What is iRYZE?
Educators and instructors should feel free to
iRYZE is a series of Ryzers (workbooks) that
empowers teenagers to reach their highest
potential by creating success on their own
terms. It offers teenagers tools for success
in school and life. iRYZE is simple, direct,
and self-guiding which allows the teenager
to define who they are and create their
own portfolio for organization, studying,
communication, and self-confidence.
The Ryzers provide different life tools with
self-exploratory questions, the ability to set
goals, develop new tools, add artwork and
create an individualized portfolio.
iRYZE understands that adults cannot expect
teenagers to act like adults. Therefore, the
goal is to empower teenagers to define who
they are and create their own success. iRYZE
offers a variety of tools to enhance their level
of functioning. The teenager decides what
would be helpful and how they will use it.
Ideally, there is no one way to use iRYZE.
The Ryzers can be used in any order
and the tools can be discussed
and applied as it relates to
individuals, small or large
groups or the general population as a whole.
experiment, add tools, design projects, and
participate in the iRYZE experience.
Why is iRYZE important?
One out of four high school students drop
out before graduation. Students need to be
given the tools in order to succeed in school
and life.
Adolescence coincides with one of the most
significant developmental milestones – the
transition from elementary school to middle/
high school. In elementary school, students
are, for the most part, in one classroom for
the majority of the day. The teacher is able
to monitor the child’s academic skills, study
habits, and behaviors. This type of support
is necessary for children to successfully
transition into adolescence and the
expectation of greater independence.
The student beginning middle/
upper school is expected to
be capable of greater
responsibility and
autonomy. This means
having the necessary
tools for time management, organization,
conflict resolution, and study skills. This also
includes the teenager being able to balance
school, social, extracurricular, and family.
This transition coincides with the most
significant psycho-social change in this young
person’s life. Puberty often represents the more
obvious physical changes, yet the emotional,
social and cognitive processes are dramatically
changing and there is no manual for how it works.
Teenagers need a solid foundation to feel
some sense of grounding when everything
inside and out is changing. iRYZE provides
the foundation to support young people
taking care of themselves while managing
the demands of school and life.
How to present iRYZE?
iRYZE empowers students by explaining
that the student is the brand and the Ryzer
is their portfolio. iRYZE is an opportunity for
students to define who they are and how they
want to be successful in life. It is a chance for
them to identify their tools for success on
their own terms.
How to use iRYZE?
iRYZE can be its own class or
incorporated into any part of
the academic day;
• Home room; discuss, complete and review
tools for 15-30 mins a day or every other day
• Life skills/home economic; a month, half of
semester or semester to work on students
developing their Ryzer portfolio
• Psychology; an experiential exercise to
understand developmental psychology and
the expectations of adolescence
• Peer advocacy; students work together
separate from the instructor and check-in or
discuss ways they are using the tools and Ryzers
• An advisory curriculum; a self-contained
syllabus with workbook to develop or build
into the life skills program
• An after-school enrichment program; a
program for teenagers who want or need
additional support to succeed in school and life
• A manual for new students; all new students
receive iRYZE as part of the orientation packet
to support their success at the new school
• Students transitioning into middle and
high school; iRYZE can be used
to provide fundamentals
and developmental
expectation for the
transition year
• A tool for self growth for an individual
student or group of students; individual
students or a group can focus on a specific
skill set or Ryzer
What is the process?
The Ryzer Portfolio consists of two modules;
Base and Evolve.
Base Module includes the Org Ryzer
(organizational skills) and Skills Ryzer
(study skills). These two Ryzers are pretty
straightforward.
1. The Ryzers can be presented in a didactic
manner where the teacher reviews the tools,
make sure the class understands the material,
and the students work independently or as
homework on the exercises.
2. The follow-up is a classroom discussion
about the tools or individual students present
their responses to the class. The discussion
can focus on goals, implementation and
continue evaluation of progress.
Evolve Module includes the Vox Ryzer
(communication/relationship) and Core Ryzer
(defining self and confidence). These two
Ryzers present more complex and
abstract concepts that need
more teaching and discussion.
1. The Evolve Module is all about the
presentation of the concepts (i.e. roleplay,
personal examples, art, literature, historical
figures, cultural references, stories, artwork).
2. It is important to allow students to digest
the material so it takes on a sense of meaning
and purpose in their life.
3. It is helpful for the instructor to complete
the Ryzers (specifically the Core Ryzer) and
participate in the discussion.
4. The exercises in Vox and Core tend to
be more personal. The sharing can create
a stronger sense of classroom cohesion.
It is particularly important to give students
the opportunity to share their thoughts
and feelings.
5. The tools in Core (i.e. responsibility,
accountability) are excellent curriculum
for developing classroom, school, or
community activities.
*Please contact Dr. Stein with any questions,
as well as information about implementing
iRYZE in your school or community.
Dr. Jason Stein
www.iRYZE.com
Jason@iryze.com
310-476-2899
iRYZE was created by Dr. Jason Stein, a licensed Marriage
and Family Therapist with a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology.
Dr. Stein has been working with teenagers and families for
thirteen years as a therapist and clinical supervisor. He has
worked in public and private schools, camps, NPS schools,
adolescent day treatment programs, hospitals, residential,
and community mental health agencies.
Dr. Stein’s work on iRYZE evolved from years of experience
with children and adolescents who develop emotional,
behavioral, and academic problems as a result of not being
equipped to handle the expectations of school and life. iRYZE
is the foundation to support and empower young people by
teaching them to take control of their lives in a positive and
self sufficient way.
To learn more about Dr. Jason Stein, please visit
www.drjasonstein.com.
Organizational skills involves having the right tools

and a system to keep things in order and make

the most of your time. iRYZE will help teenagers

identify which tools work best for them, teach them

how to use them, and improve time management

to balance work and play. The goal is for teenagers

to choose the tools that work best and design a

system that helps them to be organized.

Backpack
A teenager’s backpack is the primary
organizational tool for students to be prepared
and successful in school. iRYZE helps
teenagers identify what they put in their
backpack, how to organize it, and how to
develop a system for keeping their backpack
orderly. The backpack is a representation of
the teenager’s life-on-the-go.
Organizer
(Day-to-Day Assignment Book)
The organizer is the main instrument for
keeping track of day-to-day work and activities
such as nightly homework, assignments,
projects, tests and quizzes. iRYZE teaches
different ways of using an organizer to
increase time management and efficiency.
Teenagers will be able to use their organizer as
a road map toward balancing work and play.
Calendars (Monthly)
The calendar provides an overview of the
coming month. Teenagers learn how to
use a calendar so they remember upcoming
events and plan in advance for projects
and events. iRYZE provides
teenagers the perspective
to learn how to focus in
the moment as well as
being able to see
the big picture.
Finding a Binder System
There are primarily two types of binder
systems: One binder for all subjects or
individual binders for each subject. iRYZE
helps students discover which system works
best for them by identifying pros and cons,
how they use their binders, and what they put
inside them. This will allow students to be
prepared and able to find what they need.
Building a Workspace for Success
The area in which a student works should be
comfortable and organized so they get their
work done well. iRYZE supports students in
setting up an individualized workspace with
everything needed to complete their work and
be successful.
Locker
A student’s locker should have all the
necessary tools for school. iRYZE helps
students organize their lockers by
compartmentalizing the space, keeping it
clean, and restocking supplies. An organized
locker makes for a prepared student.
The way to do well in school is by having good study

skills. These skills will help you throughout your life,

and especially in school. iRYZE helps teenagers

discover what kind of learner they are and identify

the study skills that will work for them. The ability to

know how to study develops confidence by teenagers

knowing their strong subjects and when to ask for help.

Outlining
Outlines are used to organize information in a
clear and concise way. iRYZE explains how
outlines help to structure your thoughts by
subject and/or idea. The goal is for students to
apply outlining as a preparatory tool when
writing an essay, preparing for a paper or
studying for a test.
Note Taking
Taking notes helps you to focus on the
important information learned from either a
lecture or reading. iRYZE teaches students
how to use their own words to define terms,
organize dates, and simplify concepts. The act
of note taking promotes listening, understanding
and writing.
Memorization
iRYZE discusses different memorization
techniques depending on the material and the
type of learner. These include using note cards,
acronyms, word associations, and breaking it
down into parts. The goal is to remember
and recall information (i.e. test, project,
pop quiz, called on in class).
Study Guides and Packets
Study guides and packets are used to assist
students when studying a large amount of
information. iRYZE helps students identify
whether a study guide or packet is best for
them. This includes guiding them through the
content and organizational strategy for both
tools. A study guide or packet provides
students with a way to organize a bulk of
information from a chapter or unit.
Highlighting
Highlighting helps you to identify information
that is important. This workbook helps
students understand how to find the key
points to highlight in preparation for a test or
essay. In addition, iRYZE teaches students
how to use highlighting to organize information
for a study guide.
Study Habits/Tips
iRYZE helps students identify study habits/tips
by knowing how to learn and prepare for
different assignments. Every person has his or
her own styles, needs and
preferences. iRZYE
guides students in
deciding what study
tools will help them
be successful.
Communication skills enable a teenager to express
thoughts, feelings and ideas in a respectful and
mature manner. iRYZE provides the tools for
teenagers to have good relationships with teachers,
parents, adults and friends. This workbook empowers
teenagers to develop a communication style which
includes having a positive attitude, gathering
information, listening to others, and being able to
ask for help. iRYZE helps teenagers understand
that good communication with teachers, parents,
and friends directly affects their quality of life
and success.
Communication with Teachers
iRYZE will help students have good
communication with teachers so there is a
foundation for asking for help, resolving
conflict, and supporting success. The goal
is for students to develop a relationship
with their teacher that is based on respect,
openness, and a desire to learn.
Communication with Parents
It is important for teenagers to communicate
directly with parents. iRYZE motivates
teenagers to communicate by illustrating how
responsibility and maturity will allow them
greater independence and freedom. iRYZE
helps teenagers learn how to talk to their
parents about school, friends, sports, ideals,
values and opinions.
Communication with Friends
iRYZE helps teenagers understand that the
friends they choose are a reflection of the way
they see themselves and how others will see
them. The workbook encourages teenagers
to choose friends who can be trusted, are
motivated, have good values, and want a
quality relationship based on being genuine.
The goal is for communication with friends
to be respectful, honest, and real.
Study Buddies
Study buddies are classmates whom the
teenager can work with on projects, study for
tests, contact when absent from school, get
notes, and build off of each other’s strengths.
iRYZE supports teenagers in developing
consistent study buddies who support
reciprocal growth, maturity, responsibility,
and academic success.
Self advocacy is being able to express your thoughts,
feelings and needs. The iRYZE philosophy is that when
teenagers are more confident and comfortable with
themselves they will more likely be more responsible,
accountable, and make good choices.

This workbook discusses the importance of teenagers

being able to express themselves in a way that they
will be heard. The goal is to empower teenagers to
communicate in a respectful and mature manner which
includes defining their sense of self, tone of voice, body
language, choice of words, eye contact, and appearance.
Present and Represent
Presentation communicates motivation, a
desire to learn and be successful. iRYZE helps
teenagers be aware of how they interact, talk,
and look in order to be heard and understood.
Confidence vs. Arrogance
Confidence means knowing one’s strengths,
weaknesses, and being able to ask for help.
Arrogance is when someone acts like they can
do anything and everything. iRYZE supports
teenagers developing confidence by knowing
their strengths and weakness, as well as being
aware of the negative impact of arrogance.
Inside-Out vs. Outside-In
Inside-Out involves the teenager developing
their own morals, values, and ideals which
defines their sense of self and identity.
Outside- In is when the teenager allows
their peers and social context to define
their sense of self. iRYZE helps teenagers
define themselves on their own terms
(Inside-Out) by developing a clear
understanding of who they
are and who they want to be
in the world.
Developing your own moral code
The frontal lobe in the adolescent brain is still
developing. This means that the teenager’s
ability to problem-solve and make decisions is
still evolving. The ability to have forethought is
limited in a tempting situation, unless teenagers
have a strong moral compass to guide them in
difficult situations. iRYZE helps teenagers
question their own sense of right and wrong,
and begin to develop their own moral code.
Responsibility
Responsibility communicates that a teenager
is capable of greater maturity and independence.
iRYZE asserts that teenagers need to know
what is expected of them, demonstrate sufficient
effort in school, follow parent and teacher
directions, choose good friends, and stay out
of trouble. iRYZE operates from the not-so
secret formula that
RESPONSIBILITY=FREEDOM.
Accountability
iRYZE defines accountability as doing what
you say, and saying what you do.
Teenagers will learn who
they are from the
Inside-Out, operate from their moral code, and
understand the importance of follow-through.
The goal is that teenagers who are accountable
will have more trusting and genuine relationships
with teachers and parents.
Humility
Teenagers often over-inflate themselves to
compensate for the feelings of being
overwhelmed by expectations. iRYZE helps
teenagers acknowledge that it is a strength
to be themselves, know their limitations
and ask for help. The goal is for teenagers to
utilize adults as resources to learn and grow.
Reflection:
“Let me think about that”
iRYZE introduces the concept of reflection as
a means for teenagers to see the big
picture and capitalize on their successes.
Teenagers are often impulsive and seeking
instant gratification which leads to poor
choices and dangerous situations. The
goal is that reflection will help teenagers
delay gratification in hopes of a
greater reward.
Feelings
iRYZE believes that it is important for teenagers
to know their feelings, and be able to express
themselves in a way that they are heard and
understood. There is no bad feeling, yet there
are good and bad ways of expressing a feeling.
iRYZE teaches teenagers how to take care of
their own feelings, know when to express
themselves, and the best ways understood.
Asking for Help
A true sign of strength is being able to ask for
help. This can be a hard thing to do for most
teenagers, especially when there is a situation
where they feel they are expected to know
something and are unsure. iRYZE will provide
teenagers with the tools to know when and
how to ask for help.
Problem-Solving
Teenagers will have problems in school and life.
iRYZE wants to empower teenagers to work
through their struggles on their own. This will
help teenagers be more confident and have
more tools to handle life’s twist
and turns.