Fair” for more ideas). “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” â€" Green Day While pop-punk and hardcore punk are very different, Green Day revitalized punk flavors for a generation. This is one of their calmer songs, and ideal for any tenor vocalist. (Of course, it can also be transposed for other ranges, especially if you have friends playing backup instruments.) This is also a good example of a rock song that would translate well to an acoustic arrangement. For another softer Green Day song, consider “Time of Your Life.” Other punk artists who have good songs to sing at a talent show include Bad Religion, Flogging Molly, and Social Distortion. “Make em Laugh” â€" Singin’ In the Rain Are you looking to spice up your act with some movement and acting? Look no further than musical theater! “Make em Laugh” is the song from an iconic scene in the Gene Kelly’s film Singin’ in the Rain, featuring some of the best-executed physical comedy ever to hit the screen. Plus, it’s perfect to incorporate your own unique style! Fans of modern theater will also know songs like “Defying Gravity” from WICKED and “Seasons of Love” from RENT â€" or, look up stars from the Golden Age of Hollywood, like Shirley Temple and Judy Garland. Fast talkers will perhaps like the Modern Major Generals song from Pirates of Penzance. Your choices in the realm of musical theater are practically endless! “Come Sail Away” â€" Styx The ‘80s and late ‘70s were full of music that is instantly recognizable, and Styx is one of the best-known artists of the era. Their song “Come Sail Away” is perhaps one of their most memorable, along with hits like “Renegade.” Dennis DeYoung’s lyric tenor range makes Styx’s music particularly good for female vocalists with a strong alto edge, and “Come Sail Away” can be performed to show off your vocal range, as it encourages great flexibility. Songs like this are especially good for singing with a group of friends! Other hits in this niche include Heart’s “Barracuda,” “Roam” by the B-52s, or “Carry On Wayward Son” by Kansas. “Crimson and Clover” â€" Joan Jett the Blackhearts You know Joan Jett from the iconic “I Love Rock n’ Roll,” but she’s not known as the Queen of Rock for one hit! “Crimson and Clover” is a beautiful piece, and also check out “Bad Reputation.” For more great talent show songs that are perfect for husky vocals (and impressing everyone with your taste) look into anything by Aerosmith or AC/DC. Joy To The World Three Dog Night Speaking of how everyone loves rock and roll, this well-loved classic is sure to get audiences moving, clapping, and singing along! It’s an ideal song for involving a guitar and a drum set as backup, or you can probably find accompaniment tracks for this as well. If you play piano, rock and roll is a great genre to find songs that sound just as groovy as they do classy when translated to your instrument. Final Talent Show Tips When you’re learning to sing, performance experiences like talent shows are a crucial part of your development, and choosing your repertoire wisely is crucial. If you enjoy singing, consider taking voice lessons  for the next step toward improving your craft! A voice teacher can help you select songs that are appropriate for your skill level, range, and style, as well as help you achieve your overall music goals. Above all, be yourself, and enjoy what you do on stage â€" that’s what your audience will respond to the most! Good luck on your journey to choosing the perfect talent show song. What other good talent show songs did we miss? Leave a comment with your favorites below! Want even more song ideas? Check out our list 400+ songs to sing here! 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 Photo by: Jack Newton

An Argument for Online GMAT Tutoring

An Argument for Online GMAT Tutoring GMAT MBA Admissions Blog Let’s start with a brief exploration of online tutoring in general, before tackling the question of why and how to pursue online GMAT tutoring. In a sense, online tutoring is a bit like online shopping. In the early days of the internet, circa 1995, if you listened to the hype, you would have thought that people were going to be doing all of their shopping online within 5-10 years. It seemed inevitable. It’s now been over 20 years, and we aren’t really close to that “100% online” scenario. On the other hand, if you think about how much online shopping we do indeed do, you realize the internet has fundamentally changed the way we shop in significant, positive ways: it’s a) much more convenient and b) has increased competition and lowered prices. What are the major general benefits of online tutoring vs. in-person tutoring? In general, there are three major benefits to online tutoring relative to in-person: a) convenience b) the ability to review the session in video or written form and c) pricing. I won’t go into too much detail here, but consider an in-person tutoring session. One or both parties (student and tutor) must leave their house, travel to a different location, and meet to conduct the tutoring. Information may be written down on paper, or spoken in real-time. Not all that is spoken is captured however, and the danger of losing the paper used during the session is always there. A lot can potentially be forgotten or lost. Online tutoring solves most of these problems, particularly if you use a virtual whiteboard that creates a PDF of the session, and records the entire experience for later review. In this article, Studiosity suggests that some students actual prefer to seek help electronically. That said, I see a few reasons why online tutoring didn’t gain faster traction and still has its detractors: The human element is hard to ignore for some people. There certainly is something to the physical connection of discussing an issue face-to-face. It’s why businesses continue to spend so much on airlines and hotels when WebEx meetings have been around for 15 years. Connectivity issues were a significant barrier for many years. If both parties didn’t have a fast-enough internet connection, listening to your tutor’s voice and following what is being written on the whiteboard would be buggy, slow, etc. Lack of comfort with technology is a significant barrier for some people. Online tutoring does require some amount of “set up,” software downloading, etc., there are enough barriers for that person to shy away from giving it a try. The ability to write well online was certainly lacking for a period of time, and drawing figures or doing math problems with a mouse doesn’t work very well. Even as tablets became more available and less expensive, the ability for any given tablet to interface with any given combination of computer, web-chat service, and whiteboard is still sometimes questionable. Reviewing notes was historically, something that was much easier to do “offline” by looking at the physical paper you worked on with your tutor. However, almost all of these barriers to online tutoring have been overcome, and new benefits have emerged. The human element is still an issue and a major barrier for some people, but I’d argue that it’s essentially the only issue at this point. In 2017, most people under 40 have been around technology long enough that lack of comfort with the basic tools required to engage in online tutoring isn’t an issue. Connectivity and the ability to write are problems that have been solved with faster internet speeds and low-cost writing tablets. And now, new benefits have emerged. Many services allow you to save PDF copies of notes from online tutoring sessions, and the ability to record sessions in their entirety is now widely available. This means you can go back and recall exactly what the instructor was talking about and how a problem was solved. Why is online GMAT tutoring a particularly good idea? I see six major reasons that online tutoring is particularly attractive for someone studying for the GMAT: The GMAT is administered online. Certain tests, like the ACT or the SAT, are still given via paper and pencil. But that’s not the case with the GMAT. The GMAT is administered online. It’s quite a different experience than taking a test in person. You must choose answers using a mouse, and if you do need to write something down, you are given a little mini erasable whiteboard to use. Getting comfortable working through problems while you’re studying for the GMAT is going to increase your familiarity with the environment you’ll face when sitting for the actual test. Efficiency and flexibility is particularly important for most GMAT test takers. In general, if you are studying for the GMAT, you’re a motivated, young professional with an increasing amount of professional responsibilities. To build a solid resume and application, you should probably be engaged in leadership and community service activities as well, and of course everyone wants to maintain relationships with friends and family. Saving time on travel, and negotiating schedules due to travel, is more important than it might seem. It takes time and adds stress to the whole process of working with a GMAT tutor if you must coordinate travel and logistics issues. The GMAT is a particularly difficult test, one in which both content expertise and strategy is critical. Restricting your tutor options to those who are physically near you may put you at a disadvantage. By getting comfortable with an online approach, you can access the most qualified GMAT tutors in the world, instead of just who happens to be available near you. The range of content covered, and question types used on the GMAT is broad, from reading comprehension to mathematics to “data sufficiency questions” to the “integrated reasoning” section. As a result, it is often more helpful to have the ability to record a session and review it later when studying for the GMAT than it would be if you were studying for a different test. GMAT tutoring is expensive. Because working with an online GMAT tutor allows for a reduction in travel time, most tutors will accept lower hourly rates. Summary Online GMAT tutoring is more efficient than an in-person approach, and in some respects, more effective. If it’s something you’d at least consider, we think it makes sense to at least try it out. It could save you time and money, both of which you’ll need when you tackle the b-school application process.

Getting Your Child Ready for Middle School

Getting Your Child Ready for Middle School The start of a brand new school year is always a little exciting, yet anxious, for most students, but if your child is about to begin middle schoolor already has it may be even more so. The move from elementary to middle school can feel like an enormous leap to a child and includes a variety of academic, social and other changes. Here are six tips to prepare your child for a smooth transition to middle school and set the stage for a great yearand overall middle school experience: Promote organizational skills. Work with your child to establish and maintain a solid organizational system. If your child has historically kept a messy desk, room or backpack (or all of the above), its important to correct those bad habits by creating some ground rules on keeping the desk tidy, where schoolwork goes when it comes home and where to keep important school paperwork. Remember: your child may take up to eight different classes with eight different teachers. That means significantly more homework and paperwork to keep track of. Good organization is critical in middle school. Work on time management. In middle school, your child will be expected to manage his or her own schedule, which means keeping track of assignments, handing in homework on time and more. Teach your child to use a planner or notebook to write down each days to-dos and responsibilities and keep track of longer assignments. At home, keep a family calendar in an accessible place and encourage your child to write important due dates, activities and other obligations on it. Teach your child to prioritize. Along with time management is the essential ability to prioritize. In addition to requiring much more from your child academically, middle school offers many new social and extracurricular opportunities. It may be difficult for your student to decide what to get involved with, so help him or her learn to set goals and rank priorities from the very first day of school. During homework time, your student should make a list of the most important tasks in order to keep him or her focused and on task. When it comes to choosing outside activities, have him or her create a schedule that allows sufficient time for homework and sleep and teach him or her now that it is important not to overcommit oneself to too many things. Hand over the reins. Like many well-meaning parents, up to this point in your childs school career, you may have helped him or her stay organized on all fronts by giving frequent reminders and other help. Now is the time to communicate to your child that just like you have a job, his or her job is school. Your child must take ownership of his or her school work and grades, and he or she must understand that the choices he or she makes will have consequencesgood or bad. Help your child discover how he or she learns best. Middle school is a time for your child to more closely examine how he or she learns. Perhaps your child has already begun to think about this in elementary school, but if not, help him or her recognize what subjects and lessons are easier and harder and why. Talk about the various learning styles and help your child begin to appreciate his or her own preferences. Knowing this information will help him or her greatly as he or she begins to take a more active role in his or her education and learning. Encourage your child to speak up. Middle school teachers are charged with helping students become more independent, critical thinkers and inspiring them to be engaged learners. Your child will gain the most from his or her middle school experience if he or she puts effort toward getting to know his or her teachers and showing initiative in the classroom. He or she can do this by asking questions, seeking help after school and being an active participant in the classroom.

Mare Island Technology Academy

Mare Island Technology Academy Mare Island Technology Academy About Mare Island Technology Academy Mare Island Technology Academy was named by the CDE as a 2015-16Model Schools to Watch-Taking Center Stage model school, a Best U.S. High Schools Bronze Award winner for 2015 2016 by U.S. News World Report. a California State Gold Ribbon, Title I Achieving School, and CTE Exemplary Program winner for 2015 for both the Middle High schools. MIT Academy serves 900+ grade 6-12 students in an exciting, high-expectations, intervention-rich program. Featuring a high-functioning, collegial work environment where Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) lead instruction, MIT shatters urban stereotypes, with students performing significantly above statewide averages academically and completing all UC/CSU course requirements plus 5 years of technology and 9 college units for graduation. Many students earn professional certification in Microsoft Office, Adobe, or tutoring, and95% of seniors apply to 4-year colleges. A successful charter school for 17 years, MIT Academy is a dynamic leader in education, looking for bright, creative, and collaborative educators. MITs salary and benefits are among the highest in Solano County, and we honor experience by accepting all years of credentialed service for salary scale placement. MIT also qualifies for mostfederal student loansforgiveness or cancellation programs. -Mission Statement Our Mission Success for All Students: The mission of MIT Academy middle and high schools is to challenge our diverse student body to master a rigorous curriculum in a safe, disciplined, and nurturing environment. MITs graduates are self-motivated, technologically-skilled, responsible global citizens equipped to succeed in post secondary training/education. Vision Statement Our Vision: MIT Academy is a school where students, parents, staff, and Board are mutually respected, active partners in achieving success for every young adult. With technology and creativity to enhance the learning process, students graduate with leadership skills and excellent preparation for continued education. Our high academic standards are made possible by a safe and disciplined environment that allows learning to be fun. The MIT Board, staff, and parents form a trusting and nurturing partnership characterized by honest, open communication and a respectful, enthusiastic, optimistic, and open-minded approach. MIT Academy is an effective and diverse organization that is an asset to the community. View our Brochure