Character traits: A model for learning service and responsibility
Past efforts at "character education" have operated with a shallow understanding of character. The Expeditionary Learning model goes deeper.
IN THE FIELD: Students from Capital City Public Charter School in Washington, D.C.—founded as an Expeditionary Learning school—conduct research on species of local trees. PHOTO Courtesy of Expeditionary Learning
“Please take a look at today’s workshop target and tell me if you have a specific notice or a wonder about it.” John Exall was introducing his sixth-grade class to its next “expedition,” a semester-long project on American immigrant stories.
“Mattie, why don’t you start us off?”
These 11- and 12-year-olds were obviously accustomed to Exall’s approach and knew the lingo of “workshop target,” “notice,” and “wonder.” They responded immediately.
