Character and Academics

Learn more about character strengths & corresponding indicators >

About KIPP's Character Work

Beginning in 2009, KIPP NYC piloted an approach that offered teachers, kids, and parents a structured and meaningful way to talk about and develop character. It is rooted in the research of Dr. Martin Seligman (Universityof Pennsylvania) and Dr. Chris Peterson (University of Michigan) that identifies twenty-four character strengths as leading to engaged, meaningful, and purposeful lives. At KIPP NYC, explicitly creating opportunities to develop character is infused into every aspect of the school day.

Building off of KIPP NYC’s efforts, KIPP schools are now especially focused on seven highly predictive strengths: zest, grit, self-control, optimism, gratitude, social intelligence, and curiosity. For each of these strengths,we’ve combined our own experiences as teachers and the research of Seligman, Peterson, and Dr. Angela Duckworth (University of Pennsylvania) to create a list of indicators that provide a road map for the development of each strength. For example, to help teachers, kids, and parents develop grit we ask them to reflect on whether they try very hard after experiencing failure.

KIPP schools around the country are now capitalizing onthe work of KIPP NYC to integrate a more formalized and measurable approach to character development.

Learn about incorporating character into your classroom

Watch the below 13-minute video to hear more from parents, teachers, and students about each character strength, and learn more about how to incorporate the character strengths into your classroom.

What does character look like and sound like in the classroom?

Here are some examples of what character looks and sounds like from a variety of grades and subjects:

• Each student in kindergarten brings in five artifacts for their ‘Me Museum.’ Their classmates are asked to show their eagerness to learn new things (curiosity) by asking questions about the curator.
• “We’ve recently been building our stamina during independent reading. Good stamina requires lots of self-control, because you have to ignore distractions, and lots of grit, because it isn’t easy reading without stopping for 20 minutes. So today, we’re actually going to be practicing both grit and self-control as we develop our reading skills.”
• “We’ve been discussing some of the attitudes and choices made by leaders during the Vietnam War. Why would hope and optimism be important qualities for the winning side? What would the risks of too much optimism be for these leaders?”
• “Today we’re going to learn about the scientific method. Scientists are fueled by curiosity. They design experiments in order to explore new things and investigate questions about the way the world works. Today, your curiosity will be key to designing a successful experiment.”
• In kindergarten, we explicitly connect grit to the teaching of hula-hooping. (This same approach is used in connection to self-control and grit throughout all of our classes preK-12, particularly our co-curriculars.)

Explore additional resources

• Download a Q & A on KIPP NYC's approach to character > 

• Download the KIPP Character Growth Card and Supporting Materials >

• View a presentation on integrating character into your lesson plans >

• Read The New York Times Magazine Article about KIPP’s character work:
  What if the Secret to Success Is Failure? >

KIPP’s character work is made possible by the support of the Raikes Foundation. The Foundation is committed to helping adolescents develop the mindsets and learning strategies that will help them succeed in school and become healthy, contributing adults. We would like to express our gratitude to the Raikes Foundation for their continued commitment to the character development of our KIPPsters. 

Videos by ListenIn Pictures.