Character-in-Action® Program
Middle School Character Education

"Children ... have been loaned to us temporarily for the purpose of loving them and instilling a foundation of values on which their future lives will be built," writes James Dobson, American psychologist.

Middle school character education has the privilege of loving children and instilling a foundation of values on which future society will be built. But how do you teach character to children who are beginning to vigorously exercise independence?

Let's begin by teaching your middle school students what character itself is.

Preparation — Order the book, Mystery at Lake Cachuma. This is volume #1 in the Character Mystery Series. Order several copies to facilitate classroom study. Order character buttons for all students. 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 study and generate excitement by giving each student a character button to wear. Students will love to don the buttons each day when they arrive, and leave them in desks at day's end.
	Step 2 — Give character journals to your students. These will record their character goals and daily progress toward those goals.
Step 3 — Introduce Mystery at Lake Cachuma by reading the prologue aloud. Read with enthusiasm! Assign individual reading of a few chapters, or read as a class.
Step 4 — Talk about the story each day. Ask questions about the assigned material, and about what might happen next.
	Step 5 — Have children complete worksheets as they read, assigning appropriate questions for the chapters read. Let them score worksheets against the answer key, but ensure you do not encourage lack of character by giving opportunity to copy answers.
Step 6 — Permeate the day with cross-disciplinary introduction of character, using as many as possible of the exciting ideas in your classroom activities material.
Step 7 — Have students write the definition of character from the book. Do this daily. Remember, you want it to work its way firmly into memory.
	Step 8 — Make the character chain with your students — or have them make individual chains — a reminder of the story, and reinforcement of the lesson. Decorate the classroom.
Step 9 — Administer the written test to students when the book is completed, assessing comprehension of the story and of character.

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!