For this week's blog I revisited the USD Character Education Conference keynote addresses of Texas Teacher of the Year Barbara Gruener and Singapore Ministry of Education Curriculum Specialist Thavamalar Kanagaratnam.
I also read through several lists of suggestions for infusing classrooms and schools with stronger Character Education programs. This list from Education World titled 'Twenty-Five Activities for Building Student Character, School "Community"' includes a number of meaningful ways that teachers can teach strong core character principals such as Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring, and Citizenship.
I also appreciated this list from Dr. Gary Smit's website For Character (as originally compiled by the Center for the Advancement of Ethics and Character at Boston University), titled 100 Ways to Promote Character Education in Schools. A few of my favorite suggestions included:
I also appreciated this list from Dr. Gary Smit's website For Character (as originally compiled by the Center for the Advancement of Ethics and Character at Boston University), titled 100 Ways to Promote Character Education in Schools. A few of my favorite suggestions included:
• Having a “no put-downs” rule in the classroom.
• Using morning announcements to promote character accomplishments of students.
• Admitting to students when you have made a mistake.
• Writing or call parents with praise for their child.
• Use good sportsmanship as an opportunity to discuss character values.
• Explaining why particular policies or decisions are made.
• Working together as a class to clean up school grounds.
• Using morning announcements to promote character accomplishments of students.
• Admitting to students when you have made a mistake.
• Writing or call parents with praise for their child.
• Use good sportsmanship as an opportunity to discuss character values.
• Explaining why particular policies or decisions are made.
• Working together as a class to clean up school grounds.