Hot Chalk Learning Environment System
Commentary by Michael Josephson
TAKE A MINUTE FOR CHARACTER
One of the questions that always seems to be raised at the CHARACTER COUNTS!
workshops I do is, “Will implementing a character education program help improve
our school’s test scores?’ There is an obvious interest in every school today
in making sure students achieve academic standards and that the school is
meeting AYP. I will hear teachers say that they are reluctant to teach
character in their classroom because it may detract from student performance.
This thinking really misses the point about how good teachers already teach. In
reality, every school is already into character education, as I believe teaching
values cannot be avoided. The only question is how formalized the process is by
which teachers intentionally integrate core values into their lessons.
I have come to the conclusion that we cannot afford to have teachers focus only
on improving the academic performance of students. Thomas Lickona in his book
Educating for Character said that, “Down through history, education has always
had two goals: to help young people become smart and to become good.” We would
like out schools to graduate students who are able to performance academically
but still have a moral compass to guide them in making decisions.
Why do teachers feel if they teach character and academics at the same time that
the result will be reduced student performance? If our students come to class
prepared, take responsibility for completing homework, are honest, show respect
toward the teacher and classmates and demonstrate they truly care about others,
will not teachers have more time to teach and not less? Obviously, the core
values of trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and good
citizenship are not just things we try to do to kids; rather they are outcomes
we would like to see in the students we have the responsibility to educate.
For me, it is ideal when teachers create a classroom in which character is
intentionally integrated into what is taught, regardless of the grade level or
subject matter. Students needs to be challenged to do their best academic work
in a learning environment where they are honest and treat each other with
respect and care. When this occurs in a classroom, character is truly being
taught. In fact, I believe that in our efforts to educate students we are unable
to distinguish between teaching kids academically from the core values they will
need to be successful. The “Six Pillars of Character” is a roadmap to a worthy
life in which students are challenged to be responsible and pursue excellence
while making effective and ethical decision that uphold values that truly
matter.
You can’t separate excellence and ethics. Davidson and Lickona in their report
on Smart and Good High Schools concluded that, “We don’t want to graduate kids
who become mediocre teachers, incompetent surgeons or sloppy mechanics. And we
don’t want to graduate kids who become crooked CEO’s, steroid-popping athletes
or citizens who don’t vote.”
Teach academics and not character? It is not possible. What truly counts for a
teacher, is how effective you will be helping your students to not only be smart
but also good.
Gary Smit
gsmit@forcharacter.com
INFORMATION YOU CAN USE
CRISIS IN CIVICS EDUCATION? REVIVAL IS UNDER WAY - A network of US high schools is focusing on teaching students how to actively participate in democracy. In the face of a culture that promotes individualism, more high schools encourage debate and service, reports Stacy A. Teicher. Some educators, however, argue that the focus shouldn't be on multiple-choice tests, but on what citizenship skills students are taught that will last a lifetime.http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/1026/p14s01-legn.html
DAILY JAILING DATA FOR YOUNG BLACK MALE DROPOUTS SHOWS ONE IN FIVE - A new study from the Center for Labor Market Studies at Northeastern University details the high cost of the dropout epidemic for both students and taxpayers. The paper outlines data for the employment, earnings, incarceration, teen and young adult parenting, and family incomes of the nation's high school dropouts and their better-educated peers from 2006 to 2008, and the news is not good. The most startling statistic, contained in the report's subtitle, indicates a 22 percent daily jailing rate for young black men who have dropped out. Overall, nearly one of every 10 young male high school dropouts was institutionalized on a given day in 2006-2007, versus fewer than one of 33 high school graduates, one of 100 young men who completed one to three years of post-secondary schooling, and only one of 500 men who held a bachelor's or higher degree. Other data show young female high school dropouts nearly nine times as likely to become single mothers as their counterparts with bachelor degrees, with the year-round joblessness rate of young high school dropouts at 40 percent. Over their working lives, the average high school dropout will have a negative net fiscal contribution to society of nearly -$5,200, while the average high school graduate generates a positive lifetime net fiscal contribution of $287,000. See the report: http://www.clms.neu.edu/publication/documents/The_Consequences_of_Dropping_Out_of_High_School.pdf
FORTY PERCENT OF AMERICA’S TEACHERS ARE DISHEARTENED - A new report from Public Agenda and Learning Point Associates offers a comprehensive look at how teachers across the country differ in perspectives on their profession. The study, based on a nationwide survey with more than 100 questions of nearly 900 teachers, revealed three broad categories that the researchers labeled Disheartened, Contented, and Idealistic. The view that teaching is "so demanding, it's a wonder more people don't burn out" is pervasive, particularly among the disheartened. This group, which accounts for 40 percent of K-12 teachers in the United States, tends to have been teaching longer and be older than the Idealists. More than half teach in low-income schools. By contrast, teachers in the Contented group (37 percent of teachers overall) view teaching as a lifelong career. These teachers tend to be veterans -- 94 percent have been teaching for more than 10 years, the majority has graduate degrees, and about two-thirds are teaching in middle-income or affluent schools. However, it is the Idealists -- 23 percent of teachers overall -- who voice the strongest sense of mission about teaching. More than half are 32 or younger and teach in elementary schools, and 36 percent say that although they intend to stay in education, they do plan to leave classroom teaching for other jobs in the field. Read more: http://www.publicagenda.org/pages/three-distinct-sensibilities
STATE AND NATIONAL SCHOOLS OF CHARACTER AWARDS PROGRAM: The Character Education Partnership awards K-12 public and private schools for their outstanding work in character education. Awards can reach $20,000; the deadline for applications is December 4. For more information: www.character.org
HOTCHALK LEARNING ENVIRONMENT SYSTEM
HotChalk is a learning
environment for K-12 teachers, students and parents that includes a learning
management system (LMS), a rich library of teacher-contributed lesson plans,
premium digital content, and professional development for teachers in a
Web-based environment. Available through any Internet browser, the HotChalk
Learning Environment is an easy to use system and brings teachers, students and
parents together to improve education. HotChalk is free to teachers and schools:
http://www.hotchalk.com/index_new.html
CLASSROOM IDEAS
A TREE TO SHARE - Keep a bare, artificial tree in your classroom.
Then place a box of "decorations" (i.e. bookmarks, erasers, pencils, small
books, etc.) under the tree. When you see students exhibiting positive behavior
in the classroom, invite him/her to take a "decoration" from the box and place
it on the tree. Also, when students have extra time following an assignment,
encourage them to make their own decorations for the tree.
Before school is out for winter vacation, donate your decorated tree to a
homeless shelter, children's home, another school, etc. as a gift from "your
children" to "theirs." Students will be thrilled that their own positive
behavior made it possible for something very special to be given to others.
TIPS TO HELP MAKE CHARACTER COUNT!
Schoolwide Activities
· Word/Trait of the Month/Week
· Morning Announcements
· Posters
· Pride Campaigns
· Mottos/Slogans
· Quotations of the Week
· Library Exhibits and Booklets
· Codes and Rules of Conduct
· Pledges
· Theme Assemblies
· Awards and Prizes
· Contests
· Ceremonies and Rituals
· Cafeteria "Table Tents" and Signs
· Recognition Wall for Student Achievement
· Hallway Displays
· Student/Faculty Task Forces
· Six Pillars of Character Clubs
· Faculty Trainings/Discussions
· Parent Meetings/Workshops
· Parent/Faculty Task Forces
· Peer Counseling/Mentoring
· Cross-Age Tutoring/Mentoring
· School Service Projects
· Community Service Projects
· Charity Fundraisers
· Student-Designed T-Shirts
· School Murals
Developing a Schoolwide Climate
· Heavy emphasis on modeling
· Written rules and expectations for students, faculty, administrators and
parents
· Training for all staff, from bus drivers to district superintendents
· Committees and task forces involving teachers and other staff, parents, and
students
· Playground and recess activities
· Rules and expectations
Monitoring, modeling and enforcement Classroom Activities
· Personal Assignments
· Reading (books/stories)
· Personal journal keeping
· Essay writing
· Personal mission statements
In the Classroom
· Character-building lessons integrated contextually into regular coursework
· Special modules added to existing courses
· Separate courses added to curriculum
· Special pre-semester or weekend programs
Children’s Books That Build Character
This list of books for young people, originally compiled by Kate Harrington of
the Albuquerque Public Library, indicates which of the Six Pillars of Character
is most strongly emphasized and what kind of book it is. Of course, this list is
not exhaustive.
http://www.charactercounts.org/booklist.php
Check these websites for other titles:
Advance Publishing offers a variety of children's books suitable for
character educators.
Perfection Learning offers a list of books organized by grade level (K-8)
and by each of the Six Pillars.
“Until we all ‘get it,’ I propose that we post in large letters in all our
classrooms – and above our bathroom mirrors, if need be – the following message:
We Are All Learners.
We Are All Teachers.
We should not only post this slogan, but also reflect on it every day – alone
and with our students – and contemplate its many meanings for what we are all
struggling to do.”
- Marc Prensky
COMMENTARY BY MICHAEL JOSEPHSON
The Saga of Will and Fern
Two frogs named Will and Fern weren't looking where they were going and fell
into a deep pit. At first they thought it would be easy to jump out, but after
numerous failed attempts they were getting desperate. A crowd of animals
gathered around the pit.
The consensus of the crowd was there was no way either one could jump high
enough, so they urged Will and Fern to accept their fate. The harder the trapped
frogs jumped, the more the crowd yelled at them to surrender. Finally, Will fell
back to the bottom and gave up. Fern refused to quit, and with one mighty last
try she leaped out of the pit.
The other animals were amazed. One asked her how she could keep trying despite
the discouraging taunts of the crowd. Fern was shocked. "What do you mean? I'm a
bit deaf. I thought you were rooting for me. I couldn't have done it without
you."
A woman named Patty, a resident of a transitional housing program, gave a
printed version of this story to my wife Anne. After a long period of
homelessness and drug abuse, Patty wanted us to understand that positivism and
support can really help people who seem down and out to get up and out.
Patty said she got out of her own deep pit of despair because caring people at
the housing program gave her the faith and confidence she needed to jump a
little harder.
There are lots of ways to help others. We can educate them, feed them, and house
them. But we can also change their lives if we encourage and empower them.
This is Michael Josephson reminding you that character counts.www.charactercounts.org
A FINAL THOUGHT
Little people carry grudges. Great people simply forgive and forget. Sticks and stones break bones; but the fact is, names hurt too. Leaders may not have to dodge the branches or granite thrown by their opposition, but often they can’t avoid their hurled insults. The way a leader reacts means the difference between leadership greatness and mediocrity. Great leaders refuse to don battle gear. Instead they remain focused on their goals. Ask any leader why he or she is willing to forgive and forget, and you’ll hear, “I don’t have time to be bitter. I only have time to be better.” (Stan Toler) Simply stated- leaders forgive quickly.