Resources

Barbour, K. (1996).  More than a good lesson plan.  In Rusnak, T. (Eds.), An integrated approach to character education.  (pp. 69-79).  Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press, Inc.

-The author, a school principal, defines character education and provides three successful programs in Pennsylvania schools. 

Bruce, N. & Cairone K.B. (2011).  Socially strong, emotionally secure: Fifty activities to promote resilience in young children.  Silver Spring, MD: Gryphon House, Inc.

- The author, with the Devereux Center for Resilient children, offers activities to help our students develop into emotionally stable and secure individuals.  Includes the materials and discussion points.

Dewey, J. (1916).  Democracy and education.  New York: NY: The Macmillan Company.

-The famous theorists explains his fundamental stance on building a democratic school through a respectful environment in which socialization and morality is emphasized.

Finck, C., Hansen, C., & Jensen, J. (2003).  Improving student achievement through character   education.Chicago, IL: Master of Arts Action Research Project.  (ERIC Document Reproduction.)

-The article presents teachers' perspective of disruptive behaviors in the classroom, what causes these disruptions, and ways, such as a mediation program, in which to address problematic behaviors.

Hunt, T. & McCurry Mullins, M. (2005).  Moral education in America's schools: The continuing challenge.  Greenwich: CT: Information Age Publishing.

-A source addressing mulitple topics surrounding morality, the authors discuss theories of moral development, including Lawrence Kohlberg and John Dewey, as well as the character education movement, a trend towards implementing moral principles into education.

Johnson, D.W & Johnson, R.T. (2008.)  Social interdependence, moral character, and moral education.  In N.P. Nucci & D. Narvaez (Eds.), Handbook of moral character education.  (pp. 204-229).  New York: NY: Routledge.

-Looking at the overlap of social skills in educating, the chapter provides some findings from research concerning cooperation versus competition, and how they affect socialization and relationships.

Lickona, T. (1991).  Educating for character: How our schools can teach respect and responsibility.  New York: NY: Bantam Books. 

 -Lickona promotes a comprehensive approach where teachers consciously integrate character education into the classroom, stressing the significance of establishing a respectful community through modeling and cooperative rule-setting,.

Lickona, T. (1997).  Educating for character: A comprehensive approach.  In A. Molnar (Eds.), The construction of moral and character education (pp. 45-62).  Chicago: IL: The University of Chicago Press.

-Lickona promotes a comprehensive approach where teachers consciously integrate character education into the classroom, stressing the significance of establishing a respectful community through modeling and cooperative rule-setting, summarizing simmilar strategies promoted in his book, Educating for character: How our schools can teach respect and responsibil

Lickona, T. (2012). Prevent bullying, promote kindness: Twenty things all schools can do. Excellence and Ethics.

- An article taking more of an applicable angle, merging the issues of bullying and character, and offering strategies to build an environment in which respect and responsibility are reoccuring themes.

Noddings, N. (1997). Character education and community. In A. Molnar (Eds.), The construction of children's character (pp. 1-16). Chicago: IL: The University of Chicago Press.

-The chapter argues that the community is a large component of character-building, suggesting involvement in community projects and community-based rules.

Noddings, N. (2008).  Caring and moral education.  In N.P. Nucci & D. Narvaez (Eds.), Handbook of moral and character education (pp. 161-174).  New York: NY: Routledge.

-Noddings looks at character education through a caring climate, in which modeling, dialogue, practice, and confirmation are integrated on a daily basis into the curriculum, looking more at character education as part of the invisible curriculum.

Shumaker, D.M. & Heckel, R.V. (2007).  Kids of character: A guide to promoting moral development.  Westport: CT: Praeger Publishers.

-The book discusses family differences, considering factors in chracter development, and looks at the debate surrounding the inclusion of religious values in school.

Stengel, B.S. & Tom, A.R.  (2006).  Moral Matters: Five ways to develop the moral life of schools.  New York: NY: Teachers College Press.

-This source takes an angle stricly discussing morality from a theoretical approach, categorizing morality and reminding us of some of the controversies surrounding moral education.

Watson, M.  (2008).  Developmental discipline and moral education.  In N.P. Nucci & D. Narvaez (Eds.), Handbook of moral and character education (pp. 175-203).  New York: NY: Routledge.

-The author looks at moral education as a form of hidden curriculum, based on the classroom environment and mutual respect between teacher and students.