2012 has been an interesting and rewarding year so far for several of our READ teams. In January we were contacted by The Parish School, a private school serving children with communication and learning differences, about starting a program with them. Two of our dogs, Godiva and Izzy (and their moms Carey Handley and Kerry Sills) volunteered to meet with children specifically chosen for the program. Conducted under the supervision of Librarian Jill Wood, the weekly reading sessions are structured around learning materials that the children bring with them from their classrooms. Assessments of the students' progress will be created and we have heard good reports from everyone involved.

Click on the images to view them larger

In March we began our second school program, at Velasquez Elementary in Richmond. Missy (and Denise Perkins), Rusty (and Kathy Smith) and Walker (and Karen Chamblee) have been reading with nine second graders chosen to participate by Counselor Ellen Graham. The students visit the school library and come to the reading sessions with a favorite book or two to share with the dogs. Since this is a pilot program, the sessions are informal and the focus is on enjoying the reading experience.

Rusty (left), Walker (right)

Rusty & Karen (left), Missy & Denise (right)

Godiva & Carey

We plan to continue both school programs in the fall, and hopefully expand them to include more doggie listeners!

Also in March, we conducted two reading sessions at Kendall Library in the Houston Public Library system. Librarian Leona Hoegsberg always makes us feel so welcome, and the children who participate are thrilled to find dogs in the library! We have more library dates scheduled this spring and summer.

Article by Denise

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