They suggested that homework must be realistic in length and difficulty given the students abilities to work independently.

Although research has established the overall viability of homework as a tool to enhance student achievement, for the most part the research does not provide recommendations that are specific enough to help busy practitioners. This is the nature of research—it errs on the side of assuming that something does not work until substantial evidence establishes that it does. The research community takes a long time to formulate firm conclusions on the basis of research. Homework is a perfect example: Figure 1 includes synthesis studies that go back as far as 60 years, yet all that research translates to a handful of recommendations articulated at a very general level.

After spending all day in school, our children are forced to begin a second shift, with more academic assignments to be completed at home. This arrangement is rather odd when you stop to think about it, as is the fact that few of us ever do stop to think about it.

Instead of assuming that homework should be a given, or that it allegedly benefits children, I’ve spent the last few years reviewing the available research and talking to parents, teachers and students. My findings can be summarized in seven words: Homework is all pain and no gain.

The pain is obvious to kids but isn’t always taken seriously by adults. Backpacks stuffed with assignments leave students exhausted, frustrated, less interested in intellectual pursuits and lacking time to do things they enjoy. “Most of what homework is doing,” says literacy expert Harvey Daniels, “is driving kids away from learning.”

We parents, meanwhile, turn into nags. After being away from our children all day, the first words out of our mouths, sadly, may be: “So, did you finish your homework?” One mother told me it permanently damaged her relationship with her son because it forced her to be an enforcer rather than a mom.

The surprising news, though, is that there are virtually no pros to balance the cons. Even if you regard grades or test scores as good measures of learning, which I do not, doing homework has no statistical relationship to achievement in elementary school. In high school, some studies do find a correlation between homework and test scores, but it’s usually fairly small. In any case, it’s far from clear that the former causes the latter. And if you’re wondering, not a single study has ever supported the folk wisdom that homework teaches good work habits or develops positive character traits such as self-discipline, responsibility or independence.

Some teachers know all this but feel compelled to keep assigning homework for tradition’s sake, or because of pressure from administrators or, ironically, parents. Adults also may assume that kids will waste their time (read: do things grown-ups don’t regard as sufficiently constructive) unless they’re made to do schoolwork at home.

Still others believe—incorrectly—that more time spent on a task produces better results, or that because practice is required to be a good athlete or musician, it’s also at the heart of intellectual growth. It isn’t. You can’t “reinforce” understanding the way you can reinforce a behavior. In my experience, people with the least sophisticated understanding of how children learn, or the least amount of concern about children’s attitudes toward learning, tend to be the most enthusiastic supporters of homework.

We might forgive the infringement on family time if homework were assigned only when there was good reason to think that this particular task would benefit these particular students, that it will help them think more deeply about questions that matter and create more excitement about learning (and that it can’t be done at school). But what educators are more likely to say is, in effect, “Your children will have to do something every night. Later on we’ll figure out what to make them do.” If there’s a persuasive defense of that approach, I’ve never heard it.

Not only should there be much less homework assigned, there ought to be none at all of the worst types, such as filling out worksheets or cramming forgettable facts into short-term memory. I believe “no homework” should be the default arrangement. In other words, weeknight (let alone weekend or vacation) assignments should have to be justified on a case-by-case basis. Because most homework can’t be justified, some teachers, and even some whole schools, have stopped assigning it altogether, with fabulous results.

We parents need to reach out to others in our communities to debunk uninformed assumptions (“homework is academically beneficial”), to challenge silly claims (“homework is needed to provide a link between school and family”), and to help restore sanity and joy to our children’s lives. We should respectfully but pointedly inform educators that the status quo isn’t supported by good research or basic values, and those values include a commitment to let kids be kids and provide them with time to grow socially, physically, emotionally and artistically—not just academically.

Grade Level

Cooper, Robinson, and Patall 2006 also issued a strong warning about too much homework Even for these oldest students, too much homework may diminish its effectiveness or even become counterproductive. Still others believe incorrectly that more time spent on a task produces better results, or that because practice is required to be a good athlete or musician, it s also at the heart of intellectual growth.

For students in upper elementary grades, it should play a more direct role in fostering improved school achievement.

Resources:

https://resilienteducator.com/classroom-resources/the-homework-debate-the-case-against-homework/ https://www.alfiekohn.org/article/case-against-homework/ https://www.ascd.org/el/articles/the-case-for-and-against-homework ]

It s often recommended for the author of solution editorials to cite credible sources as evidence for the validity of the proposed solution BTW, research is also important for opinion editorials.

To build their argument and persuade the readers, editorial writers must present authentic evidence that will support their opinions.

How to Write an Editorial: Tips for Engaging Your Audience

An editorial is a newspaper article that expresses the opinion of the author. It can be about any topic but is usually written about an issue that deals with our society. To build credibility, the opinion in the editorial must be backed up with facts and evidence to substantiate it. Learning how to write an editorial is a great exercise in sharing opinions.

Steps for Writing an Editorial

The steps you need to write a successful editorial piece are similar to the steps for writing an argumentative essay.

1. Choose a Topic That’s Important to You

The topic you choose is the most important part of writing a newspaper editorial. The best topics are current issues in our society that you’re passionate about. If the topic is a current issue that everyone is already interested in, then your editorial piece will engage the reader’s attention.

If the topic you choose is an ongoing issue in society, make sure to use the most recent information. However, you can use older information as sources to help prove your case.

2. Identify the Type of Editorial You Want to Write

There are four different types of editorials. Each has a specific purpose, and knowing your purpose can help you set up your editorial.

Explanatory or Interpretive – explains certain rules or why something was done a specific way

Critical – showcases a problem by criticizing related actions or decisions

Persuasive – showcases and endorses a specific solution so readers will be compelled to endorse it as well

Praising – commends someone or a group for the way they handled a situation or problem

3. Form Your Opinion

Start by deciding your stance on the topic you’ve chosen. You cannot be on both sides of the fence when writing an editorial piece — the purpose of the editorial is to give your opinion. With this in mind, you must feel strongly about your viewpoint and be able to give a strong, persuasive argument in favor of it. If you don’t feel strongly about the topic at hand, readers won’t be particularly inclined to see your point of view.

4. Find Factual Support

Although you’re providing your opinion, you still want to back up your argument with facts. Use facts that corroborate the point of view you want to argue. You can include facts pertaining to both sides of the argument, if they help you make your point.

5. Outline Your Editorial

As with any type of research paper, it’s a good idea to write an outline. With an outline, you know where you stand on the issue. The outline helps you get your thoughts and opinions in order and keeps you focused on your stance and purpose.

6. Write Your Article

The first step to writing your newspaper editorial is to write a lead (also known as a “lede”) that grabs readers’ attention. If you grab their attention from the very beginning, they are more inclined to keep reading. Your opinion on the topic should be addressed right away — if not in the lead, then in the first paragraph.

Newspaper editorials should have at least three arguments supporting your position. These arguments should be backed up with facts and evidence from your research on the topic.

Do not be passive in the arguments that come before the strongest. If this happens, readers aren’t likely to read your entire editorial.

In a newspaper editorial, your conclusion (also known as the “kicker”) should sum up all the information you wrote about. It ties your arguments together and gives readers a recap of all the facts that you presented. Then you should add a few solutions you think would help solve the issue.

What Makes a Good Editorial?

An editorial is not about simply throwing down your thoughts on a subject and expecting people to agree with you. Your article should explain the issue, criticize current decisions or actions, persuade readers to agree with your way of thinking, and offer solutions. A newspaper editorial should be reasoned, not ranting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Rebuttal The rebuttal is the part of the editorial where the author addresses any arguments or counter-arguments that may be raised against their position. Hence a hard-hitting editorial is as legitimate as a balanced equipoise that reconciles apparently conflicting positions and controversial posturings, whether amongst politicians in news papers , or amongst researchers in academic journals.

Here is an example for you to get a detailed idea of writing a perfect editorial.

Resources:

https://www.writingbeginner.com/how-to-write-an-editorial/
https://grammar.yourdictionary.com/grammar-rules-and-tips/tips-on-writing-newspaper-editorial-format.html
https://www.5staressays.com/blog/general/how-to-write-an-editorial
]

Generation Z (Gen Z) is the first generation to grow up with the internet and social media. They are the first to be born into a world where they can instantly connect with anyone, anywhere, at any time.

If you want to reach Generation Z, you need to understand how they communicate, how they think, and how they want to be communicated to. You need to create content that they will want to share with their friends, and that their friends will be interested in sharing with their own friends. You also need to make sure that your content is relevant to them, and not just to their parents.

UNDERSTANDING GENERATION Z

“I don’t want to sound like a broken record, but I think Generation Z is going to be the most important generation in the history of the world. “

– Bill Gates

When I was a kid, I always wanted to be a rock star. I wanted to play guitar and sing in front of thousands of people. When I was in high school, I was lucky enough to get a part-time job at a local music store. I worked there for a few years, and I learned a lot about the music industry. One of the things I learned was that there is no such thing as a “rock star.” A rock star is just a person who has a lot of fans. A rock band is a group of people who play music together. And a rock concert is a place where people come together to listen to music and have a good time. If you think about it, that’s exactly what Generation Z wants. They want to connect with other people, and they want the people they connect with to have a great time. That’s why Generation Z likes to share content on social media, and it’s also why they like to watch videos on YouTube. They like to share the things they love, and the things that make them happy, with the people that they care about. They don’t care if those people are their friends or not. They just care that those people care about them. And that’s what it’s all about, isn’t it? It’s about connecting with people who care about you, and sharing the things you care about with them. It’s a simple concept, but it’s a powerful one. Generation Z has grown up in a world that is very different from the world their parents grew up in. They have grown up with social media and the internet, and as a result, they have a very different relationship with the world around them than their parents did. They communicate differently, they think differently, and most importantly, they want different things out of life. In this book, we are going to explore how Generation Z communicates, why they share content, and what they want out of their lives. We are also going to take a look at the Generation Z mindset, and see how that affects the way they communicate and share content. Finally, we will look at how you can create content for Generation Z that will resonate with them and get them to share it with their social networks. Let’s get started!

Generation Z: The First Generation to Grow Up with the Internet and Social Media

1. Generation Z was born in the late 1990s and early 2000s. They were the first children born into the world of the internet. They grew up with smartphones, tablets, and other internet-connected devices. As a result of growing up in this world, Generation Z doesn’t have the same relationship with their parents that previous generations did. Their parents were born before the internet was a part of their everyday lives, so they didn’t grow up in the same world as Generation Z. They didn’t know what it was like to communicate with people all over the world in real time, or to be able to instantly share their thoughts and feelings with anyone they wanted to share them with. They also didn’t have access to the internet or social media until they were much older than Generation Z does now. Because of this, the relationship between Generation Z and their parents is different than it was for previous generations.

2. Gen Z is also known as the “iGeneration” because they were born after the introduction of the iPhone in 2007.

3. The iGeneration is also sometimes referred to as the Millennial Generation because they grew up during a time when many of their parents were in their 20s and 30s, and many of them were still in their teens and 20s when they were growing up. This means that many of the parents of Generation Z are in their 50s and 60s now, and some of them are even in their 70s and 80s.

4. In addition to being the first generation to grow up with the internet and social media technology, they are also the first Generation Z to be born into a world where technology is an integral part of every aspect of their life. They are the first people in the world to have smartphones and tablets in their pockets at all times, and to have social media accounts on their phones and tablets. This has had a profound effect on how they communicate, how they think, and how they relate to the people around them.

If you look at a map of the United States, you will see that the states in the middle of the country are older than the states on the coasts. This is because most of the people who live in the older states grew up before the invention of the automobile, and before the widespread use of the telephone and the radio. This meant that they had to walk or ride a horse to get from one place to another. They had to travel by train or boat to get to their jobs, and when they got home, they had no way to stay in touch with their friends and family. The people who lived on the coast, on the other hand, had the luxury of being able to drive to work, and then drive home at the end of the day. They could also use the telephone to talk to their friends, and listen to the radio to hear what was going on in the rest of the world. This gave them a different perspective on the world, and a different way of relating to it, than the people living in the center of the U.S. As you can imagine, this had a big impact on the way that people communicated with each other. It also had an impact on how people thought about the world and their place in it. This was especially true for people who grew up on the east coast. Because they had access to a telephone and a radio, they were able to listen to news reports about what was happening in other countries, and they were also able to hear about the events that were happening in their own country. This allowed them to form their own opinions about things that were going on around them, and helped them to develop a sense of pride in their country and their culture. In contrast, people on the west coast were less likely to be exposed to the news, and were more likely to rely on what they heard on the radio or read in the newspapers to get their news. This had the effect of limiting their understanding of what was really going on outside of their own borders, and it also had a negative effect on their sense of national pride.

5. Because of the differences in how people grew up, and because of the different ways in which they communicated and shared content, there is a big difference in the way in which Generation Z relates to the world compared to their parents and grandparents. For example, when Generation Z grows up, they don’t have to go to school to learn how to read, write, and do math. They can learn all of these things on their own, without the help of a teacher. They don’t need to know how to use a typewriter or a word processor, because they can use a smartphone or a tablet to do all of that for them. Generation Z also doesn’t learn about history the same way that their parents did. Instead of learning about the history of their country, they learn about it by watching movies, reading books, and listening to music. They learn about other countries and cultures by watching TV shows and movies, and by reading books and magazines. They aren’t taught about history in school, but they are taught about it through the media that they watch, read, or listen to. This also means that Generation Z doesn’t spend a lot of time learning about their own culture. Instead, they spend most of their time in school learning about other cultures and other countries. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it does mean that they aren’t as familiar with their own history and culture as previous generations were. This makes it harder for them to understand how their country came to be, and why it is the way it is today. It can also make it harder to understand what it means to be an American, or a Canadian, or an Australian, or any of the other countries that make up the world we live in today.

Blogging has long-term results

Suppose you have just posted a blog on your website, and you observe a sudden burst of traffic after the publishing. It’s because your post is now ranked, and it will continue to bring traffic to your website for a long time to come.

If you ask what the best business blogs are, they’re the ones that answer the common questions and concerns their customers have. Now, if you produce valuable content consistently for your consumers, you’ll emerge as the industry leader in their eyes.

A salesperson best knows about the on-point concerns and queries of people regarding a business. Now, if that salesperson creates content around the topic, how many extra leads could be closed by him?

The point is to give the best solutions only to your customers. Now you know that building authority is not just an expression but a powerful technique to measure sales enablement.

Reasons Why Blogging Is Important For Business

Helps To Drive Traffic To Your Website

With well-written and researched, relevant, and informative blog content that contains relevant short and long-tail keywords, this gives your post the best chance to rank better in the search engines. Search engines will analyse the article and the keywords it contains, rank it accordingly for different keywords, and if it ranks well, will start sending additional organic traffic to your pages.

Every post or page you publish can be another opportunity to rank in the search engines. This is another reason why it is important to post a blog regularly. With proper keyword research, you can produce more traffic.

Updates Your Audience About Your Business

Have a new product you are about to reveal? Want to offer a special discount? Plan on hosting a special event? Anything of news or interest to your customer base regarding your business is all good blog content. Plus, by writing about these things and posting them on your website, you keep your followers up-to-date on what’s happening with your business.

Builds Brand Awareness

Your brand name should stand out in your industry. One of the best ways to have this happen is through blogging. A regular blog increases your brand’s online presence, and this gives you multiple opportunities to sell more products. The more you blog, the more people become aware of your brand and what it stands for. Blogging gives your brand credibility.

Allows You To Provide Details About Your Products

Think of blog content as acting like someone on your sales floor. It explains to a customer what a product is and how it works. A new blog post can focus on the functions of a product and, with pictures, show the many features of the item being featured. You can use a blog to educate website visitors about what you sell and why they need your products.

Gives Your Customers A Way To Provide Feedback

The communication you have with your website visitors is mostly one-sided. However, with a blog, you can offer two-way communication. You do this by simply allowing users to fill out an online form or email questions, comment, or start up a conversation. The comments section of your blog also encourages interaction which is relationship building.

Lets You Build Trust With Your Audience

One of the most interesting things about blog content is how it can build trust. The more relatable and reliable you are with your blogging, the more you will attract followers. By offering accurate and current information, website visitors will not only turn to you for your blog posts, but they will come back frequently and bring others with them which increases your reach.

Permits You To Advertise With The Content

Data reveals that roughly 80-percent of companies that blog use it as a form of advertising. They do this by posting a series of articles on the items that they would have otherwise used traditional advertising mediums to promote. Customers also indicate a preference for this type of marketing instead of the usual “buy now” commonplace tactics.

Helps You Build Your Email Database

One of the most reliable marketing strategies is email. However, it is usually a challenge to get people to subscribe. The importance of blogging here is that regular visitors to your website who follow your posts will begin to trust you and your information. When they get to that point, they are more likely to sign up for more content in newsletters and other email activities.

Improves Your Website Internal Linking

One more reason why blogging is important for business is that it helps you with your website linking strategy. Internal linking is completely under your control, and you can use a new blog post to send traffic to other parts of your website related to the blog content. This also helps improve your SEO (search engine optimisation) page rankings.

Helps With Your Social Media

If one of your digital marketing goals is to increase your social media footprint, blogging is likely the easiest way to achieve that. Blog posts are simple to share through any social media channel and reveal information about your business to a different, and often new, audience. Plus, if others also share your content, it will help increase that reach.

Provides You With Long-Term Results

Blog content has a much longer shelf life than you may think. Although it will have the most impact shortly after it gets published, with the right keywords in place, search engines will still offer up blog pages in search results long after the post was originally published online. This means you will see new visitors checking out your website thanks to an old blog post.

In Conclusion

Blogging is not the hardest thing to do with a website, provided you do it regularly. It serves many purposes that would otherwise be costly to employ in the marketing of your business. And when you consider that your competitors are very likely blogging already, shouldn’t you get the same kind of exposure by doing the same?

Many business owners don’t understand why blogging is important for business. It is a cost-effective way to promote your business and can have a long-lasting positive benefit to your promoting your business. Publishing new blog content regularly can help your business in many ways so the sooner you start to do it, the sooner you will see the results.

About Brendan

Brendan Hones is a digital marketing consultant and website designer and developer at SB Web Designs. He loves helping business owners take control of and improve their online presence to help their business grow. He is passionate about SEO and helping others to learn more through WordPress training.

Sources:

https://mdmppc.com/10-reasons-why-blogging-is-important-for-your-business-in-2022/
https://sbwebdesigns.com.au/why-blogging-is-important-for-business/
https://limelightmarketing.com/blogs/why-blogging-is-important-for-your-business/

How Long Should a Cover Letter Be?

If you want to create a successful cover letter, it is essential to consider a modest number of factors. Your potential employer is likely to come across dozens of resumes of the same type every week, so a poorly written text with the wrong length can evoke absolutely no emotion. How to avoid this? There are a couple of tricks that a lot of job seekers are not aware of.
In this article, we learn how long should a cover letter be. We also cover some tips about the appropriate content, and structure of your future email. With such an approach, you will have more chances to interest your employer.

It’s not so easy to compose the perfect cover letter that will serve as a ticket for your dream job. It is important to keep in mind that it should not be too long. This length should match the mandatory structure you compiled, but yet, it is worth sticking to brevity.
The letter should be read easily and naturally. Try to adhere to the formal tone, but do not forget about friendliness. Consider what type of activity interests you. If you are a police officer, do not forget about professional tone. If you are looking for a nanny job, you don’t have to act like a naval admiral. Use a positioning and soft tone when describing your strengths that will come in handy when working as a nanny.
So you have a better idea of ​​the correct cover letter, consider following the structure below.

Don’t Reveal Everything

While you may have many great accomplishments that you want to showcase in your cover letter, don’t reveal them all. You’ve likely prepared a professional CV to go with your cover letter, so let the CV do some of the work.

4. Use the STAR Technique

The STAR technique– a method of writing cover letters and job application form answers – is the most effective writing method to specifically showcase your ability to achieve results.

This works when you dedicate only one paragraph to STAR. In just one paragraph, you can demonstrate how you can provide value to employers to great effect. As such, you might find that you don’t need an excessive word count to show off your capabilities.

The STAR method consists of Situation, Task, Action, Result. The idea of this methodology is simple: you start by describing a situation you faced (a problem, maybe), then you touch on the task (your role in reacting to this situation). Following this, describe the action (what you did), and then explain the result (the benefit/achievement) of your actions.

In my most recent role, I was informed by my employer that I was required to deliver a £10k cost saving within 6 months. In response to this, I decided to review our network of suppliers and consider alternatives. Following comprehensive analysis and reviews with team members, I consolidated a number of suppliers and eliminated suppliers who were unreliable. This generated a cost saving of £18k.

Notice how the example above shows the individual’s ability to deliver results and make positive impacts on organisations in just one paragraph. Use the STAR approach to ensure your cover letter makes a powerful impact without a high word count.

5. Use Spacing

Ignoring your word processor’s spacing function can make for a very poor reading experience. If you don’t add enough spacing to your cover letter, the text will look like one huge paragraph. Your cover letter should use enough space to ensure that the paragraphs are clearly identifiable as separate paragraphs.

We recommend adding 8 pt. of spacing between your paragraphs. To do this in Microsoft Word, highlight the paragraphs, click ‘Layout’, and then alter the ‘After’ option in the ‘Spacing’ section to 8 pt.

6. Change the Font Size

If you’re struggling to write enough content to fill the page, increase the font size. Although don’t exceed 12 point font size. Anything above 12 will look unprofessional. Likewise, font sizes lower than 10 will prove too difficult to read.

How long should it be?

The perfect length for a cover letter should be between a full page and a half page. A cover letter of this length is brief but contains enough information to determine whether you’ll be considered for an interview or not. There is no standard length when it comes to a cover letter. The only things to avoid are extremes – it should not be too long or too short. For example, don’t write a quarter-page or two pages. Even a full page is still too long, and such cover letters convince the manager that there might be a next page.

So, to give your cover letter the ideal length that’ll catch the hiring manager’s eye, ensure that it takes about 75% of the entire page. The rest percentage should be a blank space! This creates an eye-catching balance.

How to keep your cover letter short

Keep it brief

While the cover letter is the perfect way to unveil your personality, it is very important to keep it brief. These managers are sifting through thousands of applications. They have no time to go through a long article about your daily activities. Rather, point up relevant experience that can qualify you for the specific job.

Focus on the relevant experiences

Unless the hiring manager specifies the word count, keep it short. Use only the required space to show that you are the perfect candidate for the role. Pinpoint only the relevant experience. Always be specific rather than regurgitating the content on your resume.

Briefly showcase how your experience can help the industry sort the challenges they’re facing and how you’ll use your experience if given a chance. This will be a short paragraph but very informative. Apart from keeping your cover letter short, the hiring manager will easily understand the impact you can bring to their company.

Split your cover letter into three

Professionalism level

Cover letters vary based on the personal experience level. If you are seeking a job out of college, it is advisable not to include metrics measured in schools like GPA unless asked to do so. Rather, you should focus on your professionalism and achievement, making you an ideal candidate.

Pick the right format.

The right format helps you write the cover letter with the right length. Focus on the amount of space on the page. Don’t limit yourself. After all, it should be a one-page cover letter.

When it comes to margin, it’s recommendable to use a 1-inch margin. Font size should be 10 to 12–points. This is the perfect font size and can keep your writing on one page. Additionally, it gives your cover letter a professional look.

Resource:

https://www.getcoverletter.com/blog/how-long-should-cover-letter-be/
https://cv-nation.com/blogs/news/how-long-should-a-cover-letter-be
https://make-cv.com/en/blog/how-long-should-cover-letter-be

How to Write a Tribute Speech No One Will Forget

Over the course of our lives, we are sometimes challenged to tackle a tribute speech, thanking someone for their contribution or help, or for making our lives better by just being the way they are. So, what is the first thing you need to know about how to write a tribute? A tribute speech is a commemorative speech that demonstrates gratitude, admiration, and respect to a person, group, or institution. The main purpose of a tribute speech is lauding the person you dedicate it to. Normally, a tribute features a warm, celebrated, and heartfelt atmosphere as well as a respectful attitude and high reverence to its subject.

A tribute speech is given at funerals, reunions, anniversaries, and memorial services. You can deliver it to a friend, colleague, relative, or your loved one, such as mom, dad, brother, and spouse. Most frequently, a tribute is given to a deceased person, but can also be addressed to a living one.

Steps to Write a Tribute Speech

1. Do some research into the background of the event where you will be giving your speech. Find out who exactly it’s dedicated to and what it’s aimed at.
2. Get to know your audience. In order to make your tribute appealing and touching, it’s important to understand who will make up the audience and what they are going to expect from your speech. Consider their age, occupation, and relation to the subject of the tribute.
   When googling “How to write a memorial tribute,” you will most likely stumble on some recommendations like getting information about the audience from the person who invited you to give a speech. This is a pretty useful tip. You may ask them to provide some brief info on some your listeners to be ultimately confident about what you are to write.
3. Now, choose the topic of your speech. Most commonly, it’s already chosen as part of the occasion, but if this is not the case with your tribute, then you are free to give way to your creativity. So, take some time to come up with a relevant topic that will make your tribute sound consistent and wholehearted.
4. Think of the material you can include in your speech that will enhance the depth of your topic and dress it up a little bit. It may be some great story from the person’s life, pictures, quotations, or some bright memories you share with them.
5. Now we’ve come closer to the structure of your speech. Begin your tribute with expressing your relation to the subject. Tell the audience how you two met, what kind of a relationship you had (or have), and focus on some highlights of your relationship.
6. Expand on the personality of the subject. Elaborate on their temper, and some remarkable traits in the context of your relationship. Mention how that person impacted your life and what important lessons they taught you.
7. Dwell on the subject’s major achievements (so far). Recount their milestones, something that inspired you the most and changed your life for the better. You can also mention some good things they have done (or did, which applies to how to write a tribute speech to a dead person), like charity, taking care of the disabled, etc.
8. Include the most notable memories you share with that person. Tell the audience about some bright experiences you went through, some precious and memorable moments you had, or anything that made you two involved and close.

• Be open and sincere. Make no bones about writing from the bottom of your heart and stay candid throughout your speech.
• Be emotional. Go hard on emotive language, as this signifies your affection to the subject.
• Be careful not mention negative things about the person. This is especially important to note if you are looking for how to write a funeral tribute. Neither should you focus on some unpleasant experiences you had. Remember that you’re writing a tribute, not a biography that includes everything about the subject.
• Keep in mind that you shouldn’t exaggerate the subject’s personality or overestimate their input in your life as well as the lives of other people. Moreover, this will make your tribute sound rather glib and fake.
• Be humorous. Use anecdotes relating to the subject’s life and add some fun to the stories you are to include in the speech. However, try to make your humor balanced, and avoid going too far with the amusement in your tribute.

Help with Writing an Unforgettable Eulogy

If you’re looking for examples of eulogies, read on. But if you’re overwhelmed right now and you could use support in crafting a beautiful eulogy, or if you’d just like someone to help you write a tribute that is as special as your loved one, take a look at SpeechForm. They’ve combined technology with years of speech-crafting expertise to create high quality, affordable eulogy templates that will serve to guide your writing, with tips and prompts on where to personalize. Or if you prefer, you can work directly with their professional speech writing team to craft a bespoke remembrance. One thing we love is that they even help with your delivery, highlighting words and phrases to emphasize while you are speaking. Use code My21Farewelling to save 10% off.

One of the simplest ways to write a eulogy is to review a eulogy speech example that matches your own preferred tone and style. What makes a eulogy unique is the unique details you’ll share about the person themselves, which is why it’s essential to customize your eulogy to honor and celebrate the personality of your loved one.

You may want to start with our primer on how to write a eulogy. Then, use the following outline and eulogy examples to create a strong speech that communicates the message you want to share about the person who meant so much to you.

Eulogy Sample Outline

Using a eulogy sample outline is a proven way to create a great speech. Remember those Mad Libs books from your childhood? This process is similar: follow the outline and plug in the personal details applicable to your loved one.

These eulogy samples help you overcome writer’s block and keep you focused on the details that matter most. Aim to cap the eulogy at a maximum of 10 minutes total. The simplest eulogy outline can be broken down into three parts, so you’ll need to consider how much time to spend on each section:

• First Section – Introduction: In the opening section, you need to cover a few basic pieces of information before moving onto the main section of the eulogy.
  • Set the tone by beginning with a poem, quote, or scripture that was meaningful to the person.
  • Names they were known by, including nicknames and maiden names.
  • Cause of death (an optional detail).
  • A brief insight into your relationship with the individual.
  • Accomplishments
  • Major life events
  • Stories or fond memories
  • How the person affected others
  • Childhood years
  • Travel adventures
  • Marriage and children
  • Any other thoughts you want to share about the person
  • A final take away from your theme
  • How you want family and friends to remember the individual
  • What the person would want you to remember them for
  • Quote, scripture, or song lyric
  • Thank attendees for participating

  Eulogy Examples for a Friend

  I can’t imagine how empty it will feel to spend time on the basketball court without Jim by my side. Our relationship was built with a basketball in hand, and evolved to share many family gatherings and other activities together over the years. With his passing, Jim is leaving behind a legacy of kindness, compassion, and generosity.

  Jim shared good humor and a big smile with everyone he met. Even though people often cursed at his practical jokes, he was an integral part of creating a solid foundation of friendship in our group. When times were difficult, he could always put a smile on my face. He held his head high until the end, showing what it looks like to finish strong.

  Eulogy Examples for Your Father

  Writing a eulogy for your dad may be really tough. How do you memorialize your hero amid grief and emotion? We hope these tips and the example below will help you in your process.

  My dad was my hero. He could make every person feel like they were the most important person in the world. Growing up, I knew that I could always ask Dad for help – and he would be willing to drop anything to lend a hand. He was a rock of stability in my childhood and a source of strength for our whole family.

  My father was a man who infused fun into the most mundane tasks. I remember how he would turn our bedtime routine into an adventure that included highlights from our favorite storybooks. He was a kind and thoughtful person. Every night at the dinner table, he encouraged us to talk about the things we were grateful for, and always had yummy treats for us kids hidden in the back of the pantry. I will miss you, Dad, and I’ll always hold onto the amazing memories we shared together.

  Eulogy Examples for Your Mother

  How can you ever do justice to a eulogy for your beloved mother – the woman who was always there with love and guidance through the ups and downs, the celebrations and challenging moments of your life? Here are a few tips for writing a eulogy for your mother:

  Heartfelt In Memory Quotes

  You will never stop thinking about them, missing them, and loving them. It will just be a different kind of love. It will be one that can transcend this life and reach them wherever they are in heaven.

  But their loss will leave you with a lighter heart when you know that you have made the best kind of memories with them, and you know that you have made them feel how much you loved them.

  I cannot help but shed a tear or two when I think of you or when I say your name. Even if time has passed and people have moved on, the pain inside my heart remains the same. Although I can laugh and have fun from time to time, still there’s no one else in this world who misses you more than me.

  This can fill your heart with pain and sadness, but regret most of all. You will wish that you had more time, or you will wish that you can turn back time and do it all over again.

  It’s the fact that they will no longer be around in a physical sense that will hurt the most. But knowing that they will be with you again someday, somewhere, should give you some peace and comfort.

  Perfect and Most Thoughtful in Memory Messages

  I am releasing this butterfly to honor your memory and to let you know that you will always be in my heart wherever you may be. Whenever I close my eyes and say a prayer, I know that you will always be near. Although I may be feeling broken inside, please know that I will be alright in time. Fly away, little butterfly, as high as you can fly. Rest in peace because you will be forever loved.

  The day you left broke my heart into a million pieces. Now that you’re gone, my love for you will be safely here inside my heart. I will never forget the bond that we share that will never be broken, even if you’re no longer here. I miss you very much, and I will never stop missing you. I love you more than words can ever say, and more than my heart can ever hold.

  There’s always a new tomorrow no matter how hard or painful today is. There’s always an end to your tears even if your heart is filled with sorrow. There will always be a reason to live even if you feel you can’t go on anymore. There will always be something beautiful to live for even if you have lost someone very precious and true.

  May you always feel the strength of our love for you even if you are no longer here with us. We will never stop loving you and missing you. We will never stop wishing that you were still here with us.

  I will never forget the memories. They will always stay deep in my heart. I will only need to look inside my heart to feel close to you and to make you feel that you will be missed more than you can ever imagine.

  Your memories are a special gift that I will always treasure. The pain will never really be gone from my heart, but I will always love you and remember you every day. Life will never be the same now that you’re gone, but I will honor your memory in the best way possible.

  If memories bring us closer to the people we love who have already departed, you will never be far away from me. We have so much memories that will last me a whole lifetime. You may be gone from this world, but you will never be gone in my heart

  My life is never the same since you’ve been gone. What I wouldn’t give just to have you back in my life. But I know that we’ll be together again someday. This is the promise that I hold on to so that the pain will not hurt as much. You will never be forgotten, my dearest.

  

  I run this blog to bring light and joy to people across the world. When I am not coming up with new wishes and quotes I enjoy walking my dog with my husband Max and I also sing in our local gospel choir. If you like my website the best compliment you can give me is to share it with your friends and family. Thanks so much for reading, sharing, tweeting and pinning all my work! Susan xx

  Resource:

  https://answershark.com/writing/semi-formal-presentations-and-speeches/how-to-write-tribute-presentation.html
  https://www.myfarewelling.com/article/eulogy-examples
  https://bestwishesandquotes.com/in-memory-quotes/

How to Teach Your Toddler to Write

Verywell Family articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and family healthcare professionals. Medical Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more.

When you really think about it, the fact that children learn a language, learn how to speak, and learn to write in such a short amount of time is extraordinary. As parents and caregivers and educators, we all want to encourage our children to learn the skills they will need for a lifetime, but many of us don’t necessarily think a lot about how those skills develop—or at what age we can encourage our children to start learning skills like how to write.

When Do Children Learn to Write?

We might think that children don’t really learn how to write until they approach kindergarten age, but a 2017 research study uncovered some interesting findings that show otherwise. The study, published in the journal Child Development, showed that children actually start to learn writing skills as early as age three.  

Previously, child development experts had assumed that children learned how to write only once they learned what sounds each letter represented. So, for example, once a child learned what “A” sounds like, they could connect that sound to a letter and from there, start to write the letters that are representing sounds.

Study co-author Rebecca Treiman, PhD, a professor of psychological and brain sciences, says her research shows that children actually display knowledge about the formulas of written language, such as which letters are usually grouped together before they learn what those letters actually represent.  

Resource:

https://www.verywellfamily.com/teaching-children-to-write-4148450

Building your career development plan: focus points

Figure out the starting point

Know your destination

To create the perfect outline of a roadmap, you need to figure out your destination as well. Where do you want to go? What do you want to achieve? Destination, alongside your origin, will help you craft your journey.

Bridge the gap

Not all journeys are in a constant state of movement and progress. Sometimes, you need to step away and re-evaluate or prioritize some much-needed rest. Take time to reflect on why you’re doing what you’re doing.

Decide your route

Use all of the information you’ve gathered up to this point. After a thorough evaluation of your origin, destination, and gap, you decide on the ideal path for yourself. This is where you break down specific steps and milestones. Two people could share the same destination, but take different paths to get there—meaning there’s not only one route to a certain career. You need to decide which milestones along the way—jobs, skills, experiences, training—make the most sense for YOU to achieve your goals with maximum impact.

How to Implement a Career Development Plan

Now that we’ve covered what a career development plan is and what guided career planning can offer both your employees and your company, let’s talk about how to implement a career development plan in the workplace. We’ve broken it down into eight simple steps.

1. Identify People Who Want or Need One

If you’re just starting out with career development planning, or you don’t have the resources to extend career planning to all of your people just yet, you might want to start off by offering a career development plan to just a few people and expanding from there.

If this is the case, decide how many employees you have the time and resources to support with a career development plan at the moment, and then choose which people you think would benefit from it the most.

Think about who seems the most frustrated or limited in their current career path, who displays the most drive to learn new things, and who seems the most willing to take on new challenges.

Some employees might be happy with their current career path and not want to move forward with a career development plan for the moment. If this is the case, you can approach others instead.

2. Give Them a Self-Assessment Task

The aim of this is for employees to identify the skills they need to do their job well, what they currently excel at, and where they may need more professional development. This is vital information for career planning.

3. Have Them Do Research Into Themselves and Their Goals

Before their first career development plan meeting, have each employee prepare answers to the following questions. They may want to take some time to research their responses, especially regarding any skills courses they might want to take.

4. Arrange for Them to Meet with Their Managers

Have each employee meet with their line manager to go over their answers to the questions, flesh them out with the manager’s help, and draw up an “official” career development plan for them to work on.

5. Evaluate What’s Achievable in Your Organization

Remember that development opportunities are not restricted to formal courses. They can also include knowledge-sharing events like conferences, working on specific projects, and shadowing or assisting certain people in the company.

6. Implement the Career Development Plan

7. Keep in Touch

Schedule regular follow-up sessions with each employee—quarterly is a good idea—to check in on how their career development process is going, make any necessary adjustments to their career plan, and prepare for the next steps if need be.

It’s also important that people know they can schedule additional career progression meetings at any time, for example to seek advice on a bump in the road or a new career development opportunity they would like to take.

Resource:

https://www.thevectorimpact.com/career-development-plan/
https://www.learnerbly.com/articles/career-development-plans-what-are-they-why-are-they-important-and-how-do-we-develop-them
https://www.edrawmind.com/templates/career-development-plan-template.html

8 Smart Tips For Choosing A Winning Domain Name

Consequently, there are a number of factors you should seriously consider when brainstorming domain name ideas. Below, we give you a quick rundown of 8 tips for selecting a great domain name. You’ll be able to nail one that’s smart and effective by sticking to these simple guidelines.

So, how do you do that? With simplicity, novelty, and memorability. Avoid inserting hyphens, numbers, or anything else that makes it sound unnatural and complicated. A great example is Pepsi.com. That domain name is leagues beyond inferior options like “Pepsi-cola.com” or “Pepsi-2-drink.com”.

This tip is closely related to our first bit of advice. Even though users aren’t likely to be saying your domain name out loud, pronounceability is still important. This is because of something called processing fluency: the ease with which our brains can process information. Names that don’t require a person to think too hard are usually the easiest to remember, and also more likely to inspire positive associations.

When people routinely misspell your domain name because it’s too hard to figure out, all of that potential traffic is lost. Most people will give up searching for your brand’s site quickly; they don’t have the time or desire to try multiple Google searches of possible spellings.

Shortness can help keep a domain name simple and memorable, but going too short can have the opposite effect. Compare “PastaScience.com” to “PastaSci.com”. Thanks to the abbreviation, the latter is harder to both pronounce and remember, despite it having fewer characters. The first version works fine.

In the pursuit of brevity, many consider using an acronym for their domain name. But that’s usually only wise if your brand or product is regularly referred to by the initials. For example, the World Wildlife Fund’s website can be found at WWF.org. That’s perfect for them, since their charity is widely known and referred to as simply “WWF”.

When it comes to extensions, being unique isn’t always better. While new extensions like “.me” or “.pro” may feel hip and eye-catching, “.com” is still the easiest to remember and most often used. In fact, ¾ of all websites use a “.com” extension.

If you can’t get the “.com”, go with other well-known extensions like “.co” or “.net” or “.org”. Then plan on acquiring the .com in the future. Of course, you’ll need to check who owns the .com first. If a big brand already owns your preferred .com, you won’t be able to afford to buy it from them down the road. Unless you make mega bucks.

But what about those country-specific extensions, such as “.nl” for the Netherlands, or “.de” for Germany? These are perfectly fine if you’re not planning to do business outside the country you select. For instance, the .ca extension is great for a Canadian company operating solely in Canada.

The ideal domain name is distinctive. It shouldn’t be easily confused with the name of another site or brand. After all, you don’t want any lawsuits on your hands. If your domain name infringes on a trademark, you could be sued and forced to give up the domain. Before you register your domain name, you can check to see if it violates any US trademarks here.

On a related note: if people can confuse your name with another brand, so can search engines. Picking a name that’s too similar to another business can lead to your name’s search engine results being littered with irrelevant links.

The ideal domain name should give users a good idea of what your business is all about. For instance, Rand Fishkin uses “PastaPerfected.com” as an example of an intuitive domain name for a site all about pasta. Right off the bat, a potential customer can make a good guess as to what they’ll find at that site (perfect pasta!). Your domain name should have the same effect.

Additionally, instant intuitiveness gives bonus points for memorability. When people can grasp your site’s concept just from the domain name, you can bet that it’s going to stick in their minds.

Google caught on to this spammy tactic, so an exact match keyword domain isn’t much of a ranking factor anymore. Besides, many users have developed the impression that such sites are spammy and low-quality. Which men’s athletic shoe domain do you think sounds more professional and trustworthy: SportsDirect.com, or BuyMensSportShoes.com?

Our advice: avoid using generic keywords and phrases exclusively. Not only are they hard to remember, but domain names based solely on generic keyword strings don’t carry the same SEO benefit they used to.

Tried all the tips above, but ended up with a domain name that’s unavailable? If you have your heart set on a domain name, you can append or modify it a little to make it unique for registration.

You can add a prefix or suffix, as was done in Rand’s examples of “ThePastaTerra.com” or “PastaTerraShop.com”. You also have a little wiggle room on tip #4: go ahead and use a different extension, so long as it doesn’t conflict with the other tips and works for your brand and audience. This might look something like “Terra.Pasta”.

Make it easy to type

You don’t want potential visitors lingering over details such as spelling before hitting your page. For that reason, look for a domain name that will easily roll off the tongue – and fingers. It’s best to avoid frequently misspelled words, or anything that requires a double take before pronouncing.

In case you’re planning on using your personal name as the domain, but your last name isn’t intuitive in its spelling, use a combination of your first and middle names instead. Alternatively, combine your first name with your specialty—such as “bakingwithsam.”

Another good practice is to choose a domain name that is predictable, meaning your audience won’t have to second guess how to write it properly. With this in mind, refrain from shorthand and spell out your words. For example, go for “you” instead of “u” and be wary of words that can be spelled numerous ways (is it “ok” or “okay?”).

Stay on brand

A great branding strategy is made up of many different elements that come together in telling one cohesive story. Make sure you align your domain name with the rest of your marketing efforts, such as your business website, social media handles and general tone and voice. Doing so will ensure that your online presence speaks the same language and gives off the right message cross-platform.

Your domain name can be either the same as your business name, a variation of it or your business name with an added keyword (as described below). If you’ve yet to name your business, spend some time thinking of a name that’s catchy and encapsulates the spirit of your brand. You can invent new words that have a nice ring to them (such as Wix and Google), look up meaningful terms in the dictionary or thesaurus, or elicit the help of a business name generator to get your ideas flowing.

Furthermore, regardless of how similar to your business or personal name you want your domain to be, you’ll need to make sure the end result is perceived as a brandable name. This will ensure that your online address is perceived as unique and is much easier to remember. For example, “bakingwithsam.com” makes a much stronger impression than “samteachesbaking.com,” in spite of following a very similar pattern and intent.

Sources:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/denispinsky/2017/04/10/domain/
https://www.wix.com/blog/2019/08/how-to-choose-domain-name/
https://news.gandi.net/en/2019/07/7-tips-for-choosing-a-winning-domain-name-for-your-startup/

Introduction

No nurse should be subjected to violence, assault or obscenities. Regrettably, however, verbal abuse and threatening behaviour sometimes go with the terrain, particularly for nurses working in mental health, general practice and accident and emergency departments. In healthcare, dealing with people who are aggressive, angry, abusive, hostile or confrontational can be a daily occurrence – and it often goes unreported (Harwood, 2017; Sato et al, 2013; Rahim and Shah, 2010).

Difficult situations may have a number of precipitating causes and the more factors at play, the greater the challenge will be. Your own circumstances (for example, whether you are tired or stressed) will also play a part. If you are tired, your patient is angry and in pain, and there are staff shortages on your shift, the encounter will be more difficult than if just one of those factors were present. Nurses are taught to be non-judgmental. Labelling a patient as unpleasant can be unhelpful: rather, think of the interaction as difficult.

Many healthcare encounters are emotionally charged, involving fear and worry, pain and distress – for friends and relatives, as well as patients; this can create a volatile situation. Communication techniques can help de-escalate aggression and can even prevent it from arising in the first place (Webb, 2011).

11 essential workplace communication skills

As a company that spends a lot of time thinking about what effective workplace communication skills are, we’re not here to waste your time with some listicle full of things you already know (“Listening is important!”). Saying “just enough” isn’t everything anymore. Read on to see what we mean!

These are practical, real-world takeaways for interacting in the workplace. Commit to practicing these key communication skills, and you’ll be on the road to more self-aware, effective, and meaningful relationships with others.

1. Knowing when to be silent

“Extroverted leaders have a particular challenge because they talk to think,” writes Roxi Hewertson for The Business Journals. “For them, talking is an important part of processing information and ideas. They risk grabbing too much airtime and shutting others down.”

2. Choosing the appropriate communication channel

“I needed to make some big changes within my organization, but I wasn’t getting anywhere with senior leadership. I’d talked about the issue in my one-on-ones; I’d sent emails and made phone calls; I’d circulated documents. Nothing was sticking. Finally, I put a slide deck together. And the response was like: ‘Ooh, a deck.’ They finally listened and responded to what I had to say.”

When it comes to choosing the right medium for your message, considering your recipients’ preferred channel is only one piece of the puzzle. A few other factors to take into account:

Too many workplaces default to synchronous communication, for example, simply because that’s what humans default to. Yet shifting to even 10-15% fewer meetings (in favor of sending emails or asynchronous video messages instead) could translate to everyone getting a whole lot more room to focus on the real work.

Knowing which communication channel to choose also includes knowing the difference between synchronous vs asynchronous communication — for example, pinpointing the moment a Slack conversation is going off the rails and it’s time to jump on Zoom.

3. Listening well

If you’ve been told more than once that you interrupt, or your partner has said some variation of yes, I did tell you about that; you just weren’t paying close attention, or you’ve gotten feedback that you take up too much airtime in meetings, you might want to invest in improving your listening skills.

Knowing how to send information is only half of being a good communicator. Receiving it well is the other part (and the trickier one, at that). Make a concerted effort to become a better, more active listener — it won’t just improve your work life; it’ll have a positive effect on all your relationships.

4. Asking good questions

Making a habit of asking these questions before offering your own point of view will ensure you always have a solid understanding of the big picture — and everyone’s feelings about it.

5. Providing context

According to ARC Leadership Dynamics, people have one of two possible communication styles: We either give and receive information as context communicators (people who want the full story, and all the details that make up the big picture) or content communicators (just the facts, ma’am).

It’s helpful to know which type of communicator you are, as well as which one your recipient is. Does your boss, for example, want to know every little detail? Or do they become annoyed by too much “extra” information?

Especially when you’re disseminating information to a group of people, an effective “TL;DR” at the top of your message will complement the detail and cover your bases when it comes to considering the content and context communicators on your team.

6. Delivering and receiving critical feedback

Feedback is a gift. Knowing how to deliver it effectively and receive it graciously, however, doesn’t come naturally to us. We shy away from offering constructive criticism because we don’t want to rock the boat, and upon receiving it, we get defensive “to protect our character and our sense of competence.”

“Successful people only have two problems dealing with negative feedback. However, they are big problems: (a) they don’t want to hear it from us and (b) we don’t want to give it to them.” — Marshall Goldsmith, What Got You Here Won’t Get You There

Improving Your Leadership Communication

Communication is at the core of effective leadership. If you want to influence and inspire your team, you need to practice empathy and transparency, and understand how others perceive you, through your verbal and non-verbal cues.

To improve your communication skills and become a better leader, begin by assessing your effectiveness so you can identify areas for improvement. Then, set goals and hold yourself accountable by creating a leadership development plan to guide and track your progress.

Do you want to enhance your leadership skills? Download our free leadership e-book and explore our online course Leadership Principles to discover how you can become a more effective leader and unleash the potential in yourself and others.

About the Author

Lauren Landry is the associate director of marketing and communications for Harvard Business School Online. Prior to joining HBS Online, she worked at Northeastern University and BostInno, where she wrote nearly 3,500 articles covering early-stage tech and education—including the very launch of HBS Online. When she’s not at HBS Online, you might find her teaching a course on digital media at Emerson College, chugging coffee, or telling anyone who’s willing to listen terribly corny jokes.

Sources:

https://www.nursingtimes.net/clinical-archive/assessment-skills/communication-skills-6-difficult-and-challenging-conversations-20-04-2018/
https://www.loom.com/blog/communication-skills
https://online.hbs.edu/blog/post/leadership-communication