Character Education: instilling positive values and morals in children.

The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character - that is the goal of true education. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Knowledge will give you power, but character respect. - Bruce Lee

Junior Seminar: Alycia Moore-Smith Alycia Nelson Jabari Rambeau

Character Education
How can character education can best be introduced to one of the K-12 classrooms?
Character education can best be introduced to one of the K-12 classrooms by creating, promoting and engaging in character(s) of the month. Teachers, faculty, staff, and students can do this by voting at the beginning or end of each month for a character, picking at random or simply dedicating time to fit the best characteristics accordingly. Teachers will plan their lessons according to character as well, creating positive learning environments and fun along the way.
Schools can engage their students by having events such as fundraisers, poetry contests, fame nights and talent shows

JANUARY

Courage
the quality of mind or spirit that enables a pers on to face difficulty, danger, pain, etc., without fear; bravery. Direct Instruction: discuss black history month and its importance to students Indirect Instruction: assign students a historic black history month advocate Interactive Instruction: have students break into groups according to advocate Independent Study: research advocate and present when finished Experiential Learning: Museum

FEBRUARY

Patriotism
devoted love, support, and defense of one's co untry; national loyalty. Direct Instruction: Hand out starspangled banner song Indirect Instruction: have students sing a-long Interactive Instruction: break students into groups or pair them with other classmates to decorate a replica of the star-spangled banner Independent Study: have students explain what the star-spangled banner is and its importance Experiential Learning: have students watch a movie (Independence Day)

MARCH

Cleanliness
personally neat; careful to keep or make clean

Direct Instruction : ask students why they think cleanliness is important Indirect Instruction : have students brainstorm and write down ways to be clean (recycling, shower, washing cars, etc.) Interactive Instruction : have students collaborate with each other on their ideas Independent Study : as a class, walk the halls and pick up litter and clean debris Experiential Learning : rearrange seating; have students participate in classroom cleaning

APRIL
a belief in the moral benefit and importance of work and its inherent ability to strengthen character. Direct Instruction: Give students definition of the term Indirect Instruction: ask students to write down examples of good work ethic with their own definition, in their journals Interactive Instruction: have students pair with each other to discuss work collaboratively Independent Study: practice good work ethic and record progress made, if nay Experiential Learning: Fun Day - break from class work

Good Work Ethic

MAY
the state of being vested with the rights, Direct Instruction: hand out community service privileges, and duties of a citizen.
projects Indirect Instruction: assign groups and individual leadership roles (note taker, time keeper) have students research particular projects Interactive Instruction: have students present their findings in groups Independent Study: Have students wrote a reflection on what being a good citizen means to them Experiential Learning: participate in community service as a class

Citizenship

JUNE

Loyalty
The state or quality of being loyal; faithfulness to commitments or obligations.

Direct Instruction : ask students to raise their hands if they have pets Indirect Instruction : divide class into groups by pets Interactive Instruction : in groups, have students list obligations according to pet Independent Study : what would you do to keep your pet safe, happy and healthy? - journal Experiential Learning : class pet

JULY

Fairness
the state, condition, or quality of being fair, or f ree from bias or injustice
Direct Instruction : ask students what they think fairness means Indirect Instruction : have students brainstorm what fairness means to them/ give examples Interactive Instruction : have students discuss their views and show acts of fairness by role

playing
Independent Study : have students write what fairness means to them Experiential Learning : promote fairness on a day to day basis, slavery museum?

Direct Instruction : give

AUGUST

incentives for punctuality Indirect Instruction : The "I Wills" of Punctuality The quality or state of being punctual I will be at the right place at the right time. I will prepare for unexpected delays. I will do my work ahead of time. I will plan a daily schedule and keep it. I will not fall into the trap of "just once more." Interactive Instruction : have students role play as if they were at a job interview Independent Study : keep log of daily bedtime/morning time activities for a week; homework want it to be around the same time Experiential Learning : promote punctuality

Punctuality

SEPTEMBER

Sportsmanship
Sportsmanlike conduct, as fairness, courtesy, being a cheerful loser, etc. Direct Instruction : compare and
contrast different sports Indirect Instruction : have students write about their favorite sports and what sportsmanship means to them Interactive Instruction : break students into groups according to relevant sports and assign group project Independent Study : sign up for extracurricular activity/event (math club, honors society, cheerleading, basketball) Experiential Learning : Encourage students to participate in extracurricular activities (extra credit)

OCTOBER

Diligence
careful and persistent work or effort.
Direct Instruction : check for students overall comprehension; drill and practice (testing) Indirect Instruction : reflective discussion; what can be done to enhance student learning Interactive Instruction : using answers from indirect instruction, break students into

groups to brainstorm and discuss ways to incorporate new ideas Independent Study : essay; what have you learned so far? Experiential Learning : share essay with at least two family members, have them sign and return to class

NOVEMBER

Generosity
Readiness or liberality in giving

Direct Instruction : what is generosity? Indirect Instruction : give every student a dollar; show act of generosity Interactive Instruction : create THANK YOU cards (teachers, parents, soldiers, friends) Independent Study : create what Im thankful for poem to recite in class the following day Experiential Learning : Participate in Food Drives (commit to community service)

DECEMBER
Direct Instruction : model

Cheerfulness
Full of cheer

cheerfulness on a day-to-day basis Indirect Instruction : read students a Christmas story/ show movie Interactive Instruction : break students into groups to create their own Christmas short story; include vocabulary. Independent Study : create Christmas list; have parent sign and teacher decide if the student has been naughty or nice Experiential Learning : participate in Christmas events; caroling, lighting the tree, shopping for gifts