classroom rules. Through creating a list of expected classroom behaviours it not only helps in classroom management, but in creating respectful citizens.
Although teachers can implement rules within the classroom, it is imperative that the teacher follows these rules and teaches them implicitly as well. For example, using manners such as please and thank you, and acknowledging when a student does the same will assist in shaping students in a positive way (Teachnology, 2012). This can go the same with teaching things such as acceptance, empathy and kindness. I think as teachers, we have a huge rule in developing these character traits. Over the summer, I worked at a daycare. I can recall that many of the children loved playing dress-up. And so if a little boy asked me to help him put on a dress, I did not react any differently than if I was helping the girls. Another example is if a child was upset, I empathized with them and acknowledged through positive reinforcement if another child came up to do the same. Here is a great website that provides examples on how to effectively implement character education within your classroom. It has examples for teachers on an elementary, middle, and high school level.
Overall, we are well aware that as teachers we have important roles in the lives of our students. We can help mold positive behaviour and characteristics through character education and modelling. If you would like to find ways to teach specific character traits within your classroom, such as flexibility, determination, patience, etc., click Here to access free lessons, activity sheets, and videos!
Resources
Drake, S.M., Reid, J.L., & Kolohon, W. (2014). Interweaving curriculum and classroom assessment: Engaging the 21st century learner. Ontario, Canada: Oxford.
Government of Ontario. (2008). Finding common ground: Character development in Ontario schools, K-12. Ontario, Canada. Queen's Printer For Ontario.
Government of Ontario. (2008). Finding common ground: Character development in Ontario schools, K-12. Ontario, Canada. Queen's Printer For Ontario.
Teachnology (2012). Character education for elementary classrooms. Retrieved from http://www.teach-nology.com/currenttrends/character_education/elementary_classroom/
First of all, I absolutely love the topic of character education. To me, this is often an overlooked area of education because it is not specifically expressed in the curriculum. I enjoyed that you referenced our class as well, specifically the know, do, and be that we have learned about so much. Growing up, I recall having ‘character education’ assemblies to recognize students who expressed positive traits such as respect, citizenship, caring and more during that month. In my future classroom, I would like character traits to be even more prominent. Character education should be included regularly, whether explicitly taught or part of the hidden curriculum. I agree with you that we as teachers are important in fostering these character traits in our students. We set the example of what a good citizen looks like, and also share our understanding of what each character trait means. I saw in my placement class how the character traits were integrated into the everyday classroom dynamics through the rules and expectations such as sharing books, and being responsible for doing your homework. I would love to further understand how I could integrate character education into my class.
ReplyDeleteWhile reading your first blog post on the importance of creating a holistic classroom, I was hoping that to read more specifically on the importance of character development and finding the "be". Throughout the blog, you highlight the positive implications on creating an environment that allows students to determine what type of citizen they will be in the future. However, I wonder if you can effectively teach the students character development without first understanding who you are as a teacher. Since the notion of character development was not taught while we were students, how will you ensure that you know where you fit into society? I would love to hear about your own personal stories and how your educational experience has made who you are today. I believe that if you have a solid understanding of who you are, you will be successful in teaching your own students character development.
ReplyDeleteYour blog content has improved since your last post. It is informative with a nice touch of personal experience. Do not be afraid to either find, or create your own graphic organizer to post on the blog.
"Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time."
Thomas A. Edison
Great topic choice! I think the “Be” of a curriculum document is one of the most important things we have learned this year. We have to critically think of what kind of people we are teaching our students to be. I also think it was important you discussed that we have to be careful because of what we implicitly teach our students. We may not be aware of the effect we are having on our students, so we need to critically reflect on this issue. I remember in elementary school we had character education implemented through “student of the month” where teachers would pick a student from their class each month to reward because they reflected a positive character education trait such as “Respect” or “Determination.”
ReplyDeleteOverall your blogwork has significantly improved over the duration of this course. Good work interweaving hyperlinks throughout, they were very helpful resources.