Friday, March 27, 2020

How to Store Thioethers to Be Used Later on?

How to Store Thioethers to Be Used Later on?One question in organic chemistry was how to store Thioethers to be used later on. These molecules are the ones that add to oxygen when exposed to water or air and are also called the pyridoxal and sulfur derivatives.The thing is, they cannot be stored in its normal state. There are other ways of storing them. But they are both safe for the environment and effective in organic chemistry.So, it is up to you if you are the teacher to be reminded with how to store Thioethers to be used later on. You can ask the students in organic chemistry class for help in this case. They would be able to inform you about this in class. You can also use them as your basis in analyzing things.To store these molecules, you just need to boil them in water. The sodium chloride must be kept in the metal container that has an opening of at least one inch. So, you would need at least five minutes to boil the water. Once it boils, add the thioethers to it and let th em cool down in it.As an organic chemistry tutor, you may find it boring and tedious and might consider going to the market in search of something better. Don't let your interest in teaching end as you get a better and cheaper alternative to the one you have chosen for your classroom. As an organic chemistry tutor, you should know all the available resources in the market to check out which among them are cheaper.Inorganic Thioethers are the ones that are unstable and will not be converted in water and air. Organic Thioethers is chemically stable and can be stored in the container that has an opening of one inch.So, try out Thioethers as your teacher says. They are pretty safe and cheap. You might be amazed at the outcome.

Friday, March 6, 2020

Students with ADHD and Gap Years

Students with ADHD and Gap Years Most parents of high schoolers with ADHD have concerns about sending their teen to college and with good reason. Research shows that college students with ADHD are at higher risk for failing or withdrawing from their classes and are more likely to drop out of college than their classmates without ADHD. While academic accommodations (link to Frequently Asked Questions about Academic Accommodations in College post here) and programs designed specifically for students with ADHD (link to 5 Colleges with Enhanced Services post here) can help increase the likelihood of college success, they may not provide enough support for students who are simply not ready to live independently on a college campus. For these students, a gap year may be worth considering. Gap year programs are becoming increasingly popular across the United States. Some colleges even encourage a gap year for their prospective students since they may give teens time to mature, gain a broader perspective on the world, and hone in on what they want to achieve once they begin college. For students with ADHD, this can sound exactly like what they need. In general, kids and teens with ADHD have delays in skills related to attention, organization, motivation, and social interactions that place them about 2-3 years behind their peers in these areas. In fact, there is substantial research evidence showing a maturational lag in brain development corresponding to these delays in skill development. So, its possible that having an additional year to mature before college may be very helpful. However, these same skill delays also make it more challenging to ensure that the gap year is productive for teens with ADHD. After all, the year is supposed to be used for developing skills and maturity, and not for sitting on the couch playing video games or watching YouTube. If you and your teen are considering a gap year, its essential that structure and supervision are built into the gap year plan. Here are some tips for making the most out of a gap year for teens with ADHD. Encourage your teen to set big-picture goals for their gap year. Your teen should identify three things they want to accomplish during the year. This may involve things like the following: traveling to other parts of the US or internationally gaining skills or a certification in an area they are interested in gaining work experience making new social connections outside of their high school friend group taking a few college-level courses that will allow for a lighter course load during their first college semester taking classes in a specific interest area to help them reignite a passion for learning Consider structured internship programs. There are many structured internship programs available for gap year students, some with internships in the US and some with international placements (check out com and goabroad.com for ideas). Many internships have substantial fees associated with them, so consider cost when weighing your options. Local volunteer organizations may also have internship opportunities that dont cost a dime. Pair skill development opportunities with certification programs. Most teens with ADHD do best when they are working toward achieving a specific goal. Help your gap year student stay focused by enrolling in a certification program in an area that interests them. These certificate programs can be an area of career interest (like information technology, engineering, or healthcare) or they can be more hobby-related (like scuba diving, lifeguard certification, or ski patrol). Certification programs provide structure, opportunities for learning, and access to a social network, and they also look impressive on college applications. Look into a gap year program specifically designed for teens with ADHD. There is one gap year program designed specifically for teens with ADHD: the Gateway Adventure Program at SOAR. The program combines residential living on a campus in Wyoming with adventure travel in the US and internationally. The program emphasizes skill-building in the areas of independent living/life skills, social skills, personal finance management, planning, organization, and time management. Overall, its a fantastic program, although the fees may be high for some families. Consider other accredited gap year programs. There are many accredited gap year programs available that dont focus specifically on the needs of students with ADHD. However, they do provide structured residential living or travel opportunities, internships or community-based volunteer programs, and opportunities for making new friends and social connections. All accredited gap year programs charge fees (often related to travel and residential living expenses) and its important to make sure that the program you choose is accredited by the Gap Year Association. Overall, taking a gap year after high school may provide a real boost for prospective college students with ADHD. Just make sure you and your teen work together to create a plan for a goal-oriented, productive year that will set them up for success when they are ready to start college the following fall. ABOUT DR. MARY ROONEY Mary Rooney, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California San Francisco. Dr Rooney is a researcher and clinician specializing in the evaluation and treatment of ADHD and co-occurring behavioral, anxiety, and mood disorders. A strong advocate for those with attention and behavior problems, Dr. Rooney is committed to developing and providing comprehensive, cutting edge treatments tailored to meet the unique needs of each child and adolescent. Dr. Rooney's clinical interventions and research avenues emphasize working closely with parents and teachers to create supportive, structured home and school environments that enable children and adolescents to reach their full potential. In addition, Dr. Rooney serves as a consultant and ADHD expert to Huntington Learning Centers. ABOUT HUNTINGTON Huntington Learning Center is the tutoring and test prep leader. Its certified tutors provide individualized instruction in reading, phonics, writing, study skills, elementary and middle school math, Algebra through Calculus, Chemistry, and other sciences. It preps for the SAT and ACT, as well as state and standardized exams. Huntington programs develop the skills, confidence, and motivation to help students of all levels succeed and meet the needs of Common Core State Standards. Founded in 1977, Huntington's mission is to give every student the best education possible. Call us today at 1.800.CAN LEARN to discuss how Huntington can help your child. For franchise opportunities please visit www.huntingtonfranchise.com. This website does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The material on this site is provided for educational purposes only.

The Critical Language Scholarship Program and You A Guide

The Critical Language Scholarship Program and You A Guide The Critical Language Scholarship Program and You: A Guide Americans arent exactly known for their foreign language prowess.If youre an American and have ever actually mastered a language youve studied, congratulations, youre in an elite club.For a variety of reasons, many Americans simply arent motivated to learn foreign languages.Compared to Europeans, for example, theyre less likely to pick up a second, third or fourth language.But Uncle Sam wants to change that.Foreign languages arent going away, you see.Thats why theres a U.S. government scholarship program to send bright American students overseas to learn some of the most important languages for American relations abroad.Its called the Critical Language Scholarship Program, and it could be your ticket to a life-changing summer experience. The Critical Language Scholarship Program and You: A GuideWhat Are Critical Languages?The languages deemed critical by the U.S. government change from time to time, but these are some points youll find they generally have in common:Less commonly ta ught in U.S. schools.Often outside the boundaries of Europe and the Americas.Often related in some way to U.S. diplomatic missions abroad.Here are  the ones currently offered as part of the scholarship:AzerbaijaniTurkishPersianArabicHindiUrduBanglaPunjabiIndonesianJapaneseChineseKoreanPortugueseRussianSwahiliAs you can see, none of these languages are necessarily easy to learn. If they were, they wouldnt be so critical!Again, the languages offered have been known to change from year to year. 2019, in fact, is the first year that Portuguese has been offered.The Critical Language Scholarship Program: The BasicsWhat Do You Have to Do?Each program is different for each student, every year. The U.S. government works with various host schools to place current U.S. college students in 8-10 week programs.If you apply (see below) and are accepted, youll have a top-tier orientation.  The orientation is extremely thorough, which is really very helpful for taking such a big leap into a new plac e. Theyll make sure you know what to expect.Then youre off, and you hit the books. Actual requirements for the classes vary from school to school, but in general youll be a full-time student with at least 20 hours of classes per week.Even though youve only got 8-10 weeks, theres still plenty of time for homestays and travel around the country. Participants invariably return knowing a great deal about not only the language itself, but also the experience of using it in all kinds of places.Does the Language You Choose Matter?Yes and no. For certain languages, theres a prerequisite of either one or two years of university study.Currently, two previous years of study are required for Chinese, Japanese and Russian. Youre expected to be an intermediate to advanced learner if you apply to study these languages.To make sure that your language skills for any of these are up to the task, you can brush up with FluentU. FluentU takes real-world videosâ€"like movie trailers, music videos, news a nd inspiring talksâ€"and turns them into personalized language lessons.One year of language study is required for Arabic, Persian and Portuguese. All the other languages consider learners from beginner to advanced.Also, you should be aware that sometimes you wont actually be in the country you might associate with a particular language. In the past, Persian learners have been placed in Tajikistan, for example. This is just because of certain political issues that cause the government to pick a nearby country with a similar culture and language.When it comes to actually getting admitted or not, there are no quotas set for the different languages. Some languages may have tons of students and others may have only a few dozen.What Do You Get?Virtually everything.Your flights, your books, your classes, outside tutors, food and accommodation are all covered. If you need to renew a passport or undergo any medical exams, those are the only things youll have to open your wallet for.But remem ber, youre applying for a language study program, not a vacation spot.Each city in the program is going to have a different curriculum, different excursions and different costs of living. Rest assured, you wont have to worry about a thing once you get there.How Competitive Is It?Only about 500-600 students are usually accepted from a possible annual applicant pool of more than 5000. However, the admissions committee makes an effort not to play favorites. People from all types of backgrounds really do get in.How to Get InWrite the Perfect Application Essays Using Your Experience and Your GoalsCLS wants to get students from all kinds of different backgrounds. Just because youre a beginner at your language doesnt mean youll be disqualified, unless you actually fail to meet the basic requirements for that language.Now, if youve been failing all your language classes for eight years, that wouldnt necessarily send a great signal to the recruiters.Furthermore, if youre the type to learn a couple of phrases in 20 languages just because you like the way they sound, that doesnt show that youll be able to keep up   with a rigorous courseload either.Basically, the ideal applicant is going to devote a good part of their energy solidly to the language and end up using itâ€"in any fieldâ€"to do something good for the world. That doesnt necessarily mean working for the government itself. They just want you to have some kind of impact that strengthens U.S. soft power in some way.And they want their applicants to represent the enormous diversity of the United States. There may even be a slightly better chance to get in if you havent ever done a language program abroad before. After all, most Americans havent.This video gives you a quick overview of the essay requirements.The main thing to remember, as you write your three application essays, is that youre not applying for charity.Youre convincing the U.S. government to invest in you and your skills.So you dont need to say anyth ing about how much you would be honored to be chosen, or how important languages are in the world or how much intercultural communication can help build bridges.Talk about your own goals and your own specific interests, and give a strong idea of why you want to learn this language.Even if youre just starting out with the language, talk about why its so important for you that you go abroad  now, instead of continuing to learn the language over time and on your own.In the same vein, why is an intensive immersion program right for you? Mention why that unique in-country experience is going to be the extra kick you need to develop this language into a real career asset.Get Expert GuidanceIts very possible that someone from your university has already gone through the CLS program.Campus newsletters love to publish stories about their students who went abroad through CLS. If you get in touch with them through your alumni or study abroad offices, theyll probably be happy to talk to you abo ut their application and study experiences.And get thisâ€"theres a whole network of volunteer advisors easily searchable through the CLS website. Enter your university name here, and youll get all the contact information you need.When you contact program alumni, remember that this is such a popular program that they might get regular questions during application season. Be polite and make your questions specific. For example, Was there anything that really shocked you about the experience? or What was the biggest language-related challenge?The admissions process is lengthy, and to be honest, it can be pretty stressful to have to not only write powerful statements of purpose but also possibly undergo an over-the-phone language test.But you see, they really just want to make sure theyre picking the right people.And all you have to do is be honest about your passion.Because if youre chosen, you have an amazing chance to channel that passion into a set of skills that can help people all over the world and, eventually, even contribute to world peace.Its a big deal.Good luck!

Thursday, March 5, 2020

Reduce, Recycle, Reuse

Reduce, Recycle, Reuse Reduce, Recycle, Reuse At Kumon, we put a great deal of emphasis on our commitment to the community and take a conscientious approach to improve the quality of life for current and future generations. Part of that commitment is taking care of the environment. We believe it is necessary to combine the knowledge of people from around the world in order to solve global environmental problems. Earth Day, celebrated on April 22nd, is the perfect opportunity to discuss environmental awareness with your family. Whether you already have Earth Day traditions or are looking for new ways to get involved, now is the perfect time to start talking about the importance of preserving our planet. Reduce. Recycle. Reuse A great introduction to Earth Day is the discussion of the three R’sâ€"Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Make three circle maps, one for each word and use them to list ideas on how to do each of these things to help the Earth. When you are done, let your child pick three activities. Plant Seeds of Learning. Many people plant a tree on Earth Day. Children can learn about plants by growing little seedlings in milk cartons on the window sill of your house or by actually going outside and digging in the dirt. This is an opportunity for students to learn about the importance of plants and how they reduce our carbon footprint. They’ll also learn more about scientific classification and plant structure. Recycle. This is the number one action we can do to improve the environment. Help your children understand the importance of recycling with some interesting facts. The U.S. recycles less than 22% of its discarded materials. Did you know that the average American family wastes about 150 pounds of paper per year and that Americans throw away 2.5 million plastic bottles every hour? Encourage your children to help protect our oceans and forests by creating three recycling bins around the house for paper, glass and plastic. Build a Birdhouse. Encourage the reuse of recycled products by making an art project. For example, reuse a plastic bottle, toilet paper roll or milk jug to make a birdhouse. This not only promotes recycling and reusing products, but also encourages a sense of compassion towards nature. Birdhouses provide nesting spaces in the increasingly threatened habitat of birds. An increased bird population is not only pleasant for the eyes and ears, but is also important to our ecosystem. Birds scavenge waste and pollinate plants. The good news is that people of all ages can do their part to treat the Earth better. Learn more about Kumon’s commitment to the environment! No related posts. Reduce, Recycle, Reuse Reduce, Recycle, Reuse At Kumon, we put a great deal of emphasis on our commitment to the community and take a conscientious approach to improve the quality of life for current and future generations. Part of that commitment is taking care of the environment. We believe it is necessary to combine the knowledge of people from around the world in order to solve global environmental problems. Earth Day, celebrated on April 22nd, is the perfect opportunity to discuss environmental awareness with your family. Whether you already have Earth Day traditions or are looking for new ways to get involved, now is the perfect time to start talking about the importance of preserving our planet. Reduce. Recycle. Reuse A great introduction to Earth Day is the discussion of the three R’sâ€"Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Make three circle maps, one for each word and use them to list ideas on how to do each of these things to help the Earth. When you are done, let your child pick three activities. Plant Seeds of Learning. Many people plant a tree on Earth Day. Children can learn about plants by growing little seedlings in milk cartons on the window sill of your house or by actually going outside and digging in the dirt. This is an opportunity for students to learn about the importance of plants and how they reduce our carbon footprint. They’ll also learn more about scientific classification and plant structure. Recycle. This is the number one action we can do to improve the environment. Help your children understand the importance of recycling with some interesting facts. The U.S. recycles less than 22% of its discarded materials. Did you know that the average American family wastes about 150 pounds of paper per year and that Americans throw away 2.5 million plastic bottles every hour? Encourage your children to help protect our oceans and forests by creating three recycling bins around the house for paper, glass and plastic. Build a Birdhouse. Encourage the reuse of recycled products by making an art project. For example, reuse a plastic bottle, toilet paper roll or milk jug to make a birdhouse. This not only promotes recycling and reusing products, but also encourages a sense of compassion towards nature. Birdhouses provide nesting spaces in the increasingly threatened habitat of birds. An increased bird population is not only pleasant for the eyes and ears, but is also important to our ecosystem. Birds scavenge waste and pollinate plants. The good news is that people of all ages can do their part to treat the Earth better. Learn more about Kumon’s commitment to the environment! No related posts.

5 Items to Leave Off Your Resume

5 Items to Leave Off Your Resume Image via unsplash.com 1. High school experience Detailing your career experience in chronological order may have you believe you should write about your high school days when updating your resume, but it should really be left out. This exclusion may seem risky if you are just starting out and do not think you have much to offer outside of high school experience, but you definitely do not want to be dating your experience back several years. Do not be afraid to show your growth outside of high school. If you think attributing high school is necessary, try rewording certain skills or experience points. For example, if taking a foreign language made you fluent in the language in high school, just include your knowledge in the typical skills part of your resume rather than wasting lines detailing high school experience like courses. 2. Objective statements and other fluff   When it comes to resumes, hiring managers and employers want to be able to see the facts. They want to look at your resume and know that you are capable of doing the tasks they are looking for by seeing the type of experience and skills you have. Writing an objective statement about how you want a job in the field, or would love to work with a company like theirs is nice, but it doesnt really show much about you as a potential employee when the same can be written by just about every other applicant. Make sure you can spend more time (and space) writing about what matters to hiring managers than vague statements that dont contribute to the wow factor that your resume can offer. 3. Basic skills   Updating your resume should leave your resume looking more stand-out, and one step to achieving that is leaving out basic skills that often come to manys minds when it comes to beefing up their resume. These skills often consist of working well in collaborations, quick problem-solving or excellent customer service. Instead of defaulting to these skills, try including skills that are more unique to you, or showing that you have these skills through your experience. Remember that when it comes to your resume, you want to balance show and tell. 4. Dishonesty While you do want to make sure you stand out among other applicants when updating your resume, you definitely do not want to falsely advertise yourself. The dishonesty that can show up on your resume can range from small white lies to going as far as to lie about previous job positions you have held. Theres no use in saying you are fluent in another language in order to make yourself seem like a more valuable potential employee when you actually are proficient at best in the language. You do not want to get hired and be expected to stand-in on meetings and be the translator, and then be caught in a lie. No matter if it is a complete lie or a small exaggeration, do not be tempted to be dishonest on your resume because the consequences will definitely outweigh any possible benefits. 5. Information unrelated to the job you are applying for When you are updating your resume, try to keep the specific job or field you are applying for in mind. When keeping a specific end goal in mind, you are able to tailor your resume more purposefully and effectively. For example, if you were applying for a job in finance, you do not need to be putting your past experience of babysitting neighborhood kids every summer. While its important to consider what you absolutely should include, its just as important to remember what you should exclude from your resume because it is either unnecessary/unrelated to the job or can even put you at a disadvantage  in the pool of applicants.

Tutoring Jobs Near Humility TX

Tutoring Jobs Near Humility TXThere are plenty of tutoring jobs near humble Texas in the entire state. Due to its rapid growth, it has also become a destination for a lot of people who want to earn while helping others learn.Tony Albrecht is a certified tutor in the State of Texas. He has been teaching online for three years and is now happily working as a tutor at a private school located in Houston. He said that his employment opportunity in Houston was one of the main reasons why he chose this city as his future home. Albrecht said that he really enjoys living near the University of Houston because there are many different places where tutors can be found.In the past years, students are increasingly taking advantage of the affordable market that is also available there. With the construction boom, it is easy to find cheap homes that can easily accommodate a big class room.With the economic development that is going on in the area, it is common for new projects to spring up everywh ere. It can be said that one can also find tutoring jobs near humble Texas even in these areas where there is a lot of development.The increased competition is one of the main reasons why it is common for Texas to have more jobs than any other state. Competition is a part of the human nature and something that is expected. As a result, it has become easier for people to find decent jobs that will support their families.There are those people who do not consider their profession as a profession because it is a profession that helps them to earn a living. One of the things that attracts many people to this profession is the affordable prices that they can afford.When asked what motivates him to continue with his work, Tony Albrecht said that he wants to live in a community that will support his profession. He also said that he wants to have the opportunity to help others and live a comfortable life. Being successful is a result of having self-confidence.

The Opportunities for Students in Ashburn VA

The Opportunities for Students in Ashburn VAAshburn VA has one of the finest school systems in the United States. Students can choose from a wide variety of options including a high-quality, two-year bachelor's degree in education, master's in educational leadership, and a master's in high school leadership. Every student will have opportunities to pursue additional academic programs once they graduate, and there are numerous state-certified teachers and counselors available to aid the student with any problems that may arise.The highest level of leadership training for school leaders is the Master of Arts in Schools Leadership program. The program is offered at nine colleges in Ashburn VA, and one campus in Virginia Beach. In order to get into the program, a student must earn a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution or university with an online program.Both Ashburn VA and Virginia Beach offer their own Master of Arts in Schools leadership program. The Virginia Beach progra m will give students who are interested in careers as administrators, school leaders, and counselors an excellent chance to further their education while still working as educators.Ashburn VA has a few different options for students interested in these programs. The National Association of Independent Schools (NASY) has a high school program for graduates of the College of Education. The program is four years long and is offered online. Some students may also be eligible for an associate's degree or a certificate in an area of interest in order to stay in the job market after graduating.Ashburn VA is home to three colleges that offer other degrees such as a bachelor's degree programs in pre-K through adult education, master's degrees in occupational psychology, and master's degrees in special education. All students will have the opportunity to become licensed teachers. One of the greatest benefits of pursuing a bachelor's degree in education is that it can lead to a job in school a dministration.When it comes to the job market after graduation, many students will not have a steady income. With the help of tutoring, these students will have the opportunity to acquire some job skills that they can use to gain experience. A strong knowledge of social situations and how they are handled by students will help them be better prepared to assist students in a school setting. They will have the opportunity to develop friendships with other students, allowing them to interact in class and to develop relationships with other teachers, administration, and school administrators.In conclusion, Ashburn VA offers the student with the opportunity to obtain an education. Although there are very few college programs for students, the student will be able to earn a degree that will give them more options in the future.

Visalia Tutoring Services - A Great Place to Find a Classroom Program

Visalia Tutoring Services - A Great Place to Find a Classroom ProgramVisalia tutoring services are all over the place, and for good reason. The program available in Visalia is unique, and the students that you will find here are extremely passionate about what they do.Most people in school, and even those that are not, would agree that one of the best places to be on a class trip is the school itself; a place like this is where the students will most likely have a great time. It is also a great place to get tutoring. If you are a high school student, or a college student, or a professional looking to advance in your field, Visalia tutoring services could be just what you need.The best part about being a Visalia tutoring services client is that the program is one that has been specifically tailored to fit your specific needs. For example, if you want to work on your writing skills, you will need tutoring that is more focused than a general computer class that is offered. If you need t utoring with the intent of getting better at math, then a specialized program is needed. Whatever your needs, Visalia tutoring services have a program to fit your specific needs.Visalia tutoring services are also available through online programs as well. The great thing about online tutoring is that it doesn't involve traveling to the campus for tutoring. There are no costs involved and no travel costs involved. A trip to the campus is usually necessary for the online program and therefore, the classes are going to be much smaller than traditional classes.A company like Visalia tutoring services can offer a wide variety of different programs, depending on your personal needs. You may want to learn about a new program, but also one that is useful in your career. Either way, a good program is going to be one that fits your particular needs. In fact, if you have enough space in your schedule to do it, you can come to the classroom at Visalia and still have a great time doing it.Visali a is located in L.A., and has a school that is both unique and well known throughout the city. As such, you will find that the program that is offered by Visalia tutoring services is more than just a typical classroom environment. What makes a program so great is that it is tailored to meet your specific needs, and in fact, make it possible for you to learn more in one day than you could in an entire year in a regular classroom. An online program is actually much better than one that is in a classroom, because the flexibility that you receive is priceless.So, if you are a parent, a student, or if you are a professional looking to advance in your profession, Visalia tutoring services can be exactly what you need. Whether you have your heart set on getting the education of your dreams, or if you are looking for a program that will help you get that education, Visalia tutoring services has what you need.

Video Lessons How to play Acoustic Guitar like John Mayer

Video Lessons How to play Acoustic Guitar like John Mayer Megan L. Learn how to play acoustic guitar like John Mayer in these video lessons from guitar teacher  Jonathan B. John Mayer has been called one of the new “Guitar Gods.” Claiming Stevie Ray Vaughn as one of his biggest childhood heroes, the blues and jazz influence on his pop style has given him more than just a niche in the radio market. Its also made him able to influence millions of guitarists with his playing style and techniques. He continues to release a steady stream of new music and fans continue to take interest in his songwriting as well as his guitar techniques. John Mayer is equally well known for his electric and acoustic guitar styles; in this article we will focus more on the acoustic. There are several tricky picking hand techniques he uses which throw many would-be cover artists off the trail. A few of his most popular songs in guitar circles are Stop This Train, Who Says, Neon, The Heart of Life, Clarity, and Your Body is a Wonderland. Although these songs have a few notable techniques in them, were going to focus on just one in this article. The Pluck and Chuck/Pick and Flick Technique Notorious for confusing guitarists for the last several decades, this technique involves a basic reversal of hand mechanics. You must learn to flick the pointer or middle finger and slap with the thumb at the same time. The thumb does not play a note; it simply pushes the string into the fretboard and plants itself there. This creates a percussive effect that imitates the snare drum backbeat. Mayers sound is heavily influenced by music with a strong groove, so this technique lets you integrate softer fingerpicking with soulful rhythmic styles without any hitches. This video has a detailed introduction to chuck/flick techniques, with the most detailed explanations starting at 4:33. When you start to get the basic stroke to sound good, progress to the following exercises. They are very simple but they contain the most essential set of motions needed for pluck and chuck songs. When you feel you need a variation or you want to explore a bit, try improvising with these patterns over some chords or making up a solo using the thumb to create a rhythmic drone and playing melodies with the finger plucks and chucks. Chucks are a tricky technique that take some time to adjust to. Its usually wise to start learning a song that doesnt require too many flicks on top of the thumb slaps. Clarity is a perfect example of this, and the main riff to the song is an excellent starting point as you tune your hand position to accommodate the new role of the thumb in your playing. How to Play  Clarity by John Mayer The trickiest basic technique to learn is the single chuck. John Mayers guitar style uses a lot of individually picked notes that coincide with thumb slaps, so this technique is very important. Aside from basic issues of hand position and accuracy, you have to also learn to mix different fingers into patterns of both plucking and chucking. Mayer  has a strong tendency to do all the flicking with just his index finger, although there are at least a few of his patterns that probably also need to be flicked with the middle finger since the string crossings would be very awkward otherwise. A good pattern to start with is the opening riff to “Stop This Train. How to Play Stop This Train by John Mayer As you start to get this down, its good to reach for something a little more adventurous. The opening riff to “The Heart of Life” requires you to pick out a specific melody, which requires you to cross a lot of strings and you chuck out individual notes. Heres the tab for that passage. How to Play The Heart of Life by John Mayer Mastering this song is an excellent way to develop pluck and chuck technique. Once youve completed this song, youre likely to find that you can improvise melodies over various bass notes, provided that youve already learned a little about improvisation. One of the best ways to capitalize on your newfound skill is to try to write or improvise on your own changes in the style of “The Heart of Life” and “Stop This Train.” The first time most guitarists attempt a John Mayer acoustic song they stumble on this technique. Most western string players learn to pluck or pick strings, where Chinese Pipa and Indian Sitar players prefer to chuck or flick the strings. Its a fundamentally different stroke than what most guitarists are used to, so learning it often makes players feel like a complete beginner. Never fear, your guitar teacher will be happy to help you, and more and more guitarists are tackling this technique as time goes by, and the number of songs that use it has increased dramatically in recent years. Post Author:  Jonathan B. Jonathan B. is a guitar instructor, Temple University Music Theory graduate, and YouTube creator living in State College, PA. Learn more about Jonathan  here! Photo by  Do512 Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher