CHARACTER EDUCATION Word of the Month:
Awareness and development of uniqueness. Taking responsibility for own actions.
Overcoming the tendency to blame others for difficulties. Commitment to personal
excellence.
Teaching Your Children Values, Linda and Richard Eyre
Houston
Independent
School District
Student Support Services
4400 W. 18th St.
Houston, TX 77092
Tel: 713.556.7097
Fax: 713.556.6814
DR. MARTHA SALAZARZAMORA
ASST. SUPERINTENDENT OF
SCHOOL SUPPORT SERVICES
KAREN WASHINGTON
PROGRAM MANAGER
JUNE GIDDINGS
PROJECT COORDINATOR
TRACY ELAM
WRITER-TRAINER
FLORA ALLEN
WRITER-TRAINER
DEBORAH JOHNSON
Building Good Citizens for Texas
Through Self-Reliance
We define this as “students believing in their own selfworth and learning to rely on their strengths. Students
will also demonstrate knowledge of their skills, abilities,
and impression on others.” For the younger children we
define it in simpler terms; “Others can depend on me,
and I can depend on myself.”
In recent conversations with a high school staff I asked
the question, “What does it mean for high school students to exhibit Self-Reliance? Their responses were
consistent. Doing your own homework, not relying on
friends for answers or homework assignments, depending on yourself to get help when needed are just a few of the responses I received. Others
were quick to note that relying on excuses has become too common.
For the very young something as simple as tying one’s own shoes is an opportunity to praise
Self-Reliance. Learning to write in cursive, mastering skills in soccer, basketball or other
sports can be positive examples of becoming self-reliant. Our goal is encouraging students
to “do the job” for THEMSELVES. Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “The basis of good manners is self-reliance.” In other words depending on one’s self leads to not taking advantage of
others, practicing common courtesy, and treating others with respect.
When we encourage, praise, or acknowledge students’ responsibility in doing what is expected of them, we build not only their self-reliance but their self-respect as well.
Again, Emerson, “No one can cheat you out of ultimate success but yourself.” As educators,
we must consistently encourage our students to rely on themselves for achieving the goals
they want, whether those goals are short term or long term:
Teach students the steps necessary to reach goals.
Encourage students to accomplish difficult tasks by themselves.
PARENT TRAINER
HARRIET STURGEON
UNIVERSITY TRAINER
MARIA MOLINA
Praise students when they become increasingly independent.
Assign students responsibilities in the classroom and hold them
accountable.
SECRETARY
Work with students to set goals for becoming more self-reliant.
MAY 2009
Be aware of students ability to move to the “next step” in becoming self-
Volume 5, Issue 9
reliant and commend that action.
May 2009 * Page 2
Reading/American Literature
“Self-Reliance” by Ralph Waldo Emerson
Materials
Excerpt of "Self-Reliance" by Ralph Waldo Emerson,
Tribute to Ralph Waldo Emerson- www.geocities.com/Athens/Parthenon/5658/home_en.html
List of quotes from "Self-Reliance" Ralph Waldo Emerson: A Guide to Resources www.transcendentalists.com/1emerson.html
Copies of Active Listening Chart, Paper, Pen or Pencil
A list of sample quotes from "Self-Reliance" and the Active Listening chart www.beaconlearningcenter.comdocuments/1324_01.pdf
Step 1: CLEAR Objective
ELA 12.13A
Analyze the characteristics of clear text such as consciousness, correctness and completeness.
ELA 12.10A
Recognize distinctive and shared characteristics of cultures in reading.
ELA 12.10B
Compare text events to his/her own responses and interpretations with his/her own & readers’ experience
ELA 12.10F
Connect literature to historical contexts, current events, and his/hers own experience.
Step 2: Real World Experiences
Using Emerson's "Self-Reliance", students relate what is read to their own experiences and feelings and use active listening to respond to other students' comments. Students synthesize other responses into their own thoughts about "Self-Reliance".
Step 3: Core Values
Self-reliance, trust, confidence
Step 4: Questions?
Ask students: to think of a person from history, popular culture, or their own lives (family, friends, etc.) whom they consider to be
self-reliant, how does the person affect them personally? Tell students that today's lesson will focus on listening actively and reflectively for the main idea of their classmates and relating others' ideas to their own.
Step 5: Strategies
Have the students read the excerpt from Emerson's "Self-Reliance". After reading "Self-Reliance", have the students choose a quote
(a sentence or short passage) from "Self-Reliance" that they agree with, disagree with, or feel strongly about. Have students
write their chosen quote on a piece of paper, along with a short paragraph that expresses what they feel Emerson is trying to say.
Point out to students that they may choose one of the sample quotes from "Self-Reliance" which you have already written on the
board or chart paper.
Distribute the Active Listening Chart. Discuss the importance of listening carefully to the opinions of others and ask students to think
about how others' opinions relate to their own. Model how to use the Active Listening Chart by asking one student to share his
or her quote and feelings about the quote. Demonstrate on the board how you would summarize that student's main idea into a
sentence. Next, read your own quote and statement to the class. Then formulate a response to the student's opinion in comparison to your own. Write this on the board in the second column in order to model to students how to use the Active Listening
Chart. Allow as many students as possible to speak during the class period.
Step 6: Assessment
Use the Active Listening Chart to formatively assess the student's ability to:
Listen actively for the main idea
Listen and reflect on another student's comments
Connect to and build on the ideas of a previous speaker
May 2009 * Page 3
,
“Strong Character Today, Strong Leaders Tomorrow”.
85 students from Cullen, Edison, Jackson, Attucks, Woodson and Henry Middle School and Sam
Houston and Worthing High Schools traveled to The United Way of Great Houston on May 6th,
2009 for a youth forum sponsored by the Houston Partnership for Character (HPC). The day began with each campus students sharing their Character cheer. Students were selected to become
members of the Character Education Advisory Council (CEAC) to serve as the campus Youth
Voice. The leadership forum will focus on group dynamics, leadership skills and strategies that
are vital to student leaders to work together as a productive group. Students developed skills as
school sponsors were asked to step back and allow the student leaders to demonstrate their newly
found meeting skills. With the support of HPC business partners and HPC staff, students developed an action plan to promote a character building activity for their respective campus. Derric
Whitfield of Crimestoppers, Ben Rose of Positive Coaching Alliance, Tony Zal of A&E Graphics,
and Annette Beard of SmartStart shared their information about their career and the importance of
character in the workplace. Magno Guillen of Systems of Hope and youth advisory member, Taryn
Bates, provided their perspective of the importance of Youth Voice in the decision-making process. Student leaders presented campus action plans to address crimes on campus, school repairs, and fighting that will be implemented during the 2009-2010 school year.
May 2009 * Page 4
Presents
Edison Middle School & Self - Reliance
Character Ed: The Character Value for the month of May is Self-Reliance, what is the
importance of Self-Reliance to you and your students?
Ms. Bauer & Mr. Martin: At Edison Middle School self-reliance means that we are not waiting for someone else to help us to get the job done, but we are looking within our strengths as a
learning community and building upon those strengths. We instill in all our students that responsibility for oneself is the beginning of taking ownership of your life and where it can lead.
“With age comes responsibility”. This is not to say that at Edison we do not reach out for assistance in areas where we have assessed that there is a need to. This year students have especially taken ownership for their academic success as individuals.
Character Ed: How important is the character education program to you and your camLeft to Right:: Assistant Principal, Ms.
pus?
Bauer and Principal Mr. Martin
Ms. Bauer & Mr. Martin: The Character Education Program is an important component for
us because it instills in our students a compass to gauge what is of true value in their lives now and into their futures.
Character Ed: What impact will character value have on your students?
Ms. Bauer & Mr. Martin: Character education helps to give our students tools to live their lives by.
Character Ed: How has this program changed your campus climate, teachers, students, and yourself?
Ms. Bauer & Mr. Martin: The Character Education Program has placed an emphasis on the importance of intangible values that make us better members of society. It has helped our students know that those values are important to incorporate
into their everyday lives. It has helped our teachers in that the values are universal and applicable to everyday school life and
beyond the school house. As humans we will error and make mistakes, we need to learn from them to keep us from repeating
them over and over. In this process, lie great victories along the way.
Character Ed: What are your future plans for your campus and the Character education program?
Ms. Bauer & Mr. Martin: We plan to extend the Character Education Program into more deeply into our everyday curriculum next year.
Character Ed: How have your personal character values impacted your role as a principal?
Mr. Martin: Being a principal is all about one’s values and personal integrity. The most important thing to remember as a
principal is why I am here: to champion the student who needs my support, but always to remember that I am not here to save
anyone. My purpose is to enable students to take charge of their learning, provide them opportunities to be and experience
success and, in doing so, to set them on the path to adult success and self-reliance.
“
Left to Right:: Principal Martin, PTO President,:
Amanda Guevara, Honoree: Frances Gonzales,
Character Ed Parent Trainer,:DeBorah Johnson
Edison Middle School Inauguration of
“The Frances Gonzales Parent Center”
Friday, April 24th, Edison Middle School had a stellar Inauguration of “The
Frances Gonzales Parent Center. Parental involvement at Edison has always been a main priority to student success. Every month Edison holds
“Coffee with Principal” meetings that inform parents about school activities,
academics and achievements. Edison’s parents understand that their involvement is the ingredient that makes the difference. Parents' active involvement with their child's education at home and in school brings great
rewards and has a significant impact on their children's lives.