At Imagine Charter School at Weston, located in Weston, Florida, students use a Character Development Progress Report to reflect on their own character development each quarter. Teachers also provide feedback. The practice encourages thoughtful discussion between the student and teacher.
At Venice High School in Venice, Florida, students participate in a Unity Day Student Forum, which gives them a chance to discuss in small groups social issues important to them and to develop ideas and strategies to resolve the issues. Students are encouraged to commit to change, beginning with themselves.
Audubon School, located in Chicago, Illinois, holds Unique Week, which focuses on reinforcing how every single person is different and learns and succeeds in different ways. The school’s differentiated instruction and inclusion practices are also highlighted. Everyone is encouraged to shine during Unique Week.
In the practice Giving Students a Meaningful Voice in Educational Decisions, students in the Modern Problems class at Southern Valley Jr./Sr. High School in Oxford, Nebraska decide what to do with school vending machine profits. They receive grant applications from students and teachers for various school projects, discuss how the projects will impact the school if they receive the money, and then vote on their preferences for who will receive the money.
At West Springfield High School in Springfield, Virginia, seniors engage in a year-long Senior Capstone Project where they choose a research-based, service learning project to focus on for the academic year. Supported by both English 12 and Government teachers, the project emphasizes character education and academic skills.
Be sure to check out the searchable database of past Promising Practices for more ideas of replicable character education practices to help you meet the needs of your individual students all year long.
