There are a number of themes that are applied throughout the Reference Framework: critical thinking, creativity, initiative, problem solving, risk assessment, decision taking, and constructive management of feelings play a role in all eight key competences. In our project we used VALUES and we integrated them in our school curriculum, a group of contents that deal with human values, attitudes and social rules which are implicitly present in schools, both in teaching and learning. We, as teachers, must insist on the fact that moral and civic education, education for peace, for health, for equality of opportunities among the sexes, environmental education, among others must be present in everyday teaching practice, for our students to be better citizens and make a better world. The Universal Declaration states that all human beings are endowed with dignity, rights, reason and conscience, and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood. When students leave school, they should have qualities of self-confidence, optimism, high self-esteem, and a commitment to personal excellence as a basis for their potential life roles as a family and community, and they also should have the capacity to exercise judgement and responsibility in matters of morality, ethics and social justice, and the capacity to make sense of their world and to accept responsibility for their own actions. Parents and families are the primary source of values education for their children but they expect support from schools in this aspect. Values education is an essential part of effective schooling.
In our project we, as teachers, should incorporate Values into our school policies and teaching programs across the key learning areas.
Our project worked 9 values, one every month. These are the most important values we can work together:
October – Respect: Treat others with consideration and regard, respect another person´s point of view (empathy). No bullying.
November – Freedom: Enjoy all the children rights (November 20th) and privilege of a European citizen and stand up for the rights of others.
December- Solidarity: Care for self and others, to help people who are in need, to support each other in hard moments. We and our students helped poor people with a food campaign for Christmas.
January – Responsibility: resolve differences in constructive and non-violent and peaceful ways (December 31th School day of Peace and Non Violence), contribute to school, society and to civic life, take care of the environment.
February- Tolerance and Inclusion: Be aware of others and their cultures, accept diversity within a democratic society, being included and include others.
March – Sharing: To share good moments, ideas, goods, projects and knowledge.
April- Participation: sharing something with others, making decisions and work in cooperative groups. We celebrated The Popular Games Day. The idea was to learn popular games from our partners and play together.
May – Commitment: Be more active, promise yourself to improve and be better at school, at home and in your community. Our students must promise to work hard because final exams are coming. Besides, we celebrated Europe Day on 9th of May which is the occasion for activities and festivities that bring Europe closer to its citizens and the people of the Union closer to one another.
June- Honesty and Trustworthiness: Be Honest, sincere and seek the truth. The final aim of this project is make all schools apply their values education priorities to their overall curriculum provision and their procedures and rules.
School should use values education to build student social skills. This includes addressing issues such as behavior management and discipline, violence and bullying and other risk behavior, improved relationship and students´ personal achievement.
You can learn more and follow the project activities at:
https://www.facebook.com/erasmusmaisecbeva
https://twinspace.etwinning.net/15450/home
