HELPING YOUTH CATCH CHARACTER SKILLS.

In this time of sweeping economic and educational change, schools are asked to focus on "hard skills" such as math, science and other technical subjects. However, employers, parents and society also want tomorrow's workers and leaders to have "soft skills," which we are calling character strengths. The items in this Renaissance Kit will assist educators and students in exploring and celebrating character strengths. Visit www.jostensrenaissance.com for more information on other Renaissance resources for character development including the Congressional Medal of Honor Character Development curriculum, The Harbor weekly video series and the Confidence Factor curriculum. Great ideas are only a click away!

Hard Facts on Soft Skills Educator Guide (20)
A 16-page guide with research insights and activities for helping students explore character strengths that are important to them. Activities are organized by viewing character strengths as a tree, with roots, a trunk, branches and leaves representing different ways of reflecting on character. Details on the schoolwide Everyday Heroes activity are also provided.

Worksheet — Trunk: Family, Friends, Heroes (20)
Start the exploration of where character strengths come from by asking students to identify family, friends and heroes they admire, and determine the strengths that help define them. Click here to download the PDF.

Worksheet— Branches: Growing Character Strengths (20)
Now it's getting personal. Students write about their own strengths, where they came from and how they can grow those strengths. Click here to download the PDF.

Worksheet— Leaves: Where Do Character Strengths Lead? (20)
These critical thinking questions ask students to take the next step and consider the future impact of their character strengths. Click here to download the PDF.

Everyday Heroes Certificates (20)
Using the suggestions in the Educator Guide, recognize your school or community's Everyday Heroes with these certificates. Click here to download the PDF.

Everyday Heroes Highlighters (20)
Use these as part of the Everyday Heroes schoolwide recognition activity, or just give them to staff and faculty who you consider everyday heroes.

Renaissance Education Post-It® Notes (20 pads)
Jostens Renaissance has a new logo and updated website, and these handy notes will help get the word out: we're all about character, connections and celebration. Contact your Jostens rep or visit www.jostensrenaissance.com to order more.

Tips for Parents: Cultivating Character Strengths at Home (1)
Provide copies of this to your parents to get them involved in helping students discuss and reflect on character strengths. Click here to download the PDF.

Educational Push Messages for November (1)
These messages can be used on Twitter or Facebook, or in school announcements, newsletters or other communication resources. Push messages for this month are focused on character. Click here to download the PDF for easy copying and pasting.

Meme: Celebrating Our Everyday Heroes
Use on your email blasts, Facebook, your district/ school website or other social media sites to share this idea with your entire school and community. Click here to download the image.

NEED MORE? For additional items from the kit, contact your Jostens rep or email: renaissance@jostens.com