VALUES WHAT ARE THEY? WHAT ARE MINE? Sophomore Advisory April, 2012

Our decisions often reflect our values. Even if we are unfamiliar with our values - we all have a belief system from which we operate. The purpose of this exercise is to be able to realize that we have these values AND To be able to identify what some of these values might be for ourselves personally. WHAT IS THE VALUE IN VALUES?

Advisor: Please read this statement (it’s a generalization that people in education might say.) "There are some things in life that are very important. I believe that education is very important. What are some things that you believe are very important?” List all the ideas that the students suggest. START WITH A BRAINSTORM.

The list may include such things as "having a nice house" to "owning a new car." These may be tied in later with a work, an education, or a wealth value. Please note: Students often tend to be oriented to concrete concepts, and they may not suggest more abstract ideas such as “health" as something of real value. WHAT DO THESE THINGS REPRESENT IN TERMS OF VALUES?

Qualities, characteristics, or ideas about which we feel strongly are values. A belief or feeling that someone or something is worthwhile is a value. Values define what is of worth, what is beneficial, and what is harmful (to us individually). Values are standards to guide your action, judgments, and attitudes. WHAT IS A VALUE?

AchievementAppearanceCreativity CourtesyCleanlinessFamily FriendshipJusticeLiberty KnowledgeLovePatriotism PowerReligionRespect SkillWealthWisdom SOME VALUES ARE:

LET’S INVESTIGATE YOUR VALUES You have been given a check for $ to spend any way you choose. What would you do with it? Invite a few volunteers to share what they would do with the money. How you choose to spend the money has everything to do with your value system.

What you choose to do with your time also has everything to do with what you value. – If you spent a lot of time with family – family is a value. – If you spent a lot of time doing school work – education is a value. – If you spend a lot of time working – career/job/success is a value. See how these things are tied together? THINK ABOUT THE THINGS YOU DID THIS PAST WEEK…..

Values give direction and consistency to behavior. Values help you determine how to spend your time and how not to spend your time. Values establish a relationship between you and the world. Values set the direction for one’s life. Values help us live our lives. WE NEED DIRECTION: VALUES  GOALS  BEHAVIOR  SELF- VALUE

WHERE DO WE GET VALUES? Home School Society Friends TV/Internet/Media Church Music Books Family Culture Employers Teams/Coaches Clubs/Extra Curricular Groups Are we missing any?

Ages parents/guardian/caregiver Ages teachers, heroes (sports, rock stars, TV) Ages peers (values because of peers or peers because of values? Take a minute to discuss this as a class.) Ages 21+ your values are established, but you may test your values from time to time. YOUR AGE WILL GREATLY INFLUENCE YOUR VALUES. DIFFERENT PEOPLE AND DIFFERENT THINGS INFLUENCE YOU AT DIFFERENT AGES:

“IF YOU STAND FOR NOTHING. YOU FALL FOR ANYTHING.”

“It’s not doing things right, but doing the right things. “

Activity: Fold a piece of paper in quarters (hotdog and hamburger way). You should have four boxes. Label them with the following titles: Social Moral Family Career List at least three values in each of the areas. You can brainstorm as a class and then enter those that apply to you on your paper.

We are going to explore what we can do with our values. Share some ideas with the class on how you could have an influence beyond yourself (i.e. community service, projects, etc.) WHAT’S NEXT?