STAFF REPORTER

Friday, October 26, 2007

At Chatfield School, a federal grant will help educators teach students to make good choices.

Chatfield was recently chosen as one of seven Michigan schools selected to be part of a fouryear, multi-million dollar federal grant-funded project Smart Character Choices. The goal of the program is to provide school leaders, teachers, students and parents with necessary skills to develop positive character. In the process, the assumption is academic achievement will improve.

Chatfield co-director Betty McCauley said staff there came in for training for the project this past summer.

It's working with kids having inner control, McCauley said. Kids are checking themselves with making good choices. If they're tuned in academics will go up.

The first step of the character program is developing a supportive school culture, a positive classroom environment, and trusting relationships. Teachers learn effective classroom procedures. Students will be learning social skills, manners, and communication skills to become young men and women with character.

Jonathon Erwin, international educational consultant and director of training for Smart Character Choices, said in a news release, We can't expect students to demonstrate positive character traits if they don't understand what positive character is or have the knowledge and skills necessary to develop it within themselves.

The last step of Smart Character Choices is integrating the topics of character into the classroom that engage students in ongoing discussion of character traits like respect, responsibility, kindness, optimism, a strong work ethic, and getting along with others.

It really is the goal and to raise good citizenship. The program helps with making good choices, McCauley said. It's close to the Love and Logic program. It stresses community service and we are really enjoying it.

Chatfield is a charter school ran under the auspices of Saginaw Valley State University.

Jennifer Decker can be reached at 664-0811, Ext. 8125 or jennifer.decker@lapeergroup.com