Educating Hearts and Minds: A Comprehensive Character Education Framework

In this revised edition of their bestselling book, the authors provide a comprehensive character education framework designed to help primary school administrators, educators , and concerned citizens organize, implement, and assess character education programmes in their schools. The authors propose many new ideas, suggestions, and promising practices that may be personalized to fit the needs and interests of a school, community, and children and youth. These include tips for leaders on how to involve all stakeholders and how to reach consensus, steps for developing a values curriculum, and strategies for instruction and staff develoment.

Table of Contents:
Setting the Stage for Character Education The Framework Standards for Planning and Implementation The Framework Keys to Success Training Instruction and Staff Development Building Effective Home, School and Community Partnerships Assessing Your Character Education Programs

About the Author :
Edward F. DeRoche received a BS degree from the University of Maine, an MEd degree from Easter Connecticut State University, and an MA and PhD from the University of Connecticut. He is currently Professor in the School of Education and Codirector of the International Center for Character Education at the University of San Diego. He has been an elementary and middle school teacher and principal, a public school board member, a member of two private high school boards, and a school of education dean. He is a consultatant, evaluator, author, teacher trainer, and the recipient of several awards. He has published eight books and over 50 articles on educational topics. Mary M. Williams received her BS degree in elementary education from the State University of New York (SUNY), Plattsburgh, her MS in reading from SUNY, Albany, and her EdD in Educational Leadership: Curriculum, Instruction, and Supervision from Boston University. She has been a K-12 teacher, a reading specialist, a curriculum coordinator, a teacher educator, a staff developer, and a program evaluator. She was Associate Professor at Pace University in New York and is now Professor of Education at the University of San Diego, where she is also the Cofounder and Codirector of the International Center for Character Education. She is the Cochair of ATE’s National Commission on Character Education.

Review :
"This new edition provides immediate help to all who work to improve our public schools." "A great resource for teaching that character matters in furthering the ideals on which this country has been built!" "The `soil’ of our schools has lost a nurturing ingredient that is essential to give life to the ideas and the efforts of educators. That missing nurturing ingredient is the school’s moral mission . . . DeRoche and Williams have written a sound and practical book not only for educators but for anyone interested in learning exactly how schools can navigate these often shoal-filled waters."