3 Methods for Setting Goals

3 Methods for Setting Goals January is often viewed as a month for change, and most change starts with setting goalsthat is, verbalizing or writing down what you hope to achieve. Goal-setting can be a daunting process; you may not know where to begin or how to frame the objectives you have in mind. Many people give up on their New Years resolutions because they set unrealistic standards for themselves, but this issue can be fixed by finding techniques to help you set goals. Methods for goal-setting can include BSQ, SMART, and OGTM. Eager to set goals, but not sure where to begin? Keep reading to learn three methods for setting goals in the new year: Goal-setting method #1: BSQ BSQ stands for big, small, and quick. Begin this goal-setting method by thinking big. What do you hope to achieve in the coming months? Summarize your goal in several words or a sentencefor example, Land an internship thats related to my major. Dont worry if your goal seems unreachable now. The idea is to start big and to then move on to the specific steps that will make your goal attainable. The next step in BSQ is to act small. That is, enumerate each action you will take to reach your goalfor instance, to craft a well-written cover letter or to attend a networking event at your college. Its best to be as detailed as possible with this step; vague courses of action will not give you a clear idea of how to reach your goal. Finally, move quick. This is the step where you establish deadlines for yourself. Develop a separate deadline for each action you have brainstormed in the previous step. You may decide you need to craft a well-written cover letter by mid-January and attend a networking event sometime in February. Deadlines are essential when goal-setting because they hold you accountable. [RELATED: The Importance of Self-Reflection: How to End the Year on a Positive Note] Goal-setting method #2: SMART SMART is an acronym that explains the characteristics that contribute to effective goals: Specific: Your goal should be precise. Rather than setting the general goal to read more, decide how often and how much you would like to read. Measurable: Your goals failure or success can be calculated in some way. For example, you can measure your progress by the number of pages you have read in a day or week, or by the amount of time you have spent reading in a day or week. Agreed upon: In the event that other parties are involved, everyone needs to agree on the goal. If you are part of a book club, all members should agree on the reading material or pace. Otherwise, the club may dissolve due to differences of opinion. Realistic: Your goal must be attainable. For instance, you should allot yourself weeks to read a dense novel, not days. Be honest about what your schedule and brain can handle, and dont set unrealistic goals. Time-based: Your goal should have a deadline. Give yourself neither too much nor too little time to accomplish your goal. A goal without a deadline will almost certainly be postponed. [RELATED: Time Management Tips for Students] Goal-setting method #3: OGTM The OGTM (or objectives, goals, tactics, and metrics) method for goal-setting starts broad and becomes specific. You begin by creating an objective for yourselffor example, to improve in English class. The OGTM method defines an objective as a generalized, long-term hope that may be accomplished in a few months or even a few years. Next, streamline your objective into a goal (or a more tangible target). This may be learning five new vocabulary words per week. Tactics, much like the act small step in BSQ, refer to the techniques that enable you to reach your objective. To improve your English grade, you can download a vocabulary flashcard app for your phone or write in a journal every morning. Metrics, much like measurable from the SMART acronym, refers to the methodology for assessing a goals success. This step relies on numbers (such as percentages) to tell a story about the extent to which the objective was achieved. Students should notice that, although BSQ, SMART, and OGTM contain different letters, they embody similar ideals. No matter which goal-setting framework you choose in 2018, make sure your goals are specific, measurable, and attainable. With a researched plan, anything is possible! [RELATED: How to Make a Smart Study Routine] Any topics you want to know more about? Let us know! The Varsity Tutors Blog editors love hearing your feedback and opinions. Feel free to email us at blog@varsitytutors.com.

A Guide To GCSE Art Final Piece 2018

A Guide To GCSE Art Final Piece 2018 All About Your Art GCSE Final Piece ChaptersGCSE Art Course SummaryRemembering How Your GCSE Artwork Fits InPlanning For Your Art Final PieceDeveloping Your GCSE Art Final Piece IdeasGCSE Art Final Piece EvaluationThe GCSE Art ExamHelp With GCSE Art Final PiecesBefore they've even started the course, some pre-college GCSE pupils begin to get nervous about the concept of a ten-hour-long exam but, in actual fact, the final piece assessment isn't as daunting or scary as you might think.If you are familiar with the Art Design course, you will know that your final piece counts as 40% of your overall grade and that the other 60% is awarded for the effort you put into your portfolio during the two academic years leading up to the final exam. So it doesn't all lie on those two days of full-on pressure!The key, however, is not to produce an exceptional final piece and a separately superb sketchbook, it is to make them both absolutely brilliant and (most importantly) for them to  link together.As you will see below, the ideas, images, texts, and experiments that you display in your sketchbook should all be stepping stones towards your final art piece. It's all about the journey, not just where you're headed!As such, in this article, we will look at how you can gain those top marks by making your portfolio and final piece tie together. or the OCR equivalent. Here, we will refer to the AQA curriculum.During your time as a GCSE Art student, you will be given a very good grounding and a general introduction to the subject of Art and will be given the opportunity to choose from a range of options.Below, we have provided some detail on the subtopics available to you in the Art classroom.Fine artDuring a fine art module, you can expect to do drawing, painting, sculpting, printmaking, photography, installation and other lens or light-based media and mixed media art.A fine art option enables you to learn about classical and modern painters and develop your own drawing and painting style. Photo credit: rverc on Vis ualhunt / CC BYGraphic communicationThis area focuses on  communication graphics, design for print, advertising and branding, illustration, package design, typography, interactive design, (including web, app, and game), multi-media, motion graphics, and signage and exhibition graphics. This choice is therefore very well-suited to those wishing to fulfil a career in advertising.Textile designThis subtopic is all about textile art like fashion design and illustration, costume design, constructed textiles, printed and dyed textiles, surface pattern, stitched and/or embellished textiles, soft furnishings and/or textiles for interiors, digital textiles and installed textiles. Therefore, anyone who sees themselves in the textiles industry would benefit from having studied this module.Three-dimensional designThis particular section offers those wishing to express themselves artistically with the opportunity to do with varying mediums and within different settings. For example, this module is made up of architectural design, sculpture, ceramics, product design, jewellery and body adornment, interior design, environmental/landscape/garden design, exhibition design, three-dimensional digital design and designs for theatre, and film and television.PhotographyFinally, budding photographers will no doubt be drawn to this area of study because it allows them to develop their skills and experiment with portraiture, location photography, studio photography, experimental imagery, installation, documentary photography, photo-journalism, moving image: film, video and animation, and fashion photography.Learn more about your GCSE art syllabus in this complete guide!Remembering How Your GCSE Artwork Fits InYour portfolio, i.e. the work that you will spend your class time and homework time completing over the course of the two-year programme, should be a good representation of your academic journey in this subject.This shouldn't be hard, because your sketchbook will naturally evolve along with your ideas and interests. Some content will be classroom-led to get the cogs in your head turning, so it's not all down to you from the start. What you can expect is for your teacher to introduce topics and ideas for you to explore in your own individual way, and then to see what ideas take off from there.While presentation and aesthetics are obviously very important in this artistic subject, the content is equally as important. The examiner isn't going to hold it against you if your drawing skills aren't excellent but they will mark you down if you show little effort to record and annotate your thoughts. Your tutor will no doubt encourage you to illustrate your thought processes from the beginning of the course to get your sketchbook looking nice and full.Look up for  Art classes near me  now.If you are wondering how on earth to even begin your journey on the art syllabus, then don't panic!You will be given an overriding theme, subject, task or brief which you will be a sked to focus your attention on and to engage with in a personal way.It is this overarching theme that your teacher will help you to develop in class without actually telling you what to do. They might, however, help you along by pointing out which are your strongest areas and suggesting that you use certain styles and mediums in your exploration as these best showcase your artistic ability.As a result of being given a subject by the examiners, you should ensure that the pages in your sketchbook (from start to finish) respond in some way to this theme, eventually communicating your intentions for your final piece. If you do go off on a tangent, this is ok but just ensure that you make your thought process and pattern clear to the examiner.Living in Scotland, find art classes Edinburgh.Learn more about how you can ace the GCSE sketchbook component!One example of a theme you might be faced with is 'reflection' and you will be asked to interpret it as you wish. Photo on Visual huntWhil e you may be better at using one particular medium, don't forget to show a wide range of mediums and materials in your art projects from term to term as well as attacking the subject from various analytical angles. Even though you may feel that you are perfecting your style, using one single medium throughout your GCSE course and ending the art project with a piece created using this same exact material could come across very cautious. Also, the variety of media you use can be used to enhance your different approaches to the subject, for instance, you might like to vary the use of colour, texture size and so on to show how you are feeling when examining a particular part of the brief.The examiner wants to see you come out of your comfort zone and be bold and courageous whilst experimenting with new materials and mediums, learning something about yourself or others in the process.That said, it isn't wise to use a completely new medium during your final exam. If you have a particular medium or tool you wish to use, then make sure that you have shown in your portfolio that you've dabbled with this prior to entering the exam.The assessment is not the time to be experimental!Find some  art classes London  right now.Planning For Your Art Final PieceIf you are in your first year of the course and are stuck for ideas with your GCSE Art final piece, then don't worry too much. If, however, you are fast approaching the Summer term with no clue as to which direction your art course is going to take you, then now is the time to really firm up your ideas and plans.Remember, it isn't necessarily a bad thing to let the subject run its course while you explore it, but there comes a time when you need to start to narrow down your ideas again and bring the brief back onto a particular line of enquiry. Imagine a diamond shape on its side... You start off with a single theme, you widen your search to cover a broad range of interconnected sub-themes and then you head to a specific, related yet developed point once again which will culminate in your final piece.Whether you have already decided that you are going to specialise in Painting, Graphic Design, Photography, Textiles or Sculpture, selecting the topic to go along with this is where most students struggle. It is a decision that many find difficult because of a lack of inspiration, an inability to choose between two or more possible final outcomes or ideas for their brief, or a general misunderstanding about the type of topic that is appropriate.The key is to brainstorm, evaluate and select an outstanding subject, topic or theme for your project. Also, don't  be afraid to ask for other people's opinions where you feel you need the support, like your art teacher or family and friends.A Guide To Picking Your ThemeBrainstormEven if you had an image inside your head from the moment your art course theme was announced, don't fail to explore other avenues too. You may come across an idea that is way better tha n you could have imagined, especially after a year or so of added experience and practice.Start by writing down all subjects, themes, places, songs, things or issues that you feel are personally relevant (because any art course must have some personal meaning or connection to be successful) and that matter to you as an individual. Don't feel embarrassed about being too 'deep', the idea of the art curriculum is for you to explore yourself and your feelings whilst also examining artists and art.Remember, the purpose of the coursework and final piece put together is to communicate a message, no matter how big or small. It could be about something that has happened to you in your private life or it could be your way of screaming at the world about a global issue.If there is no meaning or emotion behind the work, there is no driving force and nothing will be able to move this forward, only sideways with no destination to reach.Be sure to include topics that are a bit 'out there' (unusual , challenging, controversial, or inspiring subject matters) as those are often the ones that spur the most passion.Students who extract an emotive response from the examiner by selecting issues that they really believe in are much more likely to achieve better results than those who simply choose aesthetically pleasing but somewhat superficial subjects. So, try to make the markers and moderators sit up and take notice of your work!Find online art courses on Superprof now.EvaluateThink carefully about the topics that you have written down during the above activity and now start to filter through your options.Eliminate those which are insignificant and lacking in substance, along with those that are out of reach (i.e. themes relying on others or on equipment you simply can't access). Remove the topics for which the source material is too simple and won't provide enough visual variety to explore for two academic years.Get rid of those topics for which the source material lacks any aest hetic appeal. This doesn't mean it needs to be obviously 'pretty', as often the beauty of art is finding the beauty in the ordinary or mundane.Most importantly, however, dismiss any topics which are common or over-done, especially if someone in your class is already attacking one of them.  Unless you have a unique angle, you may feel that you are comparing your work or playing catch up the whole time if you know someone else is working along the same lines. It's really easy to get disheartened and feel you disappointed that you didn't think of something first because you put so much emotion into the course.Finally, as mentioned, ensure that the topic you choose is something that you really care about and that will keep you interested for a year or more. If you have more than one topic left on your list, pick the thing that you are most passionate about. 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!Discove r 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 tutorsDeveloping Your GCSE Art Final Piece IdeasWe have focused a lot on the nature of your theme, but when you come to develop an idea you should make sure that you bring in various visual elements to support those thought-provoking ideas.Using a different combination of materials to create different effects and styles, like line,  tone,  colour,  shape,  form,  texture and pattern will help to move your development phase forward and will help you to decide which medium you prefer and which works best with your chosen subject.The development stage should be focused on exploring and experimenting and, remember, every idea and effort has its place even if it is less successful than another idea. You should never omit to put an explorat ion in your sketchbook because it didn't work out - it may be that this idea illustrates perfectly why and how you moved on to the next idea.Whilst developing your thoughts, it is not important to produce 'finished' studies or pieces so be aware that your experiments can be rough and ready.If working with an idea inspired by a painting, you may wish to try exploring different types of paints, alternative surfaces, expressive brushstrokes and so on. If working from an idea that stemmed from photography, then you could play with monochrome versus full colour.When it comes to 3D design, however, you might use 2D thumbnail drawings to sketch out ideas and then work on illustrating perspective, shapes and patterns before making 3D models. For your sketchbook, you can take photos of your models to insert and analyse.Although your work shouldn't look identical to a particular artist, you should most certainly explore artists that are relevant to your topic. For instance, a surrealist proje ct that focuses on Alice in Wonderland should identify links with artists such as Salvador Dali and Pablo Picasso and talk about how their work makes you feel and what you take away from their style that you can put in your own artwork.GCSE Art Final Piece EvaluationWhen it comes to evaluating your own artistic journey from start to finish ahead of your final exam, you should return to where it all started: the brainstorming phase.Go back to the beginning of your course and ask yourself these questions:Do I have a clever approach to this subject? Is the subject matter I've developed relevant to the brief? Does the work I am producing have an aesthetic quality? Is the story of my sketchbook intended to simply be controversial or does it show I care? Does my teacher support my choice of topic?The chances are that there will be some gaps in your thought process. This is easily fixed in the weeks or months before your final exam by going back through your journey and inserting evidence or referring to experiments completed around this time.Do not worry about your sketchbook becoming messy. Your teacher will no doubt tell you that more is best and that examiners like to see a sketchbook that barely closes because it is bursting at the seams with ideas! Even sticking pieces of fold-down paper in and changing the orientation of pages can add to the book's charm and bring it to life.The GCSE Art ExamYou will have a number of months, to research the theme of your choice (or the theme set out by your course) and create a preparation journey in your sketchbook.The final part of the examination project is a 10-hour exam where you will create your final piece, but what exactly are you allowed to do in that time under the exam settings?You will be able to add to your sketchbook during the exam however you ideally want to be focused on your final piece and have already completed all the preparation you need ahead of the day of the exam.You might be interested to know, howeve r, that  the following  activities, according to the AQA exam board website, do not get counted as part of your exam time:preparation of print materials, such as filing edges of perspex or metal print plates stretching of screens, preparation of blocks and plates mixing of photographic chemicals, washing and drying prints arrangement of a still life. You can take the materials for a still-life group into the exam. rest time for life models the making of a bare model stage fixing dye, dyeing yarn, washing and finishing of hand-woven fabrics or stretching of embroidery casting and mounting of models and sculptures drying of printing inks, oil paints, varnishes, glues or papier-mâché drying and firing time for sculptural work For ceramicists: the firing of the kiln is not counted in the time you're given but preparing the clay and the shaping of the work is. Ceramic work should be fired and completed before you present it for assessment, and you'll need plenty of time for drying-out and firing.What you decide to work on during your exam should not be a decision you take lightly, and should be something that you have planned and put a lot of thought into.In theory, you will have had an idea in your head from quite early on in the course and will have used your portfolio to identify a path towards this final piece of artwork.Make sure that you are familiar with your chosen medium before you go into the exam. Photo credit: samstockton on VisualHuntAs you can probably expect, the 10 hours will fly by.You can either set out an hourly schedule or guide or you can simply set out objectives for your first and second days. The exam more often than not takes place in your classroom so you can at least feel comfortable completing work within your usual learning environment.In most cases, the exam is spread across two consecutive days to ensure uninterrupted creativity.Your GCSE Art final piece must be a conclusion to your research and experimentation, directly related to all key aspects of your investigations.It must be well informed by various sources (as well as by making references to artists or periods of art) and should tell a story of your thought process from initial idea to final conclusion. The final piece produced in the exam should answer a key question or communicate a response to an issue, rather than be there simply to look pretty.Help With GCSE Art Final PiecesIn a way, 2018/2019 Art students are quite lucky because they have such a breadth of information at their fingertips. For instance, you can look at and seek help from numerous student websites, exam boards and forums with regards to your course, and a quick search on Google Images or Pinterest will result in a load of images and examples of others' final art pieces.However, as we have already mentioned, while it can be reassuring to see the work completed by others during their 10-hour assessment, it doesn't always help you because your personal connection to the theme and your unique style will be so very different to everyone else's.In fact, you might find it quite daunting looking at other people's artwork!  I know I felt very self-conscious painting my A3 watercolour  picture during my exam whilst one of my peers was working on a 6-foot sculpture right next to me! Once again, remember that everyone has a different response to a subject and a different way of expressing themselves.If you are getting close to the exam period and you are starting to feel a bit on edge about your choices when it comes to your final piece, then run your ideas and concerns past your art instructor, your family and your friends to see if they can offer you some encouragement or constructive criticism.Alternatively, you might like to speak to a private tutor who can help you to realise your best efforts.A tutor will certainly not do work for you or put ideas into your head but, as creative beings and professional artists (in some cases), they can often help you to open your ey es that little bit wider and to step a little further out of your comfort zone.After all this, you may want to review the benefits of learning art at GCSE level!

How to Use Twitter

How to Use Twitter Learning to Tweet ChaptersCreating Your Twitter ProfileStart by Following AccountsAdvice for Using TwitterLogging Out of TwitterIf you’ve not been living under a rock, you’ll have heard of the social network Twitter. With over 320 million users in 2018, Twitter has an activity community and is an interesting service for those wanting to learn about current affairs or voice their opinion online.While the platform is sometimes criticised for having too much freedom of expression, it does allow people to express themselves in 280 characters or less and using hashtags (#).  However, it can be difficult to get started on Twitter, create an account, and use the platform.Whether you're an individual, marketer, blogger, or dreaming of becoming an influencer, here's how you can connect with people on Twitter, one of the world's most popular social media sites, how you can create an account, and generally how you can get started on Twitter. 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 tut ors 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 tutorsCreating Your Twitter ProfileIf you want to get involved in the Twittersphere, the first thing you’ll have to do is sign up! To sign up, you just need to go to www.twitter.com and click on “Sign Up”. You’ll need a few details to create your account:Your username.A telephone number or email address.A password of at least 6 characters.You just need to validate your account and you’re ready to go! However, if you don’t want your phone number or email address to be used to find you on Twitter, you can go to “Privacy and Safety” in your settings and go to “Discoverability”.Birds aren't the only ones who can tweet. (Source: OpenClipart-Vectors)You’ll get an email to confirm the creation of your account. You can then access the social network’s homepage which won’t have a Twitter feed but just your profile page.You can have several Twitter accounts with different usernames but you’ll need different email addresses to do this. You can then switch between them at your leisure.You can sign up to Twitter through a mobile phone (Android or iOS) and it’s also quite simple. You can go to the site on your phone or download the Twitter app and follow the same procedure on a smaller screen.Your profile will be created but you’ll need to personalise it. Here’s how you add an image to your profile:Launch Twitter.Login to your account with your email address and password.Access the “Edit profile” menu in the top right of the screen.Click on “change your profile photo”.Click on “upload photo”.Choose an image saved on your computer.Adjust the image to fit.Click “Apply”.On a smartphone, you need to click and hold on the profile picture to change it.Start by Following AccountsThe main draw for Twitter is being able to follow accounts you’re interested in and get a feed filled with content that interests you.So how do you find which accounts you should follow?The world has never been so connected. (Source: edar)You need to do this according to your tastes. That said, you should also follow news accounts and useful accounts for information.This will help you keep up to date with what’s going on in the world just by scrolling. Remember that:“Any fool can know. The point is to understand.” - Albert EinsteinIt’s a good idea to pick some lighthearted accounts so that your feed isn’t overwhelmingly serious. Humour, art, pop culture, and sport are all good choices.There are plenty of famous Twitter accounts to follow.  Add some good accounts to your feed as well as TV shows and you’ll get some interesting information on your feed. You can even follow us on Twitter!You can also find relevan t information by using a hashtag (#). This is used to tag content to make it easier to find. If you see something you like and want to share it with your followers, you just have to retweet it.You can also use hashtags on Instagram, too.Advice for Using TwitterIf you use Twitter, it can be for business or pleasure. The way you use Twitter will differ depending on what you’re using your account for. For one, you’ll be thinking about web marketing, SEO, Twitter analytics, etc.Twitter made the hashtag famous. (Source: irfanahmad)On the other, you can enjoy your feed, Tweet on anything from politics to your favourite TV shows. If you want to drive engagement on Twitter (for your blog or website, etc.), here’s some advice to get you started:Have a clear profile picture so people can see who you are.Make sure you have a good profile description.Add links to your blog, website, or other social media accounts.Make sure your tweets and clear and effective.Regularly tweet.Use different types of media in your tweets.These basic steps will help you develop your personal or business Twitter account. It’s quite simple to gain followers and create a network. Knowing how Twitter works and how to use it is essential.If you only use Twitter to follow accounts, then you needn’t worry about all this. Otherwise, you’ll need to know how to tweet, get retweets, edit your profile, and how to use the messaging.Finally, don’t abuse Twitter and don’t get abused on Twitter. Twitter users can be cruel and threatening. Don’t forget that there’s as much good as there is bad on Twitter:“LinkedIn is for the people you know. Facebook is for the people you used to know. Twitter is for people you want to know”Be part of the solution and not part of the problem by paying attention to what you say on the network. For one, it means that you won’t have to frantically delete tweets.If you tweet something and regret it, you needn’t worry. Just delete it and move on. However , be careful as some users may do a screenshot of your tweet before you delete it, especially if you’re well known.In short, we recommend that, like everything else, you use Twitter in moderation. You’ll get better at social media the more you use it. You’ll also learn how to sort the good tweets from the bad ones.Logging Out of TwitterMany users don’t know how to log out of Twitter. If you want to log out, you just need to click on your profile picture on the top right of the screen.If you can't resist logging onto Twitter, it might be time to leave. (Source: PhotoMIX-Company)You’ll see a drop-down menu and you just need to click on “Log Out...”.For mobile devices, it’s a bit more complicated. You need to click on your profile picture, select “Setting and privacy”, “Account”, and “Log Out”. However, as long as you keep your mobile on you, there shouldn’t be a problem staying connected.If you’re not happy with Twitter, you can also delete your account . To do this, it’s a little more complicated.Click on “Setting and Privacy”. In the “Account” section, click on “Deactivate your account”. Once accepted, you’ll have 30 days to reconnect.Otherwise, just wait 30 days for life without Twitter! You can also enjoy real life or move on to another social media platform like Pinterest, Facebook, or Tumblr...So are you ready to create a Twitter profile?Download the app and get started.You can also learn more about different social networks on Superprof.If you still need some more information on how to use Twitter, consider getting in touch with a private tutor on Superprof. They can help you with networking on Twitter, tweeting to the people that follow you, etc. If you're an entrepreneur interested in using Twitter, they can help you with branding, how to interact with Twitter followers, running a Twitter marketing campaign, and Facebook and Twitter tools such as Tweetdeck and Hootsuite.There are three main types of private tutorials on Superprof: face-to-face tutorials, online tutorials, and group tutorials.Face-to-face tutorials are a one-on-one session with a private tutor. Your tutor will plan the sessions around you and you'll be their only focus during the lesson. As a result, these types of tutorials tend to be the most costly. However, they're also the most cost-effective.Online tutorials are offered via webcam so you can get a tutor from anywhere in the world. This is handy if you happen to need tutorials at unsociable hours. Since the tutor doesn't need to travel to their student, they can charge less for their tutorials.If you and a few friends would like to learn more about social media or IT, you could opt for group tutorials. Since you're all footing the bill, you'll pay less per person. This is a great option for those on a budget or those who prefer a more social type of private tutorial.Each type has its advantages and disadvantages so choose wisely!

3 Lessons to Take Away from Your First Year of Teaching

3 Lessons to Take Away from Your First Year of Teaching You did ityouve experienced all the joys and tribulations that come with your first year of teaching. There is no doubt that youve learned a plethora of lessons this past school year, such as how to schedule your time and how to successfully work with others in your school. Now, take time to acknowledge these lessons and to find ways to learn from them as you go into your next year of teaching. Here are three lessons to take away from your first year of teaching: Teaching lesson #1: how to manage your time As you well know, there is a seemingly infinite amount of time that you spend on schoolwork. The list of tasks includes, but is not limited to: Lesson planning Grading papers and tests Sending emails to parents Professional development opportunities Finding new technology to incorporate into your classroom. During your first year, it can seem like everything needs to be done in that moment and that everything takes a long time. This summer, take stock of whats most important to get donein other words, what needs immediate attentionand plan your weeks accordingly. You can also try scheduling time to complete specific tasks. Lastly, decide on an approximate end-time in your day or week where you stop schoolwork and relax or focus on other tasks. This doesnt need to be a strict time, but its important to maintain a healthy work/life balance. [RELATED: 4 Ways Personalized Learning Positively Impacts Students] Teaching lesson #2: understanding your schools culture By now youve figured out that your school is one in a million; your administration, staff, students, and even the location of your school add up to something distinctive and uniquewhich, of course, has both positives and negatives. Getting to know the cultural norms of your school and your administration is helpful for figuring out how to merge your vision of your classroom with your principals. Where do your values overlap? What can you offer your classroom and your school that is unique to your abilities? Additionally, learn about what your administration offers in terms of funding and professional development opportunities. These may not be advertised outright. Ask your principal directly, or connect with a veteran teacher in your school. Your administration will be happy to know you are taking initiative to improve both your teaching and your school. [RELATED: 3 Emerging EdTech Tools That Can Spark an Interest in Learning] Teaching lesson #3: how to invest in your community Schools are huge parts of the community-at-large, as you likely know. With that said, let your community be a part of your classroom. First, think in terms of your school itself. What are some ways you can develop and deepen relationships with fellow teachers and your administration? This can be as simple as prioritizing positive interactions with them on a daily basis, or as elaborate as collaborating together on integrated units or asking a veteran teacher to be your mentor. Secondly, think about how you can involve the community in your classroom teaching and vice versa. What kind of field trips might help you and your class network with relevant organizations and important issues? Are there any community members that youd like to bring in to your classroom (with your administrations approval, of course) to do an interactive lesson or job talk? Activities like this will help build your students sense of being part of a larger community, and will help you take advantage of the skil ls and knowledge of others. [RELATED: 3 Ways Teachers Can Encourage Passion for Learning This Semester] The summer after your first year of teaching is a great time to destress and to reflect on what youve learned. Considering what went well and what didnt will help you improve as an educator and help you serve your students needs more effectively. This is a great time to communicate with other first-year teachers and swap experiences, too! Any topics you want to know more about? Let us know! The Varsity Tutors Blog editors love hearing your feedback and opinions. Feel free to email us at blog@varsitytutors.com.

GCSE poem analysis Ozymandias by Percy Bysshe Shelley

GCSE poem analysis Ozymandias by Percy Bysshe Shelley What is it about? Shelley's poem imagines a meeting between the narrator and a 'traveller' who describes a ruined statue he - or she - saw in the middle of a desert somewhere. The description of the statue is a meditation on the fragility of human power and on the effects of time. Ozymandias by Percy Bysshe Shelley I met a traveller from an antique land Who said: Two vast and trunkless legs of stone Stand in the desert. Near them on the sand, Half-sunk, a shatter'd visage lies, whose frown And wrinkled lip and sneer of cold command Tell that its sculptor well those passions read Which yet survive, stamp'd on these lifeless things, The hand that mocked them and the heart that fed; And on the pedestal these words appear: 'My name is Ozymandias, king of kings: Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!' Nothing beside remains. Round the decay Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare, The lone and level sands stretch far away. Form The poem is a sonnet - a fourteen-line single stanza form that originated in Italian love poetry and that was popularised in England by Shakespeare. Most sonnets break into two parts: an 'octet' (the first eight lines) and a 'sextet' (the last six lines), with the second part commenting on the first. In this sonnet, the first part sets up the frame narrative and then describes the statue and the second part ironically relates the king's words and adds the final description of the desert setting. The poem is written in iambic pentameter, but there are several variations in the pattern, including reversed first feet ('Nothing beside remains' and 'Tell that its sculptor…'). Language Ozymandias calls himself 'king of kings' - a phrase taken from Biblical language - which smacks somewhat of arrogant pride. It could imply that his subsequent obscurity was a punishment from God - a subject that Shelley considered in several of his other poems. Shelley coined several other powerful phrases in this poem and the final lines have entered the language and have been used for the titles of several books and games. Both 'boundless and bare' and 'the lone and level sands' use alliteration to remain memorable - as does the sneer of 'cold command'. The 'colossal wreck' simply refers to the statue again; 'colossal' means 'giant', with a particular reference to giant statues like the Colossus of Rhodes and 'wreck' means anything that has been broken or ruined. Caesurae A caesura is a break of meaning and rhythm within a line. Shelley uses several within the poem and each one has significant effects. The first falls after 'Who said:' in the second line. The pause here mimics the traveller's intake of breath before telling his story, dramatising the moment as well as creating distance between the description of the statue and the poet's retelling, almost as if recalling from memory. The second caesura comes after 'Stands in the desert.' The very final full stop and ending of the sentence reinforces the sense of isolation surrounding these strange, ruined legs. The final caesura repeats this effective trick, following 'Nothing beside remains.' This short, grammatically complete and isolated sentence stands within the poem like the statue in the desert. By contrast, much of the rest of the poem is formed of long, complicated sentences that stretch on and on, like the desert or time itself. Context Ozymandias is the greek name for the Egyptian Pharoah Ramesses II. Interest in Ancient Egpytian history was fashionable in the period and the importation of statues to British and French museums was beginning in earnest. It isn't clear whether Shelley would have seen statues himself and whether he was inspired by a real piece of sculpture. Irony The statue is of course ruined - the legs remain but the body has fallen. The face ('visage') lies on the sand, 'half-sunk' and 'shattered', making it hard to recognise. According to the inscription, which has survived, the king Ozymandias set up the statue to draw attention to his 'works' - but his own face has not survived, let alone the empire he may have once ruled. The stretching of the 'lone and level sands' in every direction cover any buildings or rich farmland that may have flourished here. However, one survivor beside Ozymandias' words is the sculptor's skill: it is witnessed by the success of the statue in capturing 'those passions' of the king, even when partly ruined. Nameless, it is the sculptor whose works are still valued, just as Shelley's poem survives from his own day. frame narrative - a story within which the main story happens: in Ozymandias the narrator claims to have met a traveller (story 1 or 'frame narrative') who tells of his own experience in a distant desert. caesura - a break in the middle of a line of poetry, when both grammar and rhythm stop. For extra support with poetry analysis, why not book a lesson with one of our experienced  GCSE English tutor?  With Tutorfair you can browse through a selection of great tutors to find the right one for you. For More GCSE poem analyses similar to Love's Philosophy:  The Farmer's Bride, Love's Philosophy,  Neutral Tones, Kamikaze,  Medusa, and When We Two Parted.

How Parents Can Best Assess the Mid-Year Report Card

How Parents Can Best Assess the Mid-Year Report Card It is report card timesomething many parents and students dread. But they shouldnt, says Eileen Huntington, co-founder of Huntington Learning Center. Every parent would love to see a report card full of As and glowing remarks about their childs love of learning and work ethic, but remind yourself that the report card is a valuable tool, says Huntington. Think of it as an opportunity to help your child, to address and overcome any issues together.What should parents look for when reviewing the report card? Huntington suggests evaluating your childs report card for these five things:Study skills What does your childs report card indicate about his or her ability to focus, take initiative and manage his or her time? says Huntington. Developing good study skills is an important part of becoming an effective student. That involves staying organized at home and at school, keeping track of assignments and projects, and learning to prioritize.Good effort Being involved in homework will giv e you a good sense of your childs effort level, but pay attention to marks and comments on the report card that address this, too. Talk with the teacher about it. Trying hard is important, but if your childs grades dont reflect his or her effort, there may be a deeper problem.Red flags Red flags are warning signs of potential issues. We suggest looking beyond the grades, because your childs attitude about and commitment to learning are just as important, says Huntington. Do the teachers remarks indicate your child is unmotivated or has difficulty listening and staying focused? Does he or she talk too much in class or avoid school work?Behavioral issues Is your childs teacher reporting indifference or apathy on your childs part? Or is he or she acting out? Often, struggling students feel worthless and stupid, says Huntington. When your child is beyond frustration, beyond trying or caring, his or her behavior may worsenespecially at school.Strengths Often, theres so much focus on t he bad parts of the report card that we forget to pay attention to the areas where students excel, Huntington says. One of the best ways to build childrens self-esteem is to help them find the thing that makes them feel successful. Remember to notice and celebrate your childs strengths.

Lake Forest Academy

Lake Forest Academy Lake Forest Academy Lake Forest Academy is a college preparatory school located 30 miles north of Chicago. The school is committed to excellence of character, scholarship, citizenship, and responsibility. It offers a transformative educational experience based on a culture of participation and characterized by rigorous academics, a global outlook, and Midwestern values. Half of our 435 students are boarding students. One-quarter of our students are international and another quarter are domestic students of color. About 30 percent of our students receive some level of financial aid. LFA is committed to hiring and retaining a faculty and staff whose diversity matches that of our student body. The school embraces a policy of equal employment opportunity and non-discrimination. LFA seeks staff and faculty members who are passionate and knowledgeable in their area of expertise and who welcome opportunities to work with students in venues beyond the classroom including the arts, athletics, service learning, and residential life. For more information, visitwww.lfanet.org/employment. Benefits: Hard working, talented, and appreciative students in grades 9-12 representing 17 states and 31 countries Colleagues who love what they do and are devoted to their students - An institution with a commitment to global pluralism Ample support for professional development opportunities including degree programs Competitive salaries Fully paid medical and dental insurance for the employee and over 60 percent dependent medical coverage paid by LFA A 403(B) retirement plan that matches an employee contribution of 4 percent of salary with a 10 percent contribution by LFA School dining and athletic facilities open to employees and dependents at no charge On campus housing and serve as a residential faculty member

Graduation Advice Develop a Craftsmen Mindset

Graduation Advice Develop a Craftsmen Mindset This June many of TutorZ students will graduate. For them I am dispensing a piece of career advice: Develop a Craftsmen Mindset! To be sure, most of TutorZ 2017 graduates have worked hard in their years of study. They have and earned their degree. That all very fine, congratulations! After a summer with friends, partners or travel, expectations are high to find the perfect job they think their true calling within their grasps. So, many of these students not only expect to earn a lot of money but also to be fulfilled by their new assignments, they seek to find their true passion right at the beginning of their career. While finding your true (professional) passion is a virtuous undertaking it is prone to fail! Really? No? Yes! Sorry, to break it to you. Now you might retort: But school teachers were preaching for years that finding your passion is the key to happiness; success and money will follow consequently. And they might even add: Marsha Sietar even wrote a best-seller on this subject Do What You Love, The Money Will Follow. My answer is yes, thats all true and quite unfortunate. The problem of Sietars passion-first approach is that it makes graduates focus on what their new work environment can offer to them instead of being focused on providing value. By definition, junior employees are tasked with smaller assignments these come later. A long list of seemingly demenial task is a recipe to chronic job frustration instead of pathway to passion. Other sources of frustration include corporate bureaucracy, not yet being accepted by piers, less than expected salaries and being left out from insider chats in the hallway. A graduates new job looks now looks like a huge mistake than his vocation. For these reasons, listen to Georgetown University professor Cal Newport career advice: Become undeniable good at your job so that they cant ignore you. In other words, develop a craftsman mindset, rather and a passion mindset. Craftsmen work hard to offer value to their employers and customers. They learn, practice and train. They understand that pain and frustration can be a part of the job and dont get discourage by it. They develop their skills and make their customers happy. Craftsmen become better and better at their work to the extend they feel quite satisfied and eventually can become passionate. So the craftsmen mind sent trumps the passion mindset. In short, a craftsmen mindset prevents graduates from become overly frustrated and enables them find their true vocation quicker than their passion-centered colleagues.