Q: Take a look around the classroom and figure out who you'd like to be in your group. Before class begins or just after it ends, ask people around you if they'd be interested in meeting up. Pay attention to your classmates' level of effort in the classroom to determine if they'd be a good member of the group. Too often, students join study groups with the hope that they can coast while the rest of the group does the work. If they are not pulling their weight in the classroom, they probably won't do their share in your group. Many middle school, high school, and college courses use online learning management systems such as BlackBoard or Canvas. Through these sites, students usually have access to a messenger system or a list of email addresses of other students. If you are unsure how to find them, look for a "Help" or "Tutorial" feature on the course page, or reach out to your school's I.T. department. Only email once or twice about starting the group. It's best not to alienate and annoy your classmates with several emails. If they haven't responded after two requests, they are probably not interested. Ask the teacher to make an announcement at the beginning of class and also to post about it on your class's online message board, if available. A request from the teacher gives legitimacy to your request and you may have more luck recruiting group members this way. You can also ask the teacher if you can make the announcement yourself. This way, students know exactly who to see if they are interested in joining your group. If you have a very large class, such as college freshman survey, it may be effective to hang a flyer just outside the classroom door. For best result, keep the flyer simple and informative. Just state that you are forming a study group, state which class, and give contact information. Any more than that and people will likely not read it. Be sure to know your school's rules for posting flyers. Many colleges and universities only allow flyers to be posted on dedicated boards. Check with the teacher or the department secretary to find out where posting is allowed. If you are in middle school or high school, ask the teacher if you can hang a flyer on the corner of the board so it is out the way, but still visible to all the students. Most schools have announcements every morning that tell the students about clubs, sporting events, or other school-related activities. Ask your teacher or someone in the school's office how to get your study group announced over the loudspeaker. Be prepared by having the announcement already written up. Keep it short, enthusiastic, and simple. Just tell them you are creating a study group, what class it is for, and how to contact you or find you.
A: Ask your classmates if they are interested in forming a group. Email the class if you have access to everyone's addresses. Request that the teacher make an announcement about your group. Hang a flyer outside the classroom announcing the group. Announce your study group on your school's morning announcements.

Q: Not all items freeze well, so if you are making your soup with the intention of freezing it, you might want to exclude these items. You can add them in fresh when you are reheating the soup later. Items that don't freeze well include: cream, eggs, fresh herbs, and pasta. Veggies freeze well, but you may want to slightly undercook them to better preserve texture. If you are freezing soup that already has these items in it, don't worry. There are a few things you can do to preserve their texture and flavor. You will have to chill your soup first before you can place it into the freezer. If you put hot soup into the freezer, you will risk thawing the other items in there. The soup also won't freeze evenly, or fast enough to prevent bacterial growth. Plan ahead. The ice bath needs to be level with the soup, once you put the pot in. Metal loses heat a lot quicker compared to other materials, such as glass or plastic. If you have a lot of soup, consider dividing it into smaller metal containers, and sticking all of them into the ice bath. The ice bath must be level with the soup. If it is too deep, drain some water/ice. If it is too shallow, add some more water/ice. This will help distribute the cold throughout the soup. It will also help it cool more evenly. You can use an ordinary spoon, or for even faster results, a cooling paddle. Cooling paddles are plastic paddles that are filled with water and then frozen solid. Commercial kitchens use these to stir hot soups to make them chill faster. Consider placing a fan next to the soup. This will help move warm air away from the soup. As the soup cools, the ice will begin to melt. When this happens, you will need to drain the excess water, and add even more ice. The ice bath should always be level with the soup. It should also always be filled with ice, and not just cold water. Use a clean, meat or cooking thermometer to gauge the temperature. Once the soup reaches 40F (4C), you place it into the freezer.
A: Plan ahead when making the soup. Fill a sink with ice, and add enough water to turn the ice into a slush. Pour the soup pot into new, metal container and place it into the ice bath right after you take it off the stove. Stir the soup every 10 to 15 minutes. Drain the excess water and add more ice when necessary. Check the temperature often.

Q: As people age, bathing may become difficult. This may be due to a fear of falling, difficulty getting in or out of the tub or shower, difficulty washing themselves, or even a result of a cognitive disorder, such as Alzheimer's or dementia. As you start to approach an elderly family member or friend about their hygiene, keep all of these things in mind and aim to be as respectful and tactful as possible. Approaching the situation indirectly will avoid putting too much pressure on your loved one or client. It is important to make them feel comfortable before going about suggesting a change in routine, which for many elderly can be upsetting and difficult. For example, you can begin by asking whether they have enough grooming supplies, and if they respond yes, ask,"Well is that enough soap for your showers and baths this week? How many would you say you take on average?", or if they respond no, "Just to get an idea for when I'm shopping, how many baths or showers a week should we restock you for?" If you find out that they're bathing fewer than two times a week, change your tone of voice from casually inquisitive to concerned. Approach the issue from a medical, rather than a personal, standpoint, stressing the importance of hygiene to overall health. Explain that doctors recommend bathing at least twice a week to prevent infection. Try something like, "You know I've heard on the news / from my doctor that not only should everyone bathe every week, they should bathe at least twice a week for better health. I think we should give this a try." Bringing up body odor might disappoint or anger them, making it more difficult to convince them to change their routine. And since seniors can have a decreased sense of smell, they might not be aware that there is an odor problem. Pointing this out to them could cause anxiety if they're unable to detect the odor and might wonder about it. Depending on their physical condition, bathing or showering may be a source of anxietyundressing, getting in and out of the tub, washing, drying off, and dressing might require more energy than they have. They may be afraid of falling in the tub, have had a bad experience with scalding or icy-cold water, or easily lose track of time. Take note of these for consideration when arranging for help with washing, and improving bathroom safety. To try to understand what anxieties they may have, ask questions such as, "Have you been hurt while using the tub, by falling, or by the temperature of the water?" or "Do you feel really tired after washing?" If fatigue or fear of falling seem to be issues, strongly consider either bathing the person yourself or hiring a caregiver.
A:
Be aware that poor hygiene is not always a choice. Get an idea of the person's general grooming habits. Suggest a change in routine. Avoid mentioning any issues with odor. Ask the person about their concerns and needs regarding bathing.