Archive for the ‘Guest Posts’ Category

How Teachers Can Work a Side Gig Throughout the Year by Emily Graham offers advice for teachers looking to expand their income and hone their skills. This can be done at the same time you relieve some stress without short changing your family obligations. As a teacher/administrator my wife and I made money on the side writing for computer magazines. This not only brought in extra income, it also kept us on the leading edge.

Introduction

• Are you a teacher looking to supplement your income with a side gig during your breaks? Side gigs are a great way to make extra money, but there are some steps to take to make sure your gig doesn’t end up just stressing you out. Read through these tips to ensure your moonlighting position doesn’t become a nightmare.

Find Your Perfect Side Gig

• There are tons of gigs, so make sure you find one that works for you. Here are some ways you can bring in extra cash.

Try Tutoring

• If you love teaching, then tutoring is an easy, fulfilling way to make some extra cash. You can offer your services to your own students or look for other kids who need a little extra help with their academic pursuits. If you prefer to work remotely, you can tutor online as well. The Penny Hoarder notes online tutoring opportunities pay fairly well and allow you to teach from home or anywhere with Wi-Fi.

Transcription Services

• Teachers who can type quickly can easily find side gigs offering transcription services. From podcasts to Zoom meetings and more, there are opportunities where you can put your skills to good use. Consider using a job board to post your profile. Ideally, you’ll want to have examples of your work to help drum up a client base.

Get Paid to Watch Pets

• Does your busy teaching schedule keep you from having pets? Then use your time off to make money hanging out with other people’s pets. You can visit homes during the day and take dogs for walks, or watch pets overnight when their owners are out of town. Pet sitting is a fairly flexible gig and spending time with pets has some definite perks. You can even select what size/kind/breeds of animals you prefer to watch. Get paid to snuggle with some furry friends and get some stress relief in the process.

Drive Around Your Town

• Got a comfortable car and a love of driving? Know your way around town? Then think about becoming a driver for a rideshare company like Lyft or Uber. Rideshares are increasing in popularity, making it easier than ever for people to get around. And with added features for driver safety and satisfaction, it’s a great time to get started with your driving gig. Best of all, you can pretty much pick what hours you want to work and where you prefer to drive.

Set Your New Business Up for Success

• Once you’ve found your perfect gig(s), you’ll want to take these steps to make it a success.

Come Up With a Unique Name

• Of course, one of the first steps to starting a business is figuring out what the name should be. You can use your own name, develop an acronym, or even find inspiration from literature or a map. Once you’ve got your business name squared away, you can also come up with a DBA name. This is a separate name you could use to sell your products and services. A DBA is beneficial for various business structures like sole proprietorships and LLCs, because it can protect your identity and/or it could be used to sell products or services that are different from what you sell under your business’s original name.

Keep Yourself Focused and Organized

• Good organization is key to profiting from your new business. One of the simplest ways to keep yourself focused and stay organized is to set up a functional home office. You can create a space that allows you to concentrate and keeps chaos out of your new gig. Select an area in your home that has natural light and is free of distractions such as televisions and other people in your home. As you work, be sure to get up and walk around or use a standing desk because sitting can be bad for your health.

Network With Potential Clients

• Depending on your gig, you may need to work to meet new clients. Networking is a key part of any business venture, so take some time to polish up your self-marketing skills. Talk to friends and family about your business, but don’t be afraid to promote your work to the public as well. From social media to specialized sites to local business boards, there are tons of ways to market your services to potential new clients and build better connections with current ones.

Leave Time to Relieve Stress

• Making some extra cash when you’re on break is a definite plus, especially for underpaid teachers. But time off should also be your time to decompress and get rid of stress. Be sure to keep some flexibility in your side gig schedule for some much-needed relaxation and fun. Use that extra cash to take a vacation or book a massage. You definitely deserve it after all of your hard work.
• (Doug: A side job can put stress on your family, but it doesn’t have to. You should always consider involving other family members and friends like I did.)
• A side gig should be a fun way to earn extra income on a seasonal basis or year-round. Make sure yours doesn’t cause you extra stress by sticking to the tips above. Enjoy your time off and your new side gig!

Be sure to check out the Dr. Doug Green blog for a plethora of professional development resources for administrators, teachers, and parents!

Emily Graham

• Emily is the creator of MightyMoms.Net. She believes being a mom is one of the hardest jobs around and wanted to create a support system for moms from all walks of life. On her site, she offers a wide range of info tailored for busy moms — from how to reduce stress to creative ways to spend time together as a family. You can email her at emilygraham@mightymoms.net. She lives in Arizona.

Photo Credit: Unsplash

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4Four Ways To Stay Motivated During Your College Final Exams by Craig Middleton offers sound advice for new and experienced college students. Even though final exams are far away from this date, this is a good time to formulate your game plan for your next set of finals.

Introduction

• College is a period of newfound freedom and independence for young students. For many, it marks their first time away from home and signifies their formal transition into adulthood. While the college years are likely full of fun, lively activities, and meaningful new friendships, school also comes with an abundance of responsibility, papers, and tests. Final exams denote the end of a college semester, and they require a plethora of preparation and tons of studying. If you are a college student worried about staying motivated through your final exams, fret not. Read on to learn some helpful tips on remaining dedicated through finals and wrap up a successful semester.

1. Go Outside 

• While the library is full of information on various topics, it is challenging to remain diligent in the dark, cold environment that a library typically offers. Instead, consider taking your books outside and setting up your study hall on the grass. Most college campuses offer several areas conducive to outdoor seating, be it a quad or a mall. In any event, sunshine and a dose of Vitamin D can improve your mood and make any subject seem more enjoyable to study.

2. Create a Schedule

• The thought of learning and absorbing the hordes of materials necessary to pass your finals can feel overwhelming and downright impossible. An easy way to remedy this staggering feeling is to create a study schedule. Outline a list of items you need to complete by finals, ensuring full preparation come exam time. Consider getting even more detailed, and create a list of things you would like to accomplish daily. Keep in mind they do not all have to be related to studying, school, or finals. Physically check off these items once they are complete. This process of breaking down and checking off tasks will leave you feeling accomplished and productive instead of overwhelmed.

3. Get Extra Help

• Because finals comprise a significant amount of your final grade, professors often make help readily available at the end of the semester during exams. Take advantage of this extra support by attending your professors’ office hours, or seek additional resources like tutors and online prep courses. Remember to reach out to classmates and organize informational sessions together. Preparing for final exams as a group allows you to divide and conquer the class study guide, and it provides an excellent forum for questions and answers. (Doug: Don’t wait until the last few days to start this process. Learning is more efficient if it is spaced out. Cramming is inefficient!)

4. Exercise

• Sometimes you need to know when to put away the books and allow your mind to relax. Exercise is an excellent, healthy way to reset your mind and body, preparing you for your next study session. Research shows that a mere 20 minutes of exercise is enough to release hormones in the brain that promote happiness and optimism. Be sure to schedule a quick workout into your daily schedule to regroup and re-energize. While college is full of freedom, fun, and excitement, final exams can cause an overabundance of stress and anxiety. Hopefully, this list provides you with some ideas that will prepare you to enter your exam week with confidence and motivation. A thrive patch is a good way to keep energy up and help you with your nutrition.

Craig Middleton

• Craig is a New York City-based retired business consultant, who is an expert in education and cultural trends. He has a Masters of Business Administration and a Masters in Education from St. Johns and loves sharing his knowledge on the side through his writing. If you have any questions or comments you can direct them to Craig at craigmiddleton18@gmail.com.

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Keeping Your Personal Information Safe While You’re Online by Craig Middleton offers sound and easy advice for online users of all ages and experiences. By now you have no doubt heard about high-profile cyber attacks, but cybercriminals are happy to go after ordinary people in addition to governmental agencies and large corporations. Thanks, Craig.

Introduction

• If you’re a college student, your two best friends may be your laptop and the internet. Much of what you do in higher learning is online, from researching various sites to get info for a paper you’re writing, to accessing the school’s and each teacher’s online learning platforms. With all the demands of life you need to pay attention to, staying secure on the internet is probably one of the last things on your mind. Unfortunately, cybercriminals are counting on your lack of attention to this very important detail. Next time you’re putting your nose to the grindstone with your schoolwork, consider these four easy steps to keep your information safe while online.

Use Free Wi-Fi Carefully

• Most college students don’t think twice about using the free wi-fi in the school’s library or a coffee shop to fit in a little studying during a break between classes. The library is a great place to get ahead in an environment of peace and quiet, but this study choice has one caveat you must be aware of: the school’s internet is on a public network. Spending time online while on a public network makes you vulnerable to a cyberattack.
• So, What is a cyber attack, you might ask? A cyber attack is an unlawful effort to compromise a computer or computer network. Usually, this is done with the aim of sharing, destroying, or stealing digital information. Using free wi-fi offered on public networks makes you a prime target for someone wishing to compromise your computer. All they need is a basic software tool to access your information.
• There are many ways to keep your information safe while using the internet at school, but the following three steps are a good start. First, make sure you don’t use the same password for all of your log-ins. Secondly, ensure that you are on the public network that belongs to your school. Finally, disable file sharing while you are on the public network. This will go a long way in securing your personal information while using the internet at school.

Visit Secure Sites

• Studying and researching for your classes takes you to a wide variety of sites, including some you may not be very familiar with. Making sure to only visit secure sites is a vital way to protect your information while online. The good news is that a secure site is easy to distinguish from a harmful one. If the online address has a lock symbol before it and begins with HTTPS, you can rest assured you are safe to visit that site. (Doug: Note that my site’s address is https:DrDougGreen.Com)

Beware of Unusual Links and Attachments

• A common way that your information is compromised online is by clicking on harmful links and attachments, often sent to you through email. What might look like an email from a trusted company or organization could be a virus or malware attack in disguise. The easiest way to tell if a link or attachment is harmful is by checking to see if there are spelling errors or if the email is coming from an address other than the one you would expect from a company. If either of these things are amiss, you are probably dealing with a cybercriminal and you should steer clear. (Doug: For example, if you got an email from Verizon, be sure that the address of the sender ends in Verison.Com. Also, if you get an email from a bank where you don’t have an account it’s probably spam. Update: Today I received an email from Sprectrum saying “Action Required.” When I checked the address of the sender it said mmecomn@carolina.rr.com>. This clearly is not from Spectrum so I erased it.)

Use Strong Passwords

• Using strong passwords is one of the simplest ways to protect your information online. With all of the online accounts you have to juggle, it can be very tempting to use the exact same password every time to make remembering them easier, but this is one of the cyber criminal’s favorite weaknesses. If one account becomes compromised, then they will all fall victim. Be sure to use a different password every time you create an online account. As a college student, you have enough to worry about as it is. Don’t add the security of your online information to that list. Follow these four simple steps and you won’t have to think twice about it.

Craig Middleton

• Craig is a New York City-based retired business consultant, who is an expert in education and cultural trends. He has a Masters of Business Administration and a Masters in Education from St. Johns and loves sharing his knowledge on the side through his writing. If you have any questions or comments you can direct them to Craig at craigmiddleton18@gmail.com.

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Dealing With Cyberbullying in the Era of Remote Learning by Amanda Winstead offers sound advice for parents, educators, and students on this timely topic. The key is communication and making time for it. Since cyberbullies leave a digital trail, it’s vital that students feel safe when it comes to sharing this type of abuse with adults they trust.

Introduction

• Education is often in a state of evolution. Standards change, learning theories develop, and certainly, budgets make their difference. One of the ways that teachers, students, and parents have seen developments in the last decade or so, is the inclusion of digital tools as a day-to-day part of school operations. Everything from artificial intelligence (AI) and algorithm-driven assessments to social media continue to be adopted in learning environments.
• This technological acceptance has also been instrumental in keeping classes open during the COVID-19 pandemic. Remote learning has kept students and teachers connected. Not to mention that these distant learning tools make education more accessible for both K-12 kids and other young adults. However, it can’t be denied that bullying is still a concern. Though the physical boundaries of the classroom have been removed, cyberbullies have found ways to continue inflicting abuse in various toxic forms.
• Let’s take a look at how parents and teachers can best deal with cyberbullying, especially when it comes to keeping environments around children safe and secure.

Maintain Awareness

• When schooling is being offered at home, there aren’t the same ground rules that prevent device use during lessons, and as such, the culture of near-constant connection through smartphones can make bullying seem inescapable. Therefore, teachers and parents alike need to maintain an awareness of the methods used for cyberbullying. Girls are usually the most common recipients of cyberbullying, and there is a tendency for those aged 15-17 to be targeted through mobile email and their social media channels. This often takes the familiar forms of name-calling and rumor-spreading but occurs in a very public space.
• It’s also worth noting that cyberbullying doesn’t just occur on social media, but is increasingly present in gaming, and even the comment sections of websites. This can make it all the more difficult for teachers and parents to address, as it occurs on platforms that are disconnected from the classroom and in the public domain.
• The upshot is often one of the best tools against cyberbullying is the ability to recognize signs it may be occurring. Alongside knowledge of the methods that might be utilized, keeping vigilant of how students’ behavior has changed can help to guide intervention. This could include anxiety or reluctance to use online platforms as part of their school work, reticence to discuss their social media platforms or share their accounts, and generally becoming withdrawn. It can even present as less enthusiasm for utilizing technology when it may have been a key interest in the past.

Keep Talking

• Cyberbullying, like most other forms of abuse, thrives in silence. In remote school settings, it can be easy for students to feel disconnected from friends and teachers or feel that there isn’t a platform to discuss their problems, causing additional stress. Therefore, teachers, parents, and students need to work together to ensure there is always a space for discussion.
• This begins with making sure that there are accessible communications channels. Certainly, teachers should ensure that both students and parents are provided with contact details to arrange meetings if there are potential issues. However, there should also be regular time set aside for educators to check in with individual learners. School administrators must allow time in the schedule for teachers to have conversations with students about how they are doing, and talk about things they are concerned about. Indeed, providing remote access to the school’s counselor can create a valuable safe space.
• That said, there also needs to be effort put in place for open discussions. Schools need to educate remote students on how bullying presents and the consequences it can cause. For instance, in teenagers, body image is likely to affect their self-esteem and mental wellness. Society and the media — including social media — have often advertised unattainable standards, and this can be weaponized by cyberbullies. Teachers need to talk with their remote classes about this and help them to recognize when appearance-based bullying is designed to hurt them rather than being an accurate reflection of reality. Keep students part of this discussion, too, encouraging them to share behaviors they find concerning, and how you can all work together to address them.

More Serious Concerns For Teens

• Many of the methods of cyberbullying are going to be through social media platforms and other means that most teens are already familiar with, such as abusive comments on social media channels, harassing emails, and so on. However, one of the more concerning issues that can affect teenagers is revenge porn. This is largely when a former sexual partner publicly posts private explicit images online as a form of particularly damaging revenge. This causes not just personal trauma, but can also impact the victim’s sense of self-worth and their ability to trust others. While there are laws in 34 states against the non-consensual publishing of explicit images, on top of the added complications if the victim is under 18, this does little to impact the situation.
• Schools and institutions need to let their learners know that they have access to support. Provide them with documentation on what to do when they encounter cyberbullying, particularly in more serious forms of harassment like revenge porn. Give them guides as to what their immediate actions should be — filing Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) takedown requests, and contacting the police. Where possible, provide free or subsidized online counseling services. Above all else, make it clear that being a teen doesn’t mean they should be less sensitive to cyberbullying, that your institution takes it seriously, and they will be treated respectfully.

Conclusion

• Remote learning can provide the distance and isolation that can help cyberbullying to thrive. Teachers and parents must take time to understand the methods and signs of this form of abuse and maintain an open dialogue to help combat it. Important too is ensuring that all remote learners have a robust system of support to handle the damaging types of bullying they can face.
• Amanda Winstead is a freelance writer out of Portland, Oregon focusing on many topics including educational technology. Along with writing she enjoys traveling, reading, working out, and going to concerts. If you want to follow her writing journey, or even just say hi you can find her on Twitter @AmandaWinsteadd.
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Starting a Business While In School? Here Are Five Tips To Help Your Business Run Smoothly by Craig Middleton offers advice for students or anyone else who wants to have a business of their own. Share with entrepreneurial students and adults you know. Thanks, Craig.

Being a small business owner can be complicated, especially while going to school, but it is also very rewarding. Your life is already consumed with homework and studying that it can be hard to find time to think about a side hustle. However, it’s never too late to think about your future. Not everyone gets to be their own boss and the perks are numerous, as long as you work hard to keep your business working smoothly. Sometimes keeping your business running like a well-oiled machine can seem overly complex, but if you keep these five tips in mind you will find that it can operate efficiently without too many extra hiccups.

1. Stay On Top Of Accounting
Accounting can take a lot of your business energy if you aren’t careful, but it can also be very easy to make sure that you have control of the reins. Make sure to take the time to do a Quickbooks comparison and see if you have the best accounting software to suit your company. The right software can make all the difference in staying on top of your accounting. Make sure that you are following up on all invoices and bills. The inflow and outflow of income are the life of your business, so you can’t just hope that things are going well. If you have the best software, you can always be in the know and this knowledge is business power.

2. Don’t Get Buried by Emails
Staying on top of emails can definitely feel taxing some days, but if you get too far behind it can make running your business much more difficult. Emails are usually the top form of communication for any business clientele and you want to keep your email timelines prompt and professional. If you are always answering in a timely manner your clients will respect and trust you. 
Small business owners thrive on the trust and relationship they have with their clients and other business partners. So replying and responding quickly through email will keep your business relationships on good terms and that will mean smooth sailing for your company as well.  

3. Plan Your Marketing in Advance
It can be complicated to plan your marketing too far in advance, but usually forecasting for the next month or two will keep things rolling without any hitches. Make a point to have a monthly or bi-monthly meeting to work in advance for all marketing strategies. 
Staying on top of marketing will mean that you consistently have new business coming in. You will be much less likely to hit a lull because you’ve put in the forethought to keep things running evenly. Planning ahead for a season when you know it tends to slow down will help you avoid the common pitfalls of that time of year.

4. Always Think About Networking
Staying on top of networking truly goes hand in hand with planning your marketing in advance. If you are doing the work of constantly networking you are always building your business potential. Having new contacts or potential new clients you can reach out to and start a relationship with will help keep moving your business forward. If you are always ready for the next step, then that will maximize the growth potential of your organization.

5. Invest In Your Employees
Your employees are essential to your business. There are so many reasons to invest in them and so many different ways to do so. Consider how you can best reward or celebrate them for their accomplishments or find small gestures to show them your appreciation. Happy employees will enhance the culture of your company and ensure that all the work is being accomplished effectively.
When you invest and train your employees well you will be more likely to delegate more tasks and responsibilities to them. The better the workload is distributed the more efficiently your business will run. Taking the time to build up your employees is quite frankly necessary. If you are the only employee be sure to take care of yourself.
Being the owner of a small business or tech startup can be hard work, and can be a bit overwhelming while going to school. It is truly not a career for the faint of heart. With these tips, you can make sure that you are giving your business the best chance at operating smoothly.

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