Beverly Maddox wrote:
I've deleted the original message, but I remember someone recently posed
a question about character education and literature. This AM I was working
on lesson planning for the rest of the month and found this link on WebEnglishTeacher.
The site is a paper from the ALAN journal and I found it very thought provoking.
It's short and readable and I recommend it to LA teachers on here. I hope
it will be useful:
Moral Values & Spirituality in Children's & Young Adults Literature
" This page provides articles and bibliographies of children's and
young adult books dealing with values in education and other relevant materials."
http://falcon.jmu.edu/~ramseyil/moral.htm
AMY WROTE:
As I was laying in bed last night, I was wondering if it was possible to
organize my language arts teaching around character development. It's something
that I feel like I need to include more explicitly in my teaching. I thought
maybe I could have a "moral of the hexter" (six week grading period)
and then all of our language arts activities would be based around that.
For example, if our moral of the hexter was Integrity, we would have vocabulary/spelling
words related to integrity, read stories about integrity, write on integrity
related-topics, etc. I wanted to bounce the idea off of everyone here -
has anyone ever tried anything like this in language arts? Any suggestions?
Am I crazy? :)
Amy Windsor, CO
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RICK WORMELI WROTE:
Amy, You are not crazy! This is a terrific idea.
I've done something similar to it in my language arts classes, too. Studying
literature and its themes is a very evocative/vivid avenue for students
to not only see but feel the importance of positive character traits. It
might be useful to discuss young adult books, short stories, and poems that
portray positive values with other members of your department.
I can't think of a title right now, but there are books in the education/family
sections of most bookstores that are devoted to just that -- compelling
stories that have strong character messages. Between your writing prompts
for students and your chosen readings, you can really fly with this. Character
development themes such as integrity can be used across other disciplines
as well. Imagine integrations with the integrity in science, history, civics,
art, music, drama, and mathematics. Some folks on the list might be interested
in listing books, short stories, and poems with vivid positive character
values such as honesty, integrity, initiative, responsibility, respect,
trust, competence, caring, sensitivity, problem-solving, and developing
confidence. Here's a few that have worked well for me:
Old Yeller
Freak the Mighty
Grandfather and Grandson (Tolstoy short story)
Where the Red Fern Grows
All Quiet on the Western Front
The Outsiders
Good Night, Mr. Tom
No Promises in the Wind
Call of the Wild
Devil's Arithmetic
Children of the Dust Bowl
Red Badge of Courage
O Pioneers!
Dragonwings
Out of the Dust
Letters from Rifka
The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman
Child of the Owl
Harris and Me
Long Way from Chicago
Ship of Gold
Catherine Called Birdy
Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes
The Water is Wide
Waiting for the Rain
Power of One
Fallen Angels
Enders Game
Banner in the Sky
The Killer Angels
Nightjohn
Hatchet and its sequels
The Acorn People
There's a Girl in my Hammerlock
Flowers for Algernon
Lottery Rose
the Harry Potter series
Lord of the Flies
Canyons
Watson Go to Birmingham
Warriors Don't Cry
I'm sure others will have a lot more titles to share with you. -- Rick
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Deborah Bova wrote:
Amy -- Try the short story "Scholarship Jacket" to get a leg up
on integrity. I think this idea of yours is mind-boggling. So many of our
kids have no models ---
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ELLEN SUGGESTED:
"Speak" by Laurie Halse Anderson -- a young adult novel about
peer pressure. "Let me tell you that once you pick up Speak, you won't
want to put it down. I was sucked in my the honesty and realness of the
voice of the main character. It is by far my favorite young adult novel
of the year. It also opened my eyes to why some students might deliberately
act in antisocial, withdrawn ways."
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DEB WROTE:
While it wasn't a "pleasure" I just finished reading "Speak"
by Laurie Halse Anderson, and it knocked me out! I would strongly recommend
this book to our list.
Also, when it comes out on video, rent "My First Mister" with
Lee Lee Soblieski and Albert Brooks. Both of these pieces gave me insights
into the pain/needs of the seemingly tuned out student, who often slips
through the cracks.
Deb
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Hi all--
I have not been following this thread all the way through but have any of
you read the new book titled "Jackie's Nine"? It is a compilation
of biographies of people who exemplify nine character traits identified
by Jackie Robinson as outstanding. The book is edited by Jackie Robinson's
daughter and is available very cheaply through Scholastic's Arrow book club.
The nine traits are courage, determination, commitment, excellence, integrity,
bravery, (and I can't remember the rest)! The stories include Michael Jordan,
Oprah Winfrey, Christopher Reeve and the like--but also include some ordinary
Americans who do the right thing.
I've been using it for short readings--good stuff
Mary Anne
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