Tuesday was a busy day for King and Lily. Both suited up in their blue Bright Spot Therapy Dog vests to head back to school and begin the Reading Buddies Program. In the morning, King headed back to the Hilltown Charter School that has moved to a beautiful new building in Easthampton, MA. In the afternoon, Lily headed back to Westhampton Elementary School in Westhampton, MA.
These dogs love working with young children. They soak up all the undivided attention like sponges. King works with children in the Yellows and Greens Group (the equivalent to second and third grade). Lily works with first and second graders. Most of these students have been exposed to our Reading Buddies Program in the past. Both schools have started the Reading Buddies Program in Kindergarten.
One of the teachers gathered the students on the floor encircling King and asked each student to tell the group what they liked about reading to a dog. I like reading to a dog because he doesn’t make fun of me when I make a mistake, said one. I like reading to a dog because he really listens to me, said another. The dog doesn’t interrupt when I’m reading, like my sister does when I’m reading at home. I love reading to the dog. Around the circle of students, the responses were spot-on. This is exactly what the program is designed for. The students articulated it perfectly.