Curriculum
The Curriculum Series: “ Love In A Big World: Learning From Stories | Learning From Heroes | Learning From Life” has been designed for 10-15 minutes of daily use, with ongoing reinforcement throughout the day. It was designed originally for the classroom, but can also be used by parents at the breakfast table, by youth workers at group meetings, or anywhere kids and adults come together. By using various activities, as well as fiction and non-fiction stories, the curriculum makes character traits more tangible to kids and teaches them how to be respectful and responsible people.
Research
LBW was developed based on nationally researched strategies of effectiveness, the Risk & Resiliency Research of Hawkins & Cataleno as well as the Asset Development Research from the Search Institute. We help school communities positively alter their culture and climate, thus creating an atmosphere of freedom and caring within the classroom.
LBW is currently the subject of a Vanderbilt University study under the Federal Social and Character Development Research grant that was awarded in 2003. This is the first comprehensive study of character development undertaken by the federal government, and LBW is one of seven programs nationally that is being studied. The results of this research study will be evaluated to determine the specific effectiveness of the LBW curriculum.
The outcomes of our program are currently being monitored by the Institute of Educational Sciences of the U.S. Department of Education, and Vanderbilt University. Data from the current Federal Social & Character Development Research project will be available in approximately 12 months.
Motivational Morning Announcements
A professionally produced CD of 36 pre-recorded announcements, featuring five voices from the LBW team. The messages are correlated with the curriculum lessons to provide encouragement and focus for each week. All that is needed is a CD player to play these announcements over a school’s PA system on Monday mornings. This is a wonderful way to start your week.
The Complete Character Plan (CCP)
This is a comprehensive three-year character education plan that includes professional development for teachers, concert assemblies for the school community, curriculum implementation for all classrooms, morning announcements for the school community, classroom resource materials, library books, faculty boosters, family newsletters and a service learning project. Instituting the CCP is an effective way to teach state mandated character education curriculum because it infiltrates all levels of a student’s experience. Schools build on the positive effects of the assembly program by incorporating a 24-week daily (10-15 minute) curriculum into each classroom. Through multi-disciplinary activities activities and fiction and non-fiction stories, the curriculum makes positive character traits more tangible to children. LBW models healthy behaviors, provides opportunities for bonding, teaches skills and practices their use.
