Planning Character Education Programs discussed the steps needed to build a comprehensive character education program in the school environment. The following ideas will help bring the lessons to life, and ensure that all aspects of the school environment support the program.
Character Education in the Curriculum
Infusing character education messages into the existing curriculum can be a very effective way of delivering the message to students. Opportunities abound for including lessons on virtues in practically any subject area, especially social studies, the sciences, and literacy classes. Students can, for example, read stories about people of strong character and write response journals, or debate the sides of a controversial science issue, using the virtues to guide their arguments.
School Wide Character Ed Programs
Programs and observances that reach all students are a great way to unite the entire building around one virtue or theme. One idea is to select one virtue to focus on each month. Leaders can plan a variety of school wide activities to highlight this virtue, and teachers can make it a point to address it within their classroom at the same time. This is the perfect way for students to get involved, too. They can create posters, write skits or essays, or visit the classrooms of younger children to share what they have learned.
Class Meetings
One of the most impactful ways to address virtues in the classroom is through the use of class meetings. These provide the opportunity for teachers to use “teachable moments” to stop and address specific situations with students. Class meetings can be used to discuss, for example, classroom rules, problems that occur, and the feelings and perspectives of others, using the character education program as a guide.
Positive Student/Teacher Interactions
Make sure teachers treat students (and each other!) with dignity, respect, and fairness. It really is true that kids learn more from what people do than they learn from what they say. A school can have the best character education program in the world, but if the adults who implement it don’t exhibit these qualities in their interactions with others, there probably won’t be much change in student behavior. Good relationships between kids and teachers are a must.
Ethical Rules and Regulations
The student management program, including rules, policies, privileges and consequences, should be consistent with the character education program. Check to see that the discipline code honors the same virtues that are being taught to the kids. If it doesn’t, some work may need to be done to bring the two in line with each other.
Treating People Respectfully
Are staff members treated respectfully and fairly by administration? If teachers and other line staff feel frustrated and unappreciated, these feelings are likely to trickle down to the students, whether they are intended to or not.
Character education programs can be a powerful way to enhance student’s moral learning. With the proper planning and consistent implementation, students and staff alike will benefit from the purposeful focus on ethical behavior.
