Superintendents, Principals, Teachers, & Librarians…

Welcome to Sea Monster Cove High School:

My name is Steve Alten and I am the NY Times best-selling author of eighteen page-turning thrillers, including the MEG series, about carcharodon Megalodon, the 70-foot-long, 50-ton prehistoric shark that wants to eat Jason Statham. It was 25 years ago that I found myself saddled with the daily chore of answering hundreds of email from high school students who were all delivering the same basic message, that they “HATED reading but LOVED reading (my first novel) MEG.” I was flattered, but my target audience was adults. Then high school teachers began informing me that my novel was especially popular among their most reluctant readers and “are there any curriculum materials that go with the book?” Parents wrote, expressing their gratitude for writing a book that “saved their son’s life.” When the Young Adult Library Services Association named MEG a Top Selection for teens, I realized something important was happening – and I needed to be a part of it. In 1999, volunteers and I launched the nonprofit teen reading program, Adopt-An-Author which provides free curriculum to registered teachers, posters, and direct contact between students and author via e-mail, in-class Q & A’s over speaker phone, and personal visits. The program is free, paid for by myself and a sponsor.  (see Testimonials).

“Reading is the keystone of a solid education, and yet getting teenagers to read a book is like herding squirrels — it can’t be done and it will drive you nuts.”

 — A former high school principal.

Introducing Sea Monster Cove High School

One website = Three miracles.

MIRACLE 1: No more non-readers.

Students who HATE READING are only “required” to read three short chapters of MEG VEST, located in the library. By the end of chapter three they may still hate reading, but they LOVE READING MEG. Before they know it they’ll have finished the entire book on their own – a FIRST for many of these new “pleasure readers” who (bet the farm) will go back to the library for the five sequels. We call this “flipping-the-switch.” Why does it work? Because 5 years ago we discovered non-readers tend to be VISUAL THINKERS and these novels are all written very visually, enabling the non-reader to SEE the action in their head. Our Visually-Enhanced novels are also loaded with dozens of color images, maps, and photos… and non-readers use them to read ahead of the rest of the class! This is a common response to having been referred to as “remedial” and “reluctant” their entire academic lives… now they know they are just as good if not better than students in English I. We call those smiles, Pride.

MIRACLE 2: No more long hours of short-term memorizing.

In every chapter there are vocabulary words highlighted in the passage, along with a WRITTEN and VISUAL definition. Students are instructed to:

say WORD

say DEFINITION 1 & look at DEFINITION 2 image

and continue reading. What just happened? If properly done, an ASSOCIATION was created between the word and definitions and stored in the student’s Long-Term-Memory. How long will it stay there? Years… even decades (seriously)! Students should expect to expand their own PVL (Personal Vocabulary List) approximately a hundred words per novel. The same methodology can be applied to ASSOCIATING data in science, math, history, and other subjects. THIS IS THE FUTURE OF LEARNING…no more short-term data dumps. Long-Term Memory Storage is completed in a fraction of the time thanks to our new learning tool.

MIRACLE 3: Creative Learning Experience: Seeding the future.

Welcome to Sea Monster Cove – an entire virtual world originally created for an episodic TV series called, Where Sea Monsters Roam. Features motion picture-worthy special effects and 3D structures that dazzle. These include two futuristic aquariums holding some of the most terrifying prehistoric sea creatures in our planet’s history. But don’t just watch them – grab an air hose and we’ll lower you into their habitat in a cage – all part of our Creative Learning Experience series designed to expose students to new ideas, life forms, technologies, and so much more.

THIS LOOKS GREAT. HOW MUCH WILL IT COST OUR SCHOOL TO JOIN?

Annual membership for the entire student body, teachers and administrators is only $1,999.00 for the year.

IS THERE ANY WAY WE CAN TRY IT WITH A FEW READING CLASSES?

If a quarter century of working with teachers in the Adopt-an-Author program taught me anything it is that the greatest success occurs when the entire school is involved in the LAUNCH. From there YES – teachers can use it as a reading tool, just as new readers will read ahead of the class on their own. What is again important is for every student to have their own membership so pleasure reading is available to them 24/7.

HOW DO WE BEGIN?

Step 1: Register your school (below}.

Step 2: Assign a faculty member as a liaison that we can follow-up with so that maximum results are achieved.

Step 3: Set specific grade level goals you want to achieve; have students do the same. Share with our representative and we’ll suggest an action plan.

Step 4: Help us help you by sending us feedback.

Step 5: Spread the word so other schools can prosper as well. A rising tide raises ALL BOATS.

RESULTS GUARANTEED:

Sign-up NOW and use the program for 90 days to see if it works for you. If you are not completely satisfied cancel with NO CHARGE.