Paws For Reading

In addition to providing therapy teams to health care settings, Paws for Healing has developed its own Paws For Reading literacy program for Solano, Napa, Sonoma, Marin and San Francisco counties. Reading teams go to libraries, school classrooms and after-school programs where children read to a canine "Reading Buddy." The goal is to provide a non-judgmental atmosphere in which kids can read without correction or interruption and learn not just to read, but to love reading as well.

The purpose of Paws for Reading is to make reading an enjoyable experience and to enhance children's literacy skills through reading buddies, one-on-one attention, opportunity and bonus programs.

The Paws for Reading program embraces children with a canine spirit: kids will do better with a little extra love, patience and some quality time with an adult.

The purpose of Paws for Reading is to create a supportive environment for children
so that they may read without correction or interruption.

Reading Buddies are calm, patient, attentive dogs that provide focused time
with a child, even when another may be present at the session.

Reading to their buddy makes kids feel special and helps them build
confidence and self esteem.

Repeat visits build trust so that children can "try out" new words
with their reading buddy.

Non-English speaking or bi-lingual children have a Reading Buddy
that understands books in all languages.

How do you become a Reading Team?
All dogs are first evaluated for temperament and obedience. Handlers then attend a two-day Paws for Healing seminar that includes an introduction to the reading program. Those who pass the evaluation and Paws for Healing seminar may attend the Paws for Reading class and then demonstrate how to apply what they have learned in a library or school setting. Applicants also show an 80% proficiency on survey questions before being mentored in an educational setting.

The literacy program provides support materials, such as flyers, staff orientation and organizational tools, as well as incentives and bonus programs for the children. Each Reading Buddy has its own personalized bookmarks to give children in all settings. For library and after-school programs, children may participate in the Frequent Reader Club. After the ninth visit, children receive a new book based on their age level as well as a paw print Paws for Reading pencil. Pre-readers may participate in our "Stick-With-It" bonus program that gives them beautiful stickers as a memento of their visit.

Future plans also include a web site "Writing Buddy" who will answer children's email questions.

Why the Program Works
Our Reading Buddies act as reading coaches for children. The goal is to provide individualized help to children but do it in a way that lessens their fear of reading aloud and making mistakes. That is where the canine comes in. Reading Buddies become supportive partners for the children and will nurture every child's self-esteem and confidence. Teams also know how to engage pre-readers (toddlers) with picture books so that they will associate libraries, books and learning as something positive and fun.

Other Benefits

UC Davis researchers studied the reading abilities of children who read to dogs and the findings were astounding. "After reading to a dog once a week for ten weeks, standardized tests showed reading fluency increased on average thirty percent. Below grade readers improved a startling forty-six percent."

The Paws for Reading program have increased library patronage. Here are results and feedback about the Paws for Reading program from teams, teachers, parents, and librarians:

Testimonials

"The Paws for Reading dogs are the highlight of my students' school experience. The kids await the dogs arrival with excitement and anticipation. The children become confident as readers while reading to the dogs. In the dogs, the children find reading solace because the dogs don't judge or correct. Their Reading Buddy provide the true magic, and a healthy dose of comedy, to allow each child to soar within." - Mia Igoe, Teacher, Park Side Elementary School, Sebastopol

"Something that stands out for me more than anything, is the incredible desire by each and every child read to Penny: the shy child, the gregarious child, the super reader, the not so super reader...they all want their opportunity to read." - Paws for Reading team member Sharon Marshall, Hahn Elementary School, Rohnert Park

"My son had no interest in reading, in part because he has some learning issues. He didn't even like coming to the library. But the day he saw those Chihuahuas and the Paws for Reading team member made him feel so comfortable, he hasn't stopped reading. No one else has been able to do that." Parent, Rincon Valley Library, Santa Rosa

"In the beginning of the school year of 2009 we met a little Spanish girl who always had a smile and loved to greet us in the 1st grade classroom. Even though she wasn't fluent in English, I made sure she had her turn attempting to read to Pepe & Pita. She wasn't able to follow the words, and sometimes was only able to repeat words that another child read. Guess what, her energy and excitement every week paid off, as today 4/20/2010 she looked at the words and started to sound out the letters and the words. It brought tears to my eyes. This little girl was actually reading the book and sounding out the words to Pepe & Pita, her little friends that came to visit her every week. What a special day we all had." - Paws for Reading team member Candy Peters, Park Side Elementary School, Sebastopol

"On Tuesdays, Whitney, the greyhound, and I go to a multi-grade classroom, K through 2nd grade in Sebastopol. One of the first graders doesn't talk or read out loud. English is her second language, and maybe because she's shy, she doesn't want to talk. But she loves to come over and pet Whitney in between activities in the classroom. I asked her if she was going to read to Whitney and me by the end of the school year, and she nodded 'yes'.

Usually I read to her, ask her questions and she nods or points to the pictures to answer questions. Today when she came over to read, she brought her book box, picked out a book and then read it to me. I asked her if she wanted to read another, and she did! In the meantime, the other children told the teacher and she signaled them to be quiet. If our first-grader got embarrassed, she might stop.

After finishing, my shy first grader joined her group. It was the group's turn to read to the teacher at her table from the book they were working on. My reader went with them wanted to read to the teacher too. After a few minutes the whole class gathered around to listen. When she finished, they clapped and congratulated her. Some of the little girls and their once-silent classmate were in tears-tears of joy. It was quite a day. Paws for Reading team member Michelle Lua, Pine Crest Elementary School, Sebastopol

"The success I've witnessed has been incredible. Throughout the week children constantly ask which canines will be visiting us Thursday. The children look forward to the time they spend with their furry friend. I've seen children develop a sense of confidence in their reading ability because they know that their canine friend won't judge or correct their reading. I've also seen children excited to tell their parent, who's serving overseas, how they were able to read to a dog who "really" listened." Delilah Wilson, Senior Technician, Mitchell Library, Travis Air Base, Fairfield

Paws for Reading Buddies are listening to children read weekly in elementary schools, libraries, and Boys & Girls Clubs in Sonoma, Napa, Solano, Marin & San Francisco counties. Please refer to your library's website for dates and times. You can also write to the email address below to find the nearest Reading Buddy to you.

To request a Paws for Reading team for your facility, please contact Paws for Healing at:
                Telephone: 707-258-3486
                email: info@pawsforhealing.org

To become a Paws for Reading team member, please download the Paws for Healing application at:

                                 http://www.pawsforhealing.org/classes.htm

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Sponsored by Paws for Healing, a non-profit 501 (c)(3) corporation
www.pawsforhealing.org