Character is Destiny

I have started a book recommended by the school called, "Building Moral Intelligence" by Michele Borba. The Foreword cites The Altruistic Personality, the most extensive study ever conducted of people who rescued Jews from the Holocaust. The people they interviewed and studied didn't consider themselves heroes, they just referred to the way they were raised and said they did what had to be done.

The premise of the book is that we have to teach our children to have moral fiber - we can model it but we also have to give them some tools. I am trying to implement this, as the book directs, taking an interrogative approach rather than a didactic one.

I usually TELL him how I think he should behave: Respectfully, Kindly, Deferentially. But how would that LOOK? So, as the book suggests, I began asking him, "What could the older students in your class do to show respect to your teacher while she is handling the class on her own?" (one of the teachers is out due to a death in the family). "How could you show kindness to someone who can't hear?"

I also got the bright idea yesterday to have Em start a blog. He doesn't like to put pen to paper, but he does like to type. So he's begun blogging: http://slimjackrabbit.blogspot.com/

I think this will be an excellent way for him to journal and write down his thoughts and actions. We'll see!