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This page will contain articles, curriculum, practices pertaining to multiple intelligences within humanity.
 
This page will contain articles, curriculum, practices pertaining to multiple intelligences within humanity.
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*[[Peace Lab|Return to Peace Lab]]
 
*[[Peace Lab|Return to Peace Lab]]
  
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* Ethical/Moral Development [[http://www.livingvalues.net/ LIVING VALUES]]
 
* Ethical/Moral Development [[http://www.livingvalues.net/ LIVING VALUES]]
 
* STRENGTHENING CHARACTER
 
© Kurt A. Krueger
 
Published in the Strategies Journal of the
 
National Association for Sport and Physical Education, March/April 2003
 
Physical educators and coaches are in the best business in the world - developing our youth
 
into totally FIT individuals. As we strengthen their bodies, we can strengthen their character, which
 
in turn will help create a wonderful society
 
Realistically, we have a great deal to overcome. Today, while many children are technical
 
wizards, some of them are deficient physically and/or morally. Many are also dropping out of school
 
at an alarming rate. Teachers get to be “paraparents” – people trained to support parents and to
 
mentor and motivate children, many of whom have so many needs. It’s a good thing we are strong,
 
resilient people of good character because we have to reinforce the character development that goes
 
on outside of school. All too often, we have become the primary providers of values education.
 
The purpose of this article is to offer several ideas, methods and practices for
 
strengthening people’s positive character traits within a physical activity environment in a
 
K-12 and beyond setting.
 
Unlike educators in others disciplines, physical educators interact with and educate all of the
 
students in a school. We teach everyone at every school— from the Limited English Speakers to the
 
Special Ed kids to the Gifted and Talented. A properly formulated program can strengthen the
 
character of an entire school and thus affect the community at large.
 
There are two primary National Standards that relate to character (National Assoc. for Sport
 
and Physical Education - NASPE, 1995). Standard 5 states that “Students demonstrate supportive
 
behavior and refrain from negative behavior when interacting with others in age group appropriate
 
activities.” The character traits promoted by this standard are: caring, kindness, consideration,
 
helpfulness, and responsibility. Standard 6 says that “Students describes and accepts personal
 
performance limitations and those of others.” This standard develops compassion, understanding,
 
and responsibility.
 
The California Demonstration programs in physical education have incorporated social skill
 
development into the curriculum in accordance with the National Standards and State Framework.
 
In fact, “Social Skill Development” is the foundation of the program and is the very first unit. Over a
 
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two-week period, the character traits of encouragement, courtesy, complimenting, helping, caring,
 
and active listening are introduced through a variety of fun filled activities. Resources for this unit
 
include cooperative games books such as The New Games Book by Farrington and Fluegelman,
 
Right Fielders are People Too by Hichwa and Silver Bullets, Cow Tails and Cobras II by Karl
 
Rohnke. Each class period is concluded with both the teacher and the students assessing the goals of
 
the lesson, its applications, and what they learned from it. Many elements of this unit continue
 
throughout the year.
 
The initial second semester unit is “Trust and Team Building.” It has similar components as
 
the very first unit. Most of the activities in this unit come from Project Adventure activities, such as
 
“Willow-in-the-Wind,” “Trust Falls,” “Trolley;” cooperative and ‘trust’ runs, partner push-ups, etc.
 
This unit develops: cooperation, caring, competency, consideration, courage, dependability, integrity,
 
reliability, and responsibility. An assessment process similar to the first unit is also exercised daily.
 
Here are some steps toward stronger character inclusion into your Physical Education
 
and Athletics program:
 
1. Accentuate a character trait. (Borba, 1999)
 
Each unit can accentuate one or more character qualities. The Virtues Project: Educator’s
 
Guide (Kavelin-Popov, 2000) offers 52 character traits to choose from: Bravery, Capability, Caring,
 
Cheerfulness, Citizenship, Cleanliness, Commitment, Compassion, Competency, Consideration,
 
Cooperation, Courage, Courteousness, Dependability, Economy, Fairness, Forgiveness, Friendship,
 
Generosity, Goodwill, Hard Work, Helpfulness, Honesty, Initiative, Joyfulness, Kindness, Lawabiding, Loyalty, Moderation, Orderliness, Patience, Patriotism, Perseverance, Politeness, Pride,
 
Promptness, Punctuality, Reliable, Respect, Responsibility, Self-Control, Self-Discipline, SelfReliance, Sportsmanship, Thankfulness, Thrift, Truthfulness, Wisdom. Whenever a student or anyone
 
else does something exhibiting a good character trait, praise her/him personally or in front of the
 
class.
 
EXHIBIT THE QUALITIES YOU WANT. Physical Educators know the truth of the old
 
axiom, “Actions speak louder than words.” You must be the model of the character traits you
 
wish to engender in your students. They will then, more than likely, follow your lead. You must say
 
what you want them to do and show them the good example — “Do as I say AND do.” When we do
 
as I say and do, the following practices will have greater effect in bringing out the character qualities
 
we desire.
 
2
 
The majority of the population learns visually, bombard your students with visual messages.
 
Have an extra credit or a full class positive poster assignment. Each poster should portray a specific
 
character quality with either a quote or simply the word. These posters should be everywhere-- in
 
the locker room, gym, strength room and other areas of the school. Use molding/framing strips and
 
Plexiglas to frame the posters for display. You can also laminate posters and place them around the
 
track at various intervals. For example, every 110 yard/100 meter mark could feature an
 
encouraging character trait. Similar posters could be placed on fences using ring hooks. Mini
 
posters (8.5” x 11” or 14”) can be taped inside of locker doors. They can be used to cover any
 
markings and reinforce positive qualities – advertise the GOOD.
 
STRENGTH ROOM
 
The associated character traits or qualities exercised in a Strength Room or sports
 
training facility are: ASSERTIVENESS, COMMITMENT, COURAGE, DETERMINATION,
 
DILIGENCE, PERSEVERANCE, AND SELF-DISCIPLINE. An initial information sheet on
 
the strength room unit or a large poster in the sports training room could provide the
 
following information:
 
• Definition of Strength - Muscle power and mental or emotional fortitude are
 
inherent spiritual attributes in every human being.
 
• Definition of Fitness - A fit person is physically and mentally strong and healthy
 
with good stamina/endurance.
 
• Purpose of the Strength Room – True fitness training entails the simultaneous
 
development of strength in the body, mind, and spirit through conscious,
 
concentrated training.
 
• Benefits - When the target heart rate is kept throughout the workout, the benefits
 
are increased muscle tone and strength, and improved efficiency of the heart and
 
lungs. Overall health is improved.
 
Let your equipment work for you. The backboards, balls, hoola-hoops, goals, poly dots,
 
cones, etc. should feature printed or handwritten character traits, quotes or phrases of
 
encouragement. Use bright colors and/or large lettering whenever possible. When you wish for
 
several groups of students to move hoola hoops for a run activity - you could ask students to find to
 
the "courage" hoops and do a partner or a triple group run and/or another activity with it.
 
3
 
You could refer students to current articles in the local newspaper or magazine that would be
 
of interest to them and/or your current unit and/or that which stimulates a quality character trait
 
exemplified by an athlete. You may also ask them to write a summary; or you could create 5-10
 
questions about the article — create learning sheets/homework assignments from these.
 
If your classes are single grade level as opposed to multi-level, you may wish to design your
 
curriculum so that the same grade classes focus on one character quality at a specific time. This in
 
turn, will infiltrate your entire school, as is done in most character-focused institutions of learning.
 
The halls and bulletin boards could have a poster or saying illustrating the character trait. Music that
 
depicts the trait could be played during Physical Education class and/or during the passing period.
 
2. Tell the value and meaning of the character quality.
 
It's important to have positive expectations of students as they foster increased positive behavior.
 
Label and point out traits people use in class, "Jose, that was a respectful and caring way you
 
introduced yourself and spoke with our new student. Now Ilya knows that we have quality people to
 
play with at school."
 
Explain each character trait thoroughly. For example, ask, “What is perseverance?” Which
 
of your students know the definitions and reasons for having a specific character trait becomes
 
immediately apparent. Repetition and positive reinforcement are the keys. We must educate them
 
through activities that consistently instill respect, responsibility, encouragement, caring, courtesy,
 
complimenting, helpfulness, and active listening skills.
 
Here are some examples of an initial Social Skills Unit.
 
INTRODUCTIONS/RESPECT: We call people by their name.
 
• Introduce yourself, describe something you like (food, movie, your best personal
 
qualities, hobby), and then do:
 
o Partner stands – front and back. Toss-a-Name/Warp-speed, etc.
 
o Move to new partner… repeat the introductions.
 
o Partner and pod runs – partners run together holding a three foot rope; pods do the
 
run holding a 15-20 foot rope – staggered on each side of the rope.
 
RESPONSIBILITY:
 
• Class Managers are chosen and given responsibilities for recording who is present, tardy
 
and dressed properly (I daily check their work).
 
4
 
• Stretch Leaders also lead warm-up runs, stretches/etc. Others share this responsibility
 
every three to four weeks – or you could change the stretch leaders daily rotating around
 
the class. As you alter pod composition with each unit, you can repeat introductions and
 
unique characteristics.
 
• How May I Help You Crew (about 4-6 students)– bring out the equipment and set up the
 
room/field. They, like the Class Managers and Stretch Leaders, are periodically rotated,
 
so that by the end of the semester/year everyone gets to demonstrate their responsible
 
qualities.
 
ACTIVE LISTENING SKILLS
 
• Shoulders square to the speaker.
 
• Eye contact on the speaker.
 
• Quiet Listener - Mouth closed, breathing though the nose.
 
• Raise your hand and wait for acknowledgement to answer or ask a question.
 
CHARACTER TRAITS
 
CARING (Kavelin-Popov, 2000, p.137) -
 
“WHAT IS CARING? CARING IS GIVING LOVE AND ATTENTION TO
 
PEOPLE AND THINGS THAT MATTER TO YOU. When you care about people, you help
 
them. When you do a careful job, you give it your very best effort. You treat people and
 
things gently and respectfully, as you would like to be treated if you were they.
 
“WHY PRACTICE CARING? Without caring, nothing and no one matters. If
 
someone is hurt or sick, no one will help him or her. When people have an "I don't care"
 
attitude, they do sloppy or incomplete work. Things break and people get hurt. Caring
 
people help others feel less alone. Because they care, others trust them. Caring makes the
 
world a better and safer place to live.
 
“HOW DO YOU PRACTICE CARING? You care for others when you show love
 
and concern by doing kind things for them. Ask them how they are and what they think.
 
When they are sad, ask, "How may I help?" You handle things with control and gentleness.
 
You give your best to everything you do. When you take care of yourself, you treat your
 
body with respect. You keep yourself clean and healthy. You take care of your needs.”
 
3. Teach what the trait looks and sounds like. Speak the Language of the Virtues.
 
Language can either empower or discourage. Self-esteem is built by praising virtuous
 
actions. When shaming, blaming language is replaced by focusing on whatever character quality is
 
5
 
needed in a situation, true character development is fostered. It is applied either when
 
acknowledging or correcting. If you fill a school with words like lazy, stupid and bad, that is the
 
behavior that follows, but if you use words such as courage, helpfulness, and flexibility, you are
 
modeling and empowering those behaviors.
 
❖ Ask students to model an example of a necessary trait for your current unit or sport.
 
❖ Post and refer to John Wooden's Pyramid for Success(Wooden, website). Just some of the
 
personal virtues listed that are imperative for success in sports and life: reliable, sincere,
 
adaptable, patient, integrity, cooperative, and loyal.
 
❖ Assign or refer to movies that inspire positive character development: Remember the Titans,
 
Chariots of Fire, Breaking Away, Rudy, American Flyer, Hoop Dreams, Hoosiers, Jim
 
Thorpe, etc. Ask students to write their impressions of the various character traits exhibited –
 
those that bring success and that make a good friend.
 
❖ During just about any unit, play music that shares the traits you are fostering. Some
 
examples are: “RESPECT” – Aretha Franklin; “Circle of Life” - Elton John; “With a Little
 
Help from My Friends” - The Beatles; “Conviction of the Heart” - Kenny Loggins; “Hero” –
 
Mariah Carey; “The Rose” – Bette Midler. You could assign an extra credit for students to
 
find music that expresses positive character traits.
 
4. Provide Opportunities to Practice the Trait. It takes a minimum of 21 days for a trait to be
 
acquired - usually six weeks.
 
❖ Each unit and activity has a part that will illustrate a positive character trait. Provide a
 
question or activity that shows the particular trait you are emphasizing for each unit. Make it
 
is visible daily - on each handout or your white board, etc.
 
❖ Assign homework, which reinforces a character trait- directly or indirectly.
 
❖ On a daily or bi-weekly basis, assign logs for noting the practice of virtues.
 
❖ Videotape and show the students themselves as they practice the traits.
 
5. Provide effective feedback.
 
❖ Catch positive behaviors and point them out to the class at the time.
 
❖ Peer Pressure works BOTH WAYS.
 
❖ Use constructive criticism. Embrace the conflicts and difficulties that happen each day, use
 
them as teachable moments, ask the students frequently to put words to what they have
 
learned. “What did we learn today when Mika fell off the climbing equipment? What might
 
we say/do differently next time?”
 
6
 
❖ Positively point out aberrant behavior and rephrase the behavior into a way to live with a
 
quality character. “How can Tyrone act better in his group? How might we help him show
 
more respect? How may he help himself improve?”
 
Conclusion
 
An entire program and whole school atmosphere is transformed with a focus on character
 
inclusion. Out of the 73 middle schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District, our school is
 
one of only two that has no police officers on campus. This is at an ethnically diverse school where
 
83% of the students are on the Federal Lunch Program!
 
The physical education department at our school has focused on character development since
 
1996. Time has proven that more students have easier time learning and teachers have an easier time
 
teaching since we included character education into our program. Students learn positive
 
characteristics that make them feel and act more conscientiously. This translates into the
 
simultaneous and long-term improvement of our society overall.
 
With the proper modeling of desired character traits and with a consistent focus on character
 
development, we have begun to transform our school and community into a much better place to live
 
and work. All this while having fun in physical activity! Just imagine what it would be like to have
 
all students turning into kind, considerate, responsible, respectful, and ACTIVE citizens. Let’s go
 
for it — Just Do It!!!
 
References:
 
1. NASPE, Mosby: (1995). Moving Into the Future: National Physical Education Standards: A
 
Guide to and Assessment, St. Louis, MO.
 
2. Borba, Michele, (1999).“Steps Toward Strong Character in Students,” Today’s Catholic
 
Teacher, April, p. 44-47.
 
3. Kavelin-Popov, Linda, (2000) Virtues Project: Educators Guide. Simple Ways to Create a
 
Culture of Character, Torrance, CA, Jalmar Press, p. 134 & 137.
 
4. Wooden, John, Pyramid of Success - www.coachwooden.com.
 
Recommended websites: http://www.livingvalues.net/ - UNESCO sponsors this program – it has
 
over 90% decrease of violence a UNESCO sponsored refugee camp; www.character.org - a clearing
 
house on character education; www.virtuesproject.com - international and eclectic in scope; http://
 
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www.character counts.org - most known program nationally; http://www.communityvirtues.com -
 
decent ideas for communities; http://www.positivecoaching.org - great for coaches and athletics.
 
Kurt A. Krueger has been described as a fitness futurist. The Director of the Institute of Sports
 
Psychology is a noted expert in Peak Performance Training. He has presented Success Systems for
 
leading national and international corporations/conferences, and Winning Ways to elite athletes/
 
coaches. His bestselling book series, WINNING WAYS FOR LIVING is also available on Audible.
 
He also produced a high technology WINNING WAYS SYNCHRONICITY SOUNDTRACK.
 
Mr. Krueger helped design, implement, and teach a “New PE” program at Van Nuys Middle School
 
which was awarded the 2005 Outstanding Program of the Year for California. Kurt has served as a
 
faculty member at a California State University in Psychology and Physical Education and taught the
 
Social Sciences and Physical Education at the secondary level in Los Angeles Unified School
 
District since 1969. Mr. Krueger has been interviewed on Network television/radio worldwide.
 
Success S ystems I nternational
 
11923 West Trail
 
Kagel Canyon, CA 91342
 
  
 
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Revision as of 16:59, 31 January 2021

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