Children love the sweet, gentle Therapy Dogs, and they love reading book after book to these non-judgmental, non-threatening dogs. In the process, they are developing a love of reading.
Our highly successful Bright Spot Reading Buddy Program first piloted at the Westhampton Elementary School in Westhampton, Massachusetts in 2012. Today, we have thirteen certified Bright Spot Reading Buddy Teams that work weekly with school children in elementary and middle schools in Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin, and Worcester counties of Massachusetts.
New this summer was our Bright Spot Reading Buddy Program held at the internationally renowned Eric Carle Museum in South Amherst, Massachusetts. Interest in the program far exceeded our expectations. The Bright Spot Reading Buddy Program was – according to the education director Courtney Waring – a huge success. Courtney sent us these fabulous photos of the program in action. As the saying goes: A picture is worth a thousand words.
Exciting plans are in the works to continue the partnership between Bright Spot Therapy Dogs and the Eric Carle Museum throughout the year.
