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From left to right
Marcia Jones & Zoe; Tracy Brenner & Jake; Amy Bennett & Ginger; Cheryl Roberts & Lacy;
Holden our excellent library volunteer .
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| DONIPHAN ELEMENTARY 2ND GRADE R.E.A.D. CLASS |
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For six years Hero and Heddie Leger visited Doniphan Elementary School in Liberty, MO, for the BowWow books ReadDog Program. They served for three years reading with 20 children each week (they visited several days a week). Dana Berry & Megan (former MO-KAN members) began visting with them for two years. In the 2010/2011 school year Patty Levine & Cheri began the program weekly with Julie Goodman and Onix graciously subbing several times.
Thank you to all the teams who have worked hard to continue this great R.E.A.D. program.
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| Cheri Waiting Patiently |
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| Cheri dreaming abou Garfield |
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I am very pleased! I have the stats for our MO/Kan R.E.A.D. now and it is as follows.
We have 54 Mo/Kan members and almost half are R.E.A.D. members...24.
I appreciate the work these teams do. Making weekly commitments at the schools for an entire school year is outstanding.. Going to the library monthly and/or weekly is commendable. Thank you to All.
Shirley May,
Certified R.E.A.D. Instructor MO/Kan.
The following teams are MO/Kan R.E.A.D. Teams.
Candy Anderson...JAKE & LILY
Kim Anderson...LIBBY and MOLLY
Suzi Bidwell...SALTY
Tracy Brenner...JAKE
Sharon Furby...BRODIE
Julie Goodman...ONIX
Rich Herz...LLEW and ZOE
Melissa Holcomb...LUCY
Marcia Jones...ZOE
Marie Kersten...NICKY
Fran Lancaster...LLEW and ZOE
Cathy Leschena...JOSIE, MADDY, AND RUDY
Heddie Leger...HERO and HALO
Patty Levine...CHERI and AMBER
Sue Manning...LILY
Lisa and Clayton Mark...ACE
Shirley May...KYAN,JAMES BROWN, & ONYX
Lisa McCormick...KUNA
Tammy Serrano...KAISER
Penny and Gary Turner...BRODIE
Georgia Williamson...Lady Katherine
Joanna Wolfe...MADDIE
Amy Wurst...SAKE and CABERNET
Some of these teams go to very precarious facilities, working with children with severe problems. There's nothing like a dog to reduce this stress!
Children and animals....a natural.
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| READING EDUCATION ASSISTANCE DOGS |
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R.E.A.D. Program
a Program of Intermountain Therapy Animals
The mission of the Reading Education Assistance Dogs program, introduced in November, 1999, is to improve the literacy skills of children in a unique approach employing a classic concept: reading with a dog. Intermountain Therapy Animals is the first to build a true literacy support program, with models for schools, libraries and other settings, around this appealing idea.
The R.E.A.D. program utilizes registered therapy animals, who have been trained and tested for health, safety, skills and temperament. These special animals volunteer with their owners as Pet Partner teams, offering children an irresistible opportunity to improve their reading in a setting which has proven not only effective, but fun. And fun is a powerful, motivating force for learning that we grown-ups often overlook!
Contact Shirley May May at maymayluvsdals@sbcglobal.net for more information.
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| Intermountain Therapy Animals Spring 2011 NEWS |
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® My R.E.A.D. Dog
Sake is my 8-year-old lab mix. He loves going to the library and prefers to touch the kids while they read to him (as long as the kids are okay with it). He typically puts his head in their laps. In the photo at right, he wanted to face the child, so he put his legs in her lap.
Sake was a long-time shelter pup, found on the streets of Kansas City as a puppy with two brothers. Our Humane Society, which is a no-kill shelter, took them all in. One got adopted right away, but Sake and his black brother were there for a year and a half. The shelter staff loved him and took him to tons of adoption events, but nobody wanted him. When I was ready to get a #2 dog, I wanted to adopt an older, large, black female that could qualify to do some pet therapy. But they brought out Sake—the complete opposite of who I wanted—and said he was the dog I needed. I tried to say no, but Cabernet (my #1 dog) fell in love with him immediately. I took him home and fell in love as well.
He’s turned out to be a fabulous therapy dog and R.E.A.D. dog extraordinaire.
Amy Wurst
Kansas City, MO
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| JAKE (BRENNER) AT THE LIBRARY |
| Schools - Schools |
| Written by Kevin Smith |
| Sunday, 09 January 2011 00:00 |
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Therapy dog helps students read, build confidence
When Nicky walked through the door, it wasn’t long before he was greeted.
Kevin M. Smith — Southview Elementary School student Abigail Murphy reads to Nicky, a Shetland sheepdog, Dec. 21. Nicky visits Terri Walter’s class weekly to help students build reading skills and confidence.
Nicky, a Shetland sheepdog, visits students at Southview Elementary School in Kearney each week. He’s there to help students read.
“It’s a big self-esteem builder,” said Terri Walter, special education teacher at Southview.
For those who have difficulty reading, taking time to read aloud to Nicky helps, Walter said.
“Having that close relationship with the dog — someone who doesn’t judge,” Walter said.
The students can read to Nicky without being corrected on words and knowing he won’t judge them. Walter said she has seen reading to Nicky improve reading fluency in addition to just helping boost overall confidence. Nicky’s owner and trainer, Marie Kersten of Holt, brings 9-year-old Nicky each week.
“It was kind of a personal thing,” Kersten said. “I didn’t like to read, I didn’t like to read out loud.”
This is the third year Nicky has visited Walter’s class.
“Nicky never corrects them, he will just sit there and listen to them,” Kersten said.
Before this, Nicky aka Autumn Sky Saint Nicholas was show dog for obedience and agility competitions. When he got too old for that, Kersten had Nicky registered as a Reading Education Assistance Dog. Nicky is also a registered therapy dog. Nicky had to pass obedience and temperament tests for these designations.
Nicky used to go to Hawthorne Elementary School and Westbrook Care Center in Kearney but has been coming to just Southview this year. Kersten said it was too much for Nicky to go to the additional sites.
“He seems to absorb people’s problems,” Kersten said, noting Nicky often seems exhausted when he gets home.
Some students anticipate Nicky’s visits. Abigail Murphy was petting Nicky as soon as he walked in the door Dec. 21.
“I really love to pet him, he’s the cutest,” Murphy said.
Dillon Arthur said he likes to read Christmas books to Nicky.
“Nicky is kind of cute, and I do like dogs,” Arthur said.
Walter said those responses are typical.
“We love having him come out,” Walter said.
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| NORTH KANSAS CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
The note below was received by one of our members. Please contact Heddie Leger, blestbyu@yahoo.com, if you are interested in working in the R.E.A.D. program in the North Kansa City area.
Good morning,
Joan Arth gave me your name as someone who would be able to give me some information on the READ dog program. My son, Grant Ferguson, is a student at Alexander Doniphan and has had the opportunity to read with Hero and Megan for the past couple of years. Grant has LOVED having the opportunity to read to the dogs each week, and I have seen definite gains in Grant's enjoyment of reading as a result of this program. Thank you for your part in giving Grant that opportunity.
I am a Special Education teacher in the North Kansas City School District. A colleague of mine and I are looking for a way to bring something similar to the students at our elementary school. I wondered if you could give us any information on how to get connected with the READ dog program. We would also love having the opportunity to come and observe the dogs in action at a school. I can contact Ms. Arth and Mr. Niceswanger at Doniphan about observing if that is more appropriate.
Thank you!
Sheryl Ferguson
Special Education
West Englewood Elementary School
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Reading Program Receives Blue Ribbon Award
The Greater Kansas City Association of School Librarians honored the “BowWOWing for Books” therapy dog reading program with their Blue Ribbon Award. The R.E.A.D. (Reading Education Assistance Dogs) program is coordinated by library media specialist Joan Arth. The facilitators are Heddie Leger and Dana Marsh. Their canine partners are Hero and Megan. The students read 20 minutes once a week to their animal friend. The purpose is to allow students the experience of reading without the scrutiny of a teacher or parent. The animal-assisted therapy focuses on fluency, comprehension, confidence and a passion for reading. Compliments of Delta Society and MoKan Pet Partners.
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Lisa McCormick and her Golden Retriever, Kona, are new members. Lisa has worked with St Charles Catholic School to create a R.E.A.D. program in early childhood classes at the school. Congratulations Lisa and Kona....your team exemplifies the type of teams that will continue the work of MO-KAN.
Below is a note from Lisa...
"Kona went with me to the presentation for the kids. They loved it and all the kids wanted to be part of the program. Even now, kids continue to stop me in the hallway and ask when they can read to Kona. One little boy even stopped me after Mass one day and asked me why I didn't have Kona. Other kids have stopped me when I've been at school for non-READ activities and asked my why I didn't have Kona. I can't tell you how much fun we're both having with this program! And my READ kids enjoy the program, too. Our 3rd grader's attendance has greatly improved; our first grader's teacher says she sees a lot more confidence in that little girl.
Thanks so much!"
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| R.E.A.D. 10TH ANNIVERSARY |
Suzi Bidwell and Salty is a 6 year old Newfoundland dog, with multiple titles, in addition to her Delta affiliation. She has earned the title of water dog, draft dog, and companion dog in obedience, but mostly she is very friendly, happy, and loves children.
Suzi is a retired psychiatric nurse, and hobbies in addition to dog competitions, are book clubs and photography.
Salty and Suzi just started with the R.E.A.D. program in a new school recently in Johnson County, Rushton Elementary. The team have been assigned two 2nd grade boys for the entire semester, and are excited because even though the boys have been identified with reading problems, they are both enthusiastic and cooperative. Their progress will be documented throughout the semester.
The photo is of Suzi's great niece reading to Salty.
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A Dog in the Library is a website that illustrates how a dog can benefit children learning to read. Please go to www.librarydogs.com and find current MO-KAN R.E.A.D. members. Check out the links on the left side of the first page.
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| CHERI LEVINE READING AT CORINTH LIBRARY |
The following article about Amy Bennett and Ginger was recently published in the Weekly R.E.A.D. Newsletter, Volume 1, Issue 6.
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