Novel Study- Way of the Warrior Kid

"Way of the Warrior Kid" shows the example of a young man finding a way to improve himself.  

This story is familiar, with similar examples such as "The Karate Kid" from a generation ago: a young man finding an older mentor to guide them towards a goal.  WWK uses a soldier as the mentor, which not all readers can relate to.  The book takes the main character, Marc, on a journey of self-exploration, and this course will do the same.  The class will follow through the book, with students spending time considering their life choices and expectations for their future.  

The point of the class is to help students consider their futures and make choices that support that future.  This might include goal setting, interpersonal skills, self-evaluation, etc.  

Parts of the book aren't realistic for all children, such as martial-arts training, that would require parental or financial support.  The class will discuss options and consider pros/cons of different options.

-- Before each meeting -- Students will be expected to have read the novel to a certain point prior to each meeting, up to five chapters at a time.  We will discuss the assignment given at the previous meeting, some kind of thought experiment or writing assignment about the reading.  

-- During each meeting -- we will discuss the assignment and compare to the book.  Questions can be asked and discussed, especially as students begin to compare their personal life to what the book discusses.

-- After each meeting -- students will know the assignment for the next meeting.  Students can submit their assignment for grading (grades are completely optional) or just have their assignment to discuss.  It is expected students think about the assignment enough to contribute to a conversation; for most students in this age group, writing a paragraph or two is enough.  Students may not actually write anything, but discussing the topic with a parent would get them thinking about the topic and get them prepared for the meeting.

At the end of the meeting, students will be asked to consider what they learned from the book.  There is no test or exam.