Let's admit it: of all the ages of life, probably the hardest to get through are the middle school years. In a time when one is desperately trying to figure out who they are, one of the greatest fears for most middle schoolers is being a "nobody." Humiliation can be defined as being ridiculed for being different from the status quo, or perhaps worse, being invisible.

And the media doesn't help. From its portrayal, it seems that the epitome of being "someone" is being a tv or movie star or a sports celebrity. Glamor, glitz, chest thumping, and loud lives are depicted as normal and routine. All needed, the media likes to tell us, in order to be a "somebody."

As a teacher, there is nothing more frustrating than seeing impressionable, young minds being turned towards such shallowness. After teaching hundreds and hundreds of students, many who idolize such behavior, I find myself more and more drawn towards role models who are on the other end of the spectrum: people who are ordinary, simply going about their everyday lives, who suddenly decide to do something extraordinary--not for the fame that it eventually brings, but because they believe in a cause that is larger than themselves.

This blog is a compilation of books, websites, and films that celebrate those who I call Extraordinary People. Their stories are an inspiration--to put it mildly. Some of them are extraordinary because they endure hardship unlike anything any of us have ever known and yet refuse to lose their humanity and dignity. Others are extraordinary because they decide to follow their passions and ultimately display a genius that shines on for centuries. Still others are so because they find a cause worth fighting for and choose not to give up despite tremendous obstacles.

My hope is that in reading and listening to these stories and exploring these websites, middle schoolers will find role models who are truly worth emulating and discover within themselves the desire to become their best every single day.

Journey to the Bottomless Pit: The Story of Stephen Bishop & Mammoth Cave by Elizabeth Mitchell


Reading grade level: 4 - 8

Pages: 64 p.; chapter book

Book summary and analysis: Stephen Bishop, a pre-Civil War slave, had the opportunity of a lifetime--and, thank heavens, took advantage of it. In 1838, at the age of 17, he became the first tour guide of Mammoth Cave, what is now know to be the largest cave system in the world. With a courage that most could not muster, Bishop took his duty as a tour guide far beyond his job description and discovered miles upon miles of breath-taking natural wonders with only a lantern and candle stubs. What he saw ignited his desire to learn, and on his own, Bishop became one of the most learned men in the field of cave formations at that time.

This book, written as historical fiction, is based on the many accounts written by visitors to Mammoth Cave who commented on their experience with Bishop, their extraordinary guide. The end pieces are the map that Bishop drew himself of Mammoth Cave, and the narrative deftly weaves in the many geological wonders that Bishop discovered and shared with his visitors during his years as a guide.

Book includes: table of contents, life timeline of Stephen Bishop, several story illustrations

Additional curricular connections: geology, slavery, African American history month, caves

Links:
Scholastic book info: http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/book/journey-bottomless-pit
Unit plan: http://www.homeschoolshare.com/journey_to_the_bottomless_pit.php
To review & purchase: http://www.amazon.com/Journey-Bottomless-Pit-Stephen-Mammoth/dp/0670059080
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