This unit provides students an overview of the six pillars of Character Education as described by Michael Josephson in CHARACTERCOUNTS!   Students will learn about each pillar, ethical behavior, and team building using audio visual and technological means.  Students will research these various pillars, and work on varying activities within each area so as to become informed about each of them in order to share the information with peers and teachers through various technological presentations.  This unit will take 3 to 4 weeks to complete.  It can be broken into sections and taught throughout the school year adding one's own activities to reinforce those presented.

National Standards
American School Counselor Association’s National Standards  help school systems identity what students will know and be able to do as a result of participating in a school counseling program. Objectives include: planning in establishing similar goals, expectations, support systems and experiences for all students; service as an organizational tool to identify and prioritize the elements of an effective school counseling program; and providing an opportunity to discuss the role of counseling programs in school to enhance student learning.

 MCREL.org
Self-Regulation Standards

 1. Sets and manages goals
 2. Performs self-appraisal
 3. Considers risks
 4. Demonstrates perseverance
 5. Maintains a healthy self-concept
 6. Restrains impulsivity

Thinking and Reasoning Standards

 1. Understands and applies the basic principles of presenting an argument
 2. Understands and applies basic principles of logic and reasoning
 3. Effectively uses mental processes that are based on identifying similarities and differences
 4. Understands and applies basic principles of hypothesis testing and scientific inquiry
 5. Applies basic trouble-shooting and problem-solving techniques
 6. Applies decision-making techniques

Working With Others Standards

 1. Contributes to the overall effort of a group
 2. Uses conflict-resolution techniques
 3. Works well with diverse individuals and in diverse situations
 4. Displays effective interpersonal communication skills
 5. Demonstrates leadership skills

 Technology Standards

 1. Knows the characteristics and uses of computer hardware and operating systems
 2. Knows the characteristics and uses of computer software programs
 3. Understands the relationships among science, technology, society, and the individual
 4. Understands the nature of technological design
 5. Understands the nature and operation of systems
 6. Understands the nature and uses of different forms of technology

CHARACTER EDUCATION QUALITY STANDARDS

Principle #1:  Character education promotes core ethical values as the basis of good character
Principle #2:  Character is comprehensively defined to include thinking, feeling, and behavior.
Principle #3:  Effective character education requires an intentional, proactive, and comprehensive approach that promotes the core values in all phases of school life.
Principle #4:  The school is a caring community.
Principle #5:  To develop character, the school provides students opportunities for moral action.
Principle #6:  Effective character education includes a meaningful and challenging academic curriculum that respects all learners and helps them succeed.
Principle #7:  Character Education should strive to develop students' intrinsic motivation for developing good character.
Principle #8:  The school staff is a learning and moral community in which all share responsibility for character education and attempt to adhere to the same core values that guide the education of students.
Principle #9:  Staff and students demonstrate moral leadership.
Principle #10:  The school recruits parents and community members as full partners in the character-building effort.
Principle #11:  Evaluation of character education assesses the character of the school, the school staff's functioning as character educators, and the extent to which students manifest good character.

Keywords

character education
ethics
trust
trustworthy
truth
character
respect
responsibility
fairness
caring
citizenship
honesty
integrity
Hamilton Junior High School
 
 

Myla Kreinik
VeAnne Fuerhoff
Sandy Smith