Paws for vocabulary: Kids read with canine friends

Dogs provide patient ear for young readers practicing comprehension skills

By Amie Johansen

amie@charlescitypress.com

Educators are continually looking for ways to motivate their students to read. The best way to improve a skill is to practice. What is more fun than practicing with a friend — a furry friend?

Retired teacher Terri Turner has proudly owned four generations of certified Reading Education Assistance Dogs, READ. Twice a week a Turner and one of her two dogs visits the Washington Elementary school.

“Students really look forward to it,” Washington Elementary School Principal Kara Shannon said. “They are little more motivated and stay focused.”

Turner uses the dog’s reactions to help students further expand their comprehension skills. For instance, when one of her dogs cocks its head Turner will assign the action a meaning.

“I’ll say, ‘oh, Stella didn’t understand that. Can you explain what that means?’” Turner said. “It’s a good way to find out what kids know. They don’t mind talking to the dogs.” She finds students are more willing to talk about the story and what they’ve read with the dog, than they are an adult.

Before becoming READ certified, Turner’s dogs must be housebroken, walk on a leash, and be calm.

Reading with Turner’s pets is just one way Washington is trying to entice kids to read. To make reading more fun and improve skills, Washington established February as a month long read-a-thon challenge: Stuck on Reading.

“(Students) are encouraged to read at home every night, 15 to 20 minutes,” Shannon said. “For every 100 minutes, they get a piece of duct tape to stick me to a wall.”

By asking students to read at home, parents become more aware of their child’s reading level.

“We appreciate the support at home, making sure (students) get the skills,” Shannon said.

Students can also collect donations for the read-a-thon.

“For every $25, they get a piece of duct tape,” Shannon said. Monies raised will be used to fund the growing preschool program at Washington. In March, a schoolwide assembly will be held so students can tape Shannon to the wall.