Good character is learned. It is nurtured
through meaningful activities led by role models such as parents, community
leaders, and teachers. Your role as an educator requires many things from you. One, in particular, character building, has the power to transform your students in a truly meaningful way.
Here are ways to start building good
character in the classroom:
1. Introduce the pillars of
good character in the activities you choose
and the way things are run in class and school. According to the Josephson Institute of Ethics, areas of emphasis should
include trustworthiness, responsibility, respect, caring, fairness, and
citizenship. Other good character traits
to explore include courage, diligence, and integrity.
2. Be a great role model. Children model the behavior they see exhibited by the people they look
up to and spend the most time with. As their teacher, you have the power to
instill seeds of greatness in them. Take the time to consider the actions you
take and the words that you speak. Everything you do carries considerable
weight in how it shapes the character of your students.
3. Make respect a priority. No matter how much people disagree, make it know that being respectful
is the only acceptable way to do so. By emphasizing respect for one’s self,
parents, classmates, teachers, and community officials, children see the direct
correlation between respectful behavior and positive outcomes.
4. Volunteer as a class. Offer to pitch in as a class. Organize a volunteer effort that involves
your students. It could be something as easy as walking shelter dogs or picking
up trash at the park. Whatever you decide to do so, make sure to thank your
students for being part of the solution and making a difference.
You can encourage your students to be the
very best they can be with the activities you choose for them to engage in
during classroom hours. Keep the information listed above in mind when creating
your curriculum. There are many ways to
help students become good citizens. Your guidance has a lasting impression on
them as they get older and are faced with different challenges in adulthood.