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Teachers
in elementary, middle and high schools as well as universities
have discovered MY HERO. The project can be used as a unit of
study in the classroom and is also an excellent resource to enhance
existing class projects. MY HERO is also used in libraries, technical
and vocational schools, distance-learning programs, home-school
programs, after-school programs, senior centers and youth-rehabilitation
programs.
"At
MY HERO (www.myhero.com),
students can read about heroes from all walks of life - and
even create their own web pages honoring personal heroes. As
an offshoot of a social studies unit on ancient Greece, our
teaching team works on an interdisciplinary unit on heroes.
Through social studies and reading classes, students learn about
ancient heroes, both historical and mythological. The unit culminates
with students developing a MY HERO web page devoted to their
personal heroes. The user-friendly format of this site allows
students to easily create a web presence. Imagine the look on
the face of a grandfather when he sees a hero web page devoted
to him - designed by his grandchild!"
— Sixth grade social studies teachers Carol
Mickley, Candi Shoemaker and Bob Voron, these comments were
excerpted in the National Education Association's Newsletter
(NEA).
WHO
USES MY HERO?
Language Arts, English, Journalism and Creative
Writing Classes
Students write and illustrate essays about their heroes and publish
these stories on-line using the MY HERO create program.
History, Social Studies and Current Events
Classes
MY HERO's ever growing database is a great resource for these
subjects. Professionals and students are always adding new content
to this archive. Oral history projects about local heroes can
be easily shared on line using the MY HERO create program.
Students who cannot find their hero on MY HERO are encouraged
to build a web page and share their story on this educational
journal.
Literacy,
ESL Programs and Computer Classes
MY HERO has been used to introduce computer literacy to old and
young alike in computer labs in schools, libraries and community
centers. Reading MY HERO stories about heroes out loud to new
readers is a great tool to encourage literacy. These stories provide
hope and inspiration to students who are then invited to share
their own hero stories on this on-line journal .
Art,
Photography and Computer Art classes
Students may draw illustrations, take photographs or create collages
of their heroes, or their concept of the hero in our society.
This content can then be digitized and used to create MY HERO
web pages. Students should write captions to describe their pictures.
Film, Radio, Animation and Multimedia Classes
Using computer software programs such as flash, imovie, adobe
premiere, final cut, dream weaver, etc. students can create short
films and animated shorts to pay tribute to personal heroes or
other heroes identified on the MY HERO website. (Large multimedia
files can be saved on CD-ROMs or DVD's and should be mailed to
MY HERO for inclusion on the website.)
Spanish
Language Classes
Several stories from MY HERO have been translated into Spanish.
We welcome participation
from educators who want their students to write in Spanish.
Character Education Classes
MY HERO celebrates diversity, tolerance
and community service.
Reading stories on MY HERO helps students realize that heroes
come in all colors and sizes and from all walks of life. The stories
on MY HERO provide students with real examples of individuals
who have overcome great obstacles and made positive contributions
to their community. These heroes help student realize their own
potential to make a positive difference in our world.
PRIZES T-Shirt Prize
All authors of stories "FEATURED" on
the MY HERO Web site will be awarded a Genius T-Shirt Prize. A
school e-mail or telephone contact must be provided on the registration
form in order for staff to notify teachers that their student’s
work is featured on the MY HERO Web site.
Special Recognition Award
Prizes are awarded each year to authors whose
stories are selected for special recognition. Students, parents,
teachers and authors of all ages are eligible for this special
award. Stories are first selected by the MY HERO staff, then reviewed
by an outside panel of journalists. There is no deadline; stories
selected for this honor will be FEATURED on the MY HERO home page
in a special awards section.
To
be eligible, the MY HERO essay must be 200-800 words and must
be submitted using the MY
HERO Create Program. The essay may include original illustrations
or photographs, all of which need to be properly credited. Authors
must provide their grade (if relevant), age and an e-mail or telephone
contact. |
