Reggio Emilia: An Education Model Named After an Italian Town

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 The Reggio Emilia method is more a philosophy about teaching than an educational curriculum. This ideology is based on the idea that children are resourceful and that the child's curiosity should guide their lessons.

The Story of Reggio Emilia

There's a beautiful story about the beginnings of this method. An Italian town named Reggio Emilia was struggling to recover from World War II. To earn money for building a new school from the rubble, a small group of women in the town were selling military equipment left behind by the Germans. With this hard-earned money, the women started a preschool. This was the first preschool in the area that wasn't sponsored by the major church in the area. The perseverance and determination of the women and the small town attracted attention worldwide.

Loris Malaguzzi's Education Philosophy

A relatively young educator, Loris Malaguzzi, brought the school some new philosophies about teaching. He wanted students to drive the path of their education, so his classes revolved around specific themes and projects that allowed children to find their own jumping-off points into a variety of subjects. Throughout the classroom, creative materials are made available, so students can experiment with different types of expression. This allows children to study the topics they choose and then express what they've learned through painting, drawing, building, writing, sculpting, and so on.

Documentation of the Child's Exploration

Another important aspect of the Reggio Emilia model for learning is documentation. Rather than filling out charts and comparison graphs, however, Reggio instructors display the children's artwork and creations. Instructors may take pictures, make tape recordings, or jot down notes. The goal of this documentation is to show a progression of the children's study and observations. The documents may also serve as a direction for future studies.

Independence and Creativity

There are many forms of alternative preschools, and it can be difficult to choose from many wonderful options. If your primary goals for your child are to encourage independence and creativity, the Reggio Emilia school is a wonderful option.

Advice for Freelance Writers Working Online

The recent COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdowns have been a peril to us all, but it’s worth taking the time to consider just how things have changed, and how we should prepare for the future. Many people, for example, are taking the time to renew their career paths by working from home and trying to source supplemental income. 

One of these additional sources of income is freelance writing - as it’s quite a versatile skill that many people can learn and deliver with limited equipment. Furthermore, copywriting, SEO services, and social media management can all be helped by competent writing, meaning that if you can turn a phrase well, you’re sure to do well.

However, finding work, managing your affairs, setting up your workday and subcontracting can all be quite confusing and strange efforts for the newbie freelance writer, so this article will serve as a resource to help you. No matter if you’re a college student trying to make ends meet, a parent trying to make the most of their day, or if you’ve just lost your job - we hope this advice helps you:

Take Your Time

It’s important to take your time. Sentence structure, syntax, grammar, all of these things can be learned, but only if you continually look back on your own writing and measure its merit. You may also use tools such as Grammarly or Hemingway to ensure you’re writing with the correct punctuation, and that you avoid misspellings. Furthermore, using synonyms for certain words can often be quite a healthy alternative, helping you change up your style.

This said - it’s important to remove your ego as a writer completely. Even if you can construct the most beautiful prose in the world, if it’s not what your client needs, it’s not going to be accepted. Read each brief thoroughly, multiple times, and ask questions if needed. Absorb the nuances and expected behaviors expected of you if working for an online firm. Take your time to consider the process, to set up your work desk, and to get focused before writing. This will help you become a better writer, but more importantly, a better professional.

Set Up A Website

It’s a wonderful idea to set up a website because it helps you promote your portfolio. This portfolio may include bylines, excerpts of material you may have written (hosted with permission), and even personal blog postings showcasing just what you can do. Setting up a website helps you flourish your art, and provide a hub where businesses can refer to you as an actual presence.

Of course, in some respects, you may simply wish to curate your profile on freelance writing forums. Upwork, for instance, is quite well-known as a platform for freelance writers. Ensuring you hold a good rating there and encouraging testimonials can make it easier to find future work going forward. That has to be a great idea.

Consider Writing Houses & Content Services

Remember that writing is often unnecessary until it is needed. You’re not going to convince a firm that has all of their copy needs taken care of that you, as a freelance, outsourced writer, will provide them with the value they haven’t already had. That’s why some of the best places to write include content services that provide SEO maintenance. 

This can provide you with a wide range of potential subjects to write about. It’s also a great means to practice your style, get used to briefs and associated clients, and make great relationships. Find the right firm, and you’ll gain a daily allotment of content that helps you grow and develop at your will. That’s a wonderful place for any beginner freelance writer to start out.

Outfit Your Office & Working Hours

While writing can seem like quite a physically comfortable task - it’s not. It takes brainpower, but it also takes long hours of sitting down in your desk chair, typing away. This means it can damage your hands if you’re not careful. We would recommend learning to touch type, as this is, in general, easier on the hands of those who choose to perform it.

Furthermore, good posture and ergonomics are key. This helps you avoid curating a terrible posture and back pain. Sit up straight in an ergonomic chair. Make sure the top of the screen is lined up with your natural eye line. Ensure that you have adequate arm wrests or a worthwhile wrist pad. Take a break to stretch your hands from time to time.

It’s also essential to curate your working hours in the best possible sense. Freelance writing can be flexible, too flexible, and this can prevent you from setting yourself hard deadlines. It will also prevent you from seeing to work with enthusiasm, and like dirty dishes on your sink, this can, unfortunately, pile up. For this reason, make sure to complete jobs as and when they come and don’t overstretch yourself. Commit to the same writing hours every day. Find a backup device so that you can work even if your main device doesn’t. These measures will help you as a professional stay competent and in work in the best possible sense.

Seek To Improve

While we have made it clear that freelance writers rarely make money by flexing their best prose, it’s also true that you can seek to develop and progress as a writer in other fields. For instance, learning more about technical writing can be a fantastic skill to have, particularly if you want to help create corporate documents or write technical guides with exacting specifications.

Writing, like most art forms, is a malleable tool. It’s not just creative, it’s also informative. It’s not just words, it’s language. For this reason, you have many different areas in which you can specialize provided you seek to learn. This will help you become the very definition of an ever-growing asset.

Manage Your Finances & Taxes

Remember, as a freelancer, you are self-employed. This means that you have to take care of your own finances for the most part. It means you’re unlikely to be covered with sick pay or healthcare. It also means that you need to take care of your own taxes.

Unfortunately, many freelance writers (and freelance professionals at large), fail to accurately report their earnings. If you yourself are in a bind, it’s worthwhile to contact tax attorneys at Leinart Law Firm to help you unravel your tax history and help curate your best route forward. We would recommend documenting everything. Make sure that you report even the little trickling of income you may receive from side projects. It’s better to be safe than to be sorry, and to never think your freelance status gives you free rein.

Communicate With Your Clients

In any freelance capacity, you’re going to come across testy, annoying, uninformed clients. But you’re not here to condemn them for not knowing every little part of your process - that would be quite toxic, in fact.

Instead, learning to communicate with them is essential. Discussing your rates, what the job might entail, what questions you have, and who you can contact, all of this helps you make this relationship seamless. Furthermore, don’t take the need for revisions or extra edits personally - clients will be looking for an exact specification, and if you’re not providing it, they’ll let you know. Think about graphic designers. They can come up with the most influential and beautiful logo for a brand, but if it doesn’t convey the spirit their client wishes it to, they have failed in their task.

The way you keep clients and encourage new ones is to routinely care for them. If you can ensure your communication is pristine and speedy, you’re sure to enjoy a better end result.

Read Great Copy

They say that it’s important for budding novelists to read, and so if you hope to make a living freelance writing as a copywriter, you need to read great copy. Consider marketing material, read technical guides, read press briefings, or the launch of advertisement campaigns. Consider the copy you take for granted, such as instruction manuals for consumers, or the marketing copy on the back of a product you’re using. This can help you understand the flow and style that may be expected of you.

Finally, read plenty of websites. Websites in 2020 and beyond have an exacting standard. A landing page is there to help encourage you. It’s often split into digestible sections to help promote a brand in the most convincing manner possible. This means specific word counts, imperative language, memorable phrases, and informative explanations. Odds are, you may find potential work in this direction. For that reason, it’s best to know what your competition is doing, and what the expected s standard may be.

With this advice, we hope you can become the best freelance writer you can be, especially if working remotely during the time of COVID-19. Who knows? With a little effort, a supplemental income may be yours for the taking.

5 Reasons You Should Adopt a Prepper’s Lifestyle

 In life, uncertainties are certain. It is paramount for one to imagine ways to survive if certain situations were to happen. Such skills may come in handy at some point. After all, being prepared has never hurt anyone. A lot can be achieved through preparedness. Preppers live freely and don’t get attached to most things as they anticipate change. Such a lifestyle is convenient and makes it easy to adapt to different environments.

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While there may be more, here are some reasons to adopt a prepper’s lifestyle:

Making The Office Fun

 

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Running an office can be a tricky thing to do. Office jobs tend to be known and boring and monotonous, which causes those workers to battle hating their job. Here are some things you can do to make sure that this doesn’t happen to yours.

Paint

The way your office looks can really affect how it feels. If it’s dark and dreary, employees may be feeling down before they ever even enter the building for the workday. You can change this atmosphere by painting the office in brighter colors and giving it more light. Paint isn’t that expensive, and changing it could change the people in it, not just the colors of it.

Party

Offices who have regular parties and celebrations tend to have better employee attitudes. It gives them something to look forward to and show them that their leaders want them to have a good time and enjoy their job. Corporate gifts Pelham NY also help make the activities even more fun and exciting.

Proclaim

Although you are the boss, that doesn’t mean everything happens because of you. Take the time to publicly thank and commend those who are doing a great job. Without your employees, you may not be succeeding. Let them know you appreciate all they do and nothing would be as it is if it wasn’t for them.

Produce

You shouldn’t sit in your office all day and watch everyone else work. When things need to be done and projects could use some help, don’t hesitate to jump in there and work alongside everyone else. Employees look up to those bosses who show they are putting in labor and effort just like everyone else is.

Don’t let your office be known as the most boring place to work in town. While you do need to get things done and be productive, give your place the reputation of being fun, causing others to want to work there.

Feeling Confident And Owning Your Style

 Feeling confident and owning your style isn't something you’re born with. Some people exude confidence, but that doesn’t mean they didn’t work for it. Being confident and un-self-conscious about your style can actually take a lot of self-reflection and work. Are you tired of feeling like the odd one out, or like you have to blend in to be accepted? You’re in the right place! Let’s take a look at what you can do to feel confident and own your style right now:

1. Book A Therapy Session

If you have some deep-rooted issues and you know it, trying to work through them alone can be exhausting. However, booking a therapy session could be the key to getting rid of those insecurities - or at least understanding them better and giving yourself the power to ignore them. Therapy is powerful, and more people could use it than they realize. 

4 Hidden Dangers That All Pet Owners Should Be Aware Of

 As a pet owner, it’s up to you to keep your pet safe and protect them from any potential dangers. A lot of these dangers are obvious, like poisonous foods and plants, or hot cars. However, there are some pet dangers that are less obvious and owners don’t realize that they need to protect against them. These are some common pet dangers that you probably haven’t considered. 

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Nicotine 

We all know about the dangers of secondhand smoke, which is why so many countries have banned smoking indoors in public places. But we don’t often talk about how dangerous it can be for animals too. The health effects on animals are just the same as they are on humans, so it’s important that you consider this if you are a smoker. Even using e-cigarettes around your pet can be harmful, so be careful about smoking them inside when your pet is around. If you are not a smoker, this is still something that you should be aware of when you are out and about. If somebody is smoking near your pet, don’t be afraid to ask them to be more mindful. It may be a bit of an awkward conversation to have, but you can’t take any chances where your pet’s safety is concerned. 

Coyotes 

If you live in a particularly rural place, there is a chance that you may have problems with coyotes in the surrounding area. Although this isn’t likely to be a problem in urban areas, any pet owners living in the countryside need to be aware of it because they can be very dangerous to dogs and cats. If you think that you have a problem with coyotes, it’s important that you find ways to ward them off. Check out howtogetridofcoyote.com for some ideas on protecting your pets from these dangerous pests. It’s important that you check the barriers around your garden and fix any holes in the fence, so coyotes cannot get inside. 

Bones

Bones are one of the most surprising entries on this list because we all associate bones with dogs. But even though cartoons would have you believe that they are a dog’s best friend, bones can actually be very dangerous. Bones are actually very good for dogs in most cases, but you have to be careful. Cooked bones, for example, can splinter into shards and get lodged in their throat, so only give them raw meat bones. Don’t let them keep the same bone for too long either because they can chew chunks off and these can get lodged in the throat as well. If you are unsure, visit akc.org for more information on the dos and don’ts of giving bones to your dog. 

Hot Sidewalks 

During the summer, you should be careful about where you take your dogs for a walk because hot sidewalks can be very dangerous. On a hot day, an asphalt sidewalk can reach 140 degrees or more and it will burn your pet’s feet. Before walking them on any surface, press your hand against it for 5 seconds. If it’s too hot to do that, it’s definitely too hot for your pet. If you do need to take them on the sidewalk, invest in some rubber shoes to protect their feet. 

As a pet owner, it’s important that you are aware of these hidden dangers and you take steps to protect against them. 

Out Of The Box Ways To Make Savings At Home

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When it comes to saving money at home, there are all the usual things you can do. 

You can cut down on your energy-wasting habits, and you can also switch utility providers in an effort to lower your energy bills. You can stop spending money on those items you don't really need in your life, and you can buy cheaper items from the supermarket when doing your food shopping. 

These are all effective ways to save money at home, but there are other things you can do. By thinking out of the box a little, you can also make savings, so consider the following and implement them in your life.

4 Tips to Successfully Work from Home with Your Partner

 If you have recently started working from home or have been comfortable doing it, but your partner joins you, it can be exciting spending most of your time together, but it can also be chaotic. Without a proper plan, the set up can lead to conflicts, resentment, and unproductivity. However, when handled properly, it can be a fulfilling experience that can help cement your relationship. Here are ways to make it work.

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Set Work Boundaries

It's essential to define a working schedule and separate it from your family time, as hard as this might be to execute. What time will you be waking up? How do you handle work-related calls? Who takes care of house chores? When do you take breaks? If you are running different schedules, how do you make it work? For instance, one of you may be working late at night while the other during the day. Both of you need to have adequate space to work and sleep without interfering with the other. Handle misunderstandings amicably to avoid interfering with work.

Get Separate Workstations

If possible, work from separate rooms, but each can have their workspace in the same room when this is not possible. Agree on how to set up the room ideally to suit each other's needs and preferences. For instance, you may want the work area to be cooler and the lighting dimmer, while your partner may want to work in a brightly lit room. Reach a compromise. Also, have rules to guide you through the work time. If one of you is on a video call, the other partner can excuse themselves from the room. It’s also important to have separate work phones and computers.

Create Time to Bond and Relax

Organize some time together when both of you are through with work commitments to relax, unwind, and enjoy each other's company. If you love cooking, make your favorite meal, enjoy a glass of wine and if you so wish, get a rosin product from CLSICS. Once in a while, you can go out for dinner or a party with friends. It’s also important to schedule time every day to exercise, whether indoors or outdoors.

Respect Each Other’s Alone Time

It's natural for each one to want to spend some time alone. You can talk about it, and if you don’t have a big home, one person can spend time in the bedroom and the other in the workroom. You can also plan to go out individually to work from a café or park or meet friends. Again, if you have free time and your partner is working, you can go out of the house or take care of house chores without making noise or interfering with their work.

 Working from home can be exciting and economical. You don't have to commute to work or worry about keeping a tight schedule. With a good plan, you can run a successful business and enjoy the company of your family right from home.

Storage Considerations for Boat Owners

 

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If you own a boat, you must consider the matter of storing your craft. Some of your options depend on the size and type of vessel you own. These are some important considerations about storage for boat owners to ponder.

Haulage Services

Some companies offer professional boat hauling. However, this service is expensive and is used mostly for larger boats. If you have a small craft, a reliable trailer service Pennsylvania will help you find a quality trailer to move your vessel yourself. Be sure to check zoning for the city or town where you live concerning boat storage at home.

Indoor Storage

Many owners like to store their boats in large buildings during the cold months. This option has some important advantages.

• Protected from vandals
• Safe from winter weather
• Easier spring cleanup

These advantages do, however, come with a hefty price tag. You also want to make sure indoor storage facilities have strict security measures in place, including restrictions on indoor maintenance, which could lead to fires. This important safety precaution is the other main disadvantage to indoor storage—limited access to your vessel.

Outdoor Storage

This storage method is popular for its affordability. You also have easy access to your boat. However, your boat will get dirty, even when covered. Still, this option is favored by many who own watercraft. If you have your own pier at home with a boat lift, you can keep your boat on it all winter.

In-Water Storage

You may be able to store your boat in the water, depending on where you live. Some marinas have deicing services that help prevent damage during winters. However, in very cold climates with moving ice, this storage method is not recommended.

Safe Wintering

Finding the best way to store your boat in your circumstances and location is an important aspect of boat ownership. With good storage, your boat will stay relatively clean and safe during winter months or times of disuse. This way, you and your vessel will be ready to sail toward the horizon, prepared for adventure.  

3 Benefits of Going to a Barbershop

 

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Is it time for you to get rid of your quarantine haircut and get back to something that is more stylish? Do you simply need a bit of relaxation and pampering? Cutting your hair at home simply doesn't offer the experience you deserve, and salon chains typically won't have exactly the services you want. Instead, head to a barbershop. Doing so offers plenty of benefits. 

1. Barbershops Offer a Full Experience

When you trim your hair at home, it's typically fast-paced and nothing special. The same can usually be said of cookie-cutter salons, too. Going to a barbershop is often a full experience, complete with relaxation. In addition to cutting your hair in a style that is completely you, barbershops often provide an experience that includes hot towels, straight razor shaves, and even refreshments. High-end décor and qualified professionals further ensure you have a relaxing experience when you visit a barber shop Sterling VA. 

The Cycle of Organization

 

Getting organized is on everyone's to-do list at some point or other, but where do you even start? If you feel like your life has gotten disorganized and out of control, you may feel overwhelmed just thinking about organizing. Take a deep breath, pick a manageable place to start, like a closet or a home office or a single room in the house and then dive in.

Separate and Sort

Sort out the things you use every day from the things you use rarely from the things you haven't used in years and probably never will again. Setting aside the things you don't use, make sure that everything has a place to go, whether you're using closet organizers or velvet liners in your drawers. 

Donate

Now you can take the things that you don't use and donate or recycle them. This is the hardest but also the most important step. Clearing out clutter will make every other part of getting organized easier. 

Maintain

Accept that you're going to have to go back periodically, re-assess your spaces, sort them again and take more donations out. New stuff comes into your home all the time, and life is messy. Maintenance is key. 

The real secret of organization is that it isn't a one-and-done situation. It's a cycle. You start by sorting, making a space for all the things you need and then you donate the things you don't need. You don't have to do everything all at once, you can start small and work your way through methodically. The important thing is to keep the cycle going. When you finish sorting one space and take your donations out of the house, you move onto the next space and do that. It's not rocket science, it's much harder than that, because the work is never finished. 

How To Make Moving House That Satisfying Experience You're Looking For

 Let’s face it - your house should satisfy you; it should be a place you love to be and always want to come back to. But when you’re in the middle of either a long distance move, or you’re just moving a couple of streets over, there’s a good chance you get pretty tired of the four walls you’re moving in and out of! 

But how do you fix that? How do you make moving less stressful and a lot more satisfying at the same time? Well, we’ve got some ideas about it below, so feel free to read on for a bit of inspiration. 

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Move During the Week

A small point to start off - if you move during the week, the roads will be far less busy, and the moving company you’re using (if you are) will have much lower rates. Wednesdays and Thursdays are usually a good pick for this, as they’re midweek and people are into the flow of the working week by this time, so choose your date wisely! 

Gain Peace of Mind

Go ahead and book locksmith services before the big move-in so you don't have to worry about anything at all. Just because you were given the keys when the papers were signed doesn't mean there aren't other keys floating around out there somewhere.

Get a Proper Packing System

A proper packing system is not only going to feel good to pack up (seeing as you’ll be moving fast and efficiently from one room to another), but it’s also going to be incredibly satisfying to unpack. You’ll know where everything is, and where everything needs to go, simply because you put a bit of effort in beforehand! 

But how do you come up with such a system? Pack the way that makes sense to you, no matter what anyone else thinks. Bundle things up in the appropriate boxes, no matter if it typically doesn’t belong in that room, and make sure any essential items are boxed up last. And then make sure that your boxes are all ready to go, just inside the front door, to ensure they’re moved out quickly to the moving truck.

Speaking of, make sure you work with a moving company that understands your system too; services like SMARTBOX Solutions, Inc. are likely to have much more reliable packing standards, instead of just your Uncle Jim who might not tie things down properly. 

Move in Smartly

Then we come to moving in smartly, which takes a bit of forward thinking. You’ve boxed everything up just right, and now you need to get it all into the right places. So, move in room by room, starting with the bathroom first. It’s the room you’re going to need to use very soon, because you’ve been on a long truck journey, and if you get the bathroom settled into place first, you’ll feel much more comfortable in your new home. It’ll certainly take a weight off the rest of the unpacking, because you have a place to freshen up each and every morning. 

Moving home can be very satisfying when you plan it all out right, but don’t take it too seriously either. Don’t let yourself carry unnecessary stress right now, when you really don’t need it! 

A Quick Guide to Creating Insta-worthy Decor

 If there’s something most modern homeowners have in common, it’s that they would like to own an Insta-worthy place. Being able to take amazing pictures of your décor might seem like an insignificant benefit of homeownership, but you could actually develop a big Instagram following, and you might even be asked to advertise certain products. Your amazing home could bag you freebies and money if you are consistent! So, if this is something you’re interested in, how can you go about creating Insta-worthy décor? Read on to find out!

Utilize Mixing Patterns

Mixing patterns can be a lot of fun and can help your space to look much more textured. Mixing patterns can seem scary, but it’s actually quite easy when you get the hang of it. Here are some pointers if you’re a first time pattern mixer:

• Pick 3 patterns to start with. Odd numbers are best.

• Use 60% of one pattern, 30% of another, and 10% of another. 

• Use different pattern sizes, for example, thick stripes, small polka dots, and florals. 

• Pick a monochrome pattern to avoid mixing too many colors in your scheme. 

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Incorporate Different Textures and Textiles 

As well as different patterns, make sure you select different textures and textiles. For example, shiny, metallic surfaces like the luxury sinks from places like Allora can look great with granite or marble countertops. You can also mix a variety of materials by getting creative with your throws, rugs, cushions, and other décor elements. 

Avoid Visual Clutter 

Visual clutter just uses up space and looks messy. You can still include accessories without cluttering up your space too much, but you need to be smart. Make the most of pieces of different heights. Remember, leaving some breathing room is always a good idea. 

Let In Natural Light

Natural light always looks better in pictures, and it’s a great mood booster! 

Get Green Fingered

Add plenty of leafy plants for both texture and air purifying benefits. You’ve probably spotted many décor Instagram profiles with an abundance of leafy plants. They always look good in pictures, and it’s easy to start small and then work your way up to being a full on plant-parent. There are no limits to the amount of plants you can have as long as you can look after them!

Make The Most of Your Vertical Space

Shelving is a good way to make the most of your vertical space. You can get really creative with the things you display on your walls. Books, smaller plants, and little trinkets often look great, and you can play around until you find an arrangement you really like. 

Mix and Match Your Furniture Sets 

You don’t need to buy matching furniture. You can select the same color pieces from different sets and get creative. 

Have Fun With A Gallery Wall

Gallery walls allow you to show off pictures and artwork you love, alongside quotes and even family images. Use different frames and sizes and just have fun with it! 

How will you create your Insta-worthy décor?