Citizenship and Character Education in the Curriculum
As an elementary teacher, not only are academics important, but citizenship and character education as well. What are some ways you can promote citizenship and build your students' character inside and/or outside of the classroom?
For example, I would love to plan a field trip where the students and I help clean up a public park or garden. This opportunity would teach them not to litter and how to keep the environment clean.
In order to promote the five themes of citizenship (honesty, compassion, respect, responsibility, and courage), which also emcompass character education, teachers should explore and discuss them by making connections between the themes and their student's lives so that they can fully understand the concepts. One way to promote these themes is by using activities that are interesting and fun for the students. One such activity could be where the students share stories about a time when they were "courageous." Designating classroom jobs to teach "responsibility" is another activity that could be done. Teachers could use a prompt or role playing activity to teach "respect'. There are endless ways that citizenship an character education can be taught, but real world situations will yield a better understanding for the students.
ReplyDeleteDaphne, these are awesome examples of how to incorporate character education and citizenship in the classroom. I have found that classroom jobs work wonders for the students' thoughts on responsibility. Giving a "special job" to a student with a behavior issue can also be effective. They crave the structure and find the importance in helping others out. I believe character education should be incorporated throughout the day, woven in lessons across the curriculum. My motto is that in order to make a difference in our students' lives, we need to teach them academically and morally. Building character is a priority and will reflect positively on their academics. Thanks for your post!
DeleteOne thing I would love to incorporate into my weekly classroom routine is a character education lesson. At the beginning of each week you could have a short character education lesson discussing a topic such as respect, empathy, kindness, etc. Throughout the week students could get a small prize if they show these character traits.
ReplyDeleteHillary, rewarding children for their good behavior is a wonderful way to boost their self-worth and build their character. I have found that students enjoy being "bucket fillers" where each time we notice they've done something especially helpful, respectful, etc. they drop a marble (or other small item) in their bucket. Once their bucket is full, they receive a special treat! Activities like this encourage kindness and positive attitudes in the classroom.
DeleteOne way I would incorporate character education in my classroom is morning meetings. I would have students get in either small groups or a whole group setting and have them tell me about their week. What was a positive and negative for the week? What did you enjoy learning or not enjoy learning? This is a way for each student to open up and really express themselves and have a chance to share their feelings.
ReplyDeleteAnn, this is a wonderful idea! Setting time aside to allow students to discuss what they've learned, share their thoughts, and express their feelings is a great way to promote character in the classroom. The students will feel comfortable all sitting together and will relate to their peers. They will enjoy doing this everyday AND it will let them know that you care about them as a teacher.
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