Teachers spend up to 15 minutes each day discussing the word of the week and its implications with students. Daily lesson plans include stories that illustrate real-life implications of the trait and suggest discussion topics, motivational quotes, recommended conduct assignments, enrichment activities, and literature resources. Teachers emphasize the word of the week frequently, using it to illustrate classroom lessons and reinforce behavior in all areas of the school environment. Pittsburgh Port Authority buses agreed to place the character word of the week on bus signs. The New Pittsburgh Courier and local TV and radio stations include items on the word.
Parents tell the word to kids at home.
Then kids see it in the newspaper or on television. Some schools have adopted character education as a major objective. One such school is the Hyde Leadership Public Charter School in Washington, D.C., which teaches students the core values of courage, integrity, leadership, curiosity, and concern. Conn., that emphasize character development and personal growth. The Hyde charter school, the organization's first experience with public education, opened in May with 240 students in grades 7-9.