“The H.E.R.O. Training Program” ©

“The H.E.R.O. Training Program” © is a simulation-based learning program wherein students embark on a journey to reinvent perceived obstacles to support them in discovering the hero within. Learned skills include the nationally-recognized CASLE competencies (self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making), as well as a variety of life skills that translate to success, such as character education, leadership development, and resilience.

Selected excerpts from students who participated in the program are presented below:

“We learned that…it’s okay to feel our feelings.” –1st grade, boy
“Even if you don’t win, we can win the act of kindness.” –Kindergarten, girl
“You know, the worry monster, he tried to—whenever he comes into your mind, he tells us we can’t do it, but we can make our own story.” –2nd grade, boy
"We learned that if our friends are in trouble, we should help them.” –2nd grade, boy
“Yoga taught me more about myself, about what I think is better than what other people think I should think” –1st grade girl
“It teached me how to be creative, like trying the yoga thing made me excited, and then, I went back home, and it made me build new crafts.” –2nd grade, boy

Brief excerpts from teachers who participated in the program include the following:

“I remember like the first day, someone was very perplexed right, like, ‘Well, how can I be my own hero? I don't understand’. So, I do think that by the end, they were more open to the idea or like could understand the idea of how one could be a hero within themselves, how deep that awareness is.” –Teacher K
“I think a good number of kids did learn to self-regulate and, you know, they really got a lot out of it, and they really enjoyed it.” –Teacher G
“They became more independent, and they showed patience… They had good self-direction… I definitely saw some growth with independence and self-direction.” –Teacher F
“I did hear some second graders during lunch say like things like, ‘Oh you're being a hero’, like recognizing another person being a hero, and I think one of them said something about Dr. Pirkey. I don't know the extent of the conversation, but they were definitely recognizing that outside of yoga class.” –Teacher J
“[T]hey were able to recall what they had either done in that lesson or the previous day…they were able to understand it on a higher level…I think that's a good example and good evidence that what you were doing stuck with them and was meaningful for them.” –Teacher A

If interested in integrating “The H.E.R.O. Training Program”© into your school or organization, please contact Dr. Paige Pirkey, Ph.D., e-RYT500, YACEP at paige.pirkey@memphis.edu.