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Posts by Category: Character Ed.& Assets

Compassion in Action!

Date: January 19, 2009

Way back on July 23, 2008 I posted the first two of my four part, Iditarod themed character education program, using the acronym RACE for the Last Great Race on Earth.  The “R” stands for respect and responsibility, the “A” for attitude, the “C” for compassion, and the “E” for excellence, personal excellence.  We can see all of these traits exhibited in the mushers and their relationships with their dogs and each other.  It is also evident in the many volunteers that help make the Iditarod happen.  

So, after this message you will find the compassion and excellence pieces of this program.  They have accompanying songs and  lists of Iditarod Insider videos showing that particular tenet.  I have had success using this program in a one-week summer camp, highlighting one tenet a day, Monday through Thursday, then reviewing by making the RACE necklace (July 23) on the last day.  And it is equally successful using it in the regular classroom in a three or four week study.

Pre-K Students Visiting with Maybelle at Asheville Manor.During the compassion piece of the program, we encourage creating a service project.  For example, the three pre-k classes at my school visit an assisted living community each month of the school year.  The children sing five to seven songs about their recent studies to the residents and then go around and give hugs and handshakes, introducing themselves and wishing the Grandma’s and Grandpa’s greetings of the season, “Happy New Year,”  “Happy Valentine’s Day”, etc.  Every class in our school has their own special project.  The kindergarten works with the Humane Society, the second grade is in charge of the weekly recycling for the entire lower school, and the list goes on.  Compassion has no boundaries.

Most recently I have been blessed beyond measure by the compassion of my school.  My principal, Claudia Sherry, sets high, but loving standards for our lower school in so many ways.  She is quick to assess a need and develop a plan.  Not long after I told her of my cancer diagnosis, Claudia whipped up an action plan that offered families in my school the opportunity to pour out compassion on me (and my family) in a very tangible way.  She sent a letter to lower school families telling them of my diagnosis and that my oncologist was out of my insurance network.  She went on to say that my church would be taking care of any meal needs my family required so if they would like to help with medical costs, the school would be happy to collect donations on my behalf.  To date folks have given an extraordinary $9,000.  Of course, I cry happy tears at every deposit, but the last deposit really released the floodgates.  The father of one of my colleagues-a man I have never met-donated an amazing $3,000!  May we all be encouraged by the selfless compassion of such a heart.

Posted by Cathy (2009) in Character Ed.& Assets, Lessons, Messages Tagged

Compassion – Character Education

Date: January 17, 2009

Summary:  This lesson(s) will focus on the third tenet of the acronym RACE, compassion.  Through song, reading, video, discussion, drama, and a service project students will identify and demonstrate compassion. 

Download Lesson Plan:  Compassion – Character Education

Download Lesson Supplement:  Compassion Song 

Posted by Cathy (2009) in Character Ed.& Assets, Lessons Tagged , ,

Personal Excellence – Character Education

Date: January 15, 2009

Summary:  This lesson(s) will focus on the fourth tenet of the acronym RACE, excellence.  Through song, reading, video, discussion, and drama students will identify and demonstrate personal excellence.

Download Lesson Plan:  Personal Excellence – Character Education

Download Lesson Supplement:  Personal Excellence Song 

Posted by Cathy (2009) in Character Ed.& Assets, Lessons Tagged , ,

Hike!

Date: August 1, 2008

Summary: Classroom jobs will be given each day by a numbered rotation.

Posted by Cathy (2009) in Character Ed.& Assets, Lessons Tagged , , , , ,

RACE Necklace — Character Education

Date: July 24, 2008

Summary: Students will string beads in the order demonstrated by the teacher.

Posted by Cathy (2009) in Character Ed.& Assets, Lessons Tagged , , , , , , , ,

Respect and Responsibility — Character Education

Date: July 23, 2008

Summary: This lesson(s) will focus on the first tenet of the acronym RACE, respect and responsibility. Through song, reading, video, discussion, and drama students will identify and demonstrate respect and responsibility.

Posted by Cathy (2009) in Character Ed.& Assets, Lessons Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

Attitude — Character Education

Date: July 23, 2008

Summary: Through song, reading, discussion, and viewing mushers in action students will identify and demonstrate a good attitude.

Posted by Cathy (2009) in Character Ed.& Assets, Lessons Tagged , , , , , , ,

Character Education- Life Skills- Assets

Date: July 11, 2008

The following lessons are in PDF format.  They can be adapted for use at any grade level as part of character education, life skills, and behavior studies.

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Citizenship:  What it Takes by Jane Blaile, 2008 Teacher on the Trail™

Lesson Summary: Using Iditarod Insider video segments, students will watch mushers, pilots, veterinarians, volunteers, or other Iditarod personnel in situations along the trail and observe how they exhibit good character into handle the situations.  Topic: responsibility – listening, following directions, asking a question, being a good example, dependability

What it Takes – citizenship (character ed)

Stewardship:  What it Takes by Jane Blaile, 2008 Teacher on the Trail™

Lesson Summary: Using Iditarod Insider, students will watch mushers, pilots, veterinarians, volunteers, or other Iditarod personnel in situations along the trail and observe how they exhibit good character into handle the situations.  Topic: stewardship: the conducting, supervising, or managing of something; especially : the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one’s care i.e., stewardship of our natural resources

What it Takes – stewardship (character ed)
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Teaching Respect:  What it Takes by Jane Blaile, 2008 Teacher on the Trail™

Lesson Summary: Using Iditarod Insider, students will watch mushers, pilots, veterinarians, volunteers, or other Iditarod personnel in situations along the trail and observe how they exhibit good character into handle the situations.   Topic: respect – apologizing, dealing with embarrassment, joining in, offering help, accepting consequences, respect for others, self-respect, tolerance, respect for authority

What it Takes – respect (character education)

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Charitable Giving:  Service Learning by Jane Blaile, 2008 Teacher on the Trail ™

Lesson Summary: Students will learn that many mushers in the Iditarod take the commitment of the race an extra step by supporting a charitable organization or illness research project through their race efforts. Some students may choose to participate in service learning or supporting charitable organizations in their communities.  Discipline / Subject: community service/character education/service learning

Christmas – the season of giving-service learning
Worksheet: Mushers Charitable Organizations/Causes

Evaluating Personal Goals and Attributes:  Your Personal Slogan by Jane Blaile, 2008 Teacher on the Trail™

Lesson Summary: Students will discuss the Iditarod slogan “The Last Great Race on Earth” in relation to what it states about the Iditarod. Then they will create their own personal slogan to reflect who they are as a person.  Topic: students self-description, self evaluation, goal setting

Your Personal Slogan

Developing a Positive Attitude by Jane Blaile, 2008 Teacher on the Trail™

Lesson Summary: Using Iditarod Insider video segments, students will watch mushers, pilots, veterinarians, volunteers, or other Iditarod personnel in situations along the trail and observe how they exhibit good character into handle the situations.  Topic: positive attitude – accepting a compliment, giving a compliment, dealing with boredom, reacting to failure, thankfulness, positive speech

What it Takes – positive attitude (character ed)

Self Control, Self Respect:  What it Takes by Jane Blaile, 2008 Teacher on the Trail™

Lesson Summary: Using Iditarod Insider, students will watch mushers, pilots, veterinarians, volunteers, or other Iditarod personnel in situations along the trail and observe how they exhibit good character into handle the situations.  Topic: self-control/self-discipline: completing assignments, relaxing, accepting “no”, learning from discipline, patience, keeping a good conscience

What it Takes – self-control, self-respect

Responsibility in the Classroom Using Required Gear by Jane Blaile, 2008 Teacher on the Trail™

As mushers arrive at checkpoints along the trail, the checker goes through a list of required items for each one. In order to be able to continue the race, the musher must meet certain requirements.  Classroom ‘required’ gear is developed to help students be more respectful and responsible

Classroom Checker’s Reports (classroom management)

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Responsibility:  What it Takes by Jane Blaile, Teacher on the Trail™

Lesson Summary: Using Iditarod Insider, students will watch mushers, pilots, veterinarians, volunteers, or other Iditarod personnel in situations along the trail and observe how they exhibit good character into handle the situations.  Topic: responsibility – listening, following directions, asking a question, being a good example, dependability

What it Takes – responsibility

Goal Setting: What it Takes by Jane Blaile, 2008 Teacher on the Trail™

Lesson Summary: Using Iditarod Insider segments, students will watch mushers, pilots, veterinarians, volunteers, or other Iditarod personnel in situations along the trail and observe how they exhibit good character into handle the situations.  Topic: goal setting – setting goals, facing challenges, having hopes and dreams

What it Takes – goal setting (character education)

What it Takes to be Healthy and Happy by Jane Blaile, 2008 Teacher on the Trail™

Lesson Summary: Students will reflect on intrinsic qualities of people, contrast that to physical or skills abilities, and design an award for someone in their life celebrating his/her character.  Topic: appreciation of others’ intrinsic qualities and personality traits

And The Nominees Are (character education)
Worksheet: scoring rubric

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Reflections on Cultural Perception by Jane Blaile, 2008 Teacher on the Trail™

Lesson Summary: Students will conduct a scavenger hunt to collect place names of their area that reflect the identity of it, the culture of it, and how others perceive it.  Topic: culture and identity, perception of culture, diversity

Take a Left on Cactus Road (cultural influence)
Worksheet: scavenger hunt checklist

8 Traits of Iditarod by Terrie Hanke, 2006 Teacher on the Trail™

8 Traits of Iditarod

I=  Innovation

D= Diligence

I= Integrity

T= Team Work

A= Attitude

R= Respect

O= Optimism

D= Determination

8 Traits of Iditarod Articles:  Click here

EIGHT Traits of IDITAROD (PDF Document, Lesson Plan)

Posted by Diane in Character Ed.& Assets, Lessons

Reaching New Heights

Date: July 8, 2008

Team building. That’s what I always assumed was the intention of school and community groups going to “high ropes courses.” In my mind it was taking a group of incoming freshmen, for example, and, through this shared experience, helping them get to know their fellow classmates. It seemed like a great idea, but I didn’t have a clue what the actual experience was like until I met Scott Frickson at Fort Richardson Army Base in Anchorage, Alaska.

Scott is an officer in the Alaska National Guard having served two tours of duty in Iraq as a Black Hawk helicopter pilot. He is currently on an equally challenging mission working with the Stay on Track program. This mission or program is two-fold; first and foremost, Scott educates young people in the community and schools to make the kind of choices that lead to a healthy lifestyle free of alcohol and drugs. The second part of his mission is operating the rope challenge course. It provides a great opportunity for young people to learn outdoor skills, individual and collective team building skills, and leadership training. Scott uses this course to help kids realize that they can do what seems physically impossible. He then segues this experience empowering teenagers to make the tough social/emotional decisions they face each day concerning the use of alcohol and drugs.

To make sure the four educators representing the Iditarod Summer Camp for Teachers (of which I was one) had a full understanding of the Stay on Track program, Scott not only gave us an energetic presentation and allowed us to watch a group on the ropes course, but he actually had us participate! The four of us learned first-hand that the ropes course is about team building and a whole lot more. We learned to be confident in our equipment, in our teammates, and in ourselves. We learned to take risks, to attempt things we had never tried before, and to succeed. We were indeed empowered! And it was so much fun!

Together the Alaska National Guard and the Iditarod Education Department will be working on several projects during the 2008-2009 school year. Log in to learn more about the projects that will help students in Alaska and around the world move down the trail to success. As Scott Frickson showed us, learning to accomplish things you had previously thought impossible is an important step in gaining control of your life.

Iditarod Education Director Diane Johnson and 2009 Teacher on the Trail Cathy Walters Prepare to Meet in the Middle!

Iditarod Education Director Diane Johnson and 2009 Teacher on the Trail Cathy Walters Prepare to Meet in the Middle!
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Iditarod Education Director Diane Johnson and 2009 Teacher on the Trail Cathy Walters Prepare to Meet in the Middle!

Posted by Cathy (2009) in Character Ed.& Assets, Messages, Stay on Track: Drug Education