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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.
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