"Once you've determined what your values are," says psychologist Roland Larson, "the next challenge you're faced with is transmitting those values to the people you love."
That's the idea behind Practical Exercise for Teaching Values, the second volume in the Valuegenesis series, written by Roland and Doris Larson, husband and wife psychologists in Minneapolis. This book is a collection of nearly 300 practical exercises to help people think about the values they hold or are forming. The valuing activities are built on eight basic methods: voting, ranking, continuum, either/or choices, listening, solving dilemmas, interviewing, and goal set ting. An early chapter explains each method in detail. The exercises are then applied to values situations about faith, ourselves, others, change, and family. Each exercise encourages discussion and facilitates further thinking about the topic. The exercises work well in classroom or family worship settings, or as discussion starters at school or Sabbath school.
Here are examples from the book:
An either/or exercise in the chapter "Valuing My Faith" asks the reader to weigh concepts about prayer.
Praying is more like:
• stumbling in the dark/walking in the light
• God within us/God around us
• thanking/asking
In the chapter "Valuing My Family," the reader is asked to rank the responses to the question What do youth want most from adults? They want respect.
They want to be heard.
They want to participate in decisions.
They want honesty.
They want love and security.
The reviews of this collection of creative valuing activities have been unanimously positive. After reading the book manuscript, Gil Plubell, director of the North American Division Office of Education, wrote that Practical Exercises for Teaching Values was "a must for every religious educator." Ted Bancarz, religion teacher at La Sierra Adventist Academy, calls it "one of the most creative resources to help youth analyze and focus on Christian values I've ever seen." Richard DuBose, associate pastor of the Azure Hills Seventh-day Adventist Church, found the exercises "extremely helpful in helping youth understand what they believe."
Practical Exercises for Teaching Values can be ordered from the John Hancock Center by calling (909) 785-2091.
