Local Author Teaches Children

Written by Ginger Lewis | 10 May 2011

Vera Taylor, Faculty Development Program Director at Morehouse School of Medicine, finds time to follow her dream of making the world a better place.

As a parent and educator, she knows about teaching children. She is involved in a study to teach children problem solving skills for addressing bullying encounters. At least 30% of students in grades six through ten are involved in bullying, as a bully, a victim, or both.

Vera has written a book about virtues, that is a great read for kids from 3 to 103 years old. There is something in the book for everyone. It creates family time by encouraging the whole family to participate.

It is designed for simple reading from A to Z, with a page for each letter and a virtue on each page. It has a cast of characters from countries around the world. It includes 21 activities to be used to practice virtues. But Vera doesn’t stop there.

She provides books, cards, and instructions for training groups. She likes to "train the trainer," by visiting schools and other organizations and teaching them how to help children learn to be good and loving people.

While the Virtues project identified 52 virtue words, the book uses 17 of them along with 9 words valued in the field of education. But, don’t worry, the bookmark lists all 52…so you’ll get them all.

Vera talks about the difference in virtues and values. A virtue is a quality that shows how human beings ought to be; whereas a value may vary among cultures and may change over time. An example of a value (that is not important to all cultures) is "being on time."

When asked about the best part of being an author, she said, "Believing that I am leaving something of value for all mankind." She said she was inspired to write this book after reading a passage about the condition of the world that suggested that virtues is the best gift to give the world.

Her goal is to help children see their own inner goodness; to build their self-esteem; to value the difference in others; to develop basic reading skills, to improve their language skills, and to develop positive attitudes toward reading and learning.

To learn more about this book or program, visit www.livingvirtues.com or call 800-718-1320.

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