SPOTLITES are SIMPLE HELPS for all those who are interested
in
helping young children form the beginnings of understanding about what is
meant
by good character.
The subject of character education is enormous...How to begin? Where to Start? How to Explain? One of the primary values of Spotlites is that they actually "spell out" what those good traits are. This seems so obvious to adults that we can overlook the fact that young children still need to be told. Spotlites puts these right before their eyes.
Spotlites is not meant to be an academic curriculum,
but used as SIMPLE HELPS.
Our Teacher/Activity cards are handy and helpful for the teacher as quick
reference guides to the subject. They enable the teacher to have a fundamental
basis for discussing each trait conveniently "at her fingertips."
The crafts we have suggested in this website show ways to intereact with the children in enjoyable ways...and a way to open up discussion while their hands are busy. The stickers and awards certificates can be given out in whatever "commonsense" ways the teacher desires.
When more complex words or concepts were required, such
as "perseverence" and "creativity", we simplified them
to "I keep on trying" and "I am a thinker"
....expressions that are easier for a younger child to understand.
Using Spotlites does require a "Spotliter"...a caring adult who is paying attention to the children and who is ready to reinforce them.
For example, the teacher and children have a craft session
making medallions. The medallions are hung from hooks or pins on the bulletin
board. Then at certain times, when the teacher "spots" a good
behavior in one of the children, the child is given the medallion to wear
all day long.
Similarly, the teacher can use a velcro board with spotlites
icons and the children's names, placing the names next to a good character
trait that the child has demonstrated.
Another example would be a session making individual crafts (gluing on boxes, decoupage, ornaments) and each child could "show and tell" about the character trait they used on their craft.
Stickers could be placed on take-home work, or even on the child's shirt or hand after a day of learning about one of the character traits. This way they could tell their mom's and Dad's about what they've learned that day.
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Who is The Spotliter?
