Kids Relax Reading To Dogs
A Jefferson,
Wis., reading program is designed to help improve children's literacy skills
by having them read to therapy dogs trained to listen.
Children read
to the dogs in 20-minute sessions and receive bookmarks after they finished,
The Watertown Daily Times reported.
"The whole idea
is to rekindle the desire and love of reading. I want kids to come who
don't like to read. I want them to associate the library with positive,
happy times," librarian Sharon Weber said.
According to
reading specialists, children whose reading skills are below that of their
peers can be intimidated by reading aloud in a group, have lower self-esteem
and see reading as a chore.
"The dog doesn't
care if the child mispronounces a word," said Marleen LaPlant whose Dalmatian,
named Stormee, participates in the Reading Education Assistance Dogs. "The
kids relax and let things flow."
--
Copyright 2003 by United
Press International.
All rights reserved.
|
