This month Lincoln School is focusing on the hard character trait- Open-mindedness. We want the children to learn to be tolerant of ideas, culture, people, foods, and experiences. The students may not always agree with one another, but they can learn to listen, summarize and maybe even reflect on a different perspective. The teachers will teach open-mindedness by discussing points of view in literature, history or resolving a conflict between two students. Parents can develop open-mindedness by having students experience a new cultural event such as the Rutherford Multicultural Festival on May … [Read more...] about Trait of the Month: Open-mindedness

This month Lincoln School is focusing on the hard character trait- Gratitude. Gratitude is an emotion expressing appreciation for what one has—as opposed to, what one wants. The benefits of practicing gratitude are nearly endless. People who regularly practice gratitude by taking time to notice and reflect upon the things they're thankful for experience more positive emotions, feel more alive, sleep better, express more compassion and kindness, and even have stronger immune systems. We would like the children to focus on acknowledging the good in their lives and to learn to say, "thank you!" … [Read more...] about Showing Gratitude

This month Lincoln School is focusing on the character trait- Kindness. Kindness is a behavior marked by ethical characteristics, a pleasant disposition, and concern for others. It is known as a virtue, and recognized as a value in many cultures. We will be teaching students to do something/say something kind for no reason. Teachers will identify acts of … [Read more...] about January is focused on Kindness

This month Lincoln School is focusing on the hard character trait- Honesty. Honesty is the ability to be truthful about information, your talents/challenges and even the ability to be true to your values when no one is present. This month, we will focus discussions on how characters in stories sometimes are not honest and how this can lead to more discomfort and how it is important to be honest even though there may be a consequence.   We are trying to teach children that being honest about our actions/feelings will be better in the long term. We also want to model for our children that … [Read more...] about Focus on Honesty

This month Lincoln School is focusing on the hard character trait – Optimism. The dictionary defines optimism as a disposition or tendency to look on the more favorable side of events or conditions and to expect the most favorable outcome. It is the belief that good ultimately predominates. Optimism has been proven to improve the immune system, prevent chronic disease, and help people cope with unfortunate news. Recent research indicates that optimists and pessimists approach problems differently, and their ability to cope successfully with adversity differs as a result. "A pessimist sees … [Read more...] about Optimism