This unique resource presents a comprehensive approach to developing student leadership. It serves as a field guide for conducting leadership classes in schools, camps, and retreats. By participating in group leadership activities and building on their newly learned skills, students gain the confidence needed to become leaders in school activities, athletic programs, and clubs—and later develop into good citizens, parents, members of the workforce, and participants in their communities. The accompanying CD provides PDFs of all the reproducible forms and student handouts. Inspiring Leadership in Teens is written and designed for teachers, trainers, and youth leaders to help foster leadership skills in middle and high schools students. The author provides 80 skill-building group activities that will inspire and challenge young leaders to develop their personal strengths, aspirations, and beliefs. The program is presented in six units: Creating a Learning Community Studying Leadership: Researching Inspiring Leaders Creating Leadership Portfolios Understanding Communication Leading Groups Living Peace: Personal Aspirations and Beliefs "By understanding themselves as leaders, students can be confident in their skills and continue to build on these experiences as they become leaders in school activities, athletic programs, and clubs, and then develop into good citizens, parents, members of the workforce, and participants in their communities." —Ric Stuecker Contents: Unit 1—Creating a Learning Community Activity 1.1: Forming Groups: Group Puzzles Activity 1.2: Forming Groups: Name Tags Activity 1.3: Learning Names Activity 1.4: Learning Some Facts About Each Other Activity 1.5: What We Think About Activity 1.6: Rules We Can Live By Activity 1.7: Rules: What Happens When . . .? What Happens If . . .? Activity 1.8: Taking Personal Responsibility Activity 1.9: Working Together: A Ball Game Activity 1.10: Interviews: Presenting . . . Activity 1.11: Distinguishing Types of Intelligence Activity 1.12: Seven Ways to Be Smart Activity 1.13: The Tree of Me Activity 1.14: What I Need to Succeed Evaluation Meeting Unit Resources Unit 2—Studying Leadership: Researching Inspiring Leaders Phase 1: Defining Criteria for Inspiring Leaders Activity 2.1: Defining Inspiring Leadership Phase 2: Assigning Students to Publishing Companies and Positions Activity 2.2: Publishing Company Kickoff Activity 2.3: Completing a Job Application Activity 2.4: Obtaining Effective Letters of Reference Activity 2.5: Creating a Strong Résumé Activity 2.6: Interviewing for a Job Position Activity 2.7: Creating Publishing Companies Phase 3: Research Activity 2.8: Finding an Inspiring Leader to Study Activity 2.9: Refining Research and Writing Skills Phase 4: Presentations Activity 2.10: Creating and Giving a PowerPoint Presentation Activity 2.11: Creating a Publishing Company Display Phase 5: Evaluation and Awards Activity 2.12: Evaluating Individual and Team Performances Activity 2.13: Holding the BlueBerry Awards Ceremony Student Guide: Your Team’s Publishing Company Unit Resources Unit 3—Creating Leadership Portfolios Phase 1: Inspiring Leadership Self-Assessment Workshop Activity 3.1: Taking a Leadership Self-Inventory Activity 3.2: Acquiring Characteristics of Inspiring Leaders Activity 3.3: Exploring Personal Integrity and Responsibility Activity 3.4: Making Personal Agreements Phase 2: Creating a Personal Mission Statement Activity 3.5: Exploring Personal Dreams Activity 3.6: Discerning What I Value in Life Activity 3.7: Identifying Characteristics I Admire Activity 3.8: Understanding Strengths and Roadblocks Activity 3.9: Identifying Contributions I Hope to Make Activity 3.10: Creating a Personal Mission Statement Activity 3.11: Simplifying My Personal Mission Statement Phase 3: Advertising Your Inspiring Leadership Strengths Activity 3.12: Making a Personal Brochure Unit Resources Unit 4—Understanding Communication Activity 4.1: Understanding Learning Styles Activity 4.2: Discovering the Learning Styles of Others Activity 4.3: Negotiating One to One Activity 4.4: Shutting Down Communication Activity 4.5: Communicating with Head and Heart Activity 4.6: Understanding Power and Influence Activity 4.7: Face to Face: Using Eye Placement and Body Position Activity 4.8: Using Your Voice Activity 4.9: Using “I” Messages Activity 4.10: Negotiating Agreement (Skit) Activity 4.11: Negotiating Agreement (Role-Plays) Unit Resources Unit 5—Leading Groups Learning Center 1: Understanding the Stages of Team Formation Activity 5.1: Understanding the Team-Building Process Activity 5.2: Guiding the Team Through Stages: Strategies Activity 5.3: Understanding Leadership Roles Activity 5.4: Card Towers Activity 5.5: Silent Puzzles Activity 5.6: Great Escape Learning Center 2: Understanding Leadership Styles Activity 5.7: Identifying Leadership Styles Activity 5.8: Experiencing Types of Leadership Styles Activity 5.9: Making Team Agreements Activity 5.10: Understanding Levels of Agreement Activity 5.11: Holding Effective Meetings Activity 5.12: Holding Effective Meetings: Practice Learning Center 3: Making Presentations Activity 5.13: Assessing the Audience Activity 5.14: Identifying Audience Leaders and Barometers Activity 5.15: Organizing a Presentation Learning Center 4: Planning—Making Positive Changes Activity 5.16: Developing a Compelling Vision Activity 5.17: Moving from Vision to Plan Activity 5.18: Identifying and Solving Constraints Activity 5.19: Creating Action Plans Activity 5.20: Scheduling Activities Unit Resources Unit 6—Living Peace Activity 6.1: Wellness Wheel: Personal Health Assessment Activity 6.2: When Am I in My Power? Activity 6.3: Touching My Spirit: What Is Greater Than I Am? Activity 6.4: Personal Transformation Activity 6.5: Affirmations Activity 6.6: Setting Boundaries Activity 6.7: Asking for Forgiveness Activity 6.8: Personal Dilemmas Activity 6.9: My Spiritual Journey Activity 6.10: This I Believe Unit Resources Appendix: Using Inspiring Leadership in Teens in Schools and in Workshop Formats About the Author: Ric Stuecker, M.A., has taught school at every level—elementary through college. For more than 20 years, he has been a nationally recognized educational trainer, consultant, and speaker. Ric has led workshops in leadership, personal growth, study skills, and communication strategies throughout the United States. He has trained adults who teach and work with youth in resiliency and asset building, nonverbal communication, and presentation skills. In addition, he has directed a treatment center for drug-dependent youth and has been a consultant to a number of schools and school districts, holding grants from the Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools. |