🙂 Welcome 6th or 7th Grade Middle Schoolers! 🙂
(Updated 8/18/25)
Course Description for Workplace Readiness 6th Graders 1st Semester/7th Graders 2nd semester:
The curriculum for this course was created by Dr. Joe Hoedel. The goal of this course is to “improve the character and leadership skills of students” for now and for the future. The 18 traits include: positive attitude, preparation, perseverance, respect, honesty, integrity, courage, appreciation, composure, empathy, compassion, tolerance, service, initiative, loyalty, responsibility, leadership, and character. The first nine of these traits are taught the first semester to 6th graders, and the second nine are taught second semester to 7th graders.
This is probably my favorite class to teach and the most important because positive character makes for a better life and world. I feel that each time I teach during this class, my character improves along with students, so there is a win for students and a win for me.
Dr. Hoedel set this curriculum up so that “the format utilizes ethical dilemmas, lectures, character movies, core readings from the role models textbook, basic skills, leadership principles, leadership activities, current events, local community leaders & final writing assignments to provide a framework for consistent and stable learning.”
Material Expectations: Students are expected to have a school provided 3-ring binder (1 inch - not bulky & not fancy) that is to keep all of their papers in. They should always be prepared with two or more pencils (mechanical would be best). In addition, students should always have an AR book with them (or work for another class), so they can engage in AR at any time when they are finished with their “regular work.”
Main Resources Used For Class:
Role Models: Examples of Character and Leadership- by Hoedel, Joseph 2023 Edition
Character Movies: “Eighteen movies are used to exemplify the various character traits covered in the curriculum. All of the movies are rated PG or PG-13 and come with the curriculum. Specific scenes allow students to focus on the character trait, without requiring them to view the entire movie. Thought provoking questions for each movie are provided to facilitate meaningful classroom discussion. As you might expect, students routinely rate the videos as their favorite part.”
Homework: Students will need to do homework if they need more time at home in order to keep up in class. Everyone reads and completes tasks at their own rate, so some will need to do homework at home.
Grading: Grades are not weighted. A point system is used. Activities/assignments are assigned points based on the rigor of the task, etcetera.
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