Respecting values
Model the values you want children to learn. Remember, they learn more from your "walk" than your "talk."
* Respect for authority. Speak positively about teachers, principals and parents in front of children. If you have a problem with someone in one of these positions, speak with that person privately.
* Respect for school rules. Both children and adults should follow school rules. If you question a policy, speak to the principal or teacher instead of ranting about it in front of the children.
* Respect for others. When a problem occurs in a relationship, discuss with students how they would want to be treated and how to solve the problem.
* Respect for responsibility. When an assignment is made, whether schoolwork or a chore at home, adults must make certain the child knows how you expect the work to be done. Then an adult needs to check the completed work.
Students must learn to think through consequences and assume responsibility. The tendency is to blame others. Teachers help students evaluate the results of behavior and discuss what to do or say differently in the future. Values are caught when we observe our peers and role models. But values also need to be taught. Values are better caught if what is taught is modeled. This is true for parents and teachers.
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