Literature-Based Character Education Program in Elementary Schools Ineffective

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The 2006-11 Regional Educational Laboratory West at WestEd has concluded a randomized controlled trial in California that evaluated Lessons in Character, a character education program designed to integrate easily into a schools’ existing English language arts curriculum.

The study, Lessons in Character Impact Evaluation, found no effect of the program on the academic achievement, social competence, or problem behavior of students who participated in the program, compared to students who did not participate.

Lessons in Character is a supplementary literature-based language arts program that uses a collection of multicultural literature, classroom lessons, and decision-making training to enhance student problem solving skills; promote student understanding, endorsement, and behavioral enactment of core values; and boost language, grammar, mechanics (punctuation, spelling), and composition skills.

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