Award-winning psychologist Thomas Lickona provides over 100 strategies for parents and schools to help kids build character, fostering a fulfilling and productive life. Award-winning psychologist and educator Thomas Lickona offers more than one hundred practical strategies that parents and schools have used to help kids build strong personal character as the foundation for a purposeful, productive, and fulfilling life.Succeeding in life takes character, and Lickona shows how irresponsible and destructive behavior can invariably be traced to the absence of good character and its ten essential qualities: wisdom, justice, fortitude, self-control, love, a positive attitude, hard work, integrity, gratitude, and humility. The culmination of a lifetime’s work in character education from one the preeminent psychologists of our time, this landmark book gives us the tools we need to raise respectful and responsible children, create safe and effective schools, and build the caring and decent society in which we all want to live. ContentsIntroductionPart One -- Why Character MattersChapter 1: Why Character MattersThe Right StuffThe Content of Our CharacterTen Essential VirtuesThe Two Sides of CharacterWhat Is the Current Condition of Our Character?2002 Report Card on American Youth EthicsCharacter in the Face of Temptation: The Lost Wallet ExperimentWhat Motivates Honesty?Character in the Face of Evil: The Rescuers StudyWhat Motivated Rescue?The Roots of CaringCharacter as Transformation of Moral Self The Character of Our DemocracySex and CharacterThe National Character Education MovementPart Two -- Create Families of CharacterChapter 2: Raise Children of CharacterMake Character Development a High PriorityBe an Authoritative ParentLove Children Teach by ExampleManage the Moral EnvironmentUse Direct Teaching to Form Conscience and HabitsTeach Good JudgmentDiscipline WiselySolve Conflicts FairlyProvide Opportunities to Practice the VirtuesFoster Spiritual DevelopmentChapter 3: Build a Strong Home-School PartnershipAffirm the Family as the Primary Character EducatorExpect Parents to ParticipateProvide Incentives for Parent ParticipationProvide Programs on Parenting -- and Work to Increase the TurnoutGet the Program to the ParentsAssign "Family Homework"Form Parent Peer Support GroupsInvolve Parents in Planning the Character Education ProgramEstablish an Ongoing Forum for ParentsForm a Parents' Character Education CommitteeMake a Moral Compact with ParentsRenew the CompactExtend the Compact to DisciplineExtend the Compact to Sports and Other Co-curricular ActivitiesExtend the Compact to Combating the Effects of the MediaBe Responsive to Parental ComplaintsRespect the Primacy of Parental Rights Regarding Sex EducationIncrease the Flow of All Positive Communication Between School and HomeLet Parents Know What Work Is Expected and Send Home Regular ReportsProvide Family Support Centers and Community SchoolsChapter 4: Talk to Kids About Sex, Love, and CharacterSex and the Human HeartA Sexually Toxic EnvironmentBe Clear About What Kids Need in Order to Avoid Premature SexPoint Out the Positive TrendsHelp Kids Understand Why Some Young People Get Sexually InvolvedTalk About What Counts as "Sex"Teach Kids Nonsexual Ways to Be IntimateOffer a VisionTalk About the Emotional Dangers of Uncommitted SexDiscuss the Rewards of WaitingTalk About Tough IssuesImplement Character-Based Sex Education in SchoolsPart Three -- Create Classrooms of CharacterChapter 5: Build Bonds and Model CharacterTeach as if Relationships MatterUse the Power of a HandshakeGet to Know Students as IndividualsUse Bonding to Improve BehaviorUse the Power of ExampleUse a Self-Inventory to Focus on Role ModelingInvite Guest Speakers Who Are Positive Role ModelsWhat the Research ShowsChapter 6: Teach Academics and Character at the Same Time"If We Do Character Education, Will Academic Learning Improve?"Name the Virtues Needed to Be a Good StudentTeach as if Purpose MattersTeach as if Excellence MattersTeach as if Integrity MattersTeach as if Students Can Take Responsibility for Their LearningUse an Instructional Process That Makes Character-Building Part of Every LessonManage the Classroom So That Character MattersTeach Curriculum Content as if Character MattersUse a Schoolwide Curriculum That Teaches Moral and Intellectual VirtuesStructure Discussion as if Character MattersTeach as if Truth MattersTeach with a Commitment to BalanceModel Balance and Fairness in Dealing with Controversial IssuesTeach as if Justice MattersChapter 7: Practice Character-Based DisciplineShare the AgendaHold Students AccountableTeach Principles of ResponsibilityInvolve Students in Generating the RulesTeach the Golden RuleShare the Plan with ParentsPractice ProceduresUse the Language of VirtueHelp Students Learn from MistakesHave Students Make a Behavior Improvement PlanDiscuss Why a Behavior Was WrongUse Time-out EffectivelyDesign Detention That Builds CharacterTeach RestitutionHave Kids Help Each OtherPrepare for a "Guest Teacher"Give a Difficult Child ResponsibilityDesign a "Tough Love" Program for Difficult StudentsChapter 8: Teach MannersGet Kids to Think About Why Manners MatterTeach the Hello-Good-bye RuleTeach Alphabet MannersImplement a Manners CurriculumChapter 9: Prevent Peer Cruelty and Promote KindnessBegin with Character-Based DisciplineCreate a Caring School CommunityImplement an Effective Anti-Bullying ProgramGet Students to Take Responsibility for Stopping Peer CrueltyBuild Classroom CommunityFoster FriendshipDo "Anonymous Compliments"Implement Quality Cooperative LearningTeach Empathy Through Children's LiteratureHave Children with Disabilities Teach Their PeersUse the Seven E's to Teach CaringUse the Power of a Pledge0 Have Kids Keep a Good Deeds JournalCelebrate KindnessHave Peers Recognize PeersUse a Class Meeting to Discuss BullyingBuild Bonds Through Buddy ClassesCreate "School Families"Implement Advisory GroupsCreate a Safe and Respectful School BusChapter 10: Help Kids (and Adults) Take Responsibility for Building Their Own CharactersTeach Why Character MattersTeach "Nobody Can Build Your Character for You"Teach "We Create Our Character by the Choices We Make"Study Persons of CharacterHave Students Do Character InterviewsHave Students Assess Their Own CharacterTeach Daily Goal SettingTeach Kids to Make "Goal Strips"Help Kids Connect the Virtues with LifeAssess "Levels of Responsibility"Use Character Quotes to Help Kids Set GoalsDo a Goal-Setting Bulletin BoardHave Students Set 100 GoalsHave Students Develop a PortfolioHave Students Write a Mission StatementEnable Students to Reflect on Life's Largest QuestionsPart Four -- Create Schools of CharacterChapter 11: Make Your School a School of CharacterCreate a TouchstoneHave a Character-Based MottoSeek the Principal's Support for Making Character a PriorityForm the Leadership Group(s)Develop a Knowledge BaseIntroduce the Concept of Character Education to the Entire StaffConsider "What Sort of Persons Do We Want Our Students to Become?"Consider "What Will Character Education Mean for Me?"Consider "What Will Character Education Look Like If We Do It Schoolwide?"Analyze the Moral and Intellectual Culture of the SchoolChoose Two Priorities for Improving the School CultureAsk "Should We Commit to Becoming a School of Character?"Plan a Quality Character Education ProgramChoose an Organizing Strategy for Promoting the VirtuesMake Assessment Part of the PlanBuild a Strong Adult CommunityMake Time for CharacterChapter 12: Involve Students in Creating a School of CharacterInvolve Students in Planning and Leading the Character Education ProgramUse Class Meetings to Give Kids a Voice and ResponsibilityInvolve Students in Participatory Schoolwide Student GovernmentProvide Informal Opportunities for Student InputChallenge Students to Mount a Schoolwide CampaignEstablish a Mentoring SystemEstablish a Character Club or CommitteeRecognize Student LeadershipPart Five -- Create Communities of CharacterChapter 13: Involve the Whole Community in Building Good CharacterStrengthen the School-Community PartnershipStrengthen FamiliesCommit to Becoming a Community of CharacterCreate a Leadership GroupGive Everyone a Chance for InputIdentify the Target VirtuesProvide Leadership TrainingGet Business InvolvedPromote Community Awareness of CharacterIntegrate Character into All Community ProgramsCreate a Special Role for PoliceGive Kids a Leadership RoleRecognize Good CharacterHave Community Volunteers Teach Character in the SchoolsAssess the Impact of a Community Character InitiativeEpilogueAppendix: The Hilltop Elementary School StoryNotesIndex