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Lessons in Character is designed to promote elementary and middle school students' knowledge about core character education values and, through that knowledge, shape children's positive behaviors and support academic success. It consists of 24 lessons organized around weekly themes, taught through stories, writing activities, and class projects. Teachers introduce the theme with a story that shows a value in action; students then engage that topic with a variety of activities. The program also includes daily oral language development and weekly writing assignments, optional parts of the program's implementation.
One study of Lessons in Character met the What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) evidence standards, and a second study met WWC standards with reservations. The two studies included a total of more than 400 students from fourth and fifth grades attending schools in three southern states. The studies examined results on students' behavior; knowledge, attitudes, and values; and academic achievement.1
Lessons in Character was found to have potentially positive effects on academic achievement. It had no discernible effect on behavior or on knowledge, attitudes, and values.
| Behavior | Knowledge, attitudes, and values | Academic achievement | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating of effectiveness | No discernible effects | No discernible effects | Potentially positive effects |
| Improvement index2 | Average: +8 percentile points Range: +8 percentile points |
Average: +6 percentile point Range: +4 to +12 percentile points |
Average: +16 percentile points Range: +12 to +18 percentile points |
|Institute of Education Sciences
Character Education