ANIMAL ASSISTED
Paw THERAPY
FA L L
Hand
2015
THE GOLDEN NEWS
The official newsletter for Birmingham’s nonprofit organization improving lives through Animal-Assisted Therapy
IMPROVING LITERACY IN ESL CLASSES
Hand in Paw’s Sit, Stay, Read! program is an forward to each week. invaluable resource for the community. I teach One of the most significant improvements we have seen instudents ages 5-12 who are learning English as a new language in Hoover City Schools. Hand in Paw has been sending Therapy Teams to work with my students for over 5 years, and we have had wonderful experiences with every visit. My students arrive at school with a wide variety of experiences. Some were born in the US, and raised in families who do not speak English, where others were born abroad and traveled to the US with their families. Some are escaping economic or political situations; others are seeking exciting new opportunities. The Therapy Teams
volves a student who came to the fifth grade rarely speaking or smiling. This student was dealing with a cognitive disability, as well as learning a new language. Within weeks of spending time with HIP Therapy Teams, this student was having conversations with the volunteers, and entering the classroom with a big smile on his face. The kindness of HIP volunteers, and the calming presence of the animals has helped this student to engage with others during the school day. I look forward to many more years of involvement with Hand in Paw.
help our students feel comfortable speaking and - Melissa Summers English as a Second Language (ESL) Teacher reading in English. They lower stress and anxiety, Hoover City Schools and give the students a positive experience to look