There is a stubborn myth in the Irish business community that the best way to run marketing is to hire a "sniper" for every task. You hire the best SEO freelancer you can find, a separate Google Ads guru, and a different agency for web design. This is often called the "Best of Breed" approach. On paper, it sounds logical. In reality, it results in what Social Media Infinity calls "Strategic Balkanisation." You end up with warring factions competing for your budget, rather than a unified army fighting for your market share.

Let’s compare the "Freelancer Collection" with the "Unified Agency" model. In the freelancer model, communication is the first casualty. The SEO freelancer has no idea what offer the Ads freelancer is promoting this week. This leads to embarrassing disconnects where an ad clicks through to a page that hasn't been optimised, wasting your money instantly. The freelancer is incentivised to protect their own turf, often blaming other channels when results dip. You, the business owner, are left acting as the referee, wasting hours trying to coordinate people who have never met.

In contrast, a holistic Digital Marketing Agency in Dublin operates with a "Hive Mind." Our SEO specialists sit next to our content writers. Our ad managers share dashboards with our web developers. If the Ads team notices that a specific landing page has a high bounce rate, they don't just complain about it; they walk over to the design team and get it fixed. The strategy is fluid and reactive. We move resources to where the opportunity is, rather than being stuck in rigid contracts with separate vendors.

Moreover, the siloed model ignores the reality of "Attribution." A customer journey is rarely a straight line. They might find you on Google, check you out on Facebook, and convert via Email. In the freelancer model, the SEO guy, the Social guy, and the Email guy will all claim credit for that one sale. You end up paying bonuses three times for one result. In a unified model, we use sophisticated tracking to see the truth. We know exactly which channel assisted the sale and which one closed it, allowing for honest, accurate reporting.

Stop trying to herd cats. Build a cohesive team that moves in the same direction.

If you are ready to stop managing chaos and start managing growth, speak to Social Media Infinity.

https://socialmediainfinity.ie/

It starts on Friday afternoon. The dread. You look out the window and see the grass getting tall. You see the weeds popping up in the flower beds. You see the deck peeling. You know that your Saturday is ruined. Instead of golfing, fishing, or hanging out with the kids, you are going to be sweating in the yard. Again. Larkin Landscape and Design has the way out.

You are trading your life for a patch of green that doesn't even pay you rent. Every hour you spend maintaining your yard is an hour stolen from your family and your hobbies. It is exhausting, and frankly, it is a waste of your potential. You didn't buy a house to become a groundskeeper. You bought it to enjoy life.

The solution is permanent, low-maintenance hardscaping. Rip out the high-maintenance zones and replace them with beautiful, functional stone. Install a massive patio. Put in rock beds. Build a wall. When you hire professional Hardscaping Services, you are buying your weekends back. You are buying freedom. Imagine never having to seal a deck again. Imagine never having to edge a lawn again.

Stop the madness. You have a choice. You can keep sweating, or you can solve the problem once and for all. Invest in your home and your happiness.

Take action today. Contact us to reclaim your Saturday.

https://www.larklandscape.com/

Entering the federal marketplace is a strategic move that can significantly scale a business. However, the complexity of government procurement often requires specialized knowledge. Many companies find that partnering with government contract consultants is the most efficient way to overcome barriers to entry. Understanding the specific services these experts provide can help business owners make informed decisions about their growth strategy. Federal Contracting Center assists businesses in Handling this process to ensure long-term success.

1. Strategic Market Research

The first step in any federal strategy is identifying the right opportunities. Consultants conduct deep market research to pinpoint which agencies are buying what you sell. They analyze North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes and Product Service Codes (PSCs) to find solicitations that match your capabilities. This targeted approach prevents you from wasting time on bids you cannot win.

2. Proposal Management and Writing

Writing a federal proposal is a technical skill. It requires strict adherence to the instructions in the Request for Proposal (RFP). Consultants manage the entire proposal lifecycle, from creating the compliance matrix to writing the technical volume. They ensure that your proposal scores high on the evaluation criteria, increasing your chances of an award.

3. GSA Schedule Assistance

Getting on a GSA Schedule is a powerful way to sell to the government, but the application process is rigorous. Consultants guide businesses through the GSA offer preparation, helping negotiate pricing and terms with the General Services Administration. This contract vehicle can streamline the sales process and open doors to multiple agencies.

4. Compliance and Certifications

Small business certifications like 8(a), HUBZone, and Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) provide access to set-aside contracts. Consultants help determine eligibility and manage the application process for these certifications. They also ensure ongoing compliance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), protecting your contracts from legal risks.

5. Contract Administration

Once a contract is won, the work of administration begins. This includes managing deliverables, invoicing through systems like WAWF (Wide Area Workflow), and handling contract modifications. Consultants provide the operational support needed to manage these administrative tasks efficiently, ensuring you get paid on time and remain in good standing.

By leveraging these services, businesses can focus on their core competencies while experts handle the bureaucratic complexities of the federal government.

Call to Action

If you need assistance with market research, proposal writing, or compliance, Federal Contracting Center can help. Visit https://www.federalcontractingcenter.com/ to see how their services can support your business goals.

Space is the ultimate luxury in Dublin. With property prices high and garden space limited, many homeowners in areas like Ranelagh, Rathmines, and Ballsbridge are looking down for extra room. Basement excavations or lowering existing basement floors to increase head height are popular ways to add square footage without altering the footprint of the house.

However, basement work is the most technically challenging form of residential construction. It involves digging out tons of earth from beneath a standing building. It requires structural underpinning to keep the house standing and sophisticated logistics to get the soil out. Plant hire in Dublin has evolved to meet this niche, providing specialised micro-machinery and conveyor systems designed specifically for subterranean work.

Micro Diggers in Confined Spaces

The first challenge is getting a machine into the basement. Often, the only access is through a standard doorway or down a narrow flight of steps. Micro excavators (0.8 to 1 tonne) are designed for this. They have retractable tracks that allow them to squeeze through gaps as narrow as 700mm.

Once inside, these machines are surprisingly capable. They can dig out the clay and soil to lower the floor level. Some are even electric, which is a massive advantage in a basement where ventilation can be an issue. Using an electric micro digger eliminates exhaust fumes, creating a safer working environment for the underpinning team.

Conveyor Belts vs. Manual Labour

The biggest bottleneck in basement work is moving the spoil. You cannot use a large dumper indoors, and wheelbarrows are slow and labour-intensive. The solution is often a series of conveyor belts.

The micro digger loads the soil onto a conveyor belt, which transports it out a window or up the stairs to the street level. There, it might feed into a larger dumper or directly into a skip. While DCM Hire focuses on the machinery to dig and move, coordinating the digger with a spoil removal system is key. Using a micro digger to feed the extraction system keeps the workflow constant, removing cubic metres of earth per hour rather than per day.

Excavating for Underpinning

Underpinning involves digging small, controlled sections (pins) under the existing foundations and filling them with concrete to strengthen the building. This requires precision. You cannot over-dig, or the building could slip.

A skilled operator on a micro digger can excavate the bulk of the material for the pins, leaving just the final trimming for manual labour. This speeds up the process massively. The faster the pins are dug and poured, the safer the building is. The machine reduces operator fatigue, ensuring that the critical final trimming is done with fresh hands and full concentration.

Working in Urban Gardens

Sometimes the excavation is for a new basement under a garden (an "iceberg" extension). Here, access is still tight—often via a side alley.

In these scenarios, slightly larger mini diggers (1.5 - 3 tonne) can be used. They can dig the main volume of the new room rapidly. Plant hire in Dublin providers are used to the constraints of city terraced houses. They can supply machines with folding ROPS frames to get under low arches or cranes to lift machines over rooftops if rear access is impossible. This flexibility allows even the most landlocked Dublin gardens to be unlocked for development.

Conclusion

Basement projects are high-risk, high-reward. They unlock immense value in Dublin properties but require a methodical approach to excavation. The days of hand-digging basements are largely gone; micro plant machinery allows for faster, safer, and more cost-effective excavation. By partnering with a specialist hire company, contractors can navigate the tight access and technical demands of going underground, building the future of the city from the bottom up.

Call to Action

Expand your home downwards safely. Contact us to hire the specialist micro machinery needed for Dublin basement projects.

Visit: [https://dcmhire.ie/]

The "slow flower" movement has inspired many to start cut flower farms. Growing acres of dahlias, peonies, and zinnias is beautiful work, but it is also heavy work. Flower farming involves intensive soil preparation, moving heavy tubers, and managing miles of landscape fabric. A garden tractor loader kit is a game-changer for the flower farmer, providing the help needed to scale up from a garden to a commercial operation.

Flowers are delicate; the machinery used to grow them needs to be precise. A garden tractor fits down the narrow paths between beds, allowing you to bring amendments right to the plants without crushing the blooms.

Bed Preparation and Compost

Flowers are heavy feeders. They need deep layers of compost to produce long, strong stems. Wheelbarrowing compost to 100-foot rows is a waste of valuable time.

With a garden tractor loader kit, you can ferry bulk compost to the head of each row. You can dump piles exactly where needed for spreading. This efficiency allows you to flip beds quickly between spring bulbs and summer annuals, doubling your production per season.

Handling Dahlia Tubers

In colder climates, dahlia tubers must be dug up and stored every winter. For a farm with thousands of plants, this results in tons of heavy crates full of dirt and tubers.

The loader allows you to transport these heavy crates from the field to the storage cellar. In the spring, it brings them back out. This logistical support saves your back and ensures the valuable tubers are handled gently.

Moving Landscape Fabric and Irrigation

Flower farmers rely on heavy rolls of landscape fabric to suppress weeds. These rolls are awkward and heavy.

The loader can carry the rolls, the burning tools, and the staples to the field. It can also carry the heavy spools of drip irrigation tape. It acts as a mobile caddy for the infrastructure of the farm.

Harvest Bucket Logistics

During harvest, you are filling dozens of buckets with water and flowers. Water is heavy.

The loader can carry a tank of water to the field to fill buckets on-site, or it can transport the full buckets of flowers back to the cooler. This reduces the time the flowers spend in the sun, improving their vase life and quality for the customer.

Conclusion

To grow beauty, you need strength. A garden tractor loader kit provides the mechanical muscle to support a thriving flower farm, allowing you to focus on the blooms, not the backache.

Call to Action

Grow your flower business. Get the tool that handles the heavy logistics.

Visit: https://lgmusa.com/front-end-loader/

In the vertical city of New York, the elevator is the primary artery of any corporate building. It is the first thing employees and clients encounter after passing security, and it is the most confined space they will occupy all day. Despite their importance, elevators are often overlooked in standard cleaning rotations, receiving only a quick wipe of the mirror or a mop of the floor. However, given the density of occupancy and the frequency of touch, elevators are hotspots for bacteria and grime. Effective corporate office cleaning in NYC must prioritize these vertical transport systems to ensure a safe and polished passenger experience.

Sanitizing High-Touch Control Panels

The elevator button panel is touched by hundreds, if not thousands, of fingers every day. From delivery couriers to CEOs, everyone interacts with these buttons. This makes them a significant vector for cross-contamination. Standard cleaning often involves spraying cleaner directly onto the panel, which can seep behind the buttons and damage the sensitive electronics. A professional cleaning protocol involves applying hospital-grade disinfectant to a microfiber cloth first, then meticulously wiping each button and the surrounding plate. This ensures that the high-touch surface is sterile without risking a costly mechanical failure of the elevator system.

Stainless Steel Polishing and Fingerprint Removal

Most NYC corporate elevators feature extensive stainless steel or mirrored finishes. These surfaces are unforgiving when it comes to fingerprints, forehead smudges, and oils. A smudged elevator interior creates an immediate impression of neglect and uncleanliness. Maintaining these surfaces requires a specific technique: cleaning with the grain of the steel using non-abrasive polishes that leave a protective barrier against future smudges. This attention to detail ensures that the cab feels spacious and pristine, reflecting the professional standards of the companies housed within the building.

Managing Floor Tracks and Thresholds

The door tracks of an elevator are a magnet for debris. Salt, grit, and small trash items are kicked into these grooves every time the doors open. If allowed to accumulate, this debris can grind against the door mechanisms, leading to jams and service outages. Cleaning the elevator tracks is a critical preventative maintenance task. Crews must use powerful backpack vacuums with crevice tools to extract this compacted dirt nightly. Keeping the tracks clear not only improves the aesthetics but also extends the operational lifespan of the elevator doors, reducing downtime and repair costs.

Odor Control in Confined Spaces

There is nowhere to hide from a bad smell in an elevator. Poorly ventilated cabs can trap odors from wet wool, food deliveries, or body odor, creating an unpleasant ride for occupants. Masking these smells with heavy air fresheners often makes the situation worse, triggering allergies or headaches. The solution lies in deep cleaning the porous surfaces, such as carpeted floors or fabric wall pads, which trap odor-causing bacteria. Regular steam extraction of elevator carpets and the use of neutral odor eliminators ensure that the air remains fresh and neutral, providing a comfortable ascent for your guests.

Conclusion

The elevator ride sets the tone for the entire office visit. A dirty, smelly, or smudged cab suggests a lack of attention to detail that reflects poorly on building management. By implementing a specialized cleaning regimen for your elevators, you ensure that every journey up to the office is safe, sanitary, and impressive.

Call to Action Ensure your elevators reflect the height of professionalism.

The period between "Order Placed" and "Order Delivered" is a time of high anxiety for customers. This is known as the "WISMO" (Where Is My Order?) window. If you leave customers in the dark, they will flood your support inbox with emails. To prevent this, you need to own the tracking experience. The Best Orders and Shipping Apps for Shopify in the tracking category transform a boring carrier tracking link into a branded, engaging marketing asset.

The Problem with Carrier Pages When you send a customer a standard FedEx or USPS link, you are sending them away from your brand. They land on a generic, ugly page. Worse, if the package is delayed, the carrier offers no context or apology. You lose control of the narrative. Dedicated tracking apps keep the customer on your domain. They show the map, the status, and the estimated delivery date (EDD) all within your store's ecosystem.

Top Tracking Apps

AfterShip: AfterShip is the titan of tracking. It supports over 1,000 carriers worldwide. Its primary feature is the "Branded Tracking Page." Instead of a grey UPS page, customers see a page with your logo, your Instagram feed, and product recommendations. AfterShip also sends proactive email and SMS updates ("Out for Delivery," "Delivered"), which have incredibly high open rates. You can use these emails to upsell related products, turning a transactional update into a revenue opportunity. Track123: Track123 is a favorite for dropshippers and visual-first brands. It creates a beautiful, map-based tracking interface. Crucially for dropshippers, it can "hide" the Chinese origin of a package. Instead of showing "Departed Shenzhen," it can show generic updates like "In Transit," preventing customer bias against overseas shipping. It integrates deeply with Shopify to ensure that the "Order Status" page on your store is always accurate. Parcel Panel: Parcel Panel is known for its robust analytics. It doesn't just show customers where their package is; it tells you which carriers are underperforming. If you see that DHL is consistently late in the Northeast region, you can switch carriers. This data-driven approach allows you to optimize your logistics network over time. Reducing Support Costs Implementing one of these Best Orders and Shipping Apps for Shopify has a direct ROI: it reduces support tickets. When customers can self-serve and see exactly where their package is, they don't need to email you. Some apps even add a "Track Your Order" button to your site's header, making the information instantly accessible.

Conclusion Tracking is not just a utility; it is part of the customer experience. By using the Best Orders and Shipping Apps for Shopify to manage tracking, you turn a potential pain point into a touchpoint for brand building. You reassure the customer, reduce the workload on your support team, and keep your brand top-of-mind right up until the moment the doorbell rings.

So, you've heard the buzz about geometry dash and its seemingly impossible levels, or maybe you're just looking for a new, challenging mobile game. Well, buckle up, because you're about to enter a world of pixelated chaos, rhythmic precision, and controller-smashing frustration (in the best way possible!). This isn't just another casual game; it's a test of skill, timing, and pure willpower.

What is Geometry Dash?

At its core, geometry dash is a rhythm-based platformer. You control a small icon – usually a cube, but later transforming into other forms like a ship, ball, UFO, wave, robot, or spider – and guide it through increasingly difficult levels filled with obstacles. The catch? Everything moves incredibly fast, and one wrong move sends you back to the beginning. The music syncs perfectly with the level design, creating a hypnotic and engaging experience that keeps you hooked, even after countless failures.

Jumping into the Gameplay

The beauty of Geometry Dash lies in its simplicity. Your main action is jumping, activated by tapping the screen (or clicking the mouse if you're playing on PC). However, each game mode introduces unique controls and mechanics:

Cube: The basic form. Tap to jump. Hold to jump higher. Mastering precise jumps is crucial.
Ship: Tap to ascend. Release to descend. Controlling the ship is like piloting a tiny, unpredictable aircraft. This form is where many players struggle initially.
Ball: Tap to switch gravity. A quick tap swaps between the floor and the ceiling, demanding quick reflexes and accurate timing.
UFO: Tap to jump a short distance. Think of it as a controlled burst of air.
Wave: Tap to change direction. The Wave is notoriously difficult to master, requiring precise and subtle movements to navigate tight corridors.
Robot: Similar to the cube, but allows for longer jumps by holding the jump button.
Spider: Instantly teleports to the opposite surface with each tap.
Levels often switch between these forms, demanding adaptability and quick learning. You'll also encounter portals that change your speed, direction, or even mirror the screen, further complicating things.

Essential Tips to Survive the Spikes

Geometry Dash can be brutally unforgiving, but with practice and a few tips, you can significantly improve your skills and progress through the game:

Practice Mode is your Friend: Before attempting a level in normal mode, use Practice Mode. Place checkpoints at tricky sections and practice them repeatedly until you nail them. This is invaluable for learning the level's layout and mastering the required timing.
Learn the Music: The music isn't just there for ambiance; it's a crucial part of the gameplay. Listen closely to the beat and use it as a timing guide. The obstacles are often synchronized with the music, so understanding the rhythm will give you a huge advantage.
Be Patient: Geometry Dash requires a lot of trial and error. Don't get discouraged by failing repeatedly. Each death is a learning opportunity. Pay attention to what went wrong and adjust your strategy accordingly.
Watch Gameplay Videos: If you're stuck on a particularly difficult level, watching gameplay videos of experienced players can be incredibly helpful. You can learn new strategies, see how they handle specific obstacles, and get a better understanding of the level's layout.
Start with Easier Levels: Don't jump straight into the hardest levels. Start with the easier levels and gradually work your way up. This will allow you to build your skills and confidence before tackling the more challenging content. Look at what geometry dash can offer if you want to start with the very easy levels.
Customize your Cube: Personalize your cube with different colors and icons. While this doesn't affect the gameplay, it can make the experience more enjoyable and give you a sense of ownership.
Conclusion: Embrace the Challenge

Geometry Dash is more than just a game; it's a test of reflexes, patience, and determination. It's a game that rewards perseverance and celebrates small victories. While the initial difficulty can be daunting, the sense of accomplishment you feel after conquering a challenging level is incredibly rewarding. So, dive in, embrace the challenge, and prepare to lose countless hours to this addictive and exhilarating game. Good luck, and may your cube never hit a spike!

There’s something universally appealing about simple games that challenge your reflexes and keep you on edge literally and figuratively. Whether you're a seasoned gamer looking for a quick adrenaline boost or someone just needing a mental break, Slope Game is one of those experiences that’s hard to walk away from once you start. It’s fast, it’s minimalistic, and it's surprisingly addictive.

If you haven’t heard of it before, this article will walk you through everything you need to know to dive into the game: from the basic controls and gameplay concept to useful tips and strategies to keep you rolling for as long as possible.

What is Slope Game?

At its core, Slope Game is a high-speed, endless-running game played in 3D. It’s set on an abstract, neon-green course suspended in space, where you control a rolling ball that gains speed as it continues downhill.

The objective is straightforward: avoid falling off the edge or crashing into obstacles. The longer you survive, the faster the game gets. It’s the kind of concept that seems easy in theory, but it gets increasingly intense the farther you go.

You can play the game online directly through your browser—no need for downloads, accounts, or heavy instructions. Just load it up and start rolling.

How to Play: Controls & Mechanics

One of the best things about Slope Game is how little you need to get started. The controls are incredibly simple:

Arrow Keys (Left/Right) – These are your primary controls. You’ll use them to steer the ball left or right to stay on the track and avoid hitting red blocks.
That’s it-just two keys. But don’t let the simplicity fool you.

The moment you press play, the ball begins rolling down a steep slope that gets progressively faster. The challenge comes in the form of sudden curves, unexpected gaps, moving platforms, and those infamous red blocks that will instantly end your run if touched.

While there's no level structure or storyline, the game uses procedural generation to keep each run fresh. That means the path and obstacles change each time you play, so memorizing layouts won’t help. Instead, your skill and reaction time are constantly being tested.

Tips for Playing Longer

Since Slope Game is all about reflexes and control, you’ll want to keep a few things in mind as you play:

1. Stay Centered

It may be tempting to move sharply left or right to dodge an obstacle, but the safest approach is to keep your ball near the center of the slope. This gives you more room to react to sudden turns or blocks.

2. Plan Ahead

Although everything moves fast, try to look slightly ahead of your ball rather than focusing directly on it. This way, you can spot obstacles and turns with enough time to adjust.

3. Practice Small Movements

The game is very responsive to input. A small tap of the arrow key goes a long way. Overcorrecting is one of the quickest ways to accidentally fly off the track. Train your hands to make subtle, controlled movements.

4. Avoid the Red Blocks

Obvious, but worth repeating—red blocks mean game over. Whether they’re stationary or moving, you need to swerve around them without panicking. Sometimes the red blocks appear at the edge of a platform right after a jump, so stay calm and land carefully.

5. Use Momentum Wisely

Since your speed increases the longer you stay alive, use early moments in the game to practice how momentum affects your control. Get used to how the ball moves at lower speeds before things ramp up.

Why It’s So Addictive

What makes Slope Game so enjoyable is its balance of frustration and reward. You’re never more than a few seconds away from starting a new run, and each time you do just a little better, it feels like a personal win.

Its minimal graphics and pumping techno soundtrack contribute to that “just one more try” atmosphere. There’s no heavy tutorial, no loot boxes, no complicated menus—just pure gameplay.

In an era when many games focus on complex mechanics and time-consuming missions, Slope Game feels like a refreshing return to arcade-style gaming. It’s a perfect pick-up-and-play option for a few spare minutes… or a couple of hours, if you’re not careful.

A Few Words of Caution

Slope Game is easy to access, but that also makes it easy to fall into a cycle of repeated plays. If you're someone who tends to get hooked on trying to beat your last score, set a time limit for yourself.

It’s also a good idea to take breaks. The game requires sharp focus and can be visually intense due to the speed and neon aesthetics. A few minutes away from the screen will help reset your senses and even improve your reaction time when you come back.

Final Thoughts

Slope Game is a great example of how a simple concept, when executed well, can provide endless fun. It doesn’t rely on flashy gimmicks or storytelling. Instead, it focuses purely on movement, challenge, and fast-paced decision-making.

Whether you’re waiting for a download to finish, need a short mental break, or just love testing your reflexes, Slope Game delivers. It’s an experience that manages to be both punishing and rewarding—and it only takes two keys and a bit of nerve to get started.

So, next time you’ve got a few minutes to spare, load it up and see how far you can go. Just be warned: you may not want to stop.

We are experimenting with Zoom.  Are there better video conferencing tools for live lectures?

What are ways to use video effectivley in an online course?

Thank you for your insights.

Aaron Nielsen

I have found that motivating online students is a lot harder than classroom-based ones. Can any of you share somethig that has been successfull on bringing an online student back to class?

Adults often utilize their own life experiences when introduced to new knowledge. In a sense, this gives them an advantage or their younger counter-parts in the classroom. It is this type of experience that should be cultivated when teaching adults.

What is the best strategy for teaching adult learners about literature?

What can Boomers and Gen X learn from Gen Y (other than technological savvy)?

One challenge I have is working with students that have not been exposed to the prerequisites of a class I am teaching. I can not stop the class to help them catch up because that will only diminish the experience for students prepared for the class.

I have been working with students that are not prepared, providing them opportunities for tutoring and giving them websites I feel will help them catch up.

It is still a challenge to get some students to push themselves to catch up to the point they need to be at. 

What are your thoughts on this problem?

How to encourage students with LD's

Are you a Mean Teacher?

By Laura M Staunton, New Jersey and Barb Erickson, Michigan

A MEAN teacher insists that each student do the best s/he is capable of doing.

A MEAN teacher insists that students hand in their assignments on time and takes off points for late assignments.

A MEAN teacher does not accept incomplete assignments.

A MEAN teacher requires each student to think carefully and to make her/his own decisions.

A MEAN teacher holds each student responsible for her/his own behavior.

A MEAN teacher makes students keep the classroom, themselves, and their belongings neat and clean.

A MEAN teacher does not allow free time in class until all class-work is done.

A MEAN teacher gives homework regularly, sometimes even on weekends.

A MEAN teacher calls on students who don't raise their hands to answer questions.

A MEAN teacher requires all students to treat each other with respect.

A MEAN teacher makes life miserable for students by insisting that they always tell the truth.

A MEAN teacher produces students who are respectful, responsible, and successful.

THE WORLD NEEDS MORE MEAN* TEACHERS!

*(MEAN = Making Excellence A Necessity)

In the massage industry, many people coming into the training are already hands on people. They have been practicing on family and friends for years. One of the things I find they have problems with is first introductions. They are unaware of marketing ideas for the massage practice. Introductions on the first day for me helps to determine the style of the group. I hand out pennies with the years of 2000 to 2010 on them. Each of the student must then use the year to give a personal insight about themselves. It could be where they were in that year, how old they were, a birth of a child, a marriage, a divorce, etc. If the student wants to they can make up a lie and present it to the class. The rest of the class can then decide if it was the truth or a lie. Sometimes the truth is quirkier than the lies and the class seems to relax and settle in. I then bring it all back to first impressions and how we only get to make them once. How we look, we talk, we interact with others are all part of the first impression. Many times I see the students really think about this and their attitude changes.

I am the new guy at a new school that may not be receptive to new ideas.  they ahve had no staff changes in five years.  How do I encourage everyone to get on board with some new fresh ideas?