I'm looking for opinions from real teachers/ administrators for a new company dedicated to augmenting experiential learning project success. Blueprint Coaching is a student leadership coaching company specializing in project based learning.
Who are we? We are millennial community leaders marked by unique experiences in breaking the mold of student leadership to create change. We are dedicated to supporting current students in becoming what we call "innovators for the world". Our coaches support students in addressing issues ranging from environmental justice to equitable access to technology in ways that only our students are brilliant enough to devise.
The mission is to offer both the benefits of teaching leadership principles (that would be offered in a typical all-day workshop) as well as the benefit of in-process coaching with a "No-Limits" lens.
Who Do We Work With? We work with HS and college students in their process of defining, building and sustaining service projects in their communities and schools.
How Does This Work? We work within 3 four month cycles, or semesters, per year. Each month of the 4 month cycle all students on the project team will receive a video workshop focused on competency building relevant to their progress in the project as well as a conference chat between their coach and the core leadership team.
Why this model? Context. Students learn a lot from taking notes in a workshop that will describe the full life cycle of a community project in one day. But, students learn much more from learning those leadership principles as they become needed in the project's process. With this student development method students learning is contextualized as a result of the timing in which the lessons are taught (on a monthly basis) and further so by the way each lesson is tailored to their project via their coach. Increasing context at a new level maximizes student learning in their community leadership venture and the success of the venture as well.
Pricing:
For 1 four-month session including 4 video workshop modules and 6 coaching conference calls: $800
As teachers and administrators, is this service one that your school or district would purchase?
Welcome to the Teaching Character Chatboard. This chatboard is for teachers to discuss strategies, issues, and lesson plans for teaching character in the classroom.
On 6/21/11, Jace's Mom wrote: > On 6/21/11, Teri wrote: >> On 6/21/11, hals wrote: >>> I also agree that the way we (staff) behave can set the >>> overall tone for the school. Teacher verbal and body >>> language can make such a difference. Students are so quick >>> to pick up on our character and following the rules. One >>> issue in particular has been a sore spot for us - staff on >>> their cell phones! Anyone else have areas that seem to be >>> contradictions or in need of improvement (staff >>> character/behavior)? >>> >>> >> I am in complete agreement about the cell phones. I think it is >> totally ridiculous that so many teachers have their cell phones >> out--and use them, if not to talk than to text/FB/etc.--when the >> school's policy forbids student cell phones to be on during >> school hours. If I were a parent, I wouldn't like hearing that >> my child's teacher was on FB during class time. If we're >> telling students that they can live without their cell phones >> during school hours, then teachers should be able to live >> without theirs too. > > > While I agree that there's absolutely no reason whatsoever for a > teacher to be posting to Facebook during school hours, I don't agree > that rules and standards have to be the same for adults as for > students. No abuse of technology belongs in the school, but adults > with cell phones does not equate with students with cell phones, > unless the adult is neglecting his or her own responsibilities. > > Students may aspire to growing into the rights and privileges of > being an adult. They aren't entitled to all of those rights and > privileges from birth.
Kathy MYou have given me something to think about. Too many times I see adults ask "what's in it for me?" I do want students who question that adult's values. But how do you get the student there
Use a string to tie the cards together. Then have your class take turns holding the card and doing a retell of the story. Ex. (holding the character card). "there once was a little boy". Then, ( I move my hands to the pic of the setting). " He lived in a scary house". And on. That way your kiddos get to touch and hold the cards- even have to figure out which one works with the part of the story they are telling.
You know how we teachers of young children constantly paraphrase everything? That's how I teach the meanings of those words! I do it consistently, so children become used to it. I do it with: title.....the name of the book author....the person who wrote the words illustrator.....the person who drew the pictures setting......where the is story happening characters.....the people in the story problem....most kids understand this one right away, but if they don't I'll say was there something wrong in the story?
It becomes part and parcel of every read aloud I do in the classroom. When I introduce a book it goes something like this: Boys and girls, the TITLE of this book is "The Castaway Pirates". The NAME of this book is "The Castaway Pirates". The TITLE is the NAME of the book. The AUTHOR is ___________. The name of the person who wrote the book is ___________. The name of the person who wrote the book is the AUTHOR. And so on. It looks wordy when it's all written out, but once you do it for awhile, then you won't have to. Towards the end of the year, the kids all understand what you mean when you use title, author, setting, etc.
On 6/21/11, judy5ca wrote: > Have you seen this site? I take the magazine (free) and > occasionally send in for something else free. If you're > looking for ways to boost your own sense of democracy, this > is a great place. And many of the suggestions for students > are wonderful. I've taken it for years and recommend it > highly (unless you are extremely conservative--then this > might NOT be for you). > Judy
LeahAll of the Kelly Bear resources (preK - 3) have character education as their basis.
For several complimentary articles on this topic including: 52 Character Building Thoughts for Children; Building Character in Students; Learning the Value of Diversity; Cliques and Put-Downs in Elementary School; and 75 others see
parents talkOn 6/21/11, Cheryl wrote: > I teach third grade and we do several things to promote > character education. One is that we have awards assemblies > in which we focus on specific character traits such as > resposibility, fairness, kindness, good citizenship, > trustworthy, and respect. Students are selected in a > variety of manners...See MoreOn 6/21/11, Cheryl wrote: > I teach third grade and we do several things to promote > character education. One is that we have awards assemblies > in which we focus on specific character traits such as > resposibility, fairness, kindness, good citizenship, > trustworthy, and respect. Students are selected in a > variety of manners to receive an award, are called up on > stage, and praised for their success. We make sure all > students get at least one award a year. Another procedure > we implement is giving them tickets for positive behavior. > Two teachers a day are given a few tickets to hand to > students demonstrating appropriate behavior in the hall, > playground, cafeteria, library, and more. The rule is it > can't be one of your own students. Students take the > ticket to the office, get a certificate to take home, and > their ticket goes on the board in the hall by the office. > Their names are announced at the end of each day. When a > row is filled, the students in the row are called to the > office for yet another prize.
I like your idea of having an assembly for just character. When I taught at a privet school in New York I was responsible for getting the certificates for reading, perfect attendance, citizenship, etc. At the teacher store one day teachers from the public schools said they were moving away from all the academic certificates and only giving for citizenship
Has anyone ever used the material from Peter Yarrow (From Peter, Paul and Mary) called Don't Laugh at Me? I ordered it and gave it to my AP, but we haven't done anything with it. Any feedback on the program? Thanks! :)