The Principled Academy: Back to School with Values and Virtues — Mose Durst

Hey there, Friends and Family!

Welcome back to school! We hope the transition from summer to fall has been smooth and that your students are settling into their new routines with excitement and energy.

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll find in this issue: • Highlights from our recent character education workshop in Belize • Fresh ideas for building executive function through reading • An interactive activity to foster compassion and empathy • A spotlight on some of our newest stories and resources

May these ideas and activities enrich your students’ learning and create meaningful memories this school year!

Health and happiness always,

Isaac Durst Director, Values and Virtues

News from the Field: Workshop in Belize! From August 18–20, we had the joy of traveling to Belize to host a three-day character education workshop for school teachers. What began as a collaboration between leadership teams in the U.S. and the Teacher Learning Institute (TLI) blossomed into an inspiring exchange of ideas, experiences, and hope for the classroom.

Teachers earned 15 hours of credit while diving into interactive presentations, group activities, and one-on-one coaching. Together, we explored resources on Values

and Virtues and uncovered fresh ways to bring virtues and values into daily lessons.

Beyond the materials, what stood out most were the conversations — teachers sharing their challenges, brainstorming solutions, and discovering new tools for classroom management and deeper connection with their students. By the end, the room felt filled not only with new skills but also with renewed energy and vision for the children they teach.

Watch Isaac’s report from Belize below:

Testimonies from Participants: “The [contents] are rich with stories and lessons that will definitely teach them the virtues. I loved the questions; they are to spark critical thinking. Discussions promise to be rich.”

“The workshop on character education was very informative and interactive. The values will make a huge impact on the lives of the students, teachers, parents, and the community. The values can be incorporated in any subject being taught. It is a worthwhile project. It is a great investment especially for our students.”

To support more impactful projects like the above, please consider making a donation by clicking the button below:

Support Values & Virtues!

Reading Tips to Boost Executive Function Executive function (EF) refers to a set of cognitive skills that enable individuals to plan, organize, initiate, and regulate their behavior. These skills are crucial for success in various aspects of life, including academics, social interactions, and personal well-being.

Reading isn’t just about words on a page—it’s a workout for the brain. When children read, they practice holding details in mind (working memory), shifting between ideas and perspectives (cognitive flexibility), and staying focused even when the text is challenging (self-control).

You can strengthen these skills at home or in the classroom by making reading interactive: • ask your child to predict what might happen next • retell the story in their own words • or imagine a different ending!

These simple activities turn reading into a fun way to build executive function while deepening comprehension.

Check out more fun reading activities on our website!

Activity Spotlight: “Cross the Line”

This interactive activity helps students reflect on Example Prompts: what they have in common and the unique • Your birthday is in challenges each person carries. _______ (month). • You have a brother or Through simple prompts, students step forward if a sister. statement applies to them, silently acknowledging • You speak another shared experiences with their classmates. language. • You have a pet. By the end, students gain new awareness of one • You have ever been left another, foster trust, and strengthen their out of group activities. compassion and empathy towards themselves and • You were bullied or each other. teased. • You were judged or Check out the full activity here. made fun of because of your culture or appearance.

See what’s new:

🌈 New Stories + Guiding Questions

“Our Table” “The Shortest Day” “We are Grateful”

Gratitude Gratitude Gratitude 1st & 2nd Grade 1st & 2nd Grade 1st & 2nd Grade Read now! Read now! Read now!

🌈 New Activities

We Are Going to be Big Jar of Kindness “Saying Sorry” Activity Pals! Friendship Friendship Friendship 1st & 2nd Grade Pre-K & Kindergarten 1st & 2nd Grade See Activity See Activity See activity

That’s all for now, thank you for reading! Here’s a happy puppy :)

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Values & Virtues is an online character education resource for educators and parents. Our mission is to build a world filled with ethical, loving, and compassionate human beings.

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