Extension/Texans Building Character Resources

Title of series: BigChanges, Big Choices
Author: Live Wire Media
Audience: Students, grades 5-9
Ordering Information: Extension Educational Resource Library
Annotated Bibliography: This 12-part videos series on character education features Michael Pritchard working with groups of youth in schools. Topics included in this series are respecting others, getting along with parents, friendship, speaking of sex, saying "no" to alcohol and other drugs, setting and achieving goals, handling emotions, dealing with pressures, preventing conflicts and violence, enhancing self-esteem, you and your values, the three R’s of growing up. Each video is 30 minutes. four sets

Title: Character Way: A Video-based Learning Program for Elementary School Children
Author: Live Wire Media
Audience: Students, grades K-6
Ordering Information: Extension Educational Resource Library
Annotated Bibliography: This video series is based on ten ethics: honesty, empathy, fairness, respect, helpfulness, compassion, courage, responsibility, altruism and kindness. Each of the three grade level programs includes lesson plans and activities. Two copies each age group.

Title: How Rude: The Teenagers’ Guide to Good Manners, Proper Behavior, and Not Grossing People Out
Author: Dr. Alex J. Packer
Audience: Adult educators/leaders working with adolescent youth
Ordering Information: Extension Educational Resource Library
Annotated Bibliography: This author covers a variety of topics as he humorously and seriously addresses adolescent behaviors. Topics include: manners, social interactions, courtesy, home life, being a guest, school, friendship and romance, table manners, celebrations, conversation, etiquette on the web, clothes, personal hygiene, and personal politeness. There are approximately eight reproducible pages in the book. Two books

Title: Not for Sale: Ethics in the America Workplace Author: Live Wire Media
Audience: Students, grades 9-12
Ordering Information: Extension Educational Resource Library
Annotated Bibliography: This character education program for high school students contains two videos featuring a ten episode story about four students who are new employees in a fictional company. Lesson plans and activities help instructors emphasize key points in business ethics such as employee theft, employee kickbacks, racism, and sexual harassment. 5 copies

Title: Proud to Polite
Author: Eticon, Inc.
Audience: K-3
Ordering Information: Extension Educational Resource Library
Annotated Bibliography: This ten lesson video program for grades K-3 offers educators lessons and activities that cover the following topics: communication skills, conflict resolution, manners and respect, self awareness and understanding differences. A Coloring Activity Book with over 70 pages of activities supports this program. (one copy)

Title: Proud to Polite
Author: Eticon, Inc.
Audience: 4-6
Ordering Information: Extension Educational Resource Library
Annotated Bibliography: This twelve lesson video program for grades 4-6 offers educators lessons and activities that cover the following topics: respect, meeting people, honesty, loudness, writing notes, punctuality and respecting differences. An Activity Book with 65 pages of activities supports this program. (one copy)

Title: Ready to Use: Self Esteem and Conflict Solving Activities for Grades 4-8
Author: Beth Teolis
Audience: Educators/leaders working with students in grades 4-8
Ordering Information: Extension Educational Resource Library
Annotated Bibliography: This book offers 100 lessons and activities to build student security, friendships, positive identified and competence through goal-setting and conflict-solving skills. The author also points out how the activities can be used to enhance current programs! The book includes nine sections: teacher empowerment, student security, positive identify, friendship building, goal setting, competence, conflict solving, behavior that is not acceptable, and a final section that includes handouts. Two copies

Title: The Bully Free Classroom
Author: Dr. Allan Beane
Audience: Educatord/leaders working with students in grades k-8
Ordering Information: Extension Educational Resource Library
Annotated Bibliography: This book offers 100 tips and strategies for educators in grades K-8 to use to deal with bullies (two books). The book is divided into four sections: creating a positive classroom, helping victims, helping bullies and resources. The author has included activities, surveys, guidelines and discussion to help educators who are dealing with this problem. One copy

Title: The Chariot Races
Author: Live Wire Media
Audience: Students, grades 6-12 and young adults
Ordering Information: Extension Educational Resource Library
Annotated Bibliography: This realistic video presents the experiences of youth and adults who have responded to the challenge of rebuilding their lives after experiencing accidents that resulted in physical disabilities. This video is best for a small group of up to 12 people as video will make a strong impact on the audience. There is not a lesson plan for this video but it will generate many many questions from the audience.

Title: Tough Decisions: 50 Activities in Values and Character Education
Author: Anfn Bourman
Audience: Educators working with students grades 6-9
Ordering Information: Extension Educational Resource Library
Annotated Bibliography: Educators working with youth, grades six to nine will appreciate the 50 scenarios that encourage students to role play and discuss situations that include values such as honesty, politeness, helpfulness, and courtesy. Situations include cheating, drugs, dishonesty, treatment of animals, ridicule of other students, child abuse and others. Two copies.