MegaSkills

Dorothy Rich, Ed.D. is an internationally known educator and author. Founder and president of the nonprofit Home and School Institute (HSI), creator and producer of programs and materials training teachers and families to help children learn. She began HSI in 1964 and organized Dorothy Rich Associates in 1980 to extend programs to the business world. Her best selling book, "MegaSkills: Building Children's Achievement for the Information Age" (Houghton Mifflin) has been the catalyst for a series of MegaSkills trainings. These workshops have trained MegaSkills leaders from over 4000 schools reaching thousands of families and students.

MegaSkills® 3rd Edition

Nurturing the Educational Leader Within You®

Career MegaSkills®

What Do We Say? What Do We Do?®

MegaSkills® Moments for Teachers

The Oklahoma State Department Education created a character education web site pursuant to House Bill 1704, legislation passed in 2005. The site combines references to HB 1704 including sources of technical assistance, the Pledge of Allegiance, history of the flag, list of character education programs, curricula and materials, and a character education reading list of books.

The bill, authored by state Rep. Ann Coody, R-Lawton, also gave permission to local boards of education to develop and execute a comprehensive program for character education in kindergarten through 12th grade. The State Board of Education was required to develop the Internet site for technical assistance available to all school districts. HB 1704 also creates a character education honor roll to recognize districts that have successfully implemented a comprehensive school district-wide program of character education and highlight the positive impacts the program has had on each school or school district.

The bill allows the State Board of Education to award $1,000 grants, subject to available funding, to 10 districts for establishment of pilot projects to implement a comprehensive character education program in the district. The measure requires that the projects be innovative programs to serve as models for other districts. Proposals for pilot projects will be considered on a statewide competitive basis. The bill was signed by Gov. Brad Henry on June 6, 2005 and went into effect July 1, 2005.

Q: How does MegaSkills Method meet federal and states mandates for character education?

A: The MegaSkills Method teaches the following concepts as recommended in federal and state legislation:

Caring

• Caring - showing concern for others

• Common Sense - using good judgment

Fairness

• Problem Solving - putting what you know and what you can do into action

• Initiative - moving into action

Citizenship

• Motivation - wanting to do it

• Perseverance - completing what you start

Trustworthiness

• Confidence - feeling able to do it

• Effort - being willing to work hard

Respect

• Teamwork - working with others

Responsibility

• Responsibility - doing what’s right

• Focus - concentrating with a goal in mind

Q: What makes MegaSkills different from other programs? Two points come most immediately to mind.

A: MegaSkills is an academically centered teacher training program. It focuses on the habits, behaviors and attitudes children need in order to be able to learn… and yes, also to be able to do well on tests. While MegaSkills builds positive behaviors and reduces discipline problems, it is not because it is a discipline program. It is because it builds the inner capacities of children…the inner engines for self-discipline and for learning.

The MegaSkills parent program is designed to involve parents as character education partners. Some of the greatest impact of the MegaSkills program is in what happens to other adults in children’s lives- -their parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters. This is the curriculum of the home that affects all that we do in school.

Q: Is the MegaSkills Method an award winning program with an established track record?

A: Yes! The MegaSkills Program has been adopted by schools across the nations. Sites where the program has been used with success include San Diego, CA; Broward County, FL; Fort Wayne, IN: Louisville, KY, Lebanon and Middletown, OH, and Lyford, TX

The MegaSkills Classroom Program is identified by the Character Education Partnership (CEP) as a nationally recognized character education program. Over 200 websites connect MegaSkills and character education.

Q: What outcomes have been reported for the program?

A: Independent studies have found the following academic and character impacts:

* Studies conducted at Louisville, KY and San Diego, CA indicated more student respect: consideration for others (83-92%); Fewer discipline problems (73-93%) More able to work cooperatively (89-93%); More interest in school (80-86%).
* In Lyford, TX, a 96% Hispanic Rio Grande community, MegaSkills had a strong impact in helping students and families. One principal remarked, “MegaSkills has done wonders for us. We’ve had a huge drop in discipline referrals. In addition to positive outcomes in discipline and school climate, students in the Lyford schools showed strong gains on the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills tests (TAAS).

MegaSkills are the attitudes, the behaviors, the habits that determine achievement in school and beyond. The work of the MegaSkills Education Center is to build success for children, parents and teachers through books, trainings, conference presentations, and partnerships with schools and communities nationally and internationally.

MegaSkills programs, now in over 4000 schools in 48 states, serve diverse communities by training teachers to conduct workshops and provide home learning "recipes" for families. Evaluation indicates higher achievement scores, decreased TV watching, increased homework time, higher attendance and decreased discipline incidents. New Institute programs focus also on adults as learners.

The Oklahoma Education Association is the approved provider of MegaSkills training for Oklahoma.  OEA Teaching and Learning Center staff offer the training to school districts, school sites and local associations upon request.