Heartwood Institute: Literature-based character education for Pre-K through middle grades

Teaching Life Lessons through Literature

What is the most important thing for children to learn? Heartwood Institute is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping teach children universal attributes of good character that form the foundations of community. Through research, product development, and support for teachers and families, Heartwood is contributing to a better world for all.

Heartwood has been at the vanguard of children's character education for 20 years. Heartwood's literature-based ethics and character education program for children:

Boosts Achievement while Building Character
Reduces Bullying and Disciplinary Referrals
Meets Academic Standards for Language Arts and Social Studies

Courage is not only mastering fear; it is the ability to face difficulty or risk with integrity and honor.

Loyalty is being faithful to a person, group, or ideal based on understanding that we are all part of something greater than ourselves.

Justice is being guided by a balance of truth, reason, and fairness to all.

Respect is regard for all life on earth. It calls us to value all people and their contributions, viewpoints, and differences, such as culture, religion, age, race, and ability.

Hope guides our future through faith and aspiration, helping us to rise above selfishness and despair.

Honesty is being truthful and honorable, the foundation for friendship and community.

Love is deep care and concern for others, encompassing all the attributes. The more love we give, the richer we become.

Rollover an attribute name to learn more about it. Click on it to view the attribute page.

T.R.U.E. Products Teaching Resources for Understanding Ethics
T.R.U.E. Choices	Ethics & Character Education for Middle Grades
T.R.U.E. Respect	Bullying Prevention Kit
T.R.U.E. Guidance	Counselor Kit for Teaching Attributes
T.R.U.E. Examples	Prompts for Discussing the Attributes

Multicultural stories, teaching materials, maps...	A brief overview of our approach	Pennsylvania Educators View the press release announcing this special project to promote children's health & well-being.
Download Samples of Heartwood Ethics Education Resources! Free! Lesson Card Free! T.R.U.E. Examples	The Teaching Heartwood section provides a variety of helpful resources for teachers including activities, online links, and much more. Go to primary activities.
Promotion Heartwood has a surplus of two wonderful children's books featuring Magical Hands by Marjorie Barker. Buy this hard to find, out-of-print book for $25 and receive The Nightingale by Hans Christian Andersen for free while quantities last. Click here to order. Author: Marjorie Barker; Illustration: Yoshi	T.R.U.E. Choices Heartwood Institute introduces a new generation of tools for ethics and character education! T.R.U.E. Choices reaches out to a new audience of guidance counselors, parents, coaches, after school staff, teachers and administrators in the middle grades (6,7, and 8) to engage them in helping children understand and practice Heartwood's Attributes.
Heartwood Products Created by successful teachers, the Heartwood curriculum is packaged in convenient, affordable classroom kits and can be supplemented with classroom materials and professional development services. Heartwood Institute continues to improve its approach and products through ongoing research and development including offerings for counselors and parents. Go to Heartwood Product Overview for a summary of Heartwood products.