Educators

Curriculum - Character-Centered Teaching

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The focus of Character-Centered Teaching (CCT) is to integrate lessons on character into the school's overall academic program. Through CCT, character education is not an "add-on" program, but rather an "add-in" program. The overall CCT approach involves 12 guiding principles. The principles represent a common ground of basic understanding. The principles are common elements of society regardless of political leanings, race, religious convictions or gender. The 12 guiding principles are responsibility, contemplation, initiative, perseverance, optimism, courage, respect, compassion, adaptability, honesty, trustworthiness, and loyalty.

In Arkansas, the CCT initiative began with five public schools:

  • Lakewood Elementary, North Little Rock School District
  • Gardner Elementary School, Hot Springs School District
  • J. J. Izard Elementary School, Van Buren School District
  • Eudora Junior High School, Eudora School District
  • Corning High School, Corning School District.

These five geographically diverse schools each individualized their approach to CCT. At each site, an advisory committee, which included students, teachers, and administrators, as well as community members, was formed. The committee earmarked which principles they would focus on. In some instances, the community selected two or three of the principles, such as respect and responsibility, to target first.

The efforts at the individual schools were not limited to school activities. In Corning, for instance, the town's July 4 parade focused on the importance of character. Also, each school's local community demonstrated a tremendous amount of support. Community groups, as well as churches, became involved.

While serving as pilot sites, the schools received intense staff development and support. Dr. Martin Marrazo, Director of the International Center for Leadership in Education, visited each site twice, and gave them recommendations on implementing their individual programs. Dr. Marrazo is a nationally recognized leader in the field of character education.

In Arkansas, character education is a state education initiative, and all schools are encouraged to integrate it into their education plan. The Arkansas Department of Education currently provides a CCT handbook that highlights best practices for implementing the program.

Twelve Guiding Principles of Exceptional Character

Adaptability
The ability and willingness to change; to put yourself in harmony with changed circumstances.
Compassion
Kindness; the desire to help others in distress.
Contemplation
Giving serious consideration to something; to think things through carefully.
Courage
Bravery; the willingness to put your beliefs into practice. The capacity to meet danger without giving way to fear.
Honesty
Truthfulness, sincerity; the act or condition of never deceiving, stealing, or taking advantage of the trust of others.
Initiative
Eagerness to do something; the capacity for thinking of and acting on your own ideas without promoting by others.
Loyalty
Faithfulness, dependability; the quality of being faithful to another person in the performance of duty or adhering to a contract with another person.
Optimism
Positive beliefs; the inclination to take a hopeful view or think that all will work out for the best.
Perseverance
Working hard at something; the quality of trying hard and continuously in spite of obstacles and difficulties.
Respect
Regard, value, admire, and appreciate; special esteem or consideration in which you hold another person or thing.
Responsibility
Accountability; to consider yourself answerable for something.
Trustworthiness
Reliability; dependable, deserving of trust and confidence.

For more information, please contact:

Janie Hickman, Elementary Math Specialist
Arkansas Department of Education
Curriculum and Instruction
Four Capitol Mall, Room 301-B
Little Rock, AR 72201
Phone: 501-682-7449