Who We Are
We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit best known for having originated the Shared Inquiry method of teaching and learning that has been a favorite of teachers and students for more than 70 years. We believe that literacy and critical thinking help form reflective, knowledgeable citizens equipped to participate constructively in a democratic society.
Our Mission
The mission of the Great Books Foundation is to advance the critical, reflective thinking and social and civic engagement of people of all ages through Shared Inquiry™ discussion of works and ideas of enduring value.
Join us in
Building a Brighter Future
From President Valentina Parissi
We at the Great Books Foundation focus every day on facilitating thought-provoking discussions about ideas that really matter. Establishing meaningful conversations among diverse participants is central to our mission and has been the keystone of our work for over 70 years. Recent events have reiterated for us the importance of engaging with difficult and sometimes contentious issues, building community and civility, and ensuring that historically underrepresented voices are heard.
Junior Great Books Shared Inquiry process gives all students a chance to make their voices heard Amy Keir with a favorite book Amy Keir, K–12 teaching and learning coordinator for the Elyria City School District in Elyria, Ohio, greatly expanded the use of Junior Great Books® in her district inContinue reading
Here are 12 teacher- and expert-tested strategies! On the day I visited Brienne Cundiff’s first-grade classroom at Winfield Elementary School in Crown Point, Indiana, her students were working with the Junior Great Books® story “Those Shoes” by Maribeth Boelts. They were deeply engaged in this tale of a boy namedContinue reading
Using Shared Inquiry and Junior Great Books for Fiction and Nonfiction at All Levels Great Books trainer Michael Elsey recently met over Zoom with two experienced educators at Charles County Public Schools in Maryland: Ann Taylor, content specialist for gifted and differentiated services, and Kristen Modes, gifted resource director. TaylorContinue reading
In today’s world, what most companies or jobs are looking for is the ability to collaborate well, and I think the best collaborators are those that know how to listen to others, to take different points of view, and then take on a leadership role . . . That is a skill that is just going to be beyond helpful to students, and the fact that they are getting to practice it now, in a safe place through fun stories, is the greatest.
For students that are age 5 or 13 right now, we don’t know what the world is going to look like when they’re 25. I think Shared Inquiry then is a really powerful way to help kids learn how to think, how to analyze, ask and answer questions, the kind of skill set that in 20 years [will] be very helpful in every aspect of your life.
Junior Great Books teaches me how to talk to someone. It helps me think about how other people are dealing with stuff and how I could be a better person to help them get through that stuff.
The students have gained confidence in sharing their ideas with explanations. They also communicate respectfully and have come to understand that different ideas and opinions are acceptable!
Lower-ability readers worked collaboratively with high-level readers. The high-level readers gained oral skills and became more comfortable speaking in class. The lower-level readers gained confidence and deeper thinking skills. Each group grew in their thinking, writing, and reading skills. Best, they learned social and interactive skills.
Great Books Results Since 2010
Teachers Trained
Students Impacted
Schools Using Great Books