Core Essentials provides straightforward tools allowing schools to quickly incorporate character education into the curriculum. Core Essentials is designed to fit into your school's already hectic schedule. Our goal is that time devoted to preparation for implementation of Core Essentials be 15 minutes or less. We present a “value of the month” program instead of a “word of the week” program because children need time and space to understand character issues.
“Key Influencers” To Make Core Essentials a Success in Your School:
• Administration - The administration at the school plays an important role in ensuring the featured values are being emphasized school wide.
Responsibilities:
1. Provide “buy-in” -- demonstrate and promote the importance of character education to school faculty, staff, and parents.
2. Incorporate the values into the school's communication through announcements, or utilizing text inserted into newsletters, e-newsletters or the school’s website.
3. Work with the Core Essentials Coordinator and PTA volunteers to find educational partners and experiences in the community to provide rewards for students “being caught” demonstrating values. (See Engaging Educational Partners.)
• Core Essentials Coordinator - The Core Essentials Coordinator would be the primary user on the online account. Secondary users can also be designated.
Responsibilities:
1. Distribute the downloadable components that are posted quarterly on the website, by:
• Green Option: E-mailing the electronic files (PDF and Word documents) to the school staff and allowing them to view or print the pages they need, or
• Printing all the items for distribution
2. Work with the school administrative staff and PTA volunteers to find educational partners and experiences in the community to provide rewards for students “being caught” demonstrating values. (See Engaging Educational Partners)
• Teachers - Teachers play a key role in introducing and helping students internalize the values being taught.
Responsibilities:
1. Utilize the monthly teacher's guides to teach the values. The teacher's guides include lesson plans for both K-2 and 3-5 grade levels. The guides also give ideas for bulletin board ideas to help create an environment that communicates the values as well. The "Lessons from Nature" section of the guide provides information on how the featured value is demonstrated by the iconic animal. We also provide quotes about the value and ideas for catching kids who display the values in everyday life.
2. Utilize the additional resources, like the coloring pages, mini-posters and newsletter or e-newsletter inserts.
3. Send home the Take Home sheets (available in English and Spanish), or (green option) post the content to your classroom webpage and encourage parents to visit your site. The sheets provide ideas for family discussion and activities that reinforce the values you are teaching in the classroom.
4. Distribute rewards and experiences (ex: highlight a student on a bulletin board or school-wide newsletter) for students who are “caught” displaying the value of the month.
5. Customize the program to fit the uniqueness of your classroom, and let us know what you’re doing! We would love to share them with other Core Essentials users. Contact Core Essentials – we’d love to hear from you.
• Media Specialist - The Media Specialist plays a key supportive role in helping students learn more about the featured value.
Responsibilities:
Utilize the suggested reading list in the downloadable document and set up a display featuring the recommended books that tie-in with the featured value.
