How to Use This Website 

The information and resources provided in this website is to simply provide additional ideas and serve as a starting point to help parents and teachers promote good character in young people. Every class and each child is different and we hope that parent and teacher use the most effective approach with their child or students.

No one knows their child better than their parent. The Family Activities section are generalized suggestions that parents can either use as a starting point or to generate ideas of their own. The process of education, like the search for good character, takes the right style for the situation. Parents may feel that they have a better way to teach their child a character trait and they should absolutely do what they feel is best for their child.

The following pages include a definition of the character trait to help everyone understand the word meaning the character initiative is putting forth. The operational definitions, like all explicit definitions, are open to challenge. They are to simply communicate a general idea or common meaning. It in no way should limit the meaning of the trait or teaching methods.

The pages also include suggested reading lists of books; suggested film lists, and suggested song lists. These lists are designed to provide examples of appropriate behavior being positively rewarded. The suggested films are considered appropriate for most audiences, however since they are commercial films and not specifically made for this character education program, parents and teachers are advised to view the films before they show them to their children to insure that they are appropriate for their child or their class. It is in our Board Policy that teachers review all teaching materials prior to using them in the classroom.

The activity sections are intended to provide guidance for parents and teachers in coordinating their efforts to teach the character traits. Family Activities are designed to promote family togetherness. Again, if parents have a way of teaching their child about a character trait that is more effective, they should do what is best for their child. A feedback section is being constructed to provide parents with an opportunity to share with other families what they are doing at home to teach the character trait. A section for teachers will also be included so that they can share teaching methods and activities with other teachers.

The class activity section has explicit and implicit teaching methods to encourage students to express good character. The high school activity is designed to reflect the difference between teaching an eight-year-old verses and eighteen-year-old. The activities deal with broader subjects and require higher levels of critical thinking skills. Some of the activities deal with a specific subject in mind, like history or literature. The diverseness of subjects taught in our high schools makes it impossible for this program to include suggestions for all subjects. Teachers are encouraged to find ways to integrate the Word of the Month into their own unique lessons plans in their own subjects.

At the end of each page, there are several quotes. These quotes are good for beginning discussions or as prompts for either daily writing assignments or essays. Most of the quotes in some way praise the Word of the Month, but some criticize it. These were included to facilitate discussions or writing assignments that explore the problems associated with these traits and other character traits that must be balanced with the Word of the Month.