Whole School Character and Virtue Education: A Pioneering Approach Helping All Children to Flourish

by Paula Nadine Zwozdiak-Myers, David Aldridge, Carole Jones, David Moran, Amanda Wyatt

Overview

Using the successful implementation achieved at Yeading Junior School, this book provides strategies and advice about how to widely implement character education in schools. This helpful guide answers the following questions schools and teachers have when considering how to develop character education:

· What character virtues are important in primary education?
· How can these be cultivated within the formal and informal curricula?
· How do we know if strategies are working and successful?
· What constitutes evidence of best practice?

With contributions from professional practitioners ranging from building partnerships in the community, intergenerational learning, using character virtues in work with vulnerable children and children with SEND, financial literacy and the diverse religious context of primary education, the book explores the opportunities for developing character virtues and virtue literacy with the purpose of supporting pupils to flourish in society. With the help of this book, schools can create an environment and ethos where learners are not only successful but can make a real difference to the world.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781785928758
Publisher:	Jessica Kingsley Publishers
Publication date:	11/19/2020
Pages:	192
Product dimensions:	5.98(w) x 8.98(h) x 0.63(d)

About the Author

Paula Nadine Zwozdiak-Myers is a Senior Lecturer in Education at Brunel University. Paula runs the Doctor of Education [EdD] programme at Brunel, is heavily involved with continuing education for teachers, and has previously published with Routledge.

Table of Contents

Preface - Character Education in the 21st Century; 1. Why Character Education at Yeading Junior School? Carole Jones, Headteacher at Yeading Junior School; 2. Interfaith at Yeading Junior School. Elenor Paul, Religious Education Co-ordinator and teacher, Yeading Junior School; 3. Language Learning and Acquisition. Jean-Michel Ballay, Assistant Head and Specialist MFL teacher, Yeading Junior School; 4. Building Networks and Partnerships. Carole Jones; 5. Multi-generational work. Angela Flux, MHA Northwood Live at Home scheme manager/Co-chair of School Governors; 6. Character Education within the 'Me Zone'. Amanda Wyatt, School Social Worker and Edith Iwobi, Learning Mentor, Yeading Junior School; 7. Financial Literacy and Character Education. David Moran and Carole Jones; 8. Engendering Pride and the Road to Achievement. Carole Jones; 9. Where next for 'the cultivation of virtuous children'? David Aldridge; Appendix A. United States Senate (2014) RESOLUTION: "National Character Counts Week"; Appendix B. Key Principles for/of Character Education; Appendix C. Promoting fundamental British values as part of SMSC in schools; Appendix D. Classification of 6 Virtues and 24 Character Strengths

Editorial Reviews

Given the current global climate of political, societal and environmental uncertainty, the drive to ensure that education leads the way to create a better future for the world is in the spotlight. This book is timely: the powerful collaboration of academic, published scholars and professional practitioners at Yeading Junior School offers the reader an optimistic perspective through character education. The preface provides clear definitions and the historical perspective whilst, in the main chapters, staff openly and generously share their values, rationale and inspirational practice. The extent, depth and variety of endeavours of all stake holders as social agents of change for the better must be championed. Most importantly, the strength of pupil voice; the impact on pupil confidence and achievement is an incentive to investigate the virtues of character education.
Finally, the reader is challenged to analyse and question the arguments presented so that this is not seen as a panacea or tag on "cure all" for the future.
All teachers will find this book of great interest and be able to absorb some very practical strategies and insights; also, members of senior leadership teams would find this an invaluable resource.

Julie Mansfield