Key principles regarding Strengths of Character - from training with Janis Coffey, Geelong Grammar
The following key principles are important to emphasize when introducing Character Strengths:
Strengths most often seen in young children:
Love, kindness, creativity, curiosity and humour
The following key principles are important to emphasize when introducing Character Strengths:
- VIA – Values in Action
The VIA acronym is vitally important to understand. The VIA survey is simply asking individuals to respond with the level in which they are currently actioning each of the different character strengths. Therefore, your character strengths are not what you are, but they are what you currently do.
- Universally valued across cultures and throughout history
Each of the 24 VIA Character Strengths are morally valued across different cultures and religions. They are also morally respected and valued in our society today.
- All 24 strengths exist within each of us
Whilst some character strengths may be more comfortable for individuals to use, all 24 do exist within each individual and can be drawn upon to action.
- Your strengths are stable and dynamic
Yes, your character strengths are relatively stable and individuals often find consistency in their survey results when taken on multiple occasions. Of course though, changes in life circumstances, changes in the opportunity to use or action a particular strength and intentional activity will likely result in some significant changes in your character strength rankings.
- You can develop strengths that you value
Individuals can nurture a particular strength by focussing on this strength and endeavouring to action it on a more regular basis.
- Be wary, you can overuse, misuse and underuse your character strengths Individuals must be aware that there is a potential shadow-side to character strengths. In particular, individuals must be aware of overusing or misusing their higher character strengths and underusing their lesser strengths.
Strengths most often seen in young children:
Love, kindness, creativity, curiosity and humour
VIA Character Strengths
Great explanation of VIA character strengths
The VIA Character Strengths have been described as the "backbone of positive psychology". The survey to find your own character strengths would be best used with Y6 and above - the Youth Test is targeted at those aged 10-17.
http://www.viacharacter.org/survey/Account/Register
http://www.viacharacter.org/survey/Account/Register
Some activities to develop character strengths/ understanding
1. Character strength continuum
Can you think of a time when you misused or overused your character strength of Humour and Playfulness, or your strength of Zest, or Curiosity, or Bravery...?
For each of the 24 character strengths there is also a common term for the opposite of the strength. It is valuable to understand this term and to try not to action this opposite term in your day to day life. Draw up a table for each strength, opposite and extreme.
2. Strength Spotting – Sharing a best-self story
Think of a time when you were at your best. It may be a time when you overcame a challenge, achieved a goal, or met with some personal or professional success.
Write a description of the situation. Share your best-self story with a partner. Ask your partner to name which Character Strengths he or she hears in your story. Discuss with your partner the specific actions you took and how they were related to your character strengths.
3. Strength Spotting – parents
Ask parents to describe their child at their best. Can the parent, or the child, find the character strengths used at that time?
4. Introducing the strengths
Write the name of the strength on poster paper and then spend time responding to any of the following questions and/or other questions around the page. Don’t forget to action your strengths of creativity and teamwork whilst completing this activity.
Brainstorm questions:
5. Strength Spotting - stories and history
Read stories and identify the character strengths of the main heroes and villains. Do the same thing when learning about history.
6. Use strength cards
Discuss with students which strengths they might need when completing certain tasks. Refer to the strengths.
Can you think of a time when you misused or overused your character strength of Humour and Playfulness, or your strength of Zest, or Curiosity, or Bravery...?
For each of the 24 character strengths there is also a common term for the opposite of the strength. It is valuable to understand this term and to try not to action this opposite term in your day to day life. Draw up a table for each strength, opposite and extreme.
2. Strength Spotting – Sharing a best-self story
Think of a time when you were at your best. It may be a time when you overcame a challenge, achieved a goal, or met with some personal or professional success.
Write a description of the situation. Share your best-self story with a partner. Ask your partner to name which Character Strengths he or she hears in your story. Discuss with your partner the specific actions you took and how they were related to your character strengths.
3. Strength Spotting – parents
Ask parents to describe their child at their best. Can the parent, or the child, find the character strengths used at that time?
4. Introducing the strengths
Write the name of the strength on poster paper and then spend time responding to any of the following questions and/or other questions around the page. Don’t forget to action your strengths of creativity and teamwork whilst completing this activity.
Brainstorm questions:
- Who is a role-model for this strength?
- What are common ways of actioning this strength?
- What are some synonyms for this strength?
- When and where can you use it?
- What does this strength feel like?
- What does this strength look like?
- What is the shadow-side of this strength?
- If this strength was a colour, what colour would it be?
- If this strength was an animal, which animal would it be?
- If this strength was a smell, which smell would it be?
- If this strength was a vegetable, which vegetable would it be?
- If this strength was a sport, which sport would it be?
- If this strength was a musical instrument, which instrument would it be?
- Which movie portrays the use of this strength?
- What are some creative ways of actioning this strength?
- What song makes reference to this strength?
- What quote makes reference to this strength?
- What other character strengths complement this strength?
- What is the opposite of this strength?
- Write about this strength in six words, not including the word itself.
5. Strength Spotting - stories and history
Read stories and identify the character strengths of the main heroes and villains. Do the same thing when learning about history.
6. Use strength cards
Discuss with students which strengths they might need when completing certain tasks. Refer to the strengths.
6. Create a Strengths pyramid
Materials needed: VIA list of character strengths, paper, scissors, pencils, crayons or markers.
Pre-learning : Students have been given a list of the character strengths and understand the general meaning of each one.
Process: A pyramid has four sides. This lesson focuses on one side at a time. These directions are for the construction of one side at a time.
Materials needed: VIA list of character strengths, paper, scissors, pencils, crayons or markers.
Pre-learning : Students have been given a list of the character strengths and understand the general meaning of each one.
Process: A pyramid has four sides. This lesson focuses on one side at a time. These directions are for the construction of one side at a time.
- Construction of blocks: teacher passes out a pre-printed sheet with six equally-sized rectangles for the students to cut out.
- Naming Strengths blocks: students choose which of the character strengths they want to write on their six blocks, choosing the top six that they relate to at the time and writing one per block. Each block is colored in a different color – their favorite colors used for their three foundational blocks.
- Building the Pyramid: students choose three blocks to place at the base of their pyramid. These are considered the foundational strengths that the child identifies as “most like me”– what at VIA we refer to as “signature strengths.” Next, the student chooses two more strengths and places them on the base. These are called “middle strengths” the child sees as less prominent. At the pinnacle are one or more strengths that the child identifies as wishing to build towards.
- Constructing the Shape: tape the pyramid together, or glue onto another sheet of paper.
- Strengths writing/discussion: on the back of the pyramid, students describe their reasons for placing their strengths where they did on the pyramid.
Pinterest ideas for teaching character strengths Click here
Using Strengths Cards
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Matching character strengths and the IB Learner Profile
Primary staff undertook this at the CPD day last year, and it is a useful activity for students when they know the character strengths - where are there correlations between the characters strengths and the Learner Profile. They do not have to be mutually exclusive!
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Photos from CPD Day of the Character Strength activity - click here
Creative thinkers resources
See the blog about this here.
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