The following is an annotated bibliography (sorted alphabetically by author within each theme) for Theme II and Theme III of Expanding the Circle: Respecting the Past, Preparing for the Future.

Theme II: The Framework

What Should I Do with My Life? The True Story of People Who Answered the Ultimate Question

Bronson, P. (2002). Random House.

This book is comprised of 56 true stories of individuals from different backgrounds that decided to change careers for very individual reasons. These stories accentuate the fact that individuals are always in transition in some way and opportunities for self-actualization never end. The book is more appropriate for teachers than for high school students however, the background information can be shared in discussions along with specific case studies. Because the transition process does not end after high school, the stories provide some perspective on the reasons young people should learn about themselves, learn decision-making skills and learn to accept personal responsibility for their education, careers, and lives.

Keys to Success in College, Career, and Life: How to Achieve Your Goals

Carter, C., Bishop, J., & Lyman, S. (2003). Prentice Hall.

The first chapter of this book provides a realistic picture of what first-year college students can expect. Very good information is provided on how to deal with a college’s bureaucracy, connecting with instructors, and identifying and accessing student support services available to them. The first chapter is very relevant to high school students planning on going to college. The text provides exercises and strategies on goal setting, time management, self-assessment, reading skills, study skills, test-taking strategies, stress management, and budget planning and financial management. These are all skills that can apply to life and work after college.

On Course: Strategies for Creating Success in College and Life

Downing, S. (2002). Houghton Mifflin.

This book promotes the learning and application of eight principles essential to student success. Each of the principles is addressed in a chapter of the book. The students are involved in class discussions, experiential activities, and are expected to write about their experiences in a personal journal. The chapters on self-esteem, decision-making, accepting responsibility, and self-exploration are excellent.

Becoming a Master Student

Ellis, D. (2002). Houghton Mifflin.

This book has an abundance of useful information to supplement any part of the Pathways Curriculum. It is one of the most widely used books in career development/college success courses in college today. The chapters on memory, reading, note-taking, test-taking, and critical thinking are very informative. The book has a lot of verbiages and requires proficient reading skills.

Power Learning: Strategies for Success in College and Life

Feldman, R. S. (2003). McGraw-Hill.

This workbook advocates a systematic approach to college orientation, life skills, and study skills based on the “POWER” system?P=Prepare/set goals, O=Organize/gather resources and materials, W=Work/Execute your plans, E=Evaluate/review and analyzes results, and R=Rethink/reflect on the process. The chapters on time management and decision-making are excellent.

Your College Experience: Strategies for Success

Gardner, J. N., & Jewler, A. J. (2001). Wadsworth Thompson Learning.

This workbook comes with a CD ROM and free on-line access to Infotrac interactive practice activities. All discussions and activities are structured around five strategies: (1) Plan Ahead, (2) Take Charge of Learning, (3) Hone Your Skills, (4) Get Connected, and (5) Know Yourself. There are many ideas in this workbook that could be used in teaching self-advocacy skills, time-management, and the importance of learning styles.

Making Choices: Life Skills for Adolescents

Halter, M. & Lang, B. F. (1994). Advocacy Press.

This book and its companion workbook are designed as a one-semester course composed of 96 one-hour lesson plans. Each lesson plan includes a mini-lecture, either an individual or group activity and a class discussion. Each lesson is designed to inform students and to help them develop their decision-making skills, which they will hopefully apply in many important areas of their personal and social development. There is a useful section that addresses the importance of family and teen parenting issues.

Interpersonal Conflict

Hocker, J. & Willmot, W. W. (2001). McGraw-Hill.

This text is an in-depth study of the complex dynamics of interpersonal conflict. The text examines the central principles of effective conflict management in many real-life situations presented as case studies. Many of the activities and strategies discussed in some of the case studies are applicable to goal setting, problem-solving, and communication issues that confront students as they make the transition from high school to the world of work or college.

Right from the Start: Managing Your College Career

Holkeboer, R. (1996). Wadsworth Publishing.

Holkeboer promotes the idea that students are the Chief Executive Officers of their college experience. The activities and exercises, while not unique, stress the application of five principles of learning that promote self-management in setting goals, learning time-management, studying, establishing relationships, testing, etc. These activities and exercises are very useful in supporting the self-advocacy lessons in Theme II.

Creating Your High School Portfolio: An Interactive School, Career, and Life Planning

JIST Publishing, Inc. (2003).

This workbook guides the student step-by-step through the portfolio building process. All the activities and exercises in the workbook expose the student to the education and career planning process. The interactive approach of the activities involves the student in stating, clarifying, and exploring their values, interests, abilities, and goals. The goal of the workbook is to help students make informed decisions about their educational and career goals after high school.

Creating Portfolios: For Success in School, Work, and Life

Kimeldorf, M. (1994). Free Spirit Publishing.

Portfolios can help students demonstrate to others what they have learned or accomplished. This book describes four types of portfolios: (1) student, (2) expert and professional, (3) project, and (4) personal. The exercises and activities provided in the book guide students through the portfolio building process from identifying their target audience, selecting the appropriate type of portfolio, to selecting the appropriate materials that best communicate their intended message. The portfolio idea can help students understand how they have developed, what they have learned and accomplished and, plan for the future as they transition from high school to college or work.

Case Studies for First-year Experience Students

Riesen, J., Szarlan, J., & Singha, S. (2003). Thomson Wadsworth.

This book is comprised of 40 case studies of first-year college students. The case studies present a variety of common real-life situations that present challenges to many students during their first year of college. The case studies cover communication issues with instructors and friends, budgeting problems, decision-making issues, study skills issues, relationship issues, emotional and mental health issues, and many other issues that first-year college students face. These case studies can easily be incorporated into discussions throughout themes II and III.

Orientation to College Learning

Van Blerkom, D. L. (2004). Wadsworth Publishing.

This textbook presents specific strategies to help students quickly and effectively understand course material well enough to successfully pass their exams. The author recommends the P2R system for reading (Preview, Read Actively, and Review). For studying she recommends either the SQ3R system (Survey, Question, Read, Recite, and Review) or the S-RUN system (Survey, Read, Underline, and Note-taking). The author believes some study systems are too complicated to learn and students give up on them. According to the author, these systems are easier to learn and just as effective.

Student Success: How to Succeed in College and Still Have Time for Friends

Walter, T., Seiber, A., & Smith, L. N. (2000). Harcourt Brace.

This book provides students with practical guidelines on how to successfully handle college and relationships. One chapter stresses the importance of establishing and maintaining a support network of family and friends to cope with the emotional challenges college students face. The authors recommend the SQ4R study system: Survey, Question, Read, Write, and Review. According to the authors, students who learn this strategy are successful in their studies. One chapter, “Erroneous Assumptions about Instructors” would be helpful to high school students going to college. This chapter presents excellent material on how the expectations college instructors have of their students differ from the expectations of high school teachers. This is useful information to share with students in Theme III when discussing the differences between high school and college.

Theme III: The Choice

A Closer Look: Perspective and Reflections on College Students with Learning Disabilities

Adelizzi, J. & Goss, D. (1995). Curry College.

This book is geared toward students with learning disabilities; however, it provides concrete information on how to help students make a successful transition from high school to college. Copies of this book may be downloaded from Curry College PDF .

Tools for Transition: Preparing Students with Learning Disabilities for Postsecondary Education

Aune, E., & Ness, J. (1991). American Guidance Services.

This curriculum includes a teacher’s guide and student workbook to prepare students for postsecondary education. The curriculum also includes a script booklet and a video to illustrate and practice skills, such as self-advocacy. The curriculum focuses on: learning styles, study strategies, planning for school, self-advocacy, exploring careers, choosing and applying for postsecondary school, and interpersonal skills.

Developing Leadership Abilities: Personal and Professional Development

Bell, A. & Smith, D. (2002). Prentice Hall.

This book focuses on developing and implementing leadership abilities and refining techniques.

Leadership Team Skills: Personal and Professional Development.

Bell, A. & Smith, D. (2002). L Prentice Hall.

This book focuses on how to improve leadership abilities. It provides techniques and exercises for improving personal and professional development and being effective in a work environment.

What Color is Your Parachute? A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers

Bolles, R. (2005). Ten Speed Press.

This book, which is updated each year, is an excellent resource for teachers preparing students for making career choices. Although the text is geared more toward adults with work experience looking for career changes, it is also useful for students. For example, it provides detailed information on expectations and procedures in the career world.

The Portfolio Connection

Burke, K., Fogarty, R., & Belgrad, S. (2001). Sky Light Professional Development.

This book is an excellent companion piece to the Onaakonnan Portfolio system. The text provides ideas on how to get started on creating a portfolio and offers techniques for updating and tracking portfolios. The text can also be used in career development as it describes a variety of professions that use portfolios.

The Power to Learn: Help Yourself to College Success.

Campbell, W. (1996). Wadsworth Publishing.

This book contains study skills designed to support individuals’ specific learning styles.

Learning Assessment Journal.

Carroll, S. (1999). Pacific Crest Software Inc.

Designed in workbook fashion, this text focuses on how to journal. Units include reading log, collection point, free-writing, self-assessment, and glossary.

100 Things Every College Freshman Ought to Know: An Abridged College Orientation Catalog of Definitions, Customs, Procedures, and Plain Old Good Advice about Adjusting to the Start of College

Disbro, W. (1996). Cambridge Stratford Study Skills Institute.

This short book provides definitions, customs, procedures, and good advice on adjusting to college life. It is a handy book to have available for students to pick up and read when they have free time.

Identify Your Skills: for School, Work, and Life, 2nd edition.

Farr, M., & Christophersen, S. (1999). JIST Works.

This worksheet format text provides students with a place to begin their career search and discovery. A guide is provided for students to discover their key personal skills and how to improve them. The text has a strong focus on writing and answering questions as well as journaling and reflecting.

Making your Mark

Fraser, L. (2003). LDF Publishing.

This book provides a student guide and an instructor’s manual with exercises to help students get a job that is a “good fit” by focusing on personal strengths.

Possibilities: A Supplemental Anthology for Career Choices.

Goode, J., & Bingham, M. (1991). Academic Innovations.

This unique book teaches about career exploration through short stories, essays, poems, plays, and speeches from a variety of authors, poets, public speakers, and civil rights leaders. It would be an excellent resource for journaling, using each passage as a springboard to a journaling assignment.

Handbook of Career Planning for Students with Specials Needs

Harrington, T. (2004). Pro-Ed.

Harrington has developed an excellent tool to use when working with youth on career-related issues. The text provides a set of thirteen competencies for career counseling: career development theory, decision-making skills, consultation skills, assessment, labor market information, career counseling skills, working with special populations skills, collaborative approaches, research and evaluation, career service ethics, group guidance approaches, computer software and information services, development, management, and implementation of programs and public information and marketing.

The Transition to College Writing

Hjortshoj, K. (2001). Bedford/St.Martins.

This book provides detailed information on the expectations of college writing

Using National Newspapers in the College Classroom

Knowlton, S., & Barefoot, B. (1999). University of South Carolina.

This is a mini-curriculum that provides lessons and strategies to incorporate the use of newspapers into any academic classroom.

Foundations of Learning and Activities Book

Krumsieg, K., & Baehr, M. (1999). Pacific Crest Publications.

This book provides students with the expectations that they will encounter in preparing for and completing postsecondary education. It also includes sections on “how to create a college portfolio,” “life vision concept,” and “ how to become a life long learner.”

Foundations of Learning: Activities Book

Krumsieg, K., & Baehr, M. (1999). Pacific Crest Publications.

This manual helps students process the ideas and knowledge they are gaining as they prepare to transition from high school to college or work. There are many activities that can be used in the classroom to engage students in preparing for college and career choice.

Developing Positive Assertiveness: Practical Techniques for Personal Success

Lloyd, S. R. (2001). Crisp Publications.

This book focuses on strategies and techniques to become more assertive in life.

Apollo vs. Dionysus: A Philosophy to Increase College Success by 85%

Parker, H., & Crist, M. (2001). Kendall/Hunt Publishing.

This book discusses the major pitfalls that students face in college, and presents solutions for addressing such pitfalls. Chapters address issues students face in college such as sex, time management, basic study skills, and how to develop your own study group.

Making the Connection: Getting Work to Work

Petrick, J. (1998). Informed Decisions International.

This text is intended for individuals who are disenchanted with their work environments and looking for effective strategies to improve them. Readers will learn how to develop relationships to create a successful work environment for themselves, co-workers, and bosses. The book also discusses strategies for creating successful environments in meetings.

The Empowered Student

Raptis, A. (2000). Successmakers Publishing.

This book is based on the triadic system of success that guides students through the process of motivation and self-esteem. The book is designed for anyone who is looking to take charge of their life and presents activities and ideas to lead students in discussion and preparation for college success.

The Goal Setting Journal

Raptis, A. (1996). Succeessmakers Publishing.

This book follows The Empowered Student and provides more activities and discussions to prepare students for college.

Wishcraft: How to Get What You Really Want

Sher, B., & Gottlieb, A. (2003). Ballentine Books.

This book is an excellent resource for creating and planning for the future. An entire chapter is devoted to brainstorming problems and concrete ways to effectively brainstorm to create a solution.

Psychology of Success: Finding Meaning in Work and Life.

Waitley, D. (2004). McGraw-Hill.

This book is a guide to help students prepare for success by guiding them through a series of activities to determine their own personal identity and strengths. Specific areas that are addressed are psychology and success, self-awareness, goals and obstacles, self-esteem, positive thinking, self-discipline, self-motivation, resource management, communication, and relationships.

College: We Make the Road by Walking

Watts, M. (2003). Prentice Hall.

This text is designed as a workbook that focuses on why it is important to go to college and engage in higher learning. The book consists of readings, writing, and journal activities, advice from the business community, service-learning techniques, and tips on technology.