What Makes the Organic Chemistry Tutor Video Game Work So Well?

What Makes the Organic Chemistry Tutor Video Game Work So Well?If you're looking for a fun filled trip with your friends and family, consider going to the Organic Chemistry Tutor video game. As an active teacher and enthusiast, I know exactly how much fun this can be, especially if you have kids and are willing to teach them the joys of learning in a way that they'll never forget.The Organic Chemistry Tutor video game is based on the real world experience of being an expert in science, which means that it's designed to provide a fun learning experience for all age groups. Whether your kids are toddlers or elementary school students, the learning process is pretty simple: you start with a list of questions, and you need to answer each one correctly to earn points towards the goal of the game.Each question starts off as an open-ended question, which allows your child to ask as many questions as he or she likes, and get as many points as possible. These points can be used to complete a task, which is usually a 'game' or the following stage of the game. For example, a child might be asked 'find the tenth element in an a-z chart.'This usually opens up a number of questions, which will require a proper knowledge of elements, ionic bonding, and similar issues. Once your child has accomplished all of the other questions, you can choose the second stage of the game, which is called 'make a beautiful rainbow'.This stage of the game is similar to watching nature, but it's much more fun. Your child will be working with chemicals, doing calculations and trying to make an elemental mixture using a mixture of different materials. Again, your children can ask as many questions as they like, and the only limit to their answers is their curiosity and willingness to take in information.At the end of the day, you will be given a total score that gives you a chance to check out what they did well. This allows your child to learn while having fun, which is always a plus in my book.I f you would like to try the Organic Chemistry Tutor for yourself, be sure to sign up for a free trial before you go, as there are a few videos and games included in the package. Also be sure to pay attention to the coupon codes included in the packaging, as you may find that the coupons can save you a good deal on some of the games and videos.So, for just a few minutes, you'll get to enjoy the real world experience of being an expert in science, with an online application, while having a blast while you're at it. If you're interested in this type of video game, you should definitely check it out for yourself.

4 Simple Strategies to Read in a Foreign Language Like a Native

4 Simple Strategies to Read in a Foreign Language Like a Native Do you ever struggle to read in your target language and wish the words would just translate themselves?I know I do.But short of a magic wand (or a translation app), thats not going to happen, and magic is not always helpful for developing reading skills over the long term.The best way to improve your reading skills is by, well, readingâ€"which takes time and effort.Fortunately, techniques exist that make learning to read in a foreign language not only easier, but more fun too.Lets take a look at the best tips available to help you read like a pro. Why Learn a Foreign Language by Reading?If you want to become fluent in a language, youre going to have to be able to read it. Whether youre looking at a restaurant menu, perusing the newspaper, or following directions on a map, reading is fundamental to learning and living in your target tongue.Depending on the content, reading also provides a chance to get more attuned to the way native speakers talk and write. How often in traditional language learning settings do we recite sentences like, You and I eat hamburgers on the beach, and how often do native speakers say such a thing?Exactly.In other words, reading allows us to dig deeper and challenge ourselves. Much like impromptu conversation, we are often thrown into the deep end while reading, forced to learn complex words and phrases we might shy away from in a different context.Reading lets us get to the real meat and potatoes of a language. It allows us to ingest the grammar conventions naturally, without fear of a slap on the wrist from teacher.Whats more, the benefit of reading is that we control the pace of learning. If you prefer the faster route, you  can barrel through a text without looking up every word you dont know. Or you could also pick it apart piece by piece, taking careful notes. Both approaches have their benefits.Now lets take a look at some effective strategies for learning to read like a pro.4 Simple Strategies for Reading in a Foreign Langua ge1. Choose What to Read CarefullyToo many language learners skip over one of the most important parts of reading practice: choosing what to read in the first place. Many of us have experience in a classroom where a teacher barks out phrases and chooses reading texts for us, often with not-so-helpful results (see hamburgers on the beach, above).Its time to free yourself from the shackles of this approach and make your own destiny. First, we can divide books and other texts into two broad categories: academic and non-academic.Academic writingPros: typically follows all grammar rules, more likely to be focused on a particular subject area, useful for learning specialized vocabularyCons: specialized vocabulary can create a hurdle to learning, less likely to resemble everyday usage of the language, not always appropriate for beginning language learnersNon-academic writingPros: has more in common with everyday usage of the language, vocabulary more likely to include common words and phra ses, readers are more likely to be able to place the reading in contextCons: may contain colloquialisms and be less representative of the universal usage of the languageWe can see that both types of texts have their place, and deciding what you want to read is a matter of what you want to get out of the process.For example, if youre an engineer and your firm is opening a branch in a foreign country, read an engineering-oriented handbook in the target language.Of if youre just starting out and want to fully immerse yourself, read your favorite book translated into your target tongue. Books like Harry Potter and Alices Adventures in Wonderland have been translated to scores of languages. Dont forget the power of enjoying what you read.How do you find these materials? Here are a few resources to get you started:Newspapers    |  Books   |  MagazinesAlso, dont forget to  try your local library for all of the above. The content is free, and those with e-readers can often access extensiv e digital archives with just the click of a button!If you want book recommendations and language-specific reading tips, check these out:Chinese:  Chinese graded readers | magazines |  novels |  best textbooksFrench: easy-to-read books  | childrens books  | comic books |  great books  | advanced books  | reading tipsJapanese: childrens picture books |  best language learning books |  manga  | steps to readingGerman: childrens books for beginners  | popular classics  | best textbooks  | German reading strategiesSpanish: easy-to-read books  | e-books  | best textbooks | novels for intermediate learners2. Read Before You Read: The Importance of Pre-learning StrategiesOnce youve decided what to read, take the opportunity to brush up on background and mentally prepare for the material. The range of activities involved in this are called pre-reading or pre-learning strategies.These techniques help create context for what youre about to read, a scaffolding on which to hang the words, phrase s and sentences, and ultimately to understand them.Effective pre-learning techniques include:Read related articles in English first. Reading an academic article on nuclear proliferation? Find English-language materials about the key issues.Nail down the meaning of the materials beforehand. Tackling a classic novel written in a foreign language? Read a synopsis in English first.Brainstorm. Alone or in a group, think critically about the content youre about to read. What issues might come up? How do they affect you in your daily life?Skim. Take a dip into the material by skimming it first and taking note of any unfamiliar words or phrases. Then look them up before you start reading in earnest.Incorporate one or more of these strategies into your learning practice, and youll see the results for yourself!3. Vocabulary: How to Take on the Hardest Part of Reading in a Foreign LanguageAh, vocabulary. The language learners arch nemesis.How many times have you said, Im so close to being flue nt, if only I knew more words?For better or worse, vocabulary is a constant in the struggle to read proficiently. What you choose to read should dictate your strategy, which can often include variations of the pre-learning techniques above:Starting small with your target languages version of The Cat in the Hat? Read the English version first to refresh your memory of the words used.Remember that nuclear proliferation article? While youre pre-learning the main  issues, look up key words in your target language.But where can you  find a reliable dictionary?Remember the digital library archives I mentioned above? Many have expansive dictionaries you can use free of charge.Another free tool is  WordReference.com, which includes forums that come in handy for defining idioms or other colloquial usage.Searching for something even more language-specific? Check out Pleco for Mandarin Chinese, or these awesome dictionary apps for German,  Japanese  and Spanish.Okay, so youve found a dictionar y or dictionary app, but now what? How do you actually use it while reading?Look up key words beforehand. After you use the pre-learning strategy of skimming (see above), look up any words that stand out as unfamiliar and important. Focus on words that appear in headings or that show up repeatedly throughout the text.Dont look up other unfamiliar words as you read. Instead, underline them to look up later. This promotes a fluid reading style and pushes you to use context clues to understand the content.After reading through the first time, look up all underlined words. If possible, avoid using English when making note of the definitions. Instead, use related words in the target language or pictures/icons. Remember, your long-term goal is to read with understanding while thinking in the language rather than simply translating the words to English.And how about retaining all of this vocabulary?FlashcardsFlashcards remain one of the most tried-and-true methods. Spaced Repetition techno logy (SRS) used in flashcard apps  greatly increases learning efficiency.Contextualize new vocabularyPlace new words in their element using drawings (see above) and as many of your senses as possible. To memorize the Spanish word el bombero (firefighter), you might first draw a firefighter and fire station.But try to also visualize the firefighter sliding down a pole, think of the smell of smoke, hear the crackling of a fire and feel the spray of a fire hose. The more contextual elements you can draw in, the better youll be able to retain and recall the vocabulary.FluentUFor  the most memorable context, the most useful flashcards  and  a complete language learning platform, FluentU is  one of the best ways to learn a foreign language online today.FluentU is an online immersion platform that takes real-world videosâ€"like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talksâ€"and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.  You can browse videos  by difficulty (beginner to native), topic (arts and entertainment, health and lifestyle, etc.) and  format (video blog, news,  shows, etc.).Every word comes with an in-context definition, image, audio and multiple example sentences. You can even click on a word to see how its used in other videos across the site. Add any word to your own vocab lists with a single  click.Get the most out of your listening by spending time in FluentUs unique learn mode  before or after  watching a video to learn all that the clip has to offer. Learn mode takes your learning history into account, asking questions based on what you already know, which  sets  you up for success.Mnemonic devicesUse mnemonic devices for difficult words. All of us who learn languages know the frustration of vocabulary that just wont stick. For these problem words, try breaking up the syllables into a story of pictures.For example, you can remember the German word wahrscheinlich (probably) by visualizing a war between pirates during which one crew member shines the captains shoes while battling a blood-sucking leech. Sound crazy? Maybe, but the crazier and more vivid the image you create, the easier it will be to recall the vocabulary.Finally, repetition is key. Come back to those words every once in a while to freshen up and give yourself an ego boost!4. Complement Your Reading with Other Learning TechniquesSure, reading is essential to learning any language, but its not the whole picture. You can capitalize on the exercises above by pairing them with other techniques.Think of these strategies as one-two punches of language learning.SpeakingWhen learning to read, many of us practice subvocalization, the internal speech of sorts where our mind pronounces the words as we go along. Subvocalization can improve our command of the way a language sounds, especially when accompanied by actual speaking.The next time you sit down to read in your target language, take subvocalization further and try reading aloud. This will help ingra in proper pronunciation, and build confidence in both reading and speaking.When you get the hang of this, try recording yourself as you read aloud. Then listen to the playback, and take notes on words and sounds that need work. Bonus points if you can find a recording of a native speaker reading the same text!ConversationA language is nothing without at least two people to speak it. You can talk to yourself all day long, but its even better to find a speaking partner to share in conversation.Find a reading partner and practice reading aloud together. Take notes while your partner is reading. What can you learn from the way they speak, and vice versa? Youll be surprised at how effective two heads can be instead of one.Join a book club to increase reading comprehension and critical thinking skills. The ultimate goal of reading, of course, is comprehension. You can find an existing group through Meetup.com or create your own.You might think this technique is best for advanced learners, but try to think critically about what youre reading from the very beginning. This will help you engage with the text, bring meaning to the act of reading, and make the whole process seem less like a chore.The next time you set out to read in a foreign language, remember these four simple strategies. Let them be your magic wand, and watch how fast your reading skills improve!Nathan Heggem is a language enthusiast, cheesemonger and cinephile. He spends his days singing the praises of Portuguese cheese, watching as many Brazilian movies as possible and practicing his vowel sounds. Nathan writes about food and film on his blog, CineMunch. And One More ThingIf youre digging these strategies, youll love using FluentU. FluentU makes it possible to learn languages  from music videos, commercials, news and inspiring talks.With FluentU, you learn real languagesâ€"the same way that natives  speak them. FluentU has a wide variety of videos like movie trailers, funny commercials and web serie s, as you can see here:FluentU App Browse Screen.FluentU has interactive captions that let you tap on any word to see an image, definition, audio and useful examples. Now native language content is within reach with interactive transcripts.Didnt catch something? Go back and listen again. Missed a word? Hover your mouse over the subtitles to instantly view definitions.Interactive transcript for Carlos Baute song.You can learn all the vocabulary in any video with FluentUs learn mode. Swipe left or right to see  more examples for the word you’re learning.FluentU Has Quizzes for Every VideoAnd FluentU always keeps track of vocabulary that you’re learning. It uses that vocab to give you a 100% personalized experience by recommending videos and examples.Start using FluentU on the website  with your computer or tablet  or, better yet,  download the FluentU app from  the  iTunes  or  Google Play  store.

How to use your degree to pivot into a teaching career

How to use your degree to pivot into a teaching career Ask yourself these questions: Is teaching my true calling? Would I love to work with kids? Am I looking to switch up my career and learn some new skills? There are so many great reasons to make a career switch into teaching and so many potential teachers who are put off at the thought of going back to school to do an expensive four-year education program. Well, here’s the good newsâ€"â€"you don’t have to! If you already have a four-year bachelor degree (in any field) then there is a path into state school teaching in the US that’s open to you: alternative certification. Teach Away’s nationally-accredited Teacher Certification Program (TCP) is a flexible and affordable way to become a teacher, and it could be the right choice for you! Keep reading. Fast-track your career change TCP is a short, intense program that normally lasts for less than a year. Although there is an element of academic study involved, our program emphasizes practical classroom experience. Learn new skills TCP will equip you with valuable skills that are key for success inside and outside the classroom such as organization, time management, and people skills! Help communities in need Alternative certification programs were originally designed to bring talented professionals into underserved schools, as quickly as possible. Tackling educational inequality in the US is still a priority in many alternative certification programs. In particular, Hawaii suffers from a serious teacher shortage, especially in the subjects of math, science, and English. That is why we initially aligned the standards of TCP to meet the local Hawaii needs. Teach to travel Once you complete TCP, candidates are eligible to earn a Hawaii teaching license that is easily transferable to other parts of the US. As for teaching abroad, candidates who hold US teaching certification are in high demand at international schools that follow an American curriculum. As a result, you’ll likely qualify for some of the most competitive teaching positions at the world’s top international schools. How does alternative certification compare to the normal route into teaching in the US? The most common route into state school teaching in the US is doing a traditional education preparation program. That makes you eligible to apply for state licensure or take a state teaching license exam or test to obtain your license (more info on this below) and then apply for teaching jobs. This route works great for those who know they want to teach at the start of their careers. But for those who are switching careers, the thought of your life and earnings taking a four-year pause (or longer!) while you go back to school can seem impossible to manage. This is where alternative certification comes in. Alternative certification programs last for one intense year after which you’ll be ready to apply for your full teaching license as education grads would. Then you can officially apply for teaching jobs. So, both routes ultimately lead to the same destination; with you getting on a path to get a teaching license and work in state schools! The only difference between a traditional program and an alternative one are: Time Alternative certification takes less than a year whereas a traditional education preparation program takes four. Cost Although programs for alternative certification vary, they are significantly more affordable than university studies and you can earn a full-time salary while you study. (Please note: For anyone who doesn’t have a degree from traditional education preparation program, unfortunately, alternative certification is not an option for you. Your best route into teaching is to earn a degree in education.) What makes TCP different? With TCP, you’ll have a full-service community to support your certification. From course work to your job search, we’re here for you. TCP also ensures the value of real-life preparedness with the flexibility and convenience of a digital platform. From quality instructors, weekly lesson requirements, to mentor office hours and a collaborative community of learnersâ€"â€"we set you up for success. Traditional Teacher Certification Programs Teach Away’s Teacher Certification Program Time to Classroom 2-4 years As few as 9 months Cost to Classroom $30,000+ USD $5,000 USD Employment Support Your in-classroom peers, teacher career suggestions, recruitment support Access to a global network of peers, as well as your online classmates, an on-ground, in-person placement mentor and an ecosystem of recruitment professionals to support your next steps Program Flexibility Strict physical classroom setting and set hours Flexible online, on-your-time schedule Financial Opportunities While Studying Teaching placements are typically unpaid Option to secure a paid teaching placement What are the requirements for TCP? To be eligible for TCP, you should: Hold a four-year Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university Pass a background check Have a minimum 3.0 GPA in your final year of an undergraduate degree Be eligible to work in the US Have sufficient knowledge to pass the Praxis II exam in your chosen subject stream Ability to relocate to Hawaii for 450 clinical placement hours Desire to teach one of the core subjects offered: English, math, science, or TESOL What are the next steps once I have my alternative certification? Once you’ve completed TCP take a moment to congratulate yourself! ? Now, you are eligible to apply for a Hawaii state teaching license and be eligible for jobs throughout the state and beyond. Career change complete. ?

Starting a Clothing Company While in College

Starting a Clothing Company While in College Photo by nodespt on flickr.com Start-Up Funding Starting a clothing company, next to film financing, might be the most high-risk business venture out there. Realistically, to even get an clothing company off the ground, it can cost anywhere from $500 to $2500, depending on what resources you have at your disposal. Start small Don’t overexert yourself by spending too much money early on.   Starting out, Id recommend placing small orders, and I would hold off entirely until you have buyers lined up. Sell to friends and family first and see what items are gaining traction. It’s wise to begin working out of your home, but there will come a time when there’s not enough room. Rather than spending money on office space or warehouse space, I recommend using a self-storage finder to locate an affordable storage locker in your area. Web Design In regard to my friends’ story, one of the founders was a professional graphic designer, so that covered a significant expenditure for them. Paying a professional to design and code your website can be expensive, but there are alternative options as well. BigCartel is definitely worth looking into; it does cost around $10/month to display 25 products, but the service includes a build in inventory tracker and an analytics tracker, which makes it easy to identify how many people are looking at each item. Screen Printing and Suppliers When looking for a screen printer, be sure to shop around for the lowest price.  Also, it’s important to wash the clothing several times before you place another order. In regard to suppliers, it’s important to think about the level of quality you want. As with most clothing items, the wholesale supplier (Gildan, Hanes, American Apparel, ect.) will dictate cost and quality. Legal Expenses When you start your clothing company, you should create an LLC (either an S corporation or C corporation).   I recommend retaining the services of an attorney who focuses on intellectual property law, but if you know a lawyer in a different field who is willing to work pro-bono, then by all means use their services. Attorneys can help out in many ways; in addition to the incorporation of the company, they can look over bank loans, as well as contracts with screen printers and suppliers. Starting a clothing company can be a daunting enterprise, so start small, get your friends to help, and tread carefully. John Donegan is a writer at SpareFoot.

Learn How to Improve Your Social Skills Through Online Education

Learn How to Improve Your Social Skills Through Online EducationUco Tutoring Central is one of the best resources online for students who want to improve their grades in school. This online facility has a section called 'social skills' where the student is expected to interact with other students. Through this section, the tutor can help students learn how to work with different people, get along with them, and make new friends. The tutor will also have to make sure that the student does not disrupt the other students in any way.The Social Skills section is divided into four chapters. These chapters are Introduction, First Step, Social Interaction, and Tension Management. The introduction chapter is one of the most important parts of the program. In this chapter, the student will be able to find out about the services offered by Uco Tutoring Central. Next, the student will be guided through the First Step of the Social Skills program.The first step is a simple introduction to each st udent, introducing them to the steps of the Social Skills program. A typical first step will involve the student meeting another student and joining a chat room.The chat room has been designed to let the students interact with other students. It is helpful for both the student and the tutor. The chat room will allow the student to see how the other students respond to him, how they handle themselves in social situations, and what kind of conversation they prefer.After being introduced to the chat room, the student will be introduced to his new friends. The next step of the Social Skills program is 'Social Interaction.' In this section, the student will have to participate in a small group activity that will allow him to get to know his friends better. In general, it will involve playing games that the students have to do together.The Social Skills program is divided into two more sections, where the students are supposed to do simple exercises to improve their social skills. The exe rcises will enable the students to learn to interact with others in different ways. The exercises are also a part of the Uco Tutoring Central education program. These exercises will help the students understand how they should behave with other people.All the lessons discussed above are considered by Uco Tutoring Central as essential. Any teacher who instructs students to do activities on their own would agree that it is beneficial to put the students to work. So when the students do these things on their own, they are already learning how to interact with other people.

How Can A Student Access A Personal Tutor?

How Can A Student Access A Personal Tutor?The term 'personal tutor' has come to be used to describe anyone who works with the student and can offer that student help in completing courses. The individual could be a single individual, a group of students, or the school itself. A personal tutor is a person who can offer help with many different aspects of the life of a student such as life skills, academic work, tutoring to choose a career, guidance in parenting, a way to make changes in home life, help with child discipline, and many more. These tutors also ensure that the student retains the ability to succeed at school.When people think of helping students, their first thoughts are usually their own personal development. People do not associate helping students to improve themselves or spending time with them in their personal development. However, when a student is struggling in school and can not continue to meet the demands of the school's curriculum, it can be very difficult for the tutor to help the student because the tutor is aware of the inadequacies and can spot them.Some teachers have found that the most effective way to help a student is to have a tutor to teach the student in their school curriculum. This is because the student will get the opportunity to learn things that they would not otherwise learn, and this helps in their understanding of the curriculum. Sometimes there are things in the curriculum that cannot be taught to the student, for example, mathematics which needs to be taught to them in order to do well in the curriculum. This is why having a tutor in the classroom can help.Teachers also need to have a teacher and mentor that have specialised knowledge about the curriculum that the students are struggling with. Teachers can contact a private tutor to teach the students what they are struggling with, or they can offer the student this to help them, though it can be hard to find a teacher who is committed to helping out a student. Some times it is worth paying to hire a tutor, but there are many tutors that offer to help students out for free if they so wish.When a student has a tutor, they should be able to come to the student to talk about how they are doing and ask for help. They will be able to tell the tutor how they are doing in certain areas and it will allow the tutor to work harder on those areas to improve. However, if the tutor feels that the student is not showing any improvement then they should not assume that the student is not trying hard enough, they should think about whether the student is doing what they should be doing in order to learn. If the student is not doing the right things then the student will not be able to excel in the subject.Sometimes the student may not be confident in themselves and do not want to take on the teacher as their own coach. If this is the case then they should contact a professional coach who will work with the student to give them a good coach. If a student is hav ing difficulties at school, then the teacher should contact a tutor in order to find out why. Then the teacher can consider hiring a private tutor to work with the student and to find a course that can best help the student.In most cases, if a tutor is offered by the teacher, the teacher will be the one to contact the tutor, as most teachers want the assistance of a professional. There are times however, when the student cannot afford to pay a tutor to help them out. In these cases, there are many online tutoring resources where students can access free tutoring help from people in their communities.

Reading and Playing Guitar Chords the Easy Way

Reading and Playing Guitar Chords the Easy Way Improve your Guitar Playing with Chord Charts and Tab. ChaptersRemind Me, What's a Chord?Guitar Chord ChartsDifferences between Guitar Tabs and Chord ChartsReading a Chord ChartSome Chords You Really Need to Know.Advice for Playing Guitar ChordsAs a guitarist you can play and compose your own pieces of music. But you’ll probably also want to play pieces by your favorite artists, guitarists, and musicians.Whether you like listening to rock guitar, jazz guitar, funk, blues, hard-rock, classical or even flamenco, there must be pieces that you want to learn to play on your guitar. Otherwise, why is it that you want to play the guitar?To get learning all these different songs and guitar you don't have a lot of options - you’ll simply need to learn your chords to play the song. No discussion.Guitarists that can't play chords are unheard of. And a piece without a chord is really pretty rare too!But how do you read guitar chords, and how do you play them? Can you get help in the form of guitar lessons or tutorials? Do you need to know music theory?In this piece, we'll answer all these questions - and show you some of the easy techniques to get to grips with learning, reading, and playing chords.To transcribe chords properly, musicians use what we call a chord chart or chord diagram. This is a visual representation of a chord on the guitar neck - meaning which fingers we would put where.Thanks to this diagram, it is pretty simple to understand the movements you need to make for a chord.This is what guitar chord charts look like. You probably recognise them!In fact, every chord for guitar can be rewritten on a chord chart - as, with these chord diagrams, you can represent any arrangement of fingers on the neck. It's quite straightforward, meaning that you don't need to know anything about the theory of chord progressions or scales - because all these show is the physical demands of the fingering of the given chord on the fret board. (Although, to know how to play guitar fully, you should engage in a bit of music theory!) Essentially, chord boxes simplify reading chords in the same way that guitar tabs simplify reading music.How’s a Chord Chart Written?To read and play guitar chords, you must learn how to read chord charts and then how to play your guitar chords.On the box, you’ll see three kinds of information - strings, frets, and fingers. With these three factors, you can represent any chord.  A chord box will tell you exactly which finger to place, and where to put it. It'll tell you, say, to put your first finger on the second fret of the first string.To read a chord box you should know that your guitar strings are represented by the vertical lines, and that the frets are represented by the horizontal lines. It's like an inverted tablature.The double horizontal line that you can see (or sometimes a thick black line) represents the nuts on the neck of your guitar. If you see this, your hand needs to be right up there in the open position.A chord box also includes numbers - each finger on your left hand is associated with a number between 1 and 4.  The thumb is often indicated with a ’T’ or a ‘P’.Tabs are a special way of writing music for the guitar. They are a visual representation of your guitar strings. They help you know where to put your fingers during a guitar lesson.On a chord box, you can see three key bits of information:fingersfretsstringsThe combination of these three factors can describe any chord, and therefore charts may seem immediately a bit more complex than guitar tabs.However, this isn't really true. Guitar players use these diagrams just to see the shape of the chord. There is no rhythm, strumming pattern, or anything else shown. It's just merely the shape of your fingers.Reading a Chord ChartOn a chord box, you may see a few unfamiliar symbols.  For example, an ‘X’ means a string should not be played or strummed.  An ‘O’, meanwhile, indicates an open string which should be played without placing your fingers on a fret.The numbers 1, 2, 3 and 4 correspond to the fingers on your left hand and tell you how the chord should be shaped.1 is your index finger2 is your middle finger3 is your ring fingerand 4 is your pinky.If you see Roman numerals like I, II, III, IV, etc, they tell you the fret boxes on the neck of your guitar.For example, if you see a III on a chord box, you know that the chord starts on the third fret on the neck.If there’s no Roman numeral, but the double line for the nuts is there, that means that the chord should be played at the very top of the neck. This is common for the main major and minor chords on the guitar (the open chords!).This is how chords would look in tab! We use chord charts to simplify this a little.For those learning to play guitar, learning how to read chord charts is a valuable skill that will allow you to play different chords and to appreciate all of the different positions in which the same chord can be played.The note that you generally begin to play your chord with, and the one that you start with when you’re breaking down a chord in arpeggio.It’s also the bass note which gives the chord its name.Some Chords You Really Need to Know.If you want to quickly progress to playing chords and recreating pieces of your favorite music, there are a few key chord charts that you need to study, practice, and learn by heart.The key chords to know are A minor, E minor, C major, D major, and G major.Just by using these five chords you can play many popular pieces of music, especially segments of pop and rock songs.Of course, this list of five chords is not exhaustive (not by any means!), and nothing requires you to limit yourself to them. All five are from the same chord progression, G major.Practice to Improve Your Chords on the GuitarThis exercise isn't necessarily appropriate for beginners, but is more suited to people who’ve already had a few practice sessions with the guitar and are starting to feel comfortable.Place your hand correctly on the neck of the guitar.Position your fingers for a chord as you would normally, but keep your hand hovering over the neck and don’t actually touch the frets.When all of your fingers are hovering in the right place, push them all down onto the neck at the same time and don’t move.Lift your hand and repeatIf the chord sounds right, you can repeat this exercise with other major and minor chords to test your positions.But if the chord sounds wrong, don’t try and check for the right position. Instead look at your hand to see if you can understand where you’ve gone wrong and try to fix your position.Practice your guitar chords regularly - and they'll soon be easy.It’s excellent practice that helps to recreate a real situation. When you’re playing a piece of music on the guitar, you can’t make any mistakes and all of your positions need to be right the first time around. Otherwise your playing will be sloppy and slow and you will lose the rhythm of your guitar playing.Another advantage o f this exercise is that it will help you gain speed - moving all of your fingers at once will help you get into the right position quickly, especially if you’re playing arpeggios. Your dexterity and fluidity will be improved.Advice for Playing Guitar ChordsTo achieve success reading and playing guitar chords, here are a few tips that apply to any guitarist whether you’re a beginner or experienced.Learn to position your fingers correctly on the neck of the guitar. At the beginning, focus on your left hand and make sure that each finger is only touching one string at a time.  Once you feel comfortable with the position of your hand on the neck, begin strumming the strings with your right hand.If one of your fingers is in the wrong position, move it and put it in the right one.  Don't try and move your fingers around too much, or you'll begin to pick up bad habits, make your position uncomfortable, and you won't be able to reproduce the sounds afterwards.Keep it simple, begin each chord and position from the beginning.  Pay attention and think about how each chord should be shaped.Why are you having trouble? Is it because your fingers are touching other strings? Are you not pushing hard enough? Or are you accidentally pushing on other strings with your right hand?When you’ve finally hit all of the strings right to play the chord, then try and play each string separately and keep the fingers of your left hand in the same position. Each note should sound cleanly without any muting or interference.  If there's a lot of interference on the note, it means your finger positions aren't quite right.  Either your fingers are touching other strings, you aren't pushing hard enough, or your palm is muting the sound.Teach yourself to just push on the strings with the tips of your fingers. Work on your positions during every guitar lesson until you can play each chord without any errors. Your playing should be fluid and natural.Practice regularly, at least 10 minutes eve ry other day.  Regular practice will help you build up calluses on your fingers. Your speed of playing will improve and you'll gain muscle memory.Once you've mastered your chords, try playing them in one order and then in another. Do the exercise again, positioning your fingers above the neck without actually touching it. If you want to improve your skill playing guitar, this is the way in which you'll become better. This exercise will improve your precision, sound, and dexterity.Every guitarist learns how to read and play chords, but you can distinguish yourself by making your playing precise and strong.This is why we recommend starting slow, and breaking down each chord to its composite notes. Once you're comfortable, you can begin to increase your speed. This will help you stay motivated during your guitar lessons!And whatever happens, make sure that you learn your chords by heart and then begin to integrate them into your playing.