[dropcap]A [/dropcap]character education program for the classroom
GRADE LEVEL:
Kindergarden to Grade 12
ABILITY LEVEL:
Who Is NOBODY? is for EVERYBODY!
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- Special Education
- ELL
- French (Qui est PERSONNE?)
- Gifted
- Inner City & Rural Schools
- Public & Private Schools
- etc.!
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WHO IS PARTICIPATING TO DATE:
Over 35 000 students have participated in every province and territory across Canada as well as the United States of America, England and Australia.
MY STORY:
I first heard about Who Is NOBODY?/Qui est PERSONNE? and Who Is GREEN? at a Climate for Learning Conference in 2010 when I walked by a vendor booth that offered practical ideas for bringing Climate for Learning ‘to life’ in the classroom. While most teachers start this program as early as the first week of school as an ice-breaker – I was so excited about it I spoke to my principal the next day to garner support to purchase the program and had it up and running in my class 3 school days after first hearing about it – in late Spring! The three things that made me most interested were: How the program embodied all aspects of Character Education perfectly and ran itself. The kit was a tangible resource that could be re-used and the students were immediately interested, excited, and engaged in the process. I love that we all worked together to make lasting imprints in our world. This is my second year running the program and next year 9 more teachers at my school will be running Who Is NOBODY? with their classes!
CLICK TO WATCH A 3 MINUTE OVERVIEW:
PROGRAM FOCUS:
The focus of Who Is NOBODY? is to get kids to figure out what makes them unique (painting, hockey, etc.) and then use it to help a living thing they care about (animals, people or the environment) so that they build self-esteem, and a sense of purpose and belonging in a way that is earned and lasting.
For example, a student may paint a poster asking other students to donate towels and blankets that can then be recycled and donated to the Humane Society helping animals & the environment.
HOW IT WORKS
Play 3 short DVD lessons directly to students
A mysterious case arrives in the classroom… inside is NOBODY!
Play the 3 short DVD lessons explaining the 5 Who Is NOBODY?™ Steps that inspire and tap into EVERYBODY’s unique strengths. They include a ready-made class ‘Who Is NOBODY?™ Experience demonstrating how easy and fun it is to help others.
Resources go home with the first student
EVERYBODY gets a turn to apply their personal interests and abilities to the 5 Who Is NOBODY?™ Steps that create a unique character building project.
Weekly presentation
Each student presents a story, picture and adds a 3D attachment to NOBODY that represents their Who Is NOBODY?™ Experience before the next student’s turn with the 5 Who Is NOBODY?™ Steps.
PROGRAM IMPACT FOR EVERY STUDENT:
Each Student is:
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- Empowered by the change they can make in the life of a living thing they care about through a concrete experience
- The leader of a project they are passionate about
- Experience not being a bystander
- Applies the curriculum to real-life experiences
- Builds self-esteem based on experiences that are earned and lasting
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WHAT TEACHER’S ARE SAYING:
[quote]All kids, regardless of their background gain hope and confidence through their own actions, interests and abilities. The Who Is NOBODY? Program helps kids do this. It teaches young people to discover the talents that make them somebody
– Ajike Akande, Teacher, Nelson Mandela PS, TDSB[/quote]
[quote]When students have real and personal experiences that positively impact the community, their motivation for reading and writing grows exponentially… their Who Is NOBODY? Project was a real experience… it was something they were personally involved with and that’s why their writing was so powerful
– Lynne Malandrino, Principal, ON
Coordinated 175 Participating Classrooms from 2007 to present[/quote]
WHAT STUDENT’S ARE SAYING:
[quote]If we’re capable of this, imagine what the coule country is capable of… If Who Is NOBODY? was ust put into more schools then imagine what the world is going to be like in 20 years
– Taylor, Grade 6 Who Is NOBODY? Participant, ON[/quote]
PROGRAM WEBSITE:
www.whoisnobody.com
CURRICULUM LINKS:
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- Literacy/Language
- The Arts
- Health and Physical Education (Healthy Living & Active Living)
- Guidance – Choices into Action
- Learning Skills/Ministry Guidelines
- A Subject of the student’s choice
- Optional Curriculum Links: IT
- French (Qui est PERSONNE? French Version)
- Science & Geography (Who Is GREEN?)
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SCHOOL FOCUS LINKS:
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- Great launch to Mandatory Community Involvement (starting with Gr. 7 & 8’s next year in Ontario)
- Safe Schools (Self-esteem Building & Bullying Prevention)
- Social Justice
- Character Education
- EcoSchools (Highlighted as a ‘Best Practice’ on the EcoSchools Ontario Website –
Who Is GREEN?) - Home-School-Community Links
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