This morning, we were fortunate enough to have a visit from a R.E.A.D. team. From the website, "The R.E.A.D program improves children's reading and communication skills by employing a powerful method: reading to an animal. But not just any animal. R.E.A.D companions are registered therapy animals who volunteer with their owner/handlers as a team, going into schools, libraries and many other settings as reading companions for children."
Even the kids who aren't very excited about reading on a typical basis were so excited to read to Katie, a beautiful black poodle.
Katie's owner began by coming into our classroom and showing us a few of her best tricks. Then kids walked over one at a time with their books to sit near Katie as they read to her. It was pretty cute how they tried to find a book that the dog would enjoy... Harry the Dirty Dog, Dogs and their Puppies, etc.
The students did such a wonderful job on their reading, Ms. Patty (and Katie, too, probably) said she thought they were 1st graders! ;)
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