Growing the “We:” Collaboration and Character Education
This project explores the intersection of collaboration and character education for elementary school children. Though character education has gained increasing popularity, most school programs seem more focused on cultivating the individual than on developing group identity, group creativity or group productivity. Some character education programs speak to global citizenship or being a responsible and contributing community member; but, few focus on the elements of character that enable successful and rewarding collaboration. In response, the author created a classroom resource called Growing the “We:” Collaboration and Character that details ten collaboration-related character strengths and activities intended to help young people experience and become excited about working collaboratively.
Keywords: Collaboration, character education, play, improvisatio
