"The Cloud9World character trait program is a huge success at my school. We start and end the school day with me asking, "the word is?" and the students answer with the trait we are studying for that month.
We have inculcated the program into our social studies classes. Each class watches the video, reads the book in class, and is read to by the teacher, for at least a week before it is sent home. The students discuss the meaning of the word and are required to give an explanation of the trait on demand from me after the second week of the month. The posters hang in the classrooms and in the hallway. The banners hang inside each classroom and every adult in the building wears their badge everyday for the month.
We have had some interesting situations with the students. Since it is expected for them to recognize the trait in each other when it is being presented, the students are also recognizing and calling out any adults that are not utilizing these virtues as well.
One student told the daycare driver who was running very late and completely forgot her as part of the route, that she was not being responsible. The daycare worker complained to me about the child being disrespectful. When I explained to the worker that the children are being taught character traits and it is up to the adults around them to not be "called out" by the children when they witness an adult lacking in the trait.
A parent got mad because her daughter told her she had no self-control. I had to send out a note saying that the parents behavior was subject to being watched and they should behave accordingly. That do as I say and not as I do, does not work with children who are taught their virtues. One parent asked me not to teach anymore virtues, that their child is starting to see the parent's misbehaving and reminding them that they need to set an example.
The children tell each other when they are not showing a trait and they applaud when someone is showing self-control, gratitude, respect and integrity. The students ages at my school are 3,4,5, and 6.
This program was started because I was not seeing in my very young students the character traits we were taught as children from home, school and church. We required them to know right from wrong without telling/teaching/demonstrating to them what was right from wrong. My team and PTO decided to make this our responsibility. We could not assume that this was being taught anywhere else. The need to know how to live and get along with each other is our most basic need.
The Golden Rule still rules.
Warmest regards
Marcia Abernathy
Two Dimensions Preparatory Academy Charter School