Sandra McLeod HumphreyCritiques

GR 4-6

Written for children aged 10 and up, Sandra McLeod Humphrey tackles common problems that some kids may face such as confrontations with bullies, peer pressure, popularity and verbal put downs. Each story covers serious, often painful issues, which read from the child's point of view and they are asking for help. At the end of each vignette, the author poses questions under "More to think about" and "Trading Places" headings. The latter of which asks the reader how they would feel if they were that child and treated in the same manner. Even topics such as substance abuse are covered in a way the y
oung reader can easily relate to as one of the characters and form an opinion and draw their own conclusions of the stressful situations some children face. Not necessarily for themselves, but maybe a friend who is being bullied or is facing another problem and they don't know how to help them.

To me, whether in a class setting or reading the book at home alone, there are ample opportunities to make the reader think, while raising important ethical and moral issues in a way that children of that age will be able to relate to and reflect upon by putting themselves in the shoes of both the bully and the victim. An invaluable achievement, and I'd recommend this book to parents, teachers and anyone who works with children.

Very importantly, Hot Issues Cool Choices: Facing Bullies, Peer Pressure, Popularity and Put-Downs is a cool looking book. It has great cartoons of older kids that are not corny or "babyish", the writing is not condescending, and it does no
t look like a boring "self-help" book that many kids wouldn't look twice at or be embarrassed about reading.

Another good aspect I like about the book is the authors say these case studies are based on real stories from teachers and pupils who have either seen these events happening or experienced them for themselves. And when you read some of these stories that really makes an impression. Another reason why this works is that there are no "adult" this is what you should've done, this is where you went wrong - type answers. It is written in a way where the reader has to draw their own conclusions based on their own moral and ethical findings.

A book with different stories of moral situations.

Humphrey, Sandra McLeod. They Stood ALONE!: 25 Men and Women Who Made a Difference. Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books, 2011

From Christopher Columbus to Margaret Meade, from Cady Stanton to Jackie Robinson, They Stood Alone! By Sandra McLeod Humphrey shares, in a few pages each, the stories of twenty-five men and women. People from the past, and people from the present who chose a path that forced them to move out, away from the crowd. Men and women who chose to stand alone against the beliefs and expectations of their culture or times. They all became people who changed their world and ours.

Each chapter begins “Imagine this… Your name is…” following is the story of one of twenty-five real-life heroes and heroines any of which anyone would be glad to have their child trust as a strong role model. Taken from the pages of science, sociology, sports, and adventure, these stories will provide insight to children, teachers, and parents.

The last chapter is an inspiration to today’s youth to discover and develop their passion, to have the courage to follow their hearts, to follow their dreams, to step out onto a path, away from the crowd, to stand alone and change their world.

Sandra McLeod Humphrey provides notes for each piece taking readers to broader pictures and a bibliography to expand the stories she has told, and stories yet to be told. Readers will need to get copies of this book that won the Mom’s Choice Award, for each child in their classrooms, for each child in their home, or for each grandchild they love. A retired clinical psychologist, Humphrey has written other books focused on moral education for children including Hot Issues, Cool Choices, If You Had to Choose, What Would You Do? and Dare to Dream!

The author provided a paperback copy for my unbiased opinion.

While this book is marketed toward young adults, I feel it's ideal for readers from 8 to 100. We're treated to the condensed stories of 25 people who challenged themselves and society in order to follow their dreams and make a difference in our world. The vignettes perfectly capture each person's life, giving us enough information to understand their experiences without overwhelming - or boring - us with facts. I found this a fascinating, educational, and inspirational read.

This is a book that helps young students learn about what to do and what not to do in certain life situations. This could be very helpful for students going through a certain hard time, or to just maybe help out with moral questions.

I won an autographed copy from Library Thing and I loved this book. It was about 25 of the most influential people of the world. A small book, but packed with a lot of information. There was a lot of information that I did not know and I learned a lot from this book.

I found this book to be simple and easy to use. It tells about 25 men, and women who made a difference.
I needed to read this. So many facts and information I had forgotten and some people just know the names and others nothing. I was especially bad about the women.
Harriet Tubman all I knew was a slave escaped. I had no idea that she went back to rescue other slaves 19 times and led over 300 slaves to freedom.
Clara Barton I just new she was a nurse. She fought for the right to go to the battlefields and treat soldiers their and saved many lifes. She started American Red Cross. Taught school and helped women to get voting rites.
I enjoyed reading these short biographies about what these 25 people did when everyone said they were wrong they continued on and made life for me a lot better.
I was given this book in exchange of honest review.
Published 2011 by Prometheus Books ISBN 978-1-61614-485-2

Gr. 4-7. "A collection of biographical sketches of famous 20th-century individuals, from Albert Einstein to Sammy Sosa." Everyone in this book are different but in some way they all became successful. This is a good to give children examples of "good" heroes and role models.

-No Award
-4th-6th
-This book is about teaching lessons about telling the truth and teaching them values.
-This book is a great book to teach kids how to make decisions on your own. I would have kids act out about a situation and then ask them what they would do.
-I would have the kids write down a list of values and good deeds they should do
-I would ask the kids to write their own story about if they had to choose what they would do in certain situations

This book will get kids minds racing thinking about what they would do when put in certain real life scenarios. It is filled with questions without answers, so that children can make their own decision on what is right/ wrong.

First of all, I love this book! I think it is a great way to help students learn to think critically, and it helps build their self confidence at the same time. I would use this for pre-k all the way up to middle school since older children are really dealing with peer pressure.

In the classroom, I would have a discussion over certain scenarios in the book, and we would talk about possible actions that may take place. I would also have each child answer some of the questions on their own paper.

If you had to choose, what would you do, is book full of thought provoking questions that is meant to raise some questions in children’s minds. There are no answers given the book just real life questions for children.

I love this book as a teacher! Its a great way to get your students involved and get there minds rolling!

I wouldn’t use this book in a lesson but more as a hook for a lesson on morality. This book would be a great beginning of the year opener when classroom management is being established. This book could be used a as great journal writing experience to allow the students to express there thoughts and experiences in private.

This is a nice book written through the eyes of a teen who is discovering and expanding her relationship with God. It is written in a conversational style through the letters (Leslie) writes to God. She discusses her daily problems and learns that her relationship with God becomes stronger as she talks, or rather writes to Him.

This is surely an interesting read that I plan on sharing with my daughter when she gets older.½

It's been quite a few years since I was in school, but I can remember seeing the bullying, teasing, and taunting that went on in the classrooms, on the playground, and on the bus. Unfortunately, times are not any easier for today's children.

This book covers many of the issues that kids face in elementary and middle school. The book is written in a very conversational tone (to speak directly to the student) and each story ends with "More to Think About" (what should the character do, why do you think the bully is acting that way, etc) and "Trading Places" (have you ever felt like this?).

This book is appropriate (and probably necessary) for students as young as third grade. The stories could be read aloud to the class with a writing assignment to follow up (or classroom discussion). This is a very valuable book.

This read, Keepin' It Real: A Young Teen Talks With God by Sandra McLeod Humphrey, was a delight. It is written as a young girl's diary to God. The book opens as the teen converses frankly and directly with God on a number of issues affecting her life. During the course of her written conversations, the girl begins to develop a relationship and Christian maturity with the God that she starts out blaming for all of her ills. If you want a nice Christmas gift for the teenage femme in your life, this might be the one. Mom and Dad would do well to read this one too, particularlly if you are interested in the many challenges that your teen confronts today.

Hot Issues: Cool Choices is an excellent resource for teachers, particularly teachers of upper elementary students. There are a wide variety of scenarios presented from the perspective of the bullied student, and from the perspective of the bullier; this means that students can learn from and identify with one or both perspectives when these scenarios are incorporated into classrooms through small group discussions. Cyberbullying is even addressed in a story, and this is an increasing issue in schools today. Peer pressure is a real issue that is addressed through stories in this book.

The simplistic scenarios are real enough for students in upper elementary, perhaps through sixth grade. However, these stories can also be used as a springboard for discussion or journaling activities for older students because they may have already experienced similar situations and can write more advanced stories of their own. Giving male and female students classroom practice in thinking critically about bullying and peer pressure can be invaluable for positive reinforcement as well. This book can also become part of a teacher's plan to build a classroom environment that is supportive of positive behavior and open, honest discussion.

I recommend this book for teachers, counselors and other school staff to use in their classrooms. Parents can also use stories from this book at home. This book would not be as valuable for students to read on their own unless an adult can guide them through critical thinking and discussion. There needs to be some follow-up and follow-through for students to receive the full benefit of these stories.

I am honestly not quite sure what to say about this book. I think that it is really sad that this book is probably needed by most children to learn how not to be a sheep. This book has little stories that teenagers may find themselves facing in day to day life, with questions at the end of each story to talk about with their parents. However, reading this book, I felt that many of the stories were very simplistic and that children should be taught these things by their parents before the age the book is recommended for(age 10). Maybe these ideas (not blindly following the crowd, wanting to fit in to the point of losing who you are, etc) should be taught not just by stories, but throughout a child's life.

However, I am realistic enough to realize that this does not happen anymore. I do think that this book would be perfect for middle school guidance counselors and the like. Parents of tweeners would do well to pick it up, read it, and work it into conversations with their children. I am going to get off my soapbox now and go read another book.

As the parent of a child who was once bullied, I can say that this book should be read by every child and parent of children from grammar school through junior high. Sandra does a masterful job of handling a subject that is too often downplayed as "part of growing up". At its worst, being bullied can psychologically damage a child. Even at its best, being the victim of a bully leads to poor academic performance, as well as anxiety and even physical illness. This book helps open the door to conversations between parents and their children and helps kids learn how to make the best choices for themselves. A must-have addition to every kids' library.