In a small school located in northern New South Wales, on a weekday morning, children are happily reading aloud to a friendly Labrador retriever named Piper.
Without judging, Piper attentively listens as the children read even the most difficult words. She also allows them to lie to her if they need a break.
At Kempsey, Charlie Pasco reads to Piper and her handler Helen Barnett. The duo is part of the Story Dogs program, a non-profit organization that offers reading assistance to children throughout Australia. Helen Barnett is a retired teacher who accompanies Piper.
Every week, Piper and her handler Helen Barnett visit second-grade students at Kempsey East Primary School located in the Mid North Coast region.
Ms. Barnett stated that their goal is to make reading an enjoyable activity for children and to inspire them to become confident and enthusiastic readers for life.
Piper’s calm demeanor perfectly aligns with the Story Dogs’ approach, as the children can comfortably use her as a cushion or even lie on her while they read.
The aim of the program is to assist students who face difficulty in reading by creating a positive and calm environment. Ms Barnett explains that the children are initially hesitant but gradually gain confidence as they read to the dog.
According to Ms Barnett, the dog does not judge the children or get bothered by their mistakes or incorrect word usage. The dog is a calming presence for the children.
Ms. Barnett shared a story of a little boy who lacked confidence in reading in front of his teacher and class, but after spending time with the dog, he became more confident and was able to read in front of the class. She also expressed her enjoyment and satisfaction in being a part of the program.
The Story Dogs program originated in Murwillumbah, NSW about 14 years ago, after a similar program in the United States. Co-founder Janine Sigley stated that the program has been successful and expanded to 75 locations and 355 schools across Australia, with over 560 volunteers.
In 2009, Janine Sigley initiated the Story Dogs program in Murwillumbah, which has now spread to 75 locations and 355 schools across Australia, involving over 560 volunteers. According to Sigley, the program has received positive feedback from teachers, parents, and volunteers.
The program helps struggling young students to enjoy reading and develop their confidence, turning their negative experience into a positive one that makes them want to attend school and read.
The Story Dogs program has been implemented for three years in Kempsey East Primary School, where there is also a therapy dog available. According to the school principal, Penny Chow, dogs have a unique ability to calm students that humans cannot replicate.
“We have many students who have experienced trauma, and having animals in the school environment brings a calming influence that is non-threatening, and they are not stressed when it comes to reading,” said Kempsey East Primary School principal Penny Chow.
Kempsey East Year 2 student Samantha Coulter expressed her anticipation of reading to Piper every week, stating that Piper the labrador is content to allow students to use her as a pillow. Samantha added that Piper’s fur is very soft and that the experience is relaxing.
Furthermore, the program has been successful in helping students enhance their reading skills, enabling them to advance to higher levels and work on areas their teachers are emphasizing.
The Story Dogs program has expanded across Australia, with dog teams visiting schools in different states. According to co-founder Janine Sigley, the program grew in response to demand, and Western Australia has been a particularly strong area for the initiative.
Ms. Sigley stated that there are currently over 80 dog teams operating in WA, and the program has been successful there for around eight years.
According to Janine Sigley, the co-founder of the Story Dogs program, the initiative is experiencing rapid growth in Victoria and Western Australia, and they expect to expand to Darwin in the current year.
Although the program experienced a slowdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is now showing promising signs of recovery.
Ms Sigley expressed a need for more volunteers for the Story Dogs program that is expanding across the country. She mentioned that the only requirements for volunteering are that the dog should be calm, gentle, obedient, and have a strong bond with its handler.
She also mentioned that having a dog with good behavior and obedience skills, and a strong bond with its handler, is a requirement for the program.
Additionally, the dog should enjoy the experience. She also stated that dogs of any size and breed can participate in the program, giving an example of her first dog in the program, a small cross-breed with a gentle demeanor.
According to Ms Barnett, there are several personal rewards associated with participating in the Story Dogs program, and she enjoys being a part of the children’s lives and their school.
She added that seeing the children’s confidence and reading skills improve is the program’s main reward, while the dog’s reward is receiving treats and pats from the children.
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