When family or friends come to me with a challenge, I usually send them away with a list of books. It has gotten so bad that my boys will laugh, and before I even get the words out, say, “Let me guess. You have a book that I should read?” This month I’m going to continue my series to explain the six characteristics that will help you live and share your genius. The second characteristic is RESOLUTION. Enjoy!
Iggy Peck, Architect by Andrea Beaty, illustrated by David Roberts. This story about little Iggy, a boy who loves to build things. He goes to school, and his teacher tries to put a stop to it. One day Iggy has to step up and use his genius to help save his teacher and his class. I love this picture book because it illustrates how a young person needs to stick with what he loves to do, even when someone who is supposed to be older and wiser tells him not to. It also shows how important it is to share your genius with others.
Toothpaste Millionaire by Jean Merrill. This is a classic in my house. I love this story as a personal finance lesson but even more as a story about how a young man who takes an idea for helping other people and runs with it. Another great lesson taught is how to share your success and learning with others.
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. This dystopian novel is definitely for the older student. It has some disturbing themes in it but also a lot to learn from it. Katniss, the main character, is moved to action by her sister’s love to volunteer for the Hunger Games. These games are to the death (the disturbing part), but along the way, we see Katniss try to stay true to her principles. She doesn’t want to kill; she wants to help other people. I like asking students who have read this what would move them to take Katniss’s actions. She wasn’t willing to play the game like she was supposed to, even though it might mean she loses her life.
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: Creating Currents of Electricity and Hope by William Kamkwamba and Brian Mealer. This is a true story and has also been published as a picture book, young reader book, and movie. The story is about a young boy named William, who lives in Africa. His family doesn’t have water or electricity. During periods of drought, they have very little food and can only eat once a day. William had a dream of going to school, but he had to drop out because his family couldn’t afford it. He learned about windmills when he was in school and built his own to help his family. His story is inspiring for all ages!
Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance, by Angela Duckworth. Duckworth defines genius as “working toward excellence ceaselessly, with every element of your being.” How could I not love her work?! One of the reasons “Resolution” is second in the list of characteristics to help you live and share your genius is what I learned from Duckworth’s research. I big part of finding and sharing your genius is figuring out and doing what you are passionate about. You have to keep at it and not give up. If you don’t have time to read the book, take a look at her TED talk.