Time Management Strategies for the MCAT

Time Management Strategies for the MCAT The MCAT is typically considered a fast-paced exam. Certain sections can seem harder to finish within the allotted time than others, but all the portions of the test require students to employ time management strategies in order to succeed. The Biological Sciences and Physical Sciences sections each have 52 questions that must be completed in 70 minutes, while Verbal Reasoning consists of 40 questions in a 60-minute window. Below are several key time management strategies to exercise while sitting for the exam to ensure that you do not exceed the time limit and forego points. 1. Monitor the time This simple technique may seem intuitive, but on exam day, many test-takers forget to note the time. Wear a reliable watch, and locate the clock in your exam room as soon as you sit down. Be certain you understand the pacing of the section you are working on. You have approximately one minute and twenty seconds for each question on the Physical Sciences and Biological Sciences portions. For Verbal Reasoning, you will have one minute and thirty seconds for each problem. Do not become obsessive about the time, but establish landmarks within each section to ensure you are on schedule. For example, when you have 35 minutes remaining in Physical Sciences (the half-way mark), you should be finished with at least 26 (half) of the questions. Here is some great information on how to manage your time during MCAT prepas well. 2. Move on from difficult questions Utilizing this time management strategy can seem difficult at first, because the majority of students hope to answer every single question correctly. However, recognizing your limits and moving on from a very difficult question that you cannot seem to grasp will ultimately earn you more points. By moving on, you allow yourself to answer easier questions in the section. If you still have time remaining after you have completed the remaining problems, return to those you initially omitted. These are5 strategies for MCAT practice teststhat you may finduseful. 3. Read the question line before the stem Many question stems on the MCAT consist of several lines of text. In order to quickly understand what information you must know, read the last line of the stem before the beginning. This will focus your skimming of the rest of the stem. Many times, it is not even necessary to read the remainder because you will be able to answer the question immediately. However, you should always skim the stem to ensure you understand the full problem. 4. Practice beforehand Though this is not a time management strategy you can rely upon come test day, it is crucial to complete timed practice sections and full exams to gain familiarity with the pacing of the MCAT. Practicing well in advance will also aid you in understanding the types of questions you will be asked on test day. Moreover, you can practice applying the above strategies during your sample exams to further build your time management skills. An MCAT tutorcan even guide you through each individual step. Timing is a major component of success on the MCAT. Many students struggle to earn an extra point or two simply because they do not reach the questions at the end of a section. Pacing yourself by watching the clock, moving on from difficult questions, reading the question line of the stem first, and completing practice examsbefore test day are all important strategies to help you beat the clock.

The Worlds Most Recognisable Sculptures. Have We Missed Any

The World’s Most Recognisable Sculptures. Have We Missed Any Some of the World’s Most Famous Sculptures. ChaptersThe Great Sphinx of Giza (c. 2500BC)Statue of Zeus at Olympia (c. 435BC)Nike of Samothrace (c. 200BC)Lewis Chessmen (c. 1200)David (1504)Ecstasy of Santa Teresa (1652)Trevi Fountain (1762)Psyche Revived by Cupid’s Kiss (1793)Statue of Liberty (1886)The Thinker (1902)Christ the Redeemer (1931)Listing the best or most famous of anything is really a dangerous game to play. It creates controversy, disagreement, and often even â€" for some reason â€" anger, and inevitably something gets left out.Yet, in the world of sculpture, there are some works that really just define particular moments in art history and sculptural history. There are some that are just so important that they can’t be overlooked. And there are others that, although not hugely significant artistically speaking, are recognisable by everyone at a moment’s glance.Indeed, the notion of ‘fame’ in terms of sculpture really sheds light on an interesting aspect of this art form. And that is that statues, sculp tural works, carvings, and figurines are not limited to the realm of ‘art’. Artworks are not just innocently expressive works of beauty.Rather, they perform important social functions. From prehistoric civilizations to antiquity, from the classical period to contemporary art, sculpture has always been about power, cultural and national identity, prestige, wealth and spirituality. And the success of these projects is paid testament to by the fact that we all recognise these images.So, here we’ll consider the monumental works of public art. We’ll look at some of the most sophisticated achievements of the visual arts. And we’ll cover some of the important functions and ideas behind sculpture throughout history â€" from memorialisation to glorification, pure beauty to practical use.Let’s take a look. Comment below if you think we’ve missed something â€" and no anger please!And, if you fancy, check out our pieces on the basics of sculpture - and important sculptural styles. CalumDrama School Entrance Teacher 5.00 (15) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ToriSpanish Teacher 5.00 (1) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors OliviaSchool support Teacher 5.00 (2) £21/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarkESOL (English) Teacher 4.76 (17) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YuweiChinese Teacher 4.33 (6) £19/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JenniferMusic reading Teacher 5.00 (1) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LouiseAutoCAD Teacher 5.00 (3) £60/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RickyPercussion Teacher 5.00 (7) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NicolasGuitar Teacher 5.00 (2) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MyriamOrganic chemistry Teacher 5.00 (13) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JonathanEconomics Teacher 5.00 (9) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Oluwakemi imoleMaths Teacher 5.00 (1) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Alex Physics Teacher 5.00 (1) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AdamSinging Teacher 5.00 (14) £48/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ValentiniMusic reading Teacher 5.00 (2) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MilenaMaths Teacher 5.00 (5) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RashmiEconomics Teacher 5.00 (1) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsThe Great Sphinx of Giza (c. 2500BC)Whilst not the earliest of ancient sculptures â€" with the sculptures and figurines of the Paleolithic and Upper Paleolithic and from Mesopotamia â€" the Sphinx is one of the most recognisable sculptures to ever have existed. This statue from ancient Egypt is also one of the iconic images of the ancient world.The sphinx is a mythical creature â€" with the body of a lion and the head of a human â€" and its face in this instance is thought to represent that of Pharaoh Khafre, who reigned between 2558 and 2532BC.It’s thought to be both a figure for the worship of t he sun. Yet, the fact that its face represents the Pharaoh shows the intertwinement of secular power and spiritual. Right from the beginning of sculpture, then, you see these colossal images being used for lots of different purposes.Check here for art classes you can take on Superprof. One of the oldest sculptures we knowStatue of Zeus at Olympia (c. 435BC)This one is a bit of a controversial one. Because, in the history of western art, this may be one of the most influential sculptures, but it is also one that we have never seen. One of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, this sculpture was apparently over forty feet tall and made of gold and ivory.The statue was made in Ancient Greece, by the sculptor, Phidias, one of the most important names in Greek sculpture. His influence on the art world has been huge: he is considered one of the major influences on Hellenistic sculptural design â€" and his work influences all Greek and Roman art after him.The figurative sculpture depicted Zeus â€" the king of the Greek deities â€" sat upon a large throne. The belief of the art historian is that the temple in which the statue sat was destroyed by fire in the fourth century â€" with the statue itself irremediably damaged.Nike of Samothrace (c. 200BC)Of all the masterpiece s of ancient art that still survive, there are few that are more influential for the arts up until today. The Nike of Samothrace is a sculpture in the round depicting the Greek god of victory, Nike.Today, it is headless. However, the sculpture represents the peak of figurative sculpture of the ancient art world. There are a huge number of replicas â€" in parks and the odd museum of art across the world â€" of this testament to the artistic skill of ancient civilizations.And what makes it particularly interesting is that it is one of the few Greek sculptures that survives â€" rather than just a replica from Roman art.In itself, it is a beautiful sculpture that makes the most of the three dimensions that characterise the form. Rather than mere reliefs, this sculpture engages with the space around it â€" in a way that wouldn’t happen again until the High Renaissance.Lewis Chessmen (c. 1200)The Lewis Chessmen are probably the most famous representatives of the sculptural tradition tha t existed in Europe outside of the Romanesque tradition that led to the Italian Renaissance.The chess pieces are beautiful examples of small sculpture, and are thought to have been by sculptors in Trondheim, Norway. However, they were discovered on the Scottish island of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides.Depicting the whole team of chessmen, the pieces are made of walrus ivory and whales’ teeth.David (1504)To modern and contemporary eyes, Michelangelo’s figure sculpture, David, may well be the most recognised representational piece ever to have existed.In the period of Donatello and Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo pushed the art of sculpture to its most beautifully naturalistic, elegant, and anatomically accurate.Made of white marble, the statue was admired by artists and painters â€" and it influenced all types of outdoor sculpture and religious sculpture since.A classicist in style, Michelangelo developed the ways of doing sculpture that would influence everyone up to contemporary a rtists. And if you don’t know this sculpture, you’ve got a lot to learn!Learn more about history's most famous sculpture artists! CalumDrama School Entrance Teacher 5.00 (15) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ToriSpanish Teacher 5.00 (1) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors OliviaSchool support Teacher 5.00 (2) £21/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarkESOL (English) Teacher 4.76 (17) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YuweiChinese Teacher 4.33 (6) £19/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JenniferMusic reading Teacher 5.00 (1) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LouiseAutoCAD Teacher 5.00 (3) £60/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RickyPercussion Teacher 5.00 (7) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NicolasGuitar Teacher 5.00 (2) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MyriamOrganic chemistry Teacher 5.00 (13) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JonathanEconomics Teacher 5.00 (9) £ 40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Oluwakemi imoleMaths Teacher 5.00 (1) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AlexPhysics Teacher 5.00 (1) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AdamSinging Teacher 5.00 (14) £48/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ValentiniMusic reading Teacher 5.00 (2) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MilenaMaths Teacher 5.00 (5) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RashmiEconomics Teacher 5.00 (1) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsEcstasy of Santa Teresa (1652)Capturing, and taking to their zenith, the Baroque principles of design, the Ecstasy of Santa Teresa by Gian Lorenzo Bernini rests in a church in Rome.It has been a huge influence on modern art with its use of dynamism, characters in movement, and its engagement with its surrounding space.It’s a bit of a controversial piece â€" as characterised in a famous Dan Brown novel â€" as there is something quite sensual about the position of the saint’s body.Trevi Fountain (1762)Remaining in Rome, the Trevi Fountain needs to have a place in this list. With its equestrian figures, gushing streams, and powerful swirling lines, this mammoth water feature is the most famous fountain in the world.However, as this piece is not in an art museum or in one of the city’s cathedrals â€" but rather in the centre of town â€" it is often heaving with selfie-stick wielding tourists capturing its gorgeous whiteness.It is a piece of public art, commissioned originally by the Pope, and the resulting designed was chosen through a competition. Again, this is sculpture used to show off prestige and power. Yet, given that the whole thing was influenced by the genius Bernini, it’s at least quite a stunning testament to wealth. The Trevi Fountain in Rome is one of the most jawdropping - and touristy - places in Rome.Psyche Revived by Cupid’s Kiss (1793)One of our personal favourites in this list is the marble sculpture by Antonio Canova known as Psyche Revived by Cupid’s Kiss.Depicting the Greek gods in passionate movement, Canova’s statue is absolutely representative of the neoclassical â€" and emerging, Romantic â€" movements of his age.It is famous for having no single preferred viewpoint â€" with action happening at all different perspectives.You’ll find it in the Louvre - one of the world's most important sculpture collections - with pretty much everything else.Statue of Liberty (1886)In terms of sculpture as public art project, the Statue of Liberty is the most iconic, the most politically explicit, and obviously the most famous.Stood on Liberty Island at the entrance to the docks of New York, this site specific work was intended to remind visitors and immigrants arriving by boat of the centra l values of the United States of America.It is, quite frankly, absolutely colossal, and it serves more as a political statement than an actually nice piece of art.However, as famous sculptures go, this is probably the most famous you’re going to get.The Thinker (1902)Probably the most influential sculptor of the last two hundred years, Auguste Rodin brought modernism into sculpture and developed the artistic language that would go on to influence all of the aspects of abstract sculpture and contemporary sculpture: kinetic sculpture, glass sculpture, architectural sculpture, landscape gardens, paper sculpture and the like.Whilst Rodin himself didn’t experiment with medium and material as much as his successors would, his impressionistic style took the pompous posing out of the art for good.The Thinker is his most famous work, depicting a man sat with his chin on his hand. And whilst, when we think of twentieth-century sculpture, we might immediately think more of Pablo Picasso an d Brancusi, Rodin is where it all started. Brazil's most famous sculptureChrist the Redeemer (1931)Apparently, Rio de Janeiro’s famous image of Christ is one of the wonders of the modern world. We don’t know if it deserves quite this designation, but, as sculptures go, it’s pretty famous.Standing high above the Brazilian city, this statue, like the Statue of Liberty in a way, communicates the values and ideals of the country in which it is placed.

Narrative analysis English Reading Online Tutorpace

Narrative analysis English Reading Online Tutorpace Narrative analysis focuses on analyzing how some components of a story is arranged, why some components are assessed differently, how the present and the past shape the perceptions of each other and how both the present and the past determine the future. Narrative analysis also deals with the manner in which people create and apply stories to interpret the world around them and it treats the narratives as products of the society in a specific setting related to locations of historical value, cultural value or social value. So, narrative analysis can be considered as the key with which people create an identity for themselves and so it is normally biased (subjective). Moreover, narratives are set in a worldly dimension where characters and their actions are fantasy or imaginary with disparate components such as sub plots and other digressions. Classification of Narrative Analysis Narrative analysis is classified into categories such as structural approach (analyzing setting, summary, initiating event, complicating action, resolution, assessment and then returning to the present) sociological approach (analyzing the actions of the characters related to the social setting at the time of the story and comparing those to the present) and functional approach (analyzing the story to find how problems are solved or uncertainties are resolved). When learners are involved in narrative analysis, they acquire the skill to evaluate the narrative with regard to the world that they live in and they also learn to assess the writers as to how the imaginary characters relate the real world.

Tutoring In Schools Small Group Sessions

Tutoring In Schools Small Group Sessions Even experienced tutors can struggle when starting to deliver sessions in schools. Tutoring in-school means being particularly mindful of how your sessions fit into a student’s school life and tailoring your approach accordingly. This sounds easy enough in theory, but what does it mean in practice?   This week, we’re looking at small group sessions. The schools we work with are most likely to ask our tutors to work with small groups. There’s always a balance to be struck between the number of students involved in an intervention and the progress each selected student makes. Research shows that small groups of two or three students is the best way for a school to maximise impact from tutoring. We’ve compiled a list of the five things tutors should definitely be doing when working with small groups in schools. Teaching the right group As soon as there’s more than one student in a session, the relationship between the students becomes just as important as your relationship with them. If students don’t get on or are starting the sessions with very different attitudes or attainment, it can become difficult to work productively with them. Sometimes you can work around this â€" find commonalities, use different ability levels to encourage peer learning â€" but sometimes you might be better off rearranging the group. This won’t always be possible, but often whoever is arranging the groups for you will understand the problem and work with you to find a better solution. If, for example, a group of three students has one student whose subject knowledge is a long way behind the others, the sessions might serve to weaken their confidence rather than strengthen it. Whilst tutors should try their best to find a productive approach with every group, it’s equally important to voice your concerns with school and make sure you’re always working in the way that’s most beneficial for your students â€" thinking hard about the make-up of each group is a big part of this.   Setting the room up correctly Often overlooked by inexperienced tutors, the physical set-up of the room you’re working in can make a big difference to the session itself. Where are you sitting in relation to the students? Where are they sitting in relation to each other? How can you manage these variables to get the best possible environment for learning? When new to in-school tutoring, tutors can feel as though they’re in someone else’s space. This means they won’t feel comfortable temporarily rearranging a room and might just put up with a room in the way they find it. If you’re not comfortable in the space, this will come across to your students. Arranging the workspace so that it’s tidy, purposeful and appropriate for the task at hand will show that you’re in control and make it easier for students to settle into the lessons. Using the group dynamic to your advantage This is a simple idea: if the activity you’re doing could be done either with a full class or just one student, you could probably do something better with a small group. Students get a lot from learning with their peers â€" maybe discussing, competing, quizzing each other. These are benefits you can’t get as easily from a group of thirty students or just one, so embrace them and use them to your advantage. Think about how you can tailor activities so that they require the students to collaborate. Can it be gamified to encourage healthy competition? Can they be working together to solve a problem? This will make the sessions feel novel, well-rounded and fun for students, letting them enjoy the group dynamic and get an increased benefit from sessions. Getting all students to contribute Part of designing effective group activities means understanding your group â€" particularly thinking about whether a certain approach will allow louder, more confident students to dominate. When planning for lessons or just asking questions, make sure to get responses from every member of the group equally. Students that are less confident will not speak up without encouragement and will slide all-too-comfortably into letting more outgoing students do the heavy lifting for them.   With only 2-4 students in the room, there should be no place for quieter students to hide and the habit shouldn’t be allowed to develop. Once a student is used to coasting through sessions, it can become uncomfortable to get them contributing further down the line. That said, it’s important to take different confidence levels into account and ask students to contribute in a way that they’re comfortable. The loudest, most confident student shouldn’t necessarily be used as the model for all contributions.   Maintaining school rules School rules are important everywhere in school life, but never more so than in small group sessions. Behavioural issues are far less likely to occur in one-to-one sessions and any bad behaviour in classrooms will usually be dealt with immediately by the teaching staff. Small group sessions are the place, if anywhere, where a tutor is most likely to be faced with challenging behaviour and things can bubble over into a loss of control. The best way to avoid this situation is to make sure the rules that apply elsewhere in school apply in your small group sessions from the very start. Small group sessions can be fun â€" and can feel more informal than regular lessons. Particularly with inexperienced tutors, this can result in a lax approach to school rules. It feels natural at first not to be too concerned with untucked shirts or a bit of boisterous behaviour. If your students are relaxed, happy and willing to learn, so why make a point of following up small infractions? But over a number of weeks this relaxed approach will encourage students to test the boundaries, lead to a silly, unfocused atmosphere in sessions.   It’s a delicate thing, but it’s not too hard to find a balance. Your sessions can be friendly, warm, relaxed and fun, but a gentle reminder of school rules (often even a non-verbal cue) will go a long way. If the head of the school walked into your session right now, would she be happy with what she saw? If not, you should take some time to consider how to keep an ordered and focused feel to your tutoring.   If you’re interested in tutoring in-schools, contact the foundation at foundation@tutorfair.com, check your profile for volunteering opportunities or browse our website to find out what’s on.

ALEXA, PLEASE.

ALEXA, PLEASE….” In last weeks post I discussed how digital assistants, like Alexa, can help things run more smoothly at home when you have a child with ADHD. Digital assistants are developing rapidly, and already come with an impressive array of features and functions. Yet, as with all emerging technologies, parents should be on the lookout for unintended consequences that might crop up once they and their children start using the devices. With screen-free digital assistants, many of the pitfalls that come with tablet and phone-based technology are avoided. On the other hand, the language and style of speaking that we use to communicate with Alexa doesnt match up with the way we talk with our partners, coworkers, and children. As adults, we can easily distinguish between a style of speech used with technology and a style of speech used with the people in our lives, but for young children and children of all ages who struggle with social interactions, this differentiation may not be intuitive. Across the board, kids attribute human thoughts, feelings, and intentions to inanimate objects. Its completely normal for them to think that their stuffed bear may feel lonely if he is left alone all day, or that their dump truck is mad because its wheel got stuck in the sand. As kids get older this tendency gradually decreases, but for some, it still pops up well into adulthood (think of people you know who talk about their beloved car as though it is a person!). Technology like Alexa taps into this tendency to attribute human qualities to objects. And, depending on your childs developmental level, the line between person and technology may still be quite blurry. So, as you bark out commands to your digital assistant -- Alexa, turn on the lights, or Alexa, play my favorite radio station, or worse, as you keep trying to get it to work, saying more sternly each time, Alexa. Alexa! ALEXA! -- your kids are hearing and absorbing your tone and phrasing. Without intending to, youre providing a model of communication that they may generalize to their interactions with friends and family. Fortunately, with three simple steps (and ongoing mindfulness on your part) you can keep this behavior to a minimum: Rename Alexa. Did you know that you dont actually need to refer to Alexa as Alexa? Alexa is simply a word programed into your digital assistant to wake it up and get it ready to receive a command. Its called the Wake Word and you can change it to anything that you would like to use. You can de-personalize your digital assistant and make it clear that you are taking to a machine and not a person by changing the devices Wake Word to Computer or another technology-related name. Say Please. Start talking to your digital assistant the way you would talk to a friend or colleague when youre asking them to do something for you. Start each request or command with Alexa, please (or the new name for your device in place of Alexa). After the task is completed, end the conversation with Alexa, thank you. Your device will always respond by saying something like, You bet! or Anytime!, providing a great model for your child. Remember that you can turn off Alexa. Its easy to forget that you are in charge of your technology, and not the other way around. If youre concerned about how your child is interacting with Alexa, or your child isnt practicing his or her please and thank you with the device, then it might be time for a break. Let your child know that when he or she doesnt use please or thank you, the device will stop responding. Then, unplug Alexa. Its as simple as that. After a break, plug Alexa back in and let your child give it another try. As digital assistants continue to evolve Im optimistic that new family-friendly features and parental controls will be added to their functionality. In the meantime, be mindful of the way you and your child interact with Alexa, and be on the lookout for unintended consequences that may pop up as you integrate this technology into your daily 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.

10 Reasons We Should Go To The Gym

10 Reasons We Should Go To The Gym Photo Via: http://1-ps.googleusercontent.com Many people think that as long as you eat semi-decent foods and walk to class every day, you’re being healthy. This is extremely wrong. Being healthy involves so much more than that, working out included. While you don’t need to necessarily run several miles every day, at least getting on the treadmill for 30 minutes every day is a start in the right direction. While time is usually the issue, especially with college students, making the time to get healthy is a decision you won’t regret later on. 2. To look good Photo Via: https://hellofatties.files.wordpress.com There isn’t much else more motivating than looking at yourself in the mirror and not being happy with what you see. Rather than putting off the workout that you know you need, pay attention to what your body is telling you and get over to the gym. While looks definitely aren’t everything, doing what you can to look good isn’t a bad thing. And with swimsuit season coming up quickly, make sure you’re ahead of the game by heading to the gym right away. 3. To eat what you want Photo Via: https://dranely.files.wordpress.com It’s no secret that salad isn’t always satisfying. In fact, most people become depressed with their meals when they’re limited to foods they can’t stand because they’re trying to lose weight. Wouldn’t it be easier if you could work out at the gym and come home to food that you actually want to eat? This isn’t to say going to the gym gives you the freedom to eat junk food all day long, but that you have more freedom to have that bag of popcorn after a long week of working out at the gym. 4. To relieve stress Photo Via: http://www.jenellesummers.com School is stressful. There’s no doubt about that. And the best way to relieve that stress is to head on over to the campus gym. While your initial reaction may be to go sit on the couch and flip on the TV for some relaxation, working out is far more likely to relieve your stress. Whether you’re on the elliptical or lifting weights, your workout routine is going to be the ultimate stress reliever. 5. To procrastinate Photo Via: http://www.targetclickmarketing.com We love to procrastinate. Got a test on Friday? Looks like you’re not looking at the study guide until Thursday. Paper due on Thursday? Looks like you’re pulling an all-nighter Wednesday to write that bad boy. What better way is there to spend your time procrastinating homework than to head on over to the gym? It will not only kill time but also give you that feeling of accomplishment that you’ll probably need since you’ve done nothing else today. 6. To get out Photo Via: https://pgoaspryliving2.files.wordpress.com Staying cooped up in the apartment/dorm all semester isn’t healthy, and is more than likely going to make you depressed. So rather than sitting around feeling bored, use your free time to head over to the gym. You are not only getting out of the apartment, but also staying healthy. That’s more than you can do sitting on the couch. 7. To improve your sleep Photo Via:  http://www.ahbeard.com Working out has been proven to help your sleep, yet another benefit to be gained in visiting the gym. So if you are an insomniac, go to the gym. Working out can help you sleep longer, and also more soundly. So next time you feel like you’re losing sleep, keep this little tip in mind and pay a visit to your campus gym. 8. It’s free Photo Via: http://shockawenow.webs.com Most campus recreation centers are included in the price of your tuition, making them practically free for your use. So why wouldn’t you take advantage of it while you have it at your disposal? So long as you have a gym to use, it would be stupid not to use it. So do the smart thing, and take advantage of your free gym. Because they won’t be free from here on out. 9. The weather doesn’t matter Photo Via: http://www.returnofkings.com The weather is one of the least motivational elements when it comes to working out, and the gym eliminates all excuses. Did you ever skip a run because it was too cold outside? Luckily enough for you, the gym is inside and eliminates this problem altogether. You’re welcome. 10. To be more athletic Photo Via: http://i.dailymail.co.uk And last, but not least, is the fact that going to the gym can help to make you more athletic in general. You will no longer be winded from walking up your staircase, and you’ll actually be able to finish a pickup game of basketball without sounding like Darth Vader. Going to the gym has so many benefits that it’s hard to ignore its importance. So keep these ideas in mind next time you’re putting off working out, because there are so many reasons you should be going to the gym.

Time Management Tips for Kids - ALOHA Mind Math

Time Management Tips for Kids Let’s face it, our children’s lives are busy. Between school, extracurricular activities from ALOHA Math or Reading|Writing sessions to sports or piano lessons, and time to just be a kidthat can be a lot to juggle. Parents can help children learn time management skills by following a few steps: planning, organization, scheduling and adaptability. A bit of time working with your kids on managing their time, can also help a parent’s busy schedule run more smoothly as well. Let’s Talk about Adaptability First We know every week is not going to go along with our plan. Unexpected projects or homework being assigned, a change in a sporting event schedule, a forgotten note that parents never receivedall can throw things into chaos. How parents handle an issue that comes up can help children learn to be adaptable as well. With a bit of time spent on the three items below, and a positive attitude in the face of changes that will happen, can go a long way in making your child’s week run more smoothly. Helping your Children Learn to Plan Ahead If parents and kids work together to set aside a bit of time each weekend to think through their upcoming week, and create a baseline plan that allows some room for these life events/changes, there is a better chance that chaos can be held to a minimum. Move from Planning to Scheduling During your weekly planning time with each child, block out the big events in the upcoming week major tests, sporting events or music recitals. Then block out preparation time for those events. Around those, block in the normal weekly events homework time, sports or art/music practice, and after school enrichment like Aloha classes. Be sure to allow down time for kids to just be kids, and some time for adaptability. If every moment of your child’s time is scheduled, that leave less room for changes that can happen. Organization for Children Be sure to have supplies for homework and school projects organized in one location. Help your child find ways to organize their school materials in a ways that makes sense for them. That way projects and homework should go much more smoothly. During your weekly planning session try and decide what extra supplies you might need this week. And during the week, check assignments early so you can get any needed supplies. This of course depends on your child remembering to bring home their paperwork in time to plan. We all know those weeks when that doesn’t happenthat’s when that adaptability we mentioned above comes in handy. Day-to-Day Time Management with Kids Helping children learn to manage their time can be a challenge. In addition to planning for the weekly projects, events and homework there is day-to-day management of timeand stuff. Help your kids find a routine to help them remember everything they need to get to school on time. Big, bold checklists by the door can help. Also helping kids find a place or location where each item on that list “lives,” giving things a “home,” can really help. For a child who has trouble getting it all together in the morning, try getting it all together before bedtime and laying out the next day’s clothing and setting the backpack with everything in it by the door can be a big help. Please share with us and other ALOHA parents your time management tips for children. What worked for you, might work for someone else too!

8 Ways to Beat the Winter Blues

8 Ways to Beat the Winter Blues Photo taken from PTPAs Blogaholics Its SAD that everyone starts to feel down during these cold times, and no I dont mean sad like the emotion, even though it definitely applies! Seasonal Affective Disorder is a type of depression that occurs during the winter months, usually in the beginning of the cold season. And who wouldnt be, especially with this death of a semester system? As a happy-go-lucky college student who never really deals with mood swings and depression, I was kind of shocked when I didnt feel like myself last week. Then again, coming from warm climates, I didnt know that someone could get so depressed in cold weather. I was in this weird funk and I didnt know why until a friend of mine pointed out that I may have been suffering from this concept of SAD. It was odd to me since this was technically the first time ever that I was actually depressed. Curious as I am, I needed to get out of this, so I found 8 ways to beat the winter blues this year: 1.  Exercise.  Whether its a walk outside or a jog in the RPAC, exercise naturally releases endorphins in the body plus relieves you of daily stress. 2.  Eat a healthy diet.  I know this can be difficult, especially being budget-friendly college students with pizza and fast food delivery at the touch of a button. But what you eat greatly affects your energy levels and mood. Stay away from processed carbs (such as white bread and rice) and go for more complex carbs (like whole grains and vegetables), which help stabilize blood sugar and energy levels. 3.  Take in some vitamin D.  Although the most natural way to get your daily dose of vitamin D is from the sun, that can be a little difficult to find in the middle of winter in Ohio. Instead opt for more vitamin D-rich foods such as salmon, milk and eggs, or take a vitamin D supplement instead. 4.  Avoid binge drinking.  I understand its college, but shots of vodka are not the cure for depression and the hangover will definitely not help your mood the morning after. 5.  Be social.  After long hours of studying and spending hours in Thompson, you deserve to have social interaction with the rest of the world. Plan a night out with your friends or a shopping trip to Easton. The anticipation of the event will improve your mood and can keep you motivated. 6.  Relax.  Sometimes this is a difficult concept to comprehend, but it may be one of the best possible things you could do during the cold season. Have some time every day where you do absolutely nothing. Its totally acceptable to sit on the couch for a couple hours to catch up on American Horror Story or Breaking Amish. 7.  Embrace the winter season.  Instead of thinking about all the things you cant do in the cold snow, think of ways you can have fun in the snow. Go ice skating, sledding, or make a snowman on the Oval. Dont forget to end your day with a cup of hot chocolate! 8. Dont forget the ZZZs.  Your body is already in a funk from the changing seasons, and depriving yourself of sleep wont help at all. Make sure youre getting at least 7-8 hours of sleep, and a short 30-minute nap midday can help you re-energize yourself for the rest of the day. Bipolar weather is an understatement here in Ohio (I mean, wasnt it 80 degrees and sunny two weeks ago?!), but with the warm Fall weather coming to an end, well all get through it together. Theres no reason a little bit of wind and snow should keep us from enjoying life. Until then, happy Winter, everyone!