Character Education: Secrets for Building Character Revealed

The Four Best Kept Secrets for Building Character.
Secret # One: Current Character (Do Your Present Texts Accomplish This?)
Principle: You must know where you are in order to get to where you want to go. Identifying present behaviors is crucial in formulating a strategy for positive character development.
Tool: Identify present behaviors through the Winning Colors® Character Education identification cards in minutes. There are good productive behaviors, traditionally called virtues. There are dysfunctional behaviors, traditionally called vices.
Application: Begin changing, developing or reinforcing those behaviors aimed at moral character development.

Secret # Two: Learning Styles (Do Your Present Texts Accomplish This?)
Principle: You must know how a person processes information in order to get ideas through to that person.
Tool: Identifying the learning styles of the person is the next crucial step in positive character development. How can the person develop a virtuous lifestyle if he or she cannot understand intellectually and emotionally what you are saying?
Application: Begin the learning styles identification with your learning styles inventory.

Secret # Three: Organizing Thoughts (Do Your Present Texts Accomplish This?)
Principle: You must know the best ways of organizing thoughts and emotional content to facilitate the learning process with ** Brain Compatible Learning.
Tool: Your four step process: Inquire, Gather, Process and Apply. Begin by respecting the present knowledge of the person; follow by adding new emotional and intellectual content; facilitate the processing by applying the new material to real life situations.
Application: Begin this facilitation of the learning process with this four-stage structure.

Secret # Four: Story Telling (Do Your Present Texts Accomplish This?)
Principle: You must know how a person remembers and understands best.
Tool: Your strategy for memory retention: the story and memory hooks. The best way for memory retention, that has proven itself throughout the centuries, is the art of story telling whether it is the fable, parable or the legends of Native Americans. Some memory hooks, such as those used in the Character communication cards, are colors, words, animals and illustrations.
Application: Begin your presentation of ideas and emotions through the powerful art of story telling.

Stefan Neilson, M.A., is a graduate of Columbia University, New York. As a registered Psychologist he has brought his expertise to both the business and education field. Seminars and keynotes have included such clients as the National Management Association, General Dynamics and McDonald's. In the area of Education over 200,000 students and 1600 schools use his innovative communication process for behavioral identification and growth. Joe Hutton, co-author is a professional accountant. Joe has had a rich and interesting career, including being a football coach, University instructor, public practitioner and businessman. In these varied occupations, he has seen the need for a program such as Personality Magic and has applied the process in the business organizations, with dramatic results.

Nora Hutton, co-author. Nora is a professional mother. With the birth of the first of five children, she decided that there was no greater calling than nurturing young minds and hearts into successful and productive adults. After more than 40 years of marriage to her husband Joe, her family, which now includes seven grandchildren, is ample tribute to the fact that her decision was the right one. A dedicated fan of Personality Magic, she shares some of the stories and insights, which may lead others to careers which will be as rewarding as her own.

Mark Bezenar, illustrator. Mark gives new meaning to the term "Renaissance Man". Born in Edmonton, Alberta in 1965, he is a former champion athlete. He is an accomplished artist, writer, musician and inventor. With new technologies emerging, Mark is poised to start his own multi-media corporation