At Work

Now in its second week, the Summer Bright Spot Reading Buddy Program at The Eric Carle Museum is running over-booked.  What a success!  Three reading slots had been scheduled for parents to sign-up their children for this unique program, but once started, the glow of its magic captured the hearts of the children, parents, and grandparents.  Everyone seeing the dogs at The Carle, or hearing about the Program dashed to sign-up their child, too.  Six, instead of three, reading slots are now scheduled each week.

The goal – to foster a love of reading – has been met….  One parent stopped me in the museum lobby yesterday (Lily was with me).  She wanted to tell me how much her daughter loves reading to the dogs.  We try to get her to read at home, but it seems because we ask her to do, she doesn’t want to.  Now…  she’s been picking up books to read at home all week ever since she read to King last week.  We’ll be here every Monday all summer long.  A grandparent exclaimed, My granddaughter loves reading to the dogs.  I’ve spoken to her teacher about starting the program at her school in the fall.

This week the children read to Bright Spot Reading Buddy Owen, an Australian Cobberdog.  Next week, they’ll read to Great Dane Tucker, then Yellow Lab Haas, Chocolate Lab Coco, Golden Retriever Emma Pickle, Greyhound Max, and Bouvier des Flandres Dehli.  All of these Bright Spot Therapy Dogs are in Reading Buddy Programs at elementary schools throughout the Pioneer Valley during the school year.  Along with developing a love for reading, the children enjoy getting to meet all the different types of dogs.

While the Reading Buddy Program was being conducted in the museum library, the art studio was buzzing with activities geared to dogs.  English Setter Lily was there at the museum’s special week-long Art Program serving as a model for paintings, drawings, and other projects.  The children had the opportunity to ask questions about Lily.  They learned about her breed, about Therapy Dogs, and about Lily’s life at home.  Lily loved all the special attention.

The Eric Carle Museum is a wonderful place for people of all ages – and our Bright Spot Therapy Dogs have fit right in.

King’s schedule for the afternoon was full, with one extra reader added on for good measure.

Bright Spot Reading Buddy King listened to books by Rosemary Wells and Mo Willems, and even a book written by one of the young readers!

Parents, grandparents, and younger siblings were lured in by the fun of reading to a dog!  

No matter how the program is structured, the goal of turning kids on to reading through dogs is proving to be highly effective.  All the children who read to King signed up for more reading time with our Bright Spot Reading Buddies throughout the summer.  One little girl signed up for every single week!

King loved listening to the children reading – and getting lots of hugs.  He just wasn’t sure about the BIG BEAR sitting next to him!

It’s early morning here in San Francisco.  Folks in my home state of Massachusetts have been well underway, three hours ahead.  As my daughter and her husband still slumber upstairs, my East Coast clock has me rising far before them.  What a pleasure to be greeted by Coco’s final report of the school year when I started checking my emails.  This fine dog has done such meaningful work for the students and staff of the Robert E. Melican Middle School in Northborough, Massachusetts, in her first year as a Bright Spot Therapy Dog.

Here’s Coco with her final report of the year…

My last week at Mom’s school was as busy as ever. I went with her to school Monday, Tuesday, and Friday this week.

I started each of my three days helping Mom deliver classroom coverage slips, and then we worked on obedience. I enjoy practicing obedience even though I am not currently enrolled in a class – it makes me think AND I get extra treats.

Monday and Tuesday were interesting because I got to meet our incoming sixth graders. Northborough has four elementary schools. Fifth graders from each school came for a ninety-minute visit, which included a presentation and a student-led tour. After each of the four tours, Mom introduced me to students and explained what I do at school to help people. Students were very excited about having a dog at their school next year, and many of them wanted to pet me. Mom and I waited outside the building as students exited so those who wanted to pet me could do so on their way out. Almost every student petted me – there are approximately 60 fifth graders at each school! I loved the attention, and meeting next year’s sixth graders. Aside from the sixth grade tours, I also was able to spend time with many students throughout the course of those two days.

One parent was crying while she waited for her son’s guidance counselor to meet with her. She was sitting on a bench outside the office, and when I came in from a walk outside with some students, I went to her and kissed her face repeatedly. She hugged me and petted me through her tears, and said I had helped her feel better. I could tell something was wrong. Later, Mom told me her son was in a huge struggle, and that I have a knack for understanding when people need some extra love and affection from me. I helped the mother feel better, and she was able to regain her composure and talk with the guidance counselor about the situation.

Friday was bittersweet. It was my last day at Mom’s school for the year. I got to spend time with lots of students. Many of them took me for walks outside with Mom or the guidance counselor. Lots of other students were outside, and several groups of them came up to hug me and say good-bye for the summer. I will miss all the students over the summer but, like everyone else, I am looking forward to a break.

As I reflect on my time at the Robert E. Melican Middle School this year, I feel blessed to be given the opportunity to work with so many students and staff members. My first day at school with Mom was in November, and since then, I went from one day each week, to two days, to three days each week with Mom at school. Mom says I could go every day with her to school and it would not be too much for the people there – it would be too much for me, though, and she and I both know that three days is my limit. When I go to school with Mom, I spend between nine and eleven hours there, supporting students, teachers, counselors, parents, custodians, secretaries, and bus drivers – EVERYONE needs some canine support from time to time.

In case I was uncertain about the impact I have had on Mom’s school, students created a beautiful mural in the conference room depicting the four seasons, and I am in one of the scenes. Additionally, I have an entire page of photos with students and me in this year’s yearbook. I am not exactly sure what any of that means, but Mom says that is not bad for an old rescue dog from Indiana who had breast cancer and no place to call home, and she is very proud of me.

The experience working as the school’s therapy dog has been amazing – I am excited about continuing my work there next year, but I am also looking forward to working more at our local nursing home over the summer. I know Mom and Dad will take Toby, Sophie, and me to the beach this summer, and Mom will take us hiking and swimming, which I am also looking forward to. Mom wants to try me in her kayak…we’ll see how that goes.

Have a great summer everyone!   ~Coco

With just one full week left to the school year, Coco continues to help the students and staff at the Robert E. Melican Middle School.

Here’s Coco…

I went to school with Mom on Monday and Wednesday this week. As usual, I enjoyed myself and I know I helped many students and adults.

On Monday, Mom and I started the day delivering classroom coverage slips and working on some obedience in the halls. Although I am not taking a class right now, I still enjoy practicing obedience, and Mom says it is important for me to remain obedient and to work that part of my brain, whatever that means. I worked with the guidance counselor with many students, and with the behavior specialist with several small groups of students. Students also took me for walks outside (with Mom). Students seem to enjoy the conversation and they love taking a break from their school day to spend time walking me.

Wednesday at school brought more of the same for me – obedience, lots of times with students, many walks outside with students, and some walks with adults (no students). Mom says that the adults need my support as much as students and that many of them ask for me when I am not there just like the students do. I know I help keep Mom calm, especially this time of year when things are especially stressful.

At the end of the day Wednesday, I waited with Mom outside at the buses. I would soon be reminded that I am important to the bus drivers, as well as to students and staff within the school building.  Before the students were dismissed for the day, one of the bus drivers told us that the driver for bus 11, Anne, had to have her chocolate lab “put down” the day before and that she had not talked to anyone about it. Mom and I know her – she often comes out of her bus to spend some time with me, and she and Mom talk about dogs. I could tell that this interaction would be important for me and for Anne. Mom and I walked down toward bus 11, and I sat and waited patiently like I always do. Anne completed her safety check and then got off her bus and slowly walked toward us. She told Mom about her dog, and then she knelt down facing me, crying, holding my head, looking into my eyes, and kissing me. “Why do we do this to ourselves?” she asked me through her tears. I guess she was referring to the pain that inevitably comes with saying good-bye and letting go. Mom said something about it being the hardest part, but still so worth it. Through me, Anne was finally able to talk about the loss and cry about it. Mom says this is an important part of the grieving process. Another driver walked over to us and hugged Anne, and she was able to cry and talk with him about losing her dog. Mom says I helped Anne just by being me, and she was very proud of me.

After the buses departed, Mom and I joined students in the TLC program as they played Apples to Apples. They loved my company and I enjoyed being part of the laughter and overall good feeling that comes from being with students after school having fun. We met Dad and Sophie in Palmer so Mom could take Sophie to class in Greenfield. Dad brought me home and I was able to relax with my brother, Toby.

 As usual, I had a great time at Mom’s school this week. I worked with many students and adults. Next week is the last full week of school and I am sure it will be busy. The guidance counselor and Mom are planning for a “special” last-day celebration next Friday for me, where they will make sure the students who are most connected to me get to spend extra time with me. I will miss the kids over the summer, but I am sure Mom will keep me busy.  ~Coco

Thursday afternoon at the Hilltown Charter School was a celebration of completed book projects – projects that were three months in the making.

King joined the children and the readings commenced.  Each student had the opportunity to read his and her favorite part of their book to the entire group gathered for the Publishing Party.

When the entire class finished, the students were paired with a Party guest who was treated to a reading of the student’s entire book.  King got to move around the room and join each of the groups.

Classroom teachers Nancy Childs and Paula Yolles took their students through the entire writing process from start to finish.  Beginning in March, the first lesson was on interviewing and note taking.  Since the theme of their writing was dogs, King was invited to each of the 2nd/3rd grade classes for an interview where pairs of students asked King a prepared question.  All took careful notes to use in their writing.

Special sessions were held in the artelier where the art teacher taught the students how to draw illustrations of a dog for their books.  King was asked to serve as the model.  He took to this role rather well!

King was included in The Writing Group where students gathered together to share portions of their writing with the whole class, and positive comments were solicited.

King enjoyed peer editing sessions, too.

King and the students learned that it takes a lot of hard work to produce a finished book project.  King enjoyed being inspiration for the boys and girls as they worked over the three months to complete their books.  It certainly was reason to celebrate with a special party.

At the end of the Party, King received lots of hugs and farewells from those moving up to the 4th grade next year.  And, from the many who will remain in the 2nd/3rd grade groups, he got kisses and promises to read lots of books this summer to read to him next fall.

 King received a huge THANK YOU card, a giant dog bone, and a bag of Greenies from the boys and girls and their teachers.  King was pretty tired after the excitement of this special event.

This has been a great first year for King as a Bright Spot Therapy Dog and a Reading Buddy for the children at the Hilltown Charter School.  He will miss is bi-weekly visits over the summer.  We plan to use this time to work on King’s Bright Spot Reading Buddy book, Meet King.  It will be ready to read to the boys and girls when school starts up again in September. 

One has to look his best when invited to a special party!  In this case, the party is a Publishing Party given by the Yellows and Greens (2nd/3rd graders) at the Hilltown Cooperative Charter School in Haydenville, Massachusetts.

The students King has been working with since September have written their own books.  King has been invited, along with the Kindergarteners and first graders, to listen to each of the authors share a favorite section of his or her book with the audience.

In honor of this special occasion, King had a bath and trim today.  Both King and I are very excited about this event which will mark the finish of the school year for King as the Reading Buddy for Yellows and Greens.  Some of the students will be moving up to 4th grade and King will be saying good-bye.  Others will remain on in Yellows and Greens and King will be happily listening to them read stories and chapter books to him on Thursday mornings next school year.

The Eric Carle Museum’s Annual Family Festival was the place to be today.  And, judging by the crowds of boys and girls, moms and dads, grandparents and friends, many people knew that there would be lots of FUN things happening at The Eric Carle today.

Our Bright Spot Therapy Dogs were a special treat for many attending the festival that ran from 10:00-4:00.

As soon as the doors opened at 10:00, crowds of families poured through the doors.

A steady flow of boys and girls came over to our Bright Spot information table to meet the Bright Spot dogs there for the event.

They met Australian Cobberdogs Cadence, Finley, and Owen, English Setter Lily, Great Danes Lilo and Tucker, Golden Retriever Emma Pickle, and Labradoodle Lilly.

Today, we launched our Summer Reading Buddy Series to be held at The Eric Carle Museum Monday afternoons in July and August.  We explained to folks how our special reading program works to foster a love of reading.  Families were able to sign up for a one-on-one reading time with one of our special Reading Buddy Dogs.

Only two weeks left to the school year, then Coco will be taking a summer break.  Here’s what she’s been up to this week…

I went to school with Mom on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday this week. Since I began working at Mom’s school in December, I have worked over 50 full days there! I consider “full days” nine or ten hours. We have two full weeks of school left, and then we will break for the summer. Mom works certain weeks throughout the summer, and she says she will bring me with her once each week she works to spend time with students in some of the summer programs, as well as with the adults who will be there.

One student, who spends time with me twice a week, once with Mom and once with her guidance counselor, said, “I am really glad Coco comes to school. She helps me stay calm, and she helps me talk…” Mom says she has a difficult time communicating with adults, but through me, she is able to talk about what is on her mind and listen to different perspectives from adults.

On Monday, I met with many students. I worked with the guidance counselor with students, as well as with the behavior specialist with students. It was a nice day so I was able to take lots of walks outside. I enjoy those walks, listening to the students and adults talk about whatever is on their minds. I think it gives them a meaningful reason to take a walk, get some fresh air, and take a break from their day. Mom says the adults enjoy that as much as the students. She must be right because sometimes two adults take me for walks without any students!

On Wednesday, I spent very little time with Mom because I was working with the behavior specialist and the guidance counselor with students. We did start the day practicing obedience, and then I attended a meeting with several teachers, the principal, and Mom. Throughout the day, Mom did take me for a few short walks with students, which I enjoyed. Unlike other Wednesdays, I did not travel to Greenfield with Mom for class after school. She has decided that I need a break from formal training. Mom dropped me off at home and she took Sophie for training. She is hoping that one day Sophie will be a good therapy dog, and she wants to work more formally with her. Although I missed Mom while she was away with Sophie, I know giving me a break is the best thing for me. I get tired from working at Mom’s school. She and I have taken five classes together over the past eleven months and, though I will miss the ride, seeing the dogs and people there, and spending extra “alone-time” with Mom, I did enjoy the downtime at home with Dad and my brother, Toby, Wednesday evening.

Friday morning was stressful for Mom. There were lots of teachers out and only two substitutes. From what I understand, this means that Mom has to find teachers to cover classes of the teachers who do not have subs. This takes some time, and then she and I deliver the “coverage slips” to classrooms. This has been the practice forever, but some days there are more coverage needs than others, and some days Mom feels more stressed than others. After we delivered the coverage slips Friday, we worked on some obedience, and I could feel Mom’s stress level decrease. One of the custodians came to visit with Mom and me, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Mom took me for a walk outside before the students arrived, which I know also helps her de-stress.

I spent some time in the guidance area before school, working with students. One student was curled up next to me on the floor having some “relaxation time” before school started. Mom and I also met with a student who has been struggling. Because she loves me so much, she was able to talk with Mom about what is on her mind. She is very sad. She cried and talked with Mom, the entire time petting me as I lay my head in her lap. Mom says I gave her the courage to talk about some difficult things and to talk about her feelings.

I spent time in the behavior specialist’s room with many different students, some doing work, some just needing a break. Several students took me for walks with the guidance counselor, behavior specialist, or Mom. I spent some time with students with severe disabilities, letting them pet me and give me treats. Students are starting to fall apart a bit. Mom says this is typical for June. Mom and I met with a student who slapped another one, and then we met with the student who got slapped. Mom says she’ll finish sorting that out on Monday since it happened at the end of the day. Three other boys met with Mom and me to talk about the disrespect they have been showing adults in the building recently. As Mom reminded them, there are only ten days of school left…I hope they can end the year strong.

Mom says the end of the year is also difficult for teachers and staff. Several teachers came to the office today to see me. Mom says I provided them with some stress relief, too, and I am a huge support for them.

It was another great week of work at Mom’s school. I enjoy being there, and I love knowing I am helping so many people.    -Coco

All set up and ready for the Annual Children’s Family Festival at The Eric Carle Museum

I headed over to The Eric Carle Museum this morning to drop off our display materials and run through our Bright Spot slideshow in preparation for the Annual Children’s Family Festival: What’s your Favorite Animal taking place at the Museum this coming Saturday, June 7th.

Coordinator of the event, Courtney Waring, asked if I would like to set up the display ahead of time.  I seized the opportunity to get everything ready in advance of the day.  Just as we were finishing, people started checking out our materials and asking about the Summer Bright Spot Reading Buddy Program.  Such a great opportunity to be able to have our information exhibited in the Museum lobby a full two days in advance.

Courtney lead me to the auditorium to run through our Bright Spot slideshow.  She manned the control box in this state-of-the-art facility and I took to the stage.  A spotlight shone on me and the massive screen lit up the stage with our Bright Spot logo.  I stood to one side on the stage, watching as each slide appeared on the screen.  As the words I would say about each of the slides ran through my head, I felt a surge of pride burst through my body.  I couldn’t have felt more proud of the work our dedicated volunteers have accomplished, and are doing week-after-week to help people of all ages, then I did at that moment.  This is what it feels like, I thought, to follow your heart.  Here in these slides was the culmination of a dream-come-true: to found an organization that would inspire and enable volunteers to come together with the common goal of bringing comfort and caring to people in need through the human-canine bond.  I can’t wait to step on the stage this Saturday afternoon and share our story with the families attending this special event.  What an amazing way to celebrate the Tenth Anniversary Year of Bright Spot Therapy Dogs, Inc.

Come join Bright Spot Therapy Dogs this Saturday at The Eric Carle Museum.  Meet some of our very special Therapy Dogs, learn about the meaningful work these dogs do in health care and educational facilities, and sign-up for a reading time with one of our special Reading Buddy dogs.

Saturday’s Annual Children’s Family Festival: What’s Your Favorite Animal marks the launch of the Bright Spot-Eric Carle Museum summer partnership.  Bright Spot Therapy Dogs, Inc. is very excited about working with this fine museum for children and their families.

Saturday’s event will run 10:00-4:00.  Bright Spot Therapy Dogs will be at the event throughout the day.  I will be giving a talk and slideshow in the auditorium from 11:30-12:00 and we will have a Bright Spot information booth set up in the lobby.

Bright Spot will be running its Reading Buddy Program at The Carle every Monday afternoon throughout July and August from 1:30-2:30.  Children can sign-up in advance to read one-on-one with a special Reading Buddy dog.  In addition, Bright Spot Therapy Dogs will be participating in the Summer Art Program at The Carle:  Animals, Art, and Imagination.  So much happening at The Carle this summer!