Character Matters in Transforming Teaching and Learning Fay Gore, Section Chief, K-12 Social Studies Nakisha Floyd, Abstinence Education Consultant, NC Healthy Schools

Why Character Matters “Great learning and superior abilities will be of little value...unless virtue, truth and integrity are added to them.” Abigail Adams "Intelligence plus character - that is the goal of true education" Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. “Effective character education is not adding a program or set of programs to a school. Rather it is a transformation of the culture and life of the school.” Dr. Marvin Berkowitz

World in Crisis … Lance Armstrong & Doping Chargers Jerry Sandusky & Penn State scandal Sandy Hook & other victims of gun violence Corrupt Politicians Wall Street greed Reality TV Bullying Drug & alcohol abuse

Student Preparation  College  Career  Civic Life

Character Education is the Plate! Common Core Essential Standards Accountability Evaluations Parent & Community Involvement Student Performance Discipline Legislation

What is Character Education? Character education is the deliberate effort to help people understand, care about, and act upon core ethical values. Intentional and comprehensive Integrated throughout every aspect of the school day Provides long-term solutions to address moral, ethical, and academic issues i.e. absenteeism, teen pregnancy, gang violence, drug abuse, poor academic performance

Benefits of Character Education Brings Schools and Communities together Improving school and classroom climate Creating safer (Safe & Drug Free) and more caring schools Closing the achievement gap Academic achievement for all Academic integrity Professional ethics Health and physical education Service to others Community building and commitment

How can we begin to restore a culture of character, leadership, & service in schools?  Use a framework for changing school culture o Legislation o The 3 c’s: Community, Climate, & Curriculum o Character Education Partnership’s 11 Principles  Provide students the opportunity to lead and serve o NCDPI o Guilford County Schools o Cotswold Elementary o National Youth Leadership Council

STUDENT CITIZEN ACT OF 2001 In the fall of 2001, the North Carolina State Legislature passed the Student Citizen Act of 2001 (SL ).Student Citizen Act of 2001 (SL )  This Act requires every local board of education to develop and implement character education instruction with input from the local community.  With the passage of this Act, the state of North Carolina has affirmed that the development of character in our children is the cornerstone of education.

Character Education Character Traits (from legislation) –Courage –Good judgment –Integrity –Kindness –Perseverance –Respect –Responsibility –Self-discipline

Character Education Other elements: 1. Respect for school personnel—holding teachers, administrators, and all school personnel in high esteem and demonstrating in words and deeds that all school personnel deserve to be treated with courtesy and proper deference. 2. Responsibility for school safety—helping to create a harmonious school atmosphere that is free from threats, weapons, and violent or disruptive behavior; cultivating an orderly learning environment in which students and school personnel feel safe and secure; and encouraging the resolution of conflicts and disagreements through peaceful means including peer mediation.

What Do Successful NC State Schools Of Character Have?

The Model Community refers to the process of building consensus and sustaining community involvement in the shared responsibility of developing character and active citizenship in young people. Climate incorporates multiple factors that affect the school environment, such as personal relationships, leadership, discipline, sense of community, safety, civic involvement and democratic leadership. Curriculum includes strategies and resource materials for integrating elements of character into the entire school curriculum and for strengthening the civics curriculum. Service learning is suggested as a highly successful strategy for both character and citizenship development.

Service Learning, Health & Other Content Areas Healthy Lives, Healthy Choices English/Language Arts Social Studies/History Foreign Languages The Arts Examine how marketing has been used to promote smoking cigarettes and to stop people from smoking Interview elders to find out how popular diets have changed since their childhoods Examine how language barriers interfere with healthcare in developing countries and among immigrant populations Use photography to capture images of community health Read a book or novel and look at the choice made by the characters that contributed to their well-being Compare global diets and lifespan Read recipes in different languages and learn about the food ingredients from various cultures Create dramatizations of challenging situations with “what would you do?” moments, and include examples of healthy responses Source: The Complete Guide to Service Learning (Kaye, 2010)

Service Learning, Health & Other Content Areas MathPhysical Education ComputerScience Find statistics regarding the reaction time of braking in a vehicle while under the influence of drugs and alcohol Interview athletes for information about how food choices and exercise can build strength and endurance Research how increased computer use (video games, social networking, etc.) impacts young people’s health Find out how weather can affect the health of people living with conditions like asthma Compare health care costs in rural, suburban and urban communities Use pedometers and chart physical activity of students in a class Design screen savers with positive messages about healthy choices and distribute to students and the community Learn what blood pressure is and how to check it Source: The Complete Guide to Service Learning (Kaye, 2010)

 The KEY to a successful school Character Education program is to follow the “The 11 Principles of Effective Character Education”  Each principle outlines criteria that should be considered when developing an effective program.  “The 11 Principles of Effective Character Education” offer the primary guidance for successful implementation and outcomes.

What is quality character education? Effective character education: 1.Principle 1: Promotes core ethical values. 2.Principle 2: Defines “character” comprehensively to include thinking, feeling, and behavior. 3.Principle 3: Uses a comprehensive, intentional, and proactive approach.

What does a school with quality character education look like? 4.Principle 4: Creates a caring school community. 5.Principle 5: Provides opportunities for moral action (service learning). 6.Principle 6: Includes a meaningful and challenging academic curriculum that meets the needs of all learners (performance character). 7.Principle 7: Fosters students’ self-motivation.

Who should be involved in character education? 8.Principle 8: Engages the school staff as a learning and moral community. 9.Principle 9: Fosters shared moral leadership and long-range support. 10.Principle 10: Engages families and community members as partners.

How are we doing? Where do we go from here? Assessment should guide the process! 11.Principle 11: Evaluates the character education initiative.

I Am… Character, Leadership and Service Title V Abstinence Education and Social Studies Partnership 2012 NCDPI Student Leadership Institute

Title V: Abstinence Education $1.7 million federal grant from ACF, USDHHS 19 high need counties receive sub-awards Students in grades 4, 5 and 6 NC AEGP project focus –Mental and Behavioral Health –Health Services –Health Education –Parental and Community Involvement

Social Studies Education Inherited Character Education in 2009 Small appropriations from the NC General Assembly 115 LEAs plus Charter Schools (8 State Board Districts) Students in grades K-12 Curriculum Focus –Citizenship Education –Service Learning

Service Learning Service-Learning is a pedagogy that connects meaningful community service experiences with academic learning, personal growth, and civic responsibility. Service-learning goes beyond extracurricular community service because it involves participants in reading, reflection and analysis; provides students an opportunity to develop a personal connection to what they are learning; and creates a context for the application of concepts introduced in the classroom. Benefits: It enhances the educational goals of the curriculum through experiential learning and critical reflection. It helps students develop the skills and virtues required for full participation and leadership in their democratic communities. It serves the public good by providing a needed service to individuals, organization, schools, or other entities in the community.

… What the Research Says…

Service Learning & 40 Developmental Assets External Community Values Youth Youth as Resources Service to Others Positive Peer Influence High Expectations Creative Activities Youth Programs Source:

Service Learning & 40 Developmental Assets Planning and Decision Making Interpersonal Competence Cultural Competence Resistance Skills Peaceful Conflict Resolution Personal Power Self-Esteem Sense of Purpose Positive View of Personal Future Source: Internal Achievement Motivation Bonding to School Homework Reading for Pleasure Caring Equality and Social Justice Integrity Honesty Responsibility Restraint

The Benefits of Service Learning Civic Responsibility –Increase awareness of community needs –Relate to culturally diverse groups –Feel they can make a difference Academic Learning –Improved grades including test scores –Improved grade point averages –Improved problem-solving skills –Increased interest in academics –Increased student attendance Source: Research on k-12 School-Based Service Learning (S.H. Billig)

Service Learning & Healthy Outcomes Personal and Social Development –Increase measures of personal and social responsibility –Increased self-esteem and self-efficacy –Less likely to engage in “risk” behaviors –Less likely to be referred for disciplinary measures –Less likely to engage in behaviors that lead to pregnancy or arrest School Environment/Climate –Improves overall school climate Source: Research on k-12 School-Based Service Learning (S.H. Billig)

2012 NCDPI Student Leadership Institute Two and a half day residential program –June 27 th through June 29 th William Peace University 16 Teams of Students with Adult Advisors –7 Elementary –6 Middle School –3 High School –84 total

Lincoln Durham Alamance Alleghany Anson Ashe Avery Beaufort Bertie Bladen Brunswick Buncombe Burke Cabarrus Caldwell Carteret Caswell Catawba Chatham Cherokee Clay Cleveland Columbus Craven Cumberland Dare Davidson Davie Duplin Edgecombe Forsyth Franklin Gaston Gates Graham Granville Greene Guilford Halifax Harnett Haywood Henderson Hertford Hoke Hyde Iredell Jackson Johnston Jones Lee Lenoir McDowell Macon Madison Martin Mecklenburg Mitchell Montgomery Moore Nash New Hanover Northampton Onslow Orange Pamlico Pender Person Pitt Polk Randolph Richmond Robeson Rockingham Rowan Rutherford Sampson Scotland Stanly StokesSurry Swain Transylvania Tyrrell Union Vance Wake Warren Washington Watauga Wayne Wilkes Wilson Yadkin Yancey Perquima ns Chowan 2012 SLI TEAMS Pasquotank Camde n Currituck Alexander REGION 8 WESTERN REGION 7 NORTHWEST Snow Creek Elementary REGION 5 PIEDMONT - TRIAD/ CENTRAL Efland Cheecks Erwin Montessori Mineral Springs Middle Penn-Griffith High REGION 1 NORTHEAST Lakeforest Elementary First Flight Middle REGION 3 NORTH CENTRAL Moore Square Museum Magnet Rocky Mount Preparatory Southeast Halifax North Johnston High REGION 6 SOUTHWEST Lincoln Charter Elementary Concord Middle REGION 4 SANDHILLS/ SOUTHCENTRAL Cameron Elementary Hoke County High REGION 2 SOUTHEAST Penderlea Elementary Southwest Middle

The Experience Team Building Session –Leading To Change (Charlotte, NC) Elementary Teams –Training in Service Learning, Leadership and Character Development –Service Learning Project Planning with Centennial Middle School (Raleigh, NC) Leadership Staff –Experiential Learning Experience at the Alice Aycock Poe Center for Health Education (Raleigh) Middle High School Teams –Training in Service Learning, Leadership and Character Development –Service Learning Project Planning with Guilford County Schools Character Education Staff –Guest Speaker, Marty Wiggins, Environmental Education Consultant –Experiential Learning Experience at Lake Crabtree (Raleigh)

2012 SLI Resources

2012 SLI Testimonials “The students absolutely loved the leaders from Leading To Change! They had a lot of fun moving around and participating in the activities. They were activities that the students have been able to share with their peers in the classroom as well.” [Teambuilding Session with Leading To Change] “Really pushes our kids out of their comfort zone which was great!” “The kids were on fire, and didn’t want to stop!” Quotes from 2012 SLI Evaluation Survey

2012 SLI Testimonials “NCDPI SLI Team provided wonderful resources!” The Poe Center: “This was such a wonderful learning opportunity for the kids as well as myself! So many hands on experiences for them – I really think they took a lot away from that trip.” “The stop by Durham (the American Tobacco District) was good.” “I love that the students were able to participate in creating and leading the closing ceremony.” Quotes from 2012 SLI Evaluation Survey

The 2012 SLI Experience

2012 SLI Outcome Create A Service Learning Project –Elementary Teams had to create a health-related project or show the health link Service Learning Project Focus –Raising money through exercise (walk-a-thon/bike-a-thon) to start and fund a school “Back Pack Buddies” program Fighting Hunger –Bullying –Improving school environment through wellness –Planning and planting a school garden –Environmental Awareness and recycling –Providing support to youth battling life-threatening illnesses

2013 SLI June 23 – 26 William Peace University Veteran Cohort and Beginner Cohort Focus: Building Capacity in Student Leadership, Service and Character Development.

State/National School/District of Character Brenda Elliott Executive Director of Student Services Project Manager for Character Development Initiative Yvonne Foster Coordinator of Character Development & Service-Learning

State/National School/District of Character Cotswold Elementary Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Alicia Giles Hash Principal Mary Hook Coordinator for Character Education

How Do You Know If Your Character Education Program Is Working? Observable Behaviors:  Do students demonstrate that they know right from wrong?  Do students’ actions show a respect for others?  Do students work well cooperatively?  Do students influence others in a positive way  Is the school becoming a more caring community?  Is the entire school staff working on being a positive role model and friend to students?

How Do You Know If Your Character Education Program Is Working? Collect Definitive Information:  Attendance data  Suspension data  Data on specific behaviors  i.e., fighting, bullying, cutting class, d-hall participation, etc.  Communication logs  i.e., parent/community involvement, school/community collaboration, school program agendas and bulletins, etc.

“Nothing is more important to the public weal [well-being] than to form and train up youth in wisdom and virtue.” --Benjamin Franklin