Websites and Reference on Stories and Character Ed

This page contains teacher and parent references for resource books, songs, story collections and videos for overall character education traits. For individual character traits, go to the individual traits on this site. They include Integrity, Trustworthiness,  Perseverance, Cooperation, Self-Discipline, Fairness, Citizenship, Caring, Respect, Responsibility, Peace and Empathy.

       WEBSITES:

• Character Counts -  a character education program from the Josephson Institute, Center for Youth Ethics
• The Center for the Advancement of Ethics and Character
• Stories to Grow By with Hootie Owl - just put in the kind of story you are looking for and the character trait and viola...Hootie will recommend a story. Click on the title and it is at your fingertips.
• Teaching Values - article on importance of moral values through storytelling

• Internalizing Virtue Framework - Internalizing virtue isn't just about acquiring a set of habits. It's about gradually gaining wisdom -- acting and then reflecting on what we've done, learning from our mistakes, and coming to a greater understanding of how to live a life shaped by such qualities as compassion, respect, and honesty."
• Publications
• Curriculum Resources  Stories and Books with related classroom activities dealing with a character ed. It follows the "Virtue Framework" (see above) of Awareness/Understanding/Action/Reflection.
• Storytelling as an Effective Strategy in Teaching Middle School Social Studies On-line abstract on storytelling and character ed

• Legacy Educational Resources - No stories but a helpful chart on the various character traits/definitions and synonyms/resources they provide
• Learning to Give: Curriculum Division of The League Wonderful site with many traits listed and links to go right to the stories. Lesson plans for 9-12.
• Good Character.com Ideas, materials, and articles on character ed
• The Socratic Approach to Character Education - outlining one way to get non-judgmental discussion to flourish in a classroom
• Fetzer Institute - Generosity of Spirit with Myths and Folktales - Great site with many stories attributed to various character traits.   

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        Storytellers' Websites on Character Development

  • The Importance of Me  - Bibliography Compiled by Rose Owens

  • Stories Are Doorways - Eliza Pearmain and Character Development
  • Shirley A. Dunwoody
  • The Magic Storyteller - Chris McBrien
  • Conflict Resolution Specialist  and Storyteller - Debbie Dunn
  • Bully Prevention - Sue Black

   

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       BOOKS:

• Once Upon a Time: Storytelling to Teach Character and Prevent Bullying.  by Eliza Perlman - Lessons from 99 folk tales for ( K-8)
• Benchmark Education - Readers Theatre - folktales, myths, and legends with Character ed
• Fair is Fair: World Folktales of Justice by Sharon Creeden
• Stories heard around the lunchroom by Jim Flanagan - original stories by a former educator and storyteller
• The Moral of the Story: Folktales for Character Development, Bobby & Sherry Norfolk, August House Publishers, Little Rock, Ark., 1999. Introduction and chapters on character ed through storytelling plus many stories!
• The Children’s Book of Virtues, William J. Bennett, editor, Simon & Schuster, New York, 1995. This book has sections on Self-Discipline, Compassion, Responsibility, Honesty.  Look up stories cited in the index since the Table of Contents only lists categories of stories.
• Benchmark Education - Readers Theatre - folktales, myths, and legends with Character ed
• Stories heard around the lunchroom by Jim Flanagan - original stories by a former educator and storyteller
• Character Book List by Kidarus - list of books with character trait highlighted

                                    Books on Character Ed activities -  Recommended by Sue Black, Storyteller and Character Ed Workshop Leader

• 10-Minute Life Lessons for Kids (Jamie Miller)
• Ready to Use Conflict Reesolution Activities for Elementary Students (Beth Teolis)
• Character Education Ideas and Activities for the Classroom (Carson-Dellosa Publishing Co.)
• Character Building Activities for Kids (Darlene Mannix)

 

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SONGS:

• When No One is Watching by Kevin Briody
• Songs for Teaching - Character Development Songs
• Character Kids - Songs and poems about Character
• Be-Bop Your Best - by Red Grammer - He brings his voice and irrepressible playfulness to Character Development - Truthfulness, Responsibility, Kindness, Fairness, Integrity, Citizenship . . . and many others.

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