11 Principles Guidebook - Character.org

COMPLETELY REVISED IN 2024



positive school culture and climate

Building relationships, caring learning communities, and energizes and transforms the culture



social and emotional learning (SEL)

Provides a combined approach by incorporating character and Social Emotional Learning (SEL)



character development skills

Prioritizes civic, ethical, intellectual, and performance values



academic achievement

Focuses on student engagement and service learning with improved academic results



multiple school improvement Processes

Maximize student achievement and support students’ needs from a strengths-based perspective



classroom management

Change behavior through applying core values and restorative practices

DIGITAL VERSION

PRINT VERSION

Commitment

Parents need to commit to model and reinforce to their children the core values and character strengths that mean the most to them. They also need to be creative and offer meaningful experiences that illuminate how important these character strengths are to the family’s core values.

Conversations

We know “We need to talk” freaks kids out, but too often parents avoid having conversations about character, especially as children get older. While it may not be easy to talk sometimes, we know from the research that parents who avoid talking to their children about serious matters quickly lose trust and connection.

Celebration

Parents need to find ways for their children to be active participants in their own character growth. Optimal character development occurs when children begin to make self-motivated commitments to consistently practice a core value (e.g. “I want to be the kind of person who is always honest and shows up on time.”) Parents need to celebrate these moments to shape and define individual character.