Effective Character Education

Universal Peace Federation’s

Discovering the Real Me curriculum (DTRM)

Character Education Sounds Great

But does it work?

According to Character Education Partnerships, successful programs share common characteristics:

Successful Character Education Programs

A. Incorporate social and emotional learningB. Identify themselves as character education

programsC. Integrate into the school’s curriculumD. Stress professional developmentE. Employ interactive teaching/learning

strategies

A. DTRM Promotes Social and Emotional Learning

• Promotes self-awareness through reflection exercises and sympathetic characters

• Teaches social, communication, relationship, and conflict resolution skills

• Promotes self-discipline, self-control, goal-setting, and emotional awareness

• Teaches problem-solving and decision-making

B. DTRM Identifies Itself as a Character Education Program

• Clearly states goals as the formation of virtues and promoting moral development within a positive life goals framework

C. DTRM Fits into the Academic Curriculum

• Since it is story-based, it fits easily into the academic day

• May be used in language arts

• May be used in social studies

• May be used in health

D. DTRM Stresses Professional Development—Teacher Trainings,

Teachers’ Manuals, Follow-Up Trainings

E. DTRM Uses a Mixture of Instruction Methods

• Discussion groups

• Class meetings

• Debates, votes

• Role-play

• Journal writing

• Direct teaching

Criteria from the Collaborative for Academic, Social and

Emotional Learning:

• Successful programs begin at an early age and continue throughout high school.

• Include teaching children to cope with themselves (self-discipline, self-understanding), develop good social and familial relationships, and to be creative and productive citizens.

Criteria

Discovering the Real Me

• Begins at grade 1 and continues through high school

• The title of DTRM reveals that it is a journey toward discovery of the best self. Stories cover family and friends, community and civics.

• Provide at least 7 or 8 lessons over the school year)

• Educate students to 1) deal with themselves, 2) with others and family members, and 3) to use their creativity to make a positive contribution to society

Criteria

Discovering the Real Me

• Provides enough lessons for every week of the school year (35 in all)

• Speaks to three life goals of (1) developing a mature character, (2) loving relationships and family, and (3) making a contribution. These are similar to the above criteria.

Further Criteria

A. Promote self-awareness

B. Social awareness

C. Self-improvement

D. Relationship skills

E. Responsible decision-making

A. DTRM Lessons on Self-Awareness

• “Who Am I?” (Book 9)

• “My Inner World” (Book 7)

• “Finding My Real Value” (Book 6)

• “What Kind of Person Will I Be?” (Book 9)

• “Being You” (Book 12)

B. DTRM Lessons on Social Awareness

• “Learning to Cooperate” (Book 5)• “Getting Along with Others” (Book 6)• “I Belong to a Community” (Book 8)• “The Individual, Family, and Society” (Book 12)

C. DTRM Lessons on Self-Improvement

• “Don’t Give Up” (Book 5)

• “Grades Do Count” (Book 5)

• “Honesty” (Book 9)

• “Freedom and Responsibility” (Book 9)

• “Self-Control” (Book 9)

• “A Motto for Life” (Book 12)

D. DTRM Lessons on Relationship Skills

• “Respect in Relationships” (Book 10)• “Friendship” (Book 10) • “How We Relate” (Book 10)• “Communication Skills” (Book 10)• “Resolving Conflict and Forgiveness” (Book 10)• “Broken Relationships” (Book 10)

• “Taking the Lead in Understanding Each Other” (Book 11)

• “Relationship Skills” (Book 11)

• “Preparation for Marriage” (Book 10)

• “Commitment and Loyalty” (Book 12)

E. DTRM Lessons on Decision-Making

• “Leading Your Life Responsibly” (Book 11)• “Should You Have Sex Before Marriage?” (Book 11)• “Choose Your Destiny” (Book 12) • “Peer Pressure” (Joey’s Dare, Book 7) • “Going Nowhere Fast” (Book 7)• “Family or Friends?” (Book 8)

Benefits of Effective Character Education

• Fewer discipline problems• Lower drop-out rates• Higher school attendance• Enhanced academic performance• Greater teacher vitality