What is Character Education?

1
What is Character Education?

• By Lauri Breisacher
• Kara Bell
• Lori Blalock
• Barbara Hoch

2
What is Character Education?

• Deliberate instruction in basic values and
  morals, ideally woven into lessons throughout the
  curriculum.

3
What are the components?

• Acceptance Friendliness Self-discipline
• Accountability Honesty Self-respect
• Behavior Integrity Sportsmanship
• Citizenship Kindness Temper
• Compassion Manners Temptation
• Courtesy Morals The Golden Rule
• Conduct Patience Tolerance
• Confidence Perseverance Truthfulness
• Dependability Reliability Trustworthiness
• Determination Respect Values
• Endurance Responsibility Virtue
• Ethics Self-Control

4
What are some of the essential questions?

• How do expectations of character differ across
  the U.S.?
• How we, as teachers, develop a character
  education program?
• Is there such a thing as a universal set of
  values that ought to guide all human experience,
  regardless of culture?
• How are parents involved in school character
  development?

5
Specific Examples for Character Ed. in the
Classroom

• K-3
• Role playing
• Themes of positive behavior
• www.storiestogrowby.com
• Games kids play
• www.gameskidsplay.com
• Encouragement
• Ex. Announcements in the newsletter or intercom
  of good deeds done in the classroom

6
Specific Examples for Character Ed. in the
Classroom

• 3-6
• Tough Decisions 50 Activities in Values and
  Character Education By Ann Bourman
• Sports Role Models
• Community building activities
• 2nd Step Curriculum kits

7
Resources for Character Education

• Boston University
• William Bennetts Book of Virtues
• Integrity Matters Videos
• Bible, Aristotles Ethics and Analects of
  Confucius (as far as history goes)

8
Should Character Education be a Part of Social
Studies?

• Yes it should be, however, we believe it should
  be interwoven in every subject!

9
Does it reflect the California Standards?

• Yes, the History/Social Science standards
  include
• (K.1) Students understand that being a good
  citizen involves acting in certain ways.
• (1.1) Students describe the rights and individual
  responsibilities of citizenship.
• (2.5) Students understand the importance of
  individual action and character and explain how
  heroes from long ago and the recent past have
  made a difference in others' lives.
• (3.4) Students understand the role of rules and
  laws in our daily lives and the basic structure
  of the U.S. government.

10
Does it reflect the National Standards?

• Yes
• Individuals, groups and institutions
• Civic ideals and practices
• Values issues include the moral development of
  children and the teaching and modeling of human
  relationships. Where you stand on these issues is
  largely determined by your own individual moral
  attitudes, and you should be aware of how
  influential those attitudes are in the classroom
  (Ellis, 241).