Character-in-Action® Program
High School Character Education

"Don't throw away your friendship with your teenager over behavior that has no great moral significance," writes James Dobson, American psychologist.

High school character education has the joyous privilege of offering friendship to teenagers while building behavior that does have great moral significance. But how do you teach character to teenagers?

Let's begin by teaching your high school students what courage and responsibility mean.

Preparation — Order the desired Character-in-Action® Series book, Passport to Courage or Date with Responsibility. Order several copies to facilitate classroom study. Order sufficient character buttons for all students also! Download lesson plans and activities for the book, and print out worksheets and tests. Set clear goals of what you want to accomplish.
Step 1 — Introduce the book(s) and generate interest by giving each student a character button. Work with students to set definite goals for your study. Example: if you are using Passport to Courage, set a date by which students will understand true courage and be living it every day.
	Step 2 — Present students with one of our many character journals. These journals are to begin with individual goals regarding the character trait, and become a record of daily progress toward the goal.
Step 3 — Introduce Passport to Courage or Date with Responsibility by reading a few pages aloud. Be enthusiastic! Both books are appropriate for male and female, but you may have boys read Passport to Courage while girls read Date with Responsibility. Each side may then present to the combined group. Set clear daily assignments to aid students in planning, and allow daily discussion.
Step 4 — Discuss the story daily. Ask questions about the assigned material, and about its contribution to the character study.
	Step 5 — Have students complete worksheets as they read. Let them score worksheets against the answer key, but do not encourage lack of character by giving opportunity to copy answers.
Step 6 — Permeate the day with cross-disciplinary study of courage / responsibility, using the classroom activities material. Don't be afraid to act excited. Teens will catch your passion for character education as easily as they will catch your dispassion.
Step 7 — Administer the written test to students when the book is completed, assessing comprehension of the story and the character trait.

Teaching honesty, responsibility, respect, caring, and many other character traits is just as easy, fun and effective with the Character-in-Action® Program, and when you register as a teacher, you qualify for special discounts.

Complete your teacher registration now to get your special discounts!

You'll get the free, monthly Character Builder Newsletter, too, filled with teaching secrets, special offers, and character gear for award programs!

P.S. The steps above are only one way to teach character with your Character-in-Action® Program. When you download the lesson plans, you will find additional activities and crafts — secrets to reinforce your lessons!