Character Education

Paper Summary:

This paper proposes to develop a fourth grade curriculum on character education in a large urban elementary school. The paper critically analyzes diverse, significant and pertinent texts and experiences that the writer has encountered within (and across) her course work and that reflect the most current research theory and practice on 4th grade character education. The writer proposes that, at present, insignificant attention is generally paid, in the fourth grade and at other levels of K-12 education, to issues of personal character and relationships with others.

Table of Contents:
Introduction
Rationale for the Proposal
Purpose of the Project
Elements of the Project
How My Proposed Curriculum Addresses Diverse Needs of Colleagues (and Students)
Projected Outcomes
Identification of Participants
Projected Timeline for the Project
Critical Reflections on how this Proposed Curriculum Will Contribute to Systemic Change at the School and/or Community/ Society Level
References
Appendix I: Children's Literature Recommended for teaching Character Education, Grades 1-5
Appendix II: Potential Character Education Classroom Activities; Lesson Plans and other Information for Teachers and Administrators

From the Paper:

"As a result, school curricula began now, also, to examine, for the first time, relationships among people, independent of race, class, gender or handicap. It is high time in our elementary schools today, I believe, for such overdue curricular emphasis, especially since, according to both Delgado & Stefanic (2001), and Sleeter & Grant (1988), people tend to automatically create categories, based on past experiences that they then organize in their minds."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Bell, D. (1977) And we are not saved. New York: Basic Books.
• Character education. (2006). Kids who care. Utah State Education Office.Retrieved March 27, 20o6, from: http://www.uen.org/utahlink/activities/view_activity.cgi?activity_id5399#lesson.html.
• Delgado, R.,& Stefancic,J. (2001). Critical race theory: An introduction. New York: New York University Press.
• Elkind, D.H., & Sweet, F. (September/October 2004). You are a character educator. Today's school. Retrieved March 27, 2006. from: http://www.goodcharacter.com/Article_4.html.
• Grade-by-grade learning. (2006). Going to school. PBS parents. Retrieved March 27, 2006, from: http://www.pbs.org/parents/goingtoschool/how_4.html.

More papers on Character Education :

• Research Proposal # 148978 : "Elementary School Character Education Curriculum"
• Research Paper # 96185 : "Character Education and Diversity"
• Term Paper # 22548 : "Character Education and YA Novels"

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