Tuesday, March 24, 2020

How to Record Music on Your PC

How to Record Music on Your PC The Guide to Programmes for Recording Your Own Guitar Music ChaptersWhat Do You Need to Record Guitar on Your PC?The Three Ways to Record Your GuitarAudacity PC Recording SoftwareRecording Guitar with Reaper for PCRecording Your Guitar with Nero Wave EditorThe Traverso DAW Sequencer for Recording GuitarFL Studio 11 for Recording Guitar on Your PCComposing Music on Your Computer with SonarPresonus Studio One for Recording Guitar onto PC“The world's most famous and popular language is music.” - PsySubscription-based streaming accounted for 83% of stream revenue in 2017. More and more people are happy to pay for access to music via their computer or smartphone. This is great news for both amateur and professional musicians.If you want to create the next big hit, you’re going to have to get to work and start recording your own music on your computer and share it online.In this article, we’re going to have a look at what you need to start recording on your PC, different ways to record music, and the best programmes for recording guitar and other musical instruments.easy to learn French songs?Audacity PC Recording SoftwareAudacity is a powerful audio editor with an intuitive interface.  The programme is free because it’s open-source.Electric guitars are usually connected to an amp when recording. (Source: Pexels)With multi-track recording, it can manage multiple instruments at once. Audacity offers direct recording functionality, importing audio tracks, overdubbing, and cutting and copying tracks to your heart’s content.  Audacity also includes a number of effects, too.Learning how to use all of this programme’s functionality will take time, but it'll be worth it once you see just exactly what this software can do.Recording Guitar with Reaper for PCReaper is a free programme for composing and editing musical compositions. It allows you to arrange samples, apply effects, and even add virtual instruments.  The latest version can also use MIDI files, which are commonly used in Computer Music.You’ll find a simple and complete interface showing you the audio tracks at the top of the screen and a mixing deck at the bottom. You can hide the letter if you need to see more of the tracks.  There’s no limit to the number of tracks but this will depend on your sound card. You can save your projects as .wav files.There’s a premium version but the free version is great for getting started and seeing whether or not you like it. PeterGuitar Teacher £12/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EdgarGuitar Teacher 5.00 (8) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PaulGuitar Teacher 5.00 (12) £18/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors DanielGuitar Teacher 5.00 (3) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ToddGuitar Teacher 4.75 (4) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SamueleGuitar Teacher 5.00 (5) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors KurtGuitar Teacher 5.00 (3) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RyanGuitar Teacher £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsRecording Your Guitar with Nero Wave EditorThis recording programme is free and it’s recommended for beginners who’re finding Audacity too complicated.There are plenty of great programmes available on the market. (Source: TheAngryTeddy)In fact, Nero Wave Editor allows you to edit files easily and quickly.  You can add effects such as doppler, reverb, and distortion.  Other features include noise reduction and an equaliser. The programme is compatible with VST and DirectX plugins to give you even more options.It’s compatible with .wav, .ogg, .mp3, .mp4, and .aiff, .aac, and .flac file formats.The Traverso DAW Sequencer for Recording GuitarThis recording programme is available for free.  Complete with multi-track recording, mixing deck, and effects. Traverso DAW allows for real-time audio editing. The recordings are quality.  Furthermore, the user interface is clean and intuitive.This programme is more compact than most other audio programmes and doesn’t take too much sp ace on your computer. It supports the .flac, .ogg, .mp3, and .wav file formats.FL Studio 11 for Recording Guitar on Your PCLet’s have a look at some of the programmes you can pay for with FL Studio 11, formerly known as FruityLoops. The most basic version starts at around £80.  It’s a programme that’s popular with both amateurs and professionals.The programme has a plethora of different tools for editing patterns, multi-track sequencing, and recording samples.  It’s compatible with guitars, pianos, and drums, too. You can put together patterns and create your own songs by recording your entire band.You can manage 99 different tracks at the same time, which might be difficult for beginners.  There’s a trial version available to see if you like it.Composing Music on Your Computer with SonarStarting at £40, you can enjoy Sonar’s versatile audio sequence.You don't need an entire recording studio to record your own music. (Source: 453169)There are three main versions (Artis t, Professional, Platinum) for different needs.  Just like Cubase and Ardour, Sonar is developed by Cakewalk and allows you to create, record, and share music.There are plenty of virtual instruments available to help you create more diverse music. You can apply effects to your recordings like reverb, flanger, and delay.Once you’ve finished, you can share your creations directly to YouTube, SoundCloud, burn them to a CD, or export them as .wav, .flac, and .aif files.  There are trial versions available, too. Check them out and see whether Sonar is right for you.Also discover these great online tools for tuning your guitar...Presonus Studio One for Recording Guitar onto PCPresonus Studio One is one of the best programmes for Computer Music.You can use this programme to record, mix, and edit your music and there’s also a trial version available to check out. The user interface is simple and effective and is great for both amateurs and professional musicians.The keyboard shortcuts a re exactly the same as other programmes like Cubase, Pro Tools, and Logic, which can make things much easier if you’re familiar with them.To get a better idea, we recommend that you try out these programmes and see which works for you.So which are you going to start recording your music on?If you want to get better at playing the guitar before you start recording yourself,  you should check out some of the tutors on Superprof. You can search for what you want to learn and by where you live.  Most tutors offer free tutoring for the first hour, so try a few out and see who you like!If, for some reason, you can't find any suitable guitar tutors in your local area, don't forget that you can always opt for online private tutorials via webcam using a programme like Skype. This is a useful solution for those who live remotely or have awkward schedules as you just need to have a computer with a decent webcam, microphone, and a good internet connection. Additionally, they tend to be cheape r than other private tutorials as your tutor doesn't need to factor travel costs into their rates!Now discover all the best tools for taking your guitar playing to the next level!

Friday, March 6, 2020

How to Adapt Your CV and Cover Letter for Different Jobs

How to Adapt Your CV and Cover Letter for Different Jobs Each Job Application Needs Its Own CV and Cover Letter ChaptersWhy You Need to Adapt Your DocumentsAbout TemplatesA Word on Uploading Your CVAdapting Your CVAdapting Your Cover LetterIt’s just months before your graduation from university and you’ve been cruising Reed and Indeed to find that most elusive of prospects: jobs that you’re qualified for based on your course of study and that your at least mildly interested in.Jobs where the pay is nice and the working conditions aren’t too bad. Jobs that hold the promise of advancement and jobs that could turn out to be your life’s work â€" instead of mind-numbing, soul-crushing, dead-end affairs.You may have even set up job alerts so that, when a position opens up that falls within the parameters you’ve set, you will receive an email with a position description.What will you do when you find that unicorn of the job market â€" the job that demands you apply for it?Naturally, you would send in your curriculum vitae so that you can be considered for hire. Don’t forget to attach a cover letter, too!Oh, wait: here’s another job that Indeed says fits your parameters. And another! Will you send them all the same cover letter and resume?That is the question your Superprof tackles today.That’s true, but only to a point. Students often express frustration over job adverts demanding relevant experience Image by StockSnap from PixabayUniversity students trying to break into the job market are faced with the eternal conundrum: virtually every job advert demands experience but, soon to be out of school, where would you have had time to gain any?Your confusion is understandable and, seen broadly, spot on.Consider this: your university experience and life experiences in general represent so much more than the narrow degree path that you’ve been treading for the past few years.You might have participated in student groups or belonged to a student union or two. Perhaps you played sports â€" activities that attest to your physical and mental endurance.Perhaps you’ve volunteered time and/or skill with a charity or engaged in extracurricular activities. Even these facets of your life can come to bear on the contents of your CV and cover letter.Now, let’s look at things from a different perspective; that o f the hiring manager.As they skim over your application documents, will they see a barely-repressed individual whose hunger for life’s experiences has led them to dabble in many different concerns?Or is that document written by a person whose spirit is so contained that only academic subjects shine through?You must be far more than the sum of your educational experience; nobody will ever know unless you find a way to communicate the whole of your intellect and passion on three A4 sheets of paper.Do you need some tips for writing an outstanding resume? There is no harm in looking at sample resumes online to get an idea of how yours should look Image by Jess Foami from PixabayAbout TemplatesMany job search websites offer resume and cover letter templates; downloading one so you can see how to format your documents is not a bad idea.Have you ever noticed? Those templates are chock-full of experiences, the likes of which you cannot hope to have this early in your working life. So, in a sense, they are misleading; in fact, they may not work for you at all.Templates tend to expect you to conform to their parameters.In all of our searching, even on student CV template websites, we’ve yet to uncover a resume template that doesn’t include a generous space allocation for work experience â€" experience that you may or may not have.While these templates can be useful to an extent, it would probably be far more helpful for you to visit your campus career adviser to get help with formatting your CV and cover letter.Also, cash in on these ti ps to write your most effective cover letter.adapt to every job you’re applying for unless you edit it manually.That means that, if your profile is set to public (because you want employers to see that you are looking for work), your approach is no more evolved than the job seeker mentioned above who sent out 100 resumes in the hopes that one will stick.As millions of job seekers have experienced, that strategy just doesn’t work.One effective strategy for landing an interview is writing thank-you notes! Why not see how you too could benefit from implementing it…Adapting Your CVRight now, while you are presumably still in school, you should create a ‘skeleton’ CV: write your header and your educational background, list your extracurricular activities and any awards you might have won.Don’t forget to list your interests, hobbies and any skills you might have the would be relevant in the workplace.A typical CV is two A4 pages; don’t worry if you have a lot of space leftov er after compiling the qualities you’ve amassed so far.When it comes time for you to start applying for specific jobs, adapting your CV to suit the position advertised starts with reading the advert carefully.Most adverts will list the job’s requirements and skills required to do the job well. Compare what the advert calls for against what you have to offer; are you a potential candidate?Bear in mind that you won’t meet every listed qualification, especially not this early in your working life.However, there is a good chance that you have more than a few of them and you can make them stand out by deleting your skeleton’s listed qualifications that aren’t mentioned in the advert.If it so happens that you are missing quite a few of those skills, you might list similar experiences or any transferable skills you have that would apply.And, as a way of expanding your CV while putting your best foot forward, do consider adding some of those qualities to your CV profile;  it is th e first thing a prospective employer will read.Look here to find more tips on finding your first job… It's never too early to write a cover letter... Image by Luidmila Kot from PixabayAdapting Your Cover LetterResumes and cover letters go hand-in-hand so, if you adjust one, you must adjust the other.A cover letter serves to introduce yourself; your potential employer wants a bit of elaboration of the data you’ve listed in your CV.In the first paragraph, you should list the job title you’re applying for and where you found the advert â€" an online jobs board, your university’s recruitment events or in a newspaper.Your second paragraph should get to the meat of the matter: why you are qualified for this position and how your skills relate to the job posting.Ideally, you should raise these points in bulleted statements, sort of like preparing for a phone interview:As a member of our school’s debate team, I used critical thinking skills to successfully debate a wide range of issues, from sustainable farming to immigrant rights.As I progressed through school, I made myself availab le to underclassmen throughout their first year on campus.I was team captain for our Junior football club.In spite of my academic workload, I nevertheless made ample use of hand tools and power tools during my assays into community volunteering during summer break.You might not think that your accomplishments amount to much but, as you can see, they can certainly be parlayed into relevant skills you could use on any job.The above list is a fine example if you’re applying for a job that calls for leadership skills but what if you’re applying for one that doesn’t â€" maybe a sales job?In that case, your debate team experience serves to highlight your communication skills and helping underclassmen shows what a great team player you are. Do you get the idea now?With a bit of practice, adapting your CV and cover letter for each position you apply for is really not difficult and, once you get the hang of it, you too will wonder why anyone would send out the same resume, over and ove r.Of course, don’t forget to proofread after every update!Now discover how you can prepare for your phone interview…

Are You Ready to Have a Big Vision for Your Career - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / Are You Ready to Have a Big Vision for Your Career - Introvert Whisperer Are You Ready to Have a Big Vision for Your Career? A big dream or big vision for your career isn’t the sole domain of the Extraverted in this world. Sometimes Introverts tip the scale on limiting how they see their future. It can be tough in our Extroverted culture to compete with the louder center of everyone’s attention, which is also our cultural ideal. After years spent seeing what looks like the majority of the rewards going to others, dreams can tend to shrink, but the ambitions are still there. All of that is easy to understand as you go from child to adult. But now that you’re a fully contributing Introvert adult, it’s time for you to understand you can create your path to greatness. We know more about how to adapt our behavior to situations through education and skill building, just like we now know how to shape great leaders. It all starts with the dream or vision. For some people, creating a “vision” feels like nailing Jell-O on a wall: kind of hard to get hold of, feels kind of squishy and may be pointless. If there were ever a good argument for creating a big, bold vision of your future, it would have to be to think about founding our nation and the guys who did it. No one told them what to do. They didn’t drag out of bed in the morning and say, “I suppose I better get that Constitution written today.” They had a vision that drove them through some of the worst adversity to prevail. That vision has fueled millions of people over multiple centuries. With these role models in mind, can you now see that nothing great is accomplished without a vision? (Click here to tweet this thought.) Here are the reasons why you want a vision for your career: We all need something big to inspire and excite us every day for a long time. It gives a purpose to your career and to your work. When times are tough and they will be periodically you need to know that a light will shine on you at the end of the tunnel. So, Why Is It Difficult to Create Your Own Career Vision? Because you don’t do it. Like everything else we do, if you don’t exercise a muscle, it will be very hard to use when you try. This means you need to start using your vision and get it pumped up. Here are some things you can do to start building a muscle for your career vision: Start with some quiet, private time and let your imagination run free. (You remember your imagination, don’t you?) If you meditate, even better. While in your tranquil state, think forward in time and observe the impact you have had. Ask yourself questions like: What would you like to say you impacted or accomplished through your work? How would that feel? What would you like others to say about you at your retirement party? Think about what you would do if money were no object. Think about what it would look like if you could accomplish everything you imagine. Once you’ve started this process, revisit this exercise until you squeeze as much as you can from your own vision. There really are no restrictions and no “right” or “wrong” ways to construct your vision. Your vision shouldn’t sound or be something like a checklist of tasks, because that’s not a vision. Be big, be bold, and just know that once you have the vision in place, figuring out how to get there will seem like play. Go to top Do you know what your next career step is?  Many people don’t. I want to help you accelerate your career by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my eBook on how to construct your Career SMART Goals â€" that will help you put together your actions and keep you accountable. Get your copy now and start your action plan today! Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleashing your professional potential. Introvert Whisperer What’s your vision for your big, brilliant, Introverted career? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Thursday, March 5, 2020

Tips for Preventing Business Travel Anxiety - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / Tips for Preventing Business Travel Anxiety - Introvert Whisperer Tips for Preventing Business Travel Anxiety Once upon a time, the average person rarely had to step foot beyond their home, whether that was an 18th-century house on the prairie, a medieval farm plot, or an ancient Roman provincial farm. In the modern world, though, travel across vast distances is both a common and regular occurrence. Just because traveling long distances on a weekly and even daily basis is expected, though, it doesn’t make it any easier to do if you’re an introverted person who also struggles with travel-related anxiety. If you find the hairs on the back of your neck standing on end at the thought of buckling in for a road trip or getting onto an airplane, here are a few suggestions for ways to help calm your nerves and make the best of each traveling situation you might find yourself in. Preparing to Travel While it’s important to learn to manage your nerves while in transit, it can also be very helpful to plan accordingly before you ever step foot on that plane, train, car, or bus. For instance, if you have a counselor, consider running any travel plans by them first. Don’t be afraid to do so in detail, as they may have valuable input or advice. Modern therapy is regularly evolving, and many counselors are much better equipped to offer sound advice for managing things like anxiety and stress in relation to a specific activity. Asking for a second opinion from someone uniquely qualified to answer can be a wise move. Another long-term element that is worth addressing, especially when you’re asked to travel for work, is your work-life balance. It’s well worth the effort to take time to define your own work-life standard and then try to stick to it. While this may seem like a separate issue from managing travel anxiety, it can actually play a key role. If you feel satisfied by your work-life balance, it will go a long way in helping to keep your stress levels under control when a trip is requested and may even give you more to look forward to as you travel. Substitute Controlled Caution for Unbridled Fear Dealing with fear is part and parcel of an introvert’s walk through life. But just because you need to confront fear on a regular basis doesn’t mean you should allow it to dictate any of your decisions. One of the common challenges with travel anxiety is the sudden, crippling fear that can completely paralyze one’s ability to enjoy a situation … or, at times, even function at all. However, if you take the time to step back and consider what situations set off this paralysis in your own life, it can allow you to formulate a strategic solution. Take, for example, long trips driving your car. If you find that driving long distances for a business trip or even a family vacation whips up your nerves, don’t be afraid to take some of the control back into your own hands by purposefully and carefully practicing defensive driving. Stay at the speed limit, don’t drink or impair your abilities before getting behind the wheel, and keep your phone turned off while on the road. These are already recommended ways to reduce the chances of getting hurt in everyday driving, and adopting them as your “travel mantra” can help restore a sense of peace and control while you travel. Keeping Perspective Every time travel requires public transportation, or really using any vehicle other than a personal car, it’s easy to feel like you’re drowning in a sea of other people. The conversations, bustle, and overall noise can be quite overwhelming. However, if you know you’re heading into a situation like this, it can be helpful to schedule out your traveling time in order to minimize the stress of the situation. For instance, the next time you know you need to hop on a cross-country flight for work or to visit relatives, plan on stepping back and mentally calming down whenever required as you travel. This isn’t just an empty suggestion â€" really take the time to pause your thoughts and then step back and consider each situation you find yourself in. If you know you get anxious about the possibility of perishing in a fiery plane crash every time you board a plane, remind yourself that there are literally fewer transportation options that are safer than a plane. Seriously, just as a point of reference, you’re nearly 90 times more likely to get die in a car than on a plane â€" and we use the four-wheeled option nearly every day. In addition to the mental battle, also consider scheduling in time to recover after you’ve finished traveling. Don’t plan your trip to end right before a big business meeting or family get together. Give yourself a chance to rest before you dive into the next adventure. Keep Things on Your Terms Whenever Possible Finally, whether you’re traveling for business or pleasure, try to resist the temptation to over-book your trip. In addition to avoiding doing too much, try to choose quality activities that accommodate your own desires and interests. Pick activities that will help you keep your mind at ease and give you time to yourself before and after you travel. Don’t feel like you need to visit, say, Time Square the next time you’re in New York City simply because “you have to have the experience.” If you prefer serenity and tranquility, find a quiet coffee shop or visit a park instead. An important thing to remember as you prepare to face your traveling fears is that you are in more control than you might think. You can often dictate what you’ll do before and after a trip in order to prepare and debrief. In addition, as is the case with something like driving carefully, you even have a significant degree of control over how you get from one place to another. Take advantage of these tools and tips in order to make your next trip as stress- and worry-free as possible. By Sam Bowman Sam Bowman  is a freelance writer and introvert who enjoys getting to utilize the internet for the community without actually having to leave his house. In his spare time, he likes running, reading, and combining the two in a run to his local bookstore. Image Source: Pixabay Go to top Do you know what your next career step is?  Many people don’t. I want to help you accelerate your career by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my eBook on how to construct your Career SMART Goals â€" that will help you put together your actions and keep you accountable. Get your copy now and start your action plan today! Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleashing your professional potential. Introvert Whisperer

How to Learn English Vocabulary Easily - 5 Tips for Learning New Words

How to Learn English Vocabulary Easily - 5 Tips for Learning New Words I want to talk to you today about English words and how to learn English vocabulary easily.In past few lessons Ive spoken to you about written English and how to improve that. Ive also spoken to you about how to improve your conversational English and how to speak better English.English like any other language is made up of words. Its a series of words and we put all of those words into sentences. But on their own…. Okay, they have a meaning but they dont make much sense unless you put them together and you know how to use them.Many of my students have come to me and they want to learn words. Give me more vocabulary. Give me more words give me 10 20 30 words to use every day.I try to avoid that mainly because it just doesnt work. Okay.So you can sit there with an English dictionary you can learn all the words you want to learn but I almost guarantee that within 24 hours you have forgotten most of them.And the ones you do remember, you wont know what they mean. All youll see is just a page of words and youre trying to remember the word and try to guess what the meaning is. How to Learn English Vocabulary Easily - 5 Tips So lets look at it in a different way how to approach this, to get those words to have more meaning.When you’re trying to learn English, you want to make sense, you want people to understand you. And the best way for them to understand you, is if you speak sensible English correct English using the correct word in the correct way.So you have to understand the word and understand how to use it. So if you want to practise your words, then practise how to use that particular word either in an expression, in a sentence, in a paragraph, in an essay, some written work, whatever it might be.Im not telling you not to learn words. But I am suggesting and recommending that in addition to learning the words, you learn the true meaning and then how to apply them in your English.Whether youre at the lower intermediate level or intermediate or upper intermediate. It really doesnt matter what level youre at, you still have to have the same approach. How to Learn English Vocabulary Easily - Exercise 1 I get my students to select a theme.The theme can be absolutely anything. It could be a visit to the dentist, could be a visit to the hospital, it could be taking a boat trip.Firstly, I get them to put down headings: nouns, adjectives, verbs. For those more advanced adverbs and other expressions.Then try to get them to identify those particular words connected with that theme. How many words can they think of connected that are nouns to the theme visit to the dentist? How many words are adjectives? With verbs is the same and so on.So you then identified those words with the particular theme. When youve got those words, I then get my students to put them together in an essay or a written piece and try to use them in the correct way.This is a much better way to remember the word and how to use it and how to apply it to that particular theme. How to Learn English Vocabulary Easily - Exercise 2 The second example that I use when I talk to my students then is to get an article.Pick an article from a magazine, a newspaper, even a book. It makes no difference. What youve got to do first of all, youre going to read the article once just to get an understanding what does it mean or try to understand 60 65 percent.When youve read it once, read it a second time. As you read through the second time I want you to highlight words and phrases you dont know phrases you dont understand.When you come back to me at the next lesson, then youll have a list of all these words phrases and expressions and I’ll explain what they mean and how to use them.Then we go back to the article and read it together and understand exactly what the author was trying to get at. This way you have a much better chance of understanding the words and certainly a much better chance of remembering them. How to Learn English Vocabulary Easily - Exercise 3 The third exercise is connected with pronunciation. And you might be wondering how is that connected with words.I take a number of words there might be 10 or 15 or 20 (depending on their particular level).Firstly, we practise the pronunciation. We practise where the stress should be. But more importantly, were trying to understand what those words mean. As were going through each of the words I ask the student: ‘Do you know what it is? Can you understand it? Can you use it yourself?’Having gone through each of the words, having put the correct stress on the correct syllable, we then go back to the words and we put them into a sentence. How to Learn English Vocabulary Easily - Exercise 4 The fourth exercise I get my students to write short passages or an essay or a letter. It doesnt really matter what it is but what I get them to do is to make sure they dont repeat the key words more than once in each paragraph.For example, youre going to write a little passage about the holiday that youve had or the book that you just read. And youre going to try and explain those feelings but dont repeat the same key word more than once in each paragraph. Its quite tough to do and its a great exercise to get you to understand, remember and use all of the words. How to Learn English Vocabulary Easily - Exercise 5 The final tip that I have for you is practice. English only gets better if you practise it and particularly with words we want to practise words, we want to practise collocations, expressions and phrases.For example, if we take the phrase ‘discharged from hospital’ Thats on its own its fine ‘discharged from hospital’. In a sentence ‘I was discharged from hospital yesterday.’ So I left hospital yesterday. You get an understanding of what it means and how to use it.Another collocation ‘I have a splitting headache’. Splitting headache is the collocation. ‘I have splitting headache all day because of the weather.’ So practise how to use it an expression.The room that Im sitting in here is bright and cheerful. Bright and cheerful is the expression meaning colours are very nice, the decoration is wonderful. So when you come in you feel alive.You have to find expressions, collocations, phrases and words and practise putting them into appropriate sentences so the meaning sticks with you.Thats all for this particular lesson.Remember to subscribe to my channel as always and join me on www.englishlessonviaskype.com.When you look in the description, youll find a great link to all of our courses. And weve got some great news coming up shortly about a very very special club that you can join. So join me again soon.

Taking a Summer Break from Anxiety for Teens with ADHD

Taking a Summer Break from Anxiety for Teens with ADHD Summertime typically provides a much-needed break from the academic and social pressures of school for kids with ADHD. Elementary school kids can spend their summers involved in activities that play to their strengths and minimize their weaknesses. They have an opportunity to focus on making new summer friends, forming friendships that arent complicated by school anxiety and stress. In an ideal world, teenagers with ADHD also have the chance to take a real summer break from high school pressures. However, as competition for college admissions and career success grows, many high school students are increasingly encouraged to maximize their summer breaks by participating in experiences that will bolster their chances of getting into their preferred college. This often means seeking out competitive internships and participating in multiple sports or intense extracurricular activities, sometimes while also holding down a part-time job. Taking a break from the social pressure of high scho ol is also more challenging with social media playing such a prominent role in teenage social life. Teens continue to feel the pressure to keep up with their classmates, often comparing themselves to their peers and scanning Instagram posts to make sure theyre not missing out on (or being left out of) events and activities. This year-round pressure is just one of many factors that researchers and clinicians think may be driving the rise in anxiety among teenagers. A recently published article in the Journal of Developmental Pediatrics found that in the U.S. rates of anxiety disorder diagnoses increased 20% between 2007-2012.1 Many clinicians suspect that rates have increased even more rapidly between 2012 and 2018. In fact, according to the National Institute of Mental Health, about one-third of todays adolescents will experience an anxiety disorder during their lifetime. Teens with ADHD are at even higher risk, with up to 50% experiencing significant anxiety. While some of the factors driving up teen anxiety are pervasive and cant be changed in a single summer, there are still many things parents can do to help their teens keep anxiety in check. Help your teen focus on experiences that are meaningful and personalized. Its smart to start thinking about college and career paths early on, and to use time away from school to build skills and experiences that bolster college and career success. But for teens with ADHD who have struggled to succeed in school, and whose self-confidence has eroded over time, focusing first and foremost on finding activities and internships that build confidence and self-esteem is important. Encourage your teen to think about the big picture and seek out experiences that tap into his or her strengths and minimize weaknesses. Ideally these experiences should be in areas that your teen is passionate about, where he or she can feel confident in his or her knowledge and abilities and be an equal or a leader among his or her peers. Encourage your teen to devote some time working on academic skills. A complete break from academics during the summer months can make it difficult for teens with ADHD to start the new school year off with confidence. So, while your teens activities and internships should play to his or her strengths, that doesnt mean your teen shouldnt spend any time building up weaker academic skills. The trick is to set your teen up for success by providing him or her with academic experiences that build confidence as well as skills. Working with learning professionals who provide personalized instruction tailored to your teens learning style and strengths is the most surefire path to academic confidence and success. Quality family time is important. Its normal and healthy for teens to prefer to spend time with friends rather than family. But, that doesnt mean that family time isnt important. In fact, family time can provide a healthy break from social pressure, and the anxiety that comes with it for many teens with ADHD. Schedule family activities that include a break from technology when teens (and their parents) dont check their social media accounts for extended stretches of time. The focus of this time should be on blocking outside distractions and spending quality time with each other. Activities that are naturally less compatible with cell phone use (like hiking, swimming, amusement parks, paintball, horseback riding, trampoline parks) will help make the technology breaks a little easier. Work with a therapist if your teen seems highly anxious or unmotivated. Finding time for therapy appointments can be hard during the school year. If you are worried about your teens level of anxiety, or if he or she seems to be constantly irritable or unmotivated, use the summer months to find a therapist who can meet with you and your teen to assess his or her mood and anxiety. Even a few appointments with a good therapist can make a big difference when it comes to treating anxiety and having a go-to therapist your teen can meet with if anxiety spikes in the fall can mean getting treatment more quickly when your teen needs it the most. ABOUT DR. MARY ROONEY Mary Rooney, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California San Francisco. Dr Rooney is a researcher and clinician specializing in the evaluation and treatment of ADHD and co-occurring behavioral, anxiety, and mood disorders. A strong advocate for those with attention and behavior problems, Dr. Rooney is committed to developing and providing comprehensive, cutting edge treatments tailored to meet the unique needs of each child and adolescent. Dr. Rooney's clinical interventions and research avenues emphasize working closely with parents and teachers to create supportive, structured home and school environments that enable children and adolescents to reach their full potential. In addition, Dr. Rooney serves as a consultant and ADHD expert to Huntington Learning Centers. ABOUT HUNTINGTON Huntington Learning Center is the tutoring and test prep leader. Its certified tutors provide individualized instruction in reading, phonics, writing, study skills, elementary and middle school math, Algebra through Calculus, Chemistry, and other sciences. It preps for the SAT and ACT, as well as state and standardized exams. Huntington programs develop the skills, confidence, and motivation to help students of all levels succeed and meet the needs of Common Core State Standards. Founded in 1977, Huntington's mission is to give every student the best education possible. Call us today at 1.800.CAN LEARN to discuss how Huntington can help your child. For franchise opportunities please visit www.huntingtonfranchise.com. This website does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The material on this site is provided for educational purposes only.

Raha International School

Raha International School Raha International School Since opening its doors in 2006, Raha International School has become one of the most sought-after schools in Abu Dhabi. Rated outstanding by the Abu Dhabi Education Council, RIS is accredited by the Council of International Schools (CIS) and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). RIS was the first school in Abu Dhabi to offer the International Baccalaureate Primary Years, Middle Years and Diploma programs. Raha International School aims to hire highly-qualified teaching staff. Each RIS teachers commitment to excellence will continue through ongoing learning so that they stay current with innovations in education, changes in the world and the issues important to their students. Situated on 14 acres of beautifully landscaped property, the campus features several large piazzas and wide walkways lined with palm trees, with an abundance of open space and play areas. The spacious and bright classrooms are equipped with computers, interactive whiteboards and Apple TV.

6 Easy Ways to Ace the School Year

6 Easy Ways to Ace the School Year 6 Easy Ways to Ace the School Year Making the transition from summer vacation mode to a classroom-ready mindset isn’t always easy. Beyond the excitement of new clothes, new classes and even new friends, children and parents alike can get easily overwhelmed by the changes a new school year brings. Here are six tips that will help your family make this year the best school year yet! Stick to a Routine Children benefit from having a steady routine. Setting a consistent bedtime and wake-up time will ensure that your children are getting enough sleep. If they don’t, concentration and academic performance will suffer. Likewise, having a well-balanced breakfast each morning will ensure that the day starts off on a positive note. If your children spend a lot of time deciding what to wear and preparing their backpack in the morning, add these activities to their nighttime routine. Create a Distraction Free Study Area Completing homework at the same time each day will help create strong study habits. Establish a location in your home where your children will study and do homework throughout the year. Choose a location where you can keep an eye on them, but still minimize distractions like TV, phone and electronics. Support Homework Independence Once your children are able to read directions on their own, encourage them to complete their homework assignments by themselves. They may continue to ask for help primarily because they enjoy the parental attention, not because they truly need assistance. Support their independence by encouraging them to work through the problems on their own. When your children do their homework without a reminder, acknowledge their independence to reinforce the positive habit. Think Long-Term Children who set long-term goals often have increased motivation in school. Setting long-term goals with your children can help connect the relevancy of their daily activities with the future. It is also never too early to develop time management skills. Using time wisely by completing homework and chores efficiently allows children to have more time for fun activities. Have a Positive Learning Attitude Attitudes are infectious and an integral component to success. Parents who have a positive attitude towards learning and school can excite children with their enthusiasm. Show interest in your children’s studies by asking questions, which can help foster motivation and a positive learning attitude. Remember to reinforce a positive, growth mindset. Children who understand that hard-work is more important than natural intelligence are more likely succeed. Connect with the Teacher Parents who plan an active role in their children’s education make a huge difference in their success. Building a relationship with your children’s teachers can help you understand how your children are doing at school and how you can help your children at home. Try to meet with your children’s teachers at the beginning of the school year and set the expectation of working together as a team. Developing a strong, positive partnership with your children’s teachers can help the school year go more smoothly for you and your children. You might also be interested in: 5 Ways to Start the School Year Right Ace the School Year with Kumons Study Tips Roundup 7 Important Study Habits for School What are the School Readiness Skills that Preschoolers Learn in Kumon? 6 Easy Ways to Ace the School Year 6 Easy Ways to Ace the School Year Making the transition from summer vacation mode to a classroom-ready mindset isn’t always easy. Beyond the excitement of new clothes, new classes and even new friends, children and parents alike can get easily overwhelmed by the changes a new school year brings. Here are six tips that will help your family make this year the best school year yet! Stick to a Routine Children benefit from having a steady routine. Setting a consistent bedtime and wake-up time will ensure that your children are getting enough sleep. If they don’t, concentration and academic performance will suffer. Likewise, having a well-balanced breakfast each morning will ensure that the day starts off on a positive note. If your children spend a lot of time deciding what to wear and preparing their backpack in the morning, add these activities to their nighttime routine. Create a Distraction Free Study Area Completing homework at the same time each day will help create strong study habits. Establish a location in your home where your children will study and do homework throughout the year. Choose a location where you can keep an eye on them, but still minimize distractions like TV, phone and electronics. Support Homework Independence Once your children are able to read directions on their own, encourage them to complete their homework assignments by themselves. They may continue to ask for help primarily because they enjoy the parental attention, not because they truly need assistance. Support their independence by encouraging them to work through the problems on their own. When your children do their homework without a reminder, acknowledge their independence to reinforce the positive habit. Think Long-Term Children who set long-term goals often have increased motivation in school. Setting long-term goals with your children can help connect the relevancy of their daily activities with the future. It is also never too early to develop time management skills. Using time wisely by completing homework and chores efficiently allows children to have more time for fun activities. Have a Positive Learning Attitude Attitudes are infectious and an integral component to success. Parents who have a positive attitude towards learning and school can excite children with their enthusiasm. Show interest in your children’s studies by asking questions, which can help foster motivation and a positive learning attitude. Remember to reinforce a positive, growth mindset. Children who understand that hard-work is more important than natural intelligence are more likely succeed. Connect with the Teacher Parents who plan an active role in their children’s education make a huge difference in their success. Building a relationship with your children’s teachers can help you understand how your children are doing at school and how you can help your children at home. Try to meet with your children’s teachers at the beginning of the school year and set the expectation of working together as a team. Developing a strong, positive partnership with your children’s teachers can help the school year go more smoothly for you and your children. You might also be interested in: 5 Ways to Start the School Year Right Ace the School Year with Kumons Study Tips Roundup 7 Important Study Habits for School What are the School Readiness Skills that Preschoolers Learn in Kumon?