Newark Public Schools Office of Alternative Education-Twilight Programs

Grades 9-12  •  Newark, New Jersey

Character Education Through Literacy Series

Run by the Newark Public Schools' Office of Alternative Education, the six-week-long Character Education Through Literacy series invites contemporary authors and artists to share their work with students who have not had success in a traditional school setting. While telling their stories, speakers focus on specific character attributes, afterwards giving students a keepsake from the presentation such as a copy of their book or CD. Students are administered pre- and post-tests to discern their knowledge of the targeted character trait before and after the presentation. Follow-up classroom activities support the character lessons, and an in-service training retreat serves to familiarize all teachers with strategies and instructional plans to use with the series. A reinforcement of reading and writing skills, the program utilizes contemporary literature, lyrics, film, and literacy strategies to promote character education, particularly for the urban at-risk students. As a culminating exercise, all participating students receive achievement awards and are encouraged to create a book or short film about a specific character attribute. Since the series focuses on media that are actively present in students' lives, it effectively captures their attention and provides them the opportunity to redefine important character traits-honesty, respect, and courage-for themselves.