Character Education News & Updates: January 2024

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January 2024     

Character Education

 

 

ACADEMIC STANDARDS

 

Character Education Website 

 

Share your examples of character, leadership, and service by sending photos, videos, articles, websites, etc. to Justyn.Burgess@dpi.nc.gov with a brief explanation of an activity or project that exemplifies good character. Selected exemplars will be shared in the Character Education newsletter.  To receive the Character Education Update please sign up here

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UPDATE INCLUDES: 

 

SPOTLIGHT ON CHARACTER

  • February Character Challenge: #KindnessMattersNC

OPPORTUNITIES & AWARDS 

  • Character Education: Promising Practice
  • Laws of Life Essay Contest 
  • Martin Luther King Day of Service 
  • Call for Proposals: Growing Success for Multilingual Learners 2024 Summer Conference

  • Grants
  • Go Global NC

INSTRUCTIONAL TOOLS & RESOURCES  

  • Webinar Opportunities
  • 11 Principle of Character Revised Guidebook 
  • Character Focused Solutions To The Mental Health Crisis Facing Teens 

  • Professional Learning Opportunity: How to integrate Character Education in ELA & Social Studies by learning about the Holocaust 

  • On-Demand Professional Learning 
  • Office of Academic Standards Yearlong Outlook 

 

kindess challenge

February Character Challenge: #KindnessMattersNC

 

"🌟 Embrace the spirit of kindness throughout February with our #KindnessMattersNC Challenge! Inspired by the heartwarming stories shared by Steve Hartman, this month-long initiative encourages teachers, leaders, students, and families to engage in daily acts of kindness. Whether integrated into morning meetings and content area classes, each day presents an opportunity for reflection, writing, and fostering a culture of compassion.

 

📝 Access daily videos and journal prompts to guide your reflections. 

 

🗓️ Mark your calendars! Random Act of Kindness Day is celebrated on February 17 every year. We're extending the celebration throughout the month, making February dedicated to spreading kindness.

 

📸 Share your experiences on social media using the hashtag #KindnessMattersNC. Teachers and leaders are encouraged to spread positivity by showing how kindness has impacted the school or encouraging students to create their own kindness videos—just like Steve Hartman! Educators can submit evidence of school initiatives or student work to NCDPI using the link provided. Your submissions may be featured on our NCDPI social media, newsletters, and website. Also, be sure to share your experiences on your social media using the hashtag #KindnessMattersNC!  

Let's celebrate February with kindness, compassion, and uplifting stories. Together, we can create a ripple effect of positivity that extends far beyond our classrooms.

 

#KindnessMattersNC 


Character Education: Promising Practice

Alamo Heights School District, located in San Antonio (TX),  shares how their 2023 Promising Practice encourages senior citizens in their community to  be an important part of their character initiative. Watch The Video Now.  

 

Does your school have a Promising Practice for Character Education.  You can apply here to submit your Promising Practice. The deadline to submit your Promising Practice is March 22, 2024.

 


Laws of Life

Laws of Life Essay Contest 

 

The Laws of Life essay contest encourages middle school and high school students to reflect and write about a core value that means the most to them – and why.

 

• The program is available to all students in middle schools and high schools across the world.

• All essay writers will be recognized by Character.org. They will also recognize the most compelling essays and feature them on their website and social media channels.

 

Submissions are due Thursday, March 21, 2024 and can be submitted through this online form.


Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service

The Martin Luther King, Jr., holiday is an official day of service and celebrates the civil rights leader’s life and legacy. MLK Day of Service is a defining moment each year when Americans across the country step up to make communities more equitable and take action to create the community of Dr. King’s dream.

 

Use this tipsheet to choose a project. Then, use the Kids in Action Guide (ages 5-12) or the Youth Changing the World Toolkit (ages 13+ and available in English and 8 other languages) to plan your project.

 

Find MLK Day of Service Project Ideas & Tips from AmeriCorps. (Also, watch the Project Ideas webinar below in the Resources & Trainings section.)

 

Resources for students and educators from The King Center:

Resources for students and educators from Youth Serve America Center: 


Call for Proposals: Growing Success for Multilingual Learners 2024 Summer Conference

 

New Locations - Meet in Asheville in June or Topsail in July!

 

Virtual Option - Can't make it in person? Join virtually in August!

 

Share your Expertise -  All educators are invited to submit proposals for the 2024 Growing Success for MLs Conference.

 

Learn more and submit a session proposal!

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Grant Opportunities 

 

Katie's Krops 2024 Grower Search - Deadline: Jan. 15

Youth ages 7 to 17 are eligible to apply to become a Katie's Krops Grower and start a garden in their community in the spring of 2024. Growers selected will receive funding to start their garden and have access to a private grower website with tools.
Read more

 


 Go Global NC Opportunities 

Go GlobalEach year Go Global NC leads a delegation of North Carolina educators on an international professional development program. The purpose is to gain insight into different education systems and cultures around the world that will enrich our teachers and strengthen North Carolina classrooms. Go Global NC is very excited to once again be able to offer this opportunity for the summer of 2024 through the generosity of the Borchardt Fund.

 

This comprehensive professional development program will begin with an in-depth orientation (including both virtual and in-person sessions), followed by a transformative in-country immersion experience, and an action-planning follow up workshop to synthesize lessons learned and prepare delegates to share global perspectives with students, colleagues, and communities.

 

Program goals for Global Teachers- South Korea 2024 include:

1.     Learn about the history, culture, and socio-political structures of this diverse country

2.     Gain insight into South Korea’s diverse education systems, including challenges, opportunities, initiatives, and success stories

3.     Utilize a STEM-focused perspective to experience the physical environment and understand why South Korea is becoming a leader in innovations to reduce waste and achieve goals for carbon neutrality

4.     Discover global challenges shared with North Carolina and explore examples of local initiatives

5.     Network and collaborate with other educators to implement global education and perspectives in North Carolina classrooms

 

Global Teachers-South Korea 2024 Mandatory Program Dates

  • Orientation seminar
  • Three virtual speaker evening events 2 hours each: TBA (March & April)
  • Full day in-person orientation in Raleigh: April 27th, 2024
  • Immersion Study Program in South Korea: June 15th-26th , 2024
  • Follow-up workshop: October 12th, 2024

Eligibility

Global Teachers- South Korea 2024 program is designed for North Carolina K-12 teachers from all grade levels and subject areas. Educators from Chapel Hill-Carrboro, Chatham, Durham, Orange and Wake school systems are eligible to apply for the Borchardt Award. Recipients will be selected from among these school districts.

Application Process

  • Applications are due by: January 9th, 2024, at 11:59 PM with no exceptions.
  • Application review will take place from January 10th to January 26th, applicants will be notified whether or not they will be invited to interview on January 30th.
  • Interviews will take place virtually February 10th and 17th. If invited to interview, you must be available to interview one of those days. 
    • We will do our best to accommodate individual schedules, but it may not be possible in all cases. The selection committee will base their decisions on the strength of application responses, interviews, and letters of recommendation.

Program Cost and Borchardt Award
The Borchardt Award will cover $6,050 of the $6,500 program fee. Award recipients are responsible for covering the remaining $450.00. The program fee covers international economy round-trip airfare from Raleigh or Charlotte, airport taxes, health insurance during the international portion of the program, double-room hotel accommodations, most meals, ground transportation abroad, and program costs in South Korea. The program fee also includes the following orientation and follow-up costs: speakers, facilities, some meals, materials, and an information handbook.

Contact (rachel.rosenbaum@globalnc.org ) if you have any questions.

 

SCHOOL COUNSELORS are eligible to apply!!! Click here to apply.


11 Principles Guidebook

Character.org has released the newly-revised version of the 11 Principles Framework for Schools: A Guide to Cultivating a Culture of Character. The Guidebook explains each principle and key indicators, along with recent school-based examples. 

 

Learn More or Purchase.


character.org position statement

Character Focused Solutions To The Mental Health Crisis Facing Teens 

Character.org's Mental Health Advisory Team, led by Dr. Borba, offers four proven ways to equip young people with a range of character strengths they can use as a bulwark to the inevitable storms of life. 


Professional Learning Opportunity: How to integrate Character Education in English Language Arts & Social Studies by learning about the Holocaust 

 

Looking for ways to implement both Character Education and the Gizella Abramson Holocaust Education Act in ELA and Social Studies classrooms? 

 

Learning about the Holocaust allows students to build character and develop skills like empathy and social awareness. In an effort to foster these skills, NCDPI partnered with the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum to create standards-based resources for implementation in secondary grades. These resources are based on using the texts Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank and Night by Elie Wiesel. The goal of the resources is for teachers to be able to embed both character education and Holocaust education seamlessly into the core curriculum. 

 

Contact Thomas.Daugherty@dpi.nc.gov and Kelly.Schultz@dpi.nc.gov to set up a professional learning experience or to learn more about these resources and how they can be used in your classrooms.


Webinars

Navigating Student Mental Health Needs in the Classroom

Tuesday, January 16, 2024 @ 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm EST

Register 

 

One of the most pressing issues educators face today is the mental health of their students. In this edWebinar, Dr. Hanni Flaherty, Assistant Professor and Chair of Advanced Clinical Practice at Wurzweiler School of Social Work at Yeshiva University, will provide helpful tips for identifying and assisting students who struggle due to emotional and environmental factors that go beyond classroom studies.

 


Adolescent Mental Wellness in Crisis: What Can High Schools Do?

Thursday, January 18, 2024 @ 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm EST

Register 

 

In a recent national survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 60% of teen females and 30% of teen males reported feeling persistently sad and hopeless in the past year. The survey’s takeaway: “Overall, young people are experiencing a level of trauma and distress that requires action.”

 

When young people are in distress, they are not able to learn to their potential. Join Committee for Children’s Senior Research Scientist Dr. Jane Choi to explore the mental health crisis facing adolescents today and what high schools can do to support students to thrive and succeed. She’ll explore the science of adolescent development and how both school leaders and educators can strategically strengthen key elements of students’ school experience that contribute to both well-being and academic success.

 

Attend this edWebinar to learn about:

  • The science of adolescent brain and emotional development
  • The latest research indicates for how to best support adolescents to thrive in school and in their transition to adulthood
  • Actionable strategies for school leaders and classroom educators to support students’ well-being throughout the school day

Webinar Series: Integrating SEL and Character Education in Social Studies

Wednesday, February 21, 2024 @ 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm EST

Join our 2023-2024 webinar series dedicated to integrating Character Education and Social Emotional Learning (SEL) into your social studies curriculum. The third webinar in our series will focus on Self and Social Awareness. In this session, discover effective strategies to help your students develop a deep understanding of themselves and others, fostering empathy, emotional intelligence, and positive social interactions.

 

Register


Office of Academic Standards Yearlong Outlook 

The Office of Academic Standards is excited to share a yearlong look of upcoming webinars, resources, and leaders’ meetings.  This link will stay live and will be updated periodically.  


2023-2024 On-Demand Professional Learning 

Integrating Character Education and Social-Emotional Learning in Social Studies 

Watch this recorded presentation to help you enhance your classroom experience and empower your students to become more empathetic, responsible, and caring citizens. This presentation will help you discover practical strategies to help your students regulate emotions, set goals, and demonstrate self-discipline.

 

Integrating "Self Management" In Your Classroom: Discover practical strategies to help your students regulate emotions, set goals, and demonstrate self-discipline. 

Password: Selfmanagement1 (Case Sensitive)

 

Integrating "Responsible Decision-Making" In Your Classroom:  Discover strategies to empower your students to think critically, make ethical choices, and contribute positively to society.

Password: Responsible1  (Case Sensitive)