"Character Matters: Help Children develop Good Judgement, Integrity and Essential Virtues "

Contents

Introduction

Part One -- Why Character Matters

Chapter 1: Why Character Matters

The Right Stuff

The Content of Our Character

Ten Essential Virtues

The Two Sides of Character

What Is the Current Condition of Our Character?

2002 Report Card on American Youth Ethics

Character in the Face of Temptation: The Lost Wallet Experiment

What Motivates Honesty?

Character in the Face of Evil: The Rescuers Study

What Motivated Rescue?

The Roots of Caring

Character as Transformation of Moral Self

The Character of Our Democracy

Sex and Character

The National Character Education Movement

Part Two -- Create Families of Character

Chapter 2: Raise Children of Character

Make Character Development a High Priority

Be an Authoritative Parent

Love Children

Teach by Example

Manage the Moral Environment

Use Direct Teaching to Form Conscience and Habits

Teach Good Judgment

Discipline Wisely

Solve Conflicts Fairly

Provide Opportunities to Practice the Virtues

Foster Spiritual Development

Chapter 3: Build a Strong Home-School Partnership

Affirm the Family as the Primary Character Educator

Expect Parents to Participate

Provide Incentives for Parent Participation

Provide Programs on Parenting -- and Work to Increase the Turnout

Get the Program to the Parents

Assign "Family Homework"

Form Parent Peer Support Groups

Involve Parents in Planning the Character Education Program

Establish an Ongoing Forum for Parents

Form a Parents' Character Education Committee

Make a Moral Compact with Parents

Renew the Compact

Extend the Compact to Discipline

Extend the Compact to Sports and Other Co-curricular Activities

Extend the Compact to Combating the Effects of the Media

Be Responsive to Parental Complaints

Respect the Primacy of Parental Rights Regarding Sex Education

Increase the Flow of All Positive Communication Between School and Home

Let Parents Know What Work Is Expected and Send Home Regular Reports

Provide Family Support Centers and Community Schools

Chapter 4: Talk to Kids About Sex, Love, and Character

Sex and the Human Heart

A Sexually Toxic Environment

Be Clear About What Kids Need in Order to Avoid Premature Sex

Point Out the Positive Trends

Help Kids Understand Why Some Young People Get Sexually Involved

Talk About What Counts as "Sex"

Teach Kids Nonsexual Ways to Be Intimate

Offer a Vision

Talk About the Emotional Dangers of Uncommitted Sex

Discuss the Rewards of Waiting

Talk About Tough Issues

Implement Character-Based Sex Education in Schools

Part Three -- Create Classrooms of Character

Chapter 5: Build Bonds and Model Character

Teach as if Relationships Matter

Use the Power of a Handshake

Get to Know Students as Individuals

Use Bonding to Improve Behavior

Use the Power of Example

Use a Self-Inventory to Focus on Role Modeling

Invite Guest Speakers Who Are Positive Role Models

What the Research Shows

Chapter 6: Teach Academics and Character at the Same Time

"If We Do Character Education, Will Academic Learning Improve?"

Name the Virtues Needed to Be a Good Student

Teach as if Purpose Matters

Teach as if Excellence Matters

Teach as if Integrity Matters

Teach as if Students Can Take Responsibility for Their Learning

Use an Instructional Process That Makes Character-Building Part of Every Lesson

Manage the Classroom So That Character Matters

Teach Curriculum Content as if Character Matters

Use a Schoolwide Curriculum That Teaches Moral and Intellectual Virtues

Structure Discussion as if Character Matters

Teach as if Truth Matters

Teach with a Commitment to Balance

Model Balance and Fairness in Dealing with Controversial Issues

Teach as if Justice Matters

Chapter 7: Practice Character-Based Discipline

Share the Agenda

Hold Students Accountable

Teach Principles of Responsibility

Involve Students in Generating the Rules

Teach the Golden Rule

Share the Plan with Parents
Practice Procedures

Use the Language of Virtue

Help Students Learn from Mistakes

Have Students Make a Behavior Improvement Plan

Discuss Why a Behavior Was Wrong

Use Time-out Effectively

Design Detention That Builds Character

Teach Restitution

Have Kids Help Each Other

Prepare for a "Guest Teacher"

Give a Difficult Child Responsibility

Design a "Tough Love" Program for Difficult Students

Chapter 8: Teach Manners

Get Kids to Think About Why Manners Matter

Teach the Hello-Good-bye Rule

Teach Alphabet Manners

Implement a Manners Curriculum

Chapter 9: Prevent Peer Cruelty and Promote Kindness

Begin with Character-Based Discipline

Create a Caring School Community

Implement an Effective Anti-Bullying Program

Get Students to Take Responsibility for Stopping Peer Cruelty

Build Classroom Community

Foster Friendship

Do "Anonymous Compliments"

Implement Quality Cooperative Learning

Teach Empathy Through Children's Literature

Have Children with Disabilities Teach Their Peers

Use the Seven E's to Teach Caring

Use the Power of a Pledge

0 Have Kids Keep a Good Deeds Journal

Celebrate Kindness

Have Peers Recognize Peers

Use a Class Meeting to Discuss Bullying

Build Bonds Through Buddy Classes

Create "School Families"

Implement Advisory Groups

Create a Safe and Respectful School Bus

Chapter 10: Help Kids (and Adults) Take Responsibility for Building Their Own Characters

Teach Why Character Matters

Teach "Nobody Can Build Your Character for You"

Teach "We Create Our Character by the Choices We Make"

Study Persons of Character

Have Students Do Character Interviews

Have Students Assess Their Own Character

Teach Daily Goal Setting

Teach Kids to Make "Goal Strips"

Help Kids Connect the Virtues with Life

Assess "Levels of Responsibility"

Use Character Quotes to Help Kids Set Goals

Do a Goal-Setting Bulletin Board

Have Students Set 100 Goals

Have Students Develop a Portfolio

Have Students Write a Mission Statement

Enable Students to Reflect on Life's Largest Questions

Part Four -- Create Schools of Character

Chapter 11: Make Your School a School of Character

Create a Touchstone

Have a Character-Based Motto
Seek the Principal's Support for Making Character a Priority

Form the Leadership Group(s)

Develop a Knowledge Base

Introduce the Concept of Character Education to the Entire Staff

Consider "What Sort of Persons Do We Want Our Students to Become?"

Consider "What Will Character Education Mean for Me?"

Consider "What Will Character Education Look Like If We Do It Schoolwide?"

Analyze the Moral and Intellectual Culture of the School

Choose Two Priorities for Improving the School Culture

Ask "Should We Commit to Becoming a School of Character?"

Plan a Quality Character Education Program

Choose an Organizing Strategy for Promoting the Virtues

Make Assessment Part of the Plan

Build a Strong Adult Community

Make Time for Character

Chapter 12: Involve Students in Creating a School of Character

Involve Students in Planning and Leading the Character Education Program

Use Class Meetings to Give Kids a Voice and Responsibility

Involve Students in Participatory Schoolwide Student Government

Provide Informal Opportunities for Student Input

Challenge Students to Mount a Schoolwide Campaign

Establish a Mentoring System

Establish a Character Club or Committee

Recognize Student Leadership

Part Five -- Create Communities of Character

Chapter 13: Involve the Whole Community in Building Good Character

Strengthen the School-Community Partnership

Strengthen Families

Commit to Becoming a Community of Character

Create a Leadership Group

Give Everyone a Chance for Input

Identify the Target Virtues

Provide Leadership Training

Get Business Involved

Promote Community Awareness of Character

Integrate Character into All Community Programs

Create a Special Role for Police

Give Kids a Leadership Role

Recognize Good Character

Have Community Volunteers Teach Character in the Schools

Assess the Impact of a Community Character Initiative

Epilogue

Appendix: The Hilltop Elementary School Story

Notes

Index