Our school district has a program called "Pathways to Character." It includes lessons for the classrooms as well as a variety of activities that involve the entire student body.

Each month your child will be concentrating on a different character development topic. All topics reinforce life skills that help children become responsible and successful citizens. Watch for the monthly bulletin for the character trait we will be discussing for that month. It will include activities you and your child can do at home together.

We hope this program will have a positive impact on your child as we help prepare him/her for successful lives. If you have questions, please contact the building principal.

Monthly Topics

• September - Responsibility
• October - Respect
• November/December - Caring
• January - Cooperation

We are continuing our Pathways to Character with the next designated topic of COOPERATION. We define cooperation as being able to work with others to accomplish a task.

The following activities are suggestions for things that you may wish to do during the month of January:

• Play games with the family or friends and work on cooperating.
• Have your child help with the chores.
• Role play situations where your child needs to cooperate with his/her siblings.
• Remind and praise your child when he/she is cooperating. For instance, your child is helping you with a chore.
• Work with your child to design and create his/her Valentine's box for February.
• Develop a family New Year's resolution. Example: Turn off the T.V. one night a week and read as a family.

Suggested Children's Literature:

• "A Chair for My Mother" by Vera B. Williams
• "Cooperation" by Elaine Goley
• "Elizabeth and Larry" by Marilyn Sadler
• "Frog and Toad" by Arnold Lobel
• "Berenstain Bears and Mama's New Job"
• "Berenstain Bears and the Messy Room"
• "Berenstain Bears Get into a Fight"
• "Berenstain Bears Moving Day"
• "Berenstain Bears Trouble With Friends" by Stan and Jan Berenstain

Remember: You are the most important person in your child's life. Your child models your behavior.

As our journey on Pathways to Character continues, we have moved on to the topic of CARING. We define caring as showing kindness and concern for yourself, others, and the world around you.

The following activities are suggestions for things that you may wish to do during the months of November and December:

• Bake cookies to share with others.
• Have your children prepare breakfast for the family.
• Encourage your children to help each other clean their rooms.
• Work together to clean the house.
• Help a neighbor.

Suggested Children's Literature:

• "Love You Forever" by Robert Munsch
• "The Giving Tree" by Shel Silverstein
• "Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree" by Robert Barry
• "Pierre" by Maurice Sendak
• "The Grouchy Ladybug" by Eric Carle
• "The Story of Ferdinand" by Munro Leaf
• "Chicken Sunday" by Patricia Polacco
• "The Patchwork Quilt" by Valerie Flournoy

Thank you for your support of this program and your efforts to instill quality character in your children. They are the future.

[Back to Monthly Topics]

This month, our stop on Pathways to Character is RESPECT. We define respect as showing regard for self, others, property, rules and those in authority.

The following activities are suggestions for things that you may wish to do during the month of October:

• Discuss a television show your child watches, pointing out how a character did or did not show self-respect.
• Remind your child to say please and thank you as much as possible.
• Have your children follow your request the first time and do it politely.
• Have him show respect for his property by keeping toys and clothes picked up.
• Work on showing respect by listening to each other and considering each other's feelings.
• Have your child draw pictures of four people who she respects and tell you why.

Suggested Children's Literature:

• "Old Henry" by Joan W. Blos
• "Amazing Grace" by Mary Hoffman
• "Chicken Sunday" by Patricia Polacco
• "Colors Around Me"
• "Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott"

Remember: You are the most important person in your child's life. Your child models your behavior.

[Back to Monthly Topics]

Let's fall into step and get on the path to being a responsible citizen. We are excited about out Pathways to Character program and have chosen RESPONSIBILITY as the theme for September. We define responsibility as a willingness to be accountable for your own actions.

The following activities are suggestions for things that you may wish to do during the month of September:

• Make a list of home responsibilities for everyone in the family.
• Go on a picnic to a local or neighborhood park. Remind your child of the importance of being responsible (picking up litter, placing it in the trash, helping younger children, enjoying the flowers, but not picking them, etc.). When you return home, discuss the things he/she noticed others doing that were responsible and those who were not. Have him/her talk about what the person should have done.
• Praise your child when you see him/her being responsible. For example, "I'm really proud of the way you cleaned up your room without being told."
• Check your child's book bag daily for notes and/or homework. For older children, ask for notes and if homework is done.
• Make sure your child gets to school on time.

Remember: You are the most important person in your child's life. Your child models your behavior.

[Back to Monthly Topics]

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