Those who can, do. Those who believe others can also, teach. — John E. King in Captive Notions

Dear Educator,

Just a few days to go, and you can forget about the bustle of the classroom for a few weeks. Aren't the holidays wonderful!

So often, as teachers, we need to put some space between us and our students to remember why we chose such a noble...and sometimes thankless...profession. From that distance, we can see our successes. When we are in the trenches, we are sometimes blinded to what we accomplish because of the urgency of our challenges. From the "bird's eye view," we may struggle with "how," but we once again know "why."

I help my students set weekly goals...including the weeks of the holidays. Here are a few of my favorite goals for those rare weeks when I have no work deadlines.

• Do something good for someone else.
• Read, just for pleasure.
• Count your blessings.
• Try something you've never tried before.
• Visit with an old friend.

I'm hopelessly (and delightedly) addicted to the holidays. Click here to read my personal Christmas message.

SCORE's motto, from it's inception, has been "Never waiver in your belief in a student's ability to achieve." It's still my holiday message to you:

Believe!

Sharon Marshall Lockett, Director
SCORE... For College and Career
sharon@score-ed.com

So Everyone Shines...

It's a strange thing about we human creatures. Tell us what we need to improve, and our faults seem to magnify. But when you tell us what we do well, we get better at it...and our faults are less pronounced.

When I started SCORE, I interviewed 600 students who were attending 10 nearby high schools. All 600 were struggling students...some labeled gifted, some learning disabled, but most in that illusive "middle."

The solution to their underachievement was, of course, very complex. One of the major factors, though, dealt with the way they approached learning and how their style interacted or conflicted with that of their teachers. We label it their "personality style." It is another dimension from their learning modality, with subtle differences.

From that difference, in SCORE classes, we learn to "teach so everyone shines 1/4 of the time."

The Melancholy personality is detail-oriented. Since over half of our teachers learn that way, we do a pretty good job teaching to these students (roughly 38%), but they sometimes struggle after they leave us because they haven't adequately learned application principles.

The Phlegmatic personality is relationship-oriented. Approximately 1/3 of our teachers learn this way, and 12% of our students fall into this category. They need to feel valued in order to learn. They struggle if there is conflict of any kind in the classroom. They are best at the gestalt of learning, and many will become our social workers or guidance counselors. They do struggle, however, with details and goals.

The Choleric personality is goal-oriented. Few teachers (approximately 6%) think this way naturally (which could explain why we struggle so with outcome objectives and testing). These students (about 12%) love a good debate and may take an unpopular side to an issue just for the energy the conflict generates. They will work hard for a teacher they respect; they will sabotage a teacher they believe is incompetent.

The Sanguine personality is process-oriented. These students make up 38% of the classroom, but only 2% of our teachers. We don't always do a good job teaching to them; but once we get these students through the system, they become good workers. They are naturally gifted in practical application.

SCORE trains teachers to vary teaching methodology so "everyone shines 1/4 of the time." Every day, in every class, do something that is detailed to energize the Melancholy; something that is relational and reflective to energize the Phlegmatic; something that is goal oriented and allows for decision-making for the Choleric; and something that is interactive and allows for movement and spontaneity for the Sanguine.

When student needs are met, they are more likely to master content. When student needs are met, they are able to adapt their behavior to function as they need to in the classroom.

We study this concept in greater detail in our Study Skills workshop. Why not join us for the next one! Better yet, sponsor your own. Visit our web site to learn how.

SCORE offers centralized workshops twice each school year...or SCORE can come to you!  If you have more than 10 staff members to train, fill in the information on our contact form and we will send you a Training Options flyer, personalized to your site.

SCORE 101: Adoption Workshop:

• Re-think the way you do business with a focus on “What Works” for reaching high-risk students.
• Discover SCORE’s proven strategies for creating systemic change.
• Develop a customized program to accelerate the achievement of high-risk youth.
• Receive curricular materials to assure successful implementation.
• Leave with an Action Plan tailored to your site.

SCORE has helped us to focus the many facets of our educational program to provide a more concerted effort toward higher student achievement.  Classroom teachers are enthusiastic! –Site Administrator

I am glad I found another way to touch the life of a child and help them develop into a great individual.  All children can and will learn–no exceptions! –Middle School Teacher

I can’t wait to go back to school and get started.  I’m leaving the workshop with a “do-able” plan and look forward to the upcoming technical assistance.

This is a great program.  I am so excited to start working with this.  I wish you could have come to my school and talked about the program.  Then they would all be as excited as I am!

Want it for your restructuring team? We can come to you!

Tell us what you need at http://www.score-ed.com/contact.htm

Study Skills:

You will gain skills and resources to:

• Increase student retention
• Improve reading speed and comprehension
• Identify learning preferences
• Enhance student interest level
• Help students listen and ask effective questions
• Teach effective memory techniques
• Improve test scores

I left thinking I had a wonderful few days.  I got home and realized it had been a life-changing experience!–High School Teacher

It’s very exciting to think about the students using these ideas not only for better grades, but for life experiences.

SCORE is a tool I can and will use.  Thank you.

SCORE is great.  I already see a difference in my students.

Well done in a productive balance.

Want it for all your teachers? We can come to you!

Tell us what you need at http://www.score-ed.com/contact.htm

Crisis, Grief, and Loss…and How to Help Your Students Through It:

Grief is a fact of our students' lives (not to mention our own!).

When they are grieving, the way they learn changes. That means we need to reach them differently.

Attend this SCORE workshop to learn:

How to read the subtle signs of a student in crisis
(you already recognize their "not-so-subtle" messages!)
What to do about it, both in and out of the classroom
(you may gain validation and ammunition!)
Where to go to find help
(help for them is also help for you...your job will be so much easier!)
How to change your teaching content and methodology to accommodate crises
(and we teachers are always looking for a new strategy!)

Do you have a student in mind? They're invited! You can bring up to three students with you for half tuition. SCORE teachers often bring the "winner of the writing contest" with them to the workshop, using the following prompt:

Think about something in your life that caused you to grieve. Typically, that would be a death, a divorce, an accident, a handicap, or an illness. Include:

How life was before this event
How it felt
How you handled the event/crisis
How you are different now because of what happened.

You (and your attending students) will receive one copy of SCORE's great book, Crisis, Grief, and Loss...and How to Help Your Students Through It.

PS. Still not sure? Listen to what students say:

I learned that grief will not go away, and when you go through depression do something.
I learned to be responsible and make good decisions.
This week I know not to take my anger out on someone else and not to argue so much.
I think you should go over this every year because it can help other people like it helped me.
I think that if it wasn’t for me, my friend would’ve joined his mother on the other side. (Student participant one year after training)

PSS. Want it for all your students? We can come to you!

Tell us what you need at http://www.score-ed.com/contact.htm.

Smarter, Not Harder!

"A smart person is someone who knows what they're good at and knows what they're not good at. They capitalize on their strengths, and they compensate for their weaknesses." –Peter Jennings News Special

Smarter, Not Harder! is the latest addition to the SCORE study skills collection. It is designed to help students assume personal responsibility for their learning by understanding their intuitive approach to learning as it relates to their teacher's intuitive approach to teaching. Students can then "Give the teacher what he/she needs" in order to get better grades.

At school and at home, Smarter, Not Harder! will help your students:

• Improve their study skills
• Get along better with their teachers
• Communicate with their parents
• Relate better with their friends

Copy this page and deduct 10% from your classroom set. Order on-line, mention this article, and deduct another 10%.

SCORE Celebrates 25 Years of Improving Student Achievement!

SCORE is a comprehensive systemic change program, validated for effectiveness by the United States Department of Education. SCORE provides inservices, technical assistance, and field-tested materials, all proven to result in increased student achievement. To request specific information related to your site, visit: http://www.score-ed.com/contact.htm

• SCORE is not a "packaged program;" rather, school teams design a custom implementation that meets the SCORE success criteria and allows local ownership.
• SCORE is successful in helping language minority and Title I students achieve university eligibility by the time they graduate from high school.
• SCORE empowers students through a variety of strategies, enabling them to adapt learning to their strengths and their teacher's presentation style.
• SCORE's Study Skills curriculum is unequalled, and should be made available to all students. SCORE's primary focus is grades 6–10, but it has been adapted to meet the needs of both older and younger students.
• SCORE's Guidance Curriculum, available only through the SCORE 101 workshop, empowers schools to meet accreditation criteria and empowers students to take personal responsibility for their learning.

What do Others Say?

While school reform is a hot topic of conversation, many educators have not implemented practical programs that can help students live up to their full potential. I strongly recommend SCORE for your school. This is too good a program not to give it to everyone!

Maeva K. Hutter
Title 1 Coordinator
Willard Intermediate School

I can't say enough about how SCORE has positively impacted our Indian Education program. The SCORE program builds pride back into our students by helping them see good points, bring out their strengths, and talk about what they do well while they achieve success in school. Students have recently commented that they wish all their classes were taught like the SCORE class, "school wouldn't be boring." This is the most comprehensive model of student assistance that I have ever used. Yokoke, thank you to the SCORE staff for all of the support that we receive in helping our American Indian students realize their dreams.

Michael Folsom. M. S.
Counselor, Indian Education
Huntington Beach Union High School District

The SCORE staff, eager to support you in your quest to improve academic performance, is always as near as your mouse click, fax, or phone number:

Educational Innovations/SCORE
30100 Town Center Drive
Suite O, PMB 379
Laguna Niguel, CA 92677
http://www.score-ed.com

949-363-6764 Voice/Fax

sharon@score-ed.com