Carroll Junior High School

"I Care"

What is "I CARE"? "I Care" is a parental involvement character curriculum that reinforces character education, reading, and total quality relationships between educators and parents. It is an innovative and comprehensive curricular approach to parental involvement and character development based on research in social cognition, developmental psychology, multicultural education, child development, parental involvement, and social and character development. Parental Involvement is defined as the number of positive parenting/mentoring activities occurring between the parents, or caring adult, and the child. Character Development is comprehensively defined to include thinking, feeling, and behavior. "I Care" Curricula are professionally designed for elementary and secondary schools in grades Pre-K through 12 and for toddlers (2 & 3 year olds). The "I Care" methodology draws on the work of many great education theorists-Piaget, Dewey, and Feurstein-as well as experiences of exemplary teachers, administrators, and parents. It also draws heavily on the work of William Deming, a statistician who implemented the philosophy of total quality management (TQM) in Japan starting in the late 1940’s. It is consistent with the most recent research by Dr. Joyce L. Epstein (School, Family, and Community Partnerships), Ruby K. Payne (A Framework for Understanding Poverty), Samuel Casey Carter (No Excuses), and John J. Bonstingl (Schools of Quality), and Michele Borba (Parents Do Make A Difference). It provides schools with a systematic process to help parents improve their parenting skills and a forum to consistently support and contribute to classroom instructions, helping parents to become self-initiators of positive activities with their children at home. It provides teachers and administrators with meaningful tools to document, measure, evaluate, and increase parental involvement and character development for each student, classroom, school, and school district. It incorporates the four essential elements of the new Total Quality Management educational paradigm:  customer/supplier focus, continuous dedication to improvement, processes and systems, and strong consistent leadership. It promotes an aggressive culture of achievement. 12 Good Character Traits of "I CARE" Month  Character Trait     Description       January       Peer Pressure   Pressure to behave in a manner similar or acceptable to one’s peers. February   Caring   Respecting others’ feelings and giving of oneself. March   Conflict & Violence  Struggle between opposing forces. April   Respect  Showing honor or esteem. May   Citizenship    Showing loyalty to the rights of others. June   Solve Problems Identifying facts and necessary information to find solutions. July   Diligence Earnest and persistent application of effort.   August   Positive Attitude Positive state of mind or manner of acting. September   Set Goals  Plan for the future and for the things you want out of life.   October   Trustworthy Being honest. November   Responsible Following through on commitments.   December  Honesty Being truthful and fair.