#whatisschool December 1, 2016 6pm EST

What is Good Character?

CharacterCounts.org defines the pillars of good student character as Trustworthiness; Respect; Responsibility; Fairness; Caring; and Citizenship, going on to say that each of the six character traits helps create a positive learning environment for students and a “culture of kindness” making schools a safe environment for students to learn.

While this is true, students do not always come to class with these traits instilled and it falls to the teacher to integrate them into lessons, which is not always an easy task.  So how do we teach good character?

Author and Educator John Holt

John Holt, one of the leading US educational and social critics, was the author of ten influential books that were translated into fourteen languages before his death in the mid 1980s.  In his book, How Children Fail, Holt questions the meaning of good character and it's interpretation by educators saying,

Teachers and schools tend to mistake good behavior for good character. What they prize is docility, suggestibility; the child who will do what he is told; or even better, the child who will do what is wanted without even having to be told. They value most in children what children least value in themselves. Small wonder that their effort to build character is such a failure; they don’t know it when they see it.

Tonight, Laura Hill @candylandcaper and Craig Kemp @mrkempnz invite you to join #whatisschool as we explore the true meaning of  Good Character and strategies to integrate it into lesson plans that are both meaningful and effective to educators already burdened with large class loads, new technology and standardized testing.

#Whatisschool Questions December 1, 2016

1.  How do you define good character?

2.  To what standards of good character do you hold your students, your colleagues?

3.  How can you teach good character?

4. What teaching strategies can you use to integrate “good” character into curriculum areas?

5. What role does technology play in character education?

6. Share your successes, resources and links.

Join Us For A Thanksgiving Slow Chat November 24

Let's Give Thanks

Join @candylandcaper and @mrkempnz as #whatisschool gives thanks in a slow chat all Thanksgiving day Thursday, November 24.

Thanks is defined by the Mirriam Webster Dictionary

as a good feeling that you have towards someone who has helped you, or given something to you.  And at this time of year when our thoughts and reflections turn towards forgiveness, thankfulness and hope those grateful feelings and thoughts of gratitude can spill out and fill us with a desire to express ourselves.  

One of my favorite expressions of gratitude came from a seven year old girl named Amy who, inspired by Roald Dahl's book BFG, sent a special note of thanks to the author along with the gift of a bottle of colored water, oil and glitter.  Dahl knew exactly what it was and sent this note in reply.

Dear Amy,

I must write a special letter and thank you for the dream in the bottle.  You are the first person in the world who has sent me one of these and it intrigued me very much.  I also liked the dream.  Tonight I shall go down to the village and blow it through the bedroom window of some sleeping child and see if it works.

With love from,

Roald Dahl

Can you image her surprise and his at this tiny gesture of giving thanks that brought so much delight to both a small child and great man.  

Giving thanks is often overlooked but even a small gesture can increase your well being and that of those around you.  Here are some reasons to show you are grateful.

1. Gratitude opens the door to more relationships.  

2. Gratitude improves physical health.

3. Gratitude improves psychological health. 

4. Gratitude enhances empathy and reduces aggression. 

5. Grateful people sleep better.

6. Gratitude improves self-esteem.

7. Gratitude increases mental strength.

Personally, I prescribe to the theory that teaches you should say thank you with every step you take. Often as I walk in the woods or the shore by my home, places where I reflect and often dictate manuscripts as I go, I find myself saying this to the rhythm of my steps: 

thank you, 

thank you, 

thank you.

My stress melts away. I turn off the voice in my head and become mindful of the world around me as I give thanks for being part of it.

To celebrate all we have to be thankful for and all those who have given us a hand, a smile and inspiration or more me @candylandcaper and @mrkempnz will be slow chatting #whatisschool all day Thursday, November 24, as we spend Thanksgiving with our families. Please join us and retweet to all your followers.  Let's give thanks in a big way by adding as many voices as possible.  Especially now, during times when many people face great uncertainty, persecution, war and are filled with doubt, let's show the world the power and positivity we have by giving thanks in a collective voice.

 #WhatIsSchool wants to say Thanks to you! 

Craig and I are so grateful to you for making #whatisschool an amazing place to learn so for Thanksgiving we want to know what you are grateful for!  Join us on November 24 as we slow chat all day.  Spread the word out to as many people as possible, let’s send a global message of hope and gratitude! 

Here are the questions, answer all or any anytime tomorrow!

1.  What are you most grateful for?

2. If you could change one thing in the world what would it be?

3. What’s your favorite way to say thank you?

4. Who are you grateful for, who has touched your life and made it better?

5. How can we give thanks all year round all year?

6. Shout out a big THANK YOU to all the people who make your life great!

Remember to use the hostage #whatisschool in your response

Click to download and tweet the image below to your PLN

Let's make some noise

Happy Thanksgiving,

Laura & Craig

@candylandcaper 

@mrkempnz

#whatisschool

Join the conversation on Thursday 3 November at 7pm EDT (Thursday 12am BST, Friday 10am AEDT, 12pm NZT, 7am Singapore) as we discuss What Is School? #whatisschool

Questions #whatisschool, November 3, 2016 7PM EDT

1) How have you used radio or broadcasting within your school?

2) What are some of the benefits that you see to improving pupil’s learning through broadcasting?

3) Please share a project/lesson where the use of broadcasting impacted classroom practice.

4) How can we use broadcasting as a medium for engaging the community and even the world?

5) In what ways do you think school radio might enhance pupil wellbeing and self-esteem?

6) Please share some resources or websites that you have used to enhance your broadcasting experience.