Pawprints Pilot Tested with 350 Youngsters in Schools in New York and Los Angeles

After parents and kids demonstrated interest in Pawprints as a springboard to literacy and environmental stewardship, teaching teams initiated pilot tests on both coasts of the U.S.

	"Pawprints" was pilot tested among 350 youngsters in 6th and 7th grades, half in NEW YORK CITY'S WAGNER SCHOOL, and half in LOS ANGELES' FOSHAY LEARNING CENTER, located in South Central LA.
	Teaching teams from science, social studies, and English or language arts worked with students on "Pawprints" exercises.
	Maxwell Yerger, in New York, 6th grade science, spearheaded the East Coast test. Mr. Yerger is a highly regarded reading specialist and teacher trainer as well as a science educator. Mr. "Yogurt" served as president of the New York Chapter of the United Federation of Teachers.
	John Zavalney, then teaching science to 7th graders at Los Angeles' Foshay, now teaches high school students at the Center. Mr. Zavalney is the winner of the National Presidential Teacher of the Year Award, as well as Disney and many other education awards. An active member of the Jane Goodall Institute's Roots and Shoots Program, and participates as a teacher/trainer in that program as well as in the international GLOBE science program. He sports a handlebar mustache, and often can be seen wearing a boa constrictor as well.

From Mr. Yerger's pilot tests with 6th graders:

"Almost all of the stories have a joke in them, and they're fun to read, but if you go beyond the joke, there's something deeper underneath."

Frankie F.

"I'm fascinated by Ina Hillebrandt's love for animals. I love animals, especially elephants and kangaroos. The time when Ina and her daughter, Nicole, swam with the dolphins was exciting. Its always been a dream of mine to swim with dolphins. With some of the incidents that happened to Ina, I would have been terrified. I think that Mrs. Hillebrandt is very brave....I would like to be like Mrs. Hillebrandt."

Crystal C.

After initial testing, teachers concluded that Pawprints stories and exercises are good for children, and adults.

"These short vignettes are good for children, and for adults, too. They're about animals, and that makes them accessible. And they're short. Short is good for kids...They see that they don't have to create the great American novel every time they write. These are verbal snapshots."

Maxwell Yerger

"'Pawprints' is helping kids learn about animals, and how to handle anger. They get the message there are other, loving ways to keep a pet from destroying your stuff than by hurting it. They get the message about treating each other better, too."

John Zavalney