"I realized I had fallen into the teach-to-the-test trap. I had lowered my expectations for my students and for myself. I was so bored, counting the months until I could move on to something else—I realized I was short-changing the students and myself. I needed something fast. I ordered the Giraffe Heroes Program. I have been transformed. I have a sense of purpose again and a sense of excitement. My students are on fire. After only one lesson there was an enthusiasm I have not seen in them before. There was an enthusiasm in me that had been missing way too long."
—Miley Rose, elementary school Special Ed Assistant
Vote Giraffe for Grant to Produce
Thousands More Such Transformations
Civic engagement—that's what those kids are learning, and that's what Bertelsmann, a multinational media corporation based in Germany, is seeking to encourage. The company has put up a prize of 150,000 Euros for the world's best program to "engage young people in civic and social issues."
Given what happens when young people get our materials, we're delighted to tell you that the Giraffe Heroes Project has made the cut to a list of 15 finalists. We could do wonders with a prize that large—at today's exchange rate, it's $204,000.
You can help now. The final winner will actually be determined by online votes.
Deadline for voting is May 8 but the registration process is so slow, we urge you to begin it immediately.
It's a bit of a bother, but just keep thinking of $204,000 fueling this powerful, much-needed work. Here's what you do:
Click on "Register" in the upper left and follow the prompts, including the "Agree" button and the "Register" button.
In a few days (maybe as many as 5) you should get an email invitation back to the site.
Log on here or paste in this url:
http://forum.cbp2007.org/index.php/topic,37.0.html
Click on "Access to the Poll" and you'll be there.
Thanks for taking the time! We'll let you know the outcome.
In a follow-up message, Rose told us that her special ed students enthusiastically discussed their concerns, chose one to work on, and decided on a service project to address that concern. As they were brainstorming the necessary steps to achieve their vision, a supervisor happened to observe the class. He told Rose afterwards he was "blown away" that she had asked the kids what they cared about and what they wanted to do about it. He found it hard to believe that the kids were sustaining active, creative thought for long periods of time.
Asking kids—all kids, not just the honor students—what they care about and what they want to do about it is at the heart of Giraffe materials for schools. Miley Rose is experiencing the effect that approach can have on kids, including those who aren't expected to achieve much. Everyone who observes her class is getting it too. And here's what she has to say about her students now:
"They are learning they are community members and have a new sense of belonging because they realize for the first time that their input is valuable—that someone cares what they think and feel. That is something these special-needs kids do not experience often in their lives! You cannot put a price on what these kids are gaining as they learn they are valuable and worthy of love and respect."
There's more information about the materials that have so changed Miley Rose's class here.
From German Seriousness to Something Giddily Silly
Go to http://sandiego.craigslist.org/for/319289900.html for what may be the most unusual fundraiser ever. We are nothing if not creative in funding this work. But we're not kidding here—we're all set up to make that sale.
A Giraffely View of a Dark Moment
And for a bit of inspiration, try our website's new feature, a blog of timely observations, the newest one a commentary on Virginia Tech by the Project's founder, who also happens to have a family member in that University's freshman class.
