Wheel Three: Character Development

The third Wheel of Success focuses on the values, attitudes, mindsets, and skills that assist each student reach their development and understanding of the Six Pillars of Character. Developmental outcomes embodied in the character dimension of the CHARACTER COUNTS! addresses all Six Pillars traits necessary in the development of a safe and caring learning environment.

The objective of this aspect of CHARACTER COUNTS!:

  • Develop moral character and commitment in its use
  • Improve decision-making qualities
  • Demonstrate integrity, honesty promise-keeping and loyalty which are essential in relationship building and career readiness
  • Demonstrate respect for authority figures and others without regard to gender, race, religion, sexual orientation or other distinguishing attributes
  • Make students accountable for their actions and the consequences of choices made
  • Increase cognitive skills related to being just and fair with others
  • Display compassion and a concern for the well-being for others
  • Demonstrate their civic duties and social responsibilities[/vc_column_text][/vc_tab]

To help students achieve these character education goals, teachers are given guidance through the Model Standards of Academic, Social, Emotional and Character Development as well as special training, learning tools and strategies including classroom and school wide experiential activities, school and community improvement projects, discussion and essay prompts, curricula integration, and recognitions.

Specifically CHARACTER COUNTS! promotes seven character outcomes:
  1. Commitment to character and ethics. 

    Students understand the personal and social importance and the basic terminology and concepts of character and ethics. They strive to acquire the knowledge, adopt the values and develop the skills, traits, and conduct patterns of a person of good character, and they seek to govern their choices and actions by universal moral/ ethical principles.

  2. Develop and demonstrate the character trait of trustworthiness.  

    Students develop and demonstrate the character trait of trustworthiness. They understand that trust is an essential ingredient in meaningful and lasting relationships, as well as school and career success, and they strive to earn the trust of others by demonstrating the ethical virtues of integrity, honesty, promise-keeping and loyalty.

  3. Develop and demonstrate the character trait of respect. 

    Students believe that the well-being and dignity of all people is important. They treat all individuals with respect, judging them on their character and ability without regard to race, religion, sexual orientation, political ideology, gender, age, or other physical or personal characteristics.

  4. Develop and demonstrate the character trait of responsibility.

    Students demonstrate the trait of responsibility by taking ownership of their lives and acknowledging their power to choose what they think (including their attitudes and mindsets), say and do. They are accountable for the consequences of their choices.

  5. Develop and demonstrate the character trait of fairness. 

    Students strive to be fair and just in all their actions.

  6. Develop and demonstrate the character trait of caring. 

    Students understand that caring — including the virtues of compassion, kindness, benevolence, altruism, charity, generosity, and sharing — is the heart of ethics. They strive to demonstrate a concern for the well-being of others by displaying compassion for those in pain or in need by providing support in the form of donations and/or personal service.

  7. Develop and demonstrate the character trait of good citizenship. 

    Students demonstrate good citizenship by fulfilling their civic and social responsibilities. They contribute to the well-being of their communities (including their school, neighborhood, and country).

This domain is concerned with educational outcomes that help students develop the constellation of moral and ethical qualities that define good character. Successful efforts to build good character will result in a safe, caring and respectful school climate that provides students with standards of right and wrong.  It instills in them ethical consciousness, commitment and competencies that will help them achieve personal, school, and career goals; live happy, worthy and fulfilling lives; and become engaged, responsible, and productive citizens.

 

CHARACTER DOMAIN OUTCOMES
C1. COMMITMENT TO CHARACTER AND ETHICS. Students understand
the personal and social importance and the basic terminology and concepts of
character and ethics. They strive to acquire the knowledge, adopt the values,
and develop the skills, traits, and conduct patterns of a person of good
character, and they seek to govern their choices and actions by universal
moral/ethical principles.

C1.1. Good Character – Components

C1.2. Importance of Character

C1.3. Responsibility for Character

C1.4. Six Pillars of Character

C1.5. Ethical Concepts and Terms

C2.Trustworthiness.
Students develop and demonstrate the character trait of trustworthiness. They
understand that trust is an essential ingredient in meaningful and lasting
relationships, as well as school and career success, and they strive to earn
the trust of others by demonstrating the ethical virtues of integrity,
honesty, promise-keeping and loyalty.

C2.1. Integrity

C2.2. Honest Communications

C2.3. Honest Actions

C2.4. Belief That Honesty Pays

C2.5. Promise-Keeping & Reliability

C2.6. Loyalty
C3. Respect.
Students believe that the well-being and dignity of all people is important. They treat
all individuals with respect, judging them on their character and ability
without regard to race, religion, sexual orientation, political ideology,
gender, age or other physical or personal characteristics. 

C3.1. Treating Others With Respect

C3.2. Golden Rule

C3.3. Basics of Respect

C3.4. School Climate

C3.5. Respecting Privacy

C3.6. Respecting Others’ Autonomy

C4. Responsibility.
Students demonstrate the trait of responsibility by taking ownership of their
lives and acknowledging their power to choose what they think (including
their attitudes and mindsets), say and do. They are accountable for the
consequences of their choices.

C4.1. Compliance: Doing What Is Required

C4.2. Ethics: Doing What Should Be Done

C4.3. Consequences for Their Words

C4.4. Consequences for Actions

C4.5. Developing and Using Positive Attitudes and Life Skills

C4.6. Self-Reliance and Prudent Money Management

C4.7. Learning From Experience

C4.8. Being Rational and Reflective

C4.9. Healthy Choices

C5. Fairness.
Students strive to be fair and just in all their actions.

C5.1. The Basics of Fairness

C5.2. Making Fair Decisions

C5.3. Proportionality

C5.4. Complexity of Fairness

C6. Caring.
Students understand that caring — including the virtues of compassion, kindness, benevolence, altruism, charity, generosity, and sharing — is the heart of ethics. They strive to demonstrate a concern for the well-being of others by displaying compassion for those in pain or in need by
providing support in the form of donations and/or personal service.

C6.1. The Basics of Caring

C6.2. Caring & Other Ethical Duties
C7. Good
Citizenship. Students demonstrate good citizenship by fulfilling their civic and social responsibilities. They contribute to the well-being of their communities (including their school,
neighborhood, and country).

C7.1. Civil Rights

C7.2. Civil Responsibilities

C7.3 Respect for Authority & Law

C7.4. Participation in Democratic Process

C7.5. Improving School Climate

C7.6. Environmental Protection
[/vc_tabs]