Character-Building Values and Social and Emotional Learning

Courage

One of the Eyres' "Values of Being," courage can impact one's life in many ways. It is a tremendous contributor to another value, positivity, and can give kids the freedom to express their creativity.

Honesty

Another "Value of Being," honesty is a crucial element of communication, an important 21st-century skill. It is part of the makeup of anyone with integrity and is the beginning of the ability to make and keep commitments.

Grit

The value of grit has gained enormous traction in the education system in the United States. Being able to achieve one's goals requires the sort of persistence that grit exemplifies.

Gratitude

Whether a child is blessed to be in an environment with more resources and opportunities, or in a more challenging environment perhaps requiring more to be successful, the value of gratitude is a critical piece to seeing things clearly and implementing a productive approach to life. 

Responsibility

Many experts believe that children raised in the past few decades have been denied the opportunity to develop responsibility. Children are capable of much more than we often realize, and can grow and shine from being given responsibility and being held accountable. 

Kindness

With collaboration being more and more crucial to success in today's world, the ability to work and interact with others is more important than ever. Kindness will win out in today's interconnected world, giving lasting happiness to all involved.

Empathy

Being able to see a situation or perceive a problem through someone's else's eyes is a value the world desperately needs. The ability to feel and show true tolerance is how humankind will tackle the challenges of today and tomorrow.

Self-Discipline

In the age of instant gratification and constant stimulation, only those who develop self-discipline will be able to exert full control of their lives. Understanding and managing our emotions is every bit as important as learning to read or add and subtract numbers.

Positivity

The word "joy" is an important part of the Joy School English team's culture, and while not necessarily synonymous with positivity, it certainly shares many of the same attributes. Positive psychology is a field that is beginning to show how powerful it can be to be positive in the face of challenges.