5 Tips to Help You Ask Family and Friends for Financial Help - OppLoans

5 Tips to Help You Ask Family and Friends for Financial Help - OppLoans 5 Tips to Help You Ask Family and Friends for Financial Help 5 Tips to Help You Ask Family and Friends for Financial HelpAsking for financial assistance from friends and family might be uncomfortable, but its a much better option than turning to a short-term no credit check loan.Most people hate asking for help and wait until they are desperate to make any direct requests for financial assistance. That’s how they end up relying on short-term bad no credit check loans that can drive them into a dangerous cycle of debt.While you don’t want to make a habit of it, asking friends and family for money during a one-off time of financial need is far preferable to the high-cost alternative.In this article, we’ll lay out some of the dangers of relying on short-term bad credit loans and also offer tips for borrowing money from friends and familyâ€"plus some longer term advice to make sure this one-off instance stays a one-off.Avoid payday loans.If you’ve ever wanted to avoid admitting your financial situation to friends and family, you’ve proba bly been tempted to borrow money from a payday lender instead.Payday loans are advertised as providing fast cash for people with bad credit, but it’s easy to rack up debt once you’ve taken out one of these risky loans.The average APR on payday cash advances is almost 400 percent, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. And most loans get rolled over or renewed because borrowers are rarely able to pay them back in the time allotted.Asking for help is common.While it may be difficult to ask family and friends for help, you should always consider this option before taking out a payday loan. Friends and family aren’t likely to charge you interest or fees, and they won’t demand repayment within two weeks.With their support, you can pay them back over time, while keeping up with your everyday expenses. Payday loans, on the other hand, can devastate your financial future, eating up more of your income than you can afford.Asking for help is a more common financial str ategy than you might think; more than one-quarter of survey respondents said they offered financial assistance to support the everyday expenses of a person outside their immediate household, according to research from Pew Charitable Trusts. And less than half of higher-income households viewed their financial gift as a burden.If your request is respectful and you demonstrate a repayment plan, you may find that your friend or family member will be happy to helpespecially if your only alternative is a short-term online loan or a trip to your local payday lender.1. Determine your needs. To avoid asking for more or less than you need, write out the exact amount you need and what you need it for.If you can trim your budget or put any of your income towards your own cause, show how you plan to do that, and determine the amount of assistance you’ll be asking for.2. Explain your efforts so far. If you’ve made unsuccessful attempts to help yourself already, explain what you’ve tried, a nd your friends and family will be more likely to assist you.For example, you might explain that you’ve tried to get a second job, asked for a personal loan from a bank, or applied for government assistance.3. Develop a repayment plan. You’re going to feel better about asking for help if you’re not asking for a handout.Develop a repayment plan to illustrate your intent to borrow the money for a specific period of time. Be realistic about how long you’ll need. You can even write out a written loan agreement to make certain that both parties are on the same page.Prepare a budget for your expenses and subtract that amount from your income to get a reasonable monthly payment. Even if it just ends up being a few dollars each month, you’ll know you’re on your way to financial independence.4. Give help in return. While you’re asking for financial assistance, consider offering your free time to help friends and family.If you can’t find a second job to cover your financial ne ed but you have a few hours on the weekend, offer to babysit, clean, cook, or mow the lawn for the person helping you pay your bills.You’ll feel better accepting their help if you can offer something in return.5. Be respectful. Give your friends and family time to consider your request, and leave them with notes about your current needs and your future plans to gain financial independence.Follow up the discussion with a friendly visit that’s not about finances. If you do receive help, find a way to show your gratitude.Finally, make sure to check in frequently to let them know you haven’t forgotten their gift, and you’re on your way to paying it back.Build an emergency fund.While taking out an installment loan or borrowing money from friends and family are both preferable to borrowing a payday or title loan, your best strategy is to have money saved up for unforeseen expenses. In short, your best bet is to have an emergency fund.Unlike long-term savings for retirement, an eme rgency fund should be easily accessible. This means keeping it in cash or in a savings account. When an emergency strikes, you want this money at your fingertips.Ideally, an emergency fund should cover at least three months of living expenses to protect against an unforeseen job loss. But thats a big ask, and aiming for three months right off the bat could be too imposing.Instead, aim for an easily achievable number  like $1,000. The sooner you start saving the sooner you’ll get there. Once you make saving money a top financial priority, you’ll be surprised how quickly your savings will grow.To learn more about how you can build your savings, check out  these other posts and articles from OppLoans:Building Your Financial Life: Budgeting for BeginnersSave More Money with These 40 Expert Tips10 Good Money Habits to Make Your Friends JealousHow to Separate Your “Wants” from Your “Needs”Do you have a personal finance question youd like us to answer? Let us know! You can find us  on  Facebook  and  Twitter.Visit OppLoans on  YouTube  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  LinkedIN  |Instagram

Homeschool Stress

Homeschooling is a big responsibility and commitment. It can be stressful, but far too often we homeschooling parents make it more stressful than it has to be.   Are you guilty of stressing out yourself or your kids unnecessarily with any of the following? Expecting Perfection Expecting perfection in yourself or your children is certain to put unnecessary stress on your family. If you’re  transitioning from public school to homeschool, it’s important to remember that it takes time to adjust to your new roles. Even if your children have never  attended a traditional school, transitioning to  formal learning  with young children  requires a period of adjustment. Most veteran homeschooling parents would agree that this period of adjustment can  take 2-4 years. Don’t  expect perfection right out of the gate. You may be caught in the trap of  expecting academic perfection. is a  popular phrase among homeschooling parents. The idea is that you’ll stick with a topic, skill, or concept until it is completely mastered. You may hear homeschooling parents state that their children get straight A’s because they don’t move on until the skill is mastered. There is nothing wrong with that concept  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ in fact, being able to work on a concept until a child fully understands it is one of the benefits of homeschooling. However, expecting 100% from your child all of the time can be frustrating for you both. It doesn’t allow for simple mistakes or an off day. Instead, you may wish to decide on a percentage goal. For example, if your child scores 80% on his paper, he clearly understands the concept and can move on. If there is a certain type of problem that caused a grade less than 100%, spend some time going back over that concept. Otherwise, give yourself and your child the freedom to move on. Trying to Finish All the Books We homeschooling parents are also often guilty of operating under the assumption that we have to complete every single page of every piece of curriculum that we use. Most homeschool curricula contain enough material for a typical 36-week school year, assuming a 5-day school week. This doesn’t account for field trips, co-op, alternative schedules, illness, or a myriad of other factors that could result in not completing the entire book. It’s okay to finish most of the book. If the subject is one that is built on previously-learned concepts, such as math, chances are that the first several lessons of the next level are going to be review. In fact, that’s often one of my kids’ favorite aspects of starting a new math book  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ it seems easy at first because it’s material they’ve already learned. If it’s not a concept-based subject  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ history, for example -  chances are, you’ll come back around to the material again before your kids graduate. If there is material that you feel you simply must cover and you’re clearly not going to have time, you may want to consider skipping around in the book, dropping some of the activities, or covering the material in a different way, such as listening to an audiobook on the topic while running errands or watching an engaging documentary during lunch.​ Homeschooling parents may also be guilty of expecting their child to complete every problem on every page. Most of us can probably remember how happy we were when one of our teachers told us to complete only the odd-numbered problems on the page. We can do that with our children. Comparing Whether you’re comparing your homeschool to your friend’s homeschool (or to the local public school) or your kids to someone else’s kids, the comparison trap puts everyone under unnecessary stress. The problem with comparison is that we tend to compare our worst to someone else’s best. That causes self-doubt as we focus on all the ways we don’t measure up rather than capitalizing on what we’re going well. If we want to produce cookie-cutter kids, what’s the point of homeschooling? We can’t tout individualized instruction as a homeschool benefit, then get upset when our kids aren’t learning exactly what someone else’s kids are learning. When you’re tempted to compare, it helps to look at the comparison objectively. Is this something your child should probably know or be doing?Is it something that would benefit your homeschool?Is it a good fit for your family?Is your child physically, emotionally, or developmentally capable of performing this task or accomplishing this skill? Sometimes, comparing helps us identify skills, concepts, or activities that we would like to incorporate in our homeschools, but if it’s something that doesn’t benefit your family or your student, move on. Don’t let unfair comparisons add stress to your home and school. Not Allowing Your Homeschool to Evolve We may start out as staunchly school-at-home parents, but later learn that  our  educational philosophy is more  in line with Charlotte Mason. We  may  begin  as radical unschoolers  only to discover that our children prefer textbooks. It is not uncommon for a family’s homeschooling style to change over time, becoming more relaxed as they get more comfortable with homeschooling or becoming more structured as their  children grow older. Allowing your homeschool to evolve is normal and positive. Trying to hold on to methods, curricula, or schedules that no longer make sense for your family will likely put undue stress on you all. Homeschooling comes with its own set of stress-inducers. Theres no need to add more to it. Let go of unrealistic expectations and unfair comparisons, and let your homeschool adapt as your family grows and changes.

The Effects Of Sports Injuries On Sports - 2027 Words

Technology in sports has been advancing rapidly all throughout the years. These advancements have allowed sports fans to have an even better experience watching their teams play and compete. Although these advancements like instant replay cameras, goal line technology, and better sportswear have come in to use, there still has not been that much progress in dealing with injuries especially dealing with head injuries like concussions. Sports injuries have been found to occur in approximately 3% of all elementary school students, 7% of all junior high students and 11% of high school students involved in sport- ing activities. Twenty percent of these injuries were considered by medical personnel to be serious. It is well recognized that repetitive head impacts occur in a number of different sports. The sports most frequently cited for repetitive head impact trauma are football and boxing (Janda, David H). It is mainly a big topic discussion in the American Football community because it has been proved that every hit a player takes causes some kind of brain damage. Although the critics mainly focus on the NFL, there is another type of football they have overseen. It otherwise known as soccer in the United States and not as popular as it is all across the world. There also have been a serious of major head injuries in this sport and they have to be addressed because they should be a concern for everyone who plays the sport. Soccer is the world’s most popular team sport in theShow MoreRelatedThe Effects Of Sports Injuries On Sports1477 Words   |  6 Pagesparticipating in sports for various reasons, such as for their personal interest, health and fitness, and many more. However, injuries in sports which can result in pain, loss of playing time, as well as medical expenditure can occur too often. In the more serious cases, the injuries may result in fractures of bones, which in turns cause limitation in the mobility, resulting in permanent cease of attendance in sports, and in limited extreme cases even death. For professional sports player, absenceRead MoreThe Effects Of Concussion Injuries On Sports2204 Words   |  9 Pagesmost common head injury that can occur while participating in sports. There are over 250,000 concussion injuries reported each year in football players. High school football players experience at least one concussion during their season each year. Sport related concussions are most likely to witness, they usually mild, sometimes to never be associated with any other injuries, and they are usually treated initially by a non-medical person. Athletes who participate in contact sports like football, boxingRead MoreSports Injuries And Its Effects On The Life Of Athletes1570 Words   |  7 PagesAbstract The main research of this paper is Sports injuries. Sport injuries are very common in the modern world and it has severe effects in the life of athletes. Injuries related to sport can lead to loss of life, body parts or career depending on the severity of the accident. Sport injuries have several negative impacts on the physical, mental, social ability of athletes. To accomplish the paper appropriately some real-life examples have been included in this research, for illustration. For betterRead MoreThe Effects Of Sports Injuries On Young Athletes1118 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"Back to sports†. Children become more and more physically active. They enroll in a variety of sports activities, whether in their own school or in community-based sport programs. As a result of this tremendous life-style change in young people, the number of sports related injuries in young athletes is escalating nationwide. Statistics report that sports injuries are the second leading cause of injuries in school. Roughly 60 million children ages 6 to 18 participate in organized sport activitesRead MoreConcussions : A Concussion As An Immediate And Transient Neural Function Post Traumatic Impairment1627 Words   |  7 Pagesconcussion in sports. However, not all reported loss of consciousness mean it is a concussion. The public mostly associates concussion with sports such as football, ice hockey, and boxing and it is not a major problem in other sports. The assumption is that most of these sports-related traumatic brain injuries that occur are concussions. Sports concussion is a common injury and requires attention as it has major effects such as brain damage. Concussions are health issue common in sports as they haveRead MorePros And Cons Of Tackle Football1161 Words   |  5 PagesYouth tackle football is a popular sport for children today but this sport can have pros and cons. One of the most con troversial sport that a child can play is tackle football. Tackle football is a full contact sport. In any full contact sport, there are risks like concussions, injuries and the lasting effects of those injures. There are also pros in playing this sport like teamwork, sportsmanship, character, and exercise. Youth football can also have psychological pros and cons that can affectRead MoreThe Price of Concussions in Sports1084 Words   |  4 Pagesof brain injuries in the National Football League. The film devotes most of its attention to the story of Mike Webster, who died at the age of fifty as a result of severe brain injuries suffered throughout his playing career. Webster’s story highlights the devastating effect concussions can have in a short timeframe. Because brain injuries are known to develop quickly it is important that the NFL responds quickly to this concussion crisis. The NFL is the most popular professional sports league inRead MoreEffects Of Sports Essay15 77 Words   |  7 Pages If you chose to play sports, is it really worth it? Playing sports, in my opinion, is worth it. A teenager plays to have fun, even try to get a scholarship to go to college for the sport they love, also playing teaches qualities you’ll need for the rest of your life, playing sports can improve your way of life by making a positive impact on your health such as weight, cardiorespiratory health, muscle and bones, and reduced risk of cancer. If you’re involved in a sport, does it have a positive orRead MoreWhat is Sports Medicine? 1332 Words   |  6 PagesWhat is Sports Medicine? Well the word says it all; sports medicine is the study and practice of medicine related to the science of sports in the areas of diagnosing and treating sports injuries, injury prevention, and athletic training that includes workouts or exercises and nutrition. In other words, sports medicine is a field of medicine that concentrates exclusively on the injuries resulting from sports such as foo tball, baseball, basketball, and other sports. There are many different kindsRead MoreSymptoms And Symptoms Of A Concussion1312 Words   |  6 PagesConcussion Repercussions Contact sports like football, boxing, wrestling, and hockey have health risks associated with repetitive head trauma that can produce concussions. Players of these types of sports are at a significantly higher risk for developing long-term brain damage and cognitive impairment later in life. A concussion is a subset of a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and results from shaking the brain within the skull. The American Association of Neurological Surgeons (the â€Å"AANS†) has defined

The Most Influential Text is the Bible - 1558 Words

The Bible is widely regarded as perhaps the most influential text in the record of human history. Both Judaism and Christianity hold the Bible in high spiritual regard, due to its function as the basis for these two respective religions. The Bible serves as a single divine anthology, comprised of a series of books that have been meticulously composed by hundreds of authors over hundreds of years (Armstrong, 2007). Over the course of human history, the stories, lessons, and parables found within the Bible have had significant impact on societies all around the world. One of the most pertinent and interesting topics found within the Bible is the concept of leprosy. The Bible mentions leprosy in a variety of places, which include segments from both the Old Testament and the New Testament. From the book of Exodus to the Holy Gospels of Jesus Christ, leprosy is an ever-present aspect of biblical society. The sufferers of leprosy in the Bible often fall under extreme social chastisement an d are commonly subject to segregation from society in accordance with ancient scripture (Leviticus 13.46 New Revised Standard Version). Due to the common mention of leprosy in the Bible, and the somewhat opaque examination of the disease, a number of key concerns have arisen over the period of the modern era. Through the analysis of what biblical leprosy constitutes, its prominence within the Old Testament, and its appearances in the New Testament, readers can more fully understand how biblicalShow MoreRelatedWestern Culture And Its Influence On Modern Culture1235 Words   |  5 Pagesand those institutions that controlled the most power ultimately played the largest role in shaping the western culture seen today. Through analysis of honors texts, the development and reliance on institutions and their influence on shaping western culture can be identified and traced throughout early human history. Beginning in Sumer, the earliest formalized, written example of the creation of an institution can be identified. Using evidence from the text Inanna, the influence of an institutionRead MoreCan Literature Spark Cultural Difference?1185 Words   |  5 Pagesinfluences modern society, and how most of the ideas were spread through some kind of literature form. We see the spark of cultural change through influential works of literature, and these works take the forms of writings, movies, or songs. These forms go on to change the core of culture, so we can see a different world every time. It causes us to be very manipulated by the message it spreads out. Literature does spark cultural change using influential works like the Bible, or the song ‘Fireworks’ by KatyRead MoreChanges Due to English Evolution Affect Integrity of the Bible1705 Words   |  7 Pagescontrol of the Holy Bible without many recorded challenges for more than one thousand years, according to several hi storical documents. Church authorities told church members they could neither read nor interpret the text themselves. The principles clergy taught in church were what churchgoers often believed. Eventually, a high-ranking German monk named Martin Luther challenged church officials in the 16th century and began reading and interpreting the Scriptures. As he studied the Bible, he found manyRead MoreHow does the Bible Influence Political Thought and Action in Our Culture?1166 Words   |  5 PagesHow does the Bible Influence Political Thought and Action in Our Culture? The Bible is a unique book that is different from others because it contains sacred text that has continued to influence societies from generation to generation. Generally, the impact of this sacred book is worldwide since it has affected every department of human activity. The influence of the Bible on society is derived from the fact that it contains various themes that are used to shape the moral progress of the worldRead MoreJudith Sargent Murray s On The Equality Of The Sexes 1408 Words   |  6 Pagesher intellect at a young age and given an education along with her brother. Later in life, she had her written works widely published and read during a time when women’s voices were seen as fundamentally inferior to those of men. In one of her most influential and strongly opinionated works, ‘On the Equality of the Sexes’, Murray makes a strong case for the spiritual and intellectual equality of men and women, arguing that women and men are born equal, but that men are simply given more education andRead MoreMedieval Literature and Poetry Illuminated Manuscripts983 Words   |  4 Pagesmake or have any use for- books. The first of these books was the Bible, and as time passed, more forms of literature such as poetry and illuminated manuscripts were created. Christianity, like Judaism and Islam, is a written religion. The Bible is regarded as a sacred text for Christianity containing the revealed truth of G-d. The most important part of early monastic life was the preservation, reading, and copying of these texts. The connected to and interested in all types of literature. UpRead MoreThe And The Sacrifice Of Isaac By Peter Paul1107 Words   |  5 PagesA painting is a scene, frozen in time. Artists can bring them to life. Catching the emotions of whatever is depicted. The bible is full of memorable scenes, with thousands of years of art to capture the intensity of the stories. My Journey to The Sacrifice of Isaac by Peter Paul Rubens begin when I saw a painting at the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art almost six years ago in a grand room, with tens of other paintings and high, echoing ceilings. I stood in front of a massive, Renaissance-era piece. WithoutRead MoreThe Assassination Of Jfk, By Kill A Mockingbird, And The Bible954 Words   |  4 Pagesand books have been changing the world since the early 1900s. They change the way people think, feel, and see the world. There are many films and books worth the read and the watch; the assassination of JFK, To kill a Mockingbird, and The Bible are three of the most impactful and insightful books/movies, because they bring up powerful meanings that helped the world. JFK, many people saw this film, but the reviews were not tasteful. The writer of the film received a plethora amount of death threatsRead MoreEssay on The Documentary Hypothesis: Past and Present1333 Words   |  6 PagesThe subject of this paper has at least five names. Documentary Hypothesis and JEDP Theory are the most common. In this paper, this scholarly position will always be referred to as Documentary Hypothesis with a few exceptions. Documentary Hypothesis, or JEDP Theory, is the view held by various scholars that the five books of the Pentateuch were really written by four different authors, and not Moses. This theory claims that afterwards various editors (called Redactors) blended the five books togetherRead MoreQuestions For The Group Discussion970 Words   |  4 Pages Two Questions for the group discussion: â€Å"Inside a church, a pastor has flipped a verse of the bible to accommodate polygamy. Consulted by a business millionaire, the pastor ransacked the bible and finally arrived at a verse to support the holy matrimony. Quoting Isaiah 4:1 the pastor joined the notable influential member with three women†. Does the text Isaiah 4:1 justify the polygamous wedding? During the discussion, which follows the presentation, the group was amazed at the shocking photo

Thailand and Hong Kong Religious Differences free essay sample

Compare the religion in Thai and Hong Kong Introduction Religion is a way to review the cultural system of a country, it relates humanity to spirituality. Hong Kong and Thailand have a distinct history background, which interpret the big difference in daily cultural practices. This essay aims to provide a brief introduction of the religion in Thailand and Hong Kong and compares their differences and similarities. It will start from the history background and general information to the details of religious activities. General In Hong Kong, people are protected by the Basic Law, they have the religious freedom. There is a wide variety of religious groups such as Buddhism, Taoism, Christianity, Islam and so on. With 150 years of rule as a separate British colony, although most Hong Kong people are ethnically Chinese, Hong Kong has a unique local identity. Elements of traditional Chinese culture combining western in? uences have shaped Hong Kong as a city with mixed culture. We will write a custom essay sample on Thailand and Hong Kong Religious Differences or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Apart from the Chinese and British cultural in? uences, Hong Kong is a free trade port with people from different countries staying there which have a large variety of religion beliefs and ways of thought. According to a Gullup poll in 2010, 64% of Hong Kong residents are either agnostic or indifferent towards religion. Buddhism and Taoism are the major religious with more than 1 million Buddhists and about 1 million Taoists. The second large religious group is Christianity, it has been in Hong Kong since 1841. There are about 843,000 Christians in Hong Kong, most of them are Protestant or Roman Catholic. Temples and churches are omnipresent and ubiquitous on the streets, few of them have been there for more than 700 years ago. Although Hong Kong is literally no religion background, there are some public holidays related to religious festivals such as Christmas, Easter and Buddha’s Birthday. Adherents hold special celebration or ceremonies on these occasions. Those major religious bodies have established schools, hospitals and provides social welfare facilities. Theomania is rare in Hong Kong, religion con? ict has never occurred so far. In Thailand, Buddhism has long been it national religion, about 95% of Thais are Buddhists of the Theravada tradition. In fact, there is no of? ial state religion in the Thai constitution, people are guaranteed to have religious freedom. However, Buddhism has spread widely in Thailand since 3rd century BC, it led the Buddha’s teachings becoming very famous. There is no of? cial state religion in the Thai constitution, which guarantees religious freedom for all Thai citizens, though the king is required by law to be Buddhist. According to the last census (2000) 94. 6% of Thais are Buddhists of the Theravada tradition. Muslims are the second largest religious group in Thailand at 4. 6%. There are more than 600 temples in the HKSAR. [5] The history of some of these temples can be traced back to more than 700 years ago, while some others have been built in recent years. Notable temples include the Wong Tai Sin Temple located in the Wong Tai Sin District in Kowloon. This popular temple is dedicated to the Taoist deity, Wong Tai Sin. Besides that, the Chi Lin Nunnery in Diamond Hill is a group of temple structures in the Tang Dynastys architectural style. It is now open to the public following the completion of its redevelopment in 2000.

The Evolution Of The American Television Family Essays - Roseanne

The Evolution Of The American Television Family Television is not just a form of entertainment, but it is an excellent form of study of society's view concerning its families. This study focuses on the history of television beginning in the early 1950s and will run through present day. It examines the use of racial, ethnic and sexual stereotypes to characterize the players of these shows. The examples assist in tracing what has happened to the depiction of the American family on prime time television. It reveals the change of the standards employed by network television as disclosed to the American public. Finally, I will propose the question of which is the influential entity, television or the viewing audience. The Goldbergs, which was originally a radio show, became the first popular family series. It became a weekly TV series in 1949, revealing to Americans a working class Jewish family who resided in a small apartment in the Bronx. The show, while warm and humorous, confronted delicate social issues, such as sensitivity due to the Second World War. It is an excellent example of an ethnic family's status in society. A classic among classics, I Love Lucy appeared on television on October 15, 1951, (http://www.nick-at-nite.com/tvretro/shows/ilovelucy/index.tin). The series' premise focused on the antics of a nonsensical wife who beguiles her easily angered husband. The series created the men-versus-women standard on television, (such as what we see between Dan and Roseanne on Roseanne today), that still predominates today. One circumstance that led TV executives to seriously challenge the show's impending success was the use of Lucille Ball's real-life Cuban husband, Desi Arnaz. The ?mixed-marriage? status was a questionable concept that worried the administrators. The situation prevailed; its episodes routinely attracted over two-thirds of the television audience. Leave it to Beaver, the definitive 1950's household comedy, focused on life through the eyes of an adolescent boy, Beaver. Beaver was a typically disorderly youngster. His brother Wally, just entering his teens, was beginning to discover the opposite sex. The relationship that existed between the boys and their parents, Ward and June, was impeccable. A situation never developed that damaged the kinship beyond restoration. The parents exhibited perfect attributes that no real man and wife could attain. The children bestowed unnatural virtues. The program became popular with Americans but it did not realistically portray America's family status. In 1974, a series developed by Garry Marshal entitled Happy Days issued popularity to this era. The Cunningham family was the primary family featured on the program. The view of the American family modified little when the sixties arrived. Leave it to Beaver dominated television through 1963. In 1961, the ?Dick Van Dyke Show? aided in reinforcing the flawless family image. Some viewers thought Rob and Laura Petire were visibly similar to the first family, John and Jackie Kennedy. The highly successful series Bewitched further developed the perception of an immaculate suburbia. The identical condition developed by the Ward and Petire families was operative in the Stephens family. Each television household featured a working father, affectionate mother, and attentive children. Each family was a middle-class family and all financially secure. They each resided in secure households, which were in carefree urban areas. The morality displayed between the parents was commendable and sacred. The finest depiction of the American family living in the 1960s came twenty years later. The Wonder Years, which debuted on January 31, 1988, exhibited the best portraiture of a middle-class family in distinction to the 1960s. The Arnold family featured a struggling urban household. The parents were both conventional and, in the case of the father, emotionally distant. Kevin's, the teen-aged hero, growing pains mirrored those of America itself. The end of the 1960s witnessed a drastic altercation in America's culture. Television's reflection of society had begun to mature. A solitary bed replaced the twin beds customarily utilized in the depiction of bedrooms. The relationship shared between parents and their children possessed increased difficulty. ?The Brady Bunch? challenged the accepted family structure as it pertained to television. Televisions first ?blended family? was introduced. The program contested certain typical regulations while practicing others. The face of television changed forever in the fall of 1971. Norman Lear's All in the Family brought a sense of harsh reality to television

5 Strategies to Prepare for the ISEE and SSAT

5 Strategies to Prepare for the ISEE and SSAT If you are thinking of applying to a private school in the fall, its never too early to get started addressing items on the admissions checklist.  For example, in addition to beginning work on the application and the candidate’s and parents’ statements, the applicant can study for the ISEE or SSAT, which are the required admissions tests at most private schools for students in grades 5-12. While the scores on these tests will likely not, in and of themselves, make or break a candidate’s application, they are an important part of the application portfolio, along with the applicant’s grades, statement, and teachers’ recommendations. Check out this article for  more information about how the SSAT and ISEE are scored. Taking the test doesnt have to be a nightmare, and doesnt require expensive tutoring or prep sessions. Check out these simple ways in which you can best prepare for the ISEE or SSAT and for the work that lies ahead in private middle and high school: Tip #1: Take Timed Practice Tests The best strategy to prepare for test day is to take practice tests- whether you are taking the ISEE or SSAT (the schools you are applying to will let you know which test they prefer)- under timed conditions. By taking these tests, you will know which areas you need to work on, and you will feel more comfortable taking the tests when it counts.  It also can help you get more accustomed to what is expected and the strategies you need to really excel, like how much a wrong answer might affect your score and what you can do about it.  Here is an article with some strategies to prepare for the tests. Tip #2: Read as Much as You Can In addition to broadening your horizons, independent reading of high-quality books is the best preparation not only for the ISEE and SSAT but also for the complicated reading and writing that most college-preparatory private schools demand. Reading builds your understanding of the nuances of difficult texts and your vocabulary. If you are unsure about where to start, begin with the 10 most commonly read books in private high schools. While it’s not necessary to have read this whole list before applying to a private high school, reading a few of these titles will expand your mind and vocabulary and acquaint you with the kind of reading- and thinking- that lie ahead of you. By the way, it’s fine to read contemporary novels, but try to tackle a few of the classics as well. These are books that have withstood the test of time because they have broad appeal and are still relevant to today’s readers. Tip #3: Build Your Vocabulary as You Read The key to building your vocabulary, which will help you on the ISEE and SSAT and with reading, is to look up unfamiliar vocabulary words as you read. Try to use common word roots, such as â€Å"geo† for â€Å"earth† or â€Å"biblio† for â€Å"book† to expand your vocabulary more quickly. If you recognize these roots in words, you will be able to define words you didn’t realize that you knew. Some people suggest taking a quick crash course in Latin to better understand most root words.   Tip #4: Work on Remembering What you Read If you find that you are unable to remember what you read, you may not be reading at the right time. Try to avoid reading when you are tired or distracted. Avoid dimly lit or loud areas when trying to read. Try to pick the right time to read- when your concentration is at a maximum point- and try to mark up your text. Use a post-it note or highlighter to mark key passages, moments in the plot, or characters. Some students will also find it helpful to take notes on what theyve read, so they can go back and refer to key points later on.   Here are more tips about how to improve your recall of what you read. Tip #5: Don’t Save Your Studying until the Last Minute Its important to note that studying shouldnt be a once and done thing when it comes to preparing for your test. Get to know the sections of the test well in advance, and practice. Take online practice tests, write essays regularly, and find out where you need the most help. Waiting until the week before the ISEE or SSAT test date isnt going to give you any sort of benefit when it comes to excelling. Remember, if you wait until the last minute, you won’t be able to discover and improve your weaker areas.   Article edited by  Stacy Jagodowski