This action research report describes a program to improve and enhance students' social skills in and out of the classroom. The targeted population consisted of two fourth grade classrooms at two different suburban sites. The need to address this issue seems to have grown due to an increase in school violence and the decline of the traditional family. Analyzing the causes revealed that students are being influenced by a variety of changes: breakdown in the family, an increase of media intake, no social skill implementation in the curriculum, deficiency of communication between students, low self-esteem and achievement, and insufficient support from parents and teachers to teach social skills. Children are not receiving the nurturing that past generations received, and as a result society is seeing an increasing population of children who are unsure about what is right and what is wrong. Review of the literature suggests poor classroom climate, inadequate character education programs, and lack of student acceptance of responsibility as additional causes. A review of solution strategies led to the selection of these intervention techniques: creating a social skills program, raising parent and teacher awareness of the importance of social skills, and helping children learn how to communicate effectively. The interventions used had a positive influence on the behaviors of the targeted students. The numbers of occurrences of inappropriate behavior were reduced. The degree of success with a character education program depends upon the frequency of classroom instruction and the commitment of the teacher to the program. (Contains 7 figures, 5 tables, and 40 references. Attached are 12 appendixes of surveys and questionnaires.) (Author/BT)