When children read to a dog, the outcomes are amazing:

• it’s non-judgemental

• children’s focus improves

• literacy skills increase

• confidence soars

The magic

The non-judgmental, loving nature of dogs gives this program its magic. Children relax, open up, try harder and have fun reading to a friendly and calm dog.

History

Story Dogs Inc is based on the successful American literacy program Reading Education Assistance Dogs (R.E.A.D.) www.therapyanimals.org/R.E.A.D.html.  The R.E.A.D program was launched in 1999 in Utah USA, as the first comprehensive literacy program built around the appealing idea of children and young adolescents reading to dogs.

Story Dogs Inc improves children’s reading and communication skills by employing a powerful method - reading to loveable gentle dogs. Our dogs are accredited companion animals who volunteer with their owner/handler as a team, going to schools in the Tweed region of northern NSW, Australia.

Why dogs?

Learning to read is often less about intellectual limitation than about overcoming fears.
“Fear can destroy intelligence,” says educator William Ayers.  Animals are ideal reading companions because they help increase relaxation and lower blood pressure, listen attentively, do not judge, laugh or criticise, allow children to proceed at their own pace, and are less intimidating than peers or adults. (source:www.therapyanimals.org/read/)

Which dogs?

Story Dogs encourages all types of dogs, except for restricted dog breeds. The dog’s temperament, obedience, willingness and other training is of utmost importance.  Our dogs must pass an accreditation test carried out by a certified Dogs NSW trainer, as well as being immaculately groomed with regular vet checks.

The handlers

Story Dogs handlers are volunteers trained in basic literacy education, primarily focused on the NSW Reading Recovery model. This ensures the handler will not judge the child and will be able to help in ways that will best improve the child’s chances of better reading. We are fully insured and our handlers have submitted a NSW Prohibited Employment Declaration.

Which children?

The children are usually from Stage 1, primarily Year 2 students and are chosen by the school.  Story Dogs does not assess the children in any way as the sessions are designed to be as non-threatening as possible. We rely on assessment results taken throughout the year by the school. Parental consent is required before a child can participate in the program.

A typical Story Dog reading session

Reading sessions take place in a quiet area of the school grounds, such as the library or the verandah outside the classroom. A reading session is approximately 20 minutes long, where each child is one-on-one with the dog team. Books are chosen to suit the student’s reading level. During the session, the handler often speaks through the dog, such as; “Sam doesn’t understand what is happening on this page, could you help him out?” The child becomes the teacher; and their confidence soars!

Books are usually chosen by the classroom teacher or the volunteer. The students also have input into what they read. We encourage the students to write letters to the dogs at home, thereby encouraging literacy skills.

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The Story Dog team after a hot march in the 2010 Tweed River Banana Festival

The Story Dog crew ready to march in the 2009 Murwillumbah Banana Festival.

The link to the festival is www.bananafestival.org.