FAQs
General FAQs
Teacher FAQs
Parent and Student FAQs
NEW — 2nd Edition FAQs
Curriculum Licencing & Renewals FAQs
General FAQs
Q: How many pages are in the SOAR® Learning & Soft Skills workbook?
160 pages, including instructions.
Q: Is the SOAR® Curriculum research-based?
Yes. Our program is based on extensive research. Learn more details about how SOAR is research-based.
Q: Is customer service and support available?
Yes. We are committed to providing friendly and efficient service and are happy to answer any of your questions. Just Contact Us!
Q: Do you offer anything for SAT or ACT test preparation?
We focus on teaching students how to learn and retain information. Our curriculum is excellent for boosting standardized test scores that measure content competency (such as federal and state-mandated tests) and problem-solving skills. However, we do not focus specifically on ACT or SAT preparation.
Teacher FAQs
Q: How is the 2nd Edition (May, 2014) different from the first edition?
The 2nd edition is very similar to the first edition, but it has a new name (SOAR® Learning & Soft Skills for College & Career Readiness) and three new chapters. Learn more by viewing our FAQs.
Q: What is the SOAR® Curriculum?
SOAR® was designed to address the study skills, soft skills, and organizational needs of upper elementary, middle school, high school, and even college students. The curriculum includes how to:
- Identify students’ intelligences & SuperPowers (according to Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences)
- Set goals
- Establish priorities
- Manage time
- Organizing papers, desk, & other space
- Speak & listen effectively
- Read and understand textbooks
- Take notes
- Study for tests
- Write research papers
- Prepare for presentations
- Track goals for the long-term
SOAR® Learning & Soft Skills (2nd Edition of SOAR® Study Skills) covers 100% of the Common Core Anchor Standards for College & Career Readiness.
Q: How can I be assured that SOAR® is effective?
SOAR® is proven to raise the average GPAs of students by 1 full point! See a video of an administrator using SOAR®, as she shares her results.
SOAR® is based on common sense…and a lot of research on best-practices in brain-based learning! See our research-basis.
The SOAR® curriculum is used in thousands of schools. See a map of USA schools using SOAR®.
Our clients are very happy and eager to share testimonials and case studies! Access audio interviews and transcripts of several SOAR case-studies.
Q: What do the curriculum licenses include?
A curriculum license includes:
- Our popular, “done-for-you” Multi-Media Teacher’s Guide
- Student workbooks and/or licenses for student apps
- Online portal for accessing free bonus material
- Additional resources and services are available; see more details about the SOAR® Learning & Soft Skills Curriculum in the SOAR Store.
Q: How long is a curriculum license valid?
A curriculum license is valid until June 30th of the following year (for example, licenses purchased on February 1, 2016, would be good through June 30, 2017).
Q: Is there a way that I can see what is included with the SOAR® Learning & Soft Skills Curriculum?
Yes! Simply go to our "What is SOAR? page and fill in your information on the right side of the screen; you will receive access to a digital review copy, video preview of the MMTG, and video preview of the SOAR® app.
Q: How much time is required to cover the SOAR® Learning & Soft Skills Curriculum?
Every school has different needs and schedules, so this program was designed to be very flexible! Options include, but are not limited to:
- Year-round class
- Semester, quarter, or trimester class
- Embedded into the curriculum of core classes
- Before or after school programs
- Tutoring programs
- Independent study
- For more information, see Schedule Options and our Implementation Guide.
Q: What group(s) of students best benefit from learning and soft skills (aka study skills)?
The beauty of these skills is that they level the playing field for ALL students! Struggling or “at risk” students benefit from learning how to learn and access their potential. Students who have traditionally done well in school learn how to use their “learning” time more efficiently and dramatically reduce their stress.
Q: Can I use the SOAR® system in one class or does it have to be school-wide?
The choice is yours. SOAR® is a system developed to apply across content areas, so it works well as the basis for a school-wide system. However, the curriculum works very well to guide instruction for a specific “learning/study skills” class. See our Implementation Guide.
Q: Is professional development required?
Not necessarily. The curriculum is very clearly organized, so teachers usually have no problem getting started. We also provide a training video with all curriculum packages. However, training/professional development is recommended when more than 2-3 teachers are implementing the program, and especially for a school-wide implementation. See our Training Options.
Q: What other schools using this program?
SOAR® is in over 4,000 schools across the country and 35 countries, worldwide!
See a map of schools using SOAR across the USA.
Q: Can I submit a purchase order?
Yes, we accept purchase orders from schools, only. You may fax or email your P.O. to us; see our Contact Us page for up-to-date contact information.
Q: Is support available?
Yes. We are committed to providing friendly and efficient service and are happy to answer any of your questions and assist with any technical issues. Simply Contact Us!
Parent and Student FAQs
Q: What do you offer to help my child?
The entire SOAR® program is presented in an online app; this allows your child to learn and interact with the content independently.
Q: I have heard of the SOAR® Binder System. What is it and how much does it cost?
The SOAR® Binder System is a simple and easy system for keeping school-work organized. All of a student’s notes, homework, and handouts for all of their classes are contained in one easy to carry binder. In the SOAR® app, we teach your child how to set-up and use the SOAR® Binder. Click to view more details about the SOAR® Binder supplies.
Q: My child has ADD/ADHD. How can this program help us?
Take a look at our ADHD Circuit video to get a clear understanding of ADHD and how SOAR® can help your child or teen.
Q: Do you have any locations near me?
To achieve the great benefits of SOAR®, most affordably, your child can get all of these skills from our online app. The app delivers all instruction and provides interactive assessments to monitor understanding. Other tutoring providers with physical locations, like Sylvan, Kumon, and Huntington, cost hundreds of dollars per month and typically focus on narrow content areas. We avoid the overhead and pass the savings on to you, and we guarantee our results.
Q: Is customer service available?
Yes. We are committed to providing friendly and efficient service and are happy to answer any of your questions. Just Contact Us!
NEW — 2nd Edition FAQs
In our ongoing quest to provide superior resources, solutions, and service to our clients, we are proud to announce the arrival of our 2nd edition in May, 2014.
The 2nd Edition of SOAR® Study Skills has a new name…
SOAR® Learning & Soft Skills for College & Career Readiness!
Q: What is new in the new edition?
- A new name (as mentioned above)... SOAR® Learning & Soft Skills for College & Career Readiness.
- All the same content + three new chapters: How to Speak & Listen Effectively, How to Give a Presentation, and How to Use Language Resources.
- SOAR® now covers all 100% of the Common Core Anchor Standards for College & Career Readiness. SOAR® has always been designed for “life-readiness.” With our three new chapters, we now cover 100% of the Common Core Anchor Standards.
- How to develop “growth mindsets” and “grit.” In accordance with research from Carol Dweck, Ph.D. and Angela Duckworth, Ph.D., Susan modified the introduction to the “Ask questions” section to elaborate more on the brain biology of learning. This insight has proven to help students develop “growth mindsets” and develop the most critical character trait of success, “grit.”
- FREE online bonus resources such as: a video demonstration on “How to Take Notes Electronically,” a simple guide on “How to Verify Internet Sources,” a revising/editing checklist for writing and much more!
Q: What does the curriculum include?
A curriculum license includes our popular, “done-for-you” Multi-Media Teacher’s Guide, student workbooks and/or licenses for student apps, and an online portal for accessing the free bonus material. Upgraded resources and services are available; see details here.
Q: What does the curriculum cost?
Learn more about our curriculum pricing.
Curriculum Licensing & Renewals FAQs
Q: How long is my curriculum license valid?
With the purchase of a SOAR® Curriculum License, teachers are granted permission to use/access the Multi-Media Teacher’s Guide and student app licenses until June 30th of the year following the year of purchase. For example, a license purchased on July 14, 2018 would expire on June 30, 2019. A license purchased on January 5, 2018, would expire on June 30, 2019. Student materials are consumable, but can be used as a “classroom set.” All renewal packages will include additional student materials.
Q: How many students and teachers can use the license?
Each license package is valid for one teacher and 15 students (for SOAR: RTI) or 30 students (for all other packages). Additional student licenses can be added to a curriculum license. For example, if a teacher purchasing the SOAR® Solution has 35 students, one additional 5 pack of student licenses can be purchased and added to the package. To explore more, see our Curriculum Calculator.
Q: How do renewals work? What do I get when I renew?
A renewal will grant you continued access to the Multi-Media Teacher’s Guide, new student app licenses, and will also provide you with brand new student books if applicable (and student supplies for the SOAR® Ultimate package). You will receive a renewal reminder, with instructions, via email.
Q: What do renewals cost?
Renewals prices are subject to current curriculum rates. To learn more, see our Curriculum Calculator.
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