SISD CHARACTER EDUCATION January, 20042005

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SISDCHARACTER EDUCATION January, 2004-2005

• COOPERATION

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FOREWORD

• The goal of the SISD Character Education Program
  is to provide a foundation for academic learning
  and moral thinking, being, and doing through
  structured discussions and activities based on
  the character traits which can help students to
  begin to internalize how character is built.
• The quotes, activities, and ideas contained in
  the monthly power points can help educators plan
  a variety of character education learning
  experiences. These activities capitalize on the
  daily teachable moments we encounter as well as
  utilize teachers creative resources to integrate
  the information into daily lessons. It is hoped
  that school principals and teachers will use the
  materials to help enhance the climate of their
  schools.
• Character education is about the connection of
  the head, the heart, and the hand which
  encourages civility, service to others and moral
  thinking and behaving.
• _ Duane Hodgin
• Character education creates the climate for
  learning and caring schools.

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Resolve To Be Positive!

• With the start of a new year on the horizon, its
  a good time to think about resolutions.
  Historically, the beginning of the new year is
  the time reserved for a little introspection and
  reflection. Its the perfect time to address the
  less-than-perfect areas of our lives.
• In life, there are so many issues over which we
  have no control. What we can choose to control is
  our reaction and response to those things. We can
  choose to see lifes glass as half empty or half
  full. In other words, we can choose to be
  negative or positive.
• A positive attitude is the foundation for a happy
  life! We cant have a bad day with a positive
  attitude, nor can we have a good day if we choose
  to see things in a negative light.
• The choice really is ours!
• The new year is on the horizon. We will sail
  through the new year facing all of the wonderful
  opportunities and challenges that wait ahead on
  the seas of life. How will we navigate these
  uncertain waters? How will we choose to see the
  journey ahead?
• Attitude really is a choice! As you sail through
  the new year, what kind of sailor will you be?
  What attitude will you choose as your lens for
  looking at the world? Resolve to be positive! It
  will help keep your ship on a more even keel.
  Look for the joy in the new year. With a positive
  attitude, you will find it!

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BULLETIN BOARD IDEAS

• Put A responsible student brings at the top of
  a large bulletin board, and place a cut-out
  diagram of a student or students in the center of
  the board. Around the image of the student, put
  pictures of supplies that students need for class
  each day, such as pencil, paper, books, folders,
  and homework.
• Use a waiter-type character called Mr.
  Responsible holding a bottle with Education
  written on it. Out of the characters mouth have
  a balloon with the phrase, It depends on me.
  Use the heading. Education served here.
• Dedicate a bulletin board to Responsible
  Students of the Week. Take pictures or draw
  silhouettes of students and choose 2-3 each week
  for the spotlight. Look for opportunities to
  reinforce responsible behavior by putting
  students pictures on the board.
• Light Bulb Showing your Good character is a good
  idea!
• Exclamation Mark Get excited about doing the
  right thing!
• Woodpecker Keep Pecking away at ____________!
• Picture Frame Picture it! Picture yourself doing
  the right thing!
• Magic Wand Magic wont make you a person of good
  character. It takes work!

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BULLETIN BOARD IDEAS

• Building Blocks (ABC) Attitude Behavior
  Character
• Mirror Look for the best in others and in your
  self!
• Star Let your good character be a shining star
  example!
• Chalkboard and Eraser Each day is a clean slate!
• Toolbox Stock your toolbox with good character!
• Ruler and yardstick Measure up to your true
  potential!
• Door Run through open doors of opportunity!
• Pencil Write down your goals and see them
  happen!
• Basketball Goal Dont take your eye off your
  goals!
• Barbell Pump yourself up with good character!
• Target Target your goals until you make them!
• Candle Let your good character shine through!
• Sunglasses Good Character shines so bright you
  need glasses!

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Marquee Messages

• Possible marquee messages
• Our goal is personal academic excellence!
• Dont do what is easydo whats right!
• For a child, love is spelled T-I-M-E.
• Character and academics taught here!
• No one slips through the cracks in this school!
• We appreciate supportive parents like you!
• Teamwork in our community is always the best
  work!
• Words can build up or tear down. Choose your
  words wisely!
• We believe! We achieve! We succeed!
• Teaching character changes things because it
  changes people!
• A bad attitude is like a flat tire. You cant go
  anywhere until you change it!
• No matter how far youve gone down the wrong
  road, turn back!
• You dont have to attend every argument that you
  are invited to!
• Dont do whats easydo whats right!
• When things go wrong, dont go with them!
• Just tell the truth. It will save you every time!

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When We Cooperate

• When we practice Cooperation we are a part of the
  SOLUTION... not a part of the PROBLEM.
• Cooperation takes a daily personal commitment
  toward choices and attitudes that make a positive
  difference in our own lives and in the lives of
  others.
• When I make a commitment to Cooperate, I will...
• ...choose to work with others respecting their
  ideas and opinions and take responsibility for my
  part.
• ...remember that while working with others on a
  sports team or project, I should appreciate how
  each individuals strengths and uniqueness
  combine in ways that result in the game/project
  turning out better than if I tried to do it
  alone!
• ...actively contribute through teamwork and
  leadership towards the good of my family,
  classroom, school, community, and country. I will
  help by working to improve conditions for
  individuals and the environment.
• ...be a good neighbor! I will treat others the
  way I want to be treated.
• The law of life should not be competition, but
  cooperation the good of each contributing to the
  good of all.
• Jawajarlal Nehru

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What Does Cooperation Look Like?

• What does Cooperation look like?
• When you choose to Cooperate , you make a
  commitment to LISTEN, COMPROMISE, UNDERSTAND, AND
  PARTICIPATE.
• A simple formula to use when you practice
  Cooperation is to remember the 3C Equation
• Consideration Compromise Cooperation
• Compromise means to blend your ideas and opinions
  with others so more is accomplished, more people
  are benefited, and peace and understanding is
  supported.
• Ask not what your country can do for you ask
  what you can do for your country.
• John F. Kennedy

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The Art of Listening

• Listening is not something we do naturally it is
  a skill that must be modeled, practiced and
  expected from ourselves and from others.
• Here are a few listening exercises that can
  help in the effort toward Cooperation
• Dont confuse listening with hearing. You can
  hear something but not be listening In one ear
  and out the other.
• Listening is active, not passive. To listen you
  must be thinking about and concentrating on what
  you are hearing.
• Dont interrupt. You cant listen if you are
  talking.
• Ask questions when you have the opportunity to be
  sure you clearly understand what you have heard.
• Look at the person talking. Good listening means
  you are paying attention.
• Try to hear what is being said, not what you want
  to hear.
• Listen with an open mind. Decide that you can
  learn something from every person you listen to.

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WRITING ASSIGNMENTS

• 1.  Think of a really good experience you had as
  a member of a group. What made it good? Think of
  a bad experience. What made it bad? What can you
  learn from the comparison?
• 2.  Are you a cooperative person? For each of the
  cooperative behaviors listed at the top of this
  column, rate yourself on a scale of one to five
  (1awful, and 5terrific). For each of these
  behaviors give an example of how you are either
  good at it or not so good at it, and what you
  could do to improve.
• 3.  Describe a time you had difficulty
  cooperating. What made it difficult? What did you
  do about it? Is there something you could have
  done that would have made it easier?
• 4.  Imagine that you get out of bed one morning
  in a rotten mood and you feel like being totally
  uncooperative for the whole day. Write about all
  the things you could do that would make your
  friends and teachers look at you and say, "Boy,
  are you being uncooperative today!"
• 5.  Think of a time somebody (a friend,
  classmate, family member, etc.) was very
  uncooperative with you. Write a pretend letter to
  that person describing what he or she did, how it
  made you feel, and what you want this person to
  do differently in the future.
• 6.  Write about a problem in the world that might
  be solved if people would cooperate more. Why
  aren't they cooperating now? How could they do a
  better job of cooperating?

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Attitude is Everything!

• Some indicators of a good attitude are
• a friendly smile
• good posture
• talking in nice tone of voice
• being interested in others
• making complaints in  appropriate ways at
  appropriate times
• being respectful and courteous
• being calm
• doing a  good job
• handling anger appropriately.
• Some indicators of a bad attitude are
• unhappy look on face
• slumping in chair or while standing
• constant complaining
• encouraging others to have a bad attitude
• losing your temper
• whining
• mumbling
• doing a poor job

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The Equation Is Simple!

• Below are listed a few equations to help you get
  started. Then let the brainstorming begin!
• Think about, talk about, and write down a few
  equations
• of your own. Be prepared to share a few with the
  class.
• Positive attitude Cooperation Teamwork
• Cheerful disposition Effort The job done!
• Responsibility Hard work Good grades
• __________ __________ __________
• __________ __________ __________

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Its A New Year!

• Its a new year and a good time to set goals for
  yourself. By setting goals, you can begin
  measuring up to your full potential. Use the goal
  setting sheet below to fill in some of your
  personal and academic goals for the new year.
• PERSONAL GOALS
• ____________________________________
• ____________________________________
• ____________________________________
• ACADEMIC GOALS
• ____________________________________
• ____________________________________
• ____________________________________

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CHARACTER EDUCATION QUOTES

• Use the following slides of quotes for
• Discussion topic
• Journal entry topic
• Inspiration for the day
• Part of the morning announcements
• Making posters
• Printing on paper and post onto a bulletin board
• Using on the marquee
• Posting on school web page
• Copying in school newsletter

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It is through cooperation, rather than conflict,
that your greatest successes will be achieved.
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The nice thing about teamwork is that you always
have others on your side.
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Individuals play the game, but teams win
championships.
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Let the choices you make today be choices you
can live with tomorrow.
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When all is said and done, the only thing
youll have left is your character.
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Alone we can do so little together, we can do
so much.
Helen Keller
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Pride is a personal commitment. It is an attitude
that separates excellence from mediocrity.
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There is a great distance between said and done.
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Love moreJudge less.
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One act of kindness can start a ripple effect.
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Let your efforts rise above your excuses.
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Someday is not a day of the week.
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Character is higher than intellect.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
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A single twig may break, but a bundle of twigs
is strong.
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You can always be a better person today than the
one you were yesterday.
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Everything you need for a happy life is within
yourself.
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In matters of style, swim with the current. In
matters of principle, stand like a rock.
Thomas Jefferson
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The best way to get the last word is to
apologize.
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Life is not a goal, it is a process. You get
there step by step.
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How we treat one another matters.
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If its to be, its up to me.
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When one helps another, both are strong.