R.E.A.D - Reading Education Assistance Dogs
Mission
The Mission of the Reading Education Assistance Dogs (R.E.A.D.) program is to improve the literacy skills of children by reading with a dog. The R.E.A.D. program utilizes registered therapy animals that have been trained and tested for health, safety, skills and temperament. These special animals volunteer with their owners as “pet partner” teams, offering children an irresistible opportunity to improve their reading in a setting which has proven not only effective, but fun!
There are two types of programs:
There are two types of programs:
- Library settings are generally considered Animal-Assisted-Activities, (AAA).
- School Settings have strong therapeutic Animal-Assisted Therapy, (or AAT) potential
The Benefits
“One key to the success of the R.E.A.D. experience is a shift away from the viewing themselves as the target of yet another remedial program, and toward them seeing themselves as tutors and helpers for the dog. This is validating, empowering and satisfying for the children.”
Intermountain Therapy Animals, R.E.A.D. Program (Reading Education Assistance Dogs) www.therapyanimals.org
- Children improve their reading skills in a unique and fun environment, free of performance pressure.
- These programs are extremely flexible and can be implemented in many settings.
- The program promotes another way that animals can make a positive difference in children's lives.
- The program effortlessly crosses all social, economic and cultural lines, since the animals are without bias and judgment of child’s status.
- Children gain self-esteem as they begin to master the skills of reading.
- The program addresses the “whole person” of the child. Thus the benefits overflow into other areas of child’s life beyond reading and intellectual skills”.
Intermountain Therapy Animals, R.E.A.D. Program (Reading Education Assistance Dogs) www.therapyanimals.org
R.E.A.D. at the Library (AAA)
A R.E.A.D. team at the library or a group storytelling to young children during children events or in a classroom is a wonderful way for a handler and their dog to work with children of all ages and reading abilities. This is defined as an ANIMAL ASSISTED ACTIVITY, because the experience is motivational, educational and fun, but the process is not usually monitored or documented.
R.E.A.D. at School (AAT)
A R.E.A.D. program in a school setting, while lots of fun, is NOT a casual undertaking. We define it as Animal Assisted Therapy. It is a one-to-one program in which there are specific goals that are established for each participating child by their teachers and other specialists for the R.E.A.D. team. Each child’s progress is monitored and documented
Paws4Friends members who have an interest in reading with children are encouraged to complete the IntermountainTherapy Animals R.E.A.D. training program. We do not require therapy teams to be R.E.A.D. certified to participate in the A.A.A. programs, such as library reading. Teams participating in Animal Assisted Therapy for R.E.A.D. are required to complete and be certified through I.T.A. R.E.A.D.
A R.E.A.D. team at the library or a group storytelling to young children during children events or in a classroom is a wonderful way for a handler and their dog to work with children of all ages and reading abilities. This is defined as an ANIMAL ASSISTED ACTIVITY, because the experience is motivational, educational and fun, but the process is not usually monitored or documented.
R.E.A.D. at School (AAT)
A R.E.A.D. program in a school setting, while lots of fun, is NOT a casual undertaking. We define it as Animal Assisted Therapy. It is a one-to-one program in which there are specific goals that are established for each participating child by their teachers and other specialists for the R.E.A.D. team. Each child’s progress is monitored and documented
Paws4Friends members who have an interest in reading with children are encouraged to complete the IntermountainTherapy Animals R.E.A.D. training program. We do not require therapy teams to be R.E.A.D. certified to participate in the A.A.A. programs, such as library reading. Teams participating in Animal Assisted Therapy for R.E.A.D. are required to complete and be certified through I.T.A. R.E.A.D.
