Do It Yourself: Creative Hairstyles

GRANDMAGNUS JULY 27, 2012 0
Send this out to your girlfriend pronto !

Teacher’s Rock Concert 2012

Teacher’s Rock Concert 2012
By Alissa M. Gray

Teacher’s Rock was an extravaganza of appreciation all teachers worldwide. A
concert celebrating teachers and benefiting education programs. It was my first time as
a seat filler and it was an amazing experience, especially honoring the leaders that are
guiding our next generation of future leaders of America. They seated us once in the
center but then moved us to the left side. Luckily we got to stay on our seats the whole
time and not have to move again.

Garth Brooks opened up the show with a whole song with his guitar and black
country hat. He sang in one place around a bunch of children sitting Indian style
forming a circle surround him. The best part is when he made all the teachers stand up
and gave them an amazing standing ovation. He was awesome it just was too bad it was
so short.

The line-up of various celebrities recounting their educational experiences
left me reminiscing about my experience with the teachers that had inspired me the
same way. Many actors and singers came out to Honor the teachers of 2012. Carrie
Underwood shared her experience with her mother who was her teacher growing up. It
was an adorable story entailing how she was treated indifferently on purpose to no
favorites amongst the class. In the end, after Carry confessed to her mother, her teacher
that she was going to be a country singer; her mother then Syd in relief and said to her
back,"We’ll good you weren’t too good at school anyways." David Growl from the Foo
Fighters shared his experience of how grateful he was to have a teacher for a mother.
His experience was quite the opposite as his mother freaked out when he announced to
her he was going to be a rock star but it all worked out for the best. Morgan Freedman
also shared his story and his appreciate to his mother for being a wonderful teacher.
Jennifer Gardner shared that she was different then other kids in high school and would
hang out in the library during lunch and break time. She had a favorite English teacher
that believed in her and used give her writing assignments and projects in the library for
her to do. Jennifer loved all her projects, assignments and appreciated her teacher for
doing that. She said," It is those little things in life that make such big difference in a
child’s life." My favorite dedication was from Meryl Streep and her favorite teacher was
her drama teacher. She talked about how much her teacher beloved in her and would
cast her in the leading role for almost all the plays she was in, in high school. She loved
her teacher so much for making a difference in her life and inspiring her to act.

On a political note I watched through out the concert, the reform agenda being pushed
by the world famous people like Arne Duncan, President Obama, Michelle Rhee,
Wendy Kopp, the Walton Foundation, the Broad Academy, and the Gates Foundation,

Special appearances by Viola Davis from "Won't Back Down," as well as Maggie
Guillinhal, where they play a teachers and friends their self. They showed a couple of
watch clips from the award-winning movie “Won’t Back Down”.

Miranda Cosgrove, from the infamous movie School of Rock, with costar Jack Black
presented the host of the concert Walmart giving back $90,00 Walmart gift cards
back to teachers every where throughout the USA. The camera crew a second take
on Miranda because she first announced $19,000 instead or $90,000. There was a
few hecklers it was funny, something you don’t get to see on TV. I appreciate Josh
Hutcherson, Miranda Cosgrove, Pauley Perrette, Roshon Fegan and other actors
putting the spotlight on many teachers, some even got to meet the President himself,
who dedicated their life whichever means possible to make sure these kids get their
education and succeed in their life.



Pauley Perrette, NCIS introduced the band Fun. who was performing with a high school
sentential marching band. The band played out the definition of fun with a few hits one
in particular I sang my heart out to.

Everyone swooned over Country singer Dierks Bently as he sang a few amazing songs
and talked a little bit about how he married into a family of teachers. His wife and the
rest was his in laws are all teachers, and he loves them all.

The best part was Grammy-award winning singer Josh Groban stole the show with
a dash of the high school quire singing behind him. His breathtaking voice and
extraordinary piano playing concluded the concert with a heart melting performance.
I enjoyed this concert thoroughly and suggest to watch it on Friday Aug 17th, 2012 on

CBS. You might see me.

What is Sociology?

What is Sociology?


Sociology is the “study of human society.” For the examination, you need to know a number of concepts and terms used in the subject. There are three main areas you need to consider;
Social structures (e.g. the family, education, social stratification, etc.)
Social systems (e.g. culture and identity, agents of social control, etc.)
Social issues (e.g. the causes of crime, the impact of unemployment, etc.)

As you might expect of a social science, there are several explanations as to how we can best understand human society. The main theoretical perspectives covered in GCSE Sociology are;
Functionalism
Marxism
Feminism
The New Right
Functionalism

Functionalists believe that society can best be compared to a living organ, in which institutions and people all have a function to play with society. For example, the function of the family is to socialise children. Functionalist theorists include Talcott Parsons and Emile Durkheim.
Marxism

Marxists believe that a capitalist society is characterised by a class conflict between the bourgeoisie (the owners of capital) and the proletariat (the working-class). In a capitalist economic system such as the UK, the bourgeoisie exploit the proletariat. Marxist theorists include Friedrich Engels and Karl Marx.
Feminism

Feminists argue that society is dominated by men. In this patriarchal society men discriminate against women in order to prevent males and females gaining equal rights. There are various strands of belief within feminism; such as radical feminism, liberal feminism and Marxist feminism. Feminist theorists include Germaine Greer and Ann Oakley.
The New RightSociologists who take a New Right perspective believe that traditional roles within society have been undermined by the permissive values of the 1960s and 1970s. They argue that the nuclear family is the bedrock of society, and that the welfare state creates a dependency culture. New Right theorists include Charles Murray and Sir Keith Joseph


What is Sociology?
Sociology is defined as the scientific study of society and human behavior. Sociology is a part of social sciences. The study of sociology aims at analyzing the patterns of human behavior, deriving their causes and speculating the future of the behavioral patterns in society.

Importance of Sociology
The various disciplines of sociology include the study of social interaction between people. The areas covered by sociology include the analysis of social contacts between members of a society as also the interactions between different people around the world. Sociology attempts to study how and why people are organized as a society. It analyzes the structure of society and studies the factors that contribute to the creation of social groups.

Sociology includes the study of the behavioral patterns, interactions and relationships among the individuals of society. This field tries to examine the organizational structure of society and the influence it has on the social, political and religious ideas of the members. It encompasses the study of the organization of families and businesses. It attempts to analyze the creation and management of social groups as well as the factors, which lead to their breakdown. The disciplines of sociology are concerned with the effects of social behavior on the formation of social traits. It also includes the ethical and moral values of society.

Sociology is regarded as a branch of social sciences. It deals with the analysis of social behavior that shapes society and thus, is a field that covers a very broad knowledge base.

Writing Samples

Sometimes employers request writing samples with the application materials or want them brought to an interview. Writing samples allow employers to evaluate your writing skills, communication style, and ability to express yourself.

Any employer whose position requires writing skills may want samples, but writing samples are more common in publishing, public relations, advertising, media, research, and law.

Content of the Sample
The employer may identify the desired topic. If not, choose a subject that you are interested in and that is related to the job or field to which you are applying. Avoid controversial or politically based topics. You want the employer to focus on your style and skill as a writer, not judge what you write.

Appropriate Writing Samples
Just like your resume and cover letter, tailor your sample to fit the job if possible. Follow the instructions provided by the employer or in the job description. If the requirements are not specified, use the following guidelines to help you choose an appropriate sample:
Use the job posting to guide your choice and show the employer you possess the required skills. For example, if the position is research-based, provide an example of research work from your college career or for a previous employer.
Newspaper article, story for a newsletter, press release, policy brief, or research report or any other published piece. When submitting a previously published piece to an employer, be sure to indicate where the piece was published. Provide a clean copy, not pieces taken directly from the original source.
Reports or presentations from past jobs or internships. Samples from related employment are best, but you may still use a sample if you do not have relevant experience.
Class projects, papers, presentations, or speeches, free of instructor comments, are acceptable. If longer than two to five pages, select a portion of the document so it is shorter and write an introductory paragraph to put the work in context.
Group papers and projects or heavily edited works are NOT a good idea, unless the section submitted is clearly your work only. Creative pieces such as short stories or poems should not be used unless the employer requests them.
Occasionally, an employer asks the interviewee to write something during the interview process. Why? So, they know how YOU write, not your friend, the English major, who edited and proofed the document. So be mentally prepared.


Tips for Choosing and Submitting Writing Samples
Do not send a writing sample unless specifically asked.
When in doubt, ask the employer what type of writing sample is wanted.
All samples should be completely free of grammatical and typographical errors. Do not rely on spell check or grammar check programs. Ask a friend, current or previous employer, instructor, or mentor to read it and give you feedback. You may also make a Career Assistance appointment for a career counselor review. If you have one, bring in a copy of the job description.
Make sure to attribute the sources you use to inform your writing. Different fields use different formats, such Chicago, APA, or MLA style. Familiarize yourself with the relevant style and use it correctly.
Never plagiarize or fail to credit your sources.
Make sure the piece is clearly written and free of technical jargon.
Remove confidential or identifying information such as names of individuals or clients.
Work created at a previous job is most likely considered company property. Ask your previous employer's permission to submit writing created at a job before submitting it in an application. If a past employer will not allow you to use original work, you may create new samples based off previous work. Use your own words.
Indicate in your cover letter the origin of your writing samples and label each piece.
Upload your samples to Careers4Terps so you can easily submit them with other application materials.
Have some writing samples on hand in case an employer asks for them unexpectedly.
Consider how your writing samples are presented. Create a professional page header and include your name on each page. If providing an employer with a hard copy, use clean, high-grade paper. Use a manila folder or pocket folder as opposed to a binder. Binders are cumbersome if collecting materials from several applicants. The writing sample is an indication of the quality of work you do, so the content, style, and formatting professional.

The Dreaded Writing Sample

Career Transitions
Turning chaos into careers.
by Katharine Brooks, Ed.D.

The Dreaded Writing Sample
Poor writing samples trip up many a job seeker.
Published on June 23, 2009 by Katharine Brooks, Ed.D. in Career Transitions


Strong writing and communication skills are highly sought after by most employers. Whether crafting short emails or lengthy annual reports, many workers use their writing skills every day. And for an employer seeking proof behind that ubiquitous candidate phrase, "excellent communication skills", a required writing sample is invaluable.


Writing samples need the same care and attention given to cover letters and resumes. Candidates with otherwise impeccable credentials are routinely eliminated by a poorly chosen writing sample. Notice I said "poorly chosen" not "poorly written." Because that's the rub: a writing sample not only reveals the individual's writing skills, it also offers a peek into what they consider important or relevant for the position. If you miss that mark with your writing sample, don't expect to get a call for an interview.


So how do you tackle that writing sample request? Here are 5 tips to make sure your writing sample doesn't end your chances of getting the job:


1. Know that a lot of people don't send a sample-- so if you send one, your chances of scoring an interview just improved. Requiring a writing sample usually drops the candidate pool in half-- only about 50% of candidates will take the time to send one. That makes it easier for the recruiter-- fewer applicants to consider. (Oh-- and if you're thinking you can ignore the request for the writing sample and still remain in contention for the position, think again.)

Related Articles

Writing Anxiety and the Job Search
Using Twitter in Your Job Search
Can Liberal Arts Majors Really Do 'Anything'?
Depression, Perspective and the Job Search
Planning Multiple Careers to Survive the Poor Economy


Find a Therapist

Search for a mental health professional near you.



Find Local:
Acupuncturists
Chiropractors
Massage Therapists
Dentists
and more!




2. Make sure your sample is perfect and contains no spelling or grammatical errors. Employers aren't seeking writing samples for the fun of it. Most of us have learned that resumes and cover letters are not always written by the candidate. Short of plagiarism (which is never recommended!), candidates usually submit their "true" work in a writing sample. I work in a higher education setting, for example, and good writing skills are important. I can't afford to have staff members sending poor quality emails to faculty or employers, so I carefully read writing samples for obvious problems.

3. Understand that a writing sample request is another form of test. How well does the candidate understand the position and/or the field to which they are applying? Sending a sample educational report on a student to an advertising firm or a report about pregnant teenagers to a nonprofit environmental agency quickly demonstrates that the candidate hasn't thought about the position and the type of writing involved. Don't waste time wishing that the employer would give you more information about the writing sample: sorry, folks, that's part of the test. If the employer doesn't specify what they're seeking, perhaps that's because they expect you to know. If a length is not specified, generally speaking, one or two pages should be fine.

4. Always consider the audience and the position/job description. Who will likely read your writing sample? What field are they in? What type of writing would a person in the position you're seeking likely produce? (Hint: if you don't know, then you don't know the position well enough to apply for it. Time for more research.) If, for example, you're applying for a public relations job, sending sample press releases would make sense. If you're applying for a job as a counselor you might create a fake client progress report such as what you would send to an insurance company to ensure continued coverage. Or if the agency has a website, you might create a fake "Dear Abby" type letter where you present a common client question and answer it.

5. What should you not send? The list is endless. I've received everything from poetry to 20-page research papers (complete with the professor's comments and grade) to self-serving essays describing why the candidate is the best person for the position. Don't do that-- and don't just pick the first Word document on your computer. Unless requested, avoid writing an essay-- few jobs require you to write essays. Remember, the key word for all writing is relevance. Is what you're sending relevant to the job at hand? If not, why are you sending it? Don't include a sample that clearly states a political or religious agenda (unless you're applying to a political or religious organization) or a sample which disparages any person or groups. Avoid writing samples which contain humor, particularly if the humor is sarcastic and subject to misinterpretation (unless of course you're applying to be a joke writer or a cynical newspaper columnist).

The opportunity to send a writing sample doesn't have to strike fear in the heart of a candidate. Carefully choosing your sample and making sure that it actually sells your "excellent communication skills" can place you far ahead of other candidates who submitted equally strong cover letters and resumes. Bottom-line: if you can't send a good writing sample either find a job that doesn't require writing skills or build up your skills. Good writers are hard to find and strong writing skills can propel your career in a variety of directions.

Photo credit

Turning chaos into careers.

Career Transitions
Turning chaos into careers.
by Katharine Brooks, Ed.D.

Writing Anxiety and the Job Search
Conquer your writing fears before they sabotage your job search.
Published on July 30, 2010 by Katharine Brooks, Ed.D. in Career Transitions



Every now and then I pause when reviewing cover letters and resumes from my clients, students, or job candidates, and wonder: have they ever read an article, website, or book about how to write a cover letter or resume? The mistakes they make are so elementary, so basic, that they defy common sense.



You would think that someone who really wants a job would take the time to make sure they spell the company's name correctly, not start their letter "Dear Sir", or lead with inappropriate personal information such as "I've been teaching Sunday school for the past five years" for a position which has nothing to do with teaching, church, or working with children.

Even in a higher education setting where many job candidates have advanced degrees, and presumably some experience with writing and research, I can easily eliminate 80% of the candidates for positions in my office due to poorly written cover letters and resumes.

Related Articles

Writing the Dreaded Cover Letter
The Dreaded Writing Sample
A Strategy for Writing the Dreaded Cover Letter
Writing a compelling life story in 500 words or less
Can Liberal Arts Majors Really Do 'Anything'?


Find a Therapist

Search for a mental health professional near you.



Find Local:
Acupuncturists
Chiropractors
Massage Therapists
Dentists
and more!




I thought about writing a post about what should be in a good cover letter or resume, but do we really need that? Good advice abounds. Go here for some great advice: Quint Careers and JobStar.

So what's the deal? Are people too lazy to look up the proper way to write a resume or cover letter? Don't they care about finding a job? Don't they think good writing is important in the job search? That may describe some people, but I've worked with enough committed career seekers to know that this isn't the issue. I spoke with a career coach in my office, Neil Johnson, who works every day with job seekers who stumble in the writing process. He said he sees a lot of fear holding people back. Fear of rejection. Fear of not doing a good job. Fear of writing in general. And I think he's right.

So what is writing anxiety and how does it show up in the job search? Writing anxiety is simply a fear of writing-- which can take on many behaviors and attitudes including:
Procrastinating or putting off writing a cover letter or resume
Fear of or avoiding researching information about cover letter writing or the place to which you're applying
Rushing through the process too quickly to get away from thestress
Fear of rejection or other negative outcome
Lack of confidence in your writing ability
Writer's block-- that dreaded blank computer screen or paper
Fear of writer's block that keeps you from even sitting down at the computer
A pessimistic attitude about the value of writing ("what's the use-- I won't get hired anyway")

If any of these traits sound like you, you might just have discovered a key challenge you're facing in the job search. Because, let's face it: if you're afraid of a task you're less likely to do it-- and certainly less likely to do it well. Even after you face the avoidance demon and sit down to write a cover letter, if you have writing anxiety you are more likely to do it with a "just get this over with" attitude. And that's what I see in a lot of cover letters that tank someone's job search.

Writing anxiety related to the job search may be situational in nature: you may be perfectly comfortable writing in other settings or for other purposes, but you just don't know the special rules and techniques that apply to cover letters and resumes. You might just be inexperienced at writing cover letters: I have noticed that the some of the weakest cover letters tend to come from people who haven't had to search for a job in awhile.

So consider your feelings about writing. Is writing something that is comfortable for you? Are you confident in your writing abilities generally? Have you received positive feedback about your writing in other settings? In that case, your anxiety may simply be based on a lack of knowledge about writing for the job search. This could be an issue easily resolved by doing some basic research and following the tips in this blog post.

On the other hand, is writing generally something you avoid? Have you found it challenging in the past? Have you received negative feedback from previous writing attempts? Do you find writing boring or too hard? Do you have strong perfectionistic standards that you apply to writing? Are you fearful of rejection? In this case, you may have developed writing anxiety which will require more steps to overcome. And overcoming your writing anxiety is essential to a good job search, because strong writing skills are invaluable in the job search. I think they're so important I devoted two chapters in my book to the topic.

A little anxiety in the job search process can be a good thing. It can give you the energy and the motivation needed to move forward in the process. It can push you to prepare better for interviews, take more time to proofread your writing, and otherwise help you be your best. In a way, anxiety says that you care. You care about the outcome; that is, you want to write a good letter. You would like to get the job. And you can use that aspect of anxiety to motivate yourself.

On the other hand, too much anxiety can wear you down, leading toprocrastination, perfectionism, and other habits that will prevent you from making the best effort.

So start by examining your level of anxiety particularly as it relates to writing a cover letter or resume. On a scale of 1-10, with 1 being no fears at all, to 10 being paralyzed by fear--- where would rank your writing anxiety? Do you think your level of anxiety is helping or hurting you? Is it providing motivation and keeping you diligent in the writing process or is it immobilizing you? Bottom line: are you avoiding writing tasks because of it?

One common myth about writing is that it's a special skill or talent limited to the highly creative, the very smart, or the uniquely gifted person. While there are many gifted writers out there, they would be the first to tell you that mostly writing is a craft and hard work. It is a skill that anyone can learn and anyone can improve through simple practice and desire. A friend of mine volunteers at local prisons conducting writing sessions. The prisoners are not professional writers by any stretch of the imagination: many have very little education and no writing training. And yet, given the opportunity and some good writing prompts, they write compelling and moving stories about their lives.

In future posts, I will offer some specific cover letter writing advice as well as share my SWOTmapping system for outlining and preparing a cover letter. In the meantime, here are 8 tips for working with and overcoming your writing anxiety:

1. Know that cover letters and resumes are a unique style of writing. It's normal to find them challenging at first. Don't assume that you should know how to write them just because you're a good writer otherwise. You aren't expected to be an expert on them-- but you need to be if you want a job. Seek out great examples and emulate them. Note: do not copy sentences word-for-word from templates or books-- employers can spot those fake sentences a mile away. And they see them on every other cover letter they receive.

2. Instead of avoiding writing, seek out opportunities to improve your writing generally. Look for local writing groups, job search clubs, informal classes or writing institutes, and other ways to develop your skills. This will build your confidence-- and as your confidence grows your anxiety will decrease.

3. Notice the thoughts running through your mind as you try to write. Focus on the thoughts that are comforting and helpful and move you forward-- not the ones that hold you back. Worrying holds you back. Researching cover letter writing moves you forward. One of my favorite books for helping to calm your writer's mind is Eric Maisel's "Write Mind." Also, If mild/moderate anxiety or depression is an issue for you, check out Self-Coaching: The Powerful Program to Beat Anxiety & Depression by Joseph J. Luciani for some great ideas for overcoming your worrying habit. It's an excellent guide for changing your way of thinking.

Turning chaos into careers.

Career Transitions
Turning chaos into careers.
by Katharine Brooks, Ed.D.

Using Twitter in Your Job Search
A tweet can be worth a thousand words.
Published on January 31, 2011 by Katharine Brooks, Ed.D. in Career Transitions



Who knew that 140 characters could have so much power?



With TweetMyJobs listing over one-and-a-half million job tweets in the past 30 days, there's no question that Twitter is rapidly becoming a must-use social media resource for job seekers. More and more companies are using Twitter to seek employees, with many Tweets looking like an online version of the classified ads of the past. Developing an effective and efficient Twitter strategy for your job search is a smart idea.

Twitter can be helpful to your career on several levels, but the most obvious help comes in the form of up-to-the-minute job leads. It's a great way to start a connection that can lead to a career.

Related Articles

Great Job Resource- No Dogs Need Apply
We're All Branded. What's Yours?
Planning Multiple Careers to Survive the Poor Economy
How to Land a Job
Using LinkedIn in the Job Search


Find a Therapist

Search for a mental health professional near you.



Find Local:
Acupuncturists
Chiropractors
Massage Therapists
Dentists
and more!




Keep in mind as you get started on Twitter that, like other social media, Twitter is a conversation-- not a one-way communication where you only promote yourself. Provide information and resources that potential readers (and employers) might find helpful or interesting. Keep your tweets professional and related to your ideal audience. Focus first on what your message is, and whom you're trying to reach.

Here are some steps to get started:

1. Create a Twitter account and get familiar with Twitter's format and system. If possible, use your name for your account. Post a professional picture and describe the employment you're seeking in your Twitter bio (unless, of course, you are already employed). Spend some time reading other postings; learn your way around the site. If you're looking for a good resource, check out The Twitter Book by Tim O'Reilly and Sarah Milstein.

2. Twitter allows you to link to a website; if you don't have a professional website, link to your LinkedIn profile so that employers who want to learn more about you will be able see your experience and education. Don't have a LinkedIn profile? See my post on the value of LinkedIn for the job seeker.

3. Follow leaders in your field, potential employers, your college career center, your college alumni office, career coaches, career advice sites, etc. Twitter makes this easy through the search function, and with recommendations for related sites. Use Twitter's advanced search feature to find job-related tweets. Here's a YouTube video to get started: Use hashtags to find job listings and industry-related tweets.

4. Establish yourself as knowledgeable in your area of interest by tweeting about the latest articles, news, or research related to your field. Tweet about interesting items related to the job search as well.

5. Connect with TweetMyJobs and sign up for the free services. You can indicate the cities and job titles you're most interested in, and these will be tweeted to you as they appear. The postings are immediate, so you'll hear about a job before other social platforms will likely have it.

That's it. Twitter is pretty simple. Just remember: Twitter is a starting point. You will have to take your job search offline at some point to interview, network, or otherwise meet your potential employer. But Twitter is another great tool in the growing toolkit of a job seeker.

Find me on Facebook and Twitter.

Copyright 2011 Katharine Brooks