A hands-on classroom simulation unit, building cross-cultural and cross-clique empathy and understanding in today's classroom.

Language Arts, Grades 5-10

Develop character and build teamwork!

BEYOND BASEBALL addresses the social, emotional and academic needs of all students as they read, write and work their way towards a deeper understanding.

Hear what teachers are saying already:

• "'Beyond Baseball' is a hit with my middle school students! The structure of the simulation encourages teamwork and active involvement while making meaning of Choosing Up Sides, an IRA award-winning novel." (Judi G., Middle School Teacher, San Diego, CA)

• "'Beyond Baseball' not only meets NCTE Standards for the English Language Arts, but also Character Education Quality Standards. As Vice-Principal and Language Arts Coordinator for a middle school, I know my staff and students are excited about this unit." (Sandy M., Middle School, San Diego, CA)

• "My students loved reading Choosing Up Sides by John H. Ritter. Now, they can read this award-winning novel while also engaged in 'Beyond Baseball.' We'll have a great opening of the school year using this team-building simulation!" (Christy R., Weaverville, CA)

Interact, Inc., has developed a hands-on simulation unit based on John H. Ritter's IRA award-winning novel, Choosing Up Sides called "Beyond Baseball." With a foreword by Dr. Elliot Aronson, author of Nobody Left to Hate: Teaching Compassion after Columbine, this engaging unit is specifically designed to help build cross-cultural and cross-clique empathy and understanding in today's classroom.

Based on years of research as a social psychologist, Dr. Aronson details simple strategies that teachers can employ to help create a less competitive, less exclusionary educational environment. Here's what Dr. Aronson states in the foreword:

"The general atmosphere of exclusion means that a great many students are having a miserable time in middle school and high school. Accordingly, the aim of this book is not simply to try to prevent pathological 'losers' from killing their fellow students. It is to create a classroom where there are no losers. In that very real sense, this book is about creating an atmosphere in which there is nobody left to hate.

"Dr. Aronson calls it 'The Jigsaw Classroom.' While many teachers are familiar with 'jigsawing' in one form or another, Aronson provides very concrete steps on how to successfully (and rather simply) implement this strategy in the classroom. It's not something new that teachers have to teach. It's a new way to deliver the core curriculum they already teach.

"Teachers who have used classroom simulations know:

• students are more engaged

• student retention of knowledge is greater

• effective cooperative group work leads to greater understanding of the subject matter through involvement."

The creator of "Beyond Baseball" is Patricia K. Ladd, a classroom teacher and Staff Developer for San Diego City Schools. Ms. Ladd spent over a year developing "Beyond Baseball" with feedback from students and teachers.

With BEYOND BASEBALL your students will:

• Work in both cooperative and jigsaw groups analyzing different literary components
• Read the award-winning book Choosing Up Sides
• Rotate leadership roles and responsibilities as pitchers, catchers, infielders and outfielders
• Complete independent assignments and team projects addressing language arts standards in a reading-writing workshop model
• Participate in Socratic Seminars

Each unit includes a Multi-tab Notebook and one copy of Choosing Up Sides by John H. Ritter

Teaching Aids and Classroom Plans John's public speaking schedule
Published Interviews with John

Go to the Choosing Up Sides page Order Choosing Up Sides
Go to the Over The Wall page Order Over the Wall
Go to The Boy Who Saved Baseball page Order The Boy Who Saved Baseball
Read an excerpt from Under the Baseball Moon Order Under the Baseball Moon
Baseball-related web sites Lefty info

Back to John H. Ritter home page