The Mutt-i-grees® Curriculum teaches social and emotional skills and is unique in its bridging of humane education and the emerging field of Social and Emotional Learning (SEL). In a series of easily implemented lessons, children learn critical skills that will help them in school, at home, and later on in the workplace and in their interactions with people and, of course, with animals. Integrated
throughout the Curriculum are feature lessons on dog behavior developed with Cesar Millan. Social and Emotional Learning is the process by which children acquire social and emotional skills. It is based on emotional intelligence studies which have shown that emotionally intelligent individuals are successful because they are able to understand and control their emotions, empathize, communicate and collaborate effectively as well as make sound and ethical decisions; they are able to accomplish tasks because they let go of emotions and issues that stand in the way of learning. Although regarded as essential for school success, social and emotional skills are also what makes us understanding and compassionate toward others - people and animals. These skills can be taught, just as we teach reading and writing, in a series of lessons. Lesson plans in the Mutt-i-grees® Curriculum are presented within five themes, each one reflecting a key principle in Social and Emotional Learning: self-awareness, understanding feelings, empathy, cooperation, and decision-making. The Mutt-i-grees Curriculum was developed by The Pet Savers Foundation, in collaboration with the Yale University School of the 21st Century, and was graciously funded by The Cesar Millan Foundation.
