Find the Hero in You ~ Christopher Columbus

With my Big Dream to inspire children across the world to become everything they can possibly be, I've included a reflection journal that goes along with the book.

This is what the first two pages look like:

Find the Hero in You ~ Christopher Columbus

A Book Where You Illustrate Your Hopes & Dreams

by

Adam Stuart

            Called a madman, told “no” hundreds of times, and thrown in jail, Cristoforo (criss-TOH-foh-roh) Columbus was laughed at, mocked and rejected over and over again in his quest to make his dreams come true.

            While others gave up on him, he never gave up on himself. He tried again and again until he overcame one obstacle after another. Each time he did, he became bigger in the process. He became more than he had ever been before. He became big enough to get his big hopes and dreams.

            Born in 1451 to a family of Italian wool weavers, Cristoforo, or Christopher, was expected to take over the family business when he grew up. But this wasn’t his dream. It wasn’t his passion. Sitting on the docks of Genoa, Italy with his brother, Christopher would watch the ships come and go. He dreamed of becoming a sailor and travelling the world. He imagined the smell of the salt air filling his nose and the wind blowing in his hair. This is what made him feel alive.

Adam Stuart 2014

Page 1

What dream do you have that makes you feel alive? What do you imagine doing with your life that you would love to do? Write your answers below. Then, draw a picture of what your dream looks like.

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Adam Stuart 2014

Page 2

Tell me what you think. Do you think it has the potential to not only educate but inspire?

Thank you,

Adam and the School of Athens ~ Mind Adventures

Find the Hero in You ~ Christopher Columbus



I've finally written the first book of a series I've had in my heart and mind for awhile. Since my class is studying the discoverers of North America, I chose Christopher Columbus to begin with.

This is an amazingly inspirational story of not just the who he was, but the how he became who he was. And throughout the story it asks the reader how they too can become more and get their own personal dreams. How they too can find the hero in themselves.

This is great for both children and adults of all ages.

You will become motivated and want to read this over and over again.

This is my attempt to inspire children across the world to become everything they can possibly be.

Now I'm working on lesson plans based on this great story.

Thank you so much and enjoy,

Here is the link:

http://bit.ly/1cU47qP

 Adam and the School of Athens ~ Mind Adventures

From Overwhelmed to Having Fun

     I've been awake since 2:05 am thinking about how I want to teach this week. Since 3:35 I've been at the computer trying to make it happen. But after a word battle with a word splash program called Wordle, I don't have much to show for it at 6:05 am, and am feeling overwhelmed.

     I took a break and looked at what it is I want to teach this week; reading, math, science, social studies and language arts for my 2nd grade class. I set each book down on the couch, spreading them out next to each other. Then I asked myself what was the important lesson from each subject, how I could make it fun for my students to learn the lessons, and how I could make it fun for me to teach each one.

     Asking myself how could I make it fun immediately made me feel better and more relaxed. We already have built a big ship in the classroom. Now the next step is figuring out how I will address "my crew" tomorrow morning with the adventures we'll be taking this week.

     I know in social studies we'll be traveling with Ponce de Leon to discover the coast of Florida. Now all I have to do is determine what activity, challenge or project I can create that will make learning this historical fact engaging and an authentic experience that will last long after the test and this year.

    Then I do the same thing with the other subjects by integrating them into this wonderful experience.

    Now, instead of feeling overwhelmed, I feel playful, and feeling playful is having fun, and having fun opens up my brain versus shutting it down from feeling overwhelmed.  

    So how do you go from feeling overwhelmed, as a teacher, parent, student, child, doctor, lawyer, butcher, baker or candlestick maker? Start asking yourself how you can make what you have to do enjoyable. How can you make this thing you're trying to do fun?

    Think like a child, be childlike. It's a much more intelligent and fun way to think and live.