Here is another school book that I reread to prepare for teaching it. Tartuffe is a hypocrite who deceives Orgon into betraying his family. It’s Moliere’s massive suck-up to King Lois XIV with the worst Deus ex machina I’ve read. It’s almost as bad as if it ended with waking up from a dream.
Mark's #48 - Where Men Win Glory:The Odyssey of Pat Tillman by Jon Krakauer
In 2002, when Pat Tillman left a lucrative career in the NFL at the peak of his athletic prime to enlist in the Army, many journalists, sports fans, politicians, and ordinary people took notice. Since Pat refused to do any media interviews regarding his decision, the public was left to merely speculate as to the motivation of such radical actions. In my own mind, I figured Pat Tillman was merely an uber-patriot, all-American boy who saw it as his duty to serve his country.
In this book, author Jon Krakauer uses his well developed journalist skills to uncover the depth and mystery of the background, history, philosophy of Pat Tillman. Using journal entries from Pat's diary, and interviews with Pat's wife and friends, Krakauer shows that Tillman was not a shallow-minded jock, but rather a complicated man with deep emotions, thoughts, and beliefs.
As most people know, in 2004 Pat Tillman died from 'friendly fire' while serving in Afghanistan. In the days, weeks, and months following his death, Army officers and officials attempted to cover-up the incident and spin the story to showcase Pat as an example of an American war hero. In regards to both personal details of Tillman as well as the details of his death and subsequent cover-up, Krakauer showed his strength as a journalist.
However, on several occasions, it appears that Krakauer deliberately went off-script to make known his own personal political position. Repeatedly, Krakauer attacked the Bush administration - even going into details surrounding the 2000 vote recount in Florida. On several occasions, Krakauer points out Tillman's disdain for any attempt by the government to use his service or even his death as a propaganda point, yet it seems that Krakauer often does just this for his own political agenda. It was at these points, where this book losses its objectivity and begins to sound more like an editorial than an unbiased work of an investigative journalist.
Ron’s #41: What is the Gospel? by Greg Gilbert
Whether you are a Christian or a non-Christian, Greg Gilbert’s What is the Gosepl? is one of the clearest overviews of what Christians believe. In about 122 pages, Gilbert discusses God, Man, Sin, the Cross, and Redemption. For the Christian, knowing the Gospel is pivotal in one’s sanctification.
Here is an overview of the Gospel and the book using Gilbert’s quotations:
“An emaciated gospel leads to emaciated worship. It lowers our eyes from God to self and cheapens what God has accomplished for us in Christ. The biblical gospel, by contrast, is like fuel in the furnace of worship. The more you understand about it, believe it, and rely on it, the more you adore God both for who he is and for what he has done for us in Christ” (20).
"We are accountable to the God who created us. We have sinned against that God and will be judged. But God has acted in Jesus Christ to save us, and we take hold of that salvation by repentance from sin and faith in Jesus. God. Man. Christ. Response” (32).
"A common view of God is that he’s much like an unscrupulous janitor. Instead of really dealing with the world’s dirt—its sin, evil, and wickedness—he simply sweeps it under the rug, ignores it, and hopes no one will notice. In fact, many people cannot conceive of a God who would do anything else. “God judge sin?” they say. “Punish me for wickedness? Of course he wouldn’t do that. It wouldn’t be loving” (43).
"Ultimately, it means that I’m the one who should have died, not Jesus. I should have been punished, not he. And yet he took my place. He died for me. They were my transgressions, but his wounds. My iniquities, but his chastisement. My sin, his sorrow. And his punishment bought my peace. His stripes won my healing. His grief, my joy. His death, my life” (68).
“Faith is not believing in something you can’t prove, as so many people define it. It is, biblically speaking, reliance. A rock-solid, truth-grounded, promise-founded trust in the risen Jesus to save you from sin” (73).
“Even as we slog through the trials, persecutions, irritations, temptations, distractions, apathy, and just plain weariness of this world, the gospel points us to heaven where our King Jesus—the Lamb of God who was crucified in our place and raised gloriously from the dead—now sits interceding for us. Not only so, but it calls us forward to that final day when heaven will be filled with the roaring noise of millions upon millions of forgiven voices hailing him as crucified Savior and risen King” (122).
Ron’s #40: The Tempest by William Shakespeare
I had to read this again before I taught it this year to my 10th grade Honors class. It is not in the top of Shakespeare plays that I’ve read, but I do like the theme of exile, and the aspect that Prospero is a representation of Shakespeare himself.
Last year at this time, the movie version of The Tempest was released, changing Prospero to Prospera. I cannot figure out the reason for the change, except a political/ideological agenda. The movie was a critical and commercial flop, as it should be. This will prevent future Hamleta and Romea and Julieto films.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdpQcFdfXdY
Ron’s #39: Teach Like a Champion by Doug Lemov
I need to read more about the art of teaching to help me stay out of the ruts that I often create the longer I teach. Teach Like a Champion: 49 Techniques that Put Students on the Path to College is one of these books to help keep my classroom fresh, challenging, and engaging.
As the subtitle states, Doug Lemov collects 49 techniques that can easily be added to a classroom routine or a teacher’s repertoire to engage students in lessons. These are easy-to-implement strategies that will improve student learning. Here are a few examples:
Technique #1: No Opt Out A sequence that begins with a student unable to answer a question should end with the student answering that question as often as possible
Technique #5: Without Apology. If teachers aren’t on guard, they can unwittingly apologize for teaching worthy content (“Sorry, but this is boring but you need to know it.”). Kids respond to challenges, so instead of apologizing, say: “lots of people don’t understand this until they get to college, but you’ll know it now. Cool.”
Technique #22: Cold Call. In order to make engaged participation the expectation, call on students regardless of whether they have raised their hands. Cold calling is an engagement strategy, not a discipline strategy.
Technique #26: Everybody Writes Set your students up for rigorous engagement by giving them the opportunity to reflect first in writing before discussing.
Technique #45: Warm/Strict. Teachers must be both: caring, funny, warm, concerned, and nurturing – and strict, by the book, relentless, and sometimes inflexible. Teachers send the message to students that having high expectations is part of caring for and respecting someone.
I have already implemented a few of these in my class with great success. In fact, my profession goal this year is to try a minimum of ten techniques per quarter, and reflect on the dozen or so that are the ones that work the best for me. It will be a challenge, but I think that trying these can add to my growth in teaching.
The book also comes with a DVD showing the techniques in action. I anticipated that I would enjoy the DVD more than I actually did. It is an added bonus to purchasing this book.
If you are a teacher, I really think that this book is worth a look.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EC0ltKOwF_A
JRF's #37 - After You've Blown It: Reconnecting with God and Others - by Erwin Lutzer
In this small, practical book, Erwin Luzter (pastor of Moody church in Chicago) speaks Gospel truth to a situation that we all have experience in - sin - or "blowing it".
This book was an encouragement to me as I tend to be the kind of person that easily focuses on the weight of sin and when I "blow it" I am prone to let the cloud of my sin eclipse the sun of God's grace and forgiveness. This book was great reminder that not only is that foolish, but compounds my problem by thinking that by wallowing in misery I am somehow able to earn God's favor. Truly realizing the seriousness of sin should not push us away from God but push us to to the Cross.
While it does not even come close to plumbing the depths of the Gospel and its implications for our daily lives and relationships - and here and there where a few cheesy catch phrases that I found unhelpful and misleading - I was routinely impressed with how concisely Lutzer was able to illustrate and explain powerful truths and their applications in this short book.
For that reason I would commend this book to any and all who have ever felt that their sin is beyond forgiveness and that they have "blown it" one time too many.
(speaking about the Prodigal Son) "...the father's love cuts both ways: It beckons him to return, but also magnifies his own rebellion. If the young man returns, he will have to face his own guilt and shame in the presence of undeserved love. Grace is often more difficult to accept than the law wielded with a heavy club." - p.20
"In light of God's grace, it is sheer arrogance for us to hang on to our guilt." - p.45
"Grace should create within us a passion for Christ that is greater than our passion to sin." - p. 67