INTRODUCTION:

Your “how to” blog post should teach the reader how to do something by breaking it down into a series of steps.

Begin your blog post by explaining what problem you are going to solve through your explanation and be sure to include any relevant keywords. Add in a personal story to establish your credibility on this topic. And make sure to end your blog post with a summary of what your reader will gain by following your lead.

Need some inspiration? Check out these "How-To" examples from the HubSpot blog:

• How to Write a Blog Post: A Simple Formula to Follow
• How to Do Keyword Research: A Beginner's Guide
• How to Write an Effective Meta Description (Yes, They Still Matter)

BODY:

Now deliver what you promised in the first section. This is the longest part of the post, so make it easy to read. Use short paragraphs, bullet lists, and bold headings to set different sections apart. 

Some common section headers include:

Step 1: Getting Started

Step 2: Do Your Background Research on…

Step 3: First Steps for…

Step 4: Analyze and Repeat

Step 5: Wrapping Up

• Include visuals
• Include short explanatory phrases in your headers
• At the end, transition into your conclusion

CONCLUSION:

Now it’s time to say goodbye and wrap up your post. Remind your readers of your key takeaway, reiterate what your readers need to do to get the desired result, and ask a question about how they see the topic to encourage comments and conversation. Don't forget to add a Call-to-Action to turn your blog post into a marketing machine!

Congratulations! What a lovely how-to post you've created. 

Each month PA Virtual hosts a number of outings across the state for students and families to encourage socialization and provide support. PA Virtual is proud to partner with local community service and outreach organizations throughout Pennsylvania, teaching students that they really can make a difference in their community.

The nature of the outings varies, but typically there is an educational or service learning component built into the event! This November, our Family Support Coordinators (FSC’s) organized a number of service learning events as we approach the holidays.

Ugly Quilts

An annual favorite outing gathers children together to make Ugly Quilts for local homeless shelters. An Ugly Quilt can best be described as an emergency sleeping bag. Made from recycled fabrics, the Quilt’s sole purpose is to provide warmth to those who need it most. Families in attendance were encouraged to bring new, clean socks, gloves, scarves & hats. Travel size toiletries are also included with each quilt when donated.

In East Stroudsburg, FSC Dana Ciccotti organized the quilt making with an added twist. At the Loder Senior Center, PA Virtual students were assisted by senior citizens in their community to make the quilts which will eventually be distributed to the Street 2 Feet Outreach Center in East Stroudsburg.

Water Street Mission

In Lancaster, FSC Heidi Lightner brought students together to experience the vast outreach Water Street Mission has in their region. WSM provides food and shelter to homeless in the area, but depending on the needs of the individual, provides access to medical and dental care, behavioral health, spiritual, and career support.

Students who attended the outing learned about Water Street Mission and the importance of volunteerism and how the WSM benefits from its volunteers. After an introductory video, hour tour and lunch on site, the students created holiday placemats for the many meals served at WSM. Students were able to see first-hand how the organization gives back to community and how donations and volunteerism keep them going.

PA Virtual organizes service learning opportunities that give students a chance to give back to their communities and socialize with friends!

After moving to Philadelphia from Florida, Keith and Tracy Bunn took a good look at the educational options in their new home town. Feeling discouraged, they started to look into alternatives and found PA Virtual.

The flexibility of cyber school appealed to the family. Triplets Keith, Kameryn and Kayla were enrolled as first grade students and have been with PA Virtual ever since. Older brother Tyler is also a student, all four learning crucial time management skills to balance school with time honing their tennis skills. Often times, Keith Sr. gets the kids up and started on school work early, giving them extra free time on the courts in the afternoons, in addition to the coaching they receive at Legacy Youth Tennis and Education.

“Keith and Kameryn practice many hours a week,” said Keith Sr. “If my children were in a traditional brick and mortar school, they wouldn’t be able to play at the level they are currently. PA Virtual students have the ability to study at their own pace, on their own schedule, and in my opinion is an A+ online educational experience.”

While Kayla and Tyler play recreationally, it is the competitive drive of Kameryn and Keith that keeps the family busy year round. They both currently hold titles from the American Tennis National Championships held this past summer in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Keith Jr. took home the boys 12 year old singles title at the American Tennis National Championship and Kameryn holds the girls 12 year old doubles title.

“Tennis is a year round sport, and we really enjoy the ability to stay connected and up to date in school when we travel,” said Keith Sr. "It’s so easy to just pack up the laptops next to the rackets and know that they won’t miss a beat.”

The 2016 Election has certainly been one that will go down in history, regardless of the outcome. While we can’t predict who will win, we wanted to make sure that our students and families know how important it is to have your voice heard!

At PA Virtual, we are always encouraging our students to give back to their communities – there is no better way to give back, than to vote. Many people think that their vote can’t make a difference, but especially at the local and state levels, one vote may be all you need to have your candidate pull through.

Youth Leadership Initiative (YLI), is a national civic education program based at the University of Virginia Center for Politics that hosts the largest secure, online student-only mock election in the nation.

Studies have shown that election-related lesson plans often encourage future political participation in younger students. Programs like YLI give students the opportunity to learn about and become excited about our country’s history and democracy.

For younger students, this election cycle has certainly been stressful on parents struggling to find the best ways to educate children about the issues. While the issues at hand may be better understood by older students, younger ones could benefit from simply learning how the process works. PBS recently put together a great toolkit (Helping Kids Understand the Election) for parents on the best ways to teach children about voting and how kids can be involved!

Another organization dedicated to building political power in young adults and teens is Rock the Vote. Since the 1990’s they have used top trending musical artists, actors and celebrities to help spread their message and engage those on the cusp of turning 18.

No matter what age, remind students that politics isn’t boring – take them to the polls! It is important to teach future voters that the political process should engage, inspire, and affect real and lasting change. So, on November 8, encourage those around you to be a part of history and get out and vote!

Don’t know where to go? Find your polling place and make a plan.