OH! News: Keeping Your Mind Over Your Matters

April 2002

 

Whether you think you can or you think you can't, you will always be right! -- Henry Ford

 

THIS MONTH'S FEATURES:

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MINDOH! LAUNCHES LIFE SKILLS SERIES TO TEACH TECHNIQUES FOR CREATING HEALTHY LIFE HABITS, MAKING POSITIVE CHOICES AND ENHANCING COMMUNICATION SKILLS

 

The newly-launched MindOH! Life Skills Series complements MindOH!'s Discipline Series, and consists of three goal-oriented modules and twenty-eight activity sheets.

 

It's Up to You: The Power of Choice helps students realize that they can take control of their lives by making wiser choices. The lesson is illustrated through the Waterfall of Cause and Effect model, which teaches students to be more aware of how their thoughts affect their feelings, their feelings impact their actions, and their actions lead to results. The module also emphasizes taking responsibility for one's choices and the results they produce.

 

Aspire to Achieve: Making Goals Happen walks the student through a goal-setting exercise and discusses important steps for achieving a specific goal. The Four Steps to Success are presented to show students how to build a plan of action utilizing a specific character trait to help reach a chosen goal.

 

Defusing Disagreements: Listen to Understand explains a conflict resolution technique called The Big Three Questions. It teaches students how to defuse tension during a disagreement and gain more personal power by being the first person to listen actively and respectfully. A Real Media vignette depicts two students in a disagreement, and compares a typical, ineffective scenario with a positive one where The Big Three Questions turn a disagreement into mutual understanding.

 

For more information about the MindOH! Life Skills Series, read the press release at http://www.mindoh.com/docs/LifeSkills.pdf.

 

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FURR HIGH SCHOOL AND GALVESTON BALL HIGH SCHOOL TRIAL MINDOH!

 

MindOH! has kicked off six-week trials in two Texas schools that are utilizing MindOH!'s Discipline and Life Skills Series. Furr High School initiated MindOH! at the beginning of April and has already seen impressive results. "Students really are calmer after completing the MindOH! program," said Glen Ryan, Assistant Principal at Furr. "[With MindOH!], I see more students accepting responsibility for their actions than I normally do."

 

Galveston Ball High School, is also implementing MindOH! for the remainder of the school year. If you would like a 30-day trial of MindOH!, visit http://www.mindoh.com/sneak.asp to fill out an online form, or email sales@mindoh.com.

 

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PENNSYLVANIA'S BUCKS COUNTY COURIER TIMES HIGHLIGHTS CHARACTER'S COOL WINNERS

 

The April 4, 2002 article "Where Character is 'Cool'" recognized five Carl Sandburg Middle School students who were winners in the MindOH! Foundation's first annual Character's Cool Contest. Amy Feldman, Mike Hanley, Andy Jacob, Alex Irion and Stacey Mosely entered the contest by completing an online survey about their experiences in the aftermath of Sept 11th, bullying and school violence, and the ethical behavior and character qualities needed to reduce school violence. To read the Courier Times article about these outstanding students, visit http://www.phillyburbs.com/couriertimes/news/news/0404cool.htm.

 

For more information about the contest including other winners across the United States, visit http://www.mindohfoundation.org/contest/.

 

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OH! NEWS FOR STUDENTS KICKS OFF
 
The MindOH! Foundation sent out its inaugural student newsletter to 850 youth across the United States who said they want to know more about preventing violence and promoting character education in schools. Many of our readers are middle school students who participated in the first annual Character's Cool Contest in January 2002.
 
The newsletter will provide youth with opportunities to get involved with character education and violence prevention in their communities. If you know of a student who would benefit from receiving OH! News for Students, please send his or her name and email address to contests@mindohfoundation.org with the word "subscribe" in the subject line.
 

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FEATURED CHARACTER EDUCATION LINKS FOR APRIL
 

Check out the following Web sites to learn more about character education:

 

 

ABOUT OH! NEWS

OH! News is a free monthly email newsletter distributed by MindOH! (www.mindoh.com). MindOH! is dedicated to providing young people with the necessary tools to develop strong character traits and a healthy self-concept. The first company to deliver Web-based character education combining Flash and Real Media to create interactive computer modules, MindOH! teaches students problem-solving techniques and communication skills, reinforcing universally held virtues such as respect and responsibility.

 

Approximately 570 people currently subscribe to OH! News. Please pass this email along to anyone interested in character education and empowering our nation's youth to practice ethical behavior. To subscribe or unsubscribe, send email to news@mindoh.com.

 

OH! News welcomes contributions and feedback. For more information, visit MindOH! at www.mindoh.com, the MindOH! Foundation at www.mindohfoundation.org, or email news@mindoh.com.