Reading Dogs: Program Uses Dogs To Help Young Readers

[Sequoia]

LOS ANGELES -- According to the California Department of Education, 23 percent of fourth-graders struggle with basic reading. Some experts believe that learning to read is less about ability to read and more about overcoming a fear of reading.

CASEY (READING TO DOG): Arthur loved his new puppy…

COLLEEN WILLIAMS: P.J.'s favorite books are the Sally books written by Steven Hunick. They are stories about a black lab.

CASEY: Wake up D.W., and be careful where you step.

COLLEEN WILLIAMS: P.J. likes a good tale. In fact, P.J. has a tail. P.J. is a 5-year-old Labrador retriever who heads his own special kind of kids-and-canines book club.

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http://www.nbc4.tv/news/7380745/detail.html

[GoddessOfGuinness]

1. Great idea!

:D

[philosophie_en_rose]

2. A local school does that here.

The kids don't feel self-conscious reading to the dogs. It's a great program.

[ChoralScholar]

3. Oh ok... I thought maybe the dogs were doing a reading workshop

for the kids or some such. This makes much more sense. ;)

[intheflow]

4. Cool! I love dog stories!

"You can say any fool thing to a dog, and the dog will give you this look that says, `My God, you're RIGHT! I NEVER would've thought of that!'" - Dave Barry