Life Compass
KPCEL Resources
This curated list provides resources for the Kern Family Foundation Partners in Character and Educational Leadership (KPCEL) to build syllabi, promote dialogue, and support professional development and programming in K-12 schools.
From the LifeCompass Institute
Stress Test of Character
The LifeCompass Blog: Practical Wisdom for Today's Parents and Educators.
Recent posts include:
Building a Life Compass
Coaching Teens Through Life's Challenges
The Courage to Live with Integrity
The Power of a Family Story
What Teens Need from Parents
The Power of Compassionate Self-Talk
The LifeCompass Blog: Practical Wisdom for Today's Parents and Educators.
Recent posts include:
Building a Life Compass
Coaching Teens Through Life's Challenges
The Courage to Live with Integrity
The Power of a Family Story
What Teens Need from Parents
The Power of Compassionate Self-Talk
Recommended Articles & Reports
Journal Articles
Berkowitz, M. & Bier, M. (2004). Research-based character education. Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science 591(1):71-85.
Berkowitz, M. & Bier, M. (2007). What works in character education. Journal of Research in Character Education 5.
Bohlin, K. E. (2014). An argument worth rehearsing. Journal of Character Education 10(1), 53-59.
Duckworth, A. & Yeager, D. (2015) Measurement matters: assessing personal qualities other than cognitive ability for educational purposes. Educational Researcher 44(4), 237-251.
Dweck, C. (2015, September 22). Carol Dweck Revisits the 'Growth Mindset'. Retrieved June 19, 2019, from Carol Dweck Revisits “Growth Mindset.” Education Week, October 7, 2015
Dweck, C., Walton, G., & Cohen, G. (2011). Academic Tenacity: Mindsets and Skills that Promote Long-Term Learning. Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
McGrath, R. (2018) What is character education? Development of a prototype. Journal of Character Education 14(2), 22-35.
Neff, K., Hsieh, Y., & Dejitterat, K. (2005). Self-compassion, Achievement Goals, and Coping with Academic Failure. Psychology Press, 4:3, 263-287.
Schumann, K., Zaki, J. & Dweck, C. (2014). Addressing the Empathy Deficit: Beliefs About the Malleability of Empathy Predict Effortful Responses When Empathy Is Challenging. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.
VanderWeele, T. J. (2017). On the promotion of human flourishing. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 114(31), 8148-8156.
VanderWeele, T. J. (2018). Is forgiveness a public health issue? American Public Health Association 108(2): 189–190.
Reports
Bohlin, K., Dougherty, S., and Farmer, D. (2002) Coming up short? Practices of teacher educators committed to character. Washington, DC: Character Education Partnership.
Commission on Children at Risk. (September, 2003) Hardwired to connect: The new scientific case for Authoritative Communities. New York: Institute for American Values.
National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. Journal of the American Medical Association, September 10, 1997, V. 278, 10
Nielsen-Jones, E., Ryan, K., and Bohlin, K. (1999) Teachers as educators of character: Are the nation’s schools of education coming up short? Washington, DC: Character Education Partnership
Berkowitz, M. & Bier, M. (2004). Research-based character education. Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science 591(1):71-85.
Berkowitz, M. & Bier, M. (2007). What works in character education. Journal of Research in Character Education 5.
Bohlin, K. E. (2014). An argument worth rehearsing. Journal of Character Education 10(1), 53-59.
Duckworth, A. & Yeager, D. (2015) Measurement matters: assessing personal qualities other than cognitive ability for educational purposes. Educational Researcher 44(4), 237-251.
Dweck, C. (2015, September 22). Carol Dweck Revisits the 'Growth Mindset'. Retrieved June 19, 2019, from Carol Dweck Revisits “Growth Mindset.” Education Week, October 7, 2015
Dweck, C., Walton, G., & Cohen, G. (2011). Academic Tenacity: Mindsets and Skills that Promote Long-Term Learning. Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Hawking, M., Curlin, F. A., & Yoon, J. D. (2017). Courage and Compassion: Virtues in Caring for So-Called “Difficult” Patients. AMA Journal of Ethics, 19(4), 357–363.
Hong, H.-Y., & Lin-Siegler, X. (2011). How Learning About Scientists' Struggles Influences Students' Interest and Learning in Physics. Journal of Educational Psychology.
Lin-Siegler, X., Ahn, J. N., Chen, J., Fang, F.A., & Luna-Lucero, M. (2016). Even Einstein struggled: Effects of learning about great scientists’ struggles on high school students’ motivation to learn
science. Journal of Educational Psychology.
Mar, R. A., Oatley, K., & Peterson, J. B. (2009). Exploring the link between reading fiction and empathy: Ruling out individual differences and examining outcomes. Communications, 34(4), 407–428.
science. Journal of Educational Psychology.
Mar, R. A., Oatley, K., & Peterson, J. B. (2009). Exploring the link between reading fiction and empathy: Ruling out individual differences and examining outcomes. Communications, 34(4), 407–428.
McGrath, R. (2018) What is character education? Development of a prototype. Journal of Character Education 14(2), 22-35.
Neff, K., Hsieh, Y., & Dejitterat, K. (2005). Self-compassion, Achievement Goals, and Coping with Academic Failure. Psychology Press, 4:3, 263-287.
Porter, T. Intellectual humility, mindset, and learning. Stanford University.
Schumann, K., Zaki, J. & Dweck, C. (2014). Addressing the Empathy Deficit: Beliefs About the Malleability of Empathy Predict Effortful Responses When Empathy Is Challenging. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.
Tigner, S.S. (1995). Signs of the Soul. In G.S. Fain (ed.) Leisure and ethics: Reflections on the philosophy of leisure (Vol. II. Pp. 9-24). Reston, VA: American Association for Leisure and Recreation.
Tigner, S.S. (1996). Homer, Teacher of Teachers. Journal of Education, 175(3), 43-64.
VanderWeele, T. J. (2017). On the promotion of human flourishing. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 114(31), 8148-8156.
VanderWeele, T. J. (2018). Is forgiveness a public health issue? American Public Health Association 108(2): 189–190.
Reports
Kristjánsson, K., Darnell, C., Fowers, B., Moller, F., Pollard, D., Thomas, S. (2020, April 7). Phronesis: Developing a Conceptualisation and an Instrument.
Arthur, J., & Harrison, T. (n.d.). Schools of character.
Birmingham: Jubilee Center for Character and Virtues.
Arthur, J., Harrison, T., Burn, E., & Moller, F. (n.d.). Schools of virtue character education in three Birmingham schools. Birmingham: Jubilee Center for Character and Virtues.
Arthur, J., Harrison, T., Carr, D., Kristjánsson, K., Hayes, D., Higgins, J., & Davison, J. (n.d.). Knightly virtues enhancing virtue literacy through stories. Birmingham: Jubilee Center for Character and Virtues.
Arthur, J., Kristjánsson, K., Walker, D., Sanderse, W., Jones, C., Thoma, S., . . . Roberts, M. (2015, February). Character education in U.K. schools. Birmingham: Jubilee Center for Character and Virtues.
Bohlin, K., Dougherty, S., and Farmer, D. (2002) Coming up short? Practices of teacher educators committed to character. Washington, DC: Character Education Partnership.
Commission on Children at Risk. (September, 2003) Hardwired to connect: The new scientific case for Authoritative Communities. New York: Institute for American Values.
James, A., Kristjánsson, K., Gulliford, L., & Morgan, B. (2014, February 4). An Attitude for Gratitude How Gratitude is Understood, Experienced, and Valued by the British Public. Birmingham: Jubilee Center for Character and Virtues.
Jubilee Centre for Character & Virtues Report: Teacher Education Project. Birmingham: Jubilee Center for Character and Virtues.
Kristjánsson, K., Darnell, C., Fowers, B., Moller, F., Pollard, D., Thomas, S. (2020, April 7). Phronesis: Developing a Conceptualisation and an Instrument.
Jubilee Centre for Character & Virtues Report: Teacher Education Project. Birmingham: Jubilee Center for Character and Virtues.
Kristjánsson, K., Darnell, C., Fowers, B., Moller, F., Pollard, D., Thomas, S. (2020, April 7). Phronesis: Developing a Conceptualisation and an Instrument.
Lickona, T., & Davidson, M. (n.d.). A report to the nation: Smart and good high schools integrating excellence and ethics for success in school, work and beyond. Cortland: SUNY-Cortland.
Making Caring Common. (2018). The Children We Mean to Raise: The Real Messages Adults Are Sending About Values. Cambridge: Harvard University School of Education.
Making Caring Common. (2018). Turning the Tide II: How Parents and High Schools Can Cultivate Ethical Character and Reduce Distress in The College Admissions Process. Cambridge: Harvard University School of Education.
McGrath, R., Walker, D. (2016) Factor structure of character strengths in youth: Consistency across ages and measures, Journal of Moral Education, 45:4, 400-418. Milton Park: Taylor Francis.National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. Journal of the American Medical Association, September 10, 1997, V. 278, 10
Nielsen-Jones, E., Ryan, K., and Bohlin, K. (1999) Teachers as educators of character: Are the nation’s schools of education coming up short? Washington, DC: Character Education Partnership
Improvement science resources
Bryk, A. S., Gomez, L. M., Grunow, A., & LeMahieu, P. G. (2015). Learning to improve: How America’s schools can get better at getting better. Cambridge, MA: Harvard Education Press.
Langley, G. J., Moen, R. D., Nolan, K. M., Nolan, T. W., Norman, C. L., & Provost, L. P. (2009). The improvement guide: a practical approach to enhancing organizational performance. John Wiley & Sons.
LeMahieu, P. (2018). Why a NIC?
Russell, J. L., Bryk, A. S., Dolle, J. R., Gomez, L. M., Lemahieu, P. G., & Grunow, A. (2017). A framework for the initiation of networked improvement communities. Teachers College Record, 119(5).
Russell, J. L., Bryk, A. S., Dolle, J. R., Gomez, L. M., Lemahieu, P. G., & Grunow, A. (2017). A framework for the initiation of networked improvement communities. Teachers College Record, 119(5).
Resources for School leaders: Tools
Jubilee Centre for Character and Virtue. (n.d.) Assessment: Jubilee Centre’s Evaluation Handbook for Schools
SUNY Cortland. (n.d.) Assessment Instruments from Lickona’s Center for the 4th and 5th R’s
Making Caring Common Project Harvard Graduate School of Education. (2018) Assessment Instrument: Audit of College Admissions Culture and Climate
Boston University Wheelock College of Education & Human Development Center for Character and Social Responsibility. (n.d.) Character Education Manifesto.
Measures of Ethical Development DIT
Our Flourishing Measure
Tools for Building Character in Schools Resource Guide. San Francisco: Jossey Bass.
Resources for school leaders: centers
Bonner Center for Character Education, Fresno State University
Center for Character and Citizenship, University of Missouri St. Louis
Center for the 4th and 5th Rs
Center for the Study of Ethical Development, University of Alabama
Center on Adolescence, Stanford University
CharacterLab
Character.org
Greater Good Science Center
Harvard Center on the Developing Child: The Science of Resilience
The Human Flourishing Program, Harvard’s Institute for Quantitative Social Science
Jubilee Centre's Framework for Character Education in Schools
iCivics
Institute for the Study of Human Flourishing, The University of Oklahoma
Intellectual Virtues Academy
Montrose School LifeCompass Institute
PBS Kids Child Development Tracker, Character section
Responsive Classroom
The Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence
Center for Character and Citizenship, University of Missouri St. Louis
Center for the 4th and 5th Rs
Center for the Study of Ethical Development, University of Alabama
Center on Adolescence, Stanford University
CharacterLab
Character.org
Greater Good Science Center
Harvard Center on the Developing Child: The Science of Resilience
The Human Flourishing Program, Harvard’s Institute for Quantitative Social Science
Jubilee Centre's Framework for Character Education in Schools
iCivics
Institute for the Study of Human Flourishing, The University of Oklahoma
Intellectual Virtues Academy
Montrose School LifeCompass Institute
PBS Kids Child Development Tracker, Character section
Responsive Classroom
The Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence
Recommended books
Arthur, J., Kristjansson, K., Harrison, T., Sanderse, W., Wright, D. (2017). Teaching character and virtue in schools. Abington, LDN & New York, NY: Routledge.
Baehr, J. (Eds.). (2016). Intellectual virtues and education. New York, NY: Routledge.
Baumeister, R. (2011). Willpower: Rediscovering the greatest human strength. New York, NY: Penguin Books.
Berkowitz, M. (2012). You can’t teach through a rat. Boone, NC. Character Development Group.
Bohlin, K. (2005). Teaching character education through literature: Awakening the moral imagination in secondary classrooms. Abington, LDN & New York, NY: RoutledgeFalmer.
Bohlin, K., Farmer, D., Ryan, K. (2001) Building character in schools resource guide. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Bohlin, K. & Lerner, B. (Eds.) (2005) Great lives, vital lessons. Chapel Hill: The Character Development Group.
Bohlin, K., Lerner, B., Ryan, K. (2011). Happiness and virtue beyond east and west. Tokyo, Rutland, VT, Singapore: Tuttle Publishing.
Brackett, M. (2019). Permission to feel: unlocking the power of emotions to help our kids, ourselves, and our society thrive. Celadon Books: New York.
Brooks, A. (2019). Love Your Enemies: How Decent People Can Save America from the Culture of Contempt. New York, NY: Harper Collins.
Brackett, M. (2019). Permission to feel: unlocking the power of emotions to help our kids, ourselves, and our society thrive. Celadon Books: New York.
Brooks, A. (2019). Love Your Enemies: How Decent People Can Save America from the Culture of Contempt. New York, NY: Harper Collins.
Carr, D. & Harrison, T. (2015). Educating character through stories. Exeter, UK: Imprint Academic.
Coles, R. (1998). The Moral Intelligence of Children. New York, NY: Random House.
Coles, R. (1998). The Moral Intelligence of Children. New York, NY: Random House.
David, S. (2016). Emotional Agility: Get Unstuck, Embrace Change, and Thrive in Work and Life. New York, NY: Avery.
Damon, W. (2008). The Moral Child. New York, NY: Free Press.
Damon, W., Colby, C. (2015). The Power of Ideals: The Real Story of Moral Choice. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
Damour, L. (2019). Under Pressure: Confronting the Epidemic of Stress and Anxiety in Girls. New York, NY: Ballantine Books.
Damon, W. (2008). The Moral Child. New York, NY: Free Press.
Damon, W., Colby, C. (2015). The Power of Ideals: The Real Story of Moral Choice. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
Damour, L. (2019). Under Pressure: Confronting the Epidemic of Stress and Anxiety in Girls. New York, NY: Ballantine Books.
Duckworth, A. (2016). Grit: The Power of Passion And Perseverance. New York, NY: Scribner.
Duhigg, C. (2012). The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do In Life And Business. New York, NY: Random House Trade Paperback.
Dweck, C. (2006). Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. New York, NY: Random House.
Esfahani Smith, E. (2017). The Power of Meaning: Crafting a Life That Matters. New York, NY: Penguin Random House LLC.
Frankl, V.E. (1984). Man’s Search for Meaning (3rd ed.). New York, NY: Simon & Schuster.
Gregory, M. (2009). Shaped by stories. Notre Dame, IN: University of Notre Dame Press.
Hall, E. (2019). Aristotle's Way: How Ancient Wisdom Can Change Your Life. London: Penguin Press.
Kethledge, R. & Erwin, M. (2018). Lead Yourself First: Inspiring Leadership Through Solitude. New York, NY: Bloomsbury.
Kristjánsson, K. (2020). Flourishing as the aim of education. Routledge: London and New York.
Lahey, J. (2015). The Gift of Failure: How the Best Parents Learn to Let Go So Their Children Can Succeed. New York, NY: Harper.
Hall, E. (2019). Aristotle's Way: How Ancient Wisdom Can Change Your Life. London: Penguin Press.
Hicks, D. (2011). Dignity: The Essential Role it Plays in Resolving Conflict. New Haven, CT & London: Yale University Press.
Hicks, D. (2019). Leading with Dignity. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.
Hicks, D. (2019). Leading with Dignity. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.
Kethledge, R. & Erwin, M. (2018). Lead Yourself First: Inspiring Leadership Through Solitude. New York, NY: Bloomsbury.
Kristjánsson, K. (2020). Flourishing as the aim of education. Routledge: London and New York.
Lahey, J. (2015). The Gift of Failure: How the Best Parents Learn to Let Go So Their Children Can Succeed. New York, NY: Harper.
Lickona, T. (2018). How to Raise Kind Kids: And Get Respect, Gratitude, and a Happier Family in the Bargain. New York, NY: Penguin Books.
McGrath, R., Niemiec, R. (2019). The power of character strength. United States: VIA Institute on Character.
Neff, K. (2015). Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself. New York, NY: William Morrow Paperbacks.
Palmer, P. (2017). The Courage to Teach: Exploring the Inner Landscape of a Teacher’s Life. San Francisco, CA: John Wiley & Sons.
Neff, K. (2015). Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself. New York, NY: William Morrow Paperbacks.
Palmer, P. (2017). The Courage to Teach: Exploring the Inner Landscape of a Teacher’s Life. San Francisco, CA: John Wiley & Sons.
Pincus, D. (2012). Growing Up Brave: Expert Strategies for Helping Your Child Overcome Fear, Stress, and Anxiety. Boston, MA: Little, Brown and Company.
Ryan, K. and Bohlin, K. (1999) Building character in schools. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Ryan, K., Bohlin, K., Lerner, B., Nakayama, O., Mizuno, S., Horiuchi, K. (2012). Happiness and Virtue. Tokyo, Rutland Vermont, Singapore: Tuttle Publishing.
Ryan, K., Bohlin, K., Lerner, B., Nakayama, O., Mizuno, S., Horiuchi, K. (2012). Happiness and Virtue. Tokyo, Rutland Vermont, Singapore: Tuttle Publishing.
Seider, S. Character compass: how powerful school culture can point students toward success. (2012). Cambridge, MA: Harvard Education Press.
Seligman, M. (2004). Authentic Happiness: Using the New Positive Psychology to Realize Your Potential for Lasting Fulfillment.
Seligman, M. (2006). Learned Optimism: How to Change Your Mind and Your Life. New York, NY: Vintage Books.
Seligman, M. (2007). The Optimistic Child: A Proven Program to Safeguard Children Against Depression and Build Lifelong Resilience. New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Seligman, M. (2012). Flourish: A Visionary New Understanding of Happiness and Well-being. New York, NY: Atria Books.
Stixrud, W. & Johnson, N. (2019). The Self-Driven Child: The Science and Sense of Giving Your Kids More Control Over Their Lives. New York, NY: Viking.
Taulbert, C. (2006). Eight Habits of the Heart for Educators. CA: Sage Publication.
Thompson, M. (2005). The Pressured Child. New York, NY: Ballantine Books.
Seligman, M. (2004). Authentic Happiness: Using the New Positive Psychology to Realize Your Potential for Lasting Fulfillment.
New York, NY: Atria Books.
Seligman, M. (2006). Learned Optimism: How to Change Your Mind and Your Life. New York, NY: Vintage Books.
Seligman, M. (2007). The Optimistic Child: A Proven Program to Safeguard Children Against Depression and Build Lifelong Resilience. New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Seligman, M. (2012). Flourish: A Visionary New Understanding of Happiness and Well-being. New York, NY: Atria Books.
Stixrud, W. & Johnson, N. (2019). The Self-Driven Child: The Science and Sense of Giving Your Kids More Control Over Their Lives. New York, NY: Viking.
Taulbert, C. (2006). Eight Habits of the Heart for Educators. CA: Sage Publication.
Thompson, M. (2005). The Pressured Child. New York, NY: Ballantine Books.
Tigner, S. (1999). Cultural Foundations for Educators Syllabus. In Williams, M. and Schaps, E. (Eds.) Character Education the Foundation for Teacher Education. Washington DC: Character Education Partnership.
Tough, P. (2012). How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity and the Hidden Power of Character. New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
Turkle, S. (2015). Reclaiming Conversation: the Power of Talk in the Digital Age. New York, NY: Penguin Random House LLC.
Urban, H. (2004). Positive Words, Powerful Results: Simple Ways to Honor, Affirm, and Celebrate Life. New York, NY: Touchstone.
Urban, H. (2004). Positive Words, Powerful Results: Simple Ways to Honor, Affirm, and Celebrate Life. New York, NY: Touchstone.
An independent school for girls in grades 6-12
Inspired by the teachings of the Catholic Church
Inspired by the teachings of the Catholic Church
