Shaping Mind and Heart: How Great Stories Teach Core Virtues

One of our most important roles as educators is to partner with parents in helping children grow into people of strong character. After all, what good is being super smart if one does not choose to do good with it? Much attention went into finding a program that aligns with our mission and could serve as the cornerstone of the work we do at East Hills Academy. We are so incredibly proud to integrate the Core Virtues program into our school to help us accomplish our mission.

Core Virtues (again, no affiliation with Common Core) is a literature-based character education curriculum that helps students in character through the use of tradebooks. We believe that a great education involves both the “mind and the heart,” which is why we dedicate time each day to exploring specific virtues like respect, responsibility, and perseverance. Rather than just giving students a list of rules, our teachers will use the power of beautiful stories to show these traits in action. By reading and discussing these shared stories, our students develop a common language for what it means to be a good friend, a diligent student, and a helpful member of the community.

We chose Core Virtues because it perfectly complements our goal of fostering a school culture rooted in kindness and integrity. The program is designed to be “non-sectarian,” meaning it focuses on the universal human virtues that we can all agree are important for a fulfilling life. Each month, your child will be introduced to a new theme through engaging books that spark meaningful conversations both in the classroom and at home. Our goal is to provide a safe and nurturing environment where your child feels encouraged to do their best and treat others with dignity, preparing them not just for the next grade, but for a lifetime of meaningful contributions to the world.

You can learn more about the Core Virtues program by clicking on this link: Core Virtues.