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Contents 1 Definition 2 Common goals 3 In school programs 4 In books & media 5 See also 6 External links

Character education is an umbrella term generally used to describe the teaching of children in a manner that will help them develop as personal and social beings. Concepts that fall under this term include social and emotional learning, moral reasoning/cognitive development, life skills education, health education; violence prevention, critical thinking, ethical reasoning, and conflict resolution and mediation. This form of education involves teaching children and adolescents values including honesty, stewardship, kindness, generosity, courage, freedom, justice, equality, and respect.

Common goals in character education are to assist youth in developing into ethical, morally responsible, community-oriented, self-disciplined adults.

In the United States, the most common practitioners of the character education curriculum are school counselors, although it is growing in popularity within the curricula of other professionals in schools. However, the most effective character education in schools is that which is practiced and modeled by the teachers and ALL other adults (faculty, bus drivers, cafeteria workers, maintenance staff, etc) with whom the students come into contact while in school.

An additional means for character education is through storytelling which can be through books and media. Good stories inspire children and young adults with role models. It teaches them about honesty, integrity and a means to participate in the community.

• The Firefighter Story

• Character Education Partnership
• Center for Social and Emotional Education
• CHARACTER COUNTS!
• Samples of Character Education Programs
• Samples of middle and high school Character Education Lessons
• Character Education through Children's Literature. ERIC Digest.
• Committee for Children
• Character Education Resources