By Leslie Lindsay
Great new series on Apraxia Monday! I am thrilled to share various products to help you and your child with academics, organization, time management and more!
Today, we’re flying right into SOAR study skills, “a simple and efficient system for earning better grades in less time.” This innovative program has been carefully developed and researched by entrepreneur/ mom Susan Kruger, M.Ed. who identifies herself as a former struggling student. What’s more, the program is being used in over 1,500 schools across the country and in 14 nations worldwide. SOAR can be tailored to individual student needs and applied to all content areas. (author Susan Kruger, M.Ed. Image retrived 9.8.13 from www.studyskills.com)
When my daughter came home from school with a backpack filled with smashed notebook papers and wads of used Kleenex, I groaned, reached in and dumped the materials into the trashcan. When it happened again, I repeated the actions but shouted, “Why can’t you just stay organized?” Her face fell.
She’d melt down every afternoon with math homework, flinging pencils across the room and screaming, “I hate homework! I’m stupid!”
She’s anything but.
Having a daughter with AD/HD and childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) has opened my eyes to the many programs and aids out there. Some work, some don’t.
SOAR emphasizes “soft skills,” such as:
- Reading comprehension
- Critical thinking
- Active listening
- Written expression
- Time management
- Organization
- Active learning
- Attention to detail
- Learning strategies .
- Independence
I love every one of those! These so-called soft skills are what will help folks get ahead in life. It’s what drives corporations and long-term success. In fact, in a Carnegie Melon study, researchers found that these skills compromise 95% of top skills in the workplace. Yet, they are often ignored in educational settings, favoring your traditional* math, science, and social studies.
Wouldn’t it be great if instead of long-division, your child’s teacher had a lesson on time management and critical thinking? Or what about an organization module in which she taught learning strategies, binder organization, how to use a planner? (Don’t get me wrong, the traditional* school subject areas are very important, but how much better would they be if these soft skills were enmeshed?)
The School/ADHD Success Toolkit is my favorite product from the vast line of SOAR study skills. Here’s why:
- SOAR is simple! It’s not a complicated regime that will crumble once begun. It’s intuitive and efficient.
- It involves one binder, not a collection of folders and notebooks, just one item that does it all.
- SOAR is systematic and individualized. The ADHD and Student success kit contains a digital portion in which you and your child can customize your own scorecard for success. How great is that?
- SOAR is Rated A for “anyone.” It can be used for all students—good students, “bad” students, and indifferent ones—of all ages/grades and abilities.
- The SOAR Study Skills book is loaded with graphics and easy-to-understand step-by-step directions for streamlining your student’s projects. Love the ideas on how to plan a paper, organizing book bags, and note-taking strategies.
- SOAR emphasizes that all students have different types of intelligence. Take a quiz and learn if you/your student is math/visual/word/music/people/self/body/nature smart. Use your strengths to your advantage to be the best student possible!
(image source: www.studentuniverse.com)
SOAR has generously provided a give-a-way kit for a lucky blog reader!! Here’s what’s included:
- SOAR Study Skills book
- Personalized inventories and action plans
- All supplies to get organized (binders, tabs, folders)
- “How to” video and audio segments
- $100 gift credit towards a Strategic Learning Class
- Planner, timer
- A $299 value all YOURS when you share this post with others (via FB, Twitter, email). But you have to email me leslielindsay(at)hotmail.com and say “Shared—enter my name!” OR leave a comment on the blog so I know you shared. That’s it–good luck!
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For more information on SOAR products, case studies, and to receive a FREE guide to “Conquer the Chaos,” head over to http://studyskills.com/
The fine print: A name will be selected at random on Friday, September 13th. You will be notified by email if your name is chosen. Please check your “junk” mail promptly. Must respond within 24 hours of being contacted with your mailing address, otherwise another name will be selected. Open to contiguous US residents only. Your products will be mailed Monday, September 16th from the Chicagoland area. Your email won’t be used or sold, it is for contest purposes only.
