3 Secrets to Getting Better at Your Job (While Also Preparing Yourself for the Next Level) - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / 3 Secrets to Getting Better at Your Job (While Also Preparing Yourself for the Next Level) - Introvert Whisperer 3 Secrets to Getting Better at Your Job (While Also Preparing Yourself for the Next Level) What the heck are you supposed to do? The job you have now is fine?it pays pretty well, pushes you, and is somewhat enjoyable?but you really want to move up to the next level. Problem is: some of the skills you need to continue honing for your current job won’t necessarily help you get that promotion. And unfortunately, you don’t have enough time to give 100% of your focus to developing skills for both jobs. Is there a way to have the best of both worlds? Luckily, there is:   By being intentional about your professional development schedule.   I learned this the hard way when I found myself in this exact position earlier this year. I wanted to improve my digital marketing skills so I could take on more clients at my agency, but also wanted to dive into the world of data analysis. After nearly 6 months of frustration, I found a formula that allowed me to do both. 3 Secrets to Finding Balance with Your Professional Development 1. Set a strict schedule for learning (either in the morning before work, or late at night). It’s obvious that you need to schedule time for professional development outside of work if you want to reach your goals, but most people miss one really important thing… You have to be strict about what you do during this time. If you don’t know exactly what you’ll be doing and when you’ll be doing it beforehand, you’ll get distracted and overwhelmed. So, it’s important to: Set a strict schedule as far as what you’ll be learning during your professional development time. Example: I’ll spend 30 minutes reading a book on marketing and 30 minutes doing coding exercises. Put your phone away and ignore emails?give 100% of your attention to learning during this time. Build this time into your schedule. Whether you do it every weekday or once a week, put it in your calendar and it will soon become a habit. 2. Focus on developing overlapping skills. Some skills you’ll need for that next-level job will also apply to your current job. Identify and focus on those. Often, these overlapping skills will be broad and include things like: Project management Strategy Business Admin Once you’re confident in these skills, move on to the specific skills you’ll need for the next job. This allows you to approach the expert level with your current job so you can eventually shift the focus of your professional development. 3. Realize that most of your learning will come from experimentation (not reading books or taking courses). A lot of people have a misconception when it comes to learning new skills. They think that in order to acquire new skills, they have to: Go back to school Read books And go to workshops These things are great, but they can only get you so far. The majority of learning and skill development comes from experimentation. “For the things we have to learn before we do them, we learn by doing them.” Aristotle Think about learning how to play a sport, or even how to ride a bike… You can listen to instructions, read books, and even get coaching, but you’ll only get so far before you have to do something. So, how can you apply this to your professional development? I recommend either: Taking on new projects at work that you’re interested in (that require the skill you want to develop). Creating your own project outside of work that allows you to apply the skill you want to learn in a context you love (example: doing a data science project to figure out how to craft the perfect fantasy football team). The process of trial and error is often the best teacher. You Can Have the Best of Both Worlds You don’t have to sacrifice getting better at your current job to prepare yourself for the next step in your career. You can structure your professional development in such a way that allows you to do both at the same time. It’s amazing how much even 30 minutes of learning and experimentation each day can do for your career. Author Bio

Tips Tricks to Learn German Fast

Tips Tricks to Learn German Fast Tips to Learn German How to Speak German ChaptersImmerse Yourself In German ConversationEnrol On a German CourseCarry A Pocket Dictionary At All TimesFocus On Key TerminologyTalk, Think Breathe GermanLanguage Learning: Starting From The BeginningIf you’ve set your sights on learning to speak German for one reason or another, it is important that you get real and remember that acquiring a second language isn’t going to happen overnight.Although the speed at which you pick up a language will be dependent on a variety of factors, like your susceptibility to picking up a foreign language, whether or not you take classes and which resources you use, there are ways that you can attempt to accelerate the process.I came across a polyglot blogger who suggests that German can be learnt to a very high level in just three months by immersing oneself in the language. By this, they mean plunging head first into German life and culture by setting up a 'mini Germany' in your home and changing your entire perspective on your usual surro undings.Ultimately, they explain that you must almost switch your mindset from being an English speaker to a German speaker, in order to truly reach the goal you have set out for yourself.Some examples of their proposed techniques are changing language settings on home and mobile devices, watching German-speaking movies or television channels (minus subtitles) and listening to German audio, such as Deutschland Funk radio.One tip is to change your language settings on mobile phones and other devices to German. Photo credit: William Hook via Visual hunt / CC BY-SAThough some of the proposed methods of self-teaching aren't completely achievable for many (for instance those living in a house with a number of dependents who may not have total control over their environment), more useful are their suggestions like trying to converse with native speakers from day one, focusing on the easy parts of the language first and foremost and using different learning techniques to memorise vocabula ry and phrases.One of their best pieces of advice, however, is to determine  from day one what your purpose for learning German is - as without a target you will fail miserably! SönkeGerman Teacher 5.00 (5) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ClaudiaGerman Teacher 4.89 (9) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SefaGerman Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HilaryGerman Teacher 5.00 (16) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LisaGerman Teacher 5.00 (8) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ChrisGerman Teacher 5.00 (19) £39/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors WendyGerman Teacher 5.00 (2) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HowardGerman Teacher 5.00 (6) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsImmerse Yourself In German ConversationThe one and only way to really learn a language fast is to be a part of conversations, in this instance having discussions solely in German.You can listen to as much German radio as you please and watch as many movies as you have time for, but while hearing spoken German will significantly increase your understanding of the language, it won’t allow you to become advanced, and certainly not  fluent. You need to speak it in order to cement that relationship between comprehension and execution.Enrol On a German CourseSecondly, you can, if you’re not currently in education, enrol on courses to help you with your language learning. Courses taught by trained tutors, or even better by native speakers, can help you to get that extra interaction with the language that you need.Some german lessons are a good way to speed up your language acquisition as they require commitment and combine group lessons with independent study which means you must always make the effort to keep up with the pace set out by the course leader,You can also attend evening or weekend classes even if you are a pupil studying German at school, to help move you up a set or to help you keep u p with your existing group. SönkeGerman Teacher 5.00 (5) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ClaudiaGerman Teacher 4.89 (9) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SefaGerman Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HilaryGerman Teacher 5.00 (16) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LisaGerman Teacher 5.00 (8) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ChrisGerman Teacher 5.00 (19) £39/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors WendyGerman Teacher 5.00 (2) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HowardGerman Teacher 5.00 (6) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsCarry A Pocket Dictionary At All TimesCarrying an English-German pocket dictionary around with you is  a good way to learn German, whether you are in Germany or simply walking around your house or hometown.If you see an object, a place or something else that catches your attention, you can look the word up in German and keep on adding to your fast-expanding vocabul ary. Similarly, when left to your own devices in Germany, you can easily translate unfamiliar words thanks to your dictionary and thus deepen your level of understanding of the language fast.Carry around a pocket dictionary so you can look up words in German as and when. Photo credit: jwyg via Visual hunt / CC BY-SAFocus On Key TerminologyThose who’ve done it themselves suggest finding out the 50 or 100 most commonly used words in German and learning them off by heart, being sure to practice constructing them into sentences.However, if you are faced with a conversation that forces you to use a bit of guesswork, don't hold back and do be prepared to say silly things â€" it really doesn’t matter! The person you are talking to will no doubt understand that you are still practicing and may even be able to help you to learn some new words or phrases. The fact that you are trying will go a long way in their book.Talk, Think Breathe GermanFinally, if you can’t find someone to talk t o in German, then don’t give up. Talk at your friends, family or colleagues in German (even if they don't understand you!) to help you to be more confident in the way you pronounce words and to help you to perfect the invividual sounds that German requires of you.Change the language on your mobile phone to German, find a German television channel to watch, talk to yourself in German even! You know you have really cracked the whole language learning thing when you start to be able to think in another language!Not all German classes have to be given in the classroom. Learn how to learn German by playing games and reading German newspapers and authors.Language Learning: Starting From The BeginningLearning to speak a language fast has many benefits, like the momentum that is built and the satisfaction of noticing huge improvements in language skills in short spaces of time. Yet, there are also many advantages to approaching language learning at a slower pace and starting from scratch with the basics.While German shares many similarities with English, it is important to remember that it is ultimately a language of its own with all new phonetics, grammar rules, vocabulary and much more to get to grips with. One should keep an open mind when considering studying German and not expect all of the words to bear some resemblance with English ones, as that is often not the case.Re-Learn Your AlphabetLearning a new language involves taking lots of baby steps and not becoming overwhelmed by all of the different things that must be learnt at once. Some of the very first simple steps to take towards acquiring a second language are to master the alphabet, which is particularly useful in German since its alphabet differs slightly.You may think that the alphabet is the same in nearly all first world languages, but there are in fact four more letters that make up the German alphabet. So, before you start leaning German, it is wise to up look at the alphabet and how each letter is pronounced phonetically to make sure that you are aware of how some of the individual letters sound when spoken by natives.Find a chart that gives you examples of how those sounds appear in German words, then that will take you one step closer to your goal of becoming a proficient German speaker.Gain An Understanding Of Key TerminologyAs previously mentioned, learning key words can be very helpful during the early stages of language learning, but how do you know which words are key and when to move onto the next level of terminology?Some websites offer lists of the most used words in the German dialect, based on various sources. If you intend to learn German because you will be travelling around Europe, you can also find lists tailored to the most common travel terminology, for example.Common First Categories For BeginnersOnce you have a feel for the language and the way it looks and sounds, you can move onto easy sentences, looking at how they fit together to form coherent phras es using nouns, verbs and adjectives.The most common areas of speech that you will probably pick up first are how to ask for directions, and the language required for basic tasks and actions like telling the time.Discover how to learn German through TV and film and perfect your German speaking with audiobooks and podcasts.The first things you will learn when studying German are basic scenarios like asking for directions. Photo credit: ? Georgie R via Visual Hunt / CC BY-NDInteresting fact: Don’t forget that the Germans tell the time differently too, looking ahead instead of back (very apt considering their reputation as being forward-thinking innovators!). For example, they will say it is half two, when we in English would say that it’s half one, or 1:30pm. In many ways, this makes complete sense because it is in fact half way through the second hour of the afternoon.Use Television And Radio To Enhance Your SkillsYou can begin to put your new skills into practice by watching mo vies and listening to radio or podcasts in German.Experts say that the first stages of language acquisition should involve a silent period whereby you are absorbing many aspects of language and experiencing a number of reactions to them, just like when you learnt to speak your first language as a toddler: i.e. interpreting, watching the way the mouth moves to make specific sounds, hearing the unfamiliar sounds, understanding the pace and highs and lows for emphasis, etc...Language learning app, DuoLingo, offers tips and advice for new German learners, which includes words of encouragement, like not to expect to be perfect straight away and to therefore be patient.Meanwhile, the specialist tool also provides suggestions to ease and accelerate learning such as finding a partner, listening to spoken German, practicing speaking with others and by reading aloud or talking to yourself as well as using flash cards and labelling your surroundings.No matter how you decide to approach your in dividual language-learning journey, there is one thing that stays constant, and that is the need to be motivated and to be prepared to put in effort.Learn German online with Superprof. And if your learning German, be sure to validate your German level with a certification in the German language.Learn German wherever you are with the help of Superprof tutors:learn German onlineGerman lessons LondonGerman courses Leeds

How to Memorise Dance Routines

How to Memorise Dance Routines 9 Tips for Memorising Choreography ChaptersListen to the Music and Analyse ItLearn the Basic StepsFocus the Entire TimeMemorise the BeatsFocus on One Thing at a TimeAssociate the Moves with an ImageFilm Yourself DancingWrite Down the Choreography“If you look at a dancer in silence, his or her body will be the music. If you turn the music on, that body will become an extension of what you’re hearing.” - Judith JamisonIt takes some skills to learn a dance routine. You need to make use of your kinesthetic memory; the memory that operates through movement and repetition. To learn choreography more effectively, you need to master every nuance of every movement before moving onto the following one.In a dance class, your teacher might break routines down into steps to help you. If you want to learn a dance routine, this is the only way to do it.In this article, we're going to look at the best ways and steps to take if you want to memorise dance routines such as analysing the music, focusing, memorising the beats, learn ing the basic steps, associating the moves with an image, and writing down the choreography. SeamDance Teacher 4.96 (24) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JamieDance Teacher 5.00 (6) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ErickaDance Teacher 5.00 (1) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SamuelDance Teacher 5.00 (4) £100/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors FlavioDance Teacher 5.00 (7) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HakimDance Teacher 5.00 (5) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HannaDance Teacher 5.00 (4) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ClareDance Teacher £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsListen to the Music and Analyse ItWhether you’re doing hip hop, Cuban salsa, Oriental dance, or Bachata, you need to listen to the music before you can start learning the dance moves. Dancing and music go hand in hand. You can’t learn the dance routine without understanding the music.That said, we don’t mean that you have to be an expert in music theory. On the other hand, it’s a good idea to listen to the music that goes with the style of dancing that you’re learning. Your brain will get used to the different styles and rhythms and it’ll help you to learn certain moves more effectively.Before you learn a new dance routine, ask your tutor or teacher if you can listen to the music first. Focus on the stresses within the music and work along with the rhythm. In different types of dancing, there are different rhythms.Similarly, different instruments are being used and certain movements that are often associated with them. Ask your teacher for some resources to help you.It's very difficult to learn a dance routine if you don't know what's coming up in the music!Find out more about learning choreography.Learn the Basic StepsIt doesn’t matter if you’re doing the waltz, Argentine tango, or Kizomba, you can’t learn any choreography if you don’t know the most common steps used . It’s common for beginners to try and go too fast. Learn the fundamentals first, though. You should always start with the basic steps before moving onto more complex routines. (Source: skeeze)For example, you might learn the following basic steps:1: Right foot back.2: Left foot back.3: Right foot out to the side.And: Left foot in.4: Right foot back down.5: Left foot out to the side.And: Right foot in.6: Right foot back down.Of course, if you’re dancing with someone doing this, you need to mirror the movements. Whether you’re doing salsa, ballet, west coast swing, or tap, you need to learn some basic steps.Discover some of the easiest dance routines.Focus the Entire TimeThis might seem obvious, but you need to focus throughout so that you can memorise the movements that you’re going to emulate. This is especially true during your dance classes. The first steps you learn won’t be designed to look good. Generally, these are to make sure you get the following choreography right. When learning a dance routine, you need to focus. (Source: allannyima)When your modern jazz, rock ‘n’ roll, or contemporary dance tutor shows you something, don’t try and copy it there and then. Watch attentively and attempt to break down the steps in your head before trying.Ask your tutor or teacher to repeat moves you mightn’t have understood and remain focused during the explanations. Your dance tutor or choreographer will show you exactly what you need to do to get them right and correct you if you’re doing something wrong. SeamDance Teacher 4.96 (24) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JamieDance Teacher 5.00 (6) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ErickaDance Teacher 5.00 (1) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SamuelDance Teacher 5.00 (4) £100/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors FlavioDance Teacher 5.00 (7) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HakimDance Teacher 5.00 (5) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HannaDance Teacher 5.00 (4) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ClareDance Teacher £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsMemorise the BeatsIn ballroom dancing, Latin dance, or urban dance classes, most dancing is counted over 8 beats. Experienced dancers won’t need to count them out. However, beginners can benefit a lot from counting the beats along to their movements. Your tutor will probably count along to the beat to help you. Memorise and associate different moves with different beats.This technique is also used in group dance classes to ensure that everyone is synchronised. Nevertheless, as you learn, the counting will become automatic and you won’t be actively doing it.Focus on One Thing at a TimeAgain, don’t try to do it all at once. There’s a lot you need to be thinking about including:Arm placementMoving your legs and feetThe direction of your head and where you’re lookingThe orientation of your bodyMany teachers will start teaching dance moves j ust in terms of how the legs move and only add the arm movements once you’ve got the hang of the steps. You’ll put it all together once you’ve got the hang of it.This can help when it comes to learning. If your cabaret, street jazz, or Bollywood teacher tried to teach you it all at once, you should probably focus on the legs the first time around.Find out more about making your own dance routines.Associate the Moves with an ImageImagine something that the move reminds you of to help you learn it more easily. This can aid memorisation.Create stories to help you better understand what each move is. For example: “imagine you’re walking on a wire over a drop” or “as you turn, your hand hits a wall”.  You can make up your own little stories to help you memorise the moves.Film Yourself DancingBe it ballroom dancing, the Foxtrot, Viennese waltz, the Lindy Hop, or swing dancing, you can always ask your tutor if they can film you as you practise. Consider filming yourself when you dance so you can watch the footage back. (Source: Bernard-Verougstraete)They can also use this footage to go back over their feedback with you and slow down certain segments that you need to take a good look at.Even if you don’t have the time to practise at home, take your time to watch back your videos from class so that you can memorise the choreography on your commute to work, for example. It’s a good idea to study the choreography every day so that you can remember it more effectively.Check out some great online choreography videos.Write Down the ChoreographyThis technique mightn’t work for everyone, but certain types of learners can benefit from writing down what the choreography includes to help them remember. You can even use the video to do this just after a lesson! Make sure that you write down your choreography so you don't forget it. (Source: Mountainbeehive)Everyone has their own way of taking notes but here are a few things that might help:R for rightL for legA for arm (LA and RA, for example)F for foot (LF and RF, for example)Don’t hesitate to write down the names of the steps and even doodle little figures and diagrams to help you remember what you need to be doing.Of course, this does mean you also need to memorise the names of the steps and not just the steps themselves. Dancing is a great way to improve your memory.Practice Makes Perfect!  Just like the old saying goes, the best way to memorise a dance routine is to keep practising it. Some find it easier than others, but anyone can do it.The important thing is to commit it to memory so that once you’re outside of your dance class, you can still remember it. Leave your problems at the door and make sure you’re ready to learn something new!Bit by bit, you’ll see that remembering dance routines is easier. You may even surprise yourself with how much you’ve been able to remember after a session. After all, you’ll develop muscle memory for certain steps!If you'd like to more about different dance styles, footwork, improvisation, or particular dance steps, consider getting in touch with one of the experienced and talented tutors on Superprof. You can find tutors teaching all different types of dance from modern dance to classical ballet.There are face-to-face, online, and group tutorials available. Each comes with its pros and cons but if you want to dance with different partners or are considering styles of dance where you have to, you probably won't want to choose a tutorial with just you and a single dance instructor.Don't forget that many of the private tutors on Superprof also offer the first hour of tuition for free. Arrange a free session with several of them so that you can discuss what you're after, what you'd like to learn, how you like to learn, and the details of your tutorials.

Preparing for a College Major in STEM

Preparing for a College Major in STEM As a math and physics dual major, I found my university level math and physics classes both challenging and rewarding. The challenge forced me to become a better version of myself and to continually strive to achieve a better understanding of the universe and the logical structures we use to describe it.At many schools, the math and physics majors have a reputation for being some of the most difficult. As people gravitate towards STEM majors, the competition to get into and do well in these classes is intensifying. Many of these courses are graded on a curve, and this means competing against your fellow students. Moreover, the early classes set the foundation for understanding those that follow. As a prospective STEM major, it is worth evaluating how prepared you are to take these classes and the possibility of preparing additionally ahead of these tough classes.Having a strong math background is critical for all prospective STEM majors. Mathematics is the language of science, and wi thout a firm grip on the underlying mathematics, many classroom explanations can fall flat. Strong algebra skills are a must for all STEM disciplines, and strong pre-calculus and calculus skills are especially important for physics.   Simple algebraic mistakes are often punished just as severely as fundamental misunderstandings in university freshman level calculus and physics series. AJ Tutoring excels at helping students bolster key study skills including a refined approach to mathematics that can help minimize mistakes and maximize understanding.The SAT Math II Subject Test provides a good assessment of how strong a student’s precalculus skills are.   If you are in the high 700’s, you can be relatively sure that you have a solid grounding in algebra and precalculus.   There are a couple topics that could warrant some extra review if you don’t feel super confident about them: specifically, vectors, polar and parametric functions.The AP exams in Calculus and Physics are quite a bit more complicated. First, they may or may not be acceptable for credit at the school of your choice. Second, regardless of whether they are accepted for credit, they may or may not be a good substitute for the class itself. The AP curriculum for both calculus and physics tends to omit and deemphasize certain topics that will become important in following classes, and the AP tests themselves are often curved so that a 5 may represent an inadequate understanding (especially with cutoffs for that score typically in the 60% range.) Regardless of whether you are offered credit for these foundational classes, it may be best to retake the class at the university level. Many university professors have old finals available online. These can be a great tool in assessing whether or not it would be worthwhile to retake a specific class.Freshman level calculus and physics classes tend to be considered ‘weeder’ classes for the engineering discipline (even if you aren’t on that track), and are often populated with very high level students. Even so, in my experience, I have seen failure and drop rates as high as 50%.   When confronted with these rather dire statistics, my professor’s comment was, “I need to make sure that if any of you actually wind up becoming engineers that you know your stuff. If my kids are driving over a bridge you designed and it collapses, it will be my fault.” My professors had a minimum level of competence they would accept, and they did not hesitate to fail anyone they did not perceive to be up to their standards.Some advice: Attempt a final for any class you are thinking of skipping. Spend some time digging into any missing concepts. There are online lecture series, videos and books which are great resources. An experienced tutor can also provide guidance, structure and motivation.One last piece of advice: A good general rule for any STEM major (outside of the biological sciences) is to always take at least one math class. If you are always taking a relevant math class, it should be relatively easy to stay on top. Also, don’t take classes you lack the math background for.   For instance, typical second semester physics curriculum (electromagnetism) relies heavily on vector calculus. At the very least be concurrently enrolled; though this doesn’t ensure you will have the math during the course, you should at least have it ahead of your final. Many universities also have mathematical methods for physical sciences classes which are a great way to start your upper division studies.AJ tutoring is happy to provide additional advice for our graduating students, and to help ensure our students are well prepared to succeed as they transition to university.  If you’d like to learn more about our approach, please contact us today!

Teaching a Growth Mindset Principles to Your Child

Teaching a Growth Mindset Principles to Your Child In my last post I discussed the powerful impact that having a Growth Mindset can have on motivation and academic achievement. With a Growth Mindset you believe that through effort and the use of solid strategies you can become smarter and better at just about anything you put your mind to. And in fact, theres a great deal of neuroscience research supporting the notion that we can in fact grow our brains and become smarter! Unfortunately kids with ADHD may be more likely to have a Fixed Mindset. Their struggles with motivation and academics may have lead them down the path of believing that their hard work doesnt really pay off, and there is nothing they can do to become smarter or better at the things that are challenging for them. And with this set of beliefs, mustering up the motivation to work hard at school or tackle challenging homework problems is extremely difficult. Fortunately, research has shown that mindsets can be changed and that includes your child with ADHD. Parents and teachers can foster Growth Mindsets in their children and have a big impact on their motivation and achievement. So, how do you go about encouraging a Growth Mindset? It takes two phases. First, teach your child a few core Growth Mindset principles. Then on a daily basis, emphasize Growth Mindset thoughts and actions to cement the new Growth Mindset lessons and encourage increased motivation over time. So lets start with Phase I: teaching three core Growth Mindset principles. We can grow our brains. Explain to your child that the brain is like a muscle. When we lift weights our muscles get stronger and they grow. The same thing happens when we exercise our brain. The more we challenge our brain the more it grows, and the more we grow our brain the better we become at things like math, reading, writing, and even fun things like videogames and sports. (Videogames may make the most sense to some kids: Remember when you got that new game and didnt know how to get past Level I, but then you kept playing and learning and you were able to not only get past Level I but get all the way to Level 4. And now youre still playing and learning and soon youll be at Level 5? Thats because you were exercising your brain and challenging it to grow.) There are some excellent videos online that teach kids about how they can grow their brain. For younger kids I recommend the Class Dojo Growth Mindset series https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zrtHt3bBmQ and for older kids I recom mend the Khan Academy Growing your Mind video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtKJrB5rOKs. How our brains grow. In order to straighten our muscles, we challenge them through exercise. If we keep lifting the same light weight over and over again, then our muscles wont really get stronger. We need to challenge them by gradually adding heavier weights. With our brains, we exercise them by doing challenging work. By trying things that may seem hard, and by making and correcting mistakes. Mistakes can actually be good things, because when we correct our mistakes our brain gets stronger! (Lets go back to our videogame example: When you first started Level 2, you struggled to defeat the monster. He won a lot of the time. But you kept hitting the reset button and challenging yourself to find a way to get around the monster. Each time you failed to beat him, you learned a little bit more about what might work next time.) We need good tools and strategies. Your child has certainly tried to do challenging work in the past. But if your child has ADHD, theres a good chance that there have been quite a few times when he or she were not able to succeed at the level that was expected of him or her. These failures may have made your child hesitant to take on new challenges, even if he or she knows that challenging work is good for him or her. So, make sure to let your child know that in addition to challenging work, they need strategies that will help them succeed. Tell your child that you recognize that he or she may not have had the tools and strategies that he or she needed in the past. But youre going to do everything you can to help him or her learn different strategies and tools so that he or she can succeed now. And with your childs hard work, combined with new strategies and tools, the sky is the limit! (And one last time well revisit the videogame example: And then when you reached Level 4, you real ly struggled with the dragon. But it was your babysitter Mark who gave you a great idea for a strategy to try and it worked! Sometimes we need some coaching and help just to give us a little help in what direction to go in or what we might want to try. Mark didnt give you the answers, but he gave you a strategy. And having that strategy helped you beat that Level. Sometimes life is like the videogame where we just need someone to give us a new strategy or a tool to help us do our work and then we can see the way forward.) In addition to teaching your child these key Growth Mindset principles, get started on figuring out ways to help your child learn new strategies for the things that are hard for him or her. Talk to your childs teacher about subjects that are difficult. Find out which learning tools are currently working for your child and which tools are not. Kids with ADHD may need different learning strategies, so ask about alternate tools and strategies that they can try. Consider getting extra help for your child through their school or through a learning center or tutoring program (see my previous post on choosing a good tutoring center for your child). Remember that your childs hard work will only lead to improvement when he or she is putting their effort into using the tools and strategies that work for him or her. My next post, the last in this Growth Mindset series, Ill talk about Phase II -- the things you can do every day to encourage a Growth Mindset in your child. Youre well on your way to instilling a Growth Mindset, and soon youll start to think about all of the ways that your child and you can rethink challenges and have a Growth Mindset approach to life. 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.

The Mysterious LSAT Writing Sample

The Mysterious LSAT Writing Sample LSAT Law School Blog The LSAT’s Writing Sample is the last section of the intellectual marathon. After a day spent navigating Analytical Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, and Reading Comprehension, many LSAT takers experience waning motivation. That the Writing Sample is not scored misleads people to think of it as a throwaway exercise. Nothing could be further from the truth. A great writing sample may increase your chances of law school admission if your credentials are lacking in some way.It’s your job to spot the crucial issues from the prompt and choose a position to advocate. The prompt is written so that both choices have merits and deficiencies. The Writing Sample tests your ability to make a cogent argument under timed conditions.Tips: Go out with a bang and not a whimper. It’s worth your effort to put your best foot forward. Take a few minutes to organize your answer. Start with a strong topic sentence and your strongest point. Don’t ignore evidence for the opposition. Figure out a way to neutralize it. Practice under test conditions. Set your practice sample aside for a few days and then reread it with a critical eye.

Father of Second Generation Kumon Students Talks about Motivation and Self-Learning

Father of Second Generation Kumon Students Talks about Motivation and Self-Learning Father of Second Generation Kumon Students Talks about Motivation and Self-Learning Kumon isn’t easy. Trust us, we know. Even with the just-right level of study, children experience ups-and-downs as they are encouraged to think critically and independently. We also know that it’s not always easy explaining the big picture to your children and helping them understand how Kumon will benefit them in the long-run. With more than 2,000 Kumon Centers in North America, parents all over experience these similar challenges. To connect these families to a larger Kumon community, we’ve launched “I Remember Kumon.” This video series explores the journeys of real Kumon Students. Their triumphs and even their tribulations. Meet Glenn. He’s the father of second generation Kumon Students. Glenn was enrolled in the Kumon Program as a child, so he easily relates to his children’s Kumon struggles. As a father and former Kumon Student, Glenn knows that the objective of Kumon is to instill in students the skills and mindset for self-learning.  He knows that through continuous Kumon Study, his children will become self-motivated, independent problem solvers. Glenn’s ultimate goal is like that of many Kumon Parents. He wants his children to receive a good education that adequately prepares them for the ever-changing world. One of the benefits of self-learning is developing the skill of perseverance. Students can work through a struggle and eventually conquer it on their own. Along the way, they are developing the confidence that will allow them to continue to overcome any obstacle in-and-out of the classroom. Glenn offers three tips on how to foster self-learning at home: Keep the balance. When encouraging your children to become self-learners, it’s important to maintain the balance between  helping your  children with homework and doing the work for them. Remind them of what they already know. When my children hit roadblocks, I focus on motivating them by helping them realize that they already have a baseline knowledge. By staying positive and focusing on what they already know, I help them understand that each worksheet is just another building block to a new skill. Praise the process, not just the achievement. It’s important to praise children’s specific efforts as well as their achievements. Demonstrating consistent effort is just as important as receiving a high test score. You might also be interested in: Finding the motivation to continue learning during the summer can be a challenge. 13-year-old Kumon dual program completer shares advice on perseverance. Lifelong Learning with Kumon Motivation is the Key to this Kumon Student’s Success Kumon Reading Program Completer Motivated by Other Students Father of Second Generation Kumon Students Talks about Motivation and Self-Learning Father of Second Generation Kumon Students Talks about Motivation and Self-Learning Kumon isn’t easy. Trust us, we know. Even with the just-right level of study, children experience ups-and-downs as they are encouraged to think critically and independently. We also know that it’s not always easy explaining the big picture to your children and helping them understand how Kumon will benefit them in the long-run. With more than 2,000 Kumon Centers in North America, parents all over experience these similar challenges. To connect these families to a larger Kumon community, we’ve launched “I Remember Kumon.” This video series explores the journeys of real Kumon Students. Their triumphs and even their tribulations. Meet Glenn. He’s the father of second generation Kumon Students. Glenn was enrolled in the Kumon Program as a child, so he easily relates to his children’s Kumon struggles. As a father and former Kumon Student, Glenn knows that the objective of Kumon is to instill in students the skills and mindset for self-learning.  He knows that through continuous Kumon Study, his children will become self-motivated, independent problem solvers. Glenn’s ultimate goal is like that of many Kumon Parents. He wants his children to receive a good education that adequately prepares them for the ever-changing world. One of the benefits of self-learning is developing the skill of perseverance. Students can work through a struggle and eventually conquer it on their own. Along the way, they are developing the confidence that will allow them to continue to overcome any obstacle in-and-out of the classroom. Glenn offers three tips on how to foster self-learning at home: Keep the balance. When encouraging your children to become self-learners, it’s important to maintain the balance between  helping your  children with homework and doing the work for them. Remind them of what they already know. When my children hit roadblocks, I focus on motivating them by helping them realize that they already have a baseline knowledge. By staying positive and focusing on what they already know, I help them understand that each worksheet is just another building block to a new skill. Praise the process, not just the achievement. It’s important to praise children’s specific efforts as well as their achievements. Demonstrating consistent effort is just as important as receiving a high test score. You might also be interested in: Finding the motivation to continue learning during the summer can be a challenge. 13-year-old Kumon dual program completer shares advice on perseverance. Lifelong Learning with Kumon Motivation is the Key to this Kumon Student’s Success Kumon Reading Program Completer Motivated by Other Students

Excel Tips All College Students Should Know

Excel Tips All College Students Should Know Image via Udemy Excel seems like a foreign language to those who are unfamiliar with spreadsheets and numbers. As a finance major, I took for granted my opportunity to learn Excel within my classes. Data Journalism is one of the classes required for my professional writing minor, and we are learning basic Excel, which I learned during my freshman year of college. I wanted to share some tips and useful functions that I have learned over the years to help students who are not part of the business schools become more familiar with using databases and visualizing data. Excel can even be used for personal budgeting or habit tracking! Here are some of the things I feel are important for students to know. 1. Creating Charts Some people love visuals, and Excel provides tools that make it so much easier to look at all your information. Charts are useful for anything from budgeting your money to tracking your exercise progress. Here is a step-by-step guide to creating Excel charts that will make your life so much easier. 2.  Sorting and Filtering Data Excel allows you to easily change the order of your data to one that makes sense. You have the option to filter alphabetically from A to Z or backward, or a custom sort of whatever field you would like. Filtering makes it easy to select options with a certain feature that you are looking for. Here is a video that demonstrates sorting and filtering. 3. Important Formulas Excel has so many different formulas, but the most simple and time-saving ones are as follows: •SUM: Automatically adds numbers together •IF: Allows you to manipulate results (For example, in words this would be: Make this cell say yes if the content of the cell 5) •AVERAGE, MEDIAN, MODE, MIN, MAX: Yup, Excel does all of this for you! •DATE and TIME: Literally inserts the day and time into your worksheet The best part about the formulas is if you click the little fx button next to the typing bar, Excel opens a dialog box that gives step by step directions on how to complete it! 4.  Quick Tips   Here are some of my best tips for navigating through Excel as quickly as possible! •Use the fx button to complete formulas you are unfamiliar with. •If the cell you are working with becomes too small for the text you are typing in it, double click the line next to the letter of the column, and it will expand the cell to the size of your text. •To quickly add up a set of numbers, use the autosum button on the formulas tab it is a sigma! •If you want to copy the contents of a cell to the rest of the column or row, click on the cell, and move your cursor to the bottom right corner of the cell. When the white cross turns black, you can drag it either horizontally or vertically to copy the contents of the cell to additional places. •Create a Macro to repeat tasks easily when there are several steps. Learn how here. Excel is a super useful tool for organizing and visualizing data, and I hope these tips help you use the software more quickly and efficiently!