I prefer to be true to myself, even at the hazard of incurring the ridicule of others, rather than to be false, and to incur my own abhorrence.”
― Frederick Douglass
If you are new to SLOCA, you may be unaware that our monthly character traits are on a predetermined schedule. Each year we highlight the same 12 traits in the same order. Last year, as the final trimester of the 2019/2020 school year wrapped up from home, here at Down Home we marveled at how each month’s character trait seemed to perfectly coincide with the events going on in the world around us. Those were challenging months that required us to be courageous, resilient, and resourceful citizens. Well, once again our character trait for the month proves to be apropos. In the month of November, we focus on Integrity. Please keep in mind that this post is being composed in advance of any election results, but no matter what the outcomes of this election are, integrity is an excellent trait to be encouraging in our students and ourselves. In the days and weeks ahead, let us remind our children that although we can not control the conduct or choices of others, we can control how we act. Along the same lines, we often have no influence over the events that happen to us, but we can resolve to respond to them with character. Let us challenge our children to be people of integrity, to be people that others look up to and rely on because they know that they are trustworthy and will act justly and honorably.
So what is integrity?
Having the inner strength to be truthful and trustworthy, acting justly and honorably, and being consistent in words and actions.
Catchphrase: Tell the truth. Keep your word.
Integrity can be tricky to understand, especially for some of our younger students. Examples from your own life, characters in literature, and/or physical examples, like a building that lacks integrity, can all be excellent ways of solidifying this concept of integrity. Here are some discussion questions and activities to assist you in cultivating this trait this month.
Forging Integrity:
- Ask your kid(s) if they are able to define integrity. Discuss the SLOCA definition and catchphrase.
- Build a building or bridge together. Use blocks, legos, playing cards, etc. and discuss structural integrity. Why is it important for a building to be well built? Would you walk across a bridge that did not look structurally sound? How does this relate to trusting people?
- Why must you earn trust? How do you earn trust?
- Why does it take strength to be truthful and trustworthy? When is it the most difficult for you to be truthful?
- What happens when you are not consistent in your words and actions?
- Do you know anyone that always keeps their word?
- Discuss recent historical figures we have studied. Would you say that have integrity – why or why not?
- Do you think Tom Sawyer has integrity? What are some of the consequences of Tom’s lies? (The tickets for the Bible incident is an excellent example.)
- Tom Sawyer does not always get caught in his lies, does that make his lying okay?
- Parents/Home Educators, consider sharing with your students a time that you were not trustworthy and/or lacking in integrity. What was the outcome? Looking back, would you have approached this situation differently?
- Brainstorm ways that you can practice integrity this month. Ex: If you say you are going to do something, make sure you follow through and do it.
Click the link below for a printable copy of this poster. And share with us in the comments how you are encouraging the trait of integrity in your kids.
