Spanish Language Arts Tutoring - For Students

Spanish Language Arts Tutoring - For StudentsWhile many students attend school with a full understanding of the five languages used in schools, only a small percentage actually take advantage of the services offered by Spanish language tutors. Those who do not really understand the importance of learning Spanish will be greatly disappointed with the results. An important aspect to grasp is that of how you can better prepare yourself for a career in learning Spanish.When beginning to learn a foreign language, there are three aspects that must be taken into consideration. The first is the instructor's course and the second is your own understanding of the concepts being taught. The third aspect is the need to get to the point where you can master a certain amount of vocabulary or phrase for the course to be useful. This course has become increasingly popular in recent years as more people want to become fluent in another language. And while there are many different ways to go about thi s, many parents opt for the Spanish language tutoring to make sure their children have a strong foundation that they can use in life.Since this particular program is a whole program, you can expect there to be a lot of additional objectives included. In fact, the basics of Spanish should not be left out. That's because the key of this program is to teach you the basics. With the courses offered, the teacher will start with introducing the terms and vocabulary, then move on to what Spanish means to you and then finally get you to use it every day in everyday situations.If you have always been able to communicate with people on the usual levels, you might not even realize how much you have to learn. A Spanish instructor will always emphasize this point, especially since a large portion of your Spanish will be required for everyday life. Once you understand the basics of the language, the rest is just a matter of practicing with native speakers.Of course, in order to improve your profi ciency, there are also a lot of things you can incorporate in your language learning that you might not realize are necessary. For example, when you hear other people speaking, take the time to understand their thoughts. Remember, when you speak Spanish, the more you hear, the more you get used to it and once you have it ingrained, you will feel much more confident when it comes to speaking to other people.The great thing about this program is that the teacher will help you through time to time so that you do not spend all your time in class. You will also be assigned one of the teachers in the program to tutor you at regular intervals so that you can continue to build upon the foundation. Some students find that they simply can't afford to put their language programs on hold for a few weeks, but this does not mean that they have to suffer a lot of failure.There are private tutors who are willing to work with you to make sure that you have an all around great time. Of course, the op tions for them are somewhat limited because they cannot usually attend a full-time program, but that doesn't mean that they will not provide an alternative to your traditional classes. So, if you don't think that Spanish is something that you would enjoy, it doesn't have to be.

1, 2, 3! How to Count Successfully in Different Languages

1, 2, 3! How to Count Successfully in Different Languages How to Count Successfully in Different Languages “How many?”It’s a basic question, one we’re accustomed to hearing from an early age.How many fingers? Toes? Apples?The problem is: How do you know “how many there are of anything if you can’t count?Face it. No counting skills equals no game-playing, no  ordering coffee  and no  traveling with ease. And thats not a lot of fun, is it?Fortunately, adding excellent counting skills to your language ability is pretty straightforward. There are lots of ways to do soâ€"in fact, there are almost too many number-learning options to count!Let’s take a look at why counting is important.Then let’s add some counting resources to your language program! Why Should Language Learners Learn to Count?Numbers play a huge role in daily activities and many times we don’t even realize we’re counting anything.Think about all the things you count in a day. Miles to work. Hours until you make an important call. Items in your grocery cart as you approach the express checkout.Fitbit steps, anyone?Do you see how vitally important it is to know how to count?Experts agree! We might feel that counting is instinctive but numbers are actually valuable tools that evolved in stages throughout history, according to  anthropology  professor Caleb Everett.  This National Teachers of Mathematics article shows that learning to count begins early and is an essential life skill.And just like possessing  an adequate vocabulary and knowledge of grammar rules, counting is essential for communication.How to Add Counting Resources to Your Language ProgramAs I mentioned, there are a multitude of resources for shining up your number skills. Apps, songs and charts are all worthwhile and very useful. How to choose one resource over another? The best advice is to select counting materials that appeal to your learning style and particular interests.Do you like singing? YouTube videos teach counting with songs as well as more intensive tutorials. They’re also available in several languages.Ap ps make learning portable so if you download one onto your device you’re prepared to practice countingâ€"wherever and whenever a moment opens up! Another perk is that some apps aren’t language-specific. If you’re working on more than one language at a time, you can choose an app that will deliver several languages in a single app.Never discount a basic resource like charts. They work, are clear and concise and make short work of memorizing numbers.The biggest resource to your counting program is you! Make it a priority to count everythingâ€"steps, stairs, sights, carsâ€"everything!Make every moment a counting opportunity and practice, practice, practice!Songs That Help with Learning to CountYou might remember your first counting songs. Whether they involve fingers, toes and maybe even noses, native language learners in many cultures use counting songs.Songs are an effective way to memorize almost anything. Luckily, YouTube offers lots of number song options in several language s!Let’s take a listen to one. Or two. Or, you know, ten.Spanish: Learn to count from one to 30 with this catchy tune.Italian: This adorable counting song is a pleasant earworm that definitely makes counting fun.German:  Counting  to a jazzy tune!Japanese:  Hum along while learning the intricacies of Japanese  counting.Mandarin Chinese: Numbers come alive with a band at an insect sock hop!Portuguese: Counting  is a snap with this lovely guitar melody and simple song.Russian: A pleasant tune for learning Russian numbers.Arabic:  This song features happy hands and toes to teach counting skills.French: Worms on a beach sing their way to 100.Korean: Learn from one to 10 with a romantic little love song.How to Count Successfully in Different LanguagesMultiple LanguagesPolynumial: This app lays down the counting specifics extremely well. Translate numbers and learn to count in over 50 languages with this one resource!Marijin:  An extensive chart which teaches to count from one to 100 in 20+ languages. A language menu on the left side of the screen displays each available language, which makes changing between languages effortless.Counting to Ten Song: Countâ€"and sing!â€"from one to 10 with this fun video featuring some enthusiastic young language pros.FluentU:  Learn to count in different languages and so much more with FluentUs videos and language learning assistance.  FluentU takes real-world videosâ€"like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talksâ€"and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.  SpanishRocket Languages: This site offers a free audio lesson as well as a chart that can teach learners to count to 1,000,000. That’s a cool million in case you’re stuck on all those zeroes!Don Quijote:  Learn to count to 100 and dont miss the additional, short and informative history lesson on numbers and counting.Study.com: This website requires an account but the resources can be accessed for free for a trial period. There are several lessons here on counting in Spanish.ItalianOf Language and Numbers: There is a lot of insider information about the rules of Italian counting here!Dummies:  How to count in Italian, uncomplicated and clear-cut. There are also some excellent examples of common number-related questions.JapaneseGuide to Japanese:  This  guide breaks down the difficulties associated with counting in Japanese. It goes over numbers and the Kanji for each. You will also find instructions on using numbers as dates in a month and spans of time. Theres a lot of material but it’s presented clearly.GermanMarjin: This guide for counting from zero to 100 can be downloaded into pdf form for studying offline or on the go. Additionally, the numbers are written out so spelling practice requires no additional effort!Learn German Easily: This teaches counting from one to 999,999 so, really, they get the job done! Audio is available for learning the correct pronunciation so learning to count in German is as easy as ei ns, zwei, drei! (One, two, three!)ChineseBlog Tutoring: This website offers a detailed  chart  with counting tips. It  provides pronunciation, numbers written in Chinese characters and in-depth explanations about how to count correctly in Chinese.Ed Helper: Ed Helper is a clear resource that makes sense of  the Chinese numeration system, an ancient and somewhat complicated system.PortugueseTransparent Language: Count from one to 20 in Portuguese using a chart and a video so you can hear the numbers spoken and see them written.RussianLearning Russian: This resource focuses on cardinal numbers but also includes a section regarding large and compound numbers.Dummies:  A great place to learn Russian numbers  as well as  all the  counting rules.ArabicOf Languages and Numbers: This page includes rules for counting up to a billion as well as some history and important numbering rules.FrenchThe French Experiment:  This useful page has written French numbers paired with audio recordings for correct pronunciation.Quizlet: Flashcards deliver a great amount of information in an organized format. Learn to count from one to 50 and practice your pronunciation with the audio provided for each number.KoreanLife in Korea: If you’re wondering how to count to 100,000, 000 in Korean, refer to this chart. And yes, that is one hundred million! Wow! They also provide the pronunciation for each number as well as the number written in Korean characters.Take Lessons: The  dynamics of the Korean numbering system is explained  in easily-understood terms.Non cè due senza tre  (there’s no two without three).This old Italian proverb usually refers to unfortunate events coming in threes but it also pretty much sums up the counting experience:Start at the beginning and build on what you’ve learned. You need two before three and so on.Proverbs aside, a leading neuropsychologist, Brian Butterworth, theorizes we’re born “hard-wired” to count. That’s great news because it means inna te ability + excellent resource = counting success!You now have everything needed to count in a number of languages. So what are you waiting for?Make 1+1=success!Ready, setâ€"count!

Tips for Sophomores and Juniors Summer To-Do List

Tips for Sophomores and Juniors Summer To-Do List Tips From a Private Irvine Tutor | Rising Sophomores and Juniors: Summer To-Do List Tips From a Private Irvine Tutor | Rising Sophomores and Juniors: Summer To-Do List There are countless information and advice available for incoming freshmen and students who will be entering the workforce for the first time this fall. However, there are plenty of things that rising sophomores and juniors in college can do this summer that will help them be successful as well. Students who are in the middle of their college career should consider reviewing important information from past courses, should look for internships and internship-like situations, and should look for ways to streamline their class schedule. The more efficient students are throughout their entire college career, the more likely they will be to graduate in four years and have a successful and invigorating post-secondary learning experience become a more efficient college student with the help of an Orange County summer tutor. 1. Create a flexible internship situation Although internships are highly competitive (and not that easy to come by these days), college students can learn just as much by doing an unofficial internship. This may include working with a professor or professional in their major field of study who will allow the student to shadow them throughout the workday. In this situation, the student will learn a lot about the field or the workplace and can gain valuable skills about choosing a major or learning where to get started in the business. Although they may not be able to put these skills on their resume as an ‘internship’, they can gain valuable information about future and career. 2. Review past material Many students ‘luck out’ when it comes to a test or two. If this is the case, it might be a good idea to review material that may have been overlooked. Although some students may have breezed through finals and then promptly forgotten a lot of important information, they are reminded that English 1A is followed by English 1B. If a student had to know how to write a 5 page paper using MLA format with every comma in its place last year, they will probably have to write a 10 page paper using MLA format this year. Students who feel iffy about the material they learned in the past year are encouraged to review said material over the summer. A day or two of review could potentially save a student hours upon hours of wasted time during the fall semester (READ: 10 Study Tips from an Irvine History Tutor). 3. Get started on a career search Although it may seem totally overwhelming for a rising sophomore or junior to start thinking about their career, its a smart thing to do given the nation’s current economic and employment situation. It would be better for a student to find out early on that one thing or another might not work out or that their dream job may require additional study or funding. This way they can still change their path relatively easily or prepare for a potentially tumultuous career search. Many outgoing seniors are discouraged to find out that it takes them over a year to land a good starting position because they havent done an internship or certification program needed to start in their field. Additionally, many seniors find out a little too late that the field they dreamed of entering requires a Masters degree or other additional education that they cannot afford at this point in her life. However, if a student finds out this information earlier on in their college career, they have a better cha nce of getting certain things out of the way so they can enjoy their dream job earlier rather than later. 4. Make connections The importance of making connections prior to graduating from college cant be stressed enough. Many new grads find that they didnt get enough references or that they dont have enough fluid connections, those that continue to be updated through friendships and current professional connections, to help them with their initial job search. Students who work on making connections sophomore and junior year can finish college with a long list of people to call for help when it comes to education and work (READ: The 2016 SAT: Vocabulary vs. Vocabulary in Context). Bottom line Although many college students only think about using the summer as a way to either make money or take summer school, there are many things they can do that can be highly beneficial to the efficiency of their fall semester and potential career choices down the road. Students who spend just a few hours making connections, reviewing past material, and learning how to streamline their curriculum will have a much easier start to the next semester. Make the most of your time off with the help of an Orange County private summer tutor. Call us today to get matched with the perfect tutor. All blog entries, with the exception of guest bloggers, are written by Tutor Nerds. Are you an education professional? If so, email us at pr@tutornerds.com for guest blogging and collaborations. We want to make this the best free education resource in SoCal, so feel free to suggest what you would like to see us write.

The New School Year is at the Door Daily Routine is a Key to the Successful Start at School

The New School Year is at the Door Daily Routine is a Key to the Successful Start at School Summertime is coming to an end and there are only several days left to make the last preparations before the new school year starts. Getting ready to the new academic year does not only mean selecting new clothes, books and other equipment needed for study. Some psychological and organizational preparations are also useful both for students and their parents. Of course, it would be better to start preparations to school at least a couple weeks in advance but some adjustments in the last days may also help to decrease the tension of the first days at school. One of the most important aspects is establishing a daily routine. In order to make it easier to get used to the study rhythm a student needs a daily schedule. It is well-known that making the list of tasks for a day helps to cope with numerous house, family and preschool affairs and allows to find free time for hobbies, rest and fun. A morning plan should include waking up in the same time every day and should provide time for breakfast, morning exercises, packing up things, all other preparations and way to school. However, the main key to the successful start of each day is good overnight preparation. There are some simple arrangements  that can help to avoid panic in the morning: Choose clothes. It is better to choose and prepare the clothes for tomorrow in the evening. Check the weather forecast to make the right choice and you will have time to clean or repair something if needed. The same is about shoes and accessories. Pack a bag. Pack or put into one place everything that you may need tomorrow at school: documents, books, stationeries, sports suit and so on. Go to bed in time. Everybody has specific need to the length of sleep. Go to bed when there are enough time to sleep till the wake-up time in the morning. Arranging a daily schedule disciplines and trains children and their parents to organize their time efficiently. However, do not try to follow some standard plan, the daily schedule should be individual for each person and should take into account personal habits and peculiarities. Only in this case a schedule will make student’s day comfortable and productive. Well planned and performed everyday actions will turn into habit and will take less and less time releasing minutes or even hours for entertainment, additional study or work depending on personal preferences. Keeping at least soft daily schedule during vacation contributes into general readiness of a student to the challenges of a new study year. It is never late to start arranging your life in an efficient way! TutorZ.com offers a wide choice of professional tutors providing for life coaching services and available to assist students in organization their time and improvement of their study skills. Visit TutorZ.com to find a tutor in any subject.

UTSA Trc Tutoring

UTSA Trc TutoringIf you are new to the Houston ISD, you will certainly benefit from visiting a UTSA Trc Tutoring Program. While the school may be new, the students themselves are now older but still have the energy to get things done on time.UTSA Trc Tutoring is a company that offers tuition assistance for classes, as well as online tutoring. For students who are in need of assistance with math, AP or honors classes, UTSA Trc Tutoring is a wonderful place to turn to. The company also provides tutoring services for Spanish as well as English classes.UTSA Trc Tutoring also has a good reputation when it comes to providing the best tutoring. The student can count on the company to provide a full spectrum of services such as Spanish language tutoring, English language tutoring, AP course assistance, and other classes such as PTA tutoring.UTSA Trc Tutoring also offers classes at two locations: The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) and the SBA Montrose Campus in Houston. You will fi nd that the UTSA campus offers additional tutoring in addition to the one offered by the private company.Students enrolled in UTSA programs will find a number of benefits that the private company can offer. These include an extensive list of tutors who can help the student with the various aspects of the course while the student is enrolled in the course.UTSA Trc Tutoring also offers an option to students who do not require tutoring at UTSA but would still benefit from their services. These students can request services from a UTSA student tutor that will also be offered at the SBA Montrose Campus in Houston.It is important to note that while UTSA Trc Tutoring provides tutoring services for students at both UTSA and the SBA Montrose Campus, the private company does not offer the same level of services as they do for students at the UTSA campus. This means that students must contact the company prior to attending UTSA to confirm that they are enrolling for classes, otherwise they wou ld be unable to avail the services offered by the company.

The Options for Opening a Tutoring Business in New York City

The Options for Opening a Tutoring Business in New York CityIf you are an entrepreneur looking to establish a business with an emphasis on tutoring services, you need to make sure that you look into the possibilities of opening a tutoring business in New York City. The advantages for this decision are abundant. First, you will have one of the most valuable markets in the country. Second, the competition is very stiff and so is the opportunity for you to take advantage of the demographic changes in the city.Whether you choose to locate in Brooklyn, Manhattan, or Staten Island, New York offers plenty of opportunities for your tutoring business. There are many financial incentives that can bring in a profit. Some of these are local and state tax abatements, which help you pay less taxes in the city of New York, and there are also many programs to help you set up shop and get set up with your new business.In addition to these incentives, New York offers the proper licensing and permits f or your tutoring operation. They require the same qualifications for tutors as any other business. Most importantly, it is legal to advertise in the New York area, including advertisements in magazines, newspapers, and other publications. For example, you can create a newsletter or an online website for your business, or you can advertise on radio, television, and even print advertisements on the side of buses and subway cars.You will find it easy to make use of the different services that are available to your tutoring in New York City business. These include the following: administration, budgeting, safety, training, billing, accounting, marketing, and tax. In addition, you can also take advantage of special help services such as cash management and customer service.Legal aspects of the industry are also extremely important to consider. It is worth the investment in educating yourself in the legalities of tutoring inNew York City. This is a major concern since business owners shou ld know all their legal options, whether or not they are being taxed, and in terms of their health care and pension benefits, if any.New York is a city that welcomes newcomers, regardless of the reasons for your arrival. By the time you know how to go about setting up your tutoring business, you will also know how to market it.As you can see, there are many options available to you when it comes to opening a tutoring business in New York City. Make sure that you get all the answers before deciding to open up your own operation.

Food Groups Carbohydrates

Food Groups Carbohydrates What are Carbohydrates? ChaptersCarbohydrates in FoodThe Risks of a Low Carb DietHealthy Carbohydrate recipe ideas“The brain's preferred source of fuel is glucose/carbohydrates. And when you go on a low-carb/high-protein diet, your brain is using low-octane fuel. You'll be a little groggy, a little grumpy.”                                                                                                                                                                                 Jack LalanneWhen we think of carbohydrates, we think of pasta, bread, rice and potatoes; stodgy, heart-warming meals such as lasagne, pie and mash, or pizza. However, on a basic level carbohydrates are simply sugar and starch. We crave carbs, cut out carbs, eat carbs before exercising and even steal carbs from other people’s plates.Modern diets warn us against eating too many carbohydrates and even advise cutting them out altogether. We are all familiar with the diets, especially featured in women’s magazines that promote low carb intake to slim down for that summer body but they never tell us the long-term effects of fad dieting.The focus on carbohydrates and losing weight should be forgotten; the body needs a variety of nutrients to function at its best. Avoiding one of the main nutrients the body needs is not a good idea when it comes to our general health.So, what actually are carbohydrates and why do we have such a love-hate relationship with them?Chemically speaking, a carbohydrate is a biomolecule and consists of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. It comes in two main forms: simple and complex. Simple carbohydrates are mainly sugars such as glucose, fructose, sucrose, and lactose, whereas complex carbohydrates are starch-based, which means they have sugar molecules strung together.Finding nutritionist courses is possible on Superprof.Pasta is typical starchy carbohydrate. (Source:  Eaters Collective on Unsplash)Ca rbohydrates have four main functions in the body:To provide the body with energy;To store energy in the body;To build what are called macromolecules (part of cell function);Make sure protein and fat are spared for other important uses.In knowing this, it is now strange to think that cutting carbohydrates will make our bodies healthier.Find about the five food groups.pick the right ones.So what carbohydrates should we be eating?As mentioned earlier, there are two main variations of carbohydrate: Unrefined (complex) and refined (simple).After eating complex or unrefined carbs, energy is released slowly, which means we are less likely to snack or crash throughout the day. Whereas we eat simple or refined carbohydrates, generally high processed food, we are much more likely to feel hungry quicker and be prone to cravings and binging.These highly processed foods have less vitamin and mineral content, especially fibre and B vitamins, and include foods such as white bread, pasta, rice and breakfast cereals as well as various snacks, sweets and carbonated drinks.These are the types of food that should be eaten sparingly. If these foods are consumed regularly or as the basis of our diets, our bodies can start experiencing problems such as digestive issues and weight gain, which in turn can lead to obesity and heart disease.Eating too many refined carbs can also play havoc with our teeth and hormones leading to acne and other skin conditions. If in doubt, simply stay away from beige foods. Generally, the more colourful your plate, the more nutrients it contains.Complex or unrefined carbohydrates are found in more natural, fresh foods including whole grains, beans and pulses, fruits, and vegetables. These sources of carbohydrates are much healthier for us so it is important to consider opting for wholegrain pasta, rice and bread and plenty of fruit and vegetables when shopping.This is not to say we can’t enjoy our favourite pasta or pizza at the best Italian restaurant in town or enjoy a visit to the local chippy every now and then. It about having the right knowledge and making better decisions day to day.Learn proper dieting with a nutritionist near me.Although not a healthy carb choice, it's okay to have chips every now and then. (Source:  Gilly on Unsplash)The Risks of a Low Carb DietTo put it simply, carbohydrates are the body’s number one source of energy, without them, our bodies have less energy and rely on protein and fat, diminishing the important role these food groups play.Reducing our intake of refined carbohydrates is necessary to maintain optimal health but on the other side, cutting out carbs altogether can have a very negative impact on our bodies in the short term and even more so in the long term.If the body does not have enough sugar, it starts to break down our stored fat. This might sound like a good thing if we are trying to lose weight but this also causes, what are known as ketones to build up in our bodies.  Ketones ar e produced by the liver during times of low food intake. This is a way of the body protecting itself or what is often referred to as ’survival mode’. The body is an amazing instrument!In the short term, ketosis, which is a normal metabolic process, becomes dangerous when there is a build of ketones, causing many negative side effects such as headaches, nausea, tiredness and even bad breath.Cut out carbs for a long period and replace them with high protein foods such as meat and dairy is a potential danger zone. These seemingly ‘healthy’ alternatives to carbs mean the body’s consumption of saturated fat is much higher, which in turn, increases the amount of cholesterol in the blood. High cholesterol is the number one cause of heart disease and stroke. Not something to take lightly.Yet the long-term effects often seem so far from our minds, we tend to ignore the advice when it comes to nutrition, especially when we are pressured to look a certain way. Carbohydrates, like fat , are not the enemy and the more we understand this food group, the healthier we will be.Healthy Carbohydrate recipe ideasThere are plenty of recipes out there to help us create the perfect balance of carbohydrates for every meal. It is not always convenient or affordable for everyone to make big changes to their weekly shop but we can make small changes that will go a long  way.For example, consider baking your own pizza dough with wholegrain flour or energising that salad with lentils or beans. Or, why not opt for sweet potatoes instead of regular potatoes and create colourful, varied meals using it as the base: chop them into fries, oven bake them and add spices for a delicious side dish one day, or bake them whole with your favourite topping the next. There are so many ways to cook  starchy vegetables.Be inspired by authentic Indian cuisine and add wholegrain rice and quinoa to a Biryani dish. Use whole grain pasta in that famous veggie Spag Bowl the whole family loves. Be darin g and fish out that blender hidden in the back of the cupboard to make the perfect red pepper and lentil soup with fresh wholegrain bread for those cold winter days.Get a nutritionist near me here.Team that homemade soup with some crusty, wholegrain bread. (Source:  Wesual Click on Unsplash)Carbohydrates are such a staple in our diets that it is liberating to understand which ones benefit us most and break the low carb habit and, instead, add complex carbs/good carbs to our everyday diet.If we focus on the types of foods that give us the most joy and go online to research inspired recipes and ideas, we soon realise that unhealthy cooking does not always need to be at the heart of our daily lives.Carbohydrates do not have to be the food we feel guilty about eating or binge on after avoiding them for weeks. We can integrate them into our everyday diets and feel healthy and full of energy because  they are naturally high fibre foods that maintain our blood sugar levels.Healthy living d oes not mean we have to be boring and bland in the kitchen. Cooking and eating should be a joy, and research suggests that if we enjoy our food, our overall digestion also improves. So finding that balance between taste and health is crucial. Healthy, unrefined carbs can just be the base, you can decide on the flavour.Read more about proteins.Read more about fats.Read more about fruit and vegetables.Read more about dairy.

Thriving In A Brainstorming Meeting as an Introvert - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / Thriving In A Brainstorming Meeting as an Introvert - Introvert Whisperer Thriving In A Brainstorming Meeting as an Introvert As an introvert in the workplace, nothing is more draining than meetings. I just want to sit at my desk, do my work and leave meetings to other people. Whenever I go to a meeting, even if I have nothing to say, I get called on to give my opinion. The hardest types of meetings though are brainstorms. With other meetings, you can get away with sitting in the back, saying something only when asked or when it’s your turn. Brainstorm meetings force creativity, interactions, and holding full-fledged conversations. Every time I’ve walked out of a brainstorm, I feel totally drained.   If you work in a creativity demanding environment like me, you’re probably well acquainted with brainstorms and the toll they take on your emotional well-being. Here are some tips to not only handle the stress but thrive in brainstorms and how to walk out not feeling squeezed dry.   Prepping Everybody Before the Brainstorm Far too much time is wasted at the beginning of poorly planned brainstorms trying to figure out what they’re gonna brainstorm. Having no topic, or an extremely loose topic just leads to long side conversations, additional interactions and wasted time.   By emailing everybody ahead of time and informing them of the focus for the brainstorm, it will help everybody hit the ground running. That means less chit chat, more work and the sooner you can get back to sweet solitude and start to recharge. If you aren’t in charge, encourage the facilitator to send that email out.   Finding The Right Place Lots of workplaces aren’t designed to promote creativity and collaborating, or may just don’t have a spare room to dedicate to brainstorms. In these situations, making everybody feel relaxed, including you, is next to impossible. Nobody wants to throw out ideas in a room next to the boss or in a public space where everybody can hear.   Finding a safe, relaxed spot for everybody helps get those creative juices flowing. If your office doesn’t have a space like this, encourage going off-site. This will transform a stuffy, stressful meeting into a more casual and relaxed get together with coworkers. Just be sure to stay focused and actually working. Some great places to head to are: coffee shops, libraries, local parks and office lobbies.   Promote creative ideas by providing members of the group with the tools needed to think up and explain ideas. Have a whiteboard or massive notepad for people to sketch out ideas to explain to the group. Have access to a computer so somebody can show an existing idea and bounce ideas on how it applies to the current problem. Identify and provide the tools your team needs so they can provide the most value in the meeting.   Being The Scribe Your brainstorm is only as good as the ideas remembered. That means somebody has to record all of the ideas that get tossed around. Volunteering to be the note taker for the meeting not only makes you a valuable member of the brainstorm but also allows you to be more in the background. Nobody expects too many ideas from the scribe because they are busy writing everything down.   That doesn’t mean you are off the hook, though. Be sure to still contribute ideas to the group and not use note taking as an escape. You simply have better control of your interactions and don’t have to push yourself to match those around you.   Every Idea is a Good Idea One massive fear in a meeting is saying an idea that people deem stupid and you being judged as unintelligent. Add that to crippling social anxiety or an introverted nature, and there is no chance of contributing to a group discussion.   The best brainstorms are upbeat, positive, sessions where ideas should be given without fear of judgment. You never know how your ideas can influence others, and crazy ideas can lead to great innovations. Having each participant be on board with this idea will reduce a lot of stress and make the meeting that much better.   Set a Time Limit One of the dangers of a brainstorm is people simply chatting or getting off topic. Brainstorms can easily turn into a two or three-hour time suck, even though all of the ideas were burned through in the first hour.   These drawn out interactions can be extremely draining, with you sitting, just wishing it would end, but too afraid to walk out. If you are in charge of setting up the brainstorm, define a clear start and stop time for the meeting. This will help focus the group to squeeze as much out of that time as possible. If you aren’t in charge of the meeting, scheduling a task after the meeting will give you an excuse to duck out and encourage everybody else to end the meeting. Be sure to let everybody know beforehand that you’ll have to leave so it doesn’t seem you are just abandoning the brainstorm.   The Value of Brainstorms While they can be very draining, brainstorms can be incredibly valuable in a creative career. Don’t shy away from calling a brainstorm when you’re stuck with something. You can avoid big scale brainstorms by having short, effective, impromptu sessions with just a few coworkers. Getting a few more minds involved in a problem can make creative solutions and build workplace camaraderie.   Do you have some tricks for getting the most out of brainstorms? How do you prevent yourself from getting totally drained after a meeting? Let us know in the comments below. Author: Ben Allen Ben Allen is a writer that covers topics from business, marketing, motivation and video games. His goal is to help everybody become better and make the world a nice place to live in. You can see more of his work by following him on Twitter @allen24ben. Do you know what your next career step is?   Many people don’t. I want to help you accelerate your career by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my eBook on how to construct your Career SMART Goals â€" that will help you put together your actions and keep you accountable.   Get your copy now and start your action plan today: CLICK HERE Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleash your professional potential.

How to Succeed on SAT Subject Tests

How to Succeed on SAT Subject Tests Learning to succeed on the SAT often means learning to succeedon the SAT Subject Tests, too, which can feel like a lot of extra pressure. Luckily, SAT Subject Tests are optional, which means students can prepare andsucceedby focusing on areas of their choosing. There are 20 different subject areas offering tests, and each is only one hour. Students might choose to take an SAT Subject Test to improve their academic portfolio, test out of some college courses, or stand out in scholarship competitions. If youre interested in taking one or more of these SAT Subject Tests, it will be important that you know how to approach them, improving your chances to succeed. 1. Choose your SAT Subject Testscarefully If you know that you struggle with a particular subject, it may not be a wise idea to take an SAT Subject Test in it (assuming it is not required by your college). If you dont have specific requirements for subject testing, choose exams that complement your course of study and show your expertise well. Topic SAT Subject Tests offered Mathematics Math Level 1, Math Level 2 Science Biology E/M, Chemistry, Physics English Literature History U.S. History, World History Languages Spanish, Spanish with Listening, French, French with Listening, Chinese with Listening, Italian, German, German with Listening, Modern Hebrew, Latin, Japanese with Listening, Korean with Listening Above data comes from the College Board website. Avoid those that are irrelevant to your study or that will otherwise show a lack of preparedness. [RELATED:Should I Take SAT Subject Tests?] 2. Think about your SAT Subject Test timeline While SAT Subject Tests are available to you many months of the year, youll want to put a little more thought into your timeline, rather than just assuming you can conveniently take the exams whenever you wish. Allow yourself enough time to retake the subject tests if necessary, but also try to schedule them late enough into your accompanying studies that you are fully prepared. If possible, take the test when youre near the end of a corresponding class. 3. Practice makes perfect on SAT Subject Tests Of course, no exam prep is complete without a number of practice tests. This is true for the SAT Subject Tests as well. While your high school classwork will act as great preparation for the subject tests, theyre not the only things you need to do. Work with the specific subject test, making sure the practice exams you choose are from the current version of the test. At the end, go through the results carefully, which will give you a better understanding of the test and your learning process. Narrow down where specifically you struggle and then focus your attention and following SAT Subject practice tests there. 4. Work smarter, not harder While there are a number of different SAT Subject Tests, they all follow similar scoring systems. Each correct answer earns the test-taker one full point, while incorrect answers subtract a partial point. If youre struggling to come up with an answer, feel free to skip a question, making a note that youll need to later return to it. For questions you simply dont know, try to work backwards, eliminating possible answer choices until you come up with a reasonable decision. 5. Look into SAT Subject Testrequirements Every SAT Subject Test requires a different set of supplies, so make sure you look into each ones details so youre familiar with the equipment required, as well as the format. Some tests require headphones and a CD player while others might require nothing. Knowing what you need will be crucial to your success on the SAT Subject Test of your choosing, so dont come unprepared. 6. Create a great study space Having a great spot to study can really help your prep process. Create a space that is conducive to your learning style and well stocked with the appropriate study materials, which might include the following: headphones a graphing calculator highlighters extra pens and pencils notebooks Knowing that youve got an effective place to learn can help motivate you to put in the hours of study youll need to ace your SAT Subject Test(s)! 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 atblog@varsitytutors.com.