CharacterStrongThe Montana Professional Learning Collaborative (MTPLC) and the Montana Small Schools Alliance (MSSA) are pleased to provide CharacterStrong, a transformative digital program designed to enhance Whole Child Competencies in PreK-12th grade classrooms. With a focus on character development and fostering positive educator-student relationships, CharacterStrong provides a comprehensive toolkit for educators to integrate practices seamlessly into their curriculum.
- Purpose: CharacterStrong is a comprehensive digital program aimed at fostering whole child competence, character development, and nurturing strong educator-student relationships.
- Elementary Toolkit (PurposeFull People):
- Focuses on 10 essential traits: Courage, Respect, Responsibility, Kindness, Perseverance, Empathy, Cooperation, Creativity, Honesty, Gratitude.
- Offers over 90 tools, lessons, and resources for each trait, supporting classroom, staff, families, and playground dynamics.
- Provides flexibility through 3 implementation plans: flexible, daily, or weekly.
- Organized into 5 categories for seamless integration: starters, mini activities, mindfulness practices, activity-based learning, and closers.
- Secondary SEL Curricula (CharacterStrong):
- Features 35 lessons per grade level for 6-8, and 25 lessons per grade level for 9-12.
- Requires no prep or supplies besides pen/paper, with an average delivery time of 30 minutes.
- Emphasizes student voice and choice, with adaptable timing to meet various needs.
- Aligned with 3 outcomes: Well-Being, Belonging, Engagement, utilizing 5 primary ingredients: Emotion Understanding & Regulation, Empathy & Compassion, Values & Purpose, Goals & Habits, and Leadership & Teamwork.
- Each lesson includes a warm welcome, community-building activities, interactive content, a character challenge for real-life application, and optimistic closure.
| character_strong_info_4.2026.pdf |
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PurposeFull People |
Middle School SEL |
High School SEL |
Grade Range |
PreK - 5 |
6 - 8 |
9 - 12 |
Duration & Timing |
4 weeks/trait; 1-5 lessons/ week; 5-45 min/lesson |
35 lessons per grade level 30 minutes per lesson (with the flexibility to adapt across various time/day needs) |
25 lessons per grade level 30 minutes per lesson (with the flexibility to adapt across various time/day needs) |
Primary Ingredients |
Courage, Respect, Responsibility, Kindness, Perseverance, Empathy, Cooperation, Creativity, Honesty, Gratitude |
Emotion Understanding & Regulation: How We Feel & How We Act Empathy & Compassion: What We Understand & How We Care Values & Purpose: Who We Are & What We Do Goals & Habits: The Dreams We Have & The Actions To Get There Leadership & Teamwork: Developing Agency & Working Together |
Emotion Understanding & Regulation: How We Feel & How We Act Empathy & Compassion: What We Understand & How We Care Values & Purpose: Who We Are & What We Do Goals & Habits: The Dreams We Have & The Actions To Get There Leadership & Teamwork: Developing Agency & Working Together |
Instructional Methods |
Most frequently uses activities, games, skill practice, and discussion |
Most frequently uses interactive games, activity-based learning, partner and full group discussion, writing, and skill practice |
Most frequently uses interactive games, activity-based learning, partner and full group discussion, writing, and skill practice |
Alignments |
Montana Whole Child Skill Development Competencies |
Montana Whole Child Skill Development Competencies |
Montana Whole Child Skill Development Competencies |
Additional Curricula |
-Middle School Leadership Curriculum -High School Leadership Curriculum -The CharacterStrong Gym (supplemental resources like videos, restorative practices, growth mindset tools, staff/admin/family content) -On-Demand Professional Development (adult relational practices, SEL for adults, responding to challenging behavior, MTSS, proactive classroom management) -Equity Training |
-Middle School Leadership Curriculum -High School Leadership Curriculum -The CharacterStrong Gym (supplemental resources like videos, restorative practices, growth mindset tools, staff/admin/family content) -On-Demand Professional Development (adult relational practices, SEL for adults, responding to challenging behavior, MTSS, proactive classroom management) -Equity Training |
-Middle School Leadership Curriculum -High School Leadership Curriculum -The CharacterStrong Gym (supplemental resources like videos, restorative practices, growth mindset tools, staff/admin/family content) -On-Demand Professional Development (adult relational practices, SEL for adults, responding to challenging behavior, MTSS, proactive classroom management) -Equity Training |
Unique Features |
-Professional Development to support staff readiness/buy-in -Ongoing trainings to support implementation for teams and administrators -Implementation Roadmap with evidence-based step-by-step support and resources for sustainable success |
-Professional Development to support staff readiness/buy-in -Ongoing trainings to support implementation for teams and administrators -Implementation Roadmap with evidence-based step-by-step support and resources for sustainable success |
-Professional Development to support staff readiness/buy-in -Ongoing trainings to support implementation for teams and administrators -Implementation Roadmap with evidence-based step-by-step support and resources for sustainable success |
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-Toolkit model with flexible implementation plans -Integrative approach (opening/closing circles, regulation strategies to be employed as needed) -Engaging activities built for in-person and virtual -Staff and family challenges to support adult role modeling -Regularly updated content to stay relevant -Equity supports embedded into content |
-Student-driven lessons built in partnership with a 60-student advisory board -Engaging videos featuring students and young adult role models -Adolescent-specific content (mental health and well-being, values, sense of purpose, teamwork skills) -Challenges that move away from “role-playing” and into practical application -All content built for in-person or virtual settings |
-Student-driven lessons built in partnership with a 60-student advisory board -Engaging videos featuring students and young adult role models -Adolescent-specific content (mental health and well-being, values, sense of purpose, teamwork skills) -Challenges that move away from “role-playing” and into practical application -All content built for in-person or virtual settings |