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Dogs Give Clearfield Kids a Reading Partner

(Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the March 25, 2000 issue of the Ogden Standard Examiner.)

By JUNE-LEE HERNANDEZ, Standard-Examiner correspondent

CLEARFIELD ™ If you thought today's schools were going to the dogs, you were right. Today Fido goes into the classroom to help children with reading.

Reading Education Assistance Dogs, or R.E.A.D.®, is the brain child of Sandi Martin, a member of the Board of Directors for Intermountain Therapy Animals.

As Martin explored the possibilities of using therapy animals to help children who have reading problems, she reflected on her own love of reading.

Her thoughts focused on how children with poor reading skills often have low self-esteems, seem unable to concentrate, and are usually intimidated to read in front of people. Combining her passion for reading and knowledge of how therapy animals can help people with other challenges, Martin launched the program using dogs as reading mentors.

The only program of its kind began in the Salt Lake City Public Library system. Dog Day Afternoons, as it is called, runs on Saturdays from 1 to 3 p.m. and is open to all children who need a listening ear.

"When children are around animals they forget their limitations. We're seeing really positive things here," Martin said.

READ is now entering the classroom. Intermountain Therapy associate Marian Evans and her dog Dillon, a puppy Evans rescued from a dog pound, team up as Pet Partners to help children in Susan Colledge's first- grade class at Holt Elementary School in Clearfield.

"They (children) just love going to read, especially because Dillon's there," Colledge said.

Evans, who works at Hill Air Force Base as a contract negotiator, has been part of the Intermountain Therapy Animals program for three years. She then became a part of READ and volunteers once a week to work with the children.

Evans and Dillon have been a regular fixture in the first-grade classroom since December. Evans works closely with Colledge in selecting materials for the students to work with.

Dog treats, a water bottle and a blanket are part of the essentials Evans packs for Dillon. Evans works with every child in the class regardless of their reading skills. She listens quietly, allowing the child to feel comfortable.

"I'm a stranger to them," Evans said. "I think they feel more friendly when I'm with Dillon. I see they're more relaxed. I think they're reading a little quicker."

First-grader Kelsie Hensley likes reading to Dillon, but she also likes having Marian there because "she helps with the words." Hensley says that she now reads to her dog Buster at home, but she has to give him a treat so he will sit and listen.

After each reading session the student gives Dillon a treat. According to first-grader Shalee Larsen, "The best part of reading to Dillon is giving him a treat." Larsen added that Dillon slobbers a little on her hand.

Sometimes the children can even eat the same treat as Dillon if Evans has a package of "Shareables" which come in assorted fruit flavors and are safe for both dogs and humans.

Children routinely ask when it will be their turn to read to Dillon.

Classmate Becca Huddleston said, "It's really fun because dogs are easier to read to because they listen."

At home Huddleston reads to her pet turtle, sometimes placing it on the pages of her book, "so she can help me read. She likes to crawl around."

Erika Lehman likes reading to Dillon because she feels shy reading in front of others. Rachel Szymanski also enjoys reading at home to her pets, but said: "They don't sit still like Dillon. They wiggle."

Evans said for some children Dillon's visit is the most attention they get.

"For some of the kids their parents don't have the time or the inclination," she said. "It's important to have someone to listen to you."

Martin said there are all kinds of opportunities to introduce this program into the schools as part of in-class projects or after school programs. In April there are plans to begin using the R.E.A.D.® program with students at Bennion Elementary in Salt Lake City.

Teachers will identify children who are reading challenged, Martin said. Right now there seems to be no problem with teachers finding enough students to qualify.

"In school we will have a baseline reading score and have a measurement to compare with to see if there is improvement each week," Martin said.

Both handler and dogs are screened and tested to see if they qualify to be part of R.E.A.D.®. There are two components of the testing process -- obedience and aptitude.

"They're trained similar to guide dogs in obedience, but they remain with their owners and handlers," Martin said.

The dog must love being around children and being touched. Martin said it's not unusual to see a child's hand resting on the animal and holding the book in the other.

The challenge that Martin faces is not having enough pet partners to go around. Currently there are 161 teams in the Intermountain Therapy Animals program but they are always looking for more volunteers. Many of the volunteers are like Martin and Evans, who also work full-time jobs.

"I'm lucky because my supervisor lets me take annual leave to come do this," Evans said.

There are plans to expand R.E.A.D.® into the Davis and Weber county libraries when the number of handlers increases.

Evans, whose mother was a school teacher, said that being part of R.E.A.D.® is "payback."

She said she has made a lot of new friends working with the children involved in the program.

"They don't always know my name, but they know Dillon's. That's fine, that means he's doing his job."

Created: July 26, 2003 by Intermountain Therapy Animals

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Other R.E.A.D.® News and Information

bullet   The R.E.A.D. Brochure
Download the R.E.A.D. brochure here (Adobe Acrobat, 117 KB)

bullet   The R.E.A.D. Training Package

bullet  Press and Articles
A page of references to recent press and articles about Reading Education Assistance Dogs.

bullet  Links
Links to other Reading Education Assistance Dogs and literacy resources on the Internet.

bullet  R.E.A.D. Photos
Photos of Reading Education Assistance Dogs at work.

R.E.A.D.® Program Contacts:
For more information about R.E.A.D., please contact Intermountain Therapy Animals at 801-272-3439.