Reading Dog Advice

[Ann W]

Ok, now I need any and all advice that you can offer. Charlie sent a letter to the principal at the school my daughters go to. I spoke with her the yesterday. She had referred the letter to the reading resource teacher. Who just by chance really wanted a reading program. Well the reading resource teacher called Charlie today to say" We have approval for you to come to school!" She also sent a letter to him this afternoon via my daughter. This will be a first for this school. We, Charlie and I are very excited. I just want to make sure I do my part correct. After all I'm sure that Charlie will be a hit. Suggestion?? Hints???

[Patty Barnes]

Ann, I don't have suggestions but I do commend you and Charlie for the work you did to get get Charlie's approval. Congratulations all around.

[Adina P]

Congrats Ann and Charlie! Rosco are on our third week of doing a reading program at our local library. Here are my suggestions:

1) Set a time to meet with the reading resource teacher to go over each of your expectations for the program.
----What kind of children will be part of the program? Will it be any child who is interested or only those with trouble reading?
----How often do you both want to offer this program? Weekly? Biweekly? Ever other week? Monthly?
----How many kids in one session? One at a time usually is best to give shy kids a chance to read in private. But maybe the first time you can make it open to several kids so they can meet Charlie?
----Where will you hold the reading session? Will it be in the main library where all can see? Will it be in a private reading room? Main library is nice the first time and one great idea another reading team had was to make a an A-frame and on it make a poster that reads something to the effect of "Shhh...Charlie is reading." To let people know not to come closer until their turn...etc. At the library we have a small screen that I use to let kids sit behind and Rosco is sorta half showing so that people can see there is a dog there but any child who wants privacy can sit behind the screen.
----How long of a session with each child? 20 minutes per kid usually is perfect.
----How long will the whole thing be each time? 20 minutes x 3 kids to start is great. I wouldn't do more than that.
----Would you be able to seek out other TDI dogs near you (they must have some listing they can give you of others...) so Charlie doesn't have to do all the work?
----If you and the teacher both agree (and you feel comfortable doing so the first time) bring Charlie to the meeting.

2) The first time come early and let Charlie sniff out the library and get comfy.

3) I bought a brand new Wal Mart 'cheap' large dog bed for Rosco or the kids to use. It stays at the library and we only use it for those visits. Perhaps the library has a beanbag or something for the kids...check. You can also use a blanket that is "just for Charlie" on his trips.

4) What is TDI's requirement on bathing? I try to have Rosco bathed the day before so he is clean...but I may not be able to do that forever as we go weekly. Does TDI require a bath before or not?

5) Bring a pillow or some kind of low seating for yourself if you don't want to sit on the floor next to Charlie.

6) From here it all depends on you and the reading resource teacher and what you think Charlie is good at/needs.


7) One reading team I know with a doodle made fun stickers to give kids after they read to the therapy dog. So I made some last night using 2x4 inch labels. They have one of the following photos to the left:

or this photo:

And to the right it says "I Read to Rosco!"

In case you didn't see my post a couple weeks ago about Rosco's first day as a reading dog:

ROSCO's FIRST DAY

Good luck and keep us posted!

[Ann W]

Thanks for the great ideas and kind words. The reading resouce teacher and I have agreed to once a week. Charlie will be helping children who need extra help with reading skills. TDI requires that the dog is clean and well groomed. Both my DD's had the reading teacher and she also runs with Charlies groomer. We will be starting next week. I will share how are first visit goes then.

[Tamara & Giada]

That is GREAT!! I would love to do this some day, but now have far too many volunteering already:)