CANINES FOR LITERACY -More Than Reading to Dogs
Partners In Rhyme.
Canines for Literacy (formerly Paws for READing) is part of the Canines for Therapy program, where certified Canines for Therapy teams help children to improve their reading and communication skills. Canines for Literacy is a affiliate program of Reading Education Assistance Dogs® (R.E.A.D.®), an Intermountain Therapy Animals program to bring the program into local schools.
For children with poor reading capabilities, reading aloud to a group can be intimidating. Canines for Literacy teams serve as literacy mentors, assisting children with their quiet presence and helping them develop a love of reading in a judgment-free environment.
Since starting the program in 2002, Canines for Therapy has provided Canines for Literacy services to almost 500 children in New Hanover County, Brunswick and Duplin county schools and more than 500 children through library programs and community activities. And 83% of children who have participated in Canines for Literacy have improved their reading capabilities.
Each Canines for Literacy Team is a certified Canines for Therapy team and has completed a comprehensive training program. Following successful certification as a Canines for Therapy team, a Canines for Literacy team shadows a current team and then completes an additional 4-hour Reading Education Assistance Dogs® (R.E.A.D.®) course. To learn more about Reading Education Assistance Dogs® (R.E.A.D.®) visit Intermountain Therapy Animals.