Video
series for high school/middle school students. Produced by Elkind+Sweet in
association with Character Counts!
Closed
Captioned
VHS or DVD
In
Search of Character™ spotlights
ten core virtues that help teens develop into caring, respectful,
responsible people who make choices based on what's right,
rather than what's easy. In this series, viewers take a fun,
behind-the-scenes peek at the Dr. Mike Radio Show, where callers
explore different aspects of character with "Dr.
Mike" (Michael Thomson, Ph.D.) and his co-host. Listen
in on the lively, thoughtful, and revealing discussions of
high school students from around the country. Watch inspiring
documentary profiles of young people who exemplify the power
of good character in the real world.
In
Search of Character™ focuses
on the ten virtues most commonly named by parents, educators,
and community groups concerned with character education:
While each of these
words evokes its own meaning, what counts most, like colors
on a canvas, is the way they interact to paint a complete
picture. In Search of Character™
is not about teaching individual virtues, it's about helping
young people construct a vision of themselves as good people
and then live up to that vision. It's about showing them that,
in a world where poor character is so commonplace, they can
choose to be better than that.
Vol
1: TRUSTWORTHINESS 69.95 (#
LW-ISC-1-DVD) or (# LW-ISC-1-VHS) Trust
is the basis of all good relationships and a cornerstone of
good character. This program shows what it means to be a person
others can trust. We learn that trustworthy people keep their
promises, are honest, reliable, principled, and never inappropriately
betray a confidence. And to help understand how trusting relationships
are developed, we look at a documentary about a high school
peer counseling program, where trusting and being trusted
are the keys to a healthy school community. To see parts of the Teacher's Guide
for this video, click
here.
Vol
2: RESPECT 69.95
(# LW-ISC-2-DVD) or (# LW-ISC-2-VHS) This
program shows how treating people with respect helps us get
along with each other, avoid and resolve conflicts, and create
a positive social climate. We see that respectful behavior
means treating others with civility and courtesy, accepting
personal differences, listening to what others have to say,
and refraining from ridiculing, embarrassing or hurting others.
And to demonstrate that each of us has a role in creating
a respectful climate, we see an inspiring documentary about
a biracial teenager’s initiative to promote interracial
respect. To see parts of the Teacher's
Guide for this video, click
here.
Vol
3: RESPONSIBILITY 69.95
(# LW-ISC-3-DVD) or (# LW-ISC-3-VHS) Responsibility
is often regarded as a burden, but here we discover that it
is actually a great source of personal power. It is the key
to taking charge of our lives. As a case in point, we see
the remarkable example of a young woman who grew up in poverty
but transformed her life by taking complete responsibility
for shaping her own future. We learn that responsible people
do what needs to be done, fulfill their obligations, are accountable
for their actions, use good judgment, and don’t let people
down. To see parts of the Teacher's
Guide for this video, click
here.
Vol
4: FAIRNESS 69.95
(# LW-ISC-4-DVD) or (# LW-ISC-4-VHS) Nothing
makes people bristle like injustice, but often it’s difficult
to know what’s fair and what isn’t, or what to do
when faced with injustice. This program helps young people
understand how to live by the golden rule, what it takes to
be a fair and just person, and how much our personal actions
do matter. As a stunning example of individual effectiveness,
we see the inspiring story of a teenage boy whose action in
response to injustice launched a worldwide campaign to bring
an end to exploitative child labor. To see parts of the Teacher's
Guide for this video, click
here.
Vol
5: CARING 69.95
(# LW-ISC-5-DVD) or (# LW-ISC-5-VHS) Caring
is not just a way of feeling, it’s a way of behaving.
This program teaches that what makes us caring people is doing
caring things. We learn that caring people respond selflessly
to the needs of others and treat others with kindness, concern,
and generosity. And we see the stirring account of a teenage
girl whose exemplary acts of caring have enriched the lives
of disadvantaged children in her community. To see parts of the Teacher's
Guide for this video, click
here.
Vol
6: CITIZENSHIP 69.95
(# LW-ISC-6-DVD) or (# LW-ISC-6-VHS) Citizenship,
at its core, is social responsibility in action. This program
considers what it means to be a good citizen - including doing
your part for the common good, serving your community, and
helping make our democracy work. And as proof that one person
can make a big difference, we see the remarkable adventure
of a teenage boy whose modest efforts at community service
snowballed into legislative action that changed the way the
state of Florida feeds its needy. To see parts of the Teacher's
Guide for this video, click
here.
Vol
7: HONESTY 69.95
(# LW-ISC-7-DVD) or (# LW-ISC-7-VHS) This
video begins with the surprising account of two boys who triggered
a fire storm of criticism by committing a simple act of honesty.
But as we see from their experience and the teen discussions
that follow, choosing to be honest or dishonest does something
to our character. Lying makes us liars. Cheating makes us
cheaters. But being honest frees us to be real. Not only do
honest people have stronger, better relationships with others,
but their honesty makes them better people and it makes our
world a better place. To see parts of the Teacher's
Guide for this video, click
here.
Vol
8: COURAGE 69.95
(# LW-ISC-8-DVD) or (# LW-ISC-8-VHS) It
takes a lot of courage to stand up for what’s right when
we stand alone. Or to do what’s right despite disapproval
and negative peer pressure. Or even to take risks that are
for our own good. In this program we learn what it means to
be morally courageous and how that empowers our lives. And
we see proof positive in the courageous story of a teenage
boy who broke from a gang and changed his friends so he could
succeed in school and turn his life around. To see parts of the Teacher's
Guide for this video, click
here.
Vol
9: DILIGENCE 69.95
(# LW-ISC-9-DVD) or (# LW-ISC-9-VHS) Imagine
what life would be like if we approached each important task
with discipline and focus. If we always did our best. If we
persevered even when things became difficult or discouraging.
In this program we look at what it means to be diligent and
what a potent force diligence brings into our lives. As a
case in point we see the poignant story of a teenage girl
with cerebral palsy, whose diligent approach to living has
enabled her to pursue and attain ambitious goals despite her
disability. To see parts of the Teacher's
Guide for this video, click
here.
Vol
10: INTEGRITY 69.95
(# LW-ISC-10-DVD) or (# LW-ISC-10-VHS) Being
a person of integrity means you are solid, principled, true
to your very best self. It means you walk your talk by living
up to your highest ethical values. It means you always try
to do what’s right even in tough situations, and you
don’t let temptation compromise your values. This program
reveals the subtle (and sometimes not so subtle) ways that
life puts our integrity to the test, and profiles six teenagers
whose integrity has proven to be a gift to themselves as well
as to the world. To see parts of the Teacher's
Guide for this video, click
here.
"A perfect stimulus
for classroom discussions, setting a level of conversation
that is thought provoking and informative."
Director, Georgia Center for Character
Education
"The real life examples
of teens who chose to act on their beliefs are truly inspiring.
Here are positive role models with whom teens can identify
and emulate."
Teleschool Specialist - Hawaii Dept. of
Education
"I was stunned. The
kids in my class started their own discussion, bringing
up points in the video, and relating it to themselves or
their family or friends. Never before had I come across
a video presentation of such quality that met the needs
of not only my students, but any student viewing this video."
Teacher, Detention Center School, Wauwatosa,
WI
"The IN SEARCH OF CHARACTER
video series has been a huge hit here. It has been very,
very enthusiastically received by our member schools. We
just can't keep them on the shelf!"
Safe and Drug Free Schools Consortium,
Columbus, OH
"These
are the best topic driven educational videos I have seen.
. . We had the best class discussion we've had all year."
Middle School Counselor, Scottsburg, IN
Pricing
- Ordering - Previewing
Please
specify VHS or DVD when ordering
Each video
is approximately 1/2 hour in length and includes a teacher's
guide with discussion questions, student activities,
and writing assignments. Videos are closed captioned
for the hearing impaired.
Price:
$69.95 per video Special series
price: $649.50 for all
ten
Available
from (800)
359-5437 (415) 564-9500
273 Ninth Street
San Francisco, CA 94103
Fax (415) 552-4087 e-mail
Click here for information on ordering, previewing, and shipping & handling.
Highlights: You
may request a highlights tape or DVD, which includes portions
of all ten programs. It's a convenient way to sample
the entire series in 25 minutes.
Closed
Captioned
Trust
is the basis of all good relationships and a cornerstone of
good character. This program shows what it means to be a person
others can trust. We learn that trustworthy people keep their
promises, are honest, reliable, principled, and never inappropriately
betray a confidence. And to help understand how trusting relationships
are developed, we look at a documentary about a high school
peer counseling program, where trusting and being trusted
are the keys to a healthy school community.
This
program shows how treating people with respect helps us get
along with each other, avoid and resolve conflicts, and create
a positive social climate. We see that respectful behavior
means treating others with civility and courtesy, accepting
personal differences, listening to what others have to say,
and refraining from ridiculing, embarrassing or hurting others.
And to demonstrate that each of us has a role in creating
a respectful climate, we see an inspiring documentary about
a biracial teenager’s initiative to promote interracial
respect.
Responsibility
is often regarded as a burden, but here we discover that it
is actually a great source of personal power. It is the key
to taking charge of our lives. As a case in point, we see
the remarkable example of a young woman who grew up in poverty
but transformed her life by taking complete responsibility
for shaping her own future. We learn that responsible people
do what needs to be done, fulfill their obligations, are accountable
for their actions, use good judgment, and don’t let people
down.
Nothing
makes people bristle like injustice, but often it’s difficult
to know what’s fair and what isn’t, or what to do
when faced with injustice. This program helps young people
understand how to live by the golden rule, what it takes to
be a fair and just person, and how much our personal actions
do matter. As a stunning example of individual effectiveness,
we see the inspiring story of a teenage boy whose action in
response to injustice launched a worldwide campaign to bring
an end to exploitative child labor.
Caring
is not just a way of feeling, it’s a way of behaving.
This program teaches that what makes us caring people is doing
caring things. We learn that caring people respond selflessly
to the needs of others and treat others with kindness, concern,
and generosity. And we see the stirring account of a teenage
girl whose exemplary acts of caring have enriched the lives
of disadvantaged children in her community.
Citizenship,
at its core, is social responsibility in action. This program
considers what it means to be a good citizen - including doing
your part for the common good, serving your community, and
helping make our democracy work. And as proof that one person
can make a big difference, we see the remarkable adventure
of a teenage boy whose modest efforts at community service
snowballed into legislative action that changed the way the
state of Florida feeds its needy.
This
video begins with the surprising account of two boys who triggered
a fire storm of criticism by committing a simple act of honesty.
But as we see from their experience and the teen discussions
that follow, choosing to be honest or dishonest does something
to our character. Lying makes us liars. Cheating makes us
cheaters. But being honest frees us to be real. Not only do
honest people have stronger, better relationships with others,
but their honesty makes them better people and it makes our
world a better place.
It
takes a lot of courage to stand up for what’s right when
we stand alone. Or to do what’s right despite disapproval
and negative peer pressure. Or even to take risks that are
for our own good. In this program we learn what it means to
be morally courageous and how that empowers our lives. And
we see proof positive in the courageous story of a teenage
boy who broke from a gang and changed his friends so he could
succeed in school and turn his life around.
Imagine
what life would be like if we approached each important task
with discipline and focus. If we always did our best. If we
persevered even when things became difficult or discouraging.
In this program we look at what it means to be diligent and
what a potent force diligence brings into our lives. As a
case in point we see the poignant story of a teenage girl
with cerebral palsy, whose diligent approach to living has
enabled her to pursue and attain ambitious goals despite her
disability.
Being
a person of integrity means you are solid, principled, true
to your very best self. It means you walk your talk by living
up to your highest ethical values. It means you always try
to do what’s right even in tough situations, and you
don’t let temptation compromise your values. This program
reveals the subtle (and sometimes not so subtle) ways that
life puts our integrity to the test, and profiles six teenagers
whose integrity has proven to be a gift to themselves as well
as to the world.
