3 Ways to Help Your Child Succeed in School

Childrens' academic performance has to do with a lot more than what goes on in the classroom Monday through Friday. In order to set your son or daughter up for success in school, it is important to provide plenty of support at home. Read on for a few helpful ways to do so.

Be Available for Homework Help

After school, do your best to take an interest in whatever assignment your child is working on, whether it's reading a book or section of a textbook, completing a problem set or writing an essay. If it has been too long since you studied any particular topic in school yourself and you're rusty, there are plenty of free educational resources New York NY available online to lend a hand.

Encourage Reading

Being an avid reader comes with a host of benefits for children and adults alike. Make sure to have plenty of books available in the home that are appropriate for your child's age group. Since kids tend to imitate their parents' behavior, making a habit of reading will increase the likelihood of your son or daughter picking up a book on a regular basis. Instead of watching TV after dinner, why not read together as a family?

Cultivate a Relationship with Your Child's Teacher

Teachers and parents are partners in educating children. Make sure that you attend parent-teacher conferences, and don't hesitate to get in touch with your son or daughter's teacher if you have any concerns about how things are going in the classroom. It should be easy enough to get answers via email or set up a time to talk on the phone.

Kids tend to be happiest when they are engaged with the material they are learning in school. If you sense that your son or daughter may be struggling, don't hesitate to enlist help from his or her teacher, an outside tutor or another resource.

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Essential Guitar Equipment for Beginners

Even though it’s been around for four centuries, the guitar is one of the most modern and fun instruments to play in the 21st century. For beginners of all ages, it’s important to have a few crucial pieces of equipment to learn and play. Luckily, these can be procured on almost any budget.

A Dependable Guitar

Obviously, the guitar is the cornerstone of your gear. Whether you’re asking “Where can I find high-end guitars online,” or looking for a bargain on a budget, the reality is this: you won’t be happy with a cheap, poorly constructed guitar. The difference in quality between even a $90 and $350 model is massive, and of course, you can always scale up from there.

 

Picks, Strings, and a Strap

Whatever style of guitar you’re planning to play, it’s good to learn how to finger-pick and strum with a guitar pick. Guitar picks are usually made of plastic, and while they come in different thicknesses, they are very affordable: well under a dollar apiece and available in boxes. You should also have an extra set of strings on hand. Even though it won’t be one of the first things you learn, being able to restring a guitar is an essential skill. You could easily break a string while practicing, so it’s good practice to have a backup set.

A Solid Amplifier

Whether you’re playing electric or acoustic guitar, if you’re ever planning on performing live outside of your basement, you’ll need an amplifier. You don’t want to skimp on this either, but the size (and cost) will depend greatly on the sort of venue you plan on playing in.

Good Cables

Finally, it’s important to realize that most issues with amplified sound come from faulty or old ¼” cables. Spend a few extra bucks on good ones and replace them often.

These essential tools will set you up for success as you begin your guitar journey.

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Thesis Writing Blues

Tick tock tick tock... I am fully aware that the clock is ticking as I try to organize my thoughts while writing my master thesis. I must admit I am getting nowhere in the "Results and Discussion" part, which is essentially the heart of any thesis paper. I am now beginning to panic because I know that I barely have two months or even less until my presentation date and I must admit that I really need help! I realize now that although I am quite good at creative writing, I have lost my touch in technical writing. Have I been blogging too much?

Where should I get the inspiration and the help that I need then? I was poring over my notes and references, trying to figure out what to write first and how I should organize my results when an email arrived suggesting that I check out Studymode. What a heaven-sent! It is a website with a mission "to provide an idea encyclopedia that enables members to streamline their research process, jump-start, and focus their paper writing efforts." I guess I better read more as I just might get the inspiration that I need and be able to finally find my focus. I am also having some trouble with my citations so their citation generator will be a very helpful and handy tool. I find the website particulary helpful for students who have essay assignments and term papers as members can browse from over 650,000 model essays, term papers and book notes. One just needs to go through the FREE sign-up procedure first to get access to the the articles.

Well, wish me good luck in writing my thesis. I need all the luck I need, plus a little bit more time! 

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