We are strong enough to stand tall tearlessly, we are brave enough to bend to cry, and we are sad enough to know that we must laugh again. — Nikki Guivanni

Dear Educator,

Once again, our campuses are wrought with violence. The staff of SCORE sends heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Virginia Tech. We admire their bravery in response to this tragedy. It seems America is at her best in times that are the worst. Once again, we are a nation in mourning.

Accolades to those who gave their lives to save another. Accolades to those who faced the carnage with courage. Accolades to those who will face their grief and vow to make the world a better place. Our thoughts, prayers, and good wishes go out to those who will lead staff, students, and families through the grieving process.

May you, too, be strong enough to stand, brave enough to cry, and sad enough to laugh as you face the heartaches in your own life.

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

The Splashdown

I asked a group of ninth graders, "What keeps you from listening in your fourth period class?"

One student responded, "Oh, it's my third period teacher. He picks on me all the time. I try to be quiet and not say anything, but he picks on me. Then class is over, and I sit in fourth period telling him off in my mind. All of a sudden, the bell rings, fourth period is over, and I haven't heard a word the teacher said."

Sadly, she represents a number of our students. They are so distraught over something in their past that they can't live and achieve in their present. For that, we have the "Splashdown" technique.

"You are giving your third period teacher permission to rob you of your fourth period education. You quit giving him that permission. Tomorrow, I want you to run from your third to your fourth period class. When you get here, take out a sheet of paper and write out everything you would like to say to your teacher. Don't censor it; get it out. When the tardy bell rings, hold it up, look at what you have written, and say... 'Mr. so-and-so, I don't give you permission to rob me today.' Rip it to shreds to signify letting it go, and throw it away. Then you come to class"

At the end of the week, eight of 30 students wrote, "The splash-down technique has changed my life."

SCORE will be exhibiting at the Charter Schools Conference in April. 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.

Attend the Summer Institute: July 25–August 1, 2007

Get on the Fast Track to student success! Learn all of SCORE's effective strategies at once. Bring your family on a working vacation in Southern California, half way between the beaches and Disneyland. Register for all 6 days before June 1 for a 20% discount!

You receive: 1. one each of all of SCORE's publications (worth $1,250); 2. six exciting, interactive days of in-service; 3. continental breakfast and lunch each day. Register now to receive our Early Bird Special Price.

SCORE 101: Adoption Workshop: July 25–27, 2007.

• 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: July 30–31, 2007.

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: August 1, 2007.

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.

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

At any given time, between 30% and 100% of our students can be somewhere in the grief process. When they are in crisis, their behavior and their capacity to learn changes. Our techniques for reaching them must change too.

This book provides crisis intervention techniques, referral procedures, a synopsis of research on the grief process, principles for helping students through crisis, and a bibliography for classroom teachers, counselors, tutors, and parents to use in the aftermath of crisis. Every teacher should have a copy.

Understanding Grief Reactions describes the grief process and how our students are affected

* Age-Typical Responses to Grief
* The Grief Cycle/Spiral
* Understanding Loss
* Shock/Denial
* Anger and Emotions
* Bargaining
* Depression
* Acceptance and Recovery
* Facing Our Own Grief

Principles for Helping offers practical guidelines for helping those students and colleagues who are in the process of grieving

* In Times of Crisis ...
* Listen
* Be There
* Reach Out
* Help Keep Them Focused
* Help Them Find Their Own Answers
* Crisis Suicide Intervention Guideline

Guidance Tools helps schools implement support structures which reinforce academics while recognizing the needs of those who are in grief

* Counseling to Reinforce the Curriculum
* Building on Student Strengths
* Monitoring
* Intervention/Prevention Counseling
* Mentoring
* Confidentiality
* Enhancing Student Self-Esteem

Guidelines and Curriculum offers help to the classroom teacher and those leading support groups for children stuck in grief

* Active Listening
* When You’re Angry, You Both Can Win

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