Q: Is your boss overwhelmed with employee evaluations, urgent deadlines, or difficult budget decisions? If so, you should probably wait until things calm down before approaching them to ask for a raise. If revenues are up, clients are happy, and the company is stable or expanding, this is probably a great time to ask for a raise. Avoid asking at a time when the budget is tight. It's almost certainly the wrong time to ask for a raise if layoffs are happening. It makes sense to time your request with an increase or shift in your responsibilities. For example, it might be a good time to ask for a raise if: You have recently taken on a new project. You have just completed new job-related training. You have helped build an important relationship with a new client or business partner. When you're asking for a raise, it's best to combine a written request with a one-on-one discussion. Send a brief message to your boss letting them know that you'd like to discuss the possibility of a raise. Either immediately before or immediately after your meeting, send an email clearly stating the details of your request.
A: Avoid asking when your boss is under pressure. Ask when the company is doing well. Make your request when your responsibilities change. Consider bringing up the topic in person before sending your email.

Article: If you are new to playing drums, it is important that you learn the three elements of a basic drum beat: the bass, the snare, and the hi-hat. These three elements can be played to a certain time signature or rhythm to then create a basic drum beat. The bass is the deeper note on a drum beat. It is often played on regular drums by hitting a pedal on the ground that then hits the middle of a kick drum. The snare is the complementary note to the bass. It is often played on regular drums by hitting the rim of the drum and the middle of the drum with the drumstick. The hi-hat is also known as the lightest note in a drum beat. In a regular drum kit, the hi-hat is made of two cymbals mounted on a stand. To create a basic beat on the bucket drum, you will first need to identify the three elements of a drum beat that you can make on the bucket. Begin by placing the bucket one to two feet in front of the stool on a hard, concrete floor. Sit down on the stool with a drumstick in each hand. The plastic bucket should be between your legs and you should be able to hit the bucket easily with the drumsticks. Use the middle of the bucket as the bass note. Place one foot on the bottom edge of the bucket and tilt it slightly toward you. Then, use one of the drumsticks to hit the middle of the bucket. This should produce a deep bass note. You can also simply hit the middle of the bucket to make a bass note, but tilting the bucket will create a deeper sound. Use the rim of the drum as the snare note. Hit the rim of the drum and the middle of the drum at the same time to make a snare note. Use the concrete floor as the hi-hat. To make a hi-hat note, you can lean down and hit the concrete floor. This should create a nice, sharp hi-hat note.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Be aware of the three elements of a basic drum beat. Identify the three elements of a drum beat on the bucket.

Problem: Article: You will be mixing two different types of oils, so you will need something to hold them.
Summary: Find a small bowl or bottle.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: When trying to get past a writing block or a brainstorming lag, take at least ten minutes to sit down and write. Force yourself to write for the full ten minutes, no matter what comes of it. The act of putting pen to paper will stimulate the part of your mind that generates ideas. Mind mapping is a brainstorming strategy that allows you to map out different tangents of thought to stimulate new ideas. Get a piece of paper, poster board, or whiteboard and write your goal in the center. Write subtopics and related thoughts around the goal, and continue branching out from them to develop your train of thought. For example, a mind map about the environmental goal "Going Green" could branch into subtopics such as "Reducing Waste", "Eco-travel", and "Global Warming". For a fresh perspective on a topic, attempt "rolestorming". Picture yourself as someone else (e.g. a parent, friend, colleague, or partner) and imagine how you would approach a scenario as them. You can extend this brainstorming technique to famous people or historical figures (e.g. Albert Einstein, Bill Gates). To open your mind to new ideas, try meditation. Find a peaceful place to sit quietly and focus on the question at hand (e.g. "How can I promote my new business on my limited budget?"). Bring a pen and paper to jot down ideas, and meditate for about 30 minutes, or until a good idea comes to you. To avoid worrying about the time, set an alarm on your phone to signal the 30 minute mark). Remove the limitations that may be hindering your brainstorming progress by approaching the subject as if there were no obstacles. While this process may not yield feasible solutions right away, it will open your mind to possibilities you would not look at otherwise. For instance, when planning a surprise party, you might overlook certain venues because of financial constraints, such as an expensive French restaurant that your friend would love to try. By allowing your mind to go there during brainstorming, you might get the idea to simulate the restaurant and meal for a house party. Group brainstorming sessions can allow you to develop your thoughts by feeding off of the ideas of others. If you are working on a group project or collaboration, schedule brainstorming time in a quiet location with few distractions. If you are working on your own project, ask friends or colleagues if you can bounce ideas off of them and get their input.

SUMMARY: Try blind writing. Make a mind map. Attempt "rolestorming". Try meditation. Remove limitations. Discuss things in a group.

Q: Students are going to follow your lectures more if they see you using certain technological tools. You should become aware of what materials your classroom provides and be able to use them correctly. Some of these may include: Smartboards Computer projectors Programmed slide shows (PowerPoint, etc.) Students are surrounded by technology, and they should be encouraged to use the tools that are available to them. In teaching math, you need to combine adequate memorization and understanding along with the use of technology. Students should be taught to use such tools as: Graphing calculators Smartboards iPads and other tablet accessories Students who habitually forget to write down homework assignments or who lose or forget their notebooks can be encouraged to enter assignments into their cell phone calendars. This is more likely to assure that the assignment at least makes its way home. You can also encourage your students to do their homework if you allow the use of certain support apps. Research the Internet for a wide variety of math homework apps that you might recommend to your students. Homework apps, if used improperly, can cut into student learning. But if you research the apps carefully and direct your students' work, you can make the most of the available tools. MetaCalculator and WolframAlpha are two useful apps you may want to investigate. Particularly in teaching math, you need to ask if the apps are adding to the learning experience or taking away from it. There are some apps, such as one called Photomath, that will actually show students the answers to their homework problems. While this could look like cheating, you need to require that students be able to explain their answers and the steps they perform. In this way, students who need help at home can use the app for guidance. In the end, however, they should know that you will be checking for their overall understanding.
A:
Use appropriate technology for teaching. Allow students to use appropriate tools. Use apps or smart phones for homework. Emphasize that technology is a tool to assist learning.