Manitoba's school boards have one purpose: to provide our students with the best schools possible.
Innovative programs that meet community needs—nutrition, early childhood education, before and after school care, to name only a few—are a priority for school boards.
It turns out that dogs are a lot more than man’s best friend—they also enjoy a good story! At least that’s the case with members of the four-footed gang that take part in See Spot Read, a joint initiative of The Pembina Trails School Division, The Winnipeg Humane Society, and The St. John’s Ambulance Dog Therapy Program.
Under the program, which began in 2008, students in grades 2 to 5 are paired with one of several canine reading coaches. Kids and dogs meet twice a week at The Winnipeg Humane Society to share a story. In this relaxed and stress-free environment, with their attentive but non-judgmental audience, kids are less self-conscious, and more willing to make that extra effort needed to master the fundamental skill of reading.
And those doggy coaches have proven to be pretty good at what they do. In the first offering of See Spot Read, every child in the program improved his or her reading skills.
To learn more about See Spot Read, contact the program coordinator Darcy Manness at education(-at-)humanesociety.mb.ca, or phone 204.982.2046.
