Once you have completed a draft of the poem, you should read it aloud to yourself. Notice how the words sound on the page. Pay attention to how each line of your poem flows into the next. Keep a pen close by so you can mark any lines or words that sound awkward or jumbled.  You may also read the poem out loud to others, such as friends, family, or a partner. Have them respond to the poem on the initial listen and notice if they seem confused or unclear about certain phrases or lines. You can also share your poem with other poets to get feedback from them and improve your poem. You may join a poetry writing group, where you workshop your poems with other poets and work on your poetry together. Or you may take a poetry writing class where you work with an instructor and other aspiring poets to improve your writing. You can then take the feedback you receive from your peers and use it in your revision of the poem. Once you have received feedback on your poem, you should revise it until it is at its best. Use feedback from others to cut out any lines to feel confusing or unclear. Be willing to “kill your darlings” and not hold onto pretty lines just for the sake of including them in the poem. Make sure every line of the poem contributes to the overall goal, theme, or idea of the poem.  You may go over the poem with a fine tooth comb and remove any cliches or familiar phrases. You should also make sure spelling and grammar in the poem is correct.

Summary: Read the poem out loud. Get feedback from others. Revise your poem.


Even if your child is reading simple words, sentences, and short books on their own, it's important that you still read to them when they’re not working on their own books. You can read from more complex books that they are not yet capable of reading on their own to show them what the next stages of reading will bring.  Reading to your child can help them cultivate an interest in reading and a desire to learn. Show your child how each word has its own sound, and each sound can be put together to make sentences, paragraphs, and whole books. Start with short, simple books aimed at young children. As your child develops an interest in reading, you may want to incorporate longer, more complex (but still age-appropriate) texts. Flash cards are an excellent learning tool. When your child is learning letters and words, flash cards can help them visualize what they’re trying to sound out. You can even draw a picture of the object/animal/etc. that corresponds to the word on the card to help further cement the associations being learned between words and objects.  Flash cards can help your child learn the association between a visual letter or word's representation and the corresponding sounds/meanings. Flash cards let you quiz your child, focus on repetition, and start a pile of words they struggle with. Flash cards are especially helpful for learning sight words. Some parents may feel that it's helpful to scold a child who isn't grasping the words they’ve read. However, psychologists generally agree that support during at-home reading is more important than giving assignments or scolding negative performances. Work to correct any mistakes your child is making, but then celebrate their victory even more once they get the words right.  Praise your child whenever they complete a series of words, sentences, or pages. Celebrate landmark accomplishments (like their first full paragraph, first full page, etc.) with something fun and special. You might have an ice cream party with your child, or take a trip to the zoo to reward your child for their achievements. Remember that it's okay to fail or to not always be the best. It's just as true of reading as it is for sports or athletics. Reading should ultimately be a fun and exciting learning experience for your child. Don't be hard on your child if they make mistakes; just help them learn from the experience and become a better reader through continued practice. . One of the best ways you can encourage your child to become an active reader is by encouraging them to keep reading. Help them find things they’re interested in and seek out books that relate to that topic.  Have your child sign up for a library card. It will open up more opportunities for reading and may get your child excited about learning. Take your child to bookstores. Browse the children's section with them and help them find something that they’re really excited about. Then, if possible, buy it and read it with them.

Summary: Read to your child. Use flash cards. Be supportive and celebrate your child's successes. Encourage your child to keep reading


Start by learning how to pronounce Nepali words using the Latin alphabet, before attempting to learn the Devanāgarī alphabet. Nepalese is largely phonetic in the Latin alphabet, although there are some sounds in Nepali that are not commonly made when speaking English. There are also differences in pronunciation between various national and regional dialects. If you’re planning a trip to Nepal or Myanmar, practice the regional dialect of that specific region. As a first step in learning to speak Nepali, pick up a few common phrases of greeting that are spoken between Nepali individuals. The general Nepali greeting is “Namaste.” This is pronounced “nah-mah-stay.” Conveniently, “Namaste” also means goodbye.  Address older men and older women respectfully as “dai” or “didi,” respectively.  Tell someone “Good morning” by saying, “Subha prabhat.” Tell someone “Good evening” by saying “Subha sandhya.” Ask “How are you?” by saying, “Tapai laai kasto chha?” Ask someone what their name is by saying, “Tapai ko naam ke ho?” With a few basic phrases under your belt, you can have a rudimentary conversation. This is useful for practical purposes: if you’re traveling to Nepal, phrases like these can help you communicate to native speakers before you’ve mastered the Nepali language. Learn phrases including:  “Please speak more slowly.” “Bistaarai bhannus.” “I don’t understand.” “Maile bujhina.” “Leave me alone!” “Malai eklai chodnuhos!” “Have a nice day.” “Subha din.” These phrases will be the same regardless of the gender of the individual you’re addressing. Questions will help you communicate with Nepali speakers. They’re a great way to start a conversation, or to quickly learn necessary information. If you’re traveling to Nepal, you can figure out in advance common questions that you anticipate asking, and master their pronunciation.  “Where are you going?” “Kahaan jaane?” “Could you take my photo?” “Mero tasbeer khichna saknu hunchha?” “Do you speak English?” “Tapaain angrejee boln saknuhunchha?” “Do you speak Nepali?” “Ke tapai Nepali bolnuhunchha?”  “Where is the toilet?” “Sauchalaya kata chha?”
Summary: Learn basic Nepali pronunciation. Learn Nepali greetings. Pick up a few important Nepali words and phrases. Learn a few easy questions.