How to Avoid Spam Emails - Have Your Teachers Stay in Touch With You?

How to Avoid Spam Emails - Have Your Teacher's Stay in Touch With You?First of all, I want to congratulate you on your tremendous success in learning how to evade a spam message. But I must tell you that if you send an email to a spam merchant, they will think that you are a spammer and will not entertain your emails at all. So they will no longer respond to you, not sending you the money.Let me give you some ideas for how to prevent this from happening. By using these methods you can save yourself the stress of having a spammer sends you money.Firstly, always make sure that you get an e-mail address before you send it to anyone. If the email address is registered, you can have the sender add you as a friend so that you can communicate with him. He can give you his full name instead of 'spammer' and make sure that you give him the right one.Secondly, if you are tutoring online, you may want to put a link to your website or blog so that if you receive a spam message your students will not know who sent them. This is what I like to call 'link bouncing'.Thirdly, when you are tutoring, it is good to join the Texas Tutors Associations. You will find other tutors that are also teaching online and you can ask them for help and advice.The Texas Tutors Associations has a special code so that you are able to monitor your inbox and you know who has sent you spam messages. A lot of people do not think that this is the right method to use, but you would be surprised that they are totally right.The reason why you should avoid tutoring at all costs is because you could potentially be the victim of a spammer. Take action now!

Photography Courses Can Help You to Become a Better Photographer

Photography Courses Can Help You to Become a Better Photographer Why Take Photography Classes? ChaptersWhat Photography Classes Can Teach YouLearn Photography to Think Like a PhotographerDitch the Filters by Learning About LightingFind Opportunities to Get Your Work Seen!For many years, smartphones have waged war on the traditional digital camera.As the quality of the cameras integrated into our mobile devices improves and becomes more high-tech, people are asking themselves whether there is any real benefit to investing in a digital camera.Have smartphones replaced digital cameras? And do they produce the same level of quality as professional photography devices?The vast majority of professional photographers agree that traditional cameras still have some glorious years ahead of them.“You don’t take photographs, you make them”,    Ansel AdamsBut what is the advantage to investing in a high-quality camera to learn about digital photography if smartphones already allow us to quickly and easily take beautiful photographs?The answer to this question is that having a good di gital camera will allow you to go further in your photography endeavours and open up new opportunities as you take your photography know-how to the next level. Not only will you come to understand the basics and take practical instruction about shooting and editing your photos but you will be be able to develop your own personal technique and style.Attending photography courses or even a photography class with a good camera will help you learn advanced photography, the right vocabulary and lastly, it will give you the artistic photography skills you need to go it alone. AllanPhotography Teacher 5.00 (2) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NatashaPhotography Teacher 5.00 (7) £55/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors TimothyPhotography Teacher 5.00 (5) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Anosh nadeemPhotography Teacher 5.00 (2) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ZangmoPhotography Teacher 5.00 (6) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Ros iePhotography Teacher £12/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MattPhotography Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AndyPhotography Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsWhat Photography Classes Can Teach YouPhotography, like many activities, has its own precise and indispensable vocabulary.Know your aperture from your exposure ¦ source: VisualhuntHere are a few useful, and easy to understand, terms and their definitions to help you in your introduction to beginner photography courses.Diaphragm/Aperture StopThis is the part of the camera which controls the view of the lens as well as the amount of light which will enter the shutter.ApertureAperture defines the size of the opening in the lens that can is adjusted to control the amount of light reaching the sensor. Changing the aperture can affect detail such as depth of field in your photographs.FocusThe focus of a photograph is about defining the element or elements of the scene which you would like to appear completely clearly. Choosing a point of focus is about capturing the main object in front of a background which is less precisely defined.Shutter SpeedThis is the duration of time for which the film or digital sensor will be exposed to the light before the shutter closes. The duration of the exposure time depends on the brightness and movement of the subject being photographed. For example, if you’re photographing something that is moving quickly, you’ll have to use a quick shutter speed so that the image is clear.ISO SensitivityISO sensitivity is about a camera's ability to capture light. If ISO sensitivity is increased, blurriness can be reduced by choosing a faster shutter speed.NoiseIn the world of photography, noise describes visual distortion that occurs for a number of reasons. Noise can affect clarity in an image.ExposureExposure is about the brightness of a scene to be captured.Achieving a certain level of exposure can be done by changing aperture, shutte r speed and sensitivity.The exposure of an image ultimately depends on the brightness of a scene, but you can also play around with exposure if there’s a certain mood you wish to create.Learn Photography to Think Like a PhotographerIf you’re one of those people who enjoys immortalising special moments by capturing them on camera, taking photography courses taught by an experienced instructor can improve your confidence in taking pictures as well as getting better results!However, if you’re serious about learning more about photography or even considering becoming a professional photographer, you’ll need to use your imagination and branch out.A good way of doing this is viewing the world from a different perspective.Why not go for a walk with your camera and try to come up with stories for the people and buildings you see? Explore your hometown with a fresh pair of eyes and pick out the details that interest you.See familiar sights in a new way ¦ source: VisualhuntBeing more attentive to the world around you will multiply your chances of finding something that captures your imagination.Think about adopting a different point of view.This may involve pretending to be someone else. For instance, you could view the world as if you were a child, a giant, a dog or a plant.Changing something as simple as the height from which your photographs are taken can show the world in an unusual and interesting light.Even if you don’t always have your camera with you, you can always try to think like a photographer.Whether you’re on your way to work, strolling along the street or doing your weekly shop, choose a subject and try to imagine the sort of photograph you could produce.Creating and working on an image in your mind’s eye can not only help you to progress as a photographer, but it can also help you to exercise your imagination.Whether it be a forest or a different area of your city, exploring new places will also give you inspiration and help you to determ ine your interests as an amateur photographer. This will help you become more advanced in fundamental photography basics and make you feel at ease behind the lense.Exploring the unknown is a brilliant way to continue your photography training outside of your tutorials and discover what interests you!Sometimes, a successful day of shooting relies on the photographer adopting awkward stances in public such as laying on the ground, for instance.However, there’s no reason to worry! This is a common sight, and very few people will be shocked by your positions, meaning that your results will be as natural as possible.Ditch the Filters by Learning About LightingThe filters which are available on many applications and software such as Adobe photoshop lightroom are great for adding a specific ambience to an existing photograph.But did you know that you can achieve similar results without any of this technology?You can create moods and enhance the atmosphere in a photography by using the av ailable lighting!Here are a few basic photography tips and tricks for using lighting:The Colour of the LightContrary to what you may believe, light isn’t transparent! It can be made up of a large variety of colours coming from different sources.The colour of light is discussed in terms of temperature, which is measured in Kelvin (rather than in degrees Celsius or Fahrenheit).You can control this temperature on your digital camera by altering the white balance. The further you go towards the red and oranges, the warmer the temperature of your photograph will be, and vice versa for blues.Hard and Soft LightHard lighting is characterised by the large presence of easily distinguishable shadows. The most obvious example of hard light is the sun.Soft light comes from a source which is in close proximity to the subject, which therefore creates fewer shadows.Size of Light SourceAdjusting the size of your light source will enable you to change the contrast of your scene. The larger the lig ht source, the lower the level of contrast.This is because a lot of lighting illuminates every aspect of the scene, making colours appear more uniform.You can also change the size of your light source by changing the distance between the source and the object of your focus.Know how to Use Natural Light to Your AdvantageIf you don’t have any studio lighting equipment, you’ll probably be working almost exclusively with natural light.Natural light, like any light, comes in many varieties depending on the time of day, climate and weather conditions.For this reason, budding photographers should learn how to observe these changes and how the colour of light changes over the course of the day, so that they can adapt their work to the lighting, rather than the other way around.The ‘Golden Hours’In complete opposition to the midday sun, which is hard and therefore creates sharp shadows, the light at the beginning and the end of the day is very soft and features some magnificent colou rs.The sun can create a variety of atmospheres depending on the time of day ¦ source: VisualhuntFind Opportunities to Get Your Work Seen!Gone are the days when photography galleries and exhibitions where the only way to explore other people’s photography.The Internet has revolutionised the way in which we express ourselves and show our art to others.Even though visiting physical exhibitions is an excellent way to get inspired, it demands that you invest your time and money to have the opportunity.One of the first things many amateur photographers do is start a blog.There are many simple ways you can create your own platform and increase your visibility on the web without having to call on the expertise of a web designer.Your blog should be a representation of how you use your camera to create a certain view of the world, not only through your images but through your captions and descriptions, too.Social media is also a great way to share your photos and create a portfolio of your photography.In addition to Instagram there is a number of social networks dedicated to photography such as DeviantArt and Flickr.So, whether you take online photography courses. or you attend a photography school, discovering your true interests as a photographer will guarantee satisfaction in your learning.

English Cooking and Food Vocabulary How To Cook Up A Storm In English

English Cooking and Food Vocabulary How To Cook Up A Storm In English In todays class, we are going to learn about English cooking and food vocabulary. Dont you think it is a good idea to combine practicing your  English while learning how to cook delicious recipes? Today we are here to help you to give instructions in English, while providing  lots of new cooking vocabulary so you can tell your friends about some  tasty treats. First of all,  here are some delicious looking recipes:English  Cooking and Food VocabularyThose videos made me hungry! Now we will look at some vocabulary from the videos you just watched. Can you read the sentences below and guess what the words in  bold mean?English Cooking and Food VocabularyHe cracked open the egg, to reveal the yolk (yellow part).The butter melted in the hot sun.The cheese was grated so that it could melt easier.Cakes are often baked in the oven.The most common way to cook pasta is to boil it.Vegetables can be cut in many ways when preparing food, including diced.Pork, chicken, beef and other meats can be ground so they can be used in many recipes.The bolognese sauce was left to simmer in the pan for a few hours.Many people in the UK add milk to their tea and stir it to make sure they mix.The eggs were whisked to make them fluffy.Adding a pinch of salt to your dish can add a lot of flavour.At many ice cream kiosks, you can say how many scoops of ice cream you want in your cone.English Cooking and Food Vocabulary DefinitionsIf you still are not sure what the words in bold mean, maybe this next part of the class will help you. Below is a list of the vocabulary from the sentences and next to those are some jumbled definitions. Match the vocabulary to the corresponding definition and write your answers in the  comment section to see if you are correct.  English Cooking and Food Vocabulary InstructionsGood work! Now that you have mastered some cooking vocabulary, we are going to  look at how to use the vocabulary in sentences. This will help us when we need to  give instructions. This is called a recipe-something that can be seen in cook books. Using the video we watched earlier, we are going to write some sentences so you can give your friends a recipe. But first, we need to look at a few more words that  will help you give instructions.The first thing we need to do when giving instructions is to tell the person the order of the steps. This tells the person what to do first, and what to do last. The most common words to use when doing this are; first, then, next, after that and finally. On top of this, it can also be useful to tell the person what is important to do (these are called modal verbs) when making the recipe. For example, words  such as you (dont) need to, you must mustnt, you should/shouldnt.English and Cooking Vocabulary Gap Fill ExerciseNow we have the basic structure to give cooking instructions. Can you complete the sentences  below in order to tell someone how to make Italian ragù (the second video) using the vocabulary, sequence words and modal verbs? As always, write your answers in the comments section, and well get back to you!_________________ (sequence word) add some oil and ___________  (verb) some butter into a pan.Then, _____________ (verb) some onions and add them with the butter and oil._____________ (sequence word), add some pancetta and other vegetables. Add the ground meat and ____________ (verb) gently, to mix everything together.Add a _____________ of salt and some red wine and pomodoro and continue stirring. Then, __________ (modal verb) place a lid on the pan to make sure that the sauce doesnt become too dry.______________ (sequence word) allow the sauce to _____________ (verb) for around two hours.Whilst the sauce is cooking, _____________(verb) some water for the pasta, and cook the pasta for ten minutes.________________ (sequence word) add the pasta to the sauce. You ____________ (modal verb) that the pasta mixes well with the sauce. ____________ (verb) some cheese on top of the dish if required.Englis h Cooking and Food Vocabulary SummaryWell done! Now you have completed a delicious dish in writing. If you like to cook, feel free to  share some of your own recipes in the comment section below!  For more information about how to give instructions in English, book a class here!

A Strategic Approach to Earning Higher Grades

A Strategic Approach to Earning Higher Grades Improving Academic Performance In a recent Linkedin article, I wrote about how we tend to underappreciate the importance of strategy relative to hard work or intelligence in understanding why some people succeed and others fail in any given professional, academic, or personal endeavor. I also suggested that my experience as a business strategy consultant has helped me realize that there are powerful principles of strategy development used by businesses that students could borrow to improve their academic performance. The idea that you can perform well in school by In that article, I introduced three particularly important elements of business strategy development. The strategy development process â€" or, the process companies use to come up with ideas for what to do or not to do to beat the competition. The concept of market attractiveness vs. competitive position, which explains whether a company is likely to succeed (or fail) because it operates in a good market (or a bad one), is doing something better than its direct competitors, or some combination The notion of key success factors vs. core competencies, which helps explains why a company is positioned well in any given market (or not) In this article, I’ll explore point 1 above, how an understanding of the strategy development process could help students improve their performance in any given class. What is a typical strategy development process, and how can it be applied to situations faced by students? Let’s start by exploring a typical business strategy development process. It consists of the following steps: Establish a goal. A typical corporate goal is to “double the value of the stock price in five years” Develop a fact-base of critical information and insights. In business strategy, this is typically a financial analysis of which products, regions, and customers generate most of your profits, a discussion of the size and growth of your key markets, and an assessment of how you compare to key competitors Identify key issues and opportunities associated with reaching your goal In business strategy, this could be a wide range of things, from “we are losing money in this market” to “this competitor is rapidly stealing our market share” Define and evaluate alternative courses of action This is a big one. Many companies come up with ideas to solve problems, and they either decide to take action or not. Instead, at least three different and reasonable “strategies” for reaching your goals should be developed. Businesses evaluate alternatives against criteria like the risk of the alternatives, how much they’d have to invest, the time it will take, etc. Develop a plan for implementing the best alternative Once a business knows what strategy it’s going to follow, it creates a specific plan of attack for what it will do and who is accountable for each action. How can this be helpful to a student? Envision a student sitting in his first AP history class of the year. He is given a syllabus, and told what books to read. The typical approach is to do the homework that is assigned, show up to class, and work hard. How could one apply a strategic planning process to that class to increase the chances of getting an A? Set a goal for your performance in the class. Decide you want to get an A. Tell someone your goal is to get an A. First, it’s critically important to set a specific goal. Business know that if you don’t set a specific, measurable goal that everyone understands and feels accountable for, you aren’t going to achieve that goal. Research done by Heidi Grant Halvorson, a professor at Harvard, suggests that setting specific goals is one of the most important things that separates more successful from less successful people. So it’s simple. If your goal is to receive an “A” in the class, that means you need to be getting ‘As’ on all homework, quizzes, and tests. It creates an entire mindset around how you’ll perform and what you’ll do that just doesn’t exist if you say “I want to do my best in the class.” Don’t try your best. Decide you are shooting for an A.. Develop a fact-base of critical information. How is the teacher going to run the class? Of course, “developing a fact-base” in the context of developing a strategy for a company vs. in the context of developing a strategy for getting an ‘A’ in an AP History class are going to be two very different things. When I say “critical information” in the context of AP history, I don’t mean facts and theories about events and people in history. That’s the content of the class, and that’s not the critical information I’m talking about. In my experience, most students just “go with the flow” as it relates to understanding how their grade in the class will be determined. Most will probably read the syllabus to understand whether homework is graded, whether attendance matters, how many tests there are, etc. After that, they focus on the next day’s homework. But if you pay closer attention to how the teacher is designing the class, you can discover a bunch of super helpful information that can be useful to you as you decide how to approach the class. For example: What percentage of your grade is determined by attendance, participation, homework, projects, quizzes, tests, midterms, and the final exam? Are you supposed to or allowed to work with classmates on homework? Do quizzes cover materials discussion class, from the book, or both? Can you share and discuss drafts of essays with the teacher in advance and get feedback? Does or she have office hours? Are the classes/lectures the focus of what is tested, or does assigned reading from the book or supplementary Identify key issues and opportunities associated with reaching your goal If your goal is an ‘A’ in the class, these types of issues and opportunities could be wide ranging. Here are some example “issues and opportunities” you might uncover: Most of the grade is determined by written essays, and I’ve historically not done well in essay-based classes (or vice versa, which would be a good thing) A fair portion of the grade is determined by class participation, and I’m uncomfortable speaking up in class (again or vice versa) There is a ton of work to do in this class (lots of reading, many quizzes, etc.) and my schedule is already very full There is a huge project that is worth 33% of the final grade, and I have 3 months to begin to work on it, etc. These issues and opportunities could have a negative or positive spin. But the important point is that they are all important factors to consider when thinking about your goal of getting an A in the class and designing a plan for reaching that goal. Define and evaluate alternative courses of action Here is where you, as a student, can step back and think about 2-3 broad ways to approach the class. Remember, everyone faces tradeoffs in how they spend their time and has their own personal strengths and weaknesses. No one has unlimited time, so you’ll have some choices to make as you attempt to get an A in the class. That said, I think that in the context of an AP history course, the “best alternative” will become clear based on a deep understanding of the teacher’s approach to the class. For example, if the class seems to place a lot of weight on quizzes, tests, and exams, with a few minor papers or a project thrown into the mix and no participation grade, then an approach to the class that focuses on carving out substantial time for reviewing class notes, completing all homework and assigned readings, and making sure you fully understand all major and minor points raised in class (perhaps even by attending office hours to ask questions) probably makes sense. An alternative approach would still have you keeping up with homework, but would have you writing essays in advance and getting feedback from the teacher, completing projects early and iterating with the teacher to improve your project grade, etc. If, for example, the class places a large weight on performance on a major essay you’ll have to write, and you typically struggle writing essays, you should have an alternative that involves planning ahead to iterate with your teacher and get feedback on drafts of your essay. You’ll naturally be able to map out the alternative that maximizes your chances of getting an A and is best aligned with your strengths and weaknesses. Develop a specific plan for implementing the rough alternative you’ve chosen The final step is to spend a little time putting pen to paper to write out the actions you’re going to take to get that A in AP US History. For example, I will: Sit in the front of the class to force myself to participate, since participation matters Focus on reviewing class notes relative to reading the textbook or supplementary articles for homework, as most of the tests are pulled from topics specifically discussed in class Complete essays in advance and iterate on rough drafts with the teacher Complete every single homework assignment, because that alone accounts for 20% of my grade Etc.

How to revise for GCSE science

How to revise for GCSE science GCSE Science is a two-GCSE sized (double award) qualification covering the three science disciplines of Biology, Chemistry and Physics. To ensure a pass at a high level, you need to revise all of the content and be aware of what examiners want from you. Here's how to revise the subject fully. Step 1. Use a good revision guide A science revision guide is key. To make it work for you, read it fully and then adapt what you read so you can remember the information clearly. Try making notes as you read through the guide, create flashcards for the key concepts and theories, and then re-write and condense your notes. Keep doing this until you can explain a topic or process from a few bullet points. Step 2. Incorporate diagrams, and flow charts into your revision techniques Diagrams and flow charts are an excellent way to adapt your revision notes of a process into a visual guide that will help you see it fully and learn how it works. Flashcards are also excellent for learning scientific definitions and keywords. Write the word on one side and the definition on the other and test yourself daily. Step 3. Make sure you cover the whole of your syllabus Grades will be given on your understanding of all three disciplines, so ensure you include the whole of your syllabus in your revision, not just your strongest areas. You never know what's going to come up, so you have to ensure you have it all covered. Step 4. Check your understanding Remember you can't revise what you don't understand so before you start your revision, look for your knowledge gaps and seek help. Your teacher or a Science tutor will be able to fill these gaps in and help you catch up in time if you tackle them now. Step 5. Use past test papers properly Past papers are the key to revising science. Firstly don't use past papers until you have done a large amount of revision, this way you can test your knowledge. Then when using past test papers, ensure you mimic the exam setting fully both with time and also with how you answer. When you come to mark the paper also make sure you are harsh on yourself with the mark scheme. If you haven't got the answer completely right then, you need to write down what the examiner wanted and make sure you learn it. More importantly, notice the trends and patterns in the question style of all the past papers you use as this is likely to be replicated in your own GCSE. Another way to use this to your advantage because no matter how much you know the content if you can't apply it to the mark scheme of your examining board, you won't get the marks. Step 6. Back up your learning with YouTube videos Finally, after you have gone through your revision guide back up your knowledge and test yourself with YouTube videos and worksheets. Free Science lessons on YouTube is a brilliant site to use for revision. It goes through all the main topics in a clear and concise way. Test yourself on the areas and take notes as you watch. For a combined science tutor near you contact us.

Top Cover Letter Tips to Land the Job

Top Cover Letter Tips to Land the Job Image via Isorepublic.com Tailor it to each specific job The last thing recruiters want to read is another generic cover letter that could have been used for any other job. They have read enough of those; they want to see something fresh! It’s okay to have a generic letter but be sure to tailor it to each specific job you apply to. You can do this by doing some research on the company and figuring out what their culture is like. What are their values? What is their mission? Are they laid back or formal? Also, take another look at the listing and find out what exactly they are looking for. Present yourself as someone who can solve those problems and who fits in perfectly with their mission. This does require some extra work, but it’s worth it when a recruiter reads a cover letter that’s tailored to their company rather than another boring generic letter. Start off strong The first paragraph of your letter is crucial. Make sure you use that to your advantage! Write an introduction that will catch the recruiter’s attention and keep them reading until the end. You don’t want them to read your introduction and then throw your application away. At the same time, don’t forget to re-state the job you are applying for. Sometimes, resumes and cover letters get separated, and you don’t want the recruiter to go through the trouble of figuring out which position you are interested in. Focus on the company, not on you Doing research on the company beforehand will also allow you to focus on the company rather than yourself in your letter. Many people will tell you to use to word “I” sparingly in your cover letter because recruiters want to hear more about how you can benefit their company rather than how great you are. Like I said before, focus on the company and what you can add to it. Proofread Your cover letter is one place you don’t want to make a silly mistake. It is way too easy to overlook a typo when you’re writing on your computer, especially when you rely on spell check to catch all your mistakes. Spoiler alert: spell check doesn’t catch all typos … it won’t tell you that you typed “food” when you meant to type “good.” Make sure that at least one other person takes a look at your letter before you send it off. They might even give you some ideas to help you better express yourself. Avoid making these silly mistakes by having someone else proofread your letter after you’ve done it yourself. Don’t make it too long Recruiters read many cover letters, so they don’t want each letter to be too long. Usually, they recommend keeping your letter to a maximum of one page. For this reason, you should keep your letter short, sweet, and to the point, but informative, too! The company’s first impression of you will be your cover letter, so you want to make sure it is excellent. Do your research on the company, write your letter (focusing on the company and not on yourself, of course), and then have a friend or two proofread it. If you do that, you should be good to go. Good luck with your job search!

5 Healthy Four-Ingredient Holiday Appetizers

5 Healthy Four-Ingredient Holiday Appetizers Image via http://bavariablu.ro There’s a preconceived idea that good food, especially food that’s good  for  you, has to cost a fortune and demand as many hours at the stove as it does specialty ingredients. But sometimes, all that you need is four basic ingredients. Considering how busy you are with the daily grind, preparing such a dish should be simple and should also allow you to maintain any dietary needs. Seriously, who says that the perfect holiday treat demands a grocery list as long as Santa’s scroll of names or as sugary as the cookies that you leave for him under the tree? Wow your friends and loved ones at your next holiday function with one of these simple and delicious four-ingredient recipes! Cranberry Pear Parfait Image via http://jessicagavin.com Still have some of that leftover cranberry sauce in the freezer from Thanksgiving? Probably not, but if you do (or just want to go out and buy some) you can simply pair it with organic plain or vanilla yogurt for a delicious treat on its own, or transform the duo into a majestic and glorious holiday parfait. All that you need to do is layer diced pears (Anjou, Bartlett or Bosc pair best with the tart favor of the cranberries) at the bottom of a glass or Mason jar, top with the cranberry yogurt mixture and sprinkle on some granola. This parfait makes a delicious breakfast treat or a quick yet fancy dessert, especially during the holidays when your indulgent gut needs the benefits from the probiotics in the yogurt and the fiber-rich pears. Savory Roasted Pecans This simple hors d’oeuvre pairs well with just about any cocktail or mocktails. All that you do is roast a bag of pecans 12 minutes, then toss them (while still warm) with olive oil, rosemary, and sea salt and just like that you have a fast yet fancy treat that will surprise and delight all of your guests! You can even wrap the roasted pecans in cellophane and tie them with a ribbon or bow for a fast and inexpensive present. Raw Hot Chocolate Hot chocolate is typically correlated with overly sweet cocoa, chewy marshmallows, and artificial whipped cream mustaches. However, this wholesome take on a classic holiday libation is made from either non-dairy or grass-fed milk (depending on your preference), raw cacao powder, maple syrup and sea salt. Simply stir all of those ingredients together while heating them up in a saucepan on the stove. Right before the milk starts to bubble (you want it hot but not boiling), pour the mixture into cozy holiday mugs for a warming after dinner treat! Stuffed Medjool Dates Image via http://15383-presscdn-0-4.pagely.netdna-cdn.com Stuffed dates are always a classic crowd pleaser, but this twist will really have your friends wondering where you picked up your culinary skills. Not to mention that this app takes a whole three minutes to put together. For a healthier take on the conventional cheese-stuffed-dates, try smearing low-fat (or non-dairy almond based) cream cheese on halved Medjool dates and then top with a fresh sprig of rosemary or dill. For an even more surprising twist, balance the sweetness of the date and cream cheeses with a hint of spice via a sliver of jalapeño. Gasp, total game changer. Baked Goat Cheese This is a decadent holiday appetizer that will have your guests lingering around the table until there isn’t any more left to eat! Let’s be honest, who can resist any variation of baked cheese? Certainly not me. For this superstar app, all that you need is a log of goat cheese, a jar of marinara sauce (or a can of diced tomatoes), fresh basil, and salt. You also may want to include some warm baguette or crostini to scoop up the cheesy goodness with, although I can easily consume this with just a spoon. Simply place the cheese in a small baking dish (that you can also use for serving) leaving about an inch of border room around the cheese. Spoon the marinara into the space and covering the edge of the cheeses but not the center. Throw in a dash of salt and bake for 20 minutes at 375 degrees. Once you remove the cheese, sprinkle it with fresh basil and serve immediately.

5 Reasons to Hire an Orange County Tutor - TutorNerds

5 Reasons to Hire an Orange County Tutor - TutorNerds 5 reasons you know its time to hire an Orange County tutor Students have been back in the classroom for a while and are, hopefully, well adjusted to all of the academic tasks they have to cope with throughout the school year. If students are struggling with core subjects or having difficulty concentrating at this point in the term, its probably no longer due to an adjustment from summer break. Students may need a little bit of extra help getting organized, especially with all of the things they have to do in the classroom and for homework assignments. Each student is an individual and will have different needs, but there are five universal signs that a student needs to work with a private Orange County tutor. 1. An overabundance of stress Except midterm and finals week students should be enjoying the process of learning and school overall. Learning new things can be stressful, and a little bit of stress is not harmful, but if students are overwhelmed with the stress they may be unable to cope on their own. In many cases, a tutor can come to the home and help students get organized. Often students discover they are totally capable on an academic level but need help streamlining homework assignments and prioritizing what needs to get done first. When students are studying more efficiently, their stress will lower, and theyll be more successful overall. 2. A sharp decline in grades Grades will go up and down throughout the year depending on the subject matter and level of difficulty. However, if a student usually gets straight As and they are, all of a sudden, bringing home C’s and Ds, parents should see it as a warning sign. A sharp to decline in grades may mean that a student is struggling with new learning material or their stress level is so high that they have just given up. Its important that students have a chance to get some help before these few assignments affect their overall GPA (READ: 4 Reasons Students Should Take an Extracurricular This Fall). 3. Students are avoiding starting homework Students dont love homework assignments to start with but if they are avoiding getting started with homework on a regular basis, students might need a little bit of extra help with study skills or organization. In many cases, the actual academic assignments are not so bad, but they may require students to organize at a level theyre not used to or be extremely efficient with time management. Many students and parents complain that they have too much homework to complete and so working with a tutor to streamline assignments can make homework a lot easier in general. 4. Comments from the teacher The classroom teacher works with students on a daily basis and has a good idea whether a student is just experiencing normal ups and downs or if theyre truly struggling with new material. As students enter middle and high school, the assignments become more challenging, and stress levels increase dramatically. If a teacher notes that a student would benefit from extra help, it’s a big sign to the parents that their kid might need to work with a one-on-one tutor until they get back on track. 5. A student no longer has a favorite subject Most elementary school students have a favorite subject that they always enjoy learning about from day to day. However, if a student expresses they no longer love science or that theyre no longer interested in reading it might be a sign that the subject matter has become more difficult than they’re used to. It can be frustrating for students to have a barrier to learning, especially if its their favorite subject and so working with a tutor can help them get past the hurdles and love their favorite subject once again. Its smart to get an Orange County private tutor early on in the school year. Call us today to learn more. All blog entries, with the exception of guest bloggers, are written by Tutor Nerds. Are you an education professional? If so, email us at pr@tutornerds.com for guest blogging and collaborations. We want to make this the best free education resource in SoCal, so feel free to suggest what you would like to see us write.

Live English Tutors - Free Online English Tutoring

Live English Tutors - Free Online English TutoringLive English tutors are now available online to provide free English tutoring. When you have a busy lifestyle, it's easier to find the time to go to class. However, getting online tutoring is a great option if you live alone or do not have a family member to meet.Why would you want to find an English tutor online? Many times in a classroom setting, you will not be able to interact with the instructor or get feedback from the teacher. On the other hand, when you are taking an online course, you will be able to do so from your home or even the bathroom while the teacher is on break.You can also choose to take an online English tutor if you do not want to go to school. This is not really a tutor, but someone to practice with. Perhaps you will have family members that are just not interested in this subject matter. This type of English tutor is great for those that wish to try out the subject but cannot commit to a regular class.If you ar e going to take an online English tutor, make sure you check their credentials. There are many courses out there that offer a free English tutor course, but not all of them will be legitimate. Make sure you find a place that offers a money back guarantee. This is important because many times if you do not like the class or the instructor, you can return the money for the course.When you do decide to take an online English tutor, you will need to know what you are expecting. Be sure to research the cost of the course and the cost of an individual class. The costs of each course vary, so you may have to take two different classes to find one that suits your budget.Before you sign up for any online language program, be sure to ask the person running the course if they offer a money back guarantee. After all, you might find that the person running the course does not offer the same classes as someone else.Do you think you would benefit from taking an online English tutor? Consider this when you are taking a class and give it a shot.