Character Education
What is Character Education?
Character education is a national movement creating schools that foster ethical, responsible, and caring young people by modeling and teaching good character through emphasis on universal values that we all share. It is the intentional, proactive effort by schools, districts, and states to instill in their students important core, ethical values such as caring, honesty, fairness, responsibility, and respect for self and others. Character education is not a “quick fix.” It provides long-term solutions that address moral, ethical, and academic issues that are of growing concern about our society and the safety of our schools.
• Character education not only cultivates minds, it nurtures hearts.
• Character education gets to the heart of the matter – literally.
Character Traits for Each Month
August | September | October | November | December | January | February | March | April | May | June | July |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Caring | Respect | Responsibility | Peace | Empathy | Integrity | Honesty & Trustworthiness | Perseverance | Cooperation | Self-Discipline | Fairness | Optimism |
Being compassionate and showing others you care | Showing regard for self, others, property and those in authority | Willing to be accountable for your own actions without blaming other | Working and living in harmony with each other | Identifying and understanding others’ feelings in order to get along better with people | Doing what is right even if it is difficult | Truthfulness in words and actions. Being reliable | Staying on task and not giving up | Working together in a peaceful way | Thinking about your words and actions and then making choices that are right for you and others | Playing by the rules, being open-minded, listening to others, and not taking advantage of others. | Doing your share to make your school and community better |
How Will Character Education Be Implemented In District #105?
Each month the district will focus on one character trait.
An assembly and/or activity will introduce the trait.
Every student will receive a t-shirt supporting character education to wear to the assemblies and at school.
Lessons and activities will be integrated into the classroom curriculum at each grade level to further develop each child’s understanding of the various character traits.
Students that consistently demonstrate behavior that reinforces the character trait of the month will receive special recognition as All-Star Students.
What Can You Do To Support Character Education In District #105?
Reinforce the character traits introduced at school at home!
> Brainstorm ideas for how your child could demonstrate the traits at home.
> Tell your child why his or her actions demonstrate a specific trait. (Example: When you picked up your toys with out being asked you demonstrated respect for our home by keeping it clean.)
Display the character trait of the month in your home or business.
Lead by example.
Volunteer at school.