The Role of Literacy Culture in Developing Students' Interest in Reading and Writing Abilities Grade III Elementary School

Abstract

Character education is a fundamental aspect of elementary school learning because it plays a vital role in developing students' social skills and emotional intelligence from an early age. Rapid global developments and technological advancements require students to excel not only academically but also to possess good social interaction skills, empathy. This study aims to describe and analyze the implementation of character education in learning and its contribution to improving elementary school students' social skills and emotional intelligence. The research method used is a qualitative approach with a descriptive design. The subjects of the study included elementary school teachers and students, with data collection techniques through observation and interviews. The results of the study indicate that the implementation of character education is carried out in an integrated manner in learning activities, school culture, and teacher role models through character values such as discipline, responsibility, cooperation, empathy, and honesty. The application of active, collaborative, and reflective learning strategies has been proven to improve social interactions between students and their ability to recognize, manage, and express emotions positively. In addition, the support of the school environment and the role of teachers as character models contribute significantly to the successful implementation of character education. The conclusion of this study confirms that character education, implemented consistently and systematically, can improve elementary school students' social skills and emotional intelligence.