Reading Buddy James listens to Harry Potter.
Today marked the last session of our Bright Spot Reading Buddy Program at the Hilltown Charter School in Haydenville, Massachusetts. It was a good time to stop, since there are only a few weeks left to the school year and Reading Buddy James had listened to all of the children in the two classes read to him once.
James learns some funny jokes.
Most children read three or four books to Reading Buddy James when it was their turn. Some read a few selected chapters from lengthy chapter books they loved. Each child felt that James was a really good listener, and each loved petting him and showing him pictures while they read.
James enjoys listening to the story of Rapunzel.
I know I’ve said it before when I write about a Reading Buddy session with James, but I can’t help saying what a terrific guy this special dog of mine is. He loves what he does. He loves interacting with the kids, and he fills the role of Reading Buddy (a non-threatening, comforting, listener) beautifully. For James, this is the perfect second act. The first six years of his therapy dog career were spent visiting folks in healthcare environments. Now that James is 12 1/2 years old, lying down and listening to interesting stories being read to him is a great fit at this time in his life.
Reading Buddy James enjoys listening to all kinds of books. They’re all special.
It has been both an honor and a privilege to work with the two teachers who invited us into their classrooms every Thursday morning over the past three months. I look forward to working with them again next year.