Values week

"Hədəf" is an Azerbaijani brand and remains committed to Azerbaijani values in all its approaches. Values are indispensable for any nation. In an increasingly globalized world, every nation can sustain its existence only by remaining faithful to its own values. Otherwise, it risks being absorbed into the values of dominant global powers. Values can be both national and universal. If a nation’s values can enrich universal values, then it is obligated to preserve and promote them.

We must keep our national values alive alongside universal ones and take pride in them. To support this, the Hədəf concept is committed to values enriched with universal ideas and aims to instill them in young learners. To better express this mission, we use the term "Week of Values" in our concept. This means that the concept of universal values is assigned to each week of the year, recorded in the young learner’s notebook, and posted around the school in the form of posters. Each value must be instilled in students through various means, and a suitable environment should be created for it to be practiced.

One of the key features that distinguishes humans from other creatures in nature is their values. Every society has certain values that it must possess and protect, and these must be non-negotiable. These values should never contradict universal values. The Azerbaijani-Turkish people also possess values that have been passed down through the ages to the present day. We must explain and teach these values in education. To support this, on the first day of each week, the name of the value and a related aphorism or proverb is written on the large board at the school entrance. During the morning assembly, a teacher appointed by school management gives information and assignments related to the week’s value to the young learners.

On the first day of the week, the class teacher or assistant teacher provides detailed information about the name of the week to the students and assigns them to observe and write an essay about the value throughout the week. On the fifth day of the week, during the school lineup, a selected class (agreed upon by the vice-principal in charge of educational affairs and the class teacher coordinator) gives a presentation about the value of the week in front of the school community, sharing their ideas. Ideally, these presentations should be supported with practical examples.

Assistant teachers also inform parents about the value, encourage them to be attentive to the topic, and ask for their help with the young learners. During class hour, they check and discuss the essays written by all students. The school, student, and parents must work together to turn any value into a habit, carrying the process at school into the home and living it out. For example, if this week is the "Week of Frugality," there should be repeated habits practiced throughout the week with the participation of parents.

These could include turning off lights when leaving a room, avoiding water waste, saving paper, notebooks, food, and other household items that cost money and harm the environment, and preparing a report at the end of the week showing how beneficial these habits were. Alternatively, using a reusable bag instead of plastic ones when shopping can demonstrate the same principle.

The "Values" book, "Young Learner’s Diary", and "Values Calendar" are a set created under the Hədəf concept. This set is an auxiliary resource that expresses and strengthens cooperation between school and family. It is intended for use both upon the recommendation of the schoolteacher and by the independent initiative of parents. Every family can turn their home into a school of values by using this set.

There are 40 weeks of values throughout the academic year. These weeks, spanning from early September to the end of June, will explore values from various angles and instill them in students.

To this end, the Scientific-Methodological Council of Hədəf Lyceum decided to publish the "Values" book and "Young Learner’s Diary." The Values book includes 40 values.

For each value, the following are provided (Example based on the “Discipline” week):

An image representing the value;
What is discipline?
Discipline in our lives;
Smile and think;
A story;
Let’s have fun and respond;
What does a disciplined person gain?
True or false;
A family project.

“Values” book
Used under the supervision of the group leader and parents. It is a supplementary textbook for grades 2–6.

“Young Learner’s Diary”
Used in parallel with the “Values” book. Here, students take notes related to each value and complete specific tasks. The diary is not checked by anyone. It is a self-assessment tool for students. Four pages are allocated per week in the diary.

First page:
The student writes an essay reflecting their first impressions and understanding of the value.

Second page:
On this and the first half of the third page, rules, tasks, and notes for six days of the week are described.

Let’s take a look at the first day of the "Discipline" week: Each day, the student records the weather. They attempt to complete the daily task assigned by the author. Today’s specific task is to keep all clothes clean and tidy. Throughout the day, the student writes down what they learned, homework assignments, and notes in the designated section. A special space is provided for answering a unique question for the day. Today’s question is: “What is your favorite movie?” The student evaluates themselves each day, rating their activities, behavior, and skills on a 5-point scale.

“Young Learner’s Diary” (Recommended book)
At the end of the day, the student also records their mood. On the third page dedicated to the week, a book or movie recommendation is provided. Sunday is generally reserved for reading the book or watching the movie.

Fourth page of the diary:
This page notes the knowledge and skills acquired during the week. Differences between the student’s thoughts about the value at the beginning and end of the week are recorded. The second half of the page is used to draw an image or logo representing the value.