Soft, mushy chewing gum will harden like a rock when frozen, and be much easier to remove.  Often, two ice cubes are all you need to get the job started.  Lay the gummed up spot of the garment, gum side down, on top of an ice cube.  Place a second ice cube on top of the spot. Wait for the ice to melt.  By this time, the gum should be sufficiently hardened. If ice cubes prove insufficient in hardening the gum, or if you have time to wait, you can put the garment, gum and all, into the freezer.  Give it at least one hour, or even better a day, to harden.  Place the garment in a zip-close bag, with the gum stain facing out. You could conceivably skip using the bag, but it helps prevent unwanted stains and having the cotton (or gum, for that matter) stick to a frosty surface in the freezer. Once the gum is hardened, carefully remove it from the cotton.  The last thing you want to do is damage the garment you are trying to salvage through careless yanking or rough scraping.  The back (non-serrated) side of a metal or plastic butter knife makes an excellent frozen gum scraper.  Work the blade in between the gum and fabric, without stabbing or digging into the cotton.  Take your time, because the more you remove now, the easier the final cleaning will be. If you prefer, you can also employ tweezers to pluck away the frozen gum.  This may be preferable if you have several smaller gum spots on the garment.  Again, be gentle and thorough. If there is still gum residue or staining on the garment, use a spot cleaner or a bit of laundry detergent and blot, wipe, or lightly scrub it away.  Check that the spot cleaner is color-safe for your garment by testing it in an inconspicuous spot. Launder the de-gummed garment as normal, following the recommendations on the tag.

Summary: Make an ice cube sandwich. Bag it up in the freezer. Get scraping or tweezing. Spot-clean and launder the garment as usual.


Search keywords “Pokémon card maker” and you should find many online generators. Two popular sites are mypokecard.com or pokecard.net. If you’re going for realism, search for an animated image with the same characteristics as real Pokemon, like sharp edges and bold colors. If you want a funny card or something unique, you can use a photo of yourself or scary animal. Once you’ve chosen your image, upload it onto the site. Choose an image that goes with the type of Pokémon that you’re creating. For example, you might choose a water or fire type, in which case you should make sure the image you choose fits the type. So if you have a photo of an animal shooting water from its mouth, don`t choose fire type. The evolution stage is similar to giving your Pokemon’s age. If it's basic then it’s a kid, if it’s stage 1 then it’s a teen, and if it’s stage 2 then it is an adult. If choosing a name is difficult, think about what your Pokémon represents. Is it funny? Is it powerful? Is it scary? You can name it after its move like “Firebreather” or “Lightning Strike” Each Pokémon has a set of special characteristics and a card maker site will prompt you with what to fill out. This is what makes up your Pokémon and should be fun. Think about the type moves and and weaknesses your card should have. Put in its attacks, fill out the author statement, and the weaknesses of the Pokemon.

Summary: Search for a Pokémon card maker site. Find an image for your Pokémon card. Choose an evolution stage. Select the name for your Pokemon. Fill in special characteristics.


Your essay shouldn’t just be a summary of things that you did. Think about how you felt while doing those things, who you interacted with, or what you thought during that time. This will make your essay much more meaningful. Instead of saying that you worked in a pet store, ate a PB&J sandwich, and walked home every day, talk about more than just your actions. You could talk about which pets are your favorites to work with, how it felt to eat the same sandwich every day, or what you thought about on your walk home. As the saying goes — show, don’t tell. Instead of simply stating things that happened, use your 5 senses to make your writing more interesting. Describe how things tasted, sounds you heard, what things looked like, and so on. Using sensory details like these will help your readers visualize and engage with your writing. These help your audience make your experiences feel real to them, even though they weren't there. Instead of saying broad statements about things you did over summer vacation, give as many details as possible. Being specific will allow your reader to picture in their head what it is you’re talking about, and it takes your writing to the next level. For example, instead of saying “I went to the beach this summer,” try saying “I spent my summer swimming in the frigid water at Virginia Beach.” The more details you can provide, the more engaged your reader will be. Choosing words that describe what you’re talking about in a detailed way will make your essay even better. Avoid boring adjectives such as “good” or “really” and replace them with better descriptive ones. Instead of saying “the burger was really good,” you could say, “the burger was juicy and filling.” Once you think you’ve finished your essay, put it away for a little while — this could be a couple hours or a few days — before starting to revise it. Make sure it flows smoothly and the wording makes sense. Check for grammar and spelling mistakes, rereading it thoroughly.  Don't just rely on spellcheck. It will help catch some errors, but it will miss some things, too. Ask a parent or other adult to read over your essay too, if you'd like. Setting your essay aside for a little while will give you a fresher perspective when you go back to revise it.

Summary: Focus on your feelings, interactions, and thoughts. Use your 5 senses to explain your experiences. Describe activities you did in each place you went. Choose precise, descriptive adjectives. Revise and edit your essay carefully.


If your child is unsure of what giving a speech should look like, give the speech yourself and let the child watch and ask questions. Let your child practice many times. If the speech is meant to be memorized, follow along on the written version and point out any parts that your child forgets. You can encourage your child to develop his or her performance by practicing in front of a mirror. This exercise allows the child to see and adjust his or her body language and facial expressions. Once your child has mastered the speech, gather friends and family members and let your child practice in front of the group. If there will be a question and answer period after the speech, have these practice audience members ask questions. Don’t forget to applaud and praise your child after the practice speech. He or she will do better if you help build confidence beforehand.
Summary: Offer a demonstration. Listen to your child practice the speech. Suggest that your child practice in front of a mirror. Gather an audience.