GrantExplanationProg rammaticsept2005

Grant Explanation Programmatic: 

Grant Explanation Programmatic Integrating Effective Character Education Programs into Rural Schools: Measuring a Replicable Model

Purpose: 

Purpose To design and implement effective character education programs that can be integrated into existing curricula to teach students character elements such as caring, civic virtues, justice and fairness, respect and responsibility. To create a “three-legged” approach in developing character in students. This will include schools, parents and the community becoming a part of the character development process.

The Importance of Each Aspect of the “3-legged” Approach : 

The Importance of Each Aspect of the “3-legged” Approach By developing the CDTs we will be combining the “three-legs” (school, parents and the community) needed to lift and hold the students to higher character.

3-Legged Approach: 

3-Legged Approach Community Students learn character by practicing the traits that are taught in the home and the school. Therefore, it is essential to involve the community in the development and implementation of the effort, but also through service learning projects. These projects will help enforce what is being taught in the school and the home. In addition, communities should support and embrace character education.

3-Legged Approach: 

3-Legged Approach Parents Research has indicated that the dominant impact on the development of moral values occurs within the home. However, this does not divorce the schools from attempting to further develop a child’ moral compass. Parents need to be involved at the beginning of the effort and throughout the entire Implementation process.

3-Legged Approach: 

3-Legged Approach School All of those associated with a school not only need to teach the importance of living a life of good character, but they need to be models of good character. Character education is truly not a stand alone program, but an integrated approach that uses the existing curriculum and programs to help support and emphasize good character.

“Education worthy of the name is education of character” – Martin Buber: 

“Education worthy of the name is education of character” – Martin Buber

Objectives of Project: 

Objectives of Project Objective One A resource manual for implementing character education will be created and disseminated to all experimental schools during the first three years, and to all school statewide during year four.

Slide9: 

Objective Two A crosswalk between the West Virginia core content standards and the character education traits, such as respect, responsibility, justice and fairness, trustworthiness, caring, and citizenship, will be developed.

"But if you ask what is the good of education in general, the answer is easy: that education makes good men, and that good men act nobly." — Plato, Greek philosopher (c. 428-c. 348): 

"But if you ask what is the good of education in general, the answer is easy: that education makes good men, and that good men act nobly." — Plato, Greek philosopher (c. 428-c. 348)

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Objective Three By employing strict and rigorous scientific research methodology, this project will provide qualitative and quantitative finding that highlight the hypothesized effects gained through integrating additional character education efforts.

Continuous school improvement must be assessed on the basis of results rather than intentions. - Richard Dufour and Robert Eaker: 

Continuous school improvement must be assessed on the basis of results rather than intentions. - Richard Dufour and Robert Eaker

Slide13: 

Objective Four The proposed project will involve many stakeholders in the development and implementation of the character education program.

“Excellence is not an act, but a habit. We are what we repeatedly do.” - Aristotle: 

“Excellence is not an act, but a habit. We are what we repeatedly do.” - Aristotle

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Objective Five The training sessions will provide opportunities for teachers and parents to be educated on the implementation of the proposed project.

The goal in life is the same as in basketball: Make the effort to do the best you are capable of doing – in marriage, at your job, in the community, for your country. Make the effort to contribute in whatever way you can. You may do it materially or with time, ideas or work. Making the effort to contribute is what counts. The effort is what counts in everything. - John Wooden: 

The goal in life is the same as in basketball: Make the effort to do the best you are capable of doing – in marriage, at your job, in the community, for your country. Make the effort to contribute in whatever way you can. You may do it materially or with time, ideas or work. Making the effort to contribute is what counts. The effort is what counts in everything. - John Wooden

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Objective Six Technical and professional assistance will be provided to all LEA partners in the development and implementation of the character education program during the implementation years of the project and other interested LEAs will be provided assistance during the fourth year.

Slide18: 

Objective Seven The link between character education and academic achievement will be addressed in the West Virginia Department of Education’s “No Child Left Behind” Restructuring Framework for School Improvement.

Planning and Development Sessions: 

Planning and Development Sessions Character Development Teams from each participating experimental school will selected to participate in the sessions. This will allow all stakeholders to participate in the develop and implementation of the program selected. Through these sessions a rough draft of a thorough resource manual will be developed, which will aim to establish a replicable model for other schools.

Importance of CDT: 

Importance of CDT Representatives of all stakeholders: administrators, teachers, counselors, parents and community members Serve as the training team for their school to educate colleagues on creating stronger character education programs Attendance essential at all Planning & Development Sessions Active participation and ongoing meetings held at experimental schools essential

Questions: 

Questions

Contact Information: 

Contact Information