How to Create a Caring Classroom Community
Educators can have a powerful impact on the development of positive character traits in preschoolers.
- Grades: PreK–K
DEFINITION OF TERMS
Character Education: The teaching of the values
How to Create a Caring Classroom Community
Educators can have a powerful impact on the development of positive character traits in preschoolers.
- Grades: PreK–K
DEFINITION OF TERMS
Character Education: The teaching of the values and conduct that are necessary for the orderly functioning of society; it includes elements that are unifying as well as those that express the society's diversity
Ethics: Standards of moral obligation that determine the difference between right and wrong; ethics involve a commitment to do what is thought to be right. Private morality: Concepts that are learned through the family and religious institutions.
Public Morality: A common core of universal concepts.
Values: Concepts and beliefs that direct an individual's behavior, and when held in common with others, shape a culture's ideals, customs, and institutions.
Rarely, if ever, has a generation of children been raised in such an atmosphere of uncertainty. Constant change and myriad messages-from the media, parents, teachers, and peers - can make it difficult for children to find stable, consistent moral and ethical standards that can guide their development.
Who today is teaching children how to use good judgment? Where are our children learning the character attributes necessary to become responsible, caring adults? Who are our children's heroes? Positive role models? How can we offer guidance during these confusing times?
Everyone needs to play a part in passing ideas and traditions to the young, giving them feelings of cohesiveness and community. You, as educators, bear a special responsibility because of the many hours children spend in your program. By this point in the year, you've probably spent a good deal of time working to create a classroom environment that promotes values that help children work together as a group. Of course, this is an ongoing effort, with a reasonable number of expected pitfalls along the way. Let's take a look at some other ways you can reinforce character development in your room.
WHERE TO BEGIN
In order to have a cooperative, caring classroom, we need to help children cultivate friendship, sharing, respectfulness, truthfulness, and caring. Part of this teaching is helping children, over time, apply these attributes, establishing models who reflect them and supporting families as the primary moral educators. In this article, you will find developmental definitions of these attributes, activities to integrate into your curriculum that help build children's understanding and practice, and suggested books to inspire thinking and discussion.
Belonging and being part of a group is important to young children. After they develop a sense of who they are, they struggle to understand who others are, first as family members, and then as members of friendship groups. As children change focus from self-centeredness to other-centeredness, they often take comfort from possessions. As you know, many preschoolers have a favorite toy or object that reminds them of home and family, and gives them a sense of belonging even when they are far away.
1. Share examples. Ask children to share examples of what it means to be a friend and to have someone be a friend to them. For example, being a friend means wanting to be close to someone and enjoying that person's company. Friends like each other and enjoy spending time together. Friends usually get to know each other very well. They learn each other's likes and dislikes, and so on.
2. Make friendship bracelets. Supply yarn or string and beads and encourage children to make a friendship bracelet to give to anyone they would like. As children work, talk about what their definitions of friendship are and how we show people that they are our friends.
3. Get to know each other. Bring in magnifying glasses, mirrors, and tape measures. Let children spend time looking at themselves and finding out about their faces and hair, even the lengths of their arms. Encourage children to discuss how they are alike and how they are different, both physically and in the things they like to do. Talk about ways people can be different and still be friends.
Jessica by Kevin Henkes (Scholastic Inc.)
Lucy's Picture by Nicola Moon (Puffin Books, 1997)
Young children often have a difficult time seeing another's point of view, including who has rights to materials. Sharing is difficult because they are not yet able to see the relationship between giving up something immediately and getting something later on in return. At the same time, they are learning to take responsibility and like to show how grown up they are by helping with chores in their environments. They are also interested in helping each other.
1. Ask children what they think. Talk about what it means to be unfair and to be fair. You might help children by adding that being fair means taking your turn, following rules, and treating everyone, including yourself, equally. Being fair means keeping your promises.
2. Share snack. Bring in a snack that children will need to divide so everyone gets an equal amount. Ask them what they would do if another child joins the group or some parents or teachers decide to join them.
3. Play cooperatively. Help children sit at tables in groups of four. Have plenty of paper available as well as four different color markers on each table. Ask children to draw anything they'd like - the only rule is that they must use all four colors. As children work, involve them in a discussion of sharing materials. After everyone is finished, ask children to share their thoughts about accomplishing their drawings.
The Doorbell Rang by Pat Hutchins (Scholastic Inc.)
On Mother's Lap by Ann Herbert Scott (Clarion, 1992)
During the preschool years, children gain a sense of who they are in relation to others. They become intensely aware of similarities and differences, often excluding those who are different in a variety of ways. Seeing themselves as different sometimes makes children feel less valued. But children are al