1. Identify through a community survey and staff survey which core ethical virtues are paramount to your staff and community. Our Bureau provides a survey you can use. Values in Action Guide pg. 103 2. You can also preview activities in the Values in Action! Coordinator and Teacher guides. Many examples can be found in… Read more »
Maria is the receipient of the Values in Action! Educators National Awards 1998 After working as a Middle School teacher for 10 years, I’ve learned a lot about what’s important to young adolescents. I’ve learned that if their boyfriend/girlfriend just dumped them, they couldn’t care less about what’s going on in my class. Many kids… Read more »
Most people would agree that the media has a major effect on our society as a whole and on individuals. On any given day, on any given station, in local or national print you will find celebrities, athletes, or the guy next door trying to influence you in what you buy, wear, or whom to… Read more »
Recently, I received word that a friend of mine was going through a pretty rough time. His father passed away after a 10-year battle with cancer. My friend, Dan, often talked to me about his dad, usually in terms of pride and heroism. Dan is very proud of his dad for several reasons. One he… Read more »
How do we provide opportunities for students to develop their character? History can provide great opportunities to explore character development with its many wonderful examples of interesting people, issues, and conflicts. Some say we study history to support and safeguard democracy for the individual and society, others say to learn to respect diversity or to… Read more »
Hold on to FAITH; it is the source of believing that all things are possible. It is fiber and strength of a confident soul. Hold on to HOPE; it banishes doubt and enables attitudes to be positive and cheerful. Hold on to TRUST; it is at the core of fruitful relationships that are secure and… Read more »
I woke up early today, excited over all I get to do before the clock strikes midnight. I have responsibilities to fulfill today. I am important. My job is to choose what kind of day I am going to have. Today I can complain because the weather is rainy or I can be thankful that… Read more »
How to Build Rapport with Others Rapport is the ability to relate to others in a way that creates respect and trust. Rapport is derived from the French verb, rapporter, which means to bring back. In the English dictionary, it is synonymous with harmony, oneness, mutual trust, and, affinity. In essence, it refers to communion… Read more »
A veteran kindergarten teacher on what she’s learned: Vivian Paley never misses the opportunity to tell the tale of Teddy. She was visiting a London preschool when some kids from a nearby school for the severely disabled came to visit. Teddy was pushed into the classroom in a wheelchair, his head protected by a padded… Read more »
Adults and children who learn of tragedies are likely to struggle with feelings of fear, helplessness and guilt, experts say. Certain places, such as schools, are expected to be safe. But that is not always so. Tragedies such as the slayings of schoolchildren reinforce a sense of vulnerability. Parents, feeling helpless, may become frightened for… Read more »
