Mega Skills
Mega Skills
Mega Skills
1) Category:
General program
3) Objectives:
To develop students characters and sense of accomplishment at school, at home, and beyond To build success for children, parents, and teachers with the help of the 12 MegaSkills: confidence, motivation, effort, responsibility, initiative, perseverance, caring, teamwork, common sense, problem solving, focus and respect
4) Environment:
Daycare centers and primary schools Families
5) Target Group:
Children from 4 to 12 years old
6) Key Words:
MegaSkills, coeuraction, school-family-community partnership, general program, confidence, motivation, effort, responsibility, initiative, perseverance, caring, teamwork, common sense, problem solving, focus, respect, parent involvement, training program, educational success
7) Program Description:
MegaSkills are the attitudes, the behaviors, and the habits which promote student achievement at school and in life. The program is based on the belief that parent and family involvement should be a part of students learning process. The program proposes a range of simple and entertaining activities that can be done at home or in school. Several specific activities address each MegaSkill. The activities demand little time and can be done anywhere in the house.
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8) Steps:
There are no specific setup steps, which vary according to communities needs and the activities organized.
9) Activities/Actions:
Multiple activities are proposed in the MegaSkills book (see the Program Material section). The following are a few examples: o Family "intellectual" outing: This activity allows the entire family to attend a cultural event in the community. A play or a museum is chosen by the organizers (parents, teachers). The organizers must then buy the tickets, organize transportation and prepare a reply coupon for the students and parents. The event must be announced at the school and there can be a small community meal before the show. This is another effective way to raise funds for the school and for groups or classes (MegaSkills cultivated: teamwork, responsibility, initiative, concentration). Family follies: A family announces (at school for example) that there will be an open house at their home for families who wish to present a variety show before a public audience made up of other families in the neighborhood. This activity provides children from the neighborhood with the opportunity to get to know one another better. The activity also helps to develop a social network (MegaSkills cultivated: confidence, teamwork, effort, motivation, performance). Sitting and watching: This activity is designed for children from 4 to 7 years old. Parents go for a walk with their child and observe people around them who are working (e.g. in a shopping mall). Parents ask their children questions: What do you see? What is that person doing? What is the piece of equipment the person is using? How is that person dressed?, etc. In short, this activity allows children to awaken their senses and become familiar with various jobs. Furthermore, it is very motivating for children to be alone with their parents and to talk with them about what they see in their surroundings. Children can also gain knowledge by questioning their parents (MegaSkills cultivated: motivation, concentration).
In order for parents to design new activities or adapt existing ones, there is a Home Learning Recipe that describes certain principles that must prevail: o o o o The activities must tie to schoolwork but not be schoolwork. The activities must be serious and be fun at the same time. The activities must have a teachable focus. Lastly, the activities must be easy to do, take little time, and cost little or no money. Around ages four through six, many of the "recipes" have to do with getting ready for school and using primary school subjects like counting, sorting, and early reading at home. Around ages seven through nine, many of the "recipes" focus on helping children get organized, build study skills, and develop sold work habits. Around ages ten through twelve, "recipes" work toward helping children understand themselves, their friends, and their family. Activities aim at developing greater selfreliance, building career awareness, and establishing healthy habits and self-esteem that can help prevent destructive habits, such as drug abuse.
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Financial resources:
In the Austin Independent School District, located in Texas, the 1 196 students (K-6) who participated in the MegaSkills program, either in school or at home, posted the following results: o o o o Improved State test scores; Improved school attendance; Fewer discipline problems; Results better than the national average.
In San Diego, California, the teachers of students who had parents who used the MegaSkills workshops were polled. The teachers made the following comments concerning these students: o o o o More organized and more willing to learn (74%); Improved behavior and discipline (67%); Completed more of their homework (78%); Worked in teams with greater ease (79%).
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15) Contacts:
Harriet Stonehill, Director MegaSkills Education Center Tel: (202) 466-3633 Email: HSIDRA@erols.com Dorothy Rich, Program Author Contact: http://www.dorothyrich.net/MegaSkills_Dorothy_Rich_Contact.html
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