A friend just shared this with me:
"I believe that work of excellence is transformational. Once a student see that he or she is capable of excellence, that student is never quite the same. There is a new self-image, a new notion of possibility. There is an appetite for excellence After students have had a taste of excellence, they're never quite satisfied with less; they're always hungry." --Ron Berger
I think doing something excellent is the most transformational, but seeing others doing things excellently is also beneficial. I love the positive classroom format in Vanguard that allows for that. I've had experiences myself during class seeing another's great work (usually one of the students!) and thought, "I could do that too if I put my mind to it."
(I looked up Ron Berger - he wrote a book called "An Ethic of Excellence." The reviews are good, looks like I need to add it to my ever-growing "to-read" list.)
Showing posts with label books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label books. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Book selection guidelines and suggestions
"When you gather data, you become informed. When you read, you develop wisdom." Bauer, Well-trained Mind p. 24
Amen. I will reserve the championing of the why of classics in education for other posts. Classics--books, art, poetry, the lives of people--are truly the crux of a leadership education. They are ideas and examples that bring you face to face with greatness and can be read again and again and again. They motivate and inspire you to do more. (If you still need to be sold on the value of classics at this point, you should probably go back and read all the books on the "Methods Behind the Madness" list :).) While there are many list of "classics" (like ones I have linked to below), one should not be limited to officially designated classics in a prayerful reflection of which books to select for a year.
What may be a classic to one group, may not be the same for another. I expect the list of books a group uses to delve into understanding and ultimate intelligence to be as varied and unique as the individual scholars in their group :). As with all things in Vanguard, I would follow the same path Karen outlined for creating inspirements which I also used in my suggested post on "Planning the new year." However, here are some of those same initial ideas to consider specifically before selecting your books for the year. (Thanks, Marni, for your contribution!)
1. Pray.
2. Have the mentor in charge of that lens call for a temporary committee of all interested persons to brainstorm and select books. (It is great to include youth mentors in this; however, their input can be more powerful and personalized at the "master class" level. The principal mentor should definitely be involved, but it is very meaningful for the person in charge of that lens to feel personal ownership and stewardship over the books they will be focusing on.) How the ultimate decision is made can vary from group to group, but should be done by people who understand the monthly principles. We have done it by verbal discussion and consent in the past of a temporary committee.
3. Use Classics. It must be a classic to the mentor/youth mentors. (See above definition of a classic.)
4. Principle based - While most great books will bring in multiple monthly themes, the priority should be choosing a book that helps round out the principle discussion for the month. What is a strong message of the book? Does it inspire reflection and action as it lends clarity to the principle? I wonder if a book is selected prayerfully and teaches a principle beautifully, if we even need to consider whether it is a classic or not :)?
5. Historical placement/significance. Each year in Vanguard the group may choose to focus on a time period. While it is nice to have an added picture of the time period through literature, this should not be a focus point for selecting the classics. For instance, "Uncle Tom's Cabin" is definitely one of the greats and definitely principle based, but it also gives a great picture of the time period, was written in the time period, and was definitely historically significant in that it helped to bring about change. However, there are also many great books that are not placed in a time setting-wise or aren't historically significant, but they do have a great message and would fit with the principles well.
6. Difficulty - Since this is considered a scholar group we should definitely be keeping in mind the age level and ability of the youth. If a book is simple (like "Charlie's Monument" that you mentioned) they should be meaningful enough that the older youth won't be bored. At the same time, the reading level and subject matter should be within reason for the younger youth. Don't be afraid to stretch them, but a stretch every month may mean less youth reading.
5. Historical placement/significance. Each year in Vanguard the group may choose to focus on a time period. While it is nice to have an added picture of the time period through literature, this should not be a focus point for selecting the classics. For instance, "Uncle Tom's Cabin" is definitely one of the greats and definitely principle based, but it also gives a great picture of the time period, was written in the time period, and was definitely historically significant in that it helped to bring about change. However, there are also many great books that are not placed in a time setting-wise or aren't historically significant, but they do have a great message and would fit with the principles well.
6. Difficulty - Since this is considered a scholar group we should definitely be keeping in mind the age level and ability of the youth. If a book is simple (like "Charlie's Monument" that you mentioned) they should be meaningful enough that the older youth won't be bored. At the same time, the reading level and subject matter should be within reason for the younger youth. Don't be afraid to stretch them, but a stretch every month may mean less youth reading.
I hesitate to even put a "list," just because I am aware of the huge limitations such a "list" creates mentally. However, by seeing the books below and how they are "categorized," perhaps it will help you in your own understanding of how books can be used in different monthly principles.
There is also a link here from the Vanguard resource blog for other lists of books that you can access that people have found helpful.
I have not read all the books on the list...they are suggestions.
Preview and use at your own discretion. You may use any book you would like outside of this list as well, just find which genre it would fit under. Please let us know of other good classics you use so we can update this list for others to use.
Meaningful Life/Real
Happiness
The Little Lame Prince
Charlie's Monument, by Yorgason
Caddie Woodlawn
Charlie's Monument, by Yorgason
Caddie Woodlawn
Endless Steppe
Pollyanna
Dragon’s Gate
Great Expectations
The Tale of Two Cities
Door in the Wall
The Voyage of Patience Goodspeed
Carry on, Mr. Bowditch
I am David (better for month of "Role of the Creator" perhaps)
Education of a Wandering Man
The Last Lecture, by Pausch
The Christmas Box?
Hamlet
Rayna M. Gangi's Mary Jemison: White Woman of the Seneca?
To Kill a Mockingbird
Cyrano de Bergerac
The Tale of Two Cities
Door in the Wall
The Voyage of Patience Goodspeed
Carry on, Mr. Bowditch
I am David (better for month of "Role of the Creator" perhaps)
Education of a Wandering Man
The Last Lecture, by Pausch
The Christmas Box?
Hamlet
Rayna M. Gangi's Mary Jemison: White Woman of the Seneca?
To Kill a Mockingbird
Cyrano de Bergerac
Liberty
Watson’s Go to
Birmingham
Number the Stars
Endless Steppe
When My Name was Keoko
Across Five Aprils
Up From Slavery
Uncle Tom’s Cabin
Lonesome Gods
Legend of Bass Reeves
Roll of Thunder, Hear My
Cry
Witch of Blackbird Pond (1692--Salem Witch Trials)
Seven Miracles that Saved America
Seven Tipping Points that Saved the World
The Alliance, by Gerald Lund (but much better for "proper role of government")
The Kidnapped Prince, by Equiano
Les Miserables
Sarah's Key
Witch of Blackbird Pond (1692--Salem Witch Trials)
Seven Miracles that Saved America
Seven Tipping Points that Saved the World
The Alliance, by Gerald Lund (but much better for "proper role of government")
The Kidnapped Prince, by Equiano
Les Miserables
Sarah's Key
Property/Work
Little Prince
Swiss Family Robinson
Dragon’s Gate
Up From Slavery
Strawberry Girl
Do Hard Things
Sign of the Beaver
40 Acres and a Mule
Laddie
A Long Walk to Water, by Park? (better for Citizenship, but could easily fit here)
Carry on, Mr. Bowditch
Discovering Isaac, by Behunin
Charlie's Monument,
Wheel on the School
The Single Shard, by Park
Laddie
A Long Walk to Water, by Park? (better for Citizenship, but could easily fit here)
Carry on, Mr. Bowditch
Discovering Isaac, by Behunin
Charlie's Monument,
Wheel on the School
The Single Shard, by Park
Kon Tiki (great book for exploration or antiquity)
Poor Richard's Almanac by Franklin
These is my Words (1800's)
Oliver Twist (1800's)
Poor Richard's Almanac by Franklin
These is my Words (1800's)
Oliver Twist (1800's)
Role of the Creator/Natural Law
Bronze Bow
In My Father’s House
Standing for Something
A Heart Like His
The Dream Giver
St. Joan—by Twain
Lion, Witch, and the
Wardrobe
Prince Caspian
Pollyanna
Pollyanna
Swiss Family Robinson
The Chosen
Fire and the Covenant
Seven Miracles
Seven Tipping Points
St. Joan, by Twain (best fit here, hard to read, but amazing!)
Discovering Isaac, by Behunin
The Lost Prince, by Burnett
The Alchemist, by Coehlo
The Real George Washington or Thomas Jefferson
The Screwtape Letters, by Lewis
Mere Christianity, by Lewis
The Last Battle, by Lewis
"All's well that End's well" as a somewhat broken example, Shakespeare
The Jungle Book (1899)
To Kill a Mockingbird
The Scarlet Letter (Hawthorne)
The Witch from Blackbird Pond (Salem Witch Trials, 1692)
Poor Richard's Almanac (laws...)
Fire and the Covenant
Seven Miracles
Seven Tipping Points
St. Joan, by Twain (best fit here, hard to read, but amazing!)
Discovering Isaac, by Behunin
The Lost Prince, by Burnett
The Alchemist, by Coehlo
The Real George Washington or Thomas Jefferson
The Screwtape Letters, by Lewis
Mere Christianity, by Lewis
The Last Battle, by Lewis
"All's well that End's well" as a somewhat broken example, Shakespeare
The Jungle Book (1899)
To Kill a Mockingbird
The Scarlet Letter (Hawthorne)
The Witch from Blackbird Pond (Salem Witch Trials, 1692)
Poor Richard's Almanac (laws...)
Service-Oriented Leadership
Little Lord Fauntleroy
Little Lame Prince
Little Princess
Goose Girl
Elantris
River Secrets
Otto and the Silver Hand
The Seer and the Sword (Also great for citizenship month)-fantasy novel with contrasting examples of leadership as well as people who make sacrifices to do the right thing; clean book, enjoyable to read...great for an end of the year selection :).
Watership Down, by Adams
The Seer and the Sword (Also great for citizenship month)-fantasy novel with contrasting examples of leadership as well as people who make sacrifices to do the right thing; clean book, enjoyable to read...great for an end of the year selection :).
Watership Down, by Adams
The Lost Prince, by Burnett
Princess Academy, by Hale
The Seer and the Stone
The Real George Washington
The Real Thomas Jefferson
The Lord of the Rings series by Tolkein
Walking Drum (12/13th cent) by L'amour
Louis Braille: The Boy who invented the Books for the Blind
Up from Slavery (this one and the one above would go together well...)
The White Stag (situated ancient history/medieval times...could work for "expansion" theme)
To Kill a Mockingbird
"A Tale of Two Cities" by Dickens (situation: French Revolution of 1789)
Cyrano de Bergerac
Society
Princess Academy, by Hale
The Seer and the Stone
The Real George Washington
The Real Thomas Jefferson
The Lord of the Rings series by Tolkein
Walking Drum (12/13th cent) by L'amour
Louis Braille: The Boy who invented the Books for the Blind
Up from Slavery (this one and the one above would go together well...)
The White Stag (situated ancient history/medieval times...could work for "expansion" theme)
To Kill a Mockingbird
"A Tale of Two Cities" by Dickens (situation: French Revolution of 1789)
Cyrano de Bergerac
Society
Dream Giver
The Chosen
The Hunger Games
Seven Miracles
Seven Tipping Points
The Witch of Blackbird Pond
The Alliance, by Gerald Lund (excellent and clean!)
St. Joan by Twain
The Hobbit, by Tolkien
Antigone*
Les Miserables*
*these are a remarkable combination (see post on "Outline of Monthly Principles")
"The Giver" by Lowry
"A Tale of Two Cities" by Dickens (situation: French Revolution of 1789)
Watership Down, by Adams
Seven Miracles
Seven Tipping Points
The Witch of Blackbird Pond
The Alliance, by Gerald Lund (excellent and clean!)
St. Joan by Twain
The Hobbit, by Tolkien
Antigone*
Les Miserables*
*these are a remarkable combination (see post on "Outline of Monthly Principles")
"The Giver" by Lowry
"A Tale of Two Cities" by Dickens (situation: French Revolution of 1789)
Watership Down, by Adams
The Real Thomas Jefferson
A Long Walk to Water, by Park
Mysterious Benedict Society, by Stewart
The Wizard of Oz
Hamlet
The Jungle Book (1899)
A Wrinkle in Time
The Law, by Bastiat
To Kill a Mockingbird
Gulliver's Travels (1726) (Check out Wikipedia's outline of "themes": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulliver%27s_Travels)
The Little Prince by de Saint-Exupéry
Sarah's Key
These is my Words (1800's)
"The Virginian" 1800's
The Little Princess, by Burnett
A Long Walk to Water, by Park
Mysterious Benedict Society, by Stewart
The Wizard of Oz
Hamlet
The Jungle Book (1899)
A Wrinkle in Time
The Law, by Bastiat
To Kill a Mockingbird
Gulliver's Travels (1726) (Check out Wikipedia's outline of "themes": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulliver%27s_Travels)
The Little Prince by de Saint-Exupéry
Sarah's Key
These is my Words (1800's)
"The Virginian" 1800's
The Little Princess, by Burnett
Citizenship
Do Hard Things
Hamlet
Tale of Despereaux
Hero and the Crown
Jane Eyre
Goose Girl
Fire and the Covenant
The Horse and His Boy
The Silver Chair
Ivanhoe
The Alliance, by Gerald Lund (but much better for "proper role of government")
A Long Walk to Water, by Park ? (Clean, short, powerful--perfect for Africa...about the Lost Boys of Sudan)
The Seer and the Sword (Also great for service-oriented leadership)-fantasy novel with contrasting examples of leadership, as well as people who make sacrifices to do the right thing; clean book, enjoyable to read...great for a last month selection :).)
A Tale of Two Cities, by Dickens
Watership Down, by Adams
Princess Academy, by Hale
The Wizard of Oz
Goose Girl, by Hale
The Lonesome Gods, by L'Amour
Wheel on the School
The Seer and the Stone, by Hanley
The Real George Washington or Thomas Jefferson
Mysterious Benedict Society, by Stewart
A Long Walk to Water
Stargirl, by Spinelli
The Hobbit, by Tolkein
Walking Drum (12/13th Cent) by L'amour
The Last Battle, by Lewis
Prince Caspian, by Lewis
Hamlet
Rayna M. Gangi's Mary Jemison: White Woman of the Seneca
"A Tale of Two Cities" by Dickens (situation: French Revolution of 1789)
Cyrano de Bergerac
The Little Prince by de Saint-Exupéry
Sarah's Key (WWII)
These is my Words (1800's)
Fire and the Covenant
The Horse and His Boy
The Silver Chair
Ivanhoe
The Alliance, by Gerald Lund (but much better for "proper role of government")
A Long Walk to Water, by Park ? (Clean, short, powerful--perfect for Africa...about the Lost Boys of Sudan)
The Seer and the Sword (Also great for service-oriented leadership)-fantasy novel with contrasting examples of leadership, as well as people who make sacrifices to do the right thing; clean book, enjoyable to read...great for a last month selection :).)
A Tale of Two Cities, by Dickens
Watership Down, by Adams
Princess Academy, by Hale
The Wizard of Oz
Goose Girl, by Hale
The Lonesome Gods, by L'Amour
Wheel on the School
The Seer and the Stone, by Hanley
The Real George Washington or Thomas Jefferson
Mysterious Benedict Society, by Stewart
A Long Walk to Water
Stargirl, by Spinelli
The Hobbit, by Tolkein
Walking Drum (12/13th Cent) by L'amour
The Last Battle, by Lewis
Prince Caspian, by Lewis
Hamlet
Rayna M. Gangi's Mary Jemison: White Woman of the Seneca
"A Tale of Two Cities" by Dickens (situation: French Revolution of 1789)
Cyrano de Bergerac
The Little Prince by de Saint-Exupéry
Sarah's Key (WWII)
These is my Words (1800's)
Summer—get excited about learning!
Last of the Really Great
Whangdoodles:
Comment from a youth about this book: I think it helps you want to use your imagination.
It talks about learning from you mistakes, and not giving in to bad feelings like fear, pride, and greed.
It also talks about age, and how it doesn't matter, but there's something you can give and someone you can help no matter how old you are.
Comment from a youth about this book: I think it helps you want to use your imagination.
It talks about learning from you mistakes, and not giving in to bad feelings like fear, pride, and greed.
It also talks about age, and how it doesn't matter, but there's something you can give and someone you can help no matter how old you are.
Laddie
Do Hard Things
TJEd for Teens
Education of a Wandering Man
Mysterious Benedict Society, by Stewart
Education of a Wandering Man
Mysterious Benedict Society, by Stewart
Books that can go over the course of the year:
-Mythology: use different myths for the different themes they fit in
-TJEd for Teens
-7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens
-7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens
2011-2012
Summer – Year with Miss
Agnes, Mysterious Benedict Society
Meaningful Life –
Charlie’s Monument, The Secret Garden
Liberty – Homeless Bird;
Year of Impossible Goodbyes
God – I Am David, The
Hiding Place
Leadership – The
Tempest, Lord of the Rings
Property/Work – Single
Shard, Remembering Isaac
Proper Role of Govt –
Wizard of Oz, Animal Farm
Citizenship – Fish by
L.S. Matthews, Lonesome Gods
2010-2011
Summer - Phantom
Tollbooth
Life and Pursuit of Happiness
- Carry On, Mr. Bowditch
Liberty - Equiano: The
Kidnapped Prince
Property - Miracles on
Maple Hill
God - The Alchemist
Leadership - The Lost
Prince
Society - Angel on the
Square
Citizenship - The
Princess Academy
2009 - 2010
Summer – Chasing Vermeer
Life and Pursuit of
Happiness - Door in the Wall
Liberty - The Red Scarf
Girl
Property - Little
Britches
Pursuit of Happiness -
Seven Wonders of Sassafrass Springs
God - Boy in the Striped
Pajamas
Leadership - The
Whipping Boy
Society - The Giver
Citizenship - City of
Ember
Friday, February 24, 2012
The Method Behind the Madness
There are some great books and links that I loved and that I feel shaped how Vanguard turned out the way it did, applying the truths that they contain.
BOOKS FOR ALL MENTORS TO READ:
Increase in Learning by Elder David Bednar - chapter 2
BYU Idaho Learning Model
Teach the Children by Neil J. Flinders - chapters 12-14 and 18-19
Norms and Nobility by David Hicks - preface, prologue and chapter 1
Teaching and Learning American's Christian History pages 141-249
A Thomas Jefferson Education by Oliver DeMille
****************************
ADDITIONAL BOOKS
"TJEd for Teens" by DeMille and Brooks
"Leadership Education" by the DeMilles (particularly pgs 40-56 and 153-224 are good for yearly--or more!--review, but reading this book will help explain a lot of the elements of Vanguard, like socializing as families, the value of projects, the need for master-level youth to design their own class for the year, etc.)
Oliver DeMille's address from the TJEd 2007 Forum: "The Eighth Key and the Four Levels of Leadership"--I don't purchase many things, but this is a treasure...very central to the Vanguard vision.
http://www.tjed.org/purchase/audio-downloads/eighth-key/
****************************
EVEN MORE CLARIFICATION AND VISION
Great links and very entertaining to watch, too :):
http://www.ted.com/talks/ken_robinson_changing_education_paradigms.html
http://www.ted.com/talks/ken_robinson_how_to_escape_education_s_death_valley.html
"How Children Learn" by Holt
"Dumbing us Down" by Gatto"Do Hard Things: a Teenage Rebellion Against Low Expectations" by Alex and Brett Harris (two teenagers themselves...written from one teen to another....powerful!)
"Take back your education": http://www.yesmagazine.org/issues/learn-as-you-go/take-back-your-education --Although it omits the key element of mentoring from inspiration, I think it nails a lot of other key elements of a meaningful education on the head...
"Teaching boys and other children who would rather be making forts all day" (worth the download!) http://www.excellenceinwriting.com/tb-e
Unschooling by Oliver DeMille: http://www.tjed.org/2013/06/unschooling-weekly-mentor/
-This is a great article and the principle behind it--how to encourage an individualized education--was part of the reasoning behind behind the "inspirements" and "come to teach." That way, they can go into depth about what interests them.
BOOKS FOR ALL MENTORS TO READ:
Increase in Learning by Elder David Bednar - chapter 2
BYU Idaho Learning Model
Teach the Children by Neil J. Flinders - chapters 12-14 and 18-19
Norms and Nobility by David Hicks - preface, prologue and chapter 1
Teaching and Learning American's Christian History pages 141-249
A Thomas Jefferson Education by Oliver DeMille
****************************
ADDITIONAL BOOKS
"TJEd for Teens" by DeMille and Brooks
"Leadership Education" by the DeMilles (particularly pgs 40-56 and 153-224 are good for yearly--or more!--review, but reading this book will help explain a lot of the elements of Vanguard, like socializing as families, the value of projects, the need for master-level youth to design their own class for the year, etc.)
Oliver DeMille's address from the TJEd 2007 Forum: "The Eighth Key and the Four Levels of Leadership"--I don't purchase many things, but this is a treasure...very central to the Vanguard vision.
http://www.tjed.org/purchase/audio-downloads/eighth-key/
****************************
EVEN MORE CLARIFICATION AND VISION
Great links and very entertaining to watch, too :):
http://www.ted.com/talks/ken_robinson_changing_education_paradigms.html
http://www.ted.com/talks/ken_robinson_how_to_escape_education_s_death_valley.html
"How Children Learn" by Holt
"Dumbing us Down" by Gatto"Do Hard Things: a Teenage Rebellion Against Low Expectations" by Alex and Brett Harris (two teenagers themselves...written from one teen to another....powerful!)
"Take back your education": http://www.yesmagazine.org/issues/learn-as-you-go/take-back-your-education --Although it omits the key element of mentoring from inspiration, I think it nails a lot of other key elements of a meaningful education on the head...
"Teaching boys and other children who would rather be making forts all day" (worth the download!) http://www.excellenceinwriting.com/tb-e
Unschooling by Oliver DeMille: http://www.tjed.org/2013/06/unschooling-weekly-mentor/
-This is a great article and the principle behind it--how to encourage an individualized education--was part of the reasoning behind behind the "inspirements" and "come to teach." That way, they can go into depth about what interests them.
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