OBJECTIVES INTRODUCE THE TOPIC OF CHARACTER EDUCATION DEMONSTRATE HOW CHARACTER EDUCATION CAN HAVE A POSITVE EFFECT ON STUDENTS, SCHOOLS, AND COMMUNITIES SHOW THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CHARACTER EDUCATION AND A STUDENT’S SELF GROWTH AND ACHIEVEMENT PRESENT A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO CHARACTER EDUCATION WHICH EXAMINES CLASSROOM AND SCHOOL WIDE STRATEGIES UNDERSTAND THE CONNECTION BETWEEN RESILIENCY AND CHARACTER EDUCATION

WHAT IS CHARACTER EDUCATION? BECOMING A SCHOOL OF CHARACTER, A PLACE THAT PUTS CHARACTER FIRST TEACHING THE VALUES OF RESPECT AND RESPONSIBILITY DEVELOPING VIRTUES THAT ENABLE US TO LEAD FUFILLING LIVES AND BUILD A BETTER WORLD IMPROVING THE MORAL AND INTELLECTUAL CULTURE OF THE SCHOOL ALL OF THE ABOVE

WHY SHOULD SCHOOLS BE INVOLVED IN CHARACTER EDUCATION? THERE IS A CLEAR AND URGENT NEED IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO EDUCATE FOR INTELLIGENCE AFFIRMS BASIC HUMAN WORTH AND DIGNITY PROMOTES THE GOOD OF INDIVIDUAL AND THE COMMUNITY CHARACTER EDUCATION IS A DOABLE JOB

IMPROVING THE SCHOOL CULTURE Of the following school issues which two do you think we should focus on as a school in the coming year? __ Increasing students’ responsibility toward academic work __ Increasing respect for teachers and other school staff __ Increasing respect that adults show students __ Increasing peer kindness and reducing bullying and other peer cruelty __ Increasing academic honesty __ Increasing respect and responsibility regarding sexual attitudes and behavior __ Increasing parental involvement __ Improving language in the building __ Improving staff morale __ Building school pride

“ A SCHOOL COMMITTED TO CHARACTER EDUCATION PUBLICLY STANDS FOR CORE ETHICAL VALUES SUCH AS RESPECT, RESPONSIBILITY, HONESTY, AND CARING; DEFINES THEM IN TERMS OF BEHAVIORS THAT CAN BE OBSERVED IN SCHOOL LIFE; MODELS THESE VALUES; STUDIES THEM, CELEBRATES THEIR MANEFESTATIONS; AND HOLDS ALL SCHOOL MEMBERS ACCOUNTABLE TO STANDARDS OF CONDUCT WITH THE CORE VALUES.” – THOMAS LICKONA

CHARACTER HAS TWO MAJOR PARTS: PERFORMANCE CHARACTER AND MORAL CHARACTER

A PERSON OF CHARACTER EMBODIES BOTH PERFORMANCE AND MORAL CHARACTER

PERFORMANCE CHARACTER MORAL CHARACTER * Effort *Respect *Self-discipline *Responsibility *Goal setting *Honesty *Work Ethic *Fairness *Determination *Resilience *Self-confidence *Compassion *Resourcefulness *Humility *Moral courage

PERFORMANCE CHARACTER DOING OUR BEST!!!!

WHAT IS GOOD CHARACTER? COMPONENTS OF GOOD CHARACTER MORAL KNOWING Moral Awareness Knowing moral values Perspective–taking Moral reasoning Decision-making Self-knowledge MORAL FEELING Conscience Self-esteem Empathy Loving the good Self-control Humility MORAL ACTION Competence Will Habit

ONLY BY DEVELOPING PERFORMANCE CHARACTER WILL SCHOOLS: Promote academic achievement for all students Foster an ethic of excellence, not just higher test scores Produce a competitive, creative workforce

ONLY BY DEVELOPING MORAL CHARACTER WILL SCHOOLS: Create safe learning environments Decrease discipline problems Reduce cheating Foster social AND emotional skills Develop ethical thinkers Produce public-spirited citizens

THE COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO CHARACTER EDUCATON

A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO CHARACTER EDUCATION CLASSROOM STRATEGIES 1. TEACHER AS CAREGIVER, MODEL, AND MENTOR (“TEACHER includes any adult in the school who interacts with kids”) KEY IDEAS Children need to form caring attachments to adults Values are best transmitted through these warm, caring relationships

2. CREATING A CARING CLASSROOM COMMUNITY KEY IDEAS Children need caring attachments to their peers Peer culture is a powerful moral teacher and influence on student behavior When students are part of a legitimate caring moral community in the classroom, they learn morality by living it

3. CHARACTER-BASED DISCIPLINE Using rules and consequences to develop moral reasoning, self control, and a generalized respect for others KEY IDEAS Discipline must be a tool to help students to develop self control and a generalized respect for others Rules should be established in a way that develops moral reasoning by helping students see the value behind rules Consequences of rule-breaking should contribute to character development, helping students understand why the rule is needed and increasing their feelings of moral obligation to reflect it The teacher is the central moral authority in the classroom

4. CREATING A DEMOCRATIC CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENT A democratic classroom environment uses the class meeting to engage students in shared decision making and in taking responsibility for making the classroom the best it can be KEY IDEAS Creating a democratic classroom environment means involving students in developmentally appropriate ways, in shared decision making that increases their responsibility for helping make the classroom a good place to learn A democratic classroom contributes to character because it: 1- Provides and on-going forum where students’ thoughts are valued and any need of the group can be addressed 2- Creates a support structure that calls forth students’ best moral selves 3- Mobilizes peer culture on the side of virtue 4- The chief means of creating a democratic classroom environment is the class meeting

5. TEACHING CHARACTER THROUGH CURRICULUM Teaching character through curriculum uses the ethically rich content of academic subjects as vehicles for values teaching KEY IDEAS Character education is not a separate subject; it can be taught through any subject The purpose of the curriculum is to help students develop a sense of what is good and worth striving for

6. COOPERATIVE LEARNING Fosters students ability to work with and appreciate others KEY IDEAS The instructional process is an important means of character development Cooperative learning is an especially effective character- building process because it gives students regular practice in developing important virtues at the same time they are learning academic material Cooperative learning builds community in the classroom

7. THE CONSCIENCE OF CRAFT The conscience of craft develops students’ sense of academic responsibility and the habit of doing their work well. KEY IDEAS Character affects the lives of others through the quality of the work we do. One of the most important “voices” of conscience, therefore, is the conscience of craft, the voice that says: “Do a good job.” A student’s schoolwork affords the opportunity to develop work-related character traits that have lifelong importance: Self-discipline Persistence Dependability Diligence Academic responsibility

8. ENCOURAGING ETHICAL REFLECTION Developing the cognitive side of character through reading, research, writing, and discussion KEY IDEAS Encourage ethical reflection means helping students develop the cognitive side of character Children’s moral thinking develops through a series of stages

9. TEACHING CONFLICT RESOLUTION Teaching students how to solve conflicts fairly, without intimidation or violence KEY IDEAS Teaching conflict resolution skills is important for the maintenance of a good moral community Without conflict resolution skills, students will be morally handicapped in their interpersonal relations now and later in life Conflict resolution skills are among the most important competencies constituting the action side of character

SCHOOLWIDE STRATEGIES 1 SCHOOLWIDE STRATEGIES 1. CREATING A POSITIVE MORAL CULTURE IN THE SCHOOL Developing a caring school community that promotes the core virtues KEY IDEAS Each school is a community with a moral culture The moral culture of the school is defined by its operative values The school’s moral culture is important because It has a powerful effect on the moral behavior of the members of the school community It affects the character development of the members of the school

2. FOSTERING CARING BEYOND THE CLASSROOM Caring beyond the classroom is using role models to inspire altruistic behavior and providing opportunities for school and community service KEY IDEAS Character Education should extend students caring beyond the classroom into larger spheres Students can develop their awareness of the needs of others, their desire to help, and the skills and habits of helping through: (a) exposure to inspiring role models, and (b) opportunities for service in their schools, families, and communities Service opportunities with the power to transform character are those that involve children in face-to-face helping relationships

3. PARENTS AND THE COMMUNITY AS PARTNERS IN CHARACTER EDUCATION Parents and community as partners: Helping parents and the whole community join the schools in a cooperative effort to build good character KEY IDEAS Parents are a child’s first and most important moral teachers. Schools must do everything it can to support parents in this role Parents should also support the school’s effort to teach good values and character The school-parent partnership in character education has enhanced impact when the wider community also supports and promotes the core virtues

CHARACTER EDUCATION = BUILDING RESILIENCE Character and resiliency are not done through one program or specific curriculum Character education and resiliency go to the root of the symptom Resiliency is one of many virtues that is an integral part of character education Home, school, and community are areas that can foster these efforts Lifelong process that has quality relationships at it core

PROVIDE CARING AND SUPPORT Children develop sound character when they experience adults modeling caring, honesty, respect, responsibility courage and empathy SET AND COMMUNICATE HIGH EXPECTATIONS Working hard and experiencing the feeling of accomplishment is character building. It is also self-esteem building when children see that they are responsible for their own success PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR MEANINGFUL PARTICIPATION Children need chances to do something important, to contribute in some way INCREASE PRO-SOCIAL BONDING Children develop positive character traits when they appreciate and understand one another SET CLEAR AND CONSISTENT BOUNDARIES Character is built when adults model the behaviors they expect students to have and offer logical consequences for occasions when students overstep the boundaries set forth by caring adults

MAKE YOUR SCHOOL A SCHOOL OF CHARACTER CREATE A TOUCHSTONE OR CREED THAT EXPRESSES THE SHARED VALUES AND ASPIRATIONS OF ALL MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY HAVE A CHARACTER-BASED MOTTO FORM LEADERSHIP GROUPS DEVELOP A KNOWLEDGE BASE INTRODUCE THE CONCEPT OF CHARACTER EDUCATION TO THE ENTIRE STAFF CONSIDER “WHAT SORT OF PERSONS DO WE WANT OUR STUDENTS TO BECOME?” PROMOTE THE SCHOOL’S ESSENTIAL VALUES

CONSIDER “WHAT WILL CHARACTER EDUCATION MEAN FOR ME?” CONSIDER “WHAT WILL CHARACTER EDUCATION LOOK LIKE IF WE DO IT SCHOOLWIDE?’ ANALYZE THE MORAL AND INTELLECTUAL CULTURE OF THE SCHOOL CHOOSE TWO PRIORITIES FOR IMPROVING THE SCHOOL CULTURE ASK “SHOULD WE COMMIT TO BECOMING A SCHOOL OF CHARACTER?’ PLAN A QUALITY CHARACTER EDUCATION PROGRAM CHOOSE AN ORGANIZING STRATEGY FOR PROMOTING THE VIRTUES MAKE ASSESSMENT PART OF THE PLAN BUILD A STRONG ADULT COMMUNITY MAKE TIME FOR CHARACTER

The Good News Values Education is making a positive difference in the moral attitudes and behavior of students, with the result that it’s easier for teachers to teach and students to learn