Solving the dropout dilemma	427

of (1) a learn-to-learn academic curriculum and (2) a personal growth and lifeskills curriculum. It uses all of the techniques we have outlined under "true learning" methods - an integrative accelerated learning model.
  And it certainly is accelerated. The ten-day academic curriculum includes creative writing skills, creativity skills, speed reading, test preparation and memory-training skills in a learn-to-learn context.
  The personal growth/lifeskills curriculum includes activities that develop physical skills, values, and the ability to communicate with peers and parents. Both the academics and the personal growth/lifeskills are embedded in music, play and emotion.
  And the entire ten-day program, in our view, is an ideal model for the introduction to every high school's year - although SuperCamp's day runs from 7 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
  Day 1: Arrivals, introductions, team-building, security.
  Day 2: Memory day - an introductory day that builds confidence, safety, trust and an attitude that learning is fun - with activities that range from morning boogie to mind-mapping techniques.
  Day 3: Communications day, covering a wide range of learning-to-learn communications skills.
  Day 4: The ropes course - to give youngsters an opportunity to experience breakthroughs, stretch their self-imposed limits, work within a team to accomplish a task and to receive support.
  Day 5: Academic class day, including speed reading, academic strategies, creativity and writing.
  Day 6: Academic class day.
  Day 7: Relationship day - to learn to work on relationships with self, peers and parents; to increase self esteem.
  Day 8: Academic class day, including group projects.
  Day 9: Academic class day.
  Day 10: Integration day, including personal mission statements, confidence-building exercises, team skits, goal-setting.
  But that bald written summary does no justice to a ten-day adventure course of fun, games, participation and activity. Follow a teacher during her first-ever day as a SuperCamp facilitator, and you start to capture the flavor of the camp:24
      Overnight a bare college classroom had been transformed, decorated

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