Guides
Character Builds Joy is designed for parents and schools to intentionally and creatively teach children to have a heart like Jesus. As children begin to learn more about Jesus’ heart of compassion, obedience, humility and more these character traits can’t help but overflow from their own lives and into those around them! Each activity is based on state standards, which nurtures growth in the heart and mind.
We offer two options:
The Intentional Parent Guides are designed for a home setting and can be used with individual children or small groups.
The Intentional Teacher Guides are designed to be used in a classroom with whole group instruction.
Both guides include a combination of the following components each month:
Components
W.O.W. stand for Words of Wisdom. These character traits of Jesus provide our focus each month.
Using a story-telling technique similar to Godly Play (built on Montessori principles), children discover more about Jesus and His Character through play and wooden peg people.
Learning scripture is a gift we can give our children that will be with them wherever they go. This interactive verse is designed to engage children through pictures and words.
Play is the most developmentally appropriate way for young children to learn and develop cognitive, socio-emotional, and physical skills. It also stimulates creativity and imagination as children learn to incorporate our W.O.W. words into new play routines.
Every interaction involves some form of language! Activities in this category are designed to target children’s expressive and receptive language as they grow in their emergent literacy skills. Our goal is to promote a family culture of reading!
Through kid approved recipes and food-focused activities, families enjoy being together in the kitchen and are able to truly “Taste and see that the Lord is good!” (Psalms 34:8)
This component allows children to be creative as they paint, cut, and glue! It encourages independence and resourcefulness as children create their own forms of art.
Social skills such as greeting others, initiating and participating in a reciprocal conversation, and using non-verbal cues to communicate require practice. Let’s Be Social gives kids the opportunity to sharpen their confidence and social skills as they share an experience with their friends, neighbors or family.
Kids are curious and STEM lets children plan, design, and execute their own ideas with experiments and then reflect on what worked and what didn’t work. This component helps children learn that mistakes are expected and opens the door to new discoveries!
Character In Action is just that—a chance for your child to use the character trait in real life situations. “Tell me and I’ll forget. Teach me and I’ll remember. Involve me and I’ll learn!”
These activities help improve Executive Functioning Skills such as initiating a task, using self control, organization, time management, working memory, choosing to persevere, and being aware of your thoughts (metacognition). Plus, showing children the importance of a growth mindset is imperative to brain building!
Exposure to a variety of ways we can praise, worship, and talk to God is the goal of Music Notes. Watch how your child’s intellectual and emotional growth is stimulated as they listen, move, and sing to new and old melodies.
To learn more about our music teachers and to hear a sample of their music, click here.
These are extra ideas to use when needed, because sometimes. . .we think Outside the Box!
More Information
Parents
Individual guides include 16 character traits: courage, goodness, faithfulness, forgiveness, compassion, joy, humility, peace, gratitude, kindness, love, obedience, perseverance, self control, gentleness, and patience.
Teachers
Each guide (Year 1 and Year 2) provides direction and activities for the eight W.O.W. Words. Because the beginning of school is often busy getting to know classmates and learning a new schedule, we recommend starting the first W.O.W. Word in September and using May as a review for all of the W.O.W. Words.
Approach to Learning
We believe that knowing stories about Jesus and actually knowing Him are different! As children begin to learn more about Jesus’ heart of compassion, truthfulness, empathy, obedience, gentleness, humility, love and more, these character traits can’t help but overflow from their own lives and into those around them.
Rather than compartmentalizing Jesus into a Bible story once a day or with a quick prayer before meals, we want Him to permeate every aspect of our schedules. But, as educators, we know your plates are full, so we make teaching Jesus simple by shifting our focus to one word a month. Each of the monthly activities are standard based and all point students back to this one Word of Wisdom (WOW Word) which gives way to a deeper understanding of Jesus’ character. This intentional focus allows for individual growth as children begin to notice opportunities to use this new WOW Word in their daily routine.
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:13)
Goals
It is our prayer and desire that each student using this curriculum would:
1 – Know and love God’s word.
2 – Be able to describe and identify character traits of Jesus.
3 – Demonstrate Jesus’ character to others.
Student Benefits
This curriculum was created to meet the needs of various learning styles through literacy, hands- on activities and movement. Research has shown that while academic skills are necessary for a strong foundation, social and emotional learning gives children a way to use this knowledge as they interact and develop long lasting relationships with a diverse group of peers and adults. The Character Builds Joy Curriculum focuses on nurturing the heart, mind, and soul.
Testimonials
Here’s how the Character Builds Joy curriculum has been used by parents and teachers:
If you have further questions, contact us and a member of our team will reach out to you!
Mr. Marc was our next door neighbor and often played songs on his guitar as the boys ran around in the backyard. As part of the Speer Family, he grew up singing gospel music and continues using his gifts to record hymns for CB&J today! These hymns are a timeless way to remind children about the character of Jesus, and we are grateful to be able to share these with you. 
