OH! News: Keeping Your Mind Over Your Matters

July 2002

 Why not go out on a limb? That's where the fruit is. - Mark Twain

 

 

THIS MONTH'S FEATURES:

 

  • MindOH! Program Evaluation 2002: Data Analysis and Reporting
  • Latest Additions to the MindOH! Client School List
  • Forbes Middle School Begins MindOH! Trial
  • MindOH! to Present at Justice of the Peace Meeting in August

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MINDOH! PROGRAM EVALUATION 2002: DATA ANALYSIS AND REPORTING BY DR. BETH MANKE, UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON

 

MindOH! is halfway through a two-year Pilot study of the MindOH! Discipline Series in five Houston ISD middle schools. This newly published report outlines findings for the first year of the Pilot study, with data collected between April 2001 and May 2002. Dr. Beth Manke, assistant professor in the psychology department at the University of Houston, conducted data analysis and reporting. Results suggest that:

  • On average as a group, students showed a statistically significant decrease in emotional distress after completing the What's Up? module.
  • Using the What's Up? module, 70% of students could identify a specific way they could make amends for their infractions.
  •  Forty percent of students have other things going in their lives that may have contributed to their infractions and over a third of students would like to talk to someone else on campus that might be willing to listen.

For a copy of the Program Evaluation (available August 2002), please contact info@mindoh.com.

 

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LATEST ADDITIONS TO THE MINDOH! CLIENT SCHOOL LIST

 

MindOH! is pleased to announce the latest additions to its client school list. Sharpstown Middle School and Galveston Ball High School recently purchased MindOH!'s Discipline and Life Skills Series to complement existing discipline and character education activities.

 

"I see MindOH! as being a tremendous resource for helping students pull out of a cycle of failure," said Dr. Kelly Trlica, principal of Galveston Ball High School. "In high school, our primary discipline actions tend to result in cataloging the incidents and warehousing the students in detention or in-school suspension. Unfortunately, this rarely results in a student's internal motivation to change the behavior that got him or her in trouble. By incorporating MindOH! into our discipline process, I expect a lot of students will benefit and realize that they can indeed change their behaviors in a positive direction. Campus placement of student discipline problems needs a proactive component that is not punitive but actually a learning activity."

 

Check out the August issue of OH! News to read Dr. Trlica's perspective article about high school discipline and shifting the process to better serve student needs.

 

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FORBES MIDDLE SCHOOL BEGINS MINDOH! TRIAL

Forbes Middle School in Georgetown, Texas has started a 30-day trial of MindOH!'s Discipline and Life Skills Series. Plans are to have the program fully implemented during the Fall 2002.  Principal Leonard Rhodes, Assistant Principal Les Michalik, and Curriculum Director Janet Stewart have been instrumental in getting MindOH! introduced to schools in the Georgetown Independent School District.

 

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MINDOH! TO PRESENT AT JUSTICE OF THE PEACE MEETING AUGUST 22

Many visionary and innovative individuals have been in contact with MindOH! about ways to make the MindOH! Discipline and Life Skills Series readily available to youth in their communities. At the beginning of June, MindOH! team members met with Judge Jo Ann Delgado, Precinct 2 (south Houston) Justice of the Peace. Judge Delgado shared a vision about a new way to handle the youth she sees in her court: having juveniles learn character education concepts through MindOH! as part of their community service sentences. Judge Delgado has invited MindOH! to present to the 16 Harris County JPs at the Justice of the Peace meeting August 22. This is a great opportunity for MindOH! to expand its reach throughout the community and the country.

 

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FEATURED CHARACTER EDUCATION LINKS FOR JULY

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

·         Center for Center for Social and Emotional Education: http://www.csee.net/

·         Words Can Heal: http://www.wordscanheal.org/

·         Anti Defamation League: http://www.adl.org/

 

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.

 

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.