How to Make Your Teacher Happy

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

When you do your work, you’re doing it to make your teacher happy. Here are a few more steps to keep your teacher happy and your mark high.

Steps

1. Get all your work handed in long before the due date. This will definitely get you bonus points somewhere during the year.
   
2. Ask the teacher for extra work. You may also ask for anything you can do when you’re finished your original work.
   
3. Stand right up and go help your teacher when they need it.
   
4. Come to class early. Don’t make any pit stops.
   
5. Show a huge interest in the topic that you are doing in class.
   

Tips

• Make sure you get the rest of your work done for the rest of your classes.
  
• Make sure that you don't get in trouble with a different teacher by only being respectful to one.
  
• Don’t speak out in class. Always raise your hand.
  

Warnings

• If you suck up too much, other students will call you a teachers pet. You don’t want that!
  
• Don’t suck up too much. You might begin to creep your teacher out!
  

Things You'll Need

• All your books for class
  
• A Smile
  
• Teacher
  

Related wikiHows

• How to Get a Teacher to Like You
  
• How to Be a Violin Teacher
  
• How to Avoid Student Teacher Relationships
  
• How to Impress Your History Teacher
  
• How to Impress Your History Teacher
  

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Make Your Teacher Happy. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

Student who has not availed leave for the past 15 years!

Ms S.Saranya, an engineering college student in Erode, Tamil Nadu, has not availed a single day’s leave from Standard I to her present engineering degree course. Naturally, she has been one of the best students throughout..

Our hearty congrats to her!

Courtesy: ‘Dinamalar’, Tamil daily, June 23, 2008
Grateful thanks to Dinamalar.

How to Improve Your Writing Skills

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Thinking about becoming the next Ernest Hemingway? Or Stephen King? It takes a great deal of practice, planning, experience of the world and talent.

Steps

1. Write down ideas for your writing, subtitles, or even topic. (It's best to do all of this unless you're given a topic!)
   
2. Narrow down your list to important facts and details so you have your set planned.
   
3. Write an outline.
   
4. By now you should have basically your whole story planned. If not: make an additional outline, edit your work, add some brainstorm ideas, or make an idea web.
   
5. You're now ready to start your "sloppy copy," otherwise known as your first draft! Begin by writing down an essay-looking model from which to work.
   
6. Revise your work with another color.
   
7. Edit! Look in the dictionary to check your spelling and look in the thesaurus to vary your word choices and make your written voice more interesting.
   
8. Read your new draft aloud to anyone and accept any feedback. Doing this aloud will just let you know whether it needs some work. If you got ahead of yourself and forgot letters or punctuation, you will immediately realize it. Add any changes in a third color.
   
9. Do your second draft. Do not skip lines. Write in "essay form."
   
10. If you are happy with the essay now, you can turn it in for credit/publishing, after editing for spelling and grammar. If you're not, do steps 6, 7, and 8 again.
    

Tips

• Make a mnemonic device to help you remember things you often forget.
  
• Similes and metaphors are fun to use!
  
• Read books, newspapers, and magazines to help you find interesting facts you could use in your writing.
  
• The info sources are for finding info about a "knowledge essay".
  
• Teachers admire people who work hard instead of racing to finish the essay at the last minute.
  
• If you are going to use a computer, write out your story or essay by hand first, then type it on a computer. Writing by hand prepares you for essay tests. It also encourages very different ways of thinking; computers can tend to make work look more "finished" or "official" than it really is.
  
• Use complete words and sentences. An essay or story is not a chatroom.
  
• Good writers read a lot. Read all the time: magazines, novels, the paper, anything. Reading a wide range of material increases your vocabulary and gives you a sense of what you're trying to achieve.
  
• Just have fun while writing. Writing shouldn't be torture, it is a skill.
  

Warnings

• Be careful to stay on topic. If you are writing about something important, you may find that your main message becomes buried under trivial stuff. This makes editing particularly important. Depending on your topic and form of writing, you may find it helpful to include subtitles. Subtitles may keep you focused and may help readers skip material that they do not necessarily need to read. If you have a habit of going off topic, look at each paragraph. Does the paragraph contain just one main idea? You may have information that is irrelevant or belongs somewhere else in the paper. Also be sure to use transition words. Adverbs such as “however,” “therefore,” and “finally” can make your writing easier to follow and more pleasing to the ear.
  
• Be sure that your writing is well organized! Poorly organized writing may not read well and may even confuse your readers. As you go from paragraph to paragraph, check for cohesion. Try to put your paragraphs into some kind of logical order. Oftentimes, you will do well to save the best for last. In a persuasive essay, try to save your best argument for last. In a feature article, save the most interesting information for the end (or the beginning).
  
• Writing takes patience.
  
• Use synonyms with care. There is no quicker way to sound ignorant than to use a word as the wrong part of speech or in the wrong context. Always look up words in the dictionary and make sure you understand their meaning before using them. Also consider connotations of words and know the importance of good word choice.
  
• Do not plagiarize! Realize that your references are very important in essays. They even lend credibility to your research. If you are writing something for a writing class, you may want to ask your teacher how to cite your references because there are many different styles. Be careful how you use words and phrases from the original text. You may need to use quotation marks around certain words that you borrow from the original, depending on how common the words are.
  

Things You'll Need

• A dictionary
  
• A thesaurus
  
• Lots of paper - legal pads (long-sized & yellow color) work well
  
• Pens (in various colors)
  
• An encyclopedia
  
• Info sources
  
• A writer's guide (optional)
  
• A writing workbook for practice (optional)
  
• A computer (for the final draft)
  
• Reading material (optional)
  

Related wikiHows

• How to Avoid Colloquial (Informal) Writing
  
• How to Use English Punctuation Correctly
  
• How to Write a Report on Paul Revere
  
• How to Write a Report
  
• How to Write a Resume
  

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Improve Your Writing Skills. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How to Improve Your Reading Skills

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Many people have trouble with reading. Reading is a process of the brain where you look at symbols on a page, and your mind sees the patterns of characters and understands the meaning in them. Here are a few steps and tips to get started.

Steps

1. Find some easy reading material. Find a children's book or a newspaper article.
   
2. Sound out each letter as best you can and you will notice they form some sort of word. Some letters fit together. For example, "th" is not pronounced as t + h, but rather as one unit. This is called a 'phoneme'.
   
3. Find a place to read where you can concentrate. This may be someplace secret where no one will bother you, or simply your home at a time when it is quiet.
   
4. Begin your reading by looking at the pictures, or listening to the music to get a feel for what you are going to be reading about.
   
5. Start with titles, names, or other large print items that you may know.
   
6. Read as much as you are able. When you start getting bored or need a break, take one. Reading should be fun and enjoyable, don't force it. After your break, return to where you were, and continue.
   
7. Reread the material. It is okay to reread something if you do not understand it fully the first time.
   

Tips

• Standing works better for some people. Some read while walking on a treadmill or a track, exercising both the body and mind!
  
• While most people disagree with this, most things you need to know are in books. Therefore it is wise when you are comfortable reading general material to increase your reading speed as soon as possible. A good guide to this is Wade E. Cutler's Triple Your Reading Speed.
  
• Use a spreadsheet creatively. ( spreadsheets and not word processors) Engage in a lively dialog, spend time making sure that you get the gist, make it entertaining.
  
• Remember that you should read at your own pace.
  

Warnings

• Sitting in one position for a long time can make you sleepy or even injured. Make sure you stretch before and during reading to keep awake and comfortable.
  
• Reading in the dark can be potentially damaging to one's eyesight, so ensure that you have sufficient lighting before reading.
  

Things You'll Need

• Reading material: book, magazine, song lyrics, newspaper, etc. Try to pick something interesting, otherwise you will most likely be using your reading material for a pillow.
  
• Table or other place to put your reading material. This could also be your lap.
  
• Comfortable place to sit. Find a quiet place without distraction.
  

Related wikiHows

• How to Understand the Book You Are Reading
  
• How to Build Literacy Skills Through Games
  
• How to Become an Advanced English Speaker
  
• How to Use Children's Books to Encourage Kids to Read
  
• How to Fall Asleep With Audio Books
  

Sources and Citations

• http://www.uk-student.net/modules/wfsection/viewarticles.php?category=10
  

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Improve Your Reading Skills. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How to Impress Your Friend's Parents

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

A great first impression is always important. If you are a child or a teenager, you want to make a good first impression on your friend's parents so that they trust you enough to hang out with their son or daughter.

Steps

1. Greet them. Shaking hands and saying a polite hello is a good start.
   
2. Engage in a conversation. Everyone likes being talked to. Try starting off with a current event in the news. Remember to be very careful with touchy subjects such as politics and religion. Even a topic like history can make the conversation awkward if someone interprets particular events differently. Try to get a sense of their general beliefs before attempting potentially hazardous threads of chit-chat. Weather, sports, and hobbies are generally safe. Try to be broad at first, find something they connect well with, and focus on it. For instance, if you mention you enjoy athletics, name any number of athletics you may potentially be interested in. Chances are, they've enjoyed it themselves at one point or another. If it becomes apparent they hold some belief that is particularly offensive or distasteful, so long as it is not directly insulting to you personally, bite your tongue, be tolerant of their perspectives. You're just trying to keep on their good side, not be their best friends.
   
3. Always be polite. Remember your pleases and thank-yous. If you are invited to stay for dinner or a sleepover (NEVER invite yourself to anything), say thank you when offered and when you leave. After dinner, clear your plate. Ask if it should go in the sink or dishwasher. Once finished with that, Sit back down and maybe when your friend is done, politely ask to be excused.
   

Tips

• A nice smile can win pretty much anyone over.
  
• These steps can also work for boyfriend's/girlfriend's parents.
  
• Dress neatly. You don't have to abandon your style, but do tone it down a bit and comb your hair, if you know in advance you'll be meeting somebody's parents.
  

Warnings

• Never curse or talk badly about someone in front of them. It's better not to do that anyway whether you're with the parents or not.
  

Related wikiHows

• How to Impress Your Teachers
  
• How to Make a Good Impression on the First Day of School
  
• How to Impress, Look Good, and Be Friends (or More) With a Girl
  
• How to Socialize, Be Funny and Make Friends
  

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Impress Your Friend's Parents. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How to Be Confident and Popular in Private School

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

You can be yourself and still be well-liked. Here's how!

Steps

1. Practicing good hygiene is crucial to being well-liked.
   
2. Make sure your hair is neat or gorgeously-messy. It's recommended that you wash and condition your hair every night.
   
3. Wash your body with a good-smelling body wash and exfoliate about twice a week.
   
4. Wear a light perfume or some lotion to make yourself smell really good and clean. Deodorant is a must!
   
5. Usually private schools have strict dress codes and usually uniforms. Add your own accessories! Tie colorful shoelaces on your shoes or add cute headbands or paint your nails because usually a bunch of colors are allowed. Show as much of your own individuality that's allowed.
   
6. Getting good grades and being involved is considered cool. Private schools take education so seriously. Getting A's and B's are really good because people see you as an easy person to talk to.
   
7. Get involved! Getting into clubs and sports are a great way to meet people. Plus, it's a sure fire way to get to know people with your interests.
   
8. Be outgoing. By going up to a person and saying,"Do you have algebra 1 next period?" they'll admire your confidence. Plus, you might have someone to sit by that period. Keep this up and you'll have a group by lunchtime.
   

Tips

• Preppiness is common in private schools. Lacoste is a popular prep brand. So is Ralph Lauren.
  
• A lot of girls wear pearls because they're really pretty and simple. You can go to Claire's if you don't want to pay for real ones.
  
• Be outgoing and be yourself, most importantly.
  
• If your private school is apart of a religion make sure to express great interest in that religion to gain acceptance.
  

Warnings

• Don't try to be someone you're not, because you know yourself the most. And most likely you will become friends with people you aren't even close to liking.
  
• Also beware of becoming spoiled!
  

Related wikiHows

• How to Be Popular in Private School
  
• How to Survive a Private High School
  
• How to Apply Makeup in Middle School
  
• How to Be a Popular Girl in Private School
  

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Be Confident and Popular in Private School. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

e-Libraries in District HQ

The Haryana government is setting up e-libraries at all the district headquarters towns to provide educational reading material on the Internet to readers.

For detailed article on Digital Library from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_library

Courtesy: The Hindu, Madurai, June 14, 2008 (Newscape)
Grateful thanks to The Hindu and Wikipedia.

How to Make a Study Space

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Without a suitable study space, you're most likely to get no work done. You have to clear yourself of distractions and clutter in order to ace that test.

Steps

1. Decide where you work best. Do you prefer working in busier, louder environments or calmer, quieter places?
   
   • If you work best with some noise, claim a permanent place in your family kitchen or living room. Just be sure to stay close to where most people are, but don't be in the same room as everyone. You don't want too much noise.
     
   • Or maybe your preference are quieter areas. In that case, study inside your room. Make sure to minimize all distractions by telling your family to leave your room undisturbed. And stay away from that TV and MP3!
     
   
   
2. Be comfortable, but alert . Try to station your study space at a desk. Soft couches and beds can be comfy, but you'll probably end up catching some Z's, instead of studying.
   
   • Don't dim the lights. That'll just increase the risk of falling asleep. Turn on as much lights as possible. Not only will you be less likely to fall asleep, but you can see everything nice and clearly with proper lighting. After all, it'll be hard to read, in the dark. So, it's recommended that you turn on an ordinary lamp and an overhead desk light.
     
   • Choose a table that's the right size for you. Make sure you can rest your elbows easily on it. It should size up to somewhere between your waist and below your ribcage when you sit down to it.
     
   • Pick a simple chair that can not roll or rotate. You'll probably end up screwing around with one of those nifty, but tempting chairs. Also, get a comfortable chair that you can't sleep on easily. So sofas are out. And make sure you can put your feet flat on the ground while sitting on it.
     
   • Computers are great for studying, but make sure to keep it at a safe distance. Keep it at least a foot away from you. Your eyes will thank you later.
     
   
   
3. Keep school supplies handy. Make sure to have a ruler, pencils, pencil sharpeners, lead (if you have mechanical pencils), erasers, paper, and highlighters at your study spot.
   
4. Personalize your study space. Have a cork board hanging near your homework spot. Tack pictures of your friends, family, and pets near by. Who knows? Your good luck charm just might give you inspiration with your homework!
   
5. Organize your space by stocking up on storage. Place all of your school supplies in a box. It's also important to organize your notes in a folder. Keep a folder for each subject.
   

Tips

• Your Study Place does you little good if you cannot use it when you need it. If you are using a Study Place that you must share with others for any reason, work out a schedule so that you know when you can use it.
  
• It is important to have uninterrupted study time. You may have to hang a DO NOT DISTURB sign on the door or take the phone off the hook.
  
• Research shows that most students study best in a quiet environment. If you find that playing a stereo or TV improves your mood, keep the volume low. But try to plug out the tv so even if you try it won't work. And if you want music, have a CD that has no words. Classical, electronic or post-rock instrumental music might be good. It should be calm and relaxing, so it doesn't distract you too much.
  
• Be sure your Study Place includes reference sources and supplies such as pens and pencils, paper, ruler, calculator, and whatever else you might need. If you use a computer for your schoolwork, it should be in your Study Place .
  
• While working on an assignment or studying for a test, use a desk or table that is large enough to hold everything you need. Allow enough room for writing and try to avoid clutter. And be organized .
  
• You need enough room to store your study materials. Be sure you have enough storage space to allow you to keep your desktop or other work surface clear of unnecessary materials that can get in the way.
  
• A chair that is not comfortable can cause discomfort or pain that will interfere with your studying. A chair that is too comfortable might make you sleepy. Select a chair in which you can sit for long periods while maintaining your attention. And so your butt doesn't hurt.
  
• The amount of light you need depends on what you are doing. The important thing is that you can clearly see what you need to see without any strain or discomfort.
  
• If your Study Place is too warm, you might become sleepy. If it is too cold, your thinking may slow down and become unclear. Select a temperature at which your mind and body function best.
  
• Not only is it important to have a proper study space, but in order to study at your best make sure to take precise notes.
  

Related wikiHows

• How to Study
  
• How to Create Good Study Habits for Exams
  
• How to Organize Notes
  
• How to Take Better Notes
  
• How to Take Notes from a Textbook
  

Sources and Citations

• http://www.preferredconsumer.com/k12education/articles/homework.html
  
• http://homeworktips.about.com/od/homeworkhelp/a/studyspace.htm
  
• http://www.americanprofile.com/article/4868.html
  
• http://content.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=1614
  

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Make a Study Space. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How to Speak Clearly

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Speaking clearly and efficiently proposing your ideas is a must in modern society.

Steps

1. Practice enunciating your words. Usually, a pen put in the mouth, horizontally, will force you to enunciate your words more.
   
2. Speak slower. You have no idea how helpful it is to give your words an extra second or two to fully come out of your mouth. Pausing also works, because pausing allows the person you're speaking to to digest all of the words you've just said.
   
3. Practice your grammar. If your grammar is bad, your thoughts and ideas may not be percieved clearly.
   
4. Learn some vocabulary. Learning the right words to say certain things is also very helpful.
   

Tips

• Try listening to yourself using a voice-recorder. Usually, this will help you determine what you would need to work on.
  
• When in a conversation, take some time to ask if the other person understands what you're trying to say. If she/he doesn't, try rephrasing what you just said.
  
• Keep it simple. Sometimes, a simple explanation is all you need to speak clearly.
  

Warnings

• When practicing with the pen to help you enunciate, don't choke on the pen. Make sure the pen is long enough to not move, slip, or fall into your mouth by accident. Remember to place your pen alongside your mouth horizontally of course, as this will be better for pronouncing certain syllables and won't cause you to choke or gag on the pen.
  
• Don't over think it when you speak to others because you may end up making the situation worse. Try to be natural--think 'flowy' as you speak, not "what else/next" to say. Feel 'flowy', take good, relaxing breaths and think of an image that brings soothingness, like swimming in a heated swim pool at night or drinking refreshing smoothies, to dancing to a favorite song or reading your favorite book.
  

Things You'll Need

• An understanding friend or family member to help you, and give you tips on what to practice.
  

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Speak Clearly. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How to Get over Being Lazy

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Being lazy sucks and is a really unhealthy way to live your life. Read below to learn how to quit being lazy.

Steps

1. You can't expect this to happen overnight. It takes time, so be patient.
   
2. Start with little things, such as cleaning. This way you can work your way up to bigger things like waking up at 5:00 am and running! ( I do it all the time now!)
   
3. As soon as you wake up in the morning, just wash your face and freshen up. trust me you will feel 10 times better, and you will feel like doing so much more.
   
4. If you are in school, do all assignments and projects right away. This will also cut down on stress. If you are working, don't stress over hours. Sometimes you are too lazy to go in early but if you get a schedule and wake up the same time every morning, you will feel so much less lazy and tired.
   
5. Just do it! There isn't any cure for being lazy. The only way to overcome this is by setting your mind to it, and just do it.
   

Tips

• When you have things to do, don't sit and wait another hour. get it done!
  
• Don't watch so much tv, maybe one or two shows a day.
  
• Read books, or even go outside for a walk with the dog. DO SOMETHING!
  
• get enrolled in a sport or activity.
  

Warnings

• If you get good at not being lazy, you might (after time) go back to your habits. so keep using these tips.
  

Related wikiHows

• How to Be Just Like Everyone Else
  
• How to Choose a Personal Motto
  
• How to Go Native, Be Natural, and Be a Human
  
• How to Be a "Snow Bro"
  

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Get over Being Lazy. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.