Character Education

Oh, no! Not the character education talks you may get in school.



Fooled ya!
Some schools have character education lessons and these involve learning how to get along with others, working on self-control, sharing, behavior, being patient, and more. But that's not what's going on here today because we have those things mastered, right? RIGHT? You do, right? RIGHT?!! (Ok, so we can work on that character ed stuff. Always.)

HOWEVER...

Today it's all about creating interesting characters in your stories. Take a minute and reread what I posted about character on May 12, 2011, then pop back over here. I'll wait...hum dee dum dee dum...

In a recent workshop, we chatted about character, and I realized there is so much more that can be done to develop a great protagonist, a great main character. The University of Missouri ethemes site is actually a resource for teachers, but the first two activities can easily be done by kids in 3rd-6th grade, and they will help you get your brain in gear. The first is a list of cool adjectives; the second is a character wheel that you can make. These things will be especially helpful at the start of a story when you aren't sure what character traits your boy, girl, troll, butterfly, monster, bully, or whatever will have.

Now get started and build a terrific character!