Defining Character Students will define universal standards and

Defining Character Students will define universal standards and identify ways to practice them

Character Defined • People can not grow in character unless the have an understanding of what character is and what core values they believe. • The following character traits are universal values that help us develop and mature

Define the Following Words • • Honesty Respect Courage Self-Control Justice Humility Responsibility Kindness

Honesty: • Being sincere and truthful. • Being excuse free! • Your actions match your words - Also called integrity

Honesty • “Honesty is the best policy in interpersonal relations, labor, business, education, family and crime control because truth is the only thing that works and the only foundation on which lasting relations can build. ” – Ex. How you act now could effect your future

Honesty • The key to becoming an honest person lies in understanding the meaning of integrity and its relationship to honesty. • Journal: What does integrity mean? What is its relationship to honesty?

Honesty & Integrity • Integrity: Complete; essential to completeness. • To have integrity is to be a complete person- honest and with consistently high moral standards. • To live without integrity is to be an incomplete human being.

Honesty • Why is honesty such a struggle? – Turn to person behind you – Write 3 examples in your notes

Honesty – As a class: – “T” chart in notes: • The cost of dishonesty(negative) • Reasons to be honest (positive)

Respect • Showing consideration and appreciation and avoiding violations of others • Honoring people and caring about their rights

Respect • Good people build their lives on a foundation of respect. • “Treat other people exactly as you would like to be treated by them…” Matthew 7: 12

Respect • The 4 Pillars of Respect – – 1. Manners 2. Language 3. Honoring the rules 4. Appreciating differences – Give 1 example of each in notes on what you can do to improve in each pillar.

Rewards of being respectful…

Rewards of being respectful. . . • Develop effective social skills and habits • We make other people feel good • We earn the respect of others • We establish good relationships • We are treated better by other people • We improve our feelings of selfworth • We build a solid reputation

Courage: • Facing danger or hardship with confidence and bravery • Trying new things and trying again if you fail • “Don’t be afraid to fail. Don’t waste energy trying to cover up failure. Learn from your failures and go on to the next challenge. It’s OK to fail. If you are not failing you’re not growing” – H. Stanley Judd

What We Can Learn From Failure • I divide the world into learners and nonlearners. There are people who learn, who are open to what happens around them, who listen, who hear the lessons. When they do something stupid they don’t do it again. And when they do something that works a little bit, they do it even better and harder the next time. The question to ask is not whether you are a success or a failure, but whether you are a learner or a nonlearner.

Courage • Think of a time you failed at something. What did you learn from it? Did you give up? Repeat the same mistake? • Pair share with someone next to you.

Self-Control: • Controlling yourself and your behavior despite how you feel • Creating order and structure in your life

Self-Control • Group acrostic • Everyone must contribute to at least one word. Ex. S- Staying seated when asked EL-

Justice: • Being in accordance with rules logic, or ethics and acting in a proper way • People receive what they deserve • Standing up for your rights and the rights of others

Justice • Pair share: • Think of someone on the news or on TV who was given justice for their actions.

Humility: • Being humble • Not considering yourself more important than others • Willing to accept correction when you are wrong and learning form your mistakes • Doing your best without attracting attention to yourself

Humility • Think of someone you know who is humble. What makes them humble? • Think of someone who is not humble. What could they do to change their behavior to become more humble.

Responsibility: • Being ethically accountable for the welfare and care of another • Being answerable for your own behavior

Responsibility • On a scale from 1 -10 where do you fall in responsibility? • Find someone across the room and explain why you chose that number and state on thing/strategy you can do to increase your responsibility.

Kindness: • Having or showing a tender, considerate, friendly, generous or warmhearted nature to people, animals and the environment • Ex. Boy walking story

Kindness • “Few things in the world are more powerful than a positive push. A smile. A word of optimism and hope. A “you can do it when things are tough. ” • HOMEWORK: For one full day, do as many good deeds as you can and keep a tally. – Ex. hold the door for someone • help someone with their homework • pick up trash off the floor • do something at home without being told to

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