Recommended Reading List

The New York State Service Learning Leadership Institutes Recommended Reading List

NYSSLLI recommends these books for teachers, parents, students and administrators for use in planning and developing service learning projects.

Professsional Readings Books for Students Books for Parents and Teachers

Professional Readings

Complete Guide to Service Learning

Cathryn Berger Kaye

A treasury of activities, ideas, and resources, this eloquent, exhilarating guide can help teachers and youth workers engage young hearts and minds in reaching out and giving back.

available at Free Spirit Press

Building Character in Schools: Practical Ways to Bring Moral Instruction to Life

Kevin Ryan and Karen E. Bohlin

“Offers American parents and teachers precisely what we need and so sorely lack – a moral vision of how we ought to live with one another and the heart of what ‘character education’ is meant to teach us: an ethics that is affirmed in our day-to-day engagement with our fellow human beings.” – Robert Coles, professor of psychiatry and medical humanities, Harvard University

Educating for Character: How Our Schools Can Teach Respect and Responsibility

Thomas Lickona

Dr. Thomas Lickona… cuts through this controversy to report on dozens of practical, successful programs that are teaching the values necessary for our children’s moral development. His twelve-point program offers practical strategies designed to create a working coalition of parents, teachers, and communities...

Books for Students

	Volunteering to Help Kids Michael A. Black
	Volunteering to Help the Environment From School Library Journal Grade 6 Up: Kids begins with a brief history of volunteering; Environment begins by suggesting the many options available to those who are interested in service learning. Much of the information presented is aimed at those who have been volunteers and want to become project coordinators and form a new group. Both books reinforce the idea that volunteering provides skills for life while benefiting the community. "Volunteering to help Kids" leaves adults out of the process until the end, where it is suggested that permission be sought after goals are set and the group is formed; Environment enlists adult help early in the game.
	Volunteering to Help Animals From School Library Journal Grade 6 Up: These books for reluctant readers explain various opportunities for which volunteers are needed. Ideas for how to get involved are presented along with what to expect and ways to document one's experiences for service-learning programs. The concept of volunteering is presented as a learning experience, thus the name of this series. Neighborhood gives ideas for joining established neighborhood groups and ideas for starting one's own group. Evaluating the project is explained clearly and concisely.
	Volunteering to Help in Your Neighborhood
	Volunteering to Help Seniors
	The Kid’s Guide to Service Projects Lewis, Barbara A. Over 500 Service Ideas for Young People Who Want to Make a Difference available at Free Spirit Press
	What Do You Stand For? A Kids’ Guide to Building Character* Lewis, Barbara A. Activities that present fun and interesting ways to explore, experience, and strengthen positive character traits at home, at school, in your family, and in your community, True stories profile real kids who serve as examples of character in action. available at Free Spirit Press
	The Kid’s Guide to Social Action Lewis, Barbara A. “In The Kid’s Guide to Social Action, you’ll find real stories about real kids and teens who are making a difference at home and around the world, step-by-step guides to social action Power Skills, ideas for working with government, real social action tools ready to copy and use. available at Free Spirit Press

Books for Parents and Teachers

	What Kids Need to Succeed PeterBenson, Judy Galbraith, Pamela Espeland “Kids who succeed have specific assets in their lives – not financial assets, but developmental assets including family support, a caring neighborhood, self-esteem, and resistance skills. The more assets young people have, the less likely they are to lose their way and get into trouble. Based on groundbreaking nationwide studies, What Kids Need to Succeed spells out 40 assets – good things every young person needs.” availble at Free Spirit Press
	The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens Sean Covey “In an entertaining style, Covey provides a step-by-step guide to help teens improve self-image, build friendships, resist peer pressure, achieve their goals, get along with their parents, and much more.”
	The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens Workbook Sean Covey Companion to The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens
	Growing Good Kids: 28 Activities to Enhance Self-Awareness, Compassion, and Leadership Deb Delisle and Jim Delisle “All of the activities in Growing Good Kids involve cognitive and affective learning, are experiential, open-ended, and product-focused, can be adapted to suit teachers’ and students’ special needs, are flexible in scope and time, and can be holistically evaluated. Each comes complete with learning objectives, a product description (what will the students make or do?), information on related curriculum, a materials list, a suggested time frame, and a step-by-step procedure.” available at Free Spirit Press
	Activities That Teach Family Values Tom Jackson “By using these effective family activities you will be having fun and teaching important topics at the same time. These activities don’t dictate what you should teach, but rather give you an opportunity to share your own beliefs and values.”
	Still More Activities That Teach Tom Jackson “Effective when teaching: communication, goal setting, school to careers, diversity, decision making, resistance to peer pressure, substance abuse, anti-violence. Effective for practicing: conflict resolution, problem solving, working together, anger management. Effective for building: character, respect, responsibility, self-esteem, team unity, values.”
	What to Look for in a Classroom… and other Essays Alfie Kohn “From self-esteem to school uniforms, from grade inflation to character education, Alfie Kohn raises provocative questions about the status quo, challenging us to reconsider some of our most basic assumptions about children and education. Kohn argues for giving children more opportunity to participate in their own schooling, for transforming classrooms into caring communities, and for providing the kind of education that taps and nourishes children’s curiosity.