Caring School Community (CSC): Teaching Core Values, Social-Emotional Skills, and Academic Achievement to Elementary School Students

Caring School Community (CSC) is a program that targets students' academic, social, and ethical development by creating a caring school community, meeting students' psychological needs, and promoting cooperative learning environments and social support. The program consists of four components: class meeting lessons, cross-age buddies programs, homeside activities, and schoolwide community-building activities. Class lessons teach core values such as fairness, helpfulness, and respect, and use scripted lessons and collaborative activities to promote social skills and a sense of community. Homeside activities involve students sharing their home life with the class to promote a sense of connection. Teachers participate in a one-day workshop to learn how to facilitate the program and can receive additional coaching and training.