Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. —Martin Luther King, Jr.

Dear Educator,

In the first edition of Chicken Soup for the Soul, Eric Butterworth tells the story of a sociology professor in Baltimore who had his students survey boys who lived in the slums and predict their future based on sociological factors. For all 200 students, the reporter predicted, "This kid doesn't stand a chance."

Twenty-five years later, another sociology professor found the study. He had his students find the boys of the study, now adults, to see how, indeed, their lives had progressed. They were able to find 180 of the original 200; 176 of them were extraordinarily successful in their professions.

When asked, "To what do you attribute your success," they all named the same teacher.

When they interviewed the teacher, they asked her, "What magic did you weave? Those children shouldn't have made it!"

"Magic?" she asked. "There was no magic. They were mine. I loved those kids."

It seems love is the antidote to underachievement, according to Butterworth...and love is the antidote to hate crimes, according to the hero we honor this month, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Twenty-five years from now, when a student who "didn't have a chance" is asked, "To what do you attribute your success," may that student speak your name.

For kids! For dreams! For success in 2006!

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

Love...the Antidote...SCORE in the Classroom

Learning to love my students grew out of a difficult personal time in my life. Oh, I had always "loved" my students...but I had a lot to learn about what it meant to love my students. Here are SCORE's strategies for expressing love in the classroom...the kind of love that fosters achievement, drives out fear, and transforms hate into love:

• Listen. It is amazing how discounted students feel because, in our busy world, no one takes the time to "listen without judgment or sermonizing." The dividends are astonishing.
• Pet the Dream. SCORE continuously watches as students excel, motivated by a dream and driven by a teacher who knows how to "pet the dream" to bring about achievement.
• "Hold Up a Mirror" when confrontation is necessary. Confrontation escalates a war. "Holding up a mirror" enables students to see themselves. When they see themselves, they gain both the will and the power to change.
• Work for Content Mastery, not just a passing grade.
• Shoot Straight. High-risk students don't respect you if you appear afraid to say what's on your mind. You need to "name the elephant" when you are dealing with issues that you believe will cause them learning or life problems.
• Demand Excellence. Mediocrity doesn't inspire achievement. Ask more; then empower them to succeed.
• Be a Parent and Mentor, Not a Friend. The SCORE motto is, "Every child deserves a pushy parent. If they don't have one, you're it!" It is great if students like you, but they must first respect you.
• Validate Strengths. When we hear what we do well, we do better. When we hear what we do wrong, achievement declines.

When my son entered Point Loma Nazarene University, the leader of the parent orientation said, "We admit average students here; but if we return your student as average in four years, we have failed you because we haven't added anything." I thought, "Wow! A SCORE program I had nothing to do with creating!"

May you add to your students this year until your "average" students excel...your "struggling" students become masters...and your "students with attitude" learn the magic of love.

Our workshops will help you implement these strategies. We're an e-mail away!

SCORE will be exhibiting at both the Beyond School Hours Conference in February and the Charter Schools Conference in March. Drop by our booth, mention this e-mail, and we'll give you $25 in SCORE-Bucks!

SCORE periodically offers centralized workshops...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!
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!
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.

Use SCORE to plan your reform with your site 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!
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.

Train your entire faculty! 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! 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)

We can come to you!

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

Accelerating High-Risk Youth: A Leader's Guide

This book shares SCORE's vision and keys to success. SCORE received recognition by the United States Department of Education as a model program and is a member of the National Diffusion Network (NDN). Every administrator will want a copy of the document for shaping vision into practice and bringing about systemic change.

These pages describe how a school can shape a culture that rewards achievement–even for the most difficult to reach student populations!

Section I deals with The Vision: recommendations and strategies for bringing about student success

• High Expectations
• Partnerships
• School Climate
• School Culture
• Putting It All Together

Section II deals with The Program: designing effective support structures to ensure that every student succeeds

• Guidance Services
• Academic Support Services
• Motivational Activities
• Parent Support Programs
• Putting It All Together

Focus: K-12 Restructuring Teams

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