Teaching Inclusion, Acceptance, and Responsibility Through Character Development with Kristin Woodward-Vaassen and Icle Freeland

 Teaching Inclusion, Acceptance, and Responsibility Through Character Development with Kristin Woodward-Vaassen and Icle FreelandCharacter education can happen in many forms. Today’s episode highlights a unique program that is fun, effective, and quickly growing in popularity. What child doesn’t love taking care of a pet? Join us to hear more from our two guests.Kristin Woodward-Vaassen founded Two by Two Character Development in 2005. The program fosters positive character traits in thousands of youth and families across the nation. It has grown from its beginnings in Dubuque, Iowa, to 36 states and several other countries. Kristin spent many years as a 3rd-grade teacher and noticed that kids’ socio-emotional needs were not being met, so she started this innovative program in an effort to make a real difference.Icle Freeland is the Community Outreach Director at Two by Two. From his initial background as a 2nd-grade teacher, he has worked in character education with elementary through college students. He works with schools to help implement the Two by Two program. Show Highlights:Highlights of the programming offered by Two by Two for all grade levelsThe basis of Kindhearted Kids, which uses ten lessons about kindness, empathy, responsibility, and more to grow productive citizens“Pet ownership” opens the door for connections with students.Encouraging and supporting inclusion and acceptance in classroomsReal-life results of Kindhearted KidsThe components of Kindhearted Kids are important in building many real-life skills in versatile ways. The impact of using pets to break down barriers, address challenges with communication and expression, and teach responsibilityLinks/Resources:Connect with Kristin, Icle, and Two by Two: Website and EmailContact us on social media or through our website for more information on the IEP Learning Center: www.inclusiveeducationproject.org   Thank you for listening! Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE to the show to receive every new episode delivered straight to your podcast player every Tuesday.If you enjoyed this episode and believe in our message, please help us get the word out about this podcast. Rate and Review this show on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher Radio, or Google Play. It helps other listeners find this show.Be sure to connect with us and reach out with any questions/concerns:FacebookInstagram–We are doing videos on Instagram, so connect with us here and send us your questions!TwitterIEP websiteEmail us: [email protected]