Presentation of The Virtues Project

www.heartofeducation.net

Presented by Dara Feldman Director of Education Initiatives for The Virtues Project

The Virtues Project

Making Meaningful Connections


The Virtues Project

1 Speak the Language of Virtues

2 Recognize Teachable Moments

3 Set Clear Boundaries

4 Honor the Spirit

5 Offer Companioning

The Five Strategies of

The Virtues Project



The Virtues Project




4 Honor the Spirit



The Virtues Project



The History of

The Virtues Project


The History of

The Virtues Project


In over 95 countries…Honored by The UN & The Dalai Lama

•Attendance increases

•Student achievement increases

•Discipline referrals decrease

•Bullies transformed into leaders

•PLCs and home school connections strengthened

•Climate is more peaceful and joyful

Benefits to Schools


Download Handouts


Assertiveness

Caring

Cleanliness

Commitment

Compassion

Confidence

Consideration

Cooperation

Courage

Courtesy

Creativity

Detachment

Determination

Diligence

Enthusiasm

Excellence

Flexibility

Forgiveness

Friendliness

Generosity

Gentleness

Helpfulness

Honesty

Honor

Humility

Idealism

Integrity

Joyfulness

Justice

Kindness

Love

Loyalty

Moderation

Modesty

Orderliness

Patience

Peacefulness

Perseverance

Purposefulness

Reliability

Respect

Responsibility

Self-discipline

Service

Tact

Thankfulness

Tolerance

Trust

Trustworthiness

Truthfulness

Understanding

Unity

Virtues: The Gifts of Character

The Virtues Project


Virtues: universal, positive

qualities of character

Values: things people deem

important or of value

Virtues vs. Values


Assertiveness

Caring

Cleanliness

Commitment

Compassion

Confidence

Consideration

Cooperation

Courage

Courtesy

Creativity

Detachment

Determination

Diligence

Enthusiasm

Excellence

Flexibility

Forgiveness

Friendliness

Generosity

Gentleness

Helpfulness

Honesty

Honor

Humility

Idealism

Integrity

Joyfulness

Justice

Kindness

Love

Loyalty

Moderation

Modesty

Orderliness

Patience

Peacefulness

Perseverance

Purposefulness

Reliability

Respect

Responsibility

Self-discipline

Service

Tact

Thankfulness

Tolerance

Trust

Trustworthiness

Truthfulness

Understanding

Unity

Virtues: The Gifts of Character

Strength & Growth Virtues





4 Honor the Spirit



The Virtues Project


Do you believe language has the

power to inspire or discourage?

Strategy 1: Speak the Language

The Virtues Project


Ways to Speak the Language of the Virtues

1. TO ACKNOWLEDGE

2. TO GUIDE

3. TO CORRECT

4. TO THANK



3 Elements of the Virtues Language


Exi

I see your

diligence

in the way you worked through

that difficult math problem

without giving up.

stem

virtue

evidence

Ways to Speak the Language of the Virtues

1. TO ACKNOWLEDGE

2. TO GUIDE

3. TO CORRECT

4. TO THANK



Virtues Pick


Exi

Strategy 2: Recognize Teachable Moments

The Virtues Project

“In all situations, it is my response

that decides whether a crisis will be

escalated or de-escalated and

a child humanized or de-humanized”

~Haim Ginott


Strategy 2: Recognize Teachable Moments

The Virtues Project

Instead of shaming and saying

Stop your talking and get back to work!

We can say

“Please be purposeful and finish your

assignment.”


Renaming and Reframing

Acknowledge effort shown

Remind or call student to the virtue


Strategy 3: Set Clear Boundaries

The Virtues Project

Teacher is a detective asking …

• What was the crime?

• Who did it?

• How should they be punished?

Retributive Justice


Restorative Justice


The Virtues Project

Teacher is a mentor asking …

• What happened?

• What virtue was missing?

• What would it look like if…

• How can amends be made?



Class Promise



Using Virtues for PBIS Tenants


Positive Behavior

Intervention System

Strategy 4: Honor the Spirit

The Virtues Project

“More important than being

successful is being significant.

Significance means making a

contribution to others.”

~Steven Covey, Author of

Highly Effective People



ASCD Whole Child Compact


“There can be no

keener revelation of

a society’s soul than

the way in which it

treats its children.”

~Nelson Mandela


The Virtues Project

• Virtues Sharing Circles

• Celebrations

• Traditions

• Reflective Time

• Moments with Nature

• Service Learning

• Virtues in the Arts

• Virtues Pick


Strategy 5: Offer Companioning

The Virtues Project

1. Open the door

2. Offer receptive silence

3. Ask cup emptying questions

4. Focus on sensory cues

5. Ask virtues reflection questions

6. Ask closure and integration questions

7. Give a virtues acknowledgment

Don’t get furious.

Get curious!


Strategy 5: Offer Companioning

The Companioning Process


IS

• A walk along

• Respect

• Caring presence

• Listening

• Caring detachment

• Asking

• Virtues-based

IS NOT

• A fix

• A rescue

• Curing

• Advice

• Sympathy

• Telling

• Victim-based

To order materials go to

www.heartofeducation.net/materials

For professional development go to

www.heartofeducation.net/pd


The Virtues Project

Materials & Professional Development

– The Family Virtues Guide

…to have big dreams and

then act as if they are possible...

Idealism does not mean that you are an idle dreamer.

Idle dreamers just WISH that things were better.

Idealists do something to MAKE things better.”

“Idealists dare…


The Virtues Project


The Virtues Project

Gratitude Goes To…

National Education Association

Staff and Students at Kenwood High School,

Baltimore County Public Schools

May Street Group, News Video Clip

ASCD, The Whole Child Compact

Dr. Dan Popov, Linda Kavelin Popov & John

Kavelin, Founders of The Virtues Project