INPUT ARTICLE: Article: By default, Windows 8 optimizes each drive on a weekly basis. If Scheduled optimization is set to On, then your drives are already being optimized on a regular schedule. You may be asked to enter an admin username and password at this point. Removing the check will turn it off. The options are daily, weekly, and monthly. Next to Drives, click Choose. Check the boxes next to the drives you want have scheduled optimizations. Uncheck the boxes next to the drives you want to optimize manually. Click OK. Click OK again to apply your schedule changes.

SUMMARY: Check the optimization schedule. To change the optimization schedule or turn it on, click Change settings. In the Optimize Drives dialog box, next to Run on a schedule, click the check box to add a check and turn on the scheduled optimization. Click the Frequency dropdown menu to change how often the drives are optimized. Choose specific drives for scheduled optimization. Click Close to exit Optimize Drives.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Think about which rules will keep your class a safe and fun learning environment. Design rules to reflect this goal. These rules will be different depending on the ages of the students and the type of class you’re teaching. Some sample rules might include:  Treat others with respect. Take care of yourself. Take care of classroom property. Raise your hand to speak or to get someone’s attention. This will make it easier for students to remember them. These rules will guide behavior in a variety of circumstances so that you don’t need to spell out rules for every scenario. Take time on the first day of class to cover your classroom’s rules. Explain what each rule means. Give examples of how rules are followed or not followed. Tell students about consequences for breaking the rules. These might occur in stages, such as a warning, then staying after class, then detention, then visiting the principal, and so on. You might include a time-out or break for younger students. Younger students who are disruptive may need to be removed from a situation for a few minutes to recover their attention. Then they can rejoin the class. Make a rules poster and hang it in the classroom. Phrase the rules in positive ways. For example, instead of saying, “Don’t push other people,” you can write, “Treat others with respect.” Ask the students to come to an agreement with you about the rules. They can sign a pledge form or even just raise their hands. In doing so, they will promise to uphold the class rules.   Another way to get students to buy into the rules is for students to take ownership of them. Get their input when developing rules for the classroom.  Take time every now and then to talk about the rules and review them with students. Using hand signals, body cues and other tactics can be helpful in getting students’ attention. For example, you might turn the lights off and on when it’s time to wrap up an activity. Hand signals work particularly well with primary grades. Changing the non-verbal cues periodically will keep students from getting bored with them. Make a positive example of students behaving properly by letting students know when they have followed the rules. By showing students what good behavior looks like, they will know how to model the behavior. Make sure to praise different students. Don’t always praise the same few students. If there are discipline problems at the elementary school level, it can be helpful to get in touch with the child’s parents. Think about doing this before the discipline problem becomes serious.  Earlier intervention can redirect a child away from problematic behavior. Reinforce positive interactions by giving students tools to handle disagreements and miscommunications. Having tools to use for these interactions may help diffuse potential discipline problems.  For example, talk about how students should ask another student for permission to take something. A student should look directly at the other student, wait until she is listening, and ask politely. Give students tools if they disagree with each other. For example, have students look calmly at each other and say, “I understand how you feel.” Then the student can explain his opinion calmly.

SUMMARY: Decide which rules are most important. Choose no more than 5 rules for your classroom. Make sure students know the rules. Outline consequences. Post the rules. Have the students make a commitment to the rules. Use non-verbal communication. Praise students for acting appropriately. Get parents involved early on. Give students tools for interacting with each other.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Use a tape measure to get the width and length of your balcony. These dimensions will help you determine whether something will fit when you’re shopping for outdoor furniture. If your balcony is somewhat square, instead of long and skinny, you may have enough room for a small table and a couple of chairs. Bistro sets are often designed for small spaces and have a small footprint.  Look for one with chairs that fit all the way under the table when not in use, or a set that folds up for easy storage. A round table will allow for more people to gather around it than a square table would. This allows people enough space to pull out a chair and move freely behind the chairs as well. You can have less clearance as long as you're comfortable squeezing into a tight spot between your chair and the table. If your balcony is more in the long-and-skinny category, a bench is a good way to add seating without eating up all the space. Look for a bench that has a storage compartment under the seat so that you can stow cushions, pillows, or any other balcony accessories. If you don’t want to buy a bench, you can make one out of a couple of wooden crates laid down next to each other. If there’s no room for a bistro set on your balcony, then pick out one outdoor chair and put a small side table next to it. This will allow you to sip coffee or tea, or even have a snack outside. Add cushions to make it a comfortable place to read a book. Choose a folding chair to save space and make it easier to transfer inside and out. Your balcony furniture has to withstand your climate, whether that’s hot and dry, wet and humid, or cold and snowy. Look for metal, teak, cedar, and all-weather wicker in your furniture. These can stand up to a variety of weather conditions with little maintenance.

SUMMARY:
Measure your space. Shop for bistro sets. Aim for 3 feet (1 m) of clearance all around the edge of a table. Add a bench. Pair a chair with a side table. Shop for weather-resistant materials.