


To boost Aquebogue Elementary School’s character education program, Principal Bryan Miltenberg and Assistant Principal Gary Karlson have been bringing monthly character trait learning to life by visiting classrooms to read books and host discussions.
During the month of November, for example, students learning about the character trait of caring listened to their principals read “A Sick Day for Amos McGee” by Philip C. Stead. The reading was followed by a talk about what it means to look out for others. In December, when character education focused on teamwork, students listened to a reading of “The Crayon Box that Talked” by Shane Derolf and had a dialogue about how working as a team makes a group stronger.
“It’s wonderful to be able to connect the traits we promote in our school to characters in books that kids love,” said Miltenberg. “The read-aloud is the beginning of a conversation about what it means to embody various character traits.”
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