My dogs enjoy being read to, so I decided to write something that could specifically be read to a dog (Bite This Book). It utilizes words that dogs generally understand. (According to most animal communicators, dogs understand over 60% of common human language.) In a fun way, it captures life from a dog's point of view.
Shortly after completing the manuscript, to my great surprise, I became aware of special reading programs across the country where children read to dogs. Presently, there are literally hundreds of schools and libraries nationwide that participate in these programs with such names as:
Reading Fur Fun
Barks & Books
Sit, Stay, Read!
Reading to Rover
Paws to Read
The intention of these reading programs and my book are different. My intention was to value the dog by giving them something they could better understand and appreciate. The intention of the schools and libraries is to improve the literacy skills of children.
Literacy
As these programs and I shared this incredible common ground, I wanted to learn more about illiteracy in this country. According to multiple sources on the internet: As high as 40% of our children read below their grade level. The United States ranks 49th among 156 United Nations member countries in its literacy rate - a drop of 18 places since 1950. Low literacy limits life's opportunities, but what struck me most about this problem is that it is solvable. A person can improve their reading skills by one grade level with 35-45 hours of tutoring.
A free and easy way to help with the literacy problem is by clicking on the literacy site on a regular basis:
http://www.theliteracysite.com/
According to their website, "61% of low income families have no books for children in their homes. They target the only variable that correlates most significantly with reading scores: the number of books in the home." Each click represents a 1% contribution towards a book. To date, the site has contributed over 1,000,000 books to children who need them.
A Case Study involving Dogs
In 2000, a study was done at the Bennion Elementary School in Salt Lake City to examine the benefits of providing a dog assisted reading program, reports Nationalgeographicnews.com. The study consisted of ten children, ranging in age from five to nine years old, who were all reading below their grade level. Each student read once a week for 20 minutes with a dog. At the end of the 13-month study, each child's reading score increased by at least two levels.
Personal Experience
Since I volunteer at Camp Med, a licensed day care program sponsored by the City of South Pasadena, I brought up the idea of having a special activity for the kids where they read my book to a dog. The event that transpired was very sweet.
A friend brought his gentle yellow lab, Sophie. In a sunny park setting, the children (ages 5-11) came out three at a time and we all sat together on a blanket. The vignettes in my book are short so each child had an opportunity to read one to the dog. When they were not reading they could pet and interact with Sophie.
What was so interesting to watch was that each group of three was distinctively different. Some children were earnest in their approach, some laughed the entire time. Some were strong readers, some less assured. Some kids were highly comfortable with Sophie, some may have never touched a dog in their life. The great, great thing about such an event is that it meets the child wherever they are in their development and life.
In my six years at Camp Med, I witnessed some of the biggest smiles I have ever seen. It was as if the communion between the kids and the animal allowed the children to relax more deeply and they found a solid, happy place within.
Benefits
Children can get so much from these kind of events: a connection with an animal, a new way of seeing, an appreciation of reading, an encouragement to read out loud, a listener who does not judge them, physical affection, unconditional love. It's great for the dog as well as they receive: a great boost to their self-esteem, contact with children, love and attention, the joy of service, a feeling that this is a world where people care about animals. When Sophie got home, the owners reported that she seemed so happy and proud.
Creating your own Event
If you want to create an event or program, there are a wide variety of volunteer groups that participate in reading dog programs. To find a local group, check on the internet or with your local dog clubs, veterinarians, dog trainers and groomers, schools and libraries for leads. You can also contact the national groups to find out what they have going on in your area. The three predominant groups according to VeterinaryPartner.com. are: Therapy Dogs International, Therapy Dogs Incorporated, and The Delta Society.
To read a vignette from Bite This Book, please go to http://www.animalsmakingfriends.com/ It's a moment in time presented from a dog's perspective. They help a child realize that dogs have emotions, experiences and needs that are similar to ours.
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