The Six Pillars of Character in Action: Simple Ways Students Practice Citizenship in and Beyond the Classroom
Success starts with more than strong academics. It starts with strong character. That’s why we’re proud to celebrate our partnership with CHARACTER COUNTS!® Week, spotlighting the Six Pillars of Character: Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring, and Citizenship. These timeless values are lessons that can begin in the classroom and grow into life skills students can use anywhere and everywhere.
Why Character Education Matters
Character education transforms school culture. When students learn the value of integrity, empathy, and service, they carry those lessons far beyond the classroom. Teaching character:
- Builds stronger, more respectful school communities
- Helps students develop confidence and self-control
- Prepares learners for lifelong success in relationships, careers, and citizenship
- Creates safe, supportive spaces where everyone thrives
The Six Pillars of Character form the foundation for all this, and they’re easy to integrate into daily school life.
The Six Pillars of Character in Action
The Six Pillars of Character offer students a roadmap for building habits that shape who they are, not just as learners, but as people. These values are simple to understand and powerful when practiced daily, both inside and outside the classroom.
Together, these Six Pillars are everyday actions that prepare students to lead with character, compassion, and purpose.
Using Planners to Build Character Habits
At School Datebooks, we’ve partnered with CHARACTER COUNTS!® to create planners that help students practice these values every day. How?
- Track personal goals aligned with each pillar
- Reflect weekly on how they showed character at school or at home
- Plan ahead for service projects, acts of kindness, or group efforts
With consistent prompts and reminders, character education becomes part of the routine – not just a one-time lesson.
Making Character Count Year-Round
Character Counts Week is just the beginning. Keep the momentum going:
- Focus on one pillar each week or month
- Recognize students who model the values
- Tie the pillars into school announcements, assemblies, and classroom lessons.
Every small action adds up to a big difference in your school and in your students’ futures.
Character is built through consistent, everyday actions.
Let School Datebooks help you make it second nature.
Request your free sample planner today and explore how our CHARACTER COUNTS!® content can make values part of your school culture, every single day.
Started in 1985, School Datebooks is the flagship company under the SDI Innovations umbrella. Learn more about what we do through our socials, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok.
