Thousand Oaks Tutoring - Get A Quality Education At A Great Price

Thousand Oaks Tutoring - Get A Quality Education At A Great PriceThousand Oaks has been recognized as one of the finest schools in the state of California, and if you want to get your education, Thousand Oaks tutoring can help you. Thousand Oaks school, like many other schools throughout the state, offers large amounts of free services, scholarships, and other perks for their students.If you are a high achiever, Thousand Oaks can help you further your education by giving you a quality education that will make you an expert in your field. Of course, your grades will be superb, but your skills will also help you obtain a higher-paying job in your field.The tuition costs for Thousand Oaks is generally extremely affordable. There are no hassles when it comes to submitting financial aid applications or getting ready for college, and all it takes is a single application.It is possible to receive assistance for college by joining a tutoring program at Thousand Oaks. The staff of the school has taken the time to ensure that there are no hidden fees associated with tutoring at the school. If you choose to sign up for tutoring services at the school, you will have the opportunity to get a large amount of free tutoring each year.The tutoring services offered at Thousand Oaks are exceptional. The fact that there are so many different styles of lessons will allow students to find the one that best suits their needs.Each student will be able to learn about one hundred hours of college curriculum, depending on the student's schedule. The two in-house teachers are available to answer any questions that students may have regarding the class and its contents.If you want to get a quality education, Thousand Oaks tutoring is for you. You can be sure that you will get an excellent education for a low price. Your teacher will provide you with the best guidance you will ever need to succeed in life.

How to Sing in a Deeper Voice

How to Sing in a Deeper Voice Increase your Vocal Range to  Sing in a Low Voice Chapters4 Things to Avoid if You Want to Work on the Low Notes5 Steps You Should Take to Sing with a Low VoiceSingers for Working on Lower NotesThe Best Songs for Singing with a Low VoiceWe should say right at the start that there’s no easy way to sing in a low voice!  Anyone who’s promising you (especially music schools and teachers) that singing in a low voice is something you can do easily is a liar. You need to put a lot of work into your voice with your singing teacher if you want to improve, perfect, and even master your singing voice and vocal technique.The current trend for singers with a low voice to gravitate towards musical styles like blues, soul, or jazz.  As we already know, even with all the talent in the world, a nice timbre, and fantastic stage presence, it can still be difficult to reach certain octaves and notes. Especially for beginners!Regardless of how they sound, there are good singers and there are bad singers.  A good singer is one who is fully aware of w hat singing requires both in terms of their body and their attitude.  These are the kinds of singers who are happy to learn new vocal techniques and listen to advice from their very first lesson until they’re about to step on stage in front of thousands of spectators.In this article, we've put together singing tips to help you learn how to sing the lower octaves. TraceySinging Teacher 4.92 (13) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PortiaSinging Teacher 4.91 (11) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NicolaSinging Teacher 5.00 (11) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JazzSinging Teacher 5.00 (6) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PerrineSinging Teacher 5.00 (3) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors TiemSinging Teacher £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors TomSinging Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MiriamSinging Teacher 5.00 (4) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors4 Things to Avoid if You Want to Work on the Low Notes1. Trying to Change Your Vocal CordsWithout surgery, it’s impossible to change the length of a person’s vocal cords. This is what will generally define a person’s tessitura.There are plenty of good exercises for hitting lower notes. (Source: pixabay.com)For example, some modern singers, both amateur and professional, will find it easier to sing in high notes than low notes and vice-versa.It’s much easier to work with your biology than to attempt to go against it by changing your vocal range. That said, vocal training can help expand your range.2. Forcing Your VoiceIn almost every case, forcing your voice is a really bad idea. Whether you’re trying to get an entire classroom to be quiet, make yourself heard in a debate, or screaming at your favourite artist as they perform, we tend to occasionally put our voice through the grinder.Whether you’re a singer in a band, a choir, or a solo artist, forcing your voice could lead to you losing it for at le ast a few days.Looking for singing lessons manchester?3. Not Resting Your VoiceIn our daily life, overworking can have a massively negative effect on us. The same can happen to our voice if you don’t treat it with respect.It’s important that a singer respects their voice by giving it the appropriate amount of rest after working it so hard during a song.Singing song after song without any rest at all can be really bad for your voice and can result in the subsequent performances being worse than if you’d otherwise rested. Make sure you always rest your voice after each of your voice lessons.4. Lowering Your Head to Sing Low NotesWhile this is a general human reaction, it’s something you should avoid at all costs because it won’t make your life any easier. Lowering your head will not make it easier to produce low notes!You should also learn how to master vibrato, one of the most important singing techniques for opera singers.5 Steps You Should Take to Sing with a Low VoiceSin ging with a low voice is not walk in the park. It takes a lot of time, dedication, and, in some cases, money. It requires that you work on your posture, breathing, and vocal exercises in order to get there.1. Unlock Your FaceIn order to sing better, you’ll need to relax your face.While this is the tensest part of a lot of people’s bodies, unlocking your face can help you hit both lower and higher notes.Don't forget that it's your breath that can give your voice most of its power. (Source:  Thibault Trillet)There are several techniques that can be used to do this. There are several bad habits you should also avoid:Loosen up your jaw. This area exerts the largest amount of force on your face. To do this, unclench your teeth and let your jaw lightly fall. This should relieve tension in your face.Relax your eyes and your forehead. Focus on your eyebrows and eyelids. The goal is to relax our facial features over time.Work on your tongue and your mouth. These are essential parts when it comes to singing. By vibrating your lips and proudly showing off your teeth, you can improve your elocution and your production of low notes. Finally, place your tongue flat with the tip of your tongue on your lower set of teeth.2. VocaliseThis is the a classic method. Making a few low “oohs” are a good way to broaden your vocal range without needing to use technology like a vocoder.While some students hate this exercise, it’s a favourite amongst most singing teachers and voice coaches and can:Make the vocal cords more flexibleImprove your voiceHelp students sing every note in their rangeImprove your vocal rangeIt should be noted that carrying out a few vocalisations while being accompanied by a piano is a great way to work on your vocal range.There are other exercises to help you sing in a low voice like using your chest voice for notes you can already sing with your head voice without changing your tessitura.3. Use Diaphragmatic BreathingTo add more to your voice, assert your presence on stage, or just make your voice more pleasing, you have to work on diaphragmatic breathing.To do this, you need to:Push out your stomach as you breathe in.Progressively bring your stomach back in as you breathe out.Lightly push on the obliques around the pubis.Make your diaphragm rest low as long as you can.Bring your stomach back in as slowly as possibleExpand your rib cage as much as you can.4. Work on Moving Air Around Your Body to Improve Your BreathJust like in martial arts and tai chi, breath plays an important part in singing and can define the quality of your voice and a singer’s performance.The air that becomes your breath needs to come from the bottom of your stomach and needs to be controlled completely. Being aware of your breathing is the first step towards improving your singing.5. Take Singing Classes with a Singing TutorWe’re not going to lie, while there are plenty of resources for learning how to sing, online singing lessons, and YouTube videos on the subject, none of these can really replace a private vocal coach giving you feedback from the comfort of your own home.While you can teach yourself to sing, you’ll get better results with a private voice teacher who can tailor their lessons to you and work on the vocal techniques that you need to improve your abilities as a singer.If you feel this is the option for you, then you should head straight over to Superprof’s main page and start looking for singing tutors that live near you.This is arguably one of the most cost-effective methods for learning how to sing since every hour is spent working exactly on what you need to work on. Your tutor will also choose the best singing exercises for you, help you work on your breath control, improve your vocal health, and show you the vocal warm up exercises you should be doing before every voice training session.If you’re not sure, you can look through the different tutors available, see how many years of experience they have, t he qualifications they’ve earned, their teaching approach.  Additionally, you can always have a look at the opinions of their former and current students to see whether the tutor is right for you.Find singing lessons London or singing lessons online.Singers for Working on Lower NotesWhile vocal ranges can cover bass, baritone, tenor, alto, mezzo-soprano, and soprano, there’s something really special about hearing the lower ranges.Even if you have an instrument to back you up, you should take special care of your voice. (Source:  Agnes Talalaev)A search for “deepest voice in the world” will probably put you off trying to lower your vocal range. However, there are plenty of accessible artists who also sing in lower range.Male Artists with Low VoicesNick CaveLeonard CohenBarry WhiteTom WaitsJim MorrisonHowlin’ WolfWillie DixonBB KingBruce SpringsteenElvis PresleyFemale Singers with Low VoicesTina TurnerWhitney HoustonTracy ChapmanLauryn HillAmy WinehouseAdeleCherChristina Agu ileraToni BraxtonIndilaIf you want to get the most out of your voice, you should look at hiring a private singing tutor. (Source: Thibault Trillet)The Best Songs for Singing with a Low VoiceFiver Finger Death Punch â€" House of the Rising Sun (Cover)Bill Withers â€" Ain’t No SunshineConway Twitty â€" Slow HandDarius Rucker â€" Don’t Think I Don’t Think About ItJosh Turner â€" Your ManToby Keith â€" I Love This BarWar â€" Low RiderLips of an Angel â€" HinderThe Calling â€" Wherever You Will GoThe Big Bopper â€" Chantilly LaceJohnny Cash â€" Hurt

Our Advice To Master English Pronunciation

Our Advice To Master English Pronunciation Our Tips For Good English Language Teaching ChaptersHow Can You Perfect Your Pronunciation?What Is The English Accent?The Importance Of Flexibility In Speaking EnglishListen To English To Improve Your PronunciationCommon Pronunciation Errors In EnglishFrustration When Learning EnglishAlthough English does not use any written accents to give clues to the way that the language should be spoken. There are some stringent rules about English pronunciation, which should be followed if you want to be correctly understood.It can be challenging to understand the notion of the hidden tonic accent in English, and many words just have to be learnt individually. For example the word ‘read' which can be said in 2 ways, both have different meanings. This word has no accents or indications of how to read the word nor which pronunciation is correct until it is added to a sentence to give context.We see this occurs a lot in English, for example, why are two words that are almost identical (beard and heard) not pronounced following the same ru les? To communicate in English, follow our advice and we will squash some of these mysteries! JulianESOL (English) Teacher 4.00 (1) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EugeneESOL (English) Teacher 4.90 (58) £22/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HelenESOL (English) Teacher 5.00 (20) £32/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SuzanneESOL (English) Teacher 5.00 (2) £45/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NatashaESOL (English) Teacher 5.00 (8) £55/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SamuelESOL (English) Teacher 4.83 (41) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JoanneESOL (English) Teacher 5.00 (43) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarkESOL (English) Teacher 4.76 (17) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsHow Can You Perfect Your Pronunciation?You will have noticed, that pronunciation in English is very different from your own language. If you already practice English, you probably already know about the different element s that are involved: • The pronunciation of English sounds. • The pronunciation of English words. • The rhythm of the sentence. • The intonation within a sentence.There different English sounds internationally. Photo Source: UnsplashIt is very likely that even with a grammatically correct sentence, that you have already been misunderstood, especially by a native English person. A significant part of proper pronunciation is practising the language and learning how to pronounce each word.Even native English speakers have to do this because how you read a word does not always equal how you say it. For example, ‘Southwark' which is an area in London is not said how it read. I used to see tourists come onto the bus all the time asking for South-Walk and no one knew what they were talking about. But once you learn that the area is called suth-ark, you can be immediately understood.In this case, you need to learn this word independently and add it to the long list of irregular wo rds in the English language.What Is The English Accent?English is one of the most commonly spoken languages on the planet, many countries speak English as a first language. All of which have their own expression of the language. To complicate matters further not only are there different English sounds internationally and different ways to pronounce words but also within countries you can find different pronunciations.Make friends internationally with people who are open to globalism. Photo Source: UnsplashIn the United Kingdom, the spoken accent between the north and south of the country as very different. For example, when I travel from London up to the north in Scotland, I do struggle to understand the English spoken there. While the English words have a similar meaning worldwide, the rhythm and the intonation do differ significantly in all parts of the English speaking world.So when we speak about English accents, it is better to try to focus on one country zone at a time. For ex ample, asking what is the English accent like in the united kingdom or the USA is a more straightforward question to answer although still too broad to give a sensible answer. The English accent is vast and varied all over the world. JulianESOL (English) Teacher 4.00 (1) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EugeneESOL (English) Teacher 4.90 (58) £22/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HelenESOL (English) Teacher 5.00 (20) £32/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SuzanneESOL (English) Teacher 5.00 (2) £45/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NatashaESOL (English) Teacher 5.00 (8) £55/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SamuelESOL (English) Teacher 4.83 (41) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JoanneESOL (English) Teacher 5.00 (43) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarkESOL (English) Teacher 4.76 (17) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsThe Importance Of Flexibility In Speaking EnglishThe first step to speaking Engl ish as a native is to agree to be flexible in the way that you speak. Indeed, it is often said that children learn English more easily, but children are just more flexible in their thinking and have no problem changing their way of thinking and speaking. But adults are only as able to pronounce English correctly and progress in the English language provided they agree to change the way they form their words and express them verbally.Listen To English To Improve Your PronunciationIf it is your aim to learn to speak English quickly, it is best to listen to it as often as possible! This can be in conversations, in movies, on the radio, online or in exchanges. This is how children learn to speak their mother tongue. Using the same technique and given dedication and patience, you can do the same. Listening and imitating is of course very important when you are working to improve your pronunciation skills.Regularly learning by exposure is a great way to make your language learning more ac cessible. Listen to the radio in English, watch films in English listen to music in English, you have access to English in many areas all of which can help to solidify your learning.But be careful, not only to listen do back up everything you are hearing with lessons about what it is that you are learning.Tips For Where To Find Opportunities To Improve Your English Language Skills.YouTube has many wonderful videos which can help you learn all about how to pronounce a word in English.  Audible is an audiobook website which allows you to listen to books. The great thing about this is that you can buy the book in English and follow along with audible.Netflix and Amazon Prime are a few online streaming services which allow you to watch movies, documentaries and TV series with subtitles. The great thing is that they also have options to listen in multiple languages and read subtitles in various languages too.Listen To English To Improve Your Pronunciation. Photo Source: UnsplashOnline ap ps like Babbel which allow you to meet with other language learners and improve your English oral skills by exchanging a language or working together.Websites like Couchsurfing are an international travel community where you can also interview new English people or make friends internationally with people who are open to globalism and meeting people from other cultures and background.The point of couch surfing is for you to share your culture and help people from other countries. In their forums, you can find many English speakers who will be willing to help you. Also, should you choose to you could host an English speaker in your home or travel to meet a native English speaker.You can join forums like those on the lonely planet website to meet people who would like to help people from other countries so that you can learn and concrete your English.Common Pronunciation Errors In EnglishErrors in English are easy to make and hard to correct when you are unsure of what mistake it is t hat you have made. Some common errors seen in English are: Pronouncing the ‘th' - This is one of the hardest sounds to pronounce in English, and it can be pronounced in a few different ways.Confusing the ‘L' and the ‘R' - these sound are often mixed up which gives a different meaning to the words altogether. For example Rice and Lice. Confusing the ‘W' and the ‘V' - This is often noticed when saying the word water or west. Again saying Vater instead of water gives your sentence a different meaning which could give confusion to listeners.The changing intonation with the letter ‘E' - Adding an ‘e' to a word changes the syllables, for example Not and Note although they look the same are not said with the same intonation. Not is said with 1 syllable and Note has 2 syllables. Silent consonants â€" Many words in the English language contain letters which are silent, words like Wednesday which are said Wensday. It is hard to know which words have silent letters as there is no structured rule to define how it works.Learning the words with silent letters is an excellent way to make sure that you are pronouncing words correctly.Frustration When Learning EnglishEnglish can be a very frustrating language with its different rules, lack of structure and disconnection between the pronunciation and writing of the language. This is perfectly expressed in the poem Our strange lingo(source: https://www.7spell.com/our-strange-lingo-a-humorous-look-at-pronunciation/).When the English tongue we speak. Why is break not rhymed with freak? Will you tell me why it's true We say sew but likewise few? And the maker of the verse, Cannot rhyme his horse with worse? Beard is not the same as heard Cord is different from word. Cow is cow but low is low Shoe is never rhymed with foe. Think of hose, dose, and lose And think of goose and yet with choose Think of comb, tomb and bomb, Doll and roll or home and some. Since pay is rhymed with say Why not paid with said I pray? Think of blood, food and good. Mould is not pronounced like could. Wherefore done, but gone and lone â€" Is there any reason known? To sum up all, it seems to me Sound and letters don't agree.The inconsistencies in English comes about because the language has been inspired by Germanic, Norse, French, Italian, Arabic and many more languages. Since we can't change the rules of English spelling and pronunciation, we might as well learn what we can and study hard to overcome them. Enjoy and good luck!

How to Stay Focused on Long Reading Passages

How to Stay Focused on Long Reading Passages Have you ever found yourself in the middle of a long reading passage on a standardized test, only to realize you havent internalized a single word? You look at the clock to find that six minutes have passed and then the panic sets in. No matter how many times you read the passage, you just cannot seem to grasp it. This is a common problem among many test-takers; after all, standardized tests are meant to challenge you. Staying focused during standardized tests such as the SAT and ACT can be challenging, but comprehending these long reading passages is key. Here are a few tips on how to stay focused during the much-dreaded long reading passages on standardized tests. [RELATED: ACT Reading Tips] Practice One way to stay focused is to prepare for the exam by taking practice tests. The more practice you have under your belt, the more likely you will recognize how short of a time period you actually have to complete the standardized test you are taking. There is nothing like a bit of nerves to keep you on track and remind you that time is ticking. Notes Another way to remain alert during the entire length of a reading passage is to write notes along the way. Obviously, you do not have time to summarize every detail you read, but a note here and there will aid you in understanding the text overall. This method takes practice, so be sure to implement it into your strategy before the actual day of the test. Figure out the type of notes that are most helpful for you to have once you finish the passage. Perhaps making a note when you find an interesting sentence is a good way to jog your memory. Or you could try noting the moment you encounter a new character or intriguing quote. However you choose to apply this method, stick with it. It likely wont benefit you to change your process midway through your exam. If you find yourself daydreaming, return to the last note you took and begin reading from that pointit sure beats having to start all over again from the beginning of the entire passage! Ask questions in your head If you feel note-taking absorbs too much of your time, consider asking yourself some checkpoint questions while reading the passage. These questions you ask yourself should be personalized, but here are a few examples to work from: What is the main point of this paragraph? What are the most important details here? Is this important or is it just additional background information? Who is speaking at this moment? Was this an example of a particular literary device? Can I summarize this paragraph in one sentence or less? Why is this section included in the passage? Asking questions forces you to engage with the text, not just glaze over it. If you find that you are struggling to answer even the most basic questions about a section of text, it is probably safe to say that you should go back and reread. Balancing time and reading can be a challenge, but just remind yourself that you must understand the text in order to truly succeed on the test. [RELATED: How to Interpret a Reading Assignment] Mouth the words While reading out loud would be a stellar strategy to use during a standardized test, it would be quite distracting to your fellow test-takers. However, one strategy you can implement while going through a long reading passage is to mouth the words as you read them. Yes, you may look a bit strange, but does it really matter? Moving your lips as you read is going to help you slow down (a reasonable amount) and concentrate on every single word. By doing this, you will hopefully be able to stay focused and follow a good reading pace for the entire passage. Finding the best strategy for you is a matter of practice. Once you figure out the tactic that works for you, use it consistently.

Singing Lessons for Kids 10 Ways to Support Your Child

Singing Lessons for Kids 10 Ways to Support Your Child Suzy S. If your son or daughter loves to sing, a private teacher can teach him or her how to sing correctly and stay excited about learning! Here, St. Augustine, FL teacher  Heather L.  shares 10 ways you can support your child throughout the journey Kids are simply made to sing. In most of the lessons that I teach, no matter the students age, I inevitably find myself teaching her how to be a kid in some way. Shaking out tense muscles, dancing to the beat, making animal sounds, keeping it simple, opening your heart these are things that kids do naturally all the time. That, in turn, makes it easier for most children to learn how to sing correctly and well. Be that as it may, it can seem difficult at times to find ways to support your young singer effectively. Heres a list of 10 ways to support your child. 1. Say positive and encouraging. Humans, especially children, will desire to live up to the qualities that are expected, or even  simply named to them. Telling your child that youre proud of him simply for choosing to take  voice lessons or calling that song that hes been working on beautiful can make his entire  week. On the other hand, one harsh, overly critical word could make him want to quit  altogether. 2. Encourage healthy speaking habits. What we call the voice is really a group of different muscles and tissues working together to create sound. They may be fairly resilient in adults, but in children they can be easily damaged, sometimes temporarily and sometimes permanently. Encourage your child to learn and practice healthy speaking habits: • No whispering • No screaming • No vocal fry (a phonation that sounds like popcorn popping) • No straining or belting (unless being trained by a specialist) Listen for swelling of the vocal folds uneven vocal tone, breathiness, roughness and ask your  child to go into low voice mode for a few days, where their voice is warm, but low in volume.  She could pretend to be talking to a secret fairy or a bug right in front of her nose. 3. Provide a healthy diet. Healthy diet means something different to everyone. One thats supportive of singing  (and staying well-behaved in a voice lesson or choir practice) includes lots of non-dairy  fluids for hydration, raw vegetable and fruits to combat inflammation in the vocal folds and  surrounding tissues (especially apples and dark, leafy greens), and fish for focus and  concentration. Now, as a parent, I understand how impossible this diet can be at times. But  whats great about highly nutritive food is that even a little bit can make a difference. 4. Help with home practice. Sit down with your child, look at her schedule, and plan out practice sessions. They dont have  be very long (15 minutes a day is fine) but they should be daily. Set a timer,  encourage gentle warm-ups, like humming or lip bubbles, and let your child sing his assigned  songs in as much privacy as youre willing to give. Feeling self-conscious affects a singers voice  more than anything, so try to give some space. That is, unless your child invites an audience! 5. Experience live music together. So much of the music that our children experience these days is from a phone or tablet. Give your child the special gift of experiencing live music with you. This gives you the chance to talk about it together: What did you like? What didnt you like? Was the music fast or slow? Loud or soft?  Getting your kid thinking critically about music, even if youre not a musician yourself, is so  important in keeping music interesting and fun. 6. Load fun music games onto your devices. Look for apps like NoteWorks or Junos Piano. Theyre fun, educational, and easy to learn.  Your little one will know her musical alphabet by heart in no time. 7. Get a keyboard. Even keyboards that arent the full 88 keys are beneficial for singers, especially young ones.  The voice is a musical instrument that essentially is the human body itself, so being able to  go to an outside instrument for reference and support can be really helpful. 8. Play animals. Getting kids to understand vocal language like space  or registers can be tricky. Pretending to be specific animals, like an owl to demonstrate  an open, floating, and well-supported sound, can be a lot of fun and supports what your childs  teacher is teacher. Consult your childs teacher for more exercises. 9. Eliminate secondhand smoke. If you or someone in your household smokes, then consider smoking only outside or in the  garage. Secondhand smoke is harmful in many ways, most notably to the voice. 10. Be there. Be the parent who attends the big recitals and concerts. Knowing your mom and dad are in  an audience means the world to a kid. You, as a parent, could be the single most important part of your childs vocal education. The trust and confidence that your child places in you every day is so precious. Use it wisely to motivate, nurture, and guide your young singer, and shell learn much more than just how to carry a tune. Heather L. teaches singing, piano, acting, and more in St. Augustine, FL, as well as through online lessons. She is  a graduate of the prestigious Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey, and has performed with the New York and Royal Philharmonics, the New Jersey and Virginia Symphonies, the American Boy Choir, and the internationally renowned opera star Andrea Bocelli.  Learn more about Heather here! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher Photo  by  Nick J Webb

Tips for Helping Kids with ADHD Manage Transitions

Tips for Helping Kids with ADHD Manage Transitions In my previous post I discussed the reasons why so many kids with ADHD struggle to successfully transition from one activity to another throughout the day. The good news is that while transitions are much more difficult for kids with ADHD than kids without ADHD, with some targeted support and accommodations, transitioning between activities can become much easier. Provide a 5-minute warning. 5 minutes (or more) before the end of an activity, let the child know that the transition will be happening soon. Make sure the child heard you by making eye contact before giving the warning and asking the child to verbally repeat the number of minutes that are left in the activity. Break the transition down into small manageable steps. If the transition requires the child to complete more than 2 steps (e.g., put your materials in your desk, put your completed work in the bin on the teachers desk, get your backpack, and line up by the door), then give the child instructions that break the instructions down into just two steps at a time. For example, Put your materials away and then put your completed work on my desk. Nice job! Now go get your backpack and line up at the door. If the transition is one that happens routinely, then post the steps on the wall, create a checklist, or give the child the instructions 2 at a time until the steps become a habit. The fewer steps a child needs to follow during a transition time, the more smoothly things will go. Think about your most difficult transition times and consider whether there are any steps that can be removed or completed ahead of time. For example, when it comes to transitioning from play time to homework time, making sure the childs homework station is organized, well stocked with supplies, and has his or her backpack (and daily materials) sitting nearby can actually take care of many little steps that get in the way of getting started on homework. Give instructions slowly. For kids with ADHD who process information more slowly, make sure you provide the instructions with enough time (about 10 seconds) in between for the child to start following through. Often instructions are given rapid-fire during transitions because everyone is in a hurry. But, this fast pace ultimately just slows things down when a child cant process the information quickly enough to be able to follow through. Allow extra time. Most kids with ADHD cannot transition between activities quickly, and when you try to rush them they only seem to move more slowly. Instead, allow extra time either by giving the child with ADHD a head start on the transition activities, or by building in an extra few minutes for everyone during the transition time. At home this may mean allowing an extra 5 or 10 minutes in the morning to transition from finishing breakfast to getting out the door, for example. Stay calm. Kids with ADHD often struggle to manage their emotions during transitions and so do their parents and teachers who worry about being late or feel frustrated because the child is not doing what they want them to do. When a childs emotions are escalating, help the child calm down by staying calm yourself. Practice deep breathing and/or walk away and come back in a few minutes when youre feeling more calm and clear headed. Rather than spending too much time during the transition talking to the child about why he or she is upset, instead focus on problem solving. Is the child overwhelmed? Help him or her complete one or two tasks to provide support as he or she gets started on the new activity. Is the child frustrated because he or she didnt want to stop playing video games? Give the child a few minutes alone to calm down before he or she starts the next activity. It can be helpful to have conversations with kids about why they are so upset or frustrated, just save these conv ersations for a less stressful time when they arent transitioning between two activities. Use praise and rewards. Think about the behaviors you want to see from the child and provide specific praise to keep him or her motivated. For example, Great job following my instructions right away. I like how you stayed calm even though you were disappointed that you didnt finish the assignment before the time was up. For kids who need extra incentives to stay on track, consider providing small rewards for successful transitions. Stick to a routine whenever possible. Surprises and changes in schedules will always be a part of life but sticking to a routine as much as possible will go a long way in helping your child transition between activities smoothly. Many kids with ADHD benefit from having the routine or schedule posted on the wall, especially if they are prompted to look at it throughout the day. Kids with ADHD will always face some challenges navigating transitions throughout the day. But with the proper support they can be successful and transition from one activity to the next smoothly most of the time. 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.

5 Questions to Ask When Evaluating a College Major

5 Questions to Ask When Evaluating a College Major Improving Academic Performance I attended Indiana University in Bloomington, IN and majored in Finance in the business school. IU has a very highly ranked business program, and many companies from throughout the Midwest and beyond recruit there. A degree from the Kelley School of Business is a very direct way to position yourself for employment after graduation. Each major, while certainly “academic,” also provides “job training” of sorts, which allows you to slot right in at a major corporation and start being productive in the accounting, finance, operations, or legal department. Employers value that type of rigorous, career oriented training. However, at the time, I also felt like there was something to be said for attaining a true liberal arts education. So, also took the classes required to get a minor in History, a minor in Philosophy, and I was a class away from a minor in economics. These were interesting subjects that provided a broader education and forced me to think in different ways. I was amazed at the intellectual rigor and deep, critical thinking skills which the philosophy classes required. They could make your head hurt. And, the Logic classes in the Philosophy department were extremely analytical, and were basically a branch of mathematics. In fact, I recently went back to do some research, and found that philosophy majors score well above average on both the quant and verbal sections of the GRE. On the benefits of a philosophymajor Furthermore, when I graduated from IU, I took a job at a boutique strategy consulting firm. At Marakon, I worked with Fortune 500 companies to help them make company-altering decisions, such as what markets to exit, which products to invest in, which customer segments to target, etc. The job requires deep knowledge of accounting and finance, is highly analytical and quantitative, and starting in the first few weeks, you’re already introduced to clients and expected to behave and communicate in a business content with people who’ve been working in business for decades. But guess what? Marakon doesn’t really care what you major in, and in fact, prefers not to hire folks with undergraduate business degrees. They simply look for kids who have demonstrated the ability to think analytically, communicate, lead, and deal with uncertainty. In fact, a Philosophy major with the ability to deal with numbers is probably the ideal candidate. In today’s economy, most people think it’s a good idea to choose a major with a direct link to a career: Business major = job in business Accounting major â€" job as an accountant Nursing major = job in nursing Engineering major = job as engineer Education major = job as teacher Of course, with unemployment where it is, this isn’t bad advice. You need to think ahead about what doors your degree will open when you graduate. However, I think it’s more important to choose a major that provides option value and demonstrates your ability to think critically. In other words, an Engineering major is good because you can be an engineer, but also because you can be a consultant, marketer, teacher, or anything else â€" because potential employers will know you’re smart and motivated. With all that said, here are 5 questions to ask when evaluating any given college major: Are you interested in it? Are you able to excel in it? What does it signal to potential employers? What is the most direct, typical career route for those with that major? Are there other ways to achieve the end point that major leads to without actually majoring in that subject? In a follow up post, we’ll use these five questions to evaluate a hypothetical decision between a Marketing and Philosophy major. What do you think is most important when choosing a major?