Ever since the first part of the trilogy, Escape from Darkness, came out, teachers and school counsellors have been using the book in their lessons. Not just in lessons, though: dozens of competitions, workshops and discussions based on themes raised in the book have been organised. One of the reasons the trilogy has become so popular is that it focuses on positives, and on things that unite people regardless of where they happen to have been born. The trilogy is listed as an adventure story, and is therefore great entertainment, and children first and foremost enjoy reading it. As they do so, they consider the characters’ fates and they can draw conclusions on the right way to behave in a given situation, how to recognise danger, and how to read other people’s moods and intentions. Children are the world’s future and its most important asset, so it’s vitally important that they’re surrounded by people who care about their development, happiness, and interests.
On March 23, 2021 at 14.30 I had the pleasure of running a training session on the Saltamontes Chronicles trilogy, aimed at teachers, librarians and school counsellors and organised by the West Pomeranian Centre for Teacher Development.
Below is a summary of the session content:
| Subject: | The Relevance Of and Ways to Use the Contemporary Novel – The Saltamontes Chronicles Trilogy in the Education of Children and Adolescents. |
| Duration: | 2 x 45 min = 90 min |
Part 1
- The multidimensionality of the trilogy
- What makes the trilogy original?
- Why do we need a book like this these days?
- What can we learn from the Saltamontes Chronicles?
- Mission.
- Answers in the Saltamontes Chronicles to the greatest needs and problems of contemporary children and adolescents.
- Matters great and small – themes in the trilogy: love, friendship, partnership, teamwork, reaching aims, family (not necessarily blood ties), responsibility, future, care for people, for animals, looking at human life and history from many points of view, the place of a child / human in world history, the importance of every child / human on the planet, the value of life, tolerance, sensitivity, respect. Dealing with exclusion, aggression, hatred. Identifying your own way in life. Emphasising cooperation rather than competition.
- Referencing the text (examples from the first volume).
Part 2
- Projects using the Saltamontes Chronicles, based on practical examples used by Polish teachers, early years educators, and counsellors: contests, work with children, talking about the purpose and meaning of life etc.
- The psychological aspect of the trilogy.
- The educational aspect of the trilogy.
- How the trilogy connects the generations.
- Lesson plans for download from the Saltamontes Chronicles website (www.kronikisaltamontes.pl For Teachers tab), with general explanation.
- Conclusion.
- Questions.
