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 compensate for their weaknesses. — Peter Jennings News Special

Dear Educator,

Here's to autumn...beautiful and busy! Even in "Sunny Southern California," the leaves are turning gold.

I'm reminded of how much of my life I spend rushing from one class to another; from one meeting to another. I love the energy it creates, but I'm too often oblivious to the beauty of the moment. Especially in October when we are just getting full-swing into "the best year yet," if I'm not careful, I can overlook the blazing colors.

I wonder, in the classroom, if I miss the great moments of a student's life by seeking to get through the day's lesson and meet the letter...but not the spirit...of the standards and objectives. I am constantly working to balance content with relationship. When I don't achieve a healthy balance, some of my students fail. Read this month's article for SCORE's "Top Ten" strategies for finding a way to infuse relationship with content. And please make plans to join us in November in Huntington Beach to add your expertise and enrich our workshops.

In the midst of the rush of new beginnings, let's remember to feel the seasons...to laugh with our students, to balance our content with our relationships. Hum...in SCORE terms, that's this month's article "in one sentence or less."

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

Content or Relationship?

Cover content or build relationships? That is the question.

Both. That is the answer.

Schools of the past were charged with teaching content. Still today, most of our teaching is high content and low relationship. This approach works for between 1/3 and 1/2 of our students. But a 30% to 50% success rate is not accceptable. We must change.

High relationship and low content? No, no, a thousand times no! We have no business doing anything on a school campus that doesn't impact content. Content is what we get paid to do.

What, then? High content, high relationship! We pick up the remaining 50% of our students when we learn to infuse the two. SCORE...and every other effective reform initiative...builds on this concept. It is the only thing that works in today's busy world.

Here are SCORE's "Top Ten" strategies for building productive classroom relationships:

1. Share a personal learning struggle with your students. Strange as it seems, some of our students don't know learning was ever difficult for their teachers.
2. Stand at the door and greet each student by name.
3. Walk around the room to collect homework, one student at a time. That way they can't get through a day without facing you if they didn't do it.
4. Write your own tests, and include student names in the examples or prompts.
5. Tell them you miss them...and what you miss about them...when they're absent.
6. Discuss your observations and concerns with students when you see a behavior change. They're often begging someone to care enough to notice.
7. Share a personal strategy with them. For example, my favorite teaching web site is http://www.ed.gov/free. I find a wealth of information and links to resources there. Hope it helps you!
8. Share a weakness with them. Sometimes, for example, I'll draw something on the board. The problem is I can't draw. After they finish laughing at my feeble attempts, they're more willing to take a risk.
9. Peek over their shoulders as they work and validate something they've done. Too often, we mention only their mistakes. SCORE is successful because we try to catch them in what they do well. When they feel good about their strengths, they have the self esteem power to compensate for their weaknesses.
10. Be their surrogate parent. SCORE's Parent Component motto is "Every child deserves a pushy parent. If they don't have one, you're it!"

SCORE will be exhibiting at both the National Dropout Prevention Conference in San Antonio October 22–24. Drop by our booth, mention this e-mail, and we'll give you $25 in SCORE-Bucks!

Sharon will conduct a workshop for Point Loma Nazarene University's credential candidates on Saturday, October 28. Mention this newsletter, and we'll give you $25 in SCORE-Bucks!

SCORE's fall workshops are co-sponsored by Indian Education in Huntington Beach Union High School District. Please join us!

Study Skills: November 7–8, 2006. Register Now!

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: November 29, 2006. Register Now!

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.

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

Developed by university students as, "Advice to my younger brothers and sisters," alias, "what I wish I had known when I got here," the Study Skills Workbook equips students to increase learning across the curriculum.

Available in English and Spanish, these materials were tested in elementary through high school classroom settings. Students and teachers loved it!

Each book contains five chapters:

Effective Communication defines communication and prepares students to learn notetaking through the process of:

• Focusing and Listening
• Summarizing
• Paraphrasing
• Giving Feedback

How To Take Notes outlines the note-taking process; an excellent guide for beginners.

• Guidelines for Taking Notes
• Note-Taking Practice
• Use of Abbreviations and Symbols
• Evaluation and Analysis of Student
• Organization
• Your Personal Note-Taking System

Research/Using The Library presents an overview of library systems and an introduction to internet research; it builds on note-taking skills.

• Dewey Decimal System and the Library of Congress System
• Catalog System
• Reference Books
• Call Numbers
• Library Scavenger Hunt

How To Study provides students with keys to studying "smarter," not "harder."

• Evaluation and Analysis of Student Personal Note-Taking System
• How Can I Study More Effectively?
• Why Do I Study?
• When is the Best Time to Review?Where Will I Study?
• How Can I Best Use My Time?

How To Take Tests provides students with keys to successfully take tests.

• Preparing for an Exam
• Reducing Test Anxiety
• Objective Tests
• Essay Tests
• Other Question Formats

Focus: Grades 6 through 10, Study Skills Across the Curriculum. Adaptable for Grades 4-14.

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