Kristy
08-16-2005, 12:23 PM
'Paws' to read with a certified therapy dog
August 16, 2005
By Teddy Allen
teddy@gannett.com
Because of a program begun six years ago in Utah and now a reality here, a reading lab is no longer necessarily a special room equipped for learning.
A reading lab can be a dog.
Shreveport's Cheryl Johnson and her chocolate Labrador Alexis form a R.E.A.D. (Reading Education Assistance Dogs) team, one of less than 500 teams in the United States and Canada. While Alexis can't read, she is a wonderful listener to children who read to her, as second-grader Cory Self did often this summer at Broadmoor Library.
"He's been up there pretty much every time the dog's been," said Cory's dad, Jimmy Self. "He talks a lot about 'that reading dog.'"
Johnson and "that reading dog" began appearing at local library branches and schools a year ago after Johnson discovered the program, developed by the nonprofit Intermountain Therapy Animals organization. Through proper training, dogs can become reading companions for children who might be slowed by fear or a lack of confidence in their adventure of learning to read.
"Some of the children are only in kindergarten; they'll sit there and tell Alexis about the pictures, and that's reading to them," Johnson said. "They feel free because it's just Alexis and myself and the child; no other kids listening to them, no moms in the room to correct pronunciation. We ask the parents nicely to let this be for readers only. We stress this as 'free' time."
Elexis Hutcheson of Bossier City, a fourth-grader at Calvary Baptist, has also read to Alexis. She found the going easier than it is at home where little Sam, her illiterate Maltese, doesn't favor reading so much.
"Sam doesn't sit as still as Alexis," said Tricia Hutcheson, Elexis' grandmother.
Wearing a bandana and a tag identifying her as part of a R.E.A.D. team, Alexis rests on a blanket, sometimes with her eyes closed, while children read beside her, rub her head and show her pictures.
"She needs to be prompted. Reading isn't her favorite pastime even though she's a fairly good reader," Tricia said of her granddaughter. "Reading to a dog gave her a little incentive since she loves animals anyway."
Johnson, 53, volunteers her time, as does Alexis. "If I had more teams," she said, "I could get tons of stuff done."
One of only 50 people certified to teach the program, Johnson began working with a dozen volunteer teams last week. Soon, it's possible R.E.A.D. teams could be in most area libraries and schools each week.
A certain number of books read earns a reader a book from Alexis' library, "pawtographed" by Alexis. The books are actually purchased by Johnson or donated by the Volunteers of America, but Johnson hopes other organizations will help once they discover R.E.A.D.
"I've only done this a year myself," she said. "This thing has grown quickly since 1999, and it can grow even more quickly around here."
http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050816/NEWS0801/508160332
August 16, 2005
By Teddy Allen
teddy@gannett.com
Because of a program begun six years ago in Utah and now a reality here, a reading lab is no longer necessarily a special room equipped for learning.
A reading lab can be a dog.
Shreveport's Cheryl Johnson and her chocolate Labrador Alexis form a R.E.A.D. (Reading Education Assistance Dogs) team, one of less than 500 teams in the United States and Canada. While Alexis can't read, she is a wonderful listener to children who read to her, as second-grader Cory Self did often this summer at Broadmoor Library.
"He's been up there pretty much every time the dog's been," said Cory's dad, Jimmy Self. "He talks a lot about 'that reading dog.'"
Johnson and "that reading dog" began appearing at local library branches and schools a year ago after Johnson discovered the program, developed by the nonprofit Intermountain Therapy Animals organization. Through proper training, dogs can become reading companions for children who might be slowed by fear or a lack of confidence in their adventure of learning to read.
"Some of the children are only in kindergarten; they'll sit there and tell Alexis about the pictures, and that's reading to them," Johnson said. "They feel free because it's just Alexis and myself and the child; no other kids listening to them, no moms in the room to correct pronunciation. We ask the parents nicely to let this be for readers only. We stress this as 'free' time."
Elexis Hutcheson of Bossier City, a fourth-grader at Calvary Baptist, has also read to Alexis. She found the going easier than it is at home where little Sam, her illiterate Maltese, doesn't favor reading so much.
"Sam doesn't sit as still as Alexis," said Tricia Hutcheson, Elexis' grandmother.
Wearing a bandana and a tag identifying her as part of a R.E.A.D. team, Alexis rests on a blanket, sometimes with her eyes closed, while children read beside her, rub her head and show her pictures.
"She needs to be prompted. Reading isn't her favorite pastime even though she's a fairly good reader," Tricia said of her granddaughter. "Reading to a dog gave her a little incentive since she loves animals anyway."
Johnson, 53, volunteers her time, as does Alexis. "If I had more teams," she said, "I could get tons of stuff done."
One of only 50 people certified to teach the program, Johnson began working with a dozen volunteer teams last week. Soon, it's possible R.E.A.D. teams could be in most area libraries and schools each week.
A certain number of books read earns a reader a book from Alexis' library, "pawtographed" by Alexis. The books are actually purchased by Johnson or donated by the Volunteers of America, but Johnson hopes other organizations will help once they discover R.E.A.D.
"I've only done this a year myself," she said. "This thing has grown quickly since 1999, and it can grow even more quickly around here."
http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050816/NEWS0801/508160332