Encouraging Responsiblity
BE PROACTIVE NOT REACTIVE
Understanding your own values and expectations is critical if students are going to learn responsible behavior. Too often teachers react to students who fail to follow procedures, and the student may not even be aware of what the procedures are. Proactively teach students the behaviors you expect in your classroom.
AWARENESS
Try to get students to focus their attention on their own behavior and how it affects others. Never, Never, ask why did you do that? Always ask, what did you do? Too often when a student is asked why they did something it gives them an opportunity to alibi their actions and use circumstances or another person as a reason for their irresponsibility. Asking what rather than why forces the student to focus on his own actions.
Character Is Everything: What Is Kindness?
What is the kindest thing that someone has done for you lately? Have you tried to do something kind for someone? What do we usually think about when we think about kindness? Things like opening the door for others, being nice to the cashier at the store, leaving a generous tip for the waiter, sending a card of thanks. What do you think of when you think of kindness?
All of these are good things. Typically, kindness is equated with being polite or nice. Some years ago a movement started that called people to practice random acts of kindness. In other words, be nice and be polite, even to a stranger. I am not sure if the goal was to make people feel better about themselves or to make the world a better place. Either way, both are good things. I do find it amazing though that society had to create a slogan to remind people that they should treat one another in a kind and considerate manner. Everyone wants to be treated kindly by others, but most people will only treat another person in a kind manner if they are treated with kindness first. In other words if you are kind to me I will be kind to you.
Character Is Everything: What Is Forgiveness
Get Your Bullying Report Online Right Now !
Conferences are now being held at the Regional Training Center in Randolph New Jersey. Click on the link in the content section for Up coming seminars in New Jersey. Download the registration form and register today. Seating is limited.
Character Is Everything: What Is Wisdom?
Get Your Bullying Report Online Right Now !
Conferences are now being held at the Regional Training Center in Randolph New Jersey. Click on the link in the content section for Up coming seminars in New Jersey. Download the registration form and register today. Seating is limited.
Character Is Everything: What Is Compliance?
When I first started talking about the quality of compliance I used the word obedience. I got such a negative reaction from teachers and parents that I had to change the name of the quality from obedience to compliance. It seemed as if obedience was too strong a word and parents and teachers were offended by it. I still don’t think that there is anything wrong with the word obedience. Thirty years ago we demanded obedience from children. Today we can’t even use the word, and obedience turns out to be the last thing we get from children. Well, what is the definition of compliance? Compliance is when a person does what he is told, when he is told to do it, with a good attitude. And willfulness is the opposite of the character quality of compliance.
