Overview for Teaching Virtues
Teaching Virtues is........
(1)Traditional
Indigenous Worldview
(Universal Reciprocity)
plus
(2) An Authentic Educational Goal
(Innate Joyfulness, Ecological Awareness, Competent Caring and Social Justice)
plus
(3) Relational Pedagogy and Reflective Practice (Constructive Ecology;See “Pedagogical Checklist)
plus
(4) Intention to foster the virtues via constant “teachable moments” as required for successful implementation of “truth”
(“truth.....An eternal conversation about things that matter, conducted with
passion and discipline”)
(Parker Palmer in The Courage to Teach)
equals =
Effective Holistic Education
(Content, Creativity, Critical Thinking and Character)
Finally, an easy to follow textbook for in-service and pre-service teachers that shows how to help children develop character while learning standard curriculum. Moreover, this is not a behaviorist nor a religious approach to character education. In comes from the wisdom about teaching and learning practiced for thousands of years by American Indians who saw children as sacred and learning as spiritual. It opposes the current narrow focus on standards, rewards and punishments, yet allows teachers to work within the system to reverse the damage the system is doing to our children!
This unique text honors the creativity of K-16 teachers and, using a philosophical base common to traditional indigenous cultures, shows how easy it can be to weave the core universal virtues (courage, honesty, patience, generosity, etc.) into every subject every day without adding to the workload or requiring videos or workbooks. In fact it makes learning content areas more relevant which means that virtue awareness can enhance academic learning!
This approach is compatible with most character education programs but extends them into more application across the curriculum with specific lesson plan guidelines for finding teachable moments. We are well aware that our work in helping prepare young people for their life journey is a never-ending challenge and this tool will inspire teacher candidates so they can bring a new energy and direction to our failing education systems.
Using a constructivist/ecology/community paradigm, it walks the talk of authentic character education. It is an example of what Patrick Slattery meant when he said, "For school reform to occur, we must return to the wisdom embedded in Native American spirituality."
The specific strategies, lesson plans, instructional procedures, and that ancient formula, in this book show how to apply practical applications so that teachers can start implementing these techniques right way in the classroom. A more ethical and more educated student is the result. Enjoy the website and see why this approach has been receiving praise from esteemed educators.
