Cheating Yourself — Surveys of American students indicate that cheating has become a big problem in our nation's schools. The attitude that cheating is okay brings with it consequences that can damage the future of individual students, as well as our nation as a whole. Students consider the natural consequences of cheating.
Key Idea: Cheating in School
Character Traits: Honesty - Integrity

Dropping In * — Someone wise once said: "If you can control the process of choosing, you can take control of all aspects of your life. You can find the freedom that comes from being in charge of yourself." Each of our children deserves the advantages that come with choosing to complete high school diploma.
Key Ideas: Staying in School - Dropouts - GEDs - Unemployment
Character Traits: Discipline - Responsibility - Self-Respect
Note: This message and lesson plan also work well for American Education Week or National Education Week in November.

Learning to Learn * — Learning how to study not only helps students become better learners, it can help them become better people. This message and lesson plan provide students with the opportunity to consider all the great benefits that come with learning strong study skills.
Key Ideas: Being a successful student requires strong study skills - Learning how to study
Character Traits: Responsibility - Self-discipline - Perseverance
Note: This message and lesson plan also work well for National School Success Month in September.

Standardized Testing: Getting Ready — It can be difficult not to worry or get stressed about standardized tests. This message and lesson plan helps students identify ways to "let advance worrying become advance thinking and planning" (Winston Churchill). Students think about ways to take charge of their worries, think ahead, and plan in advance so they are better equipped to do their best at crunch time.
Character Traits: Responsibility - Self-Respect - Confidence - Positive Work Ethic

Staying on Task — Plato said, "The first and best victory is to conquer self." Learning to stay on task can be a difficult skill for any of us to master. This message and corresponding lesson plan will encourage students to examine the power that can be achieved through self-control.
Character Traits: Self-Responsibility - Self-Control

What's Up with Testing? (Standardized Testing) — "All of us perform better and more willingly when we know why we're doing what we have been told or asked to do." - Zig Ziglar. Students examine the reasons behind standardized testing and give voice to some of the thoughts about it.
Key Ideas: Standardized Testing - Test Anxiety - Understanding the Reason for Tests
Character Trait: Responsibility