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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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Fun Science Experiments for Elementary School Students by Craig Middleton offers two interesting science experiments that kids can do in their home kitchens. If you compare a modern kitchen to a chemistry lab you will see a lot in common. While Craig’s experiments can get you started, the Internet is full of other fun science experiments you can do at home or around your residence. Good luck.

Introduction

• If you are homeschooling or virtually teaching, science can be a difficult subject to teach. Science is best taught with a hands-on approach and students learn better when they are actively watching or participating. This can be challenging when you do not have the resources that science classes do in schools. However, common core science subjects are still possible via a hands-on approach without any typical science class equipment. To teach science outside of a traditional classroom, you just have to be creative.

Matter as Solid, Liquid, And Gas

• One common core lesson is teaching students about matter in its different forms or phases. A simple and fun science experiment to teach students about liquids and solids is to make a supercooled liquid. Before you do this experiment, you need to explain what solid, liquid, and gas states are to your students. Melting point and boiling point are also concepts that students should be aware of before this experiment.
• In this experiment, you need ice equipment, like your freezer, and 1 or 2 bottles of water, soda, or juice. The liquid you choose should be in a liquid state before placing it in the freezer. Have your students look at the liquid and explain what they see. Then, place the bottle in the freezer for about 45 minutes. During this time ask your students what they think is happening to the liquid. Is it turning into a gas or a solid? What will it look like after 45 minutes in the cold freezer? (You make have to experiment with the amount of time you leave it in the freezer.)
• Once 45 minutes have passed you can test to see if the liquid is supercooled. Do this by placing an ice cube in a glass then pouring a little liquid out of the bottle. If the liquid is supercooled it will look similar to a milkshake. If it is still liquid place the lid back on and put the liquid back in the freezer for another 15 minutes. Show your students what happens as you pour the supercooled liquid into the glass. Let them theorize what is happening.
• The science behind what is happening is that some liquids can be brought below freezing, but only for short periods of time and only if there are no ice crystals already formed in the liquid. Once the supercooled liquid touches a piece of ice, it quickly freezes. This might take several tries. If you aren’t successful at first watch this YouTube video to see it happen and for tips.

Chemical Versus Physical Changes

• Another common core science lesson is teaching students the difference between chemical and physical changes. The easiest way to do this is through an experiment. First, be sure to explain the difference between chemical and physical changes. Remember that physical changes can be easily reversed while many chemical changes cannot.
• A simple experiment to show this is making scrambled eggs. Take an egg and break it into a bowl. Add some cheese to the bowl and ask your students if the mixture you created is a chemical or physical change. Since you can still take out the cheese, it was a physical change. Next, add your egg and cheese mixture to a hot pan, making scrambled eggs. Have your students watch the process and record what is happening. Then, ask them if a chemical or physical change occurred. Since heat was applied, a chemical change occurred and the egg cannot be changed back. This YouTube video explains what happens when egg proteins are heated.
• You can also do this same type of experiment by making cookies. Making cookies would also allow you to teach your students how to measure and teach them about mixtures. However, it is important to remember that students come from different socio-economic households and many may not have the ingredients to make cookies at home.
• Doing science outside of school is possible and easy. There are thousands of simple experiments you can do at home or virtually with your students. Many can be found by doing an online search or by looking for educational science videos on YouTube. Just be creative and flexible and remember that science is as fun as you make it. Also, remember that your kitchen is really a chemistry lab.

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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Supporting Your Child’s Education During COVID-19 by Emily Graham offers advice from a parent to other parents facing the challenge of helping their kids do some or all of their learning at home. Like her, you can learn to take advantage of the fact that when kids are learning a home, the parents can better understand what their students are learning and are in a better position to help them learn.

Introduction

• The COVID-19 pandemic has pushed many parents into double duty as at-home and online teachers — which, in some ways, provided a front-row seat to watching their children’s educational progress. If you’ve noticed your child struggling in particular areas or you want to supplement their education with a little extra help, there are myriad ways to do this in a fun and meaningful way. Dr. Doug Green is a seasoned practitioner who provides educational advice to education professionals and parents about how to ensure kids become lifelong learners.

How Does Your Child Learn?

• Not all people digest information in the same way. According to Scholastic Parent, some kids are visual learners, while others are linguistic, musical, or spatial learners. Your child may even be an experiential learner who absorbs and retains information by doing things rather than being shown techniques. Understanding how your child connects with content and information can help you find beneficial ways to help them engage, study, and develop fundamental skills and knowledge.

Talk to Your Child’s Teacher

• Your child’s teacher is an exceptional resource when it comes to helping you supplement his or her education. Stay in regular contact, and ask where your child is struggling and where he or she is excelling. Ask for recommendations for additional resources, like websites, reading materials, and study groups. Become familiar with what your child is studying in school, and look for ways to build on concepts outside the classroom. According to the Parent Institute, your child’s teacher is your partner — find ways to work together as a team

Promote Learning in Disguise

• As humans, we all learn new things every single day, often without even recognizing it. Once you’re familiar with what your child is studying, integrate
  elements into everyday life. For example, if your preschool-aged child is learning to sort things by size, ask your child to line things up on a pantry shelf from smallest to largest when you’re putting away groceries. If your high-schooler is in a current events class, ask them to talk to you about what they read in the news, how they feel about it, and what it means to them in terms of the state of our society. Not only do these approaches support and reinforce learning, they also allow you to engage with your children on a new level.

Make Learning Fun

• It’s no secret kids love their screens, but you can use that to your advantage. You can find numerous online educational games and books that have likely been made into movies or programs your child enjoys. Look for the crossover and discuss the differences and similarities. This is yet another way to meet kids where they are — via material and mediums they’re already drawn to. These activities can be family affairs, and older kids can help younger ones, as well.

Ask Questions

• Another way to help your kids learn is to ask them questions. What do you think about that? What do you think that means? What did you like best about the book? What was your least favorite part of that program? Why? You will be amazed at the insights you get into your child’s learning style and outlook. This is also a way to share your perspectives, impart values, and not simply help “teach” a subject, but also ingrain concepts and convey problem-solving and comprehension skills that will help your kids throughout their lives.

Ask for Help

• If you or your child needs a little extra professional help navigating certain subjects or the current learning environment, there are numerous resources to tap into. Consider hiring a tutor, either online or in person. If your child has special needs of any type, ask about the creation of an IEP or individual education plan that meets his or her specific challenges. For kids with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), staying focused, especially in a home-schooling environment, can be a challenge, but there are ways to help them adapt and thrive. For example, some studies show that listening to music can help kids with ADHD focus better. Kids’ education is of paramount importance to both parents and educators. For insights, tips, and best practices, consider Dr. Doug Green’s services.

Emily Graham

• Emily is the creator of Mighty Moms. 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. She lives in Tucson, AZ, and can be reached by email at emilygraham@mightymoms.net.

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