posted 02/06/12 08:11 PM | updated 02/06/12 08:11 PM
Views: 175 | Comments : 0 | Youth & Kids

Therapy Dog Encourages Kids to Read

By kathrynguylay
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A Kindergartener reads to Black Jack at the Community School.

Every year, students at the Community School of Sun Valley, Idaho compete in a month-long Read-a-Thon to promote reading and to raise money for the school's Parent/Teacher Association.  This year's Read-a-Thon, which concludes with an "I love reading" celebration on February 14th, has a new twist to motivate kids to read.  Special encouragement is being provided by a therapy dog, Black Jack, new to the Wood River Valley.  Black Jack, along with handler and fifth grade Community School student Elena Guylay, has visited each of the Elementary classrooms to encourage kids to keep on reading.  Students listen to a story while petting and visiting with the soft and friendly dog, and each student receives a paw print sticker or bookmark to bring home as a reminder to read.

 "The kids at Community School love reading to Black Jack", says Community School teacher Beverly McNeal.  "I am very impressed that (Elena) took the time to train him for this valuable service to children in their pursuit of learning how to read!"  Studies have shown that reading to dogs helps children to relax and improve reading skills.  In addition to the special visits Black Jack is doing as part of the Elementary School's Read-a-Thon, Black Jack also does individual visits with children in the kindergarten and second grade classes throughout the entire school year.  "I like reading with Black Jack because he is so so fun to snuggle with and he makes me want to read more!" says second grade student Avery Griffin.

Black Jack is a certified therapy dog through the organization Therapy Dogs International (TDI).  TDI

is a volunteer organization dedicated to regulating, testing and registration of therapy dogs and their volunteer handlers for the purpose of visiting nursing homes, hospitals, other institutions and wherever else therapy dogs are needed.  TDI registers all breeds of dogs; some dogs have pedigrees while others have been adopted from local shelters or are rescue dogs.  An estimated 24,000 dog/handler teams are registered with TDI.

Elena Guylay spent over three years training Black Jack, a Sheltie, to prepare for his evaluation trials.  "I wanted to get involved in therapy reading programs because when I was younger, I had a wonderful experience reading to a therapy dog myself," explains Elena.  "I wanted to be able to share this feeling with other kids."  Elena explains that her reading program with Black Jack is fun and rewarding at the same time.  "Black Jack really enjoys his job," emphasizes Elena.  "I have fun with the visits too!"

For more information about TDI, please visit www.tdi-dog.com.  For more information about Black Jack and Elena, please visit www.blackjacktherapydog.com. 

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