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The School of the 21st Century collaborates with the Pet Savers Foundation and the Cesar and Ilusion Millan Foundation

The Yale 21C National Center is working in collaboration with The Pet Savers Foundation and the Cesar and Ilusion Millan Foundation (www.millanfoundation.org) to develop and disseminate a curriculum that features Mutt-i-grees™. The curriculum is part of American Mutt-i-grees™ Club, a web-based initiative (www.muttigrees.org) that targets owners of America’s 50+ million mixed breed dogs, offers a registry for mixed breeds, and aims to educate the public on the benefits of adopting a Mutt-i-grees™ from a shelter.

The curriculum includes a series of lesson plans that feature Mutt-i-grees™ and stories about Mutt-i-grees™ for teachers to integrate into academic subjects. The lessons are developed within a framework of social and emotional learning, and provide opportunities for teachers to teach children social and emotional skills that build children’s confidence and encourage empathy and caring. We are excited about the opportunity since many teachers in 21C schools have told us they are already using dogs to help children learn to read, teach special needs students, and address mental health and behavior problems.

There is a natural affinity between children and pets, and children’s interest in animals motivates and encourages learning, so teachers in 21C schools are looking forward to implementing the curriculum. In addition to Cesar and Ilusion Millan (Ilusion is a former preschool teacher), several celebrities who are supporting Mutt-i-grees™, are working with us. Among them is Lomax, the singing hound and star of Lomax the Hound of Music, a new PBS show produced by Chris Cerf at Sirius Thinking (www.siriusthinking.com), also the producer of another PBS show, Between the Lions. Many of you at 21C have heard Chris Cerf talk about these television shows. Lomax is the spokesdog for Mutt-i-grees™ and will join us in encouraging the use of the curriculum which will include activities for children and teachers as well as follow-up opportunities for parents.

The first phase of the curriculum – PreK to Grade 3 - is underway, and includes lessons presented in two units, PreK/K and Grades 1-3. Teachers and administrators in 21C sites are among the reviewers of the lessons, and several are part of a National Innovative Curriculum Panel.

National Innovative Curriculum Panel