Reading with Dogs continued from page 13
Paws for Reading
Isla (lab/golden retriever mix) and listen to a book being read to him. The program, Come Read with a Friend, is put together by non-profit, Pet Partners, and encourages kids to read books and get excited about reading. The starting age for a child to read to Isla is elementary school, but younger kids like my son can sit beside Isla and listen to a story being read to them. Paula Kretzer, a therapy dog handler and Isla’s owner, runs the session by sitting on a pink blanket and reading a book to the younger crowd, who enjoy listening and sitting by Isla. My son loves dogs, so he was all over Isla, hugging and patting her – she sat calmly and enjoyed the attention. Typically, one or two kids can sit by Isla and read, but if there is a large group, a line is formed and each child takes turns with Isla. When we were there, there were only a few kids, so my son enjoyed spending time listening to the book and hugging Isla, who was a sweet girl. Paula says, “Our goal is to provide a fun and relaxed environment. Isla doesn’t mind if the kids struggle with words or need a little extra help, because they feel more comfortable reading to a dog. I look forward to the program growing and hope the public schools will get on board so all kids can benefit from it.” I found this program great, and I’m glad my son was able to be a part of it. We will definitely return! Come Read with a Friend takes place monthly on Saturdays at the main library. It is recommended to call ahead to get the correct start time. Page 14
July/August 2019
Paws for Reading is a local program held on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month at 2 pm at the Handley Library in Winchester, Virginia. It is for beginning readers, ages 3-8 years old. There are two dogs at a time in their own special space, where they can sit or lay and receive pats and hugs, while listening to the story and supporting the kids. The library partners with the Blue Ridge Training Dog Club, which has dogs and owners that are trained to work in therapeutic settings. A beginning reader book display is set up that includes dog books to choose from and check out to take home. Reading to a trained therapy dog is a safe, nurturing environment for a child to practice sounding out words at their own pace. Paws for Reading is a "fan favorite," where kids love coming to the library and seeing their furry friends. Katie Moss, Youth Services Supervisor and coordinator of the program, says: “Our goal is to encourage strong readers and support those important early literacy skills of talking and reading. We base most of our literacy-centered programs on the Every Child Ready to Read movement. My hope is that beginning readers will gain confidence in learning to read aloud and continue to work on their reading comprehension skills.” Success stories include kids that repeatedly return to the program and have grown close to the dogs through the years. The library strives to have strong connections with the community and encourages kids and their families to visit the Paws for Reading program and continue to check out their books and resources. Beth Vollmer lives in Hagerstown, with her son, Micah. Beth is passionate about writing, photography, animals, nutrition and exercise. She has an Associate's in paralegal from HBC and a Bachelor's in English from UMUC.
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