Problem: Article: Never burn or compost the plants, which would only spread their inflammatory oils. To throw them away, always seal poison ivy up in closed garbage bags. Leave the bags out for garbage collection or drop them off at a dumpster. Irritating residues can easily transfer and stay on your gloves and other protective clothing. If you've been handling poison ivy plants, don't touch your face, ears, nose, or mouth until you've had a chance to throw away your gloves and wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water. Make sure to launder any clothing that you wore while working on the poison ivy in the hottest water possible. Wash a second time to ensure that all of the poison ivy oils are removed. This may seem excessive, but it can save you a lot of discomfort and frustration later! Rinse your tools in mineral spirits to cleanse them properly. The plant will transfer irritating oils to your skin on contact, leading to a lot of discomfort. Wash the area thoroughly with soap and warm water, then scrub under your nails and wash any clothes that may have also come in contact with the plant. If you catch the contact quickly and wash within 1 hour, you can sometimes limit the rash. with medicated cream or a cold compress. If you do develop the stinging, itching red rash that comes with poison ivy oil, treat it immediately. Soothe the itching with a layer of calamine lotion, or make a cold compress by soaking a washcloth in cool water and wringing it out, then laying it over the affected skin. You can also apply non-prescription hydrocortisone to the area or take an antihistamine pill to help with itching and swelling. Although trying to resist the urge to scratch can feel like torture, it's important to avoid irritating the rash further. Scratching can cause an infection, so try to distract yourself and soothe the skin with a cool washcloth instead.
Summary: Dispose of the poison ivy plants in garbage bags. Avoid touching your face while working with poison ivy. Wash your clothes and tools immediately after contact with poison ivy. Wash your skin immediately if it comes into contact with poison ivy. Calm the rash

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Many misconceptions about homeschooling come from a lack of information or knowledge about what homeschooling entails. While you are most likely familiar with the benefits of homeschooling, it is often useful to have a wide pool of facts to draw upon when you confront misconceptions. Education research can provide you with facts and statistics that can help you to better explain your decision. The National Home Education Research Institute, HSLDA, and the Coalition for Responsible Home Education are all great sources for research on homeschooling. Many people worry that homeschooled children do not have the same opportunities to socialize as traditionally schooled children. People may ask, "What do your children do to make friends?" You can share the ways that you've involved them in groups and you can say that, "Our children see their friends as frequently as they would if they were in a public school." There are many ways that children have the opportunity to spend time with other children. You can enroll your child in an organized sports league, join homeschooling groups that take field trips, participate in religious organizations, and being active in your community. Homeschooling does not mean that you want to deprive your child of socialization opportunities, but it can protect them from some of the more negative social aspects of the public school system, like bullying. If someone is curious about your decision to homeschool, feel free to share your reasons for coming to the decision to begin homeschooling with them. Don't feel obligated to share reasons if they are personal. Of course, the reasons that factored into your decision to homeschool may be intimate and private. You are under no obligation to share more information than you are willing to share.

SUMMARY: Build a fact base about homeschooling. Explain socialization strategies. Share your story with others.

In one sentence, describe what the following article is about: In some cultures, pointing with an index finger, giving the "ok" sign, and other common gestures can be seen as offensive. Since you may not know which gestures could be mistaken in this way, stick to "open-handed" gestures. For instance, try using your whole hand if you need to point to something. Keep your feet on the floor, sit up straight, don't use your arms too expressively, and otherwise keep your posture more or less conservative. This is because certain postures can be seen as offensive to others. For instance, showing your foot in some cultures is seen as a rude gesture, so you would not want to cross your legs in a way that your sole sticks out. If it becomes clear that a less formal posture is acceptable, you can follow suit. Some cultures may expect more physical contact between people when communicating than other cultures do. For example, some cultures may shake or touch hands more willingly than others. Don't take it as offensive if another culture is more or less physical than you are used to when communicating. The exception is if you think you are being violated or abused. If you are uncomfortable, let others know. It's a good rule of thumb to be conservative with the way you touch people from other cultures when communicating with them. However, if they appear to use more physical contact, follow suit if you are comfortable doing so. In some cultures, looking another person in the eye when you speak is seen as a sign of honesty and interest. In other cultures, however, it may be seen as disrespectful, confrontational, or a sign of sexual interest. Conversely, some cultures think than not looking a superior person in the eye when communicating is a sign of respect. It is common for different cultures to use facial expressions differently. For instance, Americans may smile frequently, while other cultures may see excessive smiling as a sign of shallowness. When communicating with people from other cultures, you may notice that they are more expressive with their face (to show happiness, sadness, frustration, etc.) than you are used to, or you may notice that they do not show much expression at all. Much communication is non-verbal, no matter what the culture. However, you can focus on the content of what is being said, and ask questions to clarify if you need to. For instance, if someone reacts to something you say with an unexpected smile or laughter, you may need to say "Actually, I'm being I'm serious." Some cultures may require more personal space than others. If you are communicating with people from another culture and you find they get closer to you or farther away from you than you are used to, it's not necessarily the case that they are invading your space or trying to avoid you. Just try to follow their cues regarding personal space and communicate as best you can.
Summary:
Use "open-handed" gestures. Assume a formal posture at first. Understand rules regarding touching. Know how to make or avoid eye contact. Expect different facial expressions. Respect the amount of personal space the situation requires.