Session Topics & Dates

Dates with session numbers and topics will be posted in advance of Character Strong days here. Reminders will be sent out in the weekly parent emails when this site is updated.

Character Strong Session 1: Thursday, September 21, 2023

6^th, 7^th, and 8^th Grade:

Context from Character Strong: “Welcome to Session 1! This session helps set the stage for the "What", the "How", and the "Why" for this year. It helps create clarity for both the educator and students which sets the program up for success.”

Students Will: Be Introduced to the Program

What it is- how sessions are structured with activities, discussions or videos, and challenges called Character Dares.
How it works-digitally and with explanation of ice breaker activities
Why it matters- studies show increasing anxiety amongst students in school, students reporting disconnect from school community.
Goals of the program-increase and support well-being and mental health, increase the feeling of safety and belonging in school, increase how much we care about and engage in school and world.

Character Strong Session 2: Friday, October 6, 2023

6^th Grade:

Context from Character Strong: “This is the 1st of 2 sessions about building community. Connecting with peers and building friendships and relationships are important for our sense of belonging and can lay a good foundation for creating a sense of safety and community in our classroom.”

Students Will:

Identify traits of a positive community versus a toxic community.
Identify through discussion what a positive community should feel like.

7^th Grade:

Context from Character Strong: “This is the 1st of 2 sessions about building community. The goal is to begin to develop relationships and create a sense of safety and community in our classroom space.”

Students Will:

Share what they are excited about for the school year.
Complete activities to get to know group more.
What a “Table Talk Video” where students discuss the topic for the lesson
- Students in video talk about positive vs toxic communities
- Students in video talk about how understanding similarities and differences can be part of building a healthy community.

8^th Grade:

Context from Character Strong: “This is the 1^st of 2 sessions about building community. The goal is to begin to develop relationships and start creating a sense of safety and community in our classroom space.”

Students Will:

Practice names of individuals in the group.
Complete get to know you activities.
Watch a Character Strong Video where people share what community means to them.

Character Strong Session 3: Wednesday, October 18, 2023

6^th Grade:

Context from Character Strong: “This is the 1st of 2 sessions that utilize videos to bring student voices forward with the goal of helping quell worries our students might have at the beginning of middle school. This session is about fitting in and belonging at school.”

Students Will:

Identify areas of personal strength.
Discuss myths you thought were true of middle school, but are not.
Hear from students through a video about concerns they had about fitting in at middle school.
Identify in groups reasons 6^th graders worry about school.

7^th Grade:

Context from Character Strong: “This is the 2nd of 2 sessions in our community-building series. It is focused on getting to know each other better and learning more about each other interests and insights.”

Students Will:

Continue getting to know their group with ice breakers.
Learn things about their groups members.
Begin discussing how understanding others leads to respecting others.

8^th Grade:

Context from Character Strong: “This session is dedicated to developing Community Agreements. This process is designed to bring many voices forward to make sure everyone has an opportunity to reflect on and discuss how we want to treat each other. These agreements are meant to help the class to become a safe place where people can be genuine without fear of mistreatment. The agreements are designed to serve as guidelines we can refer to throughout the year.”

Student Will:

Discuss what a community agreement is, and what it requires.
Review an example of a community agreement for middle schoolers.
Evaluate if specific community agreements make individuals feel supported and respected.

Character Strong Session 4: Friday, November 17, 2023

6^th Grade:

Context from Character Strong: “This session will set up the first CharacterDare, which will be a consistent part of every session for the rest of the year. The CharacterDares are designed to help us practice putting values and character into action. The CharacterDare process includes a review of the challenge from the previous session, along with an introduction to a new challenge. Grades 6, 7, and 8 will all have the same challenge corresponding to this week's session. We will return to the conversation about character and values in a session called Values Exploration. Remember: CharacterDares are invitations, not demands! The power is in the conversation.”

Student Will:

Discuss the difference between personality and character.
Discuss what you prefer as a person, compared to what you practice as an individual.
Learn about the Character Dare. The first dare is: Meet 1 new person every day for a week.

7^th Grade:

Context from Character Strong: “This session is dedicated to developing Community Agreements. This process is designed to bring many voices forward to make sure everyone has an opportunity to reflect on and discuss how we want to treat each other. These Agreements are meant to help the class to become a safe place where people can be genuine without fear of mistreatment. The Agreements are designed to serve as guidelines we can refer to throughout the year.”

Students Will:

Discuss what a community agreement is, and what it requires.
Review an example of a community agreement for middle schoolers.
Evaluate if specific community agreements make individuals feel supported and respected.

8^th Grade:

Context from Character Strong: “This session sets up the first CharacterDare, which will be a consistent part of every session for the rest of the year. The CharacterDares are designed to help us practice putting values and character into action. The CharacterDare process includes reviewing the challenge from the previous session, along with an introduction to a new challenge. Every grade level has the same challenge corresponding to that week's session. We will return to the conversation about character and values in a 3-part series titled "What Do We Value?" Remember: CharacterDares are invitations, not demands! The power is in the conversation.”

Students Will:

Discuss the difference between a dare and a request.
Discuss risks and evaluate risk scenarios.
Watch a video that compares practicing your values and characters like exercises or workouts.
Learn about the Character Dare. The first dare is: Meet 1 new person every day for a week.

Character Strong Session 5: Thursday, December 7, 2023

6^th Grade:

Context from Character Strong: “This session is dedicated to developing Community Agreements. The process is designed to bring many voices forward to ensure that everyone has an opportunity to reflect on and discuss how we want to treat each other. These Agreements are meant to help the class become a safe place where people can be genuine without fear of mistreatment. The Agreements will serve as guidelines we can refer to throughout the year.”

Students Will:

Discuss what a community agreement is, and what it requires.
Review an example of a community agreement for middle schoolers.
Discuss ways to disagree while respecting others.
Rephrase statements in positively worded agreements.

7^th Grade:

Students Will:

Share habits they have.
Discuss their routines and creating positive habits.
Watch a video called “What do we value?”
Learn about the Character Dare. The first dare is: Meet 1 new person every day for a week.

8^th Grade:

Context from Character Strong: “This is the 1st of 4 sessions where we look ahead and start to envision plans for our futures. In this session, we envision our hopes for our futures, then harness the wisdom of these imagined positive future selves to think about healthy ways to live our lives today. In this session we will go through the full CharacterDare process: 1st, reflect on the previous Dare, and 2nd, introduce them to the new Dare. Remember: Dares are invitations, not demands! The power is in the conversation.”

Students Will:

Think about their future self, what it looks like, and what may be important to your future self.
Write a letter to their future self.

Character Strong Session 6: Tuesday, December 19, 2023

6^th Grade:

Context from Character Strong: “The theme of this year is "Belonging" and this is the 1st of 2 sessions with the goal of helping us make connections and build relationships. In this session’s activity, we make plans to get to know 4 adults in the school.”

Students Will:

Discuss adults in the building they connect with.
Identify a core of 4 adults they can go to when they need help.

7^th Grade:

Context from Character Strong: “This is the 1st of 3 sessions related to values. Thinking about and identifying values, we personally feel are important, can help us make good decisions and can guide our actions in positive directions. In this session, we explore our individual values, including where they come from and ways we can put them into action. In this session, we will go through the full CharacterDare process: first, reflect on the previous CharacterDare, and second, introduce them to the new CharacterDare. Remember: these challenges are invitations, not demands! The power is in the conversation.”

Students Will:

Create a value tree to display things they value as a group, share if they like.
Reflect on their past Character Dare.

8^th Grade:

Context from Character Strong: “This is the 3rd of 4 sessions where we look ahead and plan for our futures. Thinking about what we have already accomplished can help guide our actions in positive directions. In this session, we think about personal values that influenced us in elementary school, experiences we've had in middle school, and how remembering and acting on our individual values can help us have the kind of high school experience we hope for.”

Students Will:

Watch a video about sharing your “15 Second Story.”
Think about their life as a book, and discuss the next chapter.
Write challenges they predict in the next chapter of their live.

Character Strong Session 7: Wednesday, January 10, 2024
6^th Grade:
Context from Character Strong: “: This is the 1st of 3 sessions focused on exploring values. Getting clear on our own personal values can help us make decisions and act in ways that align with our sense of self and what we think is important. In this session, we explore the topic of values by reflecting on the qualities we value in other people.”

Students Will:

Discuss traits they admire in others.
Discuss things they value in others.
Share perspectives on values and traits with others.

7th Grade:

Context from Character Strong: “This is the 2nd of 3 sessions focused on values. This session applies learning from the last session related to values and offers some perspective on how we might have the same (or different) values for various reasons.”

Students Will:

Share with a partner about someone they respect.
Discuss how values turn into actions.
Brainstorm actions that will result in acting out your values.

8^th Grade:

Context from Character Strong: “This is the 4th of 4 sessions where we look ahead and plan for our futures. In this session we continue thinking about high school, what we hope for, obstacles we might face to achieving those wishes, and ways we might overcome those obstacles.”

Students Will:

Reflect on their strengths and areas to improve on in the future.
Think about ways to get involved in high school and balance their life.
Discuss Mental well-being, issues, students face, as well as obstacles and solutions in those areas.

Wilson Middle School