Generosity. Honesty. Respect.
These are just a few of the virtues the forth-grade students in Linda Myrick’s class at Clyde Hill Elementary put into practice every day. For the past two years, the students and staff have taken part in the Virtues Project, an internationally acclaimed character education program.
As a Virtues Project master facilitator, Bellevue-resident Lydle Smith has traveled the world, working with schools, businesses and communities to install a better understanding of the project. She also has brought her training closer to home, working with several Bellevue schools.
Medina Elementary was one of the first to implement the Virtues Project back in 2001. At Medina, parents have embraced the project, creating a Virtues parent liaison group that meets monthly and assists classroom teachers with virtue lessons.
Two years ago, Smith decided to introduce the project to more Bellevue schools. She hosted a staff presentation to the teachers at Clyde Hill.
Several staff members latched onto the project, including forth-grade teachers Myrick and Mary Ann Nordgren.
“It’s been an amazing transformation since we first started putting the virtues into practice,” said Nordgren. “The culture has evolved here and the parents seem to appreciate it a lot.”
The Virtues Project helps students discover their own virtues, such as compassion, responsibility, caring, self-discipline, and cooperation.
A large poster hangs in the front of each classroom with a list of the virtues. The students are asked to look for the ways that others demonstrating virtues throughout the day. During a designated class time, students are able to share examples of virtues they observed in others and hand out Virtue Vouchers to their classmates as a visual token.
The students came alive in Myrick’s classroom when asked to share about the project.
“The virtues project helped me figure out who I am and it has given me the courage to go up and talk to people,” said a very well spoken Jamie Reid. “It really helps me learn about other peoples virtues and personalities.”
Forth-grader Margot Beyle read aloud from one of her journal entries, sharing with her classmates what the project means to her.
“The Virtues Project has helped me because I have recognized the virtues in myself and others,” she said. “Virtue Vouchers are really fun but they also encourage me to be my best.”
When a student acts out, instead of punishing them, teachers are equipped with Incident Reports that point to what virtue the student forgot to use and how they can correct it in the future.
“It’s really about looking for teachable moments,” Smith said. “The project teaches kids to learn from their mistakes and make different choices next time based on the virtues they have learned.”
Through tools such as the vouchers and reports, teachers are able to guide students to exhibit kindness to one another, reduce bullying and practice diligence to get their work done on time and with excellence.
“When kids misbehave, my reaction used to be to correct them and be stern, but now I look at it in a whole different context,” Myrick explained. “I assume the best and know that child wants to behave so I look for the positive aspect in that child and help them to realize it, too.”
The Virtues Project is not meant to be a quick fix, but rather to be used as a tool to help students learn a new positive language for acknowledgment, guidance, and correction.
“Virtues are universally valued all over the world and are a key component in developing good character,” said Smith, adding “These students will become our future leaders one day – it’s important they learn to look for the good in themselves and others at an early age.”
This year, Smith has focused her attention on four elementary schools in Bellevue including Sherwood Forest, Phantom Lake, Woodridge and Somerset elementries. All four have begun training through the Virtues Project. The Bellevue School District received one of 75 grants designated for character education for the 2008/2009 school year. Both Woodridge and Somerset elementries, part of the Sprint grant program, are also providing Virtues Project parent education for the community.
Lindsay Larin can be reached at 425.453.4602.
Learn more
For more information, visit www.virtuesproject.com. For a list of upcoming workshops, visit betsy@virtuestraining.com.
Sidebar:
Building Strong Families: Parenting with Virtues
Monday and Wednesday Evenings, 6:30-8:30 p.m in the Somerset Library
Feb. 23, Feb. 25 and March 2 – single sessions cost $12 each.
