The FAPE Site

Featured Tip

And Links to Lots More Tips

Fairness

Is Good Sportsmanship a Thing of the Past?
In some respects it is but it can be brought back. In our school we teach good sportsmanship. The students are not allowed to blast each other. They are not allowed to trash talk each other during games. They are taught to make good observations about how others are playing. The team that does not win is taught to congratulate the team that does win. The winning team is also taught to tell the other team that they played a good game. We have to make a conscious effort at teaching them this. It is not always taught at home. They also barely see it on television when they watch sports or at sporting events.

—spinycollard, from the Do the Right Thing discussion board

Respect

Model & Demonstrate What Respect Means
Having worked as a classroom teacher and character development leader, I've found that it's always important that the student be shown what the expected behavior looks like, sounds like, and feels like. Modeling is the key to success. It's not enough to just say what it is.

If you want the children to demonstrate respect, for example, they need to first know what respect is and what it looks like. Often, students will say "I show respect to my friend by being nice." This is not specific enough. A teacher needs to ask, "What does that look like?" Being nice may mean "listening to my friend when he or she talks."

Once the concept of respect is made more explicit, it's up to the teacher to demonstrate what listening looks like, sounds like, and feels like. I often would model examples of what good listeners do (e.g., eyes on speaker, lean toward the speaker, nod, smile). The modeling would include teacher showing through example and student practice during role play. We must take time to lay the groundwork initially, but it pays off in the long run.

Once your targeted behaviors are modeled and demonstrated, create an anchor chart that states, "Good Listeners..." Include in the chart what it looks like (hands in lap, mouths not moving, eyes on speaker, etc.), what it sounds like (all are quiet except the speaker, clapping to acknowledge good ideas when the speaker is done), and what it feels like (calm, comfortable, etc.).

—Dan Celetti, Algoma District School Board in Sault Ste Marie, Ontario, Canada, currently a special assignment teacher helping teachers implement research-based learning strategies in the areas of literacy, numeracy, and character development.

More Tips
Check out additional tips from educators, categorized by six types of behavior:

Caring—Kind, compassionate behavior, expressing gratitude, forgiving others, and helping people in need. 

Citizenship— Helping to make school and community better, staying informed, obeying rules and laws, respecting authority, and protecting the environment.

Fairness—Playing by the rules, taking turns and sharing, being open-minded, listening to others, not taking advantage of others, and not blaming others.

Respect—Being tolerant of differences, using good manners and appropriate language, not threatening, hitting, or hurting anyone, and dealing peacefully with anger, insults, and disagreements.

Responsibility—Doing what one is supposed to do, persevering, doing one's best, maintaining self-control, thinking before acting, and being accountable for one's choices.

Trustworthiness—Being honest, doing what you say you'll do, doing the right thing, building a good reputation, being loyal to family, friends, and country, and not deceiving, cheating, or stealing.

Note: These six attributes are the six pillars of character in the Character Counts! youth-ethics initiative.