In one sentence, describe what the following article is about: One way to make sure your teacher isn’t mean to you is to respect their rules. One of the rudest and most disrespectful things you can do is to get to class late, especially if you make a habit of it. This is a way of telling your teacher that you don’t care at all about their class and to get their on your bad side immediately. If you are late, then you should apologize and make sure it doesn’t happen again. Don’t be one of those kids who packs up all of their things when there’s five minutes left of class. The need to leave early will drive your teacher even crazier than being late to class. If you want to deal with a mean teacher, then you should really make an effort to listen to what the teacher is telling you. One of the reasons teachers may seem mean is because they feel like their students aren’t listening to them and like they’re not getting any respect. When your teacher is talking, listen carefully and avoid getting distracted by your phone, the people in the halls, or your classmates. Though it’s important to ask questions, one of the things that can make teachers mean is students who ask very obvious questions about things their teachers have stated again and again. Make sure you listen carefully so you don’t make this mistake. Taking notes will show your teacher that you really do care about their class and that you’re not just there to pass the time. It will also make you gain an understanding of the subject matter and will show your teacher that you really care about the class. Teachers also like to see their students taking notes when they talk because it’s a sign that they’re paying attention. Make a habit of taking notes as often as you can so your teacher starts to feel more kindly towards you. Taking notes will also help you do better in school, and this can make your teacher nicer, too. It’s possible that your teacher is being mean to you because they think you don’t care about the class at all. This may be because you haven’t been making an effort to participate. The next time you get a chance, you should raise your hand to answer your teacher’s questions, volunteer to help your teacher out, or be active in a group discussion. This will make your teacher see that you really do care and they will be kinder towards you.  Though you shouldn’t try to answer every question every time, make an effort to be engaged in the material so your teacher is more inclined to be nice. Participating in class will not only make your teacher nicer, but it will also make the learning experience more fun for you. If you’re more engaged in the material, you’ll be less likely to get bored or distracted in class. If you want to get on your teacher’s good side, then you should avoid talking to your friends unless you’re engaged in a group activity. This is distracting for teachers and makes them feel like you don’t care about them at all. The next time your friends try to laugh with you or pass you a note, make them see that you want to focus on the class and that you’ll talk to them later. If you have a chance to choose your seat, try to sit away from your friends or distracting students so your teacher has less reason to be mean to you.  If you’re dealing with a mean teacher, then chances are that the other students often make fun of them. Though it may be tempting to join in on their antics or even to lead the pack, you should hold back and avoid making fun of your teacher, because this is guaranteed to only make your teacher feel angrier and act meaner. You may think you’re being clever, but it’s very likely that your teacher is on to you if you’re openly making fun of them in class.  Teachers are people, too, and they can be sensitive. If your teacher catches you making fun of them, then it’ll be hard to win your teacher over again. If your friends are teasing your teacher, try to separate yourself from them. You don’t want to be associated with that kind of behavior. One way to make your teacher less mean to you is to ask for extra help with the material after class. You may be terrified of being alone with your teacher, but you’d be surprised to find that most teachers actually love sharing their wisdom on the subjects they teach and that your teacher would actually be very happy to help you. If you have a test coming up in a week or two or have a concept you don’t quite understand, then ask your teacher if they can help you after school one day; you’d be surprised by how much nicer your teacher will act after you ask.  This should work most of the time. However, if your teacher is really very mean, then they may turn you down, but it’s worth trying. If you do choose to ask for help, the important thing is to ask well in advance before any tests. If you ask for help a day or two before the test, your teacher may get angry and may wonder why you didn’t ask sooner. Though being a good student and respecting your teacher’s rules can definitely make your teacher less mean to you, you don’t want to take it too far. If your teacher thinks that you’re sucking up and not being genuine, and if you try a little too hard to answer your teacher’s questions, compliment your teacher, or to hover around your teacher’s desk, asking how you can help, then your teacher may actually act meaner because they will be suspicious of your true intentions. If your teacher is naturally mean, then they will naturally be suspicious of a student who is trying too hard to get in their good graces. Make it feel natural.
Summary: Get to class on time. Listen to your teacher. Take notes. Participate in class. Avoid talking to your friends during class. Make sure you always bring all the required materials for their lesson. Don’t make fun of your teacher. Ask for extra help after class. Don’t suck up too much.

In one sentence, describe what the following article is about: Are you singing to your ten-year-old daughter at a birthday party with a few other friends? You'll probably want to keep it simple. Are you singing alone to your husband or wife? Maybe you should sing more softly and romantically. Are you singing with a huge group to your father at his 80th birthday party? Maybe you guys should all practice, or at least decide when you are going to sing. It’s important to understand the context of your event so you can figure out what’s appropriate. If you’ve got a deep voice, don’t try singing Happy Birthday in the traditional singsong way. Use your deep voice! Stay within your range and don’t try to hit the high notes. No one is expecting you to be an expert. Practicing often to yourself, for example at home, will allow you to work out any kinks that may be in your voice and also help you to remember the song. It will also allow you to add special flourishes to the song, like a “cha cha cha” after every line. If you’re performing with a group of other people it’s always a good idea to rehearse. Designate one person to act as the conductor and start on their cue. You don’t want to start at different times or end at different times. Otherwise, everyone should easily fall into line. If you’re singing with a group and you aren’t going to have time to practice before hand, don’t try doing anything special. It’s assumed that everyone knows the song.
Summary:
Decide the context of the event. Figure out the strengths and weaknesses of your voice. Practice singing the song alone. Practice with others.