Enrichment course offered to teachers

The Kane County-University of Illinois Extension will offer a teacher-in service training for a School Enrichment Program called "Focus on Character."

The training will be held from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Oct. 16 at the Extension office, 535 S. Randall Road, St. Charles. Teachers can earn two certified professional developmental units by attending the training.

"Focus on Character" is designed to introduce classroom teachers to a character education curriculum for third through eighth grades that focuses on the Six Pillars of Character. In 2005, the Illinois General Assembly amended the school code to include a requirement to teach students character education which includes the teaching of respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, trustworthiness, and citizenship. It is designed to help Illinois teachers to achieve this goal.

The curriculum includes activities that introduce the Six Pillars of Character. Teachers will have an opportunity to experience some of the hands-on learning activities included in the curriculum. National Character Counts week will be celebrated Oct. 21-27 this year.

The training is free to Kane County teachers. Curriculum materials will be available for teachers to check out at the end of the training. Teachers can register for the training by contacting: Jo Ann Britton at (630) 584-6166 or by e-mail at jbritton@uiuc.edu by Oct. 8.