resources
The Cornerstone Values approach to building character using
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proven ideas that can make the difference in your school
- Focus on one of the eight Cornerstone Values per term
- An order for the value of the term approach that works well is: Year 1 - Responsibility, Kindness, Honesty & Truthfulness, Consideration Year 2 - Respect, Compassion, Obedience, Duty
- Display values and definitions in classrooms and corridors
- Ask staff to teach and/or reinforce a unit that helps students understand the definition, desire the benefit and practice the behaviour
- Use teaching and learning objectives to help unpack each definition
- Display student work that supports the value of the term
- Sing a song that reinforces the value of the term
- Write an additional verse for a character education song
- Provide a school wide focus with recent examples of the value of the term at each assembly without moralising
- Resource your school library with literature that reinforces the value of the term
- Explain and promote each terms value in one newsletter editorial early each term as an introduction
- Reinforce the value of the term by including a small and practical reminder in each newsletter
- Nominate practical community projects to reinforce the value of the term
- Devote part of a staff meeting at the beginning of the term to share ideas of the delivery of the value of the term
- Ask students to write about the right thing to do (www.lawsoflife.org)
- Provide an annual budget for Character Education
- Consider nominating an aspect of a value per year as a planning and reporting target
- Consider asking for financial support from service organisations
- Include
a willingness to model and/or teach good character
statement in job descriptions - Look for stories of heroes that model good character and celebrate them
- Conduct parent and student surveys to confirm your direction
- Publish your school character education philosophy and delivery in your prospectus
- Publish a character quote of the week for classroom use
- Publish anti-bullying strategies that incorporate your values
- Publish a Code of Conduct that incorporate your values
- Report to parents on their students Character Development
- Use a
Think Sheet
that incorporates your values asking students to consider the appropriateness of their action - Appoint a student superhero for each value of the term
- Issue character vouchers while on playground duty. Organise a weekly draw for students with a certain number.
- Find practical examples of the value of the term to congratulate students at assembly
- Design and construct classroom banners, eg: Respect – Just Do It 3
- Use current events to highlight the presence or absence of the value of the term
- Role play various social situations demonstrating the value of the term
- Ask staff to consider the ways in which existing structures might incorporate the value of the term (eg Daily notices and form time)
- Emphasise the value of the term with your senior pupils in leadership roles
- Retain school displays of each terms value as a reminder for the year
- Check out websites
- Establish Character Education links with Early Childhood Centres, Primary Schools and parenting organizations in your area
- Consider becoming an accredited Cornerstone Values School
- Document your story. Collect data and stories before, during and after each value of the term