How to of the Day

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• How to Get Started Homeschooling
• How to Maximize Space in Your Apartment
• How to Flip Your Hair

How to Get Started Homeschooling Posted: 24 Mar 2016 05:00 PM PDT Making the commitment to homeschool your children could be one of the most important decisions your family will ever make. Every new homeschooling parent will understandably have concerns, doubts, and expectations. You'll make mistakes, and you'll overcome them. This article will get you started, but you'll need a positive, proactive attitude to get you through this long, exciting road. EditSteps EditSetting Up Your Homeschooling Learn about homeschooling requirements. Research your region's requirements and opportunities for homeschoolers. In the United States, you can look up each state's approach at the HSLDA website. Don't get caught by surprise because you didn't know you had to register your homeschool, or submit test results and work logs. Find other homeschoolers. Other homeschooling families are great resources when you're just starting out. Start with an online search for homeschooling groups and co-ops in your area. For more information, subscribe to newsletters on sites such as Simply Charlotte Manson and Homeschool.com. These websites have resource pages that link to many other helpful sources. Choose a curriculum. Don't expect to get out of bed each day and ask your child what he wants to study. You'll need a solid plan for your kid's education. There are hundreds of curricula to choose from online sources and books. You may want to pick and choose from several by subject or grade level. This can be overwhelming as a first time teacher, so your homeschooling contacts will be very helpful. Here are just a couple examples to give you an idea of the choices you'll have to make: Visual learners may appreciate Math-U-See videos, while students who like challenging math may do better using Saxon Math. Older students have many writing programs to choose from. WriteShop works well for creative writing enthusiasts, while Essentials in Writing is less difficult and allows more choice. Many curricula are directed at the Christian homeschooling community, often from a creationist or young earth perspective. These include reading-heavy Sonlight, the less hands-on BJU Press, and the Apologia Science series. Track progress. Try writing down a daily list for each child, describing the tasks she needs to get done. At the end of the day review these lists. Identify areas that need more attention, and think about ways to improve the system. Some homeschoolers have classroom-style lessons, while others have a more free-flowing curriculum. Experiment to see what motivates your child best. Ensure you are financially ready. Homeschooling isn't cheap, although it doesn't come close to private school tuition. Set out a budget by looking into how much your curriculum is going to cost. In some areas, the government will help you pay for the curriculum. Set aside some money of ordinary school supplies, and for miscellaneous expenses. Get support from friends and relatives. You don't have the resources of an entire school, but you do know people who would love to help your child succeed. Some of these people may be prejudiced against homeschooling. Show them that you are meeting high goals in education and socialization, and you may turn them around. Create a schedule. Make homeschooling a priority. Keep free time separate from "school time," and don't let interruptions or distractions take over. Many children benefit from a daily schedule so they know what you expect from them. You now have primary responsibility over their education, and you need to set parameters so they complete their work. Homeschooling doesn't have to be six hours a day or five days a week. Pick the schedule that works best for each kid. Your five or six-year old may only need a couple hours a day of dedicated schoolwork. Let the kids have breaks here and there between activities, as long as they get back on track afterward. It's easy to let daily life get in the way of your educational commitment. You don't need to feel guilty if this happens from time to time, but act fast to get back on track. Arrange field trips and extracurricular activities. Some people wrongly describe homeschooled kids as isolated, unable to interact or function in society. They would be surprised to know that most homeschoolers have the opposite experience. Make an effort to get your kids involved with activities outside the house. Homeschooling associations often plan parties, sport teams, Key Club, 4-H, and many other activities. Empower your kids not just to function around other people, but to become citizens with high levels of aspiration. Depending on regional laws, homeschoolers may be allowed to participate in public school extracurricular activities. Take field trips to local attractions, especially ones with educational value. You can even plan trips to family friends to learn about a profession or hobby. Invest in your children's social life. Extracurricular activities go a long way, but social life is about more than just kids hanging out with other kids their age. Kids and teens benefit from socializing with people of all age groups, from 1 month to 100 years! Plug yourself in to your local community through community centers, nursing homes, religious centers, and libraries. Have family outings to volunteer at events, take field trips, and visit the park. EditPerfecting Your Homeschooling Be flexible about how you teach. Every child is different. A big plus to homeschooling is the ability to teach each one according to his strengths and weaknesses. Most homeschools have a more relaxed learning environment, but some kids may excel with a more traditional school lecture approach. Don't hesitate to change something if it's not working out. There will be plenty of trial and error, but you'll get into the swing of things. If your kid is frustrated with a particular book, switch to one with a different teaching style. The right book is challenging, but communicates ideas in a way that the student finds clear and engaging. Offer encouragement to your child every day. Kids blossom when encouraged, not criticized. Developing and maintaining a good relationship with your kids is more important than any academic pursuits, especially at a young age. Keep your calm even when you don't want to. Instill independence. Starting a young age, teach your child to be inquiring, studious, and self-motivated. As she approaches adolescence, she'll be getting into subjects that are more difficult for you to teach. By the time she's a teenager, she'll need to teach herself most of the material. The earlier you encourage curiosity and critical thinking, the smoother this will go. This is another reason why it's important to find a good curriculum or collection of books that explain everything well. Give your kids time away from their parents. Especially as kids get older, tension can build between parent and child if you are constantly around each other. Transitioning into adulthood is one of the hardest things a person will go through in life. Preparing your kids for adulthood by giving them responsibility and letting them earn trust is one of the most important things you can do as a parent. Teach practical skills. Time management and responsible behavior stand out as the most essential, but you would be surprised how many young adults don't know the first thing about cooking a meal or changing a tire. Learning life skills such as how to manage money, cook, and maintain a job is essential to anyone's development. As a saying in one homeschooling family goes, "I'm not raising a child, I'm raising a future adult." EditTips Make sure your kids know you are in control. You are there to guide them and keep them on task. Don't stress if you don't meet all of your expectations all of the time. Homeschooling has a learning curve, and your kids will forgive you if you mess up. EditWarnings Don't compare your kid to other children. Judge their progress based on specific educational and personal goals, including a commitment to learning.

How to Maximize Space in Your Apartment Posted: 24 Mar 2016 09:00 AM PDT A cozy apartment has a great atmosphere if it's kept organized, but there's no room for error when the clutter starts building up. Take a weekend to reorganize the space and make it as efficient as possible. EditSteps EditOrganizing Your Space Measure your apartment. Use a tape measure to find the dimensions of every room you have in inches. If you are going to maximize your space, you need to know how much you have. Measure the height of each room as well. High or low ceilings can affect the amount of space you have. Create multipurpose workspaces. Think about where you spend time in the apartment, and especially where you store your day-to-day work and entertainment. Similar tasks can be done in the same setting. If you're using the whole place but still feeling cramped, try consolidating some of it.[1] Your reading corner, computer station, and work desk can all be in the same corner, for example. A bookcase can be a good way to divide a room into different spaces, creating some division while also providing valuable shelf space.[2] Look for other ways to divide a room that emphasizes these spaces, even without using walls. Take advantage of tall ceilings. If your apartment has vertical space to spare, try to move to tall furniture instead of lower, wider pieces.[3] You can install two rods in your closet, hanging shirts from the top one and longer clothing items from the lower. Try to go "floor to ceiling" with bookshelves, taking up as much space as possible. Consider collapsible furniture. A bed can take up a huge amount of room in a small apartment. If you're willing to replace it with a roll-up sleeping pad, you'll have much more space during the day. Similarly, you can buy chairs that fold up under the table, or footrests that slide under the couch.[4] Use storage furniture. An ottoman with space for storing cushions or books serves two purposes at once. A coffee table or end table with drawers gives you even more space in your living room. A bed with a trundle underneath it lets you use space that would otherwise have nothing but dust and lost socks.[5] Use boxes and urns as decorative storage. They come in all shapes and sizes to match your decor and they are great for concealing a number of necessary items. From baking supplies to TV remotes to loose change, these art pieces can hold all kinds of practical objects. Try putting some bins and boxes underneath your existing tables and beds. You may not need to buy new furniture, depending on what fits. If your bed is too low to put things under it, you can buy a bed lift to raise it up. Just a few inches can create extra space for boxes and containers. There are containers that you can buy specifically made to fit under beds.[6] Use as much wall space as possible. Almost anything can be mounted onto a wall or placed on a newly installed shelf, freeing up floor space. As storage space, bookshelves are a great place to put decorative objects, and more space-efficient than end tables. For example, replace a floor lamp with a smaller lamp on a shelf. You can use shelf dividers as well to help organize your things, or create smaller, as needed shelves, to maximize the space you are using. The inside of closet doors can provide additional space to hang or mount items. A spice rack looks good, and can be very convenient, on the inside of a pantry door. Hanging pots and pans in your kitchen can save cabinet and drawer space, and makes you look like a serious cook. Hang bulletin boards on walls and doors. Reduce paper clutter in the kitchen with bulletin board or fridge magnets. Make use of the space on a closed door by hanging additional bulletin boards or decorations. If you have a flat screen TV, hang it on the wall. Don't get rid of the TV stand, instead use it for more shelf space.[7] A cheap wine rack can be a great place for your bathroom towels. You'll be surprised to discover that rolled-up bathroom towels fit well in a wine rack, creating extra space in your cupboards. Hang a hook from your ceiling. Use this to hang houseplants or extra storage containers. If you have a high enough ceiling, you can go a step further and replace bulky lamps with a chandelier. Hang a rack in your shower. A rack hanging from the shower head is a space-efficient way to store bathroom supplies. EditReducing Clutter Get rid of extra stuff. From clothing to unused kitchen tools to furniture, you can probably find something to throw out. Donate objects in good condition to charity, and throw out the rest. As a rule of thumb, if you haven't used something in a year, you can probably get rid of it. If you have not used an item in 12 months, it is most likely clutter. The same goes for anything that does not really bring you happiness, or does not function well--such as being broken, or too big or small. A garage sale is another good way to give your stuff to people who need it more. Put objects in storage. If you have furniture or storage boxes with more nostalgic value than practical use, think about renting a storage facility. This includes things like Grandma's china cabinet that you will use when you get a larger place. A storage locker is also good for rotating seasonal items, like clothing that you will only wear part of the year.[8] Check with your property owner for nearby storage facilities. He or she may have some tips on the good ones nearby, and might even have a deal with one. If you have a friend or relative with a large house, he or she may let you store these objects in an attic or basement for free. Consider cost of storage, however. Storage units have a cost every month, which while modest, can really add up over time. Is it really worth hundreds of dollars to hold on to your old furniture? Transfer paper records to digital. Scan your files and photographs to make digital copies. A single hard drive can easily store every paper record you have in the apartment. Just make sure to make at least one back up, so you don't lose the files to a technological error. Store odds and ends in empty jars. Spare jars or plastic food containers can store the little, miscellaneous objects that build up. From children's toys to nails and screws, these are good to have around. If you are out of room in your kitchen cupboards, store pasta and other dry food in empty jars. Place these on top of the kitchen cabinets for practicality and ambiance. EditVideo EditTips Remember that a living space has three dimensions: length, width, and height. Try to think about your space in all three dimensions. Using space above the floor and along the walls helps to create space without reducing the floor area. Leave windows unobstructed if you can. The larger your view, the larger the space feels, even in a small room. If you have a couple of kids, a bunk bed is a great way to save space in their room. Once a month have a day of taking clutter down to your local charity organisation. It helps them and helps you. The stuff that is rubbish either try to recycle it or take a trip to the local tip and throw. EditRelated wikiHows Accommodate Guests in Your New Apartment Maximize Workspace in a Small Garage Make a Bulletin Board from a Drawer EditSources and Citations Cite error: <ref> tags exist, but no <references/> tag was found

How to Flip Your Hair

Posted: 24 Mar 2016 01:00 AM PDT

There are different ways of flipping your hair. For some people, that might mean styling it in a certain way. For others, it might been flicking your hair over your shoulder in a girlish, flirty way. This article will show you several ways of flipping your hair, from styling to shoulder flipping.

EditSteps

EditFlipping the Ends of Your Hair

1. Start with clean, damp hair. You will be blow drying your hair straight, but curling it inward/outward. This will create that "flipped" look.
   
   • Consider spraying your hair with a heat protecting spray. This will help keep your hair from getting damaged while you blow dry it.
2. Take a small section of hair and place it between a round brush and the nozzle of the hair dryer. If you want to flip your hair inward, place the brush under your hair, and the hairdryer over it. If you want to flip your hair outward, place the brush over your hair, and the hairdryer under it. Your hair should always be sandwiched between the hairdryer and the brush.
   
   • Use a round, tube-shaped brush, not a paddle brush.
3. Bring the brush and hairdryer down towards the center of the hair shaft. Turn the hair dryer on, and start sliding both it and the hairbrush down towards the middle of your hair. Make sure that you slide both the brush and hairdryer down at the same time. Stop when you are half-way down the hair shaft.
   
4. Twist the round brush when you are half-way down the hair shaft. Twist the brush towards you if you want your hair to flip inward. If you want your hair to flip outward, switch the positions of the brush and the hairdryer: place the nozzle of the hairdryer under your hair, and the hairbrush over your hair. Twist the brush up and away from you as you slowly bring both down.
   
5. Touch up with a flat iron if you have thick or curly hair. Take a small section of hair and position the flat iron about half-way down. Start straightening your hair. Instead of bringing the iron straight down, however, rotate it inwards/outwards as you reach the ends of your hair.
   
   • Remember to use a heat protecting spray before using the flat iron. Flat irons get much hotter than a hair dryer and can cause more damage.

EditMaking a Flipped Ponytail

1. Start with tangle-free hair. This style works with all hair types: curly, wavy, and straight. It is best for shoulder length and longer hair. If your hair is not long enough, your ponytail won't flip properly.
   
2. Pull your hair into a low ponytail. This style is also known as a "topsy turvy ponytail," or an "upside down ponytail." This style also works with a half-up, half-down style.
   
3. Secure the ponytail at the nape of your neck with a hair tie. Do not make it too tight; you want some space between the hair tie and the back of your head.
4. Stick your finger up through your hair, just above the hair tie. There should be equal amounts of hair to either side of your finger. Also, make sure that your finger is sticking up, from under your hair.
   
   • Some people find it easier to use a special loop made for flipping ponytails. You can also bend a pipe cleaner in half, and use that instead.
5. Grab the ponytail with your finger. The easiest way to do this is to make a hook shape with your finger. If you are using a special loop or pipe cleaner, slip the ponytail through the loop. Make sure that the ends of your hair are facing your forehead.
   
6. Pull the ponytail through the hole. Tug your fingers/loop down through the hole, along with the ponytail. Tug it down as far as you can, but not so much that the hair tie goes through the hole too. If that happens, you have pulled too much.
   
   • If you are having troubles getting the ponytail through the hole, try widening the hole a little bit by inserting your first two fingers and spreading them. You can also try pushing the ponytail through the hole.
7. Smooth the flipped ponytail down, if necessary. Be gentle, however. If you brush or comb the hair too hard, it may pull your ponytail all the way through the hole—including the hair tie.
   
8. Consider adding a hair clip or bow just blow the "flip." This is not necessary, but it can add that final touch to your hairstyle.
   

EditFlip Parting Your Hair

1. Start with neatly brushed hair. Because you will be "flipping" your hair to create a side part, you want it to be as smooth as possible. If your hair isn't smooth, your part may end up messy.
   
   • This style works best with straightened hair.
2. Start with your hair parted down the center. You will eventually be flipping part of your hair to the side to create a side part.
   
3. Slip the end of a rat-tail comb through your hair either to the left or right of the part. How far away from the center part you place the comb depends on how large you want the side part to be.
   
   • Instead of pointing the end of the comb straight back, consider angling it slightly towards the center-back of your head.
4. Slid the comb towards the opposite side of your head, past the central part. Think of it as lifting your hair and turning it like a page in a book.
   
5. Touch up the side part. Use the comb part to smooth down any stray hairs, and to even up the part.
   
6. Set the side part with some hairspray. Depending on how thick or stiff your hair is, this may not be necessary. If you find that your hair won't "hold" the part easily, smooth it down and spray it with a lightweight hairspray.
   

EditFlipping Your Hair Over Your Shoulder

1. Make sure your hair is smooth and free of tangles. This will help your hair sway over your shoulder in a smooth, fluid motion. It is possible to flip hair with any texture, but the smoother your hair is, the more effective the motion will be.
   
2. Make sure that the person you want to flirt with is looking at you. If possible, try to make eye contact with them for a brief second. Do not overdo it, however, or you will be too obvious.
   
3. Use your hand to flip your hair back over your shoulder. Start with a part of your hair draped over your shoulder. Place the back of your hand against your hair, and quickly flick your hand back at the wrist. This will cause your hair to flip over your shoulder.
   
   • This works best with hair that falls somewhere between your shoulders and your elbows. If your hair is too long or too short, it may not be as effective
   • Use a small, less dramatic motion. This will help make it look more natural. If you try to make a huge show of your hair flip, and make a large gesture, you will look overly-dramatic and unnatural.
4. Flip your ponytail. This was work with just about any length of ponytail, but it will be most effective with tails that reach your shoulder. Simply turn your head towards one shoulder, and very quickly sweep your head towards the other shoulder. To make your flick even more effective, try to dip your head down slightly as you reach the middle of your "turn." This creates a dip or curve that causes your ponytail to flip even more.
   • Depending on the length of your hair, you might end up catching someone in the face.
5. Be confident. Hair flipping is often associated with sass and confidence. You can make yourself appear more confident by standing tall with your back straight and your head held high.
6. Finished.
   

EditThings You'll Need

EditFlipping the Ends of Your Hair

• Round/tube hair brush
• Hairdryer
• Flat iron (optional)
• Heat protecting spray (recommended)

EditMaking a Flipped Ponytail

• Hair tie
• Ponytail loop/pipe cleaner (optional)
• Hair clip or bow (optional)

EditFlip Parting Your Hair

• Rat-tail comb
• Hairspray (optional)

EditRelated wikiHows

• Toss Your Hair Back
• Make Your Hair Tousled in a Hurry
• Make Straight Hair Have More Body
• Apply Serum to Your Hair

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