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Category: Elementary

  • I Want to Be a Music Teacher

    I Want to Be a Music Teacher

    Listening to music can be fun, but learning to play an instrument can be even better. Have you been taking music lessons? Some people can learn to play an instrument on their own, just by practicing their skills. Most people, however, need to learn from an expert. Music teachers help students learn the theory and techniques of playing music.

    Becoming a music teacher begins with knowing music. If you choose to become a piano teacher, you should know how to play the piano, and if you decide to become a clarinet teacher, you should be able to play your instrument. However, playing well is not enough. You also need to know about music theory, music history, and possibly even about composing (writing) music. How much you need to know depends on the age of your students and the level of music they want to learn. Students who want to reach a professional level of musical ability will need a teacher with a high level of skill in the instrument.

    Besides professional skills, music teachers need to know how to work with students, some of whom might not be interested in what they are learning. Some music teachers work in schools, where they teach regular classes to groups of students, but others teach students one or two at a time, either in their own homes or in the students’ houses. Flexibility in choosing a location depends on the size of the instrument and the needs of the teacher and students. A flute, for example, is much easier to carry than a piano.

    Another important skill is the ability to make arrangements for events like music recitals. In school, students do assignments and take tests to show what they have learned. How can anyone test a student’s musical ability? One way is through recitals, when students play music in front of an audience. As a music teacher, you might have to help students choose and practice the pieces they want to play. You might also need to make other arrangements for events like these, such as renting a room and finding chairs where people can sit. Even if you get help for tasks like these, you will have to learn the organizational skills to make sure that everything gets done.

    If you love music and enjoy sharing your skills with others, the job of music teacher might be a good choice for you.

  • What Do You Want to Be When You Grow Up?

    What Do You Want to Be When You Grow Up?

    “What do you want to be when you grow up?”

    It’s the classic question that every kid has heard at some point, usually before they are finished kindergarten. You’ve probably heard it at every birthday, every get-together, every parent-teacher night you’ve ever been to. And you may or may not be able to answer it. That’s okay – it’s difficult to know what you want to do when you grow up. What most kids don’t know is that they don’t need to choose just one thing.

    In today’s world, many jobs require a wide variety of skills, and it is becoming more and more common for adults to do several different jobs rather than just one. The best thing that you can do is figure out what you like to do, then work on getting good at it – even if you don’t know what kind of job you want to do. That way, you’ll be ready for anything.

    You might enjoy video editing, computer programming and writing. You might start off with a job in programming, and then decide later that you’d prefer to work in video editing. Maybe you’ll write for a magazine in your spare time. It’s always possible to change careers, or to take on a side-job in order to do everything that you enjoy.

    Never limit yourself to only one option – if you have a wide variety of interests and skills, you’ll have a wide variety of job opportunities by the time you’re old enough to choose one (or two, or three)!

  • Entering High School: Why You Should Join Extracurriculars

    Entering High School: Why You Should Join Extracurriculars

    If you’re worried about trying to find the place you belong in the confusing high-school landscape, joining extracurricular groups is a great thing to do. These groups can range from sports teams, cultural clubs, interest clubs, and beyond.

    Joining these groups allows you to meet new people who share the same interests that you do. They also provide you with the opportunity to make new friends and become closer with the teachers who lead the groups. Developing relationships with teachers is important because they make awesome academic references for job applications as well as university applications down the road. Together, with your peers and teachers, you can explore these interests and satisfy your curiosities.

    Participating in extracurricular groups also looks fantastic on your resume and university/college applications. Employers and post-secondary institutions like to see that you are participating in groups outside of the classroom. Joining these extracurricular groups makes students seem well-rounded. It shows that you have interests that go beyond academics and make you stand-out. In a job interview, leveraging similar interests as the person interviewing you or showing passion for an interest outside of academics makes you a more memorable candidate.

    Through participating in extracurricular groups you can gain valuable skills. These include teamwork skills which you develop through working co-operatively with other members of the group. You may also develop leadership skills by leading a group project or inspiring and motivating others in the group. Both of these skills are very valuable in the work environment and the post-secondary school environment.

    Joining one of these groups will give you a sense of belonging. They can also be an outlet for stress from your academic life. You may even try out a new activity and discover that you really enjoy it. If you don’t end up enjoying it, no harm done – you now know more about yourself. There are definitely many more positive outcomes than negative outcomes from getting involved in extracurricular groups. They can make your overall high-school experience more enjoyable!

  • How Do I Know What to Be?

    How Do I Know What to Be?

    This is a question that you might ask yourself as a student. How do you know what to be? To figure that out, you need to think about what you like to do and what you’re good at. Maybe you’re good at painting so you might want to become an artist. Maybe you enjoy science so you might be interested in becoming a doctor. Maybe you like to play sports so you join the soccer or basketball team because you want to become an athlete as your career.

    The best part about school is that you have the opportunity to find out what you enjoy and what you are good at. Maybe you do better at certain subjects than others. This is something to keep in mind. Also join clubs. There are so many available like the art club, drama club, math club, join any you think that you would enjoy.

    Towards the end of high school is when you will really start to figure out what you want to do because you have gone through all these experiences. The best thing to do is to pursue a career that you would enjoy and will do well at so make sure you take advantage of all the opportunities that are available to you in elementary school and high school. This is your time to explore. Also if you’re not really sure what you want to go, ask your teachers and guidance counsellors. They can assist you and help guide you to the right career path.

  • What Does it Mean to Grow Out of Something?

    What Does it Mean to Grow Out of Something?

    As you grow up you may find that things that were previously interesting are no longer interesting to you, or that things that were previously uninteresting are now interesting. When you are at school, at home, in extracurricular activities or hanging out with your friends, there will be things that you may prefer to do at certain times and not at other times. This is normal.

    For example, at school you may find that your favourite subject is math when you are in grade 3 and then you may find that you prefer English when you are in grade 6. At home you may prefer to read books in grade 3, but then in grade 6 you may prefer to watch television. In extracurricular activities, perhaps you enjoyed playing the flute when you were in grade 3 but now you prefer playing the guitar in grade 6. In volunteer activities, you might have enjoyed working at your school’s bake sale and now you prefer volunteering for the Meals on Wheels charity. At your sporting activities you may have found basketball to be the best sport to showcase your athletic skills, but now you prefer playing soccer because you like to be outside. Our friends change, too! You may have had a certain group of friends when you were in grade 3 and then you changed groups or lost or gained a few friends over the three year period.

    Sometimes changes can be the result of learning new information that disallows going back to the former way of seeing things. Change can be scary because we are adapting to new circumstances and experiencing new and different things. This can be good if we learn to have a positive perspective on the change and we decide that we are going to approach the change with a can-do attitude. Sometimes there are so many new things that we are doing that we may find ourselves starting to feel negative because we are feeling that the challenge is too difficult. In these situations, it is best to find things that remind us of what we have done in the past in order to find a balance between the new and old.

    Growing up and growing out of things is normal – we all go through it.  Remember that the past is always there and you are building your future. Have fun with it!

  • How to Feel Good About Yourself

    How to Feel Good About Yourself

    Imagine for a second a world where you truly believe you can do anything; where the words “I can’t” no longer exist as part of your vocabulary. A place where you are as great as you always dreamed you could be. Now imagine that as your reality. Sounds great, doesn’t it?

    Here’s a few tips on how to feel good about yourself every single day!

    –Discover yourself: Get to know you. Listen to what you are thinking and feeling. Know what you want and why you want it. If it helps, keep a journal to help you understand yourself better.

    –Make a list every day: On the list write at least three things you really like about yourself. For instance, “I like how I can make people laugh even in uncomfortable situations” or “I like my eye colour.” It can be absolutely anything you like about yourself. This will help remind you why it’s great being you.

    –Remove the word can’t: Stop saying “I can’t do that” before you even try. Fear of failure is common and sadly it prevents most of us from doing things we’ve always wanted to do. To overcome this, think positively – don’t think of the worst possible scenario. Picture yourself succeeding. Some of the greatest experiences you will have in this life will come from overcoming things you thought you couldn’t do.

    –Treat others the way you want to be treated: It’s karma, baby; the idea you get back what you send out into the world. So send out the good, and always remember to treat others fairly and kindly.

    –Be prepared: One of the best ways to improve your self-confidence is by being prepared. Whether it’s a test you need to study for or a big basketball game coming up, make sure you are ready. Stop putting stuff off and get to it. You will feel more confident if you are ready to face what’s ahead.

    –Be grateful: Don’t dwell on what you don’t have. Be thankful for all you do have.

    –Exercise: It’s a great way to immediately boost your mood. It also helps in the long term to boost self-confidence. You will be healthier, happier and more sure of yourself.

    –Listen to your favorite song: Nothing gives me an instant boost of confidence and energy, especially in the morning, as my favorite song. It really helps me have the right attitude to face the day with.

    The most important thing to remember is to think positively. If you believe you are good enough, the world will see you that way.

  • Let’s Take a Trip to the Vet

    Let’s Take a Trip to the Vet

    Just like people, sometimes animals get sick or injured and need to see a doctor. A doctor that specializes in taking care of animals is called a veterinarian, or a vet for short.

    Most vets work in clinical practices, meaning they work directly with animals. However, some vets work doing research, teaching or work for the government.

    Dr. Jaime Buchanan is a veterinarian at the Kingston Veterinary Clinic in Kingston, Ontario. Her job is to treat animals for diseases and injuries and to inform owners of how to prevent their animals from getting sick.

    Doctor Buchanan says animals go to the vet most often because they are sick or injured. She says, “the most common problems are vomiting, diarrhea and skin problems. And some of the common injuries include: lameness (limping) and wounds or cuts.” She also says, like people, many animals have regular check-ups to make sure they are healthy. They have vaccinations, which are needles with medicine that help prevent diseases, flea treatments and de-worming.

    However, unlike people, animals can’t tell someone when they aren’t feeling well. Doctor Buchanan says, “it can be very difficult to diagnose animals because they can’t tell you how they are feeling or where they are hurt.”

    In order to figure out exactly what the problem is, she says the vet, “starts by taking a thorough history of the problem from the owner. They do a physical exam, checking the animal from head to tail. This includes looking at their teeth and gums, listening to their heart, taking their temperature and feeling their abdomen, among other things.” If the problem is not obvious, the vet may need to do further tests like blood work or X-rays to determine why the patient is sick.

    Depending on what is wrong, treatment for the animal may include going home and taking medication, like pain pills or antibiotics. Or, if they are very sick, they may need to stay in the hospital and have an IV (intravenous fluids) and be closely watched to ensure the treatment is working.
    Doctor Buchanan says some of the symptoms pet owners should watch out for are, “vomiting, diarrhea, breathing problems, skin and ear problems, and changes in water intake or urination.” She says if your animal is not eating or drinking or if they seem to have less energy than usual, call your veterinarian.

    When you take your pet to the vet, Doctor Buchanan says you can expect to see “other animals and people in the clinic. You may also see the receptionist and veterinary technician in the waiting room. In the exam room, you can watch while your pet is examined. And you may even get to listen to the animals’ heart with the stethoscope or help hold and comfort your pet.”

    The vet will explain everything step by step while they are completing your animals check-up, and Dr. Buchanan says don’t be afraid to ask questions because the Doctor will be more than happy to answer them.

    If you love animals, maybe becoming a veterinarian would be your dream job!

  • How to Handle a Fight at Home

    How to Handle a Fight at Home

    Life as a student can be stressful enough—the last thing you need is trouble at home. Unfortunately, family fights are normal every once in a while. It’s undeniably difficult to deal with a strained situation in your home life, but remember that a loud argument is often indicative of a deeper, underlying issue between members of your family. Instead of trying to avoid conflict, it’s best to work out your issues honestly and openly.

    Sometimes a fight at home can be between you and a parent, a sibling, or another relative—or sometimes it can have nothing to do with you altogether. Both situations are tough to deal with. Regardless of the situation, it’s best to stop a fight before it goes too far, and everyone ends up hurt. Consider my advice with an open mind, because it might not apply to all circumstances, but some of these tips may be worth considering the next time you find yourself in the middle of an argument. Here’s some help for handling a fight at home.

    Stay calm. Personally, whenever I am in an argument with my family, I get very emotional, and find it difficult to keep my voice down. From this, I’ve learned the importance of staying calm, even when you’re extremely upset. I cannot stress this enough: if you stay calm, you’ll be able to handle a tough situation easier. Don’t let stress and anger take over.

    Talk it out. Voice your concerns, and be honest. If you’re angry with your mother for not respecting your privacy, or with your brother for always leaving his dirty clothes in your room, tell them how you feel. Be respectful when you give your opinion, though, and make sure everyone has a chance to tell his or her side of the story. But if you let a fight fizzle out without confronting it at the source, you might be in for a repeat.

    Don’t blame yourself. If a fight doesn’t involve you, the best course of action may be to stay out of it altogether. But make sure you understand that if your family is arguing, it’s probably not because of something you did. The members of your family are people too, and it’s normal for them to get frustrated sometimes. Make sure you understand the different reasons a fight can happen—you don’t always have to be responsible.

    Compromise. Not everyone’s going to get what they want from a fight. Sometimes, someone has to back down in order to resolve the conflict (even if that someone is you). Make sure, though, that giving in or getting your way doesn’t become a permanent pattern. Compromise when you have to – and sometimes you’re going to want to.

    Best wishes to all of your families. Stay close.

  • Dream Job: Detective/Private Investigator

    Dream Job: Detective/Private Investigator

    Suppose that you lost something very important and you wanted to get it back. What would you do? You might look around and ask your friends and family if they had seen what you were looking for. Searching for things that are lost is only one of the many things that private investigators do. Working as a private investigator involves solving mysteries, finding information, and much more.

    You might have heard of fictional detectives like Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot. Do you know any names of real-life private investigators? One of the most famous detectives was Allan Pinkerton. He was born in Glasgow, Scotland in 1819 and moved to the United States in 1842. In 1847, he joined the Chicago police department in 1847 and became the city’s first police detective in 1849. The next year, in 1850, he formed the Pinkerton Detective Agency in Chicago. The Pinkerton Agency worked together with the police in solving crimes and arresting criminals. By 1855, the agency had also started to work in security, guarding shipments that went by railway. Since then, security has been a large part of what Pinkerton agents do.

    Private investigators work in all kinds of areas. They might be hired by businesses to help deal with problems between bosses and workers or by the government to help investigate crimes. Some private investigators specialize in finding people who are missing or in store security. Other investigators do a variety of work, depending on who hires them and what skills they have. If you decide to become a private investigator, you might already want to start thinking about what area of work interests you the most.

    Except for security work, the most important part of a career in private investigation is the ability to find information. Investigators often need to ask people questions or to search online and print sources for information, and they have to be able to analyze what they learn to find a solution to their problem. Searching for information might also include surveillance, where the investigator watches to see what people are doing. Investigators often need to be able to use cameras and other equipment to be able to record what they discover. They have to learn different techniques for finding and interpreting information.

    Often, investigators learn these techniques through career colleges and other training schools. Investigators need to know the law well, and a degree in criminology or corporate law can be very helpful. In most parts of Canada, private investigators also need to get licenses to practice their work. The Canadian Private Investigators’ Resource Centre is a good place to check for specific information on these requirements.

    Want to help solve mysteries? Maybe a detective/private investigator will be your future job!

  • Becoming A Dancing Choreographer

    Becoming A Dancing Choreographer

    If you ever watch the ballet or any other kind of dance, you might think that the dancers’ movements come naturally. They might seem to flow out of what the dancers are thinking or feeling as they try to tell a story or show emotion with how they bend their arms or move their legs. If you take dance lessons, however, you know better. You know that in most dance performances, choreographers have carefully planned each movement that the dancers make. A good choreographer works in the background to make sure that the combination of dancing and music create an experience that the audience, musicians, and dancers will all enjoy and appreciate.

    Many people can probably name at least one or two famous dancers they have seen or at least heard about through newspapers or television. Very few of them, however, are likely to be able to name even one choreographer. That’s because choreography is not really supposed to be seen. Choreographers who do their jobs well and who work with good dancers produce a performance where the dance seems to flow out of the music naturally and doesn’t seem forced or awkward. Whether the dancers leap into the air or stand on their toes and twirl around, the movements have to seem to come out of the story they are trying to tell, with music as the unifying background.

    Being able to tie movement, story, and music together takes a lot of skill and practice. One of the best-known choreographers of the twentieth century, Martha Graham, was able to make music and dance work together. She had many chances to practice her skills in her seventy-year career. Her father was a doctor who believed that the body and mind were closely connected. He recommended physical movement as a cure for nervous diseases for his patients. However, he would not allow his daughter to learn how to dance.

    Later on, Martha studied and then taught at the Denishawn School of Dancing and Related Arts in California. She was especially interested in modern dance, and she choreographed many performances over the next years. Like most other people in her field, Martha Graham learned choreography through a combination of education and experience.

    Choreographers usually start out as dancers, learning the basics of movement from other people in the group. When they know enough about dancing and the limits of what dancers are able to do, often after about five years, they can start choreographing dances. Many people also get an education in the fine arts, music, or related subjects before they begin on their careers. Others gain experience through working with dance companies and learning from other choreographers.

    Dancing is a physically demanding job, and most dancers stop quite young. However, working as a choreographer is a good way for people who love dancing to continue to work in their chosen field.